PROVIDED BY -- WE HELP PEOPLE GET CARE.

STAY WELL, AND BUILD HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.

CARE IS THE HEART OF OUR WORK.

AT AMERICARE HEALTH.

AND BY THE US ARMY.

BATON ROUGE RECRUITING BATTALION.

COMMUNITY COFFEE.

AND THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY.

WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM HOTEL INDIGO.

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

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

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE FRED B.

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

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

AND THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

WITH SUPPORT FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THE DATA IS INCREDIBLY SUGGESTIVE.

TASTE TEST RESEARCH GAINS STATURE.

GET VACCINATED, BECAUSE BOY WE'RE ALL GOING TO FEEL BETTER.

THE PUSH FOR LSU STUDENTS TO GET VACCINATED WITH OR WITHOUT ANY POSSIBLE MANDATE.

SEEING ALL THE BLOODINESS IS HEARTBREAKING.

THE OFFICIAL START TO HURRICANE SEASON.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A VERY OPTIMISTIC CHILD.

MEET THIS WEEK'S LPB LOUISIANA YOUNG HERO, ELLIOTT GOMES.

HI, I'M KARA ST. CYR.

AND I'M ANDRE' MOREAU.

RIGHT NOW A LOT TO GET TO ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF SWI.

FIRST THE LATEST ON THE EFFORTS TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED.

THE STATE'S POSITIVITY RATE REMAINS LESS THAN 5%, THAT'S A GOOD NUMBER, BUT HEALTH LEADERS SAY MORE VACCINATIONS WILL MEAN EVEN LOWER NUMBERS.

THE STATE IS OFFERING INCENTIVES TO PEOPLE WHO RECENTLY GOTTEN THEIR SHOTS.

IF YOU HAVE A CARD THAT SHOWS YOU'VE BEEN VACCINATED IN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS GET FREE DRINKS FROM RESTAURANTS PARTICIPATING IN THE CAMPAIGN.

YOU CAN ALSO GET FREE ENTRY TO STATE PARKS REGARDLESS OF WHEN YOU GOT VACCINATED.

ALL YOU NEED IS YOUR CASHED TO PROVE IT.

NOW TO OTHER HEADLINES MAKING NEWS.

THE UNANIMOUS VOTE AT THE CAPITOL THIS WEEK TO HELP COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND TO FORCE BETTER RESPONSES -- THE BIPARTISAN MEASURE BY SENATOR BETH MIZELL AND REPRESENTATIVE AIMEE FREEMAN RAH LARGELY IDENTICAL, BUT HOUSE AND SENATE MEMBERS HAVE TO AGREE ON A FINAL APPROACH BEFORE A BILL REACHES THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

THEY COME IN THE WAKE OF LSU'S TITLE IX SEX SCANDAL.

HELP IS ON THE WAY FOR THOSE WITH HOMES THAT FLOODED IN MID-MAY.

THE WHITE HOUSE APPROVED THE STATE'S REQUEST FOR A MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION.

THE FLOODS LEFT FIVE PEOPLE DEAD AND SEVERAL THOUSAND HOMES DAMAGED.

PEOPLE IN FIVE PARKERS I. CALCASIEU, LAFAYETTE, EAST BATON ROUGE, ASCENSION, AND IBERVILLE, CAN SEEK HELP FROM FEMA.

AT LEAST SEVEN PEOPLE WERE HURT NEAR PATTERSON WHEN A WILD WELL CAUGHT FIRE IN MARSHLAND.

THOSE INJURED WERE TRYING TO CONTROL THE FIRE FROM THE ABANDONED NATURAL GAS WELL.

PERSONNEL FROM TEXAS PETROLEUM INVESTMENT COMPANY HAVE WORKED TO PLUG THE WELL AND TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 208 YEARS, A WOMAN WILL TAKE OVER AS CLERK OF COURT AT THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT.

VERONICA ODINET KOCLAINES WILL REPLACE JOHN OLIVIER WHEN HE RETIRES AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

SHE SAYS SHE'S HONORED AND LOOKS FORWARD TO SERVING THE COURT WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT AS THOSE BEFORE HER HAVE DONE.

