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.

Did you know Louisiana leads the nation in digital IDs?

We'll look at the advantages of LA wallet, as well as some concerns.

Louisiana's newest poet laureate hopes to make poetry accessible for all.

We'll hear her vision as the state's poetry ambassador.

And with the southern Jaguars getting set for a big matchup against Jackson State this weekend.

We'll go into our archives for a classic look at Southern's Human jukebox.

Let's get started.

Let's do it.

Hello, everyone.

I'm Karen LeBlanc.

And I'm Victor Howell.

Much more on those top stories in a moment.

On this week's edition of Louisiana, the state we're In.

But first, the Vatican has announced the next leader of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Bishop James F Checchio, will succeed current Archbishop Gregory Aymond when he retires.

Checchio previously served in his home state of new Jersey and studied at the American Seminary in Rome.

He has extensive experience dealing with church finances and administration.

The New Orleans Archdiocese filed for bankruptcy several years ago as part of a $230 million plan to settle numerous sexual abuse cases.

Archbishop Aymond is expected to step down in the coming months, paving the way for Checchio to take over.

Changes are in the works for the way Louisiana pays for prescription drugs for current and former state employees.

The office of Group benefits awarded a $390 million contract to Southern Scripts to manage commercial prescription plans.

State leaders made the change after a series of issues with CVS, which previously handled the state's prescriptions.

Lawmakers say the split gives people more pharmacy choices, including independent drugstores, that complained that CVS contracts made it hard to compete.

The shift will cost the state several million dollars more than the previous CVS deal.

Cleanup continues more than a month after an explosion and fire at a tangible parish petrochemical facility.

Now, state health officials are testing seafood to see if it was contaminated.

The fire at the Smitty's supply facility in Roseland burned for nearly two weeks and sent an oily residue onto neighboring homes and waterways miles away from the site.

People who live and work nearby say they're concerned about the long term health impacts of the exposure.

It's always lingering in the back of my mind.

It's going to happen.

I'm not going to go to the doctors next week or next month, next year.

I just don't know.

The lingering doubt is always there.

The Environmental Protection Agency says it has recovered more than 5 million gallons of chemicals and materials so far.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality will test fish, crabs and shrimp from the Taj Mahal River and from Lake Pontchartrain.

They want to make sure the seafood wasn't contaminated by heavy metals or petroleum related chemicals.

Results from the first round of testing are expected to take about two weeks, with follow up testing if needed.

If any of the seafood is contaminated.

State leaders will issue health advisories telling people not to eat anything caught in those areas.

Federal officials are still investigating the cause of the explosion, and several lawsuits have been filed already against the company.

Governor Jeff Landry has issued an executive order this week marking the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Rita.

He declared September 24th Hurricane Rita.

Remembrance Day Rita made landfall in 2005 near the Texas Louisiana border as a category three storm devastated much of southwest Louisiana.

Governor Landry says the state experienced extraordinary suffering, but also unmatched courage and resilience.

From hashtags to headlines, here's what is trending this week.

LSU jumped up several spots on a list of U.S.

college rankings all about the rankings.

University came in at number 169 on U.S.

News and World Report 2026 college rankings.

That's ten spots higher than it ranked last year.

That's such a great boost for for enrollment.

Now, Tulane University was the highest ranked Louisiana school on the list at number 69.

U.S.

News and World Report looks at a range of data, including graduation rates, financial resources, and the success of the school's graduates.

To compile their list.

All right, well, congratulations to Tulane and LSU.

Now for a third year in a row.

Princeton, MIT, and Harvard claimed the top three spots, respectively.

State leaders now have launched a new initiative to help keep Louisiana beautiful under a recently passed law.

State park rangers are now authorized to enforce litter laws anywhere in Louisiana.

They've also created a hotline that you can call if you see someone littering.

That's eight, five, five LA.

Litter.

Litter.

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will monitor the calls and send rangers out to investigate.

Now, anyone caught littering could face fines ranging from $175 up to $1,000 for illegally dumping.

