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The Times-Picayune 07-22-2026

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LIL BUTCHER SHOPPE SMOKED SAUSAGE EA

EGGO WAFFLES

METAIRIE 504-885-5565 | RIVER RIDGE 504-737-8146 GARDEN DISTRICT 504-262-6017 | CHALMETTE 504-262-0750 BELLE CHASSE 504-393-1012

SELECTED 10-12 COUNT OR 29.6OZ

$549

PRICES VALID 7/22/26 - 7/28/26

N O L A.C O M

|

RUSSET POTATOES

2/$7

$199

TROPICANA JUICE

COMMUNITY COFFEE

$299

$1799

12 OZ

14 OZ SELECTED

$399

FOOD CLUB BACON

5 LB BAG

46 OZ SELECTED

EA

32 COUNT SELECTED SINGLE SERVE

EA

W e d n e s d ay, J u ly 22, 2026

EA

EA

$2.00X

Bertha hovering off Louisiana coast ‘I’d rather be prepared than sorry’

BY MIKE SMITH, JONI HESS and LARA NICHOLSON Staff writers

Southeast Louisiana braced for Tropical Storm Bertha as it meandered toward an expected landfall Wednesday, but forecasters’ predictions that its heaviest effects could remain offshore left residents hopeful of escaping serious damage. While Bertha was far from a major storm, the flood-prone New Orleans area has learned not to ignore any pos-

sibility of severe weather. Preparations were underway to guard against potential risks, with some floodgates being closed, sandbags being filled, groceries being bought and boats being moved to higher ground. Forecasters sketched out a scenario expected to limit Bertha’s power. Wind shear and dry air from the northeast would likely slice at the disorganized storm’s structure, preventing it from intensifying. The shear was also expected to push Bertha’s convection to its south and keep much of the

rainfall over the Gulf. The risk of tornadoes spinning off from Bertha’s winds also appeared relatively low, officials said, but the potential for heavy rain, flash floods and troublesome storm surge in some areas remained concerns. Coastal St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes were expected to begin seeing tropical storm conditions as early as Tuesday night. Landfall was likely to occur in Plaquemines Parish late Wednesday afternoon or Wednesday evening. The storm’s maximum sustained

ä See BERTHA, page 7A

Benson buys properties on Harmony Circle

ARK. MISS. TEXAS

ALA.

GA.

LA.

5-DAY FORECAST

As of Tuesday night

Atlantic Ocean FLA.

MEX.

Projected path The Gulf

S t af f map Staff map

Tropical Storm Bertha CUBA

N.O. officials ask White to drop Murrill indictment Cuts in state funding to city cited in letter

BY SOPHIE KASAKOVE Staff writer

Mayor Helena Moreno and New Orleans City Council members on Tuesday asked special prosecutor Laurie White to dismiss charges against Attorney General Liz Murrill, citing escalating tensions between the state and city and a series of funding cuts to New Orleans. In a letter to White, officials said that the “continuing conflicts” emerging from the July 2 charges “distract from the important work before us.” “The request is not driven by fear, politics, or personal interest,” wrote Moreno and five of the City Council’s seven members. “It is driven by our belief that the public interest is now better served by moving forward rather than by

ä See DROP, page 8A STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

The Taylor Building on Harmony Circle has been purchased by Gayle Benson.

Taylor Building, former Circle Bar change hands BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL

Gayle Benson’s new properties

ä See BENSON, page 6A

WEATHER HIGH 90 LOW 81 PAGE 8B

harle St. C

Av e.

944 St. Charles Ave.

Harmony Circle

Ex p

wy .

St. Ch ar l

r tr a in

es

Av e

.

NEW ORLEANS Po n tc ha

St. Jo seph

Camp

nd ele t

Ho wa rd

Ca ro

New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson has purchased three St. Charles Avenue properties fronting Harmony Circle and is exploring ways to bring them back to life, a potential fresh start for the historic area. In two separate transactions last week, Benson’s real estate company purchased the Taylor Building at 944 St. Charles Ave., a three-story vacant office building; the former CirBenson cle Bar building at 1032 St. Charles Ave., which also is vacant, and a quarter-acre lot next to the former bar. All three properties were owned by Phyllis Taylor, whose late husband, Patrick Taylor, operated his energy company out of the building at 944 St. Charles

s Ave

.

Staff writer

1032 St. Charles Ave.

Andre w Hig gins

1014 St. Charles Ave.

AG fires back in fight over subpoena Records sought from special prosecutor, DA BY JOHN SIMERMAN Staff writer

Shortly before a grand jury in New Orleans voted July 2 to indict Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill on 16 felony charges, special prosecutor Laurie White expressed reservations, Murrill’s attorneys say in court filings. White called John Sinquefield, the attorney general’s executive counsel, on July 1 after news

Staff map

Business ......................3B Commentary ................7B Nation-World................2A Classified .....................8D Deaths .........................4B Opinion ........................6B Comics-Puzzles .....4D-7D Living............................1D Sports ..........................1C

ä See MURRILL, page 8A

13TH yEAR, NO. 344


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