Louisiana Considered

WWNO/WRKF Newsroom
  • 5.0 (15)
  • DAILY NEWS
  • UPDATED DAILY

“Louisiana Considered” showcases South Louisiana's biggest stories and features interviews with journalists, newsmakers, and artists. The show is a collaboration between the WWNO and WRKF newsrooms.  Airs Monday through Friday at noon. 

  1. 23H AGO

    Gator hunting bill; former NOLA teacher now competitive para power lifting; La. Bucket Brigade's Earth Day fest

    Last week, a bill to establish a recreational alligator hunting season passed in the state senate. While Louisiana currently allows highly-regulated commercial alligator hunting, this would open up the activity to the general public. But some are concerned this could put the species back on the endangered list.Michael McEwen, reporter for WWNO and WRKF’s coastal desk, joins us with the latest. The 2026 Winter Paralympics wrapped up a few weeks ago, featuring Louisiana’s very own Brenna Huckaby. The paralympic snowboarder brought home a bronze medal, her fifth medal overall.  But Huckaby is not the only Louisiana athlete with a disability who has big aspirations. Back in 2021, New Orleans teacher Adam Sivia lost both of his legs in an accident. These days, he’s aiming to qualify for the Paralympics in 2028.  He joins us for more on his rehabilitation, recovery and connecting with other athletes with disabilities.  For years, the Louisiana Bucket Brigade tackled environmental issues. They’ve become known for their main effort: highlighting how petrochemical plants lead to pollution, land loss and illnesses within the communities they’re located in. Now, the organization is gearing up for an Earth Day event that pairs art and culture with environmental activism. The New Orleans Earth Day Festival returns to the Mid-City neighborhood in New Orleans on April 11th. The event is free and open to the public.  Louisiana Bucket Brigade director, Anne Rolfes, and development director Rene Ronquillo, join us for more on the organization’s mission and the upcoming event. __ Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Sara Henegan. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber and our assistant producer is Aubry Procell. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman. You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It’s available on Spotify, the NPR App, and wherever you get your podcasts.  Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you’re at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to. Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

    24 min

  2. 2D AGO

    Why controversial prosecutor may soon become Caddo Parish judge; history of WRBH, reading radio for the blind

    Louisiana prosecutor Hugo Holland has had a long and controversial career. He’s been accused of withholding evidence in death row cases, falsifying paperwork and racism. But that hasn’t stopped him from campaigning for a judge position in Caddo Parish. And according to recent reports, he’s the front runner. Richard Webster has been covering this story for Verite News and Pro Publica. He joins us today with more. Back in the 1970s, blind mathematician Robert McClean wanted more vision impaired people to have access to news and information. So he leased some airtime from WWNO, and began reading local newspapers over the radio. Years later, he purchased his own radio signal and established the first full-time reading radio station in the United States: WRBH.Years later WRBH is still operating, providing book and newspaper readings for blind audiences everywhere. Program Director at WRBH Del Agnew joins us with more on the history of the station and upcoming events.  The East Baton Rouge Public Defender has had an uncertain year in funding. They began the year taking a large cut from the parish’s 2026 budget. But the Metro Council recently allocated them $500,000.  WRKF Report for America corps member Alex Cox has more on the state of the office’s funding. — Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Karen Henderson. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We receive production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell.  You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It’s available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts.  Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you’re at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to. Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

    24 min

  3. 5D AGO

    Sea Change Live: The Future of Seafood

    For more than a century, the Gulf seafood industry has shaped towns, cultures, and identities along the coast. Yet, if you talk to almost anyone who works on the water, they’ll tell you the Gulf seafood story has changed more in the last 30 years than the hundred years before that. If you care about what’s on your plate, what happens to this coast, or what kind of future we’re leaving to the next generation of fishers and eaters, you’re in the right place. Today, Sea Change travels to the Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, for a lively live panel discussion about seafood. Host Carlyle Calhoun is joined by journalist Boyce Upholt, fisherman Ryan Bradley, chef Alex Perry, and off-bottom oyster farmer Matthew Mayfield to talk about the future of this rapidly changing industry.  ---Sea Change is a WWNO and WRKF production. We are part of the NPR Podcast Network and distributed by PRX. Sea Change is made possible with major support from the Gulf Research Program of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. WWNO’s Coastal Desk is supported by the Walton Family Foundation, the Meraux Foundation, and the Greater New Orleans Foundation.

    24 min

  4. 6D AGO

    Republican Senate primary; Tulane professor on war with Iran; how tax breaks incentivize tech giants to build in LA

    It’s Thursday, and that means it’s time to catch up on the week in politics with Stephanie Grace, editorial director and columnist for Times Picayune/The Advocate. Today, she discusses the latest in the Republican Senate primary and why there will likely be no debate between candidates. It’s been nearly a month since the United States and Israel launched a war with Iran, beginning with 900 strikes in just 12 hours and the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. This war comes despite President Donald Trump’s assurance to disengage from armed conflicts in the Middle East.  What’s unknown still is how long this war might go on, how many will lose their lives and what it will take to end it. Andrew Leber, assistant professor at Tulane University’s Department of Political Science and the Middle East and North Africa Studies Program, tells us more about the war and what he thinks it will take for it to end.  Many Louisianans are aware of the multi-billion-dollar Meta AI data center underway in Richland Parish. The facility is said to be one of Meta’s largest ever constructed.  But it’s not the only data center coming to the region – and massive tax breaks could give tech giants reason to keep building more. Sam Karlin has been covering this for The Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate. He joins us today for more. __ Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell. You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It’s available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts.  Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!  Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show.  And while you’re at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to. Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

