On the Trail of Al Qaeda 06 07 05
Former FBI agent Jack Cloonan comes to town to offer an inside look at terror – and some advice about handling suspected terrorists.
By Allen Johnson Jr

The Next Great Indecency Threat 05 31 05
The religious right (and a few liberals) already have broadcasters on the run. Coming up: Cable, satellite and -- just possibly -- the Internet.
By Dan Kennedy

Editor's Note 05 31 05
By Michael Tisserand

"Presidential Material" 05 24 05
Attorney and activist Annie Spell endured death threats and the loss of a Girl Scout troop on her way to becoming one of the country's few white NAACP branch presidents.
By Frank Etheridge

The Bead Bill 05 17 05
A proposal to make Carnival krewe items tax-exempt parades through the Legislature.
By Jeremy Alford

Frantz Escapes Chopping Block 05 17 05
School predicted to re-open as a working elementary school in 2010 -- the 50th anniversary of its integration.
By Katy Reckdahl

LPA Honors Gambit Weekly 05 17 05

Arts Disconnection 05 10 05
Last year, Superintendent Anthony Amato pledged to deliver arts education. Yet teachers and students now face a lost program and lots of uncertainty.
By Lili LeGardeur

Editor's Note 05 10 05

Stopping a Second Line 05 03 05
NOPD officers stop the ReBirth brass band and other mourners from parading -- and Treme residents say they've lost a traditional outlet for their sorrow.
By Katy Reckdahl

Anchors Away 04 26 05
While TV news flounders toward the future, the present belongs to NPR.
By Dan Kennedy

Gambit, Butler Reach Agreement 04 26 05
Clerk's Office to Release Documents, Pay Costs

Safe Passage 04 19 05
The first time Mirta Ojito found Capt. Mike Howell was luck. The second time took three years of hard work.
By Cynthia Joyce

Diamond in the Rough 04 12 05
In a new book, author Steve Lerner recounts how the tiny community of Diamond became a springboard for the environmental justice movement.
By Eliza Strickland

Gambit Weekly Welcomes Todd A. Price 04 12 05

Taxing Situations 04 12 05
The Earned Income Tax Credit is a boon for New Orleans -- but is facing renewed opposition in Congress.
By Frank Etheridge

The Read on It 04 05 05
Local literacy students put their new skills to work as they react to proposed federal budget cuts that threaten services across the country.
By Lili LeGardeur

St. Joseph's Night Gone Blue 03 29 05
On Saturday, March 19 -- St. Joseph's night -- Mardi Gras Indians were dancing and singing their way over to A.L. Davis park. Then came the sirens.
By Katy Reckdahl

No Joy in Mossville 03 22 05
The citizens of a small southwestern Louisiana town take their charges of environmental racism to the Organization of American States.
By Eliza Strickland

Report Criticizes VA 03 22 05
A Congressional report says the VA has failed to improve its services, at a time when returning veterans might need them more than ever.

By Dan Frosch

Butler Hearing Re-Set 03 22 05

Cold Reception 03 15 05
Environmentalists and oil companies square off over the rapid development of Liquefied Natural Gas terminals.
By Nathan Stubbs

Full Court Press 03 08 05
Rabouin School argues the case for public school involvement in mock trial competitions.
By Lili LeGardeur

Parting Words 03 01 05
Before Louis M. Reigel III stepped down last week as the top FBI official in the state, he offered a few opinions on violent crime, the federal probe of the local school district, and public corruption.
By Allen Johnson Jr

What Price Rice? 03 01 05
The state and environmentalists return to battle again over the proposed use of the banned pesticide carbofuran.
By Eliza Strickland

The Return of Shintech 02 22 05
Less than a decade after environmentalists mounted a nationally publicized campaign that forced the company to scale back a proposed PVC plant in St. James Parish, Shintech is coming back to the state.
By Eliza Strickland

Face the Music 02 22 05
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival producer Quint Davis talks about this year's talent lineup.
By Alex Rawls

Google Eyes 02 15 05
The company everyone loves knows more about you than you might realize. And that's just for starters.
By Dan Kennedy

Property Rights 02 08 05
To James Perry, the new executive director of the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center, equal access to home ownership is the foundation of civil rights.
By Lili LeGardeur

The Forest Through the Trees 02 01 05
An unlikely coalition of landowners, environmentalists and industry is teaming up to fight global warming -- one sapling at a time.

By Eliza Strickland

King for a Day 01 25 05
The story of Louisiana's Kingfish is getting another remake -- this time on the streets of south Louisiana.
By R. Reese Fuller

Air Apparent 01 18 05
A survey reveals coastal Louisiana to be America's best potential source for wind energy. Is the answer to the state's economic and environmental problems blowing in the wind?
By Frank Etheridge

The Coushatta Connection 01 11 05
How a Louisiana Indian tribe was dealt into a scandal involving two associates of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and $66 million in lobbying fees

By Lou Dubose

Unlikely Crusader 01 04 05
How libertarian technocrat Michael Powell saved his career and lost his soul
By Dan Kennedy

Fresh Breath 12 28 04
Terry Gross, Peabody Award-winning host of NPR's Fresh Air -- which joins WWNO's weekday afternoon lineup -- discusses the art of interviewing.
By David Lee Simmons

In Search of Mr. Bingle 12 21 04
To local children, the little snow fairy with the upside-down ice-cream cone hat was real. Now, it's up to New Orleans to keep his spirit going.
By Sean P. Doles

The Paper's Trail 12 14 04
In newsrooms in New Orleans and Youngstown, Ohio, people are wondering why The Times-Picayune is hitting the road to help break a Midwestern newspaper strike.
By Eileen Loh Harrist

Numbers on Trial 12 07 04
The civil service trial of the "First District Six" gets underway, amid concerns over violent crime and accurate NOPD accounting.
By Allen Johnson Jr