State officials say the most common types of litter are cigaret butts, plastic bottles and fast food trash.

Yeah, so give us a don't pollute.

Do you remember that?

Absolutely.

It's old enough to remember very well.

Yes.

We're showing our age right there.

All right.

Well, Lake Charles native and Grammy Award winning artist Lauren Daigle will take part in a Christmas tradition at Walt Disney World.

Yeah, I love this.

She's one of several celebrity narrators for Epcot's annual Candlelight Processional.

And Daigle will be joined by a choir and orchestra to narrate the story of Christmas, December 16th and seven.

Get your tickets there now.

It'll be a great night.

Some of the other celebrity narrators this year include Henry Winkler, speaking of showing your Age, a.k.a.

The Fonz, actor Gary Sinise and Marvel movie star Brie Larson.

Okay, another Louisiana native, Jordan Blue, has made it to the top five on this season of America's Got Talent, but unfortunately, he wasn't named the winner.

But what a great accomplishment.

And he's had a great run.

Came in third place in Wednesday night's finale.

Yeah, I've been watching him and he he's a very powerful performer, so it looks like he's still on his way to a successful career.

His audition song was Break Even by the band The Script, and he performed it again in the finale with a duet with the original singer.

Hey, beautiful.

Is that even more ready?

The band announced they plan to have Jordan join them on tour, so big congratulations to him.

And you know, when you think of that show, you think of the American Idols.

There's been so much singing talent that has come out of this state in the last few years that has gotten tremendous exposure by these reality shows, and it just shows the depth of the talent.

Yeah, definitely.

These shows are star makers.

And the great thing is, even if you don't win the top title, you have a career, right?

Absolutely.

Blue is on his way to some success.

So we'll be hearing and seeing you go on tour, going on tour, cutting albums.

All of that has been great.

Congratulate good news for them.

And speaking of good news, Louisiana is leading the nation in digital IDs with more than 2 million activations.

Ali Wallet has now become the country's most widely adopted mobile driver's license.

First launched in 2018, the app now goes beyond traffic stops approved for use at airports, federal buildings and even for online identity verification.

Here is a closer look at how LA wallet is changing everyday life in Louisiana, and the privacy questions it raises.

The Louisiana was the first state in the nation to adopt a digital license in 2016, when the legislature passed a law legally recognizing a digital driver's license.

La wallet was launched on July 4th, 2018.

What you do is you prove your identity by putting in some known facts about your driver's license into the LA wallet app, which you can get off the Google and Apple Store.

Once it's verified, it will then render a digital version of your driver's license in very high resolution.

Calvin Fabray is the founder and president of invoke, the company that created the LA wallet app anywhere in the state.

If you get pulled over, you can use your digital driver's license for that.

It's also valid for age verification if you're buying, say, alcohol or alcohol, tobacco control accepts that as age verification.

It's also used online.

You can actually prove your identity online for adult type consumables in content.

LA wallet capabilities continue to expand, allowing users to store a legal digital version of a Louisiana concealed Handgun Permit, a digital Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries hunting and fishing license, and the Covid 19 vaccination card.

The way that we designed LA wallet is such that there's nothing to steal because we don't keep a copy of anything, or it was designed not to keep a copy.

Louisiana can use LA wallet for proof of a driver's license during traffic stops and other requests for ID verification, including airports and federal buildings nationwide, the Federal Transportation Security Administration certified La Wallet as meeting requirements for use in airport security checkpoints, federal courthouses, and other federal buildings.

Hi, I'm Governor Jeff Landry and I. I'm Bryan Adams, the OMB director.

Today, we are thrilled to announce that TSA has officially approved LR wallets for use when boarding airplanes and for identification at all federal facilities and federal courthouses.

I want to thank Secretary Nome and her entire team for working with us to make our citizens in Louisiana's life a whole lot easier when going through an airport.

You know, if you forget your wallet, no worries.

You're never going to forget your phone.

