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 YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO SEE THAT REQUIRED FOR COVID.

WHY YOUR EMPLOYER CAN REQUIRE YOU TO GET THE VACCINE IN LOUISIANA.

THERE'S NOT A BETTER LABORATORY IN THE WORLD.

HOW LSU IS HELPING THE ARMY PREPARE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE.

IT'S A LITTLE LESS OPTIMISTIC AND REQUIRED TO MAKE CUTS.

THE GRIM REVENUE FORECAST FOR THE STATE.

WE'RE UNABLE TO STOP OURSELVES.

WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE NO MATTER WHAT.

ARTISTS USE THEIR SKILLS FOR A MARDI GRAS TO REMEMBER.

HI, EVERYONE.

I'M KARA ST. CYR.

AND I'M ANDRE MOREAU.

MUCH MORE ON THOSE TOP STORIES IN A MOMENT ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "SWI, BUT FIRST -- PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

SO HELP YOU GOD?

SO HELP ME GOD.

CONGRATULATIONS MR. PRESIDENT.

THE SWEARING IN OF JOE BIDEN HIGHLIGHTED HIS INAUGURATION WEDNESDAY AS THE NATION'S 46th PRESIDENT.

THE CEREMONIES WERE SCALED DOWN BECAUSE OF COVID AND OVER CONCERNS OF MORE VIOLENCE.

THE F.B.I.

HAD WARNED OF POTENTIAL ARMED PROTESTS IN WASHINGTON AND CAPITALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF PROBLEMS.

NOW A LOOK AT OTHER NEWS MAKING HEADLINES AROUND LOUISIANA.

AFTER RECENT VIOLENCE AT THE U.S. CAPITOL, LIEUTENANT GENERAL RUSSELL HONORE WAS ENTRUSTED WITH THE JOB OF KEEPING THE CAPITOL SAFE DURING THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT BIDEN.

HE LED THE REVIEW OF WHAT WENT WRONG IN THE JANUARY 6th ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL AND SAID, YOUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS DON'T GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO CARRY A LONG GUN TO A DEMONSTRATION.

D.C. WAS UNDER HEAVY SECURITY AND IN A SERIES OF TWEETS, HONORE THANKED ALL OF THOSE WHO HELPED MAKE THE INAUGURATION SAFE.

REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN STEVE SCALISE INVITED DONNA BRAZILE, FORMER CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE, TO THE INAUGURATION AS HIS GUEST.

DESPITE POLITICAL DIFFERENCES, BOTH AGREED IT WAS A GOOD SHOW OF UNITY.

SCALISE SAID, IT'S IMPORTANT WE ALL FOCUS ON TRYING TO BRING THE COUNTRY BACK TOGETHER.

THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS IS GETTING $12.5 MILLION TO HELP BUILD A HURRICANE PROTECTION SYSTEM.

IT'S DESIGNED TO PROTECT 150,000 PEOPLE IN TERREBONNE AND LA FOURCHE PARISHES.

THE CORPS COULD PAY FOR $2.1 BILLION OF THE $3 BILLION TOTAL.

BP MONEY WILL BE A BIG CHUNK OF WHAT STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WILL SPEND.

THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC CANCELED LAST YEAR'S FAMED NEW ORLEANS JAZZFEST AND IS FORCING A DELAY THIS YEAR.

IT USUALLY BEGINS THE LAST WEEKEND IN APRIL, BUT PRODUCERS NOW PLAN FOR IT TO TAKE PLACE OCTOBER 8th THROUGH THE 17th.

THE EVENT DRAWS TENS OF THOUSANDS TO THE VAST INFIELD OF THE FAIRGROUNDS HORSE RACING TRACK.

COMPLICATIONS FROM COVID-19 HAS CLAIMED THE LIFE OF THE FATHER OF CONGRESSMAN GARRETT GRAVES.

A STATEMENT FROM GRAVES SAYS THE DEATH CAUGHT THE FAMILY BY SURPRISE.

HE SAID HIS FATHER WAS ONE OF THOSE AWESOME AMERICAN DREAM STORIES THAT INSPIRED THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY.

