Support for Louisiana.

The state we're in is provided by Entergy.

Louisiana is strengthening our power grid throughout the state.

We're reinforcing infrastructure to prepare for stronger storms, reduce outages, and respond quicker when you do need us.

Because together we power life.

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 a historical and cultural center for Southwest Louisiana.

And the Foundation for Excellence in Louisiana Public Broadcasting and viewers like you.

Thank you.

A dangerous disease affecting Louisiana's deer population has wildlife officials on high alert.

And a new effort is taking root across Louisiana, protecting communities one tree at a. Time.

2026 is a huge election year for Louisiana.

We'll check out some of the big races with political analyst Jim Inkster.

And Sentimental Treasure or Potential Goldmine.

We'll take you behind the scenes of LP, these latest antiques appraisal.

Let's get started.

Let's get to it.

Hi everyone.

I'm Christina Jensen.

And I'm Johnnie Adkins, and much more on those top stories in a moment on this week's edition of Louisiana The State We're In.

But first, a growing threat to Louisiana's deer herd has triggered an emergency declaration by state wildlife officials.

Chronic wasting disease continues to spread, with nearly 50 confirmed cases statewide.

Today, we go inside the lab where those samples are analyzed and explain what the growing numbers mean for wildlife and for hunters.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has issued a declaration of emergency after chronic wasting disease, or was confirmed in a hunter harvested deer in Concordia Parish.

The 180 day declaration kicks the agency's response into gear, expanding testing and sample collection, increasing surveillance, tracking deer movements, and ramping up hunter education.

The emergency order also expands the control area to include Catahoula and Concordia parishes, as well as portions of a Voyles, LaSalle point, KP and Rapids parishes.

What we're trying to do there is to slow the contact or reduce contact rates between animals.

And one of the ways to do that is to eliminate baiting and feeding, at least where the disease has been detected.

Even with these measures in place, the disease continues to show up in new areas.

Since 2022, Louisiana has recorded 49 cases in 2025.

Early 2025, we detected our first positive beyond and saw, which was in Catahoula Parish.

Since that time, we've most recently detected the disease in Concordia.

Chronic wasting disease is a fatal neurological disease that attacks the nervous system of deer infected animals, experience weight loss, abnormal behavior, and eventually die.

There is currently no cure or vaccine making.

Early detection and containment is essential.

It's a very slow progressing disease, so symptoms typically will not display for 16 to 24 months.

Shortly after those symptoms display, the animal will succumb to the disease.

Spreads through direct contact between infected and healthy animals, or indirectly through contaminated environments such as soil, food, or water sources.

Hunting, movement of live deer and improper carcass disposal can also contribute to the spread.

That's where hunters can help when they observe deer that display symptoms of the disease.

Reporting those deer in that location to DWF allows our staff to respond and potentially sample those animals.

I visited the Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at LSU, where thousands of samples are being processed.

The process is not difficult, but it requires a lot of skills, both from a technical point of view as well as from an interpretation point of view.

So, here at LSU, we gather all those, the expertise needed to carry out the test.

So it's not a test that requires also a lot of specialized instrumentation, as you see in this room.

So that it makes us basically and be one of the unique places where this testing can be performed because we have professional expertise.

This lab is nationally accredited and leading the way in animal disease testing.

To date, it has tested roughly 3000 samples for aiming for 4000 by 2026.

The test that we currently use is the technical name is immunohistochemistry.

So we obtain, tissues from the from the deer.

The two tissue types that we test are ovex, which is a region of the brain of the of the deer, and retro pharyngeal lymph nodes.

These two tissues are processed in our lab into a paraffin block, where we generate thin sections with, special equipment.

We have, and then those sections are stained specifically for prion protein.

And then we can detect the prion protein with a color that can then be evaluated microscopically via veterinary pathologist.

If a deer test positive for the sample is forwarded to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory for final confirmation that verification process not only confirms the diagnosis, but also help shape state and federal wildlife management decisions.

As part of those efforts, Ldw urges hunters to submit tissue samples, report deer exhibiting unusual behavior, and practice safe seal dressing techniques.

Steering clear of high risk tissues like the brain and spinal cord.

Since many hunters travel across Louisiana to deer hunt, it's very important that they adhere to the local guidance for the parish at which they hunt.

With the expanded control area and ongoing testing, Ldw can better track, understand its spread and implement measures to protect healthy deer populations.

For more information, including Drop-Off locations and testing guidelines, visit the LD auf website.

Let's take a look at what's going on this week in the world of sports.

