GREENSPANER 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.

THE STORMS GOT HERE AND DUMPED RAIN ON US FOR HOURS.

THE DELUGE THAT NEVER ENDED.

WE ARE ACTUALLY MONITORING THE SITUATION AS IT PROGRESSES.

THE CAJUN NAVY RELIEF ALWAYS ON THE READY.

I DON'T LIKE LOUISIANA POLITICS.

I LOVE LOUISIANA.

REMEMBERING THE GOVERNOR WHO SPARKED THE ROEMER REVOLUTION.

I'M KARA ST. CYR.

AND I'M ANDRE' MOREAU.

RIGHT NOW ON SWI FUNERAL SERVICES HAVE BEEN SET FOR FORMER GOVERNOR BUDDY ROEMER.

HE DIED MONDAY AT THE ABLE OF 77.

ROEMER WILL BE REMEMBERED AT TWO SERVICES NEXT WEEK, FIRST IN BATON ROUGE AND THEN IN SCHREVEPORT.

THE BATON ROUGE SERVICE IS NEXT TUESDAY MORNING AT 9:00, THAT'S MAY 25th, WITH VISITATION AND SERVICE AT ISTROUMA BAPTIST CHURCH.

THEN THURSDAY MORNING MAY 27th AT 9:30 IN SCHREVEPORT AT FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, WITH VISITATION AND A SERVICE TO FOLLOW.

BUDDY ROEMER WAS ONE OF THE FINEST, FRIENDLIEST MEN I'VE EVER MET.

I FELT CLOSE TO HIM.

I TALKED TO HIS SON CHAS ROEMER THIS WEEK, AND CHAS TOLD ME OF HIS FATHER'S DEEP LOVE AND FAITH IN LOUISIANA AND HIS POLITICAL ETHICS.

THE ROEMER REVOLUTION, TO CLEAN UP THE TYPE OF DIRTY POLITICS THE STATE HAD BECOME KNOWN FOR.

HE LOST A FEW BATTLES HE PROBABLY COULD HE WON HAD HAD BEEN WILLING TO DO BUSINESS LIKE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN DONE BEFORE.

AND HE SAID I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT.

I REMEMBER SITTING IN HIS OFFICE PROBABLY ABOUT 11:30 AT NIGHT, I THINK IT WAS HIS FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE, AND THERE WAS A DEBATE GOING ON ABOUT THE BUDGET.

AND TECHNICALLY OUR STATE WOULD GO BANKRUPT AT MIDNIGHT IF THE BUDGET WASN'T PASSED.

A GROUP OF LEGISLATORS CAME IN, A SMALL GROUP, AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT IF DAD WERE WILLING TO GIVE IN ON SOME PORK BARREL PROJECT THAT THEY WANTED IN THEIR DISTRICT, OUR STATE WAS NEAR BANKRUPTCY, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T ANY EXTRA MONEY FOR THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS.

AND THEY CAME IN SAID, BUDDY, IF YOU'RE WILLING TO COMPROMISE AND GIVE US THESE THINGS FOR OUR FRIENDS, WE'LL PASS YOUR BUDGET.

AND HE SAID, IF THAT'S THE DEAL I'M GOING HOME.

AND HE DIDN'T MAKE THE DEAL.

AND HE WALKED OUT AND WENT BACK TO THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION.

AND THE BUDGET DIDN'T PASS.

AND IT CAUSED MY DAD A LOT OF POLITICAL GRIEF.

WE HAD TO SKIP A PAYMENT FOR STATE WORKERS, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS HE HAD TO DO BECAUSE OF THAT, BUT HE THOUGHT THAT WAS THE WHOLE REASON HE WAS HERE, IN TERMS OF HIS POLITICS, IN TERMS OF BEING GOVERNOR, IT WAS TIME TO QUIT MAKING DEALS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

IT WAS TIME TO MAKE PROGRESS AND DO IT IN THE SUNLIGHT OF THE DAY AND HELP OUR STATE.

LATER IN THE BROADCAST, MY 2017 INTERVIEW WITH THE FORMER GOVERNOR AND HOW HE CAME TO WRITE THE MEMOIR OF HIS LIFE.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS VIDEO OF CSC CUSTOMS IN BATON ROUGE.

