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Join Keith Spera and his guest, legendary Meters bassist - George Porter Jr.

Today on Louisiana Considered, we’ll find out what Donaldsonville area residents think about the new Hyundai steel plant. We also get an update on the Louisiana Music and Heritage Experience in New Orleans, and hear the latest on teacher stipends.

Today on Louisiana Considered, we hear from three current and former LSU students who investigated the killings of two Black World War II veterans in Louisiana more than 70 years ago. We also dive into an executive order to protect data centers, despite concerns for ratepayers, and catch up on the latest news in Acadiana.

The late tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins was one of the premier players in jazz. Rollins has been a favorite of both fans and critics, traversing bebop and cool with a strong melodic sound. The calypso rhythm that Sonny Rollins captured on one of his best-known tunes, “St. Thomas,” comes from family life. Sonny’s parents were natives of the Virgin Islands. Sonny was born Walter Theodore Rollins in 1930 and grew up in Harlem. His brother and sister were classically trained musicians, but Sonny turned to jazz early, and by his twenties, he was playing tenor sax with top jazzmen like Bud Powell, Miles Davis, and Thelonious Monk. By the late 1950s, Sonny Rollins had a long list of recordings to his name. Many are still classics today, including Saxophone Colossus, Tenor Madness, and Freedom Suite. Sonny Rollins’s music ranges from social statements to sweet remakes of popular songs. He absorbed it all in his youth: the sounds of his neighborhood, the radio and movies, and the music in his household.

Today on Louisiana Considered, we hear about new proposals to fix New Orleans’ outdated stormwater drainage system. We also measure the success of economic development in the state’s industrial sector, and hear about a discussion on Huey Long’s political legacy at the state capitol.

Today on Louisiana Considered, we dive into the implications of the indictment of Attorney General Liz Murrill. We also hear from one of the three judges recently let go from the Orleans Parish criminal court bench, and learn how an Alabama town is cheering on their hometown hero in his World Cup debut.

Baton Rouge guitarist, harp player and singer Kenny Neal is a second-generation leader in the city’s blues scene, born into a family of ten children. Kenny’s father Raful Neal was a noted harmonica player, influenced by Little Walter and played in a local band with Buddy Guy. Raful Neal’s friend Slim Harpo gave son Kenny Neal his first harmonica at age three. Kenny started playing bass for his father at thirteen and went on to Buddy Guy’s band. Later, he recruited his siblings to form the Neal Brothers Blues Band. In 1989, Kenny recorded a breakout swamp blues LP Big News from Baton Rouge for Alligator Records. His fine guitar work and harmonica, as well as authoritative voice, carried him forward making sixteen more records. Kenny carries on the Baton Rouge blues tradition. Let’s go to to the Juke Joint stage at West Baton Rouge Parish Museum with Kenny Neal.

On this week’s edition of Le Show, Harry brings us regular features like ICE, ICE Baby, Bomb Iran, News of Forever Chemicals, News of the Warm, What the Frack?!, News of the Godly, News of A.I., and The Apologies of the Week. He also considers Donald Trump’s visit to Turkey, a ruling handed down by The Federal Trade Commission, and the future of Greenland.

Today on Louisiana Considered, we learn how a Baton Rouge community fridge is keeping fresh food available all summer long. We also break down the weeklong New Orleans celebration of spirits, Tales of the Cocktail. And we discuss the life and legacy of state Senator Larry Selders, who died recently.

Today on Louisiana Considered, we learn about plans for an expansion of what’s already a massive data center in Richland Parish. We also dive into efforts to preserve a local War of 1812 battlefield, and we hear about a local Bastille Day celebration.