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 EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING WITH SUPPORT FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY LNS CAPTIONING WWW.LNSCAPTIONING.COM WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH UNIVERSITIES TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AS WELL AS HELP THEM FIGURE THIS OUT.

ANOTHER CASUALTY OF LSU'S SEXUAL MISCONDUCT REPORT.

THESE ARE STAGGERING NUMBERS.

LOUISIANA NOW HOME TO THE ROBOCALL CAPITAL OF THE NATION.

WHY WOULD WE WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE A CRISIS TO TALK ABOUT THIS?

GROUNDWATER AQUIFERS IN DANGER.

ANTI-ASIAN RACISM HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN EXISTENCE ALL THROUGHOUT AMERICAN HISTORY.

LOUISIANA ACTIVISTS REACT TO THE SPA SHOOTING IN ATLANTA.

HELLO, EVERYONE.

I'M KARA ST. CYR.

AND I'M ANDRE MOREAU.

MUCH MORE ON THOSE TOP STORIES IN A MOMENT ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "SWI," BUT FIRST, MONDAY IN LOUISIANA, THE COVID VACCINE WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANYONE 16 AND OLDER WHO WANTS IT.

LOUISIANA BECOMES ONE OF ONLY NINE STATES OFFERING THE COVID VACCINE TO ANYONE REGARDLESS OF THEIR HEALTH CONDITIONS OR THEIR JOBS.

BUT KEEP IN MIND, TEENAGERS 16 TO 17 ARE ONLY APPROVED FOR THE PFIZER VACCINE.

NOW THIS AS STATE TOLLS WENT OVER 10,000 THIS WEEK, SETTING THAT MILESTONE.

DR. JOSEPH KANTER SAID GETTING THE VACCINE IS ONLY HALF THE BATTLE.

THE REST IS ENCOURAGING YOUR NEIGHBORS TO DO THE SAME 23.5% OF THE STATE'S POPULATION IS CONTRACTING SERIOUS 13.8% HAS COMPLETED THAT SERIES.

WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT.

IF YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE IT YOURSELF, THANK YOU, GO GET YOUR FRIENDS TO DO IT.

AND NOW TO NEWS MAKING HEADLINES ACROSS THE STATE.

THE STATE BOARD OF REGENTS VOWS TO PUT ITS FOOT DOWN ON STATE SCHOOLS.

THEY WILL SEND COLLEGE BOARD LEADERS QUESTIONS TO FIND OUT HOW THEY HANDLE MISCONDUCT CLAIMS.

THEY WANT ANSWERS BY APRIL 9.

THE REGENTS REVIEW IS BASED ON THE INDEPENDENT REPORT ON LSU WHICH FOUND FAILURES FOR YEARS IN HANDLING ALLEGATIONS OF RAPE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ASSAULT.

STATE SENATORS OPENED THEIR LATEST BUDGET HEARINGS MONDAY WITH BIG CONCERNS.

IT'S OVER THE USE OF SHORT-TERM FEDERAL CORONAVIRUS AID TO PAY FOR ONGOING SERVICES AND PROGRAMS BECAUSE THE FEDERAL CASH WILL DISAPPEAR IN LATER YEARS.

THE GOVERNOR'S CHIEF BUDGET ADVISER JAY DARDENNE BELIEVES THE ECONOMY WILL EVENTUALLY REBOUND TO OFFSET THE TEMPORARY FEDERAL BOOST THIRTEEN STATES SUED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WEDNESDAY TO END A SUSPENSION OF NEW OIL AND GAS LEASES ON FEDERAL LAND AND WATER AND RESCHEDULE CANCELED SALES OF LEASES IN THE GULF OF MEXICO, ALASKA WATERS, AND WESTERN STATES.

STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF LANDRY IS LEADING THE REPUBLICAN LEANING STATES.

HE'S SEEKING A COURT ORDER TO END THE MORATORIUM IMPOSED AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED EXECUTIVE ORDERS ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

REPUBLICAN JULIA LETLOW EASILY WON LAST SATURDAY'S SPECIAL ELECTION FOR THE SEAT IN THE U.S. HOUSE THAT HER HUSBAND LUKE COULDN'T FILL BECAUSE OF HIS DEATH FROM COVID-19 COMPLICATIONS.

