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Why NASA sends hot sauce into space

Aerospace

NASA sent five hot sauce varieties on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Artemis II" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2026/04/01/artemis-launch-date-rocket-made-michoud" data-vars-content-id="26518a0c-ec7f-468c-a4b5-efc75434514a" data-vars-headline="Why NASA sends hot sauce into space" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2026/04/01/artemis-launch-date-rocket-made-michoud" target="_self">Artemis II</a>, deeming the spicy staple an essential item.Why it matters: Even in space, flavor matters.

How mahjong became the hottest game in town

Events dedicated to the strategy game are becoming wildly popular.

Culture

Kelly Walker was eager to connect with new friends when she started hosting mahjong nights at her home a little more than a year ago.Why it matters: The game nights have since became so popular that venues across <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New Orleans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" data-vars-content-id="eaf9d044-eacb-4799-a2de-88241a410aa9" data-vars-headline="How mahjong became the hottest game in town" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" target="_self">New Orleans</a> are asking her to set up shop.

New Orleans debuts one of country's longest riverfront parks

Here's a first look at the downtown park.

Business

New Orleans opens the first phase of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Riverfront for All" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2025/04/21/audubon-riverfront-park-renderings-timeline" data-vars-content-id="7349e2b8-ec0f-43ae-ae9b-a02ea81b02bc" data-vars-headline="New Orleans debuts one of country&#x27;s longest riverfront parks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2025/04/21/audubon-riverfront-park-renderings-timeline" target="_self">Riverfront for All</a> park this week, completing a project that&#x27;s been in the works for more than a decade.Why it matters: The Audubon Nature Institute, which manages the public-private partnership, hopes to build on the momentum and add a second phase along the Mississippi River.

First look: New Orleans' riverfront park and playground

Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park opens Tuesday.

Development

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2026/04/06/goldring-woldenberg-riverfront-park-hours-playground" data-vars-content-id="0fb521b4-9328-4bdb-9225-3fb8e399e8ca" data-vars-headline="First look: New Orleans&#x27; riverfront park and playground" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2026/04/06/goldring-woldenberg-riverfront-park-hours-playground" target="_self">Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park</a> opens Tuesday in downtown New Orleans. The big picture: The park is built on top of Gov. Nicholls Wharf&#x27;s concrete deck, with the Mississippi River flowing underneath, according to Jackson Kerby, Audubon&#x27;s VP of construction.

New Orleans among worst cities for pollen sufferers

New Orleans' pollen season lasts several months.

News

Pollen season is in full swing in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New Orleans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" data-vars-content-id="98d8817c-d539-445e-98e0-7a9de7504cba" data-vars-headline="New Orleans among worst cities for pollen sufferers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" target="_self">New Orleans</a>.Why it matters: The city is one of the hardest places to live in the U.S. if you have <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pollen allergies" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2025/04/07/worst-allergy-cities-ranked-pollen-hay-fever" data-vars-content-id="98d8817c-d539-445e-98e0-7a9de7504cba" data-vars-headline="New Orleans among worst cities for pollen sufferers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2025/04/07/worst-allergy-cities-ranked-pollen-hay-fever" target="_self">pollen allergies</a>, according to a new report from the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America" data-vars-click-url="https://aafa.org/asthma-allergy-research/allergy-capitals/" data-vars-content-id="98d8817c-d539-445e-98e0-7a9de7504cba" data-vars-headline="New Orleans among worst cities for pollen sufferers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://aafa.org/asthma-allergy-research/allergy-capitals/" target="_blank">Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America</a>.

Nearly 75% of Louisiana is in a drought

Drought brings an increased risk of wildfires.

Drought conditions are spreading across Louisiana and now cover 73% of the state, according to the latest data from the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="U.S. Drought Monitor" data-vars-click-url="https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/" data-vars-content-id="0d231719-261e-4c4f-8178-43b9f5aa6ae3" data-vars-headline="Nearly 75% of Louisiana is in a drought" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/" target="_blank">U.S. Drought Monitor</a>.Why it matters: Dry weather is good for outdoor events, but it increases the risk of wildfires and dangerous super fog.

