public safety

Firefighters battle Carrollton Avenue blaze under scorching temps

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With mid-day temperatures approaching triple digits on Sunday (July 2), the New Orleans Fire Department battled both the mid-day heat and two separate two-alarm fires. The first occurred in an occupied two-story commercial building on South Carrollton Avenue in Gert Town. A 911 call alerted at 1:31 p.m. alerted first-responders to the fire. After being dispatched to 3625 S. Carrollton Ave., NOFD Fire Operations personnel were confronted with a working fire involving two separate businesses, Mobile Tint and Audio auto window tinting service on the first floor and Lovely Nails salon on the second floor. Firefighters had to force entry into the building through first-floor front glass doors and a rear metal door to battle the fire.

public safety

Two car crash in Hollygrove leaves one driver dead

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A driver was killed in a two-car crash Saturday afternoon near South Carrollton Avenue and Earhart Boulevard in Hollygrove, the New Orleans Police Department reported. The other driver was injured in the crash. At about 2:30 p.m., a man was speeding on Pritchard Place and drove through the stop sign at Dublin Street, police said. As he entered the intersection, his car was struck by another vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

city government

Viewpoint: Dysfunctional city agencies make New Orleans the Big Uneasy

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Just call me F-23,931. Those are my unique numerals in the chronological list of citizens who requested an item number from the New Orleans Police Department in June 2023. I called the cops on June 25 because thieves decided to destroy the top of my car. After causing several thousand dollars of damage, the thugs got away with a few quarters and a pocket knife. Luckily, my insurance will cover the repairs.

city government

Roadwork ahead: Lanes to close for repaving work on MLK Boulevard

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Drivers can expect intermittent lane closures on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard from South Claiborne Avenue to Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard from Wednesday (June 21) through Friday of next week (June 30), as crews apply asphalt paving to the roadway. Motorists are advised to use caution during this time as the lane closures will occur across the closed parking and travel lanes. The street will reopen to traffic at 5:30 p.m. each day (see map.)

Signage and traffic control measures, such as barrels and fencing, will be onsite to direct drivers and pedestrians. Vehicles must be moved off the street before Wednesday at 7 a.m. The Department of Public Works asks that residents adhere to no parking signage on the streets. Vehicles parked in these zones will be ticketed and towed.

public safety

NOPD plans sobriety checkpoint for Thursday night

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The NOPD’s Traffic Division will conduct an upcoming sobriety checkpoint at an undisclosed location overnight on Thursday (June 15). The checkpoint will operate between the hours of 9 p.m. on Thursday through 5 a.m. on Friday (June 16). Motorists will experience minimal delays and should have the proper documentation available if requested, including proof of insurance and driver’s license.

public safety

Work on water main near Carrollton Plant could affect Garden District

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From the Sewerage & Water Board

Sewerage & Water Board crews will perform a water valve closure on a 48-inch transmission main on Panola Street near Broadway as a part of the South Claiborne Transmission Main project. Crews will begin closing the valve on Saturday (May 27) beginning at 8 a.m. The water closure is expected to last until mid-July. This 48-inch water main supplements much of the water supply to the Central Business District and the Garden District resulting in potential lower-than-normal water pressure. Customers will observe similar pressures from the test closure performed on March 25. The 48-inch water main is one of six large transmission mains that supplements water to much of the metro area, which means there are redundancies in the water distribution system.

public safety

S&WB lifts boil water advisory for all Uptown areas

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From the Sewerage & Water Board

Crews continue to work to repair a water main break of a 30-inch water line at Audubon and Cohn, which was installed in 1905. All residents in the affected area now have water through temporary lines and in consultation with the Louisiana Department of Health, the Sewerage & Water Board reports, and the precautionary boil water advisory has been lifted for all customers. A map of the affected areas can be found here: www.swbno.org/News/BoilWater

Customers who have not used their water supply during this precautionary boil water advisory are advised to flush their internal and external plumbing by running water through their system for several minutes. As part of the repair to the 30-inch water main, crews need to install an additional temporary water valve to isolate the section that needs to be repaired. The contractor reported on Wednesday morning (April 12) that the water flow from the break is sufficiently high that a bypass line will be needed to safely install the second temporary valve.

Fire erupts in a University area apartment building

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A one-alarm fire broke out Monday night (April 10) in a house at 825 Hillary St., according to the New Orleans Fire Department and University area neighbors. The property is being developed as student housing, documents filed with the city indicate. Owner Preston Tedesco, a doubles-to-dorms developer, submitted a non-conforming use request in 2021, asking to create five apartments in the building at that address. An LLC that Town of Carrollton Watch has linked to Tedesco and developer John Hamide bought the 2,200-square-foot building building in 2020 from Riverlake Properties for $1 million, according to the Assessor’s Office. The owner was cited for working without a permit in early 2021.

public safety

Boil water advisory in effect during water main repair

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Sewerage & Water Board crews are continuing repair work on a water main break on a 30-inch water line at Audubon and Cohn. The water main dates back to 1905. Residents on the impacted blocks were notified by door knocking and community canvassing. Most residents in the affected area now have water through temporary lines. There are customers who are still without water services on South Johnson and Calhoun streets.

Uncategorized

Fire in vacant Central City house damages nearby buildings, displaces residents

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Eight people were displaced Saturday by a fire that started in a neighboring abandoned property. New Orleans firefighters responded to a 911 call reporting a fire at 2708-10 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The first NOFD company arrived at 1:17 p.m. to find a one-story, wood-framed double shotgun heavily involved in flames. The flames were spreading to neighboring properties, so the firefighters  struck a second alarm. The neighbors had evacuated their homes before the first unit arrived.