PRACTICES THAT PRESERVE LOUISIANA.

THE GOAL OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES 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 ART FOUNDATION AND THE MUSEUM IN JENNINGS CITY HALL.

IT FOCUSESIN' EMERGING LOUISIANA ARTISTS AND IS A CULTURAL AND HISTORIC CENTER FOR SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA.

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

PANIC BUYING IS NEVER A GOOD THING.

THE COLONIAL PIPELINE DEBACLE WINDING DOWN.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE PARISH IS GOING TO MAKE THEM MOVE OUT OF THE HOUSE.

LIVINGSTON PARISH STILL FEELING THE@MATH OF 2016.

WE HAVE TO PUT OURSELVES IN A BETTER POSTURE.

TRYING TO MANAGE THAT CHANGE, PROVIDE SOMETHING THAT'S SUSTAINABLE TO CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

THE BIGGEST PROJECT TO RESTORE OUR COAST IS A BIG WORRY FOR SOME.

RIGHT NOW MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER FEDERAL HEALTH OFFICIALS TOLD US TO COVER UP OUR FACES, THE CDC THURSDAY SAID THAT FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE COULD NOW TAKE THEIR MASKS OFF INDOORS OR OUT.

NO MATTER THE SIZE OF THE CROWD.

IT LEAVES QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MANY NOT VACCINATED AND PRIVATE BUSINESSES AND STATE AGENCIES CAN KEEP THE MASK MANDATE IN PLACE.

IT WAS STILL GREAT NEWS AND THERE'S MORE THIS TIME FOR PARENTS CONCERNED ABOUT VACCINATIONS FOR THEIR KIDS.

KIDS AGES 12 AND UP GOT TO BEGIN RECEIVING THE PFIZER A VACCINE.

MODERNA AND JOHNSON & JOHNSON ARE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW.

PFIZER'S SIDE EFFECTS FOR KIDS ARE ABOUT THE SAME AS FOR ADULTS.

IT'S ALL NORMAL THE DOCTORS SAY.

NO RED TAPE, JUST A CONSENT FORM SIGNED BY THE PARENT.

THIS VACCINE ROLLOUT GETS US CLOSER TO THE END OF THE PANDEMIC.

THERE'S NO REASON TO BE AFRAID TO GET YOUR KIDS VACCINATED AND THERE THERE ARE MULTIPLE BENEFITS, THE SAFETY OF YOUR KID, THE SAFETY OF AT RISK PEOPLE WHO MAY BE AROUND YOUR CHILDREN WHETHER THAT'S GRANDPARENTS OR WHOEVER.

KIDS YOUNGER THAN 12 STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO BUT OFFICIALS SAY THEY CAN SEE THAT BECOMING AVAILABLE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

TO NEWS MAKING HEADLINES AROUND THE STATE.

GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS THIS WEEK URGED CONGRESS AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO RETHINK SOME OF ITS CLIMATE CHANGE DIRECTIVES, NAMELY THOSE THAT WOULD HURT LOUISIANA.

HIS POINT IS TO MAKE CHANGES WITHOUT DISRUPTING RESPONSIBLE OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION IN THE GULF.

HE ALSO ANNOUNCED PLANS FORT STATE TO JOIN THE U.S.

CLIMATE ALIGNS.

THE FORMER CHIEF OF TRAUMA IN SHREVEPORT GOT A PRISON SENTENCE ALMOST TWO YEARS FOR FRAUD.

DR. JOHN T. OWENS CONTINUED TO GET DISABILITY BENEFITS FROM SOCIAL SECURITY AT TIMES $40,000 A MONTH, EVEN AFTER RETURNING TO WORK THE DOCTOR HAS ALWAYS MADE GOOD MONEY BUT REPORTEDLY USED THE EXCESS FOR PERSONAL SPENDING AND HIS COIN COLLECTING HOBBY.

DEMOCRAT REPRESENTATIVE TROY CARTER OF NORTHSIDE WAS SWORN INTO THE HOUSE THIS WEEK.

