Louisiana Considered Podcast

For the past few weeks we've been discussing non-disclosure agreements signed by state lawmakers in regards to state development projects, namely Meta's data center in Richland Parish. Recently, news broke that more officials signed NDAs about a new SpaceX site in Vermillion Parish. Gulf States Newsroom Reporter Drew Hawkins joins us with the latest. The team behind NPR's student podcast challenge is heading in a new direction. The senior podcast challenge won't focus on high school or college seniors, but zoom in on listeners who are 65 and older. The initiative asks  seniors to hit the record button and tell us their stories of family lore, finding love, funniest memories and hopes for the future.Steve Drummond, NPR's senior editor on the society and culture desk, and Janet Woojeong Lee, culture desk producer, joined Louisiana Considered producer Alana Schreiber 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!

WWNO's Culture Collision brings New Orleans' arts and cultural organizations together for an evening designed to connect audiences with the city's vibrant creative community. This year's event takes place Wednesday Sept. 2, and gives people a chance to discover local organizations, learn about upcoming performances and programs and find new ways to engage with the arts. WWNO's business manager and the coordinator of Culture Collision, Jameeta Youngblood, tells us more. Many of us have a relative who exists more as legend than history — the guy at the kitchen table stories get told about, whose legacy gets a little bigger every time. For Gulf States Newsroom intern Tanner O'Neal Riley, that relative is his grandfather, Sgt. Perry Robertson White. White was one of the first Black officers to serve in the New Orleans Police Department after it reopened its doors to Black officers in 1950. Riley never met him. By the time he was born, his grandfather had been gone a decade–and there was almost nothing on paper to remember his life and contributions. So, Riley spent five years finding his grandfather's records.He joins us now to discuss what he found, and what he learned about the reintegration of the NOPD.__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!

WWNO's Culture Collision brings New Orleans' arts and cultural organizations together for an evening designed to connect audiences with the city's vibrant creative community. This year's event takes place Wednesday Sept. 2, and gives people a chance to discover local organizations, learn about upcoming performances and programs and find new ways to engage with the arts. WWNO's business manager and the coordinator of Culture Collision, Jameeta Youngblood, tells us more. Many of us  have a relative who exists more as legend than history — the guy at the kitchen table stories get told about, who gets a little bigger every time. For Gulf States Newsroom intern Tanner O'Neal Riley, that's his grandfather, Sgt. Perry Robertson White. White was one of the first Black officers to serve the New Orleans Police Department after it reopened its doors to Black officers in 1950. Riley never met him – by the time he was born his grandfather had been gone a decade – and there was almost nothing on paper to remember his life and contributions. So, Riley spent five years finding his grandfather's records.He joins us now to discuss what he found, and what he learned about the re-integration of the NOPD.__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!

Legislation to increase the number of years a wrongfully incarcerated person could receive compensation passed unanimously in the legislature this past session. But it was among the handful of bills Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed. Capitol Access reporter Brooke Thorington talks to an exoneree who would have benefited from the change, and lawmakers who question why it was vetoed.Back in August, a task force assembled to review the formula that's been used for more than 30 years to fund and distribute state dollars to local school districts. The 15 members of this group have the daunting task of studying the Minimum Foundation Program, or MFP, which allocates $4 billion annually to schools, and then recommending a revised or replacement formula.  The nonpartisan advocacy group Leaders for a Better Louisiana is not part of the task force, but it has developed a primer of sorts to aid in understanding what the MFP is, how it works and why it's important. Better Louisiana Chief Policy Officer Barry Erwin joins us with more.A 16-year-old Baton Rouge Magnet High School student took first place this summer in an oratorical competition conducted by the national organization 100 Black Men of America.Niles Haymer II, who's part of the Project Excel program with 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge, won with his speech, “What Leadership Means to Me,” which he presented at the national conference in New York City. We hear from Haymer, alongside his oratory coach, Jeremy Blunt.  Blunt won the Top Participant Award at the conference, which honors outstanding individuals who complete the 100 Black Men of America Leadership Institute. Then, we'll listen to Haymer's speech.—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!

