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 I'M CONCERNED WITH FOURTH AND FIFTH AND SIXTH.

IS IT POSSIBLE LOUISIANA WILL SEE ANOTHER SURGE.

WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OURSELVES RIGHT NOW.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR RESTRICTION GUIDELINES?

BATON ROUGE WAS JUST CALLING US.

HOW A HOLLYWOOD FAMILY OF MOVIEMAKERS SETTLED IN LOUISIANA.

HI, EVERYBODY.

I'M KARA ST. CYR.

AND I'M ANDRE MOREAU.

LOTS OF TOP STORIES TO GET TO TONIGHT, ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "SWI," BUT FIRST IT'S HAPPENED IN TEXAS AND MISSISSIPPI, NOW IT COULD HAPPEN HERE IN LOUISIANA.

IT'S POSSIBLE THE MASK MANDATE COULD BE LIFTED IN HIS WEEKLY UPDATES GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS SAID NOTHING IS OFF THE TABLE.

THE LATEST ORDER EXPIRES NEXT WEDNESDAY, WHICH IS WHEN GOVERNOR EDWARDS WILL GIVE HIS UPDATED PROCLAMATION, HE SAYS HE'LL MEET WITH PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS BEFORE HE MAKES A DECISION, ABOUT THE MASK MANDATE, AS OF NOW, LOUISIANA IS OPERATING ON THE LOOSEST RESTRICTIONS WE'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC.

AND IF CASES STAY ON A DOWNWARD SPIRAL, WE CAN'T EXPECT THAT TO CONTINUE.

WHAT HAPPENS IN ARGENTINA AND IN SPAIN AND IN ISRAEL, AND IN INDIA, AND EVERYWHERE ELSE IS IMPORTANT ULTIMATELY TO WHAT HAPPENS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN LOUISIANA.

BUT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OURSELVES RIGHT NOW AND THE LONGER IT TAKES TO GET THAT UPTICK IN VACCINATIONS, THE LONGER IT TAKES TO GET BACK TO NORMAL.

AS WE KNOW, ALL EYES HAVE BEEN ON LSU AND THE SEXUAL MISCONDUCT SCANDAL.

LOTS OF QUESTIONS ARE SWIRLING ABOUT HOW COLLEGE CAMPUSES SHOULD DEAL WITH THESE SITUATIONS.

THURSDAY, THE GOVERNOR ALSO ADDRESSED LAWMAKERS' PLANS TO DEAL WITH THESE CASE EFFECTIVELY.

HE STARTED HIS WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE WITH NEWS ON HOUSE BILL 409.

A BILL THAT SETS GUIDELINES FOR COLLEGES TO FOLLOW IF A TITLE IX SITUATION HAPPENS.

THAT BILL SAILED THROUGH THE HOUSE AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

IT'S ESSENTIAL AND I HAVE SAID THIS MANY TIMES, OUR STUDENTS FEEL SAFE AND BE SAFE ON OUR CAMPUSES AND THE PARENTS OF THOSE STUDENTS KNOW THAT THEY WILL BE SAFE.

THERE IS NOT MUCH TO BE GAINED FROM HIGHER EDUCATION ABSENT OF SAFETY.

AND NOW TO OTHER NEWS MAKING HEADLINES ACROSS THE STATE.

BIG NEWS THIS WEEK IN LSU'S SEARCH FOR A NEW PRESIDENT.

INTERIM PRESIDENT TOM GALLIGAN HAS REMOVED HIS NAME FROM THE SEARCH AND SAYS HE LOOKS FORWARD TO RETURNING TO HIS POST AS DEAN OF THE LSU LAW SCHOOL.

IT LEAVES EIGHT SEMIFINALISTS TO BE INTERVIEWED MONDAY AND TUESDAY WITH THE SEARCH COMMITTEE EXPECTED TO PICK FINALISTS APRIL 30 TO SUBMIT TO THE LSU BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

CONTENDERS INCLUDE COMMISSIONER OF ADMINISTRATION JAY DARDENNE, THE GOVERNOR'S CHIEF BUDGET ADVISOR AND UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA SYSTEM PRESIDENT JIM HENDERSON.