IT WAS ONE OF SEVERAL FLOOD CASUALTIES THIS WEEK.

LUCKILY NO ONE WORKING HERE WAS INJURED, BUT NOT EVERYONE WAS THAT FORTUNATE.

IN A PRESS BRIEFING GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS SAID THAT FIVE PEOPLE HAVE DIED BECAUSE OF THE HIGH WATER.

FOUR OF THOSE FIVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN THEIR CAR.

THEY WERE DRIVING THROUGH FLOODED STREETH WHEN THEIR CARS WERE SUBMERGED AND COULDN'T GET OUT IN TIME.

HE ALSO URGED PEOPLE TO DO THIS -- IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED DAMAGE FROM FLOODING OR SEVERE WEATHER THIS WEEK, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE REPORT THAT DAMAGE BY VISITING DAMAGE.LA.GOV.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE DIRECTED TO A SELF-REPORTING SURVEY, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU FILL IT OUT, BECAUSE THIS IS THE INFORMATION WE'RE GOING TO BE COLLECTING LOCAL AND STATE EMERGENCY MANAGERS WILL USE IT TO HELP MAKE THE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT WE DO GOING FORWARD, AND IF NECESSARY, IT HELPS MAKE THE CASE FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE FOR OUR RECOVERY PROCESS.

DURING THAT PRESS BRIEFING THE GOVERNOR ALSO COVERED COVID AND VACCINATIONS.

AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE US AVERAGE OF PEOPLE FULLY VACCINATED IS AT 38%, LOUISIANA IS OFF PACE AT ONLY 30.

AMONG THE BOTTOM FOUR STATES IN THE NATION.

THE GOVERNOR AND DOCTORS WITH STATE PUBLIC HEALTH URGED PARENTS WITH CHILDREN 12 YEARS AND UP TO GET THEM VACCINATED.

THEY SAY THERE'S OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE OF SAFETY AND HEALTH SECURITY THE VACCINE PROVIDES.

AND NOW LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT OTHER HEADLINES MAKING NEWS AROUND OUR STATE.

NIGHTTIME BODY CAM FOOTAGE OF THE DEADLY ARREST OF A BLACK MAN IS FINALLY SEEING THE LIGHT OF DAY AFTER TWO YEARS.

IT HAPPENED IN 2019, AFTER A CAR CHASE OUTSIDE MONROE.

THE VIDEO SHOWS STATE TROOPERS STUNNING, PUNCHING, AND DRAGGING RONALD GREENE AS HE WAILS "I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY."

THE ARREST IS NOW THE SUBJECT OF A CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATION.

UNLIKE OTHER IN-CUSTODY DEATHS, THIS FOOTAGE WASN'T RELEASED FOR TWO YEARS, AND GREENE'S CASE HAS BEEN SHROUDED IN SECRECY AND ACCUSATIONS OF COVER-UP.

WORK HAS BEGUN ON THREE COASTAL PROJECTS DESIGNED TO RESTORE NEARLY FIVE SQUARE MILES.

THE REBUILDING OF BEACH, DUNE, MARSH, AND RIDGE IS HAPPENING NEAR VENICE, GRAND ISLE, AND EAST OF NEW ORLEANS.

THEY'RE USING 18 MILLION CUBIC YARDS OF SEDIMENT DREDGED FROM THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

THAT'S ENOUGH MUD TO FILL THE SUPERDOME 18 TIMES.

THE TOTAL COST, JUST UNDER $257 MILLION, IS BEING PAID BY MONEY FROM BP AND THE "DEEPWATER HORIZON" DISASTER.

A BILL TO ALLOW CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE TO TAKE UNLIMITED SUMS OF MONEY DIRECTLY FROM POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES MOVED CLOSER TO FINAL PASSAGE.

THE BILL SPONSOR SAYS IT WOULD DO AWAY WITH RESTRICTIONS ON MONEY THAT COMES FROM SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS AS MORE OF A TRANSPARENCY BILL THAN ANYTHING.

