Behind The Lens

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 .

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’ The post Behind The Lens episode 271: ‘Death warrant’ appeared first on The Lens .

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’ The post Behind The Lens episode 270: ‘The wrong schools’ appeared first on The Lens .

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 2...

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’ The post Behind the Lens episode 266 Carnival Part II: ‘The best spot on Fat Tuesday’ appeared first on The Lens .

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’ The post Behind The Lens episode 268: ‘Cruel and unusual’ appeared first on The Lens .

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’ The post Behind The Lens episode 267: ‘Young, Black, vibrant’ appeared first on The Lens .

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’ The post Behind the Lens episode 266 Carnival Part I: ‘Throw less, throw better’ appeared fi...

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’ The post Behind The Lens episode 265: ‘That’s jus...

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’ The post Behind The Lens episode 264 Part II: ‘Our Katrina narrative’ appeared first on The Lens .

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’ The post Behind The Lens episode 264 Part I: ‘Our Katrina narrative’ appeared first on The Lens .

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’ The post Behind The...