While you may have experienced the warm and fuzzy feelings from LSU beating Bama and then did a 180 to the cold chill of defeat by the Falcons, there were some ups and downs this week in the headlines. We dug into the treasure trove of headlines in the buried sections of the Internet isles to bring you the fortunes of knowledge about what is happening across the parishes of Southeast Louisiana. This week, the airport seemed to have trouble sticking the landing on its debut, and we found that one national report said the city had trouble getting the lead out … of the water.
Awaiting Departure: New MSY Airport With Beauty and Bungling
The good news: New Orleans’ new airport is finally here. The bad news: The struggle was real during the first week. Extremely long wait lines, reports of missing bags and taxi drivers shaking their heads at the bottle-necked traffic at the pick-up zones. Sunday was the worst day since the airport opened on Wednesday, according to the Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate. Plagued by long lines through security, one passenger said he missed his flight waiting up to an hour and a half to get through TSA security. “The airport itself is beautiful,” one passenger told the newspaper. “But right now it’s like a Mercedes with flat tires.” Ouch. Here’s our guide on what to know before you go.
Ride Shares & Fares: Getting To And From The Airport $$$
Speaking of the airport, getting out of town wasn’t just a challenge for passengers hustling to make it to the jetway — just getting away from the new terminal was an ordeal. Ride share apps Lyft and Uber reportedly had soaring prices during the first week. But the good news is that the fare seems to have adjusted some. WDSU News reported last week that prices from the new airport to the Central Business District throttled up to as high as $100 — a few green paper presidents’ difference from the typical $30 or so ride from the old airport. The TV station reported that Uber said in a statement that “During times of high demand, fares increase to help ensure a driver is always nearby, and you can get a ride if you need one.” The Times-Picayune |The New Orleans Advocate said that on Sunday, prices seemed to be around $40.
Let’s Kick Some Ice: Freezing Temps Coming To NOLA
Yeah, it feels good outside, doesn’t it? Get ready for the cold shoulder on Tuesday. WDSU-TV reports that a cold front will come blast us all in the face on Tuesday and Wednesday. Lows will range from the mid-30s to low-40s, with the wind making it feel like the 20s and 30s. By Wednesday morning, the first f-f-f-freeze is likely, said WDSU. But you won’t need to crank the heat for too long, because the temperatures will rise to near 60 on Friday. Bundle up and get ready to chill for the cool party.
Hired Mussel: Cage-Grown Oysters To Replace Farming?
While traditional oyster farming remains the king on mussel producing in Louisiana, cage-grown oysters could be a popular alternative. According to a report from WWL-TV, more frequent flooding from the upper Mississippi River basin and the release of freshwater has threatened the production of traditionally farm-raised oysters. In traditional farming, oysters grow on hard surfaces in water within the leased area. The cage method has oysters grown in mesh bags in cages floating in the water — a popular method in other areas of the country. An official told the station that if the trend of increased flooding continues, “then that will continue to impact our oyster production capacity.”
Quick Hit Links
- City Investigation Showed that New Orleans Had Botched Its Lead Testing For Years (BuzzFeed News)
- Natural Gas or Renewables? New Orleans Choice is Shadowed By Katrina (The New York Times)
- Louisiana state Sen. Wesley Bishop faces federal charge of making false statements (The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
- Louisiana seeing more foster care children adopted (WDSU-TV)
- Anti-Edwards ad in governor’s race removed from TV (WWL-TV)
What’s Happening This Week
Monday
Night Paddle | 7 p.m. | Bayou Paddlesports | $40 if you need gear, $20 if you bring your own
Come paddle from 7 – 9 p.m. on beautiful Bayou St John for a peaceful evening of moon gazing, followed by good food and music (until around 11 p.m.). The drinks are complimentary but feel free to BYOB! With or without gear – please RSVP online so there’s enough food to go around.
Tuesday
FitNOLA Line Dancing | 7 p.m. | 624 Louisiana Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115 | Free
Get those dancing shoes on for this class that combines low, moderate and high energy dance routines set to R&B and soul music. It’s a great form of exercise, a way to relieve stress, and most of all, a ton of fun!
Wednesday
Foster Fest | 10 a.m. | LASPCA | Free
Do you have commitment issues? Have you ever wanted to make an impact in the lives of homeless animals but don’t have the time? Is your schedule just too busy? We have the perfect solution for you. Foster Fest is where you get to pick ANY adoptable animal and bring them home for a weekend-long sleepover. The animals get a much-needed break from shelter life, you get the warm and fuzzy feeling of helping a homeless animal, and we get to learn all kinds of great things about that animal that will eventually help us find them a perfect home!
Thursday
TIGERAMA | 7 p.m. | Mahalia Jackson Theater | $20 – $65
It’s a great time to be an LSU fan! The Tiger Band is coming to New Orleans in one of its signature fundraisers, performing at the Mahalia Jackson Theater. Previous years have been able to find international trips for the Tiger Band, including going to Dublin, Ireland to perform at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Proceeds from this year’s Tigerama will go to support the LSU Marching Band and the Department of Bands in the LSU School of Music.
Friday
Hell Yes Fest – The New Orleans Comedy Festival
The New Orleans Comedy Event of the Year is BACK. Featuring talent from all over the country, all performing at the only full-time comedy venue in the city, The New Movement.
