Shows
Louisiana ConsideredDoctor indicted for abortion pill prescription; why Cassidy voted to confirm RFK Jr.; Xavier Univ. celebrates 100 yearsIt’s Thursday, and time for our Week in Politics with the Editorial Director and Columnist for the Times Picayune/The Advocate, Stephanie Grace. Today we discuss why Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La. ) decided to support Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to run the Department of Health and Human Services and why his vote was so significant. A Louisiana mother and a New York doctor have been indicted for allegedly providing abortion pills to a minor in Port Allen. This is the first case of a doctor being charged for mailing abortion medication into a state where abortions are ban...
2025-02-0624 minLouisiana ConsideredSuper Bowl events kick off; Angela King Gallery’s latest exhibits; convo with Carolyn Hill, candidate in special election for La. State SenateThe Super Bowl is just days away, and this week New Orleans is abuzz with excitement. And even if you don’t have a ticket to the game, there are plenty of ways to join in on the fun. Our managing producer Alana Schreiber joined us for more on this week’s Super Bowl activities and events.The Angela King Gallery in the French Quarter is launching two new exhibits to attract visitors in town for the Super Bowl. One features eco-friendly abstract paintings, and the other puts life-like African clay sculptures on display. Artist Michel...
2025-02-0424 minLouisiana ConsideredTen Commandments law takes effect amid lawsuits; remembering Jimmy Carter’s role in in Katrina recovery effortsThe new year means some new state laws are now in effect. A controversial one requires all public schools, colleges and universities to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom.Multiple lawsuits have been filed against the law, and a judge issued an injunction in November preventing it from taking effect in several parishes named as co-defendants, along with the state. WWNO and WRKF’s education reporter Aubri Juhasz tells us more. Former President Jimmy Carter passed away last week at the age of 100. While he’s most often remembered as the nation’s 39th command...
2025-01-0824 minLouisiana ConsideredBiden visits New Orleans; trauma expert on grieving and healing strategiesYesterday, President Joe Biden visited New Orleans to mourn with grieving families and remember the victims of last week’s attack on Bourbon Street. He also met with Gov. Jeff Landry to discuss formally recognizing the disaster.WWNO and WRKF’s Aubri Juhasz and Brooke Thorington tell us more about the events and memorials to honor the victims. It’s been roughly a week since the Bourbon Street attack, and the city is looking for ways to move forward and heal while still remembering the tragedy. And for many New Orleanians, recovering from this attack has rem...
2025-01-0724 minLouisiana ConsideredLouisiana’s ban on vaccine promotion; how former slaves found financial success in post-Civil War La.It’s the second to last Monday of the month, and we’re checking in with our neighbors in Lafayette and get an update on the latest news in Acadiana. Christiaan Mader, founder of the Current, tells us about an upcoming special election in Lafayette, and a new Buccee’s coming to the area.The Louisiana Department of Health’s new policy stops staff from advertising or otherwise promoting the COVID, influenza or monkeypox vaccines. Promoting vaccines is a long established practice at the health department, as well as other state health entities, and Louisian...
2024-12-2324 minLouisiana ConsideredCajun fiddler Louis Michot releases first solo album; year in politics review, Part 1Grammy-award winning Cajun fiddler Louis Michot is headed to New Orleans for a solo performance. The member of the Lost Bayou Ramblers will combine his love of Louisiana French music with new boundary-pushing sounds in his latest work, Rêve du Troubadour . He joins us for more on his upcoming performance and adding a modern spin to traditional Cajun music. 2024 was a memorable year for politics, nationally and locally. WRKF’s Capitol Access Reporter Brooke Thorington spoke with LSU Political Science Professor Dr. Robert Hogan about Gov. Jeff Landry’s first year in office, the upcomi...
2024-12-1724 minLouisiana ConsideredCrisis pregnancy center accused of privacy violations; LGBTQ activists work to restore Upstairs Lounge fire memorial; mid-skill job trainingEarlier this week, a nonprofit watchdog filed a complaint asking Louisiana’s Attorney General to investigate whether a crisis pregnancy center in New Iberia broke state law. The pregnancy center allegedly posted clients’ personal information online, despite claiming that it follows federal health privacy laws.WWNO/WRKF broke the story, and reporter Rosemary Westwood joins us for more.About half of jobs in New Orleans are considered “mid-skill.” That means you need a high school degree, but probably not a bachelor’s. It’s good news for teenagers who don’t want to go to college, or wh...
2024-12-1324 minLouisiana ConsideredWhat’s on the ballot this Saturday; SCNO to perform Handel’s ‘Messiah’Baton Rouge voters will decide between the leadership of incumbent Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome or political newcomer Sid Edwards in this Saturday’s runoff election. The Advocate | The Times-Picayune editorial director and columnist Stephanie Grace joins us to discuss the final days of the race.The Symphony Chorus of New Orleans is preparing for holiday performances of Handel’s “Messiah” oratorio, which ends with the famous “Hallelujah” chorus. SCNO Music Director Steven Edwards spoke with WWNO/WRKF’s Diane Mack about the work’s enduring popularity and what concertgoers can expect at the performances next weekend.
2024-12-0524 minLouisiana ConsideredPodcast investigates 1972 shooting at Southern University; how Louisiana’s ‘Frenchies’ provided valuable language skills win WWIIOn Nov. 16, 1972, police officers shot and killed two Southern University students, Denver Smith and Leonard Brown, during a peaceful college protest. The shooting and its ripple effects are the subject of a new investigative podcast called Bitter Jaguar. It’s written, produced and hosted by Gulf States Newsroom reporter Drew Hawkins and stems from an investigation from the LSU Cold Case Project — a class for students at the Manship School of Mass Communication. He spoke with WRKF’s Karen Henderson about the five-part series. Monday was Veterans Day, and this week on Louisiana Considered, we are divin...
2024-11-1324 minLouisiana ConsideredCelebrating Veterans Day with Black military history; abortion rights after the election; how to buy a bridge in LouisianaAbortion was a major issue during the election, and in many states, the future of reproductive rights was directly on the ballot. WWNO and WRKF’s reproductive health reporter, Rosemary Westwood, tells us how Trump’s election will impact abortion access going forward. Today is Veteran’s Day, and we’re marking the occasion with a lesson on Black military history in the South. The book, “Segregated Soldiers: Military Training at Historically Black Colleges in the Jim Crow South” tells the stories of Black soldiers who trained in the South and how they fit into the larger str...
2024-11-1124 minLouisiana ConsideredFormer La. Democratic Party comms director Bob Mann on what the Democrats got wrong this electionWhen Donald Trump won the election, many Democrats across the country were left asking themselves, what went wrong? Was it the candidate and the lack of a proper primary? Did their message about the fate of democracy not resonate with Americans? Or was it the fact that many see a drastic change as the only way to solve inflation? Robert Mann is a former professor at LSU’s Manship School of mass communication who also served as a press secretary for multiple democratic campaigns and the communications director for the Louisiana Democratic Party. He joins us to discus...
2024-11-0824 minLouisiana ConsideredHow Louisianans voted in the 2024 election; what the Colfax massacre can teach us about political violence todayDonald Trump has been elected as the 47th president of the United States, and many Republicans in down-ballot races also saw some surprising success, including in East Baton Rouge Parish, where Republican Sid Edwards is headed for a runoff in the Mayor-President race against Democratic incumbent Sharon Weston-Broome.Reporters Aidan McCahill and Drew Hawkins join us with more on the results of races and ballot initiatives throughout Louisiana. The last few presidential elections raised concerns about potential violence at the voting booths and on the campaign trail. Over the summer, President-elect Donald Trump experienced two a...
