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 IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE TERMINATION OF EMPLOYEES, THAT'S NOT GOING TO FIX THE SYSTEM.

THE CHALLENGE OF CHANGING THE CULTURE AROUND SEXUAL TRAUMA.

SHE HAS BECOME THE CLEAR FRONT-RUNNER.

JULIA LETLOW RUNNING FOR CONGRESS AFTER HER HUSBAND'S DEATH.

IT'S CRITICAL TO THE WHOLE ECONOMY.

AN INFUSION OF MONEY FOR LANDLORDS AND TENANTS.

I THINK WE'RE ALL UNDER THIS FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY THAT WE'RE NOT BEING SURVEILLED.

ACTIVISTS FIGHT AGAINST FACIAL RECOGNITION.

HELLO, EVERYONE, I'M KARA ST. CYR.

AND I'M ANDRE MOREAU.

MUCH MORE ON THOSE TOP HEADLINES IN A MOMENT ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "SWI," BUT FIRST, THE LATEST ON COVID AND VACCINATIONS.

AND THE NUMBERS SHOWING FEWER PEOPLE BECOMING INFECTED.

14 NEW DEATHS BEING REPORTED, 203 NEW CASES.

TOTAL DEATHS, THOUGH, APPROACHING 10,000 IN LOUISIANA.

ALMOST 1 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE STATE HAVE INITIATED THEIR VACCINATIONS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THEM CONTINUE TO OPEN UP.

THE ONLY MOVE THAT I CAN SEE AT THE MOMENT GOING FORWARD INTO THE FUTURE WILL BE TO SAY EVERYBODY IN LOUISIANA 16 AND OLDER WHO WANTS TO HAVE THE VACCINE AND HASN'T HAD IT YET, YOU ARE NOW ELIGIBLE.

WE ARE NOT MAKING THAT ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY.

AND I'M NOT SURE WHEN WE WILL GET THERE, BUT IT'S PRETTY CLEAR TO US THAT WILL BE THE NEXT EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY.

THE GOVERNOR ALSO SAID FOR TIGER STADIUM TO HAVE 100,000 PEOPLE IN IT THIS FALL, EVERYONE WHO CAN, MUST GET VACCINATED.

IT'S THE KEY TO MOVING BEYOND THE PANDEMIC.

NOW, A LOOK AT OTHER HEADLINES MAKING NEWS ACROSS THE STATE.

AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY INTO ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION FOR DR. GE GHALI.

HE'S CHANCELLOR OF LSU HEALTH SHREVEPORT MEDICAL SCHOOL.

LSU SPOKESPERSON ERNIE BALLARD SAYS CONCERNS EMERGED DURING AN EVALUATION OF CAMPUS LEADERS.

A NUMBER OF LSU BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONFIRMED THAT SEVERAL ALLEGATIONS WERE MADE AGAINST GHALI.

FORMER LSU PRESIDENT F. KING ALEXANDER, WHO IS CURRENTLY PRESIDENT AT OREGON STATE, HAS BEEN PLACED ON PROBATION BY THAT UNIVERSITY FOR HIS ROLE IN THE MISHANDLING OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT COMPLAINTS WHILE AT LSU.

ALEXANDER IS NOW THE FIFTH PERSON TO FACE ACCOUNTABILITY FOLLOWING AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF UNIVERSITY PRACTICES BY HUSCH BLACKWELL.

OSU SAYS ALEXANDER MUST COME UP WITH AN ACTION PLAN OUTLINING HOW HE WILL REBUILD TRUST.

MEMBERS OF THE STATE'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION INTRODUCED A BILL THIS WEEK TO RE-AUTHORIZE THE ATCHAFALAYA NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA FOR 15 YEARS.

YOU'VE SEEN SIGNS ALONG INTERSTATE 10 THAT MARK THE HERITAGE AREA ACT.

IT WAS FIRST SIGNED INTO LAW IN 2006.

SENATOR BILL CASSIDY SAYS THE AREA CELEBRATES CAJUN CULTURE AND HISTORY AND THE BILL PRESERVES THE CELEBRATION WHILE PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND CREATING JOBS.

15 YEARS WITH THE SAINTS, 20 YEARS IN THE NFL, OUR DAD IS FINALLY GOING TO RETIRE.

THE FOUR CHILDREN OF SAINTS' QUARTERBACK DREW BREES MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON INSTAGRAM.

