PROVIDED BY, AT AMIR HEALTH LOUISIANA WE HELP PEOPLE GET CARE, STAY WELL, AND BUILD HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.

CARE IS THE HEART OF OUR WORK.

AT AMERIHEALTH CARE LOUISIANA.

AND BY THE U.S. ARMY, BATON ROUGE RECRUITING BATTALION, COMMUNITY COFFEE, AND THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY.

WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM HOTEL INDIGO AND DEMCO.

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.

CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY LNS CAPTIONING WWW.LNSCAPTIONING.COM DESPERATE MEETING.

CONCERNS OVER DECRIMINALIZATION.

AND THEN THEY ADDED ON DOLLARS.

FEDERAL DOLLARS IN THE STATE BUDGET.

HE ASKED TO GO TO THE SHALL NET BATTLEFIELD AT THE AGE OF 4.

NOW HE IS AN LFB LOUISIANA PUBLIC HERO.

I'M APP YAN.

KARA ST. CYR IS OFF TONIGHT.

NO ONE NEEDED A REMINDER IT WAS HURRICANE SEASON, WE ARE GETTING ONE JUST THE SAME.

A DISORGANIZED SYSTEM APPROACHED.

STORM SURGE COULD BE A PROBLEM, RAIN, HEAVY, THE GOVERNOR HAS DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY BECAUSE OF IT.

VACCINATION INCENTIVES, ANOTHER BIG STORY.

AT THE GOVERNOR'S BRIEFING THERE WAS A BRASS BAND ANNOUNCING A VACCINE LOTTERY TO HELP PEOPLE ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES.

THE WAY THIS IS GOING TO WORK IS 14 LUCKY LOUISIANA'S WITH AT LEAST ONE COVID SHOT WILL WIN SCHOLARSHIPS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH CULMINATING WITH A GRAND PRIZE OF $1 MILLION.

THE DAY OF LIU MEDICAL SCHOOL CHANCELLOR WAS REINSTATED HE RESIGNED THE POST.

HE WAS PUT ON LEAVE EARLIER THIS YEAR OVER ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT.

AND NOW A LOOK AT OTHER STORIES MAKING HEADLINES ACROSS THE STATE.

U.S. SUPREME COURT AGAIN UPHELD THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT THIS WEEK, THE DEFINING LEGACY OF PRESIDENT BRACK OBAMA, FACING A THIRD CHALLENGE OF REPUBLICAN HOSTILITY.

GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS PRAISED THE MOVE.

ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF LANDRY JOINED THE POLITICAL BATTLE FROM TEXAS WITH A LOWER COURT THERE TRIED TO KILL THE HEALTH CARE LAW:ANOTHER CHECK OF MONEY FROM FEMA IS HEADED TO PARISHES IMPACTED BY HURRICANES LAURA AND DELTA.

FROM FEMA'S HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM THAT HAS GIVEN $40 MILLION TO HELP PEOPLE RECOVER FROM THE TERRIBLE TWO STORMS.

THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED HE IS TURNING OFF FEDERAL PANDEMIC BENEFITS AT THE END OF JULY IN EXCHANGE FOR A SMALL BOOST.

AN INCREASE OF $275 MAXIMUM IN WEEKLY UNEMPLOYMENT CHECKS.

15 YEARS LATER SITCO HAS AGREED TO PAY ALMOST $20 MILLION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE FROM A 2006 OIL SPILL AT THE LAKE CHARLES REFINERY.

THE SPILL WAS IN THE WATER TREATMENT FACILITY.

ANOTHER TEXAS COMPANY IS PAYING THE STATE FOR DAMAGES FROM SPILLS.

GREAT LAKES DREDGE AND DOCK PAYING A $1 MILLION FINE FOR DAMAGING A PIPELINE THAT LEAKED MORE THAN 5,000 GALLONS OF OIL SOUTH OF NEW ORLEANS.

THAT WAS IN 2016.

A LOUISIANA FEDERAL JUDGE TUESDAY BLOCKED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SUSPENSION OF NEW OIL AND GAS LEASES ON FEDERAL LAND AND WATER.

