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.

In the upcoming legislative session, state lawmakers will look at ways to lower Louisiana's auto insurance rates.

I'll bring you the details.

And we're honoring women who break barriers and thrive during Women's History Month.

The new owner of Norway Plantation has big goals to revitalize the historic property and make it an economic driver.

Plus, the McNeese Cowgirls have a new head coach, and she's no stranger to Louisiana sports.

Victor Howell has more.

Are you ready?

Yeah.

Let's get started.

Okay.

Hello, everyone.

I'm Karen Lichtblau and I'm Dorothea Wilson.

Much more on those top stories in a moment.

On this week's edition of Louisiana, the State we're In.

But first, in our series, Driving into Debt, we've looked at how Louisiana's auto insurance rates are becoming unaffordable to many consumers, as well as small businesses.

So what can be done to bring down those rates?

In the upcoming legislative session, lawmakers will consider several possible solutions.

Here's a look at some of those proposals.

Kristen Coogan, whose consumer auto insurance premiums doubled after an uninsured motorist claim, says no pay, no play should be the letter of the law with auto insurance payouts.

Louisiana business owner Todd Hine saw his commercial vehicle insurance, quote, triple when it came time for renewal.

He wants more carriers writing insurance in Louisiana to create competition and lower premiums.

What do you believe are the root causes for Louisiana's high auto insurance rates?

Well, let me start off by saying what it's not.

We've looked at road conditions.

We've looked at fatality rates, traffic densities, miles driven, credit score, gender use, all those things.

And what we found in my opinion, and the data backs it up.

We're not outliers in anything like that, but we are outliers in accidents that have exacerbated medical bills and rates of accidents that have bodily injury as compared to the rest of the country.

For me, the legislative solutions focus on the legal environment and on reforming some of our our laws.

And we're not reinventing the wheel.

We're not wanting to do anything extreme.

Lawmakers are looking at several solutions to curb Sky-High auto insurance rates and bring more competition to the auto insurance marketplace.

I think that medical transparency would be something that would move the needle, and that would make it fair and balanced.

Medical billing transparency provides jurors with the actual cost of medical bills used to determine claims and damage payouts and bodily injury lawsuits.

It's been referred to as collateral source, which is really about transparency and medical billing.

And I think a lot of your viewers probably have heard enough at this point that there is a difference between what is billed when you seek medical treatment as a result of an accident versus what is actually paid.

The Louisiana Association for justice, a statewide organization of trial lawyers, is calling for more transparency from insurance companies regarding the criteria they use to set rates.

This is an algorithm that's been invented by the insurance companies, and we don't know what's in them.

We don't know what what it consists of, and they use that in Louisiana to drive up the price of insurance.

In Louisiana, damages and auto insurance lawsuits are determined based on a comparative fault system.

That means even if the plaintiff is majority at fault in an accident, he or she can file suit for damages.

Right now, you can be 90% at fault in an accident and still collect a windfall, personal injury award.

And that's not fair.

Most other states operate under a modified comparative fault system.

And that's what I would like to to move to and show what the modified comparative fault system would say is, if you're 50% or more at fault in an accident, you're not entitled to sue the insurance company.

Some see limits on damage claims filed by uninsured motorists as a solution to drive down rates.

I certainly believe that if you are not buying insurance, which is required by law and you're involved in an accident, then there should be limitations on what you can recover.

We have poor people who can't afford health insurance, and their only option is to file a lawsuit when the insurance companies won't pay their medical bills or pay for their medical treatment.

Representative gave Vermont an insurance adjuster wants to repeal the Housley presumption, the premise and bodily injury litigation that the plaintiffs injuries were caused by the accident.

The jury starts with the assumption that that injury, that pain, was the result of the accident.

Instead of starting with a level playing field.

Asking the plaintiff to prove the injury was the result of the accident.

All we would want to do there is repeal the Housley presumption, so that the defense and the plaintiffs start with an even playing field for insurance companies.

The claims payout process is a balancing act between the cost of defense and settling the case.

The insurance companies aren't as apt to settle in Louisiana as they are some other states, because there aren't penalties for them not doing it.

We want the insurance companies to fight those fraudulent lawsuits.

All too often it seems like they don't like they just settle in.

It infuriates me to to hear these stories.

In Louisiana, there are no caps on compensatory damages.

