Latest news with #LaToyaCantrell
USA Today
02-07-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Amtrak announces Mardi Gras Service passenger rail just in time for football season
Twice-a-day train service will run from New Orleans to Mobile, Ala. with four stops in Mississippi This could be interesting. If you're a New Orleans Saints fan living in the Gulf South, a new way to get to games this season just opened up to you with this week's Amtrak Mardi Gras Service announcement. Twice-a-day passenger trains will travel between Louisiana and Alabama with four stops in Mississippi beginning Monday, Aug. 18, just in time for football season, but the day after the Saints' preseason home game with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The move revives service that ran for decades before Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans mayor LaToya Cantrell commented on the news through an Amtrak press release: "Today is only possible thanks to the dedication of stakeholders all across the Gulf Coast who have been tirelessly committed to restoring passenger rail service to our communities for 20 years. Amtrak Mardi Gras Service reconnects New Orleans to its Gulf Coast neighbors in Mississippi and Alabama, bringing benefits to our residents, businesses, and visitors and furthering anchoring New Orleans as the premier passenger rail hub in the South. "Amtrak's return to the Gulf Coast has been a long time coming and we're excited to see passenger rail returning to the Gulf Coast and will continue to be a strong advocate for existing and future Amtrak service in New Orleans." Amtrak announced that adult coach fares running end-to-end start at $15 each way with discounts for children, students, seniors, veterans, and other groups. Westbound trains from Mobile, Ala. are scheduled to depart at 6:30 a.m. CT and arrive in New Orleans' Union Passenger Terminal at 10:30 a.m. CT. From there it's a 15-minute walk to Champions Square and the Caesars Superdome. So that would be right on time for a noon kickoff, with eastbound trains scheduled to depart from New Orleans in the evenings at 5:31 p.m. CT before reaching Mobile, Ala. at 9:14 p.m. CT. That works well for noon games, but the late-afternoon slot and prime-time matchups might be tricky and require an overnight stay. In the evenings, westbound trains are set to leave Mobile at 4:30 p.m. CT and arrive in New Orleans at 8:13 p.m. CT. The eastbound morning train from New Orleans departs at 7:35 a.m. and reaches Mobile at 11:18 a.m. CT, barring unforeseen delays, of course. If you're curious about which of those Saints home games could fit the bill for an early arrival and afternoon departure, here they are: What about fans visiting from further out? New Orleans already welcomes trains at the Union Passenger Terminal from Chicago (the Amtrak City of New Orleans line), New York (Crescent), and Los Angeles (Sunset Limited) with stops in other major metros (and NFL cities) like Atlanta and Houston along the way, so this could become a popular option for those who don't want to fly or drive cross-country. If you'd rather take the train one way and fly another, hourly bus service runs from Union Passenger Terminal to Louis Armstrong International Airport, too. More options are good for everyone. We'll see you onboard.