Sports correspondent Victor Howard joins us now with more.

How's it going, Victor?

Great to see you all doing very well.

Lots of action.

We're going to start with action on the baseball diamond, because it is now officially underway around the state in the colleges and last weeks first week of college baseball, there were a lot of storylines from around the state.

Let's take a look at some of them.

Starting up in Ruston, where Louisiana Tech hosted Houston Christian last weekend to open up the season.

And how about the start for Washington native Cade Patterson?

Game one the sophomore hitting not one but two grand slams in the season opener.

The Diamond Dogs won that game, and the fact won their first four games before they lost to McNeese on Wednesday night.

This weekend, they are in Memphis for a three game, three team series out in California.

The Tulane Green Wave opened the season, winning two of three at Loyola marymount, but the attention grabber was game three.

The wave won six two thanks to 19 strikeouts in that game by the wave pitching staff.

The 19 strikeouts tied for third most in school history in a game, and the most since 1972.

After going two and 2 in 4 games total at West, the waves play at home for the first time this season.

This weekend, when they host a three game series against Harvard and in Baton Rouge.

The LSU Tigers made it five for five to open the season after sweeping three games from Milwaukee, one from Kent State and a Wednesday night win over Nicholls.

The Tigers have won three of their first five games by the ten one rule, meaning they don't have to play a whole nine innings on the softball diamonds around the state.

The Southeastern Lions softball team, who cracked the top 25 before losing to Louisiana Tech.

They've won five in a row and they're in Conway, Arkansas, this weekend for Central Arkansas tournament.

The number 17 LSU Lady Tigers hosting their annual Purple and Gold challenge this weekend.

One of the teams taking part, the Ranger cages from down I-10 in Lafayette, Michigan State and Howard will also be in Baton Rouge.

And after playing the first nine games away from Ruston, the Lady Texter softball team is now playing nine straight at home.

They won the first two Tuesday against Northwestern State.

Thursday night against you on Monroe.

This weekend, they'll host Southern Miss in a three game series.

Let's go to the hardware now.

We're in Lake Charles.

The winds keep coming for head coach and Acusado and her McNeese basketball team.

And their most recent win on Thursday was a little extra special.

Thursday night, her cowgirls beat Texas Rio Grande Valley for their 16th straight win to Brianna Sibley had a career high 26 points to lead the way.

Lead the way in a 6253 win.

In the process, they claimed no worse than a share of the Southland Conference regular season title as their first title since 2011.

At 23 wins overall and counting, Casado has more wins in her first year as head coach than any first year head coach in McNeese history.

They'll go for win number 24 at home Saturday afternoon at 1:00, when they host Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

That was a close one in Lake Charles.

How about what happened in Oxford, Mississippi, on Thursday night?

A close one between number seven LSU and number 17 Ole Miss.

Lady Tigers looking to bounce back from a loss against South Carolina one week ago.

It wasn't easy.

They were down 13 and that set the stage for their largest comeback of the season.

Malaysia for Wiley had a career high 26 points.

LSU held the rebels ready no field goals in the entire fourth quarter, as the Lady Tigers grabbed the victory 78 to 70.

They are back in Baton Rouge on Sunday when they will host the Missouri Tigers.

And as we've discussed here over the last few weeks, there's been a lot happening in the world of sports on the field, on the court and the diamonds.

But there was one significant development off the field worth mentioning.

And that, again, is up in Ruston.

That's where head coach Sonny Cumbie agreed to a three year extension to continue as head football coach of the Bulldogs, and a sign of the times come.

He agreed to a 25% reduction in his salary with the agreement and understanding that the money would be saved and go directly back into the football program for player enhancements and the nil.

Last season, the Bulldogs finished with eight wins, the most since 2019.

They also won the Independence Bowl.

That was also the first time they've done that since 2019.

Big win.

They can finish their last three games this season.

They wants a lot of momentum and good news to see Sonny can't be going back and staying there as head coach of the Bulldogs football team.

Yeah, a lot of good things happening.

A lot.

Of going on.

As Victor.

Thank you Victor.

You bet.

Across Louisiana, resilience is planting more than trees.

It's planting protection.

The program is helping communities prepare for stronger storms and rising heat.

One tree at a time.

Here's a look at how these routes are helping build a safe, greener state from the ground up.

Across Louisiana.

Trees do more than shape the landscape.

They protect communities, cool neighborhoods, and help shield coastlines from storms.

But as extreme weather and new development take their toll, the resilience program is stepping in.

Working to restore those benefits.

