This week on Behind The Lens, New Orleans is considering a proposal to adopt “smart city,” which it says will help close the gap on the digital divide. But some privacy advocates are concerned.

The 2022 city budget could have parity for the first time between the DA and Public Defender’s offices, which Jason Williams had advocated for during his campaign for Orleans Parish District Attorney. At a budget meeting this week, now-DA Williams indicated that he may have had a change of heart. And there was a high profile no-show at another budget hearing.

The Louisiana Department of Education and NOLA Public Schools want to exit a consent judgment they’ve been operating under for more than six years, but the Southern Poverty Law Center doesn’t think they’re ready. And we will discuss the controversy surrounding the proposed new names for Lusher Charter School.

Our guests this week are reporters Marta Jewson, Nicholas Chrastil and Michael Isaac Stein.

Behind The Lens is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. And we broadcast the show on community radio stations 102.3 FM WHIV LP and 90.3 FM WAMF-LP.

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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...