Local Politics

James Carville endorses Vice President Kamala Harris for 2024 presidential election

BY POET WOLFE | Staff writer
1 hr ago

James Carville, a famed and outspoken Democratic strategist based in New Orleans, endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president, just days after President Joe Biden's decision to drop ou…

Building Mid-Barataria diversion could mean billions in sales, hundreds of jobs, study says

BY MARK SCHLEIFSTEIN | Staff writer
7 hrs ago

The huge construction project will provide economic ripple effects, the study says. But commercial fishers call it skewed and unfair.

Fed up with repeated power outages, New Orleans officials seek answers from Entergy

BY SAM KARLIN | Staff writer
7 hrs ago

New Orleans officials on Tuesday probed Entergy on why the city has experienced a spike in power outages this year, especially during fair weather, airing a longstanding gripe of residents and…

See relationship timeline for Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Jeffrey Vappie, trips, love notes, more

Staff report
8 hrs ago

Below is a timeline of what is known about the alleged romantic relationship between Mayor LaToya Cantrell and former New Orleans police officer Jeffrey Vappie based on documents, news reports…

Resources

Why did LaToya Cantrell's bodyguard google a Nashville mayor scandal before indictment?

By JAMES FINN | Staff writer
8 hrs ago

Over the past two years, as it became increasingly clear that federal prosecutors were weighing a criminal case centered on the relationship between Mayor LaToya Cantrell and one of her bodygu…

As $83M rental assistance program ends in New Orleans, some fear evictions will spike

BY SOPHIE KASAKOVE | Staff writer
11 hrs ago

Advocates, tenants and landlords say a spike in evictions could be on the way in New Orleans as a sweeping pandemic-era rental and utility assistance program comes to an end.

Here's when New Orleans S&WB will start being responsible for catch basins across the city

BY BEN MYERS | Staff writer
20 hrs ago

City officials said Tuesday they are aiming to transfer 72,000 catch basins and small drain pipes to the Sewerage and Water Board by the beginning of next year, a move that will mark a monumen…

More Louisiana families will get Summer EBT this week. See if you qualify

BY SOPHIA BAILLY | Staff writer
23 hrs ago

Louisiana students who receive free or reduced school lunches will be mailed grocery cards this week, the second phase of a benefit program aimed at giving low-income students meals in the sum…

Kamala Harris campaign vets former Louisiana Congressman Cedric Richmond as VP candidate

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN and MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Jul 23, 2024

As her unprecedented run for president forges ahead and Kamala Harris looks to add a vice presidential nominee to her ticket, her campaign has requested vetting materials from former Louisiana…

Louisiana DOTD under external review after Jeff Landry, lawmakers call for change

BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer
Jul 22, 2024

The assessment is being undertaken after Gov. Jeff Landry in May ordered the transportation department to put together a plan rehabilitate itself.

Bike lanes, solar, energy conservation among programs under $50 million grant for New Orleans

BY MARK SCHLEIFSTEIN | Staff writer
Jul 22, 2024

The federal grant aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It will cover a wide range of projects, from bike sharing to building efficiency.

Here's who Louisiana's Democratic Party chief would like to see as the vice-presidential candidate

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
Jul 22, 2024

WASHINGTON – Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Randal L. Gaines said Monday he’d like to see former Gov. John Bel Edwards as vice president on the ticket with Kamala Harris — though he acknowle…

At Louisiana care facilities for disabled, audit finds cases of possible abuse, neglect

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN | Staff writer
Jul 22, 2024

A state audit has found there were at least 3,500 incidents of actual or alleged abuse or neglect during a five-year period at care facilities throughout Louisiana that serve people with devel…

Jeffrey Vappie, former LaToya Cantrell bodyguard accused of wire fraud, says he's innocent

By JAMES FINN | Staff writer
Jul 22, 2024

Jeffrey Vappie, the former New Orleans police officer whose alleged affair with Mayor LaToya Cantrell has embroiled her office in scandal, said Monday he plans to fight the charges a federal g…

LaToya Cantrell cancels Monday town hall at UNO, citing recent death of political consultant

By JAMES FINN | Staff writer
Jul 22, 2024

Mayor LaToya Cantrell's office has cancelled a town hall meeting scheduled for Monday night, citing the death over the weekend of longtime political consultant Bill Rouselle.

