N O L A.C O M
|
M o n d ay, M ay 4, 2026
‘Living shoreline’
$2.00X
SUNDAY @ JAZZ FEST
Pair of coastal projects create solutions on the edge of St. Bernard Parish marsh BY JOSIE ABUGOV Staff writer
On the far reaches of the Louisiana marsh, a few dozen volunteers were engaged in a weightlifting workout with unconventional equipment: 30-pound bags of recycled oyster shells. The volunteers for the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana passed the oyster bags in a line of people toward a muddy shoreline along the eastern edge of the Biloxi Marsh, the last piece of land before the Chandeleur Islands. “We are protecting a small but mighty sliver of the marsh,” said Fiona Lightbody, CRCL’s program manager for oyster recycling. They were building what is called a “living shoreline,” a growing tool for coastal protection across Louisiana, considered a promising nature-based strategy in the battle against land loss. By no means a solution on their own, especially considering the state’s huge coastal dilemma, such projects can, however, play a meaningful role when combined with other approaches, scientists say. And in a state that cherishes its oysters, recycling them for coastal protection and to produce more of the beloved shellfish holds special appeal. Last month’s work in the Biloxi Marsh, near a site formerly inhabited by the Chitimacha Tribe, was a pearl of an example.
STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER
Earth, Wind & Fire perform on the Congo Square Stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Sunday.
LAST GROOVE Earth, Wind & Fire, Teddy Swims and Trombone Shorty close out Jazz Fest
ä See SHORELINE, page 4A
BY KEITH SPERA Staff writer
STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE
Bags of recycled oyster shells are unloaded from a boat and placed along the shoreline during a Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana event at Morgan Harbor Pass in St. Bernard Parish on April 17.
Duncan cleared to assume N.O. clerk role
Judge blocks state law aiming to abolish Orleans Parish criminal court position
STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK
Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue perform on the Festival Stage on Sunday. Teddy Swims performs on the Festival Stage during the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Sunday. STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK
Has the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival ever experienced such polar opposite two-day combinations as it did this weekend? The second Thursday and Friday of the 2026 Jazz Fest were very difficult days. Rain forced the fest to shut down early and cancel acts. MORE @ Attendance sufJAZZ FEST fered as a result. But then came ONLINE the final Saturday and Sunday. Clear skies, low humidity and big, big crowds. Sunday didn’t repeat Saturday’s sellout. But it sure felt like another huge day. Earth, Wind & Fire was to the Congo Square Stage on Sunday what the Eagles were to the Festival Stage on Saturday: an act that pushed that respective field’s capacity to the limit. Fans filled the spaces between the Congo craft area’s booths and set up across the walking path just to hear the band. Overall, it was a peak-level finale. Keyboardist and singer Davell Crawford brought out Charmaine
ä See JAZZ FEST, page 7A
BY ALEX LUBBEN
Staff writer
A federal judge on Sunday blocked a state law that would have abolished the Orleans Parish criminal clerk of court position, clearing the way for Calvin Duncan, who was elected to the post last year, to assume office Monday. U.S. District Judge John deGravelles in Baton Rouge, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, granted Duncan’s request for a temporary restraining order, declaring Senate Bill 256 unconDuncan stitutional and enjoining Gov. Jeff Landry and Secretary of State Nancy Landry from enforcing it. The law, which Gov. Landry signed Thursday as Act 15, was set to take effect at 11:59 p.m. Sunday and would have transferred the criminal clerk’s records, staff and
ä See DUNCAN, page 4A
WEATHER HIGH 80 LOW 63 PAGE 6B
3 Democrats are running to be La.’s next senator Trio have varied reasons for entering race
BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer
For Jamie Davis, his decision to run for the U.S. Senate came last year after former Gov. John Bel Edwards chose to stay out of the race. For Nick Albares, his decision to run came after President Donald Trump and the Republican Congress passed a bill last year that will lead to big cuts in the Medicaid program for the working poor. For Gary Crockett, his decision to run came after seeing Sen. Bill Cassidy, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Gov. Jeff
next senator. Here’s a measure of the odds: Louisiana has not elected a Democrat since then-U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu won reelection in 2008. Cassidy knocked her out six years later and won reelection in 2020. He’s now facing a tough reelection battle in the Republican primary against state Treasurer John Fleming, U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow and business owner Mark Spencer. The Democratic and Republican candidates will compete in separate party priAlbares Crockett Davis maries on May 16, with early voting runLandry repeatedly support Trump in ways ning through Saturday. No-party voters that Crockett believes are hurting ordinary will have to decide whether to vote for the Louisiana citizens. Republican or Democratic slate of candiDavis, Albares and Crockett — all Demo- dates in all races on the ballot. crats — are crisscrossing the state as each ä See RUNNING, page 8A one mounts a long-shot bid to be the state’s
ELECTION 2026
Classified .....................7D Deaths .........................3B Nation-World................2A Comics-Puzzles .....3D-6D Living............................1D Opinion ........................4B Commentary ................5B Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C
13TH yEAR, NO. 265