Louisiana Considered Podcast

As you're likely more than aware, it is summer in the Gulf South. And with it comes the risk of extreme heat. But heat doesn't just affect how your body feels — it can also affect your mental health.As the Gulf States Newsroom's Drew Hawkins reports, new research shows that as the temperature goes up, so does the number of calls to Louisiana's suicide crisis hotline.For more than 40 years, MedCamps of Louisiana has offered multiple summer camps for people with disabilities or going through various challenges. Located in Choudrant, Louisiana, in Lincoln Parish, there are camps for cancer survivors, kids with Down syndrome, and even adults living with chronic illnesses. Executive director of Med Camps of Louisiana, Caleb Seney, joins us for more.As summer temperatures reach well into the 90s and heat index values top 100, we're feeling the heat, and so are our pets. Just like humans, pets can overheat and suffer from heat exhaustion, heat stroke or even die.Ginger Guttner, assistant director of communications with the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, tells us how to keep our pets safe in the summer months.—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!

This is part 3 of our three-part series about elements. And today is a biggie: carbon. When we hear about carbon, it's usually about its role in heating up the planet. And while that's an absolutely critical part of the story, the story of this most miraculous of substances is so much larger.We talk to Peter Brannen, author of The Story of CO2 is the Story of Everything, about how carbon has always been central to just about every major turning point in the history of life on Earth...including why life is here in the first place.---This episode is hosted by Executive Producer Carlyle Calhoun. Editing help from Eva Tesfaye and Jack Rodolico. Our theme music is by Jon Batiste, and our sound design by Dennis Funk.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. 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 to talk politics with The Times Picayune/New Orleans Advocate's Stephanie Grace. Today, we discuss Gov. Jeff Landry's recent remarks on New Orleans and the latest on the Murrill indictment.Zohran Mamdani's election as New York mayor in November has had ripple effects throughout the country. In New York and cities like Denver, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, other Democratic Socialist candidates have advanced in party primaries. Now, Louisiana Republicans are targeting more centrist Democrats, hoping they'll prefer GOP candidates to ones with socialist leanings. And they're likening the popularity of democratic socialists to the Bolshevik Revolution.Mark Ballad has reported on this for The Times-Picayune/The Advocate.  He joins us with more.Roughly two years ago, Louisiana Considered managing producer Alana Schreiber created and produced the podcast, "Road to Rickwood." The four-part series by NPR and the MLB told the story of the intersection between Negro Leagues Baseball and the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham, Alabama, and how those stories played out at America's oldest ballpark, Rickwood Field. Schreiber recently produced a new podcast for the series “American Colony,” once again about the Negro Leagues — but this time, the story takes place in Puerto Rico. Schreiber joined us for more on this story and all the Louisiana connections.—Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. 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!

We just finished celebrating one of America's most patriotic holidays a couple of weeks ago. Even though the holiday is more closely associated with the original 13 colonies, a significant chapter of the Revolutionary War took place in the Louisiana Territories. The 1779 Battle of Baton Rouge was an important turning point of the war, signifying the strength of the rebels and their alliance with Spain.To learn more about the battle and the capture of Fort Bute, we're joined by Sam Hyde, professor and director of the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies at Southeastern Louisiana University. 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.Last year, we spoke with David Thomas, founder of the Ski Dawgs, and Jamie Galloway, the organization's co-director. Today, we revisit the conversation and highlight upcoming events. —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!

On Monday, Gov. Jeff Landry announced Meta is planning to double in size its datacenter in Richland Parish. The data center is already garnering a lot of attention for concerns over environmental impact and increased electricity demand. Reporter Brooke Thorington was at yesterday's press conference. She tells us more about what the expansion means for Louisiana. One of the most significant battlefields in American history could soon see its largest expansion in nearly a century. The American Battlefield Trust has launched a $1 million campaign to protect 40 acres connected to the Battle of New Orleans, where Gen. Andrew Jackson's forces secured a decisive victory in the final major battle of the War of 1812 — even if the military treaty ending the war had already been signed two weeks earlier.David Duncan, President of the American Battlefield Trust, joins us with more. Today is Bastille Day, a commemoration of the storming of the Bastille in France in 1789. For years, this day has also been celebrated in New Orleans. Last weekend saw music, food and art pop-ups down Esplanade Avenue, and tonight there will be a celebratory, immersive performance at Saturn Bar. Holly Devon is co-hosting the event, dubbed Grape Candy's Raison D'être, which combines music and historical readings for a punk rock iteration of the holiday. She's also a writer and senior editor at Antigravity Magazine. She joins us now for more.__Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Sara Henegan. 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 state Senator Larry Selders died suddenly last week after collapsing at his son's football practice. The “gentle giant” leaves behind his wife, Dr. Kendra Michael and sons, Larry and Luke.The Louisiana Illuminator senior reporter Julie O'Donoghue joins us for more on Selders, his advocacy for substance abuse treatment and mental health rehabilitation, and what happens to his empty senate seat. A Baton Rouge community refrigerator is aiming to keep access to fresh foods available all summer long. The fridge is located in the Garden District of Baton Rouge and hosted by the organization Red Shoes as part of their “Fill the Fridge” initiative.Rachael Hebert, executive director of Red Shoes, joins us for more.An iconic New Orleans event returns to the city next week. Tales of the Cocktail is an annual summer event to celebrate spirits. It includes walking tours, tastings and panels that celebrate the alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages that define New Orleans. Charlotte Voisey, Tales of the Cocktail's CEO, joins us for more. July is National Disability Pride Month, but despite the more than 30 years since the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, people with physical limitations still struggle to find spaces designed with their needs in mind.Back in 2023, WWNO's Alana Schreiber took us to the Split Second Foundation, the first gym in New Orleans made specifically for people with disabilities. Today, we give that story a second listen. —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!

