Katie Jane Fernelius

New Orleans might trash recycling expansion, despite $5M grant New Orleans has more than $5 million available to pay for tens of thousands of new recycling carts. But the City Council isn’t moving forward with a hearing to approve the contract.

BREAKING: The city of New Orleans is considering trashing a fully-funded recycling initiative that has more than $5 million in financial backing and would provide recycling bins to all single-family and small multi-family residential in the city. More @veritenews.org. veritenews.org/2026/02/25/n...

City of New Orleans might trash fully-funded residential recycling initiative New Orleans has more than $5 million available to pay for tens of thousands of new recycling carts. But the City Council isn’t moving forward with a hearing to approve the contract.

City of New Orleans might trash fully-funded residential recycling initiative

New Orleans has more than $5 million available to pay for tens of thousands of new recycling carts. But the City Council isn’t moving forward with a hearing to approve the contract.

Bust ‘Em Up: Behind the scenes of Edna Karr marching band’s 2026 Carnival season Karr is widely regarded as one of the best marching bands in New Orleans.

Bust ‘Em Up: Behind the scenes of Edna Karr marching band’s 2026 Carnival season

Karr is widely regarded as one of the best marching bands in New Orleans.

Federal labor board invalidates union at N.O. charter school, potentially signalling trouble for others  The National Labor Relations Board found that a 2024 state law means that Lycee Francais teachers and their union no longer fall under its jurisdiction. The decision could impact all charter schools in New Orleans and across the state.

Federal labor board invalidates union at N.O. charter school, potentially signalling trouble for others 

The National Labor Relations Board found that a 2024 state law means that Lycee Francais teachers and their union no longer fall under its jurisdiction. The decision could impact all charter…

With pipes dating back more than a century, lead experts point to the New Orleans' corroding lead water lines as a significant public health hazard. https://veritenews.org/2026/02/19/exposed-toxic-tap-lead-in-water/

Moreno pledged to fix Safety and Permits. Almost a month into her tenure, she has yet to name a new director. Moreno's top deputy says an announcement on a Safety and Permits director is coming soon.

Moreno pledged to fix Safety and Permits. Almost a month into her tenure, she has yet to name a new director.

Moreno's top deputy says an announcement on a Safety and Permits director is coming soon.

Unsafe lead levels found in half of New Orleans playgrounds Verite News tested lead levels at more than 80 parks. Even trace amounts of the toxic metal can cause learning problems and behavioral issues in children.

Verite News reporters @tristanbaurick.bsky.social and @halleparker.bsky.social tested for lead in the soil at more than 80 New Orleans parks and found about half had dangerous levels of the toxic metal. veritenews.org/2026/02/05/p...

Balancing joy and responsibility: The New Orleans residents trying to make Mardi Gras more sustainable Organizations in New Orleans are pushing to make Mardi Gras more environmentally-friendly by examining the culture around throws and making more sustainable options for krewes.

Balancing joy and responsibility: The New Orleans residents trying to make Mardi Gras more sustainable

Organizations in New Orleans are pushing to make Mardi Gras more environmentally-friendly by examining the culture around throws and making more sustainable options for krewes.

Poison at Play: Unsafe lead levels found in half of New Orleans playgrounds Verite News tested lead levels at more than 80 parks. Even trace amounts of the toxic metal can cause learning problems and behavioral issues in children.

Poison at Play: Unsafe lead levels found in half of New Orleans playgrounds

Verite News tested lead levels at more than 80 parks. Even trace amounts of the toxic metal can cause learning problems and behavioral issues in children.

Helena Moreno sworn in as New Orleans mayor under storm clouds of budget deficit, layoffs Moreno takes office facing a massive projected deficit for the year, which has already led to layoffs and furloughs of city employees.

Helena Moreno sworn in as New Orleans mayor under storm clouds of budget deficit, layoffs

Moreno takes office facing a massive projected deficit for the year, which has already led to layoffs and furloughs of city employees.

Americans by Name, Punished for Believing It - Bolts In a small Alaska town, American Samoans face prosecution for voting in the only country they’ve ever known. They live in a limbo, created by colonial expansion, that now confuses even public official...

Eleven American Samoans in Alaska face serious prison time for voting in the only country they’ve ever known. Theirs is a wild story of colonialism, cops, “voter fraud” panic, small-town beef, and family. I spent months on this + am so glad to now be able to share it: boltsmag.org/prosecuted-f...

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‘I want to be judged by the fact that people stop leaving New Orleans’: Moreno prepares to take over Mayor’s Office - Verite News New Orleans Verite News sat down with incoming mayor Helena Moreno to discuss the city budget crisis, layoffs and how to grow the city’s economy.

I interviewed Helena Moreno days ahead of her inauguration for @veritenews.org — veritenews.org/2026/01/07/h...

