Louisiana Considered Podcast

When Hurricane Katrina made landfall 20 years ago, New Orleans East was especially hard hit. This part of the city is home to a large Vietnamese population, many of whom had experienced fleeing their home in the aftermath of the Fall of Saigon. Yet the Vietnamese community bounced back, in larger numbers, and at a faster rate than many other enclaves. Cyndi Nguyen is a New Orleans East resident and former city council woman who currently serves as the community outreach strategist for New Orleans Regional Transit Authority.  She tells us more about how this community recovered.In the immediate aftermath of Katrina, thousands of displaced people were looking for their missing relatives. Queries popped up on various websites, like Craigslist and Yahoo, but the posts were too scattered to be useful. That's when a group of tech-savvy volunteers came in, led by David Geilhufe. They compiled the information to create one centralized database to find the missing, called PeopleFinder. David joins us from California to discuss PeopleFinder and his work in the aftermath of the storm.Many people displaced from Hurricane Katrina came to Baton Rouge en masse. Faith groups of all kinds took the call to help their needs both spiritually and physically. Report for America corps member Alex Cox spoke with retired interfaith federation executive director Reverend Robin McCullough-Bade about how Katrina weighs on people's spirits to this day. ___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!  Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

When Hurricane Katrina made landfall 20 years ago, many residents were looking to find their way out of New Orleans, but journalists were descending upon the city looking for a way in. In the days and weeks that followed, the country was overwhelmed with a variety of media narratives, as journalists worked to report honestly on the situation without ignoring the fear and desperation they saw. For many, they had to toe the line between telling the story and getting involved in the story. Jeré Longman, a longtime New York Times sports reporter now on the Obituaries Desk,and former WWL-TV anchor, Thanh Truong, tell us about their experiences covering Katrina. They're joined by poet Shelton Shakespeare Alexander, who brought his camera to the Superdome when he evacuated, and sought to share the story from the inside. Media coverage in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has been criticized for amplifying rumors and spreading misinformation. Journalists in and from New Orleans – like some of the ones we heard from – worked to cut through the confusion. The Gulf States Newsroom's Drew Hawkins reports on how smaller, local publications also played a role in keeping the city afloat.This year, Be Loud Studios launched Born After the Storm, an audio storytelling project that brings youth – who were not alive for Hurricane Katrina – into the citywide conversation about the legacy of the storm. The stories will also anchor a new classroom curriculum that allows students to discuss the impacts of Katrina.Today, we'll hear from two of those storytellers. 12th graders Joi Metoyer and Mai Smith share how Katrina has impacted their families and their lives.___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

After Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans 20 years ago, public education in the city came to a complete stop. And when schools reopened, many of the city's educators didn't get their jobs back. Instead, they were replaced with young people who were new to teaching and new to New Orleans.Education reporter Aubri Juhasz spoke with two teachers on opposite sides of that divide.While all New Orleans public schools were forced into this all-charter system, the ways in which the schools bounced back were uneven. And some schools were dramatically different than they had been in the pre-storm years. Marta Jewson, reporter for The Lens Nola, profiled one such school, John McDonough High from its integration in 1967 – seven years after the first New Orleans Schools were integrated – to its role as an elementary charter school today. She joins us now for more. Because it's been 20 years since Hurricane Katrina, that means there are plenty of young people throughout the city who have no memory of the storm – they weren't around yet. But many of them can still feel the weight of this tragedy, and have grown up hearing stories about how the storm impacted their friends, family and community. The storytelling organization Be Loud Studios has recently launched a new curriculum, Born After the Storm, that gives teachers a way to discuss Hurricane Katrina with their students. Be Loud's executive director Alex Owens tells us more.  __Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Diane Mack. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber and our assistant producer is Aubry Procell. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App, and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Hurricane Katrina destroyed an estimated 320 million trees in the Gulf Coast. This was not only a dramatic shift in the look of the landscape, but left the region more vulnerable to further disasters without the trees to absorb carbon and intercept stormwater.Over the last 20 years, NOLA Tree Project has planted tens of thousands of trees to help rebuild New Orleans' canopy. Executive director Connie Uddo joins us to talk about the project. .Climate change is making hurricanes stronger than before. Five years ago, the Federal Emergency Management Agency started a program to fund projects that help prevent damage from disasters, before they happen. Louisiana was supposed to receive more than $720million dollars. Then the Trump administration cancelled the program.The Coastal Desk's Eva Tesfaye reports on what that means for New Orleans' preparedness for future storms.We can't talk about Hurricane Katrina recovery without discussing Sankofa Community Development Corporation. The organization was founded and supported by Lower Ninth Ward residents and focuses on wetlands restoration, farming and health. Founder and CEO of Sankofa CDC, Rashida Ferdianand, tells us how the organization is expanding to focus on economic advancement, workforce development and investing in the neighborhood's overall future and sustainability.—Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Karen Henderson. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We receive production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell. You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Two decades after Hurricane Katrina and its devastating aftermath reshaped New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, we gathered to remember all that was lost, reflect on the lessons learned, and pay tribute to all the good that has been done in the two decades since. And, we look to the future: where do we go from here, and how can this region not just survive but thrive?Renowned jazz musician Dr. Michael White performs original music written in response to Katrina and reflects on connections between recovering from the tragedy and the city's jazz culture. (Dr. White on clarinet, Mitchell Claire on bass, and Sevva Bennet on banjo.)And we are joined by an esteemed panel:Troy Carter - US Congressman. He was previously a member of the Louisiana State Senate, served on the New Orleans City Council, and was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives.Colette Pichon Battle - Lawyer and Climate Justice Organizer. She's the vision and initiatives partner for Taproot Earth, a frontline organizing project working across the Gulf and Global South.David Waggonner -Architect and founder of Waggonner and Ball, an award-winning, internationally active architecture and environment practice located in New Orleans.Josh Lewis - Scientist and Schwartz Professor of River and Coastal Studies at the Tulane Bywater Institute.—Sea Change is a WWNO and WRKF production. We are part of the NPR Podcast Network and distributed by PRX. Sea Change is made possible with major support from the Gulf Research Program of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Sea Change is also supported by the Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans. WWNO's Coastal Desk is supported by the Walton Family Foundation, the Meraux Foundation, and the Greater New Orleans Foundation.