The Morning After 11 30 04
From The New York Times to Al-Jazeera, the press tries to make sense of the battle for Fallujah.
By Dan Kennedy

New Orleanian of the Year 11 30 04

Bitter Pill 11 23 04
Though emergency contraception is legal -- and similar to the common birth-control pill -- it's not always easy to obtain in Louisiana.
By Eileen Loh Harrist

New Orleanian of the Year 11 23 04

Purification Rites 11 16 04
Pope John Paul II has sought to reconcile the church and history. Will his mission survive the pedophile scandals?
By Jason Berry

New Orleanian of the Year 11 16 04

Voting Tolls 11 09 04
For local election monitors, misinformation, malfunctions and late-arriving voting lists plagued the day's work.
By Lili LeGardeur and Katy Reckdahl

Unlocking the Vote 11 02 04
Orleans Parish Prison inmates are casting votes for president and a new jailer, thanks to a group of former OPP prisoners.
By Katy Reckdahl

Still Liberal After All These Years 10 26 04
Four days before the presidential election, Sen. George McGovern comes to town with a message for liberal Democrats: Stop running from who you are.
By Michael Tisserand

ANALYSIS

Fighting Words 10 19 04
On TV comedy shows, in song and in comic strips, the left is turning to stronger language and sharper satire in its effort to unseat President George W. Bush.
By Alex Rawls

Getting Their ACT Together 10 12 04
The city has a new school board. All Congregations Together has its first assignment.
By Lili LeGardeur

Through a Glass Dimly 10 05 04
As Bush and Kerry take their turns being scrutinized for long-past deeds, the media once again gets mired in nonstop attack/counter-attack coverage.
By Dan Kennedy

Perfect Storm 09 28 04
Hurricane-season elections, a string of missteps in the clerk's office and an evacuated electorate. Was catastrophe inevitable on Sept. 18?
By Allen Johnson Jr and Katy Reckdahl

Moving Violations? 09 28 04
By Allen Johnson Jr

Secret Agents 09 21 04
From Washington to Providence, reporters face jail for not giving up their sources. Federal and state laws protect their rights -- sort of.
By Dan Kennedy

40 Under 40 Nominations 09 21 04

Black, Republican and Proud 09 14 04
Last month, the GOP touted Louisiana's delegation as one of the most diverse in the party's history. Local black delegates say they're rebuilding their party -- one Republican at a time.
By Eliza Strickland

Power Struggle 09 14 04
Critics of Amendment One say that it would affect medical powers of attorney. Supporters say it's about marriage, not contracts.
By Lili LeGardeur

The Sticking Point 09 14 04
As trade negotiators from Peru and the United States meet in Puerto Rico this week, the question looms: Can America continue to protect its sugar farmers without negatively affecting the world market?
By C.J. Schexnayder

40 Under 40 Nominations 09 14 04

CORRECTIONS: 09 14 04

Louis and Women 09 07 04
Louis Armstrong's relationships with women not only changed his life and the lives of his several wives -- they made a mark on the world of jazz and on some of its pioneering musicians.
By Bruce Boyd Raeburn

Fundraiser Focus 09 07 04
The Pro Bono Project seeks to provide free lawyers for needy kids.
By Allen Johnson Jr

40 Under 40 Nominations 09 07 04

News Feature 09 07 04

End of the Line 08 31 04
Last month, a federal judge shut down Bill Graham's notorious anti-abortion phone line. Behind the national headlines is a rare look at women who seek abortions and why.
By Katy Reckdahl

40 Under 40 Nominations 08 31 04

Swing Dance 08 24 04
As few as 10 states could determine the election. At the moment, Kerry's electoral count looks better than his popular vote.
By Dan Kennedy

"Why?" 08 17 04
NOPD's shooting death of a young trombone player leaves onlookers and bandmates shocked and in search of answers.
By Katy Reckdahl

Police Killing Stirs Memories 08 17 04
A police-family survivor recalls the loss of her father.
By Allen Johnson Jr

Silver Ballot 08 10 04
In a polarized political climate, voter registration seems to be the only thing everyone can agree on.
By Eileen Loh Harrist

Grand Finale 08 03 04
By designating a Musicians' Tomb in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, local community activists answer the call to properly honor those who gave the city its anthems.
By Lili LeGardeur

Still Flying 08 03 04
Tenor saxophonist Illinois Jacquet's solo on Lionel Hampton's "Flying Home" defined the Broussard native's musical career.
By John Swenson

The District Attorney and Fred the Painter 08 03 04
Eddie Jordan's lunches with a felon, raising questions about ethics and judgment.
By Allen Johnson Jr

Blue Farewells 07 27 04
When an NOPD officer dies, colleagues mourn -- and help ensure that survivors are not forgotten.
By Allen Johnson Jr

Hard Lessons 07 20 04
Forty years after Freedom Summer, civil rights veterans say the struggle has shifted -- but is far from over.
By Lili LeGardeur

So You Want to Run for School Board? 07 13 04
The fame Š the power Š the $10K salary. Local insiders, critics and consultants offer advice to the candidates.
By Allen Johnson Jr

Behind the Scream 07 13 04
In his Stanley Kowalski, Marlon Brando created a New Orleans icon.
By David Lee Simmons

The Secret History of Anonymous 07 06 04
The author of Imperial Hubris is unmasked and says he fears for his job at the CIA -- not for his life at the hands of Al Qaeda.
By Jason Vest

Village Voices 07 06 04
A new activist group meets to propose a two-year plan to involve parents in public education.

