| BY GORDON RUSSELL | Staff writer |
Thanks for starting your day with Morning Headlines. Here are some of our top stories. Many New Orleans officials are concerned about a new law allowing people to carry concealed handguns without permits. They're proposing excluding some of the city's busiest areas, including the French Quarter, from the new, looser law -- though the sponsor of the original bill is skeptical. The Dew Drop Inn in Central City was for decades a key stop on the "Chitlin' Circuit" in the Jim Crow era, attracting famed Black performers and serving as an oasis for Black travelers. It's recently reopened after a major facelift. A little over a month ago, Ronald Barrios Jr. tried to shoot three strangers outside a Harvey restaurant, but his gun jammed, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. The episode, while scary, could have been far worse: Deputies testified this week that they believe Barrios, who had a huge personal arsenal, had the potential to be a "mass casualty shooter." Check out all the latest news, sports and entertainment coverage from The Times-Picayune. Happy Saturday, Gordon | 