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🌱 Patch AM: Will a $120 million pledge finally bring Omni’s hotel to life?

Coming up on the New Orleans Patch calendar: Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons

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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:

  • Will a $120 million pledge finally bring Omni's hotel to life?
  • How New Orleans plans to finally smooth out your daily commute
  • What's really at stake in New Orleans' firefighter showdown next month?

Also on today's calendar: Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the tree say when Spring arrived? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Cloudy, a thunderstorm; humid, with a high of 86 and low of 76 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Saturday: Humid; an afternoon t-storm, temps: high: 91, low: 76.
  • Sunday: Humid; a stray p.m. t-storm, with a high of 89 and low of 75 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. New Orleans convention center backs new Omni hotel deal (wdsu.com) — A long-discussed Omni hotel next to the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center just moved closer to reality, with the convention center authority pledging $120 million toward the project. The deal still needs State Bond Commission approval, but backers say the headquarters hotel at the old Sugar Mill site could boost tourism, jobs, and tax revenues for the city.
   

2. New Orleans Smooth Streets trains crews to fix roads (wdsu.com) — New Orleans is ramping up a Smooth Streets program to overhaul roughly 1,500 miles of city roads, shifting from patching potholes to repaving full blocks for longer-lasting, smoother drives. Public Works crews are training now, with the first full-block project targeted before Christmas and a goal of repairing up to 1,500 potholes a week by year's end.
   

3. City Hall, firefighters headed to trial over forced duties (wwltv.com) — New Orleans firefighters and City Hall are headed to trial September 14 over a directive requiring firefighters to work higher‑level "out‑of‑class" roles without guaranteed extra pay. With nearly 100 vacancies already forcing temporary company closures, the case could shape staffing, safety, and compensation across the New Orleans Fire Department.
   

4. Victim's mother doubles reward in Pontchartrain Park murder (wgno.com) — A New Orleans mother has doubled the CrimeStoppers reward to $10,000 in hopes of finding who killed her 16-year-old son, Ke'Shawn Bell, in Pontchartrain Park back in 2013. Police say Bell was found shot near train tracks by Prentiss Street and Providence Place, and investigators are again urging anyone with information to call CrimeStoppers anonymously.
   

5. Voltage fluctuations led to flooded streets during Arthur, SWBNO director says (wwltv.com) — New Orleans' Sewerage and Water Board director says voltage fluctuations, not broken equipment, caused key drainage pumps to fail when Arthur hit, flooding streets in the West End. After earlier rain‑related flooding in Hollygrove, City Park, Lakeview, and Mid‑City, the utility is working with Entergy on dual power at the Carrollton plant to prevent repeat failures.
   

📸 Around New Orleans

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Missing 4 year old Male Blue Merle Frenchie: No Collar, Not chipped.
    He got out of the backyard He is not fixed. NOLA East- Seabrook Neighborhood (Curran / New Castle) missing since 1:30am Thursday. (Nextdoor Melia)
  • Has anyone seen my big white dog?
    He has a red collar. He got out on Friday and hasn't been back since! Last seen near Freret and First St. he protects my chickens and my children. We… (Nextdoor Central City)
  • TravelCenters of America posted a job opening for Porter in New Orleans. Apply here.
  • Kidcam Camp Programs posted a job opening for Harahan, LA - Faith Lutheran - Camp Group Leader 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: What a re-leaf! (Thank you Flo G. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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