The Katrina 20 Local Planning Committee is commemorating Hurricane Katrina with performances, art and more, throughout the city, stretching to Mississippi and Alabama.The Coastal Desk's Eva Tesfaye spoke with Asali deVan Ecclesiastes, executive director of the Ashé Cultural Arts Center, to learn more about the events and how you can get involved. For months, the Trump administration has been cutting funding for university-based scientific research across the nation. But the Louisiana Biomedical Research Network recently logged a ‘win'with the renewal of one of its grants from the National Institute of Health–$20 million spread out over five years.Dr. Konstantin "Gus" Kousoulas, a professor and department head in the LSU School Veterinary Medicine's Department of Pathobiological Sciences and director of their Division of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, joined us to discuss the grant and how it will be used.—Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

MakeGood is a New Orleans-based nonprofit that creates custom-designed, 3D-printed prosthetics for people with disabilities and limb differences. We speak with Noam Platt, the organization's founder, and James Robert III, director of advanced fabrication, about how the group works directly with people to design devices tailored to their needs.Next week, more than 75 young New Orleans actors will commemorate the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with “504: The Hip-Hop Musical,”  a production by the Anthony Bean Community Theater and Acting School. The one-night-only performance will take place on Saturday, Aug. 30. ABCT founder and artistic director Anthony Bean and actor Jordan Bates join us with the details.A “zine” is a folded piece of paper showing off someone's art or writing that can be found at libraries or purchased at gatherings. The medium has long been associated with countercultural movements. Report for America corps member Alex Cox visited a Baton Rouge Zinefest and found works on everything from trans joy to how the CIA used abstract expressionist art as a cultural weapon.__Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Diane Mack. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber and our assistant producer is Aubry Procell. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App, and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

It's been nearly 20 years since Hurricane Katrina made landfall, destroying countless communities in its wake. One neighborhood that suffered the wrath of the storm and never fully recovered is the Desire Area in the Upper Ninth Ward. Back in 2018, NPR's Laine Kaplan Levinson reported on the history of this neighborhood and misconceptions about an area known for its public housing. Today, we give that story a second listen.WWNO and WRKF have partnered with the producers of the PBS documentary, Caregiving, to shine a spotlight on America's caregiving crisis. We talked to people in south Louisiana about the unique challenges the region brings when caring for others.Today, we hear from Barbara Youngblood, a dedicated caregiver for her community and family for over 20 years. Now that she is the recipient of caregiving, she has seen the process from both sides of the relationship and considers the lessons she has learned.___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Alana Schreiber. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. Matt Bloom and Aubry Procell are assistant producers. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, Google Play and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

It's Thursday and that means it's time to catch up on politics with The Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate's editorial director and columnist, Stephanie Grace. Today we hear about the latest polls, dropouts and endorsements in New Orleans' mayor's race.At the end of July, Jefferson Parish lost its bond rating. It wasn't downgraded or reduced – it was lost completely, pulled by Moody's and S&S Global Ratings. The Times Picayune/New Orleans Advocate's Lara Nicholson has been covering this story. She joins us to discuss the impact of this loss and more. As the Trump administration continues to diminish or halt renewable energy initiatives, one wind energy technology program in Louisiana is notching early success. The Nunez Community College's Wind Energy Technology is getting students involved with the Gulf Wind Technology.The program's chair, Kat Bell, and student John Tsai join us to share more about the projects. –Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!  Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Steep cuts are coming to SNAP benefits, better known as food stamps. And that's bad news for grocery stores that see the bulk of their sales from SNAP dollars. The Gulf States Newsroom's Stephan Bisaha reports from one independent grocery store in Alabama bracing for the cuts.An unprecedented natural disaster is a dramatic way to learn hard lessons about how we plan and construct our cities. Yet Hurricane Katrina, 20 years ago, did just that for New Orleans. Since Katrina, New Orleans has been trying to make buildings and infrastructure more resilient, while preserving the city's cultural identity. David Dixon, a nationally recognized urban planner, helped draft the city's post-Katrina Master Plan. He joins us to discuss  the lessons he learned. For more than three decades, reporter Robin Fambrough has kept her readers updated on prep high school sports. From basketball, to softball, wrestling, cross country and more, Fambrough has often brought a voice to underrepresented sports, athletes and coaches. She was the first female president of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association and first female sports writer inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, among other accolades.Fambrough has recently announced her retirement. As she prepares to leave the prep school beat behind, she joins us for more on her life and career.—Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

The Friends of the New Orleans Public Library organization is holding its first-ever all-children's book sale. And it comes as a new school year begins. The organization's director, Shannan Cvitanovic tells us more about the event and who is invited. The NOLA Project: Theatre for the BOLD, recently announced its 2025-26 season, and this year's works revolve around iconic texts. Artistic Director Tenaj Wallace joins us with a sneak peek at what's to come.The StoryCorps Mobile Tour visited Baton Rouge last November and invited volunteers to record conversations about topics of their choosing. Susan Jeansonne and Tia Embaugh discussed the unlikely cross-generational friendship they've developed for over 20 years. Please be aware that there is language that some may find offensive at the end of this story.__Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Diane Mack. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber and our assistant producer is Aubry Procell. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App, and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

August signals the end of summer break, and students across Louisiana are heading back into the classroom. Monday  is the first day of  school for public school students in Orleans, Jefferson and Lafayette parishes. Students in Baton Rouge returned to class last week – and were met with a host of changes.Charles Lussier covers education for The Baton Rouge Advocate. He joins us to break down those changes.The Louisiana Shakespeare Company is presenting an adaptation of William Shakespeare's “The Tempest.” And many Louisianans will find the story of a storm that decimates a town rather familiar. In fact, the setting for this performance is modern-day New Orleans.  Director Jennifer Bouquet and actor Timmie Callais tell us about this upcoming rendition of a classic Shakespeare tragedy. New Orleans is getting hotter. You can see that in numbers and charts — but what does it sound like? The Gulf States Newsroom's Drew Hawkins talked to musicians in New Orleans about how the heat is affecting them — and to get some help turning the data into music.—Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Karen Henderson. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We receive production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell. You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