WITH THE VICTORY, SHE BECOMES THE THIRD WOMAN EVER ELECTED TO THE U.S. HOUSE FROM LOUISIANA, THE FIRST REPUBLICAN WOMAN ELECTED TO CONGRESS FROM THE STATE, AND THE ONLY WOMAN AMONG ITS CURRENT CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.

THERE'S A RUNOFF BETWEEN DEMOCRATIC NEW ORLEANS STATE SENATORS TROY CARTER AND KAREN CARTER PETERSON.

FIELDWORK THAT GOES WITH THE LIGHTNING-AWAITED UNIVERSITY LAKES PROJECT IN BATON ROUGE IS SET TO BEGIN NEXT WEEK.

PHASE 1 BEGINS WITH A LOT OF GEOTECHNICAL BORINGS AND SEDIMENT SAMPLINGS.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO BRING THE LAKES BACK TO LIFE ARE FROM A 2016 MASTER PLAN.

ALSO IN THE NEWS, WE KNOW THERE IS A MAJOR RENOVATION GOING ON AT THE SUPERDOME EXPECTED TO BE READY THIS FALL.

SOMETHING ELSE WILL BE SEEN NEAR THE DOME.

CAESAR'S ENTERTAINMENT IS EXPECTED TO PUT ITS NAME ON THE DOME AS IT SIGNS A DEAL TO TAKE OVER NAMING RIGHTS.

OF COURSE, NONE OF THAT IS SET IN STONE.

YOU CAN EXPECT THOSE CHANGES THIS SUMMER.

THE SEXUAL MISCONDUCT SAGA AT LSU CLAIMED ANOTHER VICTIM THIS WEEK.

OREGON STATE PRESIDENT F. KING ALEXANDER RESIGNED AFTER THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TOLD HIM HE HAS NO CHOICE AND THERE WAS NO TRUST IN HIM.

KING AND FORMER COACH LES MILES ARE BOTH OUT OF JOBS FOR THEIR PART IN THE LSU SCANDAL.

LSU'S SERIOUS FAILURES WERE NO SURPRISE TO THE BATON ROUGE NONPROFIT S.T.A.R., WHICH COUNSELS AND CONSOLES SEXUAL TRAUMA VICTIMS.

TONIGHT IN PART TWO OF MY INTERVIEW WITH S.T.A.R.

CEO RACHEL HEBERT AND STAFF ATTORNEY AIRZOLA CLEAVES, WHAT MIGHT COME NEXT AS VOICES LONG SILENCED ARE NOW BEING HEARD.

S.T.A.R.

THE SEXUAL TRAUMA AWARENESS AND RESPONSE ORGANIZATION.

WE'VE BEEN IN EXISTENCE AS S.T.A.R.

SINCE 2012.

OUR ROOTS DATE BACK TO 1975.

WE STARTED AS PART OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

THIS FEELS LIKE A NEW DAY.

ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN REALLY PUSHING FOR CHANGE, REALLY SINCE WE STARTED IN 2012 AND JUST TO GO BACK TO YOUR PREVIOUS QUESTION, IS LOUISIANA SO DIFFERENT?

LOUISIANA IS ONE OF THE ONLY STATES IN THE COUNTRY THAT DOESN'T HAVE SEXUAL ASSAULT SPECIFIC FUNDING FOR CENTERS LIKE S.T.A.R.

AND IN A STATE AS LARGE AS LOUISIANA, WITH AS MANY PROBLEMS WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THERE ARE ONLY 11 SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE STATE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT WHERE RESOURCES ARE, THEY ARE JUST NOT THERE.

WHEN PEOPLE NEED SUPPORT FROM S.T.A.R.

OR OTHER PLACES OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS THERE IS VERY LIMITED SERVICES.

WILL IT ALWAYS REMAIN DIFFICULT TO SPEAK OUT?

I THINK AS THE CULTURE IS GETTING BETTER AND AS AIRZOLE SAID, JAM MEIS WINSTON IS THE QUARTERBACK FOR THE SAINTS.

HE HAS A VERY LONG TRACK RECORD OF SEXUAL ASSAULT GOING BACK TO FLORIDA STATE.

NO.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS A LOT OF CHANGE HAPPENING.

WE NEED TO DO MUCH MORE WORK AND PUT RESOURCES TOWARDS THIS ISSUE.