IF IT STICKS IT WILL BE A BLOW TO THE PRESIDENT'S DESIRE TO RAPIDLY GO AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS TO STAVE THE WORST EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

LAWMAKERS SPENDING $1.7 BILLION IN FEDERAL PANDEMIC AID CREATING A NETWORK TO SEND MONEY TO PORTS, TOURISM, AND BROADBAND PROJECTS WHERE NEEDED.

$1 BILLION WENT TO ROAD AND BRIDGE WORK AND SHORE UP THE UNEMPLOYMENT TRUST FUND.

A FEUD CONTINUES TO INTENSIFY BETWEEN FORMER FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS OF FORMER LSU PRESIDENT TROY MIDDLETON ARE SUING THE SCHOOL TO RETURN A COLLECTION OF HIS MILITARY ITEMS DISPLAYED ON CAMPUS AND DAMAGES OF EXTREME HUMILIATION OF HIS SEGREGATED VIEWS.

LAST SUMMER LSU REMOVED HIS NAME FROM THE MAIN LIBRARY AFTER LETTERS FROM HIS TIME AS PRESIDENT DESCRIBED HIS BELIEF IN RACIAL SEGREGATION.

JUNETEENTH IS OFFICIALLY TOMORROW, THE 19th, BUT STATE WORKERS GOT A HALF DAY HOLIDAY TODAY.

JUNETEENTH COMMEMORATES THE END OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE MISS LOUISIANA PAGEANT RETURNS TO MONROE AFTER A PANDEMIC YEAR OFF.

THE 57th ANNUAL COMPETITION TAKES PLACE AT THE JACK HOWARD THEATER.

30 CONTESTANTS WILL COMPETE.

COURTNEY HAMMOND IS THE REIGNING MISS LOUISIANA.

YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THE NAME CARLA BROWN IN THIS RECENT NEWS CYCLE.

SHE IS A NURSE TAKING THE BATTLE AGAINST COVID INTO HER OWN HANDS.

SHE SUFFERED A DEVASTATING LOSS TO THE VIRUS HERSELF AND SAYS NO ONE ELSE SHOULD HAVE TO.

TONIGHT HER VACCINATION CRUSADE AND HOW IT GOT STARTED.

IT HAS BEEN A LONG YEAR AND A HALF FOR MOST PEOPLE IN AMERICA, FOR CARLA BROWN TIME STOOD STILL FOR NEARLY 10 MONTHS.

NOT KNOWING, I BROUGHT THE VIRUS HOME TO MY FAMILY.

THIS WAS BROWN'S BIGGEST FEAR IN 2020.

SHE IS A NURSE.

SHE WORKS WITH GERIATRIC PSYCH PATIENTS BEFORE PEOPLE KNEW TO SOCIAL DISTANCE AND WEAR A MASK.

PEOPLE WERE SAYING IT IS GOING TO GO AWAY.

WE WEREN'T PREPARED IN THE PSYCH WORLD BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF A BIG HOSPITAL AND YOU CAN SEPARATE, YOU KNOW.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT.

WHILE CARING FOR OTHER PEOPLE, THE WORST CASE SCENARIO BECAME HER REALITY.

SHE TESTED POSITIVE.

HER HUSBAND, DAVID BROWN, HER FATHER, AND HER BROTHER WERE ALL EXPOSED BEFORE SHE KNEW SHE WAS CARRYING.

MY DAD, MY BROTHER, THEY ALL SURVIVED WITHOUT HAVING TO BE PLACED ON THE VENT.

HOWEVER, DAVID WAS NOT SO LUCKY.

DAVID BROWN AND CARLA HAD BEEN MARRIED FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

SHE SAID HE WAS GOOFY AND LOVED EATING AT WAFFLE HOUSE.

WHEN HE WAS DIAGNOSED HE STAYED IN THE HOSPITAL UNTIL HE DIED ON JULY 17.

BROWN SAID THE WORLD STARTED SPINNING.

SHE COULDN'T GET RID OF THE GUILT.

HE SURVIVED A LIVER TRANSPLANT, BONE MARROW CANCER WHERE HE WAS TOTALLY IN REMISSION OF IT.

HE SURVIVED A GUNSHOT WOUND TO HIS HEAD, YOUNG IN LIFE, SO MY HUSBAND SURVIVED ALL OF THAT ONLY TO DIE FROM A VIRUS THAT I BROUGHT HOME.