THE WEARY ALONG COASTAL LOUISIANA STILL LIVING IN CAMPERS WHERE THEIR HOUSES ONCE STOOD, HATED TO SEE THE CALENDAR TURN TO JUNE THIS WEEK.

THERE'S BEEN LITTLE RECOVERY FROM THE DESTRUCTIVE HURRICANE ONSLAUGHT OF 2020, AND THE NEW HURRICANE SEASON IS OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY.

WE'RE INCHING VERY CLOSE TO THE END OF THE REGULAR SESSION, IN THE LAST COUPLE DAYS THE STATE EXPANDED MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAMS AND ALSO SENT TAX COLLECTION CHANGES TO A VOTE.

TONIGHT I'LL GIVE YOU SOME SESSION HIGHLIGHTS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED THIS WEEK.

A PROPOSAL TO LIMIT POLICE OFFICERS IMMUNITY FROM CIVIL LAWSUITS WAS REJECTED ON TUESDAY.

THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE VOTED AGAINST IT 4-2.

THE BILL WOULD HAVE PUT NEW RESTRICTIONS ON QUALIFIED IMMUNITY DEFENSES WHICH KEEPS LAW ENFORCEMENT PRETTY MUCH IMMUNE FROM DAMAGE CLAIMS LIKE WRONGFUL DEATH OR INJURY SUITS.

THIS BILL WOULD HAVE ALSO BARRED THE USE OF QUALIFIED IMMUNITY IF A COURT DETERMINES AN OFFICER'S BEHAVIOR WAS UNREASONABLE.

THIS PROPOSAL WAS ONE OF SEVERAL BILLS SUGGESTED IN A POLICING TASK FORCE ORGANIZED LAST YEAR.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SERVE ON A JURY SOON.

THE BILL THAT WAS PASSED AND SENT TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK WOULD ALLOW FELONS TO BE MEMBERS OF THE JURY ON CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CASES.

RIGHT NOW THEY CAN ONLY SERVE IF THEY'VE BEEN PARDONED BY THE GOVERNOR.

THE PROPOSAL PASSED WITH A 23-13 VOTE.

IF THE GOVERNOR SIGNS IT WOULD GO INTO EFFECT IN AUGUST.

THE SENATE QUICKLY PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO CARRY GUNS WITHOUT A PERMIT.

AS LONG AS THEY'RE 21 AND OLDER AND AREN'T BARRED FROM CARRYING FOR ANY OTHER REASONS.

THE BILL WOULD ELIMINATE MANDATORY NINE-HOUR GUN SAFETY TRAINING, BACKGROUND CHECKS, AND FEES.

WITH NO DEBATE THE BILL PASSED 27-9 FOR CHANGES IN THE HOUSE.

BUT THE NEW MEASURE IS EXPECTED TO BE VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR IF IT DOES END UP ON HIS DESK.

LOUISIANA'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM MIGHT BE ABLE TO GIVE RAW SMOKEABLE CANNABIS TO ELIGIBLE PATIENTS.

A BILL PASSED WEDNESDAY TRYING TO LOWER THE PRICE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

THE BILL SAILED THROUGH THE HOUSE WITH A 76-17 VOTE.

IT WAS ALREADY APPROVED BY THE SENATE 23-14.

NEXT UP IS THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

HE'S ALREADY HINTED HE WILL SIGN IT, AND IF HE DOES, THE MARIJUANA EXPANSION COULD HAPPEN BY JANUARY.

ALSO WORTH NOTING, TAX COLLECTION CHANGES ARE HEADING TO THE LOUISIANA PUBLIC FOR A VOTE.

LAWMAKERS ARE TRYING TO CENTRALIZE SALES TAXES, AND THAT SOUNDS COMPLICATED BUT WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT INSTEAD OF HAVING PARISH OFFICIALS COLLECT THEM INDIVIDUALLY, ALL OF IT WOULD BE HANDLED BY ONE COMMISSION OF ABOUT EIGHT MEMBERS.

IT'S SOMETHING LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO FOR DECADES, AND NOW THAT DECISION INVOLVES YOU AT HOME.

IT WILL BE UP FOR A VOTE IN THE FALL.

IT'S OFFICIALLY THE FIRST WEEK OF HURRICANE SEASON.

A TIME OF YEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE DREAD, ESPECIALLY HERE IN LOUISIANA.

EXPERTS ARE EXPECTING AN ABOVE AVERAGE YEAR, WHICH MEANS WE COULD SEE MORE THAN 10 NAMED STORMS FORM IN THE GULF.

AS WE GET READY FOR ANOTHER RAINY SEASON, I SPOKE WITH EXPERTS WHO ARE WARNING OF WHAT COULD COME.

I'M GOING TO SIT HERE AND WATCH.

FOR THE CAJUN NAVY, WATCHING IT RAIN WAS ALL THEY FELT THEY COULD DO IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

A MEMBER MADE THIS SONG TO COMMEMORATE THE STRUGGLES TO KEEP LOUISIANA ABOVE WATER.

COLLEEN KNOWS THAT BATTLE WELL.

SEEING ALL THE BLOODINESS GOING ON, HAS BEEN HEARTBREAKING.

THE SOUTH LOUISIANA LAKE CHARLES WAS HIT SO HARD LAST YEAR WITH THE HURRICANES, THEY REALLY DON'T NEED ANY MORE PROBLEMS.

ESPECIALLY WEATHER-RELATED PROBLEMS.

THEY'VE SEEN A LOT.

THE GREAT FLOOD IN BATON ROUGE, TWO NAMED HURRICANES HITTING THE SOUTH COAST, AND EVEN A FREEZE.

THEY SAW EACH DISASTER UP CLOSE AS THEY TRIED THEIR BEST TO RESCUE PEOPLE IN THE WAKE OF EACH STORM.

SOME ARE -- SOME OF THE PREDICTIONS ARE SAYING THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ACTIVE HURRICANE SEASON.

OF COURSE WE'VE HEARD THAT LAST YEAR AND OF COURSE THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

THIS YEAR WE'RE ACTUALLY HOPING THEY ARE WRONG.

AND THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY HURRICANES OR TROPICAL STORMS COME INTO THE GULF, OR EVEN COME INTO THE EASTERN SEAPORT.

THE WEATHER IS BECOMING UNPREDICTABLE.

EACH YEAR PEOPLE IN LOUISIANA DON'T KNOW IF THE RAIN IS JUST RAIN, OR IF IT'S ANOTHER 1,000-YEAR FLOOD.

SEAN, WITH THE CLIMATE CENTRAL ORGANIZATION, IS TRYING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT TOO.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET USED TO ALL LOCATIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, IS THAT WHETHER THAT IS EXTREME IS GOING TO BECOME MORE COMMON.

I WOULD ARGUE WHAT'S HAPPENED IN LOUISIANA OVER THE LAST 24 TO 36 MONTHS IS NOT GOING TO BECOME THE NEW NORMAL, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THAT BAD ALL THE TIME.

BUT SUBLETTE ALSO SAYS IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME AS IT WAS 10-20 YEARS AGO.

THAT BAD WEATHER YOU CALL A 1,000-YEAR FLOOD, OR HUNDRED-YEAR STORM, MAY ACTUALLY START COMING EVERY THREE TO FOUR YEARS.

WHICH IS KIND OF WHAT LOUISIANA HAS BEEN SEEING.

FOR INSTANCE, BATON ROUGE HAD THE GREAT FLOOD IN 2016, AND ABOUT FIVE YEARS LATER, WE SAW ANOTHER BIG FLOOD IN SOUTHEAST AND SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA.

SUBLETTE SAYS THIS ISN'T A COINCIDENCE, AND IT ALSO ISN'T NORMAL.

WHEN THERE IS A STORM SURGE FROM A HURRICANE OR ANY TROPICAL SYSTEM, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A FULL-ON HURRICANE, IT COULD BE A SMALLER TROPICAL SYSTEM.

AS LONG AS THERE'S SUFFICIENT WIND FLOW DRAGGING THAT WATER FROM SOUTH TO NORTH, INTO LOUISIANA, THIS STORM SURGE IS GOING TO GO FARTHER INLAND.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF RISKS INVOLVED, ESPECIALLY IN COASTAL LOUISIANA.

LAST YEAR WAS AN ABOVE AVERAGE YEAR FOR LOUISIANA AND -- THIS YEAR IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WE'LL HAVE A REPEAT.

BUT WE'RE STILL UP FOR AN ABOVE AVERAGE SEASON.

NOW TO BE CLEAR, AN ABOVE AVERAGE SEASON MEANS ABOUT E10-12 DISTURBANCES, ABOUT FIVE TO SIX TROPICAL STORMS, AND MAYBE THREE MAJOR HURRICANES.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO HOW ACTIVE ONE SEASON IS VERSUS ANOTHER.

A LOT OF WHAT WE SEE ON THE TABLE, A LOT OF THE INGREDIENTS LEADING INTO THE HURRICANE SEASON DO SUGGEST IT WILL BE ACTIVE ACROSS ALL OF THE ATLANTIC AND THE GULF AND THE CARIBBEAN.

WHAT PROBABLY NOT TO THE EXTENT OF WHAT WE HAD LAST YEAR.

LAST YEAR WAS UNPRECEDENTED, THE NUMBER OF STORMS.

EVEN IF WHAT WE SEE THIS YEAR IS THE SAME AS WHAT WE SAW IN 2020, SUBLETTE SAYS IT ONLY TAKES ONE STORM TO CAUSE A DISASTER.

COLLEEN WITH THE CAJUN NAVY AGREES.

HURRICANE LAURA WAS ALREADY A DISASTER, BUT YOU PILE IN THE SURPRISE WEATHER EVENTS THAT CAME AFTER, AND YOU'VE GOT A TRAGEDY.

THE ENTIRE GULF COAST HAS HAD ITS SHARE OF HURRICANES, HURRICANE BETA CAME IN, HIT ST. BERNARD AND JUST RIPPED ITS WAY THROUGH AND TO SEE THIS DEVASTATION HAPPENING IS HEARTBREAKING.

WHILE HURRICANE SEASON IS STILL IN THE VERY BEGINNING, SHE SAYS THERE'S NO TIME LIKE NOW TO GET A GAME PLAN.

WE ARE WATCHING THE WEATHER, WE ARE WATCHING THE STORMS, IF ANYTHING COMES IN, IF THERE IS A RESPONSE THAT IS NEEDED, WE WILL RESPOND TO IT, SO THAT MAY BE BOATS, IT WOULD BE CHAIN SAWS, LAND CLEARING, IT COULD BE HELPING OUT WITH SUPPLIES IN VARIOUS AREAS.

IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHERE A STORM HITS, IF A STORM HITS AT ALL.

LIKE SUBLETTE SAID, IT ONLY TAKES ONE HURRICANE TO MAKE IT A BAD SEASON, SO THERE'S NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT TO LOAD UP ON RESOURCES AND MATERIALS THAT WILL HELP KEEP YOU SAFE.

COULD IT ULTIMATELY BE THE OTHER BIG COVID STORY OF THE YEAR, IT'S THE UNIQUE COVID STORY WE'VE COVERED SOMETIMES EXCLUSIVELY AS IT EVOLVED RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN BACK YARD.

THE TASTE TEST PIONEERED BY RHINOLOGIST DR. HENRY BARHAM, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY WHAT TASTE SENSITIVITY OR THE LACK OF IT SAYS ABOUT WHO WILL GET VERY VID AND HOW IT WILL AFFECT THEM.

WHEN A SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGH BECOMES A LEAD STORY IN NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE OR THE WORLD TRUSTED JAMA PUBLISHES RESEARCH AND HAILS IT A GAME-CHANGER, IT SIGNALS THERE'S BIG NEWS.

AND THE BIG NEWS ABOUT THE TASTE TEST DEVELOPED BY OAKRIDGE BORN AND LSU EDUCATED DR. HENRY BARHAM IS BEGINNING TO SPREAD AROUND THE GLOBE.

IN ENGLISHING IT GOES THROUGH THE WRINGER IN TERMS OF PEER REVIEW, BUT HAVING DONE THAT, IT DEFINITELY CONSIDERED AN HONOR, GREAT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PUBLISH IT, IT'S GREAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY OUR MEDICAL COMMUNITY HERE.

BARHAM AND HIS TEAM OF RESEARCHERS KNEW IN THE FIRST MONTH OF THE PANDEMIC THEY WERE ON TO SOMETHING.

THEIR DATA SHOWED THE LINK BETWEEN A PERSON'S GENETIC ABILITY TO TASTE BITTER FLAVORS AND REPEL THE WORST COVID HAD TO OFFER.

ON THE FLIP SIDE, DATA SHOWED THE INABILITY TO TASTE MEANT THAT PERSON GOT THE WORST OF COVID.

I HOPE THIS NOW TURNS INTO FURTHER RESEARCH ON TASTE AND SMELL, AND INCLUDING INTO HEALTH EXAMS, I THINK IS ONE POTENTIAL THAT HAS -- THAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT.

ON ONE OF OUR FIRST REPORTS, I TOOK THE TASTE TEST AND WAS STUNNED AND WORRIED WHEN I TASTED NOTHING.

WORRIED BECAUSE IT PUT ME IN THE NONTASTER GROUP.

THOSE THAT COVID CAN RAVAGE.

ON A FOLLOW-UP REPORT, WHEN A SIP OF BLACK COFFEE REVIVED MY DULLED SENSORS, I WAS RELIEVED TO KNOW THE DATA MEANT I HAD SOME INNATE STRENGTH AGAINST THE VIRUS AFTER ALL.

BARHAM'S WORK SHOWED THE FIRST PREDICTABLE RESULTS FROM AN UNPREDICTABLE VIRUS.

LITTLE KNOWN ABOUT IT EXCEPT THE YOUNG SEEMED LESS LIKELY TO GET IT, WHILE THE ELDERLY WERE AT HIGH RISK.

COVID HAS BEEN TOUGH.

HATS OFF TO THE SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL COMMUNITY FOR STEPPING UP TO THE CHALLENGE.

MEANING, THE DEVELOPMENT OF VACCINES IN THE FIRST PLACE.

BARHAM'S WORK HAS LED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HIS COMPANY, WITH AN IN-HOME TASTE TEST KIT AVAILABLE TO ANYONE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

THAT'S SOMETHING NOW THAT ONE THING THAT PHENOMUNE IS TAKING ON WAYS TO STIMULATE RECEPTORS AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS TO TRY TO IMPROVE ONE'S GENERAL IMMUNITY TO UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS.

THERE ARE SEVERAL STUDIES WE'RE HELPING WITH ONE HERE THAT IS A CLINICAL TRIAL WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT A NASAL SPRAY THAT STIMULATES PART OF THE INMATE IMMUNITY.

THIS HAS OPENED OUR EYES TO TYPES OF IMMUNITY, BUT THERE'S MORE THAT FACTORS INTO THAT.

OBVIOUSLY COMORBIDITIES FACTOR IN ALSO.

SO THAT'S WHAT I MEAN BY THEY'RE TRYING TO PROMOTE OVERALL HEALTH AND WELLNESS, WHICH I THINK IS REALLY EXCITING.

AS YOU LOOK AT THIS AND YOU SEE WHERE IT IS NOW, IS IT A SHIFT IN A PART OF MEDICINE AS WE KNEW IT?

I THINK TIME WILL TELL THAT.

OBVIOUSLY THE POTENTIAL IS THERE.

MEANING, THE DATA IS INCREDIBLY SUGGESTIVE.

WE HAVE -- THIS PAPER THAT JUST PUBLISHED, ANY TIME YOU READ ANYTHING IN MEDICAL LITERATURE IT'S TYPICALLY A LITTLE BIT DELAYED BECAUSE IT HAS GONE THROUGH THE PEER REVIEW PROCESS, WHICH IS OFTEN MONTHS, IF NOT YEARS BEFORE IT ACTUALLY PUBLISHES.

WE HAVE CONTINUED TO COLLECT DATA, AND OUR DATA SET IS VERY LARGE AT THIS POINT, IN TERMS OF COVID, CORONAVIRUS, BUT NOW ALSO INFLUENZA AND OTHER UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS IN GENERAL.

