Take a sneak peek at Carnival 2021’s house float project

 

The first of the “house floats” that will be dotting our urban landscape this Carnival season has already made an appearance Uptown. Sponsored by the Krewe of Red Beans and called “Hire a Mardi Gras Artist,” the idea is to put those out-of-work artists — usually frantically designing and painting floats this time of year — back to work. With parades canceled, many Mardi Gras float artists found themselves suddenly unemployed. One of those artists, Caroline Thomas, proposed the idea to the Krewe of Red Beans to create a crowd-funding site to finance house decorations that could look like floats. The initiative helps keep our Mardi Gras artists afloat while creating a Carnival atmosphere in our neighborhoods.

Viewpoint: Piper Griffin, Jason Williams to ring in 2021 with fresh promise; Lambert Boissiere eyes Richmond’s seat

As a newly elected Louisiana Supreme Court Associate Justice, Piper Griffin takes the bench on Monday (Jan. 4), she said she is humbled by the overwhelming support from the community. “I want to thank the people of New Orleans for the opportunity to be of service and the trust they place in me for such an important position,” Griffin said. 

Joined by her mother Betty Griffin, a retired Charity Hospital nurse; sisters Kaci and Lisa Griffin; nephew Keenan Fortenberry; and ministers Rev. Samuel Gibbs Jr. and Pastor Calvin Woods Jr., Griffin took the oath of office Monday (Dec. 28). Her formal investiture, a public event, is tentatively scheduled for Jan.

Bicyclist killed on St. Charles Avenue near Louisiana

 

A bicyclist was killed Tuesday (Dec. 29) night after being hit by a sport utility vehicle while crossing St. Charles Avenue, the New Orleans Police Department reported. The cyclist was traveling toward the river on Delachaise Street at about 11:35 p.m., police said. He went through a stop sign and entered St.

One suspect arrested, another at large in Christmas Day homicide

The New Orleans Police Department has arrested Danny Hunter, 34, and is searching for a second suspect in the investigation of a homicide that occurred on Christmas in the Leonidas area. At around 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 25, NOPD Second District officers responded to a call of shots fired at the intersection of Monroe and Green streets. Upon arrival officers found the body of Anthony Bridges on the sidewalk in front of a home in the 1700 block of Monroe Street. Bridges was pronounced dead at the scene.

Man shot to death Christmas morning in Leonidas area

A fight between two men Christmas morning in the Leonidas neighborhood ended in a shooting death, the New Orleans Police Department reported. The men were involved in an altercation on Green Street near Monroe at about 9:30 a.m. when one of the men took out a gun and fired multiple times. The gunman fled the scene on foot. Second District officers responding to reports of shots fired found the victim with a gunshot wound to his chest. He was pronounced dead by medical responders.

Viewpoint: Could recent crime spike be a direct result of COVID-19?

I was walking my dog early one morning recently when I saw a man squatting down to look through the louver shutters of a home across the street.  When he saw me watching, he scampered away. Did I foil a burglary? Possibly. 

COVID-19 has created great unrest in New Orleans and it shows as a wide variety of crimes continue to increase. As should be expected, citizens in almost every neighborhood are frustrated and afraid for their safety. Like COVID-19 itself, we can only assume crime will get worse before it gets better. 

Sure, we can attribute many homicides to gang rivalries — but not all the car break-ins and other property crimes, muggings, domestic violence, and even yesterday’s theft of an Amazon truck.

Shooting injures two teens in Freret area

Two teenagers were injured by gunfire Tuesday night in the Freret neighborhood, the New Orleans Police Department reported. The two 18-year-old males were at LaSalle and Valmont streets at about 9:25 p.m. when they were struck by gunfire. The shooting occurred near Evans Playground. One victim was struck in the arm and leg; he taken to the hospital by the Emergency Medical Service. The other victim arrived at the emergency room in a private car.