Corps of Engineers concludes $10.3 billion, 98-mile-long Morganza to the Gulf levee is 'economically justified' | NOLA.com

The Army Corps of Engineers has concluded that construction of a 98-mile-long, $10.3 billion Morganza to the Gulf hurricane levee system that will protect Houma and surrounding communities from storm surges “is economically justified, environmentally acceptable and engineeringly sound.”

The conclusions are contained in a recent proposed design report/environmental impact statement released by Lt. Gen. Thomas Bostick, chief of engineers for the corps. The report contains minor changes from a version released in January by New Orleans corps officials.

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New Orleans Musicians' Clinic blood drive | bestofneworleans.com

PHOTO BY KEVIN ALLMAN 
Two enormous bloodmobiles — one in neon chartreuse, the other, well, blood-red — stretched down Frenchmen Street from the Apple Barrel to the Spotted Cat May 22. The event was called "Frenchmen Street: Roll Up Your Sleeves," and it was a replacement blood drive for the 19 victims of the Mother's Day second-line shooting in the 7th Ward — a shooting that had occurred seven blocks away down Frenchmen Street May 12.

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Chinese drywall was devastating to non-profit | NBCNews.com

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High end homes in New Orleans are hot properties | WWL


Extremely low interest rates are one reason home prices in the New Orleans area are on the rise. And, high-end properties appear to be extremely hot items...

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Barber Laboratories: Termites, Roaches and Rats, Oh My! | New Orleans Voices

Linda Auld – also known as the "bug lady" – is the owner of Barber Laboratories. Linda's grandfather, Ernest Barber, started the business in 1921 as Barber Entomological Laboratories. Because of New Orleans' warm climate, we have more than our share of vermin. Linda gives us some insight into three of our most common pests: termites, roaches and rats...

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Beyond the beignets: New Orleans’ modern food movement | Lonely Planet

New Orleans is a food city, no question; it always has been. No offense to those hearty regional faves – gumbo, jambalaya and the ubiquitous beignets – but the association has long been one of over-indulgence rather than variety and refinement. The good news: a number of the city’s recently opened establishments are now breaking with convention. Championing a global outlook and a love for regional produce, NOLA’s new crop of inventive chefs are serving up crisp interpretations of local staples, and doing so with mouthwatering results.

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Welcoming the Dalai Lama to New Orleans, a City Still Rebuilding | Huffington Post


From a talk given at Temple Sinai in New Orleans on May 9, 2013. This is part one in a series.

The Dalai Lama has come to New Orleans. If I were to speak with him, this is what I might say.

Your Holiness, you are coming to New Orleans at a time of some optimism, some hope. Eight years ago, after Katrina, there was some concern we might not survive as a city. Many of us had lost everything, our homes, our community our relatives and friends, and most of all our trust in the large institutions and government we thought should have protected us. The levees broke and so did our hearts, and out in the country there were many dark voices who said we had no right to exist, to continue as a city. We might have lost all faith in each other, but somehow we did not. In the first place, from all over, there was a tremendous outpouring of love and help, of compassion. There was a new influx of young people with energy and hope. We have not exactly triumphed, but we have rebuilt much of our city, our schools...


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New Orleans CVB Honored in NTA's Distinct Dozen Awards | Travel Agent


The National Tour Association (NTA) has awarded New Orleans with two honors at their Second Annual Distinct Dozen Awards. The awards, recognizing product quality and partnership, are distributed based on votes by NTA tour operators.


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