| BY BOB WARREN | Staff writer |
New (for now) chief: This morning Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced her choice to lead the beleaguered New Orleans Police Department while she launches a national search for a permanent police superintendent. Cantrell’s choice for new chief will carry huge political weight for the mayor at a time when her poll numbers are down and the city's murder rate is soaring. Guilty plea in Joe McKnight killing: Ronald Gasser, whose 2018 conviction in the fatal shooting of former NFL running back Joe McKnight was kicked back to the courts because he had been convicted by a non-unanimous jury, agreed to a plea deal this morning that gives him a 10-year sentence. Michelle Hunter has the details. Deep freeze: It won’t be a white Christmas, but it’ll be a c-c-c-cold Christmas. The deep freeze is on its way, friends. Roshaun Higgins has all the details. By the way, now is the time to prepare your house for those plummeting temperatures. Carlie Wells tells us what we need to do. So you’re telling me there’s a chance: OK, so the Saints aren’t out of it yet. Our favorite team has a small chance to make the playoffs, but, hey, hope does spring eternal, right? Saints beat writer Luke Johnson has all the math here. (Spoiler alert: Saints have to keep winning – and then hope for Tampa to take a big dive.) Want more Saints coverage? Sign up for our Saints Insider newsletter. Thwarting the porch pirates: Is there anything worse than a porch pirate bopping from house to house stealing packages? The Nextdoor social media site is filled with horror stories. But one New Orleans couple has come up with a way to fight the plague, offering a safe haven for deliveries, Doug MacCash reports. Thanks for reading Lunch Line today, and have a great weekend. Bob | 