THE 57-YEAR-OLD CARTER WON IN A RUNOFF THAT OPENED AFTER CEDRIC RICHMAN LEFT TO WORK ON THE TEAM OF PRESIDENT BIDEN.

HE'S THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC MEMBER OF LOUISIANA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.

A NEW HISTORICAL MARKER THAT HONORS THE LATE GOVERNOR KATHLEEN BABINEAUX BLANCO.

THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WERE THERE TO RECOGNIZE THE STATE'S FIRST FEMALE GOVERNOR.

BLANCO DIED AFTER BATTLING CANCER TWO YEARS AGO.

THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER HAS UPGRADED LAST YEAR'S HURRICANE ZEDA FROM 2 TO 3 AND MAJOR STATUS.

THE STORM SWEPT INLAND NEAR GRAND ISLE THEN BATTERED THE MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA COAST WITH A TEN FOOT STORM SURGE.

IT KILLED FIVE AND CAUSED $4.4 BILLION IN DAMAGE.

YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THE LONG LINES PEOPLE HEADING TO THE GAS STATION AND FILLING UP BUCKETS, EVEN GROCERY BAGS WITH FUEL.

COLONIAL PIPELINE IS BACK UP AND RUNNING AFTER BEING OUT SIX DAYS.

EXPERTS SAY IT WON'T GET BACK TO NORMAL WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS BUT DON'T PANIC.

EVEN IF YOU SEE THESE YELLOW BAGS AT THE PUMPS IT'S NOT A REASON TO PANIC.

PANICKING IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO DO NOW.

PANIC BUYING IS NEVER A GOOD THING.

DISCOURAGING NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION IS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM.

NATHAN MCBRIDE WITH MID CITY CONTINENT OIL AND GAS ASSOCIATION IS TALKING ABOUT THE LARGE CROWDS HEADING TO THE GAS STATION.

AS AN EXTRA PRECAUTION THE COMPANY STOPPED OPERATION TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS RUNNING SMOOTHLY.

THEY HAVE SINCE REOPENED THE LINE BUT TO SOME PEOPLE THAT MEANT GAS STATIONS MIGHT RUN OUT OF FUEL AND IT CAUSED A PANIC IN PARTS OF THE SOUTHEAST.

THERE ARE SOME POTENTIAL CONCERNS ALONG AS MENTIONED EARLIER ALONG THE PIPELINE ROUTE AS YOU GET INTO THE GEORGIA-NORTH CAROLINA-VIRGINIA, THOSE STATES ARE STARTING TO SEE SOME CONCERNS.

BUT AGAIN THAT'S BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THEIR STATE.

THEY ARE SUPPLIED HEAVILY FROM THIS PIPELINE.

HERE IN LOUISIANA WE DO HAVE THOSE RESOURCES AND IT PUTS US AT AN ADVANTAGE.

YOU SEE A LITTLE OVER HALF THE OF THE FUEL FROM COLONIAL PIPELINES PASS THROUGH LOUISIANA AND TEXAS OIL REFINERIES BEFORE IT GETS TO OTHER STATES LIKE VIRGINIA, WHO DON'T HAVE THE SAME RESOURCES.

IF THE PIPELINE IS CLOSED LOUISIANA CAN STILL REFINE THE OIL BUT THEY CAN'T SEND IT TO OTHER STATES.

SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ACCESS TO MORE FUEL THAN WE CAN USE.

THE TROUBLE WITH GAS STATIONS HERE IS ONLY TEMPORARY.

WHILE A TRUCK MAY HAVE TO WAIT TWO TO THREE TIMES LONGER TO GET THE FUEL FROM THE TERMINAL, IT MAY TAKE LONGER TO GET THE FUEL TO YOUR ACTUAL LOY STATION, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO RUN OUT OF FUEL.

