Nick Chrastil and Katy Reckdahl on a court of appeals' ruling in favor of three young Black men stopped by security district officers. Marta Jewson on a new sunshine law. The post Behind the Lens episode 246: ‘unreasonable doubt’ appeared first on The Lens.By Behind The Lens

What's been happening with WVU Men's Basketball in the last three months? Let's get caught up on everything. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up on what's next. @smokingmusket and @imjoshwhitt Read the blog at thesmokingmusket.com and join the free Discord (https://discord.com/invite/2KBEVkpppa). If you’re interested in sponsoring Unreason…

Delaney Dryfoos and Katy Reckdahl on Formosa's proposed plastic complex in St. James Parish. And Greenfield's retreat from its plans for an $800 million grain terminal. The post Behind the Lens episode 247: ‘Cumulative emissions’ appeared first on The Lens.By Behind The Lens

Nick Chrastil on "extreme" conditions incarcerated people face at David Wade Correctional Center. Marta Jewson on a judge's order that will give Kennedy High School seniors who endured a graduation scandal their day in court. And Delaney Dryfoos on what a 'D' for New Orleans' water system means for residents. The post Behind The Lens episode 245: ‘…

Nick Chrastil on changes that have resulted in thousands of Louisianans losing food stamps and a new state law that threatens thousands more. And Delaney Dryfoos on spring flooding in the Midwest and how it can benefit Louisiana. The post Behind The Lens episode 244: ‘More and more extremes’ appeared first on The Lens.…

Nick Chrastil on a judge's order to the Dept. of Corrections requiring a plan to protect Angola inmates working the Farm line in blistering heat. Delaney Dryfoos on the The Sisters of the Holy Family nuns who are working to build a solar-powered microgrid resilience hub for their neighbors in New Orleans East. The post Behind The Lens episode 243: …

La'Shance Perry, Nick Chrastil and Katy Reckdahl on the jail exceeding its population cap and Angola prisoners still forced to work the fields in extreme summer heat. The post Behind The Lens episode 242: ‘Extreme heat and dirty water’ appeared first on The Lens.By Behind The Lens

Mizani Ball on the historical and ongoing struggle for civil rights in New Orleans and how its expressed through music in the city. Katy Reckdahl on a teacher accused of restraining a student been involved in a similar incident 8 years ago, raising concerns about background checks into school personnel. The post Behind The Lens episode 241: ‘Radica…

Special guest writer Lolis Eric Elie on local civil rights pioneers who are being to replace the current street names, including his father, Lolis Edward Elie. The post Behind The Lens episode 240: ‘An enduring insult’ appeared first on The Lens.By Behind The Lens

Nick Chrastil on an eye-popping State Police contract The Lens had to sue to obtain. It's been one year since JPSO shot and killed Calvin Cains III and his family is suing for body camera footage. And a redesign of City Park could disrupt Grow Dat Youth Farm. The post Behind The Lens episode 239: ‘It’s unconscionable’ appeared first on The Lens.…

Nick Chrastil and Katy Reckdahl on a bill that would provide funding to build new local juvenile-detention faciilites. Marta Jewson and La'Shance Perry on the Living School's final days as it prepares to close its doors. The post Behind The Lens episode 238: ‘Juvenile Jails’ appeared first on The Lens.…

Marta Jewson on Lycée Français charter school's teachers union victory. And Delaney Dryfoos on both industry and activists taking aim at the EPA. The post Behind The Lens episode 237: ‘A union victory’ appeared first on The Lens.By Behind The Lens

Sara Sneath on LSU's unusual relationship with the oil and gas industry. Marta Jewson on Lycée Français charter school's union drive. The post Behind The Lens episode 236: ‘An energy company deciding subject matter’ appeared first on The Lens.By Behind The Lens

If Lil' Wayne is right when he said that "Real G's move in silence like lasagna", does that make Darian DeVries a Real G? Has Nelson Hernandez wrote the online blueprint for all future WVU coaches that don't have a past WV connection? Should any bad NBA head coach be a reason no one should ever bring a child into this world? Follow us on Twitter ak…

This week on Behind The Lens, Sara Sneath on a Louisiana law that allows carbon capture well sites to remain unknown under a "trade secret" exception and Nick Chrastil on state legislation that could cut food stamps for thousands. The post Behind the Lens episode 235: ‘One step behind Exxon’ News Update appeared first on The Lens.…

Ethan Bock (@ethanbock_) from WV Sports Now and The Portal Report returns to the podcast to discuss the craziness that is the 2024 D1 Basketball Transfer Portal, what he's learned about new WVU Head Coach Darian DeVries in his three weeks on the job, and what the Mountaineers could have in store this offseason. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay ca…

La'Shance Perry on St. John Parish's vote on rezoning for Greenfield. Delaney Dryfoos on Gov. Landry's Task Force for Sewerage and Water Board. And Katy Reckdahl on union organizing at Tulane University. The post Behind The Lens episode 234: ‘Rabble-rousing at the Big Green’ appeared first on The Lens.…

