Gulf States Gumbo

There’s a shortage of specialized nurses who play a critical role in providing care to sexual assault survivors. Particularly in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. They are called sexual assault nurse examiners — or SANEs. Our health equity reporter Drew Hawkins explains that one potential solution is to use telemedicine — but it’s currently not available in the Gulf South.Also, Louisiana has a long history with the French language. And while most Louisianans no longer speak it, a growing number want their kids to learn. The question is: what kind of French? WWNO’s Aubri Juhasz takes us to a school down the bayou that’s taking a novel approach — by teaching students to talk like their grandparents. And we check in on the Cookie Inflation Index. This week’s gem – Mt Fuji in Tupelo, Mississippi. To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.

Carnival in New Orleans started Monday, less than a week after a man drove his truck into crowds on Bourbon Street, killing 14 people and injuring dozens more. While the city is in mourning, WWNO’s Aubri Juhasz reports that New Orleans still plans to party on schedule.And our health equity reporter, Drew Hawkins, lives in New Orleans and was one of the first to start reporting on what happened – talking to eyewitnesses, official sources, and reporting the latest information as we learned it. He spoke with our sports and culture reporter Joseph King about the day and how people in New Orleans are supporting each other. This episode is hosted by Joseph King and edited by Stephan Bisaha. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme.To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.

We’ve come to the end of another year and are looking back on 2024. It’s time for a Gulf States Newsroom tradition where the team reflects on moments that stick with them … whether or not they made it into the story. This week’s Gulf States Gem: Festivals to look forward to when the flowers start to bloom. This episode is hosted and produced by Managing Editor Tyler Pratt. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme.To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.

A new book argues that the roots of mass incarceration in Louisiana goes back to before The Civil War. Criminal justice reporter Kat Stromquist sat down with Louisiana State University Professor John Bardes to talk about his research. Also, sports and culture reporter Joseph King takes a look at Birmingham’s legendary Coach O who has inspired athletes from the WNBA to the NFL, on and off the field. This week’s Gulf States Gem: Pearl’s Diner in Laurel, Mississippi.This episode is hosted by community engagement reporter Maya Miller and edited by Stephan Bisaha. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme.To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.

It’s been a big year for unions in the South.If you’ve been following the labor movement in the region for more than a hot sec, then you know there just aren’t many union wins. Membership across the country was at a record low in 2023 and the numbers are even lower in the South. Yet 2024 saw a historic union victory in Tennessee that could reshape the future of labor across the region. We go on a roadtrip lookback at 2024’s union wins and losses before peaking ahead to what’s coming up in the new year. This episode is hosted and edited by managing editor Priska Neely, with help from Stephan Bisaha. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme.To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.

Traditionally, union strikes have lasted until their demands were met. But in the last decade, unions have taken a new approach to strikes — making them shorter. Economic mobility reporter Stephan Bisaha looks at a nurse’s union who went on strike for just one day.Also on this week' episode, sports and culture reporter Joseph King talks to transgender students who worry about their safety on college campuses and justice, incarceration and gun violence reporter Kat Stromquist looks into a new report that found Alabama leads the country in “pregnancy criminalization” cases.This week’s Gulf States Gem: Saltine Jackson in Jackson, Mississippi.This episode is hosted by community engagement reporter Maya Miller and edited by Priska Neely, with help from Stephan Bisaha. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme.To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.

Reporter Drew Hawkins takes over this week’s episode to share an excerpt of his new podcast. Bitter Jaguar: The Shooting of Denver Smith and Leonard Brown is a five-part series about the shooting of two Southern students during a peaceful protest on campus in 1972. Special thanks to the LSU Cold Case Project.Our theme music is by DJ Supreme.To get in touch with the Gulf States Newsroom team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.

This week, we're on the road in Alabama. Environmental justice reporter Danny McArthur looks at wastewater issues in the Black Belt, reporting that sanitation is a struggle for people who live in manufactured homes. And senior criminal justice reporter Kat Stromquist visits Birmingham and speaks to Black men's groups, who are responding to a year of deadly gun violence. Community engagement producer Nellie Beckett also highlights a few of our Gulf States Gems.This episode is hosted by Kat Stromquist and edited by Tyler Pratt. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme.To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.

When dock workers went on strike in October, many people rushed to panic buying. Senior economic mobility reporter Stephan Bisaha reports on the one thing people don’t have to rush to buy. And Eva Tesfaye with partner station WWNO reports on a community that’s fighting an upcoming grain elevator that could disrupt the majority Black neighborhood. This week’s Gulf States Gem: Red Bluff outside Morgantown, Mississippi. This episode is hosted by Danny McArthur and edited by Priska Neely. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme. To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.Read more: Here are 3 questions to ask before panic buying during a supply chain breakdownPort of New Orleans plans grain terminal in the Lower 9: 'It’s not going to be good for us'

Alabama has a new congressional leader — a Democrat. We learn more about this blue win in a red state. And we take a look at some of the food insecurity issues residents in the southern part of the state are experiencing. The Gulf States Newsroom presents an election week look back at our coverage of Alabama’s Congressional District 2. This week’s Gulf States Gem: Bacchanal Wine in New OrleansThis episode is hosted by sports and culture reporter Joseph King and edited by Tyler Pratt. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme.Read more:  Alabama finally has a new congressional map after a lengthy legal fight | Stephan Bisaha How Alabama food banks are keeping rural communities fed |Maya MillerTo get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.

The South is receiving hundreds of millions of dollars from historic lawsuits with opioid manufacturers and distributors. Some call it a once in a lifetime opportunity. This giant pot of money is meant to help heal the damage caused by the opioid crisis. But our health equity reporter Drew Hawkins reports that in Alabama, medication that can help treat addiction is out of reach for many who need it the most. Also, guaranteed income is having a moment in the South.  Cities have been test running giving people cash and now advocates are looking to turn that into permanent policies. We talk to WWNO’s Aubri Juhasz about how those recent pilots went and the movement’s future. Our sports and culture reporter Joseph King went to a local high school in Birmingham honoring one of their alumni who’s now a WNBA champion. This Week’s Gulf States Gem: Red Samurai, a sushi place in a gas station parking lot in Ridgeland, Mississippi.This episode is hosted by Stephan Bisaha and edited by Priska Neely. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme. To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.

In coastal Louisiana, an Indigenous tribe received their land back-- a sacred mound in Grand Bayou Indian Village, an hour South of New Orleans. But what does a Native American tribe do when their history is at risk of being washed away by climate change? Health Equity Reporter Drew Hawkins and Environmental Justice Reporter Danny McArthur teamed up for this double feature.This week’s Gulf States Gem: The Magic City Classic in Birmingham, Alabama.This episode is hosted by Maya Miller and edited by Tyler Pratt. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme. To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.

When a hurricane is headed your way, do you stay or go? Economic mobility reporter Stephan Bisaha stuck with one family from New Orleans who made the choice to leave and keep track of the costs. Also, criminal justice reporter Kat Stromquist examines the growing movement to end forced labor in prisons. This week’s Gulf States Gem: Harold & Lillian’s in Clermont Harbor, Mississippi.  This episode is hosted by health equity reporter Drew Hawkins and edited by Priska Neely. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme.Read more: 1 reason people don’t evacuate for hurricanes? Rising costs, and they’re getting pricier To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.

Gulf States Gumbo is your weekly serving of stories from Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana — cooked up by the Gulf States Newsroom. We'll bring you a mix of stories from our team of reporters and partner stations WBHM, WWNO, WRKF and Mississippi Public Broadcasting. New episodes every Friday starting October 18. Please subscribe and don’t forget to stir your roux!