I had been taking the National Museum of African American History and Culture for granted since it opened in 2016, but the Trump administration's threats to it changed that. And I wrote a personal, reported essay about it for @veritenews.org. veritenews.org/2025/12/30/n...

As a native of the Washington, D.C. metro area, Verite's Drew Costley put off visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture for close to a decade, until the Trump administration started threatening it. veritenews.org/2025/12/30/n...

Does anyone ever answer the NOPD non-emergency line? I have never gotten through. SPCA won't let you make an animal control report directly. They send you to the non-emergency line. But no one ever picks up.

Verite News is seeking a managing editor. veritenews.org/careers/mana...

Chase family tells parents to ‘stay put’ as OPSB questions future of the Leah Chase school Members of Leah Chase’s family say they will reconsider giving NOLA Public Schools permission to use the iconic chef’s name if the district-run school is transferred to a charter group.

Protesters opposed to ICE temporarily shut down City Council meeting A tense standoff between members of the New Orleans City Council and a group of protesters calling for more protection for immigrants ended with the protesters being forcibly removed from City Hall during a Dec. 4 meeting, with…

Murrill: State won’t use law against obstructing immigration raids to target speech The Louisiana Attorney General’s office and the Louisiana State Police both say that a new state law that criminalizes any act intended to “hinder, delay, prevent, or otherwise interfere with or thwart federal…

Hospitality industry in New Orleans braces for immigration sweep Restaurants that cater to the throngs of tourists who visit New Orleans annually are preparing for heightened immigration enforcement as the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB)…

A death row inmate was released on bail after his conviction was overturned. Louisiana still wants to execute him. Months after a judge tossed out his 1998 murder conviction, Jimmie Duncan is free on bail. But prosecutors have asked the Louisiana Supreme Court to reinstate the death penalty for…

Starting a thread here of all of the great reporting @veritenews.org is doing on the federal immigration operation. This morning, we had a story about what local restaurants are doing to prepare to protect their workers. veritenews.org/2025/12/04/r...

Gov. Jeff Landry and legislators have made it almost impossible to get parole from prison — unless you are an immigrant who can be deported. So many interesting bits of information in this story from @veritenews.org and @propublica.org . #lalege #lagov veritenews.org/2025/11/24/l...

Jimmie Duncan, who was on death row in Louisiana for 27 years for the murder of his former girlfriend's toddler, is free on bail following a @propublica.org + @veritenews.org investigation that examined the reliability of the key forensic evidence used to convict him.

Toward the end of the first day of the federal immigration operation in greater New Orleans, Gregory Bovino made a showy procession through the Quarter to the CBP office on Canal, which he and agents were called "losers" by a cyclist riding by. More @veritenews.org. veritenews.org/2025/12/03/b...

Jimmie Duncan walked out of the Ouachita Parish jail last week and into the arms of his parents after spending 27 years on death row. But Duncan’s journey to freedom is far from over. Prosecutors want to reinstate his death sentence. @propublica.org @veritenews.org veritenews.org/2025/12/03/j...

Feds announce launch of immigration operation in New Orleans The Department of Homeland Security has dubbed the operation 'Catahoula Crunch.'

I haven’t had any time to pay attention to this story until like 20 minutes ago. I hate it so much. You’re reporters. Who cares about you? The people you write about are supposed to be the interesting ones.

After more than 25 years on death row, Jimmie Duncan inched one step closer to freedom Friday when Judge Alvin Sharp in Ouachita Parish granted him bail, setting it at $150,000. @veritenews.org @propublica.org veritenews.org/2025/11/21/j...

Judge grants bail to death-row prisoner Jimmie Duncan Jimmie Duncan was convicted of murder and sentenced to death 27 years ago. But this year, a judge found that the state's case against him was rooted in debunked 'junk science.'

Construction-related lane closure on Tchoupitoulas causing horrendous traffic. At least it’s for a development that is definitely going to come to fruition.

Judge ends long-running NOPD consent decree The decision to end the consent decree, after the Trump Justice Department moved for its termination, comes nearly a year earlier than previously expected.

In heavily Hispanic Kenner, some residents on edge ahead of Border Patrol surge The Department of Homeland Security is reportedly deploying 250 Border Patrol agents to the New Orleans area, echoing recent operations in Chicago and North Carolina.

