WE HELP PEOPLE GET CARE.

STAY WELL, AND BUILD HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.

CARE IS THE HEART OF OUR WORK.

AT AMERIHEALTHCARE LOUISIANA.

AND BY THE U.S. ARMY, BATON ROUGE RECRUITING ABOUT A TALYOFNLT COMMUNITY COFFEE.

AND THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY.

, WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM HOTEL INDIGO AND DEMCO.

ENTERGY IS PROUT TO SUPPORT -- PROUD TO PRESENT PROGRAMMING ON LBD.

IT'S TO ENSURE THAT OUR KIDS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN BE LEFT WITH A CLEANER PLANET.

AND THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING WITH SUPPORT FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

♪ ♪ PEOPLE DESERVE BETTER THAN GOVERNMENTS DELIVERING TODAY.

THE GOVERNMENT RED TAPE THAT'S A BIG REASON HOMES KEEP FLOODING.

A LOT OF DAMAGE.

A LOT OF HEARTACHE.

SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA TRYING TO CATCH UP IN THE RACE TO VACCINATE.

WE FEEL LIKE IF WE CAN DO THIS ALL OVER THE BUILDING, IT WOULD BE MUCH BETTER PRESERVING.

PRESERVING THE OLD STATE CAPITOL FOR THE LONG HAUL.

I KNOW THE BIG THINGS I'M DOING NOW, I KNOW HE'S -- I KNOW HE'LL BE PROUD OF ME.

A YOUNG HERO USING FOOLED TO GIVE BACK.

-- FOOD TO GIVE BACK.

PLENTY TO GET TO TONIGHT ON SWI.

BUT FIRST, FAMILY, FRIENDS, SUPPORTERS OF RONALD GREEN WHO DIED AFTER HIS ARREST IN POLICE CUSTODY TWO YEARS AGO MARCHED FROM THE STATE CAPITOL TO THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION.

THIS WAS ON THURSDAY.

THEY MARCHED FOR JUSTICE, DEMANDING THAT STATE TROOPERS WHO MANHANDLED GREEN IN THE MOMENTS BEFORE HIS DEATH WOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABILITY.

NONE OF THAT WILL HAPPEN QUICKLY.

GREEN'S MOM DISGUSTED AFTER A MEETING WITH GOVERNOR BOBBY JINDAL.

IT'S ALSO THAT YOU CAN -- GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS.

THAT YOU CAN SPEND FAMILIES HOME EMPTY-HANDED WITH NO ANSWERS.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE JESSFICATION OF THAT.

THAT'S THE MOTHER OF RONALD GREEN.

WE KNOW THE STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE HAS BEEN LIFTED WITH A FEW EXCESSES, BUT NOW THE GOVERNOR SAYS PUBLIC SCHOOLS CAN GO MASK-FREE.

THE GOVERNOR'S UPDATED PROCLAMATION GOES INTO EFFECT AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER, BUT SUMMER SCHOOL AND CLASSES IN THE FALL WILL BE ALLOWED TO GO MASKLESS.

MANY RESTRICTIONS ARE GONE BUT THERE'S WARNING ABOUT ANOTHERVATOR.

IT'S THE STRAIN THAT -- ANOTHER VARIANT.

IT'S THE STRAIN THAT'S RAVAGED INDIA AND IT'S CONFIRMED IN LOUISIANA.

WE HAVE THREE CASES NOW.

DR. JOSEPH CANTOR SAYSIOUS BEUERLEIN OF DEFENSE IS THE VACCINE.

THE LAST PEOPLE THAT ARE VACCINATED, THE MORE THE VIRUS SPREADS AND THE MORE IT HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PERHAPS FORM A NEW VARIANT.

SO REALLY THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT FUTURE VARIANTS IS FOR MORE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED RIGHT NOW.

AND NOW TO OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE STATE.

THE PUSH TO RIVER VACCINES FOR LSU STUDENTS CONTINUES AND EXECUTIVES ARE EXPLORING THAT CAN LEGALLY HAPPEN.

AS OF THIS WEEK, 77% OF LSU EMPLOYEES ARE ALREADY VACCINATED.

BUT FACULTY MEMBERS WANT THE UNIVERSITY TO REQUIRE IT ACROSS THE BOARD AS SOON AS THE FDA GIVES FULL APPROVAL.