It's Thursday, and that means it's time to catch up on politics with Stephanie Grace, editorial director and columnist for The Times Picayune/New Orleans Advocate. We hear about the latest candidate to challenge Sen. Cassidy's (R-La.) seat in Congress, and whether or not President Trump will weigh in on the election. Earlier this month, the Trump administration issued a two-year exemption to an EPA rule that aims to curb  pollution and cancer risks for those who live near industrial plants.The move affects a dozen Louisiana petrochemical companies and the communities that surround them. Some say the proclamation will endanger the health of people who live in the Mississippi River Industrial Corridor and the Lake Charles area.  Coastal Desk reporter Eva Tesfaye joins us to discuss  the potential impacts. The Glass Recycling Foundation's 2024 report says only about a third of the glass in the U.S.  is recycled annually . About 9 million tons of glass ends up in landfills each year. And this is despite the fact that glass is endlessly recyclable.A group in New Orleans is trying to change that. Glass Half Full began their efforts in the backyard of a fraternity house, and over  the last five years, they've become a force in glass recycling in the Gulf South.Franziska Trautmann, co-founder of Glass Half Full, tells us more about how recycled glass can help restore the coast. ___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!  Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

A new police accountability law, passed by lawmakers this past legislative session, aims to keep law enforcement officers from using excessive force. This comes after a sheriff's deputy was caught on video dragging a woman by her hair and slamming her into the ground. Richard Webster has been covering this for Verite News and Pro Publica. He joins us for more. The Louisiana Children's Museum in New Orleans received a major grant that will be used to help the museum better connect to an older audience. The $2.5 million grant will be used to target teenagers – which most children's museums do not normally cater to. CEO of the Louisiana Children's Museum, Tifferney White, tells us more.We might be halfway through the summer, but maybe you're still looking for a creative outlet. Third Lantern Lit is an organization in New Orleans that brings together writers from across the state looking to hone their craft. And this summer, they're encouraging writers –and potential writers– of all levels to pick up the pen.Director of community outreach at Third Lantern Lit, Lit Daphne Armbruster, tells us more about the free programs. ___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

The 25th annual Satchmo Summerfest, an event celebrating the life and legacy of New Orleans jazz visionary Louis Armstrong, kicks off this weekend. Emily Madero, CEO of French Quarter Festivals, Inc., tells us what festivalgoers can expect during the two-day celebration.Researchers from Pennington Biomedical and Tulane University are collaborating to find a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS or Lou Gherig's disease. We speak with the two doctors leading the project, Pennington Biomedical's Dr. Jeffery Keller and Tulane's Dr. Aron Culotta, about how they're using artificial intelligence to discover new drugs.__Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Diane Mack. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber and our assistant producer is Aubry Procell. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App, and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

As the qualifying period for the Oct. 11 election closed earlier this month, multiple seats were left without qualifiers. A majority of these vacant seats are in rural parts of northern Louisiana. Report for America Corps Member Alex Cox tells us more. A yearlong federal investigation resulted in the arrests of four local lawmen accused of participating in a paid scheme in order to bypass immigration laws. Now, residents in Western Louisiana parishes are left trying to make sense of it all. Joseph Cranney has been investigating this story for The Times Picayune/ New Orleans Advocate. He joins us with the details.New Orleans is on the short list to host the 2028 Democratic National Convention, where the party will select its ticket for the next presidential election and adopt a policy platform. The news was recently revealed by executive director of the Louisiana Democratic Party, Dadrius Lanus.Lanus joins us for more on New Orleans's bid to host the DNC, and why he thinks the Crescent City is the ideal spot.—Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Karen Henderson. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We receive production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell. You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

El Bosque, Mexico, a tiny fishing village on Mexico's Gulf Coast, is quickly vanishing into the sea. In this episode, we journey to El Bosque to meet the town's most unlikely hero—one person determined to fight for a future as her neighbors flee the encroaching waves.---This episode was reported by Alvaro Céspedes. It was hosted by Carlyle Calhoun and Alvaro. Editing by Johanna Zorn, Carlyle Calhoun, with additional help from Ricardo Lopez Cordero. Translation by Elsa Gil (as Lupe Cobos) and Sofia Garfias (as Cristina Pacheco). Fact-checking by Garrett Hazelwood. Our theme music is by Jon Batiste, and our sound designer is Emily Jankowski. Carlyle Calhoun is the executive producer.Sea Change is a WWNO and WRKF production. We are part of the NPR Podcast Network and distributed by PRX. Sea Change is made possible with major support from the Gulf Research Program of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Sea Change is also supported by the Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans. WWNO's Coastal Desk is supported by the Walton Family Foundation, the Meraux Foundation, and the Greater New Orleans Foundation.

Last Friday, Congress approved the Trump administration's request to rescind federal funding for National Public Radio and PBS. While this move will impact all NPR stations, the smaller, rural ones are most vulnerable. Today, we are dedicating an entire episode to discuss the impacts of these cuts, hearing community reactions, and discussing potential solutions with a panel of guests from NPR stations across the country. Philip Manning, general manager of KTNA in Talkeetna, Alaska; Jarle Kvale, program director at KEYA on the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation in Belcourt, North Dakota; and Lori Gilbert, Morning Edition host and the only local radio news reporter at KNCC in Elko, Nevada, join us.___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!  Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Louisiana is one of 30 states with laws that criminalize exposing or transmitting HIV. This past legislative session, time narrowly ran out on a bill that would've expanded Louisiana's law to other/additional sexually transmitted infections.Louisiana has some of the highest rates of STIs in the nation, including HIV, but a growing body of evidence shows criminal penalties hurt efforts to solve the public health crisis. Verite New's Halle Parker joins to talk about these laws and their consequences. If you're looking for materials about Louisiana's historical heritage, one of the places you might go is LSU Libraries' Special Collections. And you don't necessarily have to physically go digging for the records anymore– much of their materials are accessible online through the Louisiana Digital Library.They recently secured a grant to help digitize more of their materials and make those documents and images more easily available to the wider world on their online interface. Gina Costello, associate dean of Technology & Special Collections, LSU Libraries joins us to discuss how the library is expanding its reach.Last November, the StoryCorps Mobile Tour visited Baton Rouge and invited volunteers to record conversations about topics of their choosing. Two participants, “Patience” Carter and Precious McCray, discussed poetry, their friendship of 20 years and McCray's recent opportunity to meet her biological family for the first time at age 35. ___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

