Behind The Lens: Recent Episodes
Behind The Lens
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality allows the operator of Smitty’s to dump pollutants from its recent explosion deep into a Jefferson Parish landfill. Plus, NOLA Public Schools improves, getting a B from the state. [...]
Read More... from An Oil Well in Reverse: Smitty’s hopes to inject liquid waste into a landfill in Jefferson Parish
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The shutdown is over, how did the state do in protecting its most vulnerable. And charters await their fate with state evaluations. [...]
Read More... from Kicking the Can: SNAP during the shutdown and charter schools await their fate
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Fossil fuel companies rebrand as "energy" producers. Also construction of a new LNG terminal is halted by a federal judge. [...]
Read More... from “A Fundamental Reset”
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Greg LaRose on Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill's lawsuit against the FDA challenging the distribution of abortion drugs by mail. Marta Jewson on the resignation of Leah Chase School's principal, just two months into the school year. [...]
Read More... from Boxing Up Choice: Louisiana AG sues the FDA to halt the shipment of abortion meds. And the Leah Chase School Principal Resigns.
The post Boxing Up Choice: Louisiana AG sues the FDA to halt the shipment of abortion meds. And the Leah Chase School Principal Resigns. appeared first on The Lens.
Delaney Nolan on a Tulane program manager who was fired. Bernard Smith on "outrageous" phone call rates in jails after new FCC Chairman delays mandated reductions. Marta Jewson on the 2019 Kennedy grads, who've won another court battle, but the war continues. [...]
Read More... from Protected Speech or Anti-Semitism? A university syllabus draws scrutiny.
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Gus Bennett on Big Tech data centers that threaten more environmental and economic harm in Cancer Alley. Terry Jones on climate refugees 10 years after relocation. [...]
Read More... from Energy Monsters: AI data centers prompt concern about a ‘Digital Cancer Alley.’ Also, the first U.S. climate refugees have regrets
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Delaney Nolan and Emily Sanders on an Exxon pipeline set to carry highly compressed carbon dioxide in St. James Parish. And Elise Plunk on a Tulane study that found lizards in New Orleans are living with levels of lead in their blood that should be lethal. [...]
Read More... from Odorless, invisible and deadly: Exxon plans to lay carbon pipeline alarmingly close to La. residents
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Reporter Delaney Nolan on environmental pollution concerns in the wake of the explosion at Smitty's Supply. [...]
Read More... from Ep. 283: After the Smitty’s Supply explosion, concerns for Lake Pontchartrain
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Bernard Smith and Katy Reckdahl on the men trapped in the Orleans Parish Prison and Broad Street Bridge in the wake of the levee breaches after Hurricane Katrina that flooded New Orleans. [...]
Read More... from Episode 282: Orleans Parish Prison after the storm ‘We’re still in here’
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Longtime environmental reporter Mark Schleifstein on the federal flood after the U.S. Army Corps’ levees failed and flooded 80 percent of the city in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Delaney Nolan on ongoing corrosion that could undermine the system again. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 281 part II: ‘Completely inadequate’
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Longtime Times-Picayune environmental reporter Mark Schleifstein on the federal flood after the U.S. Army Corps' levees failed and flooded 80 percent of the city in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 281 part I: ‘Completely inadequate’
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Reporter Marta Jewson, educator Deborah Richardson and advocate Ashana Bigard on John McDonogh High School's demise after a Los Angeles-based charter group took control. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 281: ‘Crumbling’
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Bernard Smith on conditions at Angola as heat alerts persist across the country. Gus Bennett on Essence Fest's rapid expansion — and questions about who it's serving. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 280: ‘The licensing of Essence’
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Delaney Dryfoos on what the Alabo Street Wharf development may mean for neighbors. Matthew Wollenweber on NOPD's use of surveillance, including 5,000 cameras and partnerships that use facial recognition technology. [...]
Read More... from Behind the Lens episode 279: ‘Incompetent or lying’
The post Behind the Lens episode 279: ‘Incompetent or lying’ appeared first on The Lens.
Matt McBride on a controversial candidate for the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans. Marta Jewson on how state standardized test scores should serve the children who take the tests. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 278: ‘Failed to file’
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Bernard Smith on New Orleans' notorious House of Detention and protections for Angola's Farm Line workers in summer heat. Marta Jewson on a student's suspension pending a mental health eval — a flagarent violation of special education law. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 277: ‘Hotter, hotter and hotter’
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Delaney Dryfoos on Louisiana's decidion to classify natural gas, a fossil fuel, as "green energy." Brian Bienkowski on air pollutants effects on pregnant women and findings about early labor. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 276: ‘Breathing poison air’
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Mizani Ball on ethnographic dancer Chipo Kandake on her history of American music performance. Marta Jewson on improving literacy scores for young Louisiana students. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 275: ‘Snake hips’
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Reporter Bernard Smith and Editor Katy Reckdahl break down a new program that provides tablets to incarcerated individuals. And a recent ruling to protect Angola's Farm Line workers. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 274: ‘Human decency’
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Delaney Dryfoos on the the largest new delta in North America. Marta Jewson on how the decentralized New Orleans school district caught one special education student in the lurch between NOLA Public Schools and KIPP New Orleans. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 273: ‘Caught in the lurch’
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Delaney Dryfoos on the Calcasieu River's concerning pollution. Marta Jewson on Lycee's $400k property tax bill and the city's offer to settle a lawsuit with the school board. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 272: ‘Growing threat’
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Nick Chastil and Katy Reckdahl on working conditions at Angola's Farm Line, with an eye on summer heat, and execution in Louisiana, following the first state execution in more than a decade. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 271: ‘Death warrant’
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Education reporter Marta Jewson on the state's request that the courts free them from a special education consent decree, the city council seeks to send $10m to schools and NOLA Public Schools has a new superintendent. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 270: ‘The wrong schools’
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This week, two St. James Parish residents who recently wrote a piece for the Lens on their families’ deep roots in the region and how local histories like their own are threatened by the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries. Barbara Washington and Gail LeBoeuf are co-founders and co-directors of Inclusive Louisiana, a local organization dedicated [...]
Read More... from Behind the Lens episode 269: ‘They are not forgotten’
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Mizani Ball on family and friends settling in to their traditional parade watching spots on the route. Katy Reckdahl on a Black Masking Indian continuing his father's tradition. [...]
Read More... from Behind the Lens episode 266 Carnival Part II: ‘The best spot on Fat Tuesday’
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Special guest Ned Randolph on Entergy's proposal to build a massive AI data center in an impoverished section of north Louisiana that Meta is eyeing. Nick Chrastil on the state's push to use nitrogen hypoxia for executions. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 268: ‘Cruel and unusual’
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Mizani Ball and Marta Jewson on how Mardi Gras Day parade route changes affected local businesses and marching bands. Delaney Dryfoos on Venture Global's expansion plans amid its spotty environmental compliance record. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 267: ‘Young, Black, vibrant’
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Nick Chrastil on how gun laws clash during Carnival, including on the parade route. Delaney Dryfoos on krewes' efforts to make parades greener. And Marta Jewson on high school marching bands — and their budgets. [...]