This is part 2 of our 3-part series about elements. Last time we met nitrogen, today, it's partner in crime and in life – phosphorus.WLRN Environment Editor Jenny Staletovich has gotten to know the main character of this story pretty well after reporting on the environment in South Florida for more than a dozen years. Bone Valley in Central Florida has quietly fed the world's hunger for phosphorus, even as its waters, in particular the Everglades, suffer from the fallout.In this episode, you'll meet fishing captains turned environmental crusaders, hear about Guano Wars fought over this "Devil's Element," and learn how some are figuring out how to fix our phosphorus paradox.---WLRN Environment Editor Jenny Staletovich reported this story. The episode was hosted by Executive Producer Carlyle Calhoun. This episode was edited by Eve Abrams. Editing help from Carlyle Calhoun, Michael McEwan, Ryan Vasquez, Alana Schrieber, and Eva Tesfaye. Sound design by Dennis Funk, and our theme music is by John Batiste.Sea Change is a WWNO and WRKF production. We're a 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. 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 to talk politics with The Times Picayune/New Orleans Advocate's Stephanie Grace. Today, we hear about the latest on the indictment of Attorney General Liz Murrill and its political implications. State lawmakers passed a legislative package this past session to eliminate three judge positions  from Orleans Parish Criminal Court. Supporters say the move was to address population shifts and to cut costs. Since then, criminal justice groups have weighed in on the action. They warn about a judicial process slow-down, case backlogs, and public safety.One of the judges who has lost her position is Judge Simone Levine of Section “A” of Criminal District Court. She joins us with more. Earlier this week, the United States was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup. Their game against Belgium in the Round of 16 was the furthest the US Men's team has made it in the tournament in more than 20 years.One of their key players was Chris Richards, a defender from Hoover, Alabama. He's the first player from Alabama to make this squad, and the Heart of Dixie went all out to support its native son.WWNO's Alana Schreiber tells us more. —Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. 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 system for dealing with stormwater in New Orleans is hundreds of years old and isn't getting any younger. The Sewerage and Water Board (SWBNO)'s maintenance budget is short, more than $20 million a year, and that gap is only going to get bigger as a tax to address it expires next year.Public officials, experts and advocates all agree a stormwater fee is needed.Coastal desk reporter Eva Tesfaye joins to explain what exactly a stormwater fee means for residents and what's being considered. Economic developers are often touting the numbers on how many jobs various projects might create. But we often don't hear any follow-up. Do these projects actually deliver on what they say they will for our economy? That's where the Kathleen Blanco Public Policy Center at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette comes in. It's recently released an analysis looking at the hard numbers around job growth in Louisiana's industrial construction sector.Robby Habans, research scientist, with the Blanco research center at ULL joins us with more.This Thursday, Louisiana's Old Governor's Mansion in Baton Rouge presents “After Huey: The Elusive Road to Reform.” The lecture dives into the history of Huey Long's political protégés in the 90 years since Long was in office. Former Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne will connect the original Kingfish with the people who have tried to copy his strategies. Dardenne joins us with more. —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 Attorney General Liz Murrill was indicted by an Orleans Parish grand jury on sixteen felony charges last week for allegedly intimidating elected officials in New Orleans. Her bond was set at $4000 and an arrest warrant was issued.Less than a week later, the only thing that remains are the charges. Murrill successfully petitioned the Louisiana Supreme Court to have the bond and warrant removed — and the court indicated she had a good chance at getting the whole thing thrown out.WWNO's Mel Bridges joins us with the latest. This time of year in the Gulf South is best known as hurricane season. But it's also wildfire season. 2023 saw Louisiana's worst wildfire outbreak in a century. Now, Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain is making sure residents are prepared in case the state sees a similar outbreak.Commissioner Strain joins us for more.A Broadway classic filled with heart, humor, and unforgettable music is coming to the stage in New Orleans. Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane is presenting ‘La Cage aux Folles,' the Tony Award-winning musical that celebrates family, love, and authenticity. Well-known for its cross dressing and drag, the show also features iconic songs by Jerry Herman, including the anthem "I Am What I Am.” This performance will feature a familiar face to WWNO listeners, our very own Bob Pavlovich.Director Diane Lala and actor Scott Sauber tell us more about the performance.__Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Sara Henegan. 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!

Money is coming to Acadiana. Lawmakers recently approved funding to build the new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles after state lawmakers gave the project priority status in the new state budget. Legislators also allocated millions to help the University of Louisiana-Lafayette with a budget deficit.  Christiaan Mader, founder of the Current in Lafayette, tells us more about the influx of cash headed to the region. Gov. Jeff Landry signed an executive order that he said will protect Louisiana's household utility customers from paying for the massive amount of energy needed to power AI data centers. Landry said the order establishes a framework that balances economic opportunity with consumer protection. Reporter Sam Karlin has been covering this story for the Advocate. He joins us with more.The LSU Cold Case project dives into unsolved crimes in Louisiana, particularly those that seem to be racially motivated during the Civil Rights era. This year, students looked into the killings of two World War II veterans, one who refused to give up his bus seat in Alexandria, Louisiana. The other, who was in the middle of a voting rights lawsuit, was killed in a bar scuffle.Current and former LSU students investigated this story. Three of them — Morgan King, Camille Milligan and Miguel Paredes Reyes — join us with more.—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 teachers will get another stipend this coming school year. In previous years, the legislature added money to the state's budget to cover them. This time, the funding will be deducted from what the state already planned to send to schools. WWNO and WRKF education reporter Aubri Juhasz joins us with the latest.In March of last year, President Donald Trump announced that Hyundai, the Korean industrial giant, would invest nearly $6 billion to build a new steel plant near Donaldsonville, Louisiana. While the Trump administration touted the jobs this would bring to the bayou state, residents are now voicing concerns about the environmental impacts.Maria Gallucci, a senior reporter at Canary Media, spoke with residents, environmental advocates, scientists and leaders in and around Donaldsonville. She joins us with more. After fits and starts due to some upheaval at the River District Development in New Orleans, the Louisiana Music and Heritage Experience appears on track as it moves toward a brick-and-mortar opening. The LMHE website says it will be a museum on a grand scale dedicated to the preservation of the state's musical history.Chris Beary, LMHE developer and board chair, gives us the latest update. ______Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Alana Schreiber. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. 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!