The state recently announced it will cancel the Mid-Barataria sediment diversion plan, the biggest-ever coastal restoration project in Louisiana history. The project was nixed because costs got too high,, and will be replaced with a scaled-down  version. The Coastal Desk's Eva Tesfaye has been reporting on the Mid-Barataria project. She joins us today with an update. July is Disability Pride Month and Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser has made it his mission to improve accessibility throughout the state. Over the past few years, he's helped the state add  more all-terrain wheelchairs and paved nature trails to its parks, He's also added more chair lifts to pools expanded inclusive playgrounds and more.The Lt. Gov joins us to discuss  his latest projects and why he has become a champion for accessibility.“Carousel” is coming to the Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre. The Rogers and Hammerstein musical explores love, loss and redemption in a small New England town. Director/choreographer Diane Lala joins us now. __Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Diane Mack. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber and our assistant producer is Aubry Procell. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App, and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Under a new law, law enforcement officers who don't comply with immigration authorities like ICE could face criminal charges. This could bring big changes for local jailers, including the Orleans Parish Sheriff, along with everyday Louisiana residents. Bobbi-Jeanne Misick has been reporting this story for Verite News and joins for more.An observatory hidden in the woods in Louisiana recently detected a black hole merger. And while it took less than a tenth of a second, it was the largest collision of two black holes ever observed.  The discovery was made at Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, better known as LIGO. Joseph Giaime, head of the observatory, joins us to talk about the event, and how the observatory may be impacted by federal budget cuts. Throughout the summer on Louisiana Considered, we are bringing you episodes of What Was Lost, a series from Verite News that explores the emotional and physical costs of Hurricane Katrina. Today we hear from Terry Mogilles, a nurse who lost  an important piece of furniture that once belonged to Wendell Green, an early 20th century Black businessman who was born into slavery. —Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Karen Henderson. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We receive production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell. You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Every summer, Baton Rouge General Burn Center and Foundation offers pediatric burn survivors the opportunity to attend a summer camp. Since 2019, Camp Catahoula has offered these young burn survivors a chance to meet others who have faced the same obstacles with a week full of horseback riding, art and crafts, fishing and other summer camp activities. Sadie Stockwell, co-director and physical therapist assistant at the Baton Rouge Burn Center, and Shay Shay Turner, a burn survivor and camper-turned-counselor, tell us more about Camp Catahoula.Earlier this week, the Major League Baseball draft took even the top experts by surprise with how the picks were ordered. But this wasn't the first time in history when player selections turned heads. In October of 1945, Jackie Robinson signed his first minor league contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Not long after, the Dodgers also signed Johnny Wright, a pitcher from New Orleans. While Wright never made it to the majors, he helped to integrate the minor leagues alongside Robinson in Montréal and Daytona Beach.His daughter, Carlis Wright Robinson grew up hearing whispers about her father's career, but never knew the full story. That's until she did some research and wrote a book on his life and legacy, “The Wright Side of History: The Life and Career of Johnny Wright, Co-Pioneer in Breaking Baseball's Color Barrier, as Told by His Daughter.” She joins us now to talk about her book and her father's legacy. ___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Alana Schreiber. Our managing producer is Alana Schrieber. Matt Bloom and Aubry Procell are assistant producers. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, Google Play and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

The field for New Orleans' fall elections is now set, and there were a few last-minute surprises before the candidate filing deadline. The Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate's editorial director and columnist Stephanie Grace joins us to break down the crowded field of candidates. Last week, the National Federation of the Blind National Convention came to New Orleans. The convention is the largest gathering of blind people in the world, and it offers  training, support, networking and more to people from all over the country who are blind.Edward Bell was one of the guests that many were excited to meet. Bell is the director of Professional Development and Research at the Institute on Blindness at Louisiana Tech University. He joins us to talk about  his life and his mission to create more employment opportunities for the blind.According to the National Registry of Exonerations, more than 80 people in Louisiana have been exonerated after being wrongfully convicted.  Calvin Duncan is among them. While he faced his trial, and as he spent 28 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, Duncan started to learn everything he could about the law to fight for his freedom and the freedom of fellow inmates.Duncan and co-author Sophie Cull tell his story in the new book, "The Jailhouse Lawyer." The Gulf States Newsroom's Kat Stromquist spoke to them about the memoir. ___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!  Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Pedestrian fatalities tend to rise nationwide over the summer months, and Louisiana consistently ranks among the top 10 states with the highest numbers. Capitol access reporter Brooke Thorington spoke with Greg Fischer, spokesperson of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, about how pedestrians and drivers can better follow safety protocols.The shortage of healthcare professionals — in particular, nurses — has been a perennial problem. But one nursing program in New Orleans is combating this issue by catering to working professionals and non-traditional students.University of Holy Cross president, Dr. Stanton McNeely, and chair of the Department of Nursing, Dr. Kristy Solis, tell us how they are aiming to make their program more available for more students. This summer on Louisiana Considered, we are airing stories from “What Was Lost,” a series from Verite News that examines the emotional and physical costs of Hurricane Katrina. Longtime New Orleans journalist Mark Schleifstein had been reporting on the potential for disastrous flooding. In a bitterly ironic twist, the journalism awards he earned for this coverage were destroyed by the 2005 storm that he had predicted. —-Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Day 2 of the MLB draft wrapped up Monday, and now several Louisiana college ballplayers know where they'll be continuing their careers. Nine  LSU prospects were selected along with three from Tulane, and a handful more from Southern, Southeastern and Louisiana Tech – but some of the picks took baseball experts by surprise. Koki Riley covers LSU baseball for The Baton Rouge Advocate. He joined us to break down the selections. The Pulitzer-Prize winning drama, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” continues the  10th anniversary season at the Tennessee Williams Theatre Company. This production is complete with the seldom-produced original Broadway ending. Co-Artistic Directors Augustin Correro and Nick Shackleford give us the details behind this performance. A high-profile jailbreak in May drew nationwide attention to the lockup in Orleans Parish. But one research group says this isn't the first time the jail has had problems — and they might know why. The Gulf States Newsroom's Kat Stromquist spoke to Rebecca Mowbray with the Bureau of Governmental Research to learn more.___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Diane Mack. Our managing producer is Alana Schrieber. We get production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, Google Play and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

