Kristine Froeba: Marine Corps band is a Mardi Gras tradition for Uptown parades, krewe balls

“There is no sharper band in all of Carnival than the local Marine Corps Band,” said Mardi Gras expert Errol Laborde. Specifically, the Marine Corps Reserve Band New Orleans.

Uptown routinely sees the Marine Corps Reserve Band’s bus and its Marines filing out and lining up to march down Jefferson Avenue, Napoleon Avenue or, in the case of Thoth, Henry Clay. Saints’ fans recently enjoyed their pregame concert performed at Champions Square outside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

City Hall holding office hours at Latter Library

The Mayor’s Community Office Hours Program is expanding beginning Tuesday, Jan. 22. The program gives residents a chance to meet with City Hall representatives in their own neighborhood. Community Office Hours will be held on every Monday through Wednesday (except holidays) from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Beginning on Tuesday, Uptown residents are invited to come to the Milton H. Latter Memorial Library, 5120 St. Charles Ave., to discuss their concerns with a city official.

Sen. Cory Booker: “The opposite of justice is not injustice. It’s apathy and indifference.” (full video)

Widely viewed as a top contender for the Democratic Presidential nomination, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker told thousands of New Orleans high school students on Friday morning that they have the power to bring about the next generation of social changes in America.

“The opposite of justice is not injustice,” Booker said Friday morning at Xavier University. “It’s apathy and indifference.”

City’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day events continue through Monday

The city’s activities to commemorate the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday will culminate in a special set of events on the official holiday date – Monday, Jan. 21.

Saturday features three major events: the Rev. Avery C. Alexander Social Action Forum at the Dryades YMCA on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard; the Day of Service at the Bayou Bienvenue Wetland Triangle in the Lower 9th Ward; and the National Conference of Artists 21st MLK Exhibitions at locations across New Orleans.

Danae Columbus: GOP continues to build on its base at Southern Republican Leadership Conference

Even though the effects of the unpopular federal shutdown — now the longest in U.S. history — are playing out in cities and towns across America, Republicans are determined to elect more local and statewide officials in Louisiana and other Southern states. Dubbed the start of the 2020 election season, this weekend’s Southern Republican Leadership Conference at the Pontchartrain Center will serve as a rallying point for more than 1,000 GOP faithful, elected officials, and prospective candidates — especially Congressman Ralph Abraham and Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone, who have already entered the race against Gov. John Bel Edwards, and former Congressman John Fleming who is said to be considering the same race. GOP candidates down-ballot in the 2019 legislative and local races need a strong slate of contenders for statewide offices to guard against voter apathy.

Sen. Cory Booker to speak at MLK event for local students

On Friday, Jan. 18, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, will keynote the “Project LIVE & Achieve” Rally for Excellence that 5,000 students from more than 20 local schools across the New Orleans area will attend. Booker is appearing at the invitation of rally hosts InspireNOLA Charter Schools and U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans.

Man found dead with gunshot wounds on Birch

A man was shot to death Wednesday evening in the Leonidas neighborhood, the New Orleans Police Department said.

At about 7:43 p.m., NOPD Second District officers responded to a call of shots fired in 8700 block of Birch Street, near Monroe Street. Officers discovered an unresponsive male lying on the sidewalk suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the head.

City offers slate of MLK Day events

Thursday, Jan. 17
New Orleans Public Library Celebration
10:30 a.m.
East New Orleans Regional Library
5641 Read Blvd.

United Teachers of New Orleans Choral Concert
6 p.m.
McDonogh 35 Preparatory High School
4000 Cadillac St.