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 úm STATE FUNDING HAS FALLEN NOT JUST BEHIND, BUT WAY BEHIND.

FAR OUT OF STEP EVEN WITH NEARBY STATES.

WE'RE FINDING GOOD RESULTS WHEN WE DO SMALLER VENTS.

THE PUSH FOR VACCINATIONS CONTINUES.

NOWHERE ON THERE DOES IT SAY NATIONAL CHAMPION.

THAT IS WHAT I CAME HERE TO DO.

A BLOCKBUSTER CONTRACT FOR A HALL OF FAME COACH.

HI, EVERYBODY.

I'M KARA ST. CYR.

AND I'M ANDRE MOREAU.

A LOT OF TOP NEWS TO GET TO TONIGHT, BUT FIRST, IT'S THE END OF AN ERA IN LOUISIANA.

THE MASK MANDATE IS LIFTED, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN GO JUST ANYWHERE WITHOUT A MASK.

HOSPITALS, GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, UNIVERSITIES, SCHOOLS AND DAYCARES WILL STILL REQUIRE YOU TO WEAR A FACE COVERING.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE BUSINESS ALSO HAVE A SAY IN THE THE MANDATE IS RELAXED IN THEIR AREA.

NO NEW ORLEANS MAYOR CANTRELL HAS ALREADY DECIDED AGAINST LIFTING THE MANDATE.

GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS SAYS THE CHANGES AREN'T A SIGN THAT THE PANDEMIC IS OVER, BUT CASES HAVE DROPPED ENOUGH FOR THIS TO MOVE FORWARD.

IF YOU'RE UNSURE, USE THE TWO OUT OF THREE RULE IN ORDER TO SLOW THE SPREAD AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE AS SAFE AS YOU CAN BE.

MAKE SURE YOUR ACTIVITIES MEET TWO OF THE THREE ACTIVATED, OUTDOORS, DISTANCE, OR MASK.

IF YOU'RE OUTDOORS AND DISTANCED, YOU DON'T NEED TO WEAR A MASK, BUT IF ONE OF THOSE TWO THINGS ISN'T PRESENT AND YOU WANT TO BE SAFE, YOU NEED TO WEAR A MASK.

THE GOVERNOR CALLED A PRESS CONFERENCE THURSDAY TO TALK ABOUT HIS PLANS FOR MORE THAN $1 BILLION IN RELIEF MONEY FILTERING INTO THE STATE.

THE MONEY IS COMING IN FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, AS PART OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

IT'S MEANT TO KEEP LOUISIANA FROM DROWNING UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

RIGHT NOW THE PLAN'S PRIORITIES COVER UNEMPLOYMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, WATER AND SEWERS, AS WELL AS TOURISM AND LOUISIANA'S PORTS.

AND NOW TO NEWS MAKING HEADLINES ACROSS THE STATE.

LSU NARROWED ITS SEARCH FOR PRESIDENT TO THREE FINALISTS.

THE THREE ARE EXPECTED TO BE ON CAMPUS NEXT WEEK FOR IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS AND INCLUDE UL SYSTEM PRESIDENT DR. JIM HENDERSON, DR. KELVIN DROEGEMEIER, A FORMER SCIENCE ADVISER IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, AND DR. BILL TATE, A PROVOST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

THE LATEST CENSUS FIGURES SHOW POPULATION GROWTH FAR BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

THE STATE'S POPULATION GREW BY ONLY 124 PEOPLE BETWEEN 2010 AND -- 124,000 PEOPLE BETWEEN 2010 AND 2020.

THAT'S AN ATHEMIC 2.7% COMPARED TO A NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 7.4%.

THE GROWTH WAS STILL ENOUGH TO KEEP SIX SEATS IN THE U.S. HOUSE.

THE STATE LOST A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT AFTER THE LAST CENSUS.

A LOUISIANA BLACK BEAR THAT RUMMAGED FOR FOOD FROM GAR BAN -- GARBAGE CANS, PORCHES AND TOO CLOSE TO PEOPLE WAS PUT DOWN THIS WEEK IN PORT ALLEN.

WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES SAY IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION BECAUSE OF EFFORTS TO RE-ESTABLISH THE BLACK BEAR POPULATION, BUT THIS ONE HAD BECOME TOO RELIANT ON SOURCES FOR FOOD FROM PEOPLE.

A CENTURY OLD JAIL IN DERIDDER CALLED THE GOTHIC HANGING JAIL IS BACK OPEN FOR TOURS, EXCEPT WHEN IT'S RAINING.

BEAUREGARD PARISH TOURISM SAYS THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND DAMAGE FROM HURRICANES LAURA AND DELTA CAUSED THE OLD JAIL TO CLOSE TO VISITORS.

DAYTIME TOURS WITH NO RAIN ARE OPEN AGAIN.

HALL OF FAME COACH AND HAMMOND NATIVE KIM MULKEY IS LSU'S NEW WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH.

THE FORMER LADY TECHSTER STAR AND COACH WHO BUILT BAYLOR INTO A POWERHOUSE WITH THREE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS TOLD A CROWD OF A FEW THOUSAND AT THE MARAVICH ASSEMBLY CENTER WHEN YOU GROW UP, YOU DON'T FORGET WHERE YOU CAME FROM.

I'VE BEEN AT BAYLOR 21 YEARS OF MY LIFE.

I BUILT THAT PROGRAM FROM THE GROUND UP.

I SHOULD SAY WE BUILT THAT PROGRAM FROM THE GROUND UP.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THERE'S ONLY ONE INSTITUTION I WOULD HAVE LEFT FOR AND THEY MADE THE COMMITMENT AND I'M HOME.

I WANT YOU TO SEE THOSE BANNERS BEHIND YOU RIGHT THERE.

FINAL FOUR, FINAL FOUR, FINAL FOUR, FINAL FOUR, NOWHERE ON THERE DOES IT SAY NATIONAL CHAMPION.

THAT'S WHAT I CAME HERE TO DO.

LSU IS A VERY, VERY PRIDEFUL INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING.

YOU KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS.

YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO A COMMUNITY AND TO A STATE WHEN YOU ARE A WINNING PROGRAM.

I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS AND I CAN ASSURE YOU, I DIDN'T JUST COME HERE TO WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS, I CAME HERE TO MAKE AN IMPACT AT THE RIGHT TIME AT AN INSTITUTION THAT NEEDS SOMETHING REALLY POSITIVE.

KIM MULKEY'S CONTRACT IS EIGHT YEARS, $23.6 MILLION.

ONLY COACH O MAKES MORE AT LSU.

ALSO LATE THURSDAY ANOTHER LAWSUIT FILED OVER THE DEADLY CAPSIZING OF THE LIFT BOAT SEACOR POWER.

A TERREBONNE PARISH FAMILY SUED SEACOR MARINE AND TALOS ENERGY.

IT ALLEGES TALOS ORDERED THE BOAT TO HEAD INTO THE GULF DESPITE SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS.

EIGHT MILES OFFSHORE, THE BOAT CAPSIZED.

ONLY SIX OF THE 19 ONBOARD WERE RESCUED.

AS LAWMAKERS FINISH UP WEEK THREE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, BILLS HAVE BEEN KILLED AND ADVANCED.

THIS WEEK TRANSGENDER BILLS AND EFFORTS TO RAISE TEACHERS' PAY WERE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS.

HERE'S A LIST OF SOME OF THE THINGS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED.

TEACHERS' SALARIES ARE BACK IN THE FOREFRONT THIS SESSION.

LAWMAKERS ARE TRYING TO GIVE TEACHERS A $1,000 PAY RAISE NEXT YEAR.

THIS RAISE IS DOUBLE THE AMOUNT THAT THE GOVERNOR SUGGESTED IN HIS PROPOSAL.

ORIGINALLY, GOVERNOR EDWARDS HAD ONLY A $500 RAISE FOR TEACHERS AND A $200 RAISE FOR SUPPORT STAFF.

SENATOR CLEO FIELDS SAYS THAT HE EXPECTS THE INCREASE TO MAKE IT INTO THE BUDGET ALONG WITH A $500 BUMP FOR CAFETERIA WORKERS AND OTHER SUPPORT STAFF.