2024-11-0624 minLouisiana ConsideredLouisiana sheriff reflects on single-vote victory ahead of election; Why more Black voters are supporting the GOPTomorrow is Election Day! And if you haven’t voted yet, Tuesday is the last day to cast your ballot. WRKF’s Capitol Access reporter Brooke Thorington spoke with Joel Watson, director of communications at the Louisiana Secretary of State Office, about what voters should and shouldn’t bring to the polls. Every election cycle, we hear the same old saying, “every vote counts.” While it may not always feel that way, in the case of last year’s sheriff election in Caddo Parish, that sentiment rang true. Democratic candidate Henry Whitehorn won by a single vote in a race whe...
2024-11-0424 minLouisiana ConsideredDemocrat Ted James on why he’s running for East Baton Rouge Mayor-President; what early voting statistics can tell usEarly voting wrapped up Tuesday in Louisiana and voters in the Bayou State broke all kinds of records. WRKF’s Capital Access reporter Brooke Thorington speaks with Joel Watson, director of communications at the Louisiana Secretary of State Office, about what early voting statistics can and can’t tell us. The November elections are just days away, and in East Baton Rouge Parish, residents are deciding who they want as their mayor-president. Earlier this week, we heard from the incumbent, Sharon Weston Broome, and the top Republican candidate, Sid Edwards. Today, we’re speaking with the Democratic challeng...
2024-11-0124 minLouisiana ConsideredMeet Baton Rouge mayoral candidate Coach Sid Edwards; clearing up confusion around ballot questionOn the ballot in Baton Rouge, a single measure asks voters to make hundreds of changes to the city’s Plan of Government. But some voters have said the actual language on the ballot is nebulous, requiring them to go to a website to find out exactly what they’re voting for.WRKF’s Aidan McCahill joins us to help demystify the measure.Election Day is less than a week away, and in Baton Rouge all eyes are on the race for Mayor-President. According to the most recent polls, the top three candidates, Democratic incumbent Sharon...
2024-10-3024 minLouisiana ConsideredNational Women’s Business Week; New Orleans seniors face some of nation’s highest rates of poverty, food insecurityArtificial intelligence has raised concerns in schools over students using it to cheat. But some teachers are excited about the technology too.And now more than a 100,000 kids in the Gulf South have access to an AI-powered tutor that’s helping them learn to read.For the Gulf States Newsroom, WWNO’s and WRKF’s education reporter Aubri Juhasz reports on a growing number of Louisiana schools using the tool.Last Wednesday kicked off National Business Women's Week. The annual observance focuses on the accomplishments of working women and the obstacles they still face. ...
2024-10-2124 minLouisiana ConsideredState of chronic illness and food insecurity in New Orleans; former LSU radio announcer Jim Hawthorne reflects on legendary careerThe presidential election is less than 20 days away, and in Louisiana, there are plenty of down-ballot races to keep an eye on. The Times Picayune/New Orleans Advocate’s editorial director and columnist Stephanie Grace gives us the latest on state and local races. For more than 36 years, Jim Hawthorne was the radio play-by-play announcer for the LSU Tigers baseball, basketball and football teams. He called some legendary wins, unfortunate upsets and even the unforgettable 1988 “Earthquake Game.”As we continue to bring you stories on the history of Tiger Stadium, WRKF's Aidan McCahill spoke with Hawthor...
2024-10-1724 minLouisiana ConsideredStudents reflect on Hamas attack 1 year later ; Louisiana helping NC prepare for election after disaster; photographer combines activism with artistryMonday, Oct. 7 marked a year since Hamas attacked Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. Israel’s ensuing war in Gaza has killed roughly 42,000 Palestinians and wounded more than twice as many.On the war’s 1-year anniversary, students at New Orleans universities gathered to honor the Palestinians who’ve died and demand their schools break financial ties with Israel. WWNO and WRKF’s education reporter Aubri Juhasz has been reporting on student activism for the last year and joins us today for more.Parts of North Carolina were recently devastated when Hurri...
2024-10-0924 minLouisiana ConsideredConcerns over Landry’s tax proposals; jazz legend Delfeayo Marsalis debuts African-inspired music; Le Petit Theatre begins 108th seasonLast week, Governor Jeff Landry announced he's calling a special session to overhaul the state's tax code in November. But Jan Moller, executive director of the economic advocacy group, Invest in Louisiana, is raising concerns. WRKF’s Brooke Thorington spoke with Moller moments after Landry’s announcement. Last weekend, jazz legend Delfeayo Marsalis and his Uptown Jazz Orchestra debuted new theme music for the African Diaspora Consortium at the fourth annual conversation and concert series. The composition features a conversation between multiple horn instruments and aims to play on African musical themes and New Orleans jazz traditions. D...
2024-10-0824 minLouisiana ConsideredCelebrating 100 years of Tiger Stadium with a trip to the archives and conversation with a former Mike the Tiger mascotNext month, Tiger Stadium turns 100. And to mark the occasion, over the next few weeks, we’ll be bringing you a series of stories all about the historic venue. And some of these stories have little or nothing to do with football.Up first, I took a trip up to Baton Rouge to meet up with University Archivist Zach Thompkins. He led me, WRKF reporter Aidan McCahill, and our intern and LSU student Marty Sullivan through the archives to learn about some of the most iconic moments in Death Valley history.From bandmembers to cheerleaders to...
2024-10-0724 minLouisiana ConsideredWhat longshoremen could learn from New Orleans’ history of labor strikes; most ‘endangered’ sites in New OrleansPort workers in New Orleans and Baton Rouge are officially on strike this week, asking for better working conditions, wages and protection against automation. They’re part of the International Longshoremen’s Association, which represents workers along the Gulf of Mexico and the East Coast. WWNO/WRKF’s Matt Bloom and Aidan McCahill tell us how this strike is playing out the state’s two biggest cities, and how it may impact consumers. While we wait to see how this strike plays out, we wanted to take a look back into labor rights history – specifically the history...
2024-10-0224 minLouisiana ConsideredNew law for pregnancy care drugs takes effect; Chamber Music Festival kicks off 9th season; caring for animals during disastersA new state law takes effect Tuesday,requiring hospitals to lock up key medications used to treat pregnant women during emergencies. That’s because the drugs can also be used to induce abortions. WWNO’s and WRKF’s Reproductive Health reporter Rosemary Westwood tells us why this law is alarming to health care workers. The Crescent City Chamber Music Festival is kicking off its 9th season of intimate classical music concerts in venues across New Orleans. Headlined by the Manhattan Chamber Players and the Gryphon Trio, this season, “Brandenburg and Beyond,”features celebrated concertos.Artistic director and...
2024-10-0124 minLouisiana ConsideredJunior League works to combat diaper shortages; new foundation promotes Cajun music, helps artistsLast week was National Diaper Need Awareness Week and The Junior League of New Orleans held events at the diaper bank distribution warehouse to raise awareness about this issue. Since 2014, the organization has distributed more than 9.6 million diapers throughout the New Orleans area. Tara Waldron, the president of the Junior League of New Orleans, tells us more about barriers to diaper access and what they’re doing about it.Chris Stafford’s name is known across Acadiana and beyond. He was a founding member of the Grammy-nominated Cajun band, Feufollet, working as both a musician and pro...
2024-09-3024 minLouisiana ConsideredProposed blue ammonia plant raises concerns; top Louisiana OB-GYN on state of women’s health; undocumented workers paying taxesIn the race to find cleaner energy, Louisiana could soon host much of the country’s production of ammonia. The gas is mostly used to produce the fertilizer used in gardens and on crops. Now, more companies want to turn it into a fuel.In St. Charles Parish, one such proposal for a so-called “blue ammonia” plant has faced mixed reactions from the community. Halle Parker joined us to explain where this project stands.When women in Louisiana die while pregnant, or after giving birth, the leading doctor who reviews their cases is maternal health expert...
