ZIEGLER FOUNDATION.

THE MUSEUM FOCUSES ON EMERGING LOUISIANA ARTISTS AND IS AN HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CENTER FOR SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA.

WITH SUPPORT FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

RIGHT NOW OUR ONLY DISCUSSION SHOULD BE HOW ARE WE GOING TO MANAGE THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS TOGETHER.

THE LATEST ON COVID AND A NEW VARIANT YES PREMIUMS AS LOW AS $10 A MONTH.

A HELPING HAND AND DEADLINE TO GET HEALTH INSURANCE.

IF WE DO NOTHING IN THE NEXT 50 TO A HUNDRED YEARS, THERE WON'T BE MUCH WETLANDS LEFT.

AFTER 91 YEARS OF COASTAL EROSION, SCIENTISTS FOUND A WAY TO REDUCE LAND LOSS.

TO OFFER MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF ALL THE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

VIOLENT CRIME SURGES STATEWIDE.

KARA: HI EVERYONE, I'M KARA ST. CYR.

ANDRE: AND I'M ANDRE MOREAU.

A LOUISIANA JUDGE IS BEING ASKED TO STEP DOWN AFTER AN UNKNOWN SOURCE LEAKED A VIDEO OF HER USING RACIAL SLURS.

WE WON'T PLAY THE VIDEO DUE TO THE HEAVY LANGUAGE USED.

JUDGE MICHELLE ODINET OF CITY COURT OF LAFAYETTE, WAS WATCHING FOOTAGE OF A FOILED BURGLARY AT HER HOME WHILE SOMEONE RECORDED HER, ALONG WITH OTHERS, SHOUTING SLURS AT THE ASSAILANT IN THE VIDEO.

YOU CAN'T SEE ODINET'S FACE IN THE RECORDING BUT HER LAWYER CONFIRMS HER VOICE OF IS ONE OF THOSE HEARD SHOUTING RACIAL INSULTS.

ODINET SAYS SHE HAD TAKEN SEDATIVES BEFORE THE VIDEO WAS MADE AND HAS NO RECOLLECTION OF THE INCIDENT.

KARA: THE JUDGE IS NOW FACING SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE TO RESIGN.

THE LAFAYETTE BRANCH OF THE NAACP HAS CALLED FOR HER RESIGNATION EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, WHILE CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS ASKED HER TO RECUSE HERSELF FROM THEIR CASES.

GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS WAS THE LATEST TO ASK ODINET TO STEP ASIDE.

GOVERNOR EDWARDS: QUITE FRANKLY, THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THAT KIND OF LANGUAGE.

ESPECIALLY AMONG MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY, WHO HAVE THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE IN ADMINISTERING JUSTICE IN OUR STATE.

AND THERE'S A PRACTICAL PROBLEM, TOO.

I BELIEVE YOU WOULD SEE PERHAPS ALL, IF SHE WERE NOT TO RESIGN, PERHAPS ALL OF THE LITIGANTS BEFORE HER WHO WERE AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOULD SEEK A RECUSAL.

AND I'M NOT SURE SHE HAS A VALID BASIS FOR DENYING THAT RECUSAL.

KARA: THE JUDGE HAS TAKEN AN UNPAID LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

NO WORD YET ON WHETHER SHE WILL RESIGN.

ANDRE: ON THE COVID FRONT, THE U.S.

SURPASSED ANOTHER GRIM MILESTONE.

ON MONDAY, DEATHS FROM THE PANDEMIC PASSES THE 800-THOUSAND MARKER.

THAT'S THE NUMBER OF LIVES LOST, FROM THE CDC.

IN LOUISIANA, STATE HEALTH REPORTS 15,000 PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM COVID.

KARA: AS WE SEE A SMALL RISE IN OMICRON VARIANT CASES IN LOUISIANA, MEMBERS OF THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ARE URGING VACCINATIONS AND BOOSTERS.

WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE MORE ON THIS SHORTLY.

ANDRE: AND NOW TO NEWS MAKING HEADLINES ACROSS THE STATE.

ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF LANDRY FILED A LAWSUIT WEDNESDAY SEEKING TO BLOCK GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS' PLANS TO ADD THE COVID-19 VACCINE TO LOUISIANA'S IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES.

