PRACTICES THAT PRESERVE LOUISIANA.

THE GOAL OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL 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 IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE ENCOURAGING.

HEALTH LEADERS DELIVER THE ACTUAL STATS ON STATE VACCINATIONS.

I THINK THAT THIS IS A TRAIL BLAZING OPPORTUNITY.

A WIFE CARRYING ON HER HUSBAND'S LEGACY.

WE SEE A CONSISTENT DECLINE.

MAKING CHANGES TO MAKE SURE KIDS LEARN TO READ.

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 CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS ACROSS THE STATE.

THE NUMBERS HAVE BEGUN TO PLATEAU, BUT THEY AREN'T DROPPING AS MUCH AS OFFICIALS WOULD LIKE.

AS OF THIS AFTERNOON, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS REPORTING ALMOST 2,400 NEW CASES AND 58 NEW DEATHS.

THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES UP TO NEARLY 400,000.

EVEN AS OUR NUMBERS HAVE STARTED TO SLOWLY IMPROVE, IN THESE OTHER CATEGORIES THE NUMBER OF DEATHS REALLY HAVE NOT.

IT IS A STAGGERING NUMBER OF DEATHS THAT HAVE ACCUMULATED OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND THE NUMBERS WE ARE NOW SEEING ON A DAILY BASIS LITERALLY DO TAKE MY BREATH AWAY.

NOW, A CHECK ON OTHER HEADLINES MAKING NEWS ACROSS THE STATE.

THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS WILL SPEND ANOTHER $46 MILLION IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR TO FINISH THE DEEPENING OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BY DREDGING TO 50 FEET FROM BATON ROUGE TO THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER.

NEXT GENERATION NEW PANAMAX SHIPS CAN TRAVEL AS FAR NORTH AS THE STATE CAPITAL.

THE PROJECT TOTAL OF $240 MILLION IS EXPECTED TO BRING IN AN AVERAGE OF $128 MILLION MORE DOLLARS A YEAR TO THE NATIONAL ECONOMY.

ANOTHER BLOW TO NEW ORLEANS TOURISM FROM CARNIVAL USE LINES.

VALOR, ONE OF ITS TWO SHIPS THAT HOMEPORT IN THE CRESCENT CITY WILL DELAY SAILING UNTIL AT LEAST THE END OF OCTOBER.

CARNIVAL SAYS THE DELAYS REFLECT THE LATEST EXPECTATIONS WITH THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND VACCINATIONS.

LOUISIANA IS AGAIN LOOKING INTO REPLACING DECADES-OLD VOTING MACHINES.

SECRETARY OF STATE KYLE ARDOIN IS SOLICITING NEW BIDDERS AND EXPECTS GREAT INTEREST AND SCRUTINY IN HIS SEARCH FOR A NEW CONTRACTOR.

MUCH OF IT BECAUSE OF THE NATIONAL DEBATE OVER THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND BASELESS ALLEGATIONS OF WIDESPREAD VOTER FRAUD BY FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND HIS SUPPORTERS.

GOVERNOR EDWARDS IS ASKING PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN FOR $3 BILLION TO HELP THE STATE IN ITS ONGOING RECOVERY FROM THE 2020 HURRICANES.

THE GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT THE ASSISTANCE DURING A STOP IN HARD-HIT LAKE CHARLES TO DISCUSS RECOVERY WORK FROM HURRICANES LAURA AND DELTA.

MEANTIME, INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE PAID OUT $5 BILLION TO THOUSANDS OF STATE CUSTOMERS WITH HURRICANE DAMAGE FROM LAST YEAR.

THE DATA FROM INSURANCE COMMISSIONER JIM DONELON IS THE FIRST DETAILED LOOK AT CLAIMS.

POLICYHOLDERS HAVE FILED NEARLY 291,000 CLAIMS FOR DAMAGE.

THE LOUISIANA CAPITOL BUILDING COST $5 MILLION TO COMPLETE NEARLY 90 YEARS AGO, BUT NEEDS ABOUT $75 MILLION NOW FOR REPAIRS TO KEEP THE HISTORIC HIGHRISE SAFELY IN USE FOR YEARS TO COME.