2024-09-1825 minLouisiana ConsideredLouisiana chimp sanctuary responds to HBO doc; 'Cajun coral' dropped into Bataria Bay; linemen from out of state help restore powerWhile power has been restored to most of Louisiana since Hurricane Francine, there are still plenty of lineman working to get the last lights turned on. WRKF’s Capital Access reporter Brooke Thorington spoke with a lineman about why he crossed state lines to help out.While many are glued to “Chimp Crazy,” the new HBO docuseries about the world’s largest chimpanzee sanctuary, Chimp Haven – located outside of Shreveport – is sounding the alarm. The organization is now pushing for legislation against the private possession of chimpanzees and other nonhuman primates. Amy Fultz, Welfare Scientist and co-founder...
2024-09-1624 minLouisiana ConsideredLatest on Francine: Expected landfall, preparations for people with disabilities, generator safetyFrancine is now a hurricane, with winds up to 90 mph, and closing in on the Louisiana’s coast. Regional meteorologist Jennifer Narramore joins us for an update on the storm’s strength, path and expected impacts. When a storm is coming, many ask: Do I stay or go? That question can be hard to answer, and even harder if a person has a disability.New Orleans-based disability rights activist Mark Raymond Jr. tells us how people with disabilities can be best prepared for natural disasters. When Francine makes landfall this evening, Terrebonne Parish could...
2024-09-1124 minLouisiana ConsideredNew law gives La. parents money to spend on private schools; Culture Collision kicks of season of arts eventsLouisiana is the latest state to pass a law that gives parents who choose to send their kids to private school, money to spend on it. Last week, the state’s board of education signed an $11 million contract with a developer to manage the program. WWNO and WRKF’s Aubri Juhasz tells us more about this law and the impact it might have on Louisiana’s education system. The 14th annual Culture Collision gets underway on Wednesday WWNO, in partnership with Jefferson Performing Arts is hosting the event that gives attendees a first-hand look at what the...
2024-08-2724 minLouisiana ConsideredDNC takeaways: James Carville on the party’s future; Louisiana woman testifies about reproductive rightsLast week, politicians and celebrities alike gathered in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention. Over four days, we heard speeches from Joe Biden, the Obamas, and the two names at the top of the ticket: vice presidential candidate Tim Walz and presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Political consultant, author and media contributor James Carville joins us for his major takeaways from the convention and what he believes this means for the future of the Democratic Party. From House Rep. Troy Carter to New Orleans City Council President Helena Moreno, to actor and New Orleans native, Wendell Pi...
2024-08-2624 minLouisiana ConsideredLouisianans with disabilities concerned over new absentee voting laws; Black Opry celebrates Black musicians in country musicOn Aug. 1, a slew of new laws passed by the state legislature in the spring will go into effect. Among them are sweeping changes to Louisiana’s absentee voting system, and many are worried this will make it tougher to vote by mail for November’s elections. Times Picayune/The Advocate’s Megan Friedmann tells us more about these laws and why critics are concerned. Then, WWNO and WRKF’s Matt Bloom speaks with Andrew Bizer, a lawyer for Disability Rights Louisiana, to hear why his advocacy group has filed a lawsuit.Historically, the images associate...
2024-07-2924 minLouisiana ConsideredUpdate on Baton Rouge superintendent search; Report reveals many deaths in ICE detention centers could have been preventedThe East Baton Rouge Parish school system remains without a permanent superintendent after board members delayed their vote on a final pick last week. On Monday night, another finalist dropped out of the running. The process has drawn criticism from community groups and teacher unions. They argue the current interim superintendent Adam Smith should get the job. But he wasn’t even selected as a finalist. Our reporter Matt Bloom has been following this story. He spoke with WWNO’s Bob Pavlovich about what to expect at the next board meeting.Louisiana has one of...
2024-07-1724 minLouisiana ConsideredLooking back at two years of abortion bans in Louisiana; how the U.S. betrayed Black landowners after the Civil WarToday marks two years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade — triggering a Louisiana law that bans nearly all abortions. That’s had major implications for women’s health in the state. WWNO/WRKF public health reporter Rosemary Westwood has covered the fallout of the ban. She takes stock of where we’re at two years after the end of federally protected abortion rights. Director, filmmaker and activist Ruth Leitman’s new documentary, "No One Asked You," tells the story of Jackson Women's Health, the former clinic at th...
2024-06-2424 minLouisiana ConsideredHow La.’s coastal communities build homes in a turbulent ecosystem; A recap of last night’s MLB at Rickwood Field gameThe Vietnamese word for water is nước. But nước also means “homeland.” In the first part of the latest episode of Sea Change, we learn how South Louisiana’s Vietnamese community is reimagining its complicated relationship with water in a place where everything about water is changing.The world of baseball saw two historic events this week: The passing of legendary player Willie Mays, and the first Major League game to be played at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama — the very field where Mays started his career, playing for the Birmingham Black Barons.
2024-06-2124 minLouisiana ConsideredWhy efforts to replace voting machines failed; the impacts of abortion bans; what the polls say about NOLA city leadershipIt’s Thursday, which means it’s time to recap the week in politics with Stephanie Grace, editorial director and columnist for the Times Picayune/The Advocate. She joins us to discuss a new poll showing that New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell continues to have low approval ratings.Since the Louisiana legislature changed voting laws to appease so-called “election deniers” back in 2021, the state has struggled to replace its long out-of-date voting machines. State Rep. Mike T. Johnson, a Republican from Pineville, attempted this year to mitigate the burdensome requirements passed in 2021. But far-right legislat...
2024-06-1324 minLouisiana ConsideredLa. advances education savings accounts for parents; state officials talk hurricane preparationsIt’s Thursday, which means it’s time to catch up on the week in politics with Stephanie Grace, editorial director and columnist of the Times Picayune/The Advocate.We’ll get the latest on the effort to hold a constitutional convention this summer, as well as the status of a few other pieces of legislation. Louisiana is getting very close to becoming the latest Republican-led state to approve education savings accounts, more commonly known as ESAs. The accounts give parents tax dollars to spend on private school tuition and other expenses. It’s Gov. Jef...
2024-05-3024 minLouisiana ConsideredPublic defenders weigh in on Landry’s crime policies; how communities can build climate resilienceThis year’s legislative session has been an active one when it comes to criminal justice and public safety. Gov. Jeff Landry called a special session on crime earlier this year, where legislators undid many of the state’s 2017 criminal justice reforms.Alaina Bloodworth, executive director of the Black Public Defender Association, says public defenders are often excluded from the debate about how to lower crime rates. The Bayou Culture Gathering is hosting a conversation about building resilience in coastal communities in Louisiana this Friday. It’s in conjunction with the Center for Planning...
2024-05-2324 minLouisiana ConsideredTulane grad discusses commencement after anti-war protests; libraries roll out restrictions on youth cardsCollege graduations across the country have been disrupted this month as students continue to protest Israel’s war in Gaza. Xavier University of Louisiana canceled its commencement speaker, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, after nearly 1,800 people signed a petition asking she be removed. Tulane University, the site of a recent pro-Palestinian encampment, has upped security measures for its graduation this Saturday. To get a sense of how students are feeling, Aubri Juhasz, WWNO and WRKF’s education reporter, spoke with a senior at Tulane about her experience as a student...
2024-05-1724 min
Louisiana ConsideredLa. congressional map battle heads to Supreme Court; NOLA pianist pushed boundariesIt’s Thursday, which means it’s time for our look at the week in politics. Joining us is Stephanie Grace, the Times Picayune/The Advocate’s editorial director and columnist.
This week, we’re discussing the latest news in the legal saga around Louisiana’s new congressional district map. We’ll also get an update on Gov. Jeff Landry’s efforts to hold a constitutional convention this summer.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students’ rights are at the center of another clash between Landry’s administration and President Biden.
Late last month, the state’s Republic...
