PRACTICES THAT PRESERVE LOUISIANA.

THE GOAL OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES REALLY IS TO ENSURE 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 AN AGREEMENT ON A COMPLEX SET OF ISSUES.

A CRYSTAL-BALL LOOK AT THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LARGE NET LOSS OF WETLANDS.

A NEW STUDY SUGGESTS DISAPPEARING WETLANDS MUCH SOONER THAN EXPECTED.

WE COULD FIGHT ABOUT THE PAST OR WE COULD BUILD A DIFFERENT FUTURE.

ATONING FOR THE PAST.

HI, EVERYONE.

I'M KARA ST. CYR.

AND I'M ANDRE MOREAU.

MUCH MORE ON THOSE TOP STORIES IN A MOMENT ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "SWI," BUT FIRST -- THEY'RE BEING CALLED BREAK THROUGH CASES AND THEY ARE GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION.

DR. JOSEPH KANTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH THIS WEEK SAYING A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE STATE WHO WERE VACCINATED ARE TESTING POSITIVE FOR THE COVID-19 VIRUS.

KANTER SAYS TO DATE, 170 PEOPLE REPRESENT THESE BREAK THROUGH CASES IN THE STATE.

ONLY 11 NEEDED HOSPITALIZATION.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS TRYING TO MONITOR OTHER POTENTIAL BREAK THROUGH CASES.

OF THOSE 170 CASES, THE AGE RANGE HAS GONE FROM 23 TO 98.

THE MEDIAN IS 68.

65% OF THEM HAVE BEEN WOMEN, JUST OVER HALF, 53%, WERE SYMPTOMATIC.

THE REST WERE ASYMPTOMATIC.

AN AVERAGE OF 34 DAYS ELAPSED FROM THE COMPLETION OF THE VACCINE SERIES FROM WHEN THE POSITIVE CASES CAME IN.

THERE IS A NEW COVID VACCINE HOTLINE THAT'S UP AND RUNNING.

GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS ANNOUNCING THIS.

YOU CAN MAKE APPOINTMENTS TO BE VACCINATED OR ASK QUESTIONS.

THAT NUMBER IS 1-855-453-0774.

AND NOW TO OTHER NEWS MAKING HEADLINES ACROSS THE STATE.

THE FALLOUT CONTINUES ON HOW LSU HANDLED ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT.

THE SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON WOMEN AND CHILDREN HELD A THIRD HEARING, BUT WITHOUT KEY LSU LEADERS.

THE SCHOOL IS BLOCKING CURRENT EMPLOYEES FROM TESTIFYING AS A $50 MILLION LAWSUIT LOOMS.

THIS THIRD HEARING FOCUSED ON ACCUSATIONS THAT LSU MISHANDLED REPORTS OF RAPE, DATING VIOLENCE, AND OTHER TYPES OF MISCONDUCT.

THIS WEEK ALSO SAW THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION LAUNCH ITS SECOND INVESTIGATION OF LSU.

TO TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO TITLE IX COMPLIANCE FROM 2018 TO THE PRESENT.

THE DAYS OF PROTECTING AN INSTITUTION ARE GONE.

THERE IS NO PROTECTING AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION AT THE EXPENSE OF THOSE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE EDGE KATDING.

THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF STUDENTS AND STUDENT ATHLETES AND THE KNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE THEY ARE GOING TO BE SAFE AND THEIR PARENTS HAVE THEY ARE GOING TO BE SAFE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR'S OFFICE REPORTS A MEGA MISTAKE BY THE STATE'S LABOR DEPARTMENT.

THE REPORT SAYS THE DEPARTMENT SENT MORE THAN $405 MILLION IN STATE AND FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS TO PEOPLE APPARENTLY NOT ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THEM.

ALMOST 98,000 PEOPLE.

THE LOUISIANA WORKFORCE COMMISSION DID NOT DISPUTE THE FINDINGS.

THE STATE'S BIGGEST BARRIER ISLAND RESTORATION CONTINUES WITH THE FINISH DATE NEXT JANUARY.

THE PRICE TAG IS $167 MILLION TO BUILD 1,100 ACRES OF MARSH, DUNE, AND BEACH AT TRINITY EAST ISLAND.