THE PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH IS HAPPENING WITH LSU EMBROILED IN THE MIDDLE OF A SEXUAL MISCONDUCT SCANDAL.

A SECOND TOP AIDE HAS RESIGNED FROM THE STATE AG'S OFFICE, SAYING HIS BOSS TARGETED HIM FOR BEING A WHISTLEBLOWER.

IN HIS RESIGNATION LETTER, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL MATTHEW DERBES SAYS THE OFFICE IS RETALIATING AGAINST HIM FOR FILING THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINT AGAINST FORMER ASSOCIATE PAT MAGEE.

MAGEE RESIGNED IN MARCH SAYING THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM WERE UNJUST AND FALSE.

ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF LANDRY HAS PUT THE BLAME ON DERBES.

DERBES SAYS THE OFFICE HAS TARGETED HIM AND THOSE WHO HAD THE COURAGE TO STAND UP.

THE LEADER OF THE STATE'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING AGENCY IS SUSPENDED WHILE HE'S BEING INVESTIGATED FOR ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

KEITH CUNNINGHAM OF LOUISIANA HOUSING CORP IS ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE WITH PAY PENDING THE OUTCOME OF THE INVESTIGATION.

THE SEARCH FOR SURVIVORS FROM A CAPSIZED LIFT BOAT IN THE GULF OF MEXICO HAS CLOSED AND ATTENTION HAS TURNED TO COMFORTING THE LOVED ONES OF 13 MISSING OR KNOWN DEAD.

THE GRIM HUNT FOR BODIES CONTINUES AND AN INVESTIGATION THAT COULD LAST TWO YEARS HAS BEGUN.

THE SEACOR POWER WENT OVER APRIL 12, EIGHT MILES OFF THE COAST WITH 19 ONBOARD.

THEY WERE MAKING A TRIP TO AN OFFSHORE RIG DESPITE MARINE WARNINGS OF HIGH WINDS AND SUDDEN ROUGH SEAS.

THE COAST GUARD SEARCHED 9,000 SQUARE MILES IN THE AFTERMATH.

AT LEAST 68% OF STATE LAWMAKERS SAY THEY'VE BEEN VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19.

THOUGH TOP LEADERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE REFUSED TO REVEAL WHETHER THEY'VE GOTTEN THEIR SHOTS.

THIS FROM A SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE ADVOCATE NEWSPAPER.

SENATE PRESIDENT PAGE CORTEZ AND HOUSE SPEAKER CLAY SCHEXNAYDER WERE AMONG 12 LEGISLATORS WHO REFUSED TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.

ANOTHER NOTE ABOUT THE MARINE TRAGEDY.

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LAWSUITS EXPECTED FROM FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO PERISHED AND AT LEAST ONE HAS ALREADY BEEN FILED.

THAT CAME IN TEXAS.

THE WIFE OF ONE OF THOSE MISSING FILED SUIT, SEEKING DAMAGES IN EXCESS OF $25 MILLION.

THE SECOND WEEK OF SESSION IS ENDING IN SEVERAL BILLS BEING INTRODUCED AND SENT TO THE DEBATE FLOOR.

TONIGHT, I'M LISTING SOME HIGHLIGHTS AND STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED.

A BILL THAT AIMS TO UPDATE LOUISIANA'S SALES TAX COLLECTION HAS ADVANCED THROUGH THE SENATE.

HOUSE BILL 199 WOULD PUT ALL SALES TAX FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES LIKE SCHOOL BOARDS AND PARISH GOVERNMENTS INTO ONE SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE PROCESS THE REST OF THE COUNTRY USES.

IN THE PAST, A CENTRALIZED SALES TAX APPROACH WAS A HEATED ARGUMENT BETWEEN LAWMAKERS AND LOCAL TAXING AGENCIES, BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, BOTH PARTIES SEEM TO BE IN AGREEMENT FOR THE MOST PART.

THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED BY HOUSE SPEAKER CLAY SCHEXNAYDER.

