Louisiana Considered

The Advocate’s Mike Smith spent the last year living and reporting on Lake Charles, Louisiana. Today he joins Patrick Madden and the Advocate’s Editorial Director and columnist, Stephanie Grace, to reflect on his time in the southwestern city. He shares how he managed to find lasting hope among residents, despite their struggles with storm damage. WBHM’s Mary Scott Hodgin’s new podcast dives deep...

On Monday, we heard a conversation between two Starbucks employees – one in Birmingham and one in New Orleans – about their unionizing attempts. The Gulf States Newsroom’s Stephan Bisaha tells us about upcoming votes on whether to join or reject unionizing, and how Starbucks has waged an anti-union campaign in response.  Friday May 20 is National Rescue Dog Day, an annual event that recognizes how...

LSU Professor and Associate Dean John White is making a name for himself, as he recently won a National Academy of Sciences award for his research on wetlands. And when he accepts, he will be the sixth member of LSU’s College of the Coast and Environment to win the National Wetlands Award. John White joins us to talk about his 23 years of research that led to his latest accomplishment.  Last month...

A beloved New Orleans neighborhood festival is making a comeback for the first time since 2019 as the Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo, presented by the Friends of Bayou St. John returns this weekend.  Jared Zeller, founder, and president of Friends of Bayou St. John and executive producer of Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo tells us more about the weekend of events. A 21st century adaptation of Treasure Island by...

Back in February we spoke to Beth Schwartzapfel from the Marshall Project who, along ProPublica and NBC News, found horrific conditions at the Acadiana Center for Youth in St. Martinville, including teens held in solitary confinement for weeks at a time. But recently, state lawmakers took major steps to limit the use of solitary confinement for the state’s youth.  Beth Schwartzapfel joins us again...

This week, Louisiana lawmaker Danny McCormick introduced a bill allowing prosecutors to charge patients with homicide if they get an abortion. But after initially passing out of a house committee and receiving amendments, the bill was ultimately pulled. WRKF Capitol Access reporter Paul Braun tells us more about this bill and other legislative attempts to restrict abortions as the nation gets read...

As the state legislature is in the national spotlight for a controversial bill that would criminalize abortion, WWNO/WRKF Capitol Access reporter Paul Braun discusses what the bill entails and why the state’s biggest anti-abortion group opposes the bill’s passage.   May 11-17 is National Police Week, a tradition that goes back 60 years to honor public servants. Darrell Basco, President of the Loui...

A recent report showed Louisiana's air quality hasn't gotten worse in the past year the same way it has nationwide, but it hasn’t exactly improved either. WWNO’s Coastal Reporter, Halle Parker, gives us the latest on the state of Louisiana's air. After almost two years of debate, New Orleans’ Lusher Charter School finally has a new name. The school, named for Confederate tax collector and white su...

The New Orleans Ballet Association is closing its blockbuster season with world-renowned American Ballet Theatre, bringing its masterpiece, Don Quixote. Accompanied by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, the company’s long-awaited return to the Crescent City marks its first in almost 50 years.   Principal dancer Cassandra Trenary tells us more about what to expect on stage.   Summer Lyric Theatr...

Over the years, the lakes at LSU have begun to look more like the swamps from which they came with sediment buildup and algae overgrowth. But recently, Governor John Bel Edwards announced that Phase One of a plan to restore the lake system at LSU is fully funded and soon to be underway.  President and CEO of the LSU Foundation, Rob Stuart, tells us more about what this lake restoration will look l...

Earlier this week, Politico published a leaked copy of a draft of a US Supreme Court opinion that would overturn the landmark 1973 decision, Roe v. Wade. WRKF’s Capital Access Reporter, Paul Braun, tells us how this might impact abortion access in Louisiana. In a recent veto, the New Orleans City Council got one step closer to weakening mayoral powers. The Advocate’s Editorial Director and Columni...

In 2010, The Tunica-Biloxi tribe of Louisiana established the Language and Culture Revitalization Program, or LCRP, in order to expand knowledge of the Native American language and offer more cultural education. Over the years, the LCRP has hosted multiple educational events, including storytelling programs for kids, like the one coming up this Saturday, May 7. For more on growing the knowledge of...