AFTER A YEAR OF NO PARADES AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS LOST, PLANS IN LOUISIANA ARE UNDERWAY FOR CARN VALT TO MAKE A BIG RETURN NEXT YEAR.

SOME PARADE FLOATS WILL ALSO LIKELY SEE BIG CHANGES IN TERMS OF SAFETY.

TWO PEOPLE DIED IN 2020 WHEN CAUGHT BETWEEN TANDEM FLOATS.

LOOK FOR SECURITY AND CROWD CONTROL MEASURES TO BE REFINED.

DROWNINGS FOR BABY AND CHILDREN WAS UP 60% IN LOUISIANA IN 2020 CONDITION PAIRMD TO -- COMPARED TO 2019.

24 CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 15 DROWNED LAST YEAR AFTER FIVE CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF DECREASING TOTALS.

THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO STRESS WATER SAFETY AND DROWNING PREVENTION EFFORTS, ESPECIALLY AS FAMILIES RETURN TO POOLS, LAKES, AND BEACHES.

THIS YOUNG GATOR ON SANDY SOUTH PADRE ISLAND GAVE VISITORS TO THE BEACH A JAWS-LIKE SCARE.

PARK RANGERS FOUND AND IT TAGGED S -- AND TAGS CONFIRMED IT HAD COME TO LOUISIANA.

HOW IT GOT TO SOUTH TEXAS REMAINS A MYSTERY.

GATORS CAN TOLERATE SALTWATER FOR A FEW HOURS OR A FEW DAYS, BUT THIS ONE MAY HAVE FAR EXCEEDED THOSE LIMITS.

THE U.S. AG DEPARTMENT HAS NOW DEZCATED -- DESIGNATED THE PARISH A DISASTER AREA BECAUSE OF THE WINTER STORM.

SEVEN SURROUNDING PARISHES ARE ELAVAILABLE.

-- ELIGIBLE.

ANOTHER WEEK OF SESSION IS COMING TO A CLOSE AND OLD TOPICS LIKE NEW ROADS AND BRIDGES AND DECRIMINALIZING MARIJUANA WILL BACK IN THE FOREFRONT.

A BILL THAT WOULD KEEP WHO AREN'T VACCINATED FROM ENTERING STATE OR COLLEGE BUILDING IN COLLEGE CAMPUSES STALLED ON WEST.

THE SENATE HAD ORIGINALLY BACKED THE PROPOSAL BUT IT DIDN'T GAIN THE SAME SUPPORT IN THE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, THOUGH THE VOTE WAS CLOSE.

THE BILL'S YOU A -- AUTHOR SAYS HE WANTED TO PROTECT PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO MAKE MEDICAL DECISION ON THEIR OWN TERMS.

MORE SPENDING PLANS IN THE WORK ON THE STATE'S INFRASTRUCTURE.

THEY WANT THIS MONEY TO GO TOWARD ROADWORK, WATER SYSTEMS, AND HURRICANE RECOVERY AMONG OTHER THINGS.

SO FAR THE PLAN HAS ADVANCED THROUGH THE SENATE.

ABOUT 30% OF THE MONEY WOULD GO TOWARDS BRIDGEWORK AND WIDENING PARTS.

INTERSTATE.

EARLY VOTING IS ALMOST EXPANDED IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

PEOPLE CASTING A BALLOT FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS WOULD HAVE AN ADDITIONAL FOUR DAYS TO EARLY VOTE IF THIS BILL WERE TO PASS.

ON WEDNESDAY SENATORS GAVE FINAL PASSAGE TO THE BILL WITH A UNANIMOUS VOTE FROM BOTH PARTIES.

NEXT IT GOES TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK FOR HIS SIGNATURE.

IF HE DOES SIGN IT, THIS BILL WOULD DLIRCH THAT IT LOUISIANA -- DIFFERENTIATE OTHER RED STATES.

THE GOVERNOR AND EXPECTED TO SCIENTIST.

ALSO THIS WEEK, SPORTS BETTING.

INTO THE CONVERSATION AGAIN, IT'S POSSIBLE PEOPLE WOULD SEE THAT HAPPEN BY THE FALL.

A BILL THAT REGULATES WAGERING EASED ITS WAY TOWARD FINAL PASSAGE.

PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH SPORTS BOOKING SITES, CESKS -- KIOSKS, AND MOBILEBLY.

IT HAS TO GO TO THE FLOOR FOR DEBATE AND IF IT PASS IT'S UP TO THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN.

♪ ♪ WE'VE GOT MORE MONEY THAN WAS NEEDED FOR ALL THE PROJECTS EFFECTIVELY THAT WERE IN THE QUEUE THAT HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED.

CONGRESSMAN GARRET GRAVES.

THE STATE WATERSHED INITIATIVE IS AWARDING ONE FOR FLOOD CONTROL POSTMASTER GENERALS -- PROJECTS.

BUT THOSE ARE PROJECTS THAT WILL TAKE YEARS TO COMPLETE AND IT DOESN'T SIT WELL WITH GRAVES, WHO HUSTLED TO GET MONEY INTO BANK BUT SAYS THERE HASN'T BEEN THE URGENCY NEEDED TO GET THINGS FAST TRACKED.

IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE RAIN LOADS, THEY HAD SOME OF THE PRELIMINARY NUMBERS SUGGEST WE HAD AS MUCH AS FOUR INCHES OF RAIN IN AN HOUR, AND TOTALS FROM 12 TO 18 INCHES.

THIS AMOUNT OF WATER IN THE -- AND THE TIME PERIOD THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, IT'S JUST -- IT'S SO CHALLENGING TRYING TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT AND KEEPING IT OUT OF OUR HOUSES, AND IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE CHALLENGE BUT IT'S SO FRUSTRATING SEEING THAT THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

AND THAT REALLY CHALLENGES OUR RESILIENCY HERE.

IT'S THE FEAR, IT'S THE ANXIETY, AND THE -- CONFUSION AND FRUSTRATION OF, OKAY, WHAT IF THIS CAN HAPPEN AGAIN?

THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST FRUSTRATING THINGS.

IS WHAT CAN YOU DO?

WELL, LOOK, CAN YOU KEEP EVERYTHING DRY 100% OF THE TIME WHEN YOU HAVE RAINS LIKE FOUR INCHES IN AN HOUR?

THAT'S HARD.

BUT CAN YOU ABSOLUTELY KEEP THE MAJORITY OF THINGS DRY?

YES.

AND WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE INVESTMENTS.

AND IT IS INVESTMENTS IN THINGS AS LITTLE AS MAKING SURE THAT OUR STREETS DON'T HAVE LEAVES AND BRANCHES CLOGGING THE GUTTERS AND THE DITCHES.

THINGS AS LITTLE AS NOT THROWING YOUR TRASH OUT OF THE WINDOW WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING OR LET IT FLY OUT OF THE CAR, BUT THAT ALL PILES UP IN YOUR DRAIN, JUST ONE CUP, ONE PLATE.

YOU START GOING TO SOME OF THESE AREAS -- IT IS HOLDING BACK WATER.

AND THAT CONTRIBUTES TO FLOODING.

THEN OF COURSE, YOU HAVE THINGS LIKE WE'VE GOT TO MAINTAIN OUR DITCHES, OUR CANALS, OUR WATERWAYS AND THEN WE'VE ALSO GOT TO HELP TO TO -- TO REMEMBER THAT TO SOME DEGREE OUR COMMUNITY IS DESIGNED FOR THE 19 70S AND WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT THE 20 30S AND 2040s, WHICH IS WHY WE CAN SECURE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR NEW FLOOD PROTECTION INVESTMENTS HERE.

WHAT HAS BEEN BUILT SINCE 2016.

THERE ARE 400 MILES OF RIVERS, BAYOUS, CANALS, AND DITCHES THAT HAVE BEEN CLEANED OUT.

PRIMARILY IN LIVINGSTON PARISH.

SEPARATE SET OF FUNDS WE SECURED FOR THEM.

YOU HAVE TO COMPARE, WHAT ABOUT OTHER INSTANCES WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED?

HOW ABOUT HURRICANE KATRINA.

FIVE YEARS LATER, YOU SAW MASSIVE LAND MOVING OPERATIONS.

YOU SAW THESE HUGE STRUCTURES BEING BUILT AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT HERE.