By Lili LeGardeur

After the Storm 06 29 04
Two months after getting rained out at Jazz Fest, local musicians still don't know if they're getting paid.
By Alex Rawls

Board Update 06 29 04
Two School Board incumbents fined; qualifying for election nears
By Allen Johnson Jr

You Can't Do That on (U.S.) Television 06 22 04
Shocking images of military conduct in Iraq are available through major news services, yet the American public seldom sees what reporters see.
By Jason Vest

Brother Ray's Routes 06 15 04
In a 2002 conversation, the late Ray Charles talks about music, teaching kids the blues, and how he learned to sound like himself.
By Nick Spitzer

Gambit Weekly Wins Awards 06 15 04
Katy Reckdahl receives Alex Waller Memorial Award; Pableaux Johnson also honored by James Beard Foundation.

The War of Environmental Incursion 06 08 04
New allies unite in an effort to save the Mansfield Battlefield.
By Eileen Loh Harrist

Ruby Bridges and Ruby Hall 06 08 04
In 1960, the nation watched 6-year-old Ruby Bridges integrate William Frantz Elementary School. Today, Ruby Hall lives quietly in New Orleans and rents a storage facility just to keep the mail she receives from schoolkids across the country.
By Katy Reckdahl

The Power and the Pulpit\ 06 01 04
A candid admission by state Rep. Jalila Jefferson-Bullock highlights the "enormous pressure" that influential ministers can wield.
By Eileen Loh Harrist

Uneasy Riders 06 01 04
Protesters and politicos came by bike and motorcade, respectively, to President George W. Bush's May 21 fundraiser in Old Metairie.
By Frank Etheridge

Completing the Picture 05 25 04
As the arts get squeezed out of local public schools, private organizations are trying to fill in the blanks. But without a strong mandate from New Orleans Public Schools, is it enough to build the artists -- and audiences -- of the future?
By Lili LeGardeur

A Different Drummer 05 25 04
Local musicians recall the life and music of the late Elvin Jones.
By John Swenson

Getting a Hearing 05 18 04
Despite the presence of world-class performers and a few showcase schools, city schools lack a system-wide approach to music education. Teachers and administrators are wondering: What will Supt. Anthony Amato do? Third in a four-part series.
By Lili LeGardeur

Jazz Fest in Incaraccay 05 18 04
For one Fest devotee, sugar-cane alcohol and an errant bull took the place of rosemint tea and the Nevilles.
By Tyler Bridges

Gambit Weekly Wins Top Honors from Louisiana Press Association 05 11 04
Gambit takes home 18 awards, including General Excellence and seven first-place honors.

News Feature 05 11 04
The poorest children in the city are often those least likely to have arts education -- but studies show they're the ones who need it the most.
By Lili LeGardeur

Sue It Like Polaroid 05 04 04
Citing trademark concerns, Google and a "conflict of interest" involving Britney Spears, the Polaroid Corp. is out to strip local band Bipolaroid of its name.
By Frank Etheridge

Bad Days Ahead 04 27 04
In an AAN exclusive, a Coalition memo reveals that even true believers see the seeds of civil war in the occupation of Iraq.
By Jason Vest

News Feature 04 27 04

Full-Court Press 04 13 04
The judges of Civil District Court are pleading their case for a new courthouse, but some legislators want to hear from the mayor first.
By Allen Johnson Jr

The Height of Disrespect 04 06 04
A new study on "hip-hop" sexuality finds an anti-woman strain -- even among young women.
By Thulani Davis

Loaded Questions 04 06 04
Environmentalists -- and a man in a dolphin suit -- make their case for cruise ship legislation to Louisiana.
By Eliza Strickland

Nancy Drew in New Orleans 04 06 04
The girl detective's biggest fans come to town to solve some mysteries of their own.
By Constance Adler

Not Barred 03 30 04
A new voter-registration effort is targeting locals with a felony record. Many believe they canąt vote ‹ even when they can.
By Katy Reckdahl

The Hot Seat 03 23 04
Dr. Thomas Butler had very good reasons for carrying bubonic plague aboard passenger flights -- but that didn't stop the U.S. government from ruining his life.
By Rebecca Alvania

Chain, Chain, Chain 03 23 04
As media consolidation rules the land and recent FCC decisions take root, critics worry about the harmful effects on democratic debate and dissent.
By Jack Bradigan Spula

Green House 03 16 04
An eco-friendly Habitat for Humanity house in the St. Roch neighborhood sparks a new round in the battle between Greenpeace and the vinyl industry.
By Frank Etheridge

Stopping SIDS 03 16 04
A startling fact about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome has public health officials rethinking their target audience.
By Eileen Loh Harrist

Late Lawmakers 03 16 04
As the state wrestles with tax plans, five key legislators owe nearly $10,000 in late campaign finance fees.
By Allen Johnson Jr

Statutes Still Tell Story 03 16 04
A new report finds Jim Crow-era laws on the books in eight states, including Louisiana.
By Katy Reckdahl

Dawn Logsdon's Side Project 03 16 04
For some filmmakers, getting nominated for an Oscar is the easy part.
By David Lee Simmons

Canyons and Coastlines 03 09 04
Environmental pioneer Stewart Udall comes to town with a message of conservation and his hopes for a new "Louisiana attitude."
By Eliza Strickland

Clarification

Mark Morgan for Jefferson Parish School Board 03 09 04

John Doe's Deal 03 02 04
Prosecutors wanted to put Corey "C-Murder" Miller behind bars -- so they set free a convicted felon who acted as an informant. Did they replace one alleged menace with another?
By Allen Johnson Jr

Return of the Pythians 03 02 04
The Alfred Lawless high school band is marching again, thanks to one of the town's new, young band directors.
By Katy Reckdahl

The Smell Test 02 24 04
Chalmette residents hope a federal lawsuit will finally help the condition of their fenceline communities around the Chalmette refinery.
By Eliza Strickland

Lemon Aid 02 24 04
Attorney/author Vince Megna steers his Corvette into town with a few words about Louisiana's "terrible" lemon laws.
By Frank Etheridge

