According to New Orleans police, the crash happened Thursday around 4am on the westbound lanes heading toward the city’s business district.

WWLTV reports that those who were among the first on the scene recalled a horrific and eery scene of twisted wreckage amid fog and smoke and the sounds of the injured and scared.

“You just hear all kinds of calls and people screaming for help,” said tow truck driver Wesley Ratcliff, who got to the scene not long after it happened.

It is believed that two men traveling in separate pickup trucks died in the accident. Neither victim was identified.

In addition to the two killed, twenty-five people were hospitalized, some in critical condition, while 37 others reported injuries, but refused treatment.

A firefighter was also injured during a rescue operations and suffered minor lacerations.

While authorities have yet to discover the cause of the crash, they believe it was weather related as multiple drivers reported a thick smoke or fog that abruptly limited visibility on westbound lanes of the interstate.

Here is a local news clip on the New Orleans 40-car traffic accident.

New Orleans 40-Car Crash Leaves 2 Dead, Dozens Injured is a post from: The Inquisitr

G.I. Joe: Retaliation crew member Mike Huber passed away on Tuesday when the machinery he was operating tipped over.

Mike was reported to be tearing down a set when his high-powered lift fell over and crushed him.

Further details are still unknown at this time but an investigation is already underway.

Paramount Pictures spokesperson Virginia Lam released the following statement:

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the Huber family at this time. The safety of our cast and crew is our top priority and the studio is fully cooperating with all investigating agencies as they examine the circumstances surrounding this unusual accident.”

The sequel to 2009′s hit G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, the movie is set to open in June 2012 and features  Channing Tatum, DeRay Davis, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Huber isn’t the first person to be killed on the set of a major motion picture this year, a stuntman for the movie Expendables 2 died in October while filming an explosion scene in Bulgaria.

Our condolences go out to Mr. Huber’s family, friends and co-workers.

Crew Member Dies On Set Of G.I. Joe: Retaliation is a post from: The Inquisitr

German Auto manufacturer Mercedez-Benz has signed a deal to rename the New Orleans Superdome. The stadium will now be renamed Mercedest-Benz Superdome.

During the next 16-months Mercedes will be associated with the New Orleans Saints as well as men’s college basketball and several college championships.

The New Orleans Saints hold a lease over the stadium through 2025 and own the option to sell naming rights for the 73,000-seat stadium.

According to Gov. Bobby Jindal Mercedez-Benz and the New Orleans Saints have asked that the pricing for the 10-year naming rights not be disclosed to the public.

Mercedez-Benz also owns the naming rights for stadiums in Stuttgart, Germany and Shanghai.

Speaking about the agreement Jindal noted that it’s ”a great partnership between two world-class organizations.”

Superdome manager Doug Thornton says that by adding new revenue in the form of new seats, luxury boxes and expanded concession stands along with the naming contract the states $13.8 million agreed upon payment each year has been pushed down to zero.

I completely understand why sports teams sell the naming rights for their stadiums but let’s be honest for a moment, New Orleans Saints fans won’t be calling it the “Mercedez-Benz Superdome anytime soon, regardless of what the stadiums sign reads.

Mercedes-Benz Buys Naming Rights For Superdome is a post from: The Inquisitr

Although the lasting affects of Katrina are still being felt today, the city may need to brace for another disaster, Tropical Storm Lee, which is inching its way northward up the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico and is expected to creep up on the coast of southern Louisiana this weekend.

In its 8pm update, the National Hurricane Center stated that Lee was located about 170 miles southeast of Cameron, La., or 180 miles west southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River, heading north at 3 miles an hour.

While the storm’s maximum sustained winds strengthened to 45 mph earlier today, it isn’t expected to make landfall until Sunday (Sept. 4), according to the Miami-based center’s forecast.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal warned residents that torrential rains, substantial winds and tidal surges from the Gulf of Mexico could produce flash flooding in parts of New Orleans throughout the Labor Day holiday weekend.

“Get ready for the wind, get ready for the rain,” Jindal said.   “It’s coming and it’s going to be here for a while.”