A BILL THAT WOULD RESTRICT TRANSGENDER KIDS FROM ACCESSING MEDICAL CARE AND COUNSELING HAS BEEN TAKEN OFF THE TABLE FOR THIS SESSION.

THE PLUG WAS PULLED AFTER WHOINGS OF REBUTTALS FROM OPPONENTS.

PEOPLE AGAINST THE BILL SAY ITS LANGUAGE IS DISCRIMINATORY AND HAS NO PLACE IN LOUISIANA.

THOUGH THIS BILL IS NO LONGER UP FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE SENATE HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE, OTHER BILLS TARGETING TRANSGENDER YOUTH ARE STILL AWAITING A HEARING.

THOSE BILLS AIM TO BAR TRANSGENDER KIDS FROM PARTICIPATING IN GIRLS SPORTS IN SCHOOLS.

WHILE OTHER BILLS WANT TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO MEDICAL RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR THE TRANSITION PROCESS.

THE GOVERNOR HAS ALREADY SAID HE WILL NOT SUPPORT ANY BILLS BARRING TRANSGENDERS FROM ACCESSING MEDICAL NEEDS OR RESTRICTING THEIR PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS.

A CONCEALED WEAPON PERMIT MAY BECOME A THING OF THE PAST.

SENATORS VOTE 21-11 TO THROW OUT THE PERMIT REQUIRED FOR SOMEONE TO CARRY.

IF THIS MEASURE PASSES, THAT MEANS ANYONE 21 AND OLD EER CAN HAVE A CONCEALED GUN WITHOUT A PERMIT AS LONG AS THEY DON'T HAVE ANY VIOLENT CRIME CONVICTIONS OR ANY OTHER LEGAL ISSUES THAT WOULD BAR YOU FROM HAVING A GUN.

ALL DEMOCRATS EXCEPT ONE VOTED AGAINST THE BILL.

THE NEXT STEP IS TO SEND IT TO THE HOUSE FOR DEBATE.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE'LL VETO IF IT ENDS UP ON HIS DESK.

MORE NEWS ABOUT MARIJUANA COMING OUT OF SESSION.

LAWMAKERS ARE ENTERTAINING THE IDEA OF DECRIMINALIZING RECREATIONAL CANNABIS USE THE TOPIC IS OF LEGALIZING IT HAS BECOME MORE LAX IN SESSION AS SOME LEGISLATORS ARE PUSHING FOR ACCESS TO SMOKEABLE POT FOR MEDICAL USE.

BUT THIS BILL DIDN'T EXACTLY SAIL THROUGH THE COMMITTEE VOTE.

THE HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE VOTED 7-5 TO SEND THE BILL TO THE HOUSE FLOOR FOR DEBATE.

IF THE BILL BECAME A LAW, IT WOULD MEAN ANYONE 21 AND OLDER COULD BUY MARIJUANA AND USE IT HOWEVER THEY LIKE.

IT WOULD ALSO MEAN THERE WOULD BE MORE PEOPLE ALLOWED TO SELL AND GROW THE PRODUCT OUTSIDE OF THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM THAT THE STATE USES TODAY.

AS VACCINATIONS ARE BECOMING MORE PREVALENT, SOME LAWMAKERS ARE TRYING TO PUT MEASURES IN PLACE THAT WOULD STOP VACCINE PASSPORTS OR CERTIFICATES THAT SHOW A PERSON HAS BEEN VACCINATED FROM BECOMING A REALITY.

SO FAR THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY BILLS REQUIRING ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

ONE BILL FROM REPRESENTATIVE KATHY EDMONSTON WOULD BAN THE OMV FROM REQUIRING SOMEONE TO BE VACCINATED IN ORDER TO GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE.

IT WOULD ALSO BAN ANY TYPE OF VACCINATION RECORDS FROM BEING PUT ON THE LICENSE.

THIS BAN WOULD COVER ALL IMMUNIZATION RECORDS OUTSIDE OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE BACKED THE PROPOSAL.

IT HEADS TO THE HOUSE FOR DEBATE.

