Axios New Orleans
May 19, 2026
1 big thing: 📉 Homicides down 26%
Homicide rates in New Orleans continue to fall year over year, extending a nationwide decline that began after the pandemic-era crime spike.
Why it matters: Crime remains one of the country's most politically potent issues, even as many major cities report sustained declines in violence.
The big picture: Data from 67 major U.S. law enforcement agencies shows violent crime fell across major categories during the first quarter compared with the same period in 2025.
- The quarterly reports collected by the Major Cities Chiefs Association have historically tracked closely with the annual FBI crime data released in the fall.
Zoom in: In New Orleans, homicides fell 25.9% year over year. Last year's figures don't include the 14 victims from the Bourbon Street terror attack, officials say.
- For the three-year period, homicides are down 67%, NOPD says.
- Nationally, homicides dropped 17.7%, according to the MCCA data.
Worth noting: Some of the nation's bigger cities posted dramatic homicide declines in the first three months of 2026 — Washington (64.7%), Philadelphia (54%) and Memphis (34.4%).
Between the lines: The new numbers complicate the political narrative around crime heading into the 2026 midterms. President Trump has repeatedly described major Democratic-led cities as gripped by violent crime.
- Data shows many urban areas have become significantly safer over the last two years, with drops beginning in the second half of the Biden presidency and continuing under Trump.
- Trump cited violent crime as his reason for sending federal troops to Democrat-led cities, including New Orleans.
- Earlier this year, he extended the federal deployment through the summer. He credited their efforts for improved crime rates, while Mayor Helena Moreno credited NOPD's multi-year effort.
Yes, but: The recovery remains uneven.
- Minneapolis, Atlanta and Virginia Beach, Virginia, were among the cities that posted overall increases in violent crime totals during the quarter.
- Police leaders also caution that crime trends can shift quickly heading into the summer months, when violence historically rises.
2. 🐶 K-9s at work
Bomb-sniffing dogs padded through the Caesars Superdome recently, searching for the scent of homemade explosives as part of an ATF training exercise.
Why it matters: Authorities say the man accused in last year's Bourbon Street terror attack placed coolers filled with homemade explosives in the French Quarter, but they failed to detonate.
The big picture: The attack was one of the reasons ATF brought the specialized training to the Dome earlier this spring, says James "JJ" James, lead instructor for ATF's national recognition testing program.
- The dogs and their handlers sweep stadiums, festivals and airports before major events across the Gulf South.
- The homemade explosives training is important because local K-9 teams don't normally have access to the volatile compounds, James says.
- Improvised explosives are easier to make now because instructions and materials are readily available online, he adds.
Case in point: A Missouri man was charged last week with posting instructional videos that authorities say Shamsud-Din Jabbar used to make the bombs he planted in New Orleans.
How it worked: The dogs at the Dome learned the odors of 10 basic compounds and then trained on homemade explosives.
- ATF arranged a ring of metal canisters, with only some containing explosive scents. The dogs worked their way around the circle and signaled when they detected the odors.
- The dogs were rewarded with a treat or toy.
💭 Carlie's thought bubble: I wafted my hand over the canisters and didn't smell a thing.
3. Fully Dressed: 🏀 New Pelicans coach
4. 🦞 A dip worth sharing
Axios New Orleans
