opinion

Viewpoint: Inclement weather and apathy inhibit early voting

By |

Although state Sens. Troy Carter and Karen Carter Peterson have continued to campaign almost around the clock, days of heavy rainfall coupled with a general lack of interest has led to exceedingly low early voting numbers in the Second Congressional District race to replace Cedric Richmond, now a high-ranking aide to President Joe Biden. Early voting ends Saturday (April 17). In Orleans Parish so far, voting is down more than 50% from the March primary election. By Thursday, with just two days of early voting remaining, only 6,909 Orleans Parish residents had cast their votes including 6,062 Democrats, 288 Republicans and 559 Independents. 

With no Republican in the runoff, some pundits believe that Republican voters will decide which Democrat is elected.

sports and recreation

Uptown running club emerges during pandemic year

By |

Just before 9 a.m. on Sunday (April 11), a group of about 40 people gathered in one of Audubon Park’s fields near Magazine Street. Most of the group were in their 20s or 30s, but ages ranged from 4 up to 72. Some had a dog in tow. They are The NOLA Running Anoles, and they can now prove it. The president of the 7-month-old running club, Doug Crochet, distributed T-shirts to the members as they showed up that morning, and they were eager to change into their new shirts designed by local artist Alex Beard.

Danae Columbus

Viewpoint: Helena Moreno on pandemic response, Entergy, S&WB, policing and more

By |

City Council President Helena Moreno said Wednesday (April 14) that she is proud of New Orleanians’ response to the smart decisions of the city’s public health leaders during the pandemic. “I think we showed that we can adapt and follow the science and, by doing so, we can manage an emergency and save lives,” Moreno said in an exclusive interview that touched on a wide range of topics. “We’re coming out of this not because of what elected officials did, but because of the tenaciousness and grit of New Orleanians.” 

The past year has been “heartbreaking and grueling,” she said. “To get through it and emerge from the pandemic, we’ve had to come together and lift each other up.”  That has meant supporting the public health responses like masking and restricting in-person contact, as well as now increasing the pace of vaccinations.  

“Much of what science told us we had to ask of New Orleanians was unprecedented.  Yet the people of this city responded and took us from the red zone to one of the leaders in virus suppression and now vaccination,” Moreno continued. 

She expects that the pandemic will encourage government leaders to properly prioritize public health. “This will help raise the standard of living for so many in our community.

City Council approves revival plans for the historic Dew Drop Inn

By |

Plans to revive the historic Dew Drop Inn music venue and hotel in Central City moved another step forward last week with the City Council’s unanimous approval. “Putting this back into commerce is a wonderful, wonderful thing,” said District B Councilman Jay Banks before the conditional use application went up for a vote. “It adds to the musical legacy of the wonderfully musical city that we have. I am extremely excited about this.” The council attached 11 provisos to the approval to make sure the developer will provide a passenger drop-off zone, noise abatement, a landscape plan and other city requirements, but no off-street parking is required of the development.

Sponsored: Clerk Chelsey Richard Napoleon – Sworn in as a Member of the Board of Directors

By |

 

As we continue our efforts to outreach and inform the community as to who we are as your Clerk of Civil District Court’s office, we proudly announce that your Clerk, the Honorable Chelsey Richard Napoleon, has been sworn in as a member of the Board of Directors for the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association by the Honorable Jon A. Gegenheimer, Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court. Thank you to Clerk Gegenheimer for swearing in Clerk Napoleon. Clerk Napoleon’s membership on the board provides exciting opportunities to network with clerks of court across the State of Louisiana and participate in the advancement of policies throughout the state. About the Civil Division of Orleans Parish Civil District Court
Civil District Court is a court of general civil jurisdiction. Unlike other Louisiana parish courts, Orleans Parish Civil and Criminal District Courts are legally distinct and located in separate buildings.

Police blotter: Shooters target 23-year-old woman, 15-year-old boy; 87-year-old man struck and robbed

By |

Two shootings and a robbery were reported by the New Orleans Police Department in Uptown neighborhoods during the past week. On Wednesday (April 7), a woman was shot multiple times in Central City. Sixth District officers investigating a shooting just before 5 p.m. found the 23-year-old victim suffering from gunshot wounds in the 1400 block of at Freret Street, near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Medical responders took her to a hospital for treatment. Police said gunmen opened fire on the woman, and she was shot as she was fleeing the bullets.

roadwork

Roadwork update: Audubon, Black Pearl, East Carrollton, Broadmoor, Central City, East Riverside, Fontainebleau, Hollygrove, Octavia

By |

The Mayor’s Office announced in its monthly roadwork newsletter that an unprecedented amount of infrastructure work — altogether more than $550 million in roadway and other projects — is currently underway in New Orleans. Mayor LaToya Cantrell also said more more projects are in the works. She noted that $350 million in bonds approved for a tax-exempt sale will lead to multiple projects out for advertisement in the coming months. These projects include improving public spaces, adding stormwater storage and fixing streets. Additionally, about $100 million in joint infrastructure roadway projects, $10 million in capital building projects, and $100 million in green infrastructure projects will go out for bid in the next few months.

NOPD

Puppy shot to death by officer investigating complaint in Lower Garden District

By |

A puppy was killed by a New Orleans police officer Saturday night in the Lower Garden District, the New Orleans Police Department reported. The department’s Public Integrity Bureau is investigating the shooting, which occurred about 9:30 p.m. in the 1400 block of Felicity Street. The 18-week-old puppy, named Apollo, was recently adopted by the Lower Garden District residents, NOLA.com reports. The officer was investigating a complaint over loud voices at the home.