Big Chiefs and Mother-in-Laws 02 24 04
Thanks in part to Antoinette K-Doe's magic touch, artist Daniel Fuselier is making his mark on Claiborne Avenue and Mardi Gras.
By Michael Patrick Welch

No V-Day at Loyola 02 17 04
Students and faculty confront Loyola University's interim president, the Rev. William Byron, over his decision to halt a student production of The Vagina Monologues.
By Constance Adler

Alex Rawls Joins Gambit Weekly 02 17 04

A Blockbuster Report 02 10 04
As the city gains hegemony over murder rates, the NOPD is "bleeding police officers," states the new Police Foundation study.
By Allen Johnson Jr

Doors Still Open 02 10 04
Despite rumors and a changing neighborhood, Brantley Baptist has no plans to shut down.
By Katy Reckdahl

Monumental Journey 02 03 04
A new travel book highlights the civil rights movement -- and underscores how difficult it is to find civil rights markers in New Orleans.
By Lili LeGardeur

Whither Stalder? 01 27 04
As Gov. Kathleen Blanco ponders the future of state Department of Corrections head Richard Stalder, the national debate continues about the costs of incarceration.
By Katy Reckdahl

Proud to Be an American 01 20 04
Earlier this month, a dozen American Party delegates from across the country met in Kenner to reclaim their historical spot as a vital third party. At least they nominated a candidate.
By Frank Etheridge

Big Man Gone 01 20 04
Local musicians play their hearts out, mourning the loss of Tuba Fats.
By Katy Reckdahl

What Would Jefferson Do? 01 20 04
Controversies ranging from New York City to Tangipahoa Parish highlight ongoing questions of church and state.
By Jason Berry

No Sweet Deal 01 13 04
Louisiana sugar farmers fear that CAFTA could lead to the end of both a state industry and their way of life.
By Lili LeGardeur

Claim Game 01 06 04
Organized crime gangs and ordinary citizens share the blame for the continuing rise in insurance fraud.
By Louis Rom

Not a Trivial Pursuit 12 30 03
To journalist and author Carl Cannon, the pursuit of happiness remains an unalienable right.
By Jason Berry

Broadcast Blues 12 23 03
As federal dollars threaten to disappear, the battle over proposed changes to WWOZ's studio and Armstrong Park intensifies.
By Lili LeGardeur

Jurors Dismissed 12 16 03
New Orleans juror Kathleen Hawk Norman is fighting to overturn her jury's verdict. Nationwide, other jurors are signing affidavits, demanding DNA testing -- and calling it their civic duty.
By Katy Reckdahl

Remembering Moose Jamison 12 16 03
The late musician, activist, WWOZ announcer and Jazz Fest board member memorialized others in his work. Now, his friends and colleagues pay tribute to his legacy.
By David Kunian

The Abolitionist 12 09 03
From the heart of the Bush administration comes Philip Mangano, a fiery "advocrat" who preaches an end to American homelessness.
By Katy Reckdahl

Noblesse Oblige 12 09 03
Bill Gates Sr. comes to town to spread the "billionaire backlash" against repealing the estate tax.
By Frank Etheridge

Fisk Fiasco? 12 02 03
Was the principal at Fisk-Howard School trying to motivate her students or was she trying to make them feel small?
By Katy Reckdahl

Health News 12 02 03
By Kandace Power Graves and Eileen Loh Harrist

Leveling the Field 11 25 03
Pioneering journalist Russell Stockard Sr. reveals his "double-life."
By Allen Johnson Jr

New Orleanian of the Year 11 25 03

MAC Attack 11 18 03
The governor's race is over. But for local gay politicos, questions remain about the lingering effect of Mayor Ray Nagin's decision to endorse Bobby Jindal.
By Lili LeGardeur

No Bean Counter 11 11 03
For one former customer, a trip to Robert Borsodi's place was about much more than coffee.
By Robert Kehew

The S-word 11 11 03
Proponents of "abstinence-only" education say that there's no such thing as safe sex. Critics say that abstinence-only programs bar frank discussions about condoms and birth control -- even "the s-word."
By Katy Reckdahl

Grounded 11 04 03
Longtime local saxophonist Frederick Sheppard went overseas to play jazz and make some money. He came home on crutches and in debt to the U.S. government to the tune of $11,000.
By Jeremy Alford and Katy Reckdahl

Pot and Politics 11 04 03
In a gubernatorial campaign defined by similar philosophies, medical marijuana could be one dividing line between Kathleen Blanco and Bobby Jindal.
By Jeremy Alford

Pops' Place 11 04 03
A visit to Louis Armstrong's 30-year home in New York, now a museum, reveals that the musician never really left New Orleans behind him.
By Peter Gerler

Visiting Hours 10 28 03
As All Saints' Day approaches, Holt Cemetery workers and family members grieve, reminisce and scrub the graves clean.
By Katy Reckdahl

Black Like I Thought I Was 10 20 03
For Wayne Joseph, a former Louisianian now living in southern California, a DNA test has changed everything -- and nothing.
By Erin Aubry Kaplan

Too Much Information? 10 20 03
A UNO student files sexual harassment complaints against a professor who she says crossed the line in his classroom discussions.
By Eileen Loh Harrist

Wanted: New Sheriff 10 14 03
As Charles Foti prepares to leave his post to become the state's new attorney general, speculation about the new Orleans Parish criminal sheriff begins.
By Allen Johnson Jr

The Teacher With Three Kidneys 10 14 03
Organ-donation groups hope to get the word out through teachers like Randy Zell, a Newman School science teacher and kidney-transplant patient.
By Katy Reckdahl

Street Savvy 10 14 03
Elia Kazan's 1950 film Panic in the Streets -- made one year before A Streetcar Named Desire -- was a turning point in the legendary director's career.
By David Lee Simmons

Offsetting Penalties 10 07 03
After a mid-September football game in Lake Charles turns violent, a state hearing tries to determine what happened -- and why.
By Allen Johnson Jr

Rebuilding the Block 09 30 03
Both gratitude and blame linger as life returns to a burned section of Magazine Street.
By Eileen Loh Harrist

A Crusade Pays Off 09 30 03
Calvin Willis is exonerated -- and Janet Gregory has reason to celebrate.
By Katy Reckdahl

Censored! 09 23 03
The role of neocons in the Bush Administration tops the annual list of stories ignored or downplayed by the mainstream media.

