SIDES ARE FAR APART ON SEVERAL
KEY ISSUES, INCLUDING A MINIMUM
SALARY.
>> LOT OF SMILES ON SPACES,
INCLUDING THIS GUY'S RIGHT HERE.
MARDI GRAS IS BACK.
>> WE'VE BEEN WAITING.
A YEAR AFTER THE PANDEMIC FORCED
NEW ORLEANS TO CANCEL THE FAMOUS
CARNIVAL.
THE PARADES ARE ROLLING, BEADS
FLYING.
IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN.
AND NBC'S MORGAN CHESKY IN NEW
ORLEANS, DECKED OUT AS I THOUGHT
HE WOULD BE.
HEY MORGAN.
GOOD MORNING.
>> Reporter: HEY GUYS.
GOOD MORNING.
NOTHING QUITE LIKE THE MAGIC OF
A MARDI GRAS MORNING HERE IN THE
BIG EASY.
AND WHAT BETTER WAY THAN TO RING
IT THAN RIGHT ALONGSIDE THE
STARS OF THE SHOW.
TAKE A LOOK.
THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE
FLOATS THIS YEAR.
CELEBRATING THEIR 150th
ANNIVERSARY.
IN JUST A FEW HOURS THE FLOATS
ARE GOING TO BE HITTING THE
STREETS IN A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED
AND SEMI CAUTIOUS MARDI GRAS
CELEBRATION.
CALL IT THE SOUND OF NEW
ORLEANS, OR THE SOUL OF THE
CITY.
EITHER WAY.
THAT MARDI GRAS MAGIC IS BACK.
>> THREAT GOOD TIMES ROLL.
>> Reporter: ONE YEAR AFTER THE
PANDEMIC CANCELED THE BIGGEST
PARTY IN TOWN, THE CITIES PLANS
A CAUTIOUS RETURN.
AS EXCITING AS IT IS TO SEE
THIS, DO YOU STILL HAVE
CONCERNS?
>> YEAH, OF COURSE.
WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF A
GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
AND WE DON'T TAKE THAT LIGHTLY. >> IT WAS NOT AN OPTION TO
>> IT WAS NOT AN OPTION TO
REPEAT THE TRANSGENDERS OFGEDIES
YEARS AGO.
>> Reporter: THIS YEAR, TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF FREE COVID TESTS
ARE BEING HANDED OUT, JUST LIKE
BEADS.
AND MASKS REQUIRED INDOORS
INCLUDING BARS AND RESTAURANTS.
PROOF OF VACCINATION ALSO
REQUIRED TO ENTER CERTAIN AREAS.
>> WE KNOW WHAT WE LOST.
IN 2020 AND WE KNOW WHAT IT FELT
LIKE LAST YEAR TO NOT HAVE --
>> Reporter: THE PARADES
CHANGING TOO.
POLICE AND CITY STAFFING
SHORTAGES FORCING OFFICIALS TO
STREAMLINE ROUTES.
TOURISM HAS YET TO RETURN TO PRE
PANDEMIC LEVELS WHEN A MILLION
PEOPLE POURED IN FOR MARDI GRAS.
BUT FOR THOSE WHO MADE IT HERE,
THE LEGENDARY CARNIVAL CRUISE
ARE READY TO GIVE EVERYONE THE
SHOW THEY HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.
>> WE'RE EXCITED.
>> Reporter: WE CAUGHT UP WITH
THE CREW OF ARGUIS, PREPPING
FLOATS.
>> GET READY.
BRING YOUR BAG.
>> Reporter: HONORING HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
ANOTHER PAYING HOMAGE TO THE BEN
YAY.
>> IT FEELS LIKE THE CITY IS
COMING BACK ALIVE.
IT FEELS LIKE HOME.
>> BY THE WAY, AL AND I ROAD ON
AR GIS.
I HAD A MOMENT HOW AWESOME THAT
WAS.
THE PARADE ARE BACK AND YOU GOT
SOME OF THE FAMOUS FLOAT CREWS
NOW WITH YOU?
>> WE'RE IN THE REX ORGANIZATION
DEN.
AND LOOK AT THE CRAFTSMANSHIP ON
SOME OF THESE FLOATS.
THEY HAVE SPENT THE PAST YEAR
PUTTING THESE TOGETHER.
AND WE KNOW THAT MARDI GRAS IS JUST PART OF THE NEW ORLEANS WAY
JUST PART OF THE NEW ORLEANS WAY
OF LIFE.
EVERYONE SO EXCITED TO GET BACK
OUT.
AND BEFORE YOU HOP ON THE FLOAT
OF COURSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A
NEGATIVE TEST OR PROOF OF
VACCINATION.
HODA, YOU REMEMBERED THE RIDE
WITH THE CREW OF ARGUIS.
THEY REMEMBERED VERY WELL AND
SAID YOU ARE WELCOME BACK ANY
TIME.
>> I WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU GOT
THOSE BEADS.
>> I'M NOT SHARING THAT.
>> AND I SHOULD POINT OUT.
MARDI GRAS IS FOR KIDS TOO.
IT IS NOT -- PEOPLE THINK IT IS