NATALIE ISAACS WITH THE OIL MARKET AND CONVENIENCE STORES ASSOCIATION SAYS SHE DOESN'T EXPECT ANYONE TO GO OUT OF BUSINESS OR SEE A DECLINE IN SUPPLY BUT OVER-PUMPING AND HOARDING GAS CAN MAKE IT WORSE.

IT WILL TAKE A FEW DAYS FOR THE PIPELINE TO RECOUP ITSELF SO IT'S CRUCIAL FOR PEOPLE TO ACT NORMALLY.

IF YOU NEED GAS WE TELL PEOPLE TO GET IT.

IF YOU NEED TO GO TO WORK WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE FINE IF WE JUST STAY IN OUR NORMAL ROUTINE WITH FUEL PURCHASES.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS EXPERTS SAY DON'T PAIN PANIC.

IF YOU DECIDE TO FILL UP PLEASE USE OBJECTS APPROVED TO CARRY GASOLINE.

THE GREAT FLOOD OF 2016 LEFT BEHIND PAINFUL MEMORIES OF REBUILDING AND RECOVERY.

NOW ALMOST FIVE YEARS LATER PEOPLE IN BOTH LIVINGSTON AND EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH ARE RELIVING THE PAST AFTER SOME GOT LETTERS FROM FE THAT SAYING THEY NEED TO ELEVATE THEIR HOMES OR SELL THEM FOR DEMOLITION.

THERE'S SOME ANGELA MERCKEL SITE IN LOUISIANA EVERY TIME THE WEATHER LOOKS LIKE THIS BUT SOMETIMES EVEN A LITTLE RAIN IS ENOUGH TO CAUSE A SCARE AND IT'S NO WONDER.

FIVE YEARS AGO PARTS OF SOUTH LOUISIANA WERE UNDER WATER.

US THAT WAS A PRETTY DEVASTATING SATURDAY.

WE WOKE UP SATURDAY MORNING TO WATER COMING IN THIS HOUSE RIGHT HERE.

SO EVERYTHING WAS DESTROYED.

IT WASN'T JUST ME.

THE WHOLE CITY.

THE WHOLE -- THE PARISH THAT IS.

IT WAS DEVASTATING.

JOHN WASCOM WATCHED HIS HOME FILL WITH WATER LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN HIS DISTRICT.

THE 2016 FLOOD LEFT PEOPLE WITHOUT HOMES FOR MONTHS AND FOR SOME YEARS.

THE RECOVERY PROCESS WAS LONG AND LEAVING EVERYTHING BEHIND ALTOGETHER LEFT AN IMPACT ON THE CITY THAT MOST WON'T FORGET.

WHEN I SAY IT EVERYBODY IS AFFECTED.

GAS STATIONS WERE SHUT DOWN.

ROADS WERE COMPLETELY BLOCKED.

PEOPLE WERE STRANDED.

TRAPPED ON THEIR HOUSES.

MY FRIEND -- THERE WERE 75, 80 YEARS OLD, HAD TO CLIMB UP A LADDER, GET ON THE ASPHALT ROOF AT 2:00 A.M. AND WITH A RESCUE BOAT COMING DOWN TO RESCUE THEM OFF OF THE ROOFTOPS OF THE HOUSE.

YEARS AFTER THE REBUILDING AND RECOVERY IT SEEMS PEOPLE CAN'T LEAVE IT COMPLETELY IN THE PAST.

ABOUT 1200 PEOPLE IN THE AREA GOT LETTERS FROM FEMA TELLING THEM TO EITHER ELEVATE THEIR HOMES OR SELL THEM.

WASCOM SAID THE DISASTER RELIEF AGENCY SENT THE LETTERS OUT AFTER THEY FOUND THE PARISH DIDN'T ASSESS THE HOMES PROPERLY WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO REBUILD.

3500 HOMES THAT DIDN'T GET PERMITTED CORRECTLY AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT THAT'S WHY WE WENT OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH FEMA.

THAT OF COURSE WHEN YOU GO OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH FEMA, THAT AFFECTS YOUR FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAMS AND PREMUS AND SO FORTH.

