PRACTICES THAT PRESERVE LOUISIANA.

THE GOAL OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES REALLY IS TO ENSURE THAT OUR KIDS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN BE LEFT WITH A CLEANER PLANET.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE FRED B.

AND RUTH B. ZIEGLER FOUNDATION AND THE ZIEGLER ART MUSEUM LOCATED IN JENNINGS CITY HALL.

THE MUSEUM FOCUSES ON EMERGING LOUISIANA ARTISTS AND IS AN HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CENTER FOR SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA.

AND THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING WITH SUPPORT FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY LNS CAPTIONING WWW.LNSCAPTIONING.COM LET'S CHALLENGE OURSELVES TO ENVISION NEW WAYS TO MAKE LOUISIANA BETTER FOR ALL.

LOUISIANA PREPARING FOR A NEW FISCAL YEAR.

I THINK IT HURTS EVERYONE.

THE SCANDAL UNSETTLED.

PEOPLE DO HAVE A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING IT.

WHAT A TAX OVERHAUL WOULD DO AND WHAT IT WOULDN'T.

HURRICANE OUTLOOK.

THEY'RE PROJECTING 17 NAMED STORMS OF WHICH EIGHT WILL BECOME HURRICANES.

FORECASTING THE HURRICANE SEASON WITH UNCERTAINTY.

HI, EVERYONE.

I'M KARA ST. CYR.

AND I'M ANDRE MOREAU.

MUCH MORE ON THOSE TOP STORIES IN JUST A MOMENT ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "SWI," BUT FIRST, WILD LIGHTNING FILLED THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HURRICANE STRENGTH WINDS CONTINUE TO BATTER PARTS OF THE STATE, BUT NO PLACE HAS BEEN HIT LIKE GRAND ISLE.

TUESDAY WINDS THAT EXCEEDED 80 MILES AN HOUR BLASTED THE ISLAND FOR 30 SOLID MINUTES, LEAVING IT WITHOUT POWER OR WATER.

ACCORDS TO RESIDENTS.

THOSE STORMS PRODUCED A WEATHER FREAK SHOW THAT PUT BIG BOATS IN TROUBLE.

PEOPLE MISSING WHEN A LARGE BOAT CAPSIZED, I'LL HAVE MUCH MORE ON THAT IN JUST A MOMENT.

COVID-19 VACCINATIONS ALSO MAKING HEADLINES THIS WEEK.

LOUISIANA IS NO LONGER PROVIDING THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE AS AN OPTION.

FEDERAL HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE INVESTIGATING THE LINK BETWEEN THE SHOT AND BLOOD CLOTTING.

HEALTH ADVISERS SAY THIS REACTION IS EXTREMELY RARE, ONLY SIX OUT OF SEVEN MILLION HAVE ACTUALLY HAD CLOTTING.

THE PAUSE IN DISTRIBUTION IS ONLY A PRECAUTION.

BUT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS STILL ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO GET THE MODERNA AND PFIZER SHOTS.

IN A SWEEPING EFFORT TO COMBAT ANOTHER SURGE, A FEDERALLY BACKED MASS VACCINATION CENTER IS OPERATING IN BATON ROUGE.

IT'S A SITE CAPABLE OF DOLING OUT 20,000 DOSES A DAY.

THE VACCINATION SITE IS ON FLORIDA BOULEVARD.

IT'LL BE OPEN FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 6:00 P.M. ON TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS.

ON WEDNESDAY AND THE WEEKEND, IT'LL BE OPEN FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 6:00 P.M. NOW A LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER HEADLINES MAKING NEWS.

LSU SHREVEPORT MED SCHOOL CHANCELLOR DR. G.E.

GHALI IS NOW ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE.

THE UNIVERSITY IS INVESTIGATING ACCUSATIONS THAT HE SUPPRESSED STUDENTS' COMPLAINTS ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND RETALIATED AGAINST FACULTY MEMBERS WHO STOOD BY THE STUDENTS.

GHALI SAYS HE IS SURE HE WILL BE CLEARED AND RETURN TO WORK.

AUTHORITIES SAY A BODY RECOVERED IN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN ST. JOHN PARISH IS IDENTIFIED AS AN LSU STUDENT MISSING SINCE LAST WEEK.

POLICE FOUND THE CAR OF 18-YEAR-OLD KORI GAUTHIER ON THE I-10 MISSISSIPPI RIVER BRIDGE IN BATON ROUGE.

THEY DO NOT SUSPECT FOUL PLAY IN THIS TRAGEDY.