LOUISIANA IS TEAKING NOMINATIONS FOR A STATE POET LAUREATE.

JOHN WARNER SMITH'S TWO-YEAR TERM ENDS IN AUGUST.

THE POSITION REQUIRES TRAVELING THE STATE FOR TWO YEARS, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO EXPLORE AND ENGAGE IN POETRY.

NOMINATIONS ARE ACCEPTED THROUGH THE 24th OF FEBRUARY AT THE STATE ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES.

A NEW YORK DESIGNER FROM BATON ROUGE DESIGNED PART OF THE OUTFIT WORN BY VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS.

CHRISTOPHER JOHN ROGERS, A GRADUATE OF A MAGNET SCHOOL DESIGNED THE PURPLE COAT.

HE THANKED HER ON INSTAGRAM FOR WEARING HIS DESIGN.

AT THE COVID BRIEFING FROM GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS AND DR. JOSEPH KANTER THIS MORNING, NEWS OF A NEW COVET FIGHTING TOOL, PLUS THE LATEST NUMBERS.

IT IS CLEAR WE REMAIN AT A CRITICAL POINT IN OUR COVID RESPONSE.

NATIONALLY, YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF DEATHS ACCUMULATING EVERY DAY, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITALS, CASES DEVELOPING, PERCENT POSITIVITY, ALL EXTREMELY HIGH.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS THERE ARE SIGNS OR NUMBERS ARE PLATEAUING.

IN RESPONSE TO THE THIRD SURGE TODAY, THE STATE LAUNCHED A NEW TOOL.

IT'S CALLED COVID DEFENSE.

THIS IS AN EXPOSURE NOTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT IN AN ANONYMOUS AND CONFIDENTIAL WAY WE'LL PUSH A NOTICE TO USERS IF THEY COME IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH SOMEBODY ELSE WHO IS PARTICIPATIONING IN -- PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM AND IDENTIFIED AS A POSITIVE CASE OF COVID.

CAN YOUR BUSINESS OR SCHOOL REQUIRE YOU TO TAKE THE VACCINE WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE?

OR DOES THAT INFRINGE ON YOUR PERSONAL RIGHTS I SPOKE WITH AN ATTORNEY AT MILLER, HAMPTON AND HILLDORF TO SEE IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE PEOPLE WHO DISAGREE.

IT HAS BEEN AN UPHILL BATTLE TO ENFORCE MASK WEARING AND SOIRD.

NOW IT IS TRYING TO GET EVERYONE ONBOARD WITH THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

BUT AS WE GET CLOSER TO DISTRIBUTING IT, QUESTIONS ARE STARTING TO SWARM.

WILL I HAVE TO GET THE VACCINE AT SOME POINT?

CAN SOMEONE MAKE ME?

IN LOUISIANA, THAT ANSWER IS YES, AT LEAST FOR NOW.

SCHOOLS LIKELY CAN AND WILL REQUIRE ROUTINE IMMUNIZATIONS.

AND FOR THAT REASON, YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO SEE THAT REQUIRED NOT JUST FOR H1N1, BUT FOR COVID.

BRANDON VESSER IS AN ATTORNEY AT MILLER, HAMPTON AND HILLDORF ATTORNEYS.

HE SAYS IT'S ACTUALLY NOT AS UNCOMMON AS YOU THINK, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOLS.

USUALLY KIDS HAVE TO TURN IN THEIR IMMUNIZATION RECORDS BEFORE THEY CAN ATTEND OR GET ACCEPTED.

THE COVID VACCINATION WOULD BE THE SAME THING, AS VESSER SEES IT.

WHILE IT IS REQUIRED TO TAKE THE VACCINE, YOU CAN -- THERE ARE EXEMPTIONS.

YOU CAN FIND A WAY AROUND THIS REQUIREMENT.

YOU CAN FILL OUT A FORM THAT LISTS WHY YOU OR YOUR CHILD DON'T WANT TO GET THE VACCINE.

YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS.