2024-05-0924 min
Louisiana ConsideredJazz Fest poster artist honors The Dixie Cups; community park opens under NOLA expresswayAbortion care is about to get even more difficult to access for people across the Gulf South when a new ban takes effect in Florida on May 1.
The ban outlaws nearly all abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, which is often before many people know they’re pregnant.
Rosemary Westwood, WWNO/WRKF reproductive health reporter, has more on how abortion access is about to get even more difficult.
The busiest part of a highway is usually the cars driving on the road. But in one part of New Orleans, there’s a lot happen...
2024-04-3024 min
Louisiana ConsideredSpeaker Mike Johnson backs Ukraine aid; La. teachers consider quitting over low payIt’s Thursday, which means it’s time for the week in politics. Stephanie Grace, the Times Picayune/The Advocate’s editorial director and columnist, talks about House Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to back more military aid to Ukraine. That decision rattled several House Republicans this week. They’ve since called for his removal.
Johnson also visited Columbia University in New York City this week to meet with Jewish students and leaders as anti-war protests there continue — and spread to other U.S. college campuses.
State leaders decided again this year not to give teachers a per...
2024-04-2524 min
Louisiana ConsideredAir quality declines in Baton Rouge, improves in NOLA; Rice’s Whale advocates seek protectionsAll week, we’re hearing from public school teachers in Louisiana about how they’re feeling as living costs rise and wages stagnate.Yesterday we heard from a teacher who’s thinking of leaving the profession after only a year in the classroom because of low pay.
On today’s show, Aubri Juhasz, WWNO/WRKF education reporter, brings us the story of another teacher facing a tough decision.
In 2021, ecologists discovered that a group of whales residing exclusively in the Gulf of Mexico was a unique species of whale.
The Rice’s whale is now con...
2024-04-2524 min
Louisiana ConsideredSlidell clears debris from tornado damage; Jazz Fest cooks serve up crawfish dishesTwo tornadoes touched down in the city of Slidell, north of New Orleans, earlier this month. The severe weather damaged hundreds of buildings in the area. Thankfully, nobody was killed.
But recovery efforts are expected to be ongoing for the next several months. Gov. Jeff Landry issued an emergency declaration after visiting the area last week.
Greg Cromer, Slidel’s mayor, joins the show to share more on the city’s ongoing recovery efforts.
Louisiana loses teachers every year. Some go to neighboring states. While others leave teaching completely. And a big part of the...
2024-04-2324 min
Louisiana ConsideredWhy La. is exporting record amounts of LNG to Europe; crawfish prices remain historically highToday we bring you the first part of “All Gassed Up, Part 2: The German Connection,” from Sea Change.
Why is the U.S. exporting liquefied natural gas to Europe? Hosts Halle Parker and Carlyle Calhoun head to Germany to find out and learn what that means for the future of our climate.
This crawfish season has been a rough one. Farmers and fishermen are catching a tiny percentage of what they normally would, while consumers are paying high prices.
WWNO and WRKF reporter Eva Tesfaye and Maya Miller, of the Gulf States Newsroom, talk...
2024-04-1224 min
Louisiana ConsideredFrench Quarter Festival kicks off 41st season; Solar eclipse dazzles viewers across the countryThe 41st annual French Quarter Festival kicks off in two days. The neighborhood festival in New Orleans continues to evolve with added programming and music stages.
Emily Madero, festival president and CEO, joins us for a look at what’s new.
The total solar eclipse on April 8 inspired a lot of people to travel to try to get the best view. Many WWNO and WRKF staff members made the journey northwest to reach the path of totality. While others stayed put right here in Louisiana, where visibility was pretty good too.
Garrett Hazelwood, Aubri...
2024-04-0924 min
Louisiana ConsideredInside Louisiana’s massive LNG plant expansion; Republicans defeat abortion rights amendmentToday we bring you part one of the first episode of “All Gassed Up,” a special series from Sea Change. We go to Cameron Parish to discover a massive expansion of liquified natural gas, or LNG, and learn what that means for the Gulf Coast.
It’s been a busy week at the legislature for reproductive rights. For a rundown of a few key bills, we’re joined by Rosemary Westwood, WWNO/WRKF reproductive health reporter.
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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber; our contribut...
2024-03-2924 min
Louisiana ConsideredGlass bottles restore vanishing coastline in St. Bernard Parish; Baton Rouge downtown sees economic growthIn St. Bernard Parish, after years of decline, volunteers have started to restore part of Bayou Bienvenue’s marsh. And the project relies on an unlikely hero: glass bottles. Halle Parker, WWNO/WRKF Coastal Desk reporter, has the story.
The International Downtown Association released a report comparing Baton Rouge with similar small-to-mid-sized cities. It found Baton Rouge’s downtown saw 7% job growth over the past 5 years. Other Louisiana cities saw a decline during that same period.
To go over the data and to tell us what it says about the city’s health, Whitney Hoffman Sayal...
2024-03-2024 min
Louisiana ConsideredExit exams remain a hurdle for many La. students; LGBTQ+ candidates face uphill battlesLouisiana is one of just nine states that still require students to pass exit exams in order to graduate. Briefly last year, there was an appeals process for students.
And while the change was widely supported by educators, it quickly became a political issue. Gov. Jeff Landry killed the policy as soon as he took office. So now, Louisiana is once again the only state where students can’t appeal.
And the kids most likely to miss out are recent immigrants. Earlier this year, Aubri Juhasz, WRKF/WWNO education reporter, spoke with teenagers stuck in the...
2024-03-1524 min
Louisiana ConsideredLandry declares crawfish season disaster; La. drops FAFSA requirement for high schoolersBeginning next year, Louisiana’s high school seniors will no longer have to complete the federal student aid form to graduate. The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted last week to scrap that requirement. Supporters of the move argued it put an undue burden on students and their families.
Aubri Juhasz, WWNO/WRKF education reporter, has been following this story from New Orleans and joins the show with more.
Gov. Jeff Landry issued a disaster declaration for Louisina’s crawfish industry last week in response to the state’s record bad catch. Landry said hi...
2024-03-1124 min
Louisiana ConsideredKrewe of Freret bans plastic beads for Mardi Gras 2025; Immersive play opens in the TremeOn today’s Louisiana Considered, we hear how Baton Rouge Community College’s Port Allen branch is helping train truck drivers.
The school recently relaunched a course for students looking to get a commercial driver’s license, which is required to drive 18-wheelers and other large ground transport vehicles. The school hopes it can help address the state’s driver shortage.
Heather Guidry, BRCC’s dean of technical studies and adult education, spoke with WRKF’s Adam Vos about the program.
We also chat with Bobby Hjortsberg, captain of the Krewe of Freret, about his decis...
2024-03-0524 min
Louisiana ConsideredLa.’s special session on crime wraps; NOLA will no longer have all charter schoolsLouisiana’s historic special session on crime has concluded after a brisk two weeks. Many of Gov. Jeff Landry’s high-priority bills passed, including a proposal to expand death penalty execution methods. Molly Ryan, WWNO and WRKF’s state politics reporter joins us to talk more about the session’s conclusion.
And we have a major education story out of New Orleans. The Orleans Parish School Board says it will directly run a school next year. It’s a big deal for the country’s only all-charter public school system. The board hasn’t operated a school since 2019 and t...
2024-03-0124 min
Louisiana ConsideredWhy the Justice Dept. is investigating a Miss. town; La. property taxes; history of prohibitionAbout an hour north of Jackson, Miss. the Justice Department is investigating a small town’s police force. The allegations? Unlawful stops, retaliation, racist roadblocks and excessive force. As the Gulf States Newsroom’s Kat Stromquist reports, residents still worry they won’t see change.Property taxes are the basic means by which our government has money to operate, but many residents often don’t completely understand how they work. Thankfully, the Bureau of Governmental Research is on a mission to better inform Orleans Parish voters on how these taxes impact them.