IT PASSED THROUGH THE HOUSE 97-4.

NEXT, THE BILL GOES TO THE SENATE FLOOR FOR DEBATE.

SOME PATIENTS MAY BE ABLE TO SMOKE MEDICAL MARIJUANA SOON, AT LEAST THAT'S THE GHOUL OF HOUMA REPRESENTATIVE TANNER McGHEE.

HE PROPOSED AN EXPANSION OF LOUISIANA'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM TO ALLOW PATIENTS ACCESS TO SMOKEABLE CANNABIS.

THE BID COASTED THROUGH ITS FIRST REVIEW ON THURSDAY.

THE HOUSE HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE VOTED 12-1 FOR THE EXPANSION.

RIGHT NOW, LOUISIANA'S DISPENSARIES CAN SELL ONLY LIQUID, GUMMIES, INHALERS AND LOTIONS OR CREAMS FOR THE SKIN.

McGHEE'S BID WOULD MAKE IT LEGAL TO SELL IT IN ITS SMOKEABLE FORM FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES ONLY.

SENATOR SHARON HEWITT'S PROPOSAL TO SECURE VOTING SYSTEMS WOULD TAKE AWAY SOME OF THE BURDEN FOR LOUISIANA SECRETARY OF STATE AND ADD MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT ON VOTING MACHINES.

SINCE THE LAST GENERAL ELECTION, WHAT THE STATE USES TO CAST A BALLOT HAS COME UNDER FIRE, AFTER VOTER DISTRUST BALLOONED IN 2020.

HEWITT'S PROPOSAL WOULD CREATE A COMMISSION TO PICK THE VOTING MACHINES THE PUBLIC CAN USE, WHICH IS NORMALLY THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S JOB.

THE SENATE AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE SENT THE BILL TO THE SENATE FLOOR FOR DEBATE.

IF LAWMAKERS CAN AGREE, KINDERGARTEN COULD BE MANDATORY FOR ALL LOUISIANA STUDENTS.

SENATOR CLEO FIELD'S BILL WOULD REQUIRE ALL CHILDREN WHO TURN 5 YEARS OLD BY SEPTEMBER 30th, TO ENROLL IN KINDERGARTEN CLASSES, WHICH IS TWO YEARS YOUNGER THAN THE CURRENT AGE REQUIREMENT TO START SCHOOL.

RIGHT NOW, LOUISIANA LAW CALLS FOR KIDS 7 AND OLDER.

TO BE IN CLASS.

THE CHANGES WOULD GO INTO EFFECT FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR.

HOMESCHOOLED CHILDREN WOULD ALSO HAVE TO START THEIR EDUCATION AT 5 YEARS OLD.

THE BILL WILL BE DEBATED BY THE SENATE NEXT, BUT A SECONDARY SENATE HEARING IS LIKELY TO FOLLOW SINCE THE BILL COULD COST MILLIONS TO MAINTAIN MORE KIDS.

LASTLY, GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS CALLED TRANSGENDER BILLS FILED FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION DISCRIMINATORY.

EDWARDS SAYS HE'LL OPPOSE ANY BILLS THAT PUT MEDICAL AND SPORTS RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSGENDER YOUTH.

LEGISLATORS INTRODUCED A FEW BILLS THAT WOULD BAR TRANSGENDER GIRLS FROM COMPETING IN GIRLS SPORTS.

THERE'S ALSO A BILL TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE NECESSARY FOR TRANSITIONING KIDS.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE THINKS THOSE BILLS WOULD BE HARMFUL AND UNNECESSARY.

EACH WEEK WE'LL GIVE YOU A WRAPUP OF WHAT GOES ON AT THE CAPITOL.

THIS SESSION.

WE'LL CONTINUE THOSE UPDATES UNTIL IT ENDS IN JUNE.

COVID CASES IN LOUISIANA HAVE BEEN ON A STEADY DECLINE FOR WEEKS NOW, AS MEDICAL EXPERTS HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR EVERYONE TO GET VACCINATED.

BUT NOW WE'RE STARTING TO SEE A COUPLE BUMPS ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY.

