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Top Story

This category showcases the lead coverage readers need to know, offering context, clarity, and insight into issues shaping New Orleans and beyond.

New Orleans marks one year anniversary of deadly New Year’s attack on Bourbon Street

Above Bourbon Street, a new airborne community memorial pays homage to those killed in the New Year’s Day truck attack. To victims’ families, the artwork chronicles the sorrow — and the healing.
by Drew Hawkins, Gulf States Newsroom January 1, 2026 Updated January 2, 2026
aerial view of hurricane damaged area

Will New Orleans face fewer, but more powerful storms?

Was the 2025 hurricane season a glimpse of of the future? Though Louisiana had a quiet season, an analysis of this year's storms in the Atlantic basin. points to a new trend—of more intense but less frequent hurricanes.
by Marc Alessi December 29, 2025 Updated January 7, 2026

Preparing for a wildfire or hurricane? Don’t forget water, documents — and your birth control.

Few states include sexual and reproductive health supplies in emergency checklist recommendations, a new report finds.
by Jessica Kutz, The 19th December 26, 2025 Updated December 26, 2025

State rejects Smitty’s Supply request to dispose of wastewater, storm runoff in drainage

Tests of the collected runoff show it was still too contaminated to be released.
by Wesley Muller, Louisiana Illuminator December 24, 2025 Updated December 24, 2025

Ten years to justice

How a $40 accusation and inadequate representation cost a man 10 years of his life — and how he made it to freedom, with the help of lawyers from Innocence & Justice Louisiana.
by Bernard Smith December 22, 2025 Updated December 22, 2025

Charter school advocates fear their future at the Labor Department

Leaked emails show the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools landed a meeting with the Labor Secretary, who assuaged short-term concerns. Long-run worries remain though.
by Matt Barnum, Chalkbeat December 19, 2025 Updated December 22, 2025

‘They tricked me:’ Migrants feel deceived by ICE after being promised $1,000 to voluntarily depart 

Led to expect an “exit bonus,” migrants were left empty-handed in their home countries.
by Delaney Nolan December 18, 2025 Updated December 22, 2025

‘A leap of faith’: parents plead to save Leah Chase School

With OPSB slated to decide the fate of Leah Chase School tonight, school parents, along with the Chase family itself, are asking the board to believe in the school
by Marta Jewson December 18, 2025 Updated December 22, 2025

Usted puede hacer cumplir la ley de inmigración de maneras profesionales

La forma en que se aplica la ley es tan importante como la ley misma.
by Arthur Hunter Jr. December 17, 2025 Updated December 22, 2025

Sheltering in place through the ICE storm

A survey in photo and text, of what New Orleanians are thinking about the local immigrants threatened by Catahoula Crunch.
by Gus Bennett December 12, 2025 Updated January 28, 2026

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