The "flambeau carriers" of New Orleans' Mardi Gras provide one of the most intriguing symbols of Carnival in the Big Easy. Groups of bandana-masked men carry torches in the night parades, dancing and twirling these sticks of flame as onlookers toss money. Gambit Weekly's Katy Reckdahl wanted to know more about these revelers under fire, and she walked alongside the parade route one night to find out about a craft steeped in tradition.
After only four months, the St. Petersburg Times reports the upstart St. Pete Weekly has ceased publication. Publisher Dean Capone tells the Times he's not given up and is seeking new financing to start again. Meanwhile, the daily reports staffers haven't been paid and that one has filed a claim for nearly $5,000.
After 24 years with East Bay Express, Editor John Raeside is hanging it up. Raeside has announced his resignation, effective March 1. Managing Editor Stephen Buel will take his place. Raeside says the paper has had some remarkable accomplishments in its first year under New Times ownership and that he feels he's leaving it in good hands.
It’s OK to protest again. The undeclared cooling-off period after Sept. 11 has ended, and the anti-globalization crowd is headed to New York City for a five-day summit of business and trade leaders. This special report from LA Weekly includes John Powers on the re-emergence of protest as a national pastime, Dean Kuipers on the protesters’ six-point manifesto, and Judith Lewis on why she deplores the humorless life of an activist.