The last remaining piece of a damaged American ship from World War II has been found. A team of scientists and explorers discovered the bow of the USS New Orleans off the coast of the Solomon Islands more than 70 years after the battle. Mark Ballard has been reporting this story for The Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate and joins us to talk about  the discovery.In June, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed House Bill 675, a law that restricts the ability of prisoners to try and prove their innocence once they're behind bars. The law's passage is part of Landry's larger effort to overhaul the state's criminal legal system. Piper French, a reporter for Bolts Magazine, joins us to discuss the law's intended impacts. Mississippi is set to receive more than $300 million from lawsuits against opioid manufacturers, marketers and distributors. The Gulf States Newsroom's Drew Hawkins sat down with Christina Dent, author of Curious: A Foster Mom's Discovery of an Unexpected Solution to Drugs and Addiction, to talk about her own journey rethinking drug addiction and how Mississippi can change its approach.—Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Karen Henderson. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We receive production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell. You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Climate change is bad news for almost everyone. Emphasis on almost, because believe it or not, one marine species is absolutely thriving as the Gulf warms: Bull sharks!Get ready for some shark science as we learn why bull sharks are increasing in numbers across the Gulf and getting hungrier.—This episode was hosted by Carlyle Calhoun and Katelyn Harrop. Katelyn conducted the interview. Our theme music is by John Batiste, and our sound designer is Emily Jankowski. Carlyle Calhoun is the executive producer. Sea Change is a WWNO and WRKF production. We're part of the NPR Podcast Network and distributed by PRX.Sea Change is made possible with major support from the Gulf Research Program of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Sea Change is also supported by the Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans. WWNO's Coastal Desk is supported by the Walton Family Foundation. The Meraux Foundation and the Greater New Orleans Foundation.

It's Thursday, and that means it's time for our week in politics with Stephanie Grace, the editorial director and columnist for the Times-Picayune/The Advocate. Today she breaks down a reignited feud between Mayor Cantrell and the city council, and discusses the latest entrant in the New Orleans mayoral race.If you've spent time in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans, then you're probably familiar with Rosetree, a studio and store, where artist Mark Rosenbaum has been blowing glass for decades. He's created wine glasses, vases, bowls, commissions for corporations and presidents, and other colorful and delicate artwork. But after 40 years, he's hung up the blowpipe. We traveled to Rosetree Blown Glass Studio and Gallery to chat with Mark. He cleaned up the space, showed us some artwork and reflected on his career.For their series, “What Was Lost”, Verite News has been collecting audio stories from readers who lost a treasure or have a memory from Hurricane Katrina.  Today, we hear a story from Norris Cook, who remembers his grandfather's green skiff boat that washed away with the storm. And Bob Pavlovich remembers his grandfather's boat, lost to Hurricane Andrew decades earlier. ___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!  Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Thanks to a new law, Louisiana homeowners can now get a $10,000 tax credit if they install a fortified roof on their home. That's in addition to the $10,000 Fortified Grant Program. Capitol Access reporter Brooke Thorington spoke with state Sen. Kirk Talbot (R-River Ridge), who authored the legislation, about the program and some of its limitations.A rare election for the  Crescent Soil and Water Conservation District Board drew an unexpectedly high level of interest for a governing body that is accustomed to operating in the background.Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) help landowners implement practices that protect natural resources. There's 44 of them in Louisiana, and they rarely hold elections. The June 14th election was the first in the New Orleans district and only the seventh statewide.Erica Johnson is an urban farmer at Petit Jardin in New Orleans, and the newly-elected member of the Crescent Soil and Water Conservation District Board in New Orleans. She joins us to discuss  her new role and the historic voter turnout.Over the past year, more than 24,000 students in Louisiana read more than 82,000 books and voted on their favorites for the Louisiana Readers' Choice Awards. For 26 years, the program has worked to engage young readers  and giving them a voice. And more middle and high schoolers participated this year than in years past. Louisiana state librarian Meg Placke tells us more about the program and what the awards revealed.___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Yesterday on Louisiana Considered, the Gulf States Newsroom's Drew Hawkins brought us to the Netherlands to learn how the country was navigating the opioid epidemic. Today we hear how a different European country is handling this crisis – and what Louisiana could learn from it. Delaney Nolan recently reported on how harm reduction practices in Ukraine are providing a possible model for Louisiana addiction treatment. She joins us today to share more information. The New Orleans Shakespeare Festival at Tulane continues its season with the Bard's romantic comedy, “A Midsummer Night's Dream.” Directed by Graham Burke, the comedy highlights magic, mischief and romance. Actors Ian Hock and Celeste Cahn give us a preview. __Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Diane Mack. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber and our assistant producer is Aubry Procell. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App, and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

If you're a regular NPR listener, you know that our organization is under serious threat. The House of Representatives recently approved a request from President Trump to cut funding to the broadcast network. While this could be a major blow to all stations, the smaller ones are most at risk. Oftentimes,  it's just a small team of people bringing news to an underrepresented region. Or in this case,  just one person. Jeff Ferrell is the news director and sole full-time staff member at Red River Radio KDAQ in Shreveport, Louisiana. He walks us through his 13-hour day and shares how budget cuts could impact his station.Louisiana's feral hog population is approaching 1 million, and the invasive species is  wreaking havoc  across the state by destroying property and crops.  Now experts warn they're causing major erosion along the coastline.State wildlife veterinarian Jonathon Roberts joins to discuss challenges with reigning them in, and possible solutions.Millions of Americans have been locked up in the “War on Drugs.” Despite the staggering death toll of the opioid crisis, the U.S. continues to treat drug use largely as a criminal issue. But as the Gulf States Newsroom's Drew Hawkins reports, other countries like the Netherlands have taken a different approach.—Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Karen Henderson. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We receive production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell. You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