THERE WAS A LOT TO TAKE IN AFTER DAVID DIED.

HE WASN'T THE ONLY PERSON SHE KNEW THAT WOULD LOSE THEIR LIFE TO THE VIRUS.

SEVERAL FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS PASSED IN THE YEAR.

IT SEEMED NOTHING WOULD CHANGE AS LOUISIANA ENTERED A THIRD WAVE OF THE VIRUS ESPECIALLY IN NORTH BATON ROUGE WHERE BROWN LIVES, THE POPULATION IS MOSTLY BLACK.

HESITANT PEOPLE NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SURE ABOUT THE VAX -- VACCINE, BUT DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET IT.

I SAID, LORD, I HAVE TO MAKE A CHANGE.

THAT IS WHEN I STARTED GOING DOOR TO DOOR TO ELDERLY PEOPLE.

I WENT ONLINE MYSELF WITH MY OWN CELL PHONE.

GO TO THIS WEBSITE AND REGISTER.

I SAID, MY GOD, WE ARE MISSING THOSE WHO REALLY NEED IT.

THEY ARE NOT COMPUTER SAVVY.

MOST OF THEM HAVE GOVERNMENT PHONES.

MOST OF THEM DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION.

SO IF THESE PEOPLE COULDN'T GET TO THE CLINICS, BROWN WAS GOING TO BRING IT TO THEM.

SHE WENT DOOR TO DOOR EXPLAINING HOW VACCINES WORKED, SHE DROVE THEM HERSELF.

THEN SHE STARTED GIING VACCINES HERSELF.

I'M PLEADING WITH EVERY AMERICAN, PLEASE GET THE VACCINE.

WE ARE THERE TO GIVE YOU TRUE DATA.

YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THIS VACCINE WAS MADE TO SAVE US.

THE YOUNG, THE OLD, IT IS IMPORTANT.

BROWN'S METHOD WORKS, SO FAR SHE HAS REACHED 1,200 PEOPLE AND THAT NUMBER IS DOUBLING.

WITH EVERY PERSON SHE MEETS IT IS LIKE HELPING HER HUSBAND.

BROWN PRAYS SHE CAN REACH ENOUGH PEOPLE AND HELP HEAL A COMMUNITY BROKEN BY THIS DISEASE.

I PRAY THAT WE, THE AMERICANS, AS A NATION, DO THIS.

SHE GOES OUT EVERY DAY AND SAYS SHE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL EVERYONE HAS GOTTEN THEIR SHOTS.

THE STATE'S NEW MARIJUANA LAWS HAVE SOME HEALTH CARE SPECIALISTS CONCERNED.

THOSE WHO COUNSEL THE ADDICTED.

EMILY GEORGE TILLIE IS CLINICAL SERVICES DIRECTOR AT O'BRIEN HOUSE.

SHE IS IN FAVOR OF REDUCED PENALTIES FOR WEED, BUT FEARS IT WILL LIKELY COME AT A COST.

THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA WILL DEFINITELY MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH ADDICTIVE PERSONALITIES, SIMILAR TO ALCOHOL, IT IS OKAY IF YOU HAVE SMALL AMOUNTS.

USING SMALL AMOUNTS CAN CAUSE SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCES.

MARIJUANA IS A GATEWAY DRUG TO MOST THINGS TO MAKE IT OKAY TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT, THEY ARE GOING TO FEEL IT IS OKAY TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE.

IN MY EXPERIENCE HERE, I HAVE BEEN AT O'BRIEN HOUSE FOR NINE YEARS AND 95% OF THE CLIENTS WHO COME THROUGH THE BUILDING, THEIR FIRST DRUG OF CHOICE WAS MARIJUANA.

THEY EXPERIENCED USING IT AS A TEENAGER AND THAT USE BECAME MORE SEVERE AND THEY STARTED WITH HARDER DRUGS.

SO I DO BELIEVE THAT MARIJUANA IS A GATEWAY DRUG INTO USING OTHER THINGS, ESPECIALLY FOR A PERSON WITH AN ADDICTIVE PERSONALITY.

