The Neutral Ground with Kaare Johnson

Wide open Wednesday: How to redevelop N.O. East, handling casino monopoly, re-imagining Bourbon St / Oliver Thomas discusses N.O. East crime, illegal dumping and moving forward / Browns trade Baker Mayfield to Carolina

Mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois / Jefferson Parish animal shelters overwhelmed / Metro Crime Commission Pres Rafael Goyeneche discusses latest crime stats, understaffed police force, recruiting, criminal justice system, ways to improve, and what’s in the works / 21 year old attempts carjacking of RTA bus / Multiple cars in Gravier St garage broken into

WDSU’s Fletcher Mackel talks Zion Williamson extension, Dyson Daniels arriving in New Orleans, and LIV Golf / Michael Hecht from GNO Inc talks casino land deal, what to do with Bourbon St and crime in the city / Essence Fest changes entrance policy after backlash / Chef Frank Brigsten chats new additions to the Brigsten’s menu

SCOTUS clamps down on EPA / Biden approval ratings / NATO invites Finland and Sweden to join / Possibility of a better Bourbon St / Kenner police arrest 15 yr old with connection to shooting of 13 yr old

Essence Fest implements COVID vaccine mandate / FBI launches probe into New Orleans archdiocese / Murder suspect BJ Brown caught in Tennessee

Mayor Cantrelle approval rating drops from 62% to 44% / Former US Attorney Harry Rosenburg discusses Roe vs Wade, guns, and prayer

Guaranty Broadcasting GM Gordy Rush discusses his career from athletics to broadcasting / Arch Manning commits to Universityof Texas / Bob Dean Jr. released on bail / New Orleans heat wave / NBA Draft begins / Mayor Cantrell in Switzerland / N.O. Crime Commission’s Rafael Goyeneche joins the show

Biloxi lands new casino complex / Bob Dean Jr indicted with cruelty to persons with infirmities, Medicaid fraud and obstruction to justice / Biden talks gas tax / How does New Orleans benefit with a land casino monopoly / Mayor Cantrelle travels to Switzerland to sign sister-city-agreement

Gov. Edwards signs anti-abortion law / History of housing projects in New Orleans pre & post Katrina / Mishandling and future of Naval base / 14 people shot in 72 hours in New Orleans

Mayor Cantrell involved in incident at a concert / House Rep Mandie Landry discusses the details on the latest congressional redistricting and why she’s running for senate / US Open updates

WDSU’s Fletcher Mackel talks the latest with Saints, NBA Finals and US Open / Frank Brigtsen talkin food from Brigsten’s in the Riverbend / Humane Society of La’s Jeff Dorson on the dangers of summer heat with animals

Kaare’s air conditioning problems / Sound-bytes from Marlin Gusman on current NOPD / Tully and Blue Boy distract Kaare from his job / Saints release new helmets / North American stadiums officially named for 2026 World Cup / US Open golf in mid swing / Growth of southern states compared to Louisiana

Councilmember Joe Giarrusso chats facial recognition tech, meetings with sheriff’s office and DA, Lakeview infrastructure project, and ‘smart city’ fallout / Former NO Sheriff Marlin Gusman talks new NOPD regime, current crime problems, and proposed mental health facility / Latest on Gentilly pump failure and city infrastructure / Arrests made in Augustine Greenwood murder

LaToya’s Stimulus Command Task Force to spread $400 mil from federal funding / Pope Francis believes Ukraine war was ‘perhaps provoked or not prevented’ / Dolphins were ready to offer Sean Payton 5 yr $100 mil deal / State has til Monday to set Congressional maps

Judge rules against new congressional map / Councilmember Oliver Thomas talks Gov Edwards decision on National Guard / Washington Commanders fine Jack Del Rio over ‘dustup’ comment / AP’s Brett Martel chats LIV Golf and NBA Finals / Details on new bipartisan gun deal / Patriot Front members arrested ahead of Idaho Pride

WDSU’s Fletcher Mackel talks LIV Golf / GNO Inc’s Michael Hecht on the latest economic developments / Frank Brigsten updates us on what’s cookin at Brigsten’s

Shootings in the Marigny and Algiers / First day of hearings for Jan 6 Capitol attacks / Changes to gun laws / Two Cantrell staff members facing contempt charges / Cantrell at Yale Mayors Summit / PGA Tour suspends all players involved with LIV Golf

Council President Moreno discusses the ‘smart city’ contract fallout / Drew Brees done with NBC Sports / Homeless problem in New Orleans / Forbes lists value of NFL franchises / PGA Tour vs LIV Golf

Congressional re-districting session set for June 15 / Council VP JP Morrell calls for NOPD Chief to step down / Councilmember Eugene Green joins the show

Saudi funded golf league continues to take shape / Deshaun Watson faces new lawsuit / Brett Martel joins the discussion plus LSU baseball and Saints talk

WDSU’s Fletcher Mackel reports live on LSU baseball / Michael Hecht from GNO Inc with the latest local economic news / Frank Brigsten from Brigsten’s Restaurant checks in

Most New Orleans public pools not open for the summer / Tropical development in the gulf to open hurricane season / More on Mayor Cantrell and city council

More on the shooting at Xavier University / John Bel Edwards asked to testify in Ronald Greene case / Kaare's calamity in the bank line / Dichotomy and divide in New Orleans

Future of downtown's Municipal Auditorium / Infrastructure along the Gulf Coast / New Orleans City Council-member Oliver Thomas discusses the shooting at Xavier University, gun violence and New Orleans East development / Is the US supplying enough to Ukraine?

Death of Ray Liotta / More on Texas school shooting / Takes on gun laws / Louisiana leads nation on mass shootings per capita