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NOPD updates immigration policy amid state pressure

News

The New Orleans Police Department updated its decade-old immigration policy during <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mardi Gras" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/mardi-gras" data-vars-content-id="1ce02cfd-996a-4650-9ad8-481291d336bb" data-vars-headline="NOPD updates immigration policy amid state pressure" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/mardi-gras" target="_self">Mardi Gras</a>.Why it matters: Immigration enforcement has become a political flashpoint in Louisiana, with Attorney General Liz Murrill pressuring New Orleans leaders over so-called &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sanctuary city" data-vars-click-url="https://lailluminator.com/2025/02/14/new-orleans-sanctuary/" data-vars-content-id="1ce02cfd-996a-4650-9ad8-481291d336bb" data-vars-headline="NOPD updates immigration policy amid state pressure" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://lailluminator.com/2025/02/14/new-orleans-sanctuary/" target="_blank">sanctuary city</a>&quot; policies and Mayor Helena Moreno issuing an order blocking formal ICE partnerships.

The No. 1 fish cleaning tip from a guy who butchers 500 pounds a day

Food and Drink

If you want to get better at something, it&#x27;s a good idea to ask an expert. So if you&#x27;re looking to improve your fish game, the guy you want to talk to is GW Fins&#x27; Michael Perkins.Why it matters: Perkins has been personally responsible for butchering 300 to 500 or more pounds of fresh-caught fish every day for more than 20 years.

Tet Fest, crawfish boils and more things to do this weekend

Things to Do

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mardi Gras" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/mardi-gras" data-vars-content-id="93dfc559-1df7-462f-8ab1-0100e94c571d" data-vars-headline="Tet Fest, crawfish boils and more things to do 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/mardi-gras" target="_self">Mardi Gras</a> is over, but the fun doesn&#x27;t stop 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="93dfc559-1df7-462f-8ab1-0100e94c571d" data-vars-headline="Tet Fest, crawfish boils and more things to do 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>.<ul><li>Here are some things to do this weekend.</li></ul>

French Quarter construction drags into festival season

French Quarter streets are a mess as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New Orleans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" data-vars-content-id="4f4b96a1-4f1d-468e-b115-a95a12bb421d" data-vars-headline="French Quarter construction drags into festival season" 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> heads into its busy spring festival season.Why it matters: Businesses say they are struggling as a behind-schedule construction project drags on.

New Orleans home values slip as U.S. prices inch up

Rising insurance and mortgage rates are partly to blame.

Real Estate

Home values 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="3719398f-7fba-48bd-8839-f7e908331f82" data-vars-headline="New Orleans home values slip as U.S. prices inch up" 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 slipping even as prices rise in other parts of the country.Why it matters: The city&#x27;s dip underscores how local factors — from rising insurance premiums to limited demand — are shaping housing here differently than the rest of the U.S.

Louisiana homes bought in 2024 were oldest on record

A major construction slowdown "has fast-tracked the aging of America's housing stock."

The vast majority of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New Orleans homes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/real-estate" data-vars-content-id="99324dc4-6cd4-4fae-8647-9bc3fa23d5ec" data-vars-headline="Louisiana homes bought in 2024 were oldest on record" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/real-estate" target="_self">New Orleans homes</a> bought last year were at last 30 years old, according to Redfin records, reflecting a national trend. The big picture: A major <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="construction" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/16/home-builder-sentiment-tariffs" data-vars-content-id="99324dc4-6cd4-4fae-8647-9bc3fa23d5ec" data-vars-headline="Louisiana homes bought in 2024 were oldest on record" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/16/home-builder-sentiment-tariffs" target="_self">construction</a> slowdown &quot;has fast-tracked the aging of America&#x27;s housing stock,&quot; the real estate site <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.redfin.com/news/aging-housing-inventory/" data-vars-content-id="99324dc4-6cd4-4fae-8647-9bc3fa23d5ec" data-vars-headline="Louisiana homes bought in 2024 were oldest on record" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.redfin.com/news/aging-housing-inventory/" target="_blank">reports</a>.