SO I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE OUR UNDERSTANDING, BECAUSE THAT WOULD MEAN THAT IT WOULD ULTIMATELY LEAD TO BETTER DIAGNOSTICS AND TREATMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE.

BUT THAT'S WHERE MORE DATA WILL COME, MORE STUDIES WILL FURTHER EVALUATE THIS ASSOCIATION.

SO FOR MORE INFO ON TAKING THE TASTE TEST, FINDING OUT WHERE YOU STAND, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO HAS NOT BEEN VACCINATED YET, CHECK OUT PHENOMUNE.COM.

THEY'RE TAKING ORDERS FOR GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION.

LSU FACULTY HAS PUSH THE FOR ALL STUDENTS TO GET VACCINATED BY THE TIME THEY REACH CAMPUS THIS FALL, BUT IT SEEMS UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN.

I TALKED WITH OUTGOING INTERIM PRESIDENT TOM GALLIGAN ABOUT THAT, AND WHAT IS PLANNED COME FALL.

THE FACULTY COUNCIL, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY THE ENTIRE FACULTY, THE FACULTY SENATE, ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES IN THE FACULTY AS WELL AS THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT, HAVE PASSED RESOLUTIONS SAYING WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MANDATORY VACCINATION.

IF THAT'S NOT LEGALLY POSSIBLE, AND THERE'S SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT LEGAL QUESTIONS INVOLVED, IF THAT'S NOT LEGALLY POSSIBLE, THEN THE FACULTY RESOLUTION, FACULTY COUNCIL RESOLUTION AS WELL, THE FACULTY SENATE, PROVIDED SOME ALTERNATIVE SAFETY DEVICES -- SAFETY STEPS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IMPLEMENTED.

WE ARE TAKING A LOOK AT THOSE THINGS RIGHT NOW, WE WILL -- THE RESOLUTIONS TO THE BOARD SO THAT THE BOARD CAN CONSIDER THEM.

WHAT ARE THE LEGAL OBSTACLES TO HAVING A MANDATE LIKE THIS?

THEY'RE ACTUALLY -- THERE ARE ACTUALLY SEVERAL.

WE ARE A PUBLIC SCHOOL, WE'RE NOT A PRIVATE SCHOOL.

AND THE VACCINES TO DATE ARE APPROVED BY THE FDA UNDER EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATION, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE FDA DIDN'T LOOK AT ALL THE SAFETY DATA IN MAKING ITS CONSIDERATION, BUT THEY'RE STILL UNDER EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATION, SO THERE'S A QUESTION WHETHER WE COULD MANDATE A VACCINATION THAT IS APPROVED UNDER EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATION AS OPPOSED TO FULL APPROVAL.

AND THERE ARE SEVERAL BILLS THAT ARE MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD ALSO IMPACT THE ABILITY TO MANDATE VACCINATIONS.

SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE -- WHAT I WOULD CALL PANAPLEA OF COMPLEX LEGAL ISSUES INVOLVED IN MANDATING VACCINATION.

ANOTHER ONE IS AS THE NUMBERS GO DOWN, THE NUMBERS OF INFECTED PEOPLE GO DOWN, THE NUMBER OF DEATHS GO DOWN, THAT'S A WONDERFUL THING.

BUT THAT MEANS THE CRISIS DEBATES, WHICH THEN MITIGATES ANY, I'LL CALL IT CRISIS JUSTIFICATION FOR A MANDATORY VACCINATION.

THE PERCENTAGES OF LSU STUDENTS VACCINATED RIGHT NOW, IT'S SOMEWHERE AROUND THE 26% THROUGH 30% RANGE?

THOSE ARE UPDATED, FACULTY ABOUT 70 PLUS PERCENT.

SO THAT WOULD BE AN ISSUE I WOULD THINK OR IT RAISES CONCERN THAT NOT ENOUGH STUDENTS ARE VACCINATED YET.

UNTIL WE WERE TO MANDATE, OR THE STATE WERE TO MANDATE, WE WANT PEOPLE TO DO THEIR RESEARCH AND MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION.

BUT WE'RE STRONGLY ENCOURAGING PEOPLE CURRENTLY TO GET VACCINATED.

I GOT VACCINATED.

AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THE FREEING FEELING THAT THAT GAVE ME, I FELT SAFE, I FELT I COULD GO VISIT MY CHILDREN AND MY GRANDSON, SO BOY, GET VACCINATED.

AND YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT ON THOSE NUMBERS.

AS OF A WEEK AGO, 26% OF THE STUDENTS HAD BEEN VACCINATED.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN AGGRESSIVE COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET VACCINATED AND TELL US, BECAUSE THE 26% MATCH WE UNDERSTATE HOW MANY ARE REALLY VACCINATED, THEY JUST HAVEN'T TOLD US.

SO TELL US.

BECAUSE THE HIGHER THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED, THE MORE LIKELY IT IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SAY, OKAY, ON CAMPUS TAKE -- YOU CAN TAKE YOUR MASK OFF IF YOU'RE VACCINATED.

WE CAN HAVE BIGGER EVENTS.

SO GET VACCINATED, AND WE'RE ALSO ANDRE LOOKING AT INCENTIVES THAT WE COULD PROVIDE FOR STUDENTS TO -- AND FACULTY AND STAFF TO GET VACCINATED.

SO WHAT IF YOU CAN'T MANDATE STUDENTS TO BE VACCINATED, CAN YOU MANDATE PEOPLE ATTENDING A FULL TIGERS STADIUM WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVE VACCINATION?

WE COULD, ALTHOUGH WE WANT TO BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID.

AND WITH THE GOVERNOR'S MOST RECENT EXECUTIVE ORDER LIFTING MOST OF THE MANDATE, BUT AGAIN, WE WANT TO GET VACCINATED!

IT IS -- YOU CAN DO IT.

IF YOU CAN GET THE VACCINATION, YOU CAN'T -- YOU DON'T MEDICAL OR RELIGION REASONS, GET VACCINATED!

BECAUSE BOY WE'RE ALL GOING TO FEEL BETTER.

YOU'VE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB, REPRESENTING LSU LIKE NO ONE.

I APPRECIATE IT, AND IT'S BEEN GREAT TO GET TO KNOW YOU BETTER.

YES, SIR.

THANKS.

IT WAS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

I'LL TALK TO YOU AGAIN SOON.

TALK TO YOU SOON, TAKE CARE.

HE JUST 99ISHED NINTH GRADE AT BEN FRANKLIN HIGH IN NEW ORLEANS, BUT ELLIOTT GOMES SEEMS WISER THAN HIS YOUNG YEARS.

HE'S AN HONOR STUDENT, ATHLETE AND HISTORY BUFF WHO HAS A KNACK FOR MAKING GOOD THINGS HAPPEN.

DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, HE SAW A NEED, SO HE TUTORED KIDS TO HELP WITH THEIR STUDIES.

HE RAISED MONEY FOR CAUSES IN AFRICA, AND HELPS FEED THE HOMELESS IN HIS NEW ORLEANS.

HE ALSO SAVED A YOUNG NEIGHBOR WHEN A PAIR OF DOGS ATTACKED.

LET'S MEET HIM, THIS WEEK'S LPB LOUISIANA YOUNG HERO, ELLIOTT GOMES.

I GUESS THE THREAD THAT KIND OF WEAVES THROUGHOUT THE MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT ELLIOTT HAS ACHIEVED WOULD BE LED BY HIS CURIOSITY, ALWAYS WANTING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT'S AROUND HIM.

AND ALSO HIS LOVE TO BE A PROBLEM SOLVER.

FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN HE HEARD ABOUT CHILDREN IN NEED, ORPHANS WHO NEEDED $360 TO FUND ONE YEAR TUITION, HE THOUGHT, OH, WE CAN DO SOMETHING.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

LET'S SOLVE THIS.

AND THEN WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, AND HE STARTED TO FEEL DETACHED, HE ALSO THOUGHT, HMM, WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?

SO HE'S ALWAYS LOOKING TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION AND PROBLEM SOLVE.

WHAT I'M SO IMPRESSED ABOUT IS THAT YOU JUST FINISHED NINTH GRADE AND YOUR RESUME IS LONG ALREADY.

YOU LOVE SPORTS, YOU LOVE HELPING, THE ARTS.

