Louisiana
At Urban League debate, mayoral candidates discuss improving city services, other priorities
Nearly three weeks out from the start of early voting, nine candidates for New Orleans mayor made their pitch at a debate Tuesday night at Xavier University hosted by the Urban League of Louisiana.
City Council Vice President Helena Moreno has maintained a double-digit lead in polling over State Sen. Royce Duplessis and Councilmember Oliver Thomas, who are both seeking enough votes to force the October race into a November runoff.
Duplessis in his opening remarks said he wants to make New Orleans an easier and more affordable place to live and argued that people are leaving New Orleans because of the “dysfunction out of City Hall,” echoing a television ad his campaign began airing over the weekend blaming Moreno for much of the city’s problems.
Moreno said she looked forward to working with whoever is elected to the City Council to help them achieve priorities in their districts, arguing that that’s what “good mayors” do.
Thomas said he’d work to improve basic city services, like 911 call response times and street repairs, and bring back twice-a-week trash pickup.
Candidates were also asked how they respond if President Donald Trump deploys National Guard troops to New Orleans, as Trump has suggested doing. The deployment would come even though violent crime in the city is down.
Duplessis called Trump’s threats “political theater” and said he’d welcome federal support, but not in the form of National Guard troops.
The cities Trump has suggested deploying the National Guard to — New Orleans, Baltimore and Chicago — are “Black cities with Black leaderships,” Duplessis said. The president has also sent troops into Los Angeles and Washington D.C.
Moreno said National Guard troops should not be used for law enforcement and would be a “detriment” to the New Orleans Police Department.
Thomas said the dollars spent on deploying National Guard troops to other places could have instead been used on early childhood education.
Candidates were asked how they would improve the city’s Department of Safety and Permits to ensure better access to city resources for small and minority-owned businesses.
Moreno said she’d bring in outside experts to revamp safety and permits, pointing to similar efforts in Jefferson Parish. “You need better technology, you need training of employees,” she said.
Duplessis said he’d cross train city workers and standardize procurement processes across departments. “I want to empower the staff at City Hall to know what the right and left hand is doing,” he said.
Thomas said City Hall needs to be as aggressive at helping people get permits as it is at shutting people down for not having a permit. He said he’d allow City Hall to issue “provisional permits” to businesses in good standing. He also said he’d also open a standalone economic development office in New Orleans East.
The event was the final installment in a series of debates organized by the Urban League of Louisiana and nearly two dozen community groups aimed at “uplifting the voices and priorities of Black and Brown New Orleanians” ahead of the October primary. It began after 7 p.m. and as of press time was ongoing.
Of the 264,000 voters who were registered in New Orleans as of March, 54% identified as Black, 36.5% as White and 9.5% another race.
Unlike other high-profile forums, which have used fundraising and polling to limit participation to the three major candidates, the Urban League extended invitations to every candidate that remains in the race. In attendance were Renada Collins, Ricky Twiggs, Russell Butler, Eileen Carter, Joe Bikulege, Jr., and Frank Janusa.
“If you have raised your hand, and you said that ‘I am wanting to lead us, I think I’m deserving to lead us,’ then we’re going to give you a platform and we’re going to let the voters decide,” Charles Phipps, a senior director at the Urban League, told WBOK Tuesday.
Carter, a former social media manager for Cantrell who went on to lead a failed effort to recall her from office, thanked the Urban League for including all the candidates. Carter has said she’d fund an office to coordinate education initiatives and create city-wide business internship program, among other plans.
“I’m here today to let you know we have more than three options. We’re going to cut the gatekeeping in the city of New Orleans,” Carter said.
Early voting begins on Sept. 27. Election day is Oct. 11.
LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – The Venture Global CP2 construction site in Cameron has been cleared after a bomb threat was made Sunday, according to a spokesperson from Venture Global.
The bomb threat came in around noon on Sunday, according to officials. Louisiana State Police hazmat and bomb squads were called to investigate.
No shelter in place was deemed necessary and no roads were closed, according to the Cameron Parish Sheriff’s Office.
A Venture Global spokesperson released the following statement:
“Venture Global was made aware of a bomb threat at our CP2 site and immediately activated our established emergency response protocols. We are coordinating closely with state and local authorities as they investigate. The safety and security of our employees and the surrounding community remain our highest priority.”
Copyright 2026 KPLC. All rights reserved.
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — For the fifth consecutive year, the Louisiana Children’s Museum hosted its annual environmental festival, Mud Fest, on Saturday, March 28.
From 10 a.m.-4 p.m., parents and their little ones had the opportunity to have fun in the sun and enjoy the “highlight” of the museum’s spring season.
This event was inspired by the iconic New Orleans festival culture which includes good food, live music and a nice, high-energy atmosphere. Mud Fest is tailored for the “youngest environmental stewards” to have fun and make all the mess they want with mud.
Due to the Crescent City being surrounded by wetland habitats, we interact with water daily in both our rural and urban communities.
