Support for Louisiana.

The state we're in is provided by Entergy.

Louisiana is strengthening our power grid throughout the state.

We're reinforcing infrastructure to prepare for stronger storms, reduce outages, and respond quicker when you do need us.

Because together, we power life.

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 a historical and cultural center for Southwest Louisiana.

And the Foundation for Excellence in Louisiana Public Broadcasting and viewers like you.

Thank you.

A recent report highlights concerns about the water many Louisiana residents drink each day.

We'll talk to experts about why lead contamination doesn't get enough attention.

Rebuilding and replanting Louisiana's critical barrier islands.

I'll take you on a tour of one project to strengthen a key line of defense for coastal areas.

And we're just months away from the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Sports correspondent Victor Howell sits down with Roman Harper to talk about all of the events leading up to the big game.

And we are kicking off the holiday season this week with a look at a holiday tradition in New Orleans.

High tea at the Windsor Port Hotel.

Let's get started.

Let's do it.

Hello, everyone.

I'm Karen LeBlanc, and I'm Dorothea Wilson.

Much more on those top stories in a moment.

On this week's edition of Louisiana, the State.

We're In.

But first, advocates are sounding the alarm about Louisiana's aging infrastructure.

Some of the state's oldest cities may have unsafe drinking water due in part to outdated lead pipes.

I spoke with one organizer of a recent study to learn more about the health impacts of lead contamination.

It's not just a Flint issue, it's a New Orleans issue.

It's a Buffalo, New York issue.

It's a Washington, D.C. issue.

It's a Chicago issue.

It's an everywhere issue.

Louisiana ranked third among states with the most dangerous drinking water in the country, as over 36% of residents who received water from public systems had health related violations of the city's affected.

New Orleans and surrounding areas had astoundingly high levels of contaminants in the water.

New Orleans has on an an ongoing lead issue because of how old we are.

And the problem is the density and the standards scope.

Sewers and Water Board has a massive undertaking on our hand where we always thought, well, lead is just an issue in the French Quarter.

It's just an issue.

And the mayor any nearby water and it is an issue there, but it's also an issue in Lakeview.

It's also an issue in Algiers.

It's also an issue in New Orleans East because lead, like a lot of things, travel and if you have the right of way or the public line has led, that means you have led.

In a recent study conducted by Jessica Dandridge and the Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans revealed that 88% of homes tested in the city showed detectable levels of lead in their water.

This is largely due to old lead pipes still present in the plumbing of many older homes.

Lead can cause major health problems if too much enters the body.

It can cause damage to the brain and kidneys, and can also interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body.

It can even negatively impact mental and emotional health, often leading to depression and rage, especially children.

Because of their developmental years, it can have a huge impact on, one, your overall neurological health, right?

So how you think you're emotions, it also has a huge impact on your mental health.

And then again, of course, you know, over time, as you age, that can impact your organs.

It is with you for a lifetime.

In another study done by the lead crime hypothesis, there is substantial evidence linking lead exposure to a heightened risk of criminal behavior, particularly violent crimes, which often occur in more impoverished areas.

We oftentimes think of poor people as more crime ridden, especially when you think about, the racist ideas that black people are more, you know, prone to crime.

Or maybe it's just that we're more prone to drinking less water.

Right?

I'm not saying that that's what the issue is, but I'm saying there needs to be more done on the subject.

So how do we fix this?

I think the first thing is knowledge is power.

So get your home tested for lead.

That's the first step.

The second one is, if you do have lead.

Your options are the biggest.

The most important one is to mitigate that.

Let's talk to water board.

Know.

Hey, I found that in my home.

This is what I found.

It's this many parts per billion.

Or the next part of that is to get a filter, or our reverse osmosis system.

There's a bunch of different versions out there now.

Thankfully, not just one.

But the best thing we found, is the EPA approved the, Brita filter with lead that does lead removal.

The last thing is to advocate, and advocate for yourself.

You're already paying for the water that's coming out of your faucet.

What?

They twice.

But again, we have to make it a national issue.

It can't be swept aside.

It's just as important as your air.

It's just as important as the land that you stand on.

Water is your life.

70% of your body, you have to use water to feed your your, your, your pets and your children as well as water your plants.

It is more important than anything, and we have to start prioritizing that in this country.

Louisiana voters approved four new amendments to the state constitution and last Saturday's election.

