Louisiana Considered

Rumors are continuing to swirl about a potential large aerospace project in coastal Vermillion Parish. State officials have been silent, but a host of state incentives passed this year – and some federal policy changes – could be a sign of what’s to come. An official announcement of the project could happen as soon as this month.  WWNO and WRKF’s Coastal Desk Reporter Michael McEwen has been follo...

Tuesday, August 11, marks 10 years since a series of storms dumped torrential rainfall over 21 Louisiana parishes. Over the course of a few days, the floodwaters rose, inundating homes and displacing thousands of residents. The Baton Rouge area was particularly hit hard by what the National Weather Service called a 1,000-year flood. Last week, Louisiana Public Broadcasting released a documentary s...

There’s a storm coming, but this time, it’s headed to Sesame Street. With extreme weather becoming more common, Sesame Workshop recently launched a new initiative to help children and families prepare for and cope with natural disasters. And this initiative kicked off with a storm-themed Sesame Street special, which premiered on PBS Kids and Netflix earlier this month. Rocio Galarza, Vice Presiden...

It’s Thursday and that means it’s time to catch up on the week in politics with Stephanie Grace, editorial director and columnist for The Times-Picayune/The Advocate. Today, we hear how New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno is taking on the city’s budget crisis.  In late July, the American Red Cross declared its second-ever blood supply crisis after donations fell to a four-year summer low. The Red Cros...

The Louisiana v. Callais Supreme Court decision ruled that states cannot draw congressional maps based on race. This caused ripple effects throughout the Gulf South, and voting rights organizations across Mississippi rallied to hold People's Hearings on redistricting. The Gulf States Newsroom’s Maya Miller traveled to Southaven, Mississippi — a suburban community bordering Memphis, Tennessee — to...

On Louisiana Considered, we’ve been discussing the non-disclosure agreements, or NDAs, that have become commonplace in Gov. Jeff Landry’s administration.  The Gulf States Newsroom reported earlier this year that at least 50 elected officials signed NDAs with Louisiana Economic Development related to large-scale industrial projects. Yesterday on the show, we heard how some of these NDAs extend to t...

Nondisclosure agreements, or NDAs, have become a common tool in Louisiana under Gov. Jeff Landry’s administration. Earlier this year, the Gulf States Newsroom reported that at least 50 elected officials signed NDAs with the state agency Louisiana Economic Development as well as individual development companies. These NDAs are related to industrial projects throughout the state, including data cent...

In the Netherlands, water has always been both a threat and a triumph. A quarter of the country lies below sea level, and for centuries the Dutch have engineered their way to safety. It’s a place not unlike New Orleans: a delta shaped by risk, resilience, and the belief that with enough ingenuity, water can be controlled. But as sea levels rise, that centuries-old confidence is beginning to crack....

It’s Thursday and that means it’s time for our week in politics with Times -Picayune/The Advocate Editorial Director and Columnist Stephanie Grace. Today, we discuss the latest in the state’s congressional elections and the pending Supreme Court cases that could affect some congressional districts. A nationwide outbreak of a microscopic parasite has reached Louisiana. Known as cyclospora, the para...

Rep. Cleo Fields , D-La.,  has decided not to seek re-election to the 6th Congressional District. His decision comes after his seat was at the center of a blockbuster U.S. Supreme Court ruling on race and redistricting. Capitol Access Reporter Brooke Thorington joins us with more on Fields’ political future.  The utility company Magnolia Water is responsible for providing water and sewer service t...

July is Disability Rights Month, so we are taking the time to recognize passionate Louisiana activist April Dunn. Born with both fetal alcohol syndrome and cerebral palsy, Dunn was passionate about increasing educational opportunities for people with disabilities, even advocating for the passage of the April Dunn Act in 2014. She passed away in early March of 2020 after testing positive for COVID-...

Earlier this month, a federal jury convicted a New Orleans-area pastor of stealing over $340,000 from his congregation to fund his gambling and personal expenses. Dale Sanders , 56, was found guilty of a 25-count indictment charging him with wire fraud, access device fraud and obstruction of a federal investigation. James Finn, Federal Courts reporter for The Times-Picayune/The Advocate, joins us...

Today on Louisiana Considered, we listen to an episode of a new podcast, “American Colony,” all about the history of Puerto Rico. In this episode produced by WWNO’s Alana Schreiber, we dive into baseball history on the archipelago, specifically how the sport was shaped by Black American baseball players.  During the golden age of the Negro Leagues, the biggest stars came to play in Puerto Rico. Sa...

