🌱 Patch AM: What’s really at stake in the Leah Chase School’s delayed decision?

Good morning New Orleans! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• What’s really at stake in the Leah Chase School’s delayed decision?
• See what’s coming to the revamped New Orleans Jazz Museum campus
• Why New Orleans Catholics are temporarily excused from Sunday Mass

Also on today's calendar: The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - New Orleans, LA and 8 more events.

Today's riddle: Last night I had a dream. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Partly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 74 and low of 60 degrees.
• Sunday: Some sun with showers around, temps: high: 74, low: 62.
• Monday: Cloudy with a passing shower, with a high of 74 and low of 59 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Orleans Parish School Board delays vote on future of The Leah Chase School (wgno.com) — The future of The Leah Chase School in New Orleans is on hold after the Orleans Parish School Board delayed a key vote over whether to keep the campus open, citing finances and low enrollment. Community members and former staff argue the school is transforming students’ lives, and a final decision is now expected on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.
   

2. New Orleans Jazz Museum to expand, upgrade public spaces (wgno.com) — New Orleans’ Jazz Museum is getting a major upgrade, with a $1.125 million public investment helping unlock a $5 million gift to add a café, outdoor performance stage, and better visitor amenities. The expanded campus, aimed at boosting music, education, and tourism in the French Quarter, is expected to be ready in time for the 2026 French Quarter Festival.
   

3. Archbishop Aymond urges prayer, lifts Mass obligation amid fear in immigrant community (wwltv.com) — New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond has temporarily lifted the obligation to attend Mass for Catholics who fear leaving home amid stepped-up immigration enforcement in the New Orleans area. With federal officials reporting roughly 350 recent arrests locally, he’s urging parishioners to pray for immigrant families, join Mass online or on TV, and return when they feel safe.
   

4. New Orleans officer firings leads to policy change (wdsu.com) — Two New Orleans police officers have been fired after long-running misconduct investigations, and Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick is tightening policy so officers facing criminal charges can be quickly suspended without pay. The change targets cases where officers were off the street but still collecting paychecks for months or years, and Kirkpatrick is now reviewing other pending criminal cases within NOPD.
   

5. Here's where you can see 'America's Tall Ship' for nation's 250th birthday (fox35orlando.com) — New Orleans is set to host the U.S. Coast Guard’s famed tall ship, the Barque Eagle, from May 28 to June 1, 2026, as part of the nation’s 250th birthday celebrations. Residents can look forward to public tours, with exact visiting hours to be announced closer to the date, as the ship joins a global gathering of tall and military vessels.
   

📸 Around New Orleans

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🗓 Upcoming Events in New Orleans

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Sunday December 21

• The Nutcracker w/ Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
  Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts, 1419 Basin St, New Orleans
  2:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Saturday December 20

• The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - New Orleans, LA
  Sheraton Metairie - New Orleans Hotel , Galleria Blvd , Metairie
  6:00 pm

Sunday December 21

• NOLA ChristmasFest Returns - Let the Yuletide Roll!
  New Orleans Chamber of Commerce , 1515 Poydras St #1010 , New Orleans
  11:00 am
• NOLA Christmas Festival
  New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center , 900 Convention Center Blvd , New Orleans
  5:30 pm
• Caroling in Jackson Square
  Jackson Square
  7:00 pm

Monday December 22

• NOLA ChristmasFest Returns - Let the Yuletide Roll!
  New Orleans Chamber of Commerce , 1515 Poydras St #1010 , New Orleans
  11:00 am

Tuesday December 23

• Prairie Acadian Cultural Center - Read with a Ranger
  Prairie Acadian Cultural Center , 250 W. Park Avenue , Eunice
  10:00 am
• NOLA ChristmasFest Returns - Let the Yuletide Roll!
  New Orleans Chamber of Commerce , 1515 Poydras St #1010 , New Orleans
  11:00 am
• Prairie Acadian Cultural Center - Crafts Club (Felt Ornaments)
  Prairie Acadian Cultural Center , 250 W. Park Avenue , Eunice
  1:00 pm

Saturday December 27

• Courtyard Cocktails: A Happy Hour Mixology Class
  New Orleans School of Cooking , 524 St. Louis , New Orleans
  2:30 pm

Thursday January 1

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

📣 New Orleans Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Sunday December 21

• NOLA Christmas Festival
  New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center · New Orleans , LA , Chalmette
  5:30 pm

Tuesday December 23

• Library Closed - Christmas
  Saint Bernard Parish Library , 2600 Palmisano Blvd , Chalmette

Wednesday December 24

• Christmas Eve (SBPG Holiday)
  St. Bernard Parish, LA Calendar Chalmette, LA 70043

Thursday December 25

• Christmas Day
  St. Bernard Parish, LA Calendar Chalmette, LA 70043

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• I found my new favorite breakfast place in New Orleans Gentilly area (Pontilly Coffee) 4000 Chef Menteur Hwy.
  So many variety of drinks, coffee, and tea. Really good food and a good price. Love the charm of the place too. Scroll right the photos to see all… (Nextdoor Chateau)
• Update He's been located and returned by some wonderful people who took great care of him.
  Thank yall so much MISSING DOG – PLEASE HELP Our dog is missing and we are seeking the community’s help to bring him home safely. He got out of his… (Nextdoor Ponchartrain Park)

• TJX Companies, Inc. posted a job opening for Merchandise July in New Orleans. Apply here.
• O'Reilly Auto Parts posted a job opening for Merchandising Specialist 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 dreamed I was swimming in a pool of orange soda, but it was just a Fanta-sea.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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