The smell of fresh cut AstroTurf filled the air today at Harrell Park’s opening, newly invigorated with a championship-caliber field straight from Super Bowl XLVII. The City, NORD, the Bensons, the NFL, Chevron, and a host of other private and nonprofit partnerships came together to restore Hollygrove’s recreation facility, where Mayor Mitch was proud to say he used to toss the pigskin (or try) as a kid.

Today is New Orleans' 295th birthday, and Mayor Mitch isn't holding back. Landrieu is giving his annual State of the City address this afternoon at the Treme Community Center. NoDef is on hand to take in all the action and satisfaction. Click through to follow along with our live blog:

The groundbreaking ceremony of a new Walmart in eastern New Orleans on Monday began with a prayer. The construction marks a milestone in the community’s rebuilding: The superstore has been absent from the area since Hurricane Katrina and the Federal Flood, which closed a location at 6901 Bundy Road.

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.

Updated 4.10, 3 a.m.

After a lot of talk about Marlin Gusman as a dinner guest and those videos, Mayor Mtich officially sought to make a formal break with the Orleans Parish Sheriff, as well as the feds and Southern Poverty Law Center, today. Landrieu filed a motion in federal court that calls for Orleans Parish Prison to be put under federal receivership. The receivership would go beyond the consent decree that is currently being worked out in court, and would essentially take Gusman off day-to-day operations at OPP.

There were no crabby cabbies in the Mayor's office today, as drivers made a pit stop at City Hall this afternoon to celebrate their new Certificates of Public Necessity and Convenience (CPNC).  Out of 594 applicants, the City chose 100 cab drivers to award CPNCs, which allow drivers to operate in the City.  While a few recipients are just beginning their careers, some, like veteran driver Sam Porter, have been waiting for a CPNC since 1966.

In day four of the fairness hearing over the OPP Consent Decree, the court heard from the latest witness to be added to the list, Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman.

A a hometown boy whose mother’s kitchen is his favorite place to eat, Jacoby Jones held true to his roots wih an act of gratitude today. On behalf of the Baltimore Ravens, the wide receiver gave NOPD the gift of two 2013 Harley Davidson FLHP motorcycles.

Another year of NOLA For Life’s crime prevention program, Midnight Basketball, brought Mayor Mitch, Rita Benson LeBlanc, Hugo the Hornet and three soon to be Pelican players to the gym at Kipp Central City Academy this afternoon. Looking shorter than usual next to professional basketballers Ryan Anderson, Xavier Henry and Robin Lopez, Mitch exalted the program as a “pathway to peace.”