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Axios
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
New Orleans voters face crowded field for mayor, council
The ballots are set, and candidates for New Orleans mayor and City Council now have three months to convince voters why they should be in charge. Why it matters: This fall's election could transform City Hall, putting new leaders in charge of solving the city's most stubborn problems — infrastructure failures, housing costs, public safety concerns and general quality of life challenges. The big picture: Mayor LaToya Cantrell is term-limited and leaves office in January 2026. Her second term has been plagued with scandal and political infighting with the City Council. Her troubles have been a common thread for the candidates so far, with their platforms focusing on fixing what they say is broken. The latest: Two City Council members — Helena Moreno and Oliver Thomas — are vying for Cantrell's job and making space for others to compete for their council spots. State Sen. Royce Duplessis and former criminal court judge Arthur Hunter are also running for mayor — positioning themselves as experienced public servants who weren't involved in creating the city's current mess. Eileen Carter made a surprise entry into the race last week. She's Cantrell's former staffer who helped spearhead the failed recall effort, the Times-Picayune says. Several other long shots are also running in the field of 14 candidates, including Frank Scurlock, who previously ran on a "Make New Orleans Fun Again" slogan but got derailed with a lewd conduct accusation during the campaign. Between the lines: New Orleans has been a Democratic-run city for decades. While Republicans have run for mayor recently, they haven't been successful. Frank Janusa and Gabrielle Thomas qualified to run on the Republican ticket, writes James Finn at the Times-Picayune. Le Bon Temps Roule owner Joe Bikulege Jr., Ricky Twiggs and comedian and perennial candidate Manny Chevrolet Bruno are running as independents. Carter, Renada Collins, Russell Butler and Scurlock are "no party" candidates. The rest are Democrats. By the numbers: Moreno was leading in fundraising as of April. New campaign finance reports are expected this month. Council races heat up Meanwhile, City Council seats are going to be hotly contested, with Thomas', Moreno's and Joe Giarrusso's spots now open. Giarrusso previously said he's leaving the council to focus on his law career. See the map of the districts. Zoom in: Cyndi Nguyen and Jon D. Johnson, who both held the council seat in New Orleans East and the Lower 9th Ward (District E) before Thomas, will face off with state Rep. Jason Hughes and eight others for their old job, the Times-Picayune says. State Reps. Delisha Boyd and Matthew Willard are among the challengers for Moreno's at-large seat. Holly Friedman and Aimee McCarron — both former Giarrusso staffers — are two of the candidates going after his District A seat, which represents Lakeview and parts of Uptown and Mid-City. Zoom out: JP Morrell, Freddie King III and Eugene Green have challengers, too. Kelsey Foster, the longtime executive director of the Algiers Economic Development Foundation, wants King's District C seat, which represents downtown, Algiers, Bywater and the Marigny. Belden "Noonie Man" Batiste, who also led the mayoral recall campaign, is going after Green's spot. The Rev. Gregory Manning of Broadmoor Community Church and Kenneth Cutno are challenging Morrell. Lesli Harris is running unopposed. What's next: The primary is Oct. 11, followed by the general election in November. Go deeper
Axios
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson surprises Essence Fest
Another Essence Fest is in the books for New Orleans, complete with a few surprises and a little drama. Why it matters: The nation's largest Black culture festival generates more than $300 million for the city's economy, organizers say. The big picture: Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was a welcome last-minute addition to the schedule, telling a standing-room only crowd at the convention center about her time so far at the highest court in the land. At the Caesars Superdome, Lauryn Hill and Doug E. Fresh surprised the crowd. And, Master P gave the final performance of his career Sunday night. Zoom in: Attendance levels were the talk of Essence. Hotel bookings leading into the weekend were down compared with last year, which was the fest's 30th anniversary, writes Desiree Stennett with the Times-Picayune. Mayor LaToya Cantrell tells Axios New Orleans in an exclusive interview Saturday that "the national narrative" affected festival sponsorship and travel interest. The city will work with the festival to improve next year, she says. She spoke at several events, including one Sunday, where she told the audience being mayor goes from "celebration to crucifixion real fast," according to Fox 8. Friction point: Attendees were upset about the pricing structure this year for the return of the popular Superlounges. In the past, they were included with tickets. This year, they were only open for VVIP ticket holders, which attendees say wasn't explained early enough. Essence organizers apologized on social media, saying they didn't get it right. Attendees also had a lot to say about Target, one of Essence's major sponsors that's facing a national backlash after recently rolling back its DEI efforts. Target had a massive, prominent exhibit at last year's festival with long lines to get in. This year, the now-pink installation was scaled back. Plus, protesters outside the convention center were encouraging attendees to skip it. Fun fact: TikTok food critic Keith Lee was on an Essence panel and stopped by Spicy Mango, Larry Morrow's new restaurant on Frenchmen Street. He hasn't reviewed it yet, but the plates are empty in his video so we're taking that as a good sign. What's next: Organizers say they expect to release final numbers for ticket sales and attendance in coming days.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
5 New Orleans inmates still on the run as search enters 7th day
