Bobby Paul Edwards, who “employed” Christopher Smith at his J&J Cafeteria in Conway, S.C., from 2009 to 2014, has now been ordered to pay the former employee nearly $550,000 in restitution. By Stacy M. BrownNNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent@StacyBrownMedia In a story that proved as appalling as many of the...
Following CDC Recommendations, Mayor Cantrell Lifts Mask Mandate for Fully Vaccinated Individuals
By Constance M. Gistand, MD, MPH, FACP On the heels of the the Centers for Disease Control announcement on Thursday, May 13, 2021, that people who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear masks or practice social distancing indoors or outdoors in most situations, the city of New Orleans is lifting its mask...
Governor Edwards Makes the Right Move on Federal Unemployment Boosts
At least 16 states, all of them led by Republican governors, are now opting out of the federal government’s supplemental unemployment program which adds an additional $300 a week to state benefits for unemployed workers as a part of continued efforts to help mitigate the economic hurt caused by the...
NOTCF Announces $600,000 in Grants for Culture Bearers
The organization also unveils special program for live music venues The New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF) today (Thursday, May 13) to announced the launch of their initial grants program for culture bearers. For its initial grant program, NOTCF will distribute $600,000 for a period that begins May 17...
We Are At War: We’ve Seen “the” Video, Let’s Talk About the Problem—Unchecked Gentrification
Just about all of New Orleans is talking about the viral Instagram video by community activist and declared mayoral candidate Byron Cole. Cole recently took to social media to document an illegal block party in his 7th Ward neighborhood, where an event organizer, who has since been identified as Janna...
Fried Chicken Fest Returns in Fall, Moves to Lakefront
The annual National Fried Chicken Festival has announced a new home along the New Orleans Lakefront as the festival approaches its fifth-anniversary event taking place on Saturday, Oct. 23 and Sunday, Oct. 24. The new location will provide festival goers with more than one million square feet of waterfront views, which...
State Rep. Willard’s Bill to Cap Increases on Property Tax Assessments at 10 percent Passes House, Advances to Senate
State Rep. Matthew Willard's proposed Constitutional Amendment to limit assessment increases on residential properties in Orleans Parish at 10 percent annually is on to the Senate after passing in the House of Representatives today (Monday, May 10). "I made a promise to the people of District 97 that I would take action to...
House Committee Kills Housing Bill that Would Have Expanded Protections to LGBTQ Community
By Ryan NelsenLSU Manship School News Service BATON ROUGE -- An attempt to align Louisiana with federal laws on housing discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity failed Monday, with Republican lawmakers using some interesting, if not questionable, logic to kill the bill. Rep. Aimee Freeman, D- New Orleans, said her bill, HB282, would have eliminated discrimination in housing sales...
Bill to Extend Early Voting Pushes through Committee and is Passed by State House
By Sydney McGovern LSU Manship School News ServiceA bill to extend early voting from seven to 10 days during presidential elections was approved unanimously by a House committee Wednesday, March 5. And one week later, on May 12, was overwhelmingly passed by the state House with 91 “yes” votes and seven “no”...
City Council Will Resume In-Person Meetings
For the first time since the pandemic began over a year ago, the Council will hold its next regular meeting on Thursday, May 20 in person at City Hall. The meeting will take place at 10 a.m. in the Council Chambers. Citing the public health dangers posed by COVID-19, the...