Read More... from Behind the Lens episode 266 Carnival Part I: ‘Throw less, throw better’
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Nick Chrastil on records that show plans for Gov. Jeff Landry's "transitional center" were well underway before the terrorist attack. Marta Jewson on the ongoing dispute over a supposed $90 million settlement between the City and School Board amid its financial crisis. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 265: ‘That’s just a payday loan’
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The Lens spent January talking to Lower 9th Ward residents to tell their stories, narratives a Super Bowl committee wanted to control. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 264 Part II: ‘Our Katrina narrative’
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The Lens spent January talking to Lower 9th Ward residents to tell their stories, narratives a Super Bowl committee wanted to control. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 264 Part I: ‘Our Katrina narrative’
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Nick Chrastil and Katy Reckdahl on a temporary shelter Gov. Jeff Landry opened in the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl and local concerns about the process. Delaney Dryfoos on The Descendants Project's lawsuit against agencies they allege violated the state constitution in giving Greenfield LLC tax breaks. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 263: ‘They never paid’
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Delaney Dryfoos on the sale of Entergy New Orleans' natural gas arm to a new entity and La'Shance Perry on the legal challenge to Act 246, the nation's strongest law blocking certain reproductive healthcare. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 262: ‘A new generation’s fight’
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The Lens staffers reflect on our work, including favorite stories, in 2024 and look ahead to 2025. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 261: ‘A moment in the year’
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Marta Jewson on the annual December announcement of which charter schools will close. Delaney Dryfoos on work to revitalize Maurepas Swamp. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 260: ‘Tough Transitions’
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In a special episode, Adrinda Kelly, the founding Executive Director of Black Education for New Orleans (BE NOLA), whose mission is to support Black educators and Black-led schools, reflects on two decades of changes in New Orleans education. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 259: Opinion: ‘The education situation’
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Delaney Dryfoos and Eric Schmid on new insurance models Mississippi River towns are leaning on. Nick Chrastil on juveniles leaving the Jackson Parish Jail. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 258: ‘Floodplains’
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Delaney Dryfoos and La'Shance Perry on "Cajun Coral," a type of 3D printed coral used to help rebuild living reefs. Marta Jewson on the NOLA Public Schools' $36 million budget shortfall and superintendent's midyear resignation. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 257: ‘Creating new reefs’
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Delaney Dryfoos a federal rule to eliminate lead pipes in the next decade. Nick Chrastil on changes to federal welfare money. Jay Marcano on the call for Tulane University to divest from fossil fuels. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 256: ‘A Tricky Endeavor’
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Delaney Dryfoos on a wharf redevelopment in the Lower 9th Ward. Marta Jewson on Louisiana AG's decision to join a lawsuit targeting transgender men and women, and broader civil rights. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 255: ‘Civil rights at risk’
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Marta Jewson and La'Shance Perry on their interview with a women about what it's like to be pregnant in Louisiana after the fall of Roe. Delaney Dryfoos on St. James residents' fight against industry. [...]
Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 254: ‘It’s scary, dangerous’
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Nick Chrastil and Katy Reckdahl on the Jackson Parish Jail housing kids without the required license to do so. [...]
Read More... from Behind the Lens episode 253: ‘Mace with no warning’
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Marta Jewson and Katy Reckdahl on a new Louisiana law that requires doctors to keep common maternal health care medications under lock and key. Delaney Dryfoos on a Mississippi River mayors agreement. [...]
Read More... from Behind the Lens episode 252: ‘Bleeding out’
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Delaney Dryfoos on the continuing homeowners insurance crisis for Louisianans, and one politicians proposal to fix it. Marta Jewson reflects on covering school closures.
The post Behind the Lens episode 250: ‘Insurance Crisis’ appeared first on The Lens.
A conversation with independent scholar and writer Deborah G. Plant on her book Of Greed and Glory.
The post Behind The Lens episode 249: ‘An America of enslavement’ appeared first on The Lens.
Sara Sneath on the fossil fuel industry's relationship with Louisiana universities. Marta Jewson and Katy Reckdahl on Rooted School's guaranteed income study.
The post Behind the Lens episode 248: ‘They’ve harmed our public health’ appeared first on The Lens.
Delaney Dryfoos and Katy Reckdahl on Formosa's proposed plastic complex in St. James Parish. And Greenfield's retreat from its plans for an $800 million grain terminal.
The post Behind the Lens episode 247: ‘Cumulative emissions’ appeared first on The Lens.
Nick Chrastil and Katy Reckdahl on a court of appeals' ruling in favor of three young Black men stopped by security district officers. Marta Jewson on a new sunshine law.
The post Behind the Lens episode 246: ‘unreasonable doubt’ appeared first on The Lens.
Nick Chrastil on "extreme" conditions incarcerated people face at David Wade Correctional Center. Marta Jewson on a judge's order that will give Kennedy High School seniors who endured a graduation scandal their day in court. And Delaney Dryfoos on what a 'D' for New Orleans' water system means for residents.
The post Behind The Lens episode 245: ‘Adults failed them’ appeared first on The Lens.
Nick Chrastil on changes that have resulted in thousands of Louisianans losing food stamps and a new state law that threatens thousands more. And Delaney Dryfoos on spring flooding in the Midwest and how it can benefit Louisiana.
The post Behind The Lens episode 244: ‘More and more extremes’ appeared first on The Lens.
Nick Chrastil on a judge's order to the Dept. of Corrections requiring a plan to protect Angola inmates working the Farm line in blistering heat. Delaney Dryfoos on the The Sisters of the Holy Family nuns who are working to build a solar-powered microgrid resilience hub for their neighbors in New Orleans East.
The post Behind The Lens episode 243: ‘The solar Motherhouse’ appeared first on The Lens.
La'Shance Perry, Nick Chrastil and Katy Reckdahl on the jail exceeding its population cap and Angola prisoners still forced to work the fields in extreme summer heat.
The post Behind The Lens episode 242: ‘Extreme heat and dirty water’ appeared first on The Lens.
Mizani Ball on the historical and ongoing struggle for civil rights in New Orleans and how its expressed through music in the city. Katy Reckdahl on a teacher accused of restraining a student been involved in a similar incident 8 years ago, raising concerns about background checks into school personnel.
The post Behind The Lens episode 241: ‘Radical Black joy’ appeared first on The Lens.
Special guest writer Lolis Eric Elie on local civil rights pioneers who are being to replace the current street names, including his father, Lolis Edward Elie.
The post Behind The Lens episode 240: ‘An enduring insult’ appeared first on The Lens.
Nick Chrastil on an eye-popping State Police contract The Lens had to sue to obtain. It's been one year since JPSO shot and killed Calvin Cains III and his family is suing for body camera footage. And a redesign of City Park could disrupt Grow Dat Youth Farm.
The post Behind The Lens episode 239: ‘It’s unconscionable’ appeared first on The Lens.
Nick Chrastil and Katy Reckdahl on a bill that would provide funding to build new local juvenile-detention faciilites. Marta Jewson and La'Shance Perry on the Living School's final days as it prepares to close its doors.
The post Behind The Lens episode 238: ‘Juvenile Jails’ appeared first on The Lens.
Marta Jewson on Lycée Français charter school's teachers union victory. And Delaney Dryfoos on both industry and activists taking aim at the EPA.
The post Behind The Lens episode 237: ‘A union victory’ appeared first on The Lens.
Sara Sneath on LSU's unusual relationship with the oil and gas industry. Marta Jewson on Lycée Français charter school's union drive.
The post Behind The Lens episode 236: ‘An energy company deciding subject matter’ appeared first on The Lens.
This week on Behind The Lens, Sara Sneath on a Louisiana law that allows carbon capture well sites to remain unknown under a "trade secret" exception and Nick Chrastil on state legislation that could cut food stamps for thousands.
The post Behind the Lens episode 235: ‘One step behind Exxon’ appeared first on The Lens.