THEIR DAD IS RETIRING FROM PRO FOOTBALL.

THE 42-YEAR-OLD SAINTS' LEGEND LEAVES AS THE NFL'S ALL-TIME PASSING LEADER AND SECOND IN TOUCHDOWNS THROWN.

HE WILL FOREVER BE REVERED FOR HELPING REVIVE THE SAINTS' FRANCHISE FOLLOWING HURRICANE KATRINA.

HE ARRIVED A YEAR LATER AND LED THE SAINTS TO THEIR ONLY SUPER BOWL THREE YEARS LATER.

IT'S UNCERTAIN IF BREES WILL REMAIN LIVING IN THE CRESCENT CITY, BUT IT SEEMS HIS ROOTS WILL REMAIN.

HE IS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM SELECTED AS FINALIST TO MAKE OVER THE DERELICT SIX FLAGS SITE IN NEW ORLEANS EAST.

IT'S PART OF THE CITY'S LATEST EFFORT TO BREATHE LIFE INTO THE 227-ACRE PARK.

THREE PLANS ARE ON THE TABLE.

THE BREES PLAN WOULD TRANSFORM THE OLD SITE INTO LEARNING CENTERS, INCLUDING FARMS THAT HELP KIDS LEARN ABOUT URBAN AGRICULTURE.

LSU HAS LOOSENED RESTRICTIONS ON PREGAME TAILGATING FOR SPRING SPORTS.

THE SCHOOL WILL ALLOW LIMITED GATHERINGS ON CAMPUS BEFORE GAMES.

TODAY, HEADING INTO TONIGHT'S SEC HEADLINER WITH MISSISSIPPI STATE, TAILGATERS GOT TO ENJOY THE TRADITION FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE CORONAVIRUS TOOK HOLD LAST MARCH.

THE INVESTIGATION INTO DR. GHALI AND PROBATION OF PRESIDENT ALEXANDER, THOSE THINGS PROBABLY DON'T HAPPEN WITHOUT WHAT WAS UNEARTHED IN THE HUSCH BLACKWELL REPORT.

TWO WEEKS HAVE PASSED SINCE IT REVEALED HOW LSU MISHANDLED AND TRIED TO COVER UP COMPLAINTS OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT.

THE GROUP THAT COUNSELS AND CONSOLES SEXUAL TRAUMA VICTIMS, S.T.A.R., SAYS IT HAS LONG WAITED FOR A HINT OF PROGRESS.

IN PART ONE OF A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT, I TALK WITH S.T.A.R.

CEO RACHEAL HEBERT AND STAFF ATTORNEY ARIZONA CLEAVES.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL DIALOGUES WITH UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

WE HAVE BEEN VERY CLOSE ALLIES WITH LSU.

ARE ALUMNI AT FF LSU.

WE ARE WORKING ON TRAINING STUDENTS AND FACULTY, FOR YEARS NOW, REALLY SINCE WE STARTED.

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME LSU HAS HEARD FROM S.T.A.R.

OR SURVIVORS ABOUT THE MANY CONCERNS WE HAVE, SPECIFICALLY REGARDING VARIOUS SITES.

WE SENT A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT AT THE TIME F KING ALEXANDER AND DISCUSSED THE SHARES ON TWITTER THAT CONCERNED US ABOUT SEXUAL ALLEGATIONS AGAINST TEAMMATES.

THAT LETTER FOUR YEARS LETTER AS THIS IS HAPPENING AND AFTER THE HUSCH BLACKWELL REPORT WAS RELEASED, THERE ARE SEVERAL INSTANCES OF BEING SILENCED, LSU NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT FILING TITLE IX REPORTS AND CALLING FOR TERMINATIONS, CHANGES IN DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS.

I THINK THE UNIVERSITY IS IN A SPOT WHERE THEY ARE HAVING TO BE REFLECTIVE ON WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING, WHERE THEY FAILED AND WHERE THEY NEED TO IMPROVE.

IF YOU JUST LOOK AT TERMINATION OF EMPLOYEES, IT IS NOT GOING TO FIX THE SYSTEM.

THAT IS ALWAYS BEEN OUR STANCE.

LSU HAS SO MUCH TO DO.

NOT JUST LSU, BUT UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE STATE THAT THEY REALLY HAVE TO GET REALLY PROACTIVE ABOUT BETTER INFORMING FACULTY AND STAFF TO REPORT TO TITLE IX, TRAUMA RESPONSES TO SURVIVORS.