BGR’s President and CEO Rebe...
2024-02-1524 min
Louisiana ConsideredLa. Freedom Caucus’ anti-LGBT messages; investigation into judicial funds; carpooling in Baton RougeLast year, a group of conservative state legislators started the Louisiana Freedom Caucus. It’s modeled after the Congressional Freedom Caucus, which has, among other things, thrown the U.S. House speakership in turmoil.
The Louisiana Illuminator reported last week that the Louisiana Freedom Caucus sent anti-LGBTQ text messages to voters on Election Day. Reporter Julie O’Donoghue joins us for more.
In Louisiana, judges have a financial incentive to set high bail and secure convictions. State law allows them to issue fees to criminal defendants, and then use the money to pay for court expe...
2024-01-3124 min
Louisiana ConsideredLouisiana DCFS warns about card skimmers; mental health programs for service industry workersThe Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is warning SNAP and EBT beneficiaries about potential benefit theft from card skimmers found at retail stores. Louisiana Considered assistant producer Aubry Procell spoke with Rhonda Brown, fraud and recovery director for DCFS about the issue and what cardholders can do to protect their benefits.
The holiday season is just behind us, and even though it can be a relaxing time with family, it can be stressful for service industry workers. But there are some organizations working to provide mental health services for service industry employees.
T...
2024-01-0324 min
Louisiana ConsideredFirst all-women crew referees La. high school football game; deaths behind bars; RTA bus delaysIf you’re a regular Regional Transit Authority bus rider in New Orleans, there’s a good chance you've recently had to deal with long delays. That’s because RTA is functioning with fewer buses than it needs, and much of its fleet is old and needs updates and repairs. Reporter for Verite Bobbi-Jeanne Misick has been covering the bus shortage and joins us for more on how RTA representatives are responding to the crisis.
In the last week of September, a group of referees made history when they became the first all-female crew to call a...
2023-10-1824 min
Louisiana ConsideredWhat the new conductor of LSU’s Golden Band from Tigerland has planned for the coming school yearGraduate assistants — those students seeking master’s degrees and PhDs at universities who often help with research and teaching courses — can sometimes struggle to make ends meet. That’s because their wages are often put directly back into the institution to pay for their degrees.
Piper Hutchinson of the Louisiana Illuminator talked with graduate assistants who are calling for higher pay. She joins us today for more on what she’s learned.
Last month, director of the Golden Band from Tigerland Dr. Kelvin Jones resigned after ten years with the program. He passed the baton over to Dr...
2023-08-0924 min
Louisiana ConsideredA look back on stories highlighting disability rights advocacy in LouisianaOne week and thirty three years ago today, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law. On today’s show, we bring you three stories about Louisianans making their communities more accessible.
First, we look back on Carnival season. With loud noises, tightly-packed crowds, and objects flying left and right – a Mardi Gras parade might not seem like the friendliest space for people with disabilities. Thankfully, there are some krewes that are specifically focused on inclusivity, diversity and accessibility. And perhaps no Krewe is better known for this than the Krewe of King Arthur.
Back...
2023-08-0224 min
Louisiana ConsideredHow the FDA’s new blood donation guidelines will impact LouisianansBlood Donation. Many of us think about it. Fewer of us do it. But there are many people who have been excluded from donating blood due to a variety of health issues. But recently, the US Food and Drug Administration finalized recommendations for assessing blood donor eligibility with less exclusions than before.
Dr. Tim Peterson, the medical director of the Blood Center at Tulane, joined us to discuss the updated guidelines and how this may impact Louisianans.
The Artifact Identification Program at the Poverty Point World Heritage Site
holds occa...
2023-07-2724 min
Louisiana ConsideredNew podcast from LSU Libraries highlights untold stories of Louisiana VeteransLSU Libraries’ T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History recently partnered with the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs to unveil a limited-episode podcast. The series, Oral History and the Louisiana Veterans Experience, aims to uncover untold narratives of individuals who served in the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and the Persian Gulf Wars.
For more on this series, WRKF’s Karen Henderson spoke with Jennifer Cramer, director of the T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History, and Brandee Patrick, Director of Communications at the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Louisiana Association of Un...
2023-07-0524 min
Louisiana ConsideredA conversation with Jeff Landry on his campaign to be Louisiana’s next governorLast week, we brought you the first part of our latest episode of Sea Change, in which WWNO’s Kezia Setyawan traveled around south Louisiana to meet with community members trying to keep history alive in a place where the land is rapidly disappearing. Today, we are continuing that conversation with Brian Davis, executive director for the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation, and archeologist Marcy Rockman, who previously served as a US National Park Service climate change adaptation coordinator for cultural resources.
The 2023 Louisiana election for governor is just five months away, and here at WWNO and WRK...
2023-06-3024 min
Louisiana ConsideredAfter devastating Sunday night loss, the LSU Tigers bounce back to win College World SeriesThe LSU Tigers are champions once again. That’s right, earlier this year, the women’s basketball team clinched the March Madness tournament, and just last night the men’s baseball team won the College World Series. For more on the team’s path to victory and what the future may hold for some of the Tigers biggest stars, WWNO’s Alana Schreiber spoke with LSU baseball and football beat writer for the The Times-Picayune | The Advocate, Leah Vann.
The Helis Foundation John Scott Center is kicking off their summer events with ‘Scott Fest.’ The event will cele...
2023-06-2724 min
Louisiana ConsideredStory of how the Baton Rouge bus boycott inspired movements across the country takes the stageMonday was Juneteenth, a holiday first recognized by the federal government two years ago that honors the date in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, discovered they were free – some of the last to learn of their emancipation. Today, we are honoring the holiday by recognizing the work being done to combat racism in our region.
Maxine Crump, founder and president/CEO of Dialogue on Race, an organization in Baton Rouge with a mission to eliminate racism through education and dialogue, joins us for more.
Tomorrow, the Capitol Park Museum presents a revival production cal...
2023-06-2124 min
Louisiana ConsideredFlau’jae Johnson on her LSU championship basketball season, budding rap career, and new documentaryMaybe you know her as the dynamic guard on the LSU Women’s basketball team that won the NCAA March Madness tournament just a few months ago. Or maybe you recognize her from her performances on the Rap Game and America’s Got Talent. Regardless of how you know her, it’s no secret that Flau’jae Johnson is doing big things, both on the basketball court and on the music scene.
Today, Flau’jae Johnson joins WRKF’s Karen Henderson for a conversation about her journey, which is captured in the new documentary, FENOM.
Ever since its...
2023-06-1424 min
Louisiana ConsideredHow SCOTUS decision in Alabama redistricting case may impact LouisianaOn Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court released its ruling in Allen v. Milligan, the Alabama redistricting case. They found that Alabama’s 2022 congressional district maps violated the Voting Rights Act, apportioning only one Black-majority congressional district out of seven, in a state where about a quarter of the population is Black. To many, this outcome reaffirms the power of the Voting Rights Act in a political climate that could have weakened the law.
Alanah Odoms is the executive director of the ACLU of Louisiana. She spoke with WRKF’s Adam Vos about this surprising SCOTUS decision, and...
2023-06-1224 min
Louisiana ConsideredBreaking down what passed, failed during the 2023 Louisiana legislative sessionThe Louisiana legislative session wrapped up last night. From abortion rights, to gender-affirming care, to the salaries of representatives, this session had no shortage of heated discussions and controversial bills.
Stephanie Grace, editorial director and columnist for the Times-Picayune, and Molly Ryan, statehouse reporter for WWNO and WRKF, break down the bills and tell us what may happen next.
The election for the next governor of Louisiana is coming up, and here on Louisiana Considered, we are bringing you a series of interviews with the candidates.
Today we bring you a conversation with In...