AFTER THE 2020 ELECTION, PEOPLE IN LOUISIANA WORRIED THAT OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY WOULD BE THREATENED.

A BILL WAS DRAFTED THAT WOULD DECLARE LOUISIANA A SANCTUARY STATE, MEANING IT WOULD BE SHIELDED FROM ANY FEDERAL LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT COULD CHANGE OR HARM THE INDUSTRY.

THIS BILL WAS STALLED IN A HOUSE COMMITTEE THIS WEEK.

AS LEGISLATORS WORRIED ABOUT LOST REVENUE AND POSSIBLE LAWSUITS, REPRESENTATIVE DANNY McCORMICK, THE REP WHO PROPOSED THE BILL, SAYS HE'LL BRING IT BACK UP FOR DEBATE AFTER MAKING A FEW CHANGES.

EVERY WEEK I'LL GIVE YOU A QUICK SUMMARY OF EVERYTHING GOING ON AT THE CAPITOL.

WE'LL CONTINUE THOSE UPDATES UNTIL SESSION ENDS IN JUNE.

CHILDCARE AND INFRASTRUCTURE ARE TWO OF THE BIG TOPICS ON THE MINDS OF VOTERS AND LAWMAKERS THIS SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE.

I TALKED WITH STEPHEN BARNES, DIRECTOR OF THE BLANCO PUBLIC POLICY CENTER AT UL-LAFAYETTE, THE CENTER HAS PUBLISHED TWO DETAILED BRIEFS.

THE DESIRE FOR FORMER GOVERNOR KATHLEEN BLANCO WAS THAT ISSUES SHE HELD DEAR BE RESEARCHED BY THE PUBLIC POLICY CENTER THAT BEARS HER NAME.

TWO BRIEFS PRODUCED THIS YEAR ARE ON TOPICS GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION FROM LAWMAKERS.

WITH THESE PUBLIC POLICY BRIEFS WHAT WE WANT TO BE DOING AT THE BLANCO CENTER IS BEING DOING THE HOMEWORK FOR THE PUBLIC AND LEGISLATORS AND OTHER POLICY MAKERS.

WE PUT A LOT OF RESEARCH INTO MAKING SURE WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE AND DRAW FROM THAT THE HIGH LEVEL SUMMARY THAT CAN GIVE READERS A QUICK UNDERSTANDING OF THE MAJOR ISSUES ON THE TOPIC.

TRYING TO TOUCH ON A CENTRAL ISSUE THAT WE KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT, THERE'S SOME DEBATE ABOUT, PERHAPS, AND SOMETHING WHERE THERE MIGHT BE SOME MOVEMENT TOWARDS ACTION IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

SO WITH REGARD TO CHILDCARE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY STOOD OUT OVER THIS LAST YEAR WAS THE ROLE CHILDCARE PLAYS IN THE ECONOMY AND HOW A LOT OF THAT HAS BROKEN DOWN OVER THE LAST YEAR.

AND AS WE THINK TO GETTING LOUISIANA BACK ON TRACK AND GETTING THE ECONOMY MOVING AGAIN, THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT INGREDIENT TO THAT.

IN 2020, MORE THAN 125,000 CHILDREN IN THE STATE RECEIVED EARLY CARE.

THE CHILDCARE BREAKDOWNS COST THE STATE $1.3 BILLION IN A NORMAL YEAR.

PANDEMIC BREAKDOWNS WERE FAR GREATER.

THIS STARTS WITH WORKING PARENTS WHO MISS DAYS AT WORK OR HAVE TO LEAVE EARLY WHEN THEIR NORMAL CHILDCARE SUPPORT NETWORK BREAKS DOWN.

SOME FAMILIES THAT STRUGGLE TO FIND RELIABLE CARE MAY END UP WITH A PARENT DECIDING THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO WORK, THEY CAN'T MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

THEY HAVE TO STAY HOME AND TAKE CARE OF THAT KID.

THIS CAN BE DISRUPTIVE FOR BUSINESS ALL THE WAY TO MUCH MORE DISRUPTIVE THING FOR SPECIFIC FAMILIES WHERE WORKERS ARE LOSING INCOME BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO GO IN AND WORK.

