Kat Stromquist
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kstromquist.bsky.social
Kat Stromquist
@kstromquist.bsky.social
480 followers 580 following 41 posts
Idealist, cat person, reporter Gulf States Newsroom (@NPR @WWNO @MPBNews @WBHM): incarceration & gun violence in Ala., La., Miss. Tips: kat@gulfstatesnewsroom.org
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kstromquist.bsky.social
I chatted with death penalty researcher Corinna Lain on her new book that dives into the secret history of lethal injection.

Listen🎧 to that conversation here: www.wwno.org/law/2025-05-...
Q&A: How lethal injection ‘hides the violence’ of executions in the South and elsewhere
A new book explores the secretive, complicated history of lethal injection and its relationship to the death penalty.
www.wwno.org
May 20, 2025 at 7:10 PM
kstromquist.bsky.social
A few Louisiana jails continue to use leg irons — shackles — on pregnant women, state auditors found.

They also dug up other problems like lack of access to enough menstrual products: www.wwno.org/law/2025-05-...
In Louisiana jails, women's treatment not measuring up, auditors report says
A state legislative auditor's review highlights shortfalls in care for incarcerated women, including a lack of free menstrual products in some facilities.
www.wwno.org
May 20, 2025 at 6:25 PM
kstromquist.bsky.social
Protest activity continues in response to the Trump administration's immigration policies.

In New Orleans last week, that issue took center stage at a May Day march: www.wwno.org/immigration/...
Hundreds protest Trump policies, salute labor movement at New Orleans May Day rally
The demonstration condemned Trump's border crackdown policies that have led to the detention of students, activists and people without documents in Louisiana.
www.wwno.org
May 5, 2025 at 6:25 PM
kstromquist.bsky.social
As Jazz Fest winds down for another year, revisiting this story from @josephcking.bsky.social on what Lil Wayne's booking meant for the fest.

Read and listen🎧: www.wwno.org/music/2025-0...
Lil Wayne’s New Orleans Jazz Fest headlining set is a big moment for hip-hop artists
Lil Wayne will close out the main stage for the first time in his career Saturday — a feat that’s eluded most other rappers who’ve performed at the festival.
www.wwno.org
May 5, 2025 at 6:16 PM
kstromquist.bsky.social
ICYMI, a mildly #longread on the lawsuit in which incarcerated men are challenging Angola's "farm line" work.

A couple of them testified in court in late April: www.wwno.org/law/2025-04-...
Angola 'farm line' hearings highlight controversies over prison labor, heat
A court hearing in Baton Rouge provided a rare window into working conditions on Louisiana State Penitentiary's "farm line," which prisoners are challenging.
www.wwno.org
May 5, 2025 at 6:15 PM
kstromquist.bsky.social
Some Louisiana lawmakers are trying to ban fluoride in the state's public water systems. More with audio🎧 from @wadrewhawkins.bsky.social: www.wwno.org/politics/202...
Bill banning fluoride in Louisiana’s public water systems clears Senate committee
SB 2 proponents presented unfounded links between the levels of fluoride in drinking water and autism, low IQ and thyroid problems at the hearing. The bill is strongly opposed by health experts and de...
www.wwno.org
April 28, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Reposted by Kat Stromquist
jsodonoghue.bsky.social
People who worked on Angola's infamous "farm line" at the prison testify in court as part of federal lawsuit. Story from @kstromquist.bsky.social

www.wwno.org/law/2025-04-...
Angola 'farm line' hearings highlight controversies over prison labor, heat
A court hearing in Baton Rouge provided a rare window into working conditions on Louisiana State Penitentiary's "farm line," which prisoners are challenging.
www.wwno.org
April 27, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Reposted by Kat Stromquist
donnerkay.bsky.social
We're thrilled that @mississippifreepress.org is one of 5 newsrooms in the U.S. hiring a fall rural reporting intern for this fall thanks to Scripps-Howard support. Please pass this far and wide; the position is open through the end of next week:

www.mississippifreepress.org/listings/ite...
Scripps Howard Rural News Internship: Fall 2025 - Mississippi Free Press
The Mississippi Free Press is hiring for a journalism intern.
www.mississippifreepress.org
April 9, 2025 at 6:56 PM
kstromquist.bsky.social
In their latest, Danny McArthur took us to a conference cultivating the next generation of Black environmental justice leaders. Listen in🎧: www.wwno.org/coastal-desk...
How HBCUs are helping grow the next generation of Gulf South environmental activists
Marginalized people often bear the brunt of environmental injustices. An annual conference in New Orleans is shaping young Black leaders to solve these issues.
www.wwno.org
April 3, 2025 at 9:39 PM
kstromquist.bsky.social
Tensions ran high last night at a town hall about proposed changes to French Quarter security.