While experts say that Lee only has a 50% – 60% chance of reaching hurricane strength, it’s the storm’s speed that has them concerned.

“The problem with this system is that it’s so slow-moving,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bernie Rayno explained. “The big story is going to be the flooding.”

Predictions by the NHC estimate the storm could produce rainfall accumulations of 10-15 inches over southern Louisiana through Sunday, with isolated amounts reaching up to 20 inches.

via Reuters

Tropical Storm Lee Inches Toward Louisiana Coast is a post from: The Inquisitr

When I close my eyes and picture Nicole Kidman I see bright red hair, a signature look for the A-list actress, but now that hair has been replaced with a new bleached blonde hairdo for her new role in The Paperboy.

The movie is filming in New Orleans, Louisiana and  Kidman showed up on the set today with her new haircut and kohl eyeliner alongside a bright green outfit.

The Paperboy is a movie about a reporter and his brother who attempt to exonerate a man they believe to be innocent but who is sentenced to death, while Kidman’s character is a female with a dark side who writes letters to men on death row.

The move also stars Zac Efron and Matthew McConaughney.

What do you think of the new Nicole Kidman haircut?

Nicole Kidman Goes Peroxide Blonde For “The Paperboy” Role is a post from: The Inquisitr

Climate change might be a contentious issue with strong opinions on either side of the argument but some things are pretty well known with the fact that some areas of the United States will see a change in their land mass due to rising waters.

In a study done by the University of Arizona over 100 coastal cities are listed as those facing serious risk from rising sea levels. Miami and New Orleans alone could lose up to 10% of their coastal region by 2100.

The University of Arizona research points to global warming trends and effects in the United States that impact coastal areas inhabited by 50,000 or more people and not just those who live on or near the beach. The researchers point out that damage from sea-level rises also infiltrates through creeks, channels, adjacent low-lying areas, and inlets, which means that beach-bums are not the only ones who should be concerned.

“Our work should help people plan with more certainty and to make decisions about what level of sea-level rise, and by implication, what level of global warming, is acceptable to their communities and neighbors,” said co-author Jonathan T. Overpeck.

The researchers also found that global temperature averages will be 8 degrees warmer than they currently are by the year 2100.

“That amount of warming will likely lock us into at least 4 to 6 meters of sea-level rise in subsequent centuries, because parts of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets will slowly melt away like a block of ice on the sidewalk in the summertime,” said lead researcher, Jeremy L. Weiss.

via Fast Company

10% Land mass loss in the future for Miami and New Orleans is a post from: The Inquisitr

28-year-old rapper Magnolia Shorty (real name Renetta Lowe) was found dead, shot 26 times, in a New Orleans housing project yesterday.

Although official confirmation was yet to come late yesterday, a local DJ om Q93.3 announced Magnolia Shorty’s death on the radio in the afternoon, saying:

“If y’all haven’t heard, Magnolia Shorty was killed today,” he said. “I’m just astonished. I need to get my head together for a minute.”

Per NOLA.com, police found the rapper and an unnamed male companion in a crashed car. Both had been shot dead:

The shooting happened about 12:30 p.m. in the 6300 block of Bridgehampton Drive, police said. Officers found a man and a woman, 28, shot inside a car that had crashed into the gates of an apartment complex.

Additional details on the shooting were not immediately available. Both victims had been shot several times, according to police. They were dead at the scene, police said.

No information regarding possible suspects or arrests in Magnolia Shorty’s murder has been disclosed by press or police.

Female rapper Magnolia Shorty gunned down in New Orleans housing project is a post from: The Inquisitr

If you can believe it, five years have passed since the city of New Orleans was left to drown in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Traveling through areas of New Orleans, one might think five days had passed since the flood waters abated. Coverage of the event was polarizing and emotional, and as the flood that covered 80% of one of America’s most culturally rich destinations finally subsided, between 1,500 and 1,600 residents lay dead- in flooded homes, in gutters and on sidewalks.

Louisiana senator Mary Landrieu lashed out at the continual lack of interest in rebuilding the city during an interview Sunday:

But many in the city argue that the flooding that caused most of the devastation came after the storm, when the pre-Katrina-standard levees failed, and that rebuilding them to the same specifications is pointless.