A PRELIMINARY REPORT FROM THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD SAYS THE SEACOR POWER HAD BEGUN TO LOWER ITS LEGS AND WAS TRYING TO TURN TO FACE HEAVY WINDS WHEN IT FLIPPED EIGHT MILES OFFSHORE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.

OF THE 19 PEOPLE ON BOARD, ONLY SIX WERE RESCUED.

THE REPORT SAYS THE OIL RIG LIFT BOAT OVERTURNED DURING 90 MILE-AN-HOUR WINDS AND HUGE SWELLS APRIL 13th.

THE WEATHER CHANNEL POSTED A VIDEO ON ITS WEBSITE THIS WEEK, CALLING LAKE CHARLES THE MOST WEATHER BATTERED CITY IN AMERICA.

NO ONE LIVING THERE WOULD DISAGREE.

IT'S NOW FOUR MAJOR WEATHER EVENTS TO HIT SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA IN THE PAST YEAR.

CAT 4 HURRICANE LAURA IN AUGUST, THEN CAT 2 DELTA IN OCTOBER.

THE FEBRUARY WINTER STORM LEFT THE CITY WITHOUT POWER AND WATER AGAIN, AND THIS PAST MONDAY, THE THIRD HEAVIEST RAINFALL IN LAKE CHARLES' RECORD FLOODED MANY OF THE CITY'S HOMES.

WE'VE ALL SEEN THE FOOTAGE OF HIGHWAYS SPILLING OVER WITH WATER AND FAMILIES WATCHING THEIR HOMES FLOOD IN SEVERAL PARISHES.

SOME OF THEM FOR THE SECOND TIME N LAKE CHARLES THE SAME STORY, HISTORIC LEVELS OF RAIN HIT THE CITY, PUSHING BACK RECOVERY AFTER HURRICANE LAURA AND DELTA.

TONIGHT WE HEAR STORIES FROM SOME OF THE VICTIMS.

IN HER 42 YEARS OF LIFE, ROBBIE HALL HAS SEEN HIGH WATER LIKE THIS ONLY TWICE.

THE FIRST TIME WAS UNEXPECTED IN 2016.

AND THE SECOND WAS THIS WEEK, ON MAY 17th.

YOU DON'T THINK IT'S AN ISSUE UNTIL IT'S AN ISSUE.

BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL WE SAW THE WATER RISE AGAIN AND NOT REALIZING HOW FAST AND HOW QUICKLY IT WAS COMING IN.

WE WENT INTO PANIC MODE.

HER DRIVEWAY IS COVERED AND WATER SITS RIGHT AT HALL'S DOORSTEP, JUST WAITING FOR MORE RAIN TO PUSH IT INSIDE HER HOME.

WHEN SHE GOES TO THE OTHER SIDE OF HER HOUSE, THE INFLUX IS ALREADY STARTING.

IT'S ONLY A THIN LAYER OF WATER, BUT IT BRINGS BACK MEMORIES, HALL PRAYS IT WON'T GET ANY HIGHER.

I'M A STRONG BELIEVER THAT GOD WON'T BRING ME TO IT IF HE WOULDN'T BRING US THROUGH IT.

IN NEIGHBORING PARKICIOUS, THE WATER GOT SO HIGH IT FLOODED HOMES.

IT'S HARD NOT TO COMPARE THESE VISUALS TO 2016, BUT GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS SAYS IT'S NOWHERE NEAR THE WATER LEVELS WE SAW FIVE YEARS AGO.

A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE BEEN MAKING COMPARISONS TO 2016, ESPECIALLY THE AUGUST FLOOD.

AND ANY TIME YOU HAVE SEVERE FLOODING OF THIS NATURE, I THINK THERE'S COMPARISONS TO BE MADE.

THIS TIME, THOUGH, WE'VE HAD BREAKS IN THE RAIN THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE.

THE WATER AND RIVER LEVELS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RECEDE FOR THE NEXT ROUND WOULD ROLL IN.

WE ALSO HAVE ISN'T HAD ENOUGH RAIN FROM UP NORTH TO PUSH MORE WATER INTO SURROUNDING AREAS.

BUT IN LAKE CHARLES, THE WEATHER WASN'T AS FORGIVING.

THE STORMS GOT HERE AND JUMPED RAIN ON US FOR HOURS.