CHILDCARE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION APPEAR TO BE ONE THING IN THIS LOUISIANANS AGREE.

LSU'S 2021 LOUISIANA SURVEY PUBLIC POLL RELEASED THE FINDINGS FROM THE FIFTH OF FIVE REPORTS.

ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE SUPPORT SPENDING MORE FOR CHILDCARE, REGARDLESS OF UNIVERSAL CARE OR CARE TARGETED TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.

A MAJORITY ALSO SUPPORT RAISING TAXES TO PAY FOR THE SPENDING OF THOSE NEEDS.

JULIA LETLOW WAS SWORN INTO THE HOUSE ON WEDNESDAY, CLAIMING THE SEAT HER LATE HUSBAND WAS ELECTED TO, BUT NEVER FILLED.

HE DIED FROM COVID-19 DAYS BEFORE TAKING OFFICE.

LETLOW WON THE SPECIAL ELECTION HANDILY TO BECOME THE FIRST WOMAN REPUBLICAN ELECTED TO CONGRESS FROM LOUISIANA.

THIS FEEL-GOOD HEADLINE FOUND MEMBERS OF AN LSU FRATERNITY CHIPPING IN MONEY TO PAY OFF THE MORTGAGE OF A WOMAN WHO FED THEM WHEN THEY WERE STUDENTS.

$50,000.

ABOUT A DOZEN MEMBERS OF THE PHI GAMMA DELTA SURPRISED JESSE HAMILTON OF BAKER WITH THE MONEY ON HER 74th BIRTHDAY.

AND BACK NOW TO THAT BOAT TRAGEDY OFF OF FOURCHON.

A LIFT BOAT THAT CAPSIZED AND THE DRAMA HAS THE NATION AND BEYOND WATCHING.

WINDS OF 90 MILES AN HOUR AND GREATER, CAT 2 HURRICANE STRENGTH, CAUSED THE LIFT BOAT TO TURN OVER AS IT WORKED A ROUTE TO OIL RIGS.

CREWS RESCUED 6 OF THE 19 PEOPLE ONBOARD WHEN IT CAPSIZED TUESDAY AND RECOVERED THE BODIES OF TWO.

THE COAST GUARD HAS SEARCHED FOR THE 11 OTHERS SINCE BUT HAVE BEEN HAMPERED BY BAD WEATHER.

FAMILIES HOPE FOR A MIRACLE THAT THEIR MEN WILL BE BROUGHT HOME.

THE STATE IS ONE WEEK INTO THE CURRENT REGULAR SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE.

SECURING THE BUDGET IS THE TOP LINE ITEM.

IT'S A TAX SESSION AND ANDRE WILL SAY MORE ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT, BUT PAY RAISES FOR TEACHERS, RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE, AND EQUAL PAY RIGHTS AND LSU'S SEXUAL MISCONDUCT SAGA ARE SOME OF THE BIG TOPICS WE'LL HEAR ABOUT, AMONG OTHERS.

I SPOKE WITH SOME LAWMAKERS AT THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS TO THE STATE MONDAY NIGHT ON SOUTHERN'S CAMPUS AND HERE'S WHAT I HEARD.

[ NATIONAL ANTHEM ] BRITTANY JACKSON SANG THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AS THE GOVERNOR PREPARED TO GIVE THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS MONDAY, OFFICIALLY BEGINNING TWO MONTHS OF MEETINGS TO TACKLE LOUISIANA'S BUDGET.

I AM HONORED TO BE SPEAKING TO YOU FROM THE CAMPUS OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.

THIS ADDRESS WAS UNIQUE, THE GOVERNOR SPOKE TO THE STATE AND LAWMAKERS ON THE BLUFF THIS YEAR, AS A WAY TO PAY HOMAGE TO SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY FOR ITS ONGOING VACCINATION EFFORTS.

YOUR EFFORTS HAVE BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF TREMENDOUS.

IN FACT, JUST THIS WEEK, SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ADMINISTERED MORE THAN 1,000 VACCINATION SHOTS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[ APPLAUSE ] LAST YEAR COVID-19 RELIEF DOMINATED THE CONVERSATION, THOUGH IT'S NOT ON THE BACK BURNER, LAWMAKERS FILED MORE THAN 900 BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS TO DEBATE, WHICH IS MORE LIKE A NORMAL SESSION.

IN HIS SPEECH THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED TEACHERS' PAY, VACCINATION EFFORTS, AND LIFE AFTER COVID-19.

