Behind The Lens

... the owner of the paper of record in the state, John Georges, rolls out the red carpet for Meta and explains how he thinks these deals will save journalism in the state.  [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: “As Meta rolls into Louisiana with a massive data center … (This is Part 2 of 2 audio discussions) The post Behind The Lens: “As Meta rolls into Louisiana with a massive data center … (...

... the owner of the paper of record in the state, John Georges, rolls out the red carpet for Meta and explains how he thinks these deals will save journalism in the state.  [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: “As Meta rolls into Louisiana with a massive data center … (This is Part 1 of 2 audio discussions) The post Behind The Lens: “As Meta rolls into Louisiana with a massive data center … (...

In this episode of “Behind The Lens,” questions of public safety, regulatory oversight and neighborhood concern come into focus in New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward. Sunrise Foods International has received approval for a sprinkler system at a large grain-loading facility at the Alabo Wharf, despite the use of a system expressly forbidden by the state [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: Sunrise Foo...

Changes to federal food assistance and a new recognition of Black education history raise important questions about students, schools, and the history taught in New Orleans classrooms. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: SNAP cuts could threaten free school meals; New Orleans marks Black Education History Week (audio) The post Behind The Lens: SNAP cuts could threaten free school meals; New O...

Journalist Emmanuel Felton talks about traveling through Louisiana’s disputed congressional district, examining the communities at the center of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on racial gerrymandering, representation and political power. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: Color or community? Supreme Court ruling reshapes Louisiana’s congressional map (audio) The post Behind The Lens: Color or c...

This week on Behind The Lens, a federal judge takes an extraordinary step in response to the illegal detention of an Ethiopian man living in the United States, holding an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official in contempt of court after the official twice ignored the judge’s orders. Reporter Delaney Nolan and The Lens editor Katy Reckdahl examine the [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens P...

Criminal justice reporter Bernard Smith looks at a law passed by the Louisiana Legislature three years ago to automatically clear eligible criminal records. Despite its promise of a cleaner slate, the effort has yet to get past the starting gate because of technological hurdles. Smith explains what is preventing the automatic record-clearing system from moving [...] Read More... from Behind The Le...

New Orleans experiences an exceptional number of fair-weather power outages as aging and failing equipment raises concerns across the city. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: Why New Orleans keeps losing power in fair weather (audio) The post Behind The Lens: Why New Orleans keeps losing power in fair weather (audio) appeared first on The Lens .

Black defendants face major barriers to securing representative juries, while a Lower Ninth Ward family farm wins a settlement after its property was mistakenly treated with pesticides. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: “Where did all my people go?”  (audio) The post Behind The Lens: “Where did all my people go?”  (audio) appeared first on The Lens .

Questions about how power Is exercised in Louisiana, as the governor vetoes more money for wrongfully convicted exonerees and a 14-year-old student is handcuffed and barred from her middle-school graduation. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: Governor’s veto and student’s arrest put government power under scrutiny (audio) The post Behind The Lens: Governor’s veto and student’s arrest put gov...

Reporter Delaney Nolan and editor Katy Reckdahl examine the surge in ICE activity across Louisiana. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: ICE detention, court access and federal intervention in Louisiana (audio) The post Behind The Lens: ICE detention, court access and federal intervention in Louisiana (audio) appeared first on The Lens .

A proposed solar farm in Iberia Parish promised millions in local tax revenue and a boost for Louisiana's clean energy future. Instead, a misinformation campaign fueled public opposition that helped bring the project to a halt. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: False claims, Real consequences: Why an Iberia parish solar farm never got built (audio) The post Behind The Lens: False claims, Re...

A U.S. citizen shares her account of being stopped, shackled and detained in Lafayette Parish, while reporters examine a new Louisiana law that could shield juror identities from public scrutiny. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: Detained despite citizenship and the debate over jury secrecy  (Audio) The post Behind The Lens: Detained despite citizenship and the debate over jury secrecy  (Au...