Many Republican-led states have passed programs that will eventually give any parent, regardless of how much money they make, thousands of dollars a year to spend on private school, and in some places, homeschool expenses.For the Gulf States Newsroom, Elise Gregg looked at an exception — Mississippi, where lawmakers, so far, have held the line.Agrivoltaics is the practice of using land for both photovoltaics or solar panels to generate electricity, and for traditional agricultural purposes for growing things in the soil.Researchers at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette suggest these two land uses are not mutually exclusive and can, in fact, be done at the same time.Caitlin deNux, visiting assistant professor at ULL's School of Geosciences, tells us more. WDSU recently named New Orleans native Scot Pilié as its new Chief Meteorologist. A familiar face to Gulf Coast viewers, Scot returns to the station where he first interned under longtime Chief Meteorologist Margaret Orr. Beyond television, he's also built a large following on social media, where his accessible approach to weather has helped him connect with audiences across the region.Following extensive coverage of Tropical Storm Arthur, Scot joined WWNO's Sara Henegan to discuss forecasting, public trust and his new role leading the WDSU weather team.—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!

Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams has come under fire for taking on a case with his private law practice. This is typical among Louisiana's top prosecutors, and Williams has been lending his name to cases for five years. But this case, which involves a New Orleans man who made a fortune investing in Raising Cane's, has become high-profile.Joey Cranney, a reporter with the Deep South Today Investigative Reporting Center, tells us more about why this case is garnering attention. It's the last day of Pride Month, and throughout June, we've been bringing you stories about queer history in South Louisiana. Today, we're looking north. The new book, “Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South,” tells the story of fearless activists who challenged government indifference, medical neglect and religious hostility during the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Northwest Louisiana. The book highlights the voices of those who spoke up in conservative Southern communities, cared for one another and refused to be silenced. And this book follows an award-winning documentary of the same name.David Hylan, author of the book, joins us for more.__Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Sara Henegan. 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!

The primary season for Louisiana's U.S. Senate race is finally behind us, and we know who the Republican and Democratic candidates in the fall election will be. The Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate's editorial director and columnist Stephanie Grace tells us how Republican Julia Letlow and Democrat Jamie Davis made it this far. The Southern Poverty Law Center released its annual Year in Hate and Extremism report in early June, counting more than 1200 hate and extremist antigovernment groups across the country — and 33 across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The report says the hard right is no longer knocking on the door of American institutions. It has walked through.Gulf States Newsroom intern Tanner O'Neal Riley has been covering the report and joins us with more. 23 year-old Daniel Cressy recently became the first patient in Louisiana to undergo gene therapy for sickle cell disease. Now that he's been functionally cured of the disease he can pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a pilot. He also co-founded Privileged Pilots, a nonprofit that encourages others going through medical challenges to still pursue their dreams. Dr. Ben Watkins, director of the Stem Cell Transplant and Cell Therapy Program at Children's Hospital New Orleans, tells us more.—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!

For Haitians living in the Big Easy, many things remind them of home, from Second Line parades to the architecture to the food. Red beans and rice, boudin, jambalaya… all these iconic Louisiana dishes have connections to Haiti.That's because Haitian migrants profoundly shaped New Orleans culture. At the turn of the nineteenth century, enslaved people on the island of St Domingue broke free from their chains. Led by Toussaint L'Ouverture, they snatched their freedom from the French. They renamed the country Ayiti, the Indigenous Taino name for the land.This not only sparked the fire of freedom and Black liberation movements around the world, but also had huge consequences for other French territories. White people fleeing Haiti found familiarity in Louisiana's French culture and the plantation economy. Large groups of Black people, enslaved and free, also arrived with them, boosting Louisiana's sugarcane economy. New Orleans became one of the Blackest cities in the country.“63% of Crescent City inhabitants were now Black. Among the nation's major cities, only Charleston, with the 53% majority, was comparable,” said Zella Palmer, a food historian at Dillard University.The influx dramatically transformed New Orleans' culture and especially its food, giving it a Haitian twist that you can still taste today.“Haitian cuisine is the most underrated and unappreciated cuisine in the Western Hemisphere,” said Palmer.In this episode of Gravy from the Southern Foodways Alliance, Tesfaye gives Haitian cuisine its flowers. She takes us through the history of how Haiti helped shaped New Orleans' iconic cuisine and introduces us to the modern chefs in the city who are bringing Haitian food back to the forefront.***Eva Tesfaye is the lead reporter for WWNO's Coastal Desk. Before joining WWNO, she covered food and agriculture for Harvest Public Media and the Mississippi River Basin Ag and Water Desk. Eva was also a producer for NPR's daily science podcast, Shortwave. A graduate of Columbia University, she started her journalism career as an NPR Kroc Fellow. She grew up moving around Africa and has lived in Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan, South Africa, and Kenya.

It's Thursday, and that means it's time to talk politics with The Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate's Stephanie Grace. Today, we discuss the final stretch of the Senate primary runoff and how State Treasurer John Fleming has been catching up to the Trump-endorsed Julia Letlow in the polls. There's a spit of land out in New Orleans East. Thousands drive past it every day and don't give it much of a thought. But this marsh, which stands between Lake Pontchartrain and the Gulf, offers the New Orleans Metro area protection from storms and floods. And, it's disappearing.  Tristan Baurick, senior environmental & climate reporter for Verite News,  tells us why this land is disappearing and what can be done about it.Changes are coming fast to the University of New Orleans. The UNO medallion in front of the Earl K Long Library is gone, awaiting its new LSU New Orleans logo.And after nearly 50 years without one, UNO will resurrect its marching band.Eddie Williams Jr. was recently named the new band director. He joins us for more on the program he's starting up, and why no previous musical experience will be required —Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. 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 2026 World Cup is in full swing, and for the first time in 50 years – and second time ever – the country of Haiti is making an appearance. Even though the team has already been mathematically eliminated, fans are  gathering to watch their country's games at the local Haitian restaurant, Fritai. WWNO's Mel Bridges attended one of those watch parties.We are nearing the end of Pride Month, a time when cities are chalk full of parades, concerts and events that celebrate LGBTQ+ identities. But sometimes, these celebrations are also reminders of tragedies that impacted queer communities.Today marks fifty three years since the UpStairs Lounge Fire in New Orleans, when an arson attack at a French Quarter gay bar took the lives of 32 people and injured 15 others.. No one was ever convicted of this crime. Back in 2023, we spoke with Frank Perez, executive director for the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana and local historian, about the impact of this event and how he was working to honor the lives of the victims 50 years later. Today we look back on this conversation, which also highlights key moments in Crescent City queer history. ___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Alana Schreiber. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. 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!

