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N O L A.C O M
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F r i d ay, J a n u a ry 23, 2026
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McMahon pushes ‘patriotic education’ Secretary of education visits N.O. charter school BY PATRICK WALL
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon‘s visit, which included stops on Wednesday at Sophie B. The country’s top education of- Wright Charter School and The ficial returned to Louisiana this National WWII Museum, was part week as part of a nationwide tour, of a cross-country tour celebrating where she praised the state’s edu- America’s 250th anniversary this cational gains, joined the governor year and promoting an unapoloin a school second-line and played getically pro-America civics and the role of national cheerleader for history education. That promotion what President Donald Trump has started as soon as she addressed called “patriotic education.” the hundreds of students gathered Staff writer
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon speaks during an assembly at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans on Wednesday.
in the Sophie B. Wright auditorium. “I want to hear a resounding cheer from all of you,” she said, “for the greatest country in the world: the United States of America!” How to teach America’s story to students is a perpetually contentious topic, but today’s political
STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK
ä See PATRIOTIC, page 6A
Audubon unveils new prices
Cold front expected across N.O. area Rain likely before freezing temperatures
BY KASEY BUBNASH Staff writer
provide unlimited visits and exceptional value, Audubon said Wednesday after presenting the new rates to the Audubon Commission, the organization’s governing board. “Our updated membership options for 2026 allow us to balance affordable access with responsible care for our animals, ensuring Audubon remains a
The freezing rain and ice associated with an incoming winter storm appear increasingly likely to miss New Orleans over the weekend, but bitterly cold temperatures and wind chills are all but certain early next week. Cities north of Baton Rouge and Bogalusa, and in several surrounding states, are bracing for power outages, infrastructure failures and iced-over roads and bridges. But National Weather Service forecasters said Thursday that the northshore, New Orleans and coastal parishes are more likely to see good old regular rain Saturday through Sunday evening. Overnight lows Friday and Saturday night are forecast to stay well above freezing, though weather service forecasters said they will continue to closely monitor the situation. Some lingering rains Monday morning could coincide with freezing morning lows, according to the weather service forecast. Gov. Jeff Landry urged residents to plan ahead for the potentially dangerous conditions at a news conference Thursday, warning that the storm could cause serious
ä See AUDUBON, page 4A
ä See COLD, page 4A
The Audubon Nature Institute has unveiled a new pricing structure that will go into effect on March 2.
STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD
Changes include modest increases, new options for memberships BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer
Two months after pausing a widely unpopular and steep price hike on annual memberships to the zoo and aquarium, the Audubon Nature Institute has unveiled a new pricing structure with more modest increases and new options for zooand aquarium-only memberships. The new prices go into effect March 2
and will raise the price of annual membership to Audubon’s facilities about 25% over current prices — far less than the 90% increases rolled out in November. Under the new pricing structure, an allaccess membership to the zoo and aquarium for a family of four is $275, compared to about $220 before. The updated membership rates were designed to offer more cost-effective options for guests while continuing to
Archdiocese bankruptcy settlement sparks fight over legal fees BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL
Thursday, the two sides were back in court arguing over how much the lawyers in the case will Six weeks ago, attorneys for the get paid. As of December, legal and proArchdiocese of New Orleans and clergy sex abuse survivors agreed fessional fees topped $52.7 million, to a settlement in the long-running according to bankruptcy court bankruptcy of the local Roman documents filed in late December. Catholic Church that will pay sur- That doesn’t include millions more in fee applications that have yet to vivors more than $230 million. Staff writer
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be filed. The issue of legal fees has surfaced periodically throughout the long-running case. But U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Meredith Grabill ruled in 2024 that the question of whether certain fees were excessive — and who has legal standing to challenge them — would be settled after the case was resolved,
not before. The court is revisiting the issue now that the settlement has been finalized, though survivors have yet to receive their first checks. “I think at the end of the day, this case is going to be $60 million and six years,” said Soren Giselson, who represents dozens of survivors in the case and has been lead-
Business ...................12A Commentary ................7B Nation-World................2A Classified .....................7D Deaths .........................4B Opinion ........................6B Comics-Puzzles .....3D-6D Living............................1D Sports ..........................1C
ing the effort to challenge the fees. “Legal fees have been outrageous, and they just don’t stop.” The archdiocese on Thursday declined to comment, but pointed to remarks Archbishop Gregory Aymond made about the cost of the case in 2024, when he said he was
ä See FEES, page 4A
13TH yEAR, NO. 164