The first will add five political appointees to the Judiciary Commission, which oversees complaints against judges.

Under amendment one, the House speaker and the Senate President will each select two new members, and the governor will select one.

Amendment two and three will give the legislature more time to process budget laws or extend the legislative session.

The Fourth Amendment will change the process for dealing with tax delinquent properties.

From hashtags to headlines.

Here is what's trending this week.

If you are shopping for the little ones in your life, this may help.

That's right Karen.

The National Toy Hall of Fame has inducted some familiar items.

Now get this.

My Little Pony, Transformers and the card game face ten were all inducted this year and I would like to.

Yes, I would like to say.

All of which I play, especially My Little Pony.

Oh, the money okay.

Yeah, I love them.

I love The Little Pony, but we have Strawberry Shortcake and the Smurfs.

Come on.

They left those off the list.

They sure did.

But other toys also that didn't quite make the cut included balloons, the trampoline, and the Pokemon card game.

What?

A lot of people are probably blasting Christmas music in the car.

And a new report ranked the most popular holiday song in each state.

Now get this the report looked at Google Trends to see which songs people searched for the most.

And in Louisiana, the top spot went to Rudolph the Red-Nosed reindeer.

Well, I'm not surprised because I would think it would be Jingle Bells, but they did come in the top 15 and people had a love hate relationship with Mariah Carey's All I want for Christmas.

And I get that because I am so tired of her and that song.

I am a Mariah Carey fan.

I am actually going to her pop up holiday Christmas bar in New Orleans.

Of course you are.

Oh yeah, and all the glory.

Now, Karen.

For a lot of people, the Rose Parade on New Year's Day is a big tradition, and it's also becoming a big tradition for Louisiana tourism leaders.

Now, for the fourth year in a row, the state will have its own float and musical performers.

Now, this year's theme is Louisiana Saturday Night, and there is always musical guest some famous Louisiana musicians.

And this year we've got the, rockin Cajun fiddler whaling, which I recently just did a story because he's also a tradition bearer, is also country music star Timothy Wade, nephew of Tim McGraw and musician Christian therapist.

And they bring in volunteers from Louisiana to help put these roses on the float.

It's amazing to see.

Awesome.

Well, on to some good news across the state.

Grand Island just a half mile from the Gulf of Mexico and Jefferson Parish, is a key piece of the area's defense against hurricanes.

The island has been losing ground to erosion, putting Louisiana's coastal communities at risk.

I'm taking you on a trip to the island to see the latest efforts to replant solid ground.

Grand Island holds on to its strategic importance to Louisiana, although history has altered its purpose.

Once a home base for pirate John Lafitte and his Barataria to plunder passing ships, later the site of Fort Livingston, a staging area for the Confederate Army during the Civil War.

Today, Grand Island protects Louisiana's coastline as a buffer from storm surges, but it has taken a beating since its inhabitants abandoned it in the 1870s.

This particular area was was impacted during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

There were significant amount of oil and massive oil that washed up on the shoreline.

The oil spill on April 20th, 2010 poisoned Grand Hare's ecosystem of tidal ponds, estuaries and vegetation compound the island's habitat and land loss from hurricanes and storms.

When the storms come in, these islands are built to take those waves and break those wave momentums down, therefore protecting our inland communities, lowering the effects of the storms.

In addition to that, this island is home to some critical habitat.

So our vegetation today is going to serve dual purposes to prevent Grand Hare from losing more ground as a strategic storm buffer.

Volunteers with Restore Retreat planted 6500 clusters of black mangrove and vermilion smooth cored grass.

The vegetation is going to help with sediment retention to protect the island so that when the storms do come in, then helps to lower the storm surge in the storm speed, and height, then additionally, the vegetation is going to provide homes for our migratory species, our birds, our fisheries communities.

The island is home to, unique species of birds.

We've got here.

We've got skimmers and avocet and two species, pelicans that we see quite frequently.

One of the important things, the vegetation that the volunteers are putting out here, the the roots of that, that vegetative material in a wetland situation, you can kind of think of that as the branches and the trunk of the tree and then the leaves are like the leaves on a tree.

So that branch, actually those, those, those roots that are in the ground, they'll expand and they'll grow and they'll allow the marsh platform to keep pace with sea level rise over time.

That organic matter, that organic layer on top of the the mineral layer, the sand and the salt and sediment that's here.

$8 billion from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement fund much of Louisiana's coastal restoration efforts.

