The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate

A guest log obtained by The Advocate | The Times-Picayune shows Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser's Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism repeatedly allowed politicians and other guests to use a state-owned apartment in New Orleans' French Quarter — the so-called Irby apartment in the Lower Pontalba Building on Jackson Square — for short stays between March 2024 and March 2026.

The unredacted log, which names guests Nungesser's office had redacted in its most recent state audit, lists more than 60 visits by dozens of people, including U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, Lafayette Mayor Monique Boulet, LSU Board of Supervisors chair Lee Mallett, and state Reps. Dustin Miller and Larry Bagley, along with former legislators, out-of-state officials, state employees and private visitors. Reasons given include museum events, LSU business, professional development, and law enforcement or prison-programming meetings.

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor has said since 2020 that such stays should directly benefit Louisiana State Museums; Nungesser's office maintains broader use is permissible. Museum director Rebecca Mackie defended the practice as supporting tourism-related work.

Mayor Helena Moreno, five New Orleans City Council members and District Attorney Jason Williams were subpoenaed Monday as part of a public records lawsuit against Laurie White, the special prosecutor in the grand jury case that indicted Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill on 16 counts of public intimidation and malfeasance. The suit was filed by Murrill's attorney, Blake Arcuri, challenging White's response to records requests, and could reveal new details about how the indictment came together and whether city officials had any role in it.

Prosecutors had alleged Murrill threatened to remove Moreno and most of the council over a dispute involving the Orleans Parish clerk of court; those charges were dropped in late July at the officials' request. City officials maintain they had no involvement in the indictment, a claim Murrill disputes. Gov. Jeff Landry has backed Murrill and ordered a State Police investigation. City Attorney Charline Gipson called the subpoenas improper and said the city would fight them in court. A hearing is set for Oct. 1, when White will seek to dismiss the lawsuit.

Essence Festival's multiyear contract with New Orleans expired Friday, leaving its future in the city unresolved. Essence leaders met this week with a steering committee formed by Mayor Helena Moreno to discuss next steps. Organizers want a new "sustainable" multiyear deal with "shared investment," proposing not just the festival but a year-round initiative called Essence 365. Parent company Sundial Media & Technology Group has floated an annual investment of $10 million to $12 million, mostly for the 365 program, though it says that sum was meant to be shared among the state, tourism groups, and regional businesses rather than funded solely by the city.

The city currently contributes $750,000 annually and, amid a fiscal crisis involving furloughs and higher sanitation rates, has called the larger ask unfeasible. Officials also cited concerns over late vendor payments and delayed Superdome performances, and are weighing a competitive bidding process for future festivals. Baltimore's mayor has publicly courted Essence as an alternative host. Both sides describe talks as ongoing with no resolution yet.

New Orleans officials are considering a new fee structure for Mardi Gras parade krewes as the city grapples with a budget deficit. Under the proposal, krewes would pay $5,000, $7,500 or $10,000 per parade depending on size, starting in 2027, replacing the current range of $750 to $1,500. The change would generate roughly $265,000 in new revenue, or about $6.64 per rider, according to city estimates.

Mayor Helena Moreno's administration says the fee increase addresses a gap between what the city spends on Carnival and what it recoups in tax revenue. A 2024 Tulane study found the city's tax take from Mardi Gras is split among multiple agencies, leaving a $3.75 million shortfall in 2023 despite the event's large economic footprint. City leaders liken the situation to lessons learned from Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour." The new tiered plan replaces earlier proposals for per-rider and per-float fees that drew pushback from the community. The measure goes before the full City Council on September 3.