HE URGED LAWMAKERS TO CONTINUE MAKING PROGRESS IN THE STATE.

THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION LET'S CHALLENGE OURSELVES TO ENVISION NEW WAYS TO MAKE LOUISIANA BETTER FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.

TRAGEDIES LIKE WE FACED OFTEN REMIND US OF OUR SHARED HUMANITY, BUT THINGS START TO GET BACK TO NORMAL AND WE FORGET THAT FOR SOME THE ROAD TO RECOVERY IS MUCH LONGER AND MORE DIFFICULT.

FIRST ON THAT LIST OF PRIORITIES IS TAX REFORM.

GOP LEADERS ARE TRYING TO ATTRACT BUSINESS FROM OUT OF STATE.

THE GOVERNOR ALREADY SAID THAT HE'D BE OKAY WITH A TAX OVERHAUL AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T MESS WITH REVENUE FOR STATE SERVICES, STATE REP TED JAMES SAYS HE'S WILLING TO WORK ON THE BUDGET, BUT DOESN'T WANT THAT TO GET IN THE WAY OF OTHER PRIORITIES.

WE'VE WORKED FOR MONTHS TO MAKE SURE TO PROPOSE SOME BILLS AND ALTHOUGH IT DIDN'T GET MENTIONED TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE IT'S A PRIORITY.

AND IF THOSE THINGS AREN'T ADDRESSED AND THOSE BILLS DON'T GET PASSED, THEN WE AREN'T GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF OTHER BILLS COMING ACROSS THIS SESSION.

SO IF FOLKS NEED 70 VOTES, RIGHT, FOR SOME OF THESE TAX BILLS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE SOME MOVEMENT ON THE PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE.

TO JAMES AND THE REST OF THE BLACK CAUCUS, THOSE BILLS SPELL POLICE REFORM AND INCLUDING MID WIVES AND DULAS IN THE MEDICAID EXPANSION.

ACROSS PARTY LINES, STATE SENATOR BETH MIZEL IS REVISITING OLDER TOPICS THAT DIDN'T PASS LAST SESSION, WITH HER WOMAN AND SPORTS BILL.

AND THAT BILL ALLOWS BIOLOGICAL FEMALES A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD, WHERE THEY'RE ONLY COMPETING AGAINST BIOLOGICAL FEMALES.

IT'S A VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD EFFORT.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONTACTS FROM YOUNG WOMEN WHO HAVE HAD THEIR RECORDS TAKEN AWAY BECAUSE OF TRANSGENDERS BEING MORE PHYSICALLY ABLE.

LAST, HIGH ON THIS YEAR'S PRIORITY LIST IS RAISING MINIMUM WAGE IN THE STATE.

CURRENTLY THAT NUMBER SITS AT $7.25 AN HOUR AND HASN'T MOVED SINCE 2009.

DURING HIS ADDRESS, THE GOVERNOR MADE IT CLEAR THAT MINIMUM WAGE BILLS WILL BE A PRIORITY IF LAWMAKERS CAN DRAFT A BILL IN TIME.

MY MESSAGE TO THE LEGISLATURE IS SIMPLE.

PASS A BILL, GET IT ON MY DESK, AND I'LL SIGN IT.

AN EFFORT TO CENTRALIZE THE STATE'S SALES TAX COLLECTIONS IS PERHAPS THE TOP ISSUE OF THIS LEGISLATURE.

REPUBLICAN LEADERS ARE PUSHING TO GET RID OF THE STATE'S ODD SYSTEM, LETTING LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES DO COLLECTION WORK.

GOVERNMENT WATCHDOG BARRY ERWIN EXPLAINS THE TAX PLAN CLEARLY FOR US AND SAYS THE CHANGE IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS.

I THINK THE DIFFICULTY IS PEOPLE DO HAVE A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING IT.

WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT RAISING TAXES ON PEOPLE OR LOWERING TAXES ON PEOPLE.

WE WANT TO KEEP IT NEUTRAL.

WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS CLEAN UP A TAX STRUCTURE THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR LOUISIANA TO COMPETE.

IF YOU TAKE THE COMPLICATION OUT, MAKE IT SIMPLER, LOWER RATES BUT KEEP THE OVERALL AMOUNT THE STATE IS BRINGING IN THE SAME, YOU DO TWO THINGS.

YOU DON'T HURT ANYONE IN TERMS OF THEIR TAXES, BUT YOU ALSO SEND A MESSAGE TO INDUSTRY AND OTHER PEOPLE LOOKING TO OUR STATE TO BE COMPETITIVE WE ARE A BETTER PLACE TO WORK.

