How a house built with public funds for affordable housing became a $500-a-night Airbnb
The house was moved from the site of the VA hospital, torn down at its new location and then replaced.
Category
Investigations
In-depth reporting that uncovers the truth behind complex issues affecting New Orleans and beyond. This category features stories grounded in evidence, accountability, and public interest—where photography and journalism come together to reveal what’s often hidden in plain sight.
Personalized learning: The little-noticed educational experiment in New Orleans schools
Personalized learning is transforming schools in the Crescent City, but what does that mean for students? Some educators support the philosophy but worry it’s causing kids to spend too much time learning alone in front of a screen.
New Orleans City Council opens investigation into campaign to pay actors to support power plant
The investigation will "dig as deep as humanly possible" into the astroturfing campaign, said Council President Jason Williams.
Entergy acknowledges astroturfing campaign for power plant, but says it didn’t know about it
The company said it has ended its relationship with The Hawthorn Group. It hired Crowds on Demand, which hired the actors.
Actors were paid to support Entergy’s power plant at New Orleans City Council meetings
Dozens of people in orange shirts showed up at meetings to support Entergy's new power plant. But for many of them, it was just an acting gig. They were paid to show up and speak on the company's behalf. The Lens interviewed a few of them and reviewed messages outlining the astroturfing effort.
Why it took more than a decade to finally demolish derelict Claiborne Avenue apartment building
With friends in high places, the Rev. Charles Southall evaded seizure and auction of the property, which he claimed he would rehabilitate through tax breaks and government grants for affordable housing.
Opponents say Entergy’s proposed power plant is an old-fashioned solution in search of a problem
Entergy says a new plant can handle periods of unusually high demand, and it will protect against a catastrophic situation in which the city can't get power. Energy experts and opponents say the company's argument doesn't hold up, and it has an incentive to build new facilities rather than improve transmission reliability.
A vital port for the nation’s oil and gas industry is on its way to becoming an island.
Nearly 20 percent of the nation's oil and gas passes through Port Fourchon, accessible only by a battered, two-lane road. With the Gulf of Mexico rising and wetlands crumbling, it's on the way to becoming an island.
For years, defense lawyers told judges that New Orleans prosecutors were using fake subpoenas. Nothing happened.
Some have asked how Orleans Parish prosecutors used fake subpoenas for so long with no repercussions. We found several instances in which lawyers protested their use in court, but nothing happened. The practice stopped only when it was made public.
Lawyers say shooting victim was coerced with a fake subpoena into talking to police
They contend the defendant should get a new trial because the DA didn’t disclose two fake subpoenas and other evidence.