THE BOTTOM LINE OF THE CHILDCARE STORY IS INADEQUATE CHILDCARE AND LIMITATIONS IN OUR CURRENT SYSTEM ARE BRINGING WITH IT A COST TO DOING BUSINESS IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AND A COST TO FAMILIES.

I THINK AS A STATE WE NEED TO REASSESS THAT, MAKE SURE WE ARE PAYING FOR QUALITY AND EQUIPPING US TO BE A MORE COMPETITIVE STATE AS WE LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

BARNES SAYS SOLUTIONS TO CHILDCARE ARE SIMILAR TO TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS.

ON THE TRANSPORTATION SIDE OF THINGS, WE WANTED TO LOOK CLOSELY, DOES IT LOOK AS A STATE PROBLEM, OUR INABILITY TO HARNESS FEDERAL RESOURCES?

IS THERE SOME OTHER SOLUTION TO THIS TRANSPORTATION DILEMMA.

THE FINDINGS PUT THE BURDEN ON THE STATE.

IT LOOKS LIKE OUR STATE SPENDING IS NOT UP TO PAR.

WE ARE NOT PUTTING ENOUGH DOLLARS TO GET GOOD RESULTS IF YOU DON'T PUT ENOUGH STATE DOLLARS DON'T YOU RISK NOT GETTING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FEDERAL DOLLARS YOU MIGHT GET?

A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS WE ARE RUNNING IN THE STATE ARE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT REQUIRES SOME STATE MATCHING.

AND SO CERTAINLY WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH STATE DOLLARS IN ORDER TO DRAW DOWN THAT FEDERAL MATCH.

I HAVE HEARD SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.

I THINK WHEN WE LOOK ACROSS THE BOARD OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN THE STATE HAVING TO GET CREATIVE TO HAVE THE STATE DOLLARS TO DRAW THE FEDERAL MATCH.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.

THE FACT WE HAVE TURNED TO CREATIVE SYSTEMS, CERTAINLY COULD RAISE CONCERN.

THAT IS NOT QUITE A SIGNAL WE ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE THAT MATCH, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO KEEP AN EYE ON.

STATE FUNDING HAS FALLEN NOT JUST BEHIND, BUT WAY BEHIND.

THE LAST TIME WE ADJUSTED OUR GAS TAX WAS SEVERAL DECADES AGO AND SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE LOST MORE THAN HALF OF THE PURCHASING POWER OF THAT GAS TAX.

SO BY DOING NOTHING, WE HAVEN'T NECESSARILY MAINTAINED THE STATUS QUO.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS WE HAVE FALLEN FAR BEHIND IN TERMS OF GENERATING THE REVENUES WE NEED TO MAINTAIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS AND ECONOMY RELY ON.

RESEARCH FOUND THE GAS TAX WOULD NEED TO BE INCREASED BY MORE THAN 25 CENTS TO BE ON PAR WITH THE VALUE IN 1984.

BARNES SAYS VIRTUALLY EVERY OTHER STATE INCREASED GAS TAX WHILE LOUISIANA SIMPLY DOESN'T INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE OVER STATES.

WE ARE WAY OFF THE MARK WHEN WE COMPARE OURSELVES TO EVERY OTHER STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

EVERY OTHER STATE.

NOT JUST LIKE TEXAS, THEY HAVE MONEY.

WHAT ABOUT MISSISSIPPI OR ALABAMA WE LOOKED AT NATIONAL DATA AT THE PERCENTAGE OF ROAD AREA IN IN POOR CONDITION.

WHEN WE DO THAT, WE SEE THAT LOUISIANA'S PERCENTAGE OF ROADS IN POOR CONDITION IS ACTUALLY NINE TIMES LARGER THAN WHAT YOU FIND IN TEXAS OR ALABAMA.

SO IT IS NOT EVEN CLOSE.

THE REALITY IS WHEN WE LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IT IS COMMON WE ARE SEEING STATES MAKING MUCH BIGGER INVESTMENTS AND THEY ARE GETTING A LOT OF VALUE OUT OF THAT.