There was a time back in the 1980s when overfishing had decimated popular fish like red snapper and grouper in the Gulf. But then, there was a dramatic turning point, when both fish and fishermen in the Gulf were kind of saved. Today, we hear the remarkable success story of how unlikely partners joined forces to save an industry and an ecosystem.In this episode, Environmental Defense Fund's Executive Director, Amanda Leland, water resilience author, James Workman, and fisherman, Buddy Guidon, talk about how catch shares created a quiet revolution.To learn more, check out Amanda and James' book, Sea Change: Unlikely Allies and a Success Story of Oceanic Proportions.---This episode was originally published on October 13, 2025. It was hosted by Carlyle Calhoun and Michael McEwen. Michael conducted the interview. Our sound designer is Emily Jankowski, and our theme music is by Jon Batiste. Carlyle Calhoun is the executive producer. Sea Change is a WWNO and WRKF production. We are part of the NPR Podcast Network and distributed by PRX.Sea Change is made possible with major support from the Gulf Research Program of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Sea Change is also supported by the Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans. WWNO's Coastal Desk is supported by the Walton Family Foundation, the Meraux Foundation, and the Greater New Orleans Foundation.

Kemp's Ridleys are the most endangered sea turtle on the planet... can they lose their nickname of the "heartbreak turtle"? Today, we go on a journey to the remote Chandeleur islands to try to find the mysterious Kemp's Ridley turtles, who, after 75 years, have been discovered on the shores of Louisiana. It's a story of loss and restoration, of hope and heartbreak.---This episode was originally published October 2, 2023. Hosted by Sea Change managing producer Carlyle Calhoun. Editing help by Nora Saks, Garrett Hazelwood, and Halle Parker. Our sound designer is Maddie Zampanti. Sea Change is a production of WWNO and WRKF. We are part of the NPR Podcast Network and distributed by PRX.

The Lemon Tree Mound is a sacred place for the Atakapa/Ishak-Chawasha tribe. And it's disappearing under the rising waters of the Gulf of Mexico. In this episode, we travel out into the bayous of South Louisiana to understand what this one small sacred place means for the Land Back Movement and climate justice, and why efforts to save our coast matter, even if they really mean only buying time.Click here to read more about the return of the sacred land to the tribe, and here to learn more about the efforts to save it.---This episode originally aired December 5, 2024. It was hosted and reported by Eva Tesfaye, Drew Hawkins and Danny McArthur. Carlyle Calhoun is the managing producer. Our sound designer is Emily Jankowski 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. 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.

Louisiana's coast is rapidly disappearing into the Gulf, threatening not only the land, but also the people and the culture that make it special. Instead of mourning the coast, a new series from PBS member station WYES is celebrating it. Eco Trip is the Gulf South's first eco-adventure television series that combines outdoor adventure, authentic travel, rich cultural traditions and environmental discovery. Host Tom Gregory jumps into each adventure firsthand, creating an authentic look at the culture, history and perseverance that has shaped coastal Louisiana for generations. He spoke with the coastal desk's Eva Tesfaye for more.Back in May, WNYC's On the Media released a podcast all about the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — “American Emergency: The Movement to Kill FEMA.” The four-part series chronicled the agency from its founding to its current uncertain status in the Trump Administration. The second episode takes a deep dive into the failings of FEMA during Hurricane Katrina. Earlier this year, we spoke with reporter and host of the series Micah Loewinger. Today, we'll look back on that conversation.—Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Karen Henderson. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We receive production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell. You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Last Friday on Louisiana Considered, we brought you the first part of the latest episode of Sea Change, all about the fight against pollution in the Texas Gulf. Today, we bring you part 2. Neil McQueen learned to surf as a Texas teenager, and it changed his life – eventually pulling him away from a career as a plastics engineer and into the fight to save the very waters that shaped him. Thanks to the way ocean currents loop through the Gulf, the Texas coast collects roughly 10 times more plastic debris than any other Gulf state, much of it spilling from the massive petrochemical complex that lines its shores.Today, reporter Avery Thompson follows Neil from the surf off Mustang Island to the halls of the Texas Capitol to witness a personal reckoning with the plastics economy that helped build modern Texas—and one man's determination to leave the ocean better than he found it.To learn more about the citizen-led science project tracking pre-production plastics, called nurdles, check out the Nurdle Patrol. And for more about the Surfrider Foundation's work on the Texas coast, click here.CREDITSThis episode was reported by Texas-based reporter Avery Thompson. It was edited by Carlyle Calhoun and Eve Abrams, with additional help from Johanna Zorn, Eva Tesfaye, and Michael McEwan. Carlyle Calhoun is the executive producer. Our theme music is by Jon Batiste, and sound design by Dennis Funk with help from Avery Thompson.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 learn how Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) is wrapping up his time in Congress by challenging the MAHA agenda with vaccine advocacy. August marks the birthday of New Orleans jazz legend Louis Armstrong.In 2021, Hurricane Ida destroyed a building in the Central Business District where Armstrong spent much of his childhood. Years later, our managing producer Alana Schreiber visited the space to learn about efforts to reconstruct the building and honor Armstrong's legacy. Today, we give that story a second listen. For over 40 years, she has guided New Orleans' book consumers with her writing and radio conversations. Now, Susan Larson has announced her retirement from her show, The Reading Life on WWNO. She joins us to reflect on her journey as an author, critic and advocate for the local literary community. She also shares the following recommendations for those who wish to feel a stronger tie to New Orleans-related literature.Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole, the book that sets the bar for New Orleans comedy.Gumbo Tales: Finding My Place at the New Orleans Table, by Sara Roahen, a classic of discovering our distinctive foodways.In the Land of Dreamy Dreams, by Ellen Gilchrist, one of the best social dissections of the city.Interview with the Vampire, by Anne Rice, captures the spooky side of the city.The Moviegoer, by Walker Percy, still speaks to the New Orleans atmosphere.NO Lit: 200 Years of New Orleans Literature, edited by Nancy Dixon, a very comprehensive anthology.The Ones Who Don't Say They Love You: Stories, by Maurice Carlos Ruffin—tales of a broad cross-section of New Orleanians.New Orleans City Guide 1938—The WPA guide is still surprisingly useful and informative.Unfathomable City: A New Orleans Atlas, edited by Rebecca Solnit and Rebecca Snedeker, creative and intelligent essays and maps.The World That Made New Orleans: From Spanish Silver to Congo Square, by Ned Sublette—one of the seminal books about New Orleans culture.And of course: The Booklover's Guide to New Orleans, by Susan Larson---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!