Tree giveaway returns to New Orleans on Saturday

The NOLA Tree Project is trying to replace trees lost during Hurricane Katrina.

Residents in metro <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New Orleans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" data-vars-content-id="837dc1f7-d869-43c3-bebe-c0d199dd5871" data-vars-headline="Tree giveaway returns to New Orleans on Saturday" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" target="_self">New Orleans</a> can get free trees this weekend at the NOLA Tree Project&#x27;s biggest giveaway of the year.Why it matters: Trees help absorb stormwater runoff and mitigate extreme heat.

Cold, windy parade weekend ahead for New Orleans

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New Orleans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" data-vars-content-id="5d5e45fc-fb4b-4d56-8362-d7ba5f6c039c" data-vars-headline="Cold, windy parade weekend ahead for New Orleans" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" target="_self">New Orleans</a> is going back into Mother Nature&#x27;s freezer this weekend, so plan ahead if you&#x27;re <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="parading" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2026/01/28/krewe-du-vieux-parade-things-to-do" data-vars-content-id="5d5e45fc-fb4b-4d56-8362-d7ba5f6c039c" data-vars-headline="Cold, windy parade weekend ahead for New Orleans" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2026/01/28/krewe-du-vieux-parade-things-to-do" target="_self">parading</a>.Why it matters: You don&#x27;t want frostbite or hypothermia.

Louisiana gets a brief thaw — then another arctic blast

The ice storm claimed at least three lives in Louisiana.

<figure><img alt="Image shows heavy equipment clearing snow from a road." height="552" id="38977cdc-2491-4fdb-b6f4-483b2060e575" src="https://images.axios.com/PTdwAZKROm8mdx0oH_pNJsvOa8k=/2026/01/26/1769457137786.gif" width="650"/><figcaption>DOTD spent Monday clearing snow and ice off roads in Ruston, Louisiana. Image: DOTD</figcaption></figure><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Louisiana" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" data-vars-content-id="589491e1-8a96-461a-8c41-fd0f0afdf334" data-vars-headline="Louisiana gets a brief thaw — then another arctic blast" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" target="_self">Louisiana</a> has one more day of freezing weather before a brief thaw — then another arctic blast will bottom out temperatures this weekend.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ice storm" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2026/01/26/new-orleans-extreme-cold-warning-road-status" data-vars-content-id="589491e1-8a96-461a-8c41-fd0f0afdf334" data-vars-headline="Louisiana gets a brief thaw — then another arctic blast" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2026/01/26/new-orleans-extreme-cold-warning-road-status" target="_self">ice storm</a> left at least three people dead in the state and thousands without power.

2 dead in Louisiana as extreme cold reaches New Orleans

The wind chill will be "brutal," meteorologists say.

Climate

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New Orleans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" data-vars-content-id="c6bd0389-8fd2-4ed3-810b-746b37bba964" data-vars-headline="2 dead in Louisiana as extreme cold reaches New Orleans" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" target="_self">New Orleans</a> and southeastern Louisiana will have &quot;brutal,&quot; below-freezing wind chill temperatures Monday and Tuesday, the National Weather Service says.Why it matters: Frostbite and hypothermia are possible, along with frozen pipes.

Arctic blast to plunge New Orleans below freezing

Parts of Louisiana are under a winter storm watch.

New Orleans is forecast to go from 70-degree weather to below freezing this weekend, thanks to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="massive winter storm" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/21/winter-storm-snow-ice-forecast-east-coast-south" data-vars-content-id="b1ea3ef3-dd61-487f-96df-209061c1da6e" data-vars-headline="Arctic blast to plunge New Orleans below freezing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/21/winter-storm-snow-ice-forecast-east-coast-south" target="_self">massive winter storm</a> that&#x27;s expected to dump snow and ice elsewhere in the Deep South.Why it matters: Residents should prepare for freezing nights and possible pipe damage — even though the worst of it will be north of New Orleans.

