Louisiana Considered

It’s Thursday,and that means it’s time to catch up on the week in politics with Stephanie Grace, editorial director and a columnist for the Times Picayune/The Advocate. Today we discuss what’s on the ballot for the Dec. 7 elections. 

Many of us look for things to do the morning of Thanksgiving, especially if there’s a huge meal in the offing. Besides shopping, have you considered Human Horse Racing? It’s entering its 5th year in New Orleans. 

Founder and producer of Human Horse Racing, Ingrid Anderson, tells us more about the races, raffles and costume contests on Thanksgiving Day. 

A new historical marker has gone up in New Orleans’ Central City neighborhood to commemorate the life of Dorothy Mae Taylor. The civil rights icon and politician was the first Black woman elected to the state legislature and is remembered for working to desegregate the city’s Mardi Gras krewes. 

Verite’s Arielle Robinson tells us more about the historical marker unveiling and Parker’s life story.

Stuffing. Turkey. Gravy. Cranberry Sauce. Those are the ingredients of a classic Thanksgiving dinner. But have you tried them in a Po-boy? Producer Matt Bloom visited one restaurant owner in New Orleans who has perfected the art of mixing the two traditions every holiday season. 

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. 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 pm. It’s available on Spotify, Google Play, and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you’re at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to.

Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Lawmakers are busy in Baton Rouge, attempting to rewrite large portions of Louisiana’s tax code. It’s the biggest wide-ranging tax reform effort that we’ve seen in years. And many Louisianans are left asking, how will these tax reforms impact me? And who will be impacted the most? 

Greg Albrecht, an economist at Louisiana State University has released his analysis of these tax policy changes, and he’s drawn a few conclusions. He joins us today with his  predictions. 

The week before Thanksgiving is designated National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, and one local shelter is drawing attention to the issue. The New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter is preparing to open a new facility. It’s the largest shelter in the region and the only to accept intact families– including fathers.

CEO Dawn Bradley-Fletcher and state senator Royce Duplessis tell us more about issues surrounding hunger and homelessness and the importance of shelters that accept whole families

The USDA is known for its programs that assist farmers and keep agriculture booming. What may be less-known is an ag loan program aimed at youth, helping young people operate smaller-scale agricultural projects and gain business experience. USDA farm loan manager Tyler Carlson and 13-year-old ag loan recipient Kashton Lee Malbrough tell us more.

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schrieber. 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!

Earlier this year, Cancer Alley activists in Louisiana celebrated a big victory: they stopped a major grain elevator project to the west of New Orleans. But now, another community is trying to get another grain project stopped further down the Mississippi. 

WWNO’s Eva Tesfaye tells us about pushback to the latest grain proposal, this time in the majority Black neighborhood of the Lower Ninth Ward.

Notes for Education Northshore is gearing up for its outdoor “Twilight Symphony” concert. Featuring the Baton Rouge-based Pan String Quartet, the event will also serve as a fundraiser to buy instruments for students. 

Notes for Education Northshore co-founder Don Thanars tells us what to expect at this concert for a cause.

If you’re a fan of Louisiana sports teams, this hasn’t been an easy fall. Both the Saints and Pelicans are second to last in their conferences, and LSU hasn’t fared much better – especially since their 42-13 loss against Bama two weeks ago.

Jeff Duncan, sports columnist for The Times Picayune / The Advocate tells us more about the rough patch faced by Louisiana sports teams, and what it will take to turn these seasons around. 

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Diane Mack. Our managing producer is Alana Schrieber. We get production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell.

You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It’s available on Spotify, 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!

NOLA Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams will step down at the beginning of December after leading the almost all-charter school system for two years. WWNO and WRKF’s education reporter Aubri Juhasz tells us more about her abrupt departure.

Photographer Eric McVicker is out with a new book that captures the wildlife, landscapes and waterways of the Bayou State. Dubbed, "Louisiana: Our Home,” the book takes viewers on an intimate journey through all corners of the state, capturing its natural and unique beauty. 

Erik joins us now for more on his new book, upcoming gallery show, and how he discovered photography as part of his recovery from addiction.

The New Orleans Film Festival wrapped up a few weeks ago, but one documentary short is still generating a lot of buzz. The Buzz of St. Roch follows beekeeper Carl Harrison Jr. as he builds a bee sanctuary on his family’s land in St. Roch, working to preserve the legacy of Black beekeepers in Louisiana. 

Harrison also co-directed this film. He and the film’s co-director, Patrice E. Jones joined Louisiana Considered’s Alana Schreiber for more. 

