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.

The cast of the Catch Hell federal trade policies could affect Mardi Gras throws.

Yeah, and with the closing the digital divide, we'll look at work to expand broadband access to every corner of the state.

And January is human trafficking prevention month.

Hear from a survivor turned advocate.

Plus, small town charm and big time flavor.

We'll go in the kitchen at a restaurant recognized by Michelin.

Let's get started.

Let's do it.

Hi everyone.

I'm Christina Jensen and I'm Johnny Atkinson and much more on those top stories in a moment on this week's edition of Louisiana State Organ.

But first, almost exactly one year after Louisiana saw a historic snowstorm.

Parts of the state are once again bracing for winter weather.

Much of Louisiana will deal with below freezing temperatures starting this weekend and continuing next week.

The northern parts of the state could see some ice and freezing rain, and the 2026 Carnival season is on track to be one of the most expensive in modern history.

Federal trade policies have driven up the price of imported goods, including the popular Mardi Gras beads and throws.

Here's a look at how crews are balancing increased costs while protecting that Mardi Gras magic in the season of Mardi Gras, started many years ago as a final day of feasting before fasting begins in the season of lent.

But when it came to New Orleans, Mardi Gras turned into a major celebration collaborate parades, big floats, throwing beads and trinkets to the screaming crowds.

We have bands.

We have.

We have dance teams.

We have floats.

We have a festival right afterwards.

And so really just having a good afternoon of just family fun, that's really what our focus is.

The Mardi Gras celebrations have since grown across Louisiana, but one thing has changed in last year, making this year's celebration a little different.

The tariffs on Chinese imports affects the cost in America, but 99% of the throws on Mardi Gras come from China, due to the Trump administration's trade policies.

The cost for simple beads and other items thrown from Mardi Gras floats has gone way up.

And when you take a look at the modifier Gras business pacifically, you're looking at about 90% of your product coming from China.

So we've always had about 20% duty.

But the unfortunate side is Mardi Gras.

So like you cannot if you can't not have beads.

Especially here.

So is one of the has got to bite the bullet.

Since Trump took office, tariffs have gone up on imports from many countries, but few have been targeted as heavily as China.

And that put a scare to everyone.

We said we're not going to be able to afford to bring in products at 125% tariff.

That's not even including the 2,025% freight charges we have to pay.

So Neil Agrawal owned and operated a furniture store in Tarrytown, just outside of New Orleans.

Five years ago, while looking at imported furniture, he discovered Mardi Gras beads and trinkets from China being sold at a discount.

My wife rides and parades and I said, look, she's buying the same stuff three times more money.

What, would I buy this for her?

And then I asked her, look, you're running.

I have a float with a lot of friends.

Why don't you buy it for your friends, too?

And that's how the idea developed.

So Neil and his wife started selling Mardi Gras supplies as a small part of his furniture business, and it has now expanded to a year round, full size store and warehouse.

You came up with the Monte Gras idea yourself.

How did that come about?

We started it as a way, like a small section of the furniture store.

And then slowly, slowly it became like the whole side.

And we just grew and expanded every year.

And now it's become like a whole half the section of the whole store.

When Donald Trump took office one year ago, tariffs on Chinese goods went up and down before finally settling at 55%.

But dealers still have other costs, like the 15% duty and another 25 to 30% freight charge.

Those costs are passed on to importers and ultimately to the consumers.

Basically, what you're paying a dollar for in China, by the time it gets to your door, it's $2.

We're willing to take that at this season, understand what's happening in the global economy and see where the tariffs really end up settling.

And we'll have a lot better direction for next season.

And then as we just kind of send the memo out, say out to everyone like, hey, things are more expensive, maybe not be as heavy handed with the throws that say, don't throw.

But you know, like maybe not is not a big chunk the first go around and kind of be more even keel with those dealers with imports from China are using inventory and storage, trying to keep prices low.

But to 2026 Mardi Gras season is seeing other changes like a new type of beads, long standing traditional beads of plastic made from China was becoming more popular.

The wooden beads and the glass beads are more eco friendly.

Traditional plastic beads take up to 500 years to decompose, whereas the new beads can break down in the soil in just 2 to 3 years.

In spite of all the changes in the 2026 season, crews and families are still preparing for the traditional Mardi Gras celebration.

What do you like about Mardi Gras?