TRINITY EAST IS A CHUNK ERODED AWAY FROM TRINITY ISLAND.

IT IS ONE OF THE SEVERAL REMNANTS LEFT AFTER THE LAST ISLAND HURRICANE OF 1856.

THAT 150 MILE-PER-HOUR STORM SPLIT THE 25-MILE-LONG RESORT ISLAND CALLED ISLE DERNIERE.

LOUISIANA AND TEXAS FILED A LAWSUIT THIS WEEK AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE SUIT ALLEGES IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES DID NOT TAKE CUSTODY OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF CRIMES AND COULD BE SUBJECT TO DEPORTATION.

A NEW SURVEY FINDS ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE IN THE STATE HAVE MORE RELAXED VIEWS TOWARDS THE USE OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA AFTER EXPERIENCING A YEAR OF LOCKDOWNS.

RECOVERY.ORG CONDUCTED THE POLL OF 3,000 RESPONDENTS.

THE SURVEY ALSO FOUND ALMOST HALF, 49% OF RESPONDENTS, SAY FOLLOWING PANDEMIC STRESS, THEY EMPATHIZE MORE WITH THOSE WHO TURN TO SUBSTANCES, SUCH AS CANNABIS, FOR RELIEF.

RESEARCHERS THIS WEEK RELEASED MOST OF THE RESULTS OF 2021 LOUISIANA SURVEY, CONDUCTED BY THE PUBLIC POLICY LAB OF LSU'S MANSHIP SCHOOL OF MASS COMMUNICATION.

THE SURVEY COVERS A VARIETY OF ISSUES, BUT ON THE SUBJECT OF GOVERNMENT AND ITS POLICIES, A BIPARTISAN MAJORITY SAYS THE STATE SALES TAX IS TOO HIGH.

THE SURVEY ALSO FOUND BLACK AND WHITE LOUISIANANS VIEW DISCRIMINATION DIFFERENTLY, THOUGH A MAJORITY, 55%, BELIEVE BLACK PEOPLE ARE TREATED LESS FAIRLY THAN WHITE PEOPLE IN DEALING WITH POLICE.

THE FINAL INSTALLMENT OF THE SURVEY IS RELEASED NEXT WEEK.

ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF LANDRY PULLED A SURPRISE DURING YESTERDAY'S COMMITTEE HEARING ABOUT LSU.

TWO MONTHS AFTER LANDRY FILED A LAWSUIT TO KEEP RECORDS ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT ACCUSATIONS AGAINST ONE OF HIS TOP MEN FROM GOING PUBLIC, HIS OFFICE THURSDAY RELEASED A MEMO THAT TARGETS THE WHISTLEBLOWER FILING THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT.

THE MEMO TALKS ABOUT PAT MAGEE, WHO RESIGNED AMID THE ISSUE AND SUGGESTS THE WHISTLEBLOWER MIGHT BE IN VIOLATION OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICIES.

THIS YEAR'S REGULAR SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE BEGINS MONDAY AT NOON AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

I TALKED WITH TWO OF THE STATE'S TOP POLITICAL REPORTERS, MELINDA DESLATTE OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AND GREG HILBURN FROM "USA TODAY" NETWORK.

HOW IS THE STATE IN TERMS OF PARTISANSHIP RIGHT NOW?

ONE OF THE ODDITIES ABOUT THIS SESSION IS THAT DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE'S A PANDEMIC AND DESPITE THE FACT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVES ARE VERY DISRUPTED, SO MUCH OF THIS SESSION SEEMS LIKE IT IS GOING TO FEEL LIKE A REGULAR SESSION, WITH THE SAME KINDS OF DEBATES AND NON-CORONAVIRUS RELATED THINGS YOU WOULD HAVE HAD EVEN IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A PANDEMIC, PARTISAN ISSUES, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN FILED LAST YEAR WHEN PEOPLE WERE AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

IT JUST FEELS MUCH MORE LIKE A TRADITIONAL REGULAR SESSION THAN I MIGHT HAVE EXPECTED IF YOU HAD ASKED ME A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

SO THE QUESTION ABOUT PARTISANSHIP, I THINK YOU WILL SEE TRADITIONAL PARTISAN DIVIDING LINES IN SOCIAL TOPICS AND SOME OF THE WAYS THEY APPROACH FINANCES, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE DIFFERENT IN HOW THEY SEE SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS OF TAXES.