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Karen Henderson. Our managing producer is Alana Schrieber. We get production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and our assistant producer Aubrey 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!

Hollywood has been cold on climate change, mostly relegating the issue to documentaries. But today, we hear more about how the silver screen is starting to tackle the hottest topic of our time. We hear from David Sirota, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter behind “Don’t Look Up” about creating a climate movie that gets people’s attention.

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Thanks for listening to Sea Change. This episode was hosted by me, Eva Tesfaye, and Halle Parker. Sea Change’s managing producer, Carlyle Calhoun conducted the interviews. 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. We'll be back in two weeks!

It’s Thursday and that means it’s time to catch up on the week in politics with The Times Picayune/The Advocate’s editorial director and columnist, Stephanie Grace. We look ahead at New Orleans’ next mayoral race. We discuss big names who are considering running for New Orleans mayor, including two current city council members.  

Monday was Veterans Day, and this week on Louisiana Considered, we are telling the stories of those who’ve served our country. 

Today we’re joined by Nick Mueller, historian and former Vice Chancellor at the University of New Orleans, who served as Founding President and CEO of The National WWII Museum. He tells us about the life and legacy of the museum’s co-founder, Stephen Ambrose, who also wrote the book-turned-HBO mini series, “Band of Brothers.” We learn how the two got the idea to start the museum and what the late Ambrose might think of it if he saw it today.  

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We receive production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Voc and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell.

You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at 12:00 and 7:00 pm. 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!

On 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 diving into the state’s military history and the contributions of its servicemen and women.

Earlier this week, we brought you a conversation on Black military history at Southern University and other HBCUs, and today we are exploring the story of the Frenchies. While many French-speaking Cajun servicemen were outcast as children, their bilingual abilities gave them a powerful tool during World War II. They translated documents, deciphered messages, and spoke directly to French-speaking Europeans.

Jason Theriot is the author of the three-volume book, “To Honor Our Veterans: An Oral History of World War II Veterans From the Bayou Country.” More recently, he’s released “The Frenchie Podcast,” that dives into their individual contributions. He joins us now for more.

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schrieber. 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, 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 dock worker strike that shut down ports along the South and east coast last month only lasted a few days, but it set off panic buying across the U.S., with shoppers worried store shelves would go empty.

Stephan Bisaha of the Gulf States Newsroom reports there’s one panic-buying staple that people can keep off their shopping list.

New Orleans funk icon and co-founder of The Meters, Leo Nocentelli, is headlining a concert celebrating the re-release of his critically acclaimed acoustic guitar album “Another Side”.  This live performance features the Grammy award-winning artist presenting music that had been lost for 50 years. He joins us for more on the upcoming show. 

More natural gas is being transported to the coast of Louisiana and shipped overseas. To sell it globally, it has to be supercooled to a liquefied natural gas, called LNG for short. And Louisiana is at the center of this booming industry, set to double – or even quadruple – in the coming years. 

While the industry says LNG is better for the environment, a new study out of Cornell University debunks this sales pitch. Professor of Ecology and Environmental Biology at Cornell University, Robert Howarth, found that LNG is actually worse than coal. He spoke with The Coastal Desk’s Halle Parker for more. 

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Diane Mack. Our managing producer is Alana Schrieber. We get production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell.

You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It’s available on Spotify, Google Play and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you’re at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to.

Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Abortion 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 struggle for civil rights. The author, Professor Marcus S. Cox, is an expert in Black military history, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Fayetteville State University, and founder of the Gillis Jones Institute for Ethics and Leadership. He joins us today to talk about his book. 

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development is selling a few bridges that are no longer being used for transportation. Department spokesperson Daniel Gitlin tells us how community members can buy one, and some creative ways to  use the new property. 

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Karen Henderson. Our managing producer is Alana Schrieber. 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, Google Play and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you’re at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to.

Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

When 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 discuss where Democrats went wrong, and where they go from here.

New Orleanians have strong feelings when it comes to public education. After Hurricane Katrina, the state took over most of the city’s schools and turned them into charter schools. Today, the city has just one direct-run school, and there’s no other system like it in the country. 

For 15 years, the Cowen Institute at Tulane University has been asking parents what they think about public education in New Orleans. WWNO and WRKF’s education reporter Aubri Juasz speaks with the institute's policy director, Vincent Rossmeier, about this year’s results.

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Alana Schreiber. Our managing producer is Alana Schrieber. We get production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and 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!