WHY DON'T YOU DISCUSS THE DOG RESCUE INCIDENT THAT WAS SO BIG.

IT WAS NOVEMBER 11th, AND I WAS PLAYING IN THE FRONT YARD WITH MY SISTER AND NEIGHBORS, WHEN TWO ROTTWEILERS CAME TROTTING DOWN THE STREET.

THEN THEY TARGETED THE YOUNGEST AND SMALLEST, DJ.

AND PINNED HIM UP AGAINST A TREE.

THEN THEY STARTED BITING HIM.

AND AS SOON AS I REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I RAN OVER THERE, I WAS YELLING "DOWN, SIT, HEEL!"

BUT THEY WEREN'T LISTENING TO ANY OF WHAT I WAS SAYING.

I WENT OVER TO THEM, I PROPPED HIM UNDER HIS ARMS SO THEY COULDN'T PULL HIM DOWN.

WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO SHAKE HIM AWAY FROM ME, I WOULD MOVE TOWARDS THEM, BUT MAKE SURE THEY COULDN'T PULL HIM FROM MY GRASP.

HE HAD TO HAVE SEVERAL EMERGENCY SURGERIES.

IT WAS A -- HE HAD MONTHS OF RECOVERY.

BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, HE'S COME A LONG WAY.

WHAT KIND OF A FRIEND IS HE?

HE'S AN AMAZING FRIEND THAT HELPS EACH OTHER AND HE IS LIKE FAMILY.

YOU GUYS LIVE RIGHT DOWN THE STREET?

YES.

ELLIOTT IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VERY OPTIMISTIC CHILD.

HIS OPTIMISM REALLY ALLOWS HIM TO BELIEVE IN OTHERS.

AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT GIVES HIM THE COURAGE TO IMPACT THE COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD AROUND HIM.

THAT'S SUCH A GIFT, TO HAVE THAT.

ELLIOTT, WHERE DOES THAT COME FROM?

I WOULD SAY MY OPTIMISM COMES FROM MY GRANDPARENTS.

FROM AN EARLY AGE THEY TOOK CARE OF ME WHILE MY PARENTS WERE AT WORK.

AND INSTILLED IN ME THEIR VALUES.

AND OPTIMISM WAS ONE OF THEM.

THEY ALWAYS SEE THE GOOD IN OTHERS, AND THEY INSPIRED ME TO DO THE SAME.

IT ALLOWS ME TO GET ON THE SAME THOUGHT PROCESS AS OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE BECAUSE IT KIND OF HELPS ME SEE THEIR POINT OF VIEW.

ON THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, AND MANY OTHER SPECTRUMS, THERE'S CLASHING OF ALL SORTS OF THINGS, WHERE OPTIMISM IS NOT AT A PREMIUM AT ALL.

HOW DOES SOMEONE WITH HOPE APPEAL THAT?

I THINK WE ALL NEED TO REMEMBER THAT WE'RE ALL AMERICANS IN THIS TOGETHER.

IT'S NOT REPUBLICANS VERSUS DEMOCRATS.

IT'S NOT LIBERALS VERSUS CONSERVATIVES.

IT'S AMERICA AS A WHOLE TRYING TO IMPROVE.

NEXT WEEK WE CONTINUE OUR YOUNG HERO PROFILES.

EVERYONE, THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

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

CATCH LPB NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS SHOWS AS WELL AS OTHER LOUISIANA PROGRAMS YOU'VE COME TO ENJOY OVER THE YEARS.

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

AND I'M KARA ST. CYR.

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

Captioning Performed By LNS Captioning www.LNScaptioning.com SUPPORT FOR LPB'S 2021 LOUISIANA YOUNG HEROES IS PROVIDED BY -- AT AMEIHEALTH WE HELP PEOPLE GET CARE.

STAY WELL.

AND BUILD HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.

CARE IS THE HEART OF OUR WORK.

AND BY THE US ARMY, BATON ROUGE RECRUITING BATTALION.

COMMUNITY COFFEE.

AND THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY.

WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM HOTEL INDY GO.

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

THE GOAL OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE 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 EMERGING LOUISIANA ARTISTS, AND IS AN HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CENTER FOR SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA.

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