By Camille T. Taiara

Remembering Bill Elder 09 23 03
By Jason Berry

Their Fair Chair 09 16 03
The 6-year-old Bogalusa girl who can't walk but drives a pink Barbie car. The 31-year-old Gentilly man who talks by tapping his left temple against a computer. A federal-court complaint alleges that Louisiana has denied motorized wheelchairs for thousands
By Katy Reckdahl

War of the Weeklies 09 09 03
Former Times of Acadiana owner Steve May is taking on the Gannett Company -- and his former alternative weekly newspaper -- by launching a new publication in southwest Louisiana.

By Ian Morrison

Reasonable Suspicion? 09 02 03
Rod Amis says he was arrested because cops saw a black man handing seven dollars to a white man. Police say the arrest wasn't about skin color, it was about drug dealing.
By Katy Reckdahl

Attention Candidates 09 02 03

Working Man Blues 08 26 03
American Routes' Nick Spitzer talks with Studs Terkel about work, Working, and why nobody properly celebrates Labor Day anymore.

The Best of Gambit 08 26 03
Colleagues remember former Gambit Weekly ad director Susan Crichton Martineau
By Allen Johnson Jr

Gambit Welcomes Reckdahl to Editorial Staff 08 26 03

Little Angolas 08 19 03
Tallulah will soon be shut down, but the state's other juvenile prisons still report hundreds of injuries. One newly released young man explains what he knows about prison fighting, respect and the value of Camel straight cigarettes.
By Katy Reckdahl

Remembering Don Lee Keith 08 19 03
Two perspectives on the life of a teacher and writer
By Kris Bares

New Orleans to Palestine 08 12 03
This summer, a trio of local activists journeyed to the Middle East to aid Palestinian efforts in the West Bank. They say they went to express solidarity; critics say such "human shields" are supporting terrorists.
By Frank Etheridge

True Adventures with the FBI 08 12 03
So what's wrong with reading an alternative newsweekly article in a coffeeshop? Do you really want to ask?
By Marc Schultz

40 Under 40 Nominations 08 12 03

Following Foti 08 05 03
Sheriff Charles Foti wants to be the state's chief legal officer, but critics say the jailer's office has had trouble following the law.
By Allen Johnson Jr

On the VINE 07 29 03
By the fall of 2004, a new system will offer citizens in all 64 Louisiana parishes access to information regarding the status of criminal offenders.
By Allen Johnson Jr

Who's the (Best) Boss? 07 22 03
A death at Six Flags New Orleans fuels the argument over whether the federal government should regulate the nation's amusement parks or keep the current system in place.
By Eileen Loh Harrist

Waking the Dead 07 15 03
As detective and prosecutor, Mike Varnado and Bill Alford once stood together in the Angola witness room to watch Robert Lee Willie die. Today, their stances on the death penalty couldn't be further apart.
By Frank Etheridge

Losing Fight 07 08 03
In February, police conducted what some thought would be the largest dogfighting bust in state history -- until District Attorney Eddie Jordan's office declined to pursue charges. Animal rights experts are now asking: if a blood-stained pit and a scarred
By Eileen Loh Harrist

A River Runs Through It 07 01 03
Politicians and their consultants adjust to Jefferson Parish's shifting political landscape following a surprise decision by the U.S. Department of Justice. An upcoming federal trial focuses on race, they say, but parish politics are really all about the
By Allen Johnson Jr

Among the Exonerated 07 01 03
Last week for the first time, Greg Bright and Earl Truvia held nieces, nephews and cell phones. The pair served 27 years, possibly the longest wrongful sentence in American history.
By Katy Reckdahl

No One Would Believe It 06 24 03
This month, Lyn Hill Hayward testified in front of a state legislative committee about clerical child abuse. She would not have found courage to speak out, she says, without her friendship with Walker Percy.
By Katy Reckdahl

Leaving Louisiana 06 24 03
Days after being found not guilty of battering his first-grade students, former International School of Louisiana teacher Jean Phillipe Vauchel returned to France. But first, he came by Gambit Weekly to tell his side of the story.
By Eileen Loh Harrist

Bus Stop 06 17 03
This week marks the 50th anniversary of the landmark Baton Rouge bus boycott. Event organizers say that as facts blur in the aging minds of the boycott's key players, the need to document the historic event is greater than ever.
By Frank Etheridge

Gambit Weekly Wins National Awards 06 17 03
Scott Jordan, Sara Roahen score top honors; Dora Sison and Greg Peters also honored.