The festival generates positive associations with our region and also builds critical thinking skills for future educators, engineers, fishermen and farmers. According to LCM, engaging with nature, water and plants “builds a child’s confidence and fosters a lifelong connection to the Earth.”
“As the Louisiana Children’s Museum celebrates its 40th anniversary, events like Mud Fest reflect our long-standing commitment to hands-on learning that sparks curiosity and connects children to the world around them,” LCM CEO Tifferney White said.
This year, Mud Fest had performances from young musicians of the School of Rock, the Louisiana Sunspots and more. There were also a storytelling stage and various family-friendly activities for visitors to engage in.
Mud Fest partnered with Pontchartrain Conservancy, STEM NOL, Whimscapes and Sugar Roots to put on the event.
Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.
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Lana Del Rey has enjoyed a low-key life with her gator tour guide husband Jeremy Dufrene in Louisiana and the talented singer recently gave an intimate peek into their relationship.
The 40-year-old Young And Beautiful hitmaker (born Elizabeth Grant) took to her Instagram to post a gallery celebrating the swamp guide’s 51st birthday.
The couple looked just as in love as ever following their wedding in September 2024.
Del Rey shared several recent videos from their modest life together including a cute selfie of the couple by the ocean while she let her natural beauty show by going make-up free.
She also posted a cute video of Dufrene loading up the truck with plants they had just purchased from Home Depot and when he realizes he is being filmed, the Louisiana native flashed a big smile and proudly posed with a Jack-o’-lantern pot.
Del Rey also shared a snap of her hand gripping his wrist as her massive engagement ring could be seen in full view.
Lana Del Rey has enjoyed a low-key life with her gator tour guide husband Jeremy Dufrene in Louisiana and the talented singer recently gave an intimate peek into their relationship as she shared a tribute to him on his 51st birthday
Another snap showed Del Rey wearing one of Dufrene’s tour guide shirts featuring his name embroidered above the pocket.
Weeks ago the musical artist gave what appeared to be a glimpse into her married life in her new video.
Del Rey’s Insta Stories video opened with footage from the 1933 Betty Boop cartoon Snow-White, though it focused on a section starring the character Koko the Clown as he’s turned into a ghost.
Then the video abruptly cut to shaky handheld footage of Del Rey dancing with an ecstatic smile plastered on her face.
The two have kept a relatively low profile since their wedding day but did make a notable appearance last month at the pre-New York Fashion Week Ralph Lauren show on February 10.
The happy couple even stopped for a romantic kiss as they walked the red carpet for the iconic designer.
The couple first met in 2019 during one of Dufrene’s swamp excursions and reconnected years later, before tying the knot in September 2024.
In August, Del Rey revealed how she fell for her husband, a Louisiana bayou tour guide who spends his days surrounded by alligators.
Join the debate
What do you think Lana Del Rey’s choice to marry a swamp guide says about fame and real love?
She posted a cute video of Dufrene loading up the truck with plants they had just purchased from Home Depot and when he realizes he is being filmed, the Louisiana native flashed a big smile and proudly posed with a Jack-o’-lantern pot
Del Rey also shared a snap of her hand gripping his wrist as her massive engagement ring could be seen in full view
Another snap showed Del Rey wearing one of Dufrene’s tour guide shirts featuring his name embroidered above the pocket
Del Rey also posted a video of the cover of their wedding album
‘Like many people who work with large, dangerous beasts, Jeremy has a calm, strong presence,’ Del Rey told W magazine.
‘When we met, I realized pretty immediately that I loved him, but that it might get difficult because of what I was bringing to the table,’ she continued.
Del Rey added that Dufrene reassured her from the start: ‘I work with alligators — I have tough skin.’
And true to his word, he listened through all the drama: ‘All the things that made me upset — and there were so many! — he would just listen and say, “You be you — and I’ll just love you more.”’
Weeks ago the musical artist gave what appeared to be a glimpse into her married life and her new video
The two have kept a relatively low profile since their wedding day but did make a notable appearance last month at the pre-New York Fashion Week Ralph Lauren show on February 10
The happy couple stopped for a romantic kiss as they walked the red carpet for the iconic designer
The couple first met in 2019 during one of Dufrene’s swamp excursions and reconnected years later, before tying the knot in September 2024
Tying the knot in 2024 didn’t make the spotlight any gentler.
Del Rey recalled the intense scrutiny they faced, with drones reportedly hovering over their home to snap photos of their wedding and early days as newlyweds.
‘If I was him, I would have been nervous — my emotions were more overwhelming than usual, and my usual emotions can be quite overwhelming!’ she said with a laugh. ‘But Jeremy was fine. He told me, “Don’t worry about me.”’
And when it comes to music inspired by love, fans have already heard a peek. ‘Stars Fell on Alabama. I open my show with that song — that’s it, so far,’ she revealed.
‘Jeremy is the most impactful person in my life. He’s quiet in public, but around me he talks all the time.’
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