Community Corner
🌱 City Council Gives Input On New NOPD Chief + Uber Driver Stabbing
The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in New Orleans.
Morning, New Orleans! It's me, Shannon Denney, your host of the Daily. Here's what you need to know about what's happening locally. Today you'll learn about these stories and more...
- Magnolia Mansion owner arrested for fraud
- City Council will help out with the search for the next NOPD Superintendent
- An Uber driver was brutally stabbed to death in a random act of violence
But first, today's weather:
Dense fog in the morning. High: 76 Low: 64.
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Here are the top stories in New Orleans today:
- The owner of the Magnolia Mansion, a historic hotel on Prytania Street, has been accused of conspiring with NOPD officer to file false reports regarding stolen art. Fouad Zeton, the owner, was charged with conspiracy to commit fraud on Thursday. He allegedly lied about the value of stolen paintings in order to claim insurance money. The DOJ claims that the art was never stolen and valued at a lot less than Zeton reported it. (WDSU New Orleans)
- Mayor LaToya Cantrell has asked the New Orleans City Council for input on selection of the next NOPD Superintendent after Shaun Ferguson retires. Cantrell requested that members submit their ideas to her by Dec. 16 and that she will be available to meet before Ferguson's official last day which will be on Dec. 22. (WDSU)
- An Uber driver, who was also an employee from the New Orleans Police Department, was brutally stabbed to death in a parking lot after picking up a passenger who then posted it to social media. Yolanda Dillion, who worked as a fiscal budget analyst for 10 years at her other job, picked up Brandon Jacobs who later told police that he "woke up Thursday morning and decided he wanted to kill someone." Jacobs apparently planned to kill the first Uber driver he encountered. NOPD contacted Uber and Facebook to get information on the suspect and to get the video of the murder taken down. (Seattle Times)
Today in New Orleans:
- Movies Under the Stars on Spanish Plaza (5:00 AM)
- Tulane University Men's Basketball vs University at Buffalo (10:30 AM)
- Taylor Swift Night at the Raptor (6:00 PM)
From my notebook:
- Melba's po'boy shop has opened their second location open on Tulane Avenue. You can now get sandwiches at the iconic 24-hour institution. (Mid-City Messenger)
- Harahan has canceled its Christmas parade citing a shortage of police officers to control the routes. (NOLA.com)
- The New Orleans Hispanic Heritage Festival's 30th Anniversary Azucar Ball is tonight! All proceeds go to scholarships. (WWLTV.com)
Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Saturday. I'll see you soon!
— Shannon Denney
Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming New Orleans Daily? Contact me at neworleans@patch.com