Louisiana Considered Podcast

Nondisclosure agreements, or NDAs, have become a common tool in Louisiana under Gov. Jeff Landry's administration.Earlier this year, the Gulf States Newsroom reported that at least 50 elected officials signed NDAs with the state agency Louisiana Economic Development as well as individual development companies. These NDAs are related to industrial projects throughout the state, including data centers and the Hyundai steel mill in Ascension Parish. Today, we dive into a new investigation from the Gulf States Newsroom's Drew Hawkins, who found the practice of signing NDAs also extends into the governor's own office. Large-scale sediment diversions used to be considered priorities in Louisiana's coastal restoration initiatives. But after years of debate, political opposition, and the cancellation of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, the state's restoration priorities are changing.A new documentary from Louisiana Public Broadcasting titled “Building Barriers” explores those changes. Host of the new film and Louisiana Spotlight producer, Oscar Tickle, as we;; as LPB executive producer Linda Midgett, tell us more.On Tuesday, The Old Governor's Mansion in Baton Rouge will host the  special presentation “Louisiana Orphan Trains: America's Forgotten Journey of Hope and Hardship.” It tells the story of a mass relocation movement of orphaned children from eastern American cities to more rural communities in the mid 1800s.With more on this presentation and this chapter in Louisiana history, we spoke with two descendents of orphan train riders: President of the Louisiana Orphan Train Society, Martha Aubert, and board member James Douget.—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 the Netherlands, water has always been both a threat and a triumph. A quarter of the country lies below sea level, and for centuries the Dutch have engineered their way to safety. It's a place not unlike New Orleans: a delta shaped by risk, resilience, and the belief that with enough ingenuity, water can be controlled. But as sea levels rise, that centuries-old confidence is beginning to crack.In this episode of Sea Change, reporter Jonathan Groubert takes us to the Netherlands to explore a relationship in turmoil. From floating farms to visions of entire cities on water, the Dutch are beginning to rethink everything they thought they knew. The question is no longer how to win the war against water—but whether it's time to learn how to live with it.---This episode was hosted by Executive Producer Carlyle Calhoun and Amsterdam-based journalist Jonathan Groubert. Jonathan reported this story. Fact-checking by Philip Kiefer. Our theme music is by Jon Batiste and 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 for our week in politics with Times -Picayune/The Advocate Editorial Director and Columnist Stephanie Grace. Today, we discuss the latest in the state's congressional elections and the pending Supreme Court cases that could affect some congressional districts.A nationwide outbreak of a microscopic parasite has reached Louisiana. Known as cyclospora, the parasite causes intestinal issues, bloating, stomach issues and nausea, among other side effects. Dr. Fred Lopez is an infectious disease specialist at LSU Health New Orleans. He tells us more about symptoms, prevention and treatment.For victims of violent crime in New Orleans, the criminal justice process is often long, bureaucratic and compounded by the grief of the moment. That's why Rose Preston, founder of Crime Survivors NOLA, recently published a new edition of the crime survivors guidebook. The book aims to offer support and resources to survivors of different types of crimes in the New Orleans area.Preston tells us about the release and an upcoming book launch event.—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!

Rep. Cleo Fields, D-La.,  has decided not to seek re-election to the 6th Congressional District. His decision comes after his seat was at the center of a blockbuster U.S. Supreme Court ruling on race and redistricting.Capitol Access Reporter Brooke Thorington joins us with more on Fields' political future. The utility company Magnolia Water is responsible for providing water and sewer service to over 130,000 Louisiana residents in mostly rural areas across the state. But according to customers, the company keeps raising its prices, and the lack of oversight or competition is making water bills unaffordable for many of them.Camden Doherty has been reporting on this for The Current. He discussed thesituation with WRKF's Karen Henderson.If you're a business owner or work in the technology sector, there's no doubt you've been bombarded with advertisements for artificial intelligence, with claims about how AI can make your life easier. But despite those claims, many people remain skeptical of AI or unsure how to use the technology. Southeastern Louisiana University is holding a workshop to help demystify AI for business owners.. Dean of research and innovation Daniel McCarthy 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!

July is Disability Rights Month, so we are taking the time to recognize passionate Louisiana activist April Dunn. Born with both fetal alcohol syndrome and cerebral palsy, Dunn was passionate about increasing educational opportunities for people with disabilities, even advocating for the passage of the April Dunn Act in 2014. She passed away in early March of 2020 after testing positive for COVID-19. Pamela White is the Regional Director of Special Education for GEO Academies. She joins us to discuss how Dunn increased educational pathways for people with disabilities.Warren Easton Charter High School in New Orleans has a new leader, but he's certainly not a new face on campus. Dr. Kendall "Dr. Mac" McManus-Thomas is a Warren Easton graduate, former teacher, coach and administrator who now returns to his alma mater as principal. He joins us now to talk about his long journey with the school, his experience evacuating during Hurricane Katrina and his vision for the future of the institution. __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!