The effort is bringing resilience back one tree at a time.

Right now, we're in Fairview Riverside State Park.

That's one of the two state parks that we've been working with as part of the program.

We also did a lot of work at Sam Houston Jones State Park in Lake Charles.

In addition to state parks, we're working with municipalities, parishes, nonprofits across the 22 parishes that are eligible on the southern side of the state.

We've gotten a lot of interest from communities across the state.

And our hope is to expand the program statewide moving forward.

The resilience Program is a national initiative helping communities grow and maintain healthy, resilient tree canopies, specifically in areas where trees have been lost or where greenspace can make the biggest difference.

The program combines several strategies tree planting, maintenance, and the removal of hazardous trees, along with community support and education.

Urban trees are really important.

I think they're more important than most people think.

They help to manage our stormwater.

They reduce flood impacts.

They reduce urban heat temperatures, sequester carbon, clean our water, our air.

And then they're also just really good for your mental and physical health.

Each tree that is planted is carefully selected.

Native species chosen for their ability to survive local conditions, support wildlife, and provide long term benefits for program leaders.

Success is measured in how fast trees go into the ground, but how long they last.

We are planting at least 75% of the species put in the ground are native, so they have evolved ecologically in these habitats, which means that they're going to be really beneficial for our pollinators.

They're going to be resilient to our temperatures and climates that we have, and then we want trees that are going to be able to withstand what we have coming.

So we know that our storms are going to be more intense, more impactful, higher wind speeds are going to, you know, linger over land longer.

And we need species like the southern live oak.

That's going to be able to do that.

In Mandeville, the program is bringing new life to Fairview Riverside State Park.

This park was chosen for a reason.

Over time, Fairview Riverside has lost trees due to storm and erosion.

And you can feel that loss.

It's not just about appearance.

It's about how this space functions.

Much of the hands on work is being done by Gulf Corps, a conservation workforce program that trains young adults while helping communities restore natural spaces.

So this particular project, we are planting roughly 30 trees of a variety of Louisiana natives, and we're trying to reforest this park a little more.

Bring back the canopy cover so that there's nice shade, and then also it'll help restore biodiversity to the area.

In Louisiana, that investment is critical across the state.

Resilience is planted more than 7400 trees in areas hardest hit by the 2020 and 2021 hurricanes.

At Fairview Riverside alone, 111 native trees have been added over the past two years.

This park has lost a lot of its canopy over the last ten years or so, and the probably over 400 trees have been lost in the last ten years.

How will the new trees help the park?

When you used to come in this park, it was.

It was like coming from the city to the forest immediately.

So this will help.

Just bring the trees in, you know, they'll grow up and extend 20 years and they'll provide shelter for the RV campers.

Beyond parks and green spaces, resilience often focuses on neighborhoods where trees are scarce.

Areas more likely to experience extreme heat and flooding.

Funded by a USDA Forest Service grant, these plantings stretch across Louisiana from De Ritter and Lake Charles to Alexandria, Slidell, Madisonville, and New Orleans.

Once these trees mature, it will help shape the park and the surrounding community for decades.

It's an investment in the next generation.

Louisiana voters will soon be heading to the polls to cast their ballots in a number of key races.

One of the most impactful being the U.S.

Senate race, where incumbent Bill Cassidy faces a long list of potential challengers.

In this week's Louisiana Speaks, political analyst Jim Inkster gives us a preview.

Of Louisiana elections are coming up on May 16th.

One of the most important races is the U.S.

Senate.

Joining me now is political analyst and longtime talk show radio host Jim Inkster.

And I know you've been around.

What do you think about this year's elections?

This year we have a close primary.

Johnny, we haven't had 1 in 16 years, and we still have open primaries for the elections next year for governor and all the statewide offices.

But this changes the dynamics, particularly for Senator Cassidy, because no longer will Democrats be able to vote for a Republican or vice versa.

They have to vote in their primary.

And as a result, the only other people eligible to vote in the Republican primary or the Democratic primary or nonaffiliated voters.

So it'll be a highly partizan, turnout at the polls on each side.

And the Republican side appears to be where the action is, because the incumbent has not one, but two significant challengers.

Julia Letlow, she was endorsed by President Trump and then Governor Landry.

Do you think she has a big shot of taking Bill Cassidy?

See, polls indicate that she may very well be the favorite.

And, Donald Trump, despite some perhaps faltering poll numbers elsewhere, I think in Louisiana, he's still way above water.

And three trips to the post.

He's received about 60% of the votes.

