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Prices good at all New Orleans, Gretna, Kenner, Metairie, Marrero, Slidell, Mandeville and Covington stores September 3rd - 10th, 2025.
F r i d ay, S e p t e m b e r 5, 2025
$2.00X
Cassidy criticizes RFK Jr. on vaccines Health secretary grilled by Senate committee
BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer
STAFF FILE PHOTOS By DAVID GRUNFELD
Work has begun on the Upper Pontalba apartment building, the 175-year-old structure overlooking Jackson Square that is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
Landmark project
WASHINGTON — In his strongest criticism to date, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, who is the senator most responsible for confirming Robert F. Kennedy Jr., accused the nation’s health chief Thursday of preventing Americans from receiving COVID vaccinations. “I’m approaching this as a doctor, not as a senator. I am concerned about children’s health, seniors’ health, all of our health,” Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, told Kennedy during a raucous Senate Finance Committee hearing. A gastroenterologist for 30 years before being elected, Cassidy promotes vaccinations as a way to save lives, while Kennedy is perhaps the nation’s leading vaccine skeptic. Cassidy has said he supported Kennedy for confirmation after receiving a promise not to meddle with vaccination policies.
ä See CASSIDY, page 4A
Long-delayed repairs begin at iconic Upper Pontalba
BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL
Staff writer
After years of planning and delays, work crews began making badly needed repairs this week to the historic Upper Pontalba apartments, the 175-year-old structure overlooking Jackson Square that is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. The project will include critical repairs to the building’s roof, which was damaged during Hurricane Ida and has been covered by blue tarps, now faded to a dull gray, ever since. Contractors will also address
water issues that predate the 2021 hurricane and replace the building’s HVAC system. The work comes six months after the French Market Corp., the agency that manages the building for the city of New Orleans, put the project out to bid. The size of the project has risen to $10.2 million from $8 million earlier this year, an increase French Market Corp. Executive Director K.C. Guidry attributed to “market uncertainty related to tariffs.” The project is expected to take 16 months to complete.
ä See PONTALBA, page 6A
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appears Thursday before the Senate Finance Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington.
The roof of the Upper Pontalba was damaged during Hurricane Ida and has been covered by blue tarps ever since.
Director: Crime scene footage improperly shared Project NOLA video used for TV show BY MISSY WILKINSON
Staff writer
The director of Project NOLA has threatened to cut the New Orleans Police Department’s access to the nonprofit’s 5,000-camera network, accusing Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration of improperly releasing “sensitive” crime scene footage to the A&E show
WEATHER HIGH 93 LOW 76 PAGE 8B
“Homicide Squad New Orleans.” Now in its second season, “Homicide Squad New Orleans” follows NOPD homicide detectives as they collect casings, track suspect vehicles and conduct interviews to crack murder cases. It relies on a mix of footage from videographers, business surveillance and the city’s Real-Time Crime Center network to tell the stories. “I was horrified to see Project NOLA footage featured,” Bry-
an Lagarde said Tuesday. “Project NOLA didn’t know about this or give our consent. Crime camera hosts knew nothing of this. And the city gave copies of the video Lagarde footage to (the production company) for what can only be described as entertainment purposes.” Production company 44 Blue Entertainment approached
Residents eye Smitty’s Supply cleanup after oil plant fire BY DAVID J. MITCHELL Staff writer
Lagarde in January seeking footage from Project NOLA cameras, which are hosted by residents, business owners and civic groups. He told them they couldn’t use it. “They want to air things that are fresh and haven’t had time to be adjudicated,” Lagarde said. “We don’t want to see our video on network TV, where it is going to harm individuals or harm criminal cases by prematurely being released.”
The swirling black oil and the overpowering smell of asphalt began appearing behind Scott Silva’s house on the lower Tangipahoa River the night of Aug. 25, three days after Smitty’s Supply Inc. exploded and began burning for days. Blobs of black oil collecting in the river’s curve by his home have been a near daily occurrence since then. Contaminants from the burning motor oil and lubricants plant have flowed down nearly the length of the river and past part of the sensitive Joyce Wildlife Management Area, despite miles of containment and absorbent boom.
ä See FOOTAGE, page 4A
ä See CLEANUP, page 6A
Business ...................12A Commentary ................7B Nation-World................2A Classified .....................8D Deaths .........................3B Opinion ........................6B Comics-Puzzles .....4D-7D Living............................1D Sports ..........................1C
13TH yEAR, NO. 24