2023-06-0924 min
Louisiana ConsideredIt’s human v. ocean in new, climate justice-themed experimental musical, ‘Ocean Filibuster’This week, the Louisiana legislature is poised to pass a $5 million tax credit for donations to anti-abortion pregnancy centers. The bill’s author, Senator Beth Mizell, has said these centers can improve Louisiana’s crisis in maternal and infant health. But a WWNO/WRKF survey found that most provide nearly no maternal health care, nearly no reproductive health care, and some provide health misinformation.
Public health reporter Rosemary Westwood reported this story for WWNO and WRKF. She joins us now for more.
Tulane’s Summer Lyric Theatre is gearing up for its 56th season. Interim artistic...
2023-06-0624 min
Louisiana ConsideredIt’s the unofficial “alligator season.” Here’s how to respond if you see the animals out and about.It’s not unusual in Louisiana to see an alligator in a marsh, swamp or bayou, but recent reports have noted gators walking across the road in Lake Charles, stuck in a backyard fence in Slidell, and even out taking a swim in the Gulf of Mexico.
For more on why we might be seeing gators in usual places and how to stay safe, we speak with Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Biologist Program Manager, Jeb Linscombe, and Nuisance Alligator Control Operator, Kim Crochet.
Late last month, the 2023 Regional Edward R. Murrow award...
2023-06-0524 min
Louisiana ConsideredRichard Thomas on playing Atticus Finch as “To Kill a Mockingbird” comes to New OrleansToday on Louisiana Considered, Emmy Award-winning actor Richard Thomas tells us about his approach to playing Atticus Finch as the touring production of “To Kill a Mockingbird” heads to the Saenger Theatre. And we learn why Louisiana leads the nation in rates of inmates serving time for crimes they committed as kids.
“To Kill a Mockingbird” is coming to the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans from May 30 through June 2. Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning work has received rave reviews since it debuted on Broadway in 2018.
Starring as Att...
2023-05-1924 min
Louisiana ConsideredA conversation with Walter Isaacson, professor and biographer awarded National Humanities MedalFrom hurricanes to rising sea levels to relocation efforts, it's no secret that many Louisiana communities are struggling with environmental challenges. That’s why we at WWNO and WRKF are launching a new podcast all about the environmental issues facing coastal communities and the possible solutions.
Producer Carlyle Calhoun and reporters Kezia Setyawan and Halle Parker join us for more on the launch of their podcast, Sea Change.
Renowned bestselling biographer, Tulane University history professor, and New Orleans native Walter Isaacson was recently awarded a National Humanities Medal by President Joe Biden. He was recognized duri...
2023-03-2724 min
Louisiana ConsideredHere’s how to celebrate Black History Month with New Orleans Public LibrariesIt’s Black History Month around the country, and one way to celebrate in New Orleans is to get involved in all the programs offered by the public libraries. Between art content, video streaming service, and access to educational digital resources, the library system has a lot to offer when it comes to celebrating Black history.
Here to tell us more about these programs is Shukrani Gray, African American resource collection, equity and inclusion librarian, and Amy Wander, the libraries’ head of youth programming.
Last month, WRKF’s Adam Vos brought us a series of convers...
2023-02-2324 min
Louisiana ConsideredHow NPR’s ‘White Lies’ unearths largely untold story of the Talladega prison riotMardi Gras is back! After a stay-at-home year in 2021 and shortened parades in 2022, krewes are finally rolling on their full, traditional routes. But local businesses are still dealing with the weird, volatile post-pandemic economy. Reporter Carly Berlin has the story.
The NPR podcast “White Lies” recently debuted its second season about Mariel Cubans, who took over a prison in Talladega, Alabama. One of the hosts of the show, Chip Brantley, discovered this historic event when he found a picture of men standing on the roof of a prison asking for help. From our partners at WBHM in Alab...
2023-02-1724 min
Louisiana ConsideredMaking Mardi Gras accessible: How Krewe of King Arthur accommodates for riders with disabilitiesOrganizers of the Mayor Cantrell recall in New Orleans are pushing for more signatures before the February 22 deadline to bring the question to the ballot. The Times-Picayune | The Advocate’s editorial director and columnist Stephanie Grace tells us what to expect as the deadline fast approaches.
With loud noises, tightly-packed crowds, and objects flying left and right – a Mardi Gras parade might not seem like the friendliest space for people with disabilities. Thankfully, there are some krewes that are specifically focused on finding ways to make their floats and parades accessible for riders with disabilities. And perhaps no K...
2023-02-1024 min
Louisiana Considered'We are resilient people': A project to keep cultures and land above waterNow through February 24 at the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center in Baton Rouge is “Preserving Our Place– A Photographic Exhibition.” This display offers visual art from native communities in coastal south Louisiana and coastal far-west Alaska, attesting to the similarities in the climate crises in the artists’ native homes.
For more, WRKF’s Adam Vos spoke with the artists Chantel Comardelle, tribal executive secretary of the Jean Charles Choctaw Nation and co-creator of the exhibit, and Dennis Davis, community artist of the native Inupiaq village of Shishmaref, Alaska.
In 2020, Mardi Gras was the launching point for a surg...
2023-02-0324 min
Louisiana ConsideredNew SPLC report reveals major lack of diversity in Louisiana law enforcementA recent study by the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund revealed that Louisiana sheriffs and prosecutors are overwhelmingly white and male. While over 33% of Louisiana’s population is Black only 6% of the sheriffs and 12% of the district attorneys are Black, which points to a significant disparity.
Here to tell us more about these findings is Delvin Davis, author of the study, “Out of Balance, Racial Disparity Among Louisiana’s Sheriffs and Prosecutors.”
Some of the most anticipated Mardi Gras krewes are getting ready to roll this weekend. Greg Swanson tells us about Krewe de Vieux’s sc...
2023-02-0224 min
Louisiana ConsideredWhen neo-Nazis came to New Orleans, a group of Holocaust survivors fought backLast Friday was Holocaust Remembrance Day. And even though these days, the term “never forget” seems to be part of public discourse, it wasn’t that long ago that discussions of the Holocaust were often repressed or even discouraged.
But in 1961, many survivors were caught in the crosshairs when a neo-Nazi “hate-bus” came to New Orleans. This led to a confrontation between survivors and neo-Nazis, in an event that was emblematic of increasing support for civil rights among Jews.
Lawrence Powell wrote about this event in his book, Troubled Memory; Anne Levy, the Holocaust and David Duke’...
2023-01-3024 min
Louisiana ConsideredThe Southern University Laboratory Virtual School is awarded for surmounting pandemic obstaclesThe Southern University Laboratory Virtual School in Baton Rouge will be recognized next week by the State Department of Education for its progress and development despite extraordinary obstacles. During the ongoing pandemic, the school managed to go from an F rating to a C in just a few years.
Nadia Seals, director of virtual school at Southern University Laboratory Virtual School, tells us about the institution’s extraordinary progress.
Today marks the beginning of Cinema on the Bayou, a Lafayette festival that will offer screenings of nearly 200 films over 8 days. As the second oldest juried int...
2023-01-2524 min
Louisiana ConsideredHow the Mobile Carnival Museum is preserving Alabama Mardi Gras historyMobile, Alabama has long claimed to be the site of the first American Mardi Gras, but what’s the story behind this historic carnival – and what does a Mobile Mardi Gras look like today? Cart Blackwell, curator at the Mobile Carnival Museum, give us some insight into Mobile Mardi Gras history.
Yesterday, we brought you two conversations about so-called “book bans,” in Louisiana. We heard from a librarian and writer fighting to end censorship of materials found at public libraries, and we spoke with an advocate calling for more public scrutiny of these readily-accessible texts. Today, Kerri Westenbe...
2023-01-1924 min
Louisiana ConsideredArts Council of Greater Baton Rouge celebrates 50 years of creativity, growth and communityThe Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge turns 50 this year, and they’re holding a gala this Thursday to celebrate that milestone. President and CEO Renee Chatelain tells about the organization’s 50 years of creative programming and community growth.