IT PUT THE WHOLE CITY AT A STAND STILL.

ALL THE SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED, THEY'RE CLOSING TOMORROW, BECAUSE IT STARTED RAINING A COUPLE HOURS AGO.

THEN IT'S SUPPOSED TO GET WORSE TONIGHT, AND THEN IT'S SUPPOSED TO RAIN EVEN MORE TOMORROW AND THE NEXT DAY.

WE'RE ALL JUST TRYING TO CROSS OUR FINGERS AND HOPE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE LIKE THAT AGAIN.

DEREK WILLIAMS WATCHED WATER RISE UP THE SIDEWALK NEAR HIS HOUSE.

HOE TOOK THIS PICTURE TO SHOW HOW HIGH IT GOT.

KEEP IN MIND HE'S SIX FEET TALL AND THE WATER IN THIS PHOTO IS NEARLY UP TO HIS CHEST.

IT WAS A VERY REAL THING.

YOU COULD NOT DRIVE MOST THE PLACES IN LAKE CHARLES.

THESE WERE MOSTLY AREAS FLOODING, THEY'RE NOT EVEN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING.

LIKE OUR STREET UP FRONT, IT FLOODS, BUT IT NEVER FLOODS THAT MUCH.

USUALLY YOU CAN STILL SEE THE SIDEWALKS.

THE SIDEWALKS ARE PROBABLY A GOOD SIX INCHES ABOVE THE ROAD ITSELF.

USUALLY YOU CAN STILL SEE THE TOP OF THAT, IT NEVER ACTUALLY COVERS IT, EVEN WHEN WE GET A RANDOM HEAVY RAIN.

WILLIAMS IS ONE OF THE LUCKIER PEOPLE IN LAKE CHARLES.

HIS HOME DIDN'T FLOOD.

HE JUST WATCHED AS OTHER PEOPLE TRIED TO NAVIGATE THE INFLUX.

LAKE CHARLES EXPERIENCED 15-17 INCHES OF RAIN IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE CITY, TAKING EVERYONE BY SURPRISE.

INCLUDING WILLIAMS.

OFFICIALS SAY A MINIMUM OF 400-500 HOMES WERE DAMAGED BY THE HIGH WATER, AND SOMEWHERE IN THAT NUMBER WERE PEOPLE TRYING TO REBUILD AFTER HURRICANE LAWYER JAW.

WHAT WE EXPERIENCED YESTERDAY WAS MORE RAINFALL THAN WE HAD DURING LAURA LAST YEAR.

PARTS OF THE CITY HAD MORE RAINFALL THAN WE EXPERIENCED FOR HURRICANE DELTA.

WHEN YOU COMPOUND WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY ON TOP OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH AT THIS JUNCTURE TWO HURRICANES AND A WINTER STORM, IT'S JUST UNPRECEDENTED AND HISTORIC.

WORDS REALLY ARE HARD TO COME BY TO ACCURATELY DESCRIBE WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH IN LAKE CHARLES.

TO NIC HUNTER, THE MAYOR OF LAKE CHARLES, THE UNUSUAL WEATHER PATTERNS ARE MORE THAN JUST AN INCONVENIENCE FOR THE CITY.

IT'S AN OBVIOUS SIGN THAT THE WEATHER IS CHANGING,.

WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY WAS TECHNICALLY A 100-YEAR EVENT.

WE VERY HAD MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, 100-YEAR EVENTS OVER THE LAST DECADE IN THIS CITY.

SO CALL IT CLIMATE CHANGE.

CALL IT WHATEVER YOU WANT, SOMETHING IS AMISS.

AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO GOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

AND TO DO OTHERWISE WOULD BE A DISSERVICE TO THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN RECOGNIZING THAT, MAYOR HUNTER SAYS LAKE CHARLES NEEDS WASHINGTON'S ATTENTION.

IT SEEMS THE MAYOR OF LAKE CHARLES IS SOMEWHAT GETTING THROUGH TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

NIC HUNTER DID GET A PHONE CALL FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN ON WEDNESDAY.

HE OFFERED HIS SUPPORT THROUGH THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.