Louisiana's Public Service Commission (PSC) is overseeing one of the biggest industrial buildouts in state history. They're considering 10 new gas plants and other infrastructure, like transmission lines, in order to power Meta's data centers in Richland Parish.Last week, the PSC voted to overturn a judge's ruling that Meta had to turn over information about how it calculated jobs and power usage. And the meeting got heated, as Michael McEwen reported for our Coastal Desk.But just ahead of that meeting, an investigation from the Gulf States Newsroom's Drew Hawkins found that an Entergy executive ghostwrote motions that some commissioners filed in support of projects like Meta's data center.Both Michael McEwen and Drew Hawkins join us for more on the latest.Louisiana's surgeon general, Dr. Evelyn Griffin, is a longtime OBGYN who is aligning herself with the Make America Healthy Again movement. She's fought against government mandates and questioned vaccine safety. Now, she's pushing for greater emphasis on wellness and disease prevention. New York Times fellow Rosemary Westwood has been reporting this story. She joins us for more on her look into Griffin's background and agenda. –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!

Last November, lawyer and formerly wrongfully incarcerated man Calvin Duncan won the election to serve as Orleans Parish Clerk of Criminal District Court before legislators passed a law that got rid of this position. He has since filed a lawsuit arguing that the law was specifically intended to keep him out of office. Last week, Duncan's legal team filed an amended complaint to the U.S. District Court. One of Duncan's lawyers, Margo Rusconi, spoke with WWNO's Morning Edition producer Mel Bridges for more.The New Orleans Police Department recently announced additional hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding to purchase emergency response drones. This comes after the City Council decided the NOPD must share public reports about drone use, after growing concerns the department is too soft on technology. Sophie Kasakove has been reporting on this for The Times-Picayune/The Advocate. She joins us with the latest. National Black Breastfeeding Week takes place each year from August 25-31. The week highlights the experiences of Black breastfeeding families and draws attention to racial disparities in nursing rates and maternal and infant health. Jade George, international board certified lactation consultant, doula and childbirth educator, tells us more about how to make breastfeeding more accessible.__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 we've been reporting, non-disclosure agreements are becoming common practice around large industrial developments in Louisiana, largely driven by Gov. Jeff Landry.On today's episode, we're back again with more NDAs — this time involving a sitting member of Congress. Julia Letlow (R-LA) — who is also the Trump-endorsed Republican candidate for U.S. Senate — signed an NDA with Meta. Then, she bought stock in the company building a $50 billion data center in her district in north Louisiana. She then failed to disclose her trades for more than a year. The Gulf States Newsroom's Drew Hawkins has been reporting this story and joins us with more. A program created by Louisiana lawmakers offers compensation to those wrongfully convicted. But Louisiana's top prosecutor, Attorney General Liz Murill, has a history of fighting compensation claims. Currently, she's arguing that Elvis Brooks, a man wrongfully imprisoned for 42 years, should be denied payment because she believes he is still guilty.Richard Webster has been covering this for Verite News and Pro Publica. He joins us with the latest. One of the largest international action sports competitions in the world is hoping to deepen its relationship with Birmingham, Alabama. The Gulf States Newsroom's Joseph King attended an action sports festival in Birmingham earlier this month to explore its growing popularity. —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's coastline is constantly changing, and one of the newest examples is Neptune Pass, a naturally forming channel in the lower Mississippi River that's rapidly building new land in Plaquemines Parish. Recently, a dozen teachers from across the state got the chance to see that transformation firsthand during a two-day professional development workshop organized by the Mississippi River Delta Transition Initiative, known as MissDelta, and Louisiana Sea