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Backpacks, masks and temperature checks: NOLA Public Schools’ youngest students return to the classroom
Twelve New Orleans public schools are reopening for in-person classes this week. Students have been at home since March.
Recent Posts
Behind The Lens episode 99: This is the way we go to school
Colleges and elementary schools are back in session. Wait, why is that news? Oh right.
Broken air conditioner delays Bricolage Academy students’ return to campus
District and school officials said ventilation components of the HVAC system were not part of the problem. The building is properly ventilated, they said. It’s just too hot.
OPSB rolls forward property tax rate, adopts new process for charter approvals
In COVID-19 update, officials say that about 38 percent of students have opted to stay home.
‘I couldn’t sleep’: Unemployment recipients shocked by overpayment notices as LWC admits error
The agency is working to fix the issue, after incorrectly telling some 7,600 clients they would have to pay back thousands of dollars in overpaid benefits.
New Orleans City Council passes restrictions on police use of tear gas
Under ordinance, tear gas can be used only to prevent loss of life, injury or to dislodge a barricaded violent suspect. It’s not yet clear how the department will interpret the language in policy.
Convention Center has spent nearly $50 million from reserves to keep operations going
Tax revenues for 2020 now expected to be less than half what officials estimated in 2019 due to collapsed tourism industry.
Resources
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Coronavirus guide
Latest coronavirus news from The Lens, updated restrictions and links to available resources.
opinion
The Real Name Campaign: Trans-led group fights for accessible ID changes
The Real Name Campaign plans to elevate its fight to advocate for accessible, more expansive gender marker changes by taking on the DMV and the state of Louisiana
No place for intimidation and fear: Tenants’ rights must be protected, especially during economic crisis caused by COVID-19
“We will not be intimidated by any attempts to keep tenants from learning critical information regarding their protection.”
With no jobs out there, how do you expect us to live, Senators?
The refusal to renew the federal compensation, leaving it at the state limit of $247 per week, would be unconscionable and would push thousands of people in Louisiana into hunger and homelessness.
Black Lives Matter: How should Asian Americans answer the call?
“Asian Americans have stood on the sidelines and watched as Black Americans are murdered for too long. We exculpate ourselves because we only passively witness racism by others, failing to admit that we are just as responsible as the perpetrators themselves because we do nothing to stop it.”
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.