Advertise on podcast: Behind The Lens

This week on Behind The Lens, a cluster of small villages in the Israeli-occupied West Bank have strong ties to the West Bank of New Orleans. Many Palestinian-Americans have their roots in the occupied area and often spend summers there to get out of the oppressive heat and humidity of southern Louisiana, and to expose their [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: Palestinian villages and New Orleans ties (audio) The post Behind The Lens: Palestinian villages and New Orleans ties (audio) appeared first on The Lens.

Chronic absenteeism and educational opportunities for students with cognitive disabilities are at the center of this episode of Behind The Lens, as New Orleans public schools take new approaches to addressing two significant challenges facing students and families. NOLA Public Schools has established a new office dedicated to combating chronic absenteeism, a persistent problem across the [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: Tackling chronic absenteeism and expanding special education in New Orleans (audio) The post Behind The Lens: Tackling chronic absenteeism and expanding special education in New Orleans (audio) appeared first on The Lens.

A proposed $100 billion SpaceX spaceport in Louisiana’s Vermilion Parish is raising questions about the potential impact of large-scale space operations on nearby communities and the environment. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: Thrust and Power — SpaceX’s $100 Billion spaceport proposal (audio) The post Behind The Lens: Thrust and Power — SpaceX’s $100 Billion spaceport proposal (audio) appeared first on The Lens.

... the owner of the paper of record in the state, John Georges, rolls out the red carpet for Meta and explains how he thinks these deals will save journalism in the state.  [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: “As Meta rolls into Louisiana with a massive data center … (This is Part 2 of 2 audio discussions) The post Behind The Lens: “As Meta rolls into Louisiana with a massive data center … (This is Part 2 of 2 audio discussions) appeared first on The Lens.

... the owner of the paper of record in the state, John Georges, rolls out the red carpet for Meta and explains how he thinks these deals will save journalism in the state.  [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: “As Meta rolls into Louisiana with a massive data center … (This is Part 1 of 2 audio discussions) The post Behind The Lens: “As Meta rolls into Louisiana with a massive data center … (This is Part 1 of 2 audio discussions) appeared first on The Lens.

In this episode of “Behind The Lens,” questions of public safety, regulatory oversight and neighborhood concern come into focus in New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward. Sunrise Foods International has received approval for a sprinkler system at a large grain-loading facility at the Alabo Wharf, despite the use of a system expressly forbidden by the state [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: Sunrise Foods sprinkler system raises fire code concerns in Lower 9th Ward (audio) The post Behind The Lens: Sunrise Foods sprinkler system raises fire code concerns in Lower 9th Ward (audio) appeared first on The Lens.

Changes to federal food assistance and a new recognition of Black education history raise important questions about students, schools, and the history taught in New Orleans classrooms. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: SNAP cuts could threaten free school meals; New Orleans marks Black Education History Week (audio) The post Behind The Lens: SNAP cuts could threaten free school meals; New Orleans marks Black Education History Week (audio) appeared first on The Lens.

Journalist Emmanuel Felton talks about traveling through Louisiana’s disputed congressional district, examining the communities at the center of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on racial gerrymandering, representation and political power. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: Color or community? Supreme Court ruling reshapes Louisiana’s congressional map (audio) The post Behind The Lens: Color or community? Supreme Court ruling reshapes Louisiana’s congressional map (audio) appeared first on The Lens.

This week on Behind The Lens, a federal judge takes an extraordinary step in response to the illegal detention of an Ethiopian man living in the United States, holding an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official in contempt of court after the official twice ignored the judge’s orders. Reporter Delaney Nolan and The Lens editor Katy Reckdahl examine the [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens Podcast: Contempt of court (audio) The post Behind The Lens Podcast: Contempt of court (audio) appeared first on The Lens.

Criminal justice reporter Bernard Smith looks at a law passed by the Louisiana Legislature three years ago to automatically clear eligible criminal records. Despite its promise of a cleaner slate, the effort has yet to get past the starting gate because of technological hurdles. Smith explains what is preventing the automatic record-clearing system from moving [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens Podcast: Clean slate and school bells (audio) The post Behind The Lens Podcast: Clean slate and school bells (audio) appeared first on The Lens.

New Orleans experiences an exceptional number of fair-weather power outages as aging and failing equipment raises concerns across the city. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: Why New Orleans keeps losing power in fair weather (audio) The post Behind The Lens: Why New Orleans keeps losing power in fair weather (audio) appeared first on The Lens.

Black defendants face major barriers to securing representative juries, while a Lower Ninth Ward family farm wins a settlement after its property was mistakenly treated with pesticides. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: “Where did all my people go?”  (audio) The post Behind The Lens: “Where did all my people go?”  (audio) appeared first on The Lens.

Questions about how power Is exercised in Louisiana, as the governor vetoes more money for wrongfully convicted exonerees and a 14-year-old student is handcuffed and barred from her middle-school graduation. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: Governor’s veto and student’s arrest put government power under scrutiny (audio) The post Behind The Lens: Governor’s veto and student’s arrest put government power under scrutiny (audio) appeared first on The Lens.

Reporter Delaney Nolan and editor Katy Reckdahl examine the surge in ICE activity across Louisiana. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: ICE detention, court access and federal intervention in Louisiana (audio) The post Behind The Lens: ICE detention, court access and federal intervention in Louisiana (audio) appeared first on The Lens.

A proposed solar farm in Iberia Parish promised millions in local tax revenue and a boost for Louisiana's clean energy future. Instead, a misinformation campaign fueled public opposition that helped bring the project to a halt. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens: False claims, real consequences: Why an Iberia Parish solar farm never got built (audio) The post Behind The Lens: False claims, real consequences: Why an Iberia Parish solar farm never got built (audio) appeared first on The Lens.