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.
Support for the Gulf States Newsroom comes from WBHM, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, NPR, the Commonwealth Fund, the Public Welfare Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation. To learn more about the Gulf States Newsroom, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.
The Regional Team:
Priska Neely, managing editor based at WBHM in Birmingham
Rashah McChesney, senior content editor based at WBHM in Birmingham
Orlando Flores Jr., digital editor based at WWNO in New Orleans
Stephan Bisaha, senior reporter covering wealth and poverty based at WBHM in Birmingham
Kat Stromquist, senior reporter covering justice, incarceration and gun violence based at WWNO in New Orleans
Joseph King, sports and culture reporting fellow based at WBHM in Birmingham
Drew Hawkins, health equity reporter based at WWNO in New Orleans
Danny McArthur, environmental justice reporter based in Tupelo
Maya Miller, community engagement reporter based at Mississippi Public Broadcasting in Jackson
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Gulf South oyster reefs are fading because of the changing climate. Alabama hopes to reverse this by using recycled shells to grow oyster gardens.
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Like many in the Gulf South, Will Burt’s power bill spiked in January due to extreme weather. But how much of the increase can be attributed to the cold?
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Kat Stromquist speaks with author Lydia Pelot-Hobbs to discuss the history of Louisiana’s mass incarceration problem and efforts to push back against it.
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Ramon Vargas discusses his reporting on clergy abuse in the Archdiocese of New Orleans for The Guardian, and survivor Aaron Hebert tells his story.
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As the climate changes, some Gulf South producers are focusing on ways to preserve the land.
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The "pattern or practice" investigation into the Lexington Police Department stems from allegations of excessive force, racist roadblocks and more.
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Krewe da Bhan Gras has been a hit on the parade route this Carnival season as the latest example of Mardi Gras’ diverse, inclusive nature and its evolution.
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Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama have opted out of the USDA’s Summer EBT program, but advocates say the need is far greater than one program.
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Some advocates said the law’s requirement of an hour-long training on working with people with “invisible” disabilities and sensory needs is a good start.
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Losing his brother to an overdose inspired Jacob Bassin to arm his fellow medical students with free doses of Narcan and train them on how to use it.