Drew Hawkins
Public Health Reporter, Gulf States NewsroomDrew Hawkins is the public health reporter for the Gulf States Newsroom, a collaboration among public radio stations in Louisiana (WWNO and WRKF), Alabama (WBHM) and Mississippi (MPB-Mississippi Public Broadcasting) and NPR. He covers stories related to health care access and outcomes across the region, with a focus on the social factors that drive disparities.
Before joining the team, Drew freelanced for multiple outlets including The Guardian, Scalawag Magazine, Louisiana Illuminator, Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting, LitHub, and others.
Drew was born in Lafayette, grew up in LaPlace and moved to Ponchatoula after Katrina. He studied creative writing at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA), and earned degrees at LSU in Baton Rouge. In short, he is a proud product of South Louisiana.
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An investigation from the Gulf States Newsroom found that trucks contracted to work at the Meta facility are causing delays and dangerous roads in Holly Ridge. -
National Nurses United has been negotiating new staff contracts with UMC administrators since March 2024. This is the fifth strike in just over a year. -
Undue Medical Debt partnered to pay off debts for more than 123,000 people across Orleans Parish. Now, the nonprofit warns that the issue could soon get worse. -
A new Commonwealth Fund report paints a stark picture of how Medicare is serving older adults and people with disabilities in the Gulf South. -
After weeks of confusion over vaccine guidance, new federal recommendations say COVID-19 vaccines are available for everyone over 6 months. -
Both the U.S. and the Netherlands wrestle with the politics of drug use, but their approaches diverge in key ways that reflect deeper ideological divides. -
Unclear rules and inconsistent interpretations of federal and state COVID-19 vaccination rules leave families confused and vulnerable patients unprotected. -
As temperatures in New Orleans continue to increase because of climate change, air conditioners struggle to keep up, driving up utility bills. -
Smith has partnered with Clark for the Ready to Rescue initiative, stopping at college campuses across the country for short talks and hands-on training. -
In Mike Johnson's district, not only could thousands of Louisianians lose coverage, health centers are bracing for a financial hit. They're hoping for additional funding to make up for Medicaid cuts.
