Rolling today: Zulu, Rex, truck parades

The key to a good Mardi Gras Day is getting up early. There is so much fun to be had — don’t miss a minute.

And before you go out, put on a costume. It could just be a mask, a silly hat, a cape, something sparkly, feathers, glitter. Mardi Gras is not just a spectator event. You’re part of it, too.

The weather promises to be pleasant — mostly sunny with a high near 65. Have a safe and happy Mardi Gras, y’all!

Touro Infirmary celebrates a century of being ‘where babies come from’

It has been a hundred years since the Touro Infirmary established its maternity services in 1922.

“Before then,” said Jessica Muntz, the director of marketing and communications for Touro, “of course there was the occasional baby born in the hospital. But the maternity service was established as a formal department in 1922. At first, the doctors and nurses went to the birthing mother’s home for the delivery.”

Rolling today: Krewe of Iris and Krewe of Tucks

The sun is expected to shine on today’s Uptown parades, Iris and Tucks. The National Weather Service attributes the clear, dry weather to “a deep layer ridge axis and associated negative vorticity advection,” but we believe it’s the Krewe of Iris’ special relationship with the goddess of the skies. During the Krewe of Tucks parade, however, expect a steady rain of toilet paper over the route. Temperatures will be cooler than average, with predicted highs only in the upper 50s. Krewe of Iris
The Krewe of Iris, founded in 1917 and parading since 1959, is the oldest and largest of the women’s krewes.

Shooting on parade route leaves teenager injured; police say the victim was trying to break up a fight

 

A teenager was shot Thursday night as the Muses parade passed on St. Charles Avenue in the Lower Garden District, the New Orleans Police Department reported. Sixth District officers patrolling the area heard gunfire at St. Charles and Josephine Street at about 9:15 p.m. The officers found a 17-year-old male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators learned the victim was attempting to break up a fight when he was struck by bullets.

Viewpoint: As new variant threatens the city, maskless officials send a dangerous message

When New Orleans elected officials don’t feel the urgency to consistently wear masks at Carnival festivities, how can they expect citizens and visitors to take the rules seriously?  Social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter and Nextdoor have been blowing up with posts this week regarding the reckless behavior of Mayor LaToya Cantrell, her besties and others whose images were captured sans masks at the Mayor’s Mardi Gras Ball last Friday night. National and international media attention was extensive.