That's economic and non-economic damages in auto insurance lawsuits.

Louisiana does have a cap on medical malpractice claims, which are limited to $500,000 in damages.

Legislation that caps compensatory damages is part of the insurance reform debate.

Other states are implementing, damage caps, so you would limit the amount that the plaintiff could receive for things like pain and suffering and anxiety, mental anguish.

I don't think there should be a cap on it, because that's why we have the jury system.

If we're going to have juries and we're going to let them make the decision, let's let them make the decision.

Appellate courts are there to determine if it's fair and reasonable under the circumstances, and that that process works.

Other ideas for lowering auto insurance rates address Louisiana's road conditions and driving laws.

The first thing is, I want us to look at things that that will prevent accidents, distracted driving is a huge problem.

There have been numerous attempts to change the laws in Louisiana, dealing with telephones and what the use can be in an automobile, but that's one that we need to seriously look at and curtail some of that.

All sides of the auto insurance reform debate agree.

Louisiana consumers and companies are driving into debt with unaffordable premiums.

The difference lies in the road to take for lower rates.

If we want to see lower rates, we have to foster a competitive marketplace until we start talking about legislation that addresses that.

We're going to continue to pay the highest premiums in the country.

From hashtags to headlines.

Here's what's trending this week, okay?

A lot of us have been dealing with itchy eyes and sneezing lately, and my car is covered with pollen, by the way.

So of course, allergy season.

Oh, yes.

Indeed.

Do you hear me?

I'm trying my best not to sound like a frog, Karen.

I'm one of those people now allergic season is definitely ramping up in some parts of Louisiana.

They have it pretty bad now.

A new report ranks the worst cities for allergies, and New Orleans comes in at number two, just behind with Shita Kansas.

Baton Rouge came in at number 14.

And experts say Louisiana's weather creates the perfect conditions for plants to grow and pollen to spread.

The LSU Lady Tigers are making their third consecutive appearance in the sweet 16.

They locked in their slot with a 101 to 71 win over Florida State.

And this is so cute.

So after the game, coach Kim Mulkey got a little surprise during her post game interview.

She felt someone like tugging at her back, and then her headset fell off and it was one of her grand children.

Mulkey laughed it off and and pulled them in for a hug.

So cute.

All right, well, speaking of the LSU Tigers gymnastics team, they are headed to the postseason as the number one seed.

Now, this is the first time in the program's history that they've made it at the top spot.

Now, in addition, Karen four Tiger gymnasts Kaitlyn Chiyo, Hayley Bryant, Aliyah Finnegan and Connor McLean were named to the all SEC team.

I love that.

Some great news there for our Louisiana peeps and some other great news.

March is Women's History Month, and it's a time to honor powerful women and recognize the barriers they've overcome.

I reached out to our viewers to help me find exceptional women who deserve recognition.

One of the top nominees was Regina Davis, who is the first person of color and only the second woman to lead Baton Rouge Exxon Mobil for refinery.

Here's a look at her journey.

Women's History Month celebrates the remarkable contributions of women throughout history, culture, and society, observed annually in March in the United States since 1987.

This month provides an excellent opportunity to acknowledge the impact of women in our local Louisiana communities, as well as their crucial roles in shaping both our present and future.

With so many inspiring women in our state, I engaged with our viewers and social media community to help highlight a trailblazing woman through a popular vote.

Regina Davis was chosen as the winner.

Born and raised on the West Bank of New Orleans, Regina credits her mother for helping her achieve the success she has today.

As I am so blessed is to have a mom who had the foresight to recognize that in order to kind of break the cycle of generational poverty, she needed to make sure that we were exposed, to, careers and had the right education.

And so every summer, without fail, she made sure we were in some summer program.

It was the summer science program that ignited her passion for Stem.

What began as her mom, pushing her outside of the door, transformed into a genuine love for science, went on to graduate from high school and then went to Louisiana Tech University and majored in chemical engineering and that exposure planning that seed early really helped my trajectory and helped me kind of set me on the path that I've been on.

So incredibly blessed and blessed.

She was.

After graduation, Regina began her career at Exxon Mobil Chalmette as a chemical engineer in 1999.

24 years later, she became the leader of ExxonMobil's refinery in Baton Rouge, marking her as the first person of color and only the second woman to head the refinery and the company's 115 year history.

