Over the weekend, the acclaimed sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live celebrated 50 years on the air! While the show is filmed at 30 Rockefeller plaza in Manhattan, it does have some interesting ties to New Orleans. Original cast member Garrett Morris is a born and raised New Orleanian, who made a special appearance at last weekend's reunion show. The Crescent City also claimed Vance Degeneres, the voice of claymation character Mr. Bill, and a more recent player, Punkie Johnson.

But what many do not know is that Saturday Night Live once filmed an episode in New Orleans –  or at least, they tried to. Although cast members were scattered throughout the city, parade delays, technology failures and general Mardi Gras mayhem made for one of the most chaotic shows in SNL's history.

David Cuthbert, is a longtime New Orleans reporter who covered the event for The Times Picayune back in 1977. He joins us to share his SNL memories.

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. She joins us for the latest in the New Orleans mayor’s race and the election for Orleans Parish Sheriff.

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber; our contributing producers are Matt Bloom and Adam Vos; we receive production and technical 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!

Louisiana’s ranking on the Nation’s Report Card – a standardized test to measure academic performance of students across the country – climbed again last month. The state now ranks 32nd out of all 50 states and three jurisdictions. This is quite the climb from before the pandemic when Louisiana ranked 49th. 

Education reporter Aubri Juhasz breaks down the results and what this says about the direction of our state’s education system.

In the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl, many downtown New Orleans businesses were expecting a big uptick in patrons and profits, considering an estimated 125,000 visitors flocked to the city. But according to many local business owners, the Super Bowl didn’t spur an economic boost –  some say they even saw fewer patrons than usual.

Scott Wood, owner and head brewer at Courtyard Brewery, and Remy Diamond, owner of C’Mere NOLA, a food, jewelry and art shop in the French Quarter, tell us more about the lack of Super Bowl-related economic activity. 

It's time to file your taxes. At least, you'll have to file sometime before the state deadline of May 15. Capitol Access reporter Brooke Thorington spoke with Louisiana Department of Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson about  when and how to start filing. 

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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!

New Orleans was set to have a big 2025. The city hosted the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras season is especially long this year, stretching all the way into March. But the terrorism attack on New Year's Day has business owners worried about what will happen to the tourism they rely on.

The Gulf States Newsroom’s Stephan Bisaha caught up with some in the French Quarter to hear how they’re preparing for what’s usually the busy season. 

The New Orleans Museum of Art has a new chief curator. Anne Collins Smith comes to NOMA after serving as director of the Xavier University of Louisiana Art Gallery. 

The New Orleans native joins us for more on curatorial history and her new role, leading exhibition initiatives with a focus on the museum’s modern and contemporary art. 

The New Orleans-based Musaica Chamber Ensemble continues its 19th season, Hidden Treasures, in concert tonight. The company is presenting, “French Connections,” with works by Ravel, Saint-Saens and others. 

Musaica violist and president Bruce Owen shares  more about this musical journey. 

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Diane Mack. 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, 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!

There has been a flurry of legal activity since Gov. Jeff Landry established protocols to use nitrogen gas to execute people sentenced to death. Judges have set execution dates for at least two people on death row in Louisiana. Greg LaRose, the editor at the Louisiana Illuminator tells us about challenges to the new method. 

As New Orleans still recovers from the Super Bowl, we wanted to have a conversation about food waste. Super Bowl-related events are typically responsible for thousands of pounds of food waste, but this year, the Food Recovery Network, along with student volunteers from Tulane and LSU, recovered over 12,000 pounds of unused food, and donated it to the New Orleans Mission, a shelter for unhoused Louisianans. 

Regina Harmon, the executive director of the Food Recovery Network, and John Proctor, the food service director for the New Orleans Mission, tell us about working together to repurpose unused food. 

A new documentary from VICE takes a deep dive into Cajun Mardi Gras. The film, “Vice’s Guide to Mardi Gras,” offers viewers insight into carnival traditions in more rural areas of the state, showing how they contrast with the glitzy spectacle in New Orleans. 

The documentary’s host and producer, Jackson Garrett, and Jourdan Thibodeaux, a local musician featured in the film, tell us more about Acadian Mardi Gras traditions.

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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!

More and more Americans face the threat of flooding. And as a country, we are woefully unprepared. Cities like Charleston and Miami already see routine coastal flooding. Hurricane Helene recently hammered many inland communities with flooding. And the risk is only rising.

FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) sells about 90% of the nation's flood insurance policies, but only a small percentage of Americans are covered. In an effort to account for climate change, expand coverage, and make the NFIP more "fair," FEMA recently overhauled its flood insurance program. It's called Risk Rating 2.0, and the sweeping changes are proving to be highly controversial.

In this episode, we talk to Rebecca Elliott, author of Underwater, about how the story of American flood insurance is really a story about people and our values as a nation.

For more resources about flood insurance and Risk Rating 2.0, check out the Coalition for Sustainable Flood Insurance.

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This episode was hosted by Carlyle Calhoun and Eva Tesfaye. Carlyle Calhoun is the managing producer. Our sound designer is Emily Jankowski and our theme music is by Jon Batiste. Sea Change is a WWNO and WRKF production. We are part of the NPR Podcast Network and distributed by PRX. Sea Change is made possible with major support from the Gulf Research Program of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and The Water Collaborative. WWNO’s Coastal Desk is supported by the Walton Family Foundation, the Meraux Foundation, and the Greater New Orleans Foundation.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. 

