Louisiana Considered

It’s Thursday, and that means it’s time to catch up on politics with The Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate’s editorial director and columnist, Stephanie Grace. Today, we hear about President Trump’s recent endorsement of Rep. Julie Letlow (R-LA), who is running for Sen. Bill Cassidy’s seat. 

Last week, the Supreme Court began to hear oral arguments in Chevron U.S.A. v. Plaquemines Parish. The case could determine the outcome of dozens of lawsuits seeking billions in damages from oil companies that allegedly polluted Louisiana’s coastline. The parish argued that the pollution has contributed to Louisiana’s land loss crisis. 

The Times-Picayune/The Advocate’s Alex Lubben has been covering this story. He joins us for more.

A recent ruling by a 3-judge panel of the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals could have a far-reaching effect on songwriters, their intellectual property, and music companies. 

Louisiana songwriter Cyril Vetter reclaimed his total ownership of his 1963 hit “Double Shot of My Baby’s Love” when he terminated his contract with Resnik Music Group back in 2022. Copyright laws made it so that he only retained the U.S. rights to the song. But the appeals court ruling struck down that long-time practice. 

The attorney who represented Vetter, Tim Kappel, joins us to explain what this ruling means for songwriters. 

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

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

Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!  Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. 

And while you’re at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to.

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

The first numbers are out for the new Amtrak route between New Orleans and Mobile — the Mardi Gras service. It opened in August, and the numbers show the route has seen nearly double the ridership than was originally forecast. The response has been so strong that Amtrak just announced it added one more train car per round-trip, increasing capacity, which on some days is still not enough to meet demand.

Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari joins us to discuss what this says about demand in our region for passenger train service.

LSU’s Center for Energy Studies published its latest outlook reviewing the future of the energy industry in the Gulf South. It highlights the policy uncertainty that stakeholders are dealing with, along with an uncertain situation for international trade agreements and tariffs.

Executive director of LSU’s Center for Energy Studies Greg Upton joins us for more.

Chagas disease is on the rise in Louisiana. The condition, which causes cardiac and digestive issues, is spread by parasite-carrying bugs in the Triatomine family — also known as kissing bugs. 

While the disease is endemic to South America, researchers are now calling for the reclassification of the disease as endemic in the United States.

Tulane researchers have been studying the transmission and prevention of Chagas disease for over a decade. Claudia Herrera, assistant professor at Tulane’s school of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, joins us for more.

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

You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It’s available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!

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

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

The outcome of a trial over Missouri’s abortion laws could have ripple impacts far beyond the state, where the judge is weighing the constitutionality of abortion restrictions. If more abortion clinics are opened in Missouri, that could cut down travel times for those who need care in the Gulf South and go out of state. 

Anna Spoerre has been covering this case for the Missouri Independent. She joins us for more.

Louisiana’s petrochemical industry is growing. One of the newest proposed projects is a hydrogen plant in Ascension Parish. And it’s being pitched as a clean, low-pollution facility. 

But, as the coastal desk’s Eva Tesfaye reports, some parents are concerned it could put their children at risk. 

Mardi Gras season is officially underway, and parades would be nothing without flambeaux carriers — the people who carry giant fiery torches — adding light and spectacle to the marches. There was a time when this job was even more essential, back before floats had electricity of their own. 

But when flambeaux carriers went on strike in the 1940s, demanding a pay raise for their hot, grueling work, Mardi Gras parades rolled in the dark. 

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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!

Back in June, 22-year-old registered nurse Vilma Palacios had just accepted a position at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans when she was arrested by ICE agents. She then spent six months in a detention center, all while family members and immigration advocates called for her release, pointing to her community involvement, lack of a criminal record and commitment to nursing during a time of a nursing shortage. 

But in late December, she returned to Honduras, a country she had not visited since she left as a child. 

Palacios joins us to share her story, her experience in detention and why she still has hope.

Since May of 2020, WWNO’s Rosemary Westwood has been a leading reproductive health care reporter in the U.S. She’s broken stories on restricted access to abortion care, rising rates of whooping cough and growing numbers of medications listed as controlled substances. She also created, hosted and reported the award-winning podcast, Banned, telling the story of Mississippi’s last abortion clinic — which lost the case that overturned Roe v. Wade. 

After nearly five years with the station, Rosemary is moving on to a new opportunity

She joins us to reflect on her career and journey with WWNO and WRKF.

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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!

Thanks to a renewal, the Leah Chase School will operate in New Orleans for at least two more years. The school opened back in 2024 and is named after the legendary New Orleans chef, author and television personality. 

WWNO’s education reporter Aubri Juhasz tells us about the growth of the city’s only non-charter school within the larger education landscape. 

With New Orleans money woes of the past few months, eyes have turned to how to raise funds without raising taxes — the perennial dilemma when trying to fund city government.

The Bureau of Governmental Research has called for a 5-year financial plan with an eye toward identifying funding strategies for the city’s looming needs. At the same time, Professor of Urban Studies and Public Policy at Dillard University, Robert Collins, says the city needs to diversify its economy beyond the traditional reliance on tourism, hospitality and river port operations.