When Robert Carriker first moved to Louisiana, he spent his weekends exploring the backcountry for the state’s tastiest boudin. That soon turned into a website guide, BoudainLink.com, followed by a boudin festival and most recently, a book! Carriker joined WRKF’s Karen Henderson for more on the history and development of this Louisiana sausage delicacy.
But fir...
2023-01-1124 min
Louisiana ConsideredA look back on a conversation with former New York Times Executive Editor, Dean BaquetAs we approach the new year, we are looking back on some of our favorite stories from 2022. Today on Louisiana Considered, we give a second listen to a conversation between WRKF’s Adam Vos and former New York Times Executive Editor – and New Orleans native – Dean Baquet.
Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber and our digital editor is Katelyn Umholtz. Our engineers are Garrett Pittman, Aubry Procell, and Thomas Walsh.
You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at 12:00 and 7:30 pm. It’s available o...
2022-12-2824 min
Louisiana ConsideredFrom New Orleans to Amsterdam and back, here’s the story of the oldest-known footage of Mardi GrasLast week, the Library of Congress announced that the short silent film titled Mardi Gras Carnival has been added to the National Film Registry. The film, which captures about two minutes of the Krewe of Rex rolling through New Orleans in 1898, is this year’s oldest inductee.
But this film was actually long thought to be lost. Until Mackenzie Roberts Beasley, an audiovisual researcher and archivist for the Smithsonian Archives of American Art, tracked it down earlier this year in a trail that led her all the way to Europe. She joins us for more about her unl...
2022-12-2124 min
Louisiana ConsideredU.S. Rep. Troy Carter discusses new position of leadership in Congressional Black CaucusAt the end of November, Louisiana representative Troy Carter was elected to serve as the Congressional Black Caucus’ Second Vice-Chair – the body’s third-most senior position. He joins Louisiana Considered’s Managing Producer Alana Schreiber to discuss taking on this significant role in his sophomore term.
The holidays are just around the corner – and so is the potential for another COVID-19 surge. Dr. Catherine O'Neal, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and Infectious Disease at LSU Health Sciences Center in Baton Rouge, joins us for more on the latest tools for COVID safety.
But first, on Saturday, B...
2022-12-1224 min
Louisiana ConsideredThe District 3 PSC runoff election is Saturday; here's what you need to know before you voteThe runoff election for the District Three Public Service Commissioner will take place tomorrow, where voters will choose between 18-year incumbent Lambert Boissiere III and environmental activist Davante Lewis. The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate’s editorial director and columnist Stephanie Grace and WRKF’s Paul Braun tell voters what they need to know before they hit the polls.
The quarterfinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup starts today, and New Orleanians are packing sports bars to watch. But there’s one bar whose soccer culture is outmatched, attracting fans from around the world. Louisiana Considered’s Managing Producer Alana Sc...
2022-12-0924 min
Louisiana ConsideredMore than 100 electric school buses are coming to Louisiana. Here’s how they will be distributedBack in October, the Environmental Protection Agency awarded more than $43-million-dollars in funding for electric school buses in Louisiana. The EPA’s Jeffrey Robinson tells us more about how the more than 100 buses will be distributed across the parishes.
Standing out from the landscape on LSU’s Baton Rouge campus are two earthen mounds, which, according to recent research, may be the oldest known man-made structures in the Americas. Brooks Ellwood, professor emeritus with LSU’s department of Geology and Geophysics, spoke to us about the mounds back in September. Today, we give that conversation a second listen...
2022-11-3024 min
Louisiana ConsideredThe quirky, dark comedy ‘CRAIGSLISTED’ makes New Orleans debutThanksgiving is just around the corner, and families around the country are uniting over a love for one another – and a love for food. And from turkey to candied yams to cranberry sauce, Thanksgiving delicacies can seem like their own entity.
Famed New Orleans food writer Ian McNulty actually once said the same thing about the food at Jazz Fest. Back in April, WWNO’s Carly Berlin spent an afternoon with McNulty at the Fairgrounds, tasting everything from Crawfish Monica and praline beignets. In honor of the upcoming holiday, we give this food-focused story a second listen.
...
2022-11-2224 min
Louisiana ConsideredWhy NPR’s Planet Money started a record label to release a 47-year-old song by a Baton Rouge artistIn 1975, when prices at the grocery store and gas station were higher than anyone could remember, Baton Rouge musician Earnest Jackson wrote a song about inflation -- something Americans know quite a lot about these days. But despite his relative success in the local music scene, and the incredible success of many of his former bandmates, Jackson never quite got his big break.
Nearly 50 years later, Planet Money’s Sarah Gonzalez and Erika Beras decided to start their own record label and release Jackson’s “Inflation” song. Today, they join us for more on what they discovered in their...
2022-11-1024 min
Louisiana ConsideredThis podcast looks at recovery and rebuilding in Lake Charles after 4 major natural disastersFrom the Water Main at American Public Media, season 2 of the podcast In Deep takes listeners to Lake Charles, Louisiana to learn how residents are recovering from two hurricanes, an ice storm, and empty promises from the government.
Investigative reporter for APM Reports and podcast host Lauren Rosenthal tells us more about those forced to rebuild and relocate, as well as the volunteers who do anything possible to keep their community afloat.
Jazz lovers and photo enthusiasts can unite at the West Baton Rouge Museum where a collection of largely unseen photographs gives viewers a r...
2022-11-0824 min
Louisiana ConsideredIn new documentary 'Hollow Tree,' teens come of age amid rising sea levels in LouisianaMidterm elections are less than a week away! The Times Picayune | New Orleans Advocate’s editorial page director columnist Stephanie Grace and WRKF Capital Access reporter Paul Braun tell us what to look out for – and give us crucial information on when and how to vote in Louisiana.
How does a rising sea level impact the lives of young people living on vulnerable land? The new documentary Hollow Tree seeks to find out by following the lives of three Louisiana teenagers grappling with adulthood and a changing climate. The Coastal Desk’s Halle Parker spoke with the film’s...
2022-11-0424 min
Louisiana ConsideredUniversity of New Orleans launches wind energy hub, aiming to grow industryBack in August, the University of New Orleans announced the launch of the Louisiana Wind Energy Hub at UNO. Dubbed, “The Beach at UNO,” the new hub will not only help grow the wind energy industry in Louisiana, but also increase demand for talent, research, and business development in the area.
Rebecca Conwell, President and CEO of The Beach at UNO, and Shafin Khan, vice president of external affairs and innovation at The Beach at UNO, tell us more.
Two Louisiana parishes put the brakes on projects related to carbon sequestration in order to take time...
2022-09-2824 min
Louisiana ConsideredThis Labor Day we listen back to our best stories on Louisiana FoodDon’t tune into Louisiana Considered hungry! Today’s show takes us on a flavorful journey of the state’s unique cooking traditions.
We start by revisiting a conversation with the Endowed Chair and Director of the Ray Charles Program in African American Material Culture at Dillard University, Zella Palmer. She spoke with WRKF’s Adam Vos about the history of Louisiana’s Black female chefs who helped spread Creole recipes around the globe.
And we also learn about efforts to increase healthy food access in the communities that need it most. Reverend Richard Bell, president of...
2022-09-0524 min
Louisiana ConsideredAs the 2022 midterms near, here are the Louisiana elections to followNew Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell has recently been faced with recall attempts. Now, she’s fighting back. The Advocate’s Editorial Director and columnist Stephanie Grace tells us what might happen next, and clues us in to what elections to watch as campaigns heat up after Labor Day.
The Biden administration pledged billions of dollars to address environmental injustice, and many living in the Mississippi River basin stand to benefit – particularly low-income and minority communities who face the brunt of air and water pollution. WWNO’s coastal reporter Halle Parker tells us why advocates are still skeptical that the...