Johnny Rebel Speaks 06 10 03
In the 1950s, C.J. Trahan was a young Cajun with a guitar. Now, in the world of hatecore and white power music, he's a living legend.
By Nick Pittman

Gambit Weekly Wins Awards 06 10 03

Broadcast Blues 06 10 03
Louisiana Rep. Billy Tauzin champions the Federal Communications Commission's move to revamp broadcast-media regulations in America. Critics call the new rules dangerous.
By Eileen Loh Harrist

Testing the Environment 06 03 03
Once a month, local environmentalists gather for a happy hour and debate just how to take back the White House in 2004.
By Glynn Wilson

Tobacco Row 06 03 03
A state House committee tacks exemptions onto a bill that could have meant the banning of indoor smoking in New Orleans. Bill sponsor Sen. Jon Johnson calls the compromise bill a good start -- but some critics say it's a sellout.
By Eileen Loh Harrist

Handshakes and Bum Raps 05 27 03
Critics charge that the tangled histories of NOPD's top officers make it difficult for them to investigate each other. The department maintains they're up to the job.
By Allen Johnson Jr

An Unsettling Death 05 20 03
In 1809, not long after Meriwether Lewis and William Clark concluded their historic journey to the Pacific Ocean, Lewis was found dead of two gunshot wounds. Did he take his own life, or was he murdered?
By Vicki Brown

Hard Lessons 05 06 03
A teacher at a local charter school stands accused of battery after parents complain that his disciplinary methods were too harsh for their first-grade children.
By Eileen Loh Harrist

Me and You and a Dog Named Lenny Bruce 05 06 03
With the help of the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Justice, two local street vendors win a reprieve in their fight to sell books in New Orleans.
By Frank Etheridge

Remembering the King 04 29 03
Travels in Holland. The little black book. Playing "Trick Bag" at a porno convention. Musicians and friends recall the life, legacy and laughter of the late Earl King.
By David Kunian

Reversal of Fortune? 04 22 03
Houma businessman and millionaire philanthropist Arlen "Benny" Cenac Jr. stands accused of raping a 4-year-old boy at least seven times. Cenac says he's being targeted for his money.
By Louis Rom

Bringing Down the House 04 22 03
Neighbors watch as the city razes a house that had been used as an entry point by the John McDonogh shooters.
By Allen Johnson Jr

Sweet Victory 04 15 03
As the 2004 presidential election approaches, historian Douglas Brinkley analyzes what Democrats can learn from Mary Landrieu's Senate victory.
By Douglas Brinkley

Unplugged 04 15 03
Senegalese musician Youssou N'Dour cited the war in his cancellation of his Jazz Fest show and other U.S. appearances. Quint Davis and other local music promoters say they're glad the damage wasn't worse
By Eileen Loh Harrist

Spilling Ink 04 08 03
Is the local media undercovering opposition to the war on Iraq? Some critics say it is -- while others say the press is just doing its job.
By Frank Etheridge and Allen Johnson Jr

Big Picture 04 01 03
This weekend, Critical Resistance descends on the Treme to examine the effects of the prison system on neighborhoods and families. Treme residents have plenty to add to the discussion.
By Katy Reckdahl

'Transfer of Power' 03 25 03
Thirty years ago, Larry Williams and six other black cops filed a suit that would change the face of the New Orleans Police Department. Here, he recounts NOPD life before the consent decree.
By Allen Johnson Jr

Inside Jeff Parish 03 25 03
By Jeff Crouere

Coasting to Disaster 03 18 03
As an acclaimed new book spotlights Louisiana's coastal erosion crisis, an unprecedented coalition of industry and environmentalists has banded together to reverse the tide.
By Eliza Strickland

Naming Names 03 18 03
When a federal document points a finger at an accused killer, should the media report the name -- even when no charges have been filed?
By Katy Reckdahl

Inside Jeff Parish 03 18 03
By Jeff Crouere

Monkey Business 03 11 03
Some call Mac Stoutz's work with exotic pets a legitimate service. Others call it cruelty.
By Eileen Loh Harrist

Inside Jeff Parish 03 11 03
By Jeff Crouere

Name Dropping 03 04 03
In 1996, a trusted informant told the FBI that Dan Bright was doing time for a murder committed by someone else. For years, the bureau fought to hide the name that's listed on Document 212. That fight may finally be over.
By Katy Reckdahl

Inside Jeff Parish 03 04 03

Sizing Up Classrooms 02 25 03
What's behind new research from the Louisiana Department of Education about class size and student performance? Politics and inadequate data, say some critics.
By Katy Reckdahl

Grace Notes 02 25 03
The Times-Picayune taps political reporter Stephanie Grace for its opinion pages.
By Allen Johnson Jr

Gambit Weekly honored at ADDY Awards 02 25 03

Inside Jeff Parish 02 25 03
By Jeff Crouere

Carnival in a Time of War 02 18 03
Throughout the history of Mardi Gras, war has cancelled some parades, and left an indelible mark on others.
By Garry Boulard

Liberty Dollars 02 18 03
With its proposed purchase of a Mississippi bank, locally based Liberty Bank and Trust Company is poised to be the first black-owned bank in Louisiana to expand beyond the state.
By Allen Johnson Jr

Letten Not Acting 02 18 03
What's in an adjective? Plenty, if you're the U.S. Attorney.
By Allen Johnson Jr

Inside Jeff Parish 02 18 03
By Jeff Crouere

Left Without 02 11 03
One New Orleans mom says that her autistic son is facing his 18th birthday with few skills and fewer services. Autism advocates say autistic adults rarely get the help they need.
By Katy Reckdahl

Isnide Jeff Parish 02 11 03
By Jeff Crouere

To Catch a Killer 02 04 03
The Multi-Agency Homicide Task Force works against the clock to solve the murders of Pam Kinamore, Gina Green, Trineisha Colomb and Charlotte Murray Pace. Can law enforcement by committee stop a serial murderer?
By Allen Johnson Jr

Inside Jeff Parish 02 04 03
By Jeff Crouere

Fed Up 01 28 03
Some neighbors say they can't stomach the Ozanam Inn's meals program any longer. Ozanam Inn staff members say demands for their services are only increasing.
By Katy Reckdahl

Lawyers, Guns and Money 01 21 03
In Outgunned, writer Peter Harry Brown and attorney Daniel Abel retrace the history of municipal lawsuits against gun manufacturers.
By Eliza Strickland

JFK at NATPE 01 21 03
Bob Vernon and former FBI agent Zachary Shelton are coming to town with their answer to the enduring question: who killed Kennedy?
By Garry Boulard

