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Behind The Lens

This category offers reflections, artist notes, and behind-the-scenes insights from our photographers and reporters’ perspectives—revealing the thought, emotion, and intention behind the images that define their work.

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Double the capacity, double the bill: Meta and Entergy announce a plan to build 7 new power plants for AI data centers in LA.

In this episode of Behind The Lens, host Carolyne Heldman Rovira interviews journalist and policy advisor Ned Randolph, to unpack a major energy and infrastructure development that could reshape Louisiana’s future.
by Carolyne Heldman April 3, 2026 Updated April 4, 2026

The day of reckoning: The Supreme Court will soon decide if oil companies have to pay for damage to the LA coast. 

In this episode of Behind The Lens, host Carolyne Heldman speaks with investigative reporter Emily Sanders to unpack decades of coastal damage linked to oil and gas activity, and the growing question of accountability.
by Carolyne Heldman March 28, 2026 Updated March 28, 2026

Getting Squeezed: How the wars in Ukraine and Iran are affecting the pocketbooks of LA citizens

Reporter Delaney Nolan discusses how attacks on energy infrastructure drive up the price for U.S. liquified natural gas exports.
by Carolyne Heldman March 13, 2026 Updated March 15, 2026

Beads Won: Politics in Mardi Gras parades

Delaney Nolan discusses the anti-ICE paraders during Mardi Gras.
by Carolyne Heldman February 27, 2026 Updated February 27, 2026

Innovative or Ill-Advised?: A NOLA addiction doctor leaves after her novel approach raises questions at her hospital

Aneri Pattani from KFF Health News talks about Elyse Stevens, who was a primary care and addiction medicine doctor in New Orleans.
by Carolyne Heldman February 20, 2026 Updated February 24, 2026

23 & 1: Solitary confinement in LA prisons is on the rise; also local churches provide shelter and power during outages using solar

Bernard Smith on the dangers of solitary confinement and Delaney Dryfoos on resiliency hubs.
by Carolyne Heldman February 13, 2026 Updated February 27, 2026

A town on the brink of extinction: Modeste is facing an acute concentration of industry as a proposed new development threatens to engulf it

Delaney Nolan on the town of Modeste and a new giant industrial park planned for the area.
by Carolyne Heldman February 6, 2026 Updated February 24, 2026

Emboldened: LA lawmakers ask FDA to restrict abortion meds nationally

Marta Jewson on one year of Act 246, the Louisiana law that locked up life-saving maternal medication. Elise Plunk on a suspended LNG permit that was reissued in Cameron Parish.
by Carolyne Heldman January 16, 2026 Updated January 17, 2026

Instability is the word of the year for one local school

Delaney Nolan on exit bonuses for voluntary deportation promised by the Department of Homeland Security. Marta Jewson on the fate of The Leah Chase School.
by Carolyne Heldman January 9, 2026 Updated January 9, 2026

An Oil Well in Reverse: Smitty’s hopes to inject liquid waste into a landfill in Jefferson Parish

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality allows the operator of Smitty’s to dump pollutants from its recent explosion deep into a Jefferson Parish landfill. Plus, NOLA Public Schools improves, getting a B from the state.
by Carolyne Heldman November 21, 2025 Updated December 3, 2025

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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.
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