Behind The Lens episode 170: ‘Accountability is not always an attack. And seeking transparency isn’t necessarily a witch hunt.’ 

The 'smart cities' controversy goes to court. Phase two of the Angola healthcare civil rights trial. And a state auditor finds that New Orleans schools have fewer certified teachers than others around the state.

On this week’s episode, an Orleans Parish judge denied the Cantrell administration’s attempt to block an ongoing investigation by the City Council into contract-fixing allegations.

A report by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor concluded that teachers in New Orleans schools are four times more likely to be uncertified compared to other teachers throughout the state. And the NOLA Public Schools district’s property insurance is going way up

A federal court judge began hearing arguments in the “remedy phase” of a trial over healthcare at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. The trial is a continuation of a seven-year-old federal class-action lawsuit filed by civil rights groups on behalf of all prisoners who are or will be incarcerated in the prison.

Our guests this week are Lens reporters Michael Isaac Stein, Marta Jewson, Nick Chrastil and editor Charles Maldonado.

You can also listen to Behind The Lens on Apple PodcastsSpotify and other services.

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 planning, research, branding, and non-traditional revenue generation. During her tenure she also created and launched four weekly news, public affairs and cultural affairs programs and monthly live Town Hall broadcasts. Heldman moved to New Orleans last summer with her husband and canine companion and they live happily in The Marigny.