Behind The Lens episode 258: ‘Floodplains’

Delaney Dryfoos and Eric Schmid on new insurance models Mississippi River towns are leaning on. Nick Chrastil on juveniles leaving the Jackson Parish Jail.
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This week on Behind The Lens, since it first opened its doors last year, the Jackson Parish jail has flouted state-licensing laws for juvenile detention facilities. It’s been consistently accused of abusing and neglecting kids in its custody,  but that will soon end for some, as OJJ has terminated its contract with the Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office starting almost immediately.

The central U.S. is emerging as a new flash flooding hotspot, and with that comes more disaster damage. Mayors of cities along the Mississippi, Missouri, and Arkansas Rivers are trying to come up with some innovative new insurance models that are designed to rapidly fund emergency response after natural disasters such as flooding.

Our guests this week are Lens reporters Delaney Dryfoos, Nick Chrastil, and guest, Eric Schmid, reporter at St. Louis Public Radio.

Theme music by Podington Bear. Additional music We Make a Good Team 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.