I like the parades and, all the, other floats and stuff.

What do you think about the Morrigan beads?

I do like the Mardi Gras of these.

Crews and riders say the additional costs are tough to manage.

Some of the larger crews, like Endymion in New Orleans, are absorbing the cost so riders don't have to foot the bill.

And the mean is also focusing on higher quality throws.

But less overall volume.

Meanwhile, wholesalers are hoping the additional cost lead to new bead supplies.

Setting up shop in the US.

You feel like, you rather buy things that were made in the USA, but they're just not making it.

Yeah, they're not making it.

I'd love.

There's been a lot of talk about some bead factories opening up.

Nobody talks about what price points they would be selling at, but if they would open up here, I'd.

I'd be the first one in line to buy them.

Mardi Gras is sometimes called the greatest free show on Earth.

But in 2026, Mardi Gras is expected to be one of the biggest shows, and the beads and tokens you catch will be the most expensive.

And Mardi Gras history.

We're shaking things up this week instead of what's trending.

We're going to check out some sports headlines.

That's right, the college football season may be over, but there's still a lot happening in Louisiana sports.

Our sports correspondent Victor Hall joins us now.

Victor, what's going on this week?

Great to see you all.

Thanks for switching things up a little bit.

Bringing game notes here to SWI.

Yes.

College football season is over, but we still do have a lot to talk about, especially with Indiana now having captured the college football national title.

But here in Louisiana, hey, the NFL season winding down.

The Saints are done.

But there is one New Orleans Saints in the running for Big Time award.

This past Thursday, quarterback Tyler Shuck was named a finalist for the AP NFL rookie of the year.

He's one of five finalists up for the honor.

Shuck started the season as the Saints back up, but started the last nine games of the year went five and four.

He threw for over 2300 yards and ten touchdowns.

The winner will be announced on February 5th.

And hey, we are also keeping our eyes on two former Saints, that being quarterback new Drew Brees and guard Jari Evans.

Both are finalists for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the class of 2026, and that announcement will be made just before this year's Super Bowl played out in San Francisco.

And let's go to hard one now.

Talk about college basketball.

Thursday night, the sixth ranked LSU Lady Tigers took their three game win streak on the road to College Station to face Texas A&M.

Malaysia for a while led the way with 23 points off the bench.

Amaya Joiner had a double double and Mikayla Williams had a career high 11 assists in the 9854 win.

As a team, the Lady Tigers perfect from the free throw line.

They went 20 for 20 and scored two points shy of 100.

Even with their top two leaders, only scoring a combined ten points.

LSU is next game Monday night at home against Florida.

It was an emotional night Thursday in Hammond.

Anna Calzada, the longtime Southeastern Lions head coach now the head coach at McNeese.

She was on the opposing bench in the opposing locker room with McNeese over there in Hammond.

The Cowgirls got a big win, 72 to 30.

Dakota Howard perfect from the floor.

Eight for eight on the night with 19 points.

McNeese and southeastern both in action on Saturday, both at home.

But those start times are early because everybody's trying to prepare for that weather that you heard about here early in the program.

And hey, while we're in Hammond, before we get out of here, let's have some big congratulations for the Southeastern Spirit Squad last weekend in Orlando, the Lions captured not one, but two national titles.

The Lions dance team.

Well, they won first place in the Division one game.

They division averaged just over 92 points.

They beat Hofstra by 3/10 of a point at Saint John's by two.

And then the southeastern cheer team won the Division one game.

They natty for the fourth straight year, the fifth time in the last six years.

Their score of 91.6 points was two points better than the demons from Northwestern State out of Natchitoches, who finished second.

So congrats to the demons as well.

It's A12 punch for the State of Louisiana.

Regulations to the line that's on the line is a great job.

A big congrats to them.

So nice to see you there.

See you later.

Thank you Victor.

Well, in today's world, High-Speed internet is not just a luxury anymore, it's a necessity.

Here's a look at how Louisiana is working to expand High-Speed access to every corner of the state.

If you live in many of the rural communities and farm areas across the state, your high speed internet was often just a patchy cell signal.

Louisiana was once ranked the fourth worst state in the nation for broadband access, and there was no incentive to run our special lines.

Years ago, you know, the number of people that had access to high speed, affordable internet wasn't a very large number in Louisiana.