DO WE HAVE A LOT OF MONEY IN THE BANK?

YES.

WE HAVE A LOT OF MONEY IN THE BANK BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT SAME URGENCY HERE.

AND I THINK IT PARTIALLIES POINTS TO REALLY GETTING THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT AND HOW URGENT THIS IS.

THIS ISN'T A ROUTINE PROJECT.

UNDERSTANDING THE THREAT OR THE RISK THAT'S THERE AND FORCING THEM TO EXECUTE ON THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE OUT THERE, WHICH MEANS YOU'VE GOT TO CHANGE THE REGULAR PROJECT PROCESS.

THIS ISN'T SOME ELECTIVE PROJECT THAT'S A LUXURY.

THIS IS REALLY FUNDAMENTAL.

IS IT BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A NAMED STORM ATTACHED TO THIS THAT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS?

YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

IF YOU GO BACK TO 2016, I WENT TO WASHINGTON AND I GRABBED EVERY PODIUM I COULD IN FRONT OF OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND COMMITTEES AND WAS TELLING THEM ALL ABOUT THIS.

I WAS SHOWING THEM PICTURES.

AND ALL OF THEM, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.

KATRINA, GOT FRONT PAGE NEWS, IT WAS ON ALL THE NETWORKS.

YOU KNOW WHAT ENDED OF HAPPENING?

THEY DESIGNED AN ENTIRELY NEW PROJECT PROCESS.

THEY SAID, THESE ARE URCHLT.

WE'RE GOING TO -- URGENT.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THEM THIS WAY WHICH ALLOWED THEM TO MOVE MUCH FASTER.

IF YOU ARE PROJECTS THAT ARE LIFE AND LIMB, WE'VE HAD DEATHS FROM THIS, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

YOU CAN'T USE THE ROUTINE PROCESS.

YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE ONE THAT PREFLECTS THE URGENCY SO WE'VE GOT LEGISLATION.

WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE WHITE HOUSE ON DELIVERING THESE PROJECTS FASTER.

♪ ♪ REGION FIVE IS THE REGION WITH THE LEAST NUMBER OF VACCINATED PEOPLE IN THE STATE.

IN ADDITION TO HESITANCY, MEDICAL AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS SAY THAT CATASTROPHIC WEATHER EVENTS MAY HAVE SHUTTERED INTEREST IN GETTING THE VACCINE.

EXPERTS TALK RECOVERY AND VACCINE ROLLOUT FOR LAKE CHARLES AND REGION 5.

RUSHING WASN'T AFRAID TO GET THE VACCINE.

IT WAS SOMETHING SHED BEEN WAITING FOR.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE.

BUT SHE WAS HEZ TENANT FOR ONE OF TWO REASONS.

FIRST, SHE WASN'T SURE WHERE TO GET IT.

AND REASON NUMBER TWO WAS ALL OF THIS.

A LOT OF DAMAGE.

A LOT OF HEARTACHE.

FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, NOT JUST ME.

IT'S ROUGH FOR EVERYONE AROUND HERE.

RUSHING'S FAMILY HOUSE IS IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA, WHICH IS HOME TO SOME OF THE STATE'S MOST RURAL PARISHES.

IT'S ALSO A PLACE PICKING UP THE PIECES OF FOUR MAJOR WEATHER EVENTS THAT DEVASTATED THE POPULATION IN LESS THAN A YEAR.

STARTING WITH HURRICANE LAURA.

IT HIT SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA AT A CATEGORY 4, DESTROYING ALMOST EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH, INCLUDING RUSHING'S HOME IN LAKE CHARLES.

I NEED A ROOF.

AND DUE TO THE FACT THAT I'VE HAD THAT DAMAGE, I'VE HAD WATER COMING INTO THE HOUSE, SO NOW I NEED WATER THAT'S COME IN AND DAMAGED THOSE CEILINGS IN THREE ROOMS NOW.

BUT THE DAMAGE DIDN'T STOP THERE.

HURRICANE DELTA HIT THE SAME PLACE IN OCTOBER.

THEN IN FEBRUARY A HIS -- AN ICE STORM HIT MUCH OF THE SOUTH, FREEZING REGION 5 ALONG WITH IT.

AND LASTLY O MAY 17TH, A 1,000-YEAR RAIN EVENT FLOODED LAKE CHARLES AGAIN.