A LOT OF RECOVERY IS PRIVATE ONE-ON-ONE, BUT A LOT OF IT IS IN GROUP AND TOGETHER.

SO WITH THAT FEAR, A LOT OF THAT IS TAKEN AWAY, HOW HAS THAT IMPACTED TREATMENT?

WITH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY AND ZOOM MEETINGS AND BEING ABLE TO FACE TIME AND DO THOSE THINGS YOU BECOME CREATIVE WITH HELPING THEM WITH TREATMENT.

ALLOWING THEM TO GET ON A MEETING IN A DIFFERENT STATE THAT WAS AN AMAZING THING FOR THEM TO SEE HOW OTHER STATES KIND OF RUN MEETINGS AND HOW PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE WORLD, REALLY, ARE DOING RECOVERY.

SO THEY GOT TO INTERACT MORE WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THEIR IMMEDIATE NETWORK.

BUT THAT FIRST ISOLATION PERIOD WAS VERY DIFFICULT.

FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE BECAUSE THE FELLOWSHIP IS WHAT MAKES RECOVERY SO IMPORTANT.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT FELLOWSHIP WITH PEOPLE.

YOU CAN REACH PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE MOST COMFORTABLE.

AS A SOCIAL WORKER MYSELF, I STRUGGLE WITH FINDING THE TIME DO CERTAIN THINGS, BUT HAVING ZOOM AVAILABLE TO ME WHERE I CAN DO THINGS IN THE COMFORT OF MY OWN HOME MAKES IT EASIER FOR ME.

I HAVE A FAMILY.

I HAVE A JOB.

I HAVE OTHER OBLIGATIONS AND THAT IS WHAT A LOT OF OUR CLIENTS EXPERIENCE, FAMILIES WORKING, AND YET ANOTHER THING SOMETIMES MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO DO.

WHEN YOU CAN DO IT IN YOUR OWN CAR OR IN YOUR HOME OR DRIVING TO WORK OR YOUR NEXT OBLIGATION IS A GREAT THING.

IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO MANAGE TREATMENT.

INTHINK FOR A PERSON STRUGGLING WITH AN ADDICTION, THE FIRST STEP IS ADMITTING THEY HAVE A PROBLEM.

AT O'BRIEN HOUSE WE PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP THERAPY IN AN INDIVIDUALIZED BASIS.

SO WE HAVE CLIENTS FROM ALL RANGES THAT ARE STRICTLY ALCOHOLICS THAT HAVE DONE A MULTITUDE OF DRUGS, THAT DON'T DRINK, SO WE MAKE THEIR TREATMENT PERSONAL TO THEM.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU.

FOR MUCH OF THE PAST YEAR THERE WERE TONS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WOULD THE MONEY LOOK LIKE IN LOUISIANA?

WHAT WOULD THE STATE BUDGET LOOK LIKE?

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD NO IDEA.

SO TONS OF QUESTIONS, BUT ULTIMATELY, SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS GOT ANSWERED IN TERMS OF TONS OF BLESSINGS, I THINK.

JIM RICHARDSON FOR 32 YEARS ON THE REVENUE ESTIMATING CONFERENCE AND WAS OUT THERE FORECASTING THOSE NUMBERS, THE STATE IS WORKING WITH $38 BILLION IN THEIR STATE OPERATING BUDGET AND IT'S FROM MANY DIFFERENT PLACES, BUT, AGAIN, THE FEDERAL IS HUGE.

AND I WANTED TO ASK YOU TO HELP BREAK IT DOWN AND WHAT IT MEANS GOING FORWARD?

OKAY.

$38 BILLION, IT IS NOT THE STATE MONEY, BUT FEDERAL MONEY IS A LARGE PART OF THAT.

THE STATE INCLUDES STATE TAXES THAT WE PAY, FEES THAT WE PAY, AND THEN SOME OTHER STUFF GENERATING MONEY AS WELL.

SO THE STATE'S PORTION OF THAT $38 BILLION IS MAYBE HALF.

OKAY.

THE FEDERAL MONEY HAS BEEN HUGE AND CERTAINLY IN THE LAST TWO YEARS BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE OF THE SOCIAL PROGRAMS THAT WERE INSTITUTED IN THE AMERICAN CARES ACT IN MARCH OF 2020 AND THEN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN IN MARCH OF 2021.

