New Orleans officials and other city employees would be permanently barred from using city funds to purchase alcohol while traveling under a new ordinance introduced by City Council Vice President

City Council president JP Morrell expressed his "dismay and extreme concern" Monday about Mayor LaToya Cantrell's trip to attend a conference in Washington, D.C. Why it matters: The trip is the first test of the council's ordinance that temporarily bans non-essential travel for city employees.

New Orleans City Councilmembers say they want Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration to explain who paid for her travel to Washington D.C. this week while non-essential city travel is banned. The city council unanimously passed the ban for employees and elected leaders in February after Cantrell’s administration argued the city could not afford a $90 million settlement deal with New Orleans Public Schools.