IN A FEW AREAS, COVID CASES ARE STARTING TO JUMP AND EXPERTS SAY IF WE'RE NOT CAREFUL, LOUISIANA MIGHT FIND ITSELF IN A FOURTH SURGE.

EACH TIME THERE'S A SURGE COMING, MEDICAL EXPERTS SEE THINGS, IT COULD BE GROUPS OF PEOPLE GATHERING OR LESS MASK WEARING, BUT USUALLY THERE'S SOME SORT OF SIGN.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT A FOURTH AND A FIFTH AND A SIXTH.

WE'VE HAD MANY SURGES AND THERE'S NO REASON TO THINK WE WON'T HAVE SEVERAL MORE IF MORE PEOPLE DON'T GET VACCINATED.

CATHERINE O'NEAL IS CHIEF OF STAFF AT OUR LADY OF THE LAKE HOSPITAL.

SHE SAYS THE LAST BIG SURGE IN DECEMBER STARTED OUT AS SMALL UPTICKS IN CASES, UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY BALLOONED INTO SOMETHING MORE.

RIGHT NOW LOUISIANA ISN'T AT A SURGE LEVEL NUMBER OF CASES, BUT WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THAT SMALL OUTBREAKS OF COVID-19.

DR. JOSEPH KANTER WITH THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS THESE CASES ARE ISOLATED IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE.

OUR PROGRESS HAS STALLED AND WE'RE ACTUALLY SEEING THE BEGINNING OF INCREASES AT JUST ABOUT EVERY REGION OF THE STATE.

IN ONE FACET OR ANOTHER.

ALL REGIONS OF THE STATE EXCEPT FOR THE RIVER PARISH REGIONS ARE ALL HAVING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CASES DIAGNOSED DAY BY DAY.

AND ALL REGIONS EXCEPT FOR THE SHREVEPORT AREA HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN PERCENT POSITIVITY.

SO YOU PUT THAT TOGETHER, IT'S CONCERNING.

KANTER SAYS IT'S TOO SOON TO TELL IF LOUISIANA IS, IN FACT, HEADING TOWARD ANOTHER SURGE, BUT THE UPTICK IS STILL ENOUGH TO RAISE ALARMS.

ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OTHER STATES ARE SEEING CASES CLIMB, IN PLACES LIKE FLORIDA AND ALABAMA.

IN MICHIGAN THE GOVERNOR HAS ASKED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SEND EXTRA DOSES TO CURB THE RISE.

WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IS A NUMBER OF STATES IN THE NORTHEAST ARE HAVING INCREASES.

MICHIGAN AND A COUPLE OF WESTERN STATES ARE HAVING INCREASES AND NOW FLORIDA IS HAVING INCREASES, TOO, AS WELL AS ALABAMA.

ALABAMA HAS HAD A 20% ENCREASE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.

MANY STATES IN OUR REGION ARE FLAT.

TEXAS IS STAYING FLAT.

MISSISSIPPI IS STAYING FLAT.

WHY, IT'S REALLY UNCLEAR.

WE'RE CERTAINLY VULNERABLE.

WE'RE CERTAINLY VULNERABLE.

RIGHT NOW ONE OF OUR BIGGEST VULNERABILITIES IS A LACK OF TESTING.

LESS PEOPLE ARE GETTING COVID TESTS.

O'NEAL SAYS IT ISN'T BECAUSE THEY AREN'T AVAILABLE, IT'S JUST THAT PEOPLE AREN'T GOING AS MUCH AS THEY WERE BEFORE.

WITHOUT CONSISTENT TESTING, THE STATE CAN'T KEEP TRACK.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF TESTS BEING PERFORMED FOR COVID-19 IN LOUISIANA, WE ARE AT JUNE NUMBERS WHEN WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE GREAT ACCESS TO TESTING AND WE WERE BEGGING PEOPLE TO GO GET TESTED.

SO MY CONCERN IS WE'RE SEEING INCREASED CASES IN THE COMMUNITY DESPITE OUR LACK OF TESTING.

IF WE WERE TESTING MORE, I'M CONCERNED THAT WE WOULD BE CATCHING MORE COVID.

