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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.

Behind The Lens episode 194: ‘I became the pied piper: Folks can vote! Folks can vote!’

The Lens sits down with the VERA Institute of Justice and VOTE, Voice of the Experienced, to speak about the alleged exclusion of people with felony convictions from serving on juries in several Louisiana parishes despite a 2021 law change.
by Carolyne Heldman February 14, 2023 Updated February 14, 2023

Behind The Lens episode 193: ‘It really is kind of horrifying’

Reporter Nick Chrastil on the criminal court’s decision to halt jury trials and reporter Josh Rosenberg discusses “forever chemicals” found in the Mississippi River.
by Carolyne Heldman January 27, 2023 Updated January 27, 2023

Behind The Lens episode 192: ‘There’s a number of outstanding questions’

Producer Carolyne Heldman catches up with Criminal Justice Reporter Nick Chrastil.
by Carolyne Heldman January 20, 2023 Updated January 20, 2023

Behind The Lens episode 191: Looking forward to 2023

This week on Behind The Lens, reporters discuss what to watch for on the criminal justice, environmental and education beats in the new year.
by Carolyne Heldman January 6, 2023 Updated January 6, 2023

Behind The Lens episode 190:’A big one-time spending spree’

Reporter Nick Chrastil on the state's backlog of inmates awaiting transfer to the state's psychiatric hospital, Joshua Rosenberg on an ongoing Lake Maurepas project and Michael Isaac Stein how the city's managed its federal COVID relief funds.
by Carolyne Heldman December 23, 2022 Updated December 23, 2022

Behind The Lens episode 189:’It opens up this whole new dimension’

The city passed its annual budget — with the surprise addition of millions in one-time funds. More updates on Greenfield's proposed $400 million grain silo project and a federal judge denied the sheriff's request for a consent decree NDA.
by Carolyne Heldman December 13, 2022 Updated December 13, 2022

Behind The Lens episode 188: ‘If the city gets its wish’

Reporters discuss asthma-related health data, Orleans Parish Public Defender funding and potential New Orleans city charter changes in 2023.
by Carolyne Heldman December 5, 2022 Updated December 5, 2022

Behind The Lens Episode 187: ‘It looked like JPSO was digging up dirt on this teenager’

Reporter Nick Chrastil looks into the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office expansive requests for search warrants of a 16-year-old who died in custody. Reporter Michael Isaac Stein tells us about the New Orleans Office of Inspector General's plans for 2023.
by Carolyne Heldman November 18, 2022 Updated November 18, 2022

Behind The Lens Episode 186: ‘There was a real power struggle at the time’

Environmental reporter Joshua Rosenberg recaps a visit to Lake Charles where shrimpers and activists launched a flotilla outside an LNG conference. City government reporter Michael Isaac Stein recaps the new "Healthy Homes" ordinance and explains the charter change giving City Council more oversight over mayoral appointees.
by Carolyne Heldman November 11, 2022 Updated November 10, 2022

Behind The Lens Episode 185: ‘intended to inflict mental torture’

Nick Chrastil on "inhumane" conditions and mental health care services at David Wade Correctional Center. And Terry Jones joins us from Floodlight News to talk about abandoned well heads.
by Carolyne Heldman November 4, 2022 Updated November 4, 2022

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About The Lens

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