🌱 Patch AM: What this New Year’s National Guard surge means on your street

Hi there, New Orleans! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• What this New Year’s National Guard surge means on your street
• How New Orleans is locking down Bourbon Street for New Year’s
• Why New Orleans’ blood supply is under pressure heading into Mardi Gras

Also on today's calendar: New Orleans Drunk Spirits Pub Crawl Tour and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: The world champion tongue twister just got arrested! 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Cold; breezy in the morning, with a high of 50 and low of 41 degrees.
• Wednesday: Plenty of sunshine, temps: high: 58, low: 45.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 66 and low of 55 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. National Guard to patrol New Orleans for New Year's a year after deadly attack (kdvr.com) — National Guard troops are being deployed across New Orleans’ French Quarter and Bourbon Street for New Year’s, adding 350 Guard members to more than 800 total officers on the ground. Officials say the mission, which runs through Carnival season, aims to boost visibility and safety after last year’s deadly vehicle attack, while staying out of immigration enforcement amid ongoing federal raids.
   

2. City ramps up security for New Year's celebrations (fox8live.com) — New Orleans is rolling out roughly 800 law enforcement officers, street closures, and strict bag rules around the French Quarter and Superdome to secure New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Bourbon Street will be pedestrian-only, with barricades, technology, and visible NOPD, state police, and federal support all aimed at keeping crowds safe after last year’s terror attack.
   

3. Blood donations urgently needed in Louisiana as demand rises (louisianafirstnews.com) — New Orleans’ Blood Center is urgently asking locals to donate as demand spikes for surgeries and disaster response, recalling the heavy need after the Bourbon Street terror attack. With Mardi Gras and school breaks limiting mobile drives, officials especially want younger residents to step up during January’s Blood Donation Awareness Month.
   

4. LSU nursing grad hopes to return to Louisiana after deportation to Honduras (wafb.com) — A young LSU nursing graduate who called New Orleans home was deported to Honduras after months in ICE custody, derailing her plans to work at a local hospital. Her New Orleans-area family couldn’t say goodbye in person, and she’s now exploring visa options in hopes of returning to Louisiana and using her nursing degree.
   

5. Saints Report: New Orleans Improves Win Streak to Four with 34-26 Win over Tennessee Titans (wxxv25.com) — New Orleans Saints fans can celebrate a fourth straight win after the team rallied from a 20-10 halftime deficit to beat the Tennessee Titans 34-26 in Nashville. Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough continued his breakout season, and the Saints now head to Atlanta on January 4 to close out their schedule with playoff hopes and award buzz building.
   

📸 Around New Orleans

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🗓 Upcoming Events in New Orleans

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Wednesday December 31

• French Quarter - Jazz Program - Kalindah Laveaux
  National Park Service French Quarter visitor center , 419 Decatur St , New Orleans
  3:00 pm
• Fete du Nouvel An
  The MISI by Messina's-Nouveau River Room , 600 Decatur St. , New Orleans
  9:00 pm

Thursday January 1

• New Orleans Drunk Spirits Pub Crawl Tour
  Lafitte Hotel and Bar , 1003 Bourbon St , New Orleans
  7:00 pm

Friday January 2

• KIDZ BOP LIVE: The Concert Movie - Elmwood
  AMC Elmwood Palace 20 1200 Elmwood Park Blvd Harahan, LA 70123
  12:00 pm

Saturday January 3

• Chalmette Battle Game - Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center
  Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center , 314 St Mary St , Thibodaux
  1:30 pm

Thursday January 8

• Wreath Laying Ceramony
  Jean Lafitte National Park , 419 Decatur St , New Orleans
  11:00 am
• French Quarter - 1812: March Through Musical History
  National Park Service French Quarter visitor center , 419 Decatur St , New Orleans
  3:00 pm
• Read with a Ranger - Lafitte Library, Lafitte LA
  Lafitte Library , 4917 City Park Drive , Lafitte
  3:30 pm
• Candlelight: From Bach to The Beatles
  Hotel Peter and Paul , 2317 Burgundy St , New Orleans
  6:00 pm
• Candlelight: Tribute to Whitney Houston
  Hotel Peter and Paul , 2317 Burgundy St , New Orleans
  8:30 pm

Saturday January 10

• Bonsai Bar Workshop at Oak Street Brewery
  8201 Oak St , New Orleans
  2:00 pm
• The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - New Orleans, LA
  Sheraton Metairie - New Orleans Hotel , Galleria Blvd , Metairie
  6:00 pm

📣 New Orleans Shout Outs!

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• The best feeling ever!
  Today I got to walk around my neighborhood taking down the missing-cat flyers because our sweet Ernesto is finally home. This truly feels like the… (Nextdoor Carrollton Riverbend)
• Please help us find Lily.
  She is a medium size tan mix. She got out in the Bridge City area last night. She has a surgery coming up to remove a fatty tumor on her stomach. (Nextdoor Carrollton Riverbend)

• Tulane University posted a job opening for Recreation Assistant, Life Guard in New Orleans. Apply here.
• Cognizant Technology Solutions posted a job opening for Warehouse Customer Service in New Orleans. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near New Orleans here.

Ok New Orleans! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I hear they’re giving him a really tough sentence.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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