Observers say that New Orleans may be seeing a culture shift, toward a more sustainable Carnival. This year, one parade – Krewe of Freret – even banned plastic beads. Key to these efforts is Grounds Krewe, a local nonprofit, which provides local krewes with tens of thousands of environmentally conscious parade-throws — read below for the Top Five sustainable throws!
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Who will end up paying for Gov. Jeff Landry’s temporary Super Bowl homeless shelter?
State officials are asking the federal government to reimburse $20 million in costs for the 200-bed shelter as part of a Super Bowl-Mardi Gras security package. The state is also tapping leftover COVID-19 rental assistance funds.
Posted inBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens episode 265: ‘That’s just a payday loan’
Nick Chrastil on records that show plans for Gov. Jeff Landry’s “transitional center” were well underway before the terrorist attack. Marta Jewson on the ongoing dispute over a supposed $90 million settlement between the City and School Board amid its financial crisis.
Posted inEnvironment
Great River Road dropped from consideration as a National Historic Landmark, for now
The head of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the president of St. John Parish said the West Bank is “now open for business.”
Posted inSchools
OPSB goes to court to get $20 million – and to stop the city from skimming money from school kids
While recent furor has focused on the city’s fumbled $20 million deal with the Orleans Parish School Board, district leaders say it’s more important to stop the city from taking a “collection fee” off the top of school tax payments.
Posted inOpinion
Vote to reject the state’s costly push to fill Louisiana jails and prisons
Voters have a chance on March 29 to turn the tide against Gov. Jeff Landry and his legislature’s extensive, expensive plans to expand the criminal-justice system in Louisiana, which already incarcerates more people per capita than any other state
Posted inBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens episode 264 Part II: ‘Our Katrina narrative’
The Lens spent January talking to Lower 9th Ward residents to tell their stories, narratives a Super Bowl committee wanted to control.
Posted inOpinion
True Terror: New Orleans Likely Not Prepared for Much
“As a researcher who has closely observed, personally experienced local struggles,” says the writer, Bethany Garfield, “it’s with a heavy heart that I say that investigations into the state of our city’s protective plans and systems will likely garner the following conclusion: New Orleans isn’t ready for much of anything..”
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Behind the scenes of Super Bowl shelter planning
Emails show that state officials considered creating a shelter in a barge moored in Industrial Canal — and that prominent local developers knew about the shelter long before some city officials.
Posted inBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens episode 264 Part I: ‘Our Katrina narrative’
The Lens spent January talking to Lower 9th Ward residents to tell their stories, narratives a Super Bowl committee wanted to control.