THE BIGGEST REPAIR COST INVOLVES MORTAR WORK AND MAINTENANCE ON SOME OF THE UPPER TOWER FLOORS.

LAWMAKERS STILL NEED TO SIGN OFF ON THE MONEY NEEDED FOR THOSE REPAIRS.

A CUBICAL STAT LIGHT SMALL ENOUGH TO FIT IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND IS ZIPPING AROUND THE WORLD AND SENDING DATA ABOUT RADIATION TO THE LOUISIANA STUDENTS WHO BUILT IT.

THE CAPE-3 CARRIES A CHIP DESIGNED AND BUILT BY STUDENTS AT UL-LAFAYETTE.

A FOCUS OF THE MINISAT IS TO DETECT RADIATION AND KEEP ASTRONAUTS SAFE.

STATE ATHLETIC LEADERS ARE SHUTTING DOWN HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING UNTIL THE STATE MEET AT THE END OF FEBRUARY.

THEY MADE THE MOVE AFTER A REPORTED COVID OUTBREAK CONNECTED TO THE LOUISIANA CLASSIC MEET TWO WEEKS AGO IN GONZALES.

PAUSING THE SPORT MEANS NO TRADITIONAL TOURNAMENTS THAT NORMALLY LEAD UP TO STATE.

SIX WEEKS AFTER A ROOF COLLAPSE KILLED TWO WORKERS AT THE CARGILL SALT MINE ON AVERY ISLAND, CARGILL HAS SHUT DOWN THE MINE AND WILL NOT RESUME OPERATIONS.

THEY HAD PLANNED TO STOP PRODUCTION BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION OF THE INCIDENT CONTINUES INSPECTORS HAVE UNCOVERED AT LEAST FOUR SERIOUS SAFETY VIOLATIONS.

THE COMPANY WILL NOW WORK TO SAFELY SHUTTER THE MINE.

IT IS UNCERTAIN WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THE 200 EMPLOYEES, BUT CARGILL SAYS IT WILL TAKE ABOUT THREE YEARS TO DECOMMISSION THE MINE.

CARGILL HAS PRODUCED SALT FOR 24 YEARS ON THE ISLAND AND THE MINE HAS BEEN IN OPERATION THERE SINCE THE MID 1800s.

IT WAS THE FIRST ROCK SALT MINE IN NORTH AMERICA.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S TEMPORARY HALT TO DRILLING ON FEDERAL LANDS LEAVES THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE U.S. CRUDE PRODUCTION UNTOUCHED.

BUT LOUISIANA INDUSTRY ADVOCATES SAY THAT IS NOT THE CASE FOR THE GULF OF MEXICO.

DRILLING IN THE GULF HAS BEEN RAVAGED BY LOW PRICES AND LOW DEMAND DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC.

I SPOKE WITH DAVID DISMUKES OF THE LSU CENTER FOR ENERGY STUDIES.

HE SAYS IN THE SHORT-TERM TERM, THE RAMIFICATIONS MAY BE LIMITED, BUT THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR THE STATE'S RECOVERY OUT OF THE PANDEMIC DOWNTURN AND FOR FUTURE GROWTH AND JOBS ARE CONSIDERABLE.

ON NEXT WEEK'S EDITION OF "SWI," WE 'EM TALK WITH DISMUKES AND OTHER INDUSTRY ANALYSTS.

THAT'S NEXT FRIDAY AT 7:00 HERE ON LPB.

LOUISIANA'S RANKING OF VACCINE ADMINISTERED HAS MOVED FROM 13th TO 16th THIS WEEK.

THE STATS TELL US THAT'S ABOUT 60% OF SHOTS IN ARMS.

I ASKED DR. JOSEPH KANTER WHY SO LOW AND HE SAYS ONE REASON IS THAT IT ACCOUNTS FOR THE SECOND SHOT, NOT YET TAKEN.

WE DISCUSSED THE VARIANT STRAINS EMERGING, VACCINATIONS AND TIMETABLES.

IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE FIRST DOSES AND TAKE OUT THE LONG-TERM CARE PARTNERSHIP, WE ARE ACTUALLY AROUND 90% USING WHAT IS AVAILABLE.