Earlier this month, a federal jury convicted a New Orleans-area pastor of stealing over $340,000 from his congregation to fund his gambling and personal expenses. Dale Sanders, 56, was found guilty of a 25-count indictment charging him with wire fraud, access device fraud and obstruction of a federal investigation.James Finn, Federal Courts reporter for The Times-Picayune/The Advocate, joins us with more. Governance in East Baton Rouge Parish saw a contentious political debate last week after the parish attorney asked the court to let the parish intervene in a lawsuit to set a date of incorporation for the new city of St. George. Some officials argue the city began in 2019, with others saying it wasn't official until the state Supreme Court got involved in 2024. Baton Rouge metro reporter and Report for America corps member Alex Cox explains why this decision could leave both municipalities on the hook for multiple millions of dollars. Back in June, LSU professor Tim Slack was elected president of the Rural Sociological Society, one of the nation's leading organizations dedicated to researching rural communities and environments. Tim Slack joins us for more on what his election means for LSU, and his biggest priorities as leader. —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 on Louisiana Considered, we listen to an episode of a new podcast, “American Colony,” all about the history of Puerto Rico. In this episode produced by WWNO's Alana Schreiber, we dive into baseball history on the archipelago, specifically how the sport was shaped by Black American baseball players. During the golden age of the Negro Leagues, the biggest stars came to play in Puerto Rico. Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Monte Irvin and more than 200 others spent their winter on Puerto Rica teams, playing integrated baseball years before Jackie Robinson crossed the color line in the U.S. They experienced a sense of fame, freedom and dignity they never received on U.S. soil, and in turn, changed how the game was played and inspired some of the Puerto Rican greats, including Roberto Clemente. —This episode of American Colony was produced by Alana Schreiber and hosted by Julio Ricardo Varela. It was edited by Nuria Net. Translation help from Illan Ireland. For archival recordings, special thanks to the Lewis B. Nunn Center for Oral History at the University of Kentucky Libraries.CreditsAmerican Colony is a production of The Latino Newsletter and Shake It Easy MediaSenior Editor: Nuria NetSenior Producer: Joaquín Cotler

It's Thursday and that means it's time to catch up on the week in politics with Stephanie Grace, editorial director and columnist for the Times-Picayune/The Advocate. Today, we discuss major changes coming to FEMA and preview the upcoming congressional races.A new investigation examines how Louisiana's public air monitoring network often fails to measure pollution where it's needed most. Not only are air monitors often located miles from the sources of  pollution, but they don't measure all of the elements seeping into the air. This leaves many communities in the dark about the safety of the air they breathe.Ames Alexander reported on this for Floodlight and the Guardian. He joins us with the findings.Charity Hospital provided accessible medical care for the New Orleans community for more than 200 years. Its latest building opened in 1939 but has been closed since Hurricane Katrina. Despite being in good enough condition to reopen shortly after the storm, state officials decided to board up the hospital while plans for what is now the Tulane Avenue hospital corridor came to fruition. Now, more than twenty years later, Tulane University is repurposing the hospital as an education and medical research hub. President of Tulane University Michael Fitts tells us more about this investment.—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!

Summer camp is out of reach for many families, even just day programs. And a big reason is the cost.For the Gulf States Newsroom, Aubri Juhasz looks at how some camps are keeping prices affordable.Louisiana recently updated a state law that criminalizes intentionally exposing others to HIV. In the past, Louisiana had one of the most punitive HIV exposure laws in the country, but advocates have long argued the law was too broad.Reporter for Verite News, Halle Parker, walks us through these updates.Since the onset of his second term, President Donald Trump has carried out a major immigration crackdown. While many communities are now the targets of raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, one group continues to be welcomed into the United States with open arms: white South Africans, particularly those of Dutch descent known as Afrikaners. For years, many of these Afrikaners have been settling in Gulf South.Boyce Upholt covered this for the New Yorker and the Food & Environment Reporting Network. He joins us with the latest.We might be halfway through the summer already, but maybe you're still looking for a creative outlet. Third Lantern Lit is an organization in New Orleans that brings together writers from across the state looking to hone their craft. This summer, they're encouraging writers –and potential writers– of all levels to pick up the pen. Last year we spoke with Daphne Armbruster, director of community outreach at Third Lantern Lit. Today we give that conversation a second listen. —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!

Over the weekend, Tropical Depression Bertha formed roughly 100 miles south of Panama City, Florida. Now a tropical storm, Bertha is expected to head towards the Gulf South, including the Louisiana Coastline.Meteorologist Jennifer Narramore spoke with WWNO's Bob Pavlovich for the latest.Summer is often when teenagers look for jobs to earn money, gain experience and begin building their careers. But this year, many young people in New Orleans say getting hired has been harder than expected, even after submitting multiple applications. Gulf States Newsroom intern Jocelyn Burgess recently spoke with YouthForce NOLA leaders and student fellows about why opportunities are becoming more competitive, and what resources are available to help teens.In the more than twenty years since Hurricane Katrina, economic developers have incentivized industries with the promise of job creation and regional prosperity. These industries include everything from oil and gas to environmental management to software development. But a new report from The Data Center finds that this promise has largely gone unfulfilled. Allison Plyer, Chief Demographer at The Data Center joins us now for more, thanks for being here. __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!

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!