WHAT THE PROCESSES ARE AND WHAT IS THE DISCIPLINARY ACTION THE UNIVERSITY IS GOING TO IMPLEMENT IF THEY DON'T FOLLOW THOSE PROCEDURES.

HAVE THOSE THINGS BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE PAST, NEVER REALLY TOOK PLACE, NEVER HAPPENED TO THE POINT WHERE CHANGE WAS AFFECTED?

I THINK FOR US, TOM GALLIGAN IS THE FIRST PRESIDENT WHO HAS EVER CALLED ME.

WE HAVE SENT LETTERS TO PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS AND PEOPLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SOMEONE IS LISTENING AND TAKING ACTION.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN IN TERMS OF CLIENTS AND PEOPLE SPEAKING UP FOR THE FIRST TIME FEELING COMFORTABLE ENOUGH AND HEARD?

I SEE IT IS SO DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE ONE THING PEOPLE DON'T GET THEY WANT IS TO BE BELIEVED.

NEXT MONTH IS SEXUAL ASSAULT MONTH AND WE START BY BELIEVING.

WE HAVE A WHOLE CAMPAIGN FOR THAT AND IT IS GREAT AND IT TRENDS REALLY WELL, BUT WHEN YOU SIT ACROSS FROM SOMEONE AND ADMINISTRATION DOESN'T BELIEVE THEM, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE CULTURE, OTHER STUDENTS DON'T BELIEVE THEM.

YOU SEE THE CULTURE AND YOU SEE THE LOUISIANA CULTURE AS WELL.

OTHER PEOPLE ARE ON THE INTERNET SAYING THE MOST VILE THINGS TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY DO COME FORWARD.

IT MAKES IT VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.

I THINK LOUISIANA IS DIFFERENT AND NOT JUST FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT, BUT PRIMARILY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

WHEN I THINK OF ALL THE THINGS REPORTED FOR LSU AND JUST IN GENERAL FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN LOUISIANA, SOME YEARS WE LEAD, IF WE DON'T LEAD, WE ARE IN THE TOP 10 OR TOP FIVE.

THAT IS SOMETHING IN CONJUNCTION WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND DEFINITELY NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT.

BY THE WAY, THE GOVERNOR OF OREGON IS TODAY CALLING FOR F KING ALEXANDER TO BE FIRED.

AND OUR CONVERSATION WITH S.T.A.R.

CONTINUES NEXT WEEK ON "SWI."

WE TALK FUNDING, THE ROLE THE LEGISLATURE COULD PLAY AND MORE.

THAT'S RIGHT HERE NEXT FRIDAY AT 7:00, MARCH 26th.

VOTERS WILL ELECT U.S.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM A DEMOCRATIC STRONGHOLD AND A REPUBLICAN STRONGHOLD IN SATURDAY'S SPECIAL ELECTION.

"USA TODAY" NETWORK POLITICAL EXPERT GREG HILBURN IS HERE WITH HOW THINGS COULD UNFOLD.

AS YOU KNOW, THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT IS SHINING ON THE FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN LOUISIANA.

IN SOME WAYS IT IS UNFORTUNATE.

LUKE LETLOW WON THAT SEAT BACK IN THE FALL AND DIED TRAGICALLY FROM COVID COMPLICATIONS BEFORE HE COULD BE SEATED.

WELL, THEN HIS WIFE JULIA PICKED UP THE TORCH.

SHE DECIDED SHE WAS GOING TO RUN.

SHE HAS BECOME THE CLEAR FRONT-RUNNER.

MANY THINK THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHETHER SHE WINS IT IN THE PRIMARY OR IS FORCED INTO A RUNOFF WITH CANDY CHRISTOFF, THE DEMOCRAT WHO WILL CERTAINLY COME IN SECOND PLACE.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE RACE?

IT IS A FULL FIELD?

MOST OF THE CONSTITUENT I CLEARED THE WAY FOR JULIA.

MOST OF US BELIEVE JULIA IS THE CLEAR FAVORITE.

SHE WAS THE SEMIFINALISTS FOR THE PRESIDENT'S JOB LAST YEAR.

SHE IS SMART, SHE IS SEASONED, SHE IS USED TO SPEAKING BEFORE THE PUBLIC AND THAT SHOWS.