New Orleans could get snow again this weekend

It's been almost a year since a historic snowstorm hit the region.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New Orleans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" data-vars-content-id="80fd7496-2de7-4625-b2a2-6a3a51e33ce7" data-vars-headline="New Orleans could get snow again this weekend" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" target="_self">New Orleans</a> has a chance of snow this weekend, nearly a year after a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="historic snowstorm" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2025/01/21/in-photos-historic-snowstorm-new-orleans-louisiana" data-vars-content-id="80fd7496-2de7-4625-b2a2-6a3a51e33ce7" data-vars-headline="New Orleans could get snow again this weekend" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2025/01/21/in-photos-historic-snowstorm-new-orleans-louisiana" target="_self">historic snowstorm</a> dropped <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="about a foot of snow" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2025/01/22/record-snowfall-new-orleans-totals" data-vars-content-id="80fd7496-2de7-4625-b2a2-6a3a51e33ce7" data-vars-headline="New Orleans could get snow again this weekend" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2025/01/22/record-snowfall-new-orleans-totals" target="_self">about a foot of snow</a> in Southeast Louisiana.Why it matters: Mardi Gras snowmen are fun to make, but the region&#x27;s infrastructure isn&#x27;t equipped to handle extreme winter weather.

Moreno faces backlash over climate office restructuring

A petition asks the new mayor to reverse course.

Politics

<figure><img alt="Image shows people talking behind a podium." height="450" id="b7bb12e2-e81b-4ba9-ae4f-47b288f3cea0" src="https://images.axios.com/7oOvdMdz6Eawpgon-SyI6LmlMsg=/2026/01/14/1768426398773.gif" width="800"/><figcaption>Chris Lang, one of the laid-off city staffers, talked at a press conference Wednesday about his concerns for the future of climate projects in the city. Image: Carlie Kollath Wells/Axios</figcaption></figure><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mayor Helena Moreno" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2026/01/12/mayor-helena-moreno-100-day-plan-priorities" data-vars-content-id="dfb05375-294c-4a2b-90ee-18dc219fa7f8" data-vars-headline="Moreno faces backlash over climate office restructuring" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2026/01/12/mayor-helena-moreno-100-day-plan-priorities" target="_self">Mayor Helena Moreno</a> is shaking up how New Orleans City Hall approaches climate change.Why it matters: Hundreds of residents are pushing back and asking Moreno to reverse course.

Louisiana's map is shrinking again

The boot of Louisiana's toe is getting much smaller.

Louisiana&#x27;s map is set to shrink again next year as federal officials recognize the ongoing effects of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sea level rise" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2023/04/14/dramatic-sea-level-rise-gulf-coast-new-orleans" data-vars-content-id="bed30ba3-8bdb-4376-af51-ef07359b9a3b" data-vars-headline="Louisiana&#x27;s map is shrinking again" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2023/04/14/dramatic-sea-level-rise-gulf-coast-new-orleans" target="_self">sea level rise</a> on the state&#x27;s marshy outline.Why it matters: It&#x27;s yet another reminder that <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="climate change" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2025/07/01/new-orleans-sinking-faster-sea-level-rise" data-vars-content-id="bed30ba3-8bdb-4376-af51-ef07359b9a3b" data-vars-headline="Louisiana&#x27;s map is shrinking again" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2025/07/01/new-orleans-sinking-faster-sea-level-rise" target="_self">climate change</a> is literally shifting the ground beneath our feet.

Climate 🌿

Drought conditions worsen in Louisiana

At least 6 tornadoes confirmed in southeast Louisiana

New Orleans among worst cities for pollen sufferers

Free mulch available for New Orleans residents

Nearly 75% of Louisiana is in a drought