LANDRY ARGUES THAT THE GOVERNOR'S ACTIONS VIOLATE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS.

THE PROVISIONS GIVE LAWMAKERS THE POWER TO ENACT LAWS AND NOT THE GOVERNOR.

BUT EDWARDS IS MOVING AHEAD, SAYING GETTING MORE CHILDREN VACCINATED WILL HELP SAVE LIVES.

THIS WEEK REPUBLICAN SENATOR BILL CASSIDY ANNOUNCED LOUISIANA'S AIRPORTS WILL RECEIVE ALMOST $36 MILLION IN FUNDING FROM THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT.

THIS AMOUNT IS IN ADDITION TO THE ANNUAL FUNDING LOUISIANA RECEIVES UNDER THE AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT PANEL ON WEDNESDAY LIFTED A NATIONWIDE BAN AGAINST PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S VACCINE MANDATE FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

THE DECISION BY THE NEW ORLEANS-BASED 5TH U.S.

CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS KEPT A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION IN PLACE FOR 14 STATES THAT HAD COLLECTIVELY SUED IN FEDERAL COURT IN LOUISIANA.

A FEDERAL GRAND JURY HAS INDICTED A FORMER POLICE CHIEF AND CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBER FROM TANGIPAHOA PARISH.

AMITE CITY COUNCILMAN KRISTIAN HART AND FORMER POLICE CHIEF JERRY TRABONA ARE ACCUSED OF BUYING VOTES DURING A 2016 ELECTION.

THEY HAVE BOTH BEEN CHARGED WITH MULTIPLE COUNTS OF BUYING VOTES IN BOTH THE PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTIONS IN THE PARISH THAT YEAR.

LOUISIANA IS AMONG EIGHT STATES RECENTLY ADDED TO THE 19 WHERE STUDENTS RECEIVING MEDICAID WILL AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE SCHOOL LUNCHES.

THE U.S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SAYS THE 27 STATES NOW INVOLVED REPRESENT ABOUT 75% OF STUDENTS NATIONWIDE.

AFTER ALMOST A DECADE OF TOXIC SULFUR DIOXIDE EMISSIONS IN ST. BERNARD PARISH, FEDERAL REGULATORS ARE TAKING STEPS THAT MIGHT FINALLY FORCE LOUISIANA AND THE RAIN CARBON, INC., FUEL PLANT TO CLEAR THE AIR.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY SAYS THE PARISH'S AIR QUALITY HAS FAILED TO MEET FEDERAL STANDARDS SINCE AT LEAST 2013, LARGELY DUE TO EMISSIONS FROM THE PLANT.

THE GOVERNOR AND LOUISIANA'S STATE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS.

ARE CLOSE TO A DEAL THAT WOULD ALLOCATE $27 MILLION IN FEDERAL PANDEMIC AID TO HELP PAY FOR A PORTION OF THE RENOVATIONS TO THE NEW ORLEANS SUPERDOME.

THE EDWARDS ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE STATE'S CONTRIBUTION TO RENOVATIONS IS CRITICAL TO REACHING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE SAINTS THAT KEEPS THE NFL TEAM IN THE STATE FOR DECADES.

THE NEW ARRANGEMENT WOULD HAVE THE STATE CONTRIBUTING $54 MILLION OF THE $450 MILLION IN STADIUM IMPROVEMENTS.

ANDRE: INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST DR. CATHERINE O'NEAL, WHO SERVES AS CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF OUR LADY OF THE LAKE MEDICAL CENTER IN BATON ROUGE, GAVE A SOBERING TALK AT THE BATON ROUGE PRESS CLUB THIS WEEK.

THE TOPIC?

COVID AND PUBLIC PERCEPTION.

YOU WILL HEAR MORE THAN SIX MINUTES OF WHAT SHE SAID.

SHE LAYS OUT WHAT WE HAVEN'T LEARNED, WHAT WE STILL NEED TO DO, AND WHAT WILL ULTIMATELY TAKE COVID DOWN.

WE PARTICIPATED IN SOME OF THE TRIALS YOU'LL EVER SEE.

MONOCLONAL INFUSIONS.

THEY DON'T.

WE PARTICIPATED IN ALL THOSE TRIALS, BECAUSE WE ARE ONE OF THE TOP ENROLLERS IN LOUISIANA AND IN THE UNITED STATES FOR SOME OF THESE COVID STUDIES.

AND WE'RE PROUD OF THAT, BECAUSE THAT KNOWLEDGE IS WHAT HELPS PEOPLE IN THE NORTHERN PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW KNOW THAT THEY CAN STOP USING THOSE DRUGS AND FOCUS ON SOMETHING ELSE THAT ARE NOT WORKING.

WHAT'S THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS?

JUST LIKE AN EPIDEMIC AND PANDEMIC, A PUBLIC CRISIS IS SOMETHING WE DON'T TALK ABOUT VERY OFTEN.

PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IS SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS THE HEALTH OF EVERYBODY.

OF YOUR WHOLE COMMUNITY.

IT AFFECTS YOU FROM A HEALTH PERSPECTIVE.

BY AND LARGE, FROM A FAMILY PERSPECTIVE.

AND IT AFFECTS THE ECONOMY.

PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IS SOMETHING WE ALL HAVE TO FK, BECAUSE WE CAN'T GROW WHILE IT'S HAPPENING.

PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES AREN'T ALWAYS AN INFECTION.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE LEAD IN HOUSES.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE CONTAMINATED WATER.

SOMETIMES THEY ARE HIV.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO WRAP OURSELVES AROUND PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS LIKE OBESITY.

IF WE DON'T ALL START TO FIX IT, WE WILL HAVE VERY SICK PEOPLE WHO CAN'T GET THROUGH A PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE HAD A HARD TIME EXPLAINING THIS TO PEOPLE, THAT THIS IS EVERYBODY'S PROBLEM.

RIGHT?

AND I WOULD THINK THAT THE BIGGEST MISTAKE THAT WE HAVE MADE IS NOT SAYING THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE SEE THE VACCINE DEBATE COME ABOUT.

WHEN I BRING MY KIDS TO THE DOCTOR, I DON'T ASK MY PEDIATRICIAN WHAT THE EVIDENCE IS BEHIND THE VACCINES THAT THEY GET.

MY DOCTOR IS DOING WHAT I NEED TO BE SAFE, AND I NEED TO GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOL.

SO MY KIDS ARE GOING TO GET THEIR VACCINES, RIGHT?

ALL THAT EVIDENCE THAT GAVE MY KIDS THEIR POLIO VACCINE, MMR, TDAP AND FLU SHOT ALL CAME WELL BEFORE ME.

THEY ALL CAME FROM PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES THAT WERE FIXED BY VACCINATION.

AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WRAPS THEMSELVES AROUND THOSE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES TODAY.

WE JUST DON'T REALIZE WE'RE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING.

WE HAVE A VACCINE SCHEDULE AND GO AHEAD AND GET IT.

WHEN YOU ASK SOMEBODY, ARE YOU GOING TO GET YOUR COVID VACCINE, THAT BECOMES AN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE.

AM I GOING TO GET IT?

AM I GOING TO GO INTO THE COMPUTER AND SCHEDULE IT?

I DON'T GO TO THE DOCTOR ANY MORE.

I GO TO THE DOCTOR ONCE A YEAR.

MAYBE I DON'T EVEN HAVE A PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR.

WE KEPT SAYING THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

TALK TO YOUR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ONE.

I WENT TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO GET MY VACCINES AS A KID.

MY MOM ROLLED US RIGHT NEXT TO THE LAY BRARY, THE HEALTH UNIT.

A WHOLE BUNCH OF KIDS STOOD IN LINE.

AND WE GOT THE VACCINES BECAUSE WE WERE DOING IT AS A COMMUNITY.

IT BECAME, FOR SOME REASON, AN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE.

THAT'S NOT WHAT VACCINATIONS ARE ABOUT.

THAT'S NOT WHAT A RESPONSE TO A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IS.

IT'S NOT AN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE.

BECAUSE OUR ECONOMY IS A COLLECTIVE THING.

AND OUR HEALTH IS A COLLECTIVE THING.

SO, WHERE ARE WE TODAY?

WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS STILL.

ONE OF THE LONGEST PANDEMICS WE'VE EVER SEEN.

WE HAVE TOOLS.

AND WE HAVE TREATMENTS.

BUT WE HAVE TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP.

