Behind the Lens episode 246: ‘unreasonable doubt’

Nick Chrastil and Katy Reckdahl on a court of appeals' ruling in favor of three young Black men stopped by security district officers. Marta Jewson on a new sunshine law.
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On this week’s episode, a panel of judges at the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals found that the explanations of two security-district officers who stopped three young Black men searching for a missing dog in Uptown lacked the specifics needed for a legal stop.

And the U.S. Court of Appeal told the state Department of Corrections that it must comply with an earlier district-court order to “correct the glaring deficiencies in their heat-related policies” for workers forced to do agricultural labor at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.

And finally, Louisiana law now requires that notices of public meetings be sent in advance to anyone who asks, representing a victory for community members including some New Orleans charter school parents.

Our guests this week are Lens reporters Nick Chrastil, Marta Jewson and managing editor Katy Reckdahl. 

Theme music by Podington Bear. Additional music Azzmash Reflash by Podington Bear soundofpicture.com. 

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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.