A new federal-local law enforcement partnership aims to "build on the successes" of New Orleans' recent crime reduction, according to District Attorney Jason Williams.

Why it matters: Even as local leaders tout the city's 50-year low in violent crime, they say the job is never done — and the new partnership will provide a nuanced way to sustain that momentum, Williams said.

How it works: Gov. Jeff Landry greenlit Operation NOLA Safe, ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson said at last week's press conference.

• Federal and local agents will "work in a collaborative way to do very focused investigations on these individuals that are a problem in the city," Jackson said. Those people, Jackson noted, have been "pre-identified" by the OPSO.

Though technically new, Jackson and Williams said NOLA Safe builds on a blueprint established through earlier collaborative operations.

• Those operations saw a recent narcotics bust at a French Quarter storefront, the seizure of a Central City car wash last summer, and the 2024 closure of a 24-hour tire shop in the Treme.

Zoom in: Some parts of the operation will be visible, Jackson noted, like the National Guard's deployment through Mardi Gras.

• But there are also parts the public won't necessarily see.
• With federal and local law enforcement closely tied, investigations could more quickly rise to federal prosecutions.
• "Having detectives, investigators, agents paired with the National Guard means there's an actual investigation of the crime so that we have something to prosecute," Williams said.

Between the lines: Louisiana National Guard troops don't have arresting powers.

• "A big guy or a woman with camouflage and a rifle — that's a presence," Williams said, referencing the Guardsmen's visibility. "But that's not going to produce a police report that can lead to an investigation that actually holds someone accountable."

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A new hospitality event kicks off Friday with restaurateur Larry Morrow.

The big picture: Southern Hospitality Weekend, which coincides with his annual birthday bashes, is Morrow's way to give back to the industry, he tells us.

• "I believe it's just a lack of experience and people not having the right information, tools, resources and network to be successful in it," Morrow says. "This was designed to really bridge the gap and to create a community of people that come together and share a lot of information with each other."

Zoom in: Morrow knows from experience.

• His first restaurant, Larry's Poboys, was a bust, but it showed him what to do and what not to do in the business.
• And now, that comes full circle with Larry's Poboys set to open sometime this year as Morrow's eighth hospitality concept.

If you go: Southern Hospitality Weekend includes parties and a daylong conference. Full schedule and speakers.

• Conference tickets are free, but VIP and party add-ons are available.

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👠 Journalist Soledad O'Brien will ride in Muses' giant, glittering red high heel float as the krewe's honorary Muse for 2026, the organization says. O'Brien is bringing her two daughters along for the ride.

🏈 Saints quarterback Tyler Shough is an NFL Rookie of the Year finalist. Fans can vote for him through Jan. 30.

💊 Louisiana has indicted a California doctor accused of sending abortion-inducing medication to the state. Gov. Jeff Landry says he'll approve Attorney General Liz Murrill's extradition warrant, though California is unlikely to comply. (Louisiana Illuminator)

👩‍🍼 One way New Orleans is combatting the state's high infant and maternal death rates is with postpartum home nursing visits. (NPR)

🐷 Hogs for the Cause dropped its daily music lineup yesterday. Single-day tickets are on sale now.

The Moreno administration is fixing streetlights in New Orleans East as part of a broader effort to restore confidence in city services.

The big picture: Helena Moreno's first press event as mayor was announcing a citywide "Lights On" initiative, which started yesterday near the blighted Willows apartment complex on Crowder Boulevard.

• In about a week, workers will focus on Central City, says Steve Nelson, the new deputy chief administrative officer of infrastructure.
• They are working their way through the 311 backlog of about 3,000 broken streetlights across the city.

Between the lines: Moreno made a symbolic choice by having her first event in New Orleans East, an area she says will be a top priority during her administration.

• She says she's moving forward to open a City Hall annex in the East. The next step is identifying a location.

Zoom in: The city is changing from copper components to aluminum to avoid theft.

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👋 Say hi to Alex Thompson, one of Axios' national political correspondents.

• He was in town covering Kamala Harris' appearances this week.

Between the lines: We used it as an excuse to have the company buy us (and him) some gumbo and poboys before he hits the road again.

Want to learn more? Subscribe to Axios 2028, a once-a-week newsletter Alex co-authors about the Democrats' quest to win back power in the next presidential election.