Gulf States Gumbo

On this week’s episode, we hear from veteran journalist Jarvis DeBerry on the latest news coming out of the Gulf South.

DeBerry discusses the case of Calvin Duncan, and what it says about how Louisiana treats the people it has wronged, the Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, and what it could mean for voting rights across the region, and whether the Gulf South is once again leading a national reversal — ...

On this week’s episode, we celebrate both National Poetry Month (April) and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with Aimee Nezhukumatathil.

Nezhukumatathil, a professor at the University of Mississippi, is a poet, essayist and firefly guide for Mississippi State Parks.

She talks with the Gulf States Newsroom’s Elise Catrion Gregg about her latest collection of poems, “Night Owl.”

This ep...

On this week’s episode, we take a look at how the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran is affecting the Gulf South. 

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused the price of fuel and fertilizer to skyrocket. Senior reporter Drew Hawkins took a trip through the Mississippi Delta to talk to farmers about how rising costs are pushing many to the brink. 

This episode is hosted by Elise Catrion Gregg. The podcast is produced by Matt Blo...

On this week’s episode, we take a look at how Alabama stands as a possible model of voting restoration for Mississippi — and some of the challenges that Alabama residents say make it an imperfect system. 

Community engagement reporter Elise Gregg discusses how even in states where voting restoration isn’t as complicated, practical considerations still bar people from civic life. She also breaks down what people in Alabama a...

On this week’s episode, we’ll dig into Mississippi’s decisions on who gets opioid settlement funding — and who doesn’t. The state’s legislature has finally appropriated millions of dollars received as a result of lawsuits with opioid manufacturers, marketers and distributors.

Senior Reporter Drew Hawkins and Community Engagement Producer Nellie Beckett talked to hundreds of Mississippians with lived experience of ad...

This week’s episode is all about sports in the region — from a minor league team moving across state lines, to Name, Image and Likeness deals. 

The Birmingham Squadron recently played its last home game in the Magic City ahead of a move to Kenner, Louisiana — just outside of New Orleans — later this year. Sports and culture reporter Joseph King went to the team’s final home game in Birmingham to talk to fans about the move....

On this week’s episode, we look at the legal agreements elected officials in Louisiana are signing to conceal large developments — like data centers. 

Senior reporter Drew Hawkins takes us through his investigation, what he found and what it means for communities where large developments involving public money are planned without public knowledge. 

This episode is hosted by Elise Catrion Gregg. The podcast is produced by Dre...

On this week’s episode, we look into voting restoration efforts in Mississippi. 

Community engagement reporter Elise Gregg walks us through how disenfranchisement affects Mississippians with a felony conviction, how lawmakers are pushing for automatic restoration and how Mississippi compares to the rest of the Gulf South. 

This episode is hosted by Nellie Beckett, who is also our community engagement producer. The podcast is...

On this week’s episode, we take a look at some of the challenges farmers are facing in the Mississippi Delta.

Public health reporter Drew Hawkins sat down with Kevin Draper, a New York Times reporter, about what he learned talking to rice farmers in the region.

This episode is hosted by Ryan Vasquez. The podcast is produced by Matt Bloom, Elise Catrion Gregg, Drew Hawkins, Orlando Flores Jr. and Ryan Vasquez....

On this week’s episode, we take a look at liquified natural gas exports in the Gulf South. 

Public health reporter Drew Hawkins went to Cameron, Louisiana, to talk with fishermen about how the multibillion-dollar industry has reshaped the landscape, the economy and the daily lives of the people who have lived here for generations. 

And Paul Blest from More Perfect Union joins us to talk about a new documentary he and Drew wo...

On this week’s episode, we take a look at the state of opioid settlement funds in Mississippi, as state lawmakers debate how to spend them. 

Public health reporter Drew Hawkins breaks down the data of the opioid crisis. 

Nellie Beckett also joins us to talk about the importance of community engagement in this reporting project.

This episode is hosted by Elise Catrion Gregg. The podcast is produced by Matt Bloom, Drew Hawkins,...

On this week’s episode, we sit down with Grammy award-winning singer, actor and author Dr. Francois Clemmons. 

Our sports and culture reporter Joseph King interviewed Dr. Clemmons for a special broadcast of WBHM’s Memories & Milestones program to celebrate Black History Month. Dr. Clemmons is best known for his role as Officer Clemmons on "Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood." 

This episode is hosted by Joseph King, who is also ...

On this week’s episode, we take a look at what storm clean-up looks like in northern Mississippi.

Community engagement reporter Elise Catrion Gregg takes us to Lafayette County, where many residents are slowly recovering — and others are still without power. We’ll also see how community organizations are taking the wheel on relief efforts.

This episode is hosted by Ryan Vasquez. The podcast is produced by Jos...

On this week’s episode, we’re heading to the Mardi Gras parade route in New Orleans.

We hear from WWNO’s education reporter, Aubri Juhasz, about what it takes to make a King Cake.

And public health reporter Drew Hawkins brings us a story about one Mardi Gras Queen pushing for a more sustainable Carnival.

This episode is hosted by Elise Gregg. The podcast is produced by Drew Hawkins, Orlando Flores Jr. ...

On this week’s episode, we take a look at how one of the worst winter storms in years slammed into the Gulf States – and what the fallout has been. 

Thousands across the South were left without power, in the freezing cold, for days. Mississippi, in particular, was hit hard. Over a week later, counties in the north still had tens of thousands of people without power. 

We talk with community engagement reporter Elise Gregg abo...

On this week’s episode, we talk with Gulf South author and journalist, Delaney Nolan, about her first novel, “Happy Bad.”

As an investigative journalist covering heat deaths, pharmaceutical exploitation and coastal land loss, Nolan has spent years reporting on the systems of neglect and bureaucratic cruelty that drive her fiction.

Public health reporter Drew Hawkins sat down with Nolan to discuss her book and...

On this week's episode, WWNO education reporter Aubri Juhasz talks with us about the legal battle behind Louisiana’s attempt to display the Ten Commandments in public schools. 

We also hear from senior reporter Kat Stromquist on the impact recent immigration enforcement in New Orleans could have on Mardi Gras tourism. 

This episode is hosted by Drew Hawkins. The podcast is produced by Elise Catrion Gregg, Kat Stromquist, Orl...

On this week's episode, Shamira Muhammad of Mississippi Public Broadcasting joins us to recap her reporting on the burning of Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson this month. Police say the fire was deliberately set, and the event has shaken some Mississippi communities. 

We also hear an update from community engagement reporter Elise Catrion Gregg about the state of food banks in the Gulf South. 

This episode is hosted by Jo...

On this week’s episode, we look at how expiring subsidies under the Affordable Care Act will impact people in the Gulf South. 

Public health reporter Drew Hawkins was on the road talking to folks in the region while Congress debated extending the subsidies in December. He gives us a sense of what he’s hearing. 

This episode is hosted by Elise Catrion Gregg. The podcast is produced by Drew Hawkins, Kat Stromquist, Orlando Flo...