IS THE DISCUSSION ABOUT YOU GUYS BEING FUNDED IN A WAY YOU ARE NOT BY UNIVERSITIES?

WELL, WE CERTAINLY ARE LOOKING AT UNIVERSITIES TO DO CONTRACTS WITH S.T.A.R., SPECIFICALLY IN THE AREA, WHAT THEIR TRAINING REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR STAFF, IMPROVING THEIR TRAINING AND LOOKING AT WHAT STUDENTS ARE BEING INFORMED ABOUT AND MAKING SURE THEY KNOW THE PROCESS.

BUT, OF COURSE, UNIVERSITIES, SPECIFICALLY STATE-FUNDED UNIVERSITIES ARE GETTING THEIR FUNDING FROM THE LEGISLATURE WHICH HAS CONTINUED TO CUT HIGHER ED.

SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES ARE NOT STATE FUNDED SO I THINK IT IS UP TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO PUT MORE RESOURCES TOWARDS THOSE UNIVERSITIES TO SOLVE THESE ISSUES AND SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTERS LIKE S.T.A.R.

WITH THE NEXT SESSION COMING UP, AIRZOLE, IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WILL DO, SPEAK TO THE LEGISLATURE AT THAT TOPIC?

GENERALLY, OUR DIRECTOR LEADS LEGISLATION FOR OUR ORGANIZATION AND SHE DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB.

THERE ARE TIMES WHERE WE MAY GO AS STAFF ATTORNEYS, BUT GENERALLY MY WORK IS HER ADVISER.

WE ARE GOING TO TRY.

IT IS FISCAL SESSION.

MANY LEGISLATORS HAVE THEIR BILLS.

THE CONTINUED QUESTION OF WHERE WOULD THE MONEY COME FROM.

IT IS A CONSTANT STRUGGLE TO GET THE STATE BUDGET TO GIVE ANY SOCIAL SERVICES FUNDING.

THERE'S A LITTLE MOMENTUM RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE SPOTLIGHT IS ON, BUT WHAT WOULD BE NEXT?

WHAT WE'RE HOPING IS NEXT IS THAT, OF COURSE, WE KNOW THAT WITH THIS HIGH PUBLICITY, THERE ARE GOING TO BE MORE SURVIVORS.

WE EXPECT MORE SURVIVORS WILL COME TO US FOR SERVICES AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THOSE FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL SERVICES.

AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL WITH ADMINISTRATORS.

I SPOKE AT THE UL CONVERSATION DISCUSSING SEXUAL ASSAULT ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND WE WILL WORK WITH UNIVERSITIES TO THOEMD ACCOUNTABLE AND HELP THEM FIGURE THIS OUT.

AT THE CAPITOL TODAY, A SENATE HEARING LISTENED TO MORE ABOUT THE SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS.

LSU'S ATHLETIC DIRECTOR SCOTT WOODWARD AND SOME BOARD MEMBERS ARE THERE.

LOUISIANA IS NOW HOME TO THE CITY WITH THE MOST ROBO CALLS PER PERSON.

BATON ROUGE.

AS OF MARCH 2021, THE CAPITAL CITY SURPASSED THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF ROBOCALLS, COMING AT MORE THAN 30 CALLS PER PERSON A MONTH.

CARMEN MILLION, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU IN SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA SAYS THE RISE HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SOME TIME NOW.

AND THAT TREND IS CONTINUING UPWARD.

[ PHONE RINGING ] WHEN THE PHONE RINGS ANYWHERE IN LOUISIANA, THERE'S A RISK.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHO'S ON THE OTHER SIDE.

IT COULD ACTUALLY BE SOMEONE YOU KNOW OR IT COULD BE THIS -- WITHIN 24 HOURS DUE TO SUSPICIOUS AND FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY FOUND ON YOUR SOCIAL, WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU THIS CASE IS CRITICAL AND TIME SENSITIVE.

THESE TYPES OF MESSAGES ARE RAMPANT IN THE SOUTH, BUT RECENTLY LOUISIANA HAS TOPPED THE LIST.

BATON ROUGE IS HIGH ON THE NUMBER OF ROBOCALLS CONSUMERS RECEIVE IN OUR AREA.

AN AVERAGE AROUND THE UNITED STATES IS 13 TO 15 A DAY, UNFORTUNATELY, THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES OF BATON ROUGE ARE CURRENTLY THIS MONTH RECEIVING ALMOST 39 PER PERSON AND THAT'S PRETTY STAGGERING NUMBERS.

