New Orleans

High temperatures in the US are causing power demand to exceed forecasts, affecting areas from Chicago to New York City and New Orleans, leading to increased health risks. Nearly half the country is experiencing hot and humid conditions through the week.

Granaio LLC, owner of DeGaulle Manor, sued the city of New Orleans on June 30 to challenge its authority to demolish the complex, alleging due process violations and financial harm. The city resumed demolition efforts in June 2026 after pausing due to legal challenges and funding issues, using $3 million from its short-term rental fund.

Louisiana's highest court halted the criminal indictment against state attorney general Liz Murrill. A New Orleans grand jury charged her with 16 counts of intimidation and malfeasance related to a law affecting the city’s courts. The case involves a political conflict between Republican state leaders and New Orleans officials.

The 2026 Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans faces contract negotiations after its current multi-year agreement ends that year. Last year’s event had production issues, lower ticket sales, and payment delays, prompting complaints from local businesses. Kirk McDonald of Essence’s parent company reaffirmed the festival’s commitment to New Orleans, proposing a $12 million annual funding plan for year-round community engagement.

A grand jury in New Orleans indicted Louisiana's attorney general, Liz Murrill, on 16 counts of intimidation and malfeasance related to a dispute over court reforms. Republican Governor Jeff Landry pledged to pardon Murrill, while New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno accused her of threatening officials. The case involves a law consolidating court clerk offices, opposed by local leaders, and warnings from Murrill about 'usurper' laws.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill was indicted on 16 felony counts by an Orleans Parish grand jury, with evidence including letters she sent to New Orleans officials. The letters referenced Louisiana’s usurper statutes and threatened legal consequences if recipients did not drop a clerk dispute, prompting claims of political retaliation and potential legal conflicts between the state and city.

Louisiana's attorney general was indicted by a grand jury in New Orleans on criminal charges. She is accused of attempting to intimidate local officials who opposed a law to overhaul local courts, by warning them they could face removal from their jobs.

Louisiana's attorney general, Liz Murrill, was indicted by a grand jury in New Orleans for allegedly intimidating officials who opposed a law to overhaul local courts. She threatened eight officials, including Mayor Helena Moreno and District Attorney Jason Williams, with removal from their jobs.

Louisiana's attorney general was indicted by a grand jury in New Orleans on criminal charges for attempting to intimidate local officials opposing a law to overhaul the local courts.

French Quarter business owners filed a lawsuit against the Sewerage & Water Board over lack of communication during a 10-month drainage pipe replacement project, which they claim caused revenue losses and closures. City officials announced a $200,000 grant program for affected businesses, with construction expected to finish by late September.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill denied knowledge of a reported Orleans Parish grand jury investigation into her correspondence with New Orleans city leaders. The dispute centers on her warning that city officials' actions to counter a state law eliminating a court clerk position were illegal, potentially risking their offices. New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno accused Murrill of intimidation, while the Louisiana Supreme Court upheld the state's legal stance.

The Essence Festival of Culture will feature panels addressing Black political disenfranchisement following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on Louisiana v. Callais, which weakened the Voting Rights Act. The Global Black Economic Forum (GBEF) will highlight impacts of redistricting in Louisiana, where one of two majority-minority congressional districts was eliminated. Panels will focus on voting rights, redistricting, and strategies to protect Black political power.

A New Orleans tax preparer was arrested and accused of tax fraud. The woman faces charges related to fraudulent tax practices.

Beulah Kenny LaBostrie, a longtime president of ACORN, led voter registration drives, fair housing advocacy, and minimum wage campaigns in New Orleans. She opposed privatization efforts and mentored activists post-Hurricane Katrina before her death in 2018 at age 96.

Louisiana's summer temperatures have risen since 1970, with record heat-related deaths and emergency room visits in recent years. Climate Central reports average summer temperature increases of 4.1 degrees in New Orleans and 4.3 degrees in Shreveport. In 2023, 88 heat-related deaths and 6,187 ER visits were recorded.

A 75-year-old New Orleans man named Santa Claus was arrested in a child predator sting after allegedly attempting to meet someone he believed to be a 15-year-old boy through explicit online chats. The arrest was part of a sting operation led by Kenner police, who used an undercover detective posing as a minor.

Kota Dosa, a New Orleans-based rock band, had their equipment stolen in San Francisco during their summer tour. The band describes their music as a blend of blues, jazz, and psychedelic.

Black educators in 1930s New Orleans organized for equal pay after salaries were restored only for white teachers during the Great Depression. Their efforts led to the creation of AFT Local 527, which achieved salary equalization in 1943 and aligned with the Civil Rights Movement. Later, the United Teachers of New Orleans union formed in 1972, but union protections declined after Hurricane Katrina.

Gov. Jeff Landry’s budget vetoes resulted in significant cuts to projects in New Orleans and groups serving Black communities, with reductions framed as fiscal responsibility but criticized as retaliation by lawmakers. Key cuts include funding for Algiers Development District, resiliency hubs, and Behrman Stadium, impacting programs for elderly and children.

A nonprofit from Los Angeles, A New Way of Life Reentry Program, has opened a transitional home in Charlotte's Sugar Creek neighborhood for women returning from incarceration. The home houses up to six women and is part of the organization's 15th location, with a 6% recidivism rate reported among participants. The program provides housing, legal services, and workforce development at less than half the cost of incarceration.