2022-09-0524 min
Louisiana ConsideredWhere are all the hurricanes? Meteorologist details Louisiana outlook during peak of storm seasonOn today’s episode of Louisiana Considered, the WWNO/WRKF Coastal Desk reports on this year’s Atlantic Hurricane Season, and commemorates Hurricane Ida’s landfall one year ago. This episode originally aired on Monday, August 29, 2022. To hear the full episode, click the “play” button above.
Despite what has felt like a quiet start to this year’s hurricane season, NOAA still forecasts above-normal storm activity in the Atlantic. Ben Schott, meteorologist-in-charge at the National Weather Service office in Slidell, explained why storms have been slow to form after two years of record-breaking seasons, and what we can e...
2022-08-2924 min
Louisiana ConsideredLouisiana hospitals are hesitant to perform abortions for medically-futile pregnanciesOn today’s episode of Louisiana Considered, Stephanie Grace and Paul Braun joined us to discuss the week in state politics. Also, we learn about invasive species that are inching a little closer to the Mississippi River Basin from the Great Lakes every year; and from Houston Public Media, we hear how some Houston residents are still feeling the effects of Hurricane Harvey five years after the storm made landfall. This episode of Louisiana Considered originally aired on Friday, Aug. 26, 2022. To hear the full episode, click the “play” button above.
First up on today’s episode...
2022-08-2624 min
Louisiana ConsideredWhy Louisiana's medical marijuana program continues to fall behind national standardIn a new proposal, the Biden administration stated that schools that discriminate against transgender students risk loosing school lunch funding. In response, State Attorney General Jeff Landry joined 21 other attorneys general in sending a letter to Biden expressing oppositions over the expanded interpretation of Title IX to prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ people. WRKF’s Paul Braun tells us more about how Louisiana lawmakers are responding, and how previous legislation led up to this moment.
But bans on transgender athletes wasn’t the only thing to come out of the most recent legislative session. Representative Joe Marino, chairman of th...
2022-07-2824 min
Louisiana ConsideredSwimming, boating and restoration: a look at the proposal to develop Pontchartrain BeachLast Friday, the qualifying window for the next congressional and state elections officially ended. That means Louisianans now know who exactly will be on their ballots in November. WRKF’s Capital Access Reporter, Paul Braun joins us to break down the candidates and the upcoming elections.
The Pontchartrain Beach Foundation recently issued a proposal aiming to restore, develop, and support the ecological health of the New Orleans beach. The proposal includes swimming, boating, and dining areas as well as plans for wetland restoration.
Dana Brown, a representative from the Pontchartrain Beach Foundation and the landscape arc...
2022-07-2524 min
Louisiana ConsideredNew facility opens on the North Shore to provide a home for children with behavioral health issuesIn a week chock full of Supreme Court news, justices recently weighed in on the redistricting debate taking hold in Louisiana by putting a temporary hold on the lower court’s order requiring a second majority Black congressional district. WRKF’s Capital Access Reporter Paul Braun tells us where this latest ruling leaves the redistricting maps.
Over in Baton Rouge, the Pennington Biomedical Research Center received a grant to research causes and solutions for cachexia, a debilitating wasting condition responsible for up to 30% of cancer deaths. Professor at the center and one of the researchers on this stud...
2022-06-2924 min
Louisiana ConsideredBreaking down the legal fight over Louisiana's abortion trigger lawsFor the last few months, public health reporter Rosemary Westwood's new podcast BANNED has been following the increasing restrictions on abortion in the Gulf South by zeroing in on Mississippi’s last abortion clinic, the Pink House. On Friday, following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Rosemary traveled back to the Pink House to hear how providers are responding. She joins us today for more.
However, providers aren’t the only ones reacting to the news. Almost as soon as cellphones lit up with push notifications on the SCOTUS decision, social media pages erupted...
2022-06-2724 min
Louisiana ConsideredInside the clinic at the heart of the SCOTUS decision that could overturn Roe v. WadeAs the Supreme Court decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization approaches, it seems unlikely that Gov. John Bel Edwards will veto two bills passed by the state legislature that would enforce some of the harshest abortion bans in the country. Capitol Access reporter Paul Braun gives us the latest updates on the backlash the bills have received from women’s health advocates, pro-choice legislators and the Biden administration.
In the second episode of Banned: The Mississippi Case To End Roe V. Wade, WWNO/WRKF public health reporter Rosemary Westwood visited Jackson Women’s Healt...
2022-06-1724 min
Louisiana ConsideredNOLA’s legal field has long been white-male dominated. This collaborative seeks to change thatRecently, a federal judge struck down Louisiana’s congressional redistricting map, arguing that the lawmakers behind the map violated the Voting Rights Act by limiting representation of Louisiana’s black population. WRKF’s Capital Access Reporter Paul Braun tells us how we got here and what may happen next.
Last year, A group of five women who work at law firms in New Orleans set out to address issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession in the city by founding the New Orleans Legal Diversity Collaborative (NOLDC). We speak with two of the NOLDC foundin...
2022-06-0824 min
Louisiana ConsideredOn the 84th annual National Doughnut Day, here's how to celebrate in LouisianaEarlier Thursday, a Louisiana Senate committee struck down provisions that would have altered a bill to allow teachers to carry concealed guns on school grounds. WRKF’s Capital Access Reporter Paul Braun tells us where this “constitutional carry” bill might be headed.
Tomorrow is the first Friday of June, and that means it’s National Doughnut Day! Area Commander Major Chris Thornhill tells us how the day honors Salvation Army members who served doughnuts to soldiers during World War I.
And if you’re starting to drool, then you won't want to miss a conversation with Zack...
2022-06-0224 min
Louisiana ConsideredGov. Edwards on how he hopes to fix polarization amid Louisiana abortion debateThis week, Louisiana lawmaker Danny McCormick introduced a bill allowing prosecutors to charge patients with homicide if they get an abortion. But after initially passing out of a house committee and receiving amendments, the bill was ultimately pulled.
WRKF Capitol Access reporter Paul Braun tells us more about this bill and other legislative attempts to restrict abortions as the nation gets ready for a decision from the Supreme Court on the Dobbs v. Jackson case.
The Heartland Summit, a conference in Bentonville, Arkansas that’s sponsored by the Walton Foundation and focuses on fostering collaboration an...
2022-05-1324 min
Louisiana ConsideredUpcoming Peace Officers Memorial Day pays tribute to those lost in the line of dutyAs the state legislature is in the national spotlight for a controversial bill that would criminalize abortion, WWNO/WRKF Capitol Access reporter Paul Braun discusses what the bill entails and why the state’s biggest anti-abortion group opposes the bill’s passage.
May 11-17 is National Police Week, a tradition that goes back 60 years to honor public servants. Darrell Basco, President of the Louisiana Fraternal Order of Police, joins us to talk about the week, and specifically to detail Peace Officers’ Memorial Day, which takes place Sunday, May 15.
WWNO and WRKF have par...
2022-05-1224 min
Louisiana ConsideredLouisiana Considered: Bike routes in the works in New Orleans and Baton Rouge
Karl Lengel hosted this Wednesday’s episode of Louisiana Considered.
RoadWork NOLA Mobility and Safety Outreach Manager David Lee Simmons and Healthy Community Services Founder and Executive Director Angela Chalk join us to talk about the City's collaboration with the NOLA Complete Streets Coalition on Moving New Orleans Bikes, which aims to expand transportation options in New Orleans and make the City’s streets more accessible to cyclists, pedestrians and transit riders.
WWNO/WRKF reporter Aubry Procell reports on a Capital Region Planning Commission project to link bike paths in five parishes, creating an ambitious Baton Rouge metro area bike and...
2022-01-0524 min