This is a huge milestone that brings added convenience and security to folks across our state.

Critics fear that using LA wallet could expose people's viewing habits or other personal information.

If the data isn't handled properly, invoke is leading a movement to protect the digital wallets transactions.

There's a movement called No Phone Home and it relates to when I'm presenting my digital identity to someone.

Does the device need to phone back to its source?

That is, the state or the issuing authority that that created that digital credential?

And the answer, of course, is no.

We would like the transaction just to occur between the person relying on my identity and myself.

So the no phone home movement is all about ensuring that private that policies are aligned in that.

In that vein, there are a number of signers on the No Phone Home initiative.

Meanwhile, invoke is developing more modernizations for the Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles, including multilingual announcement capabilities at local DMV offices.

Jen, with rendezvous station, you may well count.

We just finalized a new contract for a system that will take Louisiana into the 21st century.

After many fits and starts, Louisiana's Office of Motor Vehicles has successfully stabilized this system, making services more efficient and reliable for our citizens.

Meaning no more long lines.

Le wallet has more than 2 million activations, leading the nation, with the highest adoption rate for a mobile ID.

Louisiana has a new voice to champion poetry and the power of words.

Gina Ferrara, a New Orleans native and an associate professor of English at Delgado Community College, has been named the state's newest poet laureate.

In her new role, Ferrara hopes to empower communities across Louisiana to embrace poetry not as a riddle to solve, but as a shared experience that celebrates language, culture and imagination.

We are here at Delgado Community College, and I am joined by Louisiana's newest poet laureate, Gina Ferreira.

She is a professor of English here at Delgado Community College.

And we caught up with you before you were about to teach some of your classes.

And so congratulations, first of all.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Tell us how this came about.

Well, it came about, there's usually, kind of a process every two years where, there's kind of a call for a poet laureate, of the state, and you need to be nominated.

This isn't my first time.

I'd been nominated previously, but this is my first time, of course, being laureate.

Why do you want to serve as Louisiana's poet laureate?

Oh, well, I'm a New Orleans native.

I mean, I've lived in the state, the city all of my life.

And so much of what we have here appears in my poetry.

I like writing about Louisiana.

I feel very comfortable doing that since I've lived here all my life.

And, I like the idea of bringing of really kind of empowering people and like, letting them find their voices.

I do that here at Delgado, and I think I can certainly do that throughout the state.

What drew you to poetry, of all the things you could do in the world?

Why this?

Well, when I was a young girl, I had, an uncle who was in the army, and he was stationed in Germany.

And my grandmother made us write letters to him every day.

And she said, I want him to feel like he is in the room with us.

So I really had to kind of focus on specific details and those letters.

And I think that kind of principle or that, that, that, you know, kind of that instruction from my grandmother is ultimately what led me to poetry.

And so what is your focus as Louisiana Poet laureate?

My focus is going to be bringing poetry to different communities, of course, here in New Orleans and throughout the state.

I want people to develop the same appreciation for poetry that I have.

That's quite simply my mission.

My game plan is to really look at, to get a different communities, Lafayette, Baton Rouge.

Smaller towns and do poetry readings there.

To do poetry workshops there.

Since 2007, I've curated something called the Poetry Buffet here in New Orleans, and that features the work of maybe 3 to 4 poets.

It happens once a month, usually at a library.

And I kind of want to bring the poetry buffet.

I want to make it a moveable feast.

In the state of Louisiana.

Any other plans that you have?

Other plans might be, to do workshops, with maybe communities that are somewhat remote or somewhat isolated.

A long time ago, I, I, wrote a book and it was based on Carville, Louisiana.

And so I kind of that whole idea of communities in isolation or communities that maybe aren't, kind of totally integrated into society.

That's something that interests me also.

Now, is this a book of poetry, or was it was a book of poetry, and it was based on patients who lived in Carville.

What do you want viewers to understand about the power of poetry?

I think poetry sometimes has this, this reputation.

