Good morning, New Orleans.

Fat River Farm in the Lower 9th Ward won a $332,300 jury award after an Orkin employee mistakenly sprayed pesticide on its organic garden in 2022 — Orkin will appeal the decision, leaving the farm to rebuild its future.

Heirloom is converting four historic buildings at 518-526 Gravier St (Central Business District) into a nine-suite boutique hotel in a nearly $10 million investment.

The project, co-developed with The McEnery Company, expands the company’s downtown hospitality portfolio.

New Orleans-based Corridor Ventures invested in Atlanta's Carbice on July 21 to support its semiconductor cooling technology that cuts water use + operating costs in data centers; the move expands the firm's portfolio in AI and deep-tech solutions.

Tourism officials say a tropical disturbance in the Gulf — which will not affect this weekend — ensures that the Moonpay X Games Championship at the Caesars Superdome, concerts at the Smoothie King Center, and Bocuse d’Or Americas contests draw visitors.

A hotel promotion offers a $100 gift card for two-night bookings.

Manning Family Children's and partners will host the fourth annual Back to School Boogaloo on Aug.

1 at Joe W. Brown Park Recreation Center, offering free healthcare services, school supplies, haircuts, games + live entertainment for kids while providing immunizations, dental services and sports physicals for qualifying families.

Loyola University New Orleans announced key leadership hires ahead of the 2026-2027 school year, naming Julia LeBlanc as director of communications, Patricia (Trish) Nugent as dean of the University Library, Kearney Gay as assistant vice president of development, and Mark Harrington as senior assistant provost to support strategic growth.

On Wednesday, residents in Jefferson Parish faced dangerous heat and tropical storm conditions as Tropical Storm Bertha brought storm surge and high winds.

Officials urged residents to secure loose objects and stay indoors during the extreme weather (with heat indices above 110°F) while emergency services monitored the situation.

State Treasurer John Fleming returned a record $70.9 million in unclaimed funds to property owners during the fiscal year and issued a check over $400K.

He advises residents to check LaCashClaim.org if they receive an unexpected check (average value $900).

The House passed bipartisan legislation that allows the FDA to destroy hazardous imported food such as contaminated shrimp, protecting local shrimpers and consumers; the bill now moves to the Senate for debate.

Entergy New Orleans said it is unable to determine the cause of a transformer explosion and fire that left nearly 1,000 customers without power on July 4 in the French Quarter.

Crews replaced damaged equipment and plan to install new monitoring technology (improving inspections) to prevent future issues.

On Wednesday, a council committee approved sweeping Mardi Gras rule changes intended to reduce police overtime, with floats starting earlier, updated safety measures, stricter parking regulations & increased fines; proposals now head to a final council vote.

National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana has elected five new board members and appointed four officers to lead its patient services + education and advocacy programs statewide.

The new leadership will work to improve early detection, care access and health equity for kidney disease.

Astrid is a 10-month-old kitten available for adoption at Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO), where she has waited for a home since she arrived in Oct.

2025. The no-kill shelter promotes responsible pet ownership to help reduce local pet homelessness.

The MoonPay X Games Championship will debut this weekend at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, featuring over 100 top athletes competing in skateboarding, BMX, Moto X, and scooter events.

Louisiana competitors Broc Raiford + Wyatt Fontenot will add local flair to the final stop of the season.

2026 X Games in New Orleans - Friday

4:00-8:30 PM — Caesars Superdome — Check event page for details — Experience three days of elite action sports at the MoonPay X Games Championship.

Alfred Banks Live Performance

7-9:30 p.m. — One Eyed Jacks — $17.15 GA — Experience a night of captivating music from Alfred Banks in the heart of New Orleans.

Stanton Moore Performance

7:30-10:30 p.m. — Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro — $TBD — Experience the exceptional drumming and vibrant personality of Grammy-winning musician Stanton Moore.

FLYLEAF with Lacey Sturm Concert

1 PM — House of Blues New Orleans — Tickets required — Experience an electrifying concert by Flyleaf featuring Lacey Sturm in a vibrant music venue.

New Orleans Suspects Live

9:00 – 10:30 PM — Tipitina's — Check their website for ticket prices — Experience a night of captivating music from the New Orleans Suspects at the iconic venue.

Satchmo Summer Fest

11:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. — New Orleans Jazz Museum — Free entry — Celebrate the legacy of Louis Armstrong with live music and food in an iconic cultural venue.

Greg Mendez Live Performance

9:00 – 10:30 PM — Siberia — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy an evening of indie-rock with Philadelphia's own Greg Mendez.

Hot 8 Brass Band Performance

Aug 9-10 — The Howlin' Wolf — Ticket prices vary — Experience the unique fusion of funk and brass from this Grammy-winning ensemble.

Billy Iuso Concert

8 p.m. — Tipitina's — Free entry — Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Free Fridays Concert Series with live music.