Latest Metro New Orleans news

Updated 24 hours, every day

St. Bernard Parish on hook for legal fees in rental ordinance fight

by Mary Elise DeCoursey, The Times-Picayune

Thursday July 03, 2008, 5:09 PM

St. Bernard Parish will have to pay $123,771.92 in attorney fees to a fair-housing advocacy group that sued the parish in 2006 over a controversial rental ordinance.

Post a comment | View comments (9)

Investigation continues into St. John Parish teen shooting

by Victoria St. Martin, The Times-Picayune

Thursday July 03, 2008, 4:38 PM

St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's deputies are investigating the shooting of a 17-year-old Garyville boy who was riding his bicycle just before he was struck.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Slidell man arrested for assaulting third juvenile in a year

by Kia Hall Hayes, The Times-Picayune

Thursday July 03, 2008, 4:23 PM

A Slidell man was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly raping a three-year-old juvenile, one of three children he has been accused of assaulting in less than a year, according to police.

Post a comment | View comments (9)

Judge Seeber Bridge closed until 5 p.m.

by The Times-Picayune

Thursday July 03, 2008, 4:22 PM

Due to an emergency repair the Judge Seeber Bridge on North Claiborne Avenue will remain closed until 5 p.m. It will then open to limited traffic, with one lane in each direction closed until 8 p.m. as mechanical and electrial repairs continue.

Post a comment | View comments (4)

Decision on order stopping removal of trees and fences from 17th Street Canal expected by Monday

by The Times-Picayune

Thursday July 03, 2008, 2:28 PM

A Civil District Court judge told lawyers today that he will issue a decision on a request for a temporary restraining order to stop the Army Corps of Engineers from removing trees and fences from the 17th Street Canal by Sunday night or Monday.

Post a comment | View comments (17)

NOPD investigating kidnapping in 9th Ward

by The Times-Picayune

Thursday July 03, 2008, 2:20 PM

New Orleans Police are searching this afternoon for the suspect of an aggravated kidnapping.

Post a comment | View comments (33)

Photo: Essence empowerment seminars start with youth rally

by The Times-Picayune

Thursday July 03, 2008, 2:18 PM

MICHAEL DeMOCKER / THE TIMES-PICAYUNEArtist Jarvis performs for about 5,000 youngsters from area camps during the Youth Empowerment session at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Thursday, part of this weekend's Essence Music Festival activities.

MICHAEL DeMOCKER / THE TIMES-PICAYUNEKids take to the floor to do the "Cupid Shuffle" as youngsters from area camps enjoy the Youth Empowerment session at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Thursday.

Post a comment | View comments (7)

African American museum tour starts in New Orleans

by Jennifer Evans, The Times Picayune

Thursday July 03, 2008, 1:50 PM

A mobile museum highlighting the major contributions of African Americans in the history of the United States as it travels around the country will debut in downtown New Orleans today as part of the Essence Music Festival

Post a comment | View comments (12)

Double shooting in Old Jefferson stemmed from paternity dispute, police say

by Michelle Hunter, The Times-Picayune

Thursday July 03, 2008, 12:50 PM

Henry Reddix, 59, shot himself in the head.

Authorities say the double shooting Monday in Old Jefferson that left one man dead of a self-inflicted wound and another in critical condition stemmed from a sordid family dispute over the paternity of a newborn.

Henry Reddix, 59, shot himself in the head as a Jefferson Parish deputy sheriff knocked at his apartment door to question him about the earlier shooting of Stewart Lane, 48.

Post a comment | View comments (16)

Authorities arrest boyfriend of Metairie stabbing victim

by Michelle Hunter, The Times-Picayune

Thursday July 03, 2008, 12:28 PM

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office arrested the boyfriend of a woman stabbed to death in Metairie early Thursday morning after detectives poked holes through his initial story that she had been killed during an attempted robbery.

Post a comment | View comments (25)

Mandeville mayor vows not to drink and drive

by Cindy Chang, The Times-Picayune

Thursday July 03, 2008, 12:19 PM

Mandeville Mayor Eddie Price said in an interview Thursday that he does not believe he has a drinking problem but that he and his wife plan to see a counselor for a professional opinion.

Post a comment | View comments (142)

Death threat video leads to seven Destrehan arrests

by Matt Scallan, The Times-Picayune

Thursday July 03, 2008, 11:35 AM

An online video that featured two men brandishing weapons and threatening to kill someone they believed was a police informant led to the arrest of seven Destrehan residents on a variety of charges, St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne said Thursday.