It's Thursday and that means it's time to catch up on politics with The Times Picayune/New Orleans Advocate's editorial director and columnist, Stephanie Grace. Today she tells us about State Sen. Royce Duplesis' decision to join the New Orleans mayoral race, and goes over Gov. Landry's recent line item vetoes. Café Reconcile, a modern soul food cafe tucked away in Central City, is a safe space for at-risk youth to learn culinary and life skills. As it celebrates 25 years in business, the restaurant is rebranding, and has updated its mission and core value statement. Caitlin Scanlan, chief development officer for Reconcile New Orleans, tells us moreLast month, the Historic New Orleans Collection opened their latest exhibition, “The Trail The Blazed.” The exhibit gives viewers insight into the local civil rights movement through a multimedia experience – letting them hear the voices and music of the era straight from those on the front lines. Eric Seiferth curated this exhibit, and joins us with the details.___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!  Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

More than 40 years after the 1979 Iranian revolutions, relations between the United States and Iran remain frayed. This has largely been due to Iran's advancing nuclear program.But tensions escalated even further when Israel launched surprise attacks on key nuclear and military facilities in Iran. This prompted the U.S. to get involved, with President Trump ordering strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites. And while the nations have since come to a peace agreement, relations remain fragile. Andrew Leber is an assistant professor at Tulane's Department of Political Science and the Middle East and North African Studies program. He joins us to help explain the current situation, and what comes next. This summer on Louisiana Considered, we are airing stories from “What Was Lost,” a series from Verite News that examines and memorializes things the community lost to Hurricane Katrina. They explore physical, mental and emotional costs of the disaster. Today we bring you a story on the loss of neighborhood sounds by author Fatima Shaik.—Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Its storm season in the Gulf South, and the National Hurricane Center has been tracking tropical disturbances headed towards the coast. Tropical Storm Barry formed over the weekend, and now forecasters are looking at more worrisome weather near Florida. Meteorologist Jennifer Narramore joins us to share an update and discuss how this year's hurricane season compares to previous ones.The Tony-award winning Sondheim musical “Company,” debuts at the Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre next weekend, July 10-13. The comedic performance is directed by Leslie Castay, a film and Broadway veteran with roots in LaPlace. She joins us with the details. It's been a rough year for the University of New Orleans. To close the school's deficit and start addressing its long-standing debt, administrators cut budgets, closed Milneburg Hall and laid off and furloughed employees. Now, the university is on its way to returning to the LSU System.Education reporter Aubri Juhasz tells us how two UNO employees, and members of its union chapter, are thinking about the school's future and what needs to change. __Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Diane Mack. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber and our assistant producer is Aubry Procell. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App, and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

It's been three years since the Supreme Court reversed the nearly 50-year-old Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion. Since then, Louisiana and other conservative states have enacted strict bans against the procedure. And as a result, other aspects of reproductive health have been caught in the post-Roe wake.Lorena O'Neil covers reproductive health for the Louisiana Illuminator. She spoke with the news outlet's editor-in-chief, Greg LaRose, host of The Light Switch podcast, to share more details.Earlier this month, Louisiana lost a great journalist. Stanley Nelson ran the Concordia Sentinel in Ferriday. But his life's work was investigating cold cases from the Civil Rights era — work that made him a Pulitzer Prize finalist.Nelson left behind not only an incredible body of work — but also a legacy of investigative reporting that continues to inspire the next generation of journalists. The Gulf States Newsroom's Drew Hawkins was a student of Nelson's. He joined Louisiana Considered's Alana Schreiber to talk about Nelson's life and legacy. A recent investigation by the Alabama Reflector analyzed a large number of lawsuits from former inmates over their treatment in state prisons. The cases allege excessive force by correctional officers and have cost the state millions of dollars. Beth Shelburne investigated these cases for the four-part series “Blood Money” and spoke with Greg LaRose.___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Alana Schreiber. Our managing producer is Alana Schrieber. Matt Bloom and Aubry Procell are assistant producers. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, Google Play and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

It's Thursday, and The Times Picayune/the Advocate's editorial director and columnist Stephanie Grace is here to talk politics. Today she discusses why some Republican lawmakers are walking back their initial support for Medicaid cuts, and tells us about a rising democratic star in Louisiana politics.Most Louisianans are familiar with the term “Cancer Alley,” referring to the stretch of land between Baton Rouge and New Orleans where petrochemical facilities have allegedly contributed to high rates of cancer. Now state residents are learning of a new term, “Detention Alley", as rural parts of the state are turning into hubs for immigration enforcement, with skyrocketing numbers of people in custody. Molly Hennessy-Fiske, a reporter for the Washington Post, has spent time in “Detention Alley,” specifically, the town of Winnfield. She joins us to discuss the emotional impacts and economic boosts the rural community is experiencing. CLECO, the utility company that provides electricity to nearly 300,000 customers in 24 Louisiana parishes, is searching for a buyer. CLECO notified the state Public Service Commission, and that set into motion a months-long process of requests for proposals as well as examinations by the PSC. .Peter Ricchiuti, a professor at Tulane's A. B. Freeman School of Business, tells us what this sale means for Louisiana residents.___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!  Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