WE'RE SEEING A SLIGHT INCREASE IN OUR HOSPITALIZATION ACROSS THE STATE AND IN REGION 2, WHERE I AM IN THE LAST WEEK.

SO USUALLY WHEN YOU SEE HOSPITALIZATIONS RISE, THAT'S WHEN THE COMMUNITY IS SEEING AN INCREASE.

SO WILL THAT CAUSE A FOURTH SURGE?

THAT DEPENDS ON THE COMMUNITY.

AND HOW MUCH THE COMMUNITY VACCINATES.

IN THE PAST, WHEN WE HAD SURGES, VACCINATION WASN'T AVAILABLE FOR THE MASSES.

LOUISIANA HAS ABOUT 1.1 MILLION PEOPLE FULLY VACCINATED.

THE REST ARE PEOPLE THAT EITHER DON'T WANT TO GET THE VACCINE OR JUST AREN'T MOTIVATED TO.

WHAT WE ARE FINDING MORE, IN ORDER TO REACH PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE LESS EAGER ETO GET VACCINATED, NOT RESISTANT, BUT HAVE QUESTIONS.

HAVE BEEN TAKING A WAIT-AND-SEE APPROACH, WE FIND GOOD RESULTS IN SMALLER TARGETED EVENTS AT A CHURCH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A COMMUNITY GROUP.

IN A SETTING THAT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE.

THAT MIGHT BE WHERE WE HAVE TO PUT OUR ENERGIES GOING FORWARD.

UP UNTIL NOW, PEOPLE WHO GOT VACCINATED WERE MOTIVATED TO DO SO.

NOW WE HAVE TO REACH PEOPLE THAT AREN'T ADAMANTLY AGAINST IT, BUT HAVE QUESTIONS, CONCERNS.

UNTIL WE REACH HERD IMMUNITY THE VACCINATION PROCESS IS THE ONLY THING THAT WILL KEEP LOUISIANA FROM HAVING A SURGE.

EVERYTHING WITH COVID HAS BEEN FAST-PACED AND CONFUSING.

IT IS NORMAL.

WE ARE IN THE PHASE NOW WE WANT PEOPLE TO GET THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED, REACHING OUT TO US, CALLING THE VACCINE HOTLINE, REACHING OUT TO A FRIEND WHO HAS BEEN VACCINATED OR YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.

IN BATON ROUGE, A MASS VACCINATION SITE IS OPEN EVERY DAY, BUT IF YOU'D LIKE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT OR JUST ASK SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VACCINE, YOU CAN CALL THE COVID HOTLINE AT 1-855-453-0774.

EARLIER THIS WEEK I SAT DOWN WITH CURRENT AND FORMER LSU STUDENTS TO DISCUSS THE SCHOOL'S TITLE IX MISHANDLINGS AND THE IMPACT ON STUDENTS.

OUR DISCUSSION IS THE TOPIC OF THIS MONTH'S "LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE" WHICH AIRS THIS NEXT WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28th, AT 7:00 P.M.

HERE IS A BIT OF OUR CONVERSATION.

A LOT OF ATTENTION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO TITLE IX ABUSES IN THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM AND STORIES OF SPECIAL TREATMENT TO ATHLETES AND COACHES.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE?

YEAH, I MEAN, JUST TO NAME IT, MY EXPERIENCE I FELT INVALIDATED, MANIPULATED, GASLIGHTS, VICTIM BLAMED AND SLUT SHAMED.

I HAD TWO CASES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT.

AND THEY BOTH HAPPENED IN THE FALL OF 2016.

SOMETIMES YOU GO INTO THIS STATE WHERE YOU JUST LAY THERE AND YOU CAN'T MOVE.

YOU GO INTO THIS -- IT IS JUST -- YOU ARE IN YOUR BODY.

AND FOR AN ENTIRE SEMESTER I ENDURED IT OVER AND OVER.

A LOT OF BARRIERS WE HAVE SEEN, THE MOST COMMON IS NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT OF CLASSES WITH THE PERSON WHO ABUSED YOU.