La'Shance Perry on St. John Parish's vote on rezoning for Greenfield. Delaney Dryfoos on Gov. Landry's Task Force for Sewerage and Water Board. And Katy Reckdahl on union organizing at Tulane University.
The post Behind The Lens episode 234: ‘Rabble-rousing at the Big Green’ appeared first on The Lens.
Delaney Dryfoos on St. John the Baptist Parish's voted to allow heavy industrial uses on the parish’s rural West Bank after years of contentious debate. Nick Chrastil on Gov. Jeff Landry's seismic changes to the criminal justice system.
The post Behind The Lens episode 233: ‘A Black hamlet’ appeared first on The Lens.
Lens reporters on the Louisiana Public Records Act and how it helps us fulfill our mission. We reflect on how records made possible reporting on Henry Montgomery, a graduation scandal at Kennedy High School and the uncovering of the state's decision to send kids in juvenile detention across state lines.
The post Behind The Lens “Sunshine Week” episode 232: ‘It’s so powerful to see’ appeared first on The Lens.
Katy Reckdahl and La'Shance Perry on the loss of musician Kerry "Fatman" Hunter. Marta Jewson and Dr. Ashonta Wyatt on the district's decision to open a direct-run school at Lafayette.
The post Behind The Lens episode 231: ‘We cannot allow it to fail’ appeared first on The Lens.
La'Shance Perry on the Krewe of Choctaw's harmful portrayal of culture to those of Choctaw heritage. Delaney Dryfoos on stepped up Carnival recycling efforts this year. And Nick Chrastil on gun arrests during Mardi Gras and concerns about racial profiling.
The post Behind The Lens episode 230: ‘It’s easy to get lost in the fun of Mardi Gras’ appeared first on The Lens.
Nick Chrastil on Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams's decision to work closely with newly elected Governor Jeff Landry’s office, despite his progressive campaign promises.
Aidan McCahill on New Orleans water bills, some of the highest in the nation, and seniors who are feeling the pinch.
The post Behind The Lens episode 229: ‘Backtracking on promises’ appeared first on The Lens.
Marshland restoration is underway in Barataria Basin. Lafayette Academy families are still trying to catch their breath after the district told them their school would close — and then reversed its decision. A parade celebrating Martin Luther King Jr., returned to its historic route on St. Claude Avenue this year.
The post Behind The Lens episode 228: ‘The river knows what to do’ appeared first on The Lens.
Nick Chrastil on The Lens' lawsuit against the state Office of Juvenile Justice for public records related to its $9.5m emergency staffing contract. And author Matthew Kincaid joins us to talk about his new book: Freedom Teaching.
The post Behind The Lens episode 227: ‘There’s no real public oversight’ appeared first on The Lens.
Nick Chrastil on the federal consent decree guiding the jail's construction of a facility called Phase III. Terry Jones from Floodlight on carbon capture and sequestration in the state.
The post Behind The Lens episode 226: ‘The means to fight this’ appeared first on The Lens.
Delaney Dryfoos on new land growing along Louisiana's coast. Sara Sneath on Venture Global's tax incentives in Plaquemines Parish and parallels to the mining town of Port Sulphur.
The post Behind The Lens episode 225: ‘If there’s an accident, it’d be hard to evacuate’ ‘ appeared first on The Lens.
Delaney Dryfoos on St. John Parish's President cutting off advocate Joy Banner during public comment. Now, she's suing for the violation of her First Amendment rights. A judge again barred the parish from changing the zoning on the Greenfield Property.
The post Behind The Lens episode 224: ‘Holding power to account’ appeared first on The Lens.
Nick Chrastil and La'Shance Perry on the NOPD's plans to use drones which concerns privacy advocates. Some of the city's iconic crescent and star water meter covers are being replaced by generic looking lids to make way for “smart meters” which could, if they work properly, help resolve the agency’s notorious inflated bills.
The post Behind The Lens episode 223: ‘History and art everywhere you look’ appeared first on The Lens.
The OPSB voted to close the Living School at an emotional December board meeting and the Buttermilk Drop scrambled to pay bills after its Uber Eats account was hacked.
The post Behind The Lens episode 222: ‘A safe space’ appeared first on The Lens.
The Orleans Parish DA's office is using new predictive analytics software they say can help combat crime. Some critics are concerned. And annual A through F letter grades are in — what that means for schools.
The post Behind the Lens episode 221: ‘A force multiplier’ appeared first on The Lens.
This week on Behind The Lens, Jackson Parish’s is housing kids awaiting adjudication in a detention center unlicensed to do so and state A through F letter grades are due out soon.
The post Behind The Lens episode 220: ‘Mothers want their kids out of there’ appeared first on The Lens.
This week on Behind The Lens, a historic drought at the root of ‘superfog’ causing a massive wreck on I-55 and small non-profit news outlets, like The Lens, speak up in the ever-changing media landscape.
The post Behind the Lens episode 219: ‘A community that depends on us’ appeared first on The Lens.
This week on Behind The Lens, a $9.5 million private security contract for Louisiana youth prisons raises eyebrows.
The post Behind The Lens episode 218: ‘They need stability … this does not bode well for that’ appeared first on The Lens.
A new judicial interpretation of the Clean Water Act leaves more than half of the country’s 118 million acres of wetlands unprotected, including the swamps of Acadiana and key waterfowl habitat.
The post Behind The Lens episode 217: ‘Wetlands may be severed from that historic protection’ appeared first on The Lens.
This week on Behind The Lens, Calvin Cains died in police custody in June and his mother sought body camera footage from on-scene officers through a lawsuit. Those recordings, she hopes, can show her sons final moments, before he was killed by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office.
The post Behind The Lens episode 216: ‘It’s torturous’ appeared first on The Lens.
St. John the Baptist Parish residents fight the proposed construction of a large industrial size grain terminal, but they may now have some powerful allies.
The post Behind The Lens episode 215: ‘A striking shock contrast’ appeared first on The Lens.
This week on Behind The Lens, a fire at the Marathon refinery in Garyville grabs attention across the river and region, a federal judge rules that officers violated no civil rights even if they drew guns on Black youth looking for their lost dog and what parents should know about how NOLA Public Schools posts […]
The post Behind The Lens episode 214: ‘That doesn’t happen on this side of the river’ appeared first on The Lens.
Youth being held on Angola's grounds continue to face challenges and officials have high hopes for a $2.9 billion diversion of the lower Mississippi River.
The post Behind The Lens episode 213: ‘Kids in solitary confinement’ appeared first on The Lens.
Nick Chrastil on the city's work to find $22 million for controversial Phase III jail construction. Sara Sneath on LNG export terminals belching more pollution than estimated.
The post Behind The Lens episode 212: ‘Industry spin has become reality’ appeared first on The Lens.
Property insurance premiums are more than doubling for New Orleans schools, while fossil fuel plants appear to have no problem securing coverage. And the 'Dead Zone' in the Gulf of Mexico is smaller than anticipated this year.
The post Behind The Lens episode 211: ‘Consistently at risk’ appeared first on The Lens.
The week: More delays on Phase III, a charter school principal rises in the ranks and The Lens welcomes La'Shance Perry.
The post Behind The Lens episode 210: ‘never-ending story’ appeared first on The Lens.
This week on Behind The Lens, Managing Editor Katy Reckdahl remembers Revell Andrews.
The post Behind The Lens episode 209: ‘Can his memory inspire change in New Orleans?’ appeared first on The Lens.
Nick Chrastil on the jail's controversial healthcare provider and Katy Reckdahl
The post Behind The Lens episode 208: ‘She’s heartbroken’ appeared first on The Lens.