THAT FEELS MORE REALISTIC.

THAT ALSO ACCOUNTS FOR DOSAGES THAT GET SHIPPED LIKE THAT DAY AND MIGHT ARRIVE AT A PHARMACY OR CLINIC THAT MORNING.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO USE THEM ALL THAT EVENING.

IT IS A COUPLE OF DAY LAG TO GET THESE ENTERED INTO THE SYSTEM.

IT IS A LITTLE MORE ENCOURAGESING.

IS -- TREATMENT GETTING CLOSER TO APPROVAL OR WHERE DOES THAT STAND?

CLOSER.

BABY STEPS.

THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE CANDIDATE.

IT'S STILL COMPLETING TRIALS RIGHT NOW.

WE DON'T HAVE DATA YET.

WE EXPECT THEY ARE GOING TO APPLY FOR AUTHORIZATION FROM THE FDA WITHIN THE COMING WEEKS.

AND THEN AS LONG AS THE TRIAL DATA LOOKS GOOD, YOU CAN EXPECT THEM TO GO OPERATIONAL.

IT IS EXCITING DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE IT IS A SINGLE DOSE VACCINE.

ONE DOSE UNDERARE DONE IS THE EFFICACY THE SAME ABOUT?

I DON'T KNOW YET.

THE COMPANY HAS SAID IT IS, BUT UNTIL WE SEE THE DATA FROM THE TRIAL, WE'RE GOING TO BE OUR OWN JUDGMENT OF THIS.

WE DON'T KNOW.

WE HAVEN'T SEE THE TRIAL.

NORMALLY THE WAY THE FDA HAS BEEN DOING THIS.

THE FDA WILL PUBLISH PUBLICLY ALL THE DOCUMENTS THAT THEY LOOK AT TO RENDER A DECISION ON AUTHORIZATIONS.

ESPECIALLY THEY HAVE DONE IT FOR THESE TWO VACCINES BECAUSE IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO MAKE THE PUBLIC FEEL THAT EVERYTHING IS TRANSPARENT.

I AGREE WITH THAT.

THEY BENT THEIR RULES AND MADE ALL THIS INFORMATION PUBLIC, WHICH THEY DON'T ALWAYS DO.

THE OTHER THING THAT OTHER PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS ARE DOWN, THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE VARIANTS, THE UK VARIANT AND SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS A GOOD MATCH.

THE OTHER VARIANTS DOWN THE ROAD THAT ARE NOT A MATCH, PARTICULARLY WITH THE MRNA VACCINES, THEY COULD ADJUST THE VACCINES QUICKLY.

THAT WOULD WORK FOR A BOOSTER SHOT, KIND OF HOW FLU WORKS EVERY YEAR.

IT IS NOT A NEW PROCEDURE FOR MEDICINE.

IT IS MIRACULOUS WE ARE BARELY 12 MONTHS IN OF KNOWING THIS VIRGS AND NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE A VACCINE IDENTIFIED IN THE LAB SOMEWHERE, WE ARE GIVING IT TO A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

THAT IS MIRACULOUS.

IT DIDN'T COME OUT OF THIN AIR.

A COUPLE OF KEY THINGS ENABLED THIS, NUMBER ONE, AFTER THE SARS EPIDEMIC, WHICH WAS A CORONAVIRUS.

THAT LED DIRECTLY TO THE VACCINES WE HAVE FLOW.

THEY HAD THAT PLATFORM IN PLACE BECAUSE OF WISE INVESTMENTS MADE BACK THEN.

THE OTHER THINGS THE FEDS DID GOOD AND HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE, THIS WAS A GOOD CALL.

THEY PLACED A BET ON THESE VACCINES.

THEY PAID THE COMPANIES TO PRODUCE THEM AT SCALE WHILE THE TRIALS WERE ONGOING.

IF THE TRIALS ENDED UP TO SHOW THEY WERE BAD OR NOT EFFICACIOUS, THEY WOULD LOSE THE INVESTMENT.

BECAUSE IT TURNED OUT TO BE GOOD, THEY HAD A HEAD START ON PRODUCTION.

