The wild, wild creation: This Sunday is Super Sunday

This Sunday (March 19) is Uptown’s Super Sunday, when masking Indians gather in Central City. The procession and festival give the public a chance to witness the Mardi Gras Indians — when the Indians come out on Mardi Gras Day, there is no map (like the one below) and no set time. Super Sunday also gives the tribes another chance to show off their magnificent hand-sewn suits. The Uptown event, the largest and most popular of the three Super Sunday parades, is organized by the Mardi Gras Indian Council and takes place on the third Sunday in March, generally the Sunday closest to St. Joseph’s Day.

Police blotter: Sexual assault and attempted robbery in Irish Channel, robbery in Central City, two shootings in Hoffman Triangle

Two shootings in the Hoffman Triangle neighborhood, a robbery in Central City, and a sexual assault and attempted robbery in the Irish Channel were reported this week by the New Orleans Police Department. A woman in the Irish Channel fought back against a man who sexually assaulted and tried to rob her, according to the NOPD. The 40-year-old victim was assaulted in the 1000 block of Seventh Street on Thursday (March 16) at about 9:35 p.m., police said. The assailant then demanded her property but fled after she fought back. A man was robbed early on Thursday at Baronne Street and Washington Avenue.

Roadwork ahead: Camp and Washington to close for six weeks

The intersection of Washington Avenue and Camp Street will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning Monday (March 20) at 7 a.m. The closure is expected to last about six weeks. Crews from Department of Public Works contractor Hard Rock Construction will be doing subsurface utility repairs. The intersection is scheduled to reopen by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 28. Traffic control measures such as barrels and fencing will be onsite to direct drivers and pedestrians. The $12.5 million Camp Street (Louisiana Avenue to Washington Avenue) Infrastructure Improvement Project calls for repairing and/or replacing sewer and drainage lines.

Viewpoint: Cleaning up Louisiana’s voter rolls is long past due

Many supporters of the campaign to recall Mayor LaToya Cantrell may have been surprised Tuesday (March 14) when the mayor and Lower 9th Ward activist Rev. Willie Calhoun filed a challenge to the negotiated settlement on the recall case. Because of the settlement, 25,000 New Orleans voters were temporarily moved to the inactive voter list, which eliminated them for the overall number of authenticated signatures needed to trigger a recall election. After all, the Registrar of Voters has until March 22 to review all the signatures. If the recall’s goal is not met, the recall campaign is automatically over.  

Attorneys for Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin and NoLaToya.org had arbitrarily agreed to the 25,000 number when, in fact, the data consultant for the recall determined the number of voters who had moved away, died or are inactive is considerably higher. A quick look at voter turnout in recent elections illustrates that many New Orleanians do not prioritize voting.

Propeller and Thrive Host Water Challenge March 30th (sponsored)

Companies pitch solutions to New Orleans pressing water issues! Environmentally-minded entrepreneurs will present their water companies to a panelist of water industry leaders and pitch their solutions to the most pressing water-related issues facing our community from 2:00pm – 3:30pm, March 30, 2023 at the New Orleans Entrepreneur Week at Gallier Hall, 545 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA. RSVP at https://www.noew.org/rsvp-water-challenge to attend the event. “These are existential issues, and New Orleans and Louisiana’s future depends on solving them,” says Andrea Chen, CEO and Co-Founder of Propeller.

St. Joseph’s altars: What they mean and where to find them

The St. Joseph’s altar is one of those Catholic traditions, in this case a Sicilian Catholic tradition, that, through some very creative adaption, south Louisiana has made its own. Among all the breads and cakes shaped into religious symbols — a monstrance, chalice, cross, heart, dove, Bible — it’s not unusual to find an alligator. A Lenten symbol, perhaps. The fava bean is also ubiquitous at New Orleans altars.

Irish Channel block party set for St. Patrick’s Day

The Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Block Party is set to occur Friday (March 17) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Annunciation Square. The traditional event sponsored by the Irish Channel as a way to celebrate St Patrick’s Day with Irish Channel neighbors. The party is free and open to the public, with music and entertainment. The event will also have a special performance by the children at St.

Police seek suspect in string of burglaries

The New Orleans Police Department is searching for a suspect a business burglary that occurred in Gert Town. The incident occurred Sunday (March 12) around 5:15 a.m. in the 3100 block of Fern Street. This same man is a suspect in burglary in the 600 block of South Carrollton Avenue at around 3:30 a.m. the same day. The suspect was last seen wearing a dark-colored hooded jacket, black ski mask, with red stitching around the mouth, and dark-colored pants and gloves. Anyone with information on these incidents or the identity and whereabouts of the wanted subject is asked to contact any Second District detective or call Crimestoppers anonymously at 504-822-1111.