| By Drew Broach | Deputy metro editor DANCING IN THE STREET: The New Orleans area is surging into the final days of Carnival with the annual greasing of the poles at the Royal Sonesta hotel, dozens of parades in the city and south shore suburbs and NOLA.com's live video coverage. CASH TO GO: In the span of an hour, a man driving a black van ordered food at four East Jefferson restaurants, rolled up to the drive-thru windows and pulled a gun on the cashiers. MISSING MARDI GRAS: Cedric Richmond, the former New Orleans congressman and now adviser to President Joe Biden, will miss Mardi Gras in his hometown this year to help usher Biden's Supreme Court nominee, Ketanji Brown Jackson, through her Senate confirmation hearings. He has a special interest in the nomination, for he was one of four staffers who vetted candidates for the job. Welcome to the final weekend of Carnival! Catch the latest stories, pictures and live parade video coverage at NOLA.com. D.B. | 