And I think people sometimes are afraid of poetry because they're afraid that they're not going to get the right meaning behind it.

They're afraid that it's may be too much of a riddle.

And and I want people to lose their fear.

I want people to really welcome poetry.

Kind of how it uses language and imagery.

And, there are no wrong answers in poetry.

That's always what I tell my students.

And that's certainly what I would tell the people of Louisiana.

Gina Ferrera, Louisiana's next poet laureate.

Thank you so much for joining us, and we look forward to your poetry.

The face as they travel around the state of Louisiana.

Thank you so much.

Let's talk a little sports now as we head into the final weekend of September.

Starting with the announcement by the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame for its star studded class of 2026.

The group of inductees includes recent Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductees Sylvia Fowles, Big Sill.

She has a tremendous list of accolades, including four Olympic gold medals, an eight time WNBA All-Star and a 15 season pro career.

And she helped lead LSU to four consecutive Final Fours.

Fowles is joined by former New Orleans Saints and four time Pro Bowl receiver Joe Horn, former LSU Tiger and Atlanta Falcons Todd McClure, and former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams.

Also in the class of 2026, former Northwestern State basketball coach Mike McCarthy with 682 wins.

He's the winningest college basketball coach in the state's history.

Also in this year's class.

Former foreign girls basketball coach Dewayne Strother, along with former major leader and raging Cajun star Jonathan Lacroix.

And with former LSU men's basketball coach John Brady.

Also, LSU baseball legend Warren Morris.

Two outs, bottom of the ninth College World Series and a home run to win it.

He will receive the Louisiana Sports Ambassador Award.

Hey, speaking of John Brady and Halls of Fame last week, Brady was one of six members in the class of 2025 inducted into the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame over the weekend.

I was honored to be on stage interviewing the newest members for their induction, along with Coach Brady.

Inductees included Four-Time women's basketball All-American Tamika Johnson, who led LSU to its first two Final Four appearances.

I didn't get here alone.

Coaching staff of coaches throughout my entire career.

Teammates.

Siblings.

Parents, grandparents.

You know, this is a an award for everybody that had a hand in who I, who I became and who I am as a woman.

Johnson also just accepted a new job at Lafayette as the associate head coach of the Raging Cajuns from Louisiana, their women's basketball team.

So congratulations to her.

She's working under Gary Broadhead.

We wish you all the best.

Ellis also inducted into the LSU Hall.

LSU is the most prolific three point shooter.

Cornelia Game men's basketball star Ronald Dupree, who played for Brady at LSU.

The father of LSU golf coach Jay Perry Cole and closing out the list.

One of the most decorated gymnasts in LSU history.

Raegan Courville Brennan, a two time vault national champ who played a key role in helping elevate LSU gymnastics into one of the top programs in the country in what is probably a surprise to absolutely no one, especially here in Louisiana.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced 13 first time candidates as nominees for the class of 2026 and among them former Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

Brees led the Saints to their only Super Bowl victory, was a 13 time Pro Bowler and five time All-Pro, and is second all time in passing yards in the NFL history, trailing only Tom Brady.

Other first time nominees include wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, quarterback Philip Rivers, and running back Frank Gore.

The list of over 120 nominees will get reduced to 50 in October, then eventually at 25.

Then the 15 finalists before the vote for the next class is made prior to February's Super Bowl.

And a programing note here on LPB.

We are once again highlighting some of the state's top athletes in season three of Behind the Glory, which debuted this week.

Here's a quick look at the first episode.

Big wit wasn't just a mountain of a man, but also had an equally exceptional character, always showing humility and leadership to his teammates and community.

What are some ways that we can make impact for other people?

To one, have the dreams to go succeed themselves, but to also feel like they're possible and capable.

It can happen.

You can catch behind the glory Thursday night at 845 right here on LPB.

And as you well know, having been an actress with the Hall of Fame, that's where these stories come from, goes even a little more in depth with the inductees are really, really great insights, great human interest stories, and really captures the human spirit.