TO BE NONCOMPLY YAPT MEANS YOUR FLOOD DAMAGE AMOUNTS TO 50% OF WHAT THE HOUSE WAS WORTH.

IT HAS TO BE IN A HIGH RISK FLOOD ZONE AND PLOW ELEVATION F. YOU OPT OUT OF FIXING OR SELL IT FOR DEMOLITION YOU WON'T LOSE YOUR HOWT BUT ALSO WON'T QUALIFY FOR AID IF YOUR HOUSE FLOODS AGAIN AND WON'T GET A PERMIT FOR FUTURE CONSTRUCTION.

THE LETTERS WENT OUT.

SOME OF THE CONCERNS ARE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE PARISH WILL MAKE THEM MOVE OUT OF THEIR HOUSE AND GET NO COMPENSATION.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE.

ANOTHER RUMOR IS THAT THE PARISH IS GOING TO MAKE THEM AND REQUIRE THEM TO ELEVATE THEIR HOUSE.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

GETTING A LETTER IN THE MAIL ISN'T A DEATH SENTENCE.

THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN DO.

YOU CAN APPLY FOR GRANT FUNDING TO FEMA WILL PAY 75% AT THE LEAST OF ELEVATION COSTS.

JUST BEING ON THE LIST SHOWS YOU'RE AT LEAST TRYING TO COMPLY.

YOU CAN ALSO APPLY FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BUY YOU OUT.

IF YOU CAN GO TO HOMELAND SECURITY AND HELP US PROVE THAT YOU WERE NOT OVER 50% DAMAGED -- THEN THAT WILL TAKE YOU OFF THE LIST.

OKAY, SO THAT LEAVES A LITTLE BIT -- THAT SHOULD KNOCK A FEW OF THOSE OFF.

PEOPLE IN BATON ROUGE PARISH ARE ALSO DEALING WITH THE ISSUE.

IT'S ESTIMATED THAT THE NUMBER OF HOMES THAT FALL INTO THE NONCOMPLIANT CATEGORY FALL IN THE THOUSANDS.

HER OFFICE RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING SHE WON'T BE RELEASING THOSE FEMA LETTERS AT THIS TIME.

THE LETTER EXPLAINS SHE IS TRYING TO FIND ANOTHER WAY TO KEEP RESIDENTS IN COMPLIANCE.

MAYOR SHARON WESTON BROOME SAYS SHE WILL RELEASED THE EXACT NUMBER OF HOUSES AFFECTED ONCE SHE CONTACTS OTHER OFFICIALS.

HOUSE BILL 528 PROPOSES A PILOT PROGRAM WITH A CLASS SCHEDULE THAT IS YEAR ROUND.

I TALKED WITH THE LEADER OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS ABOUT THAT AND WHAT'S AHEAD IN THE FALL.

THERE IS A BILL ORIGINATING OUT OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT ALLOWS LOUISIANA TO BUILD A PILOT PROGRAM WHERE A GROUPING OF SCHOOLS AND/OR SCHOOL SYSTEMS COULD TAKE PART IN A PILOT PROGRAM WITH A BALANCED CALENDAR WHICH ESSENTIALLY TAKES THAT TRADITIONAL THREE-MONTH SUMMER BREAK AND PLACES THE ACADEMIC YEAR ACROSS 12 MONTHS, NOT NINE.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY ADD DAYS TO THE CALENDAR, JUST ADJUSTS WHICH THOSE DAYS HAPPEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.

WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT WHILE WE CAN'T DISCERN THAT IT'S A GAME CHANGER ACADEMICALLY WE KNOW THAT SUMMER LEARNING LOSS DOES EXIST, THAT RESEARCH STUDIES SHOW YOU HAVE BETTER ATTENDANCE, BEHAVIOR IMPROVES AND ON WHICH TIMES TEACHER MORALE IMPROVES ON A BALANCED CALENDAR.