THAT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE KNOWN OR DOING THINGS WITH TITLE IX AT LSU.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT LOUISIANA AS A WHOLE IS FAILING ON.

MANY STATES HAVE STATE LAWS THAT MAKE THAT REQUIRED IF A SURVIVOR IS IN A CLASS WITH AN ABUSER, YOU HAVE TO MOVE THE ABUSER.

IT IS NOT ON THE SURVIVOR TO MOVE.

YET WE CAN'T GET SURVIVORS MOVED OUT OF THEIR CLASSES WHEN THEY ARE BEGGING TO BE.

NOT ONLY DOES THAT TAKE ACTION FROM UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION, IT SHOULD BE A CONCERN TO ADMINISTRATORS ACROSS LOUISIANA.

MY EXPERIENCE, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT MY OPTIONS WERE, WHAT WAS RIGHT, WRONG, CORRECT PROTOCOL, WHAT WAS NOT.

SO I TRUSTED THESE PROFESSIONALS TO DO THEIR JOBS BECAUSE I DEFINITELY WAS NOT IN A PLACE TO QUESTION ANYTHING.

I LATER FOUND OUT MY INVESTIGATION WAS NOT THOROUGH ENOUGH.

THERE WERE DEFINITELY PROTOCOLS BROKEN, BUT I HAD NO IDEA HOW TO NAVIGATE THAT AT THE TIME AND I DIDN'T HAVE RESOURCES TO HELP ME NAVIGATE THAT.

A PERSON IS IN A POSITION OF POWER SO I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE I COULD REPORT IT.

I HEARD STORIES OF ELIZABETH AND CAROLINE IN MY FRESHMAN YEAR.

I DIDN'T REPORT IT.

I DIDN'T THINK THE PROCESS WOULD BE KIND TO ME.

I DIDN'T THINK I COULD TRULY BE REPRESENTED THROUGH THE PROCESS BECAUSE I HEARD SO MANY STORIES ABOUT TITLE IX WAS ALMOST VICTIM BLAMING.

I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY LSU'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIRST CREATE A CULTURE WHERE PREDATORS AND ABUSERS KNOW THEY WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

RIGHT NOW LSU HAS SENT A VERY CLEAR MESSAGE THAT PREDATORS AND ABUSERS WILL BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU CAN HAVE AS MUCH RESOURCES AS YOU WANT, BUT IF PEOPLE ARE NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE, NO ONE IS GOING TO REPORT.

WHY WOULD THEY?

WHY WOULD THEY RELIVE THEIR TRAUMA AND PUT THEMSELVES THROUGH NO PAIN KNOWING NOTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN?

PUBLIC SQUARE WILL ALSO FEATURE CONVERSATIONS WITH LSU INTERIM PRESIDENT THOMAS GALLIGAN AND UL SYSTEM PRESIDENT DR. JIM HENDERSON.

AGAIN, 7:00 P.M., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, ON LPB.

THE OSCARS WILL HIGHLIGHT THE NUMBER OF INDEPENDENT FILMS BEING MADE.

ONES THAT NEVER WENT TO THE BIG THEATER.

INDEPENDENTS CONTINUE TO MAKE NOISE IN LOUISIANA.

TONIGHT WE MEET A CLOSE FAMILY OF FILMMAKERS WHO ARRIVED IN BATON ROUGE WITHOUT FANFARE FIVE YEARS AGO, BUT THAT MAY ALL CHANGE WITH THE RELEASE OF THEIR LATEST FILM, "THE LAST CHAMPION" AND A NUMBER OF FILMS ON THE HORIZON.

WE'LL BE MARRIED 30 YEARS IN MAY.

NEXT MONTH.

GLEN WITHROW AND HIS WIFE HALLE TODD COMBINE YEARS OF ACTING WITH WRITING, PRODUCING, DIRECTING, AND NOW DISTRIBUTING IN THEIR COMPANY REDBURN PRODUCTIONS.

THEIR DAUGHTER, IVY WITHROW, ALSO WRITES AND IS NOW A LAWYER.