WHY ON EARTH WOULD WE HAVE A COMPLICATED SYSTEM NOT TO BE ATTRACTED BY BUSINESS?

WE HAVE DEDUCTIONS, EXEMPTIONS AND EXCLUSIONS, WHICH IS GOOD, BUT THEY COMPLICATE THINGS MORE.

THE MORE COMPLICATED IT IS, WE LIVE HERE, WE FIGURE IT OUT.

ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, IT LOOKS LIKE A MESS.

YOUR RATES ARE HIGH, I DON'T SEE DESUCTIONS AND EXEMPTIONS.

I'M NOT COMING HERE.

GROUPS LIKE THE TAX FOUNDATION PUT OUT MAPS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND YOU CAN LOOK AT EVERY STATE AND LOOK AT RATES.

IF YOU LOOK AT OUR RATES, WE ARE HIGH.

THEY DON'T SEE THE EXEMPTIONS AND DEDUCTIONS.

THEY ARE SEEING THE BAD PICTURE, THE BIG PICTURE, NOT WHEN YOU APPLY THE MORE COMPLICATED THINGS TO THE TAX CODE.

IT IS ALWAYS A STRUGGLE WHEN YOU DO ANYTHING WITH TAXES.

FIRST WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE LEGISLATORS UNDERSTAND IT, THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS IT AND RECOGNIZE IT TAKES A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THEN THE PEOPLE.

NONE OF THAT IS QUICK.

TWO MONTHS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THERE COULD BE SPECIAL SESSIONS AFTER.

WE DON'T KNOW THAT.

I GUARANTEE YOU THIS, WE ARE STARTING ON SOME OF IT THIS WEEK.

WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THERE AT END OF THE SESSION.

ALL RIGHT, BARRY, THANKS SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

ALL RIGHT.

SURE.

SIX WEEKS AGO TODAY, LSU MADE PUBLIC THE REPORT THAT FOUND THE UNIVERSITY IGNORED SEXUAL ABUSE COMPLAINTS AND HAD A FULLY INEFFECTIVE TITLE IX OFFICE.

THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN BASHED FAR AND WIDE.

IT IS A PR DISASTER THAT IS EPIC.

BUT INTERIM PRESIDENT TOM GALLIGAN SAYS THAT CULTURE OF WHAT HAPPENS ON CAMPUS STAYS ON CAMPUS MUST CHANGE.

I CALLED BATON ROUGE COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT RANNAH GRAY TO ASK, HOW WILL LSU TRY TO GET PAST THIS?

WHAT'S IN THE PR PLAYBOOK FOR A CULTURE THAT'S WRONG AND RUNS DEEP?

THEN, WHAT SHE TOLD ME NEXT BLEW ME AWAY.

IT MAY SHOW JUST HOW HARD CHANGING A CULTURE IS, UNLESS YOU CHANGE PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO IT.

WELL, YOU HOPE IT'S LIKE THE TODDLER WHO TOUCHES THE HOT STOVE LEARNS THE LESSON.

RANNAH GRAY IS AN AWARD-WINNING COMMUNICATIONS, MARKETING, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS PRO.

SHE'S THE CREATOR OF RED STICK REVELRY, BATON ROUGE'S SIGNATURE NEW YEAR'S EVE EVENT.

SHE CO-HOSTS A NATIONALLY-INDICATED RADIO PROGRAM AND IS AN INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED AUTHOR WHOSE ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER PATH GIVES HER A MOST UNIQUE INSIDE LOOK INTO THE SAGA THAT CONTINUES TO UNFOLD AT LSU.

IT'S HEARTBREAKING, ANDRE, BECAUSE I WAS A STUDENT THERE, WENT TO GRADUATE SCHOOL, LATER WENT BACK AND WORKED IN THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT FOR 13 YEARS.

ANY TIME YOU SEE THE SCHOOL GOING THROUGH ANY KIND OF TURMOIL, IT IS HURTFUL TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, AS YOU KNOW.

THE BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY AND THE STATE ARE SO INVESTED IN LSU AND ITS SUCCESS.

I THINK IT HURTS EVERYONE.

AND WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW, MANY WEEKS AFTER A REPORT REVEALED A DISTURBING CULTURE OF SEX DISCRIMINATION AT LSU IS THAT THE DUST STIRRED BY THE FINDINGS HAS NOT EVEN BEGUN TO SETTLE.