Axios
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
New Orleans mayoral hopefuls pitch big change at town hall
New Orleans voters got their first in-depth look Thursday at some of the candidates vying to succeed term-limited Mayor LaToya Cantrell. Why it matters: Residents are looking to the next leader to fix ongoing struggles with infrastructure, economic inequality and public safety. The big picture: Arthur Hunter, Helena Moreno and Oliver Thomas squared off for more than two hours at the town hall hosted by nonprofit Voters Organized to Educate. The public interest was intense, with the event reaching capacity before it started. Dozens were turned away at the doors, including Tyrell Morris, who is also running for mayor. Renada Collins and Ricky Twiggs were in the audience and told Axios New Orleans they were not invited to participate, even though they are campaigning. The latest: State Sen. Royce Duplessis on Sunday night said he will seek the office too, reversing course from his January decision that cited fundraising concerns. His formal announcement is expected Tuesday. Frank Scurlock, who made a bid for mayor in 2017, also says he is entering the race again. Between the lines: The on-stage candidates were chosen because they had a longstanding relationship with the organization and had filed campaign finance reports, said Devin Davis, the nonprofit's political operations director. Inside the room: It was packed, with 150-plus people sitting, leaning on walls and cramming in to every corner. Attendees were a mix of longtime residents, campaign supporters and community activists. Moderators with the nonprofit asked questions and the candidates had 60 seconds to respond. The questions focused on fixing the city's infrastructure and improving quality of life issues. What we learned: The candidates' platforms were similar, with each saying they want drivable streets, reliable power, good schools, safe neighborhoods and improvements for residents, not just tourists. The main difference seems to be their leadership styles. Oliver Thomas Thomas, a current councilmember, described himself as a middle-class native New Orleanian who will help people who he says have been "disrespected," "overlooked" and "forgotten," especially in New Orleans East. He also painted himself as a strong advocate for Black New Orleanians and formerly incarcerated residents. Thomas, who served three years in jail on bribery charges, touted his efforts with strengthening " Ban the Box," which prevents public employers from discriminating against job applicants with criminal backgrounds. Plus, he took credit for recent developments in New Orleans East: Lincoln Beach and the demolition at the former Six Flags. Arthur Hunter Hunter, a former criminal court judge, portrayed himself as a connector, saying he sees the mayoral position as one that brings everyone to the table. "That's what I've always been about — doing the work," he said. "Taking control, bringing the right people together and coming up with a solution and results." He brought success stories from his time on the bench and talked about how he would expand the New Orleans Recreation Department's role to help improve life for youth and families. He also talked about career training programs he started that are geared at creating a skilled workforce. Helena Moreno Moreno, another councilmember, painted the picture of herself as someone with good ideas who has been ignored over the years. "When I'm your mayor, I'm no longer going to be ignored and pushed aside," she said, especially with short-term rental regulations. She talked about her wins during her time on the council and in the state Legislature, citing her efforts regulating Entergy New Orleans, helping create NOPD's mobile crisis unit and working on mental health and homeless outreach services. She also talked about her work creating the housing trust fund, which is dedicated to affordable housing projects. Zoom in: They were all prepared and seemed comfortable talking on stage. Their comments often elicited applause and vocal support from the audience. Of the three, Moreno was the most critical of Cantrell, blaming her for her "absent leadership" and misaligned infrastructure priorities. Hunter took subtle shots at Moreno and Thomas, saying the council has had the power to change things and they haven't done it. He portrayed himself as an outsider who can make it happen. But in general, the candidates were civil and friendly with each other on stage as they shared a microphone. They got loud on a few issues, but not at each other. And, no one interrupted one another.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
City of New Orleans, Orleans Parish School Board back in court involving $90M negotiation
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — A $90 million legal battle continues in civil court between the Orleans Parish School Board and Mayor LaToya Cantrell's administration involving a 2019 lawsuit. Several motions were filed ahead of trial, being handled by Civil District Judge Nicole Sheppard. 'Talk to the city's PR department,' said City of New Orleans attorney James Garner. Girlfriend of escaped New Orleans inmate Derrick Groves arrested: U.S. Marshals The City of New Orleans Monday issued the following statement: 'All motions argued today during the hearing between the City and OPSB are equally important in relation to tomorrow's trial. The City has a pending motion for a new trial regarding the order to pay $10M to the School Board. The City reserves any further comment until after rulings by the judge and/or a full trial on the matter.' School board attorney Bill Aaron says over $100 million was diverted to other city agencies, money that should have gone to the schools. 