public safety

Roadwork ahead: Weekend water main repairs planned in Central City

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Repairs to two water mains will necessitate temporary road closures and low water pressure in Central City this weekend, the Sewerage & Water Board reported. Beginning on Saturday (Dec. 10) at 8 a.m., Sewerage & Water Board crews will temporarily close one lane of riverbound traffic in the 2800 block of Martin Luther King, between South Claiborne Avenue and Magnolia Street, for repair work and road restoration. The roadway is expected to reopen the same day at around 4 p.m.

This closure is required for repairs to a 4-inch water main that runs along Martin Luther King Boulevard. Signage will be in place to direct traffic.

opinion

Viewpoint: New Orleans voters need a voice in who runs the NOPD

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For perhaps the first time since Mayor LaToya Cantrell appointed Shaun Ferguson as chief of police almost four years ago, Ferguson spoke candidly in public. “I want to encourage our city leaders to have better communication lines. This isn’t able personal agendas. It’s about the safety of the people of New Orleans,” Ferguson said Wednesday (Dec. 7) during his remarks on what influenced his surprise decision to retire in less than three weeks.

public safety

Maintenance at S&WB plant may reduce water pressure in the Garden District

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The Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans crews will perform maintenance work beginning Wednesday (Dec. 7) that could result in lower-than-normal water pressure in the Garden District, the S&WB states in a press release. The repair work will begin at 7 a.m. is expected to last at least 12 hours. As a part of the Water Hammer Hazard Mitigation Program, crews will isolate and close a 43-inch water main located within the Carrolton Water Plant. The water main they will be closing supplements much of the water supply to the Central Business District and the Garden District.

traffic fatality

Driver killed in one-car crash while exiting I-10 at Carrollton

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A man was killed and another injured Sunday night (Dec. 4) in a single-car crash in the Interstate 10 exit lanes at Carrollton Avenue, the New Orleans Police Department reported. The car, a Honda Civic, had hit the neutral ground and flipped over multiple times, police said. At about 10:50 p.m., NOPD Second District units responded to a reported crashed vehicle in the westbound exit lane of I-10 at Carrollton. Officers located the silver Honda Civic under the elevated interstate.

fire

Fire breaks out in Audubon Street apartment building on Thanksgiving morning

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A fire broke out in a University area apartment building on Thanksgiving morning (Nov. 24), the New Orleans Fire Department reported.  The building’s tenants had all escaped safely before the NOFD arrived. Flames were coming out of a third floor window when firefighters arrived at 624 Audubon St. at about 10:50 a.m. They searched the building to make sure all occupants had evacuated, while other firefighters attacked the blaze from the inside to get ahead of the fire. The third-floor attic apartments, including the unit where the fire had started, were occupied on Thursday morning.

public safety

International School of Louisiana student hit by car while crossing Magazine Street

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An International School of Louisiana student was hit by a car while crossing Magazine Street on Wednesday morning (Nov. 16), the New Orleans Police Department reported. The incident occurred at about 8:15 a.m. in the 1400 block of Magazine Street. Medical responders took the juvenile to the emergency room to be treated for injuries that an NOPD spokesperson described as minor. The student is a preteen, police said, but they did not provide the age or gender.

public safety

Driver killed in car fire after vehicle stalls at Tchoupitoulas exit

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A driver was killed early Sunday in a sport utility vehicle that burst into flames at the Tchoupitoulas exit off of U.S. 90. At about 2:30 a.m., a Ford Explorer stalled in the middle lane of the exit and was struck by a 2016 Chevy Malibu, setting off a fire in the Explorer. A third vehicle, a 2016 GM Yukon XL, then collided with the Malibu in a three-car pile-up. The driver of the Explorer died at the scene. The other two drivers were injured.

public safety

Fire Marshal inspections of D2Ds yield no violations, report states

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The State Fire Marshal’s Office found no violations during the inspections of Uptown buildings believed to be “doubles-to-dorms” student housing developments. In an effort organized by state Rep. Aimee Freeman, University area neighbors had cited more than 100 buildings in complaints to the Fire Marshal. The complaints stated that the buildings are unlawfully occupied and require safety inspections. The Fire Marshal’s Office announced Monday (Nov. 7) that its team of 19 deputies encountered no life safety concerns or improper commercial use of one- or two-family residences during the inspections.

flood protection and drainage

Roadwork ahead: Eastbound lanes on South Claiborne closed for water main repair

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From the Sewerage & Water Board

Beginning on Wednesday (Nov. 9) at 6 p.m., the Sewerage & Water Board’s contractor, BLD Inc. will temporarily close two right lanes of eastbound traffic on South Claiborne Avenue at Calhoun Street with emergency repair work and road restoration taking about 24 hours. The roadway is expected to re-open on Thursday (Nov. 10) at around 6 p.m.

Weather permitting, crews will work through the evening on Wednesday.  This closure is required for an emergency repair to a 48-inch water main that runs along South Claiborne. Signage will be in place to direct traffic.

doubles to dorms

State Fire Marshal begins inspections of doubles-to-dorms, Town of Carrollton Watch reports

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The State Fire Marshal followed through Tuesday (Nov. 1) on warning letters sent in October to the owners of more than 100 student-housing conversions in the University area. The letters stated the buildings may be unlawfully occupied and require safety inspections, according to media reports. Buildings that house four or more unrelated residents are considered commercial properties and must have fire exits, sprinkler systems and meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Preservation advocate Susan Johnson of Town of Carrollton Watch reported on Tuesday’s inspections on the organization’s Facebook page:
State Fire Marshal officials went ahead with fire safety inspections of private dorms (D2Ds) in the university neighborhood today (Nov.