🌱 Patch AM: Jury weighs fate in New Orleans’ staged‑wreck murder‑conspiracy case

Hey there, New Orleans! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Jury weighs fate in New Orleans' staged‑wreck murder‑conspiracy case
• How Delgado is gearing New Orleanians up for new SpaceX jobs
• What Tulane's $500 million Charity Hospital remake means for New Orleans

Also on today's calendar: Dorothy's Quest: The Trials of Oz in New Orleans and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: What has a neck but no head? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Humid; an afternoon t-storm, with a high of 94 and low of 78 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
• Sunday: Humid; a stray p.m. t-storm, temps: high: 89, low: 77.
• Monday: Humid; a stray p.m. t-storm, with a high of 89 and low of 77 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Jury starts deliberating in New Orleans staged wrecks murder-conspiracy trial (nola.com) — Jurors in New Orleans have begun deliberating in a high-profile federal murder‑conspiracy case tied to an alleged staged‑wreck insurance fraud ring that operated around the city. Prosecutors say key players arranged the 2020 killing of cooperating witness Cornelius "Poonie" Garrison, while defense attorneys argue another conspirator acted alone. Testimony from a witness who says that man confessed could complicate the jury's decision when deliberations resume Monday.
   

2. As SpaceX seeks skilled workers, Delgado says it's preparing students for many of the jobs (fox8live.com) — Delgado Community College in New Orleans says its welding, electrical, robotics, and other technical programs already line up with the thousands of jobs SpaceX's planned south Louisiana spaceport will create. School leaders are moving to tailor even more training directly to SpaceX's needs, aiming to keep local graduates in-state for high-paying aerospace and support roles.
   

3. Beloved New Orleans hospital, wracked by floods and grief in Hurricane Katrina, to get a makeover (cenlanow.com) — Charity Hospital, the long‑shuttered New Orleans landmark devastated during Hurricane Katrina, is finally set for a $500 million transformation into a Tulane‑led medical research hub downtown. Construction is expected to start this fall, with completion targeted for 2029. City leaders say the project will revive a symbol of New Orleans' healthcare safety net and bring new research, classrooms, and startup space to the core of the city.
   

4. In preseason finale, Barion Brown, Bryce Lance show Saints they'e ready to contribute (nola.com) — Two rookie receivers, Barion Brown and Bryce Lance, are making strong cases to become key contributors for the New Orleans Saints after standout preseason performances and eye-catching training camp work against the team's secondary. With injuries and a surprise retirement opening depth-chart spots, their versatility on offense and special teams could quickly shape how the Saints' passing game looks this season.
   

5. St. Charles Parish marks five years of recovery after Hurricane Ida (wdsu.com) — Entergy New Orleans is finishing the first phase of a $100 million grid-hardening program after Hurricane Ida's prolonged outages, upgrading thousands of structures across the city. The story also looks at how nearby parishes like St. Charles and St. John continue long-term recovery, with leaders pointing to visible rebuilding and infrastructure improvements five years after the storm.
   

📸 Around New Orleans

Subscribe

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in New Orleans

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Saturday August 29
• Don McLean at The Fillmore
  New Orleans Chamber of Commerce Fillmore New Orleans, 6 Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
  8:00 pm
Tuesday September 1
• Dorothy's Quest: The Trials of Oz in New Orleans →
  768 Decatur St, New Orleans 768 Decatur St New Orleans, Louisiana 70116
• The Phantom Ballerina in New Orleans - Outdoor Exploration Game →
  Bourbon Orleans Hotel, 717 Orleans St, New Orleans
Thursday September 3
• 2026 Women's Business Alliance: Resource Bank →
  New Orleans Chamber of Commerce Street parking along Tchoupitoulas St
  5:00 pm
• Ricardo Montaner at Radio City Music Hall →
  Radio City Music Hall, 1260 6th Ave, New York
  8:00 pm
Saturday September 5
• Flash Mob New Orleans - 15th Annual Thriller Halloween Workshop 2026 →
  1128 Dublin St, New Orleans
  2:00 pm
• Courtyard Cocktails: A Happy Hour Mixology Class →
  New Orleans School of Cooking, 524 St. Louis, New Orleans
  2:30 pm
Thursday September 10
• Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer →
  Hotel Peter and Paul, 2317 Burgundy St, New Orleans
  6:00 pm
• Candlelight: Neo-Soul Favorites ft. Songs by Prince, Childish Gambino, & More →
  Hotel Peter and Paul, 2317 Burgundy St, New Orleans
  8:30 pm
Friday September 11
• House of Heavy →
  House of Blues New Orleans, 225 Decatur St, New Orleans
  8:00 pm

📣 New Orleans Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Saturday August 29
• Hurricane Katrina Commemoration →
  St. Bernard Parish, LA Calendar
  8:00 am
• Recycling Drop-Off Event →
  Jefferson Parish, LA Calendar
  8:00 am
• Prairie Acadian Cultural Center - National Park Week Story Time: Read with a Ranger
  Jean Lafitte National Park 250 W. Park Avenue, Eunice, LA 70535
  10:00 am
• Prairie Acadian Cultural Center - Hurricanes of the Past: Talk and Candle Making
  Jean Lafitte National Park 250 Park AveEunice, LA 70535
  11:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making New Orleans PatchAM possible:

• Lafayette Process Servers LLC — (504) 210-8344

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• UPDATE: the owner has been located!
  This sweet little dog followed me home this morning. Does anyone know who the owner might be? (Nextdoor Gentilly Terrace and Gardens)
• HALLOWEEN!
  Hi neighbors, I saw some people complaining about the price of candy. It was getting so expensive a few years ago my wife came up with a great idea… (Nextdoor Lakeview)

• ABM Industries, Inc. posted a job opening for School Custodial Cleaner in New Orleans. Apply here.
• Loyola University New Orleans posted a job opening for Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management and Director of Admissions in New Orleans. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near New Orleans here.

Ok New Orleans! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A bottle (Thank you Netty W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook