Skip to content

Focused On

  • Katrina20
  • Justice
  • Living with Industry
  • NOLA Public Schools

Main Navigation

The Lens
  • Subscribe
  • ❤ Donate
The Lens
  • Subscribe
  • ❤ Donate

Focused On

  • Katrina20
  • Justice
  • Living with Industry
  • NOLA Public Schools

Topics

  • Criminal Justice
  • Environment
  • Government & Politics
  • Land Use
  • Schools

Sign Up for the Latest News

  • The Lens Newsletter
  • About The Lens
  • Our Staff

Follow The Lens

  • Bluesky
  • Instagram
  • Facebook

Listen to Behind The Lens Podcast

  • Spotify
  • Katrina20
  • Criminal Justice
  • Schools
  • Opinion
  • In the N.O.
  • Environment
  • Podcast
  • About The Lens
  • Support Us

Author: Philip Kiefer

Who benefits from TOPS? It just became harder to know.

February 2, 2023 Updated February 3, 2023
The program’s need-blind structure means that the most disadvantaged students are hit hardest by reductions.

What we know about how schools collect COVID data and make quarantine decisions

October 12, 2021 Updated October 12, 2021
The NOLA Public Schools district recently criticized a state policy loosening school quarantine guidelines for unvaccinated contacts.

‘We can’t depend on the government’: Mutual aid groups work to fill needs for immigrant communities after Ida

September 28, 2021 Updated September 28, 2021
With FEMA cash aid limited to certain groups, grassroots organizations have mobilized to fill unmet needs.

Ineligible for federal aid, ‘unqualified’ immigrants in disaster zone face enormous barriers to recovery

September 22, 2021 Updated September 23, 2021
FEMA provides cash aid only to citizens and ‘qualified immigrants,’ a category that doesn’t include undocumented people, many on temporary visas or DACA recipients.

RTA Union president alleges retaliatory firing over hurricane hazard pay

September 14, 2021 Updated September 14, 2021
Valerie Jefferson says she was fired after asking about an agreement the union inked with the agency for hurricane pay. The RTA denies she was fired for her advocacy and says RTA workers will get the extra pay.

Governor Edwards suspends evictions until Sept. 24

September 7, 2021 Updated September 7, 2021
Housing advocates asked Edwards to suspend proceedings in the wake of Hurricane Ida last week.

Gatherings, evacuations during and after Ida worry epidemiologists as COVID delta surge continues

September 6, 2021 Updated September 9, 2021
State shelters are performing COVID tests. But testing is currently scarce in the city.

Where to get tested for COVID post-Ida

September 5, 2021 Updated September 13, 2021
A number of healthcare centers in the area were temporarily closed this week. But some have restarted testing services.

Health care: Updates on hospital power and what’s open

September 3, 2021 Updated September 5, 2021
What we know about available resources as of Friday, Sept. 3.

After FDA approval, no plans to call for student vaccine mandates at New Orleans-area school districts

August 24, 2021 Updated August 25, 2021
The Louisiana Department of Health sets statewide school immunization requirements, but districts can request permission to include additional vaccines for their students. As of Tuesday, St. Tammany, Jefferson, St. Bernard and NOLA Public Schools have no plans to make that request.

Posts navigation

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 7
  • »

About The Lens

The Lens fights to reveal and report on issues that impact the community and the region. Staunchly defending the public's right to know and deeply committed to sharing our knowledge with the community at large. We center human impact in all our work.

Support The Lens

We depend on your support. A generous gift in any amount helps us continue to bring you this service.

Donate Now

Newsletter

Sign up

Most Popular

Smoke and mirrors in cannabis zoningSmoke and mirrors in cannabis zoningSeptember 30, 2025Betty DiMarco and Lane TrippeGovernment & Politics
FCC postpones long-awaited rules reducing ‘outrageous’ prison and jail phone rates, leaves families paying moreFCC postpones long-awaited rules reducing ‘outrageous’ prison and jail phone rates, leaves families paying moreOctober 1, 2025Bernard SmithCriminal Justice
Data centers spark fears of a 'Digital Cancer Alley' in LouisianaData centers spark fears of a 'Digital Cancer Alley' in LouisianaSeptember 25, 2025Gus BennettEnvironment
The Lens
The Lens fights to reveal and report on issues that impact the community and the region. Staunchly defending the public's right to know and deeply committed to sharing our knowledge with the community at large. We center human impact in all our work.
  • Bluesky
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
INN Member LION Member
© 2024 The Lens. All Rights Reserved.

Our reporting has more urgency than ever.


For more than a decade, we have reported on issues as well as public policy meant to address the needs of residents. The Lens seeks to focus on the inherent inequality that has created a multi-tiered system. We, at The Lens seek to uncover, illuminate, inform and take part in a forward-looking community. Join us.

 
 

Continue to The Lens