Behind The Lens episode 126: ‘We’ve rocketed past the tragedy stage and are just squarely in the farce stage now’

A less-than-perfect financial audit for the city's school system. A prisoner is paroled after 47 years, then the state rescinds its decision. And the New Orleans City Council will return to the chamber after a year of virtual meetings.

This week on Behind the Lens, a financial auditor for the Orleans Parish School Board outlined several problem areas for board members at a meeting earlier this week. 

A longtime Angola prisoner faces revocation of his parole after an alleged drug overdose.

And the New Orleans City Council returns to in person meetings later this month, with caveats.

Our guests this week are education reporter Marta Jewson, criminal justice reporter Nick Chrastil, government and cultural economy 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 Rovira has been in media for 35 years, and is currently the podcast host and producer for Behind The Lens. Heldman served as executive director at Aspen Public Radio, an NPR affiliate, where she launched four weekly news, public affairs, and cultural affairs programs. She has been a guest lecturer at Tulane University, is a frequent guest and moderator for the Aspen Institute, Rocky Mountain Institute, and the American Enterprise Institute.