Gulf States Gumbo

Major hacks at big companies like Sony and Equifax often get plenty of attention. But small businesses fall victim to cyber attacks, too — about four times as often as larger organizations, according to a report from Verizon. For this week's episode, we go to a New Orleans neighborhood bar that lost about $10,000 because of scammers, along with losing access to her Facebook and Meta accounts — whi...

As thousands in the United States die from opioid overdoses each year, the Dutch responded to their own opioid crisis by changing their approach. That included embracing harm reduction and an integrated public health model to policing drug use.  In this week’s episode, public health reporter Drew Hawkins takes us to the Netherlands, where he explores how these different tactics could work in the G...

On this week’s episode, we’re handing the reins over to the NPR science podcast Short Wave .  Our economic mobility reporter Stephan Bisaha went on the show last month to talk about how Alabama’s fortified roofs have become a model program, protecting residents from hurricanes and rising insurance costs. We also hear from NPR climate correspondent Lauren Sommer about a similar program in Californi...

In this week’s episode, we share some good news from the region: our states are leading the way on third-grade reading skills, a vital benchmark that can be a positive sign for future success in school.  Mississippi was once at the bottom when it came to third grade reading levels. Now, it's close to the top. Alabama and Louisiana are climbing the ranks faster than other states, and Louisiana is i...

A quick warning — today’s episode is about the death penalty and includes talk about recent executions and methods.  Capital punishment is a priority of the Trump administration, with the Deep South at the epicenter. We talk with our criminal justice reporter Kat Stromquist about the new method Alabama pioneered. Kat also talks with researcher Corinna Barrett Lain about her new book, “Secrets of t...

Editor’s Note : This episode contains descriptions of sexual violence that may be upsetting for some listeners.  Public health reporter Drew Hawkins takes over this week’s episode to focus on a single story — the Gulf South’s shortage of sexual assault nurse examiners, better known as SANEs.  Over the last year, Drew has been reporting on the impacts the shortage has had on hospital systems and se...

On this week's episode, we zoom into Clarksdale, Mississippi, where Ryan Coogler’s latest blockbuster "Sinners" is set. Movie critics said it's one of the best of the year, but residents couldn’t watch it without driving elsewhere. That changed after one man spoke out .  Our sports and culture reporter Joseph King and Mississippi Public Broadcasting's Shamira Muhammad tell us about what they saw a...

On this week's episode, we’re heading to Mobile, Alabama, to find out why the Trump administration wants more ships built there and and across the Gulf . And, why critics say the policy meant to make that happen is not enough carrot and too much stick. Also, this August will mark 20 years since Hurricane Katrina, an event that forever changed New Orleans. Whether you left Louisiana or stayed after...

On this week's episode of the Gulf States Gumbo, we examine how cost-cutting in Washington is being felt in the South.  Take the federal funding that’s played a major role in fighting the U.S. HIV epidemic — especially in hard-hit places like Alabama — for example. DOGE cuts and Trump administration policy changes threaten to undo that progress, according to advocates.  And Louisiana lawmakers are...

Chicago has a lot to celebrate right now. After all, before he was Leo XIV of the Vatican, he was Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago.  What’s less well known are the Pope’s Creole ties.  In this week's episode, we hear how Catholics in Jackson, Mississippi , and New Orleans are reacting to the news, and we talk to the man who uncovered the Pope’s Southern connection.  This episode is hosted and wri...

On this week's episode, we round the bases with a couple of sports stories, like a "torpedo bat" design giving baseball players newfound power.  But what is it about these bats that allows players to hit the ball so deep? WWNO's and WRKF’s Alana Schreiber visited Marucci Sports, a bat manufacturer in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to find out.  New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Khalen Saunders says foo...

On this week's episode of the Gulf States Gumbo, we take a look at how communities are turning to nature to solve their environmental problems, from urban flooding in New Orleans’ Treme neighborhood to using forests to tackle greenhouse gases — while getting tribal nations paid for it.  Plus, a send-off to our environment and communities reporter Danny McArthur.  This episode is hosted by public h...

