Dec 19, 2025 - News
The year New Orleans was in the headlines — for everything
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
This year was one for the books in New Orleans.
Why it matters: Thank goodness it's almost over.
The big picture: It's been an exhausting, emotional roller coaster.
- We continue mourning the New Year's Day terrorist attack and are still following the fallout from our mayor's indictment.
- We danced during Super Bowl LIX and made snow angels during the historic snowstorm.
- We got up in our feelings for the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and are demanding answers during the Border Patrol's immigration efforts.
Zoom out: Our fair city has been the topic of national and international news frequently.
- Some have been good — Pope Leo's Creole heritage. Others, not so good — the jail outbreak and unprecedented budget crisis.
- New Orleans had a "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year," a recent USA Today headline reads.
- The New York Times adds we've "had a remarkably turbulent year." In another story, the NYT says that while "New Orleans has had plenty of tough years, [2025] has stood out."
Yes, but: We still wouldn't live anywhere else.
- We love our neighbors, music, food, festivals and even our regrettable sports teams — the general joie de vivre in our homes and on our streets.
- And, sometimes, we even love the weather.
What we're watching: We have a new administration coming with big plans.
- The Saints are finally showing some promise with a new head coach. We just hope the quarterback situation is actually figured out.
- And, we have business owners and entrepreneurs with big plans and bright ideas.
The bottom line: We hope for a better, slower year in 2026.