WE'RE OFFERING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR SYSTEMS THAT WOULD LIKE TO OPT IN.

SO IT WOULD BE -- WOULD IT BE NOT MANDATORY OR NOT ACROSS THE BOARD THEN?

THE LEGISLATION ALLOWS FOR AN OPT IN OF A HANDFUL OF SYSTEMS THAT WOULD LIKE TO TRY A NEW APPROACH.

IF THE LEGISLATION PASSES WE WILL BUILD OUT A PILOT PROGRAM.

SYSTEMS CAN OPT INTO THAT AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE WOULD BE DOING IS SUPPORTING THEM AS THEY WORK THROUGH AN ALTERNATIVE CALENDAR AND HELPING TO FUND SOME INTERSESSION PERIODS WHERE DURING THE TIME WHEN KIDS WOULD TRADITIONALLY BE OUT OF SCHOOL THEY COULD COME FOR TARGETED SUPPORT OR MAYBE ELECTIVE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE ART OR MUSIC.

SO WE'RE JUST EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES TO SHIFT THE TRADITIONAL SCHOOL CALENDAR IN A HANDFUL OF SYSTEMS AND EXPLORE WHAT FINDINGS THAT COME FROM THAT, AND WE GET INFORMATION THAT TELLS US THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING ONE THING OR ANOTHER WE SHOULD LISTEN TO THAT INFORMATION.

WE HAVE ONE SCHOOL SYSTEM, RED RIVER, IN NORTH LOUISIANA, THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC WE WORKED WITH THEM AND THEY HAVE ALREADY TRANSITIONED TO THAT CALENDAR.

IF YOU HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE LEADERSHIP IN THAT SYSTEM THOSE TEACHERS APPRECIATE THE NEW CALENDAR.

THEY THINK IT'S EFFECTIVE FOR THE KIDS.

WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER SYSTEM THAT IS ALREADY PREPARING JUST TO MAKE THIS TRANSITION FOR NEXT YEAR.

IF YOU LOOK AT NATIONAL EDUCATION, WE'RE IN THE 40s.

48, 49th.

OUR KIDS ARE JUST AS CAPABLE AS KIDS ANYWHERE.

OUR TEACHERS AND LEADERS WORK AS HARD AS ANYONE ANYWHERE.

WE HAVE TO THINK THROUGH THE CHALLENGES WE FACE AND IF THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY SOMETHING NEW THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO HELP KIDS, IMPROVE OUTCOMES AND DO BETTER FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES IT'S WORTH A TRY.

ARE THE SCHOOLS FINANCIALLY IN BETTER SHAPE BECAUSE OF THE COVID BILL MONEY THAN THEY HAVE EVER BEEN?

THERE'S AN INCREDIBLE INFLUX OF REVENUE FUNDING COMING INTO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS ACROSS THE STATE, COVID RECOVERY DOLLARS AND STIMULUS DOLLARS.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE USE THOSE DOLLARS WISELY.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER LEARNING RECOVERY THAT IS NEEDED WE USE THESE DOLLARS TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.

MAKE SURE THAT THESE DOLLARS ARE USED TO PUT US IN THE A BETTER POSTURE POST PANDEMIC AND FOR US IN THE STATE AGENCY BECAUSE THESE FUNDS FLOW THROUGH TO THE SYSTEMS WE WANT A DASHBOARD IN PLACE THAT PROVIDES PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY ON WHERE THE DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT STATEWIDE BUT ALSO WITHIN LOCAL SYSTEMS.

WHAT DOES THE FALL PLAN LOOK LIKE?

WHEN YOU TURN ON THE TV AND LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY YOU SEE PLACES WHERE KIDS HAVE NOT BEEN IN SCHOOL IN OVER A YEAR, WHERE CITIES ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE KEEP KIDS AND EMPLOYEES SAFE AND HAVE AN EDUCATION SYSTEM.

WHILE IT HASN'T BEEN PERFECT IN LOUISIANA WE HAVE DONE THAT.

