Good morning, New Orleans.

Jefferson Parish jurors took less than 35 minutes to convict 25-year-old Irielle Love — charged with second-degree murder and obstruction of justice — for the Dec.

1 stabbing death of 84-year-old Dory Sierra at her Fat City apartment.

The GNO Youth Orchestra will perform two free concerts before their NYC trip—one today at Lakeside at 6 p.m. and another on Sunday at Loyola at 6:30 p.m.—as a final send-off before departure.

Gail Etienne and her two classmates, known as the McDonogh Three, desegregated an all-white classroom at McDonogh 19 Elementary School in November 1960 and faced angry protests that left a lasting impact on New Orleans education.

Their story gains fresh attention as state officials push to end remaining desegregation orders — a move that could reshape school equality.

Today, southeast Louisiana is under a Heat Advisory as forecast highs in the low to mid 90s will feel like 110 to 112 due to heavy humidity.

Scattered afternoon storms could bring brief downpours (with the metro and coastal areas most at risk) and residents are urged to stay in the shade and remain hydrated.

A new green space opened at Woldenberg Park on June 19 with shade trees, native plants, and a walking path — the project was funded by $5.39 million from City and Audubon funds.

Phase Three plans will further improve riverfront access as the project continues to evolve.

Scientists at Southeastern Louisiana University found alarmingly high levels of toxic metals in Lake Maurepas—arsenic reached 6,300% above safe limits—and traced the pollution mainly to industrial and agricultural runoff from rivers feeding the lake.

The study warns that these contaminants may accumulate in fish and other aquatic life, posing health risks for local residents.

A federal appeals court blocked a Louisiana law—intended to require the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms—stopping the mandate from taking effect.

Louisiana regulators said MISO failed to reduce industrial load before cutting power to retail customers during a May outage that left parts of New Orleans dark for four hours—Commissioner Skrmetta said subpoenas will be issued soon.

MISO said the outage was caused by planned maintenance and a transmission line damaged by a tornado.

East Jefferson General Hospital performed its first heart transplant in partnership with Tulane University and LCMC Health using the Tulane University Heart Failure and Transplant Program (authorized by UNOS in December) to boost local access to life-saving care.

The milestone shows a new era in advanced heart treatment for our community.

LSU Tigers Baseball clinched their spot in the College World Series finals after beating Arkansas on Wednesday — they will now face Coastal Carolina in Omaha to try for their second title in three years.

Louisiana Considered featured a segment on coastal erosion affecting the Point-au-Chien-Indian Tribe as it compared tribal challenges in Louisiana and Alaska.

Musical Encounters

6:00 – 6:30 PM — New Orleans Museum of Art — Free for Louisiana residents — Experience intimate performances and conversations with musicians about their creative processes.

The Soul Rebels Live Performance

11 PM – 2 AM — Le Bon Temps Roule — Check website for ticket info — Experience the vibrant sound of The Soul Rebels at this iconic New Orleans venue.

The Dancing Pixel Party

7-9 p.m. — Cafe Istanbul — $10 admission — Celebrate animated GIFs, collage, and dancing in a vibrant community gathering.

Dinosaurs on the Moon: Stories from the World of Collage

7-9 p.m. — Cafe Istanbul — $10 — Experience an evening of storytelling, poetry, and collage with laughter and creativity.

Honey Revenge Concert

6:00 – 10:30 PM — House of Blues New Orleans — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy a night of vibrant pop-rock from Los Angeles' rising stars, Honey Revenge.

Essence Music Festival - 4 Day Pass

July 3-6 — Caesars Superdome — Day passes and 3-day weekend packages available — Celebrate Black excellence with a star-studded lineup and vibrant marketplace at ESSENCE Fest.

New Orleans 4th of July Fireworks Celebration

9 p.m. — Riverwalk Outlets — Free entry — Experience a dazzling fireworks display over the Mississippi River with patriotic tunes during this vibrant celebration.

Essence Festival - Saturday

7-10 p.m. — Caesars Superdome — Check website for ticket info — Enjoy performances from iconic artists including Boyz II Men and a special tribute to Quincy Jones.

Essence Festival - Sunday

6-10 p.m. — Caesars Superdome — Check event page for pricing — Experience a star-studded lineup featuring Boyz II Men, Nas, and a tribute to Quincy Jones.

Abe Partridge and Jack Barksdale Live

9 PM - 12 AM — No Dice — $10 — Experience the soulful tunes of rising stars Abe Partridge and Jack Barksdale in an intimate setting.