New Orleans has fewer "wealthy" renters than most metros

Redfin defined "wealth" as the top 20% of local households.

New Orleans lags nationally for our share of &quot;wealthy&quot; renters, per a Redfin analysis of the latest Census Bureau data, and saw one of the country&#x27;s biggest drops for its share of them between 2019 and 2023.Between the lines: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="income needed" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2025/06/30/new-orleans-income-rent-affordability" data-vars-content-id="6fe45e52-eb85-49c9-90c0-dbadfab0a601" data-vars-headline="New Orleans has fewer &quot;wealthy&quot; renters than most metros" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2025/06/30/new-orleans-income-rent-affordability" target="_self">income needed</a> to afford a home here has risen less than the national average, a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Redfin report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.redfin.com/news/rich-renters-2025/" data-vars-content-id="6fe45e52-eb85-49c9-90c0-dbadfab0a601" data-vars-headline="New Orleans has fewer &quot;wealthy&quot; renters than most metros" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.redfin.com/news/rich-renters-2025/" target="_blank">Redfin report</a> says, which may mean that affluent people here may be more likely to have just bought a home instead.

New Orleans-area income needed to afford rent

The cost of living in New Orleans continues to increase.

Business

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Renters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2025/03/27/new-orleans-renters-are-staying-put" data-vars-content-id="188045c3-03c1-4ae6-bee2-a307f0ebb574" data-vars-headline="New Orleans-area income needed to afford rent" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2025/03/27/new-orleans-renters-are-staying-put" target="_self">Renters</a> in the New Orleans metro need an income of $66,100 to afford the rent on a typical monthly lease, according to a report from Zillow.Why it matters: That means renters have needed a 28.7% increase in their income to keep pace with rent in the New Orleans area since 2020, Zillow says.

Homeowners' mortgages include large share for insurance payments

Homeowners insurance continues to rise in cost.

More than a quarter of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New Orleans-area homeowners&#x27;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2024/04/03/housing-market-home-inventory-new-orleanians-arent-moving" data-vars-content-id="50ad3ff6-c15c-46d4-9d5d-f00465d1bf27" data-vars-headline="Homeowners&#x27; mortgages include large share for insurance payments" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2024/04/03/housing-market-home-inventory-new-orleanians-arent-moving" target="_self">New Orleans-area homeowners&#x27;</a> mortgage payments went to insurance last year, up from the decade&#x27;s low of 18.9% in 2019, data shows.Why it matters: Rising costs for both <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="insurance" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/09/20/homeowners-insurance-costs" data-vars-content-id="50ad3ff6-c15c-46d4-9d5d-f00465d1bf27" data-vars-headline="Homeowners&#x27; mortgages include large share for insurance payments" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/09/20/homeowners-insurance-costs" target="_self">insurance</a> and property taxes threaten to make homeownership <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unaffordable" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wsj.com/economy/housing/home-insurance-property-tax-vs-mortgage-cost-43ab76ed" data-vars-content-id="50ad3ff6-c15c-46d4-9d5d-f00465d1bf27" data-vars-headline="Homeowners&#x27; mortgages include large share for insurance payments" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wsj.com/economy/housing/home-insurance-property-tax-vs-mortgage-cost-43ab76ed" target="_blank">unaffordable</a> for many.

Photos: Drew Brees to sell his Montana treehouse

The 20-acre property is going up for auction in September.

Sports

Former <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New Orleans Saints" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2024/05/16/new-orleans-saints-2024-season-schedule" data-vars-content-id="43bcd919-3f39-4af0-ba75-21803292cd69" data-vars-headline="Photos: Drew Brees to sell his Montana treehouse" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2024/05/16/new-orleans-saints-2024-season-schedule" target="_self">New Orleans Saints</a> legend Drew Brees is putting his 20-acre Montana vacation home up for auction next month. Why it matters: The property was featured on &quot;Treehouse Masters&quot; when the show&#x27;s team built Brees a 1,700-square-foot guest house on the site last year.

