Louisiana Considered

Early voting begins this weekend in some parts of the states, and, among other proposals, voters will weigh in on a property tax that would enhance early childhood education programs in New Orleans. The Advocate’s Editorial Director and columnist, Stephanie Grace, tells us more.  Roughly every decade or so, Louisiana updates its social studies standards for K-12 students. It’s usually a routine pr...

Last Friday, State Senator Karen Carter Peterson, who has been an elected official in the state legislature since 1999, announced her resignation from her position due to depression and a gambling addiction. New Orleans Advocate/Times Picayune staff writer Tyler Bridges tells us more about the implications of this decision.  Baton Rouge’s convention and visitor’s bureau recently came out with a su...

The history of the city of New Orleans comes alive in a multi-million-dollar high tech adventure at the foot of Canal Street. Co-developer of the exhibit, dubbed Vue Orleans, Paul Flower, tells us more about how the immersive experience provides insights into New Orleans art, music, food, culture and history. The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra’s Music at the Museum series returns to the Marigny...

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the public health emergency made it so that anyone enrolled in Medicaid would not lose coverage, including pregnant women. But now that emergency status could end as early as April 16, that could mean tens of thousands of women in the Gulf South losing their medicaid coverage two months after they give birth. All while in the background are increasing restrictions...

We’re still 18 months away from Louisiana’s next gubernatorial election, but Senator Bill Cassidy is already eyeing the seat. The Advocate’s editorial director and columnist Stephanie Grace tells us more about the Republican lawmaker’s potential run.  Dillard University sent shockwaves through the collegiate mock trial community last month when the unranked team advanced to the American Mock Trial...

In the last week of March, FEMA officials gave updates to Lafourche parish residents and council members on proposed group sites for temporary housing. This comes close to 8 months after Hurricane Ida made landfall, displacing an estimated one thousand residents in the parish. WWNO’s Coastal reporter Kezia Setyawan spoke with Dan Copp, reporter for the Houma Courier/Thibodaux Daily Comet, to learn...

This Friday, April 8th, student composers and members of the Constantinides New Music Ensemble from the LSU School of Music, will perform a concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City. They will be performing works by student composers, as well as works by LSU Music faculty and alumni.   Mara Gibson, professor of composition at the LSU College of Music and Dramatic Arts and director of the Constanti...

Award-winning New Orleans based performance artist, published poet and playwright José Torres-Tama is heading back to the stage with a new solo act called United States of Amnesia: Dare to Remember. The self-described “shamanistic time-traveler” tells us more about his performance.  The music, dance and rituals of the Garifuna community in the Crescent City comes alive at the Music Box Village as...

Louisiana’s First Lady Donna Edwards has established a national coalition for the prevention of human sex trafficking that includes five first spouses. Edwards, along with Dr. Dana Hunter, executive director of the newly created Office of Human Trafficking Prevention, tell us more about their work helping to identify trafficking, addressing causes of the problem, and supporting victims.  On Saturd...

On Friday's Louisiana Considered, hosted by Patrick Madden and Stephanie Grace. The Advocate's  Andrea Gallo  talks about  this week's story  on the campaign finances of Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry. And Capitol Access reporter  Paul Braun   on this week’s veto override at the state legislature over the congressional maps. And  Stephen Bisaha  of the Gulf State’s newsroom checks in on th...

On Thursday's Louisiana Considered: Aging out of the foster care system: How Louisiana is rethinking the transition for young adults aging out of the foster care system. Listen to  Debbie Elliot's   great report. A new video game based in Norco, Louisiana is winning global awards. Here a conversation between the Coastal Desk's  Kezia Setyawan  and the developer of  NORCO. And a special report from...

The healthcare system has been put under enormous strain since the beginning of the pandemic, with medical workers resigning from their jobs in large numbers. Tonya Hansel (PhD, LMSW), director of the doctorate program at the Tulane University School of Social Work, tells us more about the great resignation – and potential solutions to combating burnout. Earlier this month, athletes from around th...

For the first time since the pandemic shut-down, the New Orleans Opera is presenting its first fully staged performance. New Orleans Opera general and artistic director, Clare Burovac, tells us about the upcoming performance of Puccini’s La bohème.  Playwright Tennessee Williams is known for his dramas that depict 20th century families, mainly living in the American South. But this year, the Tenne...