Inside Jeff Parish 01 21 03
By Jeff Crouere

Ties That Bind 01 14 03
For courtroom observers, recent reports of grim reaper and noose neckties in Jefferson Parish courtrooms are knotted up in issues of race and history.
By Katy Reckdahl

Inside Jeff Parish 01 14 03
By Jeff Crouere

The Heroes of Howard Johnson's 01 07 03
Thirty years ago, the killing of a sniper on a hotel roof ended a weeklong saga during which five police officers were killed. Friends and family recall the officers who lost their lives in one of the bloodiest chapters of New Orleans' history.
By Allen Johnson Jr

Inside Jeff Parish 01 07 03
By Jeff Crouere

The Aggressive Pacifist 12 31 02
Former students recall Father Philip Berrigan, whose road to anti-war activism began at St. Augustine High School.
By Allen Johnson Jr

Inside Jeff Parish 12 31 02
By Jeff Crouere

Measured in Ounces 12 21 02
Louisiana has one of the highest proportion of low-birthweight babies in the nation. The results can be death or disabilities. The cause is often a mystery.
By Katy Reckdahl

Remembering Stan Rice 12 21 02
When Stan Rice died earlier this month, New Orleans lost an original -- if inscrutable -- poet and painter.
By D. Eric Bookhardt

Pulp Nonfiction 12 21 02
With the publication of The Gangs of New York -- now a Martin Scorsese movie -- author Herbert Asbury established himself as the nation's premier chronicler of crime and sin. Not surprisingly, he soon turned his attention to New Orleans.
By Garry Boulard

Inside Jeff Parish 12 21 02
By Jeff Crouere

Save Your Breath 12 17 02
The EPA says changes to the Clean Air Act will improve air quality nationwide. Local environmentalists call it a gag order for Louisiana.
By Eileen Loh Harrist

Room Rates 12 17 02
Through the 1990s, New Orleans enjoyed one of the greatest hotel building growth spurts in its history. Now, only a handful of projects remain on the table.
By Garry Boulard

Inside Jeff Parish 12 17 02
By Jeff Crouere

Released in the Night 12 10 02
A local mother says that her HIV-positive son had been half paralyzed by a stroke before he was wheeled to the door of Orleans Parish Prison and released into the night. Sheriff Charles Foti contends that her son was fine when he left the prison.
By Katy Reckdahl

Jumping the Net 12 10 02
With skill and grace, Nehemiah Atkinson has redrawn the boundaries of tennis in New Orleans.
By Tim Lyman

Inside Jeff Parish 12 10 02
By Jeff Crouere

The Challenger 12 03 02
Pres Kabacoff calls him dangerous. But so far, Brod Bagert Jr.'s organizing efforts, family name and master's thesis haven't been enough to derail the Wal-Mart/St. Thomas development.
By Eileen Loh Harrist

Inside Jeff Parish 12 03 02
By Jeff Crouere

Chipping Away 11 26 02
'Walkers and talkers' from Health Care For All go door to door through this city's poorest neighborhoods looking for uninsured residents and kids. Recently, they've been joined from people from across the country who hope to repeat their success.
By Katy Reckdahl

The Tardy Twenty 11 26 02
The State Board of Ethics fines 20 judges for late campaign finance reports.
By Allen Johnson Jr

Inside Jeff Parish 11 26 02
By Jeff Crouere

What Price Incarceration? 11 19 02
For a quarter century, the state of Louisiana has paid to put prisoners in local jails. That system is beginning to change, and some sheriffs fear the worst.
By C.J. Schexnayder

'We Called You a Man' 11 19 02
Jesus sports a ponytail at Mount Carmel Academy, where Jesus Christ Superstar is being staged with a nearly all-girl cast.
By Constance Adler

Inside Jeff Parish 11 19 02
By Jeff Crouere

Picking a Fight 11 12 02
The Pickery is standing in the way of expanding the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, say planners. This week, owners of the local arts center will bring their case to court.
By Eliza Strickland

UNO Acquires John Kerry's Vietnam Journals 11 12 02
Douglas Brinkley says the journals will help launch a new direction for the Eisenhower Center -- and a new book about Kerry.
By Michael Tisserand

News Feature 11 12 02

The Best Medicine? 11 05 02
In Louisiana, qualified patients are supposed to be able to legally use pot. But so far, the state's medical marijuana laws are nothing but smoke.
By Eileen Loh Harrist

Louisiana's Loss 11 05 02
Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone's work crossed state boundaries, say local activists.
By Katy Reckdahl

Inside Jeff Parish 11 05 02
By Jeff Crouere

Missing the Vote 10 29 02
Myron Barnum, a local homeless man, wanted to cast his ballot at his neighborhood polling place on Nov. 5. Then he found out that Louisiana is one of two states that bars voters who live on the streets.
By Katy Reckdahl

Zydeco Markdown 10 29 02
The late Clifton Chenier was once hailed as the King of Zydeco. Now, his most personal belongings -- even his prosthetic leg -- are being offered up to the highest bidder.
By R. Reese Fuller

Inside Jeff Parish 10 29 02
By Jeff Crouere

Secret Journey 10 22 02
Local writer Thomas Laird chronicles the adventures of 'atomic spy' Douglas Mackiernan, the man the CIA denies sending to Tibet.
By Garry Boulard

21st Century Terrorist 10 22 02
CNN terrorism analyst Peter Bergen comes to New Orleans with Holy War Inc., a close-up view of Osama bin Laden.
By Shala Carlson

Inside Jeff P arish 10 22 02
By Jeff Crouere

Lessons From Lili 10 15 02
National Weather Service hurricane specialist James Franklin reveals how much we know -- and don't know -- about hurricanes.
By Glynn Wilson