Nick Chrastil on a "re-envisioned" gun violence prevention initiative and Marta Jewson on the school board's skyrocketing property insurance premiums.
The post Behind The Lens episode 207: ‘It’s not sustainable’ appeared first on The Lens.
Nick Chrastil and Katy Reckdahl on the city's gun violence prevention efforts. Joshua Rosenberg on the expansion of liquified natural gas in the state.
The post Behind The Lens episode 206: ‘Decades of savy marketing’ appeared first on The Lens.
Nick Chrastil on a two security district officers accused of racial profiling. Joshua Rosenberg on a novel stormwater fee proposal. And Marta Jewson talks about one charter CEO's raise amid financial trouble at the school.
The post Behind the Lens Episode 205: ‘It took them a long time’ appeared first on The Lens.
Our guests this week are reporter Nick Chrastil on what deficiencies monitors found at the Orleans Parish Jail and reporter Marta Jewson on racial diversity in the city's charter school system.
The post Behind the Lens Episode 204: ‘Some of the most shocking things we heard about were medical and mental health care’ appeared first on The Lens.
Pam Radtke from Floodlight talks about how industry is pushing back against local opposition groups, Lens reporter Nick Chrastil speaks about Louisiana's incarceration rates and reporter Marta Jewson talks about a daycare run by a closing charter school group.
The post Behind The Lens Episode 203: ‘They wanted to go after the grannies in the River Parishes’ appeared first on The Lens.
Marta Jewson talks about the push for more gifted offerings in New Orleans schools, reporter Nick Chrastil discusses a measure being considered by lawmakers to increase penalties for fentanyl dealers and reporter Katy Reckdahl remembers a musician and friend.
The post Behind the Lens: Episode 109 Gifted students and a musician remembered appeared first on The Lens.
Reporter Katy Reckdahl, talks about strip searches at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, better known as Angola, and education reporter Marta Jewson discusses changes to how charter schools are evaluated.
The post Behind The Lens: Episode 108 appeared first on The Lens.
Reporter Joshua Rosenberg talks about a lawsuit in St. John the Baptist Parish seeking to force the company proposing a new grain elevator in the area to pay $200 million in taxes on the project. Reporter Nick Chrastil speaks about the controversy over what records the Orleans Parish Sheriff is and isn't turning over related to use of force at the jail
The post Behind The Lens episode 107 appeared first on The Lens.
Reporter Nick Chrastil on the trial of Linda Frickey's death being delayed for about a year, Joshua Rosenberg discusses the latest on Gordon Plaza and Marta Jewson on charter school renewals in New Orleans.
The post Behind the Lens episode 106 appeared first on The Lens.
An introduction from new editor Brett Barrouquere. Nick Chrastil on a legislative move to create a 25-foot buffer zone around police while they work. And Josh Rosenberg talks about a racial discrimination lawsuit against St. James Parish over the location of industrial facilities.
The post Behind The Lens episode 198: ‘… it’s hard to understand why the current statute isn’t sufficient’ appeared first on The Lens.
Jurors are back in the criminal district courtrooms after a pause due to summons issues. Environmental groups review their options after a judge dismisses their lawsuit over an LNG facility.
The post Behind The Lens episode 197: ‘You can’t come out later and say it was in the name of safety’ appeared first on The Lens.
This week on Behind The Lens, environmental reporter Joshua Rosenberg on the ongoing controversial grain elevator project from Greenfield LLC, including a $4 million missed payment and an unconventional vote on the the proposed dirt pit at the site. NOLA Public Schools Superintendent Avis Williams abruptly reverses her decision to move Plessy Community School from […]
The post Behind The Lens episode 196: ‘There’s room for more transparency’ appeared first on The Lens.
The city looks to prevent gun violence through the health department.
The post Behind The Lens episode 195: ‘the storms won’t disappear’ appeared first on The Lens.
The Lens sits down with the VERA Institute of Justice and VOTE, Voice of the Experienced, to speak about the alleged exclusion of people with felony convictions from serving on juries in several Louisiana parishes despite a 2021 law change.
The post Behind The Lens episode 194: ‘I became the pied piper: Folks can vote! Folks can vote!’ appeared first on The Lens.
Reporter Nick Chrastil on the criminal court’s decision to halt jury trials and reporter Josh Rosenberg discusses “forever chemicals” found in the Mississippi River.
The post Behind The Lens episode 193: ‘It really is kind of horrifying’ appeared first on The Lens.
Producer Carolyne Heldman catches up with Criminal Justice Reporter Nick Chrastil.
The post Behind The Lens episode 192: ‘There’s a number of outstanding questions’ appeared first on The Lens.
This week on Behind The Lens, reporters discuss what to watch for on the criminal justice, environmental and education beats in the new year.
The post Behind The Lens episode 191: Looking forward to 2023 appeared first on The Lens.
Reporter Nick Chrastil on the state's backlog of inmates awaiting transfer to the state's psychiatric hospital, Joshua Rosenberg on an ongoing Lake Maurepas project and Michael Isaac Stein how the city's managed its federal COVID relief funds.
The post Behind The Lens episode 190:’A big one-time spending spree’ appeared first on The Lens.
The city passed its annual budget — with the surprise addition of millions in one-time funds. More updates on Greenfield's proposed $400 million grain silo project and a federal judge denied the sheriff's request for a consent decree NDA.
The post Behind The Lens episode 189:’It opens up this whole new dimension’ appeared first on The Lens.
Reporters discuss asthma-related health data, Orleans Parish Public Defender funding and potential New Orleans city charter changes in 2023.
The post Behind The Lens episode 188: ‘If the city gets its wish’ appeared first on The Lens.
Reporter Nick Chrastil looks into the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office expansive requests for search warrants of a 16-year-old who died in custody. Reporter Michael Isaac Stein tells us about the New Orleans Office of Inspector General's plans for 2023.
The post Behind The Lens Episode 187: ‘It looked like JPSO was digging up dirt on this teenager’ appeared first on The Lens.
Environmental reporter Joshua Rosenberg recaps a visit to Lake Charles where shrimpers and activists launched a flotilla outside an LNG conference. City government reporter Michael Isaac Stein recaps the new "Healthy Homes" ordinance and explains the charter change giving City Council more oversight over mayoral appointees.
The post Behind The Lens Episode 186: ‘There was a real power struggle at the time’ appeared first on The Lens.
Nick Chrastil on "inhumane" conditions and mental health care services at David Wade Correctional Center. And Terry Jones joins us from Floodlight News to talk about abandoned well heads.
The post Behind The Lens Episode 185: ‘intended to inflict mental torture’ appeared first on The Lens.
This week on Behind The Lens, the Louisiana Supreme Court has declined to grant new trials to the nearly 1,500 prisoners who were convicted by split juries. And a report released last week shows that the state has saved over $150 million dollars thanks to a series of criminal justice reform laws that were passed […]
The post Behind The Lens Episode 184: ‘The price per square-foot is a little more than half what residents expected’ appeared first on The Lens.
Marta Jewson and Karen Gadbois on the guilty plea of a local Reverend and charter school board chair. Michael Isaac Stein on the city's work to increase short-term rental enforcement. And Nick explains what's happening behind the scenes as municipal court and city council try to clear the way for simple marijuana possession charges.
The post Behind The Lens episode 183: ‘a self-tithing business’ appeared first on The Lens.
Joshua Rosenberg explains the Army Corps of Engineers' concerns about the potential cumulative environmental and public health impacts a grain elevator project in St. John may impose on the surrounding community. Nick Chrastil on a new study that found only around a quarter of calls NOPD responded to were crime related at all.