10 years ago, Mother Jones investigator Shane Bauer went undercover at a private prison in Louisiana. Disguised as a prison guard, he observed the violence and neglect at Winn Correctional Center in Winnfield, Louisiana. His report drew the attention of many, including President Obama, who stated the government would discontinue sending federal inmates to private prison, which was ultimately unfulfilled when President Trump took office.10 years later, Winn is still operating. Now it serves as a processing and detention facility for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Bauer spoke with Louisiana Considered's Alana Schreiber about how he's reflected on the ten years since his investigation, and the state of the private prison industry today. The Lafon Performing Arts Center in Luling, Louisiana has built a one-of-kind program that seeks to increase arts education among students in rural areas. The Artsperience program offers kids opportunities to develop their skills in performing, visual and technical arts, while also receiving mentorship from professional artists.  The arts center also brings incredible performances, including Broadway tours, to local audiences. Lafon Arts Center executive director Ned Moore joins us with more on the importance of artistic educational opportunities. __Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Sara Henegan. 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 live in South Louisiana, you probably saw the headlines last month raising alarm about the region's vulnerability to climate change. Like this one in The Guardian: ‘Point of no return': New Orleans relocation must start now due to sea level rise, study finds. WWNO and WRKF reporters Aubri Juhasz and Eva Tesfaye have been looking at the study, media coverage and how locals are responding. They sat down to talk about it with one another.The sequel to the Oscar-nominated documentary “Time,” titled “Time II: Unfinished Business,” premiered Friday on Amazon Prime. It picks up where the first leaves off, after Sibil “Fox Rich” Richardson's husband, Rob, is freed from Angola after serving 21 years for armed robbery. Fox was also involved in the robbery and served seven years in prison. The film documents the couple's fight for the release of their nephew, an accomplice who is still serving time. It also highlights their fight for justice reform to ensure punishments fit the crime. “Fox Rich” and Rob Richardson join us with more.—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!

In this three-part series, we're giving some of the most misunderstood characters on the periodic table a fuller story. We dive into the fascinating double lives of these elements that are both the makers and unmakers of our world.In part one, reporter Olga Loginova travels to Cape Cod to meet nitrogen. In this episode: we trudge through the marsh, avoid great white sharks, and find out how we harnessed the power of nitrogen, why that power turned against us, and what we can do about it.---This episode was hosted by Carlyle Calhoun and Olga Loginova. Olga also reported the story. This story was edited by Jack Rodolico. Editing help from me, Eve Abrams, and Michael McEwan. The episode was fact-checked by Philip Kiefer. Sound design by Dennis Funk, and our theme music is by John Batiste. I'm the executive producer. Sea Change is a WWNO and WRKF production. We're a part of the NPR Podcast Network and distributed by PRX. And to help others find our podcast, hit subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Sea Change is made possible with major support from the Gulf Research Program of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. WWNO's Coastal Desk is supported by the Walton Family Foundation, the Meraux Foundation, and the Greater New Orleans Foundation. We'll be back with another element in two weeks.

It's Thursday, and that means it's time to talk politics with The Times Picayune/New Orleans Advocate's Stephanie Grace. Today, we preview the upcoming elections for Public Service Commission and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.  Many South Louisianans awoke early Thursday morning to the sound of  loud claps of thunder and pouring rain. The remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur drenched the region throughout the day. The storm is now headed out of our region.Meteorologist Dan Holiday joins us to cover storm damage and what to expect in the coming days.The return of the University of New Orleans to the LSU system has inspired nostalgia among alumni, as well as former and current faculty and staff.UNO Doctoral Researcher of Justice Studies, Amanda Mester-Brown, is asking the questions: Who gets to define a university's story? What does it mean for an institution to remember certain parts of its past while minimizing others? And how is that changed when community memory is invited into the storytelling.Mester-Brown invited all UNO current and former students, faculty and staff to share their stories in the UNO Community Memory Project. She joins us to share more.—Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. 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!

When Baton Rouge voters head to the polls later this month, they'll have the opportunity to decide on the fate of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library's funding. The library is asking voters to approve its dedicated property tax. Report for America corps member Alex Cox joins us for more on this story, and why the fate of the library is continually on the Baton Rouge ballot.Louisiana is among at least eight states that give federal funds to anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers.The Department of Children and Family Services spent over $2 million in federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding or on centers that discourage its patients from seeking abortions.Stateline reporter Kelcie Moseley-Morris joins us with the details. The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities recently released a landmark study demonstrating the measurable impact its Prime Time Preschool Literacy program has on learning and school-readiness.LEH spearheaded the program a little over three decades ago, and since then, the program has been used as a model that has been repeated in states nationwide.Sarah Withers, vice president of education programs for the LEH, joins us for more. 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 driverless car company Waymo announced plans to expand in New Orleans last year. But so far, all of the cars have human drivers, so they aren't currently autonomous. The Times-Picayune/The Advocate's Blake Paterson tells us why the cars are not yet autonomous, and when that process might begin.June is Pride Month, and on Louisiana Considered, we are looking back at some of the state's key players in the LGBTQ rights movement. One of those figures is Stormé DeLarverie, a New Orleans-born activist and drag king performer often credited with playing a pivotal role in the events that led to the Stonewall uprising.Kyle DeVries, board president of the New Orleans Pride Center, tells us more about DeLarverie's life and legacy, and how her activism inspires the queer youth today.Murder, celebrity, scandal, and all that jazz. Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane is bringing the Broadway smash ‘Chicago' to New Orleans June 18-21. The production reimagines the iconic musical that has become the longest-running American musical in Broadway history. Director Jaune Buisson and the actress playing Velma Kelly, Chase Kamata, tell us more about this upcoming performance.__Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Sara Henegan. 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!

A second New Orleans district judge has recused himself from presiding over the case of former Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson, who was accused of misconduct in a bombshell indictment unleashed days before she was set to leave office. Matt Bruce has been reporting on this for The Times-Picayune | The Advocate. He joins us for more.The nonprofit organization 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge is celebrating the success of its flagship mentorship program, “Project Excel,” which mentors Black boys in grades 6 through 12 and helps them develop essential life skills and improve academic performance. To learn more about the program, we're joined by Michael Victorian, president-elect of 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge, as well as Sumiyah Landry and her son, Lester, who is enrolled in the program.Juneteenth is this Friday, and the Southwest Louisiana Juneteenth Committee will host several events this weekend celebrating Black culture and commemorating the end of American chattel slavery. Abram Freeman, the committee's founder, tells us more about the meaning of Juneteenth and how it's celebrated.—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!