WE ARE AT THE LEVEL IN WHICH WE HAVE TO TAKE WHAT WE LEARNED, AND WE HAVE TO APPLY IT NOW TO GET OUT OF IT.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

OTHER EPIDEMICS AND PANDEMICS WE'VE HAD, AND OUR RESPONSE TO PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES BEFORE.

THAT IS THE LOUISIANA STATE LAW THAT REQUIRES VACCINATION BEFORE YOU GO TO SCHOOL.

AND THESE ARE THE VACCINES THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO ENTER THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IN LOUISIANA.

AND EVERY SINGLE STATE HAS A LIST JUST LIKE THIS.

THAT IS BECAUSE COLLECTIVELY, THE UNITED STATES DECIDED MANY YEARS AGO THAT WEED NO LONGER HAVE POLIO, AND WE WOULD NO LONGER HAVE KIDS WHO HAD MEASLES AND MUMPS.

WE WOULD NEVER HAVE KIDS WHO WERE FOREVER CHANGED DUE TO MENINGITIS DUE TO MUMPS.

IT IS A HORRIBLE DISEASE.

LESS KIDS HAVE POLIO.

LESS KIDS WERE ON AN IRON LUNG.

WE THAN WE HAVE SEEN KIDS DIE FROM THE PANDEMIC SO FAR.

WE HAVE HAD A COVID-19 WARD IN EVERY SINGLE HOSPITAL.

IN EVERY SINGLE HOSPITAL IN LOUISIANA, IN EVERY SINGLE HOSPITAL IN THE UNITED STATES.

THIS IS FAR WORSE.

BUT OUR KNOWLEDGE OF IT IS NOT.

WE'RE STILL NOT THINKING OF IT THE SAME WAY.

THE DEATH RATE OF PEOPLE WHO WERE ADMITTED TO JUST OUR HOSPITAL DURING THIS PANDEMIC OF COVID-19.

AND YOU WILL SEE THAT THE LOWEST WE EVER GOT WAS 8.5%.

MOST OF THE TIME WHEN PEOPLE CAME INTO THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID-19, THE FIRST THING WE TOLD THEM IS THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT A 20% CHANCE OF DYING, JUST BY BEING HERE WITH COVID-19.

THIS IS AS SERIOUS AS IT GETS.

WE'RE STILL NOT TREATING IT THAT WAY.

WE HAVE NOT THROWN THE RESOURCES, CARE, AND THOUGHT.

WE HAVE NOT LEARNED OUR LESSONS YET AND THEN APPLIED THEM TO PREVENTION, LIKE WE HAVE DONE WITH HEART ATTACKS, AND CANCER, AND EVEN DIABETES.

WE HAVE AN ENTIRE PANDEMIC THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY, AND WE WEREN'T READY FOR THE NEXT ONE.

WE WEREN'T READY MEDICALLY.

AND WE WEREN'T READY SOCIALLY.

WE WEREN'T READY TO JUST DO THE NEXT THING AND TAKE OUR LESSONS LEARNED AND TAKE SOME ACTION.

NOW I ASK YOU, AS WE EMBARK ON 2022 -- I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE NEXT GENERATION.

WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH THE NEXT YEAR.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO TAKE OUR LESSONS LEARNED AND DO BETTER NEXT YEAR?

NOW WE HAVE OMICRON.

I GRABBED A COUPLE OF UPDATES ON OMICRON.

MORE MILD CASES.

HOW DO WE KNOW?

IS IT 1% FATALITY?

DOES THAT MEAN 500 PEOPLE WILL DIE A DAY FROM COVID AFTER THIS?

THAT IS A HORRIBLE VIRUS.

SOMETHING WE HAVE NEVER SEEN, EXCEPT FOR COVID-19.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS, AND WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING, AND WHERE WE SHOULD GO, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE EDUCATORS, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ADVOCATING FOR PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS MANAGEMENT.

WE HAVE TO LET NOT LET INFLUENCERS, PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT EXPERTS IN THE DISEASE, PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, COME INTO OUR STATE, INTO OUR TWITTER, INTO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND GIVE US INFORMATION THAT MAKES US THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE OKAY IN 2022 WITHOUT USING THE LESSONS LEARNED.

RIGHT NOW, THE ONLY DISCUSSIONS SHOULD BE HOW WILL WE MANAGE THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS TOth?

