Louisiana
‘We can’t make it through a sunny day.’ Jefferson Parish asks for answers on power outages
The Jefferson Parish Council will hear from representatives from Entergy and the Louisiana Public Service Commission next week regarding a slew of major power outages that have afflicted the parish this year.
At-large Councilman Scott Walker announced on social media Tuesday that an Entergy representative will appear at the next council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 7. Also in attendance will be Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis, who represents portions of the West Bank including Westwego.
Walker also reached out to Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta, who represents most of the parish, but is awaiting response. Skrmetta did not respond to requests for comment from The Times-Picayune on Wednesday.
I invited an Entergy representative to appear at our next council meeting on August 7. He accepted. I also invited PSC Eric Skrmetta and am awaiting a response.
The council doesn’t regulate Entergy Louisiana, but we intend to get some answers.
— Councilman Scott Walker (@ScottWalkerJP) July 30, 2024
“The council doesn’t regulate Entergy Louisiana, but we intend to get some answers,” Walker wrote in a post.
While New Orleans City Council has the power to regulate the electric utility within city limits, Jefferson Parish cannot impose regulations on Entergy Louisiana. That responsibility lies with the state’s Public Service Commission.
In the hours before Walker’s announcement Tuesday, Entergy’s outage map reported more than 14,000 Metairie residents without power for nearly an hour, which the company said was caused by an equipment issue at the substation.
More than 14,000 Entergy customers are without power in Metairie
It was the third day in a row of widespread outages in the parish, as the West Bank saw 2,300 outages the day before and the east bank experienced 6,300 outages Sunday.
Walker tallied 14 outages in the parish so far this year that each affected anywhere between 795 to over 30,000 residents. He attributed the outages to weather-related events or “random” causes.
Five of those outages took place in July.
“Right now we can’t make it through a sunny day,” Walker said in an interview, calling Tuesday’s outages the “tipping point” for him to call the hearing.
Entergy spokesman Brandon Scardigli said in a statement Wednesday that crews were working to identify the cause of recent outages, install new equipment and upgrade existing systems. He added that projects under the company’s new grid-hardening plan would start in the parish “imminently.”
Gripes with the electric utility company aren’t unique or new — Entergy Louisiana ranked last among large utilities in the South in a recent customer satisfaction survey conducted by J.D. Power, and Kenner’s City Council has hosted multiple discussions with Entergy representatives regarding problems.
The New Orleans City Council held its own hearing with Entergy New Orleans on Tuesday to discuss spikes in outages there, as the city has seen 1,600 outages so far this year.
“Entergy owes the people of Louisiana much more answers than what they’ve given about these challenges, especially with the amount of increasing they’ve been asking the commission to apply to customer bills,” said Lewis, the commission’s newest member who’s vowed to be aggressive with utilities.
Lewis said he’s been “very frustrated and upset” by the lack of information he’s gotten as to where, why and how long outages have occurred. Walker theorized the parish’s energy infrastructure is outdated and needs major upgrades to better withstand inclement weather.
“We keep replacing wooden poles with wooden poles, which seems like an exercise in futility,” Walker said.
Jefferson Parish customers pay about $13 per month in storm restoration fees to repair the grid from previous disasters.
Terry Almon, president of the Bonnabel Civic Association — one of the neighborhoods hit by Tuesday’s outages — said frustrated residents want better communication from Entergy on why the power goes out, especially when it’s not weather- or accident-related.
“They need to be upfront no matter what, whether it’s good news or bad news,” Almon said. “Any time a public entity is transparent, it serves them well.”
Louisiana
Pervy mayor’s kids told cops that they caught her romping with teen boy at boozy pool party
The children of a disgraced Louisiana mayor told cops that they both caught their mom fooling around with a 16-year-old boy at a boozy pool party, according to video played at her rape trial.
Misty Roberts, the 43-year-old former head of DeRidder, Louisiana — population 9,8000 — faces a charge of third-degree rape over the 2024 incident.
Roberts’ son told investigators in an interview played for jurors that he saw his mom having sex with his pal through a crack in a window.
But, when asked about his recollection, he demurred — telling the court he wasn’t exactly sure what he saw that night, according to KPLC.
The jury also reviewed pictures from the party, which showed kids holding drinks as well as a photograph of Roberts and the victim that prosecutors described as “lewd.”
That picture showed Roberts at the party in her bikini, with the teen victim looking up at her smiling.
Roberts’ son texted his mom that night, incredulous about what was happening, and told her that his sister was crying, according to messages presented by prosecutors.
“He is seventeen,” the son texted Roberts.
The boy was later confirmed to be 16 years old, according to KPLC.
Roberts’ daughter also took the stand while prosecutors played her interview with detectives, in which she said she saw her mom and the boy “on top of each other” that night.
The former mayor’s nephew also admitted he tried to sneak a peek — using his phone to try and get a peek at what was going on in the room. He testified that he wasn’t sure if he hit “record” — but if he did said he never sent it to anybody.
None of the three witnesses who testified said they saw the “private parts” of Roberts and the victim. The teen boy, they noted though, was shirtless.
After the alleged tryst, the victim’s mother texted Roberts to ensure that she was not pregnant, to which she replied she was on birth control. Roberts shared a screenshot of that message to a group chat with her friends, who urged her to take Plan B.
A DoorDash driver testified that he delivered an emergency contraceptive to Roberts’ house, which he recognized from trick-or-treating with his children there.
In other texts shown in court, Roberts asked her son what kind of alcohol her son and other kids wanted for the party.
Days after police launched their investigation into the alleged crime, Roberts resigned as mayor of DeRidder, a city of just under 10,000 people about 20 miles east of the Texas border.