Earlier this month, the organizations EverythingALS and Vision 2030 announced a partnership with the Allen Institute to accelerate research into the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease or ALS. The disease is a progressive neurodegenerative condition where patients lose the ability to walk, use their hands, talk and eventually breathe. But the new investment will be geared towards finding using AI-powered technology to look for a cure at the cellular level. Tech entrepreneur and founder of EverythingALS, Indu Navar, and ALS patient living in Covington, Louisiana, Tim Fulham, join us for more on their journeys with the disease and ongoing research. Over the last two weeks, we've brought you parts one and two of the latest episode of Sea Change: Losing Paradise. In each episode, we learned about the ongoing battle between fisherman and oil companies over the rights to drowned land. This fight is playing out on land, sea and in the courtroom. But is there a way out of this deadlock that won't take decades of case-by-case lawsuits?LSU Law School professor John Lovett has been studying this issue for years. He spoke with the host of Sea Change, Carlyle Calhoun, about what believes might be a solution to the long simmering battle. ___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 talk politics with The Times Picayune/New Orleans Advocate's Stephanie Grace. Today, we hear why New Orleans is gaining access to unspent Katrina money from FEMA. We also learn about Mayor Moreno's recent win: bringing the Sewerage and Water Board under more city control. A sports medicine physician has opened one of the world's first clinics and treatment centers specifically for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome at the Fascia Institute. Also known as EDS, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome affects the body's connective tissues, often categorized by loose skin, unstable joints and hypermobility.The doctor at the helm of the new clinic, Dr. Jacques Courseault, tells us more about the condition, why it often goes undiagnosed and how to treat it.The new documentary “GASLIT” explores how communities along the Gulf Coast are impacted by liquified natural gas export terminals. Academy Award winner and activist Jane Fonda travelled throughout Texas and Louisiana, meeting and talking with the various people who have concerns about the expansion of the industry. She met with shrimpers, cattle farm workers, former oil workers and “reluctant activists” to learn how they are banding together to protect the coastlines. The film's director, Katie Camosy, joins us with more.—Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. 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 U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v. Callais has set off a wave of redistricting across the Gulf South.Elise Gregg from the Gulf States Newsroom reports on how smaller communities in the South are being affected by new state voting maps that mostly favor Republican candidates.Student researchers at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette have made a finding that could change the way scientists interpret information about climate change in both the fossil record as well as the modern ecosystem. And they made that discovery simply using oak leaves collected from the university's campus.Dr. Brian Schubert, professor and director of environmental science at the School of Geosciences at UL Lafayette, along with his recently-graduated student, Clinton Vincent, tell us more.LSU Health New Orleans is one of four medical programs in the state and 50 in the nation taking part in a federal program to promote nutrition education among medical students. Its purpose is to make sure participating schools add a 40-hour program in nutrition.Dr. Robin English, associate dean for undergraduate medical education, LSU Health New Orleans, joins us for more. —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!

A New Orleans immigration court is set to increase the number of hearings judges oversee each day dramatically. This is due to the Trump administration's push to accelerate deportation decisions. Bobbi Jeanne Misick has been covering this for Verite News. She joins us for more on the so-called “mega” hearings. The André Cailloux Center for Performing Arts and Cultural Justice, located on historic Bayou Road in New Orleans, is gearing up for some exciting summer projects. Named for Civil War hero and freedom fighter André Cailloux, the center serves as a multidisciplinary arts and cultural hub dedicated to promoting justice, community engagement and economic opportunities for Black artists and cultural organizations. Lauren Turner Hines is the founding envisionist and executive lead of the center. She tells us more about the organization's founding and current initiatives. __Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Sara Henegan. 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!

In May, University of New Orleans president Kathy Johnson announced she will be leaving her position at the end of June. This comes after she helped the university navigate its financial crisis and return to the LSU system. She's accepted a role as the executive vice president and provost of Saint Louis University. WWNO and WRKF education reporter Aubri Juhasz tells us what this means for the institution.Baton Rouge's district attorney is scrutinizing companies that monitor ankle devices used by courts and law enforcement agencies to track offenders, after a local rapper was able to perform at a concert in New York City without officials knowing.District Attorney Hilliar Moore learned through social media that Austin Jackson, who goes by the name “BBE AJ," had violated his bond agreement.Quinn Coffman, reporter for the Baton Rouge Advocate, tells us more about Moore's investigation into these ankle device monitoring companies.  Louisiana artist and scholar Jermaine Butler is releasing “Lalézon,” believed to be the first rap extended playlist recording entirely in Louisiana Creole, also known as Kouri-Vini. This project brings Kouri-Vini into contemporary hip hop and helps promote what is often considered a critically endangered language. Jermaine Butler joins with for more.—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!

Want to feel better? Get unstuck? Be inspired? Remake the world? Then this episode is for you. We talk with Katherine Wilkinson, author of the book Climate Wayfinding, and Colette Pichon Battle, lawyer and co-founder of Taproot Earth, about finding our way through the climate crisis.To read more about Climate Wayfinding, or order a copy of the book, click here.This episode was hosted by Carlyle Calhoun and Eva Tesfaye. Eva conducted the interview. Sound design by Kurt Kohnen, and our theme music is by Jon Batiste.Sea Change is a WWNO and WRKF production. We're a part of the NPR Podcast Network and distributed by PRX. To help others find our podcast, hit Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.Sea Change is made possible with major support from the Gulf Research Program of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 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 to catch up on politics with The Times-Picayune/The Advocate's Stephanie Grace. Today, we discuss the two candidates still in the race vying for Bill Cassidy's Senate seat. Last week, a ruling came down in the case of the notorious farm line at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. A federal judge ruled that while men forced to work on the farm line are subject to dangerous and harsh conditions, the court cannot force the state to fix the problem. The ruling follows nearly three years of litigation and comes just as the summer heat season is rolling in.The coastal desk's Michael McEwen has been following the case and joins us for more. This weekend, New Orleans' annual Black Nerd Fest, or BLERDFEST!, returns. The event is meant to increase representation within the Black community when it comes to all things anime, superheroes, sci-fi, cosplay and more. The event is open to both kids and adults, reminding everyone that there is room for them in the multiverse. True, creator and CEO of Blerd Fest, along with programming coordinator Jasmine Walker, joins us for more.___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Alana Schreiber. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. 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!