HOW WILL WE GET VACCINATION ACROSS OUR OWN POPULATION SO WE CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN 2009 HAPPEN AGAIN?

W.H.O.

DECLARED THE SWINE FLU PANDEMIC OVER AFTER IT BEGAN.

WE ARE TWO YEARS IN WITH NO END IN SIGHT.

I KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO.

IT'S THIS SIMPLE.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WEAR MASKS WHEN WE HAVE ELEVATED RATES.

AND WE'RE GOING TO VACCINATE OUR ENTIRE POPULATION.

WHEN THAT HAPPENS WE'LL SEE A PANDEMIC TURN INTO AN EPIDEMIC.

AND THAT IS SCIENCE.

THAT IS NOT BEING INFLUENCING.

THAT IS JUST FACT.

ANDRE: LATE YESTERDAY, NEW ORLEANS EXPANDED INDOOR VACCINE OR NEGATIVE TEST REQUIREMENTS TO CHILDREN AGES 5 TO 11 AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS THERE ARE MANDATING VACCINES FOR STUDENTS AGES 5 AND UP.

MAYOR LATOYA CANTRELL SAYS ALL THIS IN RESPONSE TO RISING CASES AND THE UPCOMING MARDI GRAS SEASON.

♪♪ ANDRE: MORE LOUISIANANS THAN EVER BEFORE HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH COVERAGE.

BUT THERE REMAINS ABOUT 8% OF OUR POPULATION WITHOUT COVERAGE.

IF YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE, LISTEN UP.

WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION FOR YOU.

THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET IT NOW.

BRIAN BURTON, CEO OF SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER, IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT PLANS AND WHY ENROLLMENT IS BEING MADE EASY.

FOR THE LAST NINE YEARS.

NOW IS THE TIME FOR FOLKS WHO DO NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, THROUGH THEIR EMPLOYER.

THE WAY THEY CAN GET IT IS THE FEDERAL MARKETPLACE.

WE'VE GOT NAVIGATORS AROUND THE STATE THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE SIGN UP FOR THAT.

AND NAVIGATE.

FOR THOSE BELOW IT, WE HAVE AN EXPANDED MEDICAID.

WE WILL HELP PEOPLE ACROSS THE BOARD.

IT MIGHT NOT BE IN THE MARKETPLACE.

IT MIGHT BE MEDICAID.

THIS OPPORTUNITY HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE MIDDLE OF NOVEMBER.

AND IT GOES UNTIL JANUARY -- UNTIL JANUARY 15th.

WE HAVE THAT -- DECEMBER 15th HAS PASSED, WHICH WE'LL HAVE IT IN PLACE BY -- HAVE YOUR INSURANCE IN PLACE BY JANUARY 1st.

HOWEVER, IF YOU CAN GET IT REAL SOON, WE MIGHT STILL BE ABLE TO HAVE IT JANUARY 1st.

MOST OF IT IS TO BE SIGNED UP BY JANUARY 15th TO HAVE INSURANCE IN PLACE FOR FEBRUARY 1st.

THE NAVIGATORS, THEY HELP YOU NAVIGATE THIS.

IT'S NOT THAT PAINFUL EITHER.

NO, IT'S NOT.

FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT CHOICE SITE PLANS.

WE HELP YOU UNDERSTAND THAT.

HELP PAY FOR THE MONTHLY PREMIUMS.

WE CAN HELP FIGURE THAT OUT, WHAT YOU ANTICIPATE YOUR INCOME TO BE FOR 2022.

I READ SOME OF THE MONTHLY PREMIUMS ARE AS LOW AS $10 A MONTH?

THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, A LOT OF THINGS HAVE GONE INTO THIS ARE DIFFERENT THAN BEFORE.

EVEN IN THE PA OF THE IF YOU CHECK YOUR PREMIUMS, THOUGHT YOUR PREMIUMS WERE TOO EXPENSIVE, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO BACK AND CHECK IT AGAIN.

PREMIUMS AS LOW AS $10 A MONTH.

WOW!

SO, NEW LAW.

ALSO TALKING ABOUT LOWER PRICES AND MORE PEOPLE QUALIFIED CHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

QUALIFIED?

THAT'S RIGHT.

