The Lens this week produced a photo essay of readers enjoying their Monday and Tuesday papers, something they won’t be able to do when The Times-Picayune stops publishing those days and two others sometime this fall. Like a lot of ideas in this town, the photo essay was born on a front porch over an […]
Author Archives: The Editors
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Network's budget hearing set for Thursday
The Capital One – New Beginnings Charter School Network is holding a public hearing on the budgets for its four schools Thursday at noon. A quick overview of the budgets can be seen below. We apologize for the quality; we’re working to get a higher-quality and more detailed set of budget documents. The two-hour hearing […]
Posted inSchools
Not so fast on superintendent, one peeved board member says
By Jessica Williams, The Lens staff writer | While Orleans Parish School Board President Thomas Robichaux has made his pick for the system’s interim superintendent clear, at least one board member disagrees and plans on offering other candidates. Thomas Robichaux said Thursday night that he’s going to nominate Stan Smith, the district’s chief financial officer, […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Land Use
City contractor accused in kickback deal is set to plead guilty and is cooperating
As expected, a one-time city contractor facing federal charges in a Nagin-era kickback scheme is cooperating with investigators and is set to plead guilty next week, according to his attorney and U.S. Attorney Jim Letten’s office. Earl Myers, who ran Myers & Sons and Excel Development contracting services, stands accused of collecting more money than […]
Posted inInvestigations
Lens honored with top award for reporting on story about struggling 9th Ward homeowner
The Lens has been honored as the best online news operation for audio investigative reporting in a four-state region by the Radio Television Digital News Association. The Lens received the 2012 regional Edward R. Murrow first-place award for our story on the struggles of one 9th Ward homeowner, Kisa Holmes. The story documented Holmes’ struggles […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
The Lens honored for reporting on medication of juvenile inmates across state facilities
By Maggie Calmes, The Lens staff writer | The Lens criminal justice reporter Matt Davis returned last week to his hometown of Croydon, South London – but not before receiving laurels from the National Council on Crime and Delinquency. Davis received a 2011 Prevention for a Safer Society Award from the organization for his story […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Land Use
Because of Winn-Dixie: City lets grocery add vehicle crossing over pedestrian greenway
Click to enlarge. The city has agreed to let Winn-Dixie cross the proposed Lafitte Greenway in one direction, from the mail lot into the satellite lot, despite objections from greenway supporters. Map courtesy of Google Maps. By Ariella Cohen and Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writers | Over the objections of Lafitte Greenway advocates, Mayor Mitch Landrieu […]
Posted inOpinion
Looking past gaffes in 'czar' Blakely's memoir of Katrina recovery
A crowd tags along on one of the bicycle tours of city neighborhoods that were a signature of Blakely’s tenure as recovery czar. (photo: Karen Gadbois) By Jed Horne, The Lens news editor | It’s too bad that Ed Blakely’s book about his two years as New Orleans “recovery czar” is so full of sloppy […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Investigations
One homeowner’s travails: Even after more than six years, family can’t move back into "new" house
Thinking her bank had her best interests at heart, one woman paid off her mortgage with insurance money, and started down a tortuous bureaucratic road.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Park regulations that got Occupiers evicted are little known and rarely enforced
By Benjamin Leger, The Lens contributing writer | Every morning in New Orleans before the sun comes up, runners wind their way through the city’s public parks, getting in their miles before heading to work. Most of them probably don’t know they are breaking city law. The city’s parks and public spaces are closed from […]