THAT PAID OFF BIG TIME.

AS YOU SAID TODAY, ARE YOU FEELING MORE CONFIDENT, MORE COMFORTABLE WITH WHERE THINGS ARE WITH WHERE THE VIRUS IS AS THE SPREAD BEGAN TO PLATEAU A BIT?

I HAVE MIXED EMOTIONS ABOUT IT.

I'M VERY ENCOURAGED BY THE VACCINE.

WHILE IT IS SLOW, I'M ENCOURAGES LOUISIANA IS DOING THE RIGHT THING AND WHIL MAKE THE BEST OF SUPPLY.

WE HAVE PEAKED AND STARTED TO COME DOWN FROM OUR CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S SPIKE.

BUT I DO THAT THE B117 VARIANT, THE UK VARIANT IS TAKING HOLD IN LOUISIANA.

WE HAVE FORMALLY IDENTIFIED ONE.

IF YOU HAVE ONE, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER ONES YOU HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED YET.

THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO SPREAD.

THAT COULD BECOME THE DOMINANT STRAIN IN THE U.S. BY MARCH.

WE KNOW IT IS MORE TRANSMISSABLE.

IT MIGHT BE MORE VIRULENT.

THAT IS A NEW DEVELOPMENT.

THE DATA FROM THE UK SHOWS IT MIGHT BE.

THANKFULLY, THE PFIZER AND MODERNA VACCINES ARE GOOD MATCHES.

I THINK WE HAVE A SPIKE AHEAD OF US AS THAT VARIANT CONTINUES TO SPREAD IN LOUISIANA.

I GUESS PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD IT, WOULD THEY BE LESS NEEDING TO GET THE VACCINE QUICKER THAN OTHERS?

NO.

WHAT THE CDC SAYS IF YOU ZSH IF YOU ARE IN ACUTE PHASE, YOU HAVE IT RIGHT NOW, DON'T GET THE VACCINE.

WAIT UNTIL THAT IMMEDIATE PERIOD.

BEYOND THAT, PEOPLE WHO HAD IT A FEW WEEKS AGO AND RECOVERED.

THE CDC SAYS YOU CERTAINLY CAN DO IT.

IT IS SAFE AND EFFICACIOUS TO DO SO, BUT YOU HAVE SOME INNATE PROTECTION THAT LASTS AT LEAST 90 DAYS.

IF YOU WANT TO DELAY 90 DAYS BECAUSE YOU ARE PROBABLY LESS AT RISK THAN SOMEBODY ELSE, YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO DO SO, ALTHOUGH NOT REQUIRED TO DO SO.

THE WIFE OF LATE CONGRESSMAN-ELECT LUKE LETLOW FILED HER PAPERWORK QUALIFYING FOR THE 5th DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

JULIA LETLOW SAYS RUNNING IN HER HUSBAND'S PLACE IS THE BEST WAY TO CARRY ON HIS LEGACY.

SHE SAYS EVERYTHING SHE'S EVER DONE HAS LED UP TO THIS MOMENT.

JULIA LETLOW NEVER IMAGINED SHE'S BE HERE, RUNNING IN A RACE SHE AND HER HUSBAND HAD PLANNED OUT FOR YEARS.

IN HER OPINION, LUKE LETLOW WAS BORN TO BE A LEADER.

THE 5th CONGRESSIONAL SEAT HAD HIS NAME WRITTEN ON IT.

LUKE WAS A TRUE SERVANT AT HEART.

HE CARED ABOUT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE.

HE ACTUALLY SPENT 20 YEARS OF HIS LIFE CULTIVATING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE ALL OVER THE STATE AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, QUITE FRANKLY.

THAT WAS HIS GIFT.

IT DIDN'T MATTER IF YOU WERE THE CEO OR CUSTODIAN, HE WAS GOING TO FIND A COMMONALITY WITH YOU.

HE MAY FIND OUT HOW YOU WERE RELATED BECAUSE HE WAS INTO GENEALOGY.

HE WAS RALPH ABRAHAM'S CHIEF OF STAFF.

HE IS GREAT DAD.

HE IS CONCERNED ABOUT OIR KIDS.