However, the revenue stream ends in 2032.

Louisiana is now looking for replacement funding, with initiatives including Constitutional Amendment Number one voters passed in November 2024.

It dedicates federal revenues the state receives from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund.

State Representative Joseph O'Gara authored the legislation.

Anyone who lives up and down while you live in Grand Isle is important, and West Grant here is kind of like the sister island that you can't get to, you know by car that you have to get to by boat.

And the additional moneys that Louisiana would get not only from the renewable, but from additional oil and gas, revenues would help fund the coastal restoration plan, the master plan, for years beyond whenever the BP oil spill runs out, the planting supports barrier island restoration.

One of the key techniques at the Coastal Protection Restoration Authority uses to restore coastal wetlands.

We dredge sediment from about five miles away and piped it onto the islands, create a marsh platform.

So behind me, this where I'm standing, was open water before the project was built, the sediment was filled, and eventually it's going to vegetate up and we'll have a nice marsh platform.

We're out here today with Restore Retreat to get that vegetation growing for Polly, the volunteer effort is a full circle moment.

As she was planning the two phase planting project, she discovered a personal connection.

There was a marine lab that was here on the island, and it was built in 1955 to 1958.

It was built for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and it was home to our fisheries biologist and trained a lot of the state biologists.

It was a very well built structure, withstood a lot of storms.

We've just now recently learned that I have the personal connection to learning in 2022 that through some opportunity for me to plant the island, that my father was the one who designed and built the marine lab, he the project engineer and designer.

The lab closed in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina heavily damaged the island.

Today, surrounding vegetation swallows the remains of Fort Livingston not a sign of decay, but one of renewal as Grand Air reclaims its habitat, putting the island on solid ground again.

Tickets are on sale now for Super Bowl 59 and New Orleans.

If going to the game is not an option, there will be a host of events for the entire family.

LPB sports correspondent Victor Howell sat down with former New Orleans Saint Roman Harper for a look at all the fun.

Roman Harbor back in New Orleans and at a Super Bowl time is great to see.

How are things?

I'm doing great.

I can't really complain.

The weather's pretty good.

Pretty decent, especially compared to where I'm living.

Right now in Charlotte.

For me to get 70 degrees right now, this is amazing.

When you think Super Bowl like on the media side.

Now we're going back to playing days when it's time for Super Bowl.

What are the thoughts that come back to you, when you're playing in that game, you just hyper focused on, just trying to get your job done, that you get two weeks to prepare so you get a little bit more extra study time, all the little details and nuances that go into trying to win you a game.

This is when you're really trying to find truth.

Everything.

Like what else?

The one thing that I'm leaving out that I could maybe get a a jump on to be able to anticipate this one play for this one moment, like you just never know what is going to be that game, changing play.

And so just being prepared for your moment, I just love the fact that New Orleans is the host city, that New Orleans is such a walkable city.

So many people love to come and visit this city when their teams come here and play.

And the fact that the NFL continues to choose the city of New Orleans to host a Super Bowl in this game, just kind of let everybody know how much they value this city, how much the environment matters, and that, you know, new Orleans, we always behave right.

And when the city when the NFL comes and then we know how to have a good time.

Even back when I was covering you and you were in Miami, you had media day and now it's opening night.

And then it's changed a lot because it seems they really want to get the people involved.

So let's talk about that first, about how it's changed for them and what opening night is about.

And for those throughout the state they're watching if they want to be a part of it.

Yeah, it went from media day to opening night.

And so why is it that now?

It's because now they're opening it to the fans, which is this.

They've been doing that since Super Bowl 49.

We wanted in 44.

So since Super Bowl 49, they've allowed the fans to come and be a part of it.

It's $20 to come in and bring your headphones as well, because you can actually listen into the interviews as they're going on.

And I also say go, because it'll be the first time you get to see the actual Superdome, because it'll be in the Superdome.

So you get to see the Superdome in its Super Bowl colors and how they're going to dress it and how they're going to have it looking that day.

You get past opening night, it becomes business for the players, but at least for those in New Orleans and the greater southern area here in Louisiana along the coast, you can also experience it, because I know the other thing that they have is the NFL experience.

A good point about the city, the hotels, restaurants close to the convention center and everything converts to the chance for the fans to really be a part of what you've done.

Tackling dummies run a 40, you know?

