| By DREW BROACH | Deputy metro editor |
LEATHERNECK: Six months ago, the officials in charge of New Orleans’ $2.2 billion street and waterline program promised that big changes were coming, to speed projects that were bogged down in endless delays. Today, City Council members say they’re still deluged with pleas for help, from weary residents of the 2,800 blocks that are under construction. But they hold out hope that a no-nonsense, 26-year Marine Corps veteran who is tasked with turning around the troubled program can follow through on his mission. NOW WE SEE: Over the past 15 years, in a process called “depopulation,” more than 129,000 policyholders have been offloaded from Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the state-run insurer of last resort. Some of the riskiest policies were placed with untested private insurers, and few homeowners knew how vulnerable they really were until companies faced their first major challenges in 2020 and 2021, a period that included four powerful hurricanes. Only now are the flaws of depopulation becoming clear. SAINTS FANS IN LONDON: In a wood-paneled London pub decorated with British war art, the kind of place you find bankers and business owners sharing a serious conversation over a glass of Scotch or pint of Guinness, scores of New Orleans Saints fans turned a pep rally for the team's game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday into a vintage New Orleans-style block party, with “Choppa Style” blasting over loudspeakers the Saints Cheer Krewe second-lining through the aisles and a sea of black-and-gold fans dancing, singing and partying in their deep-leather seats. Thanks for starting your Sunday with Morning Headlines. Catch the latest news all day on NOLA.com. D.B. | 