by Sarah Esenwein

Just in time to carry hordes of Super Bowl revelers and dignitaries, it’s a streetcar celebration today in New Orleans as the Loyola Ave. Streetcar line was officially opened by government officials from city, state and federal entities. On Monday morning, all channels of government representatives convened at the Amtrak Train station in tribute to this corridor that will reconnect the community, spur job growth and economic development.

New Orleans police are asking for the public's help in seeking Truman W. Howard. The 50-year-old man was last seen Jan. 6 when he left a hotel room in the 1300 block of Canal St. that he was sharing with his parents.

Updated 1:45 p.m.

New Year's Eve mayhem turned violent in the early hours of 2013 on Tuesday morning. A man was shot in the buttocks in the 300 block of Canal St., according to police. The man's wounds were not believed to be life-threatening. Later Monday morning, New Orleans saw its first murder of 2013.

Ghosts of Christmas past, present and future collide with Disney princesses and storybook characters in Rene Piazza’s rendition of Dickens’ holiday classic, “A Christmas Carol: The Whole Story.”  This year, Piazza makes his Christmas spoof bigger than ever as he celebrates its twentieth year running with two shows at the historic Joy Theater on December 15th. 

A man's lunchtime conversation at Palace Cafe was interrupted Friday in the latest French Quarter iPhone snatching, according to NOPD. About 1 p.m., the man was sitting at an outdoor table at the famed spot in the 600 block of Canal St. He was showing a friend something on his phone, when a man ran up and took it out of his hands. Click through to see video of the incident:

We’re a few months shy of Mardi Gras, but floats are already lining up to ride down Canal for today’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! Eat your turkey and oyster dressing early and bring the whole family downtown for the 2nd Annual Bayou Classic Parade, featuring 11 floats, 12 marching bands, and some prized throws from Southern and Grambling.

Unfortunately, New Orleans lived up to its dangerous reputation this weekend. Dozens of crimes occurred all over the city, leaving one Bourbon Street strip joint short on dough and many other victims hospitalized and/or relieved of their cash. From Calhoun to Canal, criminals kept the NOPD busy this weekend.  

After getting some repairs, the Algiers Ferry is back on the Mighty Mississppi after Hurricane Isaac, according to the state Department of Transportation and Development. A broken steering pump sustained during the storm and damage to the Algiers Point landing forced the ferry off the water even as most New Orleans transit reopened. The parts for the steering pump came in yesterday, and the ferry passed inspection, according to the Department. Crews also constructed a temporary ramp at the West Bank let off point. The terminal still needs some repairs, but it's not enough to hamper the boat from taking passengers back and forth from Canal Street, according to the Department. The Gretna ferry is still closed.

In this week's file of foul play, a mugger with a metal pipe struck twice, a teen was connected to a Saturday night out filled with carjackings and shootings and a man was tied up in his own home by a pair of acquaintances. Each week, Crescent City Crime Bits provides a full look at the past seven days on the police beat:

On this week's spread of sins, a knife fight stopped the music at the House of Blues, a string of Uptown robberies  and a pawn shop loiterer tried to get into the game himself. Each week, Crescent City Crime Bits provides a complete roundup of wrongdoing.