“It wasn’t a natural disaster, it was a man-made disaster,” Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu said Sunday on NBC, slamming both the infrastructure and the government’s limp response.

She called for more government-backed reconstruction, noting that of the 200,000 homes destroyed, non-profits had rebuilt only 5,000.

President Obama arrived in New Orleans today to mark the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. And Google marked it, not with a Google Doodle, but with a small and unobtrusive black ribbon memorial.

Five years on, Google marks Katrina anniversary with black ribbon is a post from: The Inquisitr

Much admired TV writer David Mills, who has been working on the upcoming HBO show Treme, died of a brain anuerysm in New Orleans yesterday.

Less than two weeks ahead of Treme‘s premiere, HBO released a statement addressing Mills’ sudden death:

“HBO is deeply saddened by the sudden loss of our dear friend and colleague David Mills,” said a network statement. “He was a gracious and humble man, and will be sorely missed by those who knew and loved him, as well as those who were aware of his immense talent. David has left us too soon but his brilliant work will live on.”

In addition to his work on Treme, Mills worked on Homicide, NYPD Blue, The Wire and ER. Mills first came to prominence as the writer behind the infamous Sister Souljah interview in which the female rapper said:

“If black people kill black people every day, why not have a week and kill white people?”

The nature of TV writing means some of the people most responsible for the shows you love so dearly don’t get the recognition and press attention some of the stars and other creative staff do. If you’re interested in learning more about David Mills, you can read his hilarious and thought provoking blog, Undercover Black Man. (Mills’ last update was Monday, March 29th.) You can also read this in-depth piece on Mills by journalist friend Alan Sepinwall.

David Mills, acclaimed TV writer, dead at 48 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Pancake Tuesday, National Pancake Day, Packzi Day or Fastnacht Day?

Depending on your cultural flavor, all are names for the day before Ash Wednesday, when Catholics make motions in the direction of fasting or giving up something for Lent but never actually get around to that part. Google searches are way up for pancakes and packzi, a polish donut of some sort. (In fact, one of the most prolific searches today is for packzi calorie counts, which is totally doing it wrong.) Catholic school alumni like myself may recall today being the only day sweets were allowed in Sister Anthony Therese’s classroom.

New Orleans, a traditionally Catholic city, without argument owns this holiday. What started as a day preparing one for a fast and reflection somehow morphed into the exchange of beads for boobies, and street parties of epic proportions. (New Orleanians are also associated with King Cakes, a tradition wherein the person whose slice contains a trinket has to provide the next cake, which kind of sucks.)

While a lot of the internet seems to be under the impression IHOP is giving out free pancakes today, that doesn’t actually occur until February 23rd. IHOP has full details of the pancake giveaway on their website, but a week from today (February 23rd is also a Tuesday) the pancake chain is giving away a free short stack of pancakes to all customers from 7am until 10pm.

If you’re missing the party down in New Orleans and sad about your pancake jones, you can watch live streaming video of Mardi Gras here. (There might be boobs.) Still not feeling authentically debauched? It’s not too early in the afternoon to whip up a batch of Emeril Lagasse’s Hurricanes. (Somewhat surprised they haven’t renamed those, considering.)

Ingredients

12 ounces light rum
12 ounces dark rum
10 ounces grenadine, or passion fruit syrup
10 ounces fresh orange juice
10 ounces sour mix, or fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons superfine sugar, or more to taste
1 large orange, cut into 1/4-inch thick slices

Directions

Mix all the ingredients in a tall pitcher or large pot and stir to dissolve the sugar. Pour into a punch bowl and add the ice cubes and orange segments. Serve in tall glasses over ice with straws.

Watch a live stream of the Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans is a post from: The Inquisitr

When you shake your ass, now, watch yourself- rapper Mystikal is out of jail after serving six years.

New Orleans based Mystikal, born Michael Lawrence Tyler, was jailed in 2004 after being convicted on charges of sexual battery. The rapper was accused of forcing his hairstylist into sexual acts after he believed she stole $80,000 from him. Two of his bodyguards filmed the incident, later forcing Mystikal to confess to the acts depicted on the tape.