And just in the last two years, in the last 24 months.

We have moved to heaven and earth to actually connect the nearly 150,000 households and small businesses.

Vineeth Iyengar is the executive director of the Louisiana State Office for Broadband Development and Connectivity.

Also known as connect L.A., for almost five years, he's been dealing with ongoing problems for families across Louisiana.

You're seeing a significantly, significant savings that a family can generate on a monthly basis as a result of having better infrastructure that's federally funded and also infrastructure that's affordable.

The main problems in Louisiana come from homes and businesses being far apart, making it expensive for providers to lay fiber optic cables over long distances.

Louisiana's long struggle with coaxial cable and copper wires.

But with these new fibers, that could soon change, the now outdated fixed copper connections have been the standard form for electrical power since the 1800s and for television since the 1950s.

But since the introduction of internet, fiber has become the essential foundation for modern high performance demands.

But for many homes in Louisiana, that's not available.

So how did Cajun broadband get started?

My teenage sons were always complaining about the internet.

It wouldn't work.

They couldn't do their homework.

Chris Disher was working in the oil field as a mechanical engineer, and Jerry Lewis worked a traditional job near Lafayette when they became frustrated with their internet speeds.

Jimmy is the ease and it guy in kind of an innovator inventor always trying something new.

So he comes to me like, hey, we can get internet at our houses by using the antennas.

I was sitting it at the office and just researching some technologies and and things, and I read that these antennas could pass, you know, make the internet and and I'm like, man, that's like I think, I think we can get this to work.

I think we can do it.

Jimmy Lewis knocked on the door of Service Communications and asked for permission to place an antenna at the top of the tower.

I just I just went in there and said, it's like, hey, I'm not sure how this tower stuff works, but this is what I want to do.

The engineer said it was okay.

Then the job was putting another antenna around Chris Joshua's house.

So the only thing I had tall was a pine tree.

And so we put that, we put the tower antenna up and then we went and got a man lift from Home Depot.

And we put an antenna up in the pine tree, and we cut some limbs down and everything.

The two friends ran wires down to their home, and the fast internet worked.

The first signal they were receiving at the top of the pine tree was 60 megs download.

So they thought they were done to my neighbor across the street.

Just moved.

And he's like, what are y'all doing?

I would say, well, we're putting up internet.

He's like, well, I need internet.

And then the other neighbor came over, like, what are you doing up in a tree with an antenna?

I'm like, we're getting internet.

He's like, I need internet.

And so we ended up like, having everybody on the street have an internet.

It didn't it wasn't meant to start like a company just meant to help us and our neighbors.

Cajun broadband was born, and they began providing fiber optic and fixed wireless internet for their neighborhood.

Then across several parishes, another member of the team is Allen Leonard.

He's been in the construction end of fiber optic internet for nearly ten years, dealing with the hands on problems of laying down fiber.

We place the fiber underground, which provides a level of security and a level of resiliency, but we also place it inside this PVC duct.

Delivering broadband is a problem for many states around the country, but Louisiana is now a national leader in broadband deployment.

So you think that everyone's going to have internet in the next five years?

I think that in the next five years, everyone that wants broadband access will have it available.

The work of Cajun broadband started small, but after nearly five years of laying fiber and filing applications, internet service is becoming available for the first time to much of Louisiana.

We're proud of what Chris has done.

We're proud of what Jimmie's done, and we're proud of that because that to us, Johnny is the quintessential entrepreneurial, capitalistic society story of Louisiana.

And now we've awarded him an additional 16, $17 million from gumbo 2.0 to once and for all.

Close the digital divide in the areas that they've applied for in Acadiana.

So if you're still looking for that internet and cable signal in your area, help may be on the way.

January is human Trafficking Prevention Month, and this week's Louisiana Speaks.

I sat down with a trafficking survivor turned advocate.

We do want to warn you, this is an emotional topic that may be difficult for some to watch.

January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and here to tell us more is a survivor of human trafficking, Michelle Johnson.

Michelle, thank you for being so courageous and sharing your story with us.

In terms of your story, you have been quite open about it.

What do you want people out there to understand about what you've been through?

A lot of times people think that human trafficking is an unknown person, and a lot of times it's a person that, you know, a partner of yours.

It could be your best friend.

For me, it was a person who I thought, you know, I was helping that I thought was a friend.