Smoking Musket Contributor Andy Facemire (@StatsBoyAndi) returns to the podcast to give some final thoughts about the 2023-24 season, discuss the hire of Darian DeVries, and compare what's transpired in the last 11 months to the hypothetical timeline where the events of last May and June don't happen. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up on…

Delaney Dryfoos on St. John the Baptist Parish's voted to allow heavy industrial uses on the parish’s rural West Bank after years of contentious debate. Nick Chrastil on Gov. Jeff Landry's seismic changes to the criminal justice system. The post Behind The Lens episode 233: ‘A Black hamlet’ appeared first on The Lens.…

Darian DeVries has been officially announced as the Non-Interm Head Coach for WVU Men's Basketball! What are the parallels between this hire and the hire for this job in 2002? How many times has Drake made the NCAA Tournament in 118 years? How is this hire being received by WVU fans and nationwide? Let's react in an Emergency (good kind for a chang…

How do you treat the schools coached by the potential next Mountaineer coach in your brackets? Will there be more WVU wins this season or attempted 2-point shots by Jack Gohlke? If you're not winning the tournament, do you at least want to play against the all-time leading scorer in college basketball history? Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay cau…

Lens reporters on the Louisiana Public Records Act and how it helps us fulfill our mission. We reflect on how records made possible reporting on Henry Montgomery, a graduation scandal at Kennedy High School and the uncovering of the state's decision to send kids in juvenile detention across state lines. The post Behind The Lens “Sunshine Week” epis…

Wren Baker wished Coach Eilert and staff the best in their future endeavors as soon as they got to Morgantown early Wednesday morning. Now WVU is looking for their 5th non-interim head coach since 1978. Wren says he's got a giant spreadsheet. I've put together a spreadsheet as well, but way smaller, way dumber, and with shakier math. Who does my sp…

Should a Kobe snarl really change the momentum of a game that much? Can you thank everyone involved with the program after a 9-23 season? (Spoiler Alert: You absolutely can) Which season is definitively the worst WVU basketball season of the 21st Century? Let's answer these questions and more after WVU's season ending loss to Cincinnati in Kansas C…

With a season like this, is it impressive that the 1st time you noticed the team check out of a game was in the regular season finale? Who has finished last the most times in the Big 12 since WVU joined the conference? What do the individual stats say at the end of this season?Let's answer these questions and more after WVU's blowout loss to Cincin…

Katy Reckdahl and La'Shance Perry on the loss of musician Kerry "Fatman" Hunter. Marta Jewson and Dr. Ashonta Wyatt on the district's decision to open a direct-run school at Lafayette. The post Behind The Lens episode 231: ‘We cannot allow it to fail’ appeared first on The Lens.By Behind The Lens

Are you tired of former Mountaineers coming back to the Coliseum and leaving victorious? If the only thing I told you was that a basketball team shot 62% from the field in a half and they were winning, how big of a lead would you think that team had? Did a post-game press conference interaction define the 2023-24 season? Let's answer these question…

Was the 1st half of this game the 1st half you expected in the Iowa State game? Would Raequan have been able to make his 2nd half dunk on an 11 foot rim? How does Trusting the Climb fit in with the search for the permanent head coach? Let's answer these questions and more after WVU's Overtime loss at Kansas State. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay…

Did you think this game was going to follow the script of WVU's last road trip? Do we know the 4 teams that will be playing in the 1st Round games in Kansas City? What if this was a podcast about WVU Women's Basketball? Lets answer these questions and more after WVU's loss at Iowa State. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up on what's next. …

La'Shance Perry on the Krewe of Choctaw's harmful portrayal of culture to those of Choctaw heritage. Delaney Dryfoos on stepped up Carnival recycling efforts this year. And Nick Chrastil on gun arrests during Mardi Gras and concerns about racial profiling. The post Behind The Lens episode 230: ‘It’s easy to get lost in the fun of Mardi Gras’ appear…

Does WVU have a better chance of beating Central Florida if Jesse Edwards is available and Raequan Battle doesn't get ejected and the game in is Morgantown instead of Orlando? Should Central Florida make any decision other than letting Johnny Dawkins be their head coach for the long term? Wren should WVU fans be worried about the AD opening in Miss…

After giving a status update on the season following a home loss to Baylor, ChatGPT (@ChatGPTapp on X) joins the podcast to give its thoughts on the worst WVU basketball season in my lifetime, how to overcome a lack of offensive rebounding and forcing turnovers, and its choice on who would win a basketball coaching competition based on their name a…

With seven games left, Coach Eilert needs to pull everything out of the file cabinet. Let's get weird. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up on what's next. @smokingmusket and @imjoshwhitt Read the blog at thesmokingmusket.com and join the free Discord (https://discord.com/invite/2KBEVkpppa). If you’re interested in sponsoring Unreasonable D…

