Fundraiser to benefit Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and Arts Council of New Orleans

A fundraiser Wednesday night at the Eiffel Society on St. Charles Avenue will benefit the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and the Arts Council of New Orleans, and will feature a live string duet and an art installation. The “trepwork for good” Pay It Forward Happy Hour fundraiser will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 24) at the Eiffel Society, 2040 St. Charles Avenue.

Man robbed of bicycle on Hollygrove Street, police say

A man riding his bicycle on Hollygrove Street on Sunday afternoon was attacked by a group of juveniles who robbed him of his bicycle, New Orleans police said. The victim, a man in his 20s, was riding near Peach and Hollygrove streets shortly before 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, when an “unknown group of juveniles” confronted him, according to the initial NOPD report. “The juveniles pushed victim off his bicycle and fled the location with the bike,” the report states. “The victim sustained minor injuries.”

Lusher to reserve kindergarten seats for low-income students in 2019-20 (live coverage)

Lusher Charter School will reserve a portion of its kindergarten seats for students from economically disadvantaged families in the next school year, partly in response to removing the neighborhood-based admissions district two years ago, officials said Saturday morning. Based on policies adopted by the Orleans Parish School Board, Lusher stopped granting automatic admission to children of families in the small Carrollton neighborhood around its Willow Street campus following the 2016-17 school year. As a result, Lusher’s admissions were subsequently comprised primarily of students who scored well on its entrance exams, children of Tulane University employees, and younger siblings of current students. In the two school years since the neighborhood district ended, Lusher has observed a drop in admissions for children from low-income or otherwise socio-economically disadvantaged families, said CEO Kathy Riedlinger. After consulting again with the Orleans Parish School Board, Lusher is planning to reserve a portion of its incoming kindergarten classes for children from at-risk families.

Woman arrested in cutting incident on St. Charles Avenue, police say

A woman was arrested on charges of cutting a man several times with a knife early Friday morning on St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans police said. Johrdanne Collins, 27, arrived at a location in the 2800 block of St. Charles Avenue around 5:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 19, where she “noticed blood on the floor and assumed it was her brother’s blood,” according to the initial NOPD report

Collins then began arguing with a man in his early 20s, then grabbed a kitchen knife and punched the man in the mouth, the report states.

New radiology office planned for church property on South Claiborne

A new radiology office is planned for a vacant portion of the South Claiborne Avenue property occupied by the Church of the Annunciation, and it has received initial approval from the City Planning Commission. In order to allow a medical office, the Church of the Annunciation needs to change the zoning at 4505-4535 South Claiborne and 3000-3010 Jena from two-family residential to medium-intensity mixed-use. The parcel at 4519 South Claiborne — now used as a parking lot adjacent to the existing brick church and two-story house currently used as an office — has already been sold to a doctor who plans to build a new office there, consultant Rick Eisenstadt of Sherman Strategies said in a hearing on the zoning change last week before the City Planning Commission. “Our client here is a local radiologist, Dr. Jonathan Amite, who envisions putting an imaging center on this location, which we think is very consistent with the unofficial medical corridor that it sits next to,” Eisenstadt said. No one spoke against the project before the City Planning Commission, though some neighbors did write to the commission with concerns.

Pedestrian killed in hit-and-run on South Claiborne, police say

A man walking across South Claiborne Avenue overnight was killed after being hit by a vehicle that drove off without stopping, New Orleans police said Thursday morning. The victim, a 56-year-old man, was walking across South Claiborne Avenue in the 2300 block when he was hit by an oncoming vehicle, the initial NOPD report states. The vehicle drove away toward Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. “Based on witness information, investigators are searching for a dark-colored SUV believed to have been involved in the incident,” the report states. This vehicle would have possible damage to its front end and/or front passenger side, including possible windshield damage.”

Danae Columbus: #MeToo movement brings gender wars to Louisiana

Women leaders around the state are excited about congressional contender MiMi Methvin – a Democrat running against incumbent Republican Clay Higgins in Louisiana’s 3rd Congressional District. They expect Methvin, a former federal magistrate who was educated at Newcomb College, to take full advantage of the #Me Too Movement against sexual harassment. Numerous polls show that white, college-educated women are moving toward more culturally sensitive Democratic candidates and away from those who embrace President Donald Trump and his often divisive rhetoric. A former law enforcement officer, Higgins has been endorsed by Trump. With the #MeToo backlash brought on by riled-up conservatives who believe newly appointed Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was maligned during the nomination process, voters who identify strongly as Republicans or Democrats have become more entrenched.

Suspect indicted in 1996 rape in Irish Channel after DNA match, police say

A 45-year-old man has been indicted in connection with a violent rape in the Irish Channel more than two decades ago after DNA taken from him during a firearms arrest matched genetic material stored in a rape kit, New Orleans police and prosecutors said. Roland Butler, 45, was indicted by a grand jury Thursday (Oct. 11) on two counts of aggravated rape in connection with a rape that took place around 4:30 a.m. April 5, 1996, in the 1100 block of Toledano Street, according to District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro’s office:

The victim reported to New Orleans police that she had arrived home when an unknown assailant approached and demanded her purse and keys at gunpoint. The man then ordered her to perform oral sex, and attempted to rape her vaginally against the side of his four-door gold colored sedan. The gunman ordered the woman into his car and drove her farther down Toledano Street before raping her a second time.

YAYA Arts Center offers fall festival, “Make Your Own Glass Pumpkin” glass-blowing class

The YAYA Arts Center on LaSalle Street will offer a free fall festival with crafts, costumes and treats for families on Saturday, as well as a specialized “Make Your Own Glass Pumpkin” glass-blowing workshop the same day. The fall festival is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 20) at YAYA Arts Center, 3322 LaSalle Street. “Pumpkin crafts, treats, costume contest, face painting, and more! Refreshments will be provided,” the center announced.

Man sentenced to 25 years in 2016 Uptown business robbery spree

The man who robbed nine businesses in the Carrollton area at gunpoint in 2016 was sentenced to 25 years in prison this week after pleading guilty to 22 charges related to the crimes, the Orleans Parish district attorney’s office said. Kenneth N. Barnes, 49, pleaded guilty as charged Monday to three counts of armed robbery with a firearm, five counts of armed robbery, nine gun charges and a handful of other property crimes, said District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro’s office. The robberies took place from February 2016 until Barnes’ arrest in October 2016 at:

Jimmy John’s sandwich shop in the 7600 block of Maple Street,
a Smoothie King in the 200 block of North Carrollton Avenue,
a Rite Aid drug store in the 1100 block of South Carrollton Avenue,
the Maple Street Bookstore in the 7500 block of Maple Street,
the Rite Aid in the 7100 block of St. Charles Avenue,
a GNC in the 400 block of North Carrollton Avenue,
a Baskin-Robbins in the 700 block of South Carrollton Avenue,
Ale on Oak in the 8100 block of Oak Street,
and a Shell gas station in the 600 block of South Carrollton Avenue. Barnes made his plea before Criminal District Judge Karen Herman, who imposed the 25-year sentence, according ot Cannizzarro’s office:

In addressing the court Monday, Barnes attributed his crime spree to a lengthy addiction to crack cocaine.