Great reporting by dream team Hallie Miller and emily sullivan

Advocates say unsanitary and dangerous conditions at New Orleans' homeless camps have reached crisis levels. But the City Council has turned its attention to punishing people who donate food to camps and leave a mess, Sophie Kasakove reports. nola.com/news/politics/…

Conditions at homeless encampments are at a crisis point, w advocates citing the city's failure to maintain trash/sanitation. Councilmembers instead sought to address the issues by restricting food distribution. The motion was tabled amid public pushback. nola.com/news/politics/…

Owners of blighted properties can now face criminal charges-- and even racketeering charges-- in Louisiana, thanks to a new law that came into effect this month. nola.com/news/slumlords…

As seas rise and hurricanes strengthen, our dead won't stay put. I spoke with people from Cameron to Terrebonne to Plaquemines. Incredibly, virtually every single person had a story about caskets washed away by recent storms. My latest for Al Jazeera: aljazeera.com/features/2023/…

Coroner Dwight McKenna presented a "report" to city council on homeless encampments as "Infectious Disease Time Bombs." It was mostly copy/pasted from a 2017 blog, cited rare diseases like cholera + paints a highly unrealistic picture of risks, experts say nola.com/news/politics/…

Jason Cantrell, husband of Mayor LaToya Cantrell, has died, city says nola.com/news/politics/…

As insurers pull out of the state and raise rates, affordable housing developers across Louisiana are facing a crisis. Construction timelines have been delayed and the state has already spent tens of millions to try and save projects from falling apart. nola.com/news/business/…

Hi New Yorkers, your friendly neighborhood local news editor here with some tips on how to help THE CITY keep NYC real. The 💰💰💰 part is last. (For context: semafor.com/article/09/20/…)

Drought across the Midwest and South has left the Mississippi River with such low water levels that saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico is creeping upriver in Louisiana, which could impact the drinking water of thousands of residents in the next few weeks theguardian.com/us-news/2023/s…

A massive effort is underway by city gov and service providers to close homeless encampments by housing nearly everyone living on the streets in New Orleans-- and keep doing it as people become newly homeless. All the details we know so far here: nola.com/news/politics/…

Corps knew for decades that dredging the Mississippi would trigger a water crisis nola.com/news/environme…

Secretary of state's office confirms the 27% number for turnout in New Orleans in this election. Statewide, the figure was 36%. Four years ago, statewide turnout was 46%, and New Orleans turnout was 39%. Majorly down across the board, but a steeper drop in the city.

The Louisiana Democratic Party was rendered virtually irrelevant this campaign. The Demos were outspent by a staggering margin in September. LAGOP spent $1.2 million that month. LADEMOS spent $28,000. #lalege #lagov

New Orleans Public Library officials plan to spend millions of dollars over the next year to fix air-conditioning systems and other issues that forced branch closures during the summer heat wave. By Sophie Kasakove nola.com/news/politics/…

City officials cheered the fencing of the Tchoupitoulas encampment in Nov. as progress towards its plan to house people + close the city's encampments. But behind the scenes, nonprofit leaders were growing increasingly concerned about the city's approach: nola.com/news/politics/…

It’s easy to treat the media as a punching bag. But look to the nation’s local newsrooms. For little money or recognition, reporters in 2023 stood up to power brokers who tried to bully them into silence, exposed corrupt officials and even saved lives. Proof, from every state:

Habitat for Humanity forced to foreclose on N.O.-area homeowners who can't make insurance payments. More than 100 are three months behind and at risk of losing their homes. That represents nearly 15% of all Habitat homes in the area. By Sophie Kasakove nola.com/news/politics/…

Louisiana folks: I'm going to be spending some time down the bayou, specifically in Terrebonne. I'm interested in hearing how folks are coping with the insurance crisis and rising threats of hurricanes and flooding. Get in touch! [email protected]

The New Orleans Safety and Permits director has been sacking senior staff she accuses of serious misconduct as federal investigations have swirled around the department the last few years nola.com/news/new-orlea…