She was a friend of a friend.

And she asked me one day when I was very upset if I would go with her to meet a person to pick up her belongings.

So I thought, okay, if you feel safe going with him.

Yeah.

And, what I did not know was that he was a pimp.

Well, he told me he was a pimp once I got in the car and I kind of laughed and I said, there's no such thing.

That's only on TV.

And he laughed back.

And he then saw that I was vulnerable.

I pretty much ended up in a relationship with him.

He tried to sell me the first night.

I refused, and then he pretty much started love bombing me.

And so instead of me graduating at 19, I was meeting my first pimp.

And so he pretty much groomed me.

How long did this last?

Oh, I met him in 2007.

I was recovered by law enforcement in 2011.

And did you get in trouble with law enforcement?

Because I read that you did.

And then that's what led to the Michelle Johnson act, correct?

After being told I was a victim and I had to serve time for the charges that I was forced to commit.

I just didn't understand.

I was like, okay, why am I being told I'm a victim?

But yet here I have a criminal history, and I was told I would not be able to get expunged until the year of 2096.

I, was appointed by Governor John Bel Edwards.

So he created the Human Trafficking Prevention Commission Advisory Board in 2017.

And so that's where I started, advocating for legislation.

And, 2022, we were able to submit a in our annual report.

We submitted that we were in full support of, post-conviction relief.

And so that provides, expungement for any nonviolent offenses.

The legislator.

They decided to name it after me.

And honor of my work.

It's incredible.

Congratulations here.

So you also work for Governor Landry.

What do you do on the commission?

The human Trafficking Prevention Commission?

And how does that help survivors?

Governor Landry appointed me as well.

So I'm in my third term.

We pretty much look at gaps in the state.

And so, for example, the audit reports will look at those regarding human trafficking.

We'll look at services in place.

And so we pretty much dissect the whole state.

We are recommending an adult service plan for the state of Louisiana because we have one for minors, which is act 662, but we don't have anything for adults.

And then we're recommending, the affirmative defense to be expanded to nonviolent crimes to match the Michelle Johnson Act.

Why do you think Louisiana ranks so high when it comes to human trafficking cases?

When we look at our numbers for human trafficking, we will see the numbers of child victims increasing.

And it's not because they haven't been trafficked.

They've been trafficked all along.

This is you know, been happening for centuries.

It's that our awareness is increasing.

And so with more training, again, there's an increase of awareness.

And so there's more reports coming in.

And is it true link with our location.

Is that also like being on the I-20 corridor.

And do you think that contributes to more cases?

You know, I think about our conferences that we go to.

It's always in a major city.

New Orleans is a major city.

I think about how we have Jazz Fest, all of our festivals.

So people are going to want to go to our state, especially the New Orleans area, to celebrate after they've been sitting in a conference room for eight hours.

And so those are usually the people that traffickers want to target.

So we have the oil fields, we have offshore.

We have storms.

And what does that bring in men.

You know, men come in, they're away from their wives.

They're gone for a long time.

And so, unfortunately, those are the people that traffickers target.

So you're saying it's not only sometimes in those large events that it can really happen every day.

Every day.

I was sold on Christmas Day.

You know, they would one one buyer came in and I just asked them, like, why are you here?

And he told me like, oh, well, I told my family, I run into the store and then he pays me and tells me, Merry Christmas.

And I didn't want to be there.

I didn't I didn't have access to the money.

And so it's like, that's where society is.

That's normalizing the culture of prostitution, which is now called sex work, to make it sound nicer.

You were trapped.

Yeah.

How does it feel looking back at your life and seeing all of the amazing work you're doing now for survivors?

I get to help them connect with what happened to them was not their fault.

Like, you made a decision, but your decision was not to be trafficked.

You trusted a person.

My advocacy work within the field.

Training, making a change, changing people's perspectives.

Is there anything else you want to add on this topic that I haven't asked you?

That you want people out there to know?

Be kind and be sensitive?

You know, victims are blamed so much for their victimization, which is another reason why they don't speak out.

And so I encourage, if you want to be a human being, do not do it in our state.

I want to thank you for coming in and sharing your story, and thank you for all the work you've been doing for survivors.

Yes.

Thank you.

A quiet corner of West Feliciana Parish is getting international recognition.