HIS WIFE WAS THERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, ABSORBING EVERYTHING AROUND HER.

LUKE LETLOW FOR CONGRESS.

WE VISITED ALL 24 PARISHES TOGETHER.

WE TOOK OUR KIDS.

WE HAD AN AMAZING TIME LISTENING TO PEOPLE ALL OVER THE DISTRICT AS HE WOULD SAY, FROM BASSERETT TO BOGALUSA TO BUPGY AND ALL POINTS IN BETWEEN.

TO HEAR THEIR CONCERNS FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

IT WAS SUCH AN HONOR TO BE ALONG FOR THE RIDE AND HELP IN A SMALL WAY.

WOW.

WHAT AN EXPERIENCE.

I KNOW THE KIDS AND I WILL TAKE THOSE MEMORIES WITH US.

THOSE EXPERIENCES ARE ALL MEMORIES NOW.

LUKE WOULD TAKE THE 5th CONGRESSIONAL SEAT AND SUCCEED HIS MENTOR, BUT THE VICTORY WAS SHORT LIVED.

NOT LONG AFTER HE WON THE ELECTION LUKE STARTED TO FEEL SICK.

WE WERE ACTUALLY ABOUT TO FLY TO WASHINGTON, D.C. TO START THE PROCESS OF TRANSITIONING HIM INTO THAT ROLE.

AND HE WAS DOING A RADIO INTERVIEW SIMILAR TO WHAT WE ARE DOING.

HE WAS IN THE LIVING ROOM.

AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, JULIA, I FEEL LIKE I'M RUNNING A TEMPERATURE.

AND SO I CHECKED HIS TEMPERATURE AND HE WAS.

THAT'S WHEN HE WENT TO BE TESTED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO TRAVEL IF EITHER OF US, YOU KNOW, HAD COVID.

SO THAT IS WHEN HE KNEW.

THE SYMPTOMS GOT WORSE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

HE DIED ON DECEMBER 29, WITH COMPLICATIONS RELATED TO KOED COVID.

THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.

HE WAS NEVER SWORN INTO OFFICE.

WE MOURN THE DEATH OF THE FIRST MEMBER OF CONGRESS LUKE LETLOW, NEWLY ELECTED AND NOT YET SWORN IN.

HE WAS HONORED AT NEW YEAR'S EVE HIS DRET DEATH BRING THIS CORONAVIRUS PLAGUE TO THE DOORSTEP OF CONGRESS.

EVERYONE ELSE WOULD TAKE FOR GRANTED YOU MAY GET THROUGH IT AND IT MAY BE ROUGH FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

I WAS PLAYING NURSE AND TAKING GOOD CARE OF HIM.

HE WAS SEEING HIS DOCTOR.

YEAH, THAT WAS A ROUGH TIME, BUT WE WERE MAKING IT WORK.

LETLOW GRIEVES FOR HER HUSBAND, BUT IN THE MIDST OF IT ALL SHE HAD A QUICK DECISION TO MAKE.

THE 5th CONGRESSIONAL SEAT WAS STILL VACANT.

SHE HAD A THOUGHT, WHO BETTER TO TAKE ON HER LATE HUSBAND'S JOB BUT HER, THE PERSON WHO STOOD BESIDE HIM, HELPED DEVELOP HIS IDEAS AND CAMPAIGNED WITH HIM.

LUKE AND I WERE IN LOCKSTEP FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.

MY CAREER TRAJECTORY LENDS ITSELF TO HIGHER EDUCATION WHICH IN ITSELF IS A FORM OF SERVICE.

HIS WAS IN GOVERNMENT.

THEY MARRIED WELL TOGETHER, EVEN OUR PROFESSIONAL LIVES.

WE WOULD COME HOME AND DISCUSS WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY.

LETLOW SAYS EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN HER LIFE PREPARED HER FOR THIS MOMENT.

SHE THREW HER NAME IN THE HAT NOT EVEN A MONTH AFTER HER HUSBAND'S DEATH.

-- CANDIDATE FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING THIS DISTRICT.

SHE WILL HOLD ON TO CHRISTIAN VALUES HER HUSBAND CAMPAIGNED ON, CREATING RURAL JOBS.