Collins joins us for more on what he believes are the best strategies to uplift the city’s economy. 

2026 marks a Mardi Gras milestone for a major carnival krewe. The Krewe of Endymion is celebrating 60 years since its founding with a parade and extravaganza scheduled for Valentine’s Day. The 60th anniversary celebration will include special celebrity musical guests performing at the Caesars Superdome.

Endymion Captain Dan Kelly joins us for more on the krewe’s origins and how members are marking the occasion.

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. 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!

Since the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro nearly two weeks ago, the Trump administration has threatened Mexico, Cuba, Brazil, Chile and Iran. The administration is also renewing its push to obtain Greenland against the wishes of fellow NATO nations. Trump appointed Gov. Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland to assist with that effort.

To break it down for us, Capitol Access Reporter Brooke Thorington spoke with U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields about current U.S. foreign relations and how Louisiana fits into the broader picture.

Louisiana could benefit from substantial economic growth driven by the carbon capture and sequestration industry, according to the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, which recently released an economic forecast for the capital region. According to the report, carbon capture-related projects could represent more than 90 percent of capital investment and 80 percent of direct jobs in the region. Susan Bourgeois, secretary of Louisiana Economic Development, joins us with the details.

The 20th Baton Rouge Jewish Film Festival returns to the capital tonight with four films that tell stories about Jewish communities from around the world. It’s also the final time the festival will be held.

WRKF Report for America Corps member Alex Cox sat down with Ara Rubyan, one of the event’s organizers, to discuss the festival, its history and why the lights will be going down one last time.

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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!

Yesterday, Helena Moreno was inaugurated as the 63rd mayor of New Orleans, and former Vice President Kamala Harris swore her in. The Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate’s editorial director and columnist Stephanie Grace joins us to break down the event. 

Le Petit Theatre is gearing up for a performance of Noel Coward’s supernatural black comedy, ‘Blithe Spirit.’  

Le Petit Theatre’s artistic director, A.J. Allegra, and actor/director Ricky Graham join us with more on this production.

In 2026, New Orleans will host its first marathon since 2019. The 26.2-mile race will take runners on a double loop course that finishes in City Park, but it won't be the only event of the weekend. The marathon will be part of the larger Fit Fete, a weekend full of community games and wellness events. 

Walt Leger III, president and CEO of New Orleans and Company, tells us more about the marathon and the entire Fit Fete weekend. 

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Diane Mack. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber, and our assistant producer is Aubry Procell. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman.

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

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

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

If you have the flu or know someone who does, you are not alone. According to the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Louisiana is among the states with the highest number of flu cases. Last week, state health officials confirmed the first pediatric death this year in the state from the flu. 

Dr. Julio Figueroa, chief of infectious diseases at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, breaks down the latest data. 

In 2013, many Americans learned the story of Solomon Northup, a free Black man from New York who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Louisiana. His story was told in the Academy Award-winning film, “12 Years a Slave,” based on his memoir of the same name.

Avoyelles Parish, where Northup spent most of his captivity, recently unveiled a statue of him on the 173rd anniversary of when he was set free.

For more on Northup’s legacy, the commemoration and the artistic inspiration behind this statue, we spoke with Emmy and Academy Award-winning sculptor Wesley Wofford, and Northup’s great-great-great-grandson, Justin Gilliam. 

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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!

The amazing science behind understanding mysterious but critical ocean currents. And specifically, understanding the current in our backyard, the Gulf’s Loop Current.
We talk with scientists leading a huge multi-country research collaboration that is going to great lengths and depths to understand the especially unknown Loop Current. We talk about how currents connect us, how they are basically a thermostat for the globe, and why, more than ever before, we need to understand them.

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This episode was hosted and produced by Carlyle Calhoun. Sea Change's theme music is by Jon Batiste, and our sound designer is Emily Jankowski. 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. And to help others find our podcast, hit subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Sea Change is made possible with major support from the Gulf Research Program of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 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.

It’s Thursday, and that means it’s time to catch up on politics with The Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate’s Stephanie Grace. Today, we look ahead at some 2026 congressional races and hear about the slew of challengers Sen. Bill Cassidy is already facing. 

As 2025 came to a close, WRKF Report for America corps member and our East Baton Rouge metro reporter, Alex Cox, caught up with the parish’s new mayor-president, Sid Edwards.

Edwards – or as he’s sometimes called, Coach Edwards – reflected on his first year as an elected politician and his priorities for the coming year.

Why don’t parishes cooperate more? Aren’t there economies of scale that can serve everyone? Why does the city only get fixed up when a company is coming? 

New Orleans and Company, along with a group of regional stakeholders, created Vision 2035 for Greater New Orleans to answer some of those questions above and more.

Lead consultant and managing director at Trepwise, Lauren Siegel, and the executive vice president of New Orleans and Company, Alice Glenn, join us for more.

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. 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!