YOU EITHER OBJECT TO IT ON RELIGIOUS OR PHILOSOPHICAL GROUNDS.

BOTH ARGUMENTS TEND TO OVERLAP AND ACCORDING TO VESSER, IT'S GENERALLY PRETTY EASY TO USE THESE ARGUMENTS.

WHEN YOU'RE FILLING OUT THAT FORM, YOU DECIDE ON WHAT PHILOSOPHICAL GROUNDS YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE VACCINE, WHY YOU DISSENT FROM IT AND IT CAN BE GRANTED.

BUT IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY KEEP YOU SAFE FROM REPERCUSSIONS.

YOU CAN STILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE SCHOOL.

FOR EMPLOYMENT, IT'S A LITTLE TRICKIER TO OBJECT TO THE VACCINE.

LOUISIANA, IF THEY REQUIRE IT, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OPT OUT USING RELIGIOUS OR PHILOSOPHICAL REASONS.

INSTEAD YOU COULD ARGUE THE VACCINE MIGHT COMPLICATE YOUR HEALTH AND YOU MUST BE ABLE TO PROVE IT.

FOR YOUR EMPLOYER, YOUR EMPLOYER MAYBE IF YOU HAD SOMETHING LIKE COPD, A MEDICAL CONDITION THAT MIGHT CAUSE YOU AN INCREASED RISK.

IF YOU RECEIVE THE VACCINE OR SOMEONE ELSE DIDN'T GET IT, AND THAT PROBABLY FOLLOWS UNDER AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT, A SITUATION LIKE THAT.

PRACTICALLY, IF YOU ARE WORKING EXCLUSIVELY FROM HOME, YOU NEVER INTERACT WITH ANYBODY, YOU WILL NEVER INTERACT WITH YOUR EMPLOYEES AND BOSS, PERHAPS THEN, TOO.

LOUISIANA CIVIL CODE ARTICLE 2747 IS A STATE LAW THAT BASICALLY SAYS YOUR EMPLOYER HAS A RIGHT TO TERMINATE YOU OVER ANY REASON THEY SEE FIT.

SO YOU CAN STILL BE LET GO FROM YOUR JOB EVEN IF YOU USE THESE ARGUMENTS.

OF COURSE, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THE VIRUS IS SO NEW THAT POLICY SURROUNDING IT HASN'T BEEN PERFECTED YET.

VESSER SAYS ULTIMATELY, IT COMES DOWN TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND HOW THE FUTURE UNFOLDS.

ON LPB.ORG/SWI, WE HAVE A LINK TO THE ACLU WEBSITE IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT VACCINES AND YOUR JOB.

FOR INFORMATION ON SCHOOLS, YOU CAN CONTACT THE SCHOOL BOARD.

THE U.S. ARMY HAS TURNED TO A TRIO OF LSU EXPERTS TO LEARN HOW CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE EFFECTS COULD IMPACT ITS MILITARY OPERATIONS IN THE FUTURE.

THE IMPACT FROM FLOODS, HURRICANES, AND SEA LEVEL RISE, FOR EXAMPLE.

IT'S A $9.3 MILLION GRANT FOR FOUR YEARS OF STUDY.

SCOTT HAGEN, CLINT WILSON, AND ROBERT TWILLEY ARE THE THREE LSU EXPERTS WHO WILL WORK ON VARIOUS MODELS TO TRY TO PREDICT FUTURE CONDITIONS THE ARMY COULD FACE.

HAGEN IS DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR COASTAL RESILIENCY, WILSON IS DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR RIVER STUDIES AND TWILLEY HEADS UP THE LOUISIANA SEA GRANT COLLEGE.

WE WERE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE LARGELY BECAUSE OF A TOOL WE BUILT BECAUSE OF THE PLACE WHERE WE WORK.

IT IS THE TOOLS NEEDED TO HELP WITH UNDERSTANDING THE COST OF LOUISIANA.

THE ARMY IS GIVING A CHANCE TO EXPAND THOSE TOOLS.