The post Behind The Lens episode 182: ‘police aren’t being utilized correctly’ appeared first on The Lens.
A carbon sequestration project has residents worried about the future of Lake Maurepas. A mental health crisis intervention program in New Orleans. And The Lens' newsroom has a new editor.
The post Behind The Lens episode 181: ‘This is paradise’ appeared first on The Lens.
A DOJ official warns the state against transferring juveniles to Angola. A judge cancels state permits for Formosa. An alleged staff assault on a New Orleans public schools student. And the latest in transparency from the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office.
The post Behind The Lens episode 180: ‘Time to go back to the drawing board’ appeared first on The Lens.
A three-day court hearing on the state's plan to transfer juveniles to a facility at Angola. And the latest on the planned relocation of Gordon Plaza residents.
The post Behind The Lens episode 179: ‘Our best option’ appeared first on The Lens.
New Orleans jail detainees report serious injuries from raid last month. St. James Parish rejects zoning change for site of stalled methanol plant. And the New Orleans City Council takes action on short-term rentals and disputed water bills.
The post Behind The Lens episode 178: ‘It was like they were trying to keep it a secret’ appeared first on The Lens.
Alleged violations of special education law at the city's largest charter network. An expensive tax deal in St. John Parish. And yes, we indeed have more Phase III content.
The post Behind The Lens episode 177: ‘For these reasons, the Court will hold yet another status conference’ appeared first on The Lens.
Gulf Coast 'dead zone' smaller this year, but still larger than it should be. Council tries to rein in facial recognition. And a lawsuit over the 2019 JFK High graduation scandal is still ongoing.
The post Behind The Lens episode 176: ‘Plaintiffs look to the court to bring this nightmare to an end’ appeared first on The Lens.
On this week’s episode, reporter Nick Chrastil reports from the New Orleans federal courthouse on what turned out to be the final day of jury deliberations in the federal tax fraud case against Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams. Hours after this episode was recorded on Thursday, the jury acquitted him on all ten counts. […]
The post Behind The Lens episode 175: ‘The evidence was not there’ appeared first on The Lens.
The DA goes on trial. St. James rejects solar ban. And another new Orleans school fails to graduate students on time as a result of administrative problems.
The post Behind The Lens episode 174: Defendant Williams appeared first on The Lens.
Nick Chrastil breaks the most recent news over a controversial jail building. Joshua Rosenberg on the relocation of dozens of families from the Gordon Plaza subdivision. Marta Jewson on the state's abortion trigger laws, including a preview of Friday's Orleans Parish Civil District Court hearing.
The post Behind The Lens episode 173: ‘Too vague to be valid’ appeared first on The Lens.
Reporters discuss the state of abortion in Louisiana following last week's Supreme Court ruling. And the Army Corps of Engineers is taking a close look at a proposed construction project in St. John.
The post Behind The Lens episode 172: Trigger bans appeared first on The Lens.
Newly released 'smart cities' emails. Louisiana kids are being shipped to out-of-state jails. And the city still doesn't have school zone lights under control.
The post Behind The Lens episode 171: Here’s why this is actually a good thing appeared first on The Lens.
The 'smart cities' controversy goes to court. Phase two of the Angola healthcare civil rights trial. And a state auditor finds that New Orleans schools have fewer certified teachers than others around the state.
The post Behind The Lens episode 170: ‘Accountability is not always an attack. And seeking transparency isn’t necessarily a witch hunt.’ appeared first on The Lens.
A tough first month for the new sheriff. Masks are back at some city school. Contempt charges possible in 'smart cities' probe. And an introduction to The Lens' new environmental reporter.
The post Behind The Lens episode 169: ‘Greetings OPSO Family’ appeared first on The Lens.
City WiFi project appears to share many of the same conflicts as abandoned 'smart cities' deal. A bill to send 17-year-olds to adult jail advances. And more details on the enrollment decline at NOLA Public Schools.
The post Behind The Lens episode 168: ‘We keep peeling back an onion and there’s more layers’ appeared first on The Lens.
Government watchdog agencies looking into city roadwork program. COVID is up in local schools. And the state Supreme Court hears a case that could affect hundreds of people imprisoned on split-jury convictions.
The post Behind The Lens episode 167: ‘Two jurors did not believe the State met its burden of proof’ appeared first on The Lens.
Reporter Michael Isaac Stein and host Carolyne Heldman talk about the 'smart cities' scandal at City Hall: what's happened and what's coming next.
The post Behind The Lens episode 166: ‘It seems like no one is interested in getting paid’ appeared first on The Lens.
OPSB offers incoming superintendent $300K per year. Judge threatens city with contempt of court. And the City Council subpoenas the Cantrell administration.
The post Behind The Lens episode 165: ‘You are hereby commanded to appear’ appeared first on The Lens.
Magic Johnson pitches a 'smart cities' deal. A potential end to federal monitoring of special education in New Orleans. And a city panel decides to give much-criticized jail healthcare contractor Wellpath another chance.
The post Behind The Lens episode 164: ‘There’s no magic’ appeared first on The Lens.
A new superintendent for NOLA Public Schools. And new problems found with Make It Right Foundation properties.
The post Behind The Lens episode 163: ‘Rodent harborage’ appeared first on The Lens.
Millions of dollars in New Orleans property owned by Folgers is missing from the tax rolls. The legislature considers two bills on prison medical services. And a proposed tax for early childhood education could be a financial boon for the NOLA Public Schools district.
The post Behind The Lens episode 162: The ‘clickbait’ special appeared first on The Lens.
New City Council district maps. OPSB moves 'one or more' superintendent candidates forward. And a federal judge tells the city to move forward on the controversial Phase III facility.
The post Behind The Lens episode 161: ‘Out of courtesy for the candidates’ appeared first on The Lens.
Oil workers on foreign-flagged ships are subject to fewer protections. BGR says livestreaming public meetings should be adopted permanently. And an update on the DA's office's review of split-jury convictions.
The post Behind The Lens episode 160: ‘They knew that the storm was coming’ appeared first on The Lens.
Singleton Charter School gets another warning letter from NOLA Public Schools. City may roll back surveillance bans. And with criminal trials set to restart next month, the court faces a long list of delayed cases.
The post Behind The Lens episode 159: ‘We have a massive volume, a massive backlog’ appeared first on The Lens.
Questions about school COVID data. Entergy's generous shareholder payments. And an interview with special guest Brandon Jackson, who was granted parole after 25 years in prison on a split-jury conviction.
The post Behind The Lens episode 158: ‘Even though I’ve been released, I’m still not free’ appeared first on The Lens.
State Police monitored George Floyd protests with drones. COVID cases down in city schools. And the City Council rehires longtime Entergy consultants.
The post Behind The Lens episode 157: Eye in the sky appeared first on The Lens.
The city finds yet another use for its expanded surveillance network. A dispute between OPSB and the New Orleans City Council over grants. And a wrap of the second week of the David Wade Correctional Center civil rights trial.
The post Behind The Lens episode 156: Surveillance creep appeared first on The Lens.
COVID cases at local schools explode with the rise of the omicron variant. Civil rights case against state prison goes to trial. And Bobby Sneed is finally free.
The post Behind The Lens episode 155: Is it peaking yet? appeared first on The Lens.
School's out again for some students due to omicron. A City Council vote on pedicabs raises concerns about fairness. And a four-year old class-action suit over conditions at a state prison finally goes to trial next week.
