Q&A on the News

Q: I saw a special program on Hurricane Katrina on television. I would love an update on the mayor of New Orleans then. I believe he was sentenced to prison and might still be in prison. SHARON GREENWOOD, STONE MOUNTAIN

A: Ray Nagin is serving a 10-year sentence for fraud and bribery while he served as mayor of New Orleans. Nagin, 62, is at the Texarkana Federal Correctional Institution in Texas, and his release date is May 25, 2023, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons website.

He was convicted in 2014 on 20 of 21 charges including bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy and money laundering that were connected to kickbacks from city contractors, according to past media reports.

He entered prison in September 2014. He served as mayor from 2002-2010. Q: Who is the woman sitting behind U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer with the glasses every time he is on camera speaking? BARBARA MITCHELL, VILLA RICA A: That is Erin Sager Vaughn, Schumer’s deputy chief of staff, Justin Goodman, Schumer’s national press secretary, told Q&A on the News in an email.

“One former Schumer aide called Sager Vaughn the ‘behind-the-scenes driver of Chuck’s relationship with his colleagues,’” Politico wrote in 2017. Q&A on the News runs Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).