The first weekend of New Orleans’ highly anticipated Jazz and Heritage Festival is underway. And this year, New Orleans native and hip-hop legend Lil Wayne will take the main stage with The Roots for the first time in the festival’s history. Our sports and culture reporter Joseph King tells us why this is a big moment for hip-hop artists at Jazz Fest. Joseph also talks with Big Freedia, New Orlean...

Campaigns and election days tend to hog the political spotlight. It's much harder to follow the time of year when the state leaders who won those elections actually get together and work to pass laws big and small.  On this week’s show, we find out what our state lawmakers have been up to in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana with updates from the public radio reporters covering recent legislative...

It's been a wild few weeks in global trade.  President Donald Trump put 10% tariffs on all imports, and some countries started getting hit with much higher amounts. Stock markets have been swinging and economists say the odds of a recession this year are going up.  While these are international issues, how do they actually play out in our region? To learn more, we talked to our economic mobility r...

How are HBCU students working to respond to a changing climate? Environment and communities reporter Danny McArthur spoke to a few of them at a conference in New Orleans to find out .  On this week's episode, Danny joins host Joseph King to dig a little deeper on the historical connection between those universities and environmental justice.  This week’s Gulf States Gem : Danny's picks for Indian...

Pandemic disruptions put a lot of kids behind. But in the South, some schools seized the moment, making unexpected gains in different subjects. Alabama is the only state to see improvements in math . The same goes for Louisiana in reading .  NPR reporters Jonaki Mehta and Cory Turner join the GSN team to talk about their reporting about the improvements.  This week’s Gulf States Gem : Picks from M...

Tech companies have pledged hundreds of billions of dollars to build new data centers. These centers are the backbone behind AI and are being built across the country – including two record-setting $10 billion dollar projects in Mississippi. But while billions being invested in communities might sound great, our economic mobility reporter Stephan Bisaha reports they create few permanent jobs .  A...

In this episode, environment and communities reporter Danny McArthur, economic mobility reporter Stephan Bisaha and WBHM managing editor Andrew Yeager discuss what's at stake for Gulf South scientists as the Trump administration makes cuts to big agencies — like the National Institutes of Health . Also, sports and culture reporter Joseph King meets with a Black Masking Indian queen in New Orleans....

This week, we’re on the water. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management made some new rules to help clean up old oil wells in the Gulf. WWNO's Eva Tesfaye talks with environment and communities reporter Danny McArthur about why some states aren't happy — and suing to prevent it. Also, Danny takes a river trip down the Mississippi River with teens taking in the great outdoors. This week's gem: Alabama...

Who pays for security at the Mardi Gras parades everyone loves?  Public health reporter Drew Hawkins reports that, oftentimes, smaller independent krewes foot their own bill. And it's getting more expensive after the New Year's Day attack in New Orleans.  Also, economic mobility reporter Stephan Bisaha visits the French Quarter to talk to businesses in the wake of that attack. This week’s Gulf Sta...

Out. Of. Network. Dreaded words for anyone who needs life-saving medical care. But sometimes doctors in an insurance company’s network can’t perform that care. Our public health reporter Drew Hawkins tells us about one Mississippi family who went above and beyond to get a critically needed surgery— but were still denied. And we hear about what the Trump Administration’s plans to cut health researc...

Two men with military ties made headlines after two deadly incidents in New Orleans and Las Vegas. Some veterans have been trying to make sense of the tragic events.   And our criminal justice reporter Kat Stromquist is joined by Texas Newsroom reporter Lauren McGaughy to tell us more about these deadly events and the reporting they’ve been doing around them. This week’s Gulf States Gem: Lauren  s...

How the big game is impacting the Big Easy. We’ll hear about some of the steps being taken to help keep people visiting New Orleans for the Super Bowl safe in light of the New Year’s Day attack on Bourbon Street. And we’ll also hear more about how the Super Bowl impacts the culture and the people who live and work in New Orleans — and about some of the players connected to the Gulf South you might...

Alabama’s Black Belt has been dealing with sanitation issues for a long time , and now residents are creating ways to solve their problem. Our Environmental justice reporter Danny McArthur has been investigating these issues for years and tells us more. We also find out what Louisiana is doing with empty homeless encampments with the Super Bowl a week away. This week’s Gulf States Gem : The McWane...