COMPETITION, WHICH MEANS A BETTER PRICE FOR THE CONSUMER.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT SOMEONE NEEDS TO KNOW BEFORE THEY EVEN GO TO THE WEBSITE?

FIRST THING TO KNOW IS C WHAT YOUR PARTICIPATED INCOME WILL BE FOR 2022.

THAT'S GOING TO HELP, WHAT YOUR SUBSIDY IS.

ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT?

LIKE I SAID, THERE ARE NAVIGATORS IN ALL REGIONS OF THE STATE ABLE TO HELP YOU.

AND WE WERE FUNDED BY THE MEDICAID/MEDICARE SERVICE CHT THERE'S NO COST TO THE CONSUMER FOR THE HELP.

HAVE YOU EVER COME ACROSS ANYONE WHO DOESN'T THINK HEALTH INSURANCE IS ESSENTIAL?

NOT AFTER THEY'VE BEEN IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF BANKRUPTCY FOR FOLKS IN LOUISIANA.

WE JUST -- HAVING THAT PROTECTION IS VERY IMPORTANT.

PROTECTION WASN'T ALWAYS SO EASY TO GET AT ALL.

NO, IT WASN'T.

EASIER NOW THAN EVER?

AND MORE AFFORDABLE THAN EVER.

YOUR SERVICES, YOUR COMPANY AND THE NAVIGATORS, THEY WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS -- WE DO THAT.

WE HAVE PARTNERS AROUND THE STATE THAT CAN HELP AS WELL.

GREAT.

THERE IS A WEBSITE TO GO TO.

I'LL GET PEOPLE THAT.

GETCOVEREDLA.ORG.

800-435-4532.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

♪♪ KARA: IN APRIL, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, RANKED SIXTH AMONG THE MOST DANGEROUS CITIES IN AMERICA.

SINCE APRIL, THE CAPITAL CITY HAS SEEN EVEN MORE HOMICIDES, DRUG USE, AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH DISTRICT ATTORNEY HILLAR MOORE SAYS THAT THIS DISTURBING TREND WILL CONTINUE UNLESS LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONDS TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM.

JUST LAST WEEK, TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED AFTER A SHOOTOUT IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA.

POLICE IDENTIFIED THE VICTIMS AS 22-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL RILEY AND HIS NEPHEW, 5-YEAR-OLD CARSON RILEY.

I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF ALL THE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE, BATON ROUGE POLICE CHIEF MURPHY PAUL SAID IT'S A DISTURBING TREND IN BATON ROUGE.

BOTH WERE MURDERED IN WHAT THE POLICE CHIEF CALLED A TARGETED ATTACK.

MEANING THAT THE SHOOTER HAD AN INTENT TO KILL.

THE TWO DEATHS HELPED BRING THIS YEAR'S NUMBER OF HOMICIDES TO 141, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE FROM 2022'S 114.

THE LAST TIME THE CITY SAW DEATH TOLLS REACH THE HUNDREDS WAS FOUR YEARS AGO IN 2017.

IN OUR CITY, WE HAVE SEIZED MORE THAN 1300 GUNS IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.

WE HAVE ARRESTED MORE THAN 80 OFFENDERS FOR HOMICIDES AND SHOOTINGS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HEAR FROM OUR POLICE OFFICERS WHEN WE'RE OUT THERE IS, CHIEF, WE ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME INDIVIDUALS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

NATIONALLY, VIOLENT CRIME HAS BEEN ON THE RISE THESE PAST TWO YEARS.

THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS REPORTED HOMICIDES WERE UP 30% BETWEEN 2019 AND 2020 AND UP 16% BETWEEN 2020 AND 2021.

LOUISIANA IS NO DIFFERENT.

VIOLENT CRIME HAS SURGED STATEWIDE.

NEW ORLEANS REPORTED 201 MURDERS IN 2020.

THIS YEAR, THEY'VE REACHED 204.

SHREVEPORT ALSO REPORTED HIGHER NUMBERS OF KILLINGS.

LAST YEAR THE CITY RECORDED 66 DEATHS.

AND BY OCTOBER THIS YEAR, OFFICIALS REPORTED 77.