Inside Jeff Parish 10 15 02
By Jeff Crouere

Reckdahl Honored for 'Indefatigable Reporting' 10 15 02

Disorders in the Courts 10 08 02
If a federal grant comes through, Orleans Parish could launch one of the South's first 'mental-health courts.' It's one small way of dealing with a growing problem: mentally ill and troubled defendants.
By Katy Reckdahl

Inside Jeff Parish 10 08 02
By Jeff Crouere

A Little Reality 10 01 02
A father attends the national conference of Little People of America and surveys his future.
By Dan Kennedy

'Walking While Homeless' 09 24 02
Homeless people are filing complaints with the mayor, the police chief, the FBI and the Office of Municipal Investigation, asserting that their very existence is now a crime in this city.
By Katy Reckdahl

Inside Jeff Parish 09 24 02
By Jeff Crouere

Scaling Back 09 17 02
During the past 35 years, the New Orleans Legal Assistance Corp. has argued thousands of civil cases on behalf of poor people. Now, they're facing budget cuts that could prove devastating to their clients.
By Katy Reckdahl

The T-P and the F-word 09 17 02
The Times-Picayune mandates that if you're trying to send an email to the newspaper, you better keep it clean.
By Allen Johnson Jr

Inside Jeff Parish 09 17 02
By Jeff Crouere

Media Black-out 09 10 02
Project Censored presents its annual report on the big stories ignored or overlooked by the mainstream media.
By A.C. Thompson

Project Censored Links 09 10 02

News Feature 09 10 02

Dumping Zone 09 03 02
Many of this city's chronically homeless came to the streets from a foster home, hospital or jail. Now, the federal government is mandating that these institutions stop 'dumping.'
By Katy Reckdahl

The Confidential File 08 27 02
Recently released testimony by Boston Cardinal Bernard Law reveals new details about his working relationship with New Orleans Archbishop Alfred Hughes.
By Allen Johnson Jr

Sour Notes 08 27 02
Trumpeter Clyde Kerr Jr. resigns from NOCCA amidst charges that jazz is being treated like 'whatnots on a shelf.'
By Geraldine Wyckoff

Mission Not Impossible 08 27 02
The New Orleans Mission doubles its capacity, thanks to a few hundred additional beds moved from Orleans Parish Prison.
By Katy Reckdahl

Inside Jeff Parish 08 27 02
By Jeff Crouere

Behind the Bite 08 20 02
City entomologist Greg Thompson explains that, to stop the West Nile virus, it helps to know about the mosquitoes that carry it.
By Katy Reckdahl

Bench Marks 08 20 02
Judicial activist Susan Lerner explains why she thinks we should care who presides over the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
By Katy Reckdahl

Inside Jeff Parish 08 20 02
By Jeff Crouere

Sticky Stats 08 13 02
A new MCC report indicts the local criminal justice system -- and a 1998 OMI investigation poses ongoing challenges for the Nagin administration.
By Allen Johnson Jr

It Takes Two 08 13 02
With $150 and a young grandson's coloring skills, twin sisters Margaret Baird and Margie Seeman led the charge against a Jefferson Parish school tax.
By Jeff Crouere

Inside Jeff Parish 08 13 02
By Jeff Crouere

The Secret Files of Peter Munster 08 06 02
Before his death in 1998, former Office of Municipal Investigation Director Peter Munster asked for whistleblower protection. For four years, those files have remained closed -- until now.
By Allen Johnson Jr

Boho Numbers 08 06 02
The locally maligned creator of the Bohemian Index finally explains just why New Orleans gets ranked below Salt Lake City.
By Richard Florida

Inside Jeff Parish 08 06 02
By Jeff Crouere

CEP Meets the Press 07 30 02
A private education company, dogged by bad press and contract woes in other cities, makes a bid for New Orleans.
By Eileen Loh Harrist

Inside Jeff Parish 07 30 02
By Jeff Crouere

Tents Time for the Homeless? 07 23 02
An NOPD captain has proposed a 'tent city' for New Orleans' chronically homeless population. The city's homeless do need something, say local advocates, but not this.
By Katy Reckdahl

Norco, the Movie 07 16 02
Eight years ago, documentary filmmaker Slawomir Grunberg took his first drive down Chemical Corridor. Next week, his study of the conflicted town of Norco airs on PBS' P.O.V. series.
By Allen Johnson Jr

Inside Jeff Parish 07 16 02
By Jeff Crouere

Witnesses to an Execution 07 09 02
A journalist is murdered, a propaganda videotape of the slaying makes the Internet, and an alternative newsweekly links to the Web site and publishes the photos. If this isn't the proper role of the media, what is?
By Dan Kennedy

Inside Jeff Parish 07 09 02
By Jeff Crouere

Corrections 07 09 02

National Routes 07 02 02
New Orleans-based radio producer Nick Spitzer joins ABC's Peter Jennings on a unique Fourth of July television broadcast.
By Scott Jordan

Opening the Floodgates? 07 02 02
The New Orleans Civil Service Commission acts in a precedent-setting case dealing with appeals of letters of reprimand.
By Allen Johnson Jr

Inside Jeff Parish 07 02 02
By Jeff Crouere

Called to the Scene 06 25 02
Police have not always been considered advocates for battered women. Many don't think of themselves that way, either -- but a new NOPD pilot project is working to change that.

Third in a three-part series
By Katy Reckdahl

Magical History Tour 06 25 02
A trip through the 75-year-old Saenger Theatre solves some -- but not all -- of the building's puzzles.
By David Lee Simmons

Inside Jeff Parish 06 25 02
By Jeff Crouere

Beaten and Blamed 06 18 02
One local woman struggles with both abuse and an arrest record. In New Orleans, that's not unusual.

Second of a three-part series
By Katy Reckdahl

Inside Jeff Parish 06 18 02