DISASTERS, THE CAJUN NAVY IS SYNONYMOUS WITH HELPING OUT.

I TALKED WITH THE PRESIDENT OF CAJUN NAVY RELIEF ABOUT THE WORK THEY DO.

COLLEEN UDELL TOLD ME IT'S YEAR-ROUND NOW, PLANNING AND PREPARING FOR RESCUE AND RELIEF, ESPECIALLY AS ANOTHER HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS.

SO FAR THIS WEEK WE DEPLOYED BETTERS TO LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA, AND WE ALSO DEPLOYED BETTERS TO BATON ROUGE DUE TO THE FLOODING THAT HAD OCCURRED.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ANTICIPATED HAVING TO RESPOND TO FLOODING, HOWEVER, WITH THE RECENT HURRICANES, THERE'S A LOT OF DEBRIS IN THE DITCHES STILL, THE DRAINAGE IS INFECTIVE, AND NEEDLESS TO SAY THE WATER CAME UP FAST.

THE RIVERS ARE GOING TO PROBABLY STAY HIGH, SO ANY MORE RAIN ON TOP OF WHAT HAS ALREADY COME IN, WE ARE ACTUALLY MONITORING THE SITUATION AS IT PROGRESSES.

AND PREPARED TO RESPOND IF NECESSARY.

THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A STORY BEHIND THE WORD "RUNAWAY H RELIEF" AND IT HAS TO DO WITH, WE DO PROVIDE RELIEF AS WELL.

WHEN WE GO IN, WE'RE GOING TO BE THE INITIAL RESPONSE, AND IT'S OUR GOAL TO ALSO PROVIDE SUPPLIES AFTERWARDS UP TO TWO WEEKS.

DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE EVENT.

RIGHT NOW SOME OF THE LOCAL CHURCHES ARE ALREADY PROVIDING THOSE SUPPLIES THAT ARE NEEDED, AND IF REQUESTED WE CAN ALWAYS GET THEM SOME MORE.

SO THIS IS A YEAR-ROUND EFFORT.

WE ACTUALLY DURING THE OF SEASON, WE'RE TAKING INVENTORY, WE'RE REPAIRING OUR OWN PERSONAL ASSETS, WE'RE ALSO DOING TRAINING.

ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, WE'VE REQUESTED THEM TO TAKE FEMA, IPS, INSTANT COMMAND STRUCTURE COURSES, 100, 200, 700, AND 800, TO FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH THE INCIDENT COMMAND STRUCTURE.

AS WE LET -- AS A FORCE MULTIPLIER FOR AGENCIES RESPONDING TO THESE STORMS.

SO NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE THEM DO THE ONLINE VIRTUAL FEMA TRAINING THAT IS OFFERED, WE ALSO ATTEND TRAININGS, EVENTS.

WHAT IS THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS YOU GUYS HAVE, AND WHERE ARE THEY ALL FROM?

OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE ACTUALLY ALL OVER THE WORLD.

WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER THAT IS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, AND WE'RE -- SO WE STRETCH ALL OVER.

SO WE HAVE A CORE GROUP, MAYBE FULL-TIME VOLUNTEERS OF ANYWHERE FROM 40 TO A HUNDRED, IT REALLY DEPENDS, EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN PERSONAL LIFE.

SO WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER NETWORK OF OVER 3,000 THAT WE CAN REACH OUT TO AT ANY TIME.

WE DO HAVE SPONTANEOUS VOLUNTEERS THAT COME IN, THEY'LL CONTACT US AND SAY, HEY, I'M AN EMT, I'M A FIREFIGHTER, I'M A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER, I HAVE BEEN WORKING CHAIN SAW, LOUISIANA'S VERY WOODSY SO YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE USED TO SWINGING THE BIGGER CHAIN SAWS, THEY'LL COME IN AND IF THEY CAN RUN A TRACTOR, IT'S JUST NOT BOOTS ON THE GROUND, BOATS IN THE WATER.

WE HAVE A SUPPORT SYSTEM BEHIND THIS.

WE HAVE DISPATCHERS SITTING IN KENTUCKY, INDIVIDUALS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES WHO ARE ABLE TO ASSIST IN WHATEVER WAY THAT -- WHATEVER WAY THEY SEE FIT.