'The constitution trumps any statutes that they have and that no money should be taken, whether it's for pensions, whether it's for collection fees, whether it's for operation. The assessor, no money should be taken. It all should go to the schools, ' said Aaron. Aaron plans to call several witnesses, including New Orleans Chief Administrative Officer Gilbert Montano, to testify. Generator safety 101: Expert gives hurricane season tips He reiterated that Montano helped negotiate the settlement agreement last year, which states the school board would receive a $90 million payout starting with two $10 million installments. However, in court, the city said its $10 million was not paid due to events like the terror attack on Bourbon Street and the recent jail escape. The other $10 million from the city council also hasn't been paid. 'Summer programs are affected by the lack of money, and other programs are affected. The school board met and basically took money from the reserve to cover. If we had gotten the money, they would have put a big dent in the projected shortfalls, ' said Aaron. Aaron says he believes the court battle may extend beyond civil district court. 'This case is probably going up to a higher court, Fourth Circuit, and possibly Supreme Court, ' said Aaron. Both sides are expected back in civil court ahead of the trial on Kitchen offering free meals to kids everyday this summer Man pleads guilty to Orleans Parish manslaughter City of New Orleans, Orleans Parish School Board back in court involving $90M negotiation Storm chances continue the next few days William Shatner to share fascinating stories about 'Star Trek' at The Fillmore Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City of New Orleans offering an amnesty program for past-due parking, traffic tickets
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The City of New Orleans will offer a limited time amnesty program for past-due parking and traffic camera tickets. According to city officials, the program will allow people to pay their tickets without late fees until Aug. 31. Anyone with a parking ticket more than 30 days old or a traffic camera ticket more than 60 days old that was issued before June 1 can have late fees waived. New Orleans Business and External Services Deputy CAO Austin Wilty said the city is owed over $180 million in unpaid tickets. New Orleans' French Market will celebrate annual Creole Tomato Festival The program is open to everyone, regardless of where they live. 'This is about meeting people where they are,' said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. 'By removing late fees, we're making it easier for people to take care of what they owe and move forward; without added stress or penalties.' The city has done this program before in 2019 and 2022. Eligibility can be checked on the New Orleans city website or by calling auto repair chain to close 145 stores nationwide Gulf policymakers detail efforts to brace for 2025 hurricanes Popeyes takes a dig at McDonald's with newest menu item Wanted: Man threatens to kill entire family if they call police 2 rescued after plane crashes into ocean off coast of Connecticut Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
30-05-2025
- Climate
- Axios
New Orleans leaders say city is ready for hurricane season, 20 years after Katrina
Leaders in metro New Orleans say they have tested, checked and prepped everything they can for hurricane season, which starts Sunday. Why it matters: They say the lessons learned in Hurricane Katrina 20 years ago forced south Louisiana to get better at weathering storms. The big picture: Power outages remain a looming concern, especially during the summer's extreme heat, New Orleans leaders said earlier this week. The weekend's rolling blackouts further highlighted the fragility of the grid. Authorities in Orleans and Jefferson parishes say they are prepared to quickly open shelters and resource centers that would have air conditioning and charging stations. New Orleans also has its network of community lighthouses, which are solar-powered centers at churches and community spaces. Inside the room: Regional authorities have hosted several press conferences leading up to the start of hurricane season. They've emphasized how much has changed in the past 20 years. The levees and power grid have been strengthened, forecasts are more accurate, buildings are built to higher standards and leaders have more ways than ever to connect with residents and each other. They've all emphasized the need for individuals to make their own storm preparations, a lesson that was hard-learned after Katrina when the city was left languishing by the federal government. Between the lines: Katrina will be a constant theme this hurricane season. Officials already have been sharing their memories. Expect more commemorative events and heavy media coverage in the coming weeks. Zoom out: Uncertainty remains at the national level for FEMA and what it will look like this season under the Trump administration, which has called for it to be overhauled or dismantled. Mayor LaToya Cantrell noted that Louisiana has an advocate on the president's review council in Mark Cooper, who was former Gov. John Bel Edward's chief of staff. Jefferson Parish president Cynthia Lee Sheng says she's glad the conversations are happening and she hopes it leads to quicker responses after a storm. "I'm glad that there's healthy debate going on about what FEMA should look like, where our resources should go, the role for the state, the role for local governments," she said. Both parishes said nothing has changed with their planning due to the potential changes at the federal level.