As debate continues over a recent study suggesting New Orleans may face an unavoidable future because of rising sea levels, Steve Cochran, Ned Randolph, Katy Reckdahl and Gus Bennett take a deeper look at the challenges and choices ahead. In Part 2, the conversation explores climate adaptation, coastal land loss, public policy, culture, and resilience, asking whether one of America's most distinct...

A measured response to the latest study suggesting New Orleanians should abandon the city due to the imminent threat of sea level rise. Public policy advocate Steve Cochran, journalist and author Ned Randolph, photojournalist Gus Bennett and Lens editor Katy Reckdahl discuss the story from The Guardian which has the town talking. Part 1 this week. [...] Read More... from “Point of No Return?” Part...

Louisiana’s Parole Board conducts hearings in public, offering a rare window into how life-changing decisions are made inside the criminal justice system. [...] Read More... from Behind the curtain: how Louisiana’s parole system and courts shape who goes free The post Behind the curtain: how Louisiana’s parole system and courts shape who goes free appeared first on The Lens .

Paraquat use is rising and so are concerns about its link to Parkinson’s disease. A look at one Mississippi county at the center of the issue. [...] Read More... from Paraquat and Parkinson’s: Inside the risks in Wayne County, Mississippi The post Paraquat and Parkinson’s: Inside the risks in Wayne County, Mississippi appeared first on The Lens .

A new bill from State Rep. Geymann would restrict nearly any claims for damages caused by emissions. Environmental reporter Emily Sanders from ExxonKnews explains what's in the bill." [...] Read More... from Immunity for oil & gas companies are on the horizon if HB804 becomes law in Louisiana The post Immunity for oil & gas companies are on the horizon if HB804 becomes law in Louisiana app...

Criminal justice reporter Bernard Smith and editor Katy Reckdahl examine Senate Bill 256 and the effort to eliminate the position won by Calvin Duncan, raising questions about consolidation, political power, and the will of voters. [...] Read More... from Consolidation or retaliation? Republican lawmakers move to eliminate the job Calvin Duncan won in a landslide election The post Consolidation or...

On the 15th anniversary of The Lens, co-founder Karen Gadbois reflects on the newsroom’s grassroots beginnings, its mission to hold power accountable, and how it grew into a trusted voice for community-driven journalism in New Orleans. [...] Read More... from From roots to results: Karen Gadbois, The Lens’ co-founder and former executive director, reflects on 15 years of reporting. The post From r...

In this episode of Behind The Lens, host Carolyne Heldman Rovira interviews journalist and policy advisor Ned Randolph, to unpack a major energy and infrastructure development that could reshape Louisiana’s future. [...] Read More... from Double the capacity, double the bill: Meta and Entergy announce a plan to build 7 new power plants for AI data centers in LA. The post Double the capacity, doubl...

In this episode of Behind The Lens, host Carolyne Heldman speaks with investigative reporter Emily Sanders to unpack decades of coastal damage linked to oil and gas activity, and the growing question of accountability. [...] Read More... from The day of reckoning: The Supreme Court will soon decide if oil companies have to pay for damage to the LA coast.  The post The day of reckoning: The Supreme...

Reporter Delaney Nolan discusses how attacks on energy infrastructure drive up the price for U.S. liquified natural gas exports. [...] Read More... from Getting Squeezed: How the wars in Ukraine and Iran are affecting the pocketbooks of LA citizens The post Getting Squeezed: How the wars in Ukraine and Iran are affecting the pocketbooks of LA citizens appeared first on The Lens .

Delaney Nolan discusses the anti-ICE paraders during Mardi Gras. [...] Read More... from Beads Won: Politics in Mardi Gras parades The post Beads Won: Politics in Mardi Gras parades appeared first on The Lens .

Aneri Pattani from KFF Health News talks about Elyse Stevens, who was a primary care and addiction medicine doctor in New Orleans. [...] Read More... from Innovative or Ill-Advised?: A NOLA addiction doctor leaves after her novel approach raises questions at her hospital The post Innovative or Ill-Advised?: A NOLA addiction doctor leaves after her novel approach raises questions at her hospital ap...