THE ONLY ADD ON, EDUCATION, A CAUSE THAT IS DEAR TO HER HEART.

THIS RACE MEANS A LOT TO LETLOW, IT IS NOT ONLY A WAY TO CONTINUE LUKE'S LEGACY, BUT A CHANCE TO SHOW WOMEN AND MOTHERS CAN MAKE A CHANGE EVEN WHEN THE ODDS STACK UP AGAINST THEM.

LUKE, I THINK YOU WOULD BE THRILLED.

I COULD SEE HIM CHEERING ME ON.

I THINK HE WOULD PROBABLY BE CHUCKLING TO HIMSELF, I TOLD YOU SO.

I KNEW YOU COULD DO THIS.

I FEEL THAT COMPLETE PEACE AND COMFORT.

LETLOW WILL TRY HER LUCK AGAINST A DOZEN OPPONENTS.

INCLUDING REPUBLICAN ALLEN GUILLORY AND NEWLY QUALIFIED DEMOCRAT SANDRA CHRISTOPHE.

A NEW REPORT SHOWS READING SCORES FOR THE STATE'S YOUNGEST STUDENTS IS ON THE DECLINE FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS NOW IT'S A BIG PROBLEM THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.

I TALKED WITH COUNCIL FOR A BETTER LOUISIANA'S BARRY ERWIN AND STATE SUPERINTENDENT CADE BRUMLEY.

I AM ALARMED.

I'M A NATIVE LOUISIANAN AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS AND OUR FAMILIES AND OUR STATE GET EVERYTHING THAT IS NEEDED AND WHEN EVER WE LOOK AT READING LEVELS AND WE LOOK OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE SEE A CONSISTENT DECLINE.

NOW, THIS YEAR, UNDERSTANDABLY, WE ARE IN A GLOBAL HEALTH PANDEMIC.

YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE DECLINE.

BUT THE PATTERN IS CONCERNING.

AND SO WE JUST HAVE TO GIVE MORE ATTENTION AS A STATE, NOT JUST TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, BIRTH TO 4, BUT ALSO IN K-3, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TEACHING THOSE FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS THAT KIDS NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR UNIVERSITIES ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK WITH PROVIDING INSTRUCTION THAT PRESERVICE TEACHERS NEED.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR TEACHERS HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THEY NEED AND FRANKLY THE TIME TO BE ABLE TO GIVE INSTRUCTION IN THINGS LIKE AWARENESS AND PHONICS.

I HAVE SAID FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE LOOK FORWARD TO LEADING A READING REVIAL ACROSS THE STATE AND FLIPPING THE TRAJECTORY.

I THINK WE CAN.

IT IS GOING TAKE EVERYBODY'S SUPPORT, BUT IT IS SO, SO IMPORTANT.

I'M AN OPTIMIST AND I BELIEVE IF YOU APPLY STRATEGY, THE HUMAN CAPITAL, THE RESOURCE, YOU CAN CHANGE THE OUTCOME AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE STATE TO REALLY LEAN IN IN THIS AREA.

IF A KID CAN'T READ ON GRADE LEVEL BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE, IT BECOMES MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO GET THEM ON LEVEL.

FRANKLY, THEY ARE TWO, THREE, FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DROPOUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.

WE HAVE TO ATTACK THIS EARLY ON.

WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THAT.

WE ARE, AS AN ADMINISTRATION, WE ARE RELEASING A PRIORITIES PLAN THIS WEEK AND ARE ALSO WORKING ON A VERY DETAILED STRATEGIC PLAN FOR LITERACY, STATEWIDE LITERACY PLAN THAT WILL BE RELEASED THIS SPRING.

LET ME ASK YOU, WE TALK ABOUT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION THE CORE, THE KEY, THAT SEEMS TO BE THE AREA WHERE WE ARE NOT GETTING THE JOB DONE.

WELL, I HAVE CONSISTENTLY SAID EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION BIRTH TO 4 IS THE GREATEST EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGE OF OUR GENERATION.

90% OF OUR KIDS IN SOME OF OUR COMMUNITIES COME TO SCHOOL NOT KINDERGARTEN READY.

