Behind 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 appeared fi...

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...

Bernard Smith on the dangers of solitary confinement and Delaney Dryfoos on resiliency hubs. [...] Read More... from 23 & 1: Solitary confinement in LA prisons is on the rise; also local churches provide shelter and power during outages using solar The post 23 & 1: Solitary confinement in LA prisons is on the rise; also local churches provide shelter and power during outages using solar appeared f...

Delaney Nolan on the town of Modeste and a new giant industrial park planned for the area. [...] Read More... from A town on the brink of extinction: Modeste is facing an acute concentration of industry as a proposed new development threatens to engulf it The post A town on the brink of extinction: Modeste is facing an acute concentration of industry as a proposed new development threatens to engu...

Marta Jewson on one year of Act 246, the Louisiana law that locked up life-saving maternal medication. Elise Plunk on a suspended LNG permit that was reissued in Cameron Parish. [...] Read More... from Emboldened: LA lawmakers ask FDA to restrict abortion meds nationally The post Emboldened: LA lawmakers ask FDA to restrict abortion meds nationally appeared first on The Lens .

Delaney Nolan on exit bonuses for voluntary deportation promised by the Department of Homeland Security. Marta Jewson on the fate of The Leah Chase School. [...] Read More... from Instability is the word of the year for one local school The post Instability is the word of the year for one local school appeared first on 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 The post An Oil Well in Reverse: Smitty’s hopes...

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 The post Kicking the Can: SNAP during the shutdown and charter schools await their fate appeared first on The Lens .

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” The post “A Fundamental Reset” appeared first on The Lens .

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...

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. The post Protected Speech or Anti-Semitism?...

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 The post Energy Monsters: AI data centers prompt concern about a ‘Digital Cancer...

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 The post Odorless,...