Post a comment | View comments (31)

'Most Wanted' fugitive arrested in Slidell after bragging to informant

by Kia Hall Hayes, The Times-Picayune

Thursday July 03, 2008, 11:16 AM

A Florida man wanted for a triple shooting was arrested in Slidell after he bragged to an informant about being one of America's Most Wanted, according to police.

Post a comment | View comments (14)

Think before you Blast: fireworks illegal in many parts of metro area

by The Times-Picayune

Thursday July 03, 2008, 10:42 AM

The New Orleans Fire Department reminds citizens that celebrating July 4 by setting off fireworks is illegal in many parts of the metro area.

Post a comment | View comments (5)

Coast Guard rescues family from disabled boat

by Susan Finch, The Times-Picayune

Thursday July 03, 2008, 10:19 AM

The Coast Guard late Wednesday rescued a family of three people who called for help when their pleasure craft stalled and was drifting in the Gulf of Mexico as a storm approached, about 18 miles south of South West Pass.

Post a comment | View comments (2)

Four shootings reported in New Orleans overnight

by The Times-Picayune

Thursday July 03, 2008, 10:09 AM

The New Orleans Police Department is investigating a total of four shootings that occurred overnight.

Post a comment | View comments (69)

New Orleans man gets 19 years in heroin case

by Andrew Vanacore, The Times-Picayune

Thursday July 03, 2008, 9:24 AM

A New Orleans man was sentenced Wednesday to nearly two decades in prison for his role in a major heroin-dealing ring.

Post a comment | View comments (25)

Former city official asking judge to throw out his 9-year prison sentence

by The Associated Press

Thursday July 03, 2008, 8:06 AM

NEW ORLEANS -- A former New Orleans city official is challenging his nine-year prison sentence stemming from a scheme to skim money from a City Hall contract.

Post a comment | View comments (17)

Lacombe man killed in accident

by Andrew Vanacore, The Times-Picayune

Thursday July 03, 2008, 7:11 AM

A Lacombe man was killed Wednesday morning when the Jeep he was driving flipped over on Louisiana Highway 36 in St. Tammany, according to a State Police Troop L spokesman.

Post a comment | View comments (4)

Stabbing victim found in Metairie

by The Times-Picayune

Thursday July 03, 2008, 6:28 AM

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office is investigating the stabbing death of an unidentified woman found this morning in the 200 block of Woodlawn Street in Metairie, according to a spokesman for the sheriff's office.

Post a comment | View comments (3)

Soggy forcast for July 4th weekend

by The Times-Picayune

Thursday July 03, 2008, 6:00 AM

Those planning to attend this weekend's fireworks displays or to celebrate July 4th closer to home, beware: the forecast calls for a soggy weekend.

Post a comment | View comments (2)

No major delays on the Causeway bridge

by The Times-Picayune

Thursday July 03, 2008, 5:28 AM

Police are reporting no major incidents on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge. Traffic is moving smoothly on both spans.

Post a comment | View comments (10)

Studies plot health care in east N.O.

by Leslie WIlliams, The Times-Picayune

Wednesday July 02, 2008, 10:54 PM

A half-million-dollar study to be unveiled in weeks will offer the first look at the official possibilities for resurrecting health care in eastern New Orleans.

Post a comment | View comments (1)

Bids due soon for project to armor shores of Lake Salvador

by Matt Scallan, The Times-Picayune

Wednesday July 02, 2008, 10:51 PM

The fragile shore of Lake Salvador in St. Charles Parish will get some much-needed reinforcement if bids for a federal project come in as planned.

Post a comment | View comments (2)

SLU's Upward Bound program gives students a taste of the college

by Barri Bronston, The Times-Picayune

Wednesday July 02, 2008, 10:50 PM

With a 3.1 grade point average at East Jefferson High School in Metairie, Ashley Lee has no doubt that she will go to college. She just didn't she think she'd be living the college life at age 15.

Post a comment | View comments (3)

Essence expects to match last year's attendance

by Jaquetta White, The Times-Picayune

Wednesday July 02, 2008, 10:14 PM

This weekend's 14th annual Essence Music Festival is expected to draw crowds that match last year's despite a national economic downturn and a new producer for the festival.

Post a comment | View comments (124)

Covington property tax election proposed

by Charlie Chapple, The Times-Picayune

Wednesday July 02, 2008, 8:30 PM

Covington Mayor Candace Watkins is asking the City Council to place a property tax for the city fire and police departments on the ballot this fall.