OUR KIDS AND EMPLOYEES ARE SAFE.

OUR KIDS RECEIVED SOME FORM OF EDUCATION THIS YEAR AND WE BELIEVE NEXT YEAR IN TERMS OF MITIGATION EFFORTS WE HOPE IT WILL LOOK MORE LIKE A NORMAL SCHOOL YEAR.

ESPECIALLY WITH ACCESS TO THE VACCINES, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

WE JUST THINK OUR SCHOOLS HAVE NOT BEEN SUPER SPREADER LOCATIONS OF THE VIRUS.

WE HAVE OFFICIALLY REACHED THE MIDPOINT OF SESSION WHERE LAWMAKERS USUALLY HAVE AN IDEA WHAT'S GOING TO GO INTO MOTION AND WHAT MIGHT BE STALLED.

DESPITE THE GOVERNOR'S DISAPPROVAL HE'S ALREADY STATED HE WON'T SIGN THIS BILL.

SUPPORTERS INSIST THAT THE BILL IS TO PROTECT GIRLS IN SPORTS FROM UNFAIR COMPETITION WHILE OPPOSERS STILL BELIEVE IT WOULD BE DISCRIMINATORY.

TENSIONS FLARE BETWEEN MENBERS OF THE BLACK CAUCUS AND GOP REPRESENTATIVES OVER HOW KIDS SHOULD LEARN ABOUT TOPICS LIKE RACISM AND SEXISM IN SCHOOLS.

LAWMAKERS DEBATE.

STEMS FROM HOUSE EDUCATION ECONOMIESITY COMAIRM RAY GARAFOLO WHO SAID THERE ARE GOOD COMPONENTS OF SLAVERY.

THE BLACK CAUCUS SAID HIS REMARKS WERE ENOUGH TO REMOVE HIM FROM HIS POSITION.

THE HOUSE SPEAK HEAR NO PLANS TO REMOVE GARAFOLO.

IT'S JEOPARDIZING TAX DEBATES.

TUESDAY THE HOUSE VOTED TO PASS A BILL THAT WOULD RESTRICT QUALIFIED IMMUNITY FOR OFFICERS FACING WRONGFUL DEATH OR INJURY LAWSUITS.

THE HOUSE VOTED FOR THE BILL 53-42.

LOUISIANA LAW HAS SOME RESTRICTIONS ON WHERE WINE MANUFACTURERS CAN SHIP THEIR PRODUCTS.

THEY CAN'T SHIP DIRECTLY TO CONSUMERS UNLESS THE CONSUMER BUYS DIRECTLY FROM THE WINERY.

THEY ARE SAYING LOUISIANA IS DRAGGING BEHIND OTHER STATES.

OPPONENTS THINK THEY WOULD HURT RETAILERS AND WHOLESALERS.

THE BILL BARELY PASSED 53-40.

THE NEXT STEP, THE SENATE.

THIS WEEK THE HOUSE APPROVED TAKING AWAY JAIL TIME AND LOWERED THE MAXIMUM FINE FOR PEOPLE WITH SMALL AMOUNTS OF CANNABIS.

THE HIGHEST PENALTY WOULD BE ONLY $100 COMPARED TO 300 AND $500 FINES ALREADY IN PLACE.

THE BILL PASSED THROUGH THE HOUSE 67-25.

THE NEXT STEP, THE SENATE IF APPROVED IT WILL END UP ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK TO SIGN.

EACH WEEK WE'LL GIVE YOU A WRAP-UP OF WHAT GOES ON AT THE CAPITOL.

THIS SESSION WE'LL CONTINUE UNTIL IT ENDS IN JUNE.

THE NEARLY $2 BILLION FRAN FROM COASTAL RESTORATION LEADERS EXPECTED TO INJECT LIFE INTO THE VANISHING COAST HAS PLENTY OF CONTROVERSY.

THE DIVERSION PROJECT LAST MONTH GOT A RESOUNDING NO VOTE FROM THE PARISH WHERE THE PROJECT WILL HAPPEN.