It’s Thursday and that means it’s time to catch up on politics with The Times-Picayune/The Advocate’s editorial director and columnist, Stephanie Grace. She tells us about rising tension between Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the city council over the city's role collecting taxes  for other government entities.

A new report from the Newcomb Institute found that over 10% of Louisiana adults struggle with severe depression and/or anxiety and 9% have either attempted suicide or had suicidal thoughts. 

Dr. Anita Raj, executive director of the Newcomb Institute, tells us more about this study and how Louisianans can prioritize their mental health and seek treatment. 

Louisianans are told, it doesn’t matter where you live, you should have flood insurance. But many people cannot afford the National Flood Insurance Program’s premiums. Now, we’re not only seeing more people dropping coverage, but those who do purchase insurance are paying higher rates.

Reporter Elise Plunk of the Louisiana Illuminator tells us about the issues that arise when people drop their policies, and the Catch-22 that’s created for those who continue to buy insurance.

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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, 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 President Trump has taken office, he’s made massive cuts to American foreign aid. According to USAID, over 10,000 American jobs have already been lost, and estimates suggest more than 100 thousand global jobs could be lost. These job cuts don’t just directly affect aid workers, but also everyday Americans whose incomes rely on some foreign investment.

For more on how the cuts to the program will impact Americans, including Louisiana farmers, we speak with a former humanitarian assistance expert at USAID who is choosing to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation. 

In the lead up to the Super Bowl, there were numerous concerns about increased human trafficking, and the city saw increased patrolling, investigating, and intervening into suspicious activity. Before the game, we spoke with Brandi Bynum, acting unit chief for the Center for Countering Human Trafficking at the Department of Homeland Security, about what signs to look out for.

However some advocates for sex workers say this increased focus is misdirected. The Gulf States Newsroom’s Kat Stromquist tells why this increased concern can be potentially harmful to consensual sex workers.

Beginning Feb 12., lottery registration opens for the Louisiana Fortified Homes program, in which eligible homeowners can register for a chance to receive up to a $10,000 grant to help make their homes more resilient against natural disasters.

Capitol Access reporter Brooke Thorington spoke with John Ford, spokesperson for the Louisiana Department of Insurance, about the logistics and the specifics behind this program and how you can qualify. 

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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!

Last night was the 59th Super Bowl. At the Superdome in New Orleans, we saw the Philadelphia Eagles dominate the Kansas City Chiefs, winning 40 to 22.  The Gulf States Newsroom’s sports and culture reporter Joseph King breaks down some memorable plays, big disappointments and an electrifying halftime show from Kendrick Lamar. 

There are rising concerns over drone safety in Louisiana, and we could soon see legislation to allow state law enforcement to better mitigate security risks posed by the technology. A special drone advisory committee recently made recommendations to lawmakers on how to mitigate the risks drones can pose.

Vice chair of the Louisiana Advanced Aviation and Drone Advisory Committee, George Rey Sr., tells us more. 

Last week was National News Literacy Week. It’s an effort to bring attention to today’s complicated information landscape—the way that all of us are constantly bombarded with not just bona fide information, but also opinion, conjecture, social media influencers, concealed marketing campaigns and more. 

Chair in media literacy at LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication, Len Apcar, spoke with WRKF’s Adam Vos for advice on how to discern fact from fiction.

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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!

It’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 banned in the wake of the overturning Roe v. Wade. 

Rosemary Westwood has been covering the story. She joined Louisiana Considered's Managing Producer Alana Schreiber with the latest.

Xavier University of Louisiana is celebrating 100  years in 2025. It has been a part of the City of New Orleans community for a third of the city’s existence, training many of the state’s doctors, pharmacists, and other professionals.

The university’s president, Dr. Reynold Verret, tells us more about the institution’s impact on  the city, and how students, faculty and alumni are celebrating.

Early voting has begun for a special election to fill a vacant seat representing Louisiana's 14th district. Three Democrats are campaigning to finish the term begun by Cleo Fields, another Democrat who won election to Congress in November.

On Tuesday, WRKF’s Capitol access reporter Brooke Thorington spoke with one of the candidates, Carolyn Hill. Today she speaks with one of her challengers, Quentin Anderson.

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber; our contributing producers are Matt Bloom and Adam Vos; we receive production and technical 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 Archdiocese of New Orleans recently made headlines for firing leadership of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans. This was done in retaliation for refusing to divert as much as $16 million of the food bank’s money to help pay for settlements against the church regarding sex abuse claims. 

The Guardian reports the Archdiocese relied on public relations assistance provided by the Saints and the Pelicans, which helped them spin the narrative on the allegations.

Ramon Antonio Vargas has been covering this story for The Guardian. He joined us to share more details and talk about  how the teams are responding after emails were leaked. 

This weekend’s Super Bowl is attracting fans to New Orleans from Philadelphia, Kansas City and other parts of the country. As airlines add more direct flights, all that air travel will release tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. 

From our Coastal Desk, Eva Tesfaye speaks with Barclay Rogers who calculated an estimate of those emissions. He’s CEO of the carbon removal company Graphyte and a professor of climate solutions at Tulane University.

The city of New Orleans is anticipating a $9.3 million federal grant to help expand the city’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The ability for EV drivers to charge-up along their routes is one of the big sticking points for wider adoption of EVs.

Greg Nichols, deputy chief resilience officer and director of the New Orleans Office of Resilience & Sustainability, tells us more about what it will take for large scale EV adoption.

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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!