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• FEMA Trailers Making Children Very Sick

  Tens of thousands of children may face a lifetime of health problems due to living in FEMA trailers in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. Formaldehyde, a cancer-causing substance, has been found in FEMA trailers at levels five times what is considered safe.           Months after Katrina I remember... Read More... Posted Jun 03 2008, 11:31 AM by Cole Gamble with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: children, kids, health, Cancer, tragedy, new orleans, asthma, hurricane katrina, FEMA, sick, formaldehyde

• New Orleans Schools Tackle Safety Concerns

  One of the many casualties of Hurricane Katrina that continues to plague News Orleans residents is safety in the schools. And, as NPR reported this morning, the struggle to secure public schools has led some cops to take on roles that traditionally belonged to guidance counselors. The situation has proven successful—at least according to the adults interviewed for the story. We can imagine that the poor sucker who gets driven home by the former police chief after starting a fight may have a different view of things. Due to his propensity to break down on TV and rather hysterically relay reports of violence post-Katrina (who could blame the guy, really), Eddie Compass was asked to resign as New Orleans Police Chief. So he took his policing skills to the schools, where he feels much more useful. Read More... Posted Feb 27 2008, 03:39 PM by Hannah Tennant-Moore with | with no comments Filed under: Katrina, new orleans, police, school safety, eddie compass

• Would You Live in a House From Ikea?

  It's hard to swear off Ikea (and not just because they sell food). As much as the inner-monologue screams "college years" when you see the Swedish company's unmistakable furniture, the price, look and convenience keeps me going back. (And also why I love seeing Ikea stuff in totally enviable homes). I wonder if I would draw the line, though, at an entire Ikea engineered apartment building or townhouse built wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling with the whole flatbox delivery method in mind. The first of such structures ...   Read More... Posted Feb 01 2008, 11:12 AM by Madeline Holler with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: apartment, new orleans, ikea, U.K., House, house proud, FEMA, trailers, affordable housing

• Fifth Graders Busted Having Sex in Class

  Oh yes, fifth graders were busted for having sex in school. It gets creepier - five of them were arrested. Four of them were having sex in the classroom and one was a lookout. More upsetting? They were doing "it" in front of other students. Two eleven year old girls, a 12 year old boy and a 13 year old boy are facing felony obscenity charges and another 11 year old boy (who was the lookout) was charged as an accessory. ELEVEN YEARS OLD? I don't know about you guys, but I'm pretty sure that when I was eleven years old I was still playing with Barbies. Okay, maybe not, but I certainly wouldn't have had sex with anyone who wasn't in Duran Duran, and even if it was John Taylor I wouldn't have done it in front of my whole class! If you are having panic attacks after reading this, it happened in New Orleans*, so react appropriately depending on your geographic location and the age of your children.  * edited later: Correction, it did not happen in New Orleans, it was from a New Orleans paper and the incident occurred in North Louisiana.  Posted Apr 04 2007, 06:47 AM by Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah with | with 17 comment(s) Filed under: new orleans, fifth grade, obscenity

• Kids At Mardi Gras? One Dad Says Yes

  Michael Schuman tells Chicago Tribune readers that despite what you might assume, a trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras is a great family vacation. But the Mardi Gras stereotype of debauchery and boobies is a reality, so you need to plan your fun accordingly. Schuman took his pre-teen children to Mardi Gras last year, and offers a wealth of insight and advice to anyone considering a visit or willing to reconsider taking the kids along, describing the best neighborhoods and parades for kid-friendly fun. His tips include practical potty concerns, the etiquette involved in picking up beads off the ground, and a reminder to be prepared with snacks and activities in case there's a lull in the parade action. Schuman also made a research visit to the French Quarter without his kids in order to verify that yes, naked drunks are indeed a real part of the Mardi Gras mythos (what a mensch!). Schuman notes that while New Orleans is not yet up to pre-Katrina status for many residents, lodging and amenities for visitors are, and tourism dollars will help get the city back on track. Can't you taste the beignets already? Posted Jan 28 2007, 07:21 PM by Patti with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: travelling with kids, new orleans, mardi gras

• Famous Family Set To Take Over The Big Easy

  And you thought New Orleans was in the news enough already? US Weekly reported this week that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have moved bought a 6 bedroom mansion in the French Quarter, and that their kids are going to school there.  Jolie confirmed the news at last night's Golden Globes ceremony.  New Orleans will be home base for the family while Pitt films "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" there, and indefinitely after that. Ever the philanthropists, the J-P's are hoping to raise awareness for the New Orleans area, which is nowhere near being fully recovered from Hurricane Katrina.  Construction on the 20 environmentally-friendly homes that Pitt jointly commissioned with Global Green U.S.A. starts this month, and rumor has it that Jolie has been asking where she can volunteer her time in the area. Jolie also hopes to meet "normal" (I guess that means non-famous) mom friends there. Read More... Posted Jan 16 2007, 09:06 PM by Alisyn with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: celebrity, angelina jolie, celebrity babies, brad pitt, new orleans