THAT VOTE CAME AFTER THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT OF THE PLAN WAS MOSTLY POSITIVE.

SO WHERE ARE WE NOW?

I WENT TO FIND OUT.

THE PEOPLE OF PLAQUEMINES PARISH DO NOT WANT IT.

IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE THIS MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL WHERE EMOTIONS RAN HOT.

A UNANIMOUS 8-0 VOTE EOPPOSED THE PLAN BY THE STATE CPR A. FISHERS AND SHRIMPERS SAY IT WILL DESTROY THEIR WAY OF LIFE.

IT'S THE ONLY SUSTAINABLE WAY TO SAVE YOUR PARISH.

THAT WAS THE RESPONSE FROM CPR A CHAIRMAN JIM CLINE.

THE CENTERPIECE PLAN TO CHANNEL SEDIMENT AND RICH MISSISSIPPI WATER THROUGH A MEGA GATED LEVEE STRUCTURE IS PART OF THE EFFORT TO SUSTAIN LOUISIANA'S COAST AS WE KNOW IT FROM WASH AG WRAY INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BRITAIN HAU SAYS WE KNOW MUCH HAS ALREADY BEEN LOST, A FOURTH OF OUR WETLANDS, ABOUT THE SIZE OF DELAWARE, HAS BEEN LOST SINCE THE 1930s.

WE HAVE SEEN THE CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED -- REALLY THOUSANDS OF YEARS BUT MORE EXPLICITLY SO THE LAST HUNDRED YEARS.

SO WE KNOW THAT THIS COAST IS CHANGING, IT'S GOING TO CHANGE WHETHER WE IMPLEMENT ANY OF THE PROJECTS IN THE MASTER PLAN OR NONE OF THEM INCLUDING THIS PROJECT.

WE HAVE A CHOICE, WE CAN ASK OURSELVES DO WE ALLOW THAT CHANGE TO IMPOSE ITS WILL ON US AND WHERE WE CAN LIVE AND WORK, WHERE WE CAN CATCH FISH OR DO WE TRY TO MANAGE THE CHANGE FOR THE MOST GOOD FOR THE MOST CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

THAT'S WHAT THE MASTER PLAN IS ALL ABOUT, TRYING TO MANAGE THE CHANGE, PROVIDE SOMETHING SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE CITIZENS SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THE THINGS WE LOVE ALONG OUR COAST.

THE COUNCIL SAYS WHAT ABOUT THEY AND MILLIONS OF OTHERS LOVE?

A SEAFOOD BASED ECONOMY AND CULTURE.

THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO HARNESS IS ONE THAT WAS 7,000 YEARS IN THE MAKING, WHAT CREATED ALL OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA, THE POWER OF THE RIVER, THE TRANSPORT OF THE SEDIMENT THE WITHIN THE RIVER, THE GROUND THAT WE'RE STANDING ON HERE TODAY.

SO THE SOONER WE CAN REPRODUCE THAT PROCESS, RECONNECT THE RIVER WITH ITS IS WEAR WE'RE READY TO GO AND GET THOSE WETLANDS BEGINNING TO GET REBUILT AND BEGINNING TO HEAL THE IS WEAR.

THE PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO BUILD 21 SQUARE MILES OF STORM BUFFERING LANDOVER 50 YEARS.

COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY THE ARMY CORPS DRAFT STATEMENT IGNORES WHAT THEY SAY IS A FASTER, BETTER ALTERNATIVE.

DREDGING AND PUMPING IT IN THE LEVEE OF THE OPEN WATERS.

SAYS THE CREATION OF THIS LAND OUTWEIGHS THAT DISRUPTION.

CAN YOU ELUS WHAT'S POSITIVE, WHAT'S NOT POSITIVE?

IN TERMS OF POSITIVE AND NOT POSITIVE, IN TERMS OF IMPACTS?

YES.

RIGHT.

