Louisiana Considered

As we’ve been reporting, non-disclosure agreements are becoming common practice around large industrial developments in Louisiana, largely driven by Gov. Jeff Landry.

On today’s episode, we're back again with more NDAs — this time involving a sitting member of Congress. 

Julia Letlow (R-LA) — who is also the Trump-endorsed Republican candidate for U.S. Senate — signed an NDA with Meta. Then, she bought stock in the company building a $50 billion data center in her district in north Louisiana. She then failed to disclose her trades for more than a year. 

The Gulf States Newsroom’s Drew Hawkins has been reporting this story and joins us with more. 

A program created by Louisiana lawmakers offers compensation to those wrongfully convicted. But Louisiana’s top prosecutor, Attorney General Liz Murill, has a history of fighting compensation claims. Currently, she’s arguing that Elvis Brooks, a man wrongfully imprisoned for 42 years, should be denied payment because she believes he is still guilty.

Richard Webster has been covering this for Verite News and Pro Publica. He joins us with the latest. 

One of the largest international action sports competitions in the world is hoping to deepen its relationship with Birmingham, Alabama. 

The Gulf States Newsroom’s Joseph King attended an action sports festival in Birmingham earlier this month to explore its growing popularity. 

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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!

Louisiana's coastline is constantly changing, and one of the newest examples is Neptune Pass, a naturally forming channel in the lower Mississippi River that's rapidly building new land in Plaquemines Parish. 

Recently, a dozen teachers from across the state got the chance to see that transformation firsthand during a two-day professional development workshop organized by the Mississippi River Delta Transition Initiative, known as MissDelta, and Louisiana Sea Grant.

Domonique Garello, Assistant Professor at LSU’s Department of Geoscience, and Mariam Afuwape, Chemistry PhD student at LSU, spoke with WWNO’s Sara Henegan for more.

The Texas coast collects roughly 10 times more plastic debris than any other Gulf state, much of it spilling from the massive petrochemical complex that lines its shores. Now, a new group of activists is working to clean up the water: surfers.

Today we listen to the first part of the latest episode of Sea Change, to learn how these surfers are helping restore the water in the wake of the plastics economy. 

Voting rights advocacy organizations across Mississippi are setting their sights on recently enacted legislation, and they aim to educate voters on their rights at the polls.

The Gulf States Newsroom's Maya Miller spoke to Southern Poverty Law Center's Mississippi Policy Director Sonya Williams-Barnes about the SHIELD Act, redistricting and more.

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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!

It’s Thursday, and that means it’s time to talk politics with The Times Picayune/New Orleans Advocate’s Stephanie Grace. Today we discuss the end of qualifying for the November elections and what races are already drawing attention.

In recent years, there’s been a massive uptick in misinformation spread over the internet. In Acadiana, misinformation spread by both internet bots and neighbors derailed a solar farm project in Iberia Parish. While the project promised millions in local tax revenue, rumors circulated that the panels could cause fires, property values to fall, pollution and even disease.

Delaney Nolan reported this story for The Lens. She joins us now for more. 

For the first time in its history, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Louisiana has its own facility in Covington. The ribbon was cut this past Friday on the Doug A. Brooks Family Donor Fund Clubhouse.

Angel Nelson, president and CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Metro Louisiana, and Doug Brooks, Covington Board Member, tell us how this expansion will help the organization serve more children. 

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

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

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

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

A graffiti-covered shell of a building in Mid-City, New Orleans, is finally under demolition. The Lindy Boggs Medical Center was abandoned after damage from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Lindy Boggs Medical Center, formerly known as Mercy Hospital, stood for more than 65 years before becoming the blighted eyesore it is today. 

WWNO and WRKF’s Morning Edition Producer, Mel Bridges, tells us more about the history of the building, why it was abandoned and how residents are responding. 

For seven years, Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge has been researching health disparities across four Southern states. They’re looking into why so many people in the South, particularly those in rural areas, live shorter and less healthy lives. Recently, they’ve come out with their first two datasets, which consist of information taken from two Louisiana parishes.

Stephanie Broyles, professor of research and director of the Contextual Risk Factors Laboratory at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, and Erin Theriot, community engagement coordinator in Assumption Parish, join us for more. 

The LSU Museum of Art is gearing up for its fall exhibitions. The art on deck includes the work of Walter Anderson, the renowned Mississippi painter known for his reclusive lifestyle.  It will also feature an exhibit on Southern Gothic themes, revealing the overlap between the literary genre and visual arts. 

Chief Curator of Collections and Exhibitions at the LSU Museum of Art, Michelle Schulte, joins us with the details.

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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!

Rumors are continuing to swirl about a potential large aerospace project in coastal Vermillion Parish. State officials have been silent, but a host of state incentives passed this year – and some federal policy changes – could be a sign of what’s to come. An official announcement of the project could happen as soon as this month. 

WWNO and WRKF’s Coastal Desk Reporter Michael McEwen has been following the developments. He joins us now for more. 

“He Has the People: Abraham Lincoln and the Election of 1860” is a new book that offers a retelling of one of the most important moments in American history. The story dives into the drama of the race and how Lincoln outmaneuvered his competitors.