THE REPORT BLASTED LSU'S TITLE IX FAILURES, CITING THE PAST FIVE YEARS, BUT RANNAH GRAY CAN TELL YOU, THEY GO BACK MUCH FATHER BECAUSE SHE WAS THERE AS ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AND SPORTS MARKETING SPECIALIST.

WHEN I WORKED AT LSU, NOW 25 YEARS AGO, SOME STUDENTS SUED THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT UNDER THE TITLE IX STATUTE AND I TESTIFIED FOR LSU AND FOR THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT AND I FELT VERY STRONGLY THAT WE WERE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS IN SUPPORTING WOMEN'S ATHLETICS AT THE TIME.

BUT WE LOST THAT SUIT AND THE FEDERAL JUDGE USED A TERM THAT YOU HATE TO HEAR, ARROGANT IGNORANCE OF TITLE IX, IN HER RULING.

25 YEARS AGO.

TITLE IX SITUATION.

AND THEN THIS IS A TITLE IX SITUATION AND WORSE.

IT IS KIND OF HARD TO BELIEVE.

YOU WOULD THINK YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THAT RIGHT.

I GUESS IT'S DISAPPOINTING TO SEE, ESPECIALLY FROM THE STANDPOINT OF WOMEN'S ISSUES THAT WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH SOME OF THOSE.

SO, YOU'RE RIGHT.

THAT WAS CERTAINLY A LESSON THAT I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT WOULD HAVE BEEN MEMORABLE AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN IT, OUR CHANCELLOR AT THE TIME, MARK EMMERT, PRESIDENT OF THE NCAA NOW.

IT JUST SO HAPPENS EMMERT SPENT THE LAST WEEK APOLOGIZING.

WE DROPPED THE BALL SUPPORTING WOMEN'S ATHLETIC.

GOING BACK DECADES THERE IS A DOCUMENTED TRAIL OF SUCH TROUBLES AT UNIVERSITIES AND INSTITUTIONS WHERE EMMERT HAS BEEN.

AT LSU THERE WAS AN ACADEMIC SCANDAL UNDER NICK SABAN.

EMMERT INVESTED CLAIMS MADE BY AN INSTRUCTOR, CLAIMS LARGELY QUIETED.

SOUND FAMILIAR?

GRAY SAYS FOR LSU TO REHABILITATE ITS REPUTATION IT HAS TO PROVE IT MEANS WHAT IT IS SAYING.

THAT IT WILL CHANGE.

ON THE HOME PAGE OF HER COMPANY WEBSITE, RANNAH GRAY COMMUNICATIONS, ARE THREE WORDS, WE SHOOT STRAIGHT.

IT LETS CLIENTS KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GETTING WITH NO HIDDEN AGENDA AS SHE CREATES DYNAMIC BRANDS THAT INFLUENCES AUDIENCES.

THERE HAS BEEN AN AIR ABOUT LSU FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS THAT WOULD SPEAK TO WE ARE SORT OF ABOVE THIS AND CAN KEEP IT HIDDEN.

IF YOU LOOK AT POLITICS AND SEE WHAT IS GOING ON IN POLITICS AND SEX SCANDALS AND ALL, PEOPLE ALMOST EXPECT THAT.

PEOPLE DON'T THINK HIGHLY OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS OR POLITICIANS.

IN ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, IT IS LOOKED UPON VERY DIFFERENTLY.

WE MEASURE OURSELVES, AT LSU, WE MEASURE OURSELVES IN TERMS OF EXCELLENCE.

SO, TO ME, THIS ISN'T A SUBJECT OF MEN VS. WOMEN IN SPORTS.

IT IS AN ISSUE OF LSU VS. QUALITY, LSU VS.

EXCELLENCE.

IF YOU MAKE THE DECISION BASED ON HOW ARE WE MEASURING UP IN WHAT WE WANT TO BE, IT SEEMS LIKE THE RIGHT ANSWER WOULD COME OUT.

YOU KNOW, ARE WE TREATING EVERY SINGLE STUDENT AND PROTECTING THEM, TREATING THEM THE SAME AND PROTECTING THEIR WELFARE AND THEIR SAFETY AS THE TOP UNIVERSITY IN THE COUNTRY, WHICH IS WHAT, WHEN I WORKED AT LSU IN ATHLETICS WE TOLD ALL OF OUR TEAMINGS, WE WANT TO COMPETE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

WE WANT TO COMPETE EVERY SPORT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

THAT IS OUR GOAL.