CARMEN MILLION IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU IN SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA.

SHE TRACKS SCAMMERS, SKETCHY PHONE CALLS FOR A LIVING.

SHE SAYS THE RISE IN ROBOCALLS HAS REALLY BEEN ON AN UPWARD TICK FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW.

JUST BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, IN JANUARY 2020, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, WAS RANKED IN THE TOP FIVE FOR HIGHEST NUMBER OF CALLS PER PERSON.

IT HELD ITS SPOT UNTIL RECENTLY.

BATON ROUGE IS BEING HIT PRETTY HARD, ESPECIALLY IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE SHORTEST MONTH OF THE YEAR, BUT WE WERE HIT WITH THE MOST CALLS.

AS OF MARCH 2021, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, IS RANKED THE ROBOCALL CAPITAL IN THE UNITED STATES, RACKING IN TWO TIMES THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR SCAM CALLS.

EXPERTS SAY IT COMES DOWN TO A COUPLE OF THINGS.

IT HAS A LARGE VULNERABLE POPULATION, WHICH USUALLY MEANS ELDERLY PEOPLE.

ELDERLY WERE TARGETS BECAUSE THEY WERE HOME AND THEY WERE AVAILABLE.

WELL AFTER COVID HIT, MORE PEOPLE WERE HOME AND ATTACHED TO THEIR PHONES.

WE ALL KNOW THAT.

AND, OF COURSE, THE AGE GROUP IS LOWERING.

AND THE SOUTH ALSO HAS SOMETHING CALLED HOSPITALITY, WHICH MAKES THEM MORE LIKELY TO ANSWER THE PHONE.

ESPECIALLY IF THE NUMBER IS COMING FROM AN AREA CODE SIMILAR TO THEIR OWN.

ROBOCALLS OR SCAMMERS, DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY ARE DOING, WE JUST HAPPEN TO BE AVAILABLE TO BE CONTACTED.

ROBOCALLS ARE BASICALLY THE CALLS YOU GET THAT YOU PICK IT UP AND YOU THERE IS AN AUTOMATED CALLER ON THE OTHER LINE AND IN SOME CASES WHAT WE TELL PEOPLE IS IF YOU LET THE PHONE RING LONG ENOUGH AND PICK IT UP AND HANG IT UP, THAT WILL TURN A ROBO CALLER OFF.

THERE ARE WAYS TO SPOT A ROBE OCALLER.

IF IT DOESN'T HAVE AN AREA CODE AND SAYS UNITED STATES OR UNKNOWN, IT IS BEST NOT TO ANSWER IT.

IF IT LEAVES YOU A VOICEMAIL, LISTEN.

IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO GET ARRESTED PRESS ONE TO SPEAK TO THE OFFICER.

IT IS SAFE TO SAY IT ISN'T LEGITIMATE.

THEY CAN HIDE WHERE THE CALL IS COMING FROM WITH TECHNOLOGY TODAY.

IN SOME PLACES IS HARD TO DETERMINE WHERE THAT ROBOCALL IS CALLING FROM.

IN SOME CASES THEY CAN BLOCK THE NUMBER THEY ARE CALLING FROM AND PUT ANOTHER NUMBER THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S LOCAL.

SOMETIMES SCAMMERS WILL USE GRAMMATICALLY INCORRECT LANGUAGE AND MOST LIKELY A GENERAL MESSAGE ASKING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS AND BANK ACCOUNT INFO.

THEY KNOW HOW TO MAKE IT SEEM REAL AND LEGITIMATE.

YOU NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS.

IF YOU GET CALLS FROM PHONE NUMBERS YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE, YOU CAN CALL THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU.

IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY.

BATON ROUGE HAS LONG BEEN PROUD AND FORTUNATE TO HAVE TAP WATER THAT IS PURE AND CLEAN.

BUT IS THAT WATER WHICH ALSO SERVES THE NORTHERN 10 PARISHES OF SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA AT RISK BECAUSE OF OVERUSE FROM INDUSTRY?

THAT'S THE FINDING OF A REPORT RELEASED EARLIER THIS MONTH.

IT'S A REPORT THAT NOT EVERYBODY IS BUYING.

