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In-depth news and investigations for New Orleans

Petrochemical industry in Louisiana plans a ‘defense’ amid growing opposition 

After residents of America’s ‘Cancer Alley’ in Louisiana put a national spotlight on their fight for a healthy environment, the state’s economic interests and petrochemical giants are backing the creation of a new “sustainability council” to counter grassroots activists, documents show.  In recent years, the activists have successfully fought construction of two multibillion-dollar plastics facilities…

Recent Posts

Requiem for a Big Man Gone

After playing a night of gigs – and maybe shooting a few games of pool – Jeffrey Hills Sr. walked into the door with his sousaphone slung over his shoulder, pulled on his plaid pajama pants with a muscle shirt, made himself a little snack and crawled under the covers. If that sleep was like…

Award-winning reporter Katy Reckdahl joins the staff of The Lens

Award-winning reporter Katy Reckdahl is a new staff writer with The Lens. Reckdahl was a staff reporter for The Times-Picayune and the alt-weekly Gambit before spending a decade as a freelancer, writing frequently for the New Orleans Advocate | Times-Picayune, The New York Times and the Washington Post. She’s received more than two-dozen first-place New…

PODCAST

opinion

The City Council must stand up for our neighbors and culture

As the artist Phlegm says, “Everything you love about New Orleans is because of Black people.” You can’t say you love and appreciate the culture we’re famous for while simultaneously hollowing out the Black neighborhoods responsible for it to serve wealthy tourists who call us “ghetto” and “sketchy.” Just check the Airbnb reviews in Central City or…

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.

Who’s Behind The Lens?

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