This week we are going back into the archives, checking out some of the stories LPB has done over the past 50 years, and this week's story is especially timely, with Southern University taking on Jackson State Saturday night out on the bluff before the game.

Southern's Human Jukebox will face off against Jackson State's sonic boom of the South for a battle of the bands.

All right, that's going to be a good one.

So the Human Jukebox, of course, known as one of the best marching bands in the nation for its powerful sound and athleticism.

We're going to take you back, and we're going to take you back to 1993 with Jeff do hay for a vintage report on the Human Jukebox.

This group needs no more introduction than its name.

The Southern University Marching Band southern has always had a good band.

Always.

It was great when I was playing in the band.

It was super.

It's always had a good band, and the only thing I want to do is carried to greater heights.

The Bayou Classic this weekend is yet another opportunity for band director Isaac Greggs to show off what he calls the best marching band in the country, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Are you ready for the world renowned, the international fame, the Southern University Marching Band from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the Southern University Marching Band is led by drum major techno Silky Slim.

We show him some love.

Here on.

This performance is from the 1992 match up.

USA today calls them the best marching band in the country.

The students call themselves the best and the fans.

Well, tradition says there's not a single hot dog or drink sold during halftime.

You wouldn't want to miss a step of the Marching Jaguars.

You can't be as good as you must be.

Better than.

Better than anybody you around.

You got to be good.

You can't be as good at you.

Got to be better.

And if you do that and you think this, if you will believe it, you might conceive it.

I'm sure you'll agree that Greggs is a walking, wildly waving quote machine.

We've got to have show how as well as know how.

Often imitated, but never duplicated.

You see, that's what I'm told.

They know when they come to me.

They know.

They know when to stop.

That's what's happening.

You see, the band has had to be entertaining.

Southern's football team hasn't had a very good season for almost two decades.

But this year, the football team is a powerhouse on par with the band.

I want them to field.

Southern is our field.

Southern, you see, because I mean, to me, it's no other school in the world like southern to me.

It ain't over ten.

It's over.

They are a real fine band and has a real fine, director.

He and I have been friends for years, and and they do a good job, a great job.

I just feel like Grambling just a little better.

And I'm sure he would tell you the same thing.

No, he's not going to tell me that.

Grambling band is better.

No, he would tell you seven is a little better.

I said I would say competition.

Oh, sure.

Big competition.

Only today, though.

But we live together and work together the rest of the year.

Only this weekend where we really be at each other's throats.

Now, Monday morning, he and I call each other and we'll be friends and talk and go on and educate young people again.

The duty of any school band is to provide entertainment and inspiration.

And the southern band knows its duty well.

Inspiration is its first marching order.

So I'm sure you've seen the Human Jukebox performance.

Just any time.

That's the best years.

Yes, just the best.

Hey, money from the Boombox Classic tonight will go towards band scholarships at both Southern and Jackson State.

If you don't have tickets to the game, go see the battle of the bands.

They're just the best.

The here's the thing even if you're not a football fan, that will definitely bring you out, right?

No question.

Entertainment.

The athleticism, the music, the choreography.

What is it?

You can't help but get up and dance yourself.

It is such a great performance.

All right, well, don't forget that you can look back at 50 years of LPB content in the Louisiana Digital Media Archives at Digital media.org.

That's our show for this week.

Remember you can watch anything LPB anytime, wherever you are with our LP 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 take a moment like us on Facebook on X and on Instagram for everyone at Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

I'm Karen LeBlanc.

And I'm Victor Howell.

Until next time.

That's the state where it.

Support for Louisiana.

The state we're in is provided by Entergy Louisiana is strengthening our power grid throughout the state.

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

Because together, we power life.

Additional support provided by the Fred B and Ruth B Ziegler Foundation and the Ziegler Art Museum, located in Jennings City Hall.

The museum focuses on emerging Louisiana artists and is a historical and cultural center for Southwest Louisiana and by Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.

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

Thank you.