AND SHE IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THE RACE WITH ENOUGH MONEY TO BE ON TV WHICH MAKES A BIG, HUGE DIFFERENCE.

I DON'T THINK THERE HAS BEEN ANY MUD SLIPGING IN THAT RACE.

THAT WOULD BE A POOR CHOICE IN THIS ONE.

THAT IS NOT THE CASE IN THE OTHER BIG RACE.

NO.

THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL RACE IS A LOUISIANA NASTY, RIGHT.

TWO WELL KNOWN POLITICAL STALL WARS AND TWO STATE SENATORS KAREN CARTER PETERSON AND TROY CARTER.

WELL KNOWN COMMUNITY ACTIST, GARY CHAMBERS JR. WHO HAS A BIG SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING.

AND THE REPUBLICAN, THERE IS A HEAVILY DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT, IT HAS BEEN TRADITIONALLY.

THE LOUISIANA REPUBLICAN PARTY IS SUPPORTING BERNARD, WHO WAS A FORMER WORLD CLASS ATHLETE AND NOW A BUSINESS MAN.

ESPECIALLY AT THE TOP, THEY ARE CALLING EACH OTHER NAMES, THEY ARE CALLING EACH OTHER LIARS.

THIS ONE WILL HEAD TO A RUNOFF.

MOST ANALYSTS BELIEVE THE MOST LIKELY SCENARIO IS SENATOR CARTER AND SENATOR PETERSON EMERGE, BUT THEY CAN'T RULE OUT A DARK HORSE IN THAT RACE.

THERE'S BIG SHOES TO FILL BECAUSE REMEMBER, THE REASON THAT SEAT IS OPEN, FORMER CONGRESSMAN CEDRIC RICHMOND GAVE UP HIS SEAT TO JOIN PRESIDENT BIDEN AS AN ADVISER ON HIS TEAM.

THAT IS WHY THAT SEAT IS OPEN.

AFTER THAT IS OPEN WE GO INTO A SESSION.

THIS IS GOING TO FEEL LIKE ONE OF THE WEIRDER SESSIONS EVER MAYBE COMING OUT OF COVID.

IT WILL.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE JUST LEARNED THROUGH THE COVID RELIEF BILL THAT THE STATE IS GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO SPEND.

THE STATE HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR $5 BILLION OUT OF THIS.

$2 BILLION GOES TO THE CITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

NEW ORLEANS WILL GET THE BIGGEST CHUNK, ABOUT $375 MILLION, BUT THE STATE GOVERNMENT WILL GET ABOUT $3 BILLION TO SPEND.

WELL, ANDRE, AS YOU KNOW, THERE IS JUST AS MUCH FIGHTING GOING ON WHEN THERE IS MONEY AS WHEN THERE ISN'T.

GREG, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

SHOULD THERE BE A RUNOFF, THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE APRIL 24th.

IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING TO PAY RENT BECAUSE OF COVID, THE STATE IS LAUNCHING AN EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, COURTESY OF THE U.S. TREASURY.

I SPOKE WITH PAT FORBES, HE HEADS UP THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WITH WHAT THOSE MANY AFFECTED NEED TO DO.

IT'S CRITICAL TO THE TOTAL ECONOMY, THE FIRST STEP OF THAT IS PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM BECOMING HOMELESS, BUT IT HAS TRICKLED DOWN EFFECTS THROUGHOUT THE ECONOMY AND THE CULTURE.

SO IT IS A CRITICAL THINGS.

WE HAVE THIS ASSISTANCE.

WE ARE SUPER THANKFUL FOR IT AND HAPPY THAT THERE IS ANOTHER TRANCHE OF FUNDS COMING WITH THE MOST RECENT RECOVERY ACT BILL.

WE DO HAVE SOME RESOURCES NOW.

AND THAT'S THE KEY THING.

WE ARE EXCITED NOW TO HAVE THOSE AND BE ABLE TO GET OUT THERE AND START HELPING FOLKS.

WHAT THIS CAN DO, IT CAN HELP KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR APARTMENTS AND THEIR RENTALS AND KEEP THE LANDLORDS AFLOAT.

THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

WE CAN PAY UP TO 12 MONTHS OF RENTAL ARREARS.

WE CAN PLAY IN THREE MONTH INCREMENTS FORWARD RENT.

THE CHECKS WILL GO TO THE LANDLORDS.