THEY ARE QUITE A PACKAGE WHO HAVE ALL BASES COVERED AS INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS.

GLEN IS A VETERAN ACTOR LIVING HIS DREAM OF MAKING MOVIES, HALLIE IS BEST KNOWN AS JO MAGUIRE IN LIZZIE McGUIRE.

HALLIE'S MOM WAS MILLIE, THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR ON THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW AND FRAN DRESCHER'S MOM IN THE NANNY.

WE PINCH OURSELVES ALL THE TIME.

WE ARE DOING THIS.

WE ARE DOING THIS TOGETHER.

IT IS REALLY SUPER COOL AND RARE AND FUN.

DOING IT, DOING EVERYTHING.

YEAH.

IT IS USUALLY A COMPANY DOES ONE -- YEAH.

I MEAN, HE DOES, I WOULD SAY PERCENTAGE WISE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT MORE HEAVY LIFTING.

I STAY IN MY LANE FOR THE MOST PART AS FAR AS CREATIVE -- WE ARE ALL CREATIVE TOGETHER, BUT ONCE THAT PART IS OVER, I'M NOT AS -- ONCE WE GET THROUGH CASTING AND FILMING, HALLIE AND I DO THAT.

YEAH.

YOUR DAUGHTER, ALSO WRITER, BUT NOW LAWYER FOR THE COMPANY.

YEAH.

LSU.

LSU LAW.

YEAH.

SHE HANDLES ALL THE LIAISON BETWEEN THE ATTORNEYS WE HAVE TO WORK WITH AND WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.

SHE GATHERS ALL THAT AND COMMUNICATES WITH US.

WHICH IS REAL LE HELPFUL.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A MAJOR ONE-STOP SHOP.

WE ARE.

VERY MUCH UNDER THE RADAR BY CHOICE.

SINCE MOVING TO LOUISIANA IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

IT IS HARD WHEN YOU ARE IN L.A. AND IN THE INDUSTRY, YOU ARE AFRAID TO LEAVE.

YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN'T DO WHAT YOU DO ANYWHERE ELSE.

BUT WE WANTED TO PULL THE BAND-AID OFF AND BATON ROUGE WAS JUST CALLING US.

THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT KEPT FLOATING OUR WAY.

THIS IS FOR A REASON.

SO WHEN WE MOVED WE WEREN'T SURE IF IT WAS GOING TO WORK.

I HAVE NEVER LIVED ANYWHERE BUT LOS ANGELES.

WE WERE KIND OF LIKE, LET'S JUST CHECK IT OUT, RIGHT?

SO THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND LARGELY MADE THEIR LATEST FILM SINCE MOVIEING HERE.

THE LAST CHAMPION WHO IS AN OLYMPIC WRESTLER WHO CHEATS AND FINDS OUT IF THERE IS REDEMPTION LATER IN LIFE.

THE FILM IS EVERY ONE OF US IN OUR LIVES HAVE DONE SOMETHING WE WISH WE DID NOT.

IT IS HOW YOU MANAGE REGRET AND SHAME AND DO YOU LET IT EAT AWAY AT YOU AND JUST KIND OF RUIN YOU OR IS THERE A POSSIBILITY OF GETTING HEALED.

USE IT.

I WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW I'M IMPRESSED WITH THE HARD WORK YOU PUT IN.

THEY HAVE DONE ALL OF THIS IN A TIME THAT HAS HAD A YEAR-PLUS INTERRUPTIONS AND CHANGES BROUGHT ON BECAUSE OF COVID AS THEATERS WENT DARK.

WHAT THAT CREATED FOR INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS WAS AN ENVIRONMENT WITH YOUR OWN TYPE OF DISTRIBUTION OR GOING WITH ANNING A REGATOR THAT WOULD GET YOUR FILM OUT.

WE HAD CHANGES.

WE WERE READY TO GO RIGHT INTO THEATERS.

ABOUT A $5 MILLION MARKETING PLAN TO GO INTO THE THEATERS AND -- COVID CHANGED THAT.

COVID CHANGED IT.