IF WE SAY THAT IN REPUTATION, WE DON'T LOOK AT HE IS A FOOTBALL PLAYER, SHE IS A TENNIS PLAYER, WHO DO WE TAKE CARE OF FIRST?

RIGHT.

RIGHT.

WE LOOK AT, THIS IS A STUDENT.

ARE WE TAKING CARE OF THE STUDENT AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL WE CAN?

IF THE ANSWER IS NO, WE ARE FAILING.

DO YOU THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE WITH US LONGER THAN UNDER A DIFFERENT TIME PERIOD PERHAPS?

I DO.

I THINK THE DANGER IS, IT IS MORE STEALTH THAN IT WAS IN THE PAST.

25 YEARS AGO WE LIVED AND DIED BY WHAT WAS ON THE 6:00 NEWS, WHAT WAS THE HEADLINE IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER THE NEXT DAY.

THAT IS NOT THE CASE ANYMORE.

NO.

NOW EVERYONE IS GETTING THEIR INFORMATION THROUGHOUT THE DAY DIGITALLY AND WE ARE GETTING IT IN AUDIENCE SEGMENTS.

SO WE MAY BE ERODING OUR REPUTATIONS, I'M AGAIN SPEAKING LSU, ERODING THE REPUTATION AMONG WOMEN THEY ARE GETTING ALL THESE DIFFERENT CHANNELS OF INFORMATION PUSHED TO THEM.

IT IS NOT THE SAME.

THE BUNKER MENTALITY DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE.

YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT EVERY DAY, FACE IT, AND FIX IT.

TOMORROW IS LSU'S SPRING FOOTBALL GAME IN TIGER STADIUM AND WHEN THE TIGERS TAKE THE FIELD IN THE NORTH END ZONE, THEIR JERSEYS WILL BE EMBLAZONED WITH A LOGO RECOGNIZING SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH.

FORECASTERS ARE PREDICTING ANOTHER ABOVE AVERAGE OR ACTIVE HURRICANE SEASON, AND THAT COMES AS A WORLD WEATHER CONSORTIUM STRONGLY CONSIDERED MOVING UP THE OFFICIAL SEASON START DATE BY TWO WEEKS.

I TALKED WITH STATE CLIMATOLOGIST BARRY KEIM ABOUT THAT AND WHAT FORECASTERS ARE SAYING.

TEN OF THE LAST 20 YEARS WE HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE EARLY SEASON STORM, A SEASON THAT OCCURRED BEFORE THE OFFICIAL START DATE AND EACH OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WE HAVE HAD AN EARLY STORM.

SO THEY THOUGHT IT MADE SENSE TO MOVE IT UP, BUT COOLER HEADS PREVAILED AND THEY DECIDED NOT TO DO IT.

SO JUNE 1th WILL BE THE OFFICIAL START OF THE HURRICANE SEASON?

THAT'S RIGHT.

COLORADO STATE, PREDICTING 17 NAMES STORMS, EIGHT SHOULD BECOME HURRICANES.

THIS IS AN EARLY SEASON PREDICTION.

THIS WILL PROBABLY GET TWEAKED CLOSER TO THE START OF THE SEASON.

THE MAIN RATIONALE IS SURFACE TEMPERATURES ARE NORMAL AMONG BREEDING GROUNDS AND WE HAVE BEEN THERE HYPERACTIVE MODE SINCE 1995.

IT IS AN EASY FORECAST TO PREDICT ABOVE NORMAL UNTIL IT FLIPS AND CHANGES.

EL NINO, LA NINA, WHICH ONE ARE WE GOING TO GET THIS TIME?

THAT IS THE MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION.

LAST SEASON WE HAD WARM SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES.

WE WENT INTO A LA ANYONE -- LA NINA.

THIS YEAR WE ARE NEUTRAL.

WE HAVE DRIFTED OUT OF LA NINA.

DO WE STAY NEUTRAL?

DOES THE PENDULUM CONTINUE TO SWING AND MOVE INTO EL NINO OR STOP AND MOVE BACK INTO LA NINA?

ANY OF THOSE THREE ARE IN THE REALM OF POSSIBILITIES.

IT IS TOO EARLY TO TELL.

IS IT TYPICAL OR IS THIS UNUSUAL WE WOULDN'T HAVE SOME IDEA WHERE WE WOULD BE?

THEY TYPICALLY PUT OUT A WATCH IF THEY SUSPECT WE ARE DRIFTING INTO A CERTAIN SET OF CONDITIONS.