OUR AVERAGE COME RK HALF OF OUR KIDS COME TO KINDERGARTEN WITHOUT BASIC SKILLS TO BE SUCCESSFUL ON DAY ONE IN KINDERGARTEN.

SCHOOLS GO INTO CATCH-UP MODE.

IF WE HAD MORE INVESTMENT INTO HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILD CARE CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE, THAT IS TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES, REGION AND STATE AS A WHOLE.

WHAT ARE YOU FINDING SEVEN MONTHS INTO THE JOB THAT MAYBE YOU DIDN'T EXPECT TO FIND OR IS IT GOING EXACTLY THE WAY YOU EXPECT IT NO.

I'M SEVEN MONTHS IN THE JOB AND IT FEELS LIKE SEVEN YEARS, BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M CONSISTENTLY INSPIRED BY WHAT I SEE WITH TEACHERS AND LEADERS AND KIDS AND FAMILIES.

AND KNOW THAT WE WILL BE POST-PANDEMIC AND WE ARE TRYING TO PUT IN PLACE THE PLANS AND THE IDEAS SO THAT WE'RE IN A BETTER POSITION POST-PANDEMIC TO DO BETTER FOR THE STATE.

I'VE SEEN FOR MANY YEARS, MY ENTIRE LIFE, LOUISIANA RANKED 49th, 48th.

THAT IS JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

I WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

I HONESTLY AND CANDIDLY THINK THAT WE CAN.

I WANT TO BE PART OF HELPING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

WE HAVE A VACUUM IN OUR CURRENT ACCOUNTABILITY MODEL, WE MEASURE OUTCOMES IN BIRTH TO 4, BEGIN MEASURING IN THIRD GRADE FOR KIDS.

WE DON'T LOOK AT THE KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SECOND GRADE AREA.

WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

WE NEED TO GIVE THE TRAINING AND RESOURCE NEEDED FOR THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

IT IS A MULTIFACET APPROACH THAT WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT.

I THINK IT CAN ONLY HELP US GET BETTER WE TALK ABOUT THINGS WE CAN DO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK MUCH FURTHER THAN MISSISSIPPI.

JUST A VERY FEW YEARS AGO THEY WERE IN THE SAME BOAT WE ARE.

THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE COUNTRY.

THEY HAD A GOVERNOR AND PEOPLE IN HIGHER EDUCATION THAT DECIDED THEY WERE GOING TO FOCUS VERY STRONGLY ON EARLY LITERACY.

THEY CAME UP BASICALLY WITH THE IDEA TO TEACH TEACHERS HOW TO TEACH READING IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY'VE DONE.

THEY DON'T CHANGE THE WAY READING IS.

READING IS READING.

THEY TEACH TEACHERS HOW TO TEACH IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

IT IS A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS IN A VERY SHORT TIME, MISSISSIPPI JUMPED ABOVE A LOT OF STATES, INCLUDING US.

WE WERE TIED WITH THEM AROUND 48 ON THE NATIONAL SCORES A FEW YEARS AGO, THEY ARE AT THE NATIONAL LEADING LEVEL FOR READING IN THIRD GRADE RIGHT NOW.

LOUISIANA AND OTHER STATES ARE LOOKING AT WHAT THEY DID.

WE ARE SEEING BEGINNINGS OF THAT IN THE STATE AND WILL SEE THAT ACCELERATE.

DO YOU SET A TWO-YEAR PLAN OR THREE-YEAR PLAN OR SOME SORT OF AGENDA, OKAY, WE HAVE TO REACH THIS GOAL TO BE BETTER TO BE BETTER TO BE BETTER?

YEAH.

SO WE'RE CALLING OUT FOCUS AREAS OF OUR ADMINISTRATION THIS WEEK.

NEW PRIORITIES.

BUT ALSO BEHIND ONE OF THOSE FOCUS AREAS, WE ARE GOING TO BE DEVELOPING A WORK PLAN.

WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN.

WHO HAS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT IS HAPPENING.

THOSE ARE THE LOGISTICAL THINGS TO MOVE AN ORGANIZATION OR MOVE OUTCOMES.