WE HAD TO, WE HAD TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, DO A TURN AND FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE GET IT ALL INTO THESE DIFFERENT CHANNELS LIKE AMAZON AND I TUNES AND VUDU AND HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

WE RESEARCHED IT.

WE FOUND SOME AGGREGTORS.

THE FILM HAS TO BE ACCEPTED BY I TUNE OR AMAZON AND IT WAS.

IT HAS BEEN FANTASTIC.

GREAT FOR THE INVESTOR.

YOU HAVE SEVERAL FILM YOUS HAVE DONE AND SOME IN THE PIPELINE.

WANT TO MENTION BUT NOT SAY THE NAMES.

NOT YET.

"THE LAST CHAMPION" WAS NOT SHOT HERE.

YOU WILL RECOGNIZE LOUISIANA MUSICIANS FOR SURE.

WHO IS THAT?

DAVID TORRENCE WITH THE BATON ROUGE SYMPHONY, HE WAS THE CONDUCTOR ON THE FIELD.

HE BROUGHT MUSICIANS FROM BATON ROUGE AND NEW ORLEANS.

16 MUSICIANS DID THE SCORE.

WE RECORDED IN ESPLANADE STUDIOS IN NEW ORLEANS.

IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE DAYS OF MY LIFE LISTENING TO THAT.

I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE SOUNDTRACK.

IT IS GORGEOUS.

ESPLANADE STUDIOS OPENED ITS DOORS IN 2013 AS THE LARGEST RECORDING STUDIO IN THE STATE.

THEIR UPCOMING PROJECTS WILL USE CELTIC STUDIOS IN NEW ORLEANS AND SHOT ON LOCATION IN BATON ROUGE AND IN NEW ORLEANS.

THE LAST CHAMPION STARRING COLE HOWESER IS AVAILABLE ON I-TUNES, AMAZON PRIME VIDEO AND MORE.

SHRIMP SEASON IS UPON US.

FISHERMEN ALWAYS START WITH SOMETHING SPECIAL.

A BLESSING OF THE FLEET, A CENTURIES OLD TRADITION.

PRIESTS BLESS THE BOATS TO HAVE A SAFE AND BOUNTIFUL SEASON.

GIVE US TODAY OUR DAILY BREAD AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US.

WE ARE HERE AT THE BLESSING OF THE FLEET.

THIS IS WHERE WE BLESS ALL OF THE BOATS.

SO THE PRIESTS AT THE CHURCH BLESS ALL THE BOATS AND -- THERE WAS A LOT MORE BOATS.

SO MAYBE LIKE 75 TO 100 SHRIMP BOATS THAT WERE REALLY DECORATED.

THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF JUST LIKE REALLY TAKING THE TIME TO REALLY CELEBRATE THE OPENING OF SHRIMP SEASON.

IT IS JUST A LOT SMALLER CELEBRATION NOW.

IN THE 80s WE LOST MOST OF OUR SHRIMPERS BECAUSE OF THE FLOOD OF FOREIGN IMPORTS.

IT IS HARD TO KEEP THESE THINGS INTACT WHEN THE FISHING FLEET IS DWINDLING AWAY.

PEOPLE ARE TIRED AND THEY HAD SUCH A ROUGH YEAR AND WE WENT THROUGH ANOTHER HURRICANE.

TO MOTIVATE TO CELEBRATE TO GET OUT HERE IS PROBABLY PRETTY DIFFICULT.

FROM SHRIMP BOATS TO SPACE ROCKETS,X CIVILIAN MISSION LAUNCHED FIRST MISSION INLESS THAN A YEAR THREE, TWO, ONE.

THEY LAUNCHED FROM CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA, FOUR ASTRONAUTS FROM THREE COUNTRIES ARE ONBOARD THE U.S., FRANCE AND JAPAN.

THEY WILL BE IN SPACE FOR SIX MONTHS AT THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.

LATER THIS YEAR THE SPACEX CIVILIAN MISSION IS EXPECTED.

HAYLEY ARCENEAUX WILL BE ONBOARD.

WELL, EVERYONE THAT'S 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.