WE'RE HEADQUARTERED IN NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

THIS IS, HOWEVER, WE ARE REMOTE, WE ARE VIRTUAL.

OUR VOLUNTEERS LIVE ALL ACROSS LOUISIANA, TEXAS, AS WE SPOKE EARLIER, WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER IN THE UK.

SO WE'RE EVERYWHERE.

TO VOLUNTEER, DOE NATO, OR HELP, GO TO CAJUNNAVYRELIEF.COM.

THE SESSION HAD A SLOW START THIS WEEK, THE RAIN PUSHED A LOT OF THINGS BACK BY AT LEAST A DAY.

SO SOME LAWMAKERS ARE PLAYING CATCH-UP, BUT SOME IMPORTANT THINGS STILL HAPPENED.

LOUISIANA WILL NOT SEE MARIJUANA LEGALIZED THIS SESSION AND SOME LEGISLATORS WERE REMOVED FROM THEIR POSITIONS.

TONIGHT I'LL HIGHLIGHT SOME THINGS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED.

THE PUSH TO LEAGUE LEADS RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA HAS ENDED.

REPRESENTATIVE DID NOT GET THE VOTES NEEDED.

OPPOSERS SAY THE BILL WAS RUSHED AND IRRESPONSIBLE.

NELSON SAYS HE'LL PUT HIS BILL ON THE SHELF FOR LATER.

REPRESENTATIVE RAY GAROFALO HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM HIS LEADERSHIP ROLE WEEKS AFTER EL HIS CONTROVERSIAL COMMENTS ABOUT SLAVERY.

DURING A BILL THAT WOULD COVER HOW STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT DIVISIVE TOPICS IN CLASS, GAROFALO SAID IT'S IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE GOOD COMPONENTS OF SLAVERY.

SOME MEMBERS OF THE BLACK CAUCUS CALLED FOR HIS REMOVAL.

THE HOUSE'S SECOND RANKING REPUBLICAN TANNER MAGEE SAID GAROFALO WAS ASKED TO STEP DOWN ONLY TEMPORARILY UNTIL THE END OF SESSION.

THE BILL TO KEEP LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES FROM REQUIRING PROOF OF COVID VACCINATION ASSIST ADVANCING TO THE HOUSE.

IT WOULD MAKE IT ILLEGAL FOR AGENCIES TO REQUIRE THE VACCINE FOR PEOPLE TO GET THEIR LICENSES, PERMITS, OR EVEN THEIR DEGREES.

THE BILL ALSO SPECIFIES NO ONE SHOULD BE BARRED FROM ANY LOCATIONS FOR NOT HAVING THE VACCINES.

SUPPORTERS SAY THIS IS NECESSARY TO PREVENT DISCRIMINATION OF PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO OPT OUT OF THE VACCINATION PROCESS.

THE BILL SAILED THROUGH THE HOUSE CIVIL COMMITTEE 8-3.

IN AN EFFORT TO GET MORE PEOPLE JOBS, SOME LAWMAKERS ARE PUTTING TOGETHER A PROPOSAL THAT WILL GIVE OUT A THOUSAND DOLLAR BONUS TO THOSE ON UNEMPLOYMENT.

BUT ONLY IF THEY GO BACK TO WORK.

THEY ALSO HAVE TO GET OFF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS BEFORE THE BONUS.

LAWMAKERS SAY THE BENEFITS ARE KEEPING PEOPLE FROM GOING OUT AND LOOKING FOR ACTUAL JOBS.

WHICH IS HURTING SOME BUSINESSES WHO CAN'T FIND ENOUGH STAFF TO WORK.

RIGHT NOW THE STATE OF LOUISIANA OFFERS AN EXTRA $300 TO PEOPLE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED.

WEDNESDAY BUSINESS OWNERS ASKED GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS TO JOIN GOP MEMBERS IN THE EFFORT TO TAKE THAT AWAY, BUT THE GOVERNOR REFUSED.

EVEN AFTER RETAILERS AND RESTAURANT OWNERS WROTE A LETTER TO HIM THIS WEEK.

MONTHS AFTER THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, ACCESS TO VOTING IN LOUISIANA IS STILL A HOT TOPIC.

