Nearly a century before Venture Global began building a massive liquified natural gas export terminal there, Port Sulphur got its start, as a company town. But when the company was finished, it took down much of the town with it. Environmentalists and economists see parallels today. They warn that Venture Global’s operation could again extract heavily […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Judge temporarily blocks construction of Phase III jail facility
A hearing on Wednesday will look into whether the Cantrell administration violated the city’s charter by allocating capital money to jail without City Council approval
Posted inCriminal Justice
After America Street, let’s work toward solutions.
Last month, three children were killed in a house fire, in a blaze apparently begun by their father. The incident strengthened our resolve to expand local efforts and to tap into more resources to prevent and address family violence. Dr. Trashanda Grayes, who has a doctorate in psychology and human behavior, is the Executive Director […]
Posted inSchools
District: New Orleans school-closure announcements delayed
The planned Nov. 14 announcements hinged on a Nov. 1 release of state A through F letter grades, which have not yet been issued, NOLA Public Schools officials said.
Posted inBehind The Lens
Behind the Lens episode 219: ‘A community that depends on us’
This week on Behind The Lens, a historic drought at the root of ‘superfog’ causing a massive wreck on I-55 and small non-profit news outlets, like The Lens, speak up in the ever-changing media landscape.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Jackson Parish holding pre-trial youth in unlicensed juvenile jail
Despite lacking a required DCFS license, Jackson’s detention center is housing kids awaiting adjudication — and collecting roughly $200 a day per kid from surrounding parishes
Posted inEnvironment
Threats facing fragile lower Mississippi river delta to be addressed – and possibly mitigated – by five-year, $22 million research consortium
Tulane University and Louisiana State University will lead the Mississippi River Delta Transition Initiative – working with researchers from the National Academies’ Gulf Research Program, six HBCUs, four Southern universities and two Louisiana marine-focused nonprofits – to ‘navigate the challenges of sea-level rise, erosion and shifting river dynamics’
Posted inOpinion
Proposed cuts to City Year program would do most harm to at-risk kids in under-resourced schools
“You can teach me stuff like vowels, words, and reading. You can teach me how to be calm.” With that, City Year’s work in Louisiana was perfectly summed up by a first grader. Each year, thousands of City Year AmeriCorps members – also known as student success coaches – embrace this unique role in 29 […]
Posted inBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens episode 218: ‘They need stability … this does not bode well for that’
This week on Behind The Lens, a $9.5 million private security contract for Louisiana youth prisons raises eyebrows.
Posted inEnvironment
Historic drought at root of ‘superfog’ and massive I-55 wreck
The combination of fog and thick smoke may return this weekend, as a peat fire in remote New Orleans East swamp burns underground. Unlike the fire in Lafitte, which is actively being battled by firefighting crews, the Orleans blaze is largely unchecked. But it’s now watered by two pumps from the Sewerage & Water Board pouring the equivalent of two Olympic-size pools a day into the marsh.