BUT WHAT IS GOING TO BE GREAT IS WE CAN PUT THOSE TOOLS BACK IN OUR TOOL BOX AND USE THOSE FOR LOUISIANA.

RIGHT.

SO THIS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF COLLABORATION AND THE EXPERTISE THAT WE'RE GENERATING HERE IN LOUISIANA THAT CAN IMPACT THE WORLD.

IT IS GREAT TO BE PART OF LSU.

THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OVER THE LAST DECADE OR SO REALLY HAS BEEN ALMOST AT THE FOREFRONT IN SOME WAYS OF THINKING ABOUT HOW CLIMATE CHANGE IS GOING TO IMPACT THE FUTURE OPERATIONS, ET CETERA.

SO WHAT I THINK YOU SEE NOW IS, OKAY, THEY REALIZE IT IS EVEN MORE COMPLEX, RIGHT?

WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT SEA LEVEL RISE, CHANGES IN PRECIPITATION RISES, THE ECOSYSTEM, THE HABITAT OF THESE INSTALLATIONS, TRAINING FACILITIES OR POTENTIALLY WARFARE ORS REGIONS WHERE WE HAVE TO FIGHT WARS OR BATTLES ARE INTERCONNECTED.

BRINGING THOSE TOGETHER IS SOMETHING WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT AND A CULMINATION OF WORK AND THOSE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AS WELL AS THOSE AT LSU HAVE BEEN WORKING.

THE CAMPUS OF LSU IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

IF THE HABITAT CHANGES THEY LOSE THAT TRAINING CAPABILITY.

SO THEY ARE VERY MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT THE ECOSYSTEMS ON THESE TERRAINS AND A LOT OF THEM WILL CHANGE BASED ON HOW WATER FLOWS AND THESE ARE ALL FLAT, COASTAL TERRAINS THAT THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, WHERE A LOT OF MILITARY INSTALLATIONS ARE LOCATED AND THE FUTURE RISING CONDITIONS MAY OCCUR IN THE -- AS THEY THINK ABOUT WARFARE.

THIS PROJECT FOCUSED AROUND MILITARY TRAINING, MILITARY INSTALLATIONS THE INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL AS FUTURE OPERATION.

A LOT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OR THE ABILITY TO WORK IN THOSE ENVIRONMENTS RELIES UPON AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SOIL CONDITIONS, AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE HABITAT, AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE VEGETATION.

AND THAT'S WHERE IT IS GOING TO GET EVEN MORE DYNAMIC INTO THE FUTURE.

AS YOU THINK ABOUT SYSTEMS THAT HAVE BEEN FRESHWATER MAY TRANSITION TO MORE SALTWATER OR BRACKISH CONDITIONS.

SCOTT, WHAT EXCITES YOU THE MOST ABOUT THIS?

MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

YOU KNOW, THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOMETHING THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE OF OUR NATION AND OUR WORLD.

AND RECOGNIZING THAT THIS IS A GRAND CHALLENGE THAT WE, AS A HUMAN CIVILIZATION, FACE.

SOMEBODY WHO SPENT SIX AND A HALF YEARS ON ACTIVE DUTY IN THE MARINE CORPS AND HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE STILL ON ACTIVE DUTY, IT IS A WONDERFUL, YOU KNOW, OPPORTUNITY AND MY ACADEMIC CAREER TO BE INVOLVED IN A PROJECT I KNOW HAS SO MUCH SIGNIFICANCE.

ONE OF THE BACKBONES THAT DREW THEM TO LSU IS THE HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTATIONAL CLUSTERS THAT WE HAVE AT LSU AND IN PARTICULAR THE CENTER FOR COMPUTATION AND TECHNOLOGY.

OUR PROVEN EXPERIENCE IN UTILIZING THOSE PARALLEL COMPUTATIONAL PLATFORMS, KNOWING THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DEVELOP MODELS THAT EVENTUALLY THEY'LL BE ABLE TO RUN ON THEIR TREMENDOUS RESOURCES.

AND PART OF THAT IS A FUNCTION OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA SUPPORTING HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTATIONS, SUPPORTING THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE.