Planned Parenthood plans to reopen a clinic in New Orleans later this year and launch telehealth services in Louisiana this summer, following the closure of two clinics due to Medicaid cuts under the Trump administration.

Battery energy storage is becoming critical for modern power systems due to falling costs and renewable energy growth. Flood-prone U.S. counties are experiencing population losses from rising insurance and housing costs, though international migration offsets some departures. Oil tankers are resuming movement through the Strait of Hormuz, easing shipping disruptions and lowering oil prices.

Elenora Alcorn Peete founded the Domestic Workers Union in New Orleans in 1918, organizing over 1,000 members to demand better pay and conditions for domestic workers. The New Orleans City Council Street Renaming Commission proposed renaming Behrman Highway in her honor to recognize her impact on labor rights and challenges to systemic inequality.

Planned Parenthood Great Plains will open a New Orleans clinic and launch telehealth services in Louisiana after two existing clinics closed due to Trump administration Medicaid cuts. The new clinic will offer reproductive health services but not abortions, while supporting patients seeking care in states where abortion is legal.

Daniel Cressy, a 23-year-old Louisiana man, became the first person in his state to be functionally cured of sickle cell disease through gene therapy at Manning Family Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. The treatment enables him to pursue his career as a commercial pilot, and Louisiana has the highest rate of sickle cell disease cases in the US.

New Orleans is advancing plans to use federal funding for replacing lead pipes, with a Louisiana constitutional amendment on the November ballot aimed at removing legal barriers. The Sewerage & Water Board has secured $152 million in federal funds, but a constitutional provision prohibits public money from being spent on private property, necessitating the proposed amendment for clarity.

The Tennessee Titans aim to strengthen their secondary for the 2026 NFL season by signing veterans Cor’Dale Flott and Alontae Taylor. Taylor, a Tennessee native, will focus on outside cornerback and recently surprised his mother with a home in Murfreesboro. The team’s secondary struggled last season due to injuries and trades but is now adding experience ahead of training camp.

Tulane University has signed an agreement to take ownership of the former Charity Hospital building in New Orleans, transforming it into a $500 million bioscience, medical research, and education hub. The project, expected to start construction in the fall and finish by 2029, aims to create 2,400 permanent jobs and generate $530 million annually in economic impact.

A 23-year-old New Orleans man became the first in Louisiana to be functionally cured of sickle cell disease through gene therapy. Daniel Cressy underwent the treatment at Manning Family Children’s Hospital and now plans to establish a nonprofit to support others with the disease.

Daniel Cressy, a 23-year-old from Louisiana, is the first in the state to be functionally cured of sickle cell disease via gene therapy at Manning Family Children’s Hospital. The procedure used his own edited stem cells, and he aims to launch a nonprofit to support others undergoing similar treatment.

Delta Air Lines will cancel two nonstop routes from Austin to Memphis and New Orleans on October 5. The airline stated the change is 'to better align with demand.'

The National Weather Service confirmed a 10th tornado from the June 18-19 severe weather outbreak, with two tornadoes striking Eden Isles simultaneously. An EF0 tornado caused minor damage in Eden Isles, while an EF1 tornado tracked further into Mississippi. No fatalities or injuries were reported.

Below Sea Level Aid, a New Orleans nonprofit, provides harm reduction kits containing items like Narcan, tourniquets, and test strips to safer intravenous drug use. The organization also launched a medication assistance program in May 2026 to help patients cover medication costs through partnerships with local clinics.

Charles M. Blow, a political commentator, advocates for mentoring young boys without fathers through the New Orleans-based organization Son of a Saint, which provides guidance and support to transform their lives.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) faces potential budget cuts under the Trump administration, threatening its ability to support farmers like River Queen Greens who use cover crops to improve soil health. The USDA's proposed budget would eliminate $700 million in technical assistance, reducing staff by 3,000 nationwide, including a drastic cut in Louisiana from 37 to five full-time employees. Over 500 farmers have urged Congress and the administration to prioritize NRCS staffing.

Tropical Storm Arthur caused deadly flooding in New Orleans. The storm's impact is highlighted as a significant event in the region.

Tropical Storm Arthur's remnants caused severe flooding and damage in Louisiana and Mississippi, with over 2 feet of rain in 48 hours and confirmed tornadoes in central Louisiana and near New Orleans. A worker in Mississippi died during storm cleanup, and evacuations were ordered near a dam due to rising water concerns.

New Orleans experienced minor damage during recent storms, with tree damage reported in City Park and Metairie Road, and a brief issue at a Sewerage and Water Board plant. Mayor Helena Moreno delayed City Hall and NORD camp openings and urged residents to avoid downed power lines, commending emergency teams for their response.

Tropical Storm Arthur weakened, causing tornado warnings in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi before exiting the state. U.S. gasoline prices dropped below $4 per gallon following a peace deal framework between the U.S. and Iran, though analysts warn of potential volatility. U.S. jobless claims decreased slightly, indicating a resilient labor market despite economic uncertainties.

New Orleans charter school Lycee Francais International de la Louisiane has sued the French government's Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE) for a sixth time, alleging unreasonable scrutiny led to a loss of 191 students and $2.43 million in state funding. The lawsuit claims AEFE's probationary accreditation decisions caused enrollment declines, forcing layoffs and class closures.