The Michelin Guide recognized the Saint Francis Phil Inn's restaurant, the Saint, for its high end dining and hospitality, putting the small town on the global culinary map.

The Saint Francis Ville Inn has long been a destination for visitors seeking history, charm and southern hospitality.

And now, with a michelin recommendation, it's attracting food lovers from across the country.

Behind me, an inn that stood for more than a century inside locally inspired dishes earning national attention.

Co-owner Brandon Branch gives me a tour of the inn, showing how the past and present come together to create an unforgettable experience.

He was a Jewish merchant in town.

He built this for his family and where the bank sits.

His brother built a matching house that got torn down.

To me it's very Gothic.

Victorian, classic Louisiana.

It's beautiful.

Once inside, the charm goes beyond beauty with a deep sense of history at every turn.

From dining rooms to sitting areas, historical details are woven throughout the space.

The house sat empty for about 50 years, so a lot of the things in the house were taken out.

But this is one of the original ceiling medallions in here, the four rose basket.

It is gorgeous.

And this chandelier was here when we bought the house.

So I left it because to me it was sort of iconic.

Oh it's beautiful.

And that's not the only iconic element here.

The story behind how this idea came to life is just as meaningful.

Why Saint Francisville?

You know, as a kid, I heard Saint Francis all had beautiful homes and everything.

And I literally was laying in bed one night on Zillow and just typed in, Saint Francis Fell and this place was for sale.

And we drove here like two crazy people involved it.

How does it feel to, like, have this crazy idea, but then now see it on this scale?

Yeah.

All my crazy did was just like, have this, maybe have 2 or 3 staff.

Now we have like 55 staff.

It's a huge deal.

I mean, it's some days it's overwhelming.

Every room here tells a story from the artwork to the chandeliers dating back centuries.

Down the hallway, another story begins in the kitchen.

The magic happens here under the guidance of executive chef Michael Darden.

He runs the same restaurant at the inn recently recognized by Michelin.

Super impressed.

Super happy for our team.

And the fact that it was the first year that the American South has been recognized by Michelin on an international stage.

It made me proud.

Not just for us, but for our little town in the corner of South Louisiana.

How does that process work to be recognized?

Michelin will take nominations and then they also, review restaurants on their own.

Based upon your online presence.

And they secretly come in several times.

So we never know when they come.

They don't let us know that they did come.

And that nod for Michelin has turned heads and sent business soaring.

What's the reaction been from patrons in the community?

Tons of feedback.

I can't go to the grocery store anymore.

I see that the locals are just constantly stopping me.

Wanted to talk, congratulate me, which is a lot of fun.

Probably the only negative is our locals are just complaining that they can't get a table so quickly.

The Michelin star is more than a trophy.

It draws visitors, supports local jobs, and shines a spotlight on the arts and culture of Saint Francis Ville.

From the vibrant downtown to the historic in the town, is showing that culture can thrive in small towns, not just in galleries or theaters, but on the plate.

Talk to me about the significance of this in to the community.

This in well, before we bought it.

This in always was the central focal point even before it was renovated to what it is today.

It was still the place where you took your girlfriend to get engaged.

Is still the place you went for special occasions.

We just took an elevated it.

So when we bought the end eight years ago, we completely gutted it and reinvented it instead on a different direction.

In my opinion, it's still the towns in, We're just the stewards while we're here.

And as long as we're here.

Our goal is to is to elevate it and make it as nice as possible for the owners and executive chef Michael Darden.

The Michelin recognition is both an honor and a responsibility.

Each night, the kitchen becomes a stage where skill, creativity and tradition come together.

And for the town, it's a celebration of identity, history, hospitality and a culture that embraces excellence in all its forms.

It's unreal that a town of 1800 people, and that's also France for years is a little town hasn't changed in 50 years.

That little town has a restaurant that is Michelin recognized.

And I think that is such kudos for this town.

And Johnny, if you haven't been to the end, you got to check it out because the food is fantastic.

It looks great.

You should bring back home some to the station I will.

Well, that is 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 that you've come to enjoy over the years.

And please like us on Facebook and Instagram for everyone at Louisiana Public Broadcasting, I'm Christina Jensen and I'm Johnny Atkinson.

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 Visit Baton Rouge.

And the Foundation for Excellence in Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

And viewers like you.

Thank you.