HUGE INFUSIONS OF MONEY.

YES.

WHICH IF THOSE WEREN'T THERE, I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE WOULD BE.

WELL, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY KNOWS FOR SURE.

YEAH.

BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED IS IN MARCH OF 2020, WHEN THEY PASSED THE CARES ACT, THEY ESSENTIALLY ASSISTED THE STATES IN THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS.

MM-HMM.

IN TERMS OF EXTENDING THEM MORE THAN WHAT THE STATE'S PROGRAM WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PAY FOR.

AND THEN THEY ADDED ON DOLLARS IN TERMS OF THE EXTRA MONEY THE RELIEF MONEY, $600 A WEEK FOR A FAMILY BACK IN 2020.

AND THAT LASTED UNTIL JULY OF 2020.

AND THAT $600 A WEEK, $2,400 A MONTH, THAT IS A BIG CHUNK OF MONEY FOR A FAMILY.

RIGHT.

WHICH OFFSET, IF THEY WERE LAID OFF, IF THEY COULD NOT FIND WORK AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

NOW, THAT WENT AWAY AS OF THE END OF JULY OF 2020.

IT CAME BACK AT THE END OF DECEMBER OF 2020 IN A SMALLER AMOUNT, $300 A WEEK, WHICH IS STILL GOING TO BE HERE THROUGH JULY 31st FOR LOUISIANA FAMILIES AS EXTRA MONEY, IF YOU ARE UNEMPLOYED.

IF YOU ARE UNEMPLOYED.

IF YOU CANNOT FIND WORK, OR IF YOU ARE A GIG WORKER AND DON'T HAVE ABILITY TO REALLY DO YOUR BUSINESS AS SUCH.

RIGHT.

WITH ALL THE ESTIMATING THAT YOU DID FOR YEARS AND YEARS, YOU DIDN'T HAVE A YEAR LIKE THIS ONE, SO REALLY DIFFICULT TO TRY TO ESTIMATE HOW THE NUMBERS WERE GOING TO GO.

VERY MUCH.

YOU HAVE ALWAYS HAD SOME PROBLEMS IN LOUISIANA.

OIL PRICES JUMPING UP AND DOWN.

YOU NEVER ANTICIPATED WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE, PERFECTLY IMPOSSIBLE.

THIS IS MORE -- IN 2020 WE SHUT THE ECONOMY DOWN.

RESTAURANTS, YOU CAN'T OPEN.

HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS AHEAD.

NO IDEA.

NO CUTS ACROSS THE BOARD, THE STATE SEEMED SOLID, BUT AS YOU GET FORWARD THE MONEY DOESN'T LAST.

WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT COME SEPTEMBER THE FEDERAL PROGRAMS WILL PRETTY MUCH END, AT LEAST THE PROGRAMS HELPING PEOPLE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED.

AT THAT POINT HOPEFULLY JOBS WILL OPEN UP AGAIN.

CERTAINLY THERE IS NO DOUBT AS YOU LISTED CERTAINLY IN LOUISIANA, THERE IS A CONCERN THAT EMPLOYERS NEED MORE PEOPLE.

HOPEFULLY THEY WILL BE ABLE TO COME BACK IN AUGUST, THEY WILL COME BACK AND HAVE THE JOBS AVAILABLE AND WILL COME BACK IN MORE NORMAL ECONOMY.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HOPING FOR.

NOW, HOW THAT WILL WORK OUT EXACTLY, WE DON'T KNOW.

AS YOU ARE SAYING, A LOT OF THE FEDERAL MONEY, NATIONWIDE, WILL KIND OF STOP PROPPING UP THE ECONOMY.

THE ECONOMY IS GOING TO HAVE TO OPERATE ON ITS OWN.

SOONER OR LATER THAT IS GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN ANYWAY.

THE HOPE IS THAT WILL COME ONLINE PRETTY MUCH AS THE OTHER IS FADING AWAY.

SO THERE IS NOT A COLLISION SOMEWHERE.

THAT IS THE IDEA.

THAT IS THE HOPE.

THE PREDICTIONS ARE NOT NECESSARILY PERFECT.