WHILE LEGISLATORS ARE LOOKING TO LIMIT PEOPLE'S ACCESS TO VOTE, OTHERS ARE LOOKING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO CAST A BALLOT.

A PROPOSAL TO ADD FOUR MORE DAYS TO THE EARLY VOTING CALENDAR IS INCHING ALONG TO FINAL PASSAGE.

IT GAINED JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF SUPPORT IN THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THAT.

BILL HAS ALREADY WON SUPPORT FROM THE HOUSE.

NOW ITS NEXT STEP IS THE SENATE FLOOR FOR DEBATE.

ALSO SOMETHING NEW THIS WEEK, LOUISIANA IS FORECASTED TO GET MORE MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO SPEND.

ABOUT $677 MILLION TO BE MORE EXACT.

LAWMAKERS ARE ALREADY IN THE TALKS OF PUTTING THAT TOWARD TEACHER PAY RAISES AMONG OTHER THINGS.

WHEN I SAT DOWN WITH FORMER GOVERNOR BUDDY ROEMER FOUR YEARS AGO, IT WAS THREE YEARS AFTER HIS STROKE THAT AFFECTED HIS SPEECH AND HIS ABILITY TO GET AROUND.

BUS THOSE HARDSHIPS VERY LIKELY HELPED PRODUCE THE BOOK HE WROTE, NOT ABOUT HIS POLITICAL LIFE OR HIS BUSINESS SUCCESS, BUT ABOUT GROWING UP ON THE FAMILY PLAN STATION SCOPENA.

HERE IS OUR -- PLANTATION SCOPENA.

HERE IS OUR INTERVIEW FROM 2017.

THREE YEARS AGO IN JULY OF '14, I HAD A STROKE.

SMALL STROKE, BUT CENTERED IN MY SPEECH AND WALKING.

THIS IS BUDDY ROEMER, AT HIS OFFICE IN BATON ROUGE.

HIS STROKE AT FIRST ROBBED HIM OF HIS ABILITY TO SPEAK.

IT DID NOT AFFECT HIS MIND OR HIS THOUGHTS.

AGGRESSIVE PHYSICAL THERAPY AND A SUGGESTION FROM HIS DOCTOR BRINGS US TO THE REASON FOR OUR VISIT TODAY.

HE SAID, WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IS WRITE.

I THINK YOU COULD TELL A HELL OF A STORY.

SO HE BEGAN TO WRITE ABOUT SCOPENA, A MEMOIR OF HOME.

AND THE DOCTOR WAS RIGHT.

I WROTE 298 PAGES ABOUT GROWING UP ON SCOPENA.

FROM THE AGE OF 6, TO 16, WHEN I WENT OFF TO COLLEGE.

SCOPENA IS A PLACE.

YOU CAN SEE IT FROM HIGHWAY 71 SOUTH.

BUT THE HEART OF SCOPENA, THE LIFE OF SCOPENA, THE MAGIC OF SCOPENA, THE UNIQUENESS OF SCOPENA, WAS MOM AND DAD.

RAISING FIVE KIDS UNDER A PHILOSOPHY THAT IGNORED WHAT THE REST OF THE WORLD THOUGHT, AND THAT EMPHASIZED INDIVIDUAL EFFORT.

WITH MOM AND DAD GONE, I WANT TO TELL THE STORY OF SCOPENA.

HE REMEMBERS WELL HIS FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

THE FIRST GRADE.

HE DID NOT LOVE IT.

AND AFTER A FEW HOURS, RIGHT BEFORE LUNCH, HIS OPPORTUNITY TO SNEAK OUT AND RUN BACK HOME CAME.

EXACTLY HOW HE WOULD NAVIGATE THE 12 MILES TO SCOPENA HE DID NOT KNOW.

BUT YOU WOUND UP AT THE GROCERY STORE WHERE THE GROCERY OWNER GAVE YOU A COKE, AND CALLED YOUR DAD, AND YOUR DAD CAME.

IT'S INTERESTING, YOU ANTICIPATED HIS REACTION TO BE DIFFERENT.

I ANTICIPATED HIM TO GET ANGRY WITH ME.

