Behind 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. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 236: ‘An energy company deciding subject matter’ 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. [...] Read More... from Behind the Lens episode 235: ‘One step behind Exxon’ News Update The post Behind the Lens episode 235: ‘One step behind Exxon’ News Update appear...

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. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 234: ‘Rabble-rousing at the Big Green’ 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. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 233: ‘A Black hamlet’ 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. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens “Sunshine Week” episode 232: ‘It’s so powerful to see’...

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. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 231: ‘We cannot allow it to fail’ 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. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 230: ‘It’s easy to get lost in the fun of Mardi Gras’ The post Behind The Lens episode 230: ‘It...

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. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 229: ‘Backtracking on promises’ The post Behind Th...

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. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 228: ‘The river knows what to do’ Th...

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. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 227: ‘There’s no real public oversight’ The post Behind The Lens episode 227: ‘There’s no real public oversight’ appeared...

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. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 226: ‘The means to fight this’ 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. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 225: ‘If there’s an accident, it’d be hard to evacuate’ ‘ The post Behind The Lens episode 225: ‘If there’s an accident, it’d be hard to evacuate’ ‘ appeared first on The L...

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. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 224: ‘Holding power to account’ The post Behind The Lens episode 224: ‘Holding power to account’ ap...

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. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 223: ‘History and art eve...

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. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 222: ‘A safe space’ 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. [...] Read More... from Behind the Lens episode 221: ‘A force multiplier’ 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. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 220: ‘Mothers want their kids out of there’ 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. [...] Read More... from Behind the Lens episode 219: ‘A community that depends on us’ 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. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 218: ‘They need stability … this does not bode well for that’ 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. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 217: ‘Wetlands may be severed from that historic protection’ The post Behind The Lens episode 217: ‘Wetlands may be severed from that historic protection’ ap...

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. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 216: ‘It’s torturous’ The post Behind The Lens episode 216: ‘It’s tor...

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. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 215: ‘A striking shock contrast’ 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 [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 214: ‘That doesn’t happen on this side of...

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. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 213: ‘Kids in solitary confinement’ 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. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 212: ‘Industry spin has become reality’ The post Behind The Lens episode 212: ‘Industry spin has become reality’ appeared first on The Lens .