In February, a group of nonprofit and government agencies in New Orleans received a 5 million dollar grant from J.P Morgan Chase to aid Black and Latino childcare providers. The grant is being distributed to Nola C.A.R.E.S, a collaborative that consists of twelve organizations headed by Beloved Community, a nonprofit focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.  Vice President of Beloved Community...

In New Orleans, Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s executive order suspending residency requirements for certain employees was shot down by the City Council. City Council member J.P Morrell tells us what this means for council-mayoral relations. And editorial director and columnist for The Advocate, Stephanie Grace, analyzes what this says about the limitations on mayoral power.  Louisianans are often at the...

With oil prices volatile, many are reconsidering viable alternative fuel sources. We revisit a conversation with Devin DeWulf, founder of Krewe of Red Beans, about his idea for neighborhood solar hubs when the power goes down. And we hear an update on the momentum of his grass roots project, Get Lit, Stay Lit.   Back in January, Baton Rouge’s two reform Jewish synagogues, Congregation B’nai Israel...

Last evening, at least two tornadoes struck through the New Orleans area, causing heavy damage in the Lower Ninth Ward and Arabi. WWNO’s New Director, Patrick Madden, and Health Care Reporter, Shalina Chatlani, tell us about the destruction they are seeing live at the scene. Louisiana lawmakers are continuing their investigation into the death of Ronald Greene, a motorist who died while in state p...

The Bayou State’s own Sean Ardoin & Kreole Rock and Soul have garnered a third Grammy nomination and are hoping this time will be the charm. The Lake Charles zydeco accordionist Sean Ardoin joins us to discuss his musical journey Mardi Gras 2022 may be in the rearview mirror, but the exhibit “Making Mardi Gras,” a behind-the-scenes look at the Greatest Free Show on Earth, continues its run at...

New Orleans has officially lifted its COVID-19 vaccine mandate or proof of a recent negative test for entrance into public spaces such as restaurants, bars, and other venues. This shift comes just three weeks after Mardi Gras, which despite concern, did not show a dramatic increase in COVID cases. Brian Knighten, owner of the musical venue The Broadside, and Tom Thayer, owner of the music venue d....

New Orleans City Council Member Joe Giarrusso recently proposed freezing the city’s public works budget. He joins us to discuss why he believes this controversial proposal might encourage city agencies to start solving its problems.  The state legislative session kicked off earlier this week, and congress has been busy with the redistricting process and the ongoing investigation into the death of...

With gas prices on the rise, it’s no surprise that many people are dusting off their bicycles and turning to alternative forms of transportation. Mobility and Safety Outreach Manager for the Roadwork NOLA program, David Lee Simmons , and transportation planner and transit program coordinator with the New Orleans Regional Planning Commission, Samuel Buckley, tell us more about the increasing intere...

Governor John Bel Edwards has proclaimed March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month in Louisiana. The Louisiana Department of Health has doubled-down on their efforts to raise awareness of problem gambling in the wake of sports wagering and mobile sports betting becoming more widely available in the state.  Robert Henson, program manager at the Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Behavioral...

Two years ago, the World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Since then, nearly a million people have died in the U.S. , including over 16,800 people in Louisiana. Health reporter for the Gulf States Newsroom Shalina Chatlani takes us through highlights from her coverage over the past year. The Marigny Opera Ballet is putting dancers in the choreographers’ chair with the s...

Last summer, Louisiana state officials opened the high-security juvenile detention facility, the Acadiana Center for Youth in St. Martinville. But a recent investigation into the center by ProPublica, NBC News, and the Marshall Project found horrific conditions at the center, including teens held in solitary confinement for weeks at a time, shackled with leg irons during showers, and little to no...

With clashes over redistricting maps and threat of lawsuits from civil rights groups, the most recent state legislative session ended with a lot of questions still unanswered. Now, state senators and representatives are set to reconvene on Monday.  The Advocate’s editorial director and columnist Stephanie Grace joins WRKF’s Capital Access Reporter Paul Braun to discuss the agenda for the upcoming...