PART OF THAT IS A FUNCTION OF LOUISIANA SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM SUPPORTING THIS IDEA OF A NEED TO DEVELOP A WEATHER-READY STATE.

WORKING AND BEING ABLE TO PREDICT A DYNAMIC LANDSCAPE, THAT'S ONE OF THE REAL ATTRIBUTES OF WORKING AT WAX LAKE AND IN THE REGION BECAUSE IT IS EXTREMELY DYNAMIC.

YOU KNOW, WE ACTUALLY -- WE CAN TAKE SCHOOL KIDS OUT, YOU KNOW, AND THEY CAN STAND ON LANDSCAPE THAT WAS BORN THE YEAR THEY WERE BORN.

THESE ARE NEW LANDS THAT DEVELOPED SINCE 1974.

AND WE CAN SEE HOW THE ECOSYSTEMS CHANGE AS THE LAND CHANGES.

WE CAN SEE HOW ALL THAT CHANGES.

WE CAN SEE ALL THAT CHANGE AS YOUR SEDIMENT CONCENTRATION AND RIVER KNOW CHANGES.

THERE IS NOT A BETTER LABORATORY IN THE WORLD TO BE ABLE TO STUDY THOSE CHANGES THAN RIGHT HERE IN COASTAL LOUISIANA.

THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY SURROUNDING THE INCOME FORECAST EXPECTED FOR THE STATE ECONOMY THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

THE REVENUE ESTIMATING CONFERENCE MET THIS WEEK.

I TALKED WITH COMMISSIONER OF ADMINISTRATION JAY DARDENNE.

HE IS AN REC MEMBER.

THE PANEL CONSIDERED BOTH PROPOSALS.

I MADE THE DECISION TO ADOPT THE FORECAST AND THE ECONOMIST ON THE PANELIST STEVE BARNES AGREED, BUT THE VOTE WAS 2-2.

THE PRESIDENT AND THE SPEAKER DID NOT WANT TO ACCEPT THAT PROPOSAL SO WE DID NOT HAVE A UNANIMOUS DECISION.

WHEN THAT VOTE FAILED WE AGREED TO THE FORECAST THAT IS IN PLACE.

IT IS A LITTLE LESS OPTIMISTIC AND REQUIRE US TO MAKE MORE CUTS IN THE BUDGET WE ARE PROPOSING AT THE END OF FEBRUARY.

THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE BUDGET THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE BUDGET COMMITTEE ON FEBRUARY 26.

THAT IS THE NEXT TIME THE JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETS.

WE WON'T MEET AGAIN UNTIL SOMETIME IN THE UPCOMING SESSION, PROBABLY IN MAY.

GOT IT.

OKAY.

SO WHEN WE SEE THAT BUDGET, WHAT IS IT GOING TO LOOK LIKE?

AND CUTS IS THE BIG WORD.

WE ARE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT PROCESS.

THE PROCESS BEGAN IN NOVEMBER.

IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS I'M MEETING WITH STATE AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS, GOING OVER THEIR BUDGETS, HEARING THEIR CONCERNS, HOW CUTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AND HOW THEIR DEPARTMENTS WILL BE AFFECTED.

WE DON'T HAVE A BOTTOM LINE, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SEVERAL HUNDRED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF CUTS IN THE BUDGET FROM WHERE WE ARE THIS YEAR YOU DON'T KNOW YET EXACTLY WHAT SORT OF FEDERAL MONEY MAY BE COMING IN THAT COULD HELP?

WE DON'T.

THE BILL THAT WAS PASSED BY CONGRESS IN THE WANING DAYING OF 2020, PROVIDED DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO UNIVERSITIES, K-12 EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE.

THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS ON HOW THAT MONEY IS SPENT.

WE ARE NOT SURE HOW IF AT ALL IT WILL BENEFIT US.

PRESIDENT BIDEN INDICATED HE WANTS A SECOND STIMULUS BILL.

THERE IS A LOT OF DISCUSSION IF THAT WILL INCLUDE STATE GOVERNMENTS RECEIVING ADDITIONAL MONEY.

