Is it illegal to carry a concealed gun while watching a parade in Louisiana? Depends who you ask.
Posted inLens Carnival Edition
A satire of tragedy: the first Mardi Gras after Katrina
At that point in 2006, hardly anything seemed worthy of celebrating. Except everyone wanted and needed the kind of emotional release that comes with Carnival. We needed one day that brought New Orleans back to normal – or the abnormal, some would say.
Posted inLens Carnival Edition
Two decades of crotches as canvas
Best known for their merkins – pubic wigs – the Bearded Oysters have now been a symbol of feminist liberation for 20 years, within a few local parades, including Muses
Posted inLens Carnival Edition
The price of Passionfruit: how band directors balance the books
New Orleans band directors must see band as a small business, if they want to provide students — especially students in this high-poverty city — with instruments, uniforms, daily bus rides, food after parades, and all the tools they need to boost musicianship.
Posted inLens Carnival Edition
Floating an idea: a greener Carnival
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 schoolkids
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