News

WWNO — New Orleans Public Radio took home eight awards this past weekend at the Press Club of New Orleans’ 56th Annual Excellence in Journalism Awards Gala, sweeping the radio category.

Winning entries ran the gamut from in-depth radio features to arts and culture réportage and an innovative promotional campaign, showcasing the extraordinary range and depth of WWNO’s commitment to telling the stories of New Orleanians and all the people of Southeast Louisiana.

Did you know that Louisiana is home to a variety of rare animals? There are about 1,300 endangered species in the United States. More than 30 of them are native to Louisiana. Animals such as the Red Wolf and the Loggerhead Sea Turtle thrive in Louisiana’s subtropical climate.

Unfortunately, some of these species are almost extinct. The Louisiana Black Bear and the Gulf Sturgeon, for example, are now struggling to survive because humans have disrupted their habitats.

Raising awareness about native endangered species is the first step to ensuring their survival.

Summer is in full swing, but that doesn't mean New Orleans schools are not on the minds of many people. As the city continues to reform and reshape public education, WWNO seeks to highlight teachers who bring unique talents and perspectives to their work. We'll feature one such educator each month.

Glenda McQueen teaches AP language at New Orleans Charter Science & Mathematics High School. She strives for true intellectual growth in her students.

Voices of Educators is supported by Entergy.

A drive kicks off this week to ban smoking in New Orleans bars.

Councilwoman Latoya Cantrell is backing the idea. She says the change would benefit local businesses.

“This has been going on across the country for over a decade now," she said. "And so we have real facts that it is not a negative impact on our businesses. Actually revenues increase. And it’s cheaper to maintain a bar or lounge that is smoke free than one that is not.”  

Cantrell says the effort will begin at various venues this week that are now voluntarily smoke-free. 

New Orleans has lost one of its oldest jazz musicians. Lionel Ferbos passed away Saturday — two days after he turned 103 years old.

This week on Le Show, Harry Shearer presents a song of Mr. Goldman to Mr. Sachs, News of Secrets, News of Inspectors Generals, News of the Warm, News of the Atom, the Apologies of the Week, Reads the Trades, and more.

Annual arts and culture celebration relocates to WWII Museum

This week on Continuum, Milton Scheuermann plays early dance music from the CDs A Dance in the Garden of Mirth by The Dufay Collective (Chandos CHAN 9320) and Istanpitta II by New York Ensemble for Early Music (Lyrichord LEMS 8022).

The LSU AgCenter fosters agricultural, engineering and scientific programs across the state. On this week's Louisiana Eats!, we go across the state to hear how Ag agent Grace Peterson is connecting Shreveport residents with regional food.

We'll also cultivate tomatoes with Bobby Fletcher near the Mississippi River and float downstream with Dr. John Bell to learn how the Louisiana oyster can help rebuild coastal wetlands. We travel from the Gulf of Mexico to Shreveport's urban farms on this week's Louisiana Eats!

Natural gas is abundant and relatively cheap along the Gulf Coast, since it's drilled nearby. It's also the key ingredient in producing methanol.

Methanol is a chemical that is used to make plywood, foam, paints, adhesives and other common household products. South Louisiana Methanol is slated to be the biggest plant to make it. The final hurdle to business was finding a local natural gas provider.