THE LATEST REPORT SAYS STATEWIDE GROUNDWATER LEVELS ARE FALLING FASTER THAN MOST OF THE COUNTRY AND THE SOUTHERN HILLS AQUIFER IS ESPECIALLY AT RISK.

AN ANALYSIS OF GROUNDWATER DATA BY THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING WORKSHOP AND WWNO/WRKF SHOWS IT'S LOSING WATER FASTER THAN ANY OTHER AQUIFER IN THE STATE, MORE THAN 50 FEET IN THE LAST 50 YEARS.

FIRST OFF, HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED A LOT LONGER THAN ME.

WAY BEFORE I SHOWED UP ON THE SCENE.

NONE OF THAT IS NEWS TO TWO OF THE BIGGEST VOICES FOR SAVE OUR WATER BATON ROUGE.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE C DENISE MARCELLE AND RETIRED CONTRACTOR HAYES TOWN, JR. MAYOR SHARON WESTON BROOME HERSELF APPOINTED TOWN THE CAPITAL AREA GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION COMMISSION.

RUNNING RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF BATON ROUGE THERE IS A FAULT LINE THAT SEPARATES FRESH WATER ON THE NORTHERN SITD FROM SALTWATER TO THE SOUTH.

THE INTRUSION OF SALTWATER BECAUSE OF A FAULTLINE AS THIS SAVE OUR WATER COMMERCIAL SAYS WORRIES THEM THE MOST.

HOW TOWN GOT INVOLVED HAPPENED THROUGH A SERIES OF EVENTS AFTER HE RETIRED.

I WENT BACK TO LSU, TO TAKE SOME COURSES, AUDITED SOME COURSES AND THE PROFESSORS IN GEOGRAPHY AND SCIENTOLOGY SAID WHY DON'T YOU SIGN UP AND GET CREDIT.

I DID AND I GOT A MASTERS IN CLIMATOLOGY.

HE LEARNED SOMETHING THAT SHOCKED HIM AND HE WROTE HIS MASTER'S THESIS.

I WENT TO USGS AND TALKED ABOUT MY PAPER.

THEY WERE VERY NICE.

WENT OVER EVERYTHING WITH ME.

I LOOKED AT THE WAY THE SALTWATER WAS ENCROACHING ON OUR DRINKING WATER.

I SAID THIS DOESN'T COUNT, BUT IS THIS GOING TO LAST FOREVER?

HE SAID NO, IT IS NOT GOING TO LAST FOREVER.

HE KNEW THERE WAS A LIMITED LIFE ON THE FRESH WATER, BUT THEY WOULDN'T TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT IS UNPOPULAR.

I STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT.

WHICH LED HIM TO THE SPAWLING PLANT IN NORTH BATON ROUGE.

A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO I WENT TO VISIT THE PLANT MANAGER AT EXXON, TWO CITY COUNCILMEN AND OTHER PEOPLE WITH ME AND ASKING THEM TO GET OFF THE WATER.

THEY WERE NICE AS THEY COULD BE, AS YOU COULD IMAGINE, HE SAYS, HAYES, I DON'T THINK YOU WANT TO GIVE UP THE ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE RIGHT NOW.

IN THE STATEMENT EXXONMOBIL SAYS WE SUPPORT AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT SOUND SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND DATA FROM THE USGS, WATER INSTITUTE OF THE GULF AND LSU.

IT USES 50%.

THERE IS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT INDUSTRY STOPPING USE OF GROUNDWATER.

WHY WOULD WE WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE A CRISIS TO TALK ABOUT THIS?

WHY WOULD WE WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE A CRISIS TO ADDRESS THIS?

IN 2019, LSU PROFESSOR AND STATE SURVEY MEMBER DOUG LAST CARLSON SAID MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE SOUTHERN HILLS AQUIFER OVERSTATED THE PROBLEM.

HE IS A GROUNDWATER RESEARCH SPECIALIST AND SAYS THE RISK IS GRADUAL.

EACH YEAR MARCEL HAS INTRODUCED LEGISLATION AND EACH YEAR DIED WITH LITTLE FANFARE.

ORIGINALLY I WAS SHUT DOWN AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL.

THE INDUSTRY KNOWS EVERYBODY ON THE COMMITTEE AND FILL THE COMMITTEE ROOM AND PRETTY MUCH SHUT IT DOWN BEFORE ANYTHING I WOULD SAY.