SHREVEPORT HASN'T SURPASSED THEIR DEADLIEST RECORD YET BUT NUSMS ARE INCHING DANGEROUSLY CLOSE.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY HILLAR MOORE SAYS MOST MURDERS CAN BE PINPOINTED TO THE SAME AREAS.

OFTEN PEOPLE FROM THESE COMMUNITIES ARE RELEASED FROM PALESTINIAN, THEY GO BACK TO THE SAME PLACES, AND RETURN TO THE SAME CYCLE OF VIOLENCE.

OVERALL THEY'RE GREAT PEOPLE.

BUT THERE'S A FEW FOLKS IN THERE, DRUG DEALERS, THAT CAUSE THE MAJORITY OF THE PROBLEMS.

AND MURDER IS NEVER RANDOM.

IT'S GENERALLY RETALIATORY SHOOTINGS.

AND IT COULD BE A BEEF FROM 5, 10, 15 YEARS AGO.

BUT HAS BEEN FESTERING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS OR YEARS, WE'VE SEEN THESE GO BACK 15 YEARS.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVERALL IN THE PARISH.

IN MOST CASES, GUN VIOLENCE AND MURDERS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

RATHER THAN JUST MAKING MORE ARRESTS, FOCUSING ON THE ROOT PROBLEM MAY HELP THE SITUATION.

OVERWHELMINGLY MURDERS ARE CONCENTRATED HEAVILY IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.

THE VICTIMS ARE HEAVILY CONCENTRATED AFRICAN-AMERICAN GENERALLY.

BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT ALSO GENERATIONAL ISSUES WITH REGARD TO RACE AND HOW THIS CAME TO BE.

THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IS WORKING TOWARD A SOLUTION.

MAJOR SHARON WESTON BROOM SAYS THEY'RE TAKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND PUTTING IT TOWARD TECHNOLOGY TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS AT RISK FOR COMMITTING GUN VIOLENCE, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

THE ROAD TO REDUCING CRIME IN THE CITY MAY TAKE TIME TO IMPLEMENT.

BROOM SAYS THE TIME FOR ACTION IS NOW.

THE RILEY CASE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.

IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT HAS INFORMATION POLICE HAVE ASKED THAT YOU CALL CRIME STOPPERS.

♪♪ KARA: IF YOU LOOK AT PICTURES OF LOUISIANA'S COAST FROM THE 1800S TO NOW, YOU CAN SEE A DRASTIC CHANGE IN THE STATE'S LAND MASS.

THE WETLANDS THAT PROTECT US FROM HURRICANES AND SUPPORT ECOSYSTEMS VITAL TO OUR ECONOMY ARE IN DANGER OF BEING WIPED AWAY WITHIN 50 YEARS.

BUT THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE OUR FUTURE.

SCIENTISTS WITH THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER DELTA COALITION SAY THE SOLUTION TO OUR PROBLEMS ALREADY EXISTS IN ST. MARY PARISH.

IT'S ESTIMATED THAT LOUISIANA LOSES A FOOTBALL FIELD OF LAND.

1900 SQUARE MILES OFITY COASTLINE, IF YOU WERE TO CONSOLIDATE THAT INTO ONE U.S. STATE, IT'S ALMOST THE SIZE OF DELAWARE.

A SCIENTIST AND MANAGER OF THE COASTAL RESILIENCE ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND.

SHE OVERSEES THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA RESTORATION PROGRAM AND SHE SAYS THE STATE IS IN DIRE NEED OF COASTAL RESTORATION.

PROJECTIONS BASED UPON THE CLIMATE CHANGE MODEL, IF WE DO NOTHING IN THE NEXT 50 TO 100 YEARS, THERE WON'T BE MUCH OF WETLANDS LEFT.

ONE PARTICULAR CAUSE OF LAND LOSS, THERE'S SEVERAL.

A LOT OF THEM ARE MANMADE ISSUES, LIKE BUILDING CANALS, LEVEE SYSTEMS AND OIL AND GAS STRUCTURE.

HURRICANES ALSO CREATE A HOST OF PROBLEMS.

ALL OF THESE DISTURBANCES DISRUPT SEDIMENT DISPOSITION.

RIVER DELTAS OR WETLANDS THAT FORM AS RIVERS EMPTY THEIR WATER AND SEDIMENT INTO ANOTHER BODY OF WATER.