THE MAYOR, NIC HUNTER, SAYS IF PEOPLE ARE TRYING THEIR BEST TO RECOVER.

THIS COMMUNITY RECEIVED SEVERAL PUNCHES IN THE GUT.

THE DESTRUCTION IS SAD.

BUT DR. LAKY CAVANAUGH SAYS THE WEATHER ALSO DEVASTATED THE VACCINATION EFFORT BEFORE IT EVEN STARTED.

PEOPLE ARE JUST VERY TIRED HERE AND HAVE NEGLECTED THEIR HEALTH IN GENERAL BECAUSE OF ALL OF THESE DISASTERS.

OF COURSE, COVID VACCINE IS INCLUDED IN THAT.

BUT EVEN OUR MENTAL HEALTH NUMBERS, OUR FOLKS WHO ARE FOLLOWING UP AND GETTING ANNUAL WELLNESS VISITS.

ALL OF THOSE NUMBERS HAVE LIKELY BEEN IMPACTED.

REGION 5 IS UND -- UNDERPERFORMING WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING PEOPLE VACCINATED.

ONLY ABOUT 21% IS FULLY PROTECTED AGAINST THE VIRUS, THE LOWEST PERCENTAGE STATEWIDE.

THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS BEYOND THE CATASTROPHIC WEATHER EVENT THAT ARE KEEPING THOSE NUMBERS DOWN.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SCARED IT.

SHE'S RIGHT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SCARED TO GET THE VACCINE, ESPECIALLY IN LOUISIANAOUS RURAL COMMUNITIES.

IN LAKE CHARLES, LACY SAYS HER STAFF DEBUNKS MYTHS AT ALMOST EVERY VACCINATION EVENT.

WOMEN WHO WANT TO KNOW IF THERE'S ANY PROVEN EFFECTS ON FERTILITY AND THERE ARE NO STUDIES THAT SAY THAT IT IMPACTS FERTILITY.

SO THAT'S MONEY -- ONE OF THOSE MYTHS WE HEAR COMMONLY.

PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT.

A LOT OF QUESTION ABOUT THE PROCESS.

SO IF I WANT TO GET THE FIRST VACCINE, AND THE SECOND VACCINE, THEY WANT THOSE INSTRUCTIONS.

IN EARLY APRIL THE LOUISIANA PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE PUT OUT A SURVEY SHOWING ABOUT 70% OF PEOPLE WHO WERE HESITANT WERE AFRAID OF THE SIDE EFFECTS AND WHETHER IT'S SAFE.

THE THIRD MOST POPULAR CONCERN WAS WHETHER THE VACCINE EVEN WORKS.

WE HAVE HESITANCY HERE THE SAME AS THERE IS ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE AND REALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THEY'RE WAITING TO SEE HOW THEY'RE FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO RECEIVED THE VACCINE, HOW THEY DO.

JACKIE WHITE WITH THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS THAT MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE IS THE STATE'S BEST STRATEGY TO CHANGE THOSE NUMBERS.

I THINK THIS IS MAKING IT MORE PERSONABLE AND IT'S JUST PUTTING FACES TO A FLYER OR TO JUST AN VISITMENT.

IT'S TRUE PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING OUT THERE AND -- THEY'RE ALSO ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

GOING TO CHURCH EVENTS AND SNOWFALL NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS SEEM TO BE SHOWING IMPROVEMENT HERE, BUT GOING DOOR TO DOOR AND TALKING FACE TO FACE IS WHAT REALLY HELPS.

THINGS FALLING OUT.

THAT APPROACH HELPED RUSHING.

SHE GOT HER VACCINE A CHANCE WHEN SHE HEARD A NURSE YELL THAT THE VACCINE WAS AVAILABLE.

I TRIED TO MAKE SURE ANYONE I KNOW TALKING ABOUT IT, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED.

I GOT LAID OFF IN THIS PANDEMIC AND WE HAD TWO STORMS AND AN ICE STORM AND A FLOOD.

YOU KNOW, BUT YOU NEED TO GET OUT THERE AND GET YOUR VACCINATION.

THE MAYOR OF LAKE CHARLES SAYS THE CITY IS IN DIRE NEED OF FUNDING.

HE INSISTