Behind The Lens episode 122: ‘We just didn’t know if it was crazy, or if it was going to do what we hoped’

New district warnings issued to New Orleans schools for policy violations. Vaccinations at the city jail. And new research finds that the city's approach to COVID testing equity was a success.

This week on Behind the Lens, COVID cases continue to decline in local schools but recent vacations and the rise of the B.1.1.7. variant nearby has officials watchful. And two New Orleans schools are given warnings from the district alleging policy violations. 

The Tulane School of Public Health and the New Orleans Health Department published a report this week detailing what they are touting as a successful COVID testing procedure this past spring and giving detailed data about who got tested and where.

About a quarter of New Orleans jail detainees have been vaccinated thus far, but there are still questions about the vaccine rollout there. 

Our guests this week are education reporter Marta Jewson, health reporter Philip Kiefer, 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.