Skip to content

Read Our 2025 Impact Report

Focused On

  • Justice
  • Opinion
  • ICE in Orleans
  • In the N.O.
  • Lens Carnival Edition

Main Navigation

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

Focused On

  • Justice
  • Opinion
  • ICE in Orleans
  • In the N.O.
  • Lens Carnival Edition

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
  • Environment
  • Criminal Justice
  • ICE enforcement
  • Opinion
  • Schools
  • In the N.O.
  • Podcast
  • Lens Carnival Edition
  • About The Lens
  • Support Us

Category
In the N.O.

Orleans culture

Planting a flag in the Lower 9 ‘wilderness’

Every year on August 29 – the day that Katrina hit, in 2005 – Green’s family gathers by the place where his mom's house once stood, in shirts that read “Roof Riders." Then they walk the two-block route taken by the floating house, to the oak tree where it stopped.
by Katy Reckdahl February 1, 2025 Updated March 5, 2026

Embracing Katrina narratives

After an insinuation made by a Super Bowl planning committee, reporters from The Lens asked Lower 9 residents what Super Bowl visitors should see, plotted the points on a map, and documented the Katrina narratives that go with each landmark.
by Lens staff February 1, 2025 Updated March 5, 2026

Culturally rich, but unable to rebuild

The night before Katrina made landfall, artist Lionel Milton, who grew up in the Lower 9th Ward, suddenly decided to evacuate, after he experienced what seemed to be an omen.
by Mizani Ball February 1, 2025 Updated March 5, 2026

Losing a community pillar

On Sunday, at the Ladies and Men of Unity parade, an immense pillar of our city’s communal infrastructure collapsed, when Pableaux fell to the ground.
by Lolis Eric Elie January 28, 2025 Updated April 3, 2026

Raised on meat, but going meatless one day a week.

Meat connected my family and so many Black families across the South –  really across the world. Now, by embracing Meatless Mondays, I am weaning myself from it, for my health – and to help save Planet Earth.
by Trevon Cole, Lede New Orleans December 4, 2024 Updated December 4, 2024

Saving St. Louis No. 2 Cemetery from cars and longtime neglect

Though an SUV caused a recent injury to the historic burial ground, a preservationist found that the biggest risks to public safety in the cemetery came from some of its most magnificent structures: tombs built for now-dissolved society groups. Now, a five-generation master plasterer is determined to repair them.
by Jordan Hirsch December 2, 2024 Updated December 4, 2024

Stepping up for New Orleans workers, on Tuesday’s ballot

“People tell me they’re tired of working for minimum wage and not being able to afford the basics. Elected officials beg for their votes, promising this-and-that, and then disappear to serve the interests of the powerful.”
by Tasha Williams, of Step Up Louisiana October 31, 2024 Updated November 1, 2024

Louisiana is giving second chances to bad policy. It should be extending those second chances to our neighbors.

by Sarah Omojola August 1, 2024 Updated August 1, 2024

When the Village Fails

In the 10 years since George’s death, we have lost so many more in New Orleans to gun violence. Yet is we, the adults, who create the village, set the expectations, and weave the community safety net that keeps the young ones safe.
by Claudia Barker July 30, 2024 Updated July 29, 2024

Getting everyone’s input on City Park, our backyard

An online survey by the authors — local and national network of certified planners, architects, urban designers, and landscape architects — seems to indicate that outreach for City Park’s new Master Plan never happened, certainly not in any comprehensive manner.
by 150 signatories (see list at end of post) June 20, 2024 Updated June 20, 2024

Posts navigation

  • «
  • 1
  • …
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • »

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, we are deeply committed to sharing our knowledge with the community at large. We center human impact in all our work.

Our reporting has more urgency than ever.

Sign up to get the latest news on New Orleans and the Gulf South sent directly to your inbox.

 
 

Support The Lens

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

Donate Now

Most Popular

ICE field director faces contempt charges after twice disregarding judge’s ordersICE field director faces contempt charges after twice disregarding judge’s ordersAugust 18, 2026Delaney NolanICE enforcement
Meta hides data center info as it pushes more risks to Entergy’s customersMeta hides data center info as it pushes more risks to Entergy’s customersAugust 18, 2026Paul Arbaje, The EquationEntergy
While New Orleans invested in violence intervention, Baton Rouge made crippling cutsWhile New Orleans invested in violence intervention, Baton Rouge made crippling cutsAugust 13, 2026Sateria Tate-Alexander and Danny AllenCriminal Justice

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
  • About The Lens
  • Our Staff
  • Employment
  • Contact us
  • Corrections
  • Support The Lens
  • Get The Lens Newsletter
  • Privacy policy
  • Code Of Ethics
  • Republish our stories
Candid Platinum 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