So a lot of the people voting, in fact, most of the people voting in the Republican primary will have voted for Donald Trump three times, and she has the backing of him.

So there's no doubt that was significant.

The question is whether Cassidy, with a big warchest that exceeds $10 million, will be able to mount.

A challenge.

And it is interesting that he is a two term incumbent, and we're calling it a challenge because he's got the challenge of, defeating the president in his party in a state that is fire engine red.

And now, John Fleming is now in the race, and he looks like he's doing pretty well.

He is a statewide elected office holder, a former U.S.

congressman, a successful businessperson, and he was the deputy chief of staff to Donald Trump.

So he is a legitimate, candidate.

But the question is whether he can break through and make what is expected to be a runoff.

Well, carbon capture is a big issue now.

And how do you think that will impact this election?

Well, John Fleming is counting on that to be his, ticket to the Senate.

Now, the question is whether the electorate is more, geared up to focus on carbon capture or the economy and other issues like crime and traffic.

All this, all the issues that we've been debating in Louisiana education.

My guess is that carbon capture is probably in the top ten issues, but it's not number one.

Yeah.

You think John Fleming has a chance good chance in this election?

Well, I think he's got to, break through one or the other because, the key is to make a runoff, and there almost certainly will be a runoff.

And the question is whether he'll finish third, second or first.

At this point, it appears the candidates are blanketed pretty closely together, each with about a third of the electorate.

But that can change.

And Cassidy has got the advantage of incumbency and of money.

But he also has the advantage of a record.

And the big stain on his record from Republicans is that he voted to convict on impeachment.

Donald Trump.

And that may be an unforgivable sin.

And if that's the case, then Fleming.

Yeah, I think Fleming would be a potential, candidate who could win.

But, his odds are probably no better than one out of three.

So you think that vote could cost Cassidy this election?

Well, if he loses, I'm sure that vote will be the reason.

Because he has gone to the mat for President Trump over and over since then, and even even, nominated him for the Nobel Prize.

So he's done everything he can to make up with President Trump.

But as we know, the man from Gotham City keep score.

Well, Julia Letlow, if she's giving up her seat to run.

What do you think?

Who do you think will fill her seat?

Well, there are some candidates who are really, viable.

And it is interesting that Blake Migas, a state senator, received the endorsement over another state senator, Rick Edmonds, who's been a loyal soldier for Donald Trump and is really, touted by the evangelical movement, which includes the speaker of the House, Mike Johnson.

But like me, guess, decided to move as a Senate candidate over to this race.

And he's got the president's backing, and he raised a lot of money in his projected run for the Senate.

So we'll see if that works.

But, there's, there's another state lawmaker, Representative Echols from the Monroe area who is in that race.

And that, too, looks like a possible runoff scenario.

So this may be the dress rehearsal on May 16th.

And in those two marquee races, the Senate race and the one hotly contested congressional race, the big action may be on June 27th.

So are there any other big issues you see in this election?

Well, I think this is that those are the two races that are likely to gather the fancy of, the electorate and the other congresspeople have what amounts to minimal opposition.

And the Democratic Party, which used to be the, the lead party in the state and still numerically has a plurality, although although it's very close now, they really don't have a viable candidate who can win in the Senate.

So whoever survives the Republican primary on June 27th is likely to be the senator.

And it's in Louisiana.

We don't allow somebody to immediately jump in and run as an independent in November.

That's not a possibility.

So the chances are the senator will almost certainly be either Bill Cassidy for a third term or Julia Letlow or John Fleming.

And that's where we are.

All right.

Well, I like to thank you, Jim Inkster, for giving us some information on, this upcoming election.

Well, good to see you, Johnny.

Congratulations on coming home.

Thank you.

Well, just about every family has a knickknack or an heirloom that's been passed down over the generations.

But are those antiques worth a fortune, or do they have only sentimental value?

OPB recently hosted its latest antiques appraisal event, help some Families find out the best.

Today, Where It Lives official appraisal event where people are bringing in their collectibles for an official evaluation and.

What do you have here that makes this about English?

Fireplace accessories, probably mid 1800s.

You have an idea what they're worth?

Not really.

That's why I'm here today.

I found this for almost nothing.

And it's a Richard Redfin.

We think.

I have, or original Raggedy Ann story, but.

The friends of PBS's antiques appraisal event featured eight expert appraisers.

A team included specialists in various fields from all around the state.

There's a lot of demand.

Out there for people to have their antiques looked at.

