Axios New Orleans

March 23, 2026
Hi, friends! It's Monday.
Today's weather: Sunny with a high of 81.
π Happy birthday to our Axios New Orleans member Libby Alexander!
π§ Sounds like: "Oye Mi Amor" by ManΓ‘, who was at the Smoothie King Center last night.
Today's newsletter is 891 words β a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: βοΈ Travel chaos continues
President Donald Trump says he will send ICE agents to airports starting today to help TSA officers working without pay during the partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown.
Why it matters: The security line at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport was backed up into the garage again yesterday, causing passengers to miss flights amid hourslong waits.
The big picture: White House border czar Tom Homan told CNN that ICE agents would not operate X-ray machines but could guard exit lanes and check IDs to free up TSA officers.
- The Trump administration has not said if MSY will be included in the plan.
- Last week, nearly 36% of TSA officers at MSY called out sick.
- Gov. Jeff Landry says he also welcomes the idea of deploying the National Guard to help ease security lines. The guard is already in town as part of an extended federal deployment.
Zoom in: MSY officials warned travelers to arrive at least three hours early today.
- Many passengers took to social media yesterday to urge others to arrive even earlier.
- The longest lines at the New Orleans airport are usually Sundays and Mondays from 4am to 7am and 3pm to 6pm, authorities say.
Zoom out: Mayor Helena Moreno said on Friday the city was looking for ways to support TSA workers at MSY.
- She's feeding them breakfast, while Rep. Troy Carter is providing lunch.
- Officials are also looking into letting TSA employees gas up their vehicles at the airport's fueling station.
- Providing gift cards is another option. Columbus and Denver airports already are asking for gift card donations from passengers, Forbes reports.
2. π More parking on the way

Meanwhile, the airport is gearing up for its next major expansion as passenger growth continues.
Why it matters: Almost 85% of people flying into Louisiana use MSY, officials say.
The big picture: The airport's proposed 20-year master plan outlines big changes, including:
- Replacing the surface lot with a new parking garage.
- Reworking the road system to reduce congestion.
- Building a second terminal.
- Redeveloping the old terminal for new businesses.
The fine print: The FAA must approve the master plan, which has been in the works for several years.
- The airport submitted the document, and approval could take weeks or months, Moreno says.
- Officials presented an overview Friday, but said the full report wouldn't be available until the FAA accepts it.
The timeline: Kevin Dolliole, MSY's director of aviation, says the airport is targeting 2031 for completion of the first phase, including road improvements, a new parking garage and an additional 15 gates.
- The second terminal and further expansions are tied to specific passenger counts, which officials expect to hit within 10 years.

By the numbers: Last year, about 12.5 million passengers used the airport.
- Southwest is MSY's biggest carrier, followed by American, Delta and United, Dolliole said.
Inside the room: The announcement drew a rare show of regional unity.
- New Orleans owns the airport, which sits on land in Kenner in Jefferson Parish. The runway extends into St. Charles Parish.
- Leaders from all three parishes were on stage, with a half-dozen more parish presidents on the front row.
- The airport attracts travelers from Lake Charles to Jackson, Mississippi.
3. Fully Dressed: π LSU punches its ticket
π The LSU women's basketball team is back in the NCAA Sweet 16 after beating Texas Tech yesterday. They play Duke on Friday. (Sports Illustrated)
- Southern and McNeese were both eliminated. (Men's and women's brackets)
π§ The fencing near Jackson Square is finally down. Hallelujah! It's still up elsewhere, though. (Fox 8)
βοΈ Two attorneys were found guilty Friday on charges related to their scheme to stage car crashes across New Orleans and collect payouts from lawsuits. (The Times-Picayuneπ)
- The bogus wrecks are believed to be partly to blame for the state's high car insurance rates.
π Shia LaBeouf is back in town after an underwear incident in Rome. A video shows a tense interaction with police Friday outside his Uptown home. (TMZ)
π₯³ Steve Gleason turned 49 last week and continues to beat the odds with an ALS diagnosis. No white flags! (Facebook)
π¦ Felipe's now has the viral soft-serve margaritas. Thanks to reader Sophie G. for letting us know. (Instagram)
π The Taylor Swift-inspired dog-cat nuptials this weekend were adorable. (Facebook)
4. π§Έ Honey bear with a sousaphone
Metairie's newest art installation has the Facebook folks talking.
- Cayman Clevenger, owner of Orleans Gallery, tells us the sousaphone-playing bear, called "Second Line Bear," was recently donated by artist fnnch and others.
- Local sculptor Scott Hebert fabricated the metal and fnnch painted it. Orleans Gallery, fnnch and Henry and Pat Shane covered the costs and labor involved in the permanent installation.
- The artist hopes to create other bandmates that will "pay homage to the arts and culture of New Orleans," Clevenger says.
If you go: The bear is on the neutral ground on Veterans Memorial Boulevard near Melody Drive.
- Orleans Gallery has more fnnch art.
π¦ͺ Carlie introduced her French exchange student to chargrilled oysters and New Orleans-style parades. Successful weekend.
π£ Chelsea is on parental leave.
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Thanks to our editor Crystal Hill, who is glad she doesn't have to take off her shoes at airport security anymore.
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