A new Louisiana law could sentence more 17-year-olds to adult prison terms. But at the same time, some people serving long sentences for crimes they committed as teens are being released.Kat Stromquist of the Gulf States Newsroom reports on the challenges and joys of reentry for these "juvenile lifers." It's summertime in Louisiana, and for many that means it's time for water sports. But for people with disabilities, access to these sports is often limited. Unless of course, you join the Ski Dawgs, an organization that helps people living with disabilities get the chance to water ski. With adaptive equipment and a team of volunteers, members get the chance to ride the waves in St. Tammany Parish.Ski Dawgs, founder David Thomas and co-director Jamie Galloway share more details.Mechanical ventilators gained attention  during the COVID-19 pandemic as a form of life-saving technology when hospital supplies were limited. .But a new study out of Tulane University suggests that certain use of mechanical ventilators could cause damage to the lungs, particularly to the alveoli, small air sacs in the lungs.Don Gaver, a researcher and professor of biomedical engineering at the Tulane University School of Science and Engineering, tells us more about what this study found. –Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Louisiana is the only state where students have gotten better at reading since 2019. Officials credit new laws, and now, the final piece is taking effect: holding back third graders who are behind in reading. Education reporter Aubri Juhasz explains how schools are trying to help kids pass the test. Then, she joins WRKF's Karen Henderson to follow up on the state's new third-grade reading law. Four ensembles are gearing up to open the New Orleans Ballet Association's 2025-26 season. Upcoming performances include “Dance Theatre of Harlem,” and “Argentina's Tango After Dark.” Executive director Jenny Hamilton tells us what to expect at the series of performances.The Deep South continues to be left out of the tech industry boom.Yes there are exceptions like Huntsville, Alabama, but states like Missisisppi and Louisiana have not seen nearly as many high paying jobs the tech industry has bought elsewhere.Stephan Bisaha of the Gulf States Newsroom reports on the advantages of being a tech company in Mississippi…and what's holding the state back.__Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Diane Mack. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber and our assistant producer is Aubry Procell. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App, and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Over the weekend, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders came to Shreveport, the latest stop on his speaking tour, “Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go From Here.” The senator discussed issues like tax cuts, health care, food insecurity, and Trump's “big beautiful bill” – in front of a crowd of 1,800 in House Speaker Mike Johnson's district. Ahead of his Shreveport rally, Sanders joined us to discuss some of his talking points. On Sunday, LSU Baseball won the College World Series. Their 5-3 victory over Coastal Carolina University marked the eighth time the team has won the championship, the second time in three years.Koki Riley covers LSU baseball and football for the Baton Rouge Advocate He was at the series in Omaha, and joined us for a recap. The City of Kenner has canceled its annual Hispanic Heritage Festival amid growing concerns in the Latino community about immigration enforcement activity in the area. Organizers worried attendees wouldn't feel comfortable attending the September event at the Kenner Boat Launch. AnaMaria Bech, publisher of bilingual magazine VIVA NOLA and promoter of the festival, tells us how the local Latino community is feeling.—Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Karen Henderson. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We receive production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell. You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

It's official, the LSU Tigers Baseball Team is headed to the College World Series Finals. They clinched in an exciting victory over Arkansas on Wednesday, and will now face Coastal Carolina University in Omaha. If they pull out a win, it will be the Tigers second baseball title in three years. Koki Riley covers LSU baseball and football for The Baton Rouge Advocate. He joins us now from Omaha for more.Climate change is impacting everyone, but indigenous communities are often on the frontline. Today we bring you the second part of the latest episode of Sea Change to learn about similarities between tribal communities in south Louisiana and western Alaska. Coastal reporter Eva Tesfaye visits Louisiana's Point-au Chien-Indian Tribe, which is losing their land to coastal erosion. KYUK's Sage Smiley visits Nunapitchuk in Alaska where residents are being forced to move to a nearby hill as thawing permafrost destroys their village's infrastructure. —Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!  Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

It's Thursday, and that means The Times-Picayune/The Advocate's editorial director and columnist Stephanie Grace. Today, she tells us how Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, pushed back on Gov. Jeff Landry's agenda during the legislative session, despite his record of sticking to party lines. Climate change is altering the land we live on, and Indigenous communities are on the frontline. In the first part of the latest episode of Sea Change, we bring you to Alaska, where rapid permafrost thaw is threatening the Native village of Nunapitchuk. Then, we head to Louisiana, where the Pointe-Au-Chien Indian Tribe is watching their land disappear underwater due to sea level rise. These threats are forcing these tribes to make the difficult decision: to stay and adapt, or to leave their ancestral home.—Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!  Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Louisiana's legislative session wrapped last week with 300 bills now heading to Gov. Jeff Landry's desk.  He's expected to sign many of them into law, but he's already vetoed three. WWNO and WRKF's Capitol Access reporter Brooke Thorington, health reporter Rosemary Westwood and education reporter Aubri Juhasz join us to break down the legislation. Churchill Downs, which owns Fair Grounds race track, threatened to leave Louisiana, raising concerns about the future of horse racing in New Orleans. City and state lawmakers recently passed legislation to keep horse racing there, and on Tuesday, Churchill Downs Inc. reached an agreement with horsemen to continue racing in New Orleans. However, the deal has yet to be finalized. Before the agreement was reached, Tony McAuley, a reporter covering the matter for The Times-Picayune/The Advocate, joined Louisiana Considered to discuss the situation. —Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

While House Speaker MikeJohnson has been supporting President Trump's “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” its proposed Medicaid cuts could cause many of his constituents to lose coverage. The Gulf States Newsroom's Drew Hawkins traveled to Shreveport to hear what people are saying. One of the longest-running Broadway productions, “A Chorus Line,” opens at the Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre this weekend. And for the first time in the company's history, all productions this season are directed and choreographed by women. Director and choreographer Jauné Buisson and cast member Michael Paternostro share the details.Another performance debuts at Tulane this weekend as the New Orleans Shakespeare Festival continues its run of “The Imaginary Invalid.” Cast members Doug Spearman and Alix Paige tell us about performing Molliere's 17th century comedy.__Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Diane Mack. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber and our assistant producer is Aubry Procell. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App, and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Louisiana lawmakers  passed more than 200 bills during this year's regular legislative session. WWNO/WRKF Capitol Access reporter Brooke Thorington joined Louisiana Considered to give us an overview of what lawmakers achieved this session, from approving ivermectin sales without prescriptions to insurance reform.A new lawsuit by the Southern Poverty Law Center and National Housing Law Project alleges that Louisiana's eviction process incentivizes justices of the peace to order evictions and encourages landlords to file more cases. The suit alleges that allowing justices of the peace to fund their salaries with court fee revenue violates the due process and equal protection rights of Louisiana's poorest tenants. Investigative journalist Delaney Nolan has been covering the lawsuit for Bolts, and joins us with more details.Pennington Biomedical Research launched a new initiative earlier this month that aims to reduce rates of childhood obesity in Louisiana. Melissa Martin, director of Greaux Healthy, joins us to discuss the group's work.—Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Karen Henderson. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We receive production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell. You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Louisiana counts nearly 2,000 foster homes across the state. There are more than 4,000 children in the foster care system.Right away, you can see the math doesn't work unless every foster family doubles up on the number of children they take — and of course, that's not feasible or even recommended in lots of cases.This week, we'll get the perspective of those involved in Louisiana's foster care system to see if and how the gaps can be filled.We'll hear from a faith-based group that's the state's go-to for therapeutic foster care.David Matlock, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, the state agency in charge of foster care, will also join us.And we'll learn how people who were once in the system now get a say in how it operates.