ONE THING QUICKLY.

THE STATE IS GOING TO HAVE A SALES TAX THAT IS GOING TO ROLL OFF AT SOME POINT.

DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE A CHANCE OF THAT BEING EXTENDED?

WELL, I THINK THERE IS ALWAYS A CHANCE.

RIGHT.

IT ROLLS OFF, BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS HAPPENING THAT WILL HAPPEN IN 2025 THAT THE STATE -- ONE IS THE SMALL PART OF THE SALES TAX WILL ROLL OFF.

IF WE STILL HAVE LOTS OF MONEY, WE MAY NOT NEED IT.

WHO KNOWS.

THE OTHER PART IS THE FEDERAL TAXES ARE NOW DEDUCTIBLE, AT LEAST ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL SCHEDULE GO UP IN 2025.

I DON'T THINK THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN EXACTLY.

IT WILL HAPPEN FOR SOME PEOPLE, NOT FOR EVERYBODY, BUT WHO KNOWS WHAT MAY HAPPEN.

IF, INDEED, THE PAYROLL TAXES GO UP, THAT WILL DROP OUR INCOME TAX BASE.

NOW THERE'S A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT OF OCTOBER 9 TO DO AWAY WITH THAT DEDUCTION AND TO LOWER THE RATES.

I HAVE NO IDEA IF PEOPLE WILL ACCEPT THAT OR REJECT IT.

IT IS UP TO THEM AT THAT POINT.

ALL RIGHT.

ECONOMIST JIM RICHARDSON, YOU ALWAYS HAVE INTERESTING POINTS.

THIS HAS BEEN A YEAR COMPLEX AS IT CAN GET.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, NOW.

YOU BET.

THIS WEEK'S LOUISIANA YOUNG HERO IS A NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLAR A HUGE HISTORY BUFF.

HE HAS DONE SPEAKING TOURS AT TULANE AND PUBLISHED TWO PAPERS AT THE HISTORY OF FOUNTAINBLEAU STATE PARK IN MANDEVILLE.

THROUGH ALL OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, HIS BROTHER IS HIS BIGGEST MOTIVATION.

AT 4-YEAR-OLD JACKSON CANTRELL WAS AN EXPLORER, A PIRATE ON A MISSION TO STEALING GOODS, OR INDIANA JONES ON THE HUNT FOR THE CHRIS CAL -- CRYSTAL SKULL.

I CHALK IT UP TO MY MOM SHOWING ME INDIANA JONES AT 4 YEARS OLD.

I FOUND IT FASCINATING.

HIS MOTHER SAYS HIS IMAGINATION WAS ENDLESS AND HISTORY MADE IT SPARK.

HE ASKED TO GO TO THE BATTLEFIELD AT THE AGE OF 4.

SINCE THEN WHEN THEY OPENED THE WORLD WAR II MUSEUM, HE ASKED IF WE COULD PLEASE GET A MEMBERSHIP THERE.

SO FROM WORLD WAR II BACK TO THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS TO ALL SORTS OF OTHER HISTORICAL EVENTS, HE HAS REALLY BEEN INTERESTED.

HE IS ALREADY AN EXPLORER IN HIS OWN RIGHT, THIS PARK, THE FOUNTAINBLEAU STATE PARK IN MANDEVILLE WAS A WHOLE NEW ADVENTURE TO UNCOVER.

IT STARTED WITH A CONVERSATION.

HIS MENTOR TOLD HIM THE HISTORY BEHIND THE PLANS.

THE LARGE OAK TREES AND RUINS TOLD A STORY HIDDEN BY TIME.

JACK WANTED TO DESPERATELY UNDERSTAND.

AND HE WOULD.

WHEN I WAS 6 OR 7 YEARS OLD, I RAN INTO ONE OF THE RANGERS HERE GRAY HAWKú$@@@@ PERKINS, A GOT TO TALKING, HE ASKED ME, SO, JACK, WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT ALLEY OF OAKS WAS FAMOUS FOR?

AND I SAID, OH, WAS THERE IS A BIG PLANTATION HOUSE?