THAT WILL HELP US.

IF IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN ANOTHER BILL WERKS HAVE TO LIVE WITH WHAT OUR STATE REVENUE PICTURE BEING WHAT IT IS.

THE PANDEMIC HAS STAGGERED ALL OF US.

IT CHANGED LIFE FOR EVERYBODY.

WE WERE ABLE TO PATCH THINGS TOGETHER FROM THE MONEY THAT CAME FROM THE CARES ACT THAT CONGRESS PREVIOUSLY PASSED.

IT IS ONE TIME MONEY THAT HAS TO BE REPLACED.

THAT IS WHY WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NEED FOR CUTS IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

IF MORE FEDERAL MONEY COMES IT WILL BE ONE-TIME ONE AND WE WILL BE IN THE SAME PREDICAMENT A YEAR FROM NOW UNLESS AND UNTIL THE ECONOMY RECOVERS.

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC WE WERE ROCKING AND ROLLING.

WE HAD A VERY OPTIMISTIC FORECAST.

WE WERE GOING TO HAVE AN EXCESS IN THE BUDGET YEAR, INVESTMENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION THAT HAVEN'T BEEN MADE IN A DECADE.

WE WERE EXCITED ABOUT FINALLY BEING ABLE TO RIGHT THE FINANCIAL SHIP.

THE PANDEMIC OCCURRED AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT FOLLOWED.

GOVERNMENT WAS IMPACTED LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE BUT A BIGGER DOLLAR SCALE ON WHAT SERVICES GOVERNMENT PROVIDES.

THE VACCINATION, ACTUALLY SHOTS IN THE ARM, HAS BEEN SLOWER AND A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT OR DIFFERENT THAN SOME OF THE EARLY EXPECTATIONS WERE.

AND I THINK THE ECONOMY SORT OF DEPENDS ON GETTING THAT DONE, RIGHT?

WELL, IT ABSOLUTELY DOES.

I THINK ANYBODY WILL TELL YOU AND ALL THE ECONOMISTS ARE BANKING THEIR DECISIONS ON THE FACT THAT AT SOME POINT VACCINATIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE, WE WILL HAVE HERD IMMUNITY AND PAST THIS.

UNTIL THAT HAPPENS THERE IS A HUGE LEVEL OF UNCERTAINTY AND OUR ECONOMISTS TOLD US THAT.

THEY ARE NOT SURE THEIR PROJECTIONS ARE CORRECT OR NOT.

IT IS ALWAYS A CRAP SHOOT WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO FORECAST THE FUTURE PARTICULARLY WITH TAX REVENUE AND PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING RIGHT NOW.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.

THE QUICKER WE CAN RECOVER AS A STATE AND NATION, OUR RECOVERY DEPENDS ON WHAT HAPPENS NATIONALLY, WHEN PEOPLE START TRAVELING, TOURISTS COME BACK TO LOUISIANA AND START SPENDING MONEY, THE THINGS THAT GIN OUR ECONOMY, WE ARE NOT THERE YET.

WE HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS AND REASONABLE IN OUR APPROACH.

THAT IS THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN AND CERTAINLY THE WAY OUR BUDGET WILL LOOK NEXT MONTH.

A VERY AUSTERE BUDGET WITH A LOT OF CUTS THAT WON'T BE REALIZED IF THE ECONOMY IMPROVES OR IF WE GET ADDITIONAL FEDERAL RELIEF IS THERE A NUMBER YOU ARE LOOKING AT?

WE HAVE A NUMBER.

I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT SPECIFICS.

WE ARE STILL GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF WHERE THOSE CUTS WILL BE AND ALSO HOW MUCH WE MAY BE ABLE TO DO IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

WE WILL HAVE AN EXCESS.

WE ARE OVER OUR PROJECTIONS, BUT THOSE WERE DRAMATICALLY LOWERED LAST YEAR WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT AND WE REALIZED THE ECONOMY WAS GOING SOUTH.

