| BY CHAD CALDER | Staff writer |
Now hiring? It's widely known that the city is struggling to staff its police force as violent crime surges. So why are 50 civilian jobs at NOPD still open after three months even though 160 qualified applicants have inquired? Missy Wilkinson has the story. Also on the public safety front, Mayor LaToya Cantrell is in the nation's capital for Washington Mardi Gras and snagged a meeting with an aide to President Joe Biden to ask for federal help fighting crime. They all taxed for you: Speaking of DC Mardi Gras, you'll find our coverage of the local politicos who made the trek for the annual festivities. A 'black hole' of debt: First NBC Bank's largest borrower took the stand Thursday in the fraud trial of founder Ashton Ryan and testified that he lied for years about the true state of his withering real-estate empire. Mississippi developer Gary Gibbs said he blames Ryan for allowing him to pile up so much debt at the bank, which failed in 2017. Tony McAuley has the story. Suburban crime: The murder rate in New Orleans surged last year, but killings in the metro area's other two largest suburban parishes was about average. St. Tammany and Jefferson saw only slight upticks, but both saw killings that shook their respective communities. Thank you for starting your day with Morning Headlines. Stay up to date with the latest news all day on NOLA.com. Chad | 