How New Orleans office buildings are pivoting during the work-from-home era

One building converted into a multimedia hub for content creators.

Office owners in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New Orleans metro" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" data-vars-content-id="29531ec0-eaf9-4cf1-a058-a5d978914501" data-vars-headline="How New Orleans office buildings are pivoting during the work-from-home era" 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 metro</a> are finding new uses for their buildings as more people continue to work from home.Why it matters: U.S. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="office vacancy rates" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/09/office-vacancy-rate-record-high" data-vars-content-id="29531ec0-eaf9-4cf1-a058-a5d978914501" data-vars-headline="How New Orleans office buildings are pivoting during the work-from-home era" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/09/office-vacancy-rate-record-high" target="_self">office vacancy rates</a> reached a record 20.1% in the second quarter — the highest since at least 1979, when Moody&#x27;s began tracking.

Exclusive: 1st look at what's replacing former Louisiana Children's Museum

Memoir and Common House are scheduled to open in June.

The apartment complex and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="member club" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2023/12/13/warehouse-district-common-house-renderings-plans" data-vars-content-id="30be1781-c32e-4d50-ae66-d7fcde2e4f2f" data-vars-headline="Exclusive: 1st look at what&#x27;s replacing former Louisiana Children&#x27;s Museum" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2023/12/13/warehouse-district-common-house-renderings-plans" target="_self">member club</a> under construction in the former Louisiana Children&#x27;s Museum will open in June.Why it matters: The redevelopment is breathing new life into a historic space that housed the museum for 30 years.

New Orleans homeowners staying put longer than national average

Homeowners nationally are holding onto their homes nearly twice as long as they did in 2005.

The typical <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New Orleans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" data-vars-content-id="f8dd30ba-a836-469d-bd20-706030718e34" data-vars-headline="New Orleans homeowners staying put longer than national average" 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> homeowner has spent 15.6 years in their home, up 40% from a decade ago, according to a recent <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Redfin analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.redfin.com/news/homeowner-tenure-2023/" data-vars-content-id="f8dd30ba-a836-469d-bd20-706030718e34" data-vars-headline="New Orleans homeowners staying put longer than national average" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.redfin.com/news/homeowner-tenure-2023/" target="_blank">Redfin analysis</a> of parish records.Why it matters: Homeowners staying put is one reason there&#x27;s a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="shortage of houses" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/17/housing-prices-affordability-rise-fall-2023-goldman-sachs" data-vars-content-id="f8dd30ba-a836-469d-bd20-706030718e34" data-vars-headline="New Orleans homeowners staying put longer than national average" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/17/housing-prices-affordability-rise-fall-2023-goldman-sachs" target="_self">shortage of houses</a> on the market across the country.

West Bank golf course to be transformed into 1st-time homebuyer neighborhood

The community is geared at hospitality workers, first responders and educators.

An old golf course in Terrytown is being converted into a planned community for first-time homebuyers and senior citizens.Driving the news: New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity and community leaders broke ground Monday on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rising Oaks" data-vars-click-url="https://habitat-nola.org/give/welcome-to-rising-oaks/" data-vars-content-id="b6fb4c9c-2c15-4dd1-b31f-75773538155b" data-vars-headline="West Bank golf course to be transformed into 1st-time homebuyer neighborhood" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://habitat-nola.org/give/welcome-to-rising-oaks/" target="_blank">Rising Oaks</a>, a 150-house development next to Athlos Academy and Hong Kong Market.<ul><li>The goal is to make it a community of affordable homes for educators, first responders, musicians, hospitality workers and others in the so-called middle, officials say.</li></ul>

Real Estate 🏠

New Orleans home values slip as U.S. prices inch up

Louisiana homes bought in 2024 were oldest on record

New Orleans has fewer "wealthy" renters than most metros

New Orleans-area income needed to afford rent

Homeowners' mortgages include large share for insurance payments