The book was written by LSU’s Jonathan Earle, professor of History and African American Studies. He joins the show to discuss his work. 

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

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

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

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

Tuesday, August 11, marks 10 years since a series of storms dumped torrential rainfall over 21 Louisiana parishes. Over the course of a few days, the floodwaters rose, inundating homes and displacing thousands of residents. The Baton Rouge area was particularly hit hard by what the National Weather Service called a 1,000-year flood.

Last week, Louisiana Public Broadcasting released a documentary special, “The Great Flood of 2016: 10 years later.” 

Christina Jensen, co-host of LPB’s “Louisiana: The State We’re In,” worked on this documentary project. She spoke with WRKF’s Adam Vos for more. 

As we continue to mark the 10th anniversary, the East Baton Rouge Library is hosting a series of events to remember the damage, devastation and impact. 

It gets underway Monday night with a presentation of oral histories collected from people who lived through the storm. 

Library Coordinator for Special Projects Brandon Reilly tells us more. Then, flood survivor Terry Newby-Mearidy shares her story. 

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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!

There’s a storm coming, but this time, it’s headed to Sesame Street. With extreme weather becoming more common, Sesame Workshop recently launched a new initiative to help children and families prepare for and cope with natural disasters. And this initiative kicked off with a storm-themed Sesame Street special, which premiered on PBS Kids and Netflix earlier this month.

Rocio Galarza, Vice President of U.S. Educational Programs for Sesame Workshop, tells us more about this initiative and the special, “Storm on Sesame Street.”

Throughout August, the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency is highlighting the importance of increasing donor registration. They’re particularly focused on expanding a diverse donor registry to increase the chances that those in need can receive vital organs.

Dr. Anil Paramesh, professor of surgery, urology and pediatrics and division chief and director at the Tulane Transplant Institute and medical director of the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency, tells us more about the importance of a diverse donor registry. 

When you were a kid, did summer reading feel like a chore? Many kids don’t read enough and are behind when they go back to school. Researchers call it the summer slide.

The Gulf States Newsroom’s Aubri Juhasz’s reports on a way to make reading more fun — a book club. 

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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!

It’s Thursday and that means it’s time to catch up on the week in politics with Stephanie Grace, editorial director and columnist for The Times-Picayune/The Advocate. Today, we hear how New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno is taking on the city’s budget crisis. 

In late July, the American Red Cross declared its second-ever blood supply crisis after donations fell to a four-year summer low. The Red Cross is limiting distribution of Type O blood to hospitals, saying they only have a one-day supply of the blood type. In Southeast Louisiana, hospitals are feeling the impact.

Mandi Johnson, community engagement director for LifeShare Blood Center, tells us more. 

A recent Mother Jones investigation into the for-profit hospital operator, American Healthcare Systems, found the company has been sinking hospitals into financial ruin, leaving unpaid bills, firing staff and shrinking departments while its CEO splurged on personal expenses. This comes just a year after a similar investigation found Steward Health Care, another for-profit health system, guilty of similar crimes.

Hannah Levintova and Ashley Cleek investigated American Healthcare Systems for Mother Jones. They join us with their findings.

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

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

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

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

The Louisiana v. Callais Supreme Court decision ruled that states cannot draw congressional maps based on race. This caused ripple effects throughout the Gulf South, and voting rights organizations across Mississippi rallied to hold People's Hearings on redistricting.

The Gulf States Newsroom’s Maya Miller traveled to Southaven, Mississippi — a suburban community bordering Memphis, Tennessee — to hear what residents there are saying.

This Friday (Aug. 7), The Historic New Orleans Collection will open a multi-day experience focused on sacred objects, or things that are used for religious purposes or represent a faith tradition, or a spiritual or sacred concept. It’s part of their annual event, the Antiques Forum.

Amy Williams, HNOC’s Manager of Programs, tells us how the world of antiques intersects with religion-related relics. 

Nicholls State University in Thibodaux is working on ways to make a Master of Education degree more accessible, specifically for working adults and distance learners. The degrees will be particularly targeted towards higher education administration. 

Leah Peterson, assistant professor of education and coordinator of Nicholls State’s Higher Education Administration program, joins us with more. 

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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!

On Louisiana Considered, we’ve been discussing the non-disclosure agreements, or NDAs, that have become commonplace in Gov. Jeff Landry’s administration. 

The Gulf States Newsroom reported earlier this year that at least 50 elected officials signed NDAs with Louisiana Economic Development related to large-scale industrial projects.

Yesterday on the show, we heard how some of these NDAs extend to the governor’s office, and include the governor himself. 

Today, Gulf States Newsroom reporter Drew Hawkins joins us to break down his reporting and what these NDAs reveal about the current administration.

A new study out of the Collaborative Data Analysis and Dillard University reveals that children living in areas with higher industrial pollution exposure have higher rates of learning disabilities. This comes after years of concerns for children who are raised near petrochemical facilities, specifically in the state’s industrial corridor known as Cancer Alley. 

Alison Cohen, Assistant Professor of  Epidemiology & Biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco, and Juliet Nussbaum, project epidemiologist from Dillard University, join us for more.

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

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

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

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