| By KASEY BUBNASH | Staff writer |
Good morning and thanks for joining us. Here are some of the day's top headlines. Just our luck: It was a bummer end to what was supposed to be a happy day when big gray clouds rolled into New Orleans as the 2024 solar eclipse was doing its thing. We weren't supposed to see the sun totally obscured – only about 85% — but once the clouds got involved, then yeah, you could say the whole thing was damn near 100% covered. Mike Smith went to a UNO watch party and talked with students about the eclipse-busting weather. Fest food: Planning to eat your heart out at the French Quarter Festival this weekend? An event with so many delicious options really requires a plan. Fortunately Ian McNulty is here to help you scout out the best food and drink vendors the event has to offer. Crime declines: After a rough couple of years, violent crime rates in New Orleans have receded nearly to pre-pandemic levels, a significant decline that police officials and criminal justice stakeholders say is heartening. So why the big drop? Missy Wilkinson has the details. Thanks for reading, and check out all the latest news, sports and entertainment coverage from The Times-Picayune. Kasey | 