By Stacy M. BrownNNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent Presumptive Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden is ramping up his campaign with a record-setting $280 million advertising buy. During a telephone call on Wednesday, August 5, with the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), Biden campaign officials said they will spend $280 million...
Work Search Requirement Returns for Unemployment Claimants
Along with the end of the $600 federal pandemic unemployment compensation benefit, Louisiana’s unemployed workers are being hit with another challenge this week—the return of work search requirements as of Sunday, August 9. Gov. John Bel Edwards, during his Thursday press conference, said there are thousands of jobs in Louisiana....
The Mayor’s Fund Now Accepting Tax-Deductible Contributions
Today (Thursday, Aug. 6), Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced an effort to assemble a private and philanthropic network of support housing insecure residents to stem a potential landslide of evictions, and to help as many families as possible retain the home they have. The Mayor’s Fund is now accepting tax-deductible donations...
COVID Meal Program Extended for 30 Days
City officials recently announced a 30-day extension of the COVID-19 Meal Assistance Program, a cost-shared initiative with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that delivers restaurant-made meals to thousands of residents in need. Twice daily meals will now be available to eligible recipients at least through Sep. 4. Approximately 9,000 residents...
High-Capacity COVID-19 Testing Available This Week
High-capacity COVID-19 testing will begin in New Orleans on Wednesday, July 29, in partnership with U.S. Health and Human Services and the Louisiana National Guard. The first week of this program will be administered at the UNO Lakefront Arena and will be drive-thru only. In the weeks to follow, the...
City to Open Applications for Emergency Rental Assistance
Beginning Monday, July 27, the City's Office of Community Development will begin taking applications for tenants residing in Orleans Parish in danger of being evicted. With the federal ban on evictions as outlined in the Cares Act expiring today, as many as 12 million households across the nation are at...
Enhanced Unemployment Benefits End this Week
With Republicans in Congress dragging their feet on a new stimulus package that may or may not include an extension of federally-enhanced unemployment compensation, the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) is advising individuals receiving unemployment benefits, that the last week of eligibility for claimants filing for the extra Federal Pandemic Unemployment...
School in Orleans Parish will Start with Distance Learning
With COVID-19 cases rising across New Orleans, NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) announced Tuesday (July 21) that students will start the school year with distance learning, with the goal of returning students to in-person learning after Labor Day. “While returning students to the classroom is absolutely critical, the latest data is...
Frontline Workers Urged to Apply for COVID-19 Hazard Pay
Applications for the Frontline Workers COVID-19 Hazard Pay Rebate Program opened today (Wednesday, July 15) 2and will remain open through October 31. The application can be found at http://frontlineworkers.la.gov/. The program will be limited to the first 200,000 applicants. Applicants must meet the following guidelines: Applicant is a Louisiana residentApplicant was employed...
Affordable Housing Out of Reach for Many New Orleanians, Report Shows
According to a report released today, full-time wage earners in New Orleans need to earn $20.73 an hour in order to afford a modest, two-bedroom apartment at fair-market rent rates. For the rest of the state, that figure is a little lower— but not much less at $17.48 per hour. The...