SO THAT IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO.

SOME MAY SAY IT IS A CORPORATE APPROACH.

I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK IT IS DOING WHAT MAKES SENSE, CALLING OUT THE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO, LEARNING TO PLAN TO DO THEM AND HOLDING EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE, ALONG WITH MYSELF TO GET THOSE DONE.

THIS WEEK, CABL, COUNCIL FOR A BETTER LOUISIANA, PRESENTED LPB PRESIDENT AND CEO BETH COURTNEY WITH ITS FIFTH ROBERT B HAMM AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVICE.

BETH TOOK THE HELM OF LPB IN 1985, BECOMING ONE OF THE FIRST WOMEN IN THE COUNTRY TO ASSUME A PROMINENT LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE BROADCAST INDUSTRY.

BETH, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

ACCORDING TO THE 2020 STATE OF OBESITY REPORT, AMERICA'S OBESITY RATE IS 42.4%.

THE FIRST TIME IT'S TOPPED 40%.

LOUISIANA RANKS NUMBER NINE IN THE NATION FOR ADULT OBESITY AT 36%.

THIS MONTH "LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE" OFFERS ADVICE ON SHEDDING POUNDS AND EXAMINES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DIFFERENT DIETS AND WEIGHT LOSS SURGERIES.

I THINK ONE OF THE GREATEST INDICATIONS AND BEST INDICATIONS FOR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY IS DIABETES.

SO DIABETES, NOT ONLY ARE WE GETTING THE PERSON TO LOSE THE WEIGHT, SO THINGS LIKE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND SLEEP APNEA TEND TO GO AWAY AS WELL, MAKE THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE PATIENT BETTER.

THERE IS AN INTRINSIC PROCESS THAT STARTS THE REVERSAL PROCESS OF DIABETES.

"HEALTHY NEW YEAR!"

RE- AIRS THIS SUNDAY AT 11 A.M. YOU CAN DETERMINE WHAT CATEGORY YOUR WEIGHT FALLS INTO BY TAKING OUR CONFIDENTIAL ONLINE SURVEY.

VISIT LPB.ORG/PUBLICSQUARE FOR DETAILS.

LPB AND THE BATON ROUGE AREA FOUNDATION HELD A VIRTUE CEREMONY FOR THE ERNEST GAINES AWARD FOR LITERARY EXCELLENCE LAST NIGHT.

CHICAGO NATIVE GABRIEL BUMP'S DEBUT BOOK, "EVERYWHERE YOU DON'T BELONG" WAS NAMED THE WINNER OF THE 2020 GAINES AWARD.

THE AWARD HONORS LOUISIANA'S REVERED STORYTELLER, ERNEST J GAINES, AND SERVES TO INSPIRE AND RECOGNIZE RISING AFRICAN-AMERICAN FICTION WRITERS OF EXCELLENCE AT A NATIONAL LEVEL.

DURING THE VIRTUAL EVENT, BUMP ACCEPTED THE AWARD.

IF YOU MISSED THE PREMIERE AND WANT TO STREAM THE AWARD PRESENTATION, YOU CAN DO SO AT LPB.ORG/YOUTUBE.

COVID-19 THIS WEEK CLAIMED THE LIFE OF A TRUE FRIEND OF LPB AND LEADER OF BATON ROUGE AND THE STATE.

FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND MAYORAL CANDIDATE STEVE CARTER PASSED AWAY AFTER A THREE-WEEK BATTLE WITH THE VIRUS.

HE WENT INTO THE HOSPITAL AND NEVER LEFT.

HE HAD A REMARKABLE LIFE.

CAPTAIN OF THE LSU TENNIS TEAM, LATER HEAD COACH FOR FOUR YEARS, WON AN SEC CHAMPIONSHIP, AND TWO-TEAM SEC COACH OF THE YEAR.

AND THERE WAS POLITICS.

STEVE LOVED BATON ROUGE.

HE WAS A PERSONAL FRIEND.

OUR PRAYERS FOR HIS WIFE GLORIA AND THEIR FAMILY.

STEVE CARTER WAS 77.

AND, EVERYONE, 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.