Grant.Domonique Garello, Assistant Professor at LSU's Department of Geoscience, and Mariam Afuwape, Chemistry PhD student at LSU, spoke with WWNO's Sara Henegan for more.The Texas coast collects roughly 10 times more plastic debris than any other Gulf state, much of it spilling from the massive petrochemical complex that lines its shores. Now, a new group of activists is working to clean up the water: surfers.Today we listen to the first part of the latest episode of Sea Change, to learn how these surfers are helping restore the water in the wake of the plastics economy. Voting rights advocacy organizations across Mississippi are setting their sights on recently enacted legislation, and they aim to educate voters on their rights at the polls.The Gulf States Newsroom's Maya Miller spoke to Southern Poverty Law Center's Mississippi Policy Director Sonya Williams-Barnes about the SHIELD Act, redistricting and more.___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 discuss the end of qualifying for the November elections and what races are already drawing attention.In recent years, there's been a massive uptick in misinformation spread over the internet. In Acadiana, misinformation spread by both internet bots and neighbors derailed a solar farm project in Iberia Parish. While the project promised millions in local tax revenue, rumors circulated that the panels could cause fires, property values to fall, pollution and even disease.Delaney Nolan reported this story for The Lens. She joins us now for more. For the first time in its history, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Louisiana has its own facility in Covington. The ribbon was cut this past Friday on the Doug A. Brooks Family Donor Fund Clubhouse.Angel Nelson, president and CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Metro Louisiana, and Doug Brooks, Covington Board Member, tell us how this expansion will help the organization serve more children. —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!

A graffiti-covered shell of a building in Mid-City, New Orleans, is finally under demolition. The Lindy Boggs Medical Center was abandoned after damage from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Lindy Boggs Medical Center, formerly known as Mercy Hospital, stood for more than 65 years before becoming the blighted eyesore it is today. WWNO and WRKF's Morning Edition Producer, Mel Bridges, tells us more about the history of the building, why it was abandoned and how residents are responding. For seven years, Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge has been researching health disparities across four Southern states. They're looking into why so many people in the South, particularly those in rural areas, live shorter and less healthy lives. Recently, they've come out with their first two datasets, which consist of information taken from two Louisiana parishes.Stephanie Broyles, professor of research and director of the Contextual Risk Factors Laboratory at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, and Erin Theriot, community engagement coordinator in Assumption Parish, join us for more. The LSU Museum of Art is gearing up for its fall exhibitions. The art on deck includes the work of Walter Anderson, the renowned Mississippi painter known for his reclusive lifestyle.  It will also feature an exhibit on Southern Gothic themes, revealing the overlap between the literary genre and visual arts. Chief Curator of Collections and Exhibitions at the LSU Museum of Art, Michelle Schulte, joins us with the details.—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!

Rumors are continuing to swirl about a potential large aerospace project in coastal Vermillion Parish. State officials have been silent, but a host of state incentives passed this year – and some federal policy changes – could be a sign of what's to come. An official announcement of the project could happen as soon as this month. WWNO and WRKF's Coastal Desk Reporter Michael McEwen has been following the developments. He joins us now for more. “He Has the People: Abraham Lincoln and the Election of 1860” is a new book that offers a retelling of one of the most important moments in American history. The story dives into the drama of the race and how Lincoln outmaneuvered his competitors.The book was written by LSU's Jonathan Earle, professor of History and African American Studies. He joins the show to discuss his work. __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!

