crime

Suspect sought in September homicide on Saratoga and Thalia

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The New Orleans Police Department is seeking assistance in identifying and locating a suspect in the investigation of a homicide in the 1300 block of South Saratoga Street on Sept. 9, 2020. NOPD’s Homicide Unit detective determined the individual pictured above to be a suspect in the shooting death. He is wanted on a charge of second-degree murder. He is suspected in the death of Gerren Green, 19.

Krewe of House Floats

Yardi Gras Stories: Surfing the Irish Channel

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From its seeds in an offhand remark founder Megan Boudreaux posted on Twitter, Krewe of House Floats has quickly grown into a superkrewe, with about 11,800 members in 40 subkrewes across the metro area. All are devoted to keeping the Carnival spirit alive and providing support for locals affected by the pandemic. Throughout the season, Uptown Messenger will be visiting with neighborhood KoHF subkrewes across Uptown to see how they’re doing Yardi Gras. 

The Krewe of House Floats’ neighborhood theme “Channel Surfing” makes for good viewing in the Irish Channel. 

Co-captain Lindsay Grissom came up with the theme. “We hope that it gives everyone the creative room to decorate however they want, since there are so many TV options out there,” Grissom said. “People are also free to decorate without using that theme — we’re just hoping for some Mardi Gras spirit in the Channel.” 

Her co-captain Autumn Town got involved in this project when Admiral Megan Boudreaux first came up with the idea and was looking for subkrewe captains.

armed robbery

Dog attacks would-be robber in Lower Garden District

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A dog thwarted an armed robbery attempt in the Lower Garden District on Monday (Jan. 25), the New Orleans Police Department reported. The dog was walking with a 45-year-old man around noon in the 1300 block of Constance Street. A man approached the pair from behind, implied he had a gun and demanded the man’s money. That’s when the victim’s dog attacked the gunman, who fled the area.

crime

16-year-old arrested in armed vehicle theft, vehicle burglaries

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The NOPD has arrested a 16-year-old male suspected in the investigation of an armed robbery of a vehicle in the Fontainebleau area on Saturday (Jan. 23). He is also wanted on multiple outstanding warrants. The armed robbery occurred about 7:15 p.m. in the 4500 block of Eden Street. The victim, a 23-year-old man, exited his white Kia while leaving it running.

Mardi Gras

Two storefront floats roll out on Magazine Street

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Home Malone and Mignon Faget, both on Magazine Street, have installed storefront floats to bring Carnival to shoppers and passers-by. 

Home Malone is festooned with decorative elements from its own shop and those created by Stronghold Studios, complete with their silhouetted “Throw Me Somethin’ Mister” revelers. Kristen Malone said they put their creative minds together and the result is a team effort.   

In keeping with Audubon Riverside theme “There Is a House in New Orleans” for the Krewe of House Floats, the Home Malone float carries the theme “Tropical Green House.” Malone started out making painted furniture and art objects in her carport in 2011. “My parents were both creative and entrepreneurs,” Malone said, “so I have been around this all my life.”

She sold her wares under the name “Home Malone” at festivals and online. And she also taught workshops and hosted “paint parties,” where she provided the wood cut-outs and all the supplies and people could easily create their own artwork without having to invest in a lot of materials. 

Malone sources things from local artists, as well as hiring them to do classes, such as making headdresses and tie-dye.

Sexual assault survivors in the criminal justice system discussed in virtual ‘listening session’ for DA’s office

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The new District Attorney’s Office transition team held a virtual forum on Saturday (Jan. 23) for the public to discuss their concerns and priorities with the DA’s office, now led by the newly elected Jason Williams.

The theme of Saturday’s zoom meeting was “Protect Vulnerable Communities.” This is also one of the working groups in his transition team. Attendees brought up a wide range of concerns: police treatment of sexual assault survivors, policing in schools, racism in policing and the treatment of homeless people. The working group — led by Madeleine Landrieu, the Loyola Law School dean and a former judge, and Mary Claire Landry, the director of the New Orleans Family Justice Center — aims to enhance witness and victim support, address threats to vulnerable communities, increase connection to community and care, and addressing child abuse and intimate partner violence. 

What constitutes the term “vulnerable communities” was left undefined, and attendees were encouraged to suggest which groups could be included. 

Jason Williams was not in attendance. Rather, the representatives were there to hear concerns and suggestions from the public and advocacy groups, with the understanding that their comments would be taken into consideration when the group issued their final recommendations to Williams.

As chief prosecutor, the Orleans Parish DA holds tremendous power in a city with an extremely high rate of incarceration.

opinion

Viewpoint: Candidates offer new voices for Second Congressional District voters

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Charter school co-principal Mindy McConnell and small business owner Jenette Porter —along with state Sen. Troy Carter, state Sen. Karen Carter Peterson and Baton Rouge activist Gary Chambers — all qualified yesterday for the open Second Congressional District seat recently vacated by former U.S. Rep Cedric Richmond, now a high-ranking aide to President Joe Biden. Qualifying continues until Friday (Jan. 22) at 4:30 p.m.  The race will be fast, furious, expensive and very competitive. The entrance of McConnell and Porter into the race will make the campaign more interesting to a wider range of voters. McConnell, 37, is a Libertarian who believes that it’s time to break up America’s two-party system.

business

Silver Lining: Parcels & Posts celebrates its first decade on Magazine Street

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Parcels & Post on Magazine Street is celebrating its 10th anniversary and Carnival in a big way. It will host one of the “Hire a Mardi Gras Artist” float installations sponsored by the Krewe of Red Beans, to be unveiled in February. Parcels & Post is also helping us celebrate Carnival by offering 20% off the regular shipping price for king cakes. They ship them all over the world. Owner Heidi Hammond and her husband moved to New Orleans in 2007.