AS HE WAITED, HE NERVOUSLY WONDERED.

DAD MIGHT NOT LIKE THIS INDEPENDENT STREAK.

I SAW HIS RED PICKUP, AND I SAID, I'M IN TROUBLE NOW.

BUT HE WASN'T.

HE RUBBED MY HEAD AND SAID, "LET'S GO HOME, BUDDY."

"LET'S GO TO SCOPENA."

IT WAS A GREATEST RIDE WE EVER MADE.

HIM AND ME.

ROEMER'S MOTHERED A LINE WAS PEACEMAKER, DEAL MAKER, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE.

YOU WERE CLOSE TO HER IT SOUNDS LIKE.

VERY CLOSE TO MY MOTHER.

SHE WAS A WONDERFUL MOTHER.

SHE WAS VERY SKILLED WITH PEOPLE.

SHE TAUGHT US HOME SCHOOLING FOR A LONG TIME.

AND THEN WE WENT TO MYSER HIGH SCHOOL.

THE BOOK TELLS THE STORY OF MOM DECIDING THAT I WOULD NOT GO TO COLLEGE EARLY.

HARVARD WANTED TO ENROLL HIM EARLY, BUT HIS MOM SAID NO.

AND HAD A VERY SPECIFIC REASON WHY.

HE'S GOING TO BE GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA.

AND HE'LL GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN LOUISIANA.

NOW, THIS HAD NEVER BEEN DISCUSSED.

BUT HIS MOM KNEW HER SON'S POTENTIAL WELL.

SOMETHING HE REALIZED WITH THE ROEMER REVOLUTION CAMPAIGN OF 1987.

HE WAS 44.

SOME INSIDERS SAY I'M NOT A GOOD POLITICIAN BECAUSE I THINK THINGS THAT MAKE SOME PEOPLE ANGRY.

I DO.

I MADE SOME PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON ANGRY WHEN I REFUSED TO TAKE A CONGRESSIONAL PAY RAISE.

PASSED BY POLITICIANS BY POLITICIANS.

I DON'T LIKE LOUISIANA POLITICS.

I LOVE LOUISIANA.

I LOVE LOUISIANA I KNOW, TO MAKE SOME PEOPLE ANGRY.

IT SOUNDS LIKE SHE WAS A GREAT POLITICIAN.

SHE WAS GOOD.

HIS MOM RAN FOR HIS SEAT IN CONGRESS IN 1988 WHEN HE BECAME GOVERNOR.

BUT ROEMER SAYS LOST BECAUSE SHE WAS A DEMOCRAT.

GROWING UP ON THEIR 10,000-ACRE COTTON FARM IN THE SEGREGATED 1950s, ROEMER HAD A FAR ADVANCED VIEW OF RACE RELATIONS.

AGAIN, HE SAYS, THANKS TO HIS PARENTS.

YOU NEVER KNEW IF SCOPENA WOULD BE WHITE OR BLACK.

THE FOREMEN WERE WHITE AND BLACK.

THE COTTON TUNERS WERE WHITE AND BLACK.

MEN AND WOMEN.

THERE WAS VERY -- DAD WAS VERY CONSERVATIVE, BUT WHEN IT CAME TO PEOPLE, HE THOUGHT EVERY PERSON WAS VALUABLE.

HE NEVER USED THE N WORD.

NEVER.

DAD WAS HUNG IN EFFIGY BY MANY PEOPLE WHO WERE KU KLUX KLAN MEMBERS.

I TELL IN MY BOOK.

MY INTERVIEW WITH BUDDY ROEMER IN 2017.

EVERYONE, THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

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

CATCH NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS SHOWS AS WELL AS OTHER LOUISIANA PROGRAMS YOU'VE COME TO ENJOY, AND PLEASE, LIKE US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND GRAM.

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

AND I'M KARA ST. CYR EXPWHR.

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

Captioning Performed By LNS Captioning www.LNScaptioning.com ENTERGY IS PROUD TO SUPPORT PROGRAMMING ON LPB, AND GREENER PRACTICES THAT PRESERVE LOUISIANA.

THE GOAL OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE 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 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 AND LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

WITH SUPPORT FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.