Lawmakers in Baton Rouge wrapped up the regular session this week without money in the budget to give teachers another one-time stipend, as they've done for the past three years. Instead, Gov. Jeff Landry is asking lawmakers to pull the money needed from existing school funding. WWNO and WRKF's education reporter Aubri Juhasz joins us for more on this topic. Summer is right around the corner, and that means it's mosquito season in our part of Louisiana. They're an annoyance, of course, but they're also a public health concern because mosquitoes are vectors for diseases like the West Nile virus.Kevin Caillouet, director & medical entomologist with the St. Tammany Parish Mosquito Abatement District, tells us how to protect ourselves from mosquitoes while still being a good steward of the environment.How do you quantify the music economy in a city like Baton Rouge? Where does the data come from? Who do you ask? Those are the questions the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge pursued when it conducted the Baton Rouge Region Music Census. And they recently released a report detailing what they found out.Jonathan Grimes, President & CEO of Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, tells us what the findings revealed about the entertainment economy in the capital city. —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 12 weeks, Louisiana's regular legislative session officially wrapped on Monday night. Capitol Access Reporter Brooke Thorington gives us the latest, including the new congressional voting map, teacher pay raises and environmental legislation. Students in New Orleans recently celebrated the end of the school year and all the milestones that come with it. This was Fateama Fulmore's first full year as the city's superintendent. She spoke with WWNO's education reporter Aubri Juhasz for more on the biggest lessons she learned this year and her hopes for next. Louisiana Public Broadcasting is launching a new digital series. Called “LA64” the series will embark on a five-year initiative to explore each parish in the state, what sets them all apart, and what unites them. Host and producer of the new series, Karen LeBlanc, tells us more about the first season, and highlights some of the state's forgotten small towns. __Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Sara Henegan. 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!

Shortly after his inauguration, Gov. Jeff Landry signed a package of tough-on-crime bills that drastically changed the state's sentencing laws. Now, two years later, the governor is hoping to add even more beds to the state's largest prison through a newly proposed corrections budget. ProPublica and Verite News have spent more than two years investigating the impact of Landry's policies on the criminal justice system and how expanding the state's corrections budget would impact taxpayers. Verite News reporter Richard Webster joins us with more.Louisiana Republican State Sen. Jay Morris used his office to help bring one of the world's largest data centers to Richland Parish. But he also owned thousands of acres surrounding the site that the company planned to build on. He then sold some of that land for the construction of a power plant that will provide energy to Meta's massive array of computers.Garrett Hazelwood, an investigative reporter at Floodlight, worked in partnership with Verite and the Louisiana Illuminator to break the story. He tells us more about his findings that Morris's conduct may have violated state ethics laws. In New Orleans, there's an ongoing battle at the office of the clerk of criminal court — or what was the office of the clerk of criminal court. Calvin Duncan, a lawyer, criminal justice advocate and wrongfully convicted Black man who served almost 30 years in prison before his exoneration, ran for clerk of criminal court and won. Afterward, state lawmakers removed his position, seeking to combine his office with the civil court clerk.In a recent interview on Louisiana Considered, Duncan traced the move to unseat him before taking office back to the days of Reconstruction. Arguing that Louisiana has a history of diluting Black political power.Jarret Luter is an Instructor of History at Southern University. He joins us for more on the throughline between Reconstruction and modern examples of diluting Black voting power.June 1 marks the start of Pride Month, so today we're remembering the late gay rights activist Stewart Butler. A survivor of the tragic Upstairs Lounge fire, the New Orleans native's activism spanned over 40 years as he helped found numerous LGBTQ+ organizations.In 2019, Butler spoke with Mark Cave from the Historic New Orleans Collection about his contributions to the movement, including the first gay rights conference at LSU. Today, we give his recollections a second listen.—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!

Today we're bringing you the second part of the latest Sea Change episode, Losing Paradise.As Louisiana's coastal wetlands are claimed by the rising Gulf, fishermen and oil companies disagree over who has the right to the drowned land. Oil companies say they still pay taxes on the drowned property and have a right to keep off trespassers. Meanwhile fishermen say these are public navigable waters.Attempts to pass legislation that would bring clarity have failed, so host Carlyle Calhoun brings us to another battlefront - the courthouse.Billions from opioid settlements are flowing to local governments to help communities devastated by addiction.In Louisiana, one of the hardest-hit areas — Jefferson Parish — is set to receive tens of millions of dollars.But as the Gulf States Newsroom's Drew Hawkins and Verite News' Katie Jane Fernelius report, the parish has spent little of it so far.___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Alana Schreiber. Our managing producer is Alana Schrieber. We get production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and 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!

Why are fishermen being arrested in Louisiana? An epic battle over "Sportsman's Paradise" is being waged on Louisiana's water. This is a story about public rights and private power colliding. As more and more of Louisiana's coast disappears underwater, the state's two most powerful and iconic forces – fishing and fossil fuels – are waging war over who owns the drowned land.This episode was hosted and reported by Sea Change's executive producer, Carlyle Calhoun. The episode was edited by Eve Abrams. Additional help from Johanna Zorn, Drew Hawkins, Eva Tesfaye, and Michael McEwan. The episode was fact-checked by Philip Kiefer. Sound design by Dennis Funk, and our theme music is by Jon Batiste.---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. WWNO's Coastal Desk is supported by the Walton Family Foundation, the Meraux Foundation, and the Greater New Orleans Foundation.