    24 min

  5. 6D AGO

    Latest on TSA lines at MSY; energizing La.’s tech industry; LSU researchers combat microplastics

    Wait times at the New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport have been much longer than usual in recent weeks, especially during peak travel days. Some travelers have experienced hours-long delays, with lines stretching out of the building into the airport’s parking garage.  Aubri Juhasz has been covering this story for WWNO and WRKF. She joins with more. Nexus Louisiana has a lofty goal. The Baton Rouge-based startup accelerator wants to identify 1,000 founders of tech companies in Louisiana by the year 2035. Tony Zanders, president & CEO, Nexus Louisiana, joins us to share more about this organization’s mission to energize the state’s tech sector.  Later on the show, we’ll hear about a team of LSU researchers who are working on ways to get microplastics out of the environment.  The tiny pieces of plastics can be ingested and remain in our bodies for a long time. The LSU team recently found a way to physically “trap” microplastics in water using an eco-friendly foam. Graduate student and researcher Kennedy Guillot joins us with more. __ Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell. You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It’s available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you’re at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to. Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

    24 min

  6. MAR 24

    Baton Rouge police officers slated for raise; federal judge may dismiss 60-year-old desegregation order in Lake Charles

    East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sid Edwards wants to give employees at the Baton Rouge Police Department a raise. Edwards’ plan hopes to give sworn officers at least a 15% raise, non-sworn employees a 3.5% raise and the chiefs a 5.9% raise. But this still needs to be approved by the East Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council, which they will consider in an upcoming meeting. Report for America corps member Alex Cox joins us with more. Many Louisiana school districts are still under court-ordered desegregation plans dating back to the 1960s and 70s.  Under the second Trump administration, the U.S. Department of Justice has set out to dismiss desegregation cases across the country, and has already lifted at least two orders in Louisiana — in Plaquemines and DeSoto parishes.  Natalie McLendon is a freelance reporter in Southwest Louisiana who recently published a story in The Current about that school system’s still-open desegregation case. She spoke with WWNO’s and WRKF’s education reporter, Aubri Juhasz, for more. As Mississippi’s legislature debates how to spend opioid settlement funds, some of the voices missing from the conversation are people who have struggled with addiction. The Gulf States Newsroom’s Drew Hawkins held listening sessions and attended events, talking with people impacted by the opioid crisis. He asked how they think the state should spend the money. __ Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Sara Henegan. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber and our assistant producer is Aubry Procell. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman. You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It’s available on Spotify, the NPR App, and wherever you get your podcasts.  Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you’re at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to. Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

    24 min

  7. MAR 23

    Why curbside recycling may end in NOLA; new middle-grade novel explores coastal themes and Cajun heritage

    Curbside recycling in New Orleans may soon disappear. Mayor Helena Moreno floated the possibility of eliminating it as a potential cost-saving measure to help deal with a massive budget deficit. This is despite the fact that New Orleans was poised to participate in a universal recycling initiative, which would have been fully funded.  Katie Jane Fernelius has been reporting this story for Verite News. She joins us with more.  Louisiana author Rachel Marsh is coming out with her second middle grade novel. Titled, “Grandpere’s Ghost Swamp,” the story follows a 12-year-old girl who explores the bayou as a way to reconnect with her Cajun roots. The novel also focuses on coastal restoration, which continues to be a major issue in the state. Marsh tells us now more about her novel, and reconnecting to her Cajun heritage through her writing.  The Gulf South has some of the strictest laws when it comes to losing one’s right to vote and getting that right back. Some Mississippi lawmakers have been trying to change that for several years now in the state, but measures continue to fall through. The Gulf States Newsroom’s Elise Gregg takes a look at how that affects Mississippians and what could be next. — Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Karen Henderson. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We receive production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell.  You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It’s available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts.  Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you’re at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to. Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

    24 min

  8. MAR 20

    Morning Edition’s Diane Mack reflects on radio career; Louisiana’s first integrated high school sports game

    She’s been a part of thousands of listener’s mornings for more than three and a half decades. And now, Morning Edition host Diane Mack has decided to retire.  Diane joins us to reflect on her life and career. She tells us how she first discovered NPR, offers advice to the next Morning Edition host and shares her most memorable moments on air. It’s March Madness! The time of year when 68 men’s teams and 68 women’s teams compete to be the NCAA basketball champions.In honor of basketball fever, we’re going to look back at the history of the sport in our state. In 1965, high school sports in New Orleans were still segregated.  But a secret game played between Jesuit and St. Augustine changed everything. Laine Kaplan-Levinson recorded this story for the Tripod podcast. Today, we’ll give it a second listen. ___ Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Alana Schreiber. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. Matt Bloom and Aubry Procell are assistant producers. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman. You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It’s available on Spotify, Google Play and wherever you get your podcasts.  Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you’re at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to. Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

    24 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

“Louisiana Considered” showcases South Louisiana's biggest stories and features interviews with journalists, newsmakers, and artists. The show is a collaboration between the WWNO and WRKF newsrooms.  Airs Monday through Friday at noon. 

Information

  • Creator
    WWNO/WRKF Newsroom
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.2K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Louisiana Considered

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