Authorities in Louisiana are on the hunt for five out of 10 inmates who busted out of a New Orleans jail and are still on the run for the seventh day on May 22. The inmates escaped in the early morning hours of May 16, ripping out a toilet and sink unit and going through a hole in the wall, officials said. Since then, three other people have been charged with helping them: a maintenance worker who allegedly shut off the water at their request, and two women accused of helping them with transportation or food after the jailbreak. Authorities nabbed three of the men – Robert Moody, Dkenan Dennis and Kendall Myles – by the end of the first day of the search. A fourth inmate, Gary Price, was taken into custody on May 19 while the fifth, Corey Boyd, was recaptured on May 20. 'Fear of retribution' in New Orleans: Mass jail escape brings a big uneasy The inmates still at large are Derrick Groves, Leo Tate, Jermaine Donald, Lenton Vanburen and Antoine Massey. Vanburen, Donald and Groves have been charged with second-degree murder, officials said. "We will NOT slow down. You will ALL be captured," Gov. Jeff Landry said in a post to social media after the fifth inmate was located. Jermaine Donald, 42, was charged with second-degree murder, according to parish records. The governor's office said he also faced charges of aggravated battery and possession of a firearm. He pleaded not guilty in April 2024, the Times-Picayune/ reported. Derrick Groves, 27, was convicted of two charges of second-degree murder and two charges of attempted second-degree murder in October in connection with a shooting during Mardi Gras in 2018, according to a statement from the district attorney's office. Groves has been awaiting sentencing on a manslaughter charge since October, according to a news release from the governor's office. He also faces a charge of battery against a correctional facility employee, the Associated Press reported, citing court records. Antoine T. Massey, 32, is charged with domestic abuse involving strangulation and theft of a motor vehicle, according to Orleans Parish records. There also is a warrant for his arrest in St. Tammany Parish for second-degree rape, second-degree kidnapping, domestic abuse involving strangulation and violation of a protective order involving battery stemming from an incident in November, a spokesperson for the parish sheriff's office told USA TODAY. Leo Tate, 31, was charged with burglary and drug possession, parish records show. The governor's office said Tate also was charged with theft of a motor vehicle and was sentenced in federal court for being a felon in possession of a firearm. reported Tate has also been sentenced to 10 years in prison for obstruction of justice, citing jail records. Lenton Vanburen, 26, was arrested on charges of second-degree murder and armed robbery, New Orleans police said. Vanburen also faced charges of possession of suboxone, an opioid often used to treat addiction, and battery of a correctional officer, according to parish records. Contributing: John Bacon, Jorge L. Ortiz and N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Orleans jailbreak: 5 inmates still at large as search continues
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Who are the inmates still on the run from a New Orleans jail?
Seven inmates are still at large on May 19 after escaping from a New Orleans jail through a hole behind a toilet. The group was captured on surveillance footage fleeing Orleans Parish Prison around 1 a.m. on May 16. The men pulled a "defective" cell door off its tracks and escaped through a hole in the wall behind a toilet and sink unit, according to Susan Hutson, sheriff of Orleans Parish. Three inmates, Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, and Dkenan Dennis, were recaptured within hours of what Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry called a "massive jailbreak." Attorney General Liz Murrill has said the recaptured inmates and anyone who aided them in their escape will face new charges. The escapees still at large, who range from 19 to 42 years old, initially faced charges including murder, aggravated assault and domestic abuse. Here's what to know about the escaped inmates: Boyd, 19, has been charged with second-degree murder, parish records show. He pleaded not guilty, the Associated Press reported. Boyd is accused of killing a witness who caught him and others trying to break into a car in April 2024, the Times-Picayune/ reported. Boyd allegedly struck the victim with a vehicle before an accomplice shot him in the head, according to the outlet. A news release from the governor's office said Boyd also faced charges of obstruction of justice and threatening a law enforcement officer. Parish records show Donald, 42, was charged with second-degree murder. He also faced charges of aggravated battery and possession of a firearm, according to the governor's office. He pleaded not guilty in April 2024, the Times-Picayune/ reported. Donald faced charges related contraband while he was imprisoned, but the district attorney's office refused to pursue those charges, Landry said in a news conference. USA TODAY has reached out to the Orleans Parish district attorney's office for comment. Groves, 27, was convicted of two charges of second-degree murder and two charges of attempted second-degree murder in October in connection with a shooting during Mardi Gras in 2018, according to a statement from the district attorney's office. Groves 'brazenly boasted about the violence' and took credit for the killings on social media, the news release said. The shooting sparked a yearslong legal drama, officials said. Groves was initially convicted in 2019 alongside a co-defendant, but he had to be retried in January 2023. That ended in a mistrial after a juror read media accounts of the case and a second retrial in June 2023 ended in a deadlocked jury, according to the district attorney. Groves has been awaiting sentencing on a manslaughter charge since October, according to a news release from the governor's office. He also faces a charge of battery against a correctional facility employee, the Associated Press reported, citing court records. Massey, 32, is charged with domestic abuse involving strangulation and theft of a motor vehicle, according to Orleans Parish records. There also is a warrant for his arrest in St. Tammany Parish for second-degree rape, second-degree kidnapping, domestic abuse involving strangulation and violation of a protective order involving battery stemming from an incident in November, a spokesperson for the parish's sheriff's office told USA TODAY. Price, 21, is charged with attempted first-degree murder, domestic abuse and aggravated assault, according to the governor's office. Tate, 31, was charged with burglary and drug possession, parish records show. The governor's office said Tate also was charged with theft of a motor vehicle and was sentenced in federal court for being a felon in possession of a firearm. reported Tate faced second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder charges over a 2018 shooting, but he accepted a plea deal that dismissed the murder-related charges. Tate was convicted of obstruction of justice and sentenced to 10 years behind bars, the outlet reported, citing jail records. Vanburen, 26, was arrested on a second-degree murder charge in 2021, New Orleans police said. Vanburen was already in custody at the Orleans Parish Justice Center on charges related to an armed robbery and was rebooked on the murder charge. Vanburen also faced charges of possession of suboxone, an opioid often used to treat addiction, and battery of a correctional officer, according to parish records. Contributing: Michael Loria This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who are inmates still on the run in New Orleans jailbreak?
