NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — There's a new singing competition based on the hit ABC TV show, "American Idol." Legendary New Orleans musicians will decide who's the best singer in The Big Easy for "NOLA IDOL." Legendary musicians Cyril Neville, Irvin Mayfield and David Batiste have teamed up with the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission to find the "NOLA IDOL." Neville, Mayfield and Batiste will be the judges and coaches of "NOLA IDOL," which will be a city-wide singing competition held at various NORDC locations ..read more

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Mardi Gras 2024 was one for the books, but it's one the Carnival Legislative Advisory Committee said they are learning challenges from. Two big hassles are tents and make-shift-porta potties along the neutral ground. "It's an impediment to foot traffic for those that are going to watch the parade and a lot of these folks end up spilling the street and becomes a safety and a timing issue where the parades get slowed down," said James Reiss. "As we look forward to revising in the start what will be outright prohibited tents are on the list," said Councilmember-at-Large JP Mo ..read more

KENTWOOD, La. (WGNO) — Louisiana State Police troopers are investigating a crash that left a 70-year-old man dead on Wednesday, April 24. LSP leaders reported that around 9:30 a.m. troopers responded to a single-vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 1057 near Pittman Road in Tangipahoa Parish. They said the crash claimed the life of Samuel Raborn of Kentwood ..read more

KENNER, La. (WGNO) — Nonprofit organization Special Connections celebrated its 20-year anniversary with a fashion event on Wednesday, April 24. Representatives said Special Connections is "an adult day program for individuals with special needs to socialize and create ..read more

Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Officers with the New Orleans Police Department are looking to locate a car believed to be involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash near the West Lake Forest area on Saturday, April 20. The NOPD reported officers responded to the 8500 block of the I-10 Service Road, where they found an unresponsive woman lying in the eastbound lane. She was pronounced dead at the scene ..read more

LULING, La. (WGNO) — Entergy took down its Luling Substation due to vandalism, causing a temporary power outage in surrounding neighborhoods on Wednesday, April 24. According to leaders with St. Charles Parish, the substation was taken down to address an emergent situation due to vandalism ..read more

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH, La. (WGNO) — A body was recovered in the Mississippi River in Garyville on Wednesday, April 24. The St. John Sheriff’s Office reported deputies responded to a call around 8:30 a.m. about a "badly decomposed" body floating in the river in Garyville ..read more

METAIRIE, La. (BRPROUD)—The New Orleans Saints lost a piece of its offensive line Wednesday. Offensive lineman James Hurst announced his retirement from football in an Instagram post on Wednesday, April 24. Hurst was drafted in 2014 by the Baltimore Ravens and signed with the Saints in 2020. Hurst started the 2023 season at left guard for the black and gold, beating out Andrus Peat for the starting spot in training camp. He ends his New Orleans career starting in 51 games ..read more

BRIDGE CITY, La. (WGNO) — Troopers with the Louisiana State Police are investigating a crash that left a Slidell driver dead in Bridge City on Tuesday, April 23. The LSP reported the crash happened on U.S. 90 near Nine Mile Point Road and Seven Oaks Boulevard around 11:30 p.m ..read more

HARVEY, La. (WGNO) — The man accused in the death of a Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office detective in 2016 has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty in court on Wednesday, April 24. 27-year-old Jerman Neveaux appeared before a judge and entered a guilty plea to charges of second-degree murder in exchange for a possible first-degree murder conviction and death sentence. According to court documents, in June 2016 JPSO Detective David Michel Jr. was driving down Manhattan Boulevard in Harvey to meet fellow officers for lunch when he reportedly spotted then 19-year-old Neveau ..read more