Lara Nicholson

2 weeks ago | nola.com | Lara Nicholson

Six years after Jefferson Parish officials admitted their Waggaman landfill was emitting noxious odors, thousands of residents on both sides of the Mississippi River will soon see payouts for health issues they say were caused by the fumes.

3 weeks ago | nola.com | Lara Nicholson

The Jefferson Parish School Board approved a pay raise and changes to backpack and dress code policies Wednesday night, following a heated exchange between Superintendent James Gray and the board. The school board approved the 2025-26 school year budget, which included a roughly 2% increase to the teacher pay scale and $500 salary increase for other staff.

3 weeks ago | nola.com | Lara Nicholson

Local grocery store chain Canseco's Market will open its sixth location in the New Orleans area after acquiring a shopping center on Jefferson Highway. Canseco's Market purchased the Azalea Gardens Shopping Center at 3615 Jefferson Highway for $2.5 million, according to Elifin Realty. The grocery store will be in the 29,000-square-foot space formerly occupied by Winn-Dixie and Shoppers Value Foods, next to O'Reilly Auto Parts and Family Dollar.

4 weeks ago | nola.com | Lara Nicholson

Jefferson Parish is preparing for another above-average hurricane season this year with new technology and expanded training for personnel, but not additional drainage capacity, parish leaders said at a press conference Thursday. Emergency Management Director Joe Valiente said the parish will implement a new damage assessment software called Crisis Track, which will allow parish employees to document post-storm damage from the front lines for FEMA's disaster declaration process.

1 month ago | nola.com | Lara Nicholson

As the Gulf Coast gears up for another above-average hurricane season in 2025, federal and local leaders gathered Thursday in Gretna to highlight the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the lessons the U.S. has learned and applied in the years since.