WE ARE ON TARGET THIS YEAR, SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN EXCESS IN THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET AND WE ARE WORKING TO SEE WHERE WE CAN PLUG IN SOME MONIES FOR EXPENDITURES THAT MIGHT BE NECESSARY IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

WE NORMALLY SEE BIG FLOAT DECORATIONS DURING A PARADE OR DURING A BLAINE KERN STUDIOS TOUR, BUT WHAT IF YOU COULD GET THESE ON YOUR HOUSE?

MARDI GRAS ARTISTS ARE MAKING THAT HAPPEN FOR SOME LUCKY PEOPLE IN NEW ORLEANS.

TAKE A LOOK.

IT'S HARD TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT A FLOAT DESIGN WHEN YOUR HANDS ARE UP REACHING FOR BEADS OR A STUFFED ANIMAL.

BUT PEOPLE PASSING BY MIGNON FAGET ON MAGAZINE STREET DON'T HAVE THAT CONCERN.

JUST LOOK AT THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING.

IT'S COVERED IN DESIGNS YOU'D NORMALLY SEE RIDING DOWN ST. CHARLES AVENUE.

WE ACTUALLY ENDED UP COMMISSIONING A TEAM TO DESIGN OUR STORE AS A HOUSE FLOAT.

AND TO SUPPORT OTHER ARTISTS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD BE OUT OF WORK.

MAGHAN OROSVIA WORKS WITH THE COMPANY.

SHE SAYS THE THEME OF THIS STORE WAS ALL ABOUT REBIRTH.

AND THE ARTISTS CHOSE TO SHOW THAT IN THE BUTTERFLIES AND FLOWERS SWEEPING OVER THE WALLS.

MARDI GRAS ISN'T HAPPENING AS WE TRADITIONALLY KNOW IT AND THERE WON'T BE PARADES THIS YEAR AND FLOAT DECORATING.

IT'S A UNIQUE IDEA.

MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE NORMAL CARNIVAL DECOR YOU'D SEE ON A BUSINESS OR A HOME, BUT THIS YEAR THERE WILL DEFINITELY BE MORE WHERE THIS CAME FROM.

AND IT ALL STARTED WITH CAROLINE THOMAS.

HI.

I'M CAROLINE THOMAS AND WE'RE BOTH MARDI GRAS ARTISTS, WORKING WITH THE KREWE OF RED BEANS FOR THE HIRE OF A MARDI GRAS ARTIST PROJECT.

THOMAS' INDUSTRY WAS DEVASTATED BY THE PANDEMIC.

NO PARADES MEANS NO FLOATS.

NO FLOATS MEANS NO INCOME FOR ARTISTS LIKE HER.

SO SHE CAME UP WITH AN IDEA.

WHAT IF SHE COULD GET TOGETHER A GROUP OF TALENT TO RE-CREATE DECORATIONS YOU SEED SEE ON A FLOAT, BUT ON A HOUSE.

OR A STORE.

IT WOULD SAVE THE MARDI GRAS SPIRIT AND PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR SOME ARTISTS.

SO SHE PARTNERED WITH DEVIN DE WULF, THE FOUNDER OF KREWE OF RED BEANS.

IT WAS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN WORKING TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

HE WAS THE PERFECT PARTNER.

WHEN THE PARADES WERE CANCELED, THE LAYOFFS BEGAN.

AND MY FRIEND CAROLINE UNDERSTOOD THE REALITIES OF HER INDUSTRY AND SORT OF WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE MARDI GRAS ARTIST.

AND THAT'S THE EFFORT THAT WE'VE CREATED.

HIRE A MARDI GRAS ARTIST AND RE-CREATE THEIR JOBS.

INSTEAD OF THEM BUILDING FOR FLOATS, THEY'RE BUILDING FOR A HOUSE.

IT HAS TURNED INTO A BEAUTIFUL ENDEAVOR.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS.

THROUGH THE HIRE OF A MARDI GRAS ARTIST WEBSITE, THE KREWE OF RED BEANS RACKED IN DONATIONS FOR PEOPLE LOOKING TO SAVE THE ARTISTS AND PEOPLE LOOKING TO HAVE A FESTIVE HOUSE.