THOSE WATCHES ARE WRONG PRETTY FREQUENTLY.

IT IS SOMETHING WE ARE USING TO KEEP AN EYE ON.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT GREAT OF AN IDEA GOING INTO LAST YEAR HOW STRONG THE LA NINA WOULD BE AT THE END OF THE SEASON.

WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU OBSERVED IN TERMS OF SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES OR WEATHER PATTERNS THAT COULD IMPACT THE SEASON AND MAKE IT MORE FEROCIOUS?

WELL, SINCE THE COLORADO STATE FOLKS PREDICTING 17 NAMES STORMED INSTEAD OF 30, LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THEY ARE NOT BANKING ON A STRONG LA NINA TO FORM.

WE ARE LOOKING AT SOMETHING NEUTRAL THROUGH MOST OF THE YEAR WITH THE WARMER SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES.

THAT IS ONE FACTOR THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO ABOVE NORMAL SEASON.

I THINK PEOPLE WILL BE HYPERVIGILANT THIS YEAR, NOT THAT THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS, BUT AFTER YOU WALLOPED LIKE THAT, YOU ARE A LITTLE EDGY.

YEAH.

LAST YEAR WAS ABSOLUTELY CRAZY.

WE WERE IN CONES OF UNCERTAINTY FOR AN OBSCENE NUMBER OF DAYS.

A GRAPHIC SOMEBODY HAS A BIG BULL'S-EYE OVER LOUISIANA SHOWING THE DAYS IN THE CONE OF UNCERTAINTY.

WE WENT INTO THE GREEK ALPHABET.

WE WILL NOT THIS YEAR.

THEY MET, HAD DISCUSSIONS ON HOW TO HANDLE THIS OVERFLOW, IF YOU WILL.

AND SO SOME OF THE PROBLEMS, THEY RETIRED TWO OF THE GREEK ALPHABET NAMES.

THOSE ARE OUT OF COMMISSION.

SO USING IT AGAIN WOULD BE VERY ODD IF WE HAD SOME NUMBERS MISSING:THEY ALSO FOUND THAT USE OF THE GREEK ALPHABET PUT A LOT OF FOCUS ON THE GREEK ALPHABET AND NOT ON THE STORMINGS AND IMPACTS THE STORMS WERE CAUSING.

AND THEY HAD SOME VERY SIMILAR SOUNDS NAMES.

THETA, BETA.

SOME OF THE STORMS OCCUR AT THE SAME TIME.

IT WAS TOO CONFUSING.

SO THEY OPTED TO DO AWAY WITH THE GREEK ALBA BET AND HAVE AN EXTRA SET OF NAMES STARTING BACK WITH A.

HOW DID WE FARE WITH ALL OF THE STORMS OF LAST YEAR?

THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

I DON'T THINK WE REALLY KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.

IT JUST SO HAPPENS I WAS IN LAKE CHARLES OVER THE WEEKEND DOING A RECONNAISSANCE FIELD TRIP WITH LSU PEOPLE.

WE WENT TO THE COAST.

IN FACT, WE WENT TO GO SEE THE USGS MARKER FOR THE HIGHEST STORM SURGE EVER RECORDED IN LOUISIANA.

BETWEEN 20 AND 21 FEET AT RUTHERFORD BEACH, RIGHT NEAR CAMERON, IN CAMERON PARISH.

SPEAKING WITH THE GENTLEMAN WHO LIVES IN THE HOUSE WHERE THIS MARKER IS, HE MADE SOME NOTE THAT THE SHORELINE HAS MIGRATED IN PRETTY SUBSTANTIALLY FROM THAT STORM.

WE HAD BOTH LAURA AND DELTA MAKE LAND FALL 13 MILES APART.

THAT AREA GOT HIT HARD TWICE.

SO IT REALLY DID TAKE ITS TOLL.

IT STRIPPED MORE SEDIMENT OUT.

SO A REMINDER, HURRICANE SEASON OFFICIALLY BEGINS JUNE 1.

MASS INCARCERATION, OPIOID ABUSE, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM ARE ALL TOPICS WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH IN LOUISIANA.

IN FACT, OUR STATE TOPS THE LIST FOR MASS INCARCERATION.

IN THE DOCUSERIES PHILLY DA, LARRY KRASNER, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF PHILADELPHIA IS TRYING TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM WITH UNCONVENTIONAL IDEAS.

HERE IN LOUISIANA, LAWMAKERS AND ACTIVISTS ARE FIGHTING THAT SAME BATTLE.