The post Behind The Lens episode 154: We’re sorry. There are no rapid tests in stock at this location. appeared first on The Lens.
The final round of charter school renewals. Allegations of contract-fixing for the New Orleans "smart cities" plan. And a reform effort in state prisons has not produced the promised results.
The post Behind The Lens episode 153: ‘An effort at rebranding’ appeared first on The Lens.
The municipal runoff is Saturday. We take a look at what's on the ballot in New Orleans. And the state releases 'simulated' performance scores for Louisiana public schools.
The post Behind The Lens episode 152: Off and running appeared first on The Lens.
The 2022 city budget passes. A newly proposed tax could expand early childhood education. And Angola prisoner Bobby Sneed is once again denied freedom.
The post Behind The Lens episode 151: ‘The authority to grant or deny parole’ appeared first on The Lens.
Last week's election results. City budget hearings wrap up. And alleged special education violations at a Lower 9th Ward charter school.
The post Behind The Lens episode 150: ‘I’m the mayor right now’ appeared first on The Lens.
Budget hearings: Orleans Parish DA's office, but not the Sheriff's Office. A 'smart cities' proposal draws some privacy concerns. Renaming Lusher Charter School. And school agencies want out of a long-running consent decree.
The post Behind The Lens episode 149: ‘I would say that if I was district attorney’ appeared first on The Lens.
The city continues to seek contractors for a plan to turn the Municipal Auditorium into City Hall. Phase III timeline puts FEMA funding at risk. And a look at the upcoming election.
The post Behind The Lens episode 148: ‘Best future use’ appeared first on The Lens.
School quarantines underreported due to data error. Cantrell's plan for tens of millions in federal COVID relief. And an update in the case of Brandon Jackson.
The post Behind The Lens episode 147: The case-to-quarantine ratio appeared first on The Lens.
Reporters Michael Isaac Stein and Caroline Sinders talk about their five-part series on surveillance in New Orleans.
The post Neighborhoods Watched: A discussion with the reporters appeared first on The Lens.
An Angola prisoner says his parole was revoked illegally. An explainer on school COVID data. And a plan to give civilian municipal employees limited police powers.
The post Behind The Lens episode 146: A parole board matter appeared first on The Lens.
Lens reporter Nicholas Chrastil and Al Jazeera Fault Lines producer Jeremy Young talk about the case of Brandon Jackson and the ongoing impacts of the state's former split jury law.
The post Behind The Lens episode 145: ‘It’s like we’re in a holding pattern’ appeared first on The Lens.
A settlement in a suit over conditions on death row. And OPSB is asking to subpoena financial records in an ongoing legal dispute with Singleton Charter School.
The post Behind The Lens episode 144: Real subpoenas appeared first on The Lens.
Entergy faces questions from the council. Some schools have reopened after the storm. A ‘gritty reality series’ in the New Orleans jail angers some civil rights advocates. And immigrants face steep obstacles getting post-hurricane aid.
The post Behind The Lens episode 143: ‘For now, there’s nowhere to go’ appeared first on The Lens.
The power situation in New Orleans and beyond. Stories of evacuees. How jails, and people inside, have done after the storm. And when schools are coming back.
The post Behind The Lens episode 142: ‘Due to storm activity in your area’ appeared first on The Lens.
Lens co-founder Karen Gadbois talks about her Ida week.
The post Behind The Lens episode 141: ‘I’m looking forward to some ice cream’ appeared first on The Lens.
New Orleans & Co. pulls its national tourism ad campaign. A car chase initiated by a state trooper leads to a crash in Lakeview. And a dramatic increase in cases and quarantines among city students and school staff.
The post Behind The Lens episode 140: ‘Ready to host’ appeared first on The Lens.
A spike of COVID cases in prisons. City schools report 116 cases, hundreds of quarantines. And a potential ban on some political contributions for City Council candidates.
The post Behind The Lens episode 139: ‘We don’t have much good news today’ appeared first on The Lens.
Live outdoor music in question as city delays action on zoning, noise. A rise in COVID cases in prisons leads to reopening of quarantine facility. And many New Orleans high school students will have to be vaccinated to play sports or join clubs.
The post Behind The Lens episode 138: ‘It’s something we don’t have a specific copy of’ appeared first on The Lens.
NOLA Public Schools backs off closing Singleton. The City Council gets involved in the Phase III fight. And how schools and the courts are handling the COVID surge.
The post Behind The Lens episode 137: ‘Until the surge subsides’ appeared first on The Lens.
Cantrell tells opponents of her Municipal Auditorium plan to come up with something on their own — with no city assistance. ICE accused of releasing people into unsafe conditions. And a new mask 'advisory' for New Orleans.
The post Behind The Lens episode 136: ‘That’s up to you all’ appeared first on The Lens.
A forensic audit reveals new details about Singleton Charter School's background check problems. A dispute over whether hotel rooms should be included in the French Quarter security tax. And more politicians oppose a mandated new jail facility.
The post Behind The Lens episode 135: ‘A quarter for the Quarter’ appeared first on The Lens.
The Orleans school district moves to close Singleton Charter School. City Councilmembers vow not to take Entergy campaign donations and city employees ask for $15/hour. And Medicaid recipients should watch for renewal information as eligibility will begin again when the federal COVID-19 'public health emergency' ends.
The post Behind The Lens episode 134: ‘A strike for better wages and working conditions’ appeared first on The Lens.
No reports on the arrests of witnesses and crime victims, two years after passage of a law requiring them. Council hears about funding for new Entergy substation. And a privately run ICE facility is hit with a complaint for alleged human rights violations.
The post Behind The Lens episode 133: ‘That’s actually stated in the statute’ appeared first on The Lens.
ACLU sues security district officers over traffic stop, alleging discrimination. School district says Singleton Charter violated ethics laws. And a $74M plan to reliably connect the Sewerage and Water Board to the power grid.
The post Behind The Lens episode 132: The ‘up to no good’ explanation appeared first on The Lens.
Applications for New Orleans rental assistance program to be reopened, but there isn't enough funding. New names for school buildings move forward. And a report criticizes New Orleans judges for continuing to issue failure to appear warrants during the pandemic.
The post Behind The Lens episode 131: ‘What we have helps, but it won’t be enough’ appeared first on The Lens.
A bill to force new trials for prisoners convicted by split juries died in committee at the state capitol, vaccines are available at summer school and the status of a local affordable housing tax.
The post Behind The Lens episode 130: ‘Justice should never be discretionary’ appeared first on The Lens.
NOPD creates a list of officers with potential credibility issues. An arrest warrant for a former charter school administrator. And the Super Bowl Host Committee is now a "culture bearer."
The post Behind The Lens episode 129: ‘The NFL does ask for a lot’ appeared first on The Lens.
The U.S. Supreme Court won't force the state to revisit old split-jury convictions. Shifting funds for school programs. And the city's meal assistance program is coming to an end.
The post Behind The Lens episode 128: ‘A comprehensive and brutal program’ appeared first on The Lens.
New charter school contract language shelved. Cantrell now backs full renewal of library tax. And an update on Angola prisoner Bobby Sneed.
The post Behind The Lens episode 127: ‘There might be some politics behind the process or behind the scenes’ appeared first on The Lens.
A less-than-perfect financial audit for the city's school system. A prisoner is paroled after 47 years, then the state rescinds its decision. And the New Orleans City Council will return to the chamber after a year of virtual meetings.
The post Behind The Lens episode 126: ‘We’ve rocketed past the tragedy stage and are just squarely in the farce stage now’ appeared first on The Lens.
