Behind The Lens

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,...

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 The post Ep. 283: After the Smitty’s Supply explosion, concerns for Lake Pontchartrain appeared first on The Lens .

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’ The post Episode 282: Orleans Parish Prison after the storm ‘We’re still in here’ appeared first on The Lens .

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’ The post Behind The Lens episode 281 part II: ‘Completely in...

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’ The post Behind The Lens episode 281 part I: ‘Completely inadequate’ appeared first on The Lens .

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’ The post Behind The Lens episode 281: ‘Crumbling’ appeared first on The Lens .

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’ The post Behind The Lens episode 280: ‘The licensing of Essence’ appeared first on The Lens .

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’ The post Behind The Lens episode 278: ‘Failed to file’ appeared first on The Lens .

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’ The post Behind The Lens episode 277: ‘Hotter, hotter and hotter’ appeared firs...

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’ The post Behind The Lens episode 276: ‘Breathing poison air’ appeared first on The Lens .

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’ The post Behind The Lens episode 275: ‘Snake hips’ appeared first on The Lens .

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’ The post Behind The Lens episode 274: ‘Human decency’ appeared first on The Lens .

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’ The post Behind The Lens episode 273: ‘Caught in the lurch’ appeared first on The Lens .

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’ The post Behind The Lens episode 272: ‘Growing threat’ appeared first on The Lens .