Levees are expected to hold the Mighty Mississippi at bay this spring, but South Louisiana still has a flood fight on her hands. Instead of mother nature, it's - as ever- the federal government that's causing a need to rally the troops and fly-ins. A group of about 20 local leaders are in Washington, D.C., today to press Congress about the 2012 changes to FEMA flood maps that will exponentially increase flood insurance for some citizens. Along with the numbers, the delegation got a little muscle in the Capitol from U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu.

Despite water rate hikes and a consent decree duel that's only getting uglier, the most recent University of New Orleans' study shows Mayor Mitch Landrieu remains popular among constituents in Orleans Parish, boasting a strong 70-percent approval rating, according to the numbers collected.

As promised, Mayor Mitch met the City Council this morning to warn of dire financial consequences if the City were to implement a slate of federally-mandated reforms at Orleans Parish Prison. "It is like trying to stuff a camel in the eye of a needle," Landrieu said of paying for the OPP consent decree, which is projected to cost at least $17 million per year.

The City of New Orleans wants to pull out of the federally-mandated reforms that it signed off on for the New Orleans Police Department. Late Thursday, the City filed a motion to vacate the consent decree that laid out a roadmap for hundreds of changes in conduct, procedure and training at the NOPD. The move marks an about-face for Mayor Mitch Landrieu's administration, which was a major proponent of the reforms.

There's one less place to get daiquiris on St. Charles Ave. tonight. Daiquiri Place Cafe, located at the corner of St. Charles and Thalia St., lost its alcohol permits by a vote of the City's Alcohol Beverage Control Board. City government targeted the spot as a nuisance bar because of violations of a 2007 agreement, which required the bar to provide security, pick up litter and close at a prescribed time.

by M.D. Dupuy

The people behind the largest single post-Katrina housing development are at it again, and their project has nothing to do with Brad Pitt or the Ninth Ward. Gentilly was one of the areas hit hardest by the Federal Flood, and Barnes and Noble Founder Leonard Riggio and his wife Louise came all the way from New York to create “Project Home Again.” The pair is at it again, with 100 new homes slated for completion in the next 12-18 months.   

by Erica Boni

Tonight marks the 29th annual night out against crime, an event initially organized by Officer Kelly Marrione of the NOPD in an effort to increase communication between district officials and the people and neighborhood organizations in the areas they patrol. The national Night Out took place on October 7 in the rest of the country, but was postponed until tonight in New Orleans to take advantage of the cooler weather.  

New Orleans' Haitian Appreciation isn't limited to JazzFest. The Crescent City's Carribean Connection was on Mayor Mitch's agenda yesterday, as he traveled with several City department heads to Haiti. In the nation's capital of Port-au-Prince, the New Orleans contingent met up with former President and recently rechristened Demoratic Party Hero Bill Clinton, and officials from the Middle Eastern country of Qatar. The meetup was aimed at officially delivering a $20 million donation from Qatar to Port-au-Prince to assist in rebuilding after the 2010 earthquake.

By Shay Sokol

As all eyes are on NOPD after Officer Joshua Colclough killed 20-year-old Wendell Allen while he was unarmed during a pot bust in a Gentilly house last Wedndsday, March 8, NOPD Chief Ronal Serpas continued the slow trickle of information about the incident tonight. As a part of the “completely transparent” ongoing investigation both Serpas and Mayor Landrieu promised, today's update says NOPD has been unable to obtain a voluntary statement from Officer Colclough, who fired his service weapon one time, fatally wounding Wendell Allen.