OBVIOUSLY POSITIVE IMPACTS STORM SURGE REDUCTION, WETLAND BENEFIT, ECO-SYSTEM BENEFITS, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS N. TERMS OF NEGATIVE IMPACTS YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD IT IN TERMS OF MARINE MAMMALS, OYSTERS, SHRIMP, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND COMMUNITIES THAT ARE OUTSIDE FLOOD PROTECTION ARE SOME OF THE BIG ONES IN TERMS OF IMPACTS.

THESE PEOPLE WHO EARN THEIR LIVELIHOODS HAVE BEEN THE LOUDEST AGAINST THIS HOW DO THEY ADJUST AND NOT GET HURT SO BAD?

ONE OF CHALLENGES THAT IS WE HAVE A COAST THAT'S CONSTANTLY CHANGING SO THE COAST THAT YOU KNEW 20, 30, 40 YEARS AGO IS NOT THE COAST YOU KNOW TODAY AND NOT THE COAST IN THE FUTURE, 20 OR 30 YEARS.

ONE THING WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO IS COORDINATE WITH WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES.

SOME OTHER EFFORTS WITH THE GOVERNOR'S DIRECTION IN TERMS OF GETTING FEEDBACK AND INPUT FROM THE FISHERS AND THE FISHERMEN AND THE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO THEM, HAVING SUSTAINABLE AND VIABLE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY WITH OUR CHANGING COAST.

PART OF THAT WOULD BE WITH RESTORATION PROJECTS OR A DIVERSION.

WORKING WITH THEM AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM, SHORT TERM, MEDIUM, LONG TERM SO WE CAN HELP PUT THE TOOL BOX THERE FOR A SUSTAINABLE COAST IN TERMS OF ECO-SYSTEM AND SEAFOOD AND FISHERIES AND SO FORTH.

FROM ONE OF THE THINGS WE LIKE TO PRIDE OURSELVES ON IS MONITORING OUR COAST.

AS PART OF THE COASTAL PROTECTION RESTORATION AUTHORITY WE HAVE OVER 360 MONITORING STATIONS ACROSS THE COAST TO CHECK EVERYTHING FROM WATER LEVELS TO TEMPERATURES TO THE TYPES OF VEGETATION THAT GROW IN DIFFERENT AREAS.

SO WE CAN YEAR IN YEAR OUT BASIS SEE HOW OUR COAST IS CHANGING & DAPT IN TERMS OF TYPES OF PROJECTS TO DO OR PROJECTS LOCATIONS AND SAME THING GOES WITH SEDIMENT DIVERSION THERE.

WE'LL HAVE THAT DATA AND INFORMATION TO HELP SUPPORT FOR WHAT WE SEE WITH WHATEVER GETS THROWN AT US IN TERMS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE FUTURE WE CAN ADJUST AND ADAPT AS WELL AS A STATE.

THIS PROJECT IS ABOUT HITTING THE RESET BUTTON, TRYING TO MAKE SOME PORTIONS OF THE COAST THAT CURRENTLY AREN'T VERY PRODUCTIVE FRANKLY FOR SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED WITH, OYSTERS, PRIMARILY, BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO SALTY.

WILL HELP FRESHEN SOME OF THOSE AREAS AND SHIFT THAT ZONE OF PRODUCTIVITY BACK TOWARDS THE GULF OF MEXICO WHERE IT ONCE WAS.

THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE A LIVING OFF THE WATERS SAY THE INFUSION OF FRESH WATER WILL KILL THEIR WAY OF LIFE. '

PUBLIC COMMENT GOES FOR ANOTHER MONTH THEN THE CORPS WILL DELIVER A FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT ABOUT A YEAR FROM NOW.

EVERYONE THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

YOU CAN WATCH IT ANY TIME WHEREVER YOU ARE WITH OUR APP.

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

FOR EVERYONE AT LABZ PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M ANDRE MORROW.

I'M KARA.

THAT'S "THE STATE WE'RE IN."