I'm the first person of color to run the operations.

We've been here for 115 years, and the second, female at this point in my career.

Of course, from a business perspective, being able to operate the facility with excellence and continue improving our operations to deliver for the bottom line.

But what's been even more special is that it's given me the opportunity to invest in the future leaders, whether that's inside the company or outside the company.

I think about those people who took their time in the summer to come and talk to these young ladies or provide their perspectives and how impactful that was.

And so if I could do even just a little bit of that, I think that has such a potential, amazing impact on other peoples.

And speaking of impact on other people, one of the women who suggested that Regina be honored, Melanie Thibodeaux, a Southern Law School graduate and educator in the Jefferson Parish School system, joined us to personally share with Regina the impact she's made on her life and why she nominated her for the honor.

You are such a phenomenal woman and so many women nominated you, and one of those women are here today.

Here she is.

My goodness.

Oh my gosh.

Oh, it is so.

Regina, are you surprised that Melody was one of the women that nominated you?

To say surprise is probably an understatement.

So yes, I am.

So how are you feeling right now?

I saw some tears.

I saw some emotion.

Yeah.

It's probably can't really articulate it.

So, you know, you say it surprised, but just so humble.

Like I've known her for such a long time.

But, you know, you you grow up and you move away and life happens.

And so just, you know, see her and then hear from her.

It just, again kind of reinforces sometimes you don't even know.

And I think about the people that have impacted me and they may never know the seeds that they planted.

And so it's just it's a little bit overwhelming to be honest.

And Melanie, tell our tell Regina what made you nominate her?

She's always been a woman of integrity.

She was a smart, educated, African-American woman who's like the best in everybody.

Her name is Queen, and she's always been so regal, no matter what she went through.

I watched her go through the struggle and see God's faithfulness in her life.

And knowing that no matter what goes on, to have someone to aspire to, not just in the secular world as far as making an impact on generations and breaking the cycle of generational poverty.

But to actually be able to see a woman of God stand in her integrity and her truth, that has blessed me.

What is that feel like just to hear, you know, hear that in people from such a far distance?

Like you said, you live your life, you're just going through life.

And here she is all these years later, really wanted to honor you for the work that you've done, not only not only at Exxon, but the life you've lived before people.

It's inspiring.

Yeah, it, it makes me want to continue to do what I would.

I my heart is to do to wherever I am to, to make that impact.

But then I think about the impact that she's making as well and that like multiplication, impact, where you never know whether it's giving your time, whether it's a word of encouragement, whatever, or just being who you are, how that can impact lives.

Congratulations, Regina.

You are truly a phenomenal woman.

After eight seasons with South Eastern's women's basketball team, head coach Alexandro is packing up and heading to McNeese.

She led the Lady Lions to several university records and plans to keep up the momentum.

Sports correspondent Victor Houle sat down with Bazardo for more.

Over the last two weeks, McNeese basketball has been in the news, but more on the men's side because Will Wade led McNeese to its first ever NCAA tournament win.

And then, of course, he was leaving for the for a new job.

However, McNeese made big news this week.

On the women's side, a little bit under the radar, but big news because they have a new brand new coach for the women's basketball team and she's a back to back conference champion.

It's Alexander who's joining us here with the new McNeese women's coach.

Congratulations.

First of all, thank you.

I know it's been a bit of a whirlwind.

And let's let's get to the future in a moment.

But because the season just ended I have to congratulate you.

Back-To-Back conference champs at southeastern NCAA tournament two years ago.

Women's tournament.

This year.

Can you just kind of reflect on what you've built over in Hammond with the Lions and what this season was like?

Whirlwind.

I will say a whirlwind.

We had an historic season.

You know, we did some things this year that have never been done before.

You know, almost went undefeated in conference 19 and one, regular season championship player of the year for the first time in southeastern history.

History.

Defensive back to back player of the year.

The first time it's ever been done.

We've done so many first this year.

Historic season.

Exciting season.

And memorable one for definitely for the city of Hammond.

And not only just this year, but the back to back seasons with the NCAA tournament, when you can still see the picture of you winning, you doubled over and emotion just because of having gotten there and making history for for that Lady Lions program.

Yeah, that was an emotional time.

When I took the job, I was 28, young, didn't really know what I was doing.