New names suggested for New Orleans school buildings. City asks to halt new jail construction. And the Convention Center board votes to sue the RTA.
The post Behind The Lens episode 125: Caution, this vehicle will see you in court. appeared first on The Lens.
Low collections on short-term rental fines. Renaming New Orleans school buildings. And one year after split jury verdicts were found unconstitutional, a legal deadline in Louisiana.
The post Behind The Lens episode 124: ‘There’s nothing to make them want to play by the rules’ appeared first on The Lens.
City school system has competition for Harrah's dollars. And the DA's office says it will no longer prosecute most low-level drug offenses.
The post Behind The Lens episode 123: ‘Intended only for personal use’ appeared first on The Lens.
New district warnings issued to New Orleans schools for policy violations. Vaccinations at the city jail. And new research finds that the city's approach to COVID testing equity was a success.
The post Behind The Lens episode 122: ‘We just didn’t know if it was crazy, or if it was going to do what we hoped’ appeared first on The Lens.
A traffic enforcement grant program may violate state law. Plea deals for people convicted by non-unanimous juries. And NOLA Public Schools stops tracking attendance data.
The post Behind The Lens episode 121: ‘But that’s not a quota’ appeared first on The Lens.
The Convention Center moves forward on its massive "entertainment district." NOPD nearing full compliance with the consent decree. And COVID vaccinations among white New Orleans residents outpace vaccinations among Black residents.
The post Behind The Lens episode 120: Full and effective compliance appeared first on The Lens.
Problems with employee background checks at some New Orleans schools. A proposed audit of Entergy New Orleans. And the city considers bringing back an ankle monitoring program.
The post Behind The Lens episode 119: ‘An opportunity to enjoy freedom’ appeared first on The Lens.
A proposed 'early warning' system for students in danger of falling behind. A federal complaint against Entergy. And Jason Williams begins vacating non-unanimous guilty verdicts.
The post Behind The Lens episode 118: ‘Personal vigilance’ appeared first on The Lens.
Rolling blackouts in New Orleans. A hunger strike at Angola. And teachers begin receiving vaccinations.
The post Behind The Lens episode 117: Power hungry appeared first on The Lens.
Back to school, now with vaccine for teachers. If they can get them. And a Tulane School of Medicine administrator alleges discrimination at the university.
The post Behind The Lens episode 116: Modified Phase 1B appeared first on The Lens.
NOLA Public Schools reveals 140 previously unreported COVID cases since the beginning of the school year. A report shows police chases responding to nonviolent crimes are up. And the ACLU sues the Louisiana State Police.
The post Behind The Lens episode 115: Active cases appeared first on The Lens.
City officials ask community to help boost school attendance. Council considers a new Entergy shutoff moratorium. And the latest on the Phase III jail facility.
The post Behind The Lens episode 114: ‘The incoherence speaks for itself’ appeared first on The Lens.
Disappearing scholarships at SUNO. A new data-sharing system for New Orleans law enforcement. Schools reopen. And the latest on the Phase III jail building.
The post Behind The Lens episode 113: Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition appeared first on The Lens.
A growing backlog in Criminal District Court. And a drop in public school attendance from before the pandemic.
The post Behind The Lens episode 112: Virtual standstill appeared first on The Lens.
Chronically absent students. Property tax cuts for businesses. And a new DA is inaugurated in Orleans Parish.
The post Behind The Lens episode 111: Looks like we have a few people missing today appeared first on The Lens.
Cantrell ends furloughs for some employees. City schools move back to virtual. And older prisoners will soon get the vaccine.
The post Behind The Lens episode 110: Smooth, orderly and seamless appeared first on The Lens.
More ITEP requests from Folgers. Emails reveal more about NOPD's use of facial recognition. And a look back at The Lens' coverage of everything that was 2020.
The post Behind The Lens episode 109: Slow news year appeared first on The Lens.
A wrap on last week's election from our panel of reporters.
The post Behind The Lens episode 108: We voted appeared first on The Lens.
The Proposition 2 campaign. DA candidates pledge a comprehensive review of non-unanimous jury verdicts. The OPSB races. And rising COVID cases in schools.
The post Behind The Lens episode 107: ‘But that isn’t true’ appeared first on The Lens.
NOPD using facial recognition software. Religious schools facing additional legal scrutiny after taking PPP loans. And non-unanimous jury verdicts — we haven't quite gotten past them.
The post Behind The Lens episode 106: No Thanks appeared first on The Lens.
The Kennedy HS lawsuit. City budget hearings in a tough year. A controversial tax proposal on the ballot. And New Orleans public defenders are demanding parity with the DA's office.
The post Behind The Lens episode 105: Fair Share appeared first on The Lens.
A wrap on Tuesday's local elections. (Those have actually ended.) And the Wisner Trust is back in the news again.
The post Behind The Lens episode 104: ‘Indefinitely and perpetually’ appeared first on The Lens.
The OPSB elections. Civil Service and the Mayor's Office. And more material witness warrants connected to a DA candidate.
The post Behind The Lens episode 103: ‘Safeguarded and removed as far as humanly possible from any form of political influence’ appeared first on The Lens.
Material witness warrants and DA candidates. Sidney Torres and Civil District Court. And the possible end of a five-year-old consent decree over the city's schools.
The post Behind The Lens episode 102: God save the state and this honorable court appeared first on The Lens.
A critical report on special education at a New Orleans charter school. Furloughs for thousands of city employees. An ordinance that could limit city surveillance. And a court hearing in the Phase III jail dispute.
The post Behind The Lens episode 101: Dual reporting appeared first on The Lens.
A new COVID spike at the jail. Laura evacuees arrested in New Orleans. NOLA Public Schools fights subpoena in Kennedy suit. And a rental assistance program has provided little assistance.
The post Behind The Lens episode 100: Don’t worry, it’s not a clip show appeared first on The Lens.
Colleges and elementary schools are back in session. Wait, why is that news? Oh right.
The post Behind The Lens episode 99: This is the way we go to school appeared first on The Lens.
Featuring Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough and Dr. C. Reynold Verret. Interviews by Philip Kiefer.
The post Behind The Lens episode 98: Bonus episode appeared first on The Lens.
Two local HBCU presidents discuss their decision to participate in a vaccine trial. Also, schools, crowds and COVID. Library told to do more with less. And the great jail building debate turns 10.
The post Behind The Lens episode 98: Public resources, public mandates appeared first on The Lens.
Disappearing COVID-19 data. An apparent suicide at the New Orleans jail. And taking attendance without a classroom.
The post Behind The Lens episode 97: ‘There are still these gaps’ appeared first on The Lens.
Disasters and mental health. A defamation lawsuit from a former New Orleans charter school administrator. And an unusually forceful criminal justice resolution from the City Council.
The post Behind The Lens episode 96: ‘The effects tend to linger’ appeared first on The Lens.
A Metairie wedding venue with a political connection. The People's DA Coalition unveils a new platform to reduce incarceration. And more.
The post Behind The Lens episode 95: Save the date appeared first on The Lens.
A parole hearing for the man serving life for stealing hedge clippers. Virtual school in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish. And fears of a looming wave of evictions.
The post Behind The Lens episode 94: Inhabited dwellings appeared first on The Lens.
We can enjoy live streams all we want, and the performers do, too. But they need your support now, more than ever, as bars and other stages remain closed across the state of Louisiana.
The post Behind The Lens episode 93: The NOLA Music Special appeared first on The Lens.
Protesters block access to courts and force City Hall to lock its doors in an anti-eviction demonstration. An appointment at the Mayor's Office raises eye brows among housing advocates. And we hear from sanitation workers, now in their third month of a labor strike in New Orleans. Their demands: safety and dignity.
The post Behind The Lens episode 92: ‘Another man’s treasure’ appeared first on The Lens.
The mayor of New Orleans announces new bar restrictions. Public schools won't open to students for in-class learning right away. And the long-time district attorney of Orleans Parish announces his retirement.
The post Behind The Lens episode 91: Ripple effects appeared first on The Lens.
Gov. Edwards hosts a who's who of White House officials and Republican leaders, including Vice President Mike Pence and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. We hear more about the federal push to reopen schools, come hell or high water, with columnist Stephanie Grace.
The post Behind The Lens episode 90: ‘Ring ring goes the bell’ appeared first on The Lens.
Louisiana rejoins the list of states with rising case loads of coronavirus. But some politicians are crying foul over pandemic precautions. That's troubling for medical professionals; so are the growing number of tourists coming to New Orleans. Also, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation has rebranded itself for changing times. But its mission remains a serious one.
The post Behind The Lens episode 89: The pulse of the city? appeared first on The Lens.
"Text me," maybe! How will data from Mayor Cantrell's new campaign texts be used? And, a panel discussion on color, coronavirus, and what's left of the "American Dream": local broadcaster Don P, community activist Jenny Yanez and Lens columnist Crystal Zheng join the conversation.
The post Behind The Lens episode 88: ‘Having to work 10 times as hard’ appeared first on The Lens.
A think tank conservative and an infectious diseases doctor strongly disagree on the merits of quick reopenings. And David Torkanowsky joins our conversation on the live music blues in New Orleans.
The post Behind The Lens episode 87: Also, there was a dust storm. appeared first on The Lens.
Award-winning journalist Soledad O'Brien talks about COVID-19, the Trump Administration… and bad news writing. And Ashlin Parker from Trumpet Mafia reacts to the city's push to offer some live entertainment amid the pandemic.
The post Behind The Lens episode 86: Stories to tell appeared first on The Lens.
The legacy of Judge Frank Shea.
The post The Section G Podcast episode 5: ‘Maybe it should grind to a halt’ appeared first on The Lens.
More than a week after the Crescent City Connection incident, New Orleans’ police chief faces tough questions at City Council. And a new survey of New Orleans students supports the idea that the educational experience is split badly along racial lines.
The post Behind The Lens episode 85: ‘Turn and face the strange’ appeared first on The Lens.
The city of New Orleans braces for yet more protests over police brutality and the killing of George Floyd. We’ll have coverage from the demonstrations, including accounts from two Lens reporters and a medical volunteer who were tear gassed on the Crescent City Connection.
The post Behind The Lens episode 84: Battlespace? appeared first on The Lens.
In this episode, we look at what it was like to be a defendant in the courtroom of Judge Frank Shea.
The post The Section G Podcast episode 4: ‘You are in the courtroom of Judge Frank Shea’ appeared first on The Lens.
Phase one workplace tensions, preps for the next school year and a jazz players' round table on the importance of live music.
The post Behind The Lens episode 83: Street sound appeared first on The Lens.
Moratorium on Entergy cutoffs extended. New DCFS data raise questions about suspected child abuse cases; And feature interviews with Dr. MarkAlain Dery and performer Jillian Kay Music.
The post Behind The Lens episode 82: The Quarter and beyond appeared first on The Lens.
Phase one of New Orleans' reopening begins, but workers and their bosses have some tough decisions to make now. Also, musician Emeka Dibia on his work with the Brass-A-Holics amid the COVID-19 crisis.
The post Behind The Lens episode 81: Changes and choices appeared first on The Lens.
Featuring interviews this week with Russel Honore', Marylee Orr and Jeff Asher, along with some of the best news investigators in Louisiana.
The post Behind The Lens episode 80: That business upriver appeared first on The Lens.
"War" on coronavirus cases at New Orleans' jail, the COVID slide for schoolkids, and musicians' commentary on surviving the crisis.
The post Behind The Lens episode 79: Mayday, May Day appeared first on The Lens.
OPSB's rocky online meeting, Convention Center developments, medical waste buildup and Jazz Festing in Place: yet another wild week of news in New Orleans.
The post Behind The Lens episode 78: Podcasting in place appeared first on The Lens.
Local researchers push hard for new innovations and hopefully even a vaccine to fight the COVID-19 outbreak. Also, worrisome economic prospects for New Orleans workers and residents.
The post Behind The Lens episode 77: Got protection? appeared first on The Lens.
From schools to prisons, homes to businesses, there is nothing in our region that's not impacted by the coronavirus. We'll hear from Lens reporters, covering a community in crisis.
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New Orleans' tourism economy is on hold and the Convention Center is being used as a makeshift hospital. But that's not stopping center management from pursuing a new hotel development. And we'll get a sense of the economic damage from COVID-19.
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The federal government approves a major disaster declaration for Louisiana. We're a hot spot for the COVID-19 crisis, but are incoming resources enough to manage the crisis locally?
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We talk with a likely sick resident about slow testing, Russel Honore, Dr. MarkAlain Dery and our staff reporters about covering the crisis.
The post Behind The Lens episode 73: COVID-19 and New Orleans appeared first on The Lens.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell held a news conference at 4:00 PM Friday to discuss city measures to counter the spread of the coronavirus in New Orleans. We provide this clip of the mayor and Health Commissioner Jennifer Avegno for our podcast listeners.
The post COVID-19: Mayor Cantrell’s Friday news conference (audio excerpts) appeared first on The Lens.
Gov. Edwards and Mayor Cantrell respond to the COVID-19 crisis. Michael Isaac Stein discusses economic and labor impacts. Bob Marshall looks at the Coastal Master Plan.
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Some grew to love it. Others — ones who threatened to slow-up the breakneck pace of proceedings — weren’t allowed to practice in his courtroom at all.
The post The Section G Podcast episode 3: The cauldron appeared first on The Lens.
Charters schools prepare for a potential outbreak of coronavirus. Pollution opponents link up in New Orleans. And Nick Chrastil offers background on the Section G Project.
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In this episode, we look at Frank Shea’s career, some of its historical context, and talk with a man who watched Shea operate for over 20 years, became his political rival and developed some strong feelings about him
The post The Section G Podcast episode 2: ‘Speedy is his name’ appeared first on The Lens.
The Convention Center's revenue sharing proposal for RTA, Kennedy HS seniors on track for graduation and a local look at higher education all feature on this week's podcast.
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A series on the life and career of controversial New Orleans Judge Frank Shea during the rise of mass incarceration.
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Who's paying for a 90-camera installation in the CBD? Also, standardized exams are voided at several city schools. And, The Lens wins thousands in attorney's fees in a public records case.
The post Behind The Lens episode 69: Lines of sight appeared first on The Lens.
New recordkeeping standards for New Orleans high schools, the “responsible bidders ordinance," and a word of warning from planners in the face of climate disruption.
The post Behind The Lens episode 68: ‘Standardized and systematized' appeared first on The Lens.
The Port's controversial new mural, a postponed public hearing on the Plaquemines Liquids Terminal, the latest on the fake subpoenas case and Dr. MarkAlain Dery's briefing on Wuhan coronavirus round out a busy week of news.
The post Behind The Lens episode 67: A thousand words appeared first on The Lens.
A campaign finance revelation adds to the controversy over the Hard Rock Hotel collapse; parents demand more options in charter schools for their gifted children.
The post Behind The Lens episode 66: A developing story appeared first on The Lens.