Incidentally, “But I can tell they hate me” is inscribed on the Maldonado family crest.

I have an annoyingly long name for poll workers. They’re gracious about it, but I can tell they hate me.

People were drinking and littering in a park. Kenner brought in the feds. www.facebook.com/share/r/1AKe...

Stop forcing me into “friendly” negotiations at stop signs. Your wave through, when you have the right of way, just makes it take longer than it should. Just go. Then I’ll go.

500 people in this poll. City of 8.5 million. We polled 700 for a quality of life survey in New Orleans, a city of under 400,000.

This is a well-done story, but it shouldn’t have to be a story. The city needs to open up its check register 10 years ago. www.nola.com/news/new-orl...

Tulane closed the Q Spot, the school's LGBTQIA+ space, last week and students are pushing admins to re-open it. The closure comes months after Tulane closed its Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Office of Gender and Sexual Diversity. More @veritenews.org. veritenews.org/2025/10/29/t...

As tough as the loss of this $125M loan could be on the city, I really question the decision by most media over the past two days to lead with that instead of a possible state takeover, which would have removed the power of an elected government AND led to (likely even greater) austerity measures.

New Orleans staves off state-led takeover by withdrawing $125 million loan request Facing a $160 million deficit and an immediate cash-flow shortage, city leaders are now considering cuts. ‘Everything is on the table,’ said Councilmember JP Morrell.

Disturbing allegations in this lawsuit. Story by Verite education reporter Safura Syed.

Unless it’s about building or renovating stadiums. Then I have a lot to say. But not in a fun way.

I really don’t want to disappoint strangers who try to engage me in football talk, but all I’ve got is “right?” and “no kidding.” Those actually work like 55% of the time, though.

In other words, this WDSU story is oversimplifying things. A lot. Not *all* of Cantrell’s admin was saying the budget was fine. The guy who was in charge of the budget, who knew his job was ending soon and was looking for a new one, was the main person saying that.

Ok. Yes, Gilbert had always been rosy about the budget. Romy Samuel never was. And here’s what she said right after the meeting that WDSU dug up for this story.

Wait. This is all Gilbert saying the budget was going to be fine, though. Did the CFO verbally agree with him? Because they had been communicating different messages for months by this point. @wdsu6.bsky.social www.wdsu.com/article/new-...

So many things going on that I would prefer not to stew over tonight. Luckily, it’s Halloween. And so I will be going to see — well, Halloween — instead.

Oh my God I can’t believe I’m done. 18-hour workday. Amazing work by the @veritenews.org team today! Also, it’s chilly outside now?

Hello, New Orleans! @veritenews.org has a live blog for Election Day in the city that we'll be updating throughout the day. Tap in with us for updates on all of the races, voices from polling places and watch parties, and whatever else goes down. veritenews.org/2025/10/11/l...

It was widely reported that Oracle was going to be a part of the deal — and that the deal was imminent — before he bought the stock. louisianaradionetwork.com/2025/10/03/4...

Look, I’m not in the business of defending politicians, but it took me about 30 seconds to find the very public information about the Oracle/Tiktok deal from before Fields bought any stock. How long did it take to write that article?

How could he have known?

Can we please stop using this ridiculous platform for the city budget? The search function is useless, and you can't download the full book. nola.openbook.questica.com#/budget-book...

Many people asked and @veritenews.org delivered! Here's a feature the City Assessor's race, featuring: - What the city assessor even does - Why the race is important - Where the top candidates stand on the issues And more, brought to you by @kjfernelius.bsky.social! veritenews.org/2025/09/26/n...

8/ If you have tips about new ICE enforcement tactics in courts, my colleagues and I want to hear from you. Reach out to me on Signal (tilleckert.90) or via propublica.org/tips.

Incumbents don’t show at council forum on Entergy, Delta Utilities regulation JP Morrell, the council utilities chair who is seeking reelection to his at-large seat, said he was concerned that one of the organizers was biased.

My wife picked up some posthumously published Kurt Vonnegut short story collection. She insisted I read this one for some reason.

Turns out I might be a little tightly wound.

They installed a new play structure over at the Willow School.