USA Today
19-05-2025
- USA Today
Who are the inmates still on the run from a New Orleans jail?
Who are the inmates still on the run from a New Orleans jail? The escapees still at large, who range from 19 to 42 years old, initially faced charges including murder, aggravated assault and domestic abuse. Show Caption Hide Caption New Orleans jail escape: 3 inmates recaptured Authorities are searching for inmates who escaped from a New Orleans jail after they went through a hole in a wall. Seven inmates are still at large on May 19 after escaping from a New Orleans jail through a hole behind a toilet. The group was captured on surveillance footage fleeing Orleans Parish Prison around 1 a.m. on May 16. The men pulled a "defective" cell door off its tracks and escaped through a hole in the wall behind a toilet and sink unit, according to Susan Hutson, sheriff of Orleans Parish. Three inmates, Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, and Dkenan Dennis, were recaptured within hours of what Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry called a "massive jailbreak." Attorney General Liz Murrill has said the recaptured inmates and anyone who aided them in their escape will face new charges. The escapees still at large, who range from 19 to 42 years old, initially faced charges including murder, aggravated assault and domestic abuse. Here's what to know about the escaped inmates: Corey Boyd Boyd, 19, has been charged with second-degree murder, parish records show. He pleaded not guilty, the Associated Press reported. Boyd is accused of killing a witness who caught him and others trying to break into a car in April 2024, the Times-Picayune/ reported. Boyd allegedly struck the victim with a vehicle before an accomplice shot him in the head, according to the outlet. A news release from the governor's office said Boyd also faced charges of obstruction of justice and threatening a law enforcement officer. Jermaine Donald Parish records show Donald, 42, was charged with second-degree murder. He also faced charges of aggravated battery and possession of a firearm, according to the governor's office. He pleaded not guilty in April 2024, the Times-Picayune/ reported. Donald faced charges related contraband while he was imprisoned, but the district attorney's office refused to pursue those charges, Landry said in a news conference. USA TODAY has reached out to the Orleans Parish district attorney's office for comment. Derrick Groves Groves, 27, was convicted of two charges of second-degree murder and two charges of attempted second-degree murder in October in connection with a shooting during Mardi Gras in 2018, according to a statement from the district attorney's office. Groves 'brazenly boasted about the violence' and took credit for the killings on social media, the news release said. The shooting sparked a yearslong legal drama, officials said. Groves was initially convicted in 2019 alongside a co-defendant, but he had to be retried in January 2023. That ended in a mistrial after a juror read media accounts of the case and a second retrial in June 2023 ended in a deadlocked jury, according to the district attorney. Groves has been awaiting sentencing on a manslaughter charge since October, according to a news release from the governor's office. He also faces a charge of battery against a correctional facility employee, the Associated Press reported, citing court records. Antoine T. Massey Massey, 32, is charged with domestic abuse involving strangulation and theft of a motor vehicle, according to Orleans Parish records. There also is a warrant for his arrest in St. Tammany Parish for second-degree rape, second-degree kidnapping, domestic abuse involving strangulation and violation of a protective order involving battery stemming from an incident in November, a spokesperson for the parish's sheriff's office told USA TODAY. Gary Price Price, 21, is charged with attempted first-degree murder, domestic abuse and aggravated assault, according to the governor's office. Leo Tate Tate, 31, was charged with burglary and drug possession, parish records show. The governor's office said Tate also was charged with theft of a motor vehicle and was sentenced in federal court for being a felon in possession of a firearm. reported Tate faced second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder charges over a 2018 shooting, but he accepted a plea deal that dismissed the murder-related charges. Tate was convicted of obstruction of justice and sentenced to 10 years behind bars, the outlet reported, citing jail records. Lenton Vanburen Vanburen, 26, was arrested on a second-degree murder charge in 2021, New Orleans police said. Vanburen was already in custody at the Orleans Parish Justice Center on charges related to an armed robbery and was rebooked on the murder charge. Vanburen also faced charges of possession of suboxone, an opioid often used to treat addiction, and battery of a correctional officer, according to parish records. Contributing: Michael Loria