NORMALLY WHEN YOU SEE CHAINS OR ROOTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THERE IS A BIG PLANTATION HOUSE AT THE END OF AN ALLEY OF OAKS:HE SAID, NO, THAT IS WHERE THE SLAVE CABINS WERE THAT INFORMATION CHANGED EVERYTHING.

JACK THUMBED THROUGH RECORDS FOR EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS PLACE.

IF HE DIDN'T KNOW SURELY OTHERS WERE CLUELESS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

IT TOOK A DECADE TO FIND OUT WHO THESE PEOPLE WERE.ú■ 150 SLAVES LIVED IN CABINS UNDER THE OAK TREES.

@L@L@D@t@d@d HURRICANES AND@( FLOODING BROUG THEM AWAY.

THAT UH0é WASN'T A REASON TO LEE IT BEHIND.

THAT SORT OF BLEW ME AWAY.

NORMALLY YOU COME TO FOUNTAINBLEAU STATE PARK, YOU SEE WEDDING PHOTOS, WEDDINGS TAKING PLACE, BABY SHOWERS, PEOPLE HAVING BIRTHDAYS.

I WAS SORT OF DISAPPOINTED THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ALL THE HISTORY THAT WAS REALLY HERE AT FOUNTAINBLEAU.

SO HE MADE THE HISTORY OF THIS PARKúçúç KNOWN.úyp2p2pr HE PUT UP Apú PLAQUE DIRECTLY I FRONT OF THE ALLEY OFpps■ OAKS.ñ IT@u z0[ GIVES A BRIEF HISTORYp PEOPLEú; WHO LIVED HERE.

ON THE OTHER SIDE HE PAYS HOMAGE TO HIS MENTOR GRAYHAWK PERKINS, EXPLAINING THE ROLE OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES.

IT WAS A LABOR OF LOVE.

IT STARTED WITH MY BROTHER, COLE.

HE HAS SIGNIFICANT AUTISM.

OVER THE YEARS I WOULD SEE PEOPLE TREAT HIM WITH DISRESPECT AND HE DOESN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO ADVOCATE FOR HIMSELF OR DEFEND HIMSELF OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO I WAS ALWAYS OFFPUT BY PEOPLE WHO WERE DETRIMENTAL TO THOSE WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES OR DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO.@?@?

AND THAT SORT OF, I GUESS,■■ WH REALLY DREW ME INTO@o@o@i FOUNTAINBLEAU, REALLY.

j>r@r IN A@t WAY, COLEN,N, R■ PEOPLETÑ IN FOUNTAINBLEAU WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES, DIGGING UP THEIR LIVES AND PUTTING IT ON DISPLAY GAVE THEM MORE OF A VOICE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE HAD OTHERWISE.

WE ARE GOING TO GET YOU ALLJ LOADED UP.

HAVE FUN ON@ç@; THE@p WATER.

(0&0 JACK@@@@@@ CONTINUES TO TELLD STORIES.

HE EXPLAINS THE■■ HISTORY OF TH LAND TO PEOPLE FROM ALL xvpvpvOO HEúñúopO WILL GO@í TO FLORENCE, TO STUDY THIS SUMMER BEFORE HE STARTS HIS FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE.

HE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT AT A YOUNG AGE AND HIS MOTHER SAYS THIS IS THE BEGINNING.

HIS TEACHERS, HIS SCOUT LEADERS RESPECT WHAT HE HAS DONE, NOT IN HIS OWN NAME, BUT IN THE NAME OF BEING A GOOD CITIZEN, A SCOUT, JUST BEING A GOOD PERSON.

JACK SAYS HE IS NOT SURE WHAT HE WANTS TO DO JUST YET, BUT HE IS SURE HISTORY WILL BE A BIG PART OF WHATEVER HE CHOOSES.

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.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, THAT'S THE "STATE WE'RE IN."

SUPPORT FOR LPB'S 2021 LOUISIANA YOUNG HEROES IS PROVIDED BY -- AT AMERICA HEALTHTAS OF LOUISIANA, WE HELP PEOPLE GET WELL, STAY WELL AND CARE IS AT THE CORE OF OUR WORK.

AND BY THE U.S. ARMY, BATON ROUGE RECRUITING BATTALION, COMMUNITY COFFEE, AND THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY.

WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM HOTEL INDIGO AND DEMCO.

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.