THE LANDLORDS ARE REQUIRED TO AGREE NOT TO EVICT THE TENANTS FOR AT LEAST TWO MONTHS AFTER THE PAYMENT PERIOD THAT WE COVER.

BECAUSE WE KNOW LANDLORDS ARE STRUGGLING WITH UNPAID RENTS, TENANTS ARE IN A TENUOUS HOUSING SITUATION.

WE WANT TO STAVE OFF EVICTIONS AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

HOPEFULLY WE GET THIS ECONOMY GOING AND PEOPLE GET BACK IN JOBS AND PAY THEIR RENT AND PICK IT UP.

WE HAVE TO KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED UNTIL THEN.

IS THIS STATEWIDE?

IS IT ACROSS THE BOARD OR ARE THERE CERTAIN AREAS WHERE IT IS MORE PREVALENT?

IT IS STATEWIDE.

THERE ARE CHALLENGES ALL OVER THE STATE, RURAL, URBAN, THERE IS A DISTINCTION HERE IN THAT TREASURY, WHEN THEY ALLOCATED THE FUNDS, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT IS PARISH OR CITY OVER 200,000 IN POPULATION WAS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THEIR OWN FUND AND ALL SEVEN ELIGIBLE ENTITIES DID THAT AND WERE APPROVED.

SO CATO, CALCI SIXTH I, EAST LAFAYETTE, TAMANI, ORLEANS, EACH ARE RUNNING THEIR OWN PROGRAM.

STATE IS SENDING THEM FUNDS, TOO.

THE STATE IS RUNNING A STATEWIDE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR THE OTHER 57 PARISHES.

WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED TO DO RIGHT NOW THAT ARE LISTENING TO THIS?

GO TO OUR WEBSITE.

IF THEY NEED ASSISTANCE, WHETHER THEY ARE A LANDLORD OR A TENANT, GO TO OUR WEBSITE.

THERE IS THE INTAKE FORM ON THERE.

FILL THAT INTAKE FORM OUT.

IF YOU ARE THE TENANT, IT GIVES YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVITE YOUR LANDLORD TO JOIN BECAUSE THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS REQUIRE THAT WE HAVE BOTH THOSE FOLKS SIGNED ON TO THIS PROCESS.

WE'VE GOT TO GO VET EACH ONE, WHICH IS AN ADDITIONAL COMPLICATION, BUT WE ARE SET UP TO DO IT.

GO TO THE WEBSITE.

SIGN UP.

FILL IN THE INFORMATION.

PROVIDE ALL THE INFORMATION YOU CAN.

GETS YOU IN THE SYSTEM.

GETS YOU A UNIQUE IDENTIFIER SO WE CAN START WORKING WITH YOU AND GET YOU SOME ASSISTANCE.

TO APPLY, GO TO LASTATERENT.COM.

YOU CAN ALSO CALL THIS NUMBER, 877-495-6555.

RENTERS AND LANDLORDS CAN APPLY.

IN THE DOCUMENTARY, "CODED BIAS," THE FILMMAKERS TRY TO EXPLAIN THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH FACIAL RECOGNITION TECH.

THEY ASK HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER AGENCIES MIGHT INCORPORATE BIASES AGAINST RACE, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY INTO TECHNOLOGY.

IN LOUISIANA, ACTIVIST GROUPS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVE ALREADY BEGUN THAT DISCUSSION.

TONIGHT YOU'LL HEAR FROM PROFESSIONALS WHO WORRY THIS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MAY DEVELOP INTO SOMETHING DISCRIMINATORY.

IN THE FILM, "CODED BIAS," THERE'S A SCENE IN LONDON WHERE POLICE ARE USING FACIAL RECOGNITION SOFTWARE TO SAVE A PERSON'S FACE INTO A DATABASE.

IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR PEOPLE PASSING BY TO CATCH ON.

AND SOME OF THEM DIDN'T LIKE IT.

WE'RE AT A MOMENT WHERE TECHNOLOGY IS HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO BIAS AND THERE ARE NO SAFEGUARDS.

THE FILM ANALYZES HOW HUMAN BIASES AGAINST RACE, GENDER, AND EVEN SEXUALITY CAN FIND ITS WAY INTO TECHNOLOGY.

THESE ISSUES AREN'T DISTANT ONES.

LOUISIANA HAS ITS OWN DIFFICULTIES WITH FACIAL RECOGNITION TECH AND HOW TO USE IT PROPERLY.