Roberts was charged with third-degree rape and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles.
Louisiana
Louisiana Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for Feb. 28, 2026
The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Feb. 28, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from Feb. 28 drawing
06-20-35-54-65, Powerball: 10, Power Play: 4
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from Feb. 28 drawing
8-3-8
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from Feb. 28 drawing
5-4-7-5
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from Feb. 28 drawing
9-9-1-3-0
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Easy 5 numbers from Feb. 28 drawing
04-17-21-27-33
Check Easy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto numbers from Feb. 28 drawing
08-10-15-21-22-33
Check Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Louisiana Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Louisiana Lottery offices. Prizes of over $5,000 must be claimed at Lottery office.
By mail, follow these instructions:
- Sign and complete the information on the back of your winning ticket, ensuring all barcodes are clearly visible (remove all scratch-off material from scratch-off tickets).
- Photocopy the front and back of the ticket (except for Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, as photocopies are not accepted for these games).
- Complete the Louisiana Lottery Prize Claim Form, including your telephone number and mailing address for prize check processing.
- Photocopy your valid driver’s license or current picture identification.
Mail all of the above in a single envelope to:
Louisiana Lottery Headquarters
555 Laurel Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
To submit in person, visit Louisiana Lottery headquarters:
555 Laurel Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, (225) 297-2000.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Louisiana Lottery.
When are the Louisiana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5: Daily at 9:59 p.m. CT.
- Easy 5: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
- Lotto: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Louisiana editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Louisiana
Schumer demands congressional brief on Iran; Louisiana delegation weighs in on attack
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) demanded a congressional briefing from President Trump’s administration Saturday (Feb. 28), hours after the U.S. military joined Israel in launching airstrikes against Iran.
“When I talked to Secretary (of State Marco) Rubio, I implored him to be straight with Congress and the American people about the objectives of these strikes and what comes next,” Schumer said in a statement. “Iran must never be allowed to attain a nuclear weapon, but the American people do not want another endless and costly war in the Middle East when there are so many problems at home.
“The administration has not provided Congress and the American people with critical details about the scope and immediacy of the threat. Confronting Iran’s malign regional activities, nuclear ambitions and harsh oppression of the Iranian people demands American strength, resolve, regional coordination and strategic clarity. Unfortunately, President Trump’s fitful cycles of lashing out and risking wider conflict are not a viable strategy.
“The administration must brief Congress — including an immediate all-senators classified briefing — and in public testimony to answer these vital questions. The Senate should quickly return to session and reassert its constitutional duty by passing our resolution to enforce the War Powers Act. My prayers are with our brave American servicemembers.”
Meanwhile, reaction to the attack from Louisiana’s congressional delegation appeared to break predictably among party lines.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) posted to X that the attack “is yet another move by President Trump to protect the United States and sends a message to the world: Never doubt America’s resolve or capacity to defend its interests.”
For years, the Iranian Regime has chanted “Death to America,” targeted our troops, weaponized their terrorist proxies, and killed tens of thousands of innocent people, including Americans. Today, President Trump made it clear: their reign of terror is over.
The President has…
— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) February 28, 2026
Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.) of New Orleans, however, said he was “deeply concerned” about the attack and said, “The American people deserve to understand the objectives, the risks and the path forward.”
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) wrote, “The President’s decision to attack Iran presumably was based upon a clear and present danger to the United States, and a planned execution that does not put the United States in a forever war.”
The President’s decision to attack Iran presumably was based upon a clear and present danger to the United States, and a planned execution that does not put the United States in a forever war. We pray for the safety and success of our servicemen and servicewomen.
— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) February 28, 2026
Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.), who is mounting a primary challenge for Cassidy’s U.S. Senate seat, also endorsed Trump’s decision to attack Tehran.
Iran is the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism and actively plots to kill Americans. President Trump’s decisive strikes send a message that America will not tolerate Iran’s threats to our national security. May God bless our troops and keep them safe as we confront radical… https://t.co/P5IVxiBi2p
— Congresswoman Julia Letlow (@RepJuliaLetlow) February 28, 2026
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) also backed Trump’s military action, writing that Iran was “facing the severe consequences of its evil actions.”
Today, Iran is facing the severe consequences of its evil actions. President Trump and the Administration have made every effort to pursue peaceful and diplomatic solutions in response to the Iranian regime’s sustained nuclear ambitions and development, terrorism, and the murder… https://t.co/G5XPELtAmX
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) February 28, 2026
Democratic Rep. Cleo Field expressed reservations that Trump had not made a case for the attack to Congress or the American people.
This morning, the United States, in coordination with Israel, launched strikes against Iran — a significant military action with serious consequences for our national security.
While I understand the gravity of the threat, the process here cannot be ignored. The War Powers Act…
— Congressman Cleo Fields (@RepFields) February 28, 2026
Republican Sen. John Kennedy had not yet posted reactions to the Iran attack — dubbed by the Pentagon as “Operation Epic Fury” — on social media or sent statements to the news media.
See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here to report it. Please include the headline.
Subscribe to the Fox 8 YouTube channel.
Copyright 2026 WVUE. All rights reserved.
-
World4 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts5 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Denver, CO4 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Louisiana1 week agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Technology1 week agoYouTube TV billing scam emails are hitting inboxes
-
Politics1 week agoOpenAI didn’t contact police despite employees flagging mass shooter’s concerning chatbot interactions: REPORT
-
Technology1 week agoStellantis is in a crisis of its own making
-
News1 week agoWorld reacts as US top court limits Trump’s tariff powers
