Katie Jane Fernelius
@kjfernelius.bsky.social
580 followers 840 following 110 posts
Journalist in New Orleans with VeriteNews.org. Work in BBC World Service, The Guardian, Oxford American, The Nation, In These Times, The Assembly NC, The New Republic, INDY Week & elsewhere. 📧: [email protected] 👩🏼‍💻: kjfernelius.com
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kjfernelius.bsky.social
Hey #NewOrleans, I’m a journalist covering the local government for @veritenewsnola.bsky.social! At Verite, we engage with the community & try to dig into stories that have real impact on people, especially those who are marginalized. So, don’t be a stranger: I’m open to your questions & concerns!
kjfernelius.bsky.social
And then we spoke to incumbent JP Morrell – asking him about what he hopes to accomplish in a second term, if elected, the difficulties of implementing a stormwater fee, and what it is about superheroes that he loves so much.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_RD...
Verite News asks the candidates: JP Morrell
YouTube video by Verite News New Orleans
www.youtube.com
kjfernelius.bsky.social
Then, we switched races to the Division 2 seat. We spoke with Pastor Gregory Manning, who is challenging incumbent JP Morrell. We talked to Manning about why he chose to challenge a well-known name, utility regulation, and his background in theater (no, actually!).

www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-xU...
Verite News asks the candidates: Gregory Manning full
YouTube video by Verite News New Orleans
www.youtube.com
kjfernelius.bsky.social
We also talked to perennial candidate Matt Hill. You probably know him as the guy with the SWB logo inside a red "no" sign. He talked about his unique plan to break up Entergy New Orleans, his early childhood in El Salvador, and why he keeps running for office.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdO7...
Verite asks the candidates: Matthew Hill
YouTube video by Verite News New Orleans
www.youtube.com
kjfernelius.bsky.social
We also talked to State Rep. Matt Willard, who is also running for the Division 1 seat on City Council. We discussed Sewerage and Water Board, potholes, and what it's like working with so many Republicans in Baton Rouge.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQJ1...
Verite News asks the candidates: Matthew Willard
YouTube video by Verite News New Orleans
www.youtube.com
kjfernelius.bsky.social
Here is our interview with State Rep. Delisha Boyd. Yes, we asked about that $39,000 her campaign paid to a firm she owns with her daughter. Also learned about why she's running for office, how she thinks about land use, and how her grandma helped change her life.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGXw...
Verite News asks the candidates: Delisha Boyd
YouTube video by Verite News New Orleans
www.youtube.com
kjfernelius.bsky.social
The Mayor isn't the only city-wide office we vote for in New Orleans. We also vote for two City Council at-large seats. Yet those races have gotten considerably less attention this year. So, we decided to talk to candidates – and dig deeper into their platforms for @veritenews.org. Check 'em out!
kjfernelius.bsky.social
“You get millions of dollars of funding & we are still faced with this sort of tragedy,“ she wrote in the caption. She did not immediately respond to my questions. Neither did Unity of Greater New Orleans, which is a collaborative that provides housing and services to the unhoused population.
kjfernelius.bsky.social
Today, Sandra Green Thomas, the chief of staff for Cm Eugene Green, posted a distressing video on TikTok of what appears to be a deceased person outside Duncan Plaza, near City Hall. She blamed the opioid addiction crisis and also Unity of New Orleans.
Reposted by Katie Jane Fernelius
veritenews.org
Challengers look to unseat 3 City Council incumbents

JP Morrell, Freddie King and Eugene Green face competition in their reelection bids for New Orleans City Council.
Challengers look to unseat 3 City Council incumbents
JP Morrell, Freddie King and Eugene Green face competition in their reelection bids for New Orleans City Council.
veritenews.org
Reposted by Katie Jane Fernelius
annackramer.bsky.social
This is what I’ve been reporting on for months. Agencies are taking money and repurposing it against Congressional instructions, and there’s no way to know what they are taking the money from or what they are using it for.
Billions in Taxpayer Dollars Have Become Virtually Untraceable
The Trump administration’s aggressive approach to overhauling the executive branch has obscured how federal dollars are actually being spent — even for the members of Congress.
www.notus.org
Reposted by Katie Jane Fernelius
veritenews.org
New Orleanians are being priced out of the city. Can the next assessor make a difference?