‘I want to be judged by the fact that people stop leaving New Orleans’: Moreno prepares to take over Mayor’s Office Verite News sat down with incoming mayor Helena Moreno to discuss the city budget crisis, layoffs and how to grow the city’s economy.

‘I want to be judged by the fact that people stop leaving New Orleans’: Moreno prepares to take over Mayor’s Office

Verite News sat down with incoming mayor Helena Moreno to discuss the city budget crisis, layoffs and how to grow the city’s economy.

After ICE agent shoots, kills person in Minneapolis, activists in New Orleans take to the streets Hours after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis, activists from the New Orleans Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression gallered protesters in Lafayette Square to demand ICE and other federal agencies leave the city.

After ICE agent shoots, kills person in Minneapolis, activists in New Orleans take to the streets

Hours after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis, activists from the New Orleans Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression gallered protesters…

Deadly Minneapolis ICE shooting echoes Franklin Park, Marimar Martinez shootings during Operation Midway Blitz The deadly Minneapolis shooting by an ICE agent that killed a woman Wednesday morning recalls shootings by federal immigration agents in Chicago during the height of Operation Midway Blitz in the fall...

Important context for claims that the Nicole Renee Good was obstructing/assaulting officers before she was shot & killed:

The last time immigration agents shot a woman (Marimar Martinez, Chicago) they made similar claims. Prosecutors have already dropped the charges www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...

Read this Trump TruthSocial post and then click the link below to watch the video of what actually happened.

‘I want to be judged by the fact that people stop leaving New Orleans’: Moreno prepares to take over Mayor’s Office - Verite News New Orleans Verite News sat down with incoming mayor Helena Moreno to discuss the city budget crisis, layoffs and how to grow the city’s economy.

I interviewed Helena Moreno days ahead of her inauguration for @veritenews.org — veritenews.org/2026/01/07/h...

I took the National Museum of African American History and Culture for granted. Trump’s threats changed that. As a native of the Washington, D.C. metro area, I put off visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture for close to a decade, but the Trump administration’s push to alter the d...

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...

I took the National Museum of African American History and Culture for granted. Trump’s threats changed that. As a native of the Washington, D.C. metro area, I put off visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture for close to a decade, but the Trump administration’s push to alter the d...

My un-imitable colleague & pal @drewcostley.bsky.social wrote about their first visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture — affectionately known as The Blacksonian — and why it took them so long to visit, for @veritenews.org.

veritenews.org/2025/12/30/n...

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

The state of Louisiana, under the direction of Trump-allied Gov. Jeff Landry, is trying to takeover the finances of the city of New Orleans. It's majority-Black, the state's largest city and a Democratic stronghold.

Complaint: Pregnant immigration detainees in Louisiana and Georgia experiencing abuse, neglect Mistreatment of pregnant people in detention facilities has resulted in miscarriage in some cases, civil rights groups allege.

Complaint: Pregnant immigration detainees in Louisiana and Georgia experiencing abuse, neglect

Mistreatment of pregnant people in detention facilities has resulted in miscarriage in some cases, civil rights groups allege.

Loss of $120M in expected FEMA funding threatens city’s ability to pay bills, officials say A Cantrell administration official says that FEMA has not been kicking out expected funding because of New Orleans’ status as a ‘sanctuary city’ on immigration. . New Orleans, facing a $160M deficit, may not be able to make its payroll.

Loss of $120M in expected FEMA funding threatens city’s ability to pay bills, officials say

A Cantrell administration official says that FEMA has not been kicking out expected funding because of New Orleans’ status as a ‘sanctuary city’ on immigration. . New Orleans, facing a $160M deficit, may…

Landry warns Louisiana won’t issue SNAP benefits for November if shutdown persists More than 800,000 people in Louisiana receive SNAP benefits.

Landry warns Louisiana won’t issue SNAP benefits for November if shutdown persists

More than 800,000 people in Louisiana receive SNAP benefits.

Courtesy of @charlesmaldonado.bsky.social, here is the applicable state law - legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDo...

Wait, I feel like this – reported by Axios! – is kind of a big deal. Apparently, AG Liz Murrill is considering taking over the city of New Orleans' finances ???

www.axios.com/local/new-or...

YouTube video by Verite News New Orleans Verite News asks the candidates: JP Morrell

And then we spoke to incumbent JP Morrell – asking him about what he hopes to accomplish in a second term, if elected, the difficulties of implementing a stormwater fee, and what it is about superheroes that he loves so much.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_RD...

YouTube video by Verite News New Orleans Verite News asks the candidates: Gregory Manning full

Then, we switched races to the Division 2 seat. We spoke with Pastor Gregory Manning, who is challenging incumbent JP Morrell. We talked to Manning about why he chose to challenge a well-known name, utility regulation, and his background in theater (no, actually!).

www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-xU...