Climate-weary Mississippi River delegation lobbies for help in D.C.
Mayors from Louisiana and advocates from the Water Collaborative, Healthy Gulf, 1Mississippi, and the National Audubon Society asked Congress to invest in better water infrastructure and increase federal funding for farmer-led conservation.
Recent Posts
Peanut in Limbo
Big 6 Brass Band leader Thaddeus “Peanut” Ramsey has been stuck in Bermuda for nearly a year, fighting an invisible adversary: possible criminal charges. “If it’s something illegal, we should know that by now,” said his cousin, tuba player Walter Ramsey.
New Orleans criminal-justice leaders grapple with entering the Landry era
Sheriff Hutson says increased jail population, addition of juveniles, could exacerbate staffing issue to “unmanageable levels.”
Join us March 21 to learn how to find public records related to criminal justice
The event will take place from 6 to 7:30 on Thursday, March 21, at Propeller.
Fatman Set the Pace
Grammy Award-winning snare drummer “Fatman” Hunter, who was killed by a car on Mardi Gras morning and laid to rest today, spoke his mind and created a distinct second-line groove.
Keeping a Lid on Carnival Trash
They put out recycling bins and picked up cans during and after parades. In the end, this group of plucky nonprofit groups, with support from the city’s Recycle Dat! initiative, tripled the recycling totals for Uptown parades, diverting an impressive amount of trash from the River Birch landfill.
Civil Rights Icon in a Gown
In 1966, Karen Becnel made civil-rights history, as the first Black Carnival queen to be presented at Municipal Auditorium – a place where her grandfather had helped to dress the kings of the traditional old-line krewes like Rex and Comus.
PODCAST
Behind The Lens “Sunshine Week” episode 232: ‘It’s so powerful to see’
Lens reporters on the Louisiana Public Records Act and how it helps us fulfill our mission. We reflect on how records made possible reporting on Henry Montgomery, a graduation scandal at Kennedy High School and the uncovering of the state’s decision to send kids in juvenile detention across state lines.
opinion
Senate Bill 3 most likely to affect teens charged with petty crimes.
The Louisiana legislature is poised to pass Senate Bill 3, which would lower the age to criminally prosecute children as adults to seventeen. This move will exclude all 17-year-olds from the juvenile justice system, no matter what they’re accused of. Issues such as a school-yard fight or shoplifting — while by no means trivial — …
After America Street, let’s work toward solutions.
Last month, three children were killed in a house fire, in a blaze apparently begun by their father. The incident strengthened our resolve to expand local efforts and to tap into more resources to prevent and address family violence. Dr. Trashanda Grayes, who has a doctorate in psychology and human behavior, is the Executive Director…
Proposed cuts to City Year program would do most harm to at-risk kids in under-resourced schools
“You can teach me stuff like vowels, words, and reading. You can teach me how to be calm.” With that, City Year’s work in Louisiana was perfectly summed up by a first grader. Each year, thousands of City Year AmeriCorps members – also known as student success coaches – embrace this unique role in 29…
Revolutionary History: Lost and Found, and Lost Again
How the Desire Street “Panther mural,” painted in 1970 to chronicle Black history for residents of the Desire housing development, met its end.
About the Lens
The Lens aims to engage and empower the residents of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. We provide the information and analysis necessary to advocate for more accountable and just governance.