NEW ORLEANS - District “B” Councilmember Lesli Harris and the Loyola University of New Orleans are launching their Young Women’s Leadership Academy (YWLA), with the first one-day workshop set for Monday, May 22. Young women ages 18 to 24 are encouraged to apply here before the April 30 deadline.

NEW ORLEANS - District "B" Councilmember Lesli Harris has issued the following statement regarding restoring the full Mardi Gras parade routes for 2023:

"Last month, I met with Mardi Gras krewe leaders and CAO Gilbert Montaño to work toward restoring the full, pre-COVID Mardi Gras routes. We know the Carnival season provides immeasurable benefits to our residents and a sizable portion of our small businesses’ annual revenue -- especially those in District B. I’m so pleased that the administration now has a path forward to bring Mardi Gras back to the front doors of businesses and residents along Jefferson, Magazine, and Tchoupitoulas. We have the funding to support security in these areas, and I stand ready to partner with the administration, NOPD, other law enforcement agencies, and the krewes to restore the Mardi Gras we know and love."

During today's regular meeting, the City Council adopted Resolution R-22-85, stressing the Council's continued support for a retrofit of the existing jail over the alternative plan to construct a new "Phase III" jail facility.