Post a comment | View comments (1)

Hate symbol burned into Metairie lawn to be 'uprooted'

by Michelle Hunter, The Times-Picayune

Wednesday July 02, 2008, 8:24 PM

The symbols of racial intolerance seared into the grass of an African-American family's Metairie front yard almost two months ago will finally be removed Friday -- Independence Day -- during an interfaith service held by local Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious leaders.

Post a comment | View comments (14)

Price stopped for drunk driving in 2006, chief says

by Cindy Chang, The Times-Picayune

Wednesday July 02, 2008, 6:52 PM

CHUCK COOK / THE TIMES-PICAYUNEEddie Price III, the embattled mayor of Mandeville, sits down in his office and chats with The Times-Picayune Thursday, May 15, 2008.

Mandeville Mayor Eddie Price's now-infamous run-in with Causeway police in April was not the first time he received special treatment from local law enforcement after having too much to drink.

Post a comment | View comments (181)

Jury rules for sheriff in suit brought by former employee

by Benjamin Alexander-Bloch, The Times-Picayune

Wednesday July 02, 2008, 6:24 PM

A federal jury this week rejected claims by a former St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office employee who had accused Sheriff Jack Strain and former parish jail warden Marlon Peachey of failing to promote her on numerous occasions due to her gender.

Post a comment | View comments (13)

Jindal vetoes racetrack bill

by The Associated Press

Wednesday July 02, 2008, 5:38 PM

BATON ROUGE -- Gov. Bobby Jindal has followed through on a threatened veto, killing a bill that could have led to a new race track and slot machine operation in Iberville Parish.

Post a comment | View comments (25)

Legal challenge to tree cutting to be discussed in court on Thursday

by Sheila Grissett, The Times-Picayune

Wednesday July 02, 2008, 5:21 PM

A Civil District Court judge declined to act today on a request by 17th Street Canal homeowners for a temporary restraining order that will stop the Army Corps of Engineers from removing fences and cutting trees along the east side of the 17th Street Canal.

Post a comment | View comments (15)

Resignation files updated

by The Times-Picayune

Wednesday July 02, 2008, 5:03 PM

As part of a new regime of financial disclosure laws implemented by Gov. Bobby Jindal and the Legislature, many state and local public officials in Louisiana will have to report certain financial and government contracting information next spring. Those who desired to avoid the requirements had until Monday to resign from their positions.

Post a comment | View comments (26)

Mandeville woman booked in Chalmette house burglary

by Bob Warren

Wednesday July 02, 2008, 3:52 PM

A Mandeville woman was arrested for burglary in a Chalmette home she claimed to be interested in buying.

Post a comment | View comments (14)

Interfaith service to be held Friday at Metairie house where symbols of racial intolerance were burned into the front yard

by The Times-Picayune

Wednesday July 02, 2008, 3:32 PM

Donald Stout/The Times-PicayuneThe letters "KKK" and a cross were burned into the yard of a Homestead Avenue home in Metairie recently.

The symbols of racial intolerance seared into the grass of
an African-American family's Metairie front yard almost two
months ago will finally be removed Friday -- Independence
Day -- during an interfaith service held by local Christian,
Jewish and Muslim religious leaders.

Post a comment | View comments (31)

Photo of Mandeville armed robber released

by The Times-Picayune

Wednesday July 02, 2008, 2:58 PM

Security footage from a Mandeville gas station caught images of a man suspected of robbing a fast-food restaurant on Louisiana 22 early Monday morning, police said Wednesday

Mandeville Police DepartmentSecurity footage of suspect in Monday morning Sonic Drive-In robbery in Mandeville

Post a comment | View comments (27)

Radar indicates strong T-storm in St. Bernard Parish

by The Times-Picayune

Wednesday July 02, 2008, 1:36 PM

Nation Weather Service radar indicated a thunderstorm with strong gusty winds near Arabi and heading east.

Post a comment | View comments (3)

N.O. man booked with carnal knowledge of Violet girl

by The Times-Picayune

Wednesday July 02, 2008, 1:12 PM

A 23-year-old New Orleans man has been booked with carnal knowledge of a juvenile after allegedly being caught with a 14-year-old girl in Violet, St. Bernard Parish authorities said.

Post a comment | View comments (25)

Gretna man guilty of killing his father

by Paul Purpura, The Times-Picayune

Wednesday July 02, 2008, 12:01 PM

A Gretna man whose mental illness has caused two mistrials in the eight years since he was arrested in his father's homicide was convicted Tuesday night of second-degree murder for killing the elderly man and discarding the corpse "like garbage."

Post a comment | View comments (1)