Behind The Lens

News UND ↓ 31 episodes

Behind The Lens is a weekly podcast from the team at The Lens, New Orleans' nonprofit investigative newsroom. Each week, our reporters take a close look at what they're covering in local politics, criminal justice, education and land use. Produced and hosted by Carolyne Heldman.

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: thelensnola.org

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Behind The Lens

Episodes

23 & 1: Solitary confinement in LA prisons is on the rise; also local churches provide shelter and power during outages using solar 13.02.2026 28:40

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 ap...

A town on the brink of extinction: Modeste is facing an acute concentration of industry as a proposed new development threatens to engulf it 06.02.2026 31:05

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...

Emboldened: LA lawmakers ask FDA to restrict abortion meds nationally 16.01.2026 25:28

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 .

Instability is the word of the year for one local school 09.01.2026 28:39

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 .

An Oil Well in Reverse: Smitty’s hopes to inject liquid waste into a landfill in Jefferson Parish 21.11.2025 32:27

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...

Kicking the Can: SNAP during the shutdown and charter schools await their fate 14.11.2025 25:42

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 .