THE GROUNDWATER COMMISSION IS TO OVERSEE GROUNDWATER AND IMPLEMENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, BUT IN ITS 45 YEARS THE BOARD OFTEN LEANED HEAVILY TO INDUSTRY.

LAST JUNE DURING A COMMITTEE MEETING THE PART TIME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR QUIT ON THE SPOT.

2020 SAW FIVE COMMISSIONERS CHARGED WITH ETHICS VIOLATIONS FOR CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.

GARY BEARD TOOK OVER AS COMMISSIONER LAST FALL AND MANY FEELS IT SIGNALS A NEW DAY FOR THE COMMISSION.

HE HAS GONE TO THE WATER INSTITUTE OF THE GULF FOR GUIDANCE IN DEVELOPING A LONG RANGE WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN.

IT IS AN INCREDIBLE AQUIFER AND RESOURCE.

THERE IS A SALTWATER INTRUSION ISSUE -- ALLISON DOSSMAN IS CHIEF SCIENTIST AT THE WATER INSTITUTE.

WITH PHASE 1 PLAN BEHIND THEM SHE WILL SPEARHEAD PHASE 2 STRATEGIC PLAN.

THIS IS PART OF THE PROCESS IN TAKING ALL THE SCIENCE, THE DATA, THE INFORMATION THEY'VE COLLECTED THAT ANY OF THE PARTNERS HAVE COLLECTED, THE USGS HAS COLLECTED, LSU HAS COLLECTED, PULL THAT IN ONE PLACE, ONE LOCATION, ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO DEVELOP A PLAN THAT HAS ENGAGEMENT FROM THE PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDERS WHICH IS PART OF OUR PLANNING EFFORT AS WELL AS ENGAGEMENT FROM ALL OF THE PARTNERS WHO UTILIZE THE WATER SO THAT WE CAN DEVELOP A LONG-TERM STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WHATEVER TRANSITIONS OR ALTERINTIVES ARE MOVED FORWARD WITH OR DECIDED CONSERVES THE AQUIFER, HELPS IT BE SUSTAINABLE IN THE LONG TERM IS BUILT ON SKOEN SUS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY DON'T NEED TO WORK ON ME FOR SUPPORT.

THEY NEED TO WORK ON LEGISLATORS FOR SUPPORT.

I WILL GIVE MY SUPPORT WHETHER IT IS VIA A LETTER OR TESTIMONY.

I'M CERTAINLY OPEN TO DOING THAT.

WITH ALL THE PARTNERS INVOLVED, ALL THE DATA, PHASE B OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN FROM THE WATER INSTITUTE IS EXPECTED TO BE READY IN THREE YEARS.

THE BEGINNING OF THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK WAS A NIGHTMARE FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD, BUT FOR ASIAN PEOPLE, IT OPENED THE DOOR FOR OUTWARD DISCRIMINATION.

HATE CRIMES AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS STEADILY CLIMBED AFTER THE PANDEMIC REACHED THE UNITED STATES.

NOW, THE COUNTRY IS GRAPPLING WITH A NEW CALL FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY.

I SPOKE WITH LOUISIANA ACTIVIST S AND ARTIST TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THESE CRIMES.

THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO IS SIMPLY CHILLING, A SUSPECTED GUNMAN WALKS INTO YOUNG'S ASIAN MASSAGE FIRST STOP.

AMY THIEN ANH NGUYEN WATCHED THE STORY UNFOLD.

POLICE RUSHING TO THE DOOR, OTHERS WATCHING IN DISBELIEF.

SHE LIVES 470 MILES FROM WHERE'SPA SHOOTING TOOK PLACE.

FROM HER HOME IN NEW ORLEANS SHE NEVER FELT MORE ATTACHED TO TRAGEDY.

I WAS HORRIFIED.

MY FAMILY HAS A SALON BUSINESS.

I HAVE GROWN UP THERE.

I'VE SEEN IT GROW.

WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THAT NEWS, I JUST IMAGINED ONE DAY I WENT TO WORK AND I WOULD SEE MY MOM, MY AUNT, MY COUSINS WHO WORK THERE, THEIR LIVES BEING TAKEN AWAY BECAUSE SOMEONE JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE A BAD DAY.