The new documentary “Steal This Story, Please!” tells the story of independent investigative journalist and co-founder of Democracy Now, Amy Goodman. Produced by Elsewhere Films, the documentary explores Goodman's globe-trotting reporting, covering the Indonesian invasion of East Timor, tracking down oil executives in Nigeria and her advocacy for the release of a man she believes was wrongfully imprisoned in Louisiana. The film highlights her commitment to democracy and truth-telling, and is imbued with a strong sense of her Jewish identity and New York roots. Goodman joins us alongside one of the co-directors, Tia Lessin. Lessin, alongside her husband and production partner Carl Deal, also directed the Oscar-nominated documentary about Hurricane Katrina, “Trouble the Water.”They discuss how the documentary came together, what sets Goodman apart from other journalists and the future of the increasingly attacked industry. —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 Louisiana legislative session is entering its final week. Times-Picayune/The Advocate's editorial director and columnist, Stephanie Grace, tells us what bills passed, which failed, and what efforts are underway to change voting in the party primary system. Another school year has come and gone. In Louisiana, reading scores are continuing to rise after a COVID drop. WWNO and WRKF's education reporter Aubri Juhasz joins us to discuss some of the biggest stories from the last school year.For years, Louisiana has had one of the highest rates of incarceration in the country. But for many women leaving prison, the barriers don't end once they're released — especially when it comes to education and employment.Operation Restoration is working to change that through higher education, job training and reentry support for formerly incarcerated women and girls. Syrita Steib, founder and CEO of Operation Restoration, and Stephanie King, the first graduate of the organization's College-in-Prison partnership with Tulane University, join us with more.__Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Sara Henegan. 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 recently passed a bill eliminating New Orleans' clerk of criminal court. The parish had been the only one with two clerks, one for criminal court and another for civil. Governor Jeff Landry signed the bill into law just days before Calvin Duncan, a formerly wrongfully incarcerated Black man, was set to take office, after being elected to the criminal court position in November. Calvin Duncan joins us for more on his fight to keep the job he was elected to serve. Last year, journalist Susan Saulny read the headline, “New Pope Has Creole Roots in New Orleans.” As she learned more about Pope Leo XIV's mixed racial heritage from Louisiana, she began to think about her own family. In particular, her white passing great uncle who moved north, and her Black grandfather who stayed in the south. She set out to learn more about her family history, and recently wrote about her process and discoveries for the New York Times. Susan joins us for more on her discoveries.___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Alana Schreiber. Our managing producer is Alana Schrieber. We get production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and 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!

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. We discuss Governor Landry's recent trip to Greenland and his less than warm welcome. We also hear what Senator Bill Cassidy has been up to in Congress following his primary defeat.Youth sports continue to face a shortage of referees. Football typically has the greatest need. Low pay combined with often unpleasant interactions with parents is keeping potential officials – particularly young people – at bay.Some states are enacting tougher laws to combat not just the harassment, but also the physical violence that has affected referees in the past.Eddie Allemore, New Orleans Regional Coordinator of Officials with the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, tells us more about the shortage issue and potential solutions.Summer is on its way. In Louisiana, that means the start of hurricane season. Many Louisianans plan their potential evacuations, and have to decide what to take and what to leave. But how do we ensure that the possessions we leave behind don't get damaged? Nayla Maaruf, is a member of the American Institute for Conservation working for the New Orleans Museum of Art. She joins us now with more on how to protect our artwork and photographs from storm damage.—Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. 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!

It's the time of year when all eyes are on LSU Baseball, a team that's won two College World Series championships in the last three years. But this year, it's LSU softball that's grabbing the spotlight, as the team heads to the Super Regional where they'll aim to punch a ticket to the Women's College World Series.Scott Rabalais has been covering the team for The Times-Picayune/The Advocate and joins us now for more.Recent financial data shows about 37% of Americans currently have less than $500 dollars in cash savings, a situation particularly critical for people with the lowest income levels or with children.Mint To Prosper Foundation is an organization that seeks to address financial issues that disproportionately affect disadvantaged populations. They offer a program that helps underserved families develop those essential savings to help with emergency expenses. They also run a free 10-week savings program for families in Baton Rouge called the Conqueror Community Savings Program. Executive Director Nesha Brown joins us for more. The Louisiana Children's Museum is addressing what it sees as a critical stage in early childhood development. “The First 1,000 Days Program” is designed to give parents tools to support their new child's social-emotional, cognitive and physical development. And they're recruiting a new cohort for that program.Early learning director Terri Baquet joins us with more.  —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!

Roughly two weeks ago, the New Orleans-based U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling to ban the distribution of Mifepristone — one of two widely used drugs used for medication abortion — following telehealth appointments. The Supreme Court issued a temporary stay of the ruling before releasing a new decision to keep Mifepristone available while the case proceeds in lower courts. Rosemary Westwood, a New York Times fellow and former WWNO and WRKF public health reporter, joins us with the latest.East Baton Rouge city-parish employees are set to receive an across-the-board raise. Many will see at least a 3.5% increase in their paycheck starting in July. The goal is to bring parish employees above the poverty line as much as possible. Before this raise, the lowest-paid worker roughly made $10.54 per hour. Now, that rate sits at roughly $12.53 per hour. WRKF's Report for America Corps member Alex Cox tells us more.Since opening in 2018, Hotel Hope in New Orleans has served as a safe space for hundreds of mothers and children in need of shelter. The nonprofit provides food, clothing and case management services to assist families in need of support. It also helps them find permanent housing. Last week, Hotel Hope held a ceremonial groundbreaking on its new affordable housing units. One of the organization's biggest champions is Sister Mary Lou Specha, a nun who serves as executive director. She joins us now for more about Hotel Hope, alongside Oji Alexander, the chief executive officer of People's Housing Plus, the developer behind the new units.__Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Sara Henegan. 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!

Saturday's election results came as a shock to some amid rumors of voter discrepancies in the closed primaries. Some analysts view the results as a major pushback against Gov. Jeff Landry, whose five amendments were all rejected. Capitol Access reporter Brooke Thorington joins us with more.In the Spring of 1960, Black residents boycotted stores along one of New Orleans' busiest shopping stretches to send a message. They refused to shop at businesses on Dryades Street that took Black dollars but refused to hire Black workers.This story from the local Civil Rights Movement is recounted as part of the Historic New Orleans Collection exhibition, “The Trail They Blazed.” Exhibit curator Eric Seiferth joins us for more.In honor of America's 250th birthday, the Smithsonian is collaborating with 40 festivals across the country between March and November that highlight different U.S. subcultures on how they celebrate community, cultural exchange and civic engagement.One of the featured festivals will be Louisiana's very own Festivals Acadiens et Créoles, which returns this October 9-11. To tell us more about the Smithsonian's involvement is Cajun folklorist and founder of Festival Acadiens, Barry Ancelet, and Pat Mould, famed Cajun and Creole chef and the vice president of programming for the festival.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!