I mean, I love that the run in the 40s is my favorite thing, because a lot of people think they're way faster than they are.

And I call that clock the truth.

And so the truth gets just a little bit different for everybody.

But yes, I the, the Super Bowl experience is, in my opinion, the most valued.

And one of the best things that the NFL offers to whatever Super Bowl host city when they come in town.

I love the fact that you're going to have food.

You're going to have live music, entertainment, tackling dummies.

Like you said, kids are playing football.

You're going to be able to like, throw the ball into the little hoops and stuff.

You're actually going to have the 40 yard dash, and they're going to have different prizes and other things that are available for you.

One of the coolest things that I think the NFL offers is, a live rendition, or they have a casing of all the Super Bowl rings of all the teams based.

So all the way from Super Bowl one two, all the way into Super Bowl 58, you get to see that team's version of whatever Super Bowl ring that they have.

And so some of them are way more godly than others.

Oh yeah.

Here's a hint.

All right, I've gotten bigger.

They have Gaga and Ryan a bigger over the years.

I agree with you that one of the Patriots rings I think one of their third ones.

One of my friends, Jonathan Serious, who won a super Bowl with us in 2044, has one of those Patriot rings.

And dude, it's like like, what are you wearing that like it's impressive.

You can see it all.

And I know there's also a special night, HBCU for the schools in Louisiana as well.

They just had at the Bayou Classic.

But I think band competition and yeah, showcase.

Right.

So yes, that'll be Thursday night.

Super, super fun.

I love that the NFL's continue to be inclusive to Kenyan, continue to reach back and pull forward.

I grew up in a HBCU family, so my parents both went to Alabama State, graduated from there.

So that's all I knew.

Growing up was Alabama State and the Marching Hornet band.

So, I just happened to be a jet recruited by Alabama, so, and choose to go there.

But I love the fact that we're going to continue to celebrate, our HBCUs because we got to understand where the NFL came from.

For a long time, our black and African-American players could not play in the ORS and other these larger schools that we talked about.

So all the talent, a lot of the talent came from a species.

And now that they're now allowed to go to other or bigger schools, now, these make sure that these schools and these universities are not forgotten about.

Maybe one of the biggest things, I think you said it's tough to get tickets to the game.

Yeah.

This gets you as close to the full experience coming down in the walls, even if it's for a day, a couple of days.

But everything you were listing, this is really a chance for you to bring the entire family.

It's something for all ages.

There's something for all ages.

And these are memories and things.

Core memories that as an adult, we tend to forget our core memories and like what those moments were like at times.

But as I have my own children now, I value those those times, those moments.

So much more.

Now, you know, I got to bring my son with me, to the Super Bowl and, to the NFL draft in Detroit.

And he was just like, dad, this is the absolute coolest thing ever.

It puts a such a smile on my face, and it really brings me great joy.

So I would encourage all of our parents to get out there and do that for our children that, you know, they're not going to cost you anything.

You know, paying for yourself is one thing, but to to do something special for your kid, to allow them to have that moment that they'll cherish.

And it's other things.

It's not just like your past playing and kicking the football, you know, you also have, locker rooms of all your other different players and, and then also and the, the Super Bowl experience at the convention center, where we also have enough current NFL players and past legends there.

So you have autograph opportunities as well.

So you just never know who you're going to meet, what's your kid's going to be able to do, and what may be that one inspiring thing that you get to share with your child?

Well, it's always great to see you all.

Preciate it.

Thank you.

As the holiday season kicks into full swing, Algeria's tradition takes center stage at one of New Orleans its most iconic hotels, the Windsor Court welcomes guests to its elegant holiday high tea, including several treats, a festive atmosphere and the perfect way to celebrate the season with family and friends like Joy, Joy, joy.

New Orleans is said to be one of the most magical cities to be in during the holidays.

The city comes alive with its special blend of custom celebrations and community gatherings that make this season unforgettable.

City streets transform into winter wonderlands, and area hotels are over flowing with extravagant decorations, delicious food and a festive atmosphere rich in holiday traditions.

The Windsor Court is no exception.

Built in 1984, the London inspired construction was created to make guests feel like royalty.

The lobby doors open to a massive bouquet of live roses from a local florist who delivers every week to keep them fresh.

And throughout December, guests are greeted with a 19.5ft Christmas tree with a handcrafted toy train riding full steam ahead around the base.