Via @wadrewhawkins.bsky.social: www.wwno.org/law/2025-03-...
Proposed Bourbon Street, French Quarter security changes spark debate at town hall
The measures, which include closing a stretch of Bourbon Street to vehicular traffic, were met with concern from some who feel their voices haven’t been heard.
www.wwno.org
March 27, 2025 at 6:46 PM
kstromquist.bsky.social
Via @stephanbisaha.bsky.social, Hyundai is set to build a $5.8 billion steel mill in Louisiana.

He reports it will support manufacturing plants in Alabama and Georgia: www.wwno.org/wwno/2025-03...
Louisiana nabs Hyundai’s first US-based steel mill as part of $21B investment
President Donald Trump touted the $5.8 billion manufacturing facility’s announcement as proof that his plan to impose tariffs on other countries is working.
www.wwno.org
March 27, 2025 at 3:51 PM
kstromquist.bsky.social
Pleased to share a little corner of byline with the great Bobbi-Jeanne Misick here: veritenews.org/2025/03/26/b...
As Landry, Trump push immigration hard line, 2 La. agencies partner with ICE
Two Louisiana law enforcement agencies have signed up for a program that grants trained local officers authority to identify and detain immigrants for ICE.
veritenews.org
March 27, 2025 at 3:48 PM
kstromquist.bsky.social
A postscript: Yesterday I received a reply to a records request I'd filed for Louisiana's emails with Alabama's Department of Corrections since nitrogen gas was authorized. I'm told there are no responsive "public, non-privileged documents."

Really? Not a single email? www.wwno.org/wwno/2025-03...
Louisiana executes Jessie Hoffman by nitrogen gas in 1st use of death penalty in 15 years
With Hoffman’s execution, Louisiana joins Alabama as the only other state in the U.S. to use the controversial gas method on a person condemned to death.
www.wwno.org
March 27, 2025 at 3:34 PM
kstromquist.bsky.social
In the @nytimes.com today — VA clinicians say they're being asked to conduct teletherapy for veterans in "call center" type environments, potentially compromising access, privacy and trust: www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/u...
Trump and DOGE Propel V.A. Mental Health System Into Turmoil
A chaotic restructuring order threatens to degrade services for veterans of wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.
www.nytimes.com
March 22, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Reposted by Kat Stromquist
orlandofloresjr.bsky.social
Louisiana carried out its first execution in 15 years Tuesday, killing Jessie Hoffman Jr. with a new nitrogen gas method that unlatches possibilities for the state to someday carry out the sentences of 55 people living on death row.

✍️: @kstromquist.bsky.social for @wwno.org & Gulf States Newsroom
Louisiana executes Jessie Hoffman by nitrogen gas in 1st use of death penalty in 15 years
With Hoffman’s execution, Louisiana joins Alabama as the only other state in the U.S. to use the controversial gas method on a person condemned to death.
www.wwno.org
March 19, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Reposted by Kat Stromquist
orlandofloresjr.bsky.social
Louisiana will execute Jessie Hoffman Jr. this evening.

It'll be the first time the state has executed someone in 15 years and will be the first time they've used nitrogen gas to do it.

Here's a thread of @kstromquist.bsky.social work for the Gulf States Newsroom & @wwno.org covering this so far
March 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
kstromquist.bsky.social
As ever, I delight in a Census story. This one via @jeffadelson.bsky.social, who reports the Orleans Parish population lags well behind pre-Katrina totals.

“Ultimately people can’t stay if they can’t find jobs,” one expert said: www.nola.com/news/busines...
Population fell in two-thirds of Louisiana parishes in 2024, census estimates show
New Orleans has about 362,700 residents, a smaller population than it had in 2012.
www.nola.com
March 14, 2025 at 1:09 PM
kstromquist.bsky.social
It was Mardi Gras in the Netherlands too!