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

IN THE DOCUSERIES, PHILLY DA, LARRY KRASNER TOOK OVER AS PHILADELPHIA'S DISTRICT ATTORNEY, BUT HIS VISION FOR THE JOB WAS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN DAs OF THE PAST.

I AM A CAREER CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER.

AS THE SERIES UNRAVELS YOU SEE WHERE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EVEN OTHER LAWYERS DISAGREE WITH KRASNER'S PROGRESSIVE IDEAS.

EVENTUALLY PEOPLE BEGIN TO SEE KRASNER AS AN ENEMY OF PROGRESS, BUT HIS IDEAS ON PRISON REFORM, OPIOID ABUSE, AND OTHER SOCIAL ISSUES AREN'T JUST BATTLES WAGED IN PENNSYLVANIA.

LOUISIANA IS DEALING WITH THEM, TOO.

ANGELA ALLEN-BELL SAYS THE FUNDING SYSTEMS IN PLACE AREN'T STABLE OR FAIR.

THE NONUNIFIED SYSTEM CREATES A VERY PERVERSE INCENTIVE TO IMPOSE FINES AND FEES ON CITIZENS AS A MEANS OF FUNDING THE JUDICIARY.

AND THE FINES AND FEES ARE OFTEN EXCESSIVE.

THIS ISSUE WAS BROUGHT UP TO THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE BY FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE BERENTTE JOHNSON.

SHE SAID THAT THERE WASN'T ANY OVERSIGHT FOR JUDICIARY FEES AND FINES.

WE KNOW THERE SHOULD BE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR THIS IN THE SAME WAY THERE SHOULD BE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR CRIME, YET LOCAL JUDGES OFTEN DO NOT REFER THESE BAD ACTORS FOR DISCIPLINE.

MANY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS DO NOT ADDRESS THESE OFFENDING ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.

KELLY CARMENA SEES THE CASH BAILS AS ANOTHER ENEMY OF PROGRESS.

BOTH SAY THAT USING THE CASH BAIL SYSTEM CAN KEEP INNOCENT PEOPLE AND POOR PEOPLE BEHIND BARS BEFORE TRIAL.

CASH BAIL SHOULD BE ELIMINATED FROM LOUISIANA.

IT IS A PRIVATIZED BUSINESS SO YOU HAVE THESE PRIVATE COMPANIES THAT ARE MAKING THOUSANDS IF NOT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OFF OF OUR CITIZENS WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO BOND OUT THEMSELVES AND ARE HAVING TO GO THROUGH A BONDSMAN.

THEY DON'T HAVE SOMEONE WHO CAN SIGN THEM OUT.

THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY BEING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DETERMINING WHO GETS TO START IN JAIL AND WHO GETS TO GET OUT.

ALANAH ODOMS, WITH THE ACLU SAYS THE BEST THING ANYONE CAN DO WHEN IT COMES TO CRIMINAL REFORM IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA IS TO VOTE.

VOTE IN YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND VOTE OUT THE ONES YOU DON'T WANT.

WE HAVE GOT TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT DISTRICT ATTORNEY ELECTIONS ARE SOMETIMES MORE IMPORTANT IF NOT MORE, THAT WHO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS.

IF YOU MISSED THE PREVIEW, "PHILLY DA" PREMIERES ON LPB THIS TUESDAY, APRIL 20, AT 8:00 P.M. AND CONTINUES EACH TUESDAY AT 8:00 P.M.

THROUGH JUNE 1.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN WATCH ANYTHING LPB ANY TIME WITH OUR LPB APP FOR YOUR PHONE OR OTHER DEVICES.

THE DOWNLOAD IS FREE FROM YOUR APP STORE.

YOU CAN CATCH LPB NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS SHOWS AS WELL AS OTHER LOUISIANA PROGRAMS YOU HAVE 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.

AND I'M KARA ST. CYR.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

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

ENTERGY IS PROUD TO SUPPORT PROGRAMMING ON LPB AND GREENER PRACTICES THAT PRESERVE LOUISIANA.

THE GOAL OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES REALLY IS TO ENSURE THAT OUR KIDS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN BE LEFT WITH A CLEANER PLANET.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE FRED B.

AND RUTH B. ZIEGLER FOUNDATION AND THE ZIEGLER ART MUSEUM LOCATED IN JENNINGS CITY HALL.

THE MUSEUM FOCUSES ON EMERGING LOUISIANA ARTISTS AND IS AN HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CENTER FOR SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA.

AND THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING WITH SUPPORT FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.