It’s a shame that 99 percent of the hard-line “family values” moralizers ruin it for the rest of them. Take Grant Storms, for example — please. The reverend, best known for protesting the Southern Decadence festival in the French Quarter, was recently arrested after two women said they saw him masturbating in his van at […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Investigations
Some judges who were challenged by DA say he gamed the system when he was on bench
Cannizzaro’s impressive stats as a judge were sometimes inflated, say two current judges, as well as an attorney assigned to Cannizzaro’s courtroom. If true, his actions would raise ethical concerns.
Posted inOpinion
Coastal residents report oil spill's lasting effects
By Shannon Dosemagen, The Lens contributing opinion writer | Ten months after the Deepwater Horizon sank into the Gulf of Mexico, the long-term impacts of the oil spill continue to surface in coastal communities, and the developing picture is not a pretty one. Since 2000, the Louisiana Bucket Brigade (LABB) has trained communities affected by […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Land Use
Looking to buy a Road Home house at auction? What if it’s one you already own?
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer| The list of Road Home properties at risk of demolition is nothing new. It appears on the website of the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office, and is updated from time to time by CDM, the contractor that manages the demolition process. The list is a way of letting […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Schools
With RSD Superintendent Vallas leaving, state moves in new liaison, undertakes search
By Jessica Williams, The Lens staff writer | In preparation for Recovery School District Superintendent Paul Vallas’ departure in August, state education officials took the first step in the transition to new leadership on Monday, as State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek appointed a new liaison to the RSD to handle governance issues. Patrick Dobard, […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Inside the quirky world of special funds: Landrieu team vows closer scrutiny
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | The New Orleans Police Department raised $70,975 and spent $107,778 registering sex offenders last year. During that same period, the parking garages at Harrah’s Casino took in $19.8 million while the New Orleans Building Corporation raised no money at all. These are just a few of the […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
City to buy recycling carts, which will be delivered to customers only by request
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | The City of New Orleans could pay millions of dollars in coming months to buy new recycling carts for residents, judging from a bid request issued by the city as part of a deal with the city’s trash haulers to add that service by May 2. Mayor […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Investigations, Land Use
Copter man wants to add aviation school beside contested Gert Town helipad
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | Jonas Johnson has a vision for Gert Town’s Zion City neighborhood. Seeking city permission to continue using a vacant lot as a helicopter pad, Johnson on Thursday said he would like to reinvigorate the area by creating an “aviation school” for underserved children. That would mean expanding […]
Posted inOpinion
Confederacy's 150th: High time we honored the scalawags
By C.W. Cannon, The Lens contributing opinion writer | As we trudge into the sesquicentennial anniversary of the Confederacy, we can take heart that commemorations of the four-year fight to preserve slavery are paltry—especially when compared with the centennial in 1961. The cult-like adoration of all things Confederate seems to have dwindled to “a niche […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
$16 billion question: BP’s liability in Macondo disaster
When The National Oil Spill Commission’s Final Report was released last month, Commission Co-Chair William Reilly summarized the findings, saying: Our investigation shows that a series of specific and preventable human and engineering failures were the immediate causes of the Deepwater Horizon fire. But, in fact, this disaster was almost the inevitable result of years of […]