THE GOOD NEWS IS WE CAN SEE THERE IS A WELL-ESTABLISHED, LONG-TERM EFFECT ON ECONOMIC GROWTH.

SO WE SPEND MORE MONEY ON ROADS AND BRIDGES, THAT'S GOING TO SUPPORT SOME CONSTRUCTION JOBS IN THE NEAR TERM.

BUT THAT IS ALSO GOING TO POSITION LOUISIANA FOR LONG-TERM ECONOMIC GROWTH.

AS WE LOOKED ACROSS THE LITERATURE, WE CAME AWAY WITH A BROAD CONCLUSION THAT SOMETHING LIKE A FOUR TO ONE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS A PRETTY REASONABLE BENCHMARK.

THE LONG-TERM BENEFITS HERE ARE PRETTY LARGE.

WHILE NOBODY MAY BE EXCITED ABOUT NEW TAX REVENUES OR CARING OUT STATE TAX DOLLARS TOWARDS LARGER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE IS A BIG LONG-TERM BENEFIT THAT COMES OUT OF THAT.

JUST AS THERE IS A LONG-TERM BENEFIT FROM THE PUBLIC KNOWING THIS INFORMATION TO CHALLENGE LAWMAKERS.

REALLY TO MAKE BIG CHANGES HAPPEN WE NEED FOCUS AND VISION BY THOSE LAWMAKERS AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT TO GET PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE WE COULD BE BACK TO NORMAL IN LOUISIANA, WITH THE MASK MANDATE LIFTED, BUT BEFORE WE CAN DO THAT, MORE PEOPLE HAVE TO BE VACCINATED.

BUT MASS VACCINATION EFFORTS AREN'T PULLING IN THE PATIENTS THEY INTENDED.

INSTEAD, SMALLER EVENTS ARE FARING MUCH BETTER AND COULD BE THE WAY OF THE FUTURE.

WHEN THE PUBLIC COULD GET THE VACCINATION WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS, THE NEW PRIORITY OF HEALTH OFFICIALS WAS TO GET EVERYONE PROTECTED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

USING TACTICS LIKE MASS VACCINATION SITES IN BATON ROUGE RIGHT NOW IS A VERY, VERY LARGE HIGH VOLUME FEMA SITE.

IN NEW ORLEANS THERE IS A HIGH-VOLUME SITE OPERATED BY THE CITY AND LCMC HOSPITAL SYSTEM AT THE CONVENTION CENTER THAT LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE THE BATON ROUGE SITE, BUT NOT DIRECTLY OPERATED BY FEMA.

THE END RESULT IS PEOPLE CAN GO AND GET VACCINATED EASILY.

THESE ARE NOT IDEAL FOR THE POPULATION MEDICAL EXPERTS ARE TRYING TO REACH.

MOST PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN VACCINATED WERE HIGHLY MOTIVATED TO GET IT.

NOW THAT GROUP IS VACCINATED, THE FOCUS IS ON YOUNGER PEOPLE AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT SURE THE VAX ROUTE IS THE ONE THEY WANT TO TAKE.

I THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE OF REASONS WHY COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE NOT GOTTEN VACCINATED.

I BELIEVE THE GROUP WHO BELIEVE THEY ARE LOW RISK AND DO NOT SEE THE VALUE IN OBTAINING THE VACCINE.

PEOPLE WHO ARE BUSY AND HAVEN'T GOTTEN AROUND TO IT.

PEOPLE WHO ARE RISK AVERT.

SCARED OF THE UNKNOWN.

AND CONSPIRACY THEORISTS WHO THINK THERE IS SOMETHING FROM THE GOVERNMENT BEHIND IT.

I THINK THOSE ARE GROUPS OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE NOT BECOME VACCINATED.

YOU MIGHT HAVE PEOPLE IN RURAL AREAS WHO DON'T HAVE THE SAME ACCESS AS EVERYONE ELSE.

ON ONE OF OUR WEEKENDS AT BATON ROUGE GENERAL, I HAD A PATIENT WHO CAME IN AND SHE HAD A STICKY NOTE THAT HAD 13 TO 15 QUESTIONS ON IT.