And so this is one of those events where people can be seen, they can get their, antiques looked at and a. Safe space and, with like minded people who also enjoy just the whole vibe of Antiques Roadshow.

Friends of LPB held the event to uncover stories behind the treasured heirlooms, helping owners understand the origin, the craftsmanship, and the value of their pieces.

Gentleman brought this in just moments ago.

It is a beautiful, beautiful pocket watch.

It is, decorated with enamel work and it's inlaid with 90 real pearls.

One collector brought an old family heirloom that was made more than 200 years ago.

And then polyphonic era in France.

It is an absolutely pristine condition, is a beautiful, beautifully painted, scene here of these ladies.

What do you value that.

I would value this conservatively at $15,000.

This is an incredible treasure.

Original pictures of the signing of the World War two treaty with Japan.

This is Hebei and the eagle of Jupiter.

This was done by, Francois Ruud.

What do you think it's worth?

I'm going to find out.

This is Babe Ruth's baseball card.

Yes.

Where'd you get something like that?

I did a trade with a gentleman who wanted one of my gas pumps.

A 1940 gas pump I had.

Although it's very worn, it's still a clear value.

Somewhere between 1500 and $2500.

What are some tips for people who have things in their closet?

Not sure what they were.

I think try to find a maker name or, a brand or something like that.

Do a Google, see what you got.

EBay's a really good starting point.

I just want to tell people that sometimes those websites, it's like an asking price, so you're not getting what they're going to get for that.

Honestly, between, Google.

And ChatGPT, you can look at things and it will at least research it online.

Unfortunately, not everything is accurate online, but at least it'll give you.

An idea if it might be worth showing to somebody.

Rebecca Visser of Beavers Design is an internationally renowned textile artist and a featured speaker at the LBB event.

My favorite thing that came in today was a piece that at first when they were walking.

Up, I thought, oh no, this is some little.

Corny thing from the 1970s.

And when I looked closer, it was a split.

Thread embroidery, which.

Means they take a thread like a normal thread on a spool, and.

They split the tiny little.

Thread into 3 or 4 pieces.

And then they stitch with that.

And I mean, thank goodness my eyes haven't completely gone because I was blown away.

Another item being appraised was believed to be an original painting by the one and only Bob Ross.

About a little parking lot sale for $5 for the frames.

When I brought it home and I saw the brass.

A lot of paintings are painted in the Bob Ross style.

It would probably bring around 150 to $200, only.

Worth a few hundred dollars.

But it's something that has, a lot of meaning.

This is a Clementine Hunter painting I bought about 35 years ago.

I think he said about 5 to 6000.

And we're really thankful to LPB for having an event like this, because how else are we going to find out.

What these things are worth in.

Such a fun way?

When I saw it, I knew it wasn't as old as I had hoped.

And, I knew it was in really bad shape.

So, I had very low expectations, and I'm thrilled that they're pieces of it that we can take and potentially frame.

I thought I was going to come here and make my fortune and have a happier retirement.

Didn't turn out that way.

Although, just being here was priceless.

So I still feel like I'm leaving here a rich woman.

The friends of LPB antiques appraisal event was a treasure hunt.

Getting expert insights.

The value of Louisiana family's old personal belongings.

And some sad news this week.

Civil rights leader and longtime president of Xavier University, doctor Norman C Francis, has passed away.

I never regretted trading, but my father probably never gave me a potentially prosperous legal career for higher education administration.

This kind and gracious award this evening is perhaps an affirmation that my choice was the proper one.

Doctor Francis was named an LPB Louisiana legend in 2003.

He's credited with transforming the university into the institution that sends more minority students to medical school than any other college in the country.

Over his life, Francis was recognized with dozens of honorary doctorates, advised eight presidents on education and civil rights issues, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Doctor Norman C Francis was 94 years old.

That's our show for this week, remember, you can watch anything LPB anytime, wherever you are with our LPB app, and.

You can catch LPB News and Public Affairs shows, as well as other Louisiana programs that you've come to enjoy over the years.

And please like us on Facebook and Instagram.

For everyone at Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

I'm Christina Jensen and.

I'm Johnny Atkinson.

Until next time.

That's the state we're in.

Support for Louisiana.

The state we're in is provided by Entergy.

Louisiana is strengthening our power grid throughout the state.

We're reinforcing infrastructure to prepare for stronger storms, reduce outages, and respond quicker when you do need us.

Because together we power life.

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 a historical and cultural center for Southwest Louisiana.

And by Visit Baton Rouge.

And the Foundation for Excellence in Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

And viewers like you.

Thank you.