"Carnaval" celebrations date to the 14th century there, @wadrewhawkins.bsky.social reports. He met a princess in a small Dutch village. Listen🎧 or read here: www.wwno.org/wwno/2025-03...
It’s Mardi Gras in New Orleans — and in this small, southeastern Dutch village
Like New Orleans, the small village of Schaijk in the Netherlands is also celebrating Carnaval on Tuesday — and making an update to a centuries-old tradition.
www.wwno.org
March 7, 2025 at 2:08 PM
kstromquist.bsky.social
Via @stephanbisaha.bsky.social, much is at stake during this administration around Alabama's fast-growing city of Huntsville.

As he reports🎧, it's a Southern outpost for federal workers in defense: wbhm.org/2025/under-t...
Huntsville could gain Space Command, but lose more, under Trump
The 1,600 jobs Space Command would bring to the Rocket City might not make up for potential cuts to NASA and the Department of Defense.
wbhm.org
March 6, 2025 at 6:22 PM
kstromquist.bsky.social
I wrote about the role religion is playing in the battle over Louisiana's upcoming execution.

One related tidbit that didn't make it in — Jessie Hoffman's lawyers are arguing that his Buddhist breath practice makes a gas execution plan especially harmful: www.wwno.org/wwno/2025-02...
In the fight over Louisiana's execution plans, religion plays a prominent role
Faith activism against the state's plan to resume executions adds to a history of religious engagement with social questions in the South.
www.wwno.org
March 6, 2025 at 6:09 PM
kstromquist.bsky.social
Here's where @npr.org is asking to hear from people on the covid experience: www.npr.org/2025/02/28/g...
It's the 5th anniversary of the COVID pandemic and we want to hear your experiences
It's been 5 years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Ahead of this anniversary, NPR wants to hear from you.
www.npr.org
March 3, 2025 at 6:12 PM
kstromquist.bsky.social
I reposted this story from last fall days before Louisiana announced it will commence executions after a 15-year pause, potentially via nitrogen gas.

The first execution dates are set for March. Will be following/reporting.
kstromquist.bsky.social Kat Stromquist @kstromquist.bsky.social · Feb 7
Last night, Demetrius Frazier died after Alabama carried out the nation's fourth-ever nitrogen gas execution.

I reported on the future of the method and from Atmore during a similar execution last year. Advocates continue to decry the practice as experimental and cruel: www.wwno.org/law/2024-10-...
Alabama’s 2nd nitrogen gas execution raises questions about method’s future use
As Alabama sets the course for the controversial execution method’s future, activists and legal scholars say eyewitness accounts could halt widespread adoption.
www.wwno.org
February 20, 2025 at 4:19 PM
kstromquist.bsky.social
In Mississippi, bills take aim at unhoused people and the practice of sleeping outdoors, @mayalmiller.bsky.social reports: mississippitoday.org/2025/02/20/h...
In a city without a plan, anti-public sleeping bills pop up at Jackson City Hall and state Capitol - Mississippi Today
Multiple bills that target homeless encampments in Jackson have moved out of their respective houses. Advocates worry about the impact on one of the most vulnerable populations in a city without a hom...
mississippitoday.org
February 20, 2025 at 3:37 PM
kstromquist.bsky.social
Before the Super Bowl, @stephanbisaha.bsky.social asked French Quarter businesses for their thoughts on how the New Year's Day attack might impact tourism.

Listen to what they said🎧: wbhm.org/2025/tourism...
New Orleans tourism remains high despite NYD attack
The Super Bowl is in town, and so far, fears that visitors would avoid the big game because of January’s attack on Bourbon Street have not rang true.
wbhm.org
February 18, 2025 at 8:11 PM
kstromquist.bsky.social
Hours before the Super Bowl, the family of a former Saints player gathered near the stadium where he used to play.

As @josephcking.bsky.social reports🎧, they're still looking for answers after he died in police custody: www.wwno.org/wwno/2025-02...
Glenn Foster Jr’s family uses Super Bowl to bring awareness to his death, demand justice
The former New Orleans Saints player's family called on others, including the NFL, to advocate for Foster — who died while in police custody in Alabama.
www.wwno.org
February 16, 2025 at 2:22 PM