SO WE WENT THROUGH AND TOOK THE TIME TO ANSWER ALL OF HER QUESTIONS AND AT THE END OF THAT, SHE FELT MORE CONFIDENT IN HER REASONING WHY SHE WAS GETTING THE VACCINE, HOW IT PREVENTED HER FROM BEING MORE LIKELY TO BE HOSPITALIZED OR DYING IF SHE DID, INDEED, CONTRACT THE VIRUS.

AND I THINK MORE CONVERSATIONS LIKE THAT NEED TO BE HAD AND THAT'S GOING TO BE KEY TO ENGAGING MORE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN BECOMING VACCINATED.

THE OBVIOUS FIX FOR HESITANCY IS EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

ANOTHER THING WE MAY CONSIDER IS THE WAY WE APPROACH VACCINATION EFFORTS.

IN NEW ORLEANS AND BATON ROUGE BIG VACCINE TENTS DIDN'T ATTRACT THE CROWDS THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO.

WHAT WE ARE FINDING MORE, IN ORDER TO REACH PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE LESS EAGER TO GET VACCINATES, NOT RESISTANT, BUT HAVE QUESTIONS, HAVE BEEN TAKING A WAIT-AND-SEE APPROACH, WE FIND GOOD RESULTS WHEN WE DO SMALLER EVENTS, TARGETED EVENTS AT A CHURCH OR IN A COMMUNITY GROUP.

SMALLER IN SMALLER NUMBERS, BUT A SETTING THAT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE.

THAT MIGHT BE WHERE WE HAVE TO PUT OUR ENERGIES GOING FORWARD.

UP UNTIL NOW THE PEOPLE WHO GOT VACCINATED WERE VERY MOTIVATED TO DO SO.

NOW WE NEED TO REACH PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ADAMANTLY AGAINST IT, BUT NOT SUPER MOTIVATED.

FOR SOME PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK LINGERING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VACCINE.

SEEING AN ACQUAINTANCE OR CHURCH MEMBER AT THE SITE MAY EASE CONCERNS.

IF YOU ARE GETTING VACCINATED IN YOUR COMMUNITY WITH HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS OR COMMUNITY MEMBERS OR CHURCHES THAT YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH, YOU PROBABLY FEEL SAFER AND MORE CONFIDENT IN OBTAINING THE VACCINE AND KNOWING THAT THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU INTERACT WITH ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS AND THAT THEY TRULY CARE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR WELL BEING.

AND THAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AS ALWAYS, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT VACCINES, YOU CAN CALL BATON ROUGE GENERAL OR THE COVID-19 HOTLINE FOR HELP OR TO SET AN APPOINTMENT.

ANOTHER LAWSUIT THIS WEEK FILED AGAINST LSU.

THIS ONE, A CLASS ACTION SUIT, TARGETING THE SCHOOL'S TITLE IX SCANDAL.

THIS MONTH'S "LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE" FOCUSES ON THE TITLE IX ISSUES AFFECTING OUR STATE'S UNIVERSITIES.

I SPOKE WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, AND STATE LEGISLATORS ABOUT CORRECTING LOUISIANA'S TITLE IX SYSTEM.

HERE'S SOME OF OUR CONVERSATION.

A LOT OF ATTENTION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO TITLE IX ABUSES WITHIN THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM AND STORIES OF SPECIAL TREATMENT GIVEN TO ATHLETES AND COACHES.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE.

YEAH.

I MEAN, JUST TO NAME IT, MY EXPERIENCE, I FELT, INVALIDATED, MANIPULATED, GASLIGHTS, VICTIM BLAMED, AND SLUT SHAMED.

ANDRE, HAVING JUST WATCHED THIS SEGMENT WITH THE SURVIVORS, WE CONTINUE TO APOLOGIZE TO THOSE WHO WE HAVE FAILED AND THANK THEM FOR COMING FORWARD.

WE ARE CURRENTLY, I THINK TODAY OR TOMORROW, I WILL SIGN A POLICY THAT MAKES CLEAR THAT ANYONE WHO, WITHOUT GOOD CAUSE, WHO HAS KNOWLEDGE OF A TITLE IX VIOLATION AND DOES NOT DISCLOSE IT WILL BE TERMINATED FROM LSU.

A LOT OF THE BARRIERS WE HAVE SEEN, PROBABLY THE MOST COMMON ONE LIKE ELIZABETH MENTIONED, NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT OF CLASSES WITH THE PERSON WHO ABUSED YOU.

IT IS SOMETHING LOUISIANA IS FAILING ON.

NOT ONLY DOES THAT TAKE ACTION FROM UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION, BUT IT SHOULD BE A CONCERN TO LEGISLATORS ACROSS LOUISIANA THIS IS SOMETHING THEY HAVE POWER TO CHANGE AND IT IS A REAL TANGIBLE BENEFIT TO SURVIVORS.

SOMETHING WE HEARD STUDENTS SAY TIME AND TIME AGAIN WAS THAT THEY WOULD REQUEST TO BE TAKEN OUT OF A CLASS THEIR ABUSER WAS IN, BUT WERE NOT.

RIGHT.

WHAT IS PROPOSED TO MAKE SURE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS RIGHT AWAY?

ACTUALLY, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS IN ANY OF THE LEGISLATION AS THEY NOW STAND.

THAT COULD CERTAINLY BE AMENDED INTO THE LEGISLATION.

WE'VE ONLY JUST HAD THE FIRST HEARING IN COMMITTEE.

I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY LSU'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIRST CREATE A CULTURE WHERE PREDATORS AND ABUSERS KNOW THEY WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW LSU HAS SENT A VERY CLEAR MESSAGE THAT PREDATORS AND ABUSERS WILL BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS.

WE CAN'T ACHIEVE OUR POTENTIAL AS A STATE WITHOUT A STRONG LSU.

BUT LSU IS OUR FLAGSHIP.

AND IT CANNOT BE THE FLAGSHIP OF LOUISIANA UNLESS IT HAS A TRUST OF THE PEOPLE OF LOUISIANA, PRIMARILY THE STUDENTS.

WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT REQUIREMENTS, STATTORY REQUIREMENTS.

THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU MUST DO, BUT THE THINGS WE SHOULD DO.

FOR THE COMPLETE SHOW, WE WILL REBROADCAST "LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE, TITLE IX IN LOUISIANA" SUNDAY MAY 2nd AT 11:00 A.M. YOU CAN ALSO FIND IT ONLINE AT LPB.ORG/PUBLICSQUARE.

TONIGHT WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE SIX HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BEING RECOGNIZED BY LPB AS THIS YEAR'S LOUISIANA YOUNG HEROES.

NOW IN ITS 26th YEAR, LPB'S YOUNG HEROES PROGRAM CELEBRATES THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE INSPIRED THOSE AROUND THEM AND HAVE DEVOTED THEIR TIME, TALENTS, AND ENERGY TO MAKING THEIR COMMUNITIES A BETTER PLACE.

THIS YEAR'S LOUISIANA YOUNG HEROES ARE, JACKSON CANTRELL OF MANDEVVILLE, 12th GRADER AT MANDEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.

KATHRYY "LEXIE" DAVIS OF HAMMOND, 12th GRADER AT PONCHATOULA HIGH SCHOOL.

IVORY GIPSON OF BATON ROUGE, A SENIOR AT NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL.

ALSO, ELLIOTT GOMES OF NEW ORLEANS, 9th GRADER AT BENJAMIN FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL.

HANNAH LEWIS, OF DERIDDER, 12th GRADER AT LOUISIANA SCHOOL FOR MATH, SCIENCE, AND THE ARTS.

MICHAEL VIZENA, OF ELIZABETH, 10th GRADER AT ELIZABETH HIGH SCHOOL.

THE LOUISIANA YOUNG HEROES PROGRAM IS PRESENTED THIS YEAR WITH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF AMERIHEALTH CARITAS LOUISIANA, THE U.S. ARMY, BATON ROUGE RECRUITING BATTALION AND COMMUNITY COFFEE AND THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY.

WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM HOTEL INDIGO AND DEMCO.

YOU WILL SEE STORIES ABOUT EACH YOUNG HERO ON "SWI" IN THE COMING WEEKS.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL.

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 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.