Too many local news outlets have disappeared in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. The Gulf States Newsroom was created to ensure that stories related to health care, criminal justice, the economy and other important issues continue to be told. WWNO and WRKF in Louisiana, WBHM in Alabama, Mississippi Public Broadcasting, and NPR are working together as a regional newsroom to plan coverage, share resources and add reporting power in a story-rich region that has for too long gone under-covered.
The Gulf States Newsroom thanks those who make our work possible through their support, including: the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, NPR, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The Commonwealth Fund, Moises Itzkowich Foundation, Theresa McDonald, the Trust for Civic Life, Advancing Democracy, Haberman Foundation, WWNO, WRKF, WBHM, MPB, and individual donors from our region and across the country. To learn more about the Gulf States Newsroom, or to support our work, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.
The Regional Team:
Ryan Vasquez, acting managing editor based at WWNO in New Orleans
Orlando Flores Jr., deputy managing editor based at WWNO in New Orleans
Tanya Ott, news editor based at WBHM in Birmingham
Drew Hawkins, senior reporter covering public health & special projects lead based at WWNO in New Orleans
Nellie Beckett, community engagement producer based at WBHM in Birmingham
Elise Catrion Gregg, community engagement reporter based at MPB in Jackson
Aubri Juhasz, communities and families reporter based at WWNO in New Orleans
Joseph King, sports and culture reporter based at WBHM in Birmingham
Maya Miller, democracy and government reporter based at MPB in Jackson
Marci Schramm, development director based at WWNO in New Orleans
Andrea Miller, business manager based at WBHM in Birmingham
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Records show Landry personally executed a "Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement" in April 2024 with Laidley LLC, the data center subsidiary of Meta Platforms. -
Legal experts warn that the NDAs could create a culture of fear and chill employees’ constitutionally protected speech. -
The Gulf States Newsroom’s Joseph King went to a few games at the 76th annual Choctaw Indian Fair to report on one of the oldest sports in the nation. -
The parents of Nolan Wells, who was found dead on Horn Island in Mississippi, held a funeral for the 18-year-old on Monday. Wells was with friends for the Fourth of July and did not return home. -
Nearly everything costs more this summer, from groceries to gas. But families still need childcare or just want to send their kids to camp. -
Gov. Jeff Landry announced the updated plans, framing it as validation of an economic development strategy he's pursued aggressively since taking office. -
A new study analyzed nearly 12,000 calls to the Louisiana 988 helpline and found suicide-related calls rose sharply following unusually hot nights. -
The Jackson County Sheriff's Office said the investigation remains "active and ongoing" and is asking for photos and videos from the northwest part of Horn Island on July 4, where Wells' body was found. -
New Orleans public schools were among the most improved in the state, extending the district’s upward trajectory. -
Whether Essence Fest is changing or simply growing depends on who you ask. The Gulf States Newsroom's Tanner Riley attended the 2026 festival. Here's what he saw.