Harris looks to lock up Democratic nomination after Biden steps aside, reordering the 2024 race

BY ZEKE MILLER AND SEUNG MIN KIM | The Associated Press
Jul 22, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris moved swiftly to lock up Democratic delegates behind her campaign for the White House after President Joe Biden stepped aside amid concerns from within their own p…

A new plan to solve St. Tammany's budget problem? Parish President Mike Cooper thinks so.

By ALEX LUBBEN | Staff writer
Jul 22, 2024

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper will formally ask the Parish Council next month to increase property taxes on drainage, public safety, and the parish’s animal shelter — and offset tho…

How does voting by mail work in Louisiana? Here's what to know about the state's new rules.

By JULIA GUILBEAU | Staff writer
Updated Jul 22, 2024

A slew of laws quietly passed during the most recent Louisiana legislative session will make rules surrounding absentee voting more strict during the upcoming November election and beyond.

New Louisiana laws could make it tougher to vote absentee, following trends in Republican states

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN | Staff writer
Jul 22, 2024

Sweeping changes to Louisiana’s absentee voting rules, passed quietly in the Legislature this spring in a bid for election security, may make it tougher to vote by mail ahead of this fall’s pr…

Louisiana DNC delegates pledge support for Kamala Harris after Joe Biden exits race

By JAMES FINN | Staff writer
Jul 21, 2024

Louisiana's delegates to the Democratic National Convention voted Sunday to endorse Kamala Harris for president, signaling that almost all of the state's 53 envoys to the DNC will support her …

Louisiana Democrats praise Joe Biden after he withdraws from presidential race

BY TYLER BRIDGES and ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writers
Updated Jul 21, 2024

Louisiana Democrats heaved a collective sigh of relief Sunday after President Joe Biden ended a three-week drama by announcing that he is withdrawing as the party’s nominee.

Joe Biden wants to pass the baton to Kamala Harris. Here's how that might work.

BY BILL BARROW | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jul 21, 2024

ATLANTA — With President Joe Biden ending his reelection bid and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, Democrats now must navigate a shift that is unprecedented this late in an election year.

Kamala Harris could take over Joe Biden’s campaign cash

BY MEG KINNARD | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jul 21, 2024

Joe Biden’s campaign recently reported $91 million cash on hand. Allied Democratic campaign committees brought the total at his disposal to more than $240 million.

Republicans may sue if Democrats replace Joe Biden for president, Mike Johnson says

By JAMES FINN | Staff writer
Jul 21, 2024

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested Sunday that the GOP could meet President Joe Biden's decision to drop his reelection campaign with a slew of state-level lawsuits.

Joe Biden drops out of the 2024 presidential race. Read his letter to Americans.

By KASEY BUBNASH | Staff writer
Jul 21, 2024

President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race on Sunday, ending his bid for reelection following a recent debate with Donald Trump that intensified concerns about his age just …

Louisiana politicians react to President Joe Biden withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race

By BEN MYERS, MARK BALLARD, and JULIA GUILBEAU | Staff writers
Jul 21, 2024

Louisiana politicians and politicos are reacting after President Joe Biden announced Sunday his intention to drop of the 2024 race for the presidency following increasing pressure from fellow …

President Joe Biden ends his 2024 bid, endorses Kamala Harris

By COLLEEN LONG, ZEKE MILLER and DARLENE SUPERVILLE | ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jul 21, 2024

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, ending his bid for reelection following a disastrous debate with Donald Trump that raised doubts ab…

Longtime New Orleans political consultant William "Bill" Rouselle Jr. dies

BY BEN MYERS | Staff writer
Jul 21, 2024

William "Bill" Rouselle Jr., a longtime New Orleans political consultant, died Sunday at his Uptown home. He was 77.