WVU lost to Texas by 36 points. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up on what's next. @smokingmusket and @imjoshwhitt Read the blog at thesmokingmusket.com and join the free Discord (https://discord.com/invite/2KBEVkpppa). If you’re interested in sponsoring Unreasonable Doubt, please reach out to us at contact@thesmokingmusket.com. We apprec…

Nick Chrastil on Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams's decision to work closely with newly elected Governor Jeff Landry’s office, despite his progressive campaign promises. Aidan McCahill on New Orleans water bills, some of the highest in the nation, and seniors who are feeling the pinch. The post Behind The Lens episode 229: ‘Backtrack…

What are your chances of winning if one guy on the other team has a career night scoring and another guy on the other team has a career high in assists? Is it a good thing when there are multiple similarities to your program and DePaul? If you have one winning season at Mississippi Valley State, are you a top coaching candidate in the country? Let'…

Marshland restoration is underway in Barataria Basin. Lafayette Academy families are still trying to catch their breath after the district told them their school would close — and then reversed its decision. A parade celebrating Martin Luther King Jr., returned to its historic route on St. Claude Avenue this year. The post Behind The Lens episode 2…

What did you think was going to happen when the 7-13 team was down 10 with 6 minutes left? What were the 3 plays in a row late for WVU that broke their way? What does Jonathan Hargett do when WVU gets their 8th win in a season? Let's try to answer those questions and more after West Virginia's win over Cincinnati. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay…

Should your point guards have double the rebounds of the centers? What should the goals be for WVU with 11 games left? Can you take pride in being someone's "Bad Loss" on their NCAA Tournament Bid Resume? Let's try to answer those questions and more after West Virginia's loss to Oklahoma State. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up on what's…

Nick Chrastil on The Lens' lawsuit against the state Office of Juvenile Justice for public records related to its $9.5m emergency staffing contract. And author Matthew Kincaid joins us to talk about his new book: Freedom Teaching. The post Behind The Lens episode 227: ‘There’s no real public oversight’ appeared first on The Lens.…

Are there levels to a basketball player having an "off-night"? Have you been able to pinpoint why the Big 12 Men's Basketball commercial bothers you? Will there be a better chance for a road win than the next game? Let's try to answer those questions and more after West Virginia's loss to Central Florida. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught u…

Can you start talking about this game before talking about what the WVU Women's Basketball team is doing (Spoiler Alert: I cannot)? How did we get to this version of Pat Suemnick in 18 games? What does the rest of WVU's schedule have to do with Chuck Woolery? Let's try to answer those questions and more after West Virginia's upset win over Kansas. …

How do teams go into the intimidating environment that is the Noble Center and win? When's the last time WVU Men's Basketball has went this late into the season without winning two games in a row? Can WVU win two games in a row this season? Let's try to answer those questions and more after West Virginia's loss to Oklahoma. Follow us on Twitter aka…

Who did you say led WVU in scoring? Who did you say led WVU in rebounding? Who did you say led WVU in steals? Let's talk about the recipe for WVU's win over Texas. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up on what's next. @smokingmusket and @imjoshwhitt Read the blog at thesmokingmusket.com and join the free Discord (https://discord.com/invite/2…

Nick Chrastil on the federal consent decree guiding the jail's construction of a facility called Phase III. Terry Jones from Floodlight on carbon capture and sequestration in the state. The post Behind The Lens episode 226: ‘The means to fight this’ appeared first on The Lens.By Behind The Lens

I can confirm that I sounded crazy laying out a highly optimistic path to 9-9 in conference play. This game tried to break my optimism, but it only changed from short-term optimism to long-term optimism. Let's talk about the mindset change and more after WVU's loss at home to Kansas State. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up on what's next…

Is knowing what the score of the game is a big ask for an ESPN+ broadcast? Was there anything of redeeming value that you can take from the game if you're WVU? Do you sound crazy, especially after that game, when you lay out a highly optimistic path to 9-9 in conference play? Let's answer these questions and more after WVU's blowout loss at Houston…

Did I have to eat my words about Pat Suemnick? Is getting more time with the referees during a game broadcast enhance your viewing experience? With the Big 12 schedule approaching, what is the good news and bad news about WVU's draw? Let's answer these questions and more after WVU's overtime loss to Ohio State in Cleveland. Follow us on Twitter aka…

Delaney Dryfoos on new land growing along Louisiana's coast. Sara Sneath on Venture Global's tax incentives in Plaquemines Parish and parallels to the mining town of Port Sulphur. The post Behind The Lens episode 225: ‘If there’s an accident, it’d be hard to evacuate’ ‘ appeared first on The Lens.By Behind The Lens

After channeling Tim Tebow, I make statements regarding the prospects for the rest of the season after WVU falls to Radford at home. These statements were made with my actual feelings on a 4-7 start and where WVU finds themselves and in no way can be used as a reverse jinx. Reverse jinxs are not a thing, just like basketball curses are not a thing.…