First time head coach, trying to figure it all out.

And then, you know, we slowly build it.

We went through the Covid error, and it was tough.

UPS and downs.

But ultimately we got to where we needed to get.

I always said I would never leave southeastern until I think my time was finished.

And, you know, two time coach of the year, NCAA tournament appearance, two time regular season championships.

So I think I think I've left it better than that.

Found it for sure.

And I know I read a quote that you were saying, this gives you a chance for more growth when you go to Lake Charles.

But before we move down the interstate to Lake Charles, you have roots in Hammond High School there, growing up there, living there, what you've built with that program.

So when the opportunity to come for McNeese arrived at your door, how emotional was it because of the ties you have to the tangible area?

It was definitely a situation where I was born and raised in Hammond.

That was a situation that I had to look at and realize I was not going to just leave my community and my southeastern community, but my hometown.

I had family there.

My my kids were raised there.

It's something that it was going to be a big decision and it had to be professional.

Personal, I guess career decision that I had.

Ultimately, for me, it came down to what's best for me and my family.

And I know that I'm always going to have Hammond as my home.

You know, I've got my people there.

I can always come back if I need to.

But I think it was time.

So the time comes, and it's not.

It's not rare to see coaches make a change and maybe even go to another team in their own conference.

You're staying in state for team.

That's in the same conference.

That'll be interesting.

But let's talk about the future.

Now you're moving to Lake Charles and what McNeese offers you.

And the potential still staying in the South and conference.

But now we're in the blue and blue and yellow instead of the green and yellow.

I know the blue looks pretty good.

Big change, in-state.

But one thing that's for sure that I know the conference.

Well, I know the makeup.

I know the scheme.

I know the teams, the coaches.

We know we talked about it for a little while.

My press conference, you know, my my athletic director, he's sure he.

We can need to go from Houston to New Orleans.

That that interstate.

We need to be able to recruit that region.

And we do that well already when we were at southeastern.

So we're at McNeese.

That's what I'm trying to bring.

I'm trying to bring some hometown flair to it.

Recruit in the region, make sure that we pack some people in that stands because it's been dormant for a while.

We're trying to get it back to that championship, that tradition that it used to have as far as winning and being the top program in the conference.

Do you try to set a time standard that you share, either with your athletic director, the fans or team, or do you kind of keep it yourself?

Because at southeastern, it took a few years and boy, you've been really riding a high wave.

So people want to see that wave, but you don't start there.

You got to come, you know, build it back up.

And as you said, it's been a little dormant.

So expectation wise, what do you see for the program and what have you shared with your future players.

And I've sat with my athletic director Heath, and we're we're aligned.

Our visions are right on the same the same page.

We don't want to just win.

We want to win now.

Come in in year one, I'm expected to win.

I was hired to win.

I understand that it's a little different than when I took over at southeastern.

I wasn't expected to win.

We just did it.

And we did that with, you know, it took a few years.

The way the transfer portal is and recruiting is nowadays, you're expected to win immediately.

So that's our goal.

You know, we need to take it from the 10th place team to the top of the league.

We like pressure.

I'm a coach first and foremost.

I'm a coach.

I'm competitive.

I want to make that competitive jump.

But we like the pressure.

So the first thing we're going to do is I've got to hire a great staff.

The reason I was successful at southeastern is because I had great people around me.

So I've got some things in the works as far as filling my staff.

And then once we get that, we got to find those great players and a lot of them are in the transfer portal right now.

I'm going to go snatch them up.

It's the wild, wild West right now, and Nile is definitely a part of the game.

And you know McNeese has that to offer.

So that's something that, you know, we really looked at and trying to make that next step.

I want those bigger players.

I want those, you know, power for players that maybe aren't getting enough reps that can come out of our league and, you know, be player of the year.

I know you're ready to build the program, but let me end on this.

The schedule will tell you you're going to make that trip back to Hammond.

Have even thought about the emotions when you go back there for the first time next year?

I have, I'm not too excited about being in the visiting locker room, but, you know, one thing that I know for sure is being from Hammond.

Born and raised.

My people are still to be my people.

I've gotten a lot of flak about leaving to go to McNeese.

But at the same time, every single person has been supportive.

I want them to be successful.

And I know the city of Hammond, the community surrounding Tambo parish.

They're going to be there.

