This week on Behind The Lens, charter schools are publicly funded but privately run.  And New Orleans is a heavy adopter of the model. It’s poised to become the first major city in the nation without any traditional, district-run schools.

But certainly, not all charter schools are making the grade. Several of them in New Orleans are closing their doors this summer. Education reporter Marta Jewson spoke with parents and teachers who are already bracing for the impact as part of her ongoing series “Class Dismissed,” on school closures in New Orleans.

New Orleans’ City Planning Commission on Tuesday approved the language for a much stricter regulatory regime for short term rentals.  The amendments now go to the City Council for a final decision. Michael Isaac Stein talks about the meeting, which he covered for The Lens and WWNO-FM in a new reporting partnership.

And, many of the most popular items on our website are opinion columns — and for good reason. The Lens offers a powerful platform for stakeholders who want to debate pressing issues, both local and global. Editor Jed Horne spoke with us this week about opinion writing on The Lens.

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