A progressive candidate is challenging longtime Orleans Parish Assessor Erroll Williams for the job.
New Orleanians are being priced out of the city. Can the next assessor make a difference?
A progressive candidate is challenging longtime Orleans Parish Assessor Erroll Williams for the job.
veritenews.org
Reposted by Katie Jane Fernelius
Reposted by Katie Jane Fernelius
veritenews.org
Incumbents don’t show at council forum on Entergy, Delta Utilities regulation

JP Morrell, the council utilities chair who is seeking reelection to his at-large seat, said he was concerned that one of the organizers was biased.
Incumbents don’t show at council forum on Entergy, Delta Utilities regulation
JP Morrell, the council utilities chair who is seeking reelection to his at-large seat, said he was concerned that one of the organizers was biased.
veritenews.org
Reposted by Katie Jane Fernelius
veritenews.org
Second-line clubs say NOPD parading requirements are confusing, restrictive

The enforcement crackdown comes shortly before the upcoming 2025-2026 second-line season. A City Council hearing on the issue is set for Thursday (Aug. 7).
Second-line clubs say NOPD parading requirements are confusing, restrictive
The enforcement crackdown comes shortly before the upcoming 2025-2026 second-line season. A City Council hearing on the issue is set for Thursday (Aug. 7).
veritenews.org
Reposted by Katie Jane Fernelius
veritenews.org
Hear from the candidates: New Orleans City Council at-large

New Orleanians will get to cast three votes for the New Orleans City Council: one for who will represent their specific council district and two for at-large seats.
Hear from the candidates: New Orleans City Council at-large
New Orleanians will get to cast three votes for the New Orleans City Council: one for who will represent their specific council district and two for at-large seats.
veritenews.org
kjfernelius.bsky.social
This week, hear from the major at-large candidates for New Orleans City Council. We asked them about affordability, utility regulation, zoning, and much more!

veritenews.org/guides/2025-...

Next week, we will share the questionnaires from the candidates for the five district seats.
City Council At-Large Race - Verite News New Orleans
View the city council at-large candidates in New Orleans upcoming election this fall and read their responses to our questionnaire.
veritenews.org
kjfernelius.bsky.social
This makes me very sad. My favorite OB/GYN in the city worked at Planned Parenthood. She gave me two IUDs over the years; both times, easy & painless.

Planned Parenthood has always been a safe, compassionate place for me & others to receive necessary healthcare.

www.nola.com/news/healthc...
Planned Parenthood to close in Louisiana after more than 40 years. See details.
"This is not a decision we wanted to make," said Melaney Linton, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, adding that "political warfare" on the nonprofit by its opponents forced the cl...
www.nola.com
Reposted by Katie Jane Fernelius
veritenews.org
Now that Topgolf deal is dead, where does River District stand?

River District developers say they’re moving ahead with plans for affordable housing, music museum and more.
Now that Topgolf deal is dead, where does River District stand?
River District developers say they’re moving ahead with plans for affordable housing, music museum and more.
veritenews.org
Reposted by Katie Jane Fernelius
veritenews.org
This aspiring Louisiana pilot can’t fly with sickle cell disease. So he’s editing his genes.

Daniel Cressy will be the first patient in Louisiana to complete the gene therapy treatment for sickle cell disease.
This aspiring Louisiana pilot can’t fly with sickle cell disease. So he’s editing his genes.
Daniel Cressy will be the first patient in Louisiana to complete the gene therapy treatment for sickle cell disease.
veritenews.org
Reposted by Katie Jane Fernelius
kjfernelius.bsky.social
The questionnaire responses by our candidates for Sheriff are now posted on the @veritenews.org election guide. I hope they are helpful for #NewOrleans voters in figuring out which candidate will earn their vote.

veritenews.org/guides/2025-...
Sheriff's Race - Verite News New Orleans
View the sheriff candidates in New Orleans upcoming election this fall and read their responses to our questionnaire.
veritenews.org
Reposted by Katie Jane Fernelius
Reposted by Katie Jane Fernelius
veritenews.org
Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson faces five opponents. Here’s what the candidates had to say about how they would address the biggest challenges facing the Sheriff’s Office veritenews.org/guides/2025-...