Four charged in Central City gang activity

Four alleged members of the Byrd Gang were charged under the Louisiana Racketeering Act and in other crimes related to a violent drug-trafficking enterprise based in Central City, District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro’s office announced on Monday.

An Orleans Parish special grand jury on Oct. 23 handed up a 16-count indictment charging Tyrone “Six” Bovia, Chance “Doona” Skipper, James “Poo” Alexander and Randy “Tokey Hefner” Calvin with racketeering. In Louisiana, racketeering is punishable in Louisiana by a prison sentence of up to 50 years.

Annual Propeller Pop! gala celebrates social entrepreneurs this Wednesday

According to Propeller: A Force For Social Innovation, the nonprofit has accelerated over 215 entrepreneurs since 2011, and their ventures have created more than 485 jobs and generated over $112 million in revenue and financing.

Propeller will host its annual gala and celebrate social entrepreneurs and innovation in New Orleans this Wednesday, Nov. 6.

Danae Columbus: Trump will be re-elected unless economy tanks, says Gingrich Cushman

Jackie Gingrich Cushman, the younger daughter of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, said last week that President Donald Trump will certainly win re-election in 2020 unless the U.S. economy suffers a major downturn. Born in New Orleans while her father was a student at Tulane University Law School, Cushman is a syndicated columnist, speaker and author. She was in town to promote her third book, “Our Broken America,” at the Garden District Book Shop. Cushman also co-authored “Five Principles for a Successful Life” with her father.

Surveillance video catches vehicle burglary, package theft

The New Orleans Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying suspects in two recent incidents in the Second District.

Vehicle burglary on South Liberty
The NOPD is seeking assistance with locating a suspect in the investigation of a vehicle burglary on Nov. 3 in the 5000 block of South Liberty Street.

A conversation with Ta-Nehisi Coates and Jesmyn Ward

By Emily Carmichael, Uptown Messenger

Elbows lined bannisters and pews Thursday night at Temple Sinai as a packed audience leaned in to hear two of our nation’s most celebrated narrative craftsmen, Jesmyn Ward and Ta-Nehisi Coates, discuss how to reconstruct the story of the United States.

The event hosted by Octavia Books was part of Coates’s nationwide tour promoting his new novel “The Water Dancer.”

The book is Coates’s first foray into fiction after gaining fame for his journalism at The Atlantic and his nonfiction book “Between the World and Me.”

New ‘carnival’ makes space for artistic entrepreneurs

One’s social network can influence important decisions like who they ask for business advice, where they shop and how they listen to music. For professionals in the arts, that network could dictate their standard of living, job consistency or perceived professional value.

On Saturday, one couple will bring together creative business owners, branding strategists, entertainers and more to share industry insights and grow their networks together.

Crescent City Creative is a nonprofit creative agency based in New Orleans and founded by husband and wife Willard Hill and Quan Lateef-Hill, who want the city’s talent to thrive more.

“We really see New Orleans as this cultural epicenter that is often overlooked as people focus in on New York, L.A., Atlanta and coastal cities,” said Lateef-Hill, a filmmaker and producer.