It's Thursday and time for our week in politics with the editorial director and columnist for the Times-Picayune/The Advocate, Stephanie Grace. Today, she discusses how rising crime and the recent jailbreak are impacting approval ratings for the city's law enforcement officers. And she reviews approval ratings for the current mayoral candidates. Flag football's upcoming debut at the 2028 LA Olympics has sparked a debate: should seasoned flag football players or NFL bigshots be the ones going for gold? Recently, NFL team owners voted to allow the league's best players to compete in the Olympic games, but practiced flag football players want their chance to try out as well, arguing that they play this version of the game better than the pros. Darrell Doucette III, known as “Housh,” is quarterback of the U.S. Flag National Team and one of the top flag football players in the world. The New Orleans native joins us for more on his journey in the sport and what he hopes to see at Olympic try-outs. Starting a small business can be daunting, exciting, vexing and expensive. But in New Orleans, the not-for-profit group Propeller has been helping entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses since 2009.Propeller has appointed a new CEO, Jessica Allen, who comes from within the ranks of the group's team. She joins us for more on her plans to help grow the city's small business economy.__Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!  Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Cyberattacks on big companies get plenty of attention, but small businesses are hit about four times as often. A New Orleans restaurant owner lost thousands after her Facebook was hacked. The Gulf States Newsroom's Stephan Bisaha shares why hackers are targeting small businesses. There's been roughly $11 billion in cuts to university research funding since President Trump took office in January. Trump has cited widespread political bias, including antisemitism, as the reason for these cuts, saying universities have forfeited the right to taxpayer support. While institutions like Harvard and Johns Hopkins are temporarily self-funding their research, not every institution has the means to do this. Robert Twilley,  a professor and vice president at the Office of Research & Economic Development at Louisiana State University joins us to discuss how research funding cuts could impact schools like LSU.Recent national analysis shows Louisiana is bucking a national trend related to state budgets. It's called revenue volatility, and the report from The Pew Charitable Trusts shows Louisiana's is actually lower than most of the nation.Justin Theal, senior officer with The Pew Charitable Trusts tells us how this rating relates to the state's budget.___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Protests against President Trump's immigration policies and deportations are happening across the country. Over the weekend, raids from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers sparked massive protests in Los Angeles. President Trump called in the National Guard, and later, the Marines.There have also been protests in New Orleans, with demonstrators demanding the release of people detained in local ICE raids, as well as people held in Louisiana, like Mahmoud Khalil.The Gulf States Newsroom's Drew Hawkins has covered a couple of recent protests in the city. He joins us to discuss them.Last week, Le Petit Theatre debuted “Ain't Misbehavin: The Fats Waller Musical Show.” The musical review of the iconic jazz musician takes viewers into 1920s Harlem with an all-local cast.Cast member and musician Rahim Glaspy joins us to talk about the musical tribute performance.“Too Many Notes,” a classical concert performance from New Resonance Orchestra and Musical Arts Society of New Orleans, kicks off with two performances this weekend. It features the world premiere of New Orleans composer Tucker Fuller's piano concerto with soloist Brian Hsu and Mozart's Jupiter Symphony. Fuller joins us alongside New Resonance Orchestra founder and music director, Francis Scully. __Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Diane Mack. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber and our assistant producer is Aubry Procell. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App, and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

At the end of June, LSU president William Tate IV will step down and become president of Rutgers University in New Jersey. While LSU looks for a new leader, Matt Lee, vice president for agriculture, will serve in the interim. In addition to his new role, Lee is also the dean of LSU's college of agriculture and oversees research at the AgCenter. He has also worked as a public health expert, specializing in rural crime and community development. He joins us to talk about his career and goals in this new position. According to a new report, Louisiana children rank near last in the country in overall well-being, despite some notable gains in education. Louisiana fell a spot from last year to 49th out of 50 states on the Kids Count Data Book, published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. It considers how children are doing in four main categories: economics, education, health and family. Teresa Falgoust, director of data and research for Agenda for Children, Louisiana's member of the KIDS COUNT network, joins us to break down these findings. —Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Karen Henderson. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We receive production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell. You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Last weekend, Dillard University hosted a memorial service to honor the lives of 19 Black New Orleanians, whose skulls were unlawfully taken to Leipzig, Germany in the 1880s. The memorial also drew attention to the history of racist pseudoscience in an effort of repatriation alongside the University of Leipzig. Dr. Eva Baham, retired Dillard University professor and chair of Dillard's Cultural Repatriation Committee, helped lead the patriation efforts working with the University of Leipzig, and joins us for more on this story.It's a big week for baseball in Louisiana. On Saturday, the LSU Tigers will play their first game of the Super Regionals in Baton Rouge. But last Friday, LSU Shreveport Pilots made history when they became the first college baseball team ever to win every game of their season. The Pilots went 59-0, capping off their perfect season by winning the NAIA championship and giving their school their first national title in any sport. Head baseball coach Brad Neffendorf joins us to discuss the thrilling end to a historic season. ___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Alana Schreiber. Our managing producer is Alana Schrieber. Matt Bloom and Aubry Procell are assistant producers. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, Google Play and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

It's Thursday and that means it's time to catch up on politics with The Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate's editorial director and columnist, Stephanie Grace. Today we dive into Gov. Landry's agenda for the current legislative session and the bills he's hoping to get passed. Nottoway, a massive plantation mansion in Iberville Parish, recently burned down. The 53,000-square-foot home, located in White Castle on the edge of the Mississippi River, had been turned into a hotel and wedding venue. Enslaved people built the property and worked on the sugar cane plantation it sat on. It held over 150 enslaved people in 1860, according to National Park Service records.  Jo and Joy Banner, founders of the Descendants Project, tell us about what the loss of the plantation means for descendants of people enslaved in the area.At the current legislative session, lawmakers are debating a series of bills on ethics, targeting things like campaign finance and financial transparency. This week on “The Light Switch” podcast from the Louisiana Illuminator, reporter Julie O'Donoghue speaks with Steven Procopio, president of the Public Affairs Research Council, to discuss these proposals. Note: This conversation was recorded before the House approved HB 674, legislation that would revise state ethics laws.___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!  Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!