It’s Thursday and that means it’s time to catch up on the week in politics with Stephanie Grace, editorial director and columnist for the Times-Picayune/The Advocate. Today, we discuss major changes coming to FEMA and preview the upcoming congressional races. A new investigation examines how Louisiana’s public air monitoring network often fails to measure pollution where it’s needed most. Not only...

Summer camp is out of reach for many families, even just day programs. And a big reason is the cost. For the Gulf States Newsroom, Aubri Juhasz looks at how some camps are keeping prices affordable. Louisiana recently updated a state law that criminalizes intentionally exposing others to HIV. In the past, Louisiana had one of the most punitive HIV exposure laws in the country, but advocates have l...

Over the weekend, Tropical Depression Bertha formed roughly 100 miles south of Panama City, Florida. Now a tropical storm, Bertha is expected to head towards the Gulf South, including the Louisiana Coastline. Meteorologist Jennifer Narramore spoke with WWNO’s Bob Pavlovich for the latest. Summer is often when teenagers look for jobs to earn money, gain experience and begin building their careers....

As you’re likely more than aware, it is summer in the Gulf South. And with it comes the risk of extreme heat. But heat doesn’t just affect how your body feels — it can also affect your mental health. As the Gulf States Newsroom’s Drew Hawkins reports, new research shows that as the temperature goes up, so does the number of calls to Louisiana’s suicide crisis hotline. For more than 40 years, MedCa...

This is part 3 of our three-part series about elements. And today is a biggie: carbon. When we hear about carbon, it's usually about its role in heating up the planet. And while that's an absolutely critical part of the story, the story of this most miraculous of substances is so much larger. We talk to Peter Brannen, author of The Story of CO2 is the Story of Everything, about how carbon has alwa...

It’s Thursday, and that means it’s time to talk politics with The Times Picayune/New Orleans Advocate’s Stephanie Grace. Today, we discuss Gov. Jeff Landry’s recent remarks on New Orleans and the latest on the Murrill indictment. Zohran Mamdani’s election as New York mayor in November has had ripple effects throughout the country. In New York and cities like Denver, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, o...

We just finished celebrating one of America’s most patriotic holidays a couple of weeks ago. Even though the holiday is more closely associated with the original 13 colonies, a significant chapter of the Revolutionary War took place in the Louisiana Territories. The 1779 Battle of Baton Rouge was an important turning point of the war, signifying the strength of the rebels and their alliance with S...

On Monday, Gov. Jeff Landry announced Meta is planning to double in size its datacenter in Richland Parish. The data center is already garnering a lot of attention for concerns over environmental impact and increased electricity demand.  Reporter Brooke Thorington was at yesterday’s press conference. She tells us more about what the expansion means for Louisiana.  One of the most significant battl...

Louisiana state Senator Larry Selders died suddenly last week after collapsing at his son’s football practice. The “gentle giant” leaves behind his wife, Dr. Kendra Michael and sons, Larry and Luke. The Louisiana Illuminator senior reporter Julie O’Donoghue joins us for more on Selders, his advocacy for substance abuse treatment and mental health rehabilitation, and what happens to his empty senat...

This is part 2 of our 3-part series about elements. Last time we met nitrogen, today, it’s partner in crime and in life – phosphorus. WLRN Environment Editor Jenny Staletovich has gotten to know the main character of this story pretty well after reporting on the environment in South Florida for more than a dozen years. Bone Valley in Central Florida has quietly fed the world’s hunger for phosphoru...

It’s Thursday, and that means it’s time to talk politics with The Times Picayune/New Orleans Advocate’s Stephanie Grace. Today, we hear about the latest on the indictment of Attorney General Liz Murrill and its political implications.  State lawmakers passed a legislative package this past session to eliminate three judge positions  from Orleans Parish Criminal Court. Supporters say the move was t...

The system for dealing with stormwater in New Orleans is hundreds of years old and isn’t getting any younger. The Sewerage and Water Board (SWBNO)’s maintenance budget is short, more than $20 million a year, and that gap is only going to get bigger as a tax to address it expires next year. Public officials, experts and advocates all agree a stormwater fee is needed. Coastal desk reporter Eva Tesfa...