The Louisiana Policy Institute for Children (LPIC) says more than half of parents in Louisiana had to adjust their work or school schedule to provide child care in 2021. They’ve also found that families with an income below $20,000 were twice as likely to quit their job to care for their children. Director of partnerships at LPIC, Candace Weber, tells us more about the economic impacts of childcar...

Late last night, Politico published a leaked copy of a draft of a US Supreme Court opinion that would overturn the landmark 1973 decision, Roe v. Wade. Capitol Access Reporter Paul Braun spoke to WWNO's Patrick Madden about this startling leak and how this may impact abortion access across the country. 2022 continues to be a banner year for New Orleans native son Jon Batiste, who won 5 Grammys out...

Superintendent Henderson Lewis Jr. is set to leave New Orleans Public Schools when his contract expires at the end of June. His replacement, Dr. Avis Williams, is the first woman elected to permanently lead the district in its more than 180 year history.   Williams is the current superintendent of Selma City Schools in Selma Alabama. She spoke with WWNO’s Education Reporter, Aubri Juhasz, to discu...

Cedric Richmond, former U.S. Representative for Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District, is leaving his post as a senior aide in the Biden White House. The Advocate’s Editorial Director and columnist, Stephanie Grace, tells us what might result from Louisiana losing this direct line to the President.    Last week, the The U-S Department of Justice published a report last week, outlining how the Mis...

Tonight is Game 6 for the NBA playoff series between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Phoenix Suns. And while the underdog Pelicans have largely been holding their own this series, if they lose tonight, they will be eliminated from the tournament.  To learn more about what to expect on the court, Louisiana Considered’s Managing Producer, Alana Schreiber, spoke with Christian Clark, who covers the...

People who come down with COVID-19 have been known to experience a variety of symptoms during the infection, including neurological issues like headaches and confusion. But a study from Tulane suggests that COVID might actually cause long-term damage to the brain that lasts long after recovery. Tracy Fischer, professor of microbiology and immunology at the Tulane School of Medicine, tells us about...

The much awaited return of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival will become a reality this week, following a 2-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Jazz Fest producer Quint Davis tells us what to expect at the highly anticipated event.  Renowned New Orleans trumpeter, composer, educator, and bandleader Jamil Sharif is back in the groove with two new releases. He tells us how his long musical her...

Last year, New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell’s administration proposed a “city-directed internet service” to compete with existing providers like Cox and AT&T. But now, the New Orleans city council has initiated a full fledged investigation into the project after learning that the city official in charge of it maintains two side businesses within the same smart cities industry.  Cultural econo...

According to a recent report from the New York Times, Republic Representative Kevin McCarthy planned to tell then-President Donald Trump to resign in the days after the Jan. 6 attack. The Advocate’s Editorial Director Stephanie Grace tells us how this news might impact the rest of the Republican Party.  A rail line from Baton Rouge to New Orleans has long been a Louisiana pipe-dream, but now it ma...

Medical marijuana was legalized by the Louisiana legislature roughly two years ago, but the rollout of programs has faced multiple roadblocks. State Rep. Joe Marino updates us on the latest medical marijuana legislation.  After a two-year setback due to COVID, a “symphony” of performances in Musicians’ Village is finally set for next fall. Assistant Professor of Art History at UNO, Dr. Anna Mecung...

This month, the Louisiana House voted unanimously to advance a bill that could give renters more protections after hurricanes. WWNO’s Patrick Madden spoke with Coastal Desk reporter Kezia Setyawan and New Orleans Metro reporter Carly Berlin, to learn how the bill could penalize landlords who illegally evict their tenants. The Louisiana Tumor Registry at LSU Health New Orleans has published the fif...

50-years ago today WWNO first signed on the air, becoming the NPR station for southeast Louisiana. Fast-forward a half century later and WWNO continues to proudly serve the New Orleans region with news and music programming. To celebrate this milestone, WWNO veteran broadcaster and award-winning producer, Fred Kasten, tells us a bit more about the station’s history. New Orleans’ French Quarter Fes...

Since it first began, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has sparked outrage across the country and the globe, including right here in Louisiana. But for those Louisianans with close ties to Ukraine, the images of death and destruction are deeply personal.  Alex Orak, Tulane medical student originally from Kharkiv, Ukraine, and Eddy Hayes, Honorary Consul to Ukraine for the state, tell us about their...