I MEAN, I DON'T THINK PARTISANSHIP HAS GONE ANYWHERE.

THERE IS NOT A KUMBAYA MOVEMENT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

COMPARED TO LAST YEAR WHEN THE SESSION WAS IMMEDIATELY HALTED, SUSPENDED, WHEN WE CAME BACK IT WAS CERTAINLY DIFFERENT THAN IT HAD EVER BEEN BEFORE.

AS MELINDA SAID, MANY OF THE ISSUES ARE THE SAME, BUT THERE IS NO REAL FEELING, REAL THREAT OF DEEP CUTS THAT INDIVIDUALS COULD FEEL, LIKE OUR COLLEGE TUITION.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE WE ARE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT THE MOST?

I THINK IF YOU ASKED THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP THEY WOULD SAY REWRITING THE TAX STRUCTURE OF THE STATE.

THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND THE HOUSE SPEAKER HAVE SAID THEY WANT TO FOCUS ON OVERHAULING THE TAX BILL.

THAT IS THE LEADERSHIP'S LARGEST PRIORITY, BUT THEY HAVE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON A VERY COMPLEX SET OF ISSUES AND THE GOVERNOR WANTS IT TO BE REVENUE NEUTRAL IN OTHER WORDS SO THE STATE DOESN'T LOSE MONEY BY DOING THIS.

AND DOESN'T REALLY GAIN MONEY.

THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP SAID THEY WANT TO FOLLOW UP REVENUE REVIEW AS WELL.

TO GET THE KIND OF BIPARTISAN AGREEMENTS, A LOT NEED TWO-THIRDS VOTE, BUT TO GET THE AGREEMENTS YOU NEED AND MAKE THE DOLLARS AND CENTS WORK IS A VERY COMPLEX SERIES OF THINGS TO DO IN A TWO-MONTH TIME PERIOD.

WITH $3.2 BILLION, THERE ARE LIMITATIONS ON HOW YOU SPIN IT, BUT EVERYBODY WILL HAVE THEIR OWN IDEA OF HOW IT SHOULD BE SPENT.

THERE IS A BIPARTISAN EFFORT BY THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE, THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE AND THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TO REPLENISH OUR UNEMPLOYMENT TRUST FUND, A DEBATE AND DISCUSSION, DON'T YOU MELINDA?

TO GIVE MORE VOTING MACHINES BECAUSE OF THE DISAGREEMENTS.

IT WASN'T ALLOWABLE IN TERMS OF -- IF LEGISLATURE WILL SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THE BUDGET AND TAXES DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A WHOLE CONTROVERSIAL AND HOT BUTTON TOPICS OFF THEIR AGENDA AND THAT WILL BE DEBATED.

THERE IS ONE ISSUE THAT WAS ESCALATING THAT IS UNEXPECTED, LSU HAVING A SEXUAL PROBLEM'.

MELINDA IS CHECKING OFF THE BILLS, THERE ARE AT LEAST THREE TO FIVE BILLS RELATED TO THAT.

THINGS WE WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO.

THE GROUP OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN, THEY HAVE A HUGE VOICE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE HAD BEFORE.

[INDISCERNIBLE] SOME OF THE LEGISLATORS WENT TO THE SPEAKER AND ASKED WHY DON'T WE HAVE A COMMITTEE ON THIS TOPIC AND HE PUT ONE TOGETHER VERY QUICKLY AND SO NOW THEY ARE [INDISCERNIBLE] AND MATCHES THE SENATE COMMITTEE AND THEY ARE HAVING MEETS.

IT IS CLEAR AMONG THE FEMALE LEGISLATORS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND HOW LSU HAS RESPONDED TO THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORT.

THERE IS A SENSE THAT THERE ARE LAWS ON THE BOOKS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN FOLLOWED, PARTICULARLY LAWS THAT WEREN'T PASSED THAT LONG AGO AND YOU SEE A LOT OF BIPARTISANSHIP IN TERMS OF HOW THEY ARE APPROACHING THIS.

