Top Story Archives | The Lens

Oily gunk from Roseland explosion flows towards Lake Pontchartrain

by Delaney NolanSeptember 2, 2025September 3, 2025

A mix of chemicals released by the explosion are being carried by the Tangipahoa River and could enter the local food chain, experts fear.

‘Even in decay, life continues.’

by Gus BennettAugust 29, 2025September 3, 2025

Cubist-style illustration of Jon Batiste playing piano, surrounded by New Orleans jazz motifs and climate imagery including a blazing sun, musical notes, and factory smoke.

‘It’s a warning, set to a dance beat’: Jon Batiste on his new song urging climate action at Katrina20

by Mark Hertsgaard, The GuardianAugust 28, 2025September 5, 2025

A ‘college for all’ push thrived in New Orleans after Katrina. It wasn’t for everyone

by Sarah CarrAugust 28, 2025September 5, 2025

A collapsed wooden house, known as the “Noah’s Ark House,” with its roof torn away and walls buckling, stands abandoned in overgrown grass under a clear blue sky.

FEMA failures in Katrina aftermath serve as stark warning for today’s FEMA cuts

by Delaney NolanAugust 27, 2025September 5, 2025

Hoping to distract displaced Katrina children with cameras, she ended up launching a nonprofit

by Kelly Dorsey ParkerAugust 27, 2025September 5, 2025

New Orleans was not disposable after Katrina; its children are not disposable now

by Cierra ChenierAugust 27, 2025September 5, 2025

The long arc of John McDonogh Senior High School

by Marta JewsonAugust 26, 2025September 5, 2025

Shakur Trammel second lines across the St. Claude lift bridge during the Big 9 Second Line in New Orleans in 2024. Trammel, wearing a light gray suit, matching hat, and tie, leads the way with spirited dance steps as a diverse group of participants follow, capturing the tradition and vibrancy of one of the city’s cultural celebrations. The event took place on the historic bridge under a bright sky, showcasing both the movement of the parade and the surrounding community energy.

Threatening the bridge that defines the Lower 9

by Tess RileyAugust 26, 2025August 27, 2025

Rust and corrosion threaten levee steel pumps and supports

by Delaney NolanAugust 26, 2025August 26, 2025