Nicholas Lemann, author, longtime New Yorker writer and professor at Columbia University, is out with a new book,  “Returning: A Search for Home Across the Centuries.” The book serves as both a memoir of his own reform Jewish childhood in New Orleans and a wider examination of Jewish assimilation in the American South. His New Yorker article, "A Childhood in Jewish New Orleans," a preview of the book, was released earlier this year. Nicholas Lemann joins us with more on his research, and what his book reveals about a forgotten subsect of American Jewish culture. ___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!

Statewide elections are approaching this Saturday, but there's confusion over which votes will count. While residents will weigh in on ballot amendments, the Senate race and judgeships, Gov. Jeff Landry postponed the U.S. House race after the Supreme Court deemed the state's congressional map unconstitutional. Still, the candidates remain on the ballot, and there are lawsuits circulating that advocate for these votes to still count. Stephanie Grace, the Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate's editorial director and columnist, joins us to break down the confusion. According to New Orleans Police Department traffic reports, at least four bicyclists and over two dozen pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle crashes in New Orleans last year. This doesn't include those injured in such accidents.Just over a month ago, the city council adopted the Safe Streets and Roads for All Safety Action Plan to eliminate all traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2041. Allene La Spina, executive director of Bike Easy, joins us for more on this plan. This weekend, Bayou Boogaloo, the annual May festival, will celebrate its 20th anniversary. But this year, the semi-aquatic musical festival comes with major cuts and new locations. Festival founder Jared Zeller joins us for more on this year's event and why they're scaling back. —Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. 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!

This Saturday, Louisiana voters will weigh in on whether to let the new city of St. George form its own school district. To do that, they have to amend the state's constitution.The Baton Rouge breakaway suburb has been trying to start its own school system for more than a decade. WRKF's Report for America corps member Alex Cox joins us with more.The Louisiana Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children have partnered to bring a recognition called “The Best Place for Working Parents” to Louisiana. The recognition acknowledges employers who self-assess to gauge how friendly their workplace is for workers with children. Taylor Henry, executive director of the Louisiana Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, tells us more about improving working conditions for parents. Since the Make-A-Wish Organization was first founded, it's helped grant more than 12,000 wishes to children in Louisiana. In 2025, it granted 650 wishes across the Gulf Coast region, the highest total in the organization's history.May is a busy month for the Make-A-Wish Texas, Gulf Coast and Louisiana Chapter. After World Wish Month and World Wish Day, the organization has many local events hoping to raise money to support the mission. Wish Kid, Abron Fyre, his mother Misty Frye, and the organization's director of development, Tommy Fonseca, join us with more.—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!

A new study from researchers at Tulane University is delivering a stark message about the future of coastal Louisiana: New Orleans is not forever.The study warns that rising seas, sinking land and ongoing coastal erosion mean the question is no longer if the coastline will move inland, but how we prepare for the inevitable reality that our region will be taken over by the Gulf of Mexico. Torbjörn Törnqvist, geology professor at Tulane and lead author of the study, joins us for more on the findings and the logistics of relocating an entire city. This month, one of William Shakespeare's most powerful and haunting tragedies takes the stage in New Orleans. “King Lear” — a story of power, family, betrayal and madness — will come to life at the New Orleans Shakespeare Festival at Tulane University.Jana Mestecky, director of the production, and John Neisler, the actor who plays King Lear, tell us more about adapting the work with a fast-paced style and ensemble cast.__Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Sara Henegan. 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!

A new podcast from WNYC's “On The Media” seeks to tell the story of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “American Emergency: The Movement to Kill FEMA,” is a four-part series that chronicles the agency from its founding to its current uncertain status in the Trump Administration. The second episode takes a deep dive into the failings of FEMA during Hurricane Katrina. Micah Loewinger, reporter and host of the series, joins with the details.The story of boxing great Muhammed Ali takes musical form in a new album from Baton Rouge-based composer and guitarist D.J. Sparr. The album “The Tao of Muhammad Ali” is based on a podcast by writer Davis Miller that explores his friendship with the champ and how Ali — even through his later years battling Parkinson's disease — was an inspiration and role model.Sparr joins us with more on the musical tribute. —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 week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Louisiana's congressional election map is unconstitutional. Governor Jeff Landry quickly responded with an emergency declaration to suspend the ongoing congressional primary election. While the state argues it now has to redraw the maps  before the election can move forward, some legal experts are asking whether it's right to suspend an election when some voters have already cast absentee ballots. Dane Ciolino, professor at Loyola New Orleans College of Law, and Peter Robins-Brown, executive director of Louisiana Progress, spoke with WRKF's Adam Vos for more.Longtime Times-Picayune theater critic and entertainment writer David Cuthbert passed away one week ago. For 43 years, he was at the front of showbiz information and profiled legends in the industry. From copy boy to editor of the paper's TV Focus, his writings showcased his thirst for entertainment news and his love of New Orleans theatre. He was 79. Just over a year ago, Cuthbert joined WWNO's Bob Pavlovich around the time of Saturday Night Live's 50th anniversary. He discussed the time SNL came for Mardi Gras, the ill-fated show and his experience interviewing original cast members.  ___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's editorial director and columnist, Stephanie Grace. Today, we discuss the latest in the postponed elections, as well as the ongoing court battle over the elimination of Calvin Duncan's office as clerk of the Orleans Criminal District Court. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention says that one in four girls and one in 20 boys experience sexual abuse. About 90% of those instances of abuse are perpetrated by someone known and trusted by the child or the child's family members. But what happens to them when they become adults?Silence Broken is a New Orleans-based non-profit that serves adult survivors of child sexual abuse. Director Dr. Mary Brown and Claudia Barker, a survivor of abuse, join us with more. May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, so we wanted to take the time to look back on Asian history in Louisiana. In the mid-18th century, new immigrants established the first Filipino settlement in the United States. Saint Malo was a small fishing village in St. Bernard Parish until its destruction in a 1915 hurricane. Kirby Araullo, Filipino historian, culture bearer and content creator, tells us more about the history and impact of this settlement. —Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. 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!