This week on Behind the Lens, elementary and middle school students are back in class, but attendance continues to be a problem. Officials are asking the “village” to help get kids back to the books.

The city of New Orleans has filed a notice of appeal to the decision handed down last week on building the jail facility known as Phase III. 

The New Orleans City Council is moving forward on another moratorium on energy shutoffs as bills skyrocket for residents and commercial customers, and there’s an update on the new software the agency that runs the 911 and 311 systems is hoping to purchase.

Our guests this week are education reporter Marta Jewson, criminal justice reporter Nick Chrastil, cultural economy and government reporter Michael Isaac Stein, and The Lens editor, Charles Maldonado.

Behind The Lens is available on Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play and Stitcher. And we broadcast the show on community radio stations 102.3 FM WHIV LP in Mid-City and 90.3 FM WAMF-LP in the Marigny.

Carolyne Heldman

Carolyne Heldman has been in media for 35 years, most recently as Executive Director at an NPR member station in Colorado where she was responsible for new multi-platform content initiatives, strategic...