THESE ARE 92 PEOPLE THAT DONATED JUST YESTERDAY.

ONCE THE ORGANIZATION RAISES ENOUGH MONEY FOR A PROJECT, WHICH IS ROUGHLY $10,000, THEY PICK A PERSON FROM RAFFLE TICKETS AND DECORATE THEIR HOUSE.

EACH DESIGN IS UNIQUE TO THE PERSON AND THEIR HOMES.

THE SPIRIT OF CARNIVAL IS SO ENGRAINED IN THE PEOPLE OF NEW ORLEANS THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO STOP OURSELVES.

WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE NO MATTER WHAT.

IT MEANS A LOT TO THE PEOPLE WHO WILL MISS CARNIVAL SEASON, BUT EVEN MORE TO PEOPLE LIKE RACHEL ELSENSOHN, A MARDI GRAS FLOAT DESIGNER WHO LAID OFF ALL OF HER ARTISTS WHEN THE PARADES WERE CANCELED.

I DID, UNFORTUNATELY, TWO WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HAVE TO LAY EVERYBODY OFF BECAUSE THE MONEY STOPPED, THE PPE RAN OUT, AND I HAD NO WAY TO PAY THEM.

WHEN THE ENTIRE SEASON IS SAID AND DONE, ALL OF THESE DECORATIONS WILL BE TAKEN DOWN AND BROUGHT TO A MUSEUM WHERE THEY'LL EVENTUALLY BE AUCTIONED OFF.

ALL THE MONEY WILL BE PUMPED BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER AND TO THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED ON THE HIRE A MARDI GRAS ARTIST PROJECT.

THAT'S WHAT IT WAS ABOUT ALL ALONG.

BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER ONE FLOAT AT A TIME.

SO FAR ABOUT SIX HOUSES HAVE BEEN DECORATED.

MIGNON FAGET WAS JUST THE LATEST ONE.

THE HIRE A MARDI GRAS ARTIST ORGANIZATION WILL COMPLETE 40 HOUSES BEFORE THE SEASON IS OVER.

IT IS IN A GREAT WAY TO BE IN THE MARDI GRAS SPIRIT.

DEFINITELY WANT TO DECORATE MY HOUSE.

COVID-19 HAS CREATED A PERFECT STORM FOR PEOPLE WHO STRUGGLE WITH THEIR WEIGHT.

IF LIVING A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE IS ONE OF YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS, THIS MONTH, "LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE" OFFERS PLENTY OF OPTIONS.

JANUARY'S EPISODE EXPLORES WHICH DIETS WORK THE BEST, THE ROLE OF EXERCISE IN WEIGHT LOSS, TIPS FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN FOOD DESERTS, AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROCEDURES LIKE GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY.

THE ENCORE PRESENTATION OF "HEALTHY NEW YEAR!"

AIRS WEDNESDAY AT 7:00 P.M. ON LPB.

YOU CAN TAKE A CONFIDENTIAL SURVEY ABOUT YOUR LIFESTYLE CHOICES AT LPB.ORG/PUBLICSQUARE.

LONG-TIME BATON ROUGE NEWS ANCHOR DONNA BRITT PASSED AWAY THURSDAY MORNING.

SHE HAD BATTLED WITH THE CRIPPLING DISEASE ALS THE PAST FOUR YEARS.

DONNA WAS A FIXTURE AT WAFB-TV IN BATON ROUGE FOR 37 YEARS.

I CO-ANCHORED WITH HER FOR EIGHT YEARS.

SHE WAS A GREAT NEWS WOMAN, HAD A TREMENDOUS VOICE, AND GAVE OF HERSELF TO PEOPLE IN GENERAL AND THE MANY CAUSES SHE SUPPORTED.

HER HUSBAND, MARK BALLARD, SAYS SHE PASSED AWAY SURROUNDED BY FAMILY.

WE'LL MISS HER.

DONNA BRITT WAS 62 YEARS OLD.

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.

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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.