I took a tour with Isabelle Marchand, who shared with me the wonder that embodies the Windsor core during the holiday season.

Aside from our main tree in the lobby, we have eight other trees in the hotel that are actually recovery efforts from the hurricane in Asheville, and this is an example of one of them.

We're outside the public lounge, I love that.

You know, it's always good to see us giving back.

You know, we've gone through so much in New Orleans.

And to be able to be a part of something like that is awesome.

To acknowledge that and help other people, and especially to make it about Christmas is amazing.

And it smells great.

I feel wish there was smell of it.

There's still the whole hotel smells like pine right now and a lot of the ornaments out there.

There's some that are new and there's some that we've been using for decades.

So this is the very iconic polo club.

There is a pianist, Claire, every day.

And then there's a live band on Fridays and Saturdays.

It gets very lively during the holidays.

It's very worth checking out.

I absolutely like it in here.

This holiday season, the polo club features mulled wine, eggnog and a winter mint martini.

As we walk the halls on our way to the main attraction, we pass by several of the hotel's paintings, sculptures, tapestries and furnishings from more than 60 artists from the 17th through the late 20th centuries.

These displays of art were all part of the hotel's $12 million collection, established to add to the European ambiance in the hotel.

On to the main attraction holiday tea at the Windsor Court, one of the most treasured traditions in New Orleans and the centerpiece of the holiday season, the Winter court continues to present a beautiful British tea experience.

The Windsor Court tea at Christmas time is the best way to kick off the holidays, and to give yourself and your friends a treat.

Families come from all over the South to experience decorate English tea sandwiches, housemade seasonal scones served with raspberry preserves, Devonshire cream, lemon curd and vanilla bean whipped cream.

Coveted sweet tarts, chocolate covered strawberry and truffle miniature cake and tarts.

While a harpist sets the atmosphere as we waited for our tea to be served.

Isabel talk to me about what makes the holiday so special.

When I started my tea, it was really heartwarming to see, like people would tell me, like, I've been coming here since 1991.

I've been coming.

We opened in 1984 and I would say, especially during the holidays, upwards of 70% of our guests, they're all locals.

So it's all New Orleanians or people from the Baton Rouge area coming in specifically to go to tea.

And they've been coming here for years.

They start making reservations in July.

It's it's an ongoing thing and it's very special.

It's the thing that even my family has made a tradition to come to tea.

And she was right.

Many of the guests said they've made holiday tea.

Part of a new lifelong tradition, and will pass it along to their children.

One group of moms said the elegant atmosphere gives them a much needed break from the day to day struggles of motherhood and allows them to laugh, cry and bond over tea.

Well, we're a group called Fab Five and friends, and we started like 25 years ago.

We all have a child with special needs, and we started this tradition of coming and doing the tea to kick off Christmas and the holidays, and also to give us a treat.

You know, we've had a year of being moms and, all that entails.

And we just this is a treat for us.

And it's beautifully decorated and, we just enjoy doing it.

After an afternoon of tea and treats, the last stop is the Wishing Tree.

So here we have our wishing trees.

We encourage all of our guests to come here and write down a wish, put it on the tree, and hopefully it comes true.

Okay, so I'm going to make a wish.

Okay?

And you have to keep your wishes secret, right?

I won't look, and it wouldn't be right if I didn't leave a wish for you all to have a happy holiday.

Now, that's just a small sample of all of the holiday events going on around Louisiana.

Be sure to watch Louisiana, the state we're in next week for our annual holiday special, and we will take you to each corner of the state to see traditional events along with new experiences.

So you don't want to miss this, right?

Well, that's our show for this week.

Remember, you can watch anything LPB, any time, wherever you are with our LPB app and you can catch LPB news and public affairs shows, as well as other Louisiana programs you've come to enjoy over the years.

And please like us on Facebook and Instagram for everyone that Louisiana Public Broadcasting I'm Karen LeBlanc and I'm Dorothea Wilson.

Until next time.

That's the state we're in.

Support for Louisiana.

The state we're in is provided by Entergy.

Louisiana is strengthening our power grid throughout the state.

We're reinforcing infrastructure to prepare for stronger storms, reduce outages, and respond quicker when you do need us.

Because together, we power life.

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 a historical and cultural center for Southwest Louisiana and by Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.

Visit Baton Rouge and the Foundation for Excellence in Louisiana Public Broadcasting and viewers like you.

Thank you.