IT'S REALLY SCARY AND TO SEE A FACE -- JUST HATE AND IT IS REALLY FRIGHTENING WHEN NGUYEN LOOKS AT WHAT WAS BEING INVESTIGATED AS A HATE CRIME, SHE SHES DISCRIMINATION COMING TO THE FOREFRONT, YEARS IN THE MAKING, BUT COVID-19 AND ISOLATION HAVE BROUGHT OUT A FRUSTRATION IN PEOPLE WRONGLY DIRECTED AT ASIAN AMERICANS.

I FEEL LIKE THERE IS MISDIRECTED HATE AND BLAME BEING PUT ON THE ASIAN COMMUNITY WITHIN THE U.S.

I FEEL THAT -- I GUESS IT FEELS GOOD TO PUT YOUR BLAME ON TO SOMETHING OR DIRECT YOUR FRUSTRATIONS, YOUR ANXIETY TOWARDS SOMETHING.

WITH CORONAVIRUS, WE STARTED TO GET CASES WITHIN CHINA.

OKAY, THAT IS THE CHINESE VIRUS.

THE ASIAN PEOPLE ARE TO BLAME FOR THIS.

VIOLENCE AGAINST ASIANS HAS BEEN ON THE RISE IN AMERICA SINCE THE EARLY MONTHS IN THE PANDEMIC.

IN NEW YORK THE NUMBER OF HATE CRIMES AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS SOARED 800%.

THE TREND IS STILL RISING.

EVEN THOUGH THERE HAVEN'T BEEN REPORTS IN LOUISIANA ABOUT THIS TARGETED VIOLENCE.

KNEW WHEN SAYS IT IS UNNERVING TO WATCH IT.

I TRADED THIS SPA TO RAISE FUNDS FOR ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDERS -- SHE USES HER ART TO DONATE MONEY TO SOCIAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS WHO NEED THEM.

OTHER PEOPLE ARE GETTING LOUISIANA'S ATTENTION IN OTHER WAYS.

MY NAIL IS VAN LE.

I AM ONE OF THE ORIGINAL FOUNDERS OF WE THE PEOPLE.

VAN LE IS AN ACTIVIST HE FOUNDED WE THE PEOPLE AFTER GEORGE FLOYD DIED.

NOW HIS ORGANIZATION IS SERVING ANOTHER PURPOSE.

IT SPREADS INFORMATION ABOUT THE GROWING ANTI-ASIAN HATE CRIMES.

THAT WE CONDEMN RACIAL VIOLENCE AND INJUSTICE AND WANT TO PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES TO HAVE A VOICE.

ANTI-ASIAN RACISM HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN EXISTENCE ALL THROUGHOUT AMERICAN HISTORY LIKE BLACK RACISM AND HATE CRIMES FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES.

MUSLIM COMMUNITIES, JEWISH COMMUNITIES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

NOW TO BE IN EPICENTER OF THAT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO VERBALIZE ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND IT'S REALLY TIME TO EDUCATE A LOT OF PEOPLE ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH.

ESPECIALLY WITH THE TREATMENT WE'VE SEEN ASIAN AMERICANS GO THROUGH BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

IT IS KIND OF HOW WE WERE FEELING DURING THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT LAST YEAR.

WE ARE GOING TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ORGANIZE, AGITATE, AND EDUCATE.

LE SAYS THAT THE SPIKE IN HATE CRIMES IS FORCING PEOPLE IN LOUISIANA TO TALK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT EVEN SOME ASIANS WERE UNCOMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT.

NOW IT'S TIME FOR PEOPLE TO DO SOMETHING.

NOW IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WHAT ACTIONS CAN WE IMPLEMENT IF WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT ASIAN CULTURE, CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT BLACK CULTURE, AND LATINO CULTURE SO THAT WE CAN BUILD AN AMERICA THAT WE WANT.

FEDERAL AUTHORITIES SAY THAT THERE ISN'T ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO CHARGE THE SHOOTER WITH FEDERAL HATE CRIME CHARGES, BUT BOTH LE AND NGUYEN SAYS THE RISE IN CRIME AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS IS STILL WORTH THE CONVERSATION.

BOY, IS IT EVER.

EVERYONE, THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN WATCH ANYTHING LPB ANY TIME, WHEREVER YOU ARE, WITH OUR LPB APP.

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, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM.

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

I'M KARA ST. CYR.

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 EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING WITH SUPPORT FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.