The onslaught of disasters in Japan right now stuns the imagination: a huge earthquake, a devastating tsunami, overheating nuclear power plants, and even an active volcano. Thousands have perished, hundreds of thousands are homeless, and millions are enduring winter nights without reliable power. The human suffering is appalling. While I understand that U.S. TV news […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Schools
Politicians side with parents asking review of plans to put KIPP charter at Colton site
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | After weeks of heated debate over the future of Charles J. Colton Middle School on St. Claude Avenue, city and state elected officials are asking that Louisiana Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek put a six-month hold on the discussion and conduct a fresh “community process” moderated by […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Criminal Court judges' attendance, time on bench vary widely, according to DA stats
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Some of the city’s Criminal District Court judges are spending a lot more time on the bench than others, records compiled by the District Attorney’s Office show. At opposite ends of the scale for the 12 judges, Judge Robin Pittman spent 1,175 hours on the bench last […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
It's an oldie but a goodie: Sunshine is the best disinfectant, and we need a good dose
By Steve Beatty, The Lens staff writer | Happy Sunshine Week. Unlike other recent “weeks” and “days” invented by the greeting-card industry, this particular week is meant to help the general public, not honor a specific group. We’re here to remind people of their rights to observe and participate in government. The collection of laws […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
After six years on the Road Home, some things haven't changed, residents charge
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | Governors and mayors and presidents have come and gone since Katrina, but Louisiana’s all-time favorite whipping boy seems to have eternal life: the Road Home program. Exasperated was the one word that best way described the crowd that gathered Wednesday night in the City Council chamber for […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
D.A. Cannizzaro fires back by releasing Judge White's attendance record
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro has retaliated against a critic by releasing numbers that he says show Judge Laurie White to have the poorest attendance record of the Criminal District Court’s 12 judges. White last week accused Cannizzaro of regularly orchestrating “pick and pleas” in his courtroom when […]
Posted inOpinion
When good times roll, must crime cameras roll, too?
By Mark Moseley, The Lens opinion writer | I trust you did something unstructured and excessive during Carnival. That’s the reason for the season, right? The morning parades after Mardi Gras are noticeably less festive. Everyone’s back in their regular costumes, congregating together to receive ashen foreheads instead of colorful beads. It’s a time for […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
David Simon tosses bead
Even the “Treme” boss himself had to work the Muses parade shoot. David Simon joined others in tossing beads to the actors, who were pretending to be looking up at a passing float. And they weren’t even great beads.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Federal award or not, Iberville redevelopment to move forward on tax-credit financing
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | A $651 million redevelopment of the Iberville public-housing complex will be paid for with loans from the state, government-backed bonds and money from selling low-income housing tax credits, Housing Authority of New Orleans plans show. First submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
As penance, maybe Rev. Storms can save other ‘Christian’ bigots
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 […]