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F r i d ay, a p r i l 17, 2026
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Report: EMS response times miss mark
Average hit 17 minutes in N.O., Office of the Inspector General says BY MISSY WILKINSON Staff writer
New Orleans EMS is failing to respond quickly to emergencies as chronic understaffing driven by low pay forces the city to lean heavily on private ambulance companies, the Office of the Inspector
General said in a new report. In 71% of cases, the agency missed national benchmarks as average response times climbed to 17 minutes and 45 seconds — nearly double the recommended nine minutes, according to the report released Thursday. Even in the most critical calls,
classified as “cardiac arrest/imminent death,” the average response time was 10 minutes and 40 seconds. Historically, NOEMS has struggled to respond to critical calls within nine minutes. In 2024, 30% of those calls took longer than 12 minutes. In 2023, that figure was 26%, and in 2022 it was 40%, ac-
cording to the city’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. Geographic disparities also plague the agency’s response times, and outer areas of New Orleans East experience the longest delays. In the 70129 ZIP code — covering Lake Catherine and the ViavantVenetian Isles — residents waited an average of 26 minutes for an ambulance, the longest in the city.
French Quarter Festival rolling
By contrast, in the Central Business District’s 70112 ZIP code, home to University Medical Center and Tulane University Medical Center, response times were the shortest, averaging 13 minutes. The East has also historically seen the longest NOPD 911 response times, with current wait times sitting at around 150
ä See EMS, page 10A
RTA workers sue over workplace environment Plaintiffs claim discrimination, harassment at transit agency
BY BLAKE PATERSON and JESSICA WILLIAMS Staff writers
The French Quarter Festival parade rolls down Bourbon Street on Thursday.
Big crowds, new park highlight event BY KEITH SPERA
ing “Bourbon Street Parade” on Bourbon Street, the Paulin Brothers led the way During the 2026 French into Jackson Square. It reminded Hockett of his Quarter Festival’s opening day parade, Raynard Hock- time with Southern Univerett thumped a bass drum sity’s famed Human Jukewith the Paulin Brothers box marching band in the Brass Band. After perform- late 1980s.
Staff writer
“If I can’t be the first band, I don’t want to be no band,” he said with a smile. “They say the best is first.” He would have preferred to march with his fiberglass tuba, which is lighter than a big bass drum. But his former Human Jukebox and current bandmate Julius McKee handled tuba duties on Thursday.
So, Hockett said, “I’ve got to get in where I fit in.” That was the prevailing attitude Thursday as big crowds turned out for the first of four days of free music along the downtown riverfront. For Thursday’s soft opening, only eight of 19 stages
Twelve current and former employees of the Regional Transit Authority have filed an explosive lawsuit against the agency, alleging a hostile workplace rampant with discrimination, harassment and retaliation against Black, female, gay and disabled employees. The 76-page lawsuit, filed in federal court on April 10, also accuses the RTA of wage theft and cites as evidence for its claims at least nine audio recordings in which RTA officials allegedly admit to “suppress(ed) salaries”; an “out of balance” and “unjust” disciplinary system; and other management failures. “What distinguishes this case from the ordinary employment dispute is not merely the severity or duration of the misconduct — though both are extraordinary — but the fact that the RTA’s own executives have been recorded on audio admitting to virtually every element of Plaintiff’s claims,” the plaintiffs attorneys, at New Orleans law firm King Norris, wrote. The plaintiffs describe the RTA as a workplace where physical violence is minimized, excused or ignored; homophobic slurs, sexual harassment and assault are met with little to no disciplinary action; female supervisors
ä See FESTIVAL, page 8A
ä See RTA, page 10A
STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK
Cassidy leads rivals in fundraising, spending on advertising BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer
President Donald Trump’s endorsement of U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow has yet to help her close the money gap with the man she is trying to unseat, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy. Fundraising figures released this week in Louisiana’s hotly contested Senate Republican primary show that Cassidy and a super PAC supporting him raised more mon-
WEATHER HIGH 85 LOW 67 PAGE 8B
ELECTION 2026
guarantee him a first or sec$17.4 million on advertising, ond place finish in the May 16 compared to only $5 million U.S. SENATE primary and a spot in the June for Letlow and $680,000 for 27 party runoff. Independent Fleming, according to AdImey than Letlow or state Treasurer polls have shown the three pact, a media tracking firm in John Fleming, the other major candidates bunched closely Virginia. Republican candidate, during the together. Fleming has remained comIndependent polls also have Cassidy first three months of 2026. petitive in polls even though Fleming Letlow As of April 1, Cassidy also had shown Cassidy trailing both he is barely raising any money millions of dollars more in the Letlow and Fleming in head-to- ably than favorably. and has spent much less on adverbank than either Letlow or Flem- head matchups, an unenviable poCassidy has yet to break clear of tising. The winner of the Republican ing, the figures showed. sition for a two-term incumbent. his two opponents, even though he What’s not clear is whether Cassidy is weighed down by hav- and his supporters have bombardä See CASSIDY, page 14A Cassidy’s money advantage will ing more voters view him unfavor- ed the airwaves. They have spent
Business ...................12A Commentary ................7B Nation-World................2A Classified .....................8D Deaths .........................3B Opinion ........................6B Comics-Puzzles .....4D-7D Living............................1D Sports ..........................1C
13TH yEAR, NO. 248