7 stories we're watching in New Orleans in 2025

Zoom in: That story will continue to dominate headlines for the foreseeable future, but as reporters, it's our job to keep track of, report on and distill all the biggest news into our daily email newsletter.

• And while we know, for better and for far worse, to expect the unexpected, there are several stories we already have on our radar.
• Here's what we'll follow closely in New Orleans in 2025.

🚨Fallout from the New Year's Day attack

• What we're watching: This story is already unfolding as leaders and investigators push for answers around how the attack was planned, why security was what it was on New Year's Day, and how it can be more resistant to security threats in the future.
• The intrigue: A key thread may soon be a renewed push and pull between city and state leaders and the different ideas they have around policing the French Quarter. Everyone may agree that something has to change, but it remains to be seen what actually changes — and who's in charge of it.
• Plus, the attack killed 14 and injured at least 35 innocent people. Their stories, and how we as a city come together to care for them, are also worth telling.

🏈 Super Bowl LIX

• What we're watching: Do we pull it off? Will we manage to keep the lights on? Will all the construction projects get finished in time? Are the investments going to be worth it in the long-run? And how does New Orleans end up looking on the broadcast?

🌀 Katrina's 20th anniversary

• The intrigue: We can already sense the hurricane headline fatigue even though we're still months away from the big anniversary.
• Yes, but: This is still a good moment to check in and seriously consider how far we've come since Aug. 29, 2005, how much we've learned since then and what we can still do to protect this city against future mega-storms.

🎢 Six Flags development

• Zoom in: Demolition finally began at the old New Orleans East amusement park site. And while that'll take some time, we'll be keeping an eye on that progress, as well as how development plans keep shaping up.

🔎 Mayor LaToya Cantrell's future

• Context: Cantrell's term doesn't officially end until January 2026, but now is traditionally the time when outgoing, term-limited mayors really start pounding the pavement to establish their legacy.

• Yes, but: While the New Year's Day attack is surely her priority now, her team has maintained a tight circle of communication around the mayor amidst an ongoing federal investigation.

🗳️ Metro leadership

• The big picture: The deck's about to shuffle in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish as voters will elect new top leaders in both. Term limits and career shifts are playing a role in those changes, so expect lots of news all year long as new candidates enter the races for city and parish elections this fall.

🤑 Money matters in college sports

• Follow the money: The NCAA is expected to settle a $2.78 billion lawsuit that will reshape how school athletic programs compensate students for their gameplay. Schools could be directly paying student athletes millions of dollars by the fall.