Tuesday, August 11, marks 10 years since a series of storms dumped torrential rainfall over 21 Louisiana parishes. Over the course of a few days, the floodwaters rose, inundating homes and displacing thousands of residents. The Baton Rouge area was particularly hit hard by what the National Weather Service called a 1,000-year flood.Last week, Louisiana Public Broadcasting released a documentary special, “The Great Flood of 2016: 10 years later.” Christina Jensen, co-host of LPB's “Louisiana: The State We're In,” worked on this documentary project. She spoke with WRKF's Adam Vos for more. As we continue to mark the 10th anniversary, the East Baton Rouge Library is hosting a series of events to remember the damage, devastation and impact. It gets underway Monday night with a presentation of oral histories collected from people who lived through the storm. Library Coordinator for Special Projects Brandon Reilly tells us more. Then, flood survivor Terry Newby-Mearidy shares her story. —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!

There's a storm coming, but this time, it's headed to Sesame Street. With extreme weather becoming more common, Sesame Workshop recently launched a new initiative to help children and families prepare for and cope with natural disasters. And this initiative kicked off with a storm-themed Sesame Street special, which premiered on PBS Kids and Netflix earlier this month.Rocio Galarza, Vice President of U.S. Educational Programs for Sesame Workshop, tells us more about this initiative and the special, “Storm on Sesame Street.”Throughout August, the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency is highlighting the importance of increasing donor registration. They're particularly focused on expanding a diverse donor registry to increase the chances that those in need can receive vital organs.Dr. Anil Paramesh, professor of surgery, urology and pediatrics and division chief and director at the Tulane Transplant Institute and medical director of the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency, tells us more about the importance of a diverse donor registry. When you were a kid, did summer reading feel like a chore? Many kids don't read enough and are behind when they go back to school. Researchers call it the summer slide.The Gulf States Newsroom's Aubri Juhasz's reports on a way to make reading more fun — a book club. ___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Alana Schreiber. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. Matt Bloom and Aubry Procell are assistant producers. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, Google Play and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

It's Thursday and that means it's time to catch up on the week in politics with Stephanie Grace, editorial director and columnist for The Times-Picayune/The Advocate. Today, we hear how New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno is taking on the city's budget crisis. In late July, the American Red Cross declared its second-ever blood supply crisis after donations fell to a four-year summer low. The Red Cross is limiting distribution of Type O blood to hospitals, saying they only have a one-day supply of the blood type. In Southeast Louisiana, hospitals are feeling the impact.Mandi Johnson, community engagement director for LifeShare Blood Center, tells us more. A recent Mother Jones investigation into the for-profit hospital operator, American Healthcare Systems, found the company has been sinking hospitals into financial ruin, leaving unpaid bills, firing staff and shrinking departments while its CEO splurged on personal expenses. This comes just a year after a similar investigation found Steward Health Care, another for-profit health system, guilty of similar crimes.Hannah Levintova and Ashley Cleek investigated American Healthcare Systems for Mother Jones. They join us with their findings.—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 Louisiana v. Callais Supreme Court decision ruled that states cannot draw congressional maps based on race. This caused ripple effects throughout the Gulf South, and voting rights organizations across Mississippi rallied to hold People's Hearings on redistricting.The Gulf States Newsroom's Maya Miller traveled to Southaven, Mississippi — a suburban community bordering Memphis, Tennessee — to hear what residents there are saying.This Friday (Aug. 7), The Historic New Orleans Collection will open a multi-day experience focused on sacred objects, or things that are used for religious purposes or represent a faith tradition, or a spiritual or sacred concept. It's part of their annual event, the Antiques Forum.Amy Williams, HNOC's Manager of Programs, tells us how the world of antiques intersects with religion-related relics. Nicholls State University in Thibodaux is working on ways to make a Master of Education degree more accessible, specifically for working adults and distance learners. The degrees will be particularly targeted towards higher education administration. Leah Peterson, assistant professor of education and coordinator of Nicholls State's Higher Education Administration program, 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!

On Louisiana Considered, we've been discussing the non-disclosure agreements, or NDAs, that have become commonplace in Gov. Jeff Landry's administration. The Gulf States Newsroom reported earlier this year that at least 50 elected officials signed NDAs with Louisiana Economic Development related to large-scale industrial projects.Yesterday on the show, we heard how some of these NDAs extend to the governor's office, and include the governor himself. Today, Gulf States Newsroom reporter Drew Hawkins joins us to break down his reporting and what these NDAs reveal about the current administration.A new study out of the Collaborative Data Analysis and Dillard University reveals that children living in areas with higher industrial pollution exposure have higher rates of learning disabilities. This comes after years of concerns for children who are raised near petrochemical facilities, specifically in the state's industrial corridor known as Cancer Alley. Alison Cohen, Assistant Professor of  Epidemiology & Biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco, and Juliet Nussbaum, project epidemiologist from Dillard University, join 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!

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!