THESE ARE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WHO ARE REGULARLY HAVING DISCUSSIONS, CONFERENCE CALLS, AND MEETINGS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO LEGISLATIVELY TO ENSURE THIS KIND OF STUFF DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN AND ISN'T GOING ON ON OTHER CAMPUSES.

BY THE WAY, I REACHED OUT TO BOTH CLAY SCHEXNAYDER, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, AND PAGE CORTEZ, SENATE PRESIDENT, BOTH WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS, BUT I DEFINITELY LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING WITH THEM IN THE FUTURE.

AND JOIN US HERE ON LPB MONDAY NIGHT AT 6:00 FOR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS ON OPENING DAY OF THE SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE.

BARRY ERWIN, PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL FOR A BETTER LOUISIANA, WILL BE HERE TO JOIN ME.

# LSU AND COASTAL RESEARCH IS MAKING BIG NEWS WITH THE RELEASE OF TWO IMPORTANT STUDIES.

ONE INVOLVES THE FUTURE SURVIVAL OF THE WORLD'S DELTAS.

OUR STATE, LSU SCIENTISTS AND NASA PLAY THE LEAD ROLE IN THIS ONE.

THE RESEARCH JUST BEGINNING.

THE OTHER IS A STUDY ABOUT WETLANDS AND IT SUGGESTS A QUICKER TIMELINE FOR DIMINISHED WETLANDS FROM SEA LEVEL RISE AND MINIMAL ELEVATIONS.

LSU AND TULANE COASTAL EXPERTS ARE AMONG A GROUP OF SCIENTISTS WHO CO-AUTHORED THE STUDY DELIVERING THE DIRE WETLANDS FORECAST.

THIS RESEARCH SUGGESTS ACCELERATED SEA LEVEL RISE COULD OVERWHELM WETLANDS ACROSS THE GLOBE AT A MORE RAPID PACE THAN HAS BEEN BELIEVED.

JOHN DAY IS A DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR EMERITUS IN OCEANOGRAPHY AND COASTAL SCIENCES.

HE'S TAUGHT AT LSU 50 YEARS.

THERE ARE STUDIES BASED ON INSTRUMENTAL RECORD THAT SHOWS BACK DECADES AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STUDIES THAT INDICATED THERE COULD BE SIGNIFICANT GAIN IN COASTAL WETLAND AREA EVEN WITH ACCELERATED SEA LEVEL RISE AT FAIRLY HIGH RATES.

ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU LOOK AT THE GEOLOGICAL RECORD, GOING BACK SEVERAL THOUSAND YEARS TO THIS AGE OF DELTAS, WHAT WE FOUND WAS WHAT WE CALL A TIPPING POINT AND THESE LONG-TERM GEOLOGICAL RECORDS SUGGEST THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LARGE NET LOSS OF WETLANDS BY THE END OF THE CENTURY AND INTO THE 22nd CENTURY.

IN THE CASE OF LOUISIANA, DR. DAY SAYS MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO HARNESS SEDIMENT FLOWING DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, TO BUILD UP THE ELEVATION OF WETLANDS.

WE COULD BE MORE AGGRESSIVE WITH THE USE OF DIVERSIONS.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE RIVER IS LARGELY ISOLATED FROM THE DELTA PLAIN AND WE COULD GET MORE AGGRESSIVE AND LET MORE WATER IN WITH MORE SEDIMENT.

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN YOU CAN GO UPSTREAM TO THE LOWER RIVER DAMS AND FREE UP A LOT OF SEDIMENT THAT PERHAPS DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF SEDIMENT COMING DOWN THAT RIVER AND DOING THAT WE COULD GET A LOT MORE SEDIMENT INTO THE COASTAL AREA TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN WETLANDS.

AND THE CRITICAL THING IS THE ELEVATION OF THE WETLANDS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

IF THE ELEVATION IS VERY LOW, CLOSE TO THAT TIPPING POINT WHERE THEY DEGRADE IN WATER, THEN WE'RE IN TROUBLE.

THE OTHER PROJECT INVOLVES NASA TEAMING UP WITH LSU AND FIVE OTHER UNIVERSITIES TO DETERMINE THE DESTINY OF THE WORLD'S DELTAS.