After his release yesterday, Mystikal spoke to a New Orleans radio station:

“It was tough. I took it in stride,” he said of his situation. “I’m back. It almost feels like a dream. For a while, it felt like, I was gone so long,” he said.

Mystikal also let listeners know that he’d been writing in jail. He spoke directly to his fans, “I’m back and I love y’all and I missed y’all, and I want to send out appreciation for all the fans.”

The 39-year-old rapper also indicated plans to return to the rap game as well as do “positive things” for the community.

[BET]

Rapper Mystikal out of jail after 6 years is a post from: The Inquisitr

A New Orleans family got a very unpleasant surprise visiting a relative’s grave on her birthday recently.

The woman, Sherene Marsh Jones, died in September after a sudden aneurysm. Jones was buried on October 2nd, and her family recalls her “beautiful” coffin. But now they’re feeling upset and sick over the discovery that the woman’s feet were exposed and visible to visitors. Mary Marsh says to WWLTV:

“Bringing the kids,” Mary said. “It was her birthday. They bought some birthday cards and flowers and everything, and they were going to tell their mother Happy Birthday. But we came out here, and we came to a hole with part of her body hanging out.”

When questioned, the funeral home who handled Marsh’s interment say that the city-owned cemetery’s graves are often shallow and dug by city workers. (It was not immediately clear if that is an accepted practice or worker non-compliance.) In reference to Mary Marsh’s fears that her sister was buried without her coffin, the funeral home said that the lid had “caved” in.

New Orleans is notable for its frequent custom of “burying” the dead above ground due to a very high water table in the city. A spokeswoman for the mayor said city officials will be investigating the situation “immediately.”

Family visits woman’s grave, finds body exposed is a post from: The Inquisitr

Controversial New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin is the latest to fall victim to the worldwide Swine Flu H1N1 panic.

Ray “chocolate city” Nagin, his wife and a security guard traveling with the pair remain quarantined in Shanghai after traveling on a flight along with a passenger suspected of carrying the virus. Although Nagin and his entourage are currently asymptomatic, they are being held as a precaution.

Nagin was in Shanghai as part of an economic development trip. His next stop was scheduled to be in Australia to discuss climate change and sustainable building, but plans are currently under review due to the unscheduled delay. There is no word on the suspected duration of the quarantine.

New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin quarantined in Shanghai is a post from: The Inquisitr

Six people, including an infant have been shot on the Mardi Gras parade route in New Orleans.

The shootings occurred just after the last formal parade float had passed at 1:40pm local time (Tuesday), but still while support truck floats were passing.

Witnesses said that the shooting should like fireworks going off, suggesting that there was more than one shooter involved.

Witness Toni Labat told Nola.com “Everybody was petrified. They hit the ground, the floats stopped, everybody on the floats ducked.”

Victims were taken to local hospitals.

Two male suspects were arrested shortly after the incident.

Six Injured in Mardi Gras Shooting is a post from: The Inquisitr

As Hurricane Gustav approaches Louisiana and over a million people are evacuated, a few crazy people, and some static webcams are providing a live stream live from the area. Here’s some of the places you can watch Hurricane Gustav live…well, as long as the power and internet connections hold

Ustream.tv

At the time of writing, Ustream.tv is offering a number of live streams from the area. One embed below, and direct links following:

Hurricane Gustav From Luling: seems to be a static cam facing out on a street

Gustav from Slidell: another static cam

Crosby Tubs Gustav

Others

Louisiana Gannett News covering the Hurricane Live.

NOLA has a number of cams throughout the New Orleans area.

Earthcam offers a New Orleans cam, but doesn’t offer a continual live stream, only snapshots.

The Louisiana Department of Transport offers traffic cams across New Orleans. This shot right taken at 6pm Sunday shows how quiet the city has already become.

There’s also a variety of traffic cameras available from Baton Rogue.

For the latest updates on the storm, Ning is hosting an information center, and SocialMedian has a page as well.

UPDATE*** For the latest storm stream, see Hurricane Ike Live.

Watch Hurricane Gustav Live Online is a post from: The Inquisitr