YOU CAN'T PROPERLY TRANSPORT SEDIMENT NEEDED.

INSTEAD IT GETS DEPOSITED INTO THE OCEAN WHERE IT'S VIRTUALLY USELESS.

REVERSING THE LAND LOSS TREND, WAX LAKE.

OVER THE COURSE OF 80 TO 90 YEARS, WAX LAKE HAS GAINED SIX SQUARE MILES OF LAND WHILE THE REST OF THE STATE WAS LOSING IT.

AN OUTLET WAS BUILT HERE TO REDUCE FLOOD STAGES IN 1941.

ARTIFICIAL CHANNEL DIVERTED 40% OF THE FLOW TO THE GULF OF MEXICO, BRINGING IN SEDIMENT AND OTHER NUTRIENTS TO THE DELTA.

IT MAY NOT SOUND LIKE MUCH, BUT 6 SQUARE MILES IS ENOUGH TO FOSTER VEGETATION AND CREATE A PARTIAL BARRIER PROTECTION FROM SEVERE WEATHER, LIKE HURRICANES AND OTHER EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

DR. CARR SAYS IT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT OTHER DELTAS IN THE STATE ARE CAPABLE OF IF THE SAME TYPES OF STRUCTURES ARE BUILT.

PARTICULARLY IN PLACES LIKE THE BIRD FOOT DELTA, ONE OF THE LARGEST DELTAS IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

DR. CARR SAYS YOU NEED TO BUILD STRUCTURES THAT MIMIC THE FLOW.

THIS STRATEGY ISN'T A PERFECT ONE.

OUTLETS ARE BUILT TO DIVERT WATER THAT FISHERMEN RELY ON, WHICH COULD KILL A LOT OF THEIR PRODUCT.

THE FLOORS ARE MORE HEALTHIER WATER.

THESE PROJECTS ARE LARGE PROJECTS.

IT IS GOING TO AFFECT PEOPLE.

WE DID SEE SOME CHANGES WITH THE 2019 FLOOD, WHERE THE SPILLWAY WAS USED FOR LETTING OUT THE FLOODWATERS.

THERE WERE CHANGES.

AND WE DID SEE SOME LOSS.

PROTECTING FISHERMEN AND AWK AQUATIC WILDLIFE IS ONE THING IN PLACE.

UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS IS INVESTIGATING ALL THE POSSIBILITIES BEFORE STARTING ON ANY NEW OUTLET STRUCTURES.

CARR SAYS WHAT WE STAND TO LOSE WOULD BE EVEN GREATER IF WE DON'T START MAKING CHANGES NOW.

SEVERAL AREAS AROUND THE STATE INCLUDING HAMMOND AND NEW ORLEANS HAVE CONTINUED THEIR LONG-STANDING CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING PROGRAMS, WHICH PLACES COASTAL ZONES TO RESTORE BE SURE TO CHECK IF YOUR AREA IS RECYCLING TREES THIS YEAR.

ANDRE: AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

REMEMBER YOU CAN WATCH ANYTHING LPB ANYTIME, WHEREVER YOU ARE, WITH OUR LPB PBS APP.

KARA: YOU CAN CATCH LPB NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS SHOWS AS WELL AS OTHER LOUISIANA PROGRAMS YOU'VE COME ENJOY OVER THE YEARS.

AND PLEASE LIKE US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM.

ANDRE: FOR EVERYONE AT LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M ANDRE MOREAU.

KARA: AND I'M KARA ST. CYR.

ANDRE: UNTIL NEXT TIME, THAT'S THE "STATE WE'RE IN."

♪♪ ENTERGY IS PROUD TO SUPPORT PROGRAMMING ON LPB AND GREENER PRACTICES THAT PRESERVE LOUISIANA.

THE GOAL OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES REALLY IS TO ENSURE THAT OUR KIDS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN BE LEFT WITH A CLEANER PLANET.

♪♪ ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE FRED B.

AND RUTH B. ZIEGLER FOUNDATION AND THE ZIEGLER ART MUSEUM LOCATED IN JENNINGS CITY HALL.

THE MUSEUM FOCUSES ON EMERGING LOUISIANA ARTISTS AND IS AN HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CENTER FOR SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA.

AND THE FOUNDATION FOR SPLENS IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING WITH SUPPORT FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.