You know, I don't know, they might just all show up in some yellow, but they'll be there and they'll be supportive.

Well, staying in the state.

Success.

And, Hammond, congratulations on what you did there.

And best of luck of what you're going to do in Lake Charles.

Cowboys got a good one.

Alexander making the move from southeastern.

McNeese from line up to go pokes right go pokes.

Thanks for your time, coach.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Throughout the South, former plantation homes are reinventing themselves and retelling their histories.

These grand estates hold architectural value.

Born of prosperity at a human cost.

Now, not away is one of these pre-Civil War homes that are in danger of becoming lost to history.

The iconic Louisiana landmark is now under new ownership with a new vision.

Here's more.

Along the Mississippi River in White Castle stands a Louisiana landmark, one of the largest surviving antebellum mansions in the South.

Not a white plantation was built in 1859 and has witnessed a changing world since its pre-Civil War origins.

Most antebellum homes are lost to history, burned to the ground, or leveled by years of neglect.

Not away has endured and enters a new chapter under new ownership.

This was like a long standing dream.

You.

This is like the dream of my life.

I was a history major in college, and I love preservation, and I came down here about 6 or 6 years ago to a wedding.

And so after that, I was just I was just determined to, to see if it was even at all possible to, to buy another way.

Dan Dyson, his wife Desiree, purchased not Away with the aim of restoring the home to its former glory as an economy catalyst for Iberville Parish.

The couple lives in Natchitoches, where they restored, owned and operated still Magnolia House and la maison, Louisiana.

Both historic bed and breakfast establishments.

We've been fixing things because 2020 of Covid, it basically shut down.

There were people here, but there was no activity.

And so we had to do all the deferred maintenance, air conditioning, heating, painting, restoration of bricks, all kind of things.

Very soon we're going to have the mansion restaurant open.

So I really am excited to be here.

The mansion's architecture blends Greek Revival and Italianate styles.

Henry Howard, a prominent architect in 19th century Louisiana, designed not away in several grand homes along the Mississippi River, including Indian Camp Plantation in Carville.

The former campus of the Gillis Hansen's Disease Center, and now a present day Louisiana National Guard installation.

It's an icon, you know, it's like the state of Louisiana.

Randy Le Prairie worked as Norway's head of maintenance for 31 years.

He painted a mural in the downstairs restaurant that expresses his affinity for the property.

News of Norway's new ownership brought him out of retirement and back to the grounds.

It is definitely, you know, something need to be saying what is it about?

Not a way that made you come back here out of retire or meant to work here again.

Well, you know, it's when you've been here 31 years.

You know, you didn't raise your kids, your whole family off this property, you know, and it's like, so you appreciate what it is.

And so it's like, you know, you want to see it's not always oak canopy grounds include cottages for overnight stays, a restaurant and events center, and ballrooms, including the iconic white ballroom in the main house, the photogenic properties played host to countless weddings over the years and appeared in movies.

I wanted to be open to to our community, our in the bigger community of Louisiana.

It is a diamond in the rough for Louisiana, and so we're going to move Louisiana forward with a great property.

We're going to have an Easter egg hunt.

We're going to have a Christmas Day.

We want this to be a festive place to go.

We're excited about, Diane and Desiree's commitment to revitalizing not, not always just a staple in Abbeville Parish and for their commitment to make sure that the preserving the history, because not only has welcomed visitors from across the world for over 40 years.

So we're really excited about the future.

Not away was originally the home of sugar planter John Randolph.

Its elegance and grandeur at odds with the human toil that funded its construction.

Dan acknowledges not always past cannot be dismissed nor ignored, but he wants to give the property a new legacy that celebrates not always architectural value and brings people together.

It's about a happiness study.

I mean, I want to preserve it for future generations, and I want people to enjoy it.

It's right here on the Mississippi River.

It's historic, so I want people to enjoy it.

I want to have fun here, and that's what I want to happen.

That's our show for this week.

Remember, you can watch anything LPB, any time, wherever you are with our L.P app.

That's right.

And 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 and Instagram for everyone that Louisiana Public Broadcasting I'm Karen LeBlanc.

And I'm Dorothea Wilson.

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 Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.

Visit Baton Rouge and the Foundation for Excellence in Louisiana Public Broadcasting and viewers like you.

Thank you.