WE ARE ABSOLUTELY BEING SURVEILLED IN THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS AND PERHAPS IN OTHER CITIES WHERE THEY'VE ADOPTED MASS SURVEILLANCE.

WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED A REALTIME CRIME CENTER IN NEW ORLEANS AND IT WAS A $10 MILLION AND UPWARDS OR $10 MILLION PROJECT THAT THE COMMUNITY HAD VERY LITTLE INPUT IN.

WHERE THERE ARE OVER 400 CAMERAS LOCATED AROUND THE CITY AND IN ADDITION TO THOSE CITY CAMERAS, THERE ARE A NETWORK OF PRIVATE CAMERAS THAT ALSO INDIVIDUALS CAN PUT UP ON THEIR HOMES AND BUSINESSES THAT FEED INTO THE REALTIME CRIME CENTER.

ALANAH ODOMS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR LOUISIANA'S ACLU, SAYS THAT FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY IS COMING INTO OUR STATE QUIETLY.

IN NEW ORLEANS, THERE ARE CAMERAS ALREADY UP GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT AREAS WITH HIGH CRIME, BUT TO ODOMS, THE ISSUE ISN'T JUST THAT THE CAMERAS ARE THERE.

IT'S MORE ABOUT HOW LITTLE THE COMMUNITY KNOWS ABOUT THEM AND WHAT THEY COULD LEAD TO.

ALL OF THOSE CAMERAS ARE MOUNTED IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THAT YOU MIGHT IMAGINE MORE CAMERAS ARE PLACED IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND COMMUNITIES THAT ARE DEEMED TO BE HIGH CRIME AREAS.

AND SO WE MADE A REQUEST PURSUANT TO A PUBLIC DEFENDER WHO WANTED TO OBTAIN THE LOCATION OF ALL THE CITY CAMERAS.

ESSENTIALLY SHE WANTS THEM MAPPED BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT MAP TO BE ABLE TO AS FAR AS REPRESENTING ONE OF HER CLIENTS.

SHE WAS DENIED BY THE CITY.

SHE WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH THESE CAMERAS ARE PAID FOR BY TAXPAYER DOLLARS, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE SURVEILLING YOU AND ME AND THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY EVERY DAY, WE CAN'T TELL YOU WHERE THEY ARE.

SO WE SUED.

EVENTUALLY AFTER SUING, THE LOCATION OF THE CAMERAS WAS REVEALED.

THERE'S A MAP OF WHERE EACH ONE IS LOCATED.

TO ODOMS, IT GIVES THE COMMUNITY A FIGHTING CHANCE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES IF THESE CAMERAS ARE EVER USED AGAINST THEM IN ANY WAY.

I THINK WE'RE ALL UNDER THIS FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY THAT WE'RE NOT BEING SURVEILLED.

I MEAN, THE MOVIE TELLS US THAT EVEN WITH THE INCREDIBLE FACE OF SURVEILLANCE, THAT THEY HAVE IN COMMUNIST CHINA AND IN THE UK, THE UNITED STATES IS THE MOST SURVEILLED NATION IN THE WORLD AND WE THE CITIZENS ARE SURVEILLED AND THERE'S LESS REGULATION.

IN 2019, THE ACLU OF LOUISIANA SUED THE LOUISIANA STATE POLICE AFTER A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST ABOUT FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY WAS DENIED.

IN A PRESS RELEASE, ACLU WROTE THAT THEIR ATTORNEYS WERE TOLD THE POLICE WERE USING THAT TECHNOLOGY TO IDENTIFY SUSPECTS.

WHEN THEY ASKED THE STATE POLICE FOR RECORDS, THE POLICE DENIED HAVING ACCESS TO THEM.

THEY ALSO SAID THOSE RECORDS WERE EXEMPT FROM LOUISIANA PUBLIC RECORD LAWS.

ODOMS SAYS THERE'S A DANGER IN THIS.

IF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS TECHNOLOGY EXISTS OR HOW IT'S USED, IT MIGHT BE ANOTHER FORM OF BIAS AMERICANS WILL HAVE TO NAVIGATE.

MIT CONDUCTED A STUDY OF FACIAL RECOGNITION ACCURACY.

THE STUDY REVEALED THAT DARKER-SKINNED PEOPLE AND WOMEN WERE MORE LIKELY TO BE MISIDENTIFIED THAN WHITE MALES.

IN CODED BIAS, THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE BECAUSE WHEN FACIAL RECOGNITION IS USED IN OTHER WAYS, BESIDES CRIME FIGHTING, IT OPENS THE DOOR FOR DISCRIMINATION IN OTHER ASPECTS OF LIFE.

I KNEW THE IMPACT, SOME OF THE IMPACTS ON THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.

WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW IS THOSE IMPACTS AFFECT OUR CREDIT, OUR RIGHT TO OBTAIN A MORTGAGE, AFFECT THE TYPE OF MEDICAL CARE WE MIGHT RECEIVE.

IMPACT ALL KINDS OF THINGS YOU PATENTLY BELIEVE AS A CITIZEN AND SOMEONE WHO PAYS TAXES AND PARTICIPATES AND FOLLOWS THE LAW, YOU PERCEIVE YOU GET A FAIR SHAKE.

KNOWING WE MAY NOT BE GETTING THAT FAIR SHAKE AND NOTHING TO INTERROGATE THAT PROCESS MAKES ME VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AS A LAWYER AND A PERSON CONCERNED ABOUT OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

SOLVING THESE ISSUES IS SOMETHING LEGAL MINUTES WILL ARGUE ABOUT IN THE FUTURE.

THE FILM PRESENTS THREE INTERESTING OPTIONS FOR US TO CONSIDER.

CATHERINE O'NEAL CALLS FOR AN FDA OF ALGORITHMS SO SOME KIND OF AGENCY THAT WILL HOLD COMPANIES AND THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT HAPPENS.

POTENTIAL TO DISASTERLY IMPACT PEOPLE'S LIVES, FINANCES.

AND THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS HOW CAN YOU FIND WHAT COUNTS AS AN ALGORITHM AND WHAT ALGORITHMS SHOULD BE LABELED AS POTENTIALLY HARMFUL.

SENSING SOMETHING A LOT MORE DANGEROUS THAN SHOPPING ONLINE ALGORITHMS, BUT JUST LIKE WITH MICROAGGRESSIONS, THEY ADD UP AND PROPAGATE INEQUALITY.

THE CHALLENGE WITH THIS OPTION IS HOW DO YOU PROPERLY IDENTIFY AND CLASSIFY ALGORITHMS TO REGULATE?

THE SECOND OPTION WOULD LOOK AT THE GDPR THAT IS ADOPTED BY THE YOUR IAIAN UNION.

-- THE EUROPEAN UNION.

HERE ALGORITHMS ARE REGULATED BY PRIVACY, TRANSPARENCY AND STANDARDS.

THERE ARE RULES FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO KEEP PEOPLE'S PERSONAL DATA AND PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT DATA ARE BEING COLLECTED AND FOR WHAT PURPOSE.

A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A SECURITY MEASURE WOULD BE REQUIRING SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO HAVE DEFAULT SETTINGS THAT OFFER THE MAXIMUM LEVEL OF PRIVACY FOR USERS.

IF PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS ARE BETTER AT PROTECTING PRIVACY, LESS INFORMATION WILL BE SWEPT UP BY ALGORITHM.

YOU ARE BASICALLY LIMITING AI BY LIMITING WHAT ALGORITHMS CAN DO.

THE LAST OPTION DISCUSSED IN THE FILM IS THIS IDEA OF MOVEMENT.

HERE THE FOCUS IS ON RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE SOCIAL IMPLICATION OF ALGORITHMIC BIAS THAT ADVOCATE FOR LEGISLATION AND GUIDELINES THAT WILL PROTECT EVERYONE, NOT JUST THOSE IN POWER.

ALL ADVOCATES SAY THERE IS QUITE A BIT MORE WORK TO BE DONE AROUND AI, HOW TO DEFINE IT AND HOW TO REGULATE IT.

"CODED BIAS" WAS THE FIRST OF THREE LPB VIRTUAL PREVIEW SCREENINGS OF INDEPENDENT LENS FILMS.

EACH SCREENING COVERS CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL LIBERTIES.

THE NEXT FREE PREVIEW SCREENING AND PANEL DISCUSSION WILL BE MONDAY, APRIL 12, AT 6:00 P.M. FOR THE FILM PHILLY DA.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN WATCH LPB ON DEMAND ON YOUR PHONE OR TABLET WITH OUR LPB ANYWHERE APP.

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.

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.