WAX LAKE DELTA, AT THE MOUTH OF THE ATCHAFALAYA RIVER IS BEING USED AS A MODEL.

LOUISIANA SEA GRANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ROBERT TWILLEY EXPLAINS WHY.

THEY WANTED A GROWING DELTA.

IT IS CONVENIENT BECAUSE A RESEARCH UNIVERSITY IS SITTING RIGHT WHERE THEY CAN WORK WITH.

WE HAVE 15 YEARS EXPERIENCE FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, SO THEY COULD BRING IN THEIR TECHNOLOGY ON TOP OF THE RESEARCH THAT HAS BEEN OUT OF LSU FOR 15 YEARS.

AND IT'S SMALL ENOUGH AND IT'S GOT -- IT IS ALMOST LIKE A LABORATORY.

YOU CAN LEAVE CABBOTT LANDING ON HIGHWAY 17 AND IN 40 MINUTES I CAN HAVE YOU IN THE DELTA.

NASA IS VERY INTERESTING USING THEIR SPACE TECHNOLOGY TO UNDERSTAND HOW DELTAS ARE AT RISK AROUND THE WORLD AND TO HELP DEVELOP TOOLS THEY CAN USE TO PREDICT THE OUTCOMES OF HOW CHANGES UP IN THE -- SUCH AS DAMS AND REDUCES SEDIMENT ARE GOING TO INTERFERE WITH SEA LEVEL RISE.

TO DO THAT, THEY NEED TO CALIBRATE THOSE SENSORS AND THEY ARE CALIBRATING THOSE SENSORS ON OUR DELTAS IN LOUISIANA, WAX LAKE AT ATCHAFALAYA.

THE PICTURE I SAW OF THEM TAKING SOIL AND PULLING IT OUT?

THAT'S RIGHT.

AND THE LITTLE STICK.

THAT LITTLE POPSICLE STICK WHERE THAT WHITE MARK IS, ABOVE THAT IS HOW MUCH SEDIMENT HAS BEEN BUILT UP IN THOSE PICTURES.

OH, OKAY.

THAT IS A TECHNIQUE WE USE, WE LAY DOWN THAT WHITE BRICK DUST AND WE PULL THOSE SAMPLES OUT, WE CAN SEE THAT WHITE LINE WE LAID DOWN 18 MONTHS AGO AND HOW MUCH IS ON TOP OF IT.

IF THEY CAN PREDICT THAT RATE THEY CAN PREDICT WHETHER DELTAS AROUND THE WORLD CAN SURVIVE OR NOT.

THE KEY IS ELEVATION CAPITAL.

YOU'VE GOT TO BUILD ELEVATION OF LAND RELATIVE TO THE LAND THAT SINKS AND THE SEA LEVEL THAT RISES.

YOU HAVE TO COMPENSATE FOR THAT.

WHAT I FIND QUITE FASCINATING IS I'M USED TO GOING OUT SAMPLING ONE SPOT THERE, TAKE A CORE THERE, OR UNDERSTAND PIECEMEAL, WITH THE SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY AND THE SENSORS NASA HAS, YOU CAN EXPAND THAT TO THE ENTIRE AREA OF THE DELTA AND ONCE YOU CALIBRATE THAT AND FIGURE IT OUT, YOU CAN THEN START FIGURING OUT DELTAS GLOBALLY.

IT JUST EXPANDS YOUR RESEARCH AT ONE LOCATION TO A GLOBAL EMPIRE.

THE JESUIT PRIESTS ARE PLEDGING $100 MILLION IN PENANCE TO THE DESCENDANTS OF SLAVES THEY ONCE OWNED.

ALSO KNOWN AS THE GU272 IN IBERVILLE, LOUISIANA.

THE MONEY WILL BE PUMPED INTO THE DESCENDANTS' TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION FOUNDATION.

CHURCH LEADERS SAY THAT MONEY WILL BE USED TO START HEALING PROJECTS AND DOLE OUT GRANTS.

I SPOKE WITH FOUNDATION PRESIDENT JOSEPH STEWART AND JESUIT PRIEST FATHER KASECKI, TO TALK ABOUT THE LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS OF THAT COMMITMENT.

IN THIS CASE RIGHTING A WRONG MEANS MORE THAN ACKNOWLEDGING THE PAST.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO PICK UP PIECES AND REUNITE LOVED ONES SEPARATED BY TIME.

WE'RE TRYING TO ADD TO THAT FAMILY, TO FIND MORE RELATIVES TO LET THEM KNOW.

THIS WOMAN IS A DESCENDANT OF THE GU272 OR THE GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY SLAVES.

THEY WERE SOLD IN 1838 WHEN JESUIT PRIESTS NEEDED MORE MONEY.

THEY SOLD 272 MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN, TO MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE.

MOST OF THEM ENDED UP IN IBERVILLE PARISH.

WE PUT TOGETHER A GROUP PAGE ON FACEBOOK WHERE WE SHARE PICTURES, WHERE EVERYONE SHARES PICTURES OF THEIR ANCESTORS AND WE USED THAT PAGE TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION.

THIS WOMAN FOUND FAMILY MEMBERS SHE DIDN'T KNOW SHE HAD THROUGH THE GU272 DESCENDANTS ASSOCIATION.

BUT OTHERS ARE LOOKING FOR MORE THAN AN OLD CONNECTION.

WE REALIZED THIS, WE COULD FIGHT ABOUT THE PAST OR WE COULD BUILD A DIFFERENT FUTURE.

JOSEPH STEWART IS ALSO A DESCENDANT, BUT HE'S KNOWN THAT FOR NEARLY FIVE YEARS NOW.

TO HIM IT'S BEEN LONG OVERDUE TO MAKE A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER, FOR THE DESCENDANTS, AND THE JESUIT PRIESTS.

HE IS PRESIDENT OF THE DESCENDANTS TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION FOUNDATION, WHICH WAS FOUNDED FOR THAT VERY REASON.

THE JESUITS ENTERED INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.

THAT UNDERSTANDING CAME IN THE FORM OF $100 MILLION TO THE DESCENDANTS TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION FOUNDATION.

JOE STORE TALKS ABOUT THE LETTER AT THE SUPERIOR GENERAL SENSE HE INVITED THE DESCENDANTS PROVINCIALS IN THE UNITED STATES TO BEGIN A DIALOGUE PROCESS.

BEFORE THAT LETTER WAS SENT, AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY FOUR YEARS AGO THIS APRIL, I ISSUED A FORMAL APOLOGY ON BEHALF OF ALL THE JESUITS IN THE UNITED STATES FOR THIS SIN.

WE RESIST MOVING ON, BUT EMBRACE MOVING FORWARD WITH HOPE.

A COMBINATION OF THE DIALOGUE PROCESS, AND MOST ESPECIALLY THE DESCENDANTSES TO CAME TO US WITH A VISION AND AN OPEN HAND ASKING US TO PARTNER WITH THEM OPENED A WINDOW TO AN OPPORTUNITY I DON'T BELIEVE HAS EVER BEEN SEEN IN THIS COUNTRY.

THAT MONEY WILL GO TO ANY DESCENDANTS IN NEED OF HELP.

STEWART SAYS THEY WON'T ONLY BE HANDING OUT CASH, MONEY WILL ALSO BE USED IN RACIAL HEALING PROJECTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND MONEY FOR THE ELDERLY WITH NEEDS.

DESPITE ALL OF THIS, STEWART SAYS THIS ISN'T A FORM OF REPARATIONS, BUT A PARTNERSHIP.

THERE'S NEVER BEEN A SIGNED TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, A SIGNED PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN A LARGE GROUP OF DESCENDANTS OF ENSLAVED PEOPLE AND THOSE WHO REPRESENT THE ORGANIZATION OF 450-YEAR-OLD ORGANIZATION THAT HAS ALSO COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING US IN THIS EFFORT FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION.

OF COURSE NOT EVERYONE IS ON BOARD.

IT IS SAFE TO SAY THIS IS A PROCESS OF CONVERSION.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS OVERNIGHT.

IT TOOK THE PROVINCIALS AND DESCENDANTS YEARS, LITERALLY YEARS TO COME TO THIS.

AND I STILL THINK IT IS TAKING OTHERS TIME TO COME TO THIS.

I WOULDN'T USE THE WORD BACKLASH, BUT I WILL SAY WITH ALL THOSE WHO QUESTION THE VISION, WHO DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND THE VISION AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME FOR THIS UNIQUE VISION TO SINK IN.

STEWART SAYS THE AGREEMENT IN PLACE SHOULD LAST 100 YEARS.

THERE ARE BARRIERS AND INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND OTHER ELEMENTS THAT PRECLUDE PEOPLE FROM REALIZING THEIR HUMAN POTENTIAL.

SO IT IS MY HOPE THAT WHAT WE'VE CREATED HERE BETWEEN DESCENDANTS, LET ME SAY THIS, BETWEEN DESCENDANTS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE ENSLAVED AND NOW AND NOW THOSE WHO DID THE ENSLAVING.

WE HAVE COME TOGETHER IN A UNIQUE WAY TO INVEST IN A POSITIVE FUTURE FOR ALL MEN INSTEAD OF FIGHTING ABOUT THE PAST.

WE CAN'T CHANGE THE PAST, BUT WE CAN CHANGE THE FUTURE.

IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE, GO TO LPB.ORG/FINDINGYOURROOTS WHERE YOU'LL DISCOVER LPB'S "FINDING YOUR ROOTS:THE GU272 AND THE LOUISIANA CONNECTION."

THERE'S MORE COVERAGE ON THE TOPIC FROM LOUISIANA "THE STATE WE'RE IN" PLUS AN LPB DISCUSSION EXPLAINING WHO THE GU272 ARE AND RESOURCES TO HELP YOU DISCOVER MORE.

I REJECTED A LONG TIME AGO THAT THE ONLY PURPOSE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS TO PUNISH.

VOTERS IN PHILADELPHIA HAVE CHOSING PROGRESSIVE A DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

OVERTURN CONVICTIONS BY CORRUPT POLICE OFFICERS.

THAT WAS A CLIP OF THE INDEPENDENT LENS DOCUSERIES PHILLY DA WHICH CHRONICLES THE CAMPAIGN AND AFTERMATH OF LARRY KRASNER, WHO TOOK ON THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY POSITION IN PHILADELPHIA IN 2017.

LPB WILL BE SHOWING A PREVIEW SCREENING OF THE EIGHT-PART SERIES ON MONDAY, APRIL 12, FROM 6:00 TO 7:30 P.M.

THE FILM COVERS CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS LIKE POLICE BRUTALITY, THE OPIOID CRISIS, AND MASS INCARCERATION.

IF YOU'RE FROM LOUISIANA, THESE ISSUES WILL SOUND FAMILIAR.

THEY ARE BATTLES THAT OUR STATE HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR YEARS NOW.

AND THAT'S WHY A PANEL OF EXPERTS WILL SIT ON DOWN AND ANALYZE THE FILM AFTER THE SCREENING.

FOR DETAILS AND TO REGISTER FOR THIS FREE SNEAK PREVIEW OF EPISODE ONE, GO TO LPB.ORG/PHILLYDA.

ATTENDEES CAN TAKE A LIVE INTERACTIVE SURVEY BY TEXT OR ONLINE DURING THE SCREENING AND DISCUSSION.

AND SWITCHING GEARS HERE, ANDRE HAS SOME VERY EXCITING NEWS, SOME REMARKABLE NEWS.

ANDRE, DO YOU WANT TO CLUE US IN?

WHAT DID WE SPEND THE ENTIRE YEAR WORRIED ABOUT?

WE'VE BEEN HOPING TO GET THAT VACCINE.

THE FIRST AND SECOND SHOT OF PFIZER.

THIS IS GLORYLAND BAPTIST CHURCH SPONSORED BY BATON ROUGE GENERAL HOSPITAL.

SHE IS GOING TO SIT ME AND WATCH -- NO REACTION.

LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE GIGGLING THERE A LITTLE BIT.

DOES IT HURT?

I WAS WAITING, DID YOU DO IT NOW?

I DIDN'T FEEL A THING.

NO AFTERMATH.

I'M FORTUNATE WHEN IT COMES TO SHOTS.

GET YOUR VACCINATION.

IT IS IMPORTANT.

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 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.