By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | The latest campaign filings from Gov. Bobby Jindal show more money flowing to him from former eBay CEO and defeated California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman than from the entire population of New Orleans. The largely uncontested incumbent raised $313,859 in cash between April 16 and July 14, […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Land Use
Filled-in canal drives up cost of planned Loyola Avenue streetcar extension
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | A bridge running over a buried canal beneath a streetcar track — the setup sounds like a backdrop for the post-industrial romance of an Arcade Fire video. On Loyola Avenue in the Central Business District, however, the infrastructure sandwich will soon be a very expensive reality – and […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Investigations
Overmedicating young inmates called chemical restraint
Antipsychotic drugs like Seroquel, developed specifically for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, are being prescribed to manage young inmates without either disorder, despite dangerous side effects.
Posted inOpinion
Get government funding out of the arts? Get real!
By Lamar White Jr., The Lens contributing opinion writer | In a recent opinion piece for The Lens, Kevin Kane argued against government support for the arts. Louisiana’s richly indigenous culture is self-sustaining – and should be, Kane argued. His views are not surprising. A New Yorker in our midst by way of a Tulane […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Sheriff's Office to be placed under federal consent decree, jail panelist says
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | The U.S. Department of Justice is in discussions that will place the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office under federal supervision, Loyola Professor Michael Cowan said Monday. “It’s my understanding that the Department of Justice has been in negotiations with the sheriff’s office and that it is likely that […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Deputy reviewed for other infractions
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | An Orleans Parish Sheriff’s deputy booked last month with simple assault had previously been suspended for allegedly chasing and roughing up a woman in an apparent road-rage incident, records show. Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman suspended Deputy Mark Andry for 10 days in February over the road-rage incident. […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Two Eris Parade arrestees ask for "vague" charges against them to be quashed
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Two defendants accused of disturbing the peace at an unpermitted parade in the Marigny have filed motions to quash charges against them because they say the state is being too vague about what they did wrong. Ron Morrison, 24, and Jonathan Cromwell, 30, filed the motions to […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Land Use
Grocer forging ahead with plans to resurrect Seventh Ward's iconic Circle Food Store
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer It was the place to go if you wanted to put food on the table, a uniform on your child or even a doctor’s eye on that lingering ear infection. Best known as a full-service grocery, Circle Food Store had physicians and dentists working in cramped offices a […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics, Investigations
Questions surround DA's decision to drop charges in gun-waving cop's case
Ex-cop Devyn Swanier lost his job but not his liberty. The young man he bullied thinks justice has not been served. Experts are split on the question.
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Land Use
Neighborhood Participation Plan cranking up after three years stuck in neutral
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | Three years after New Orleans voters approved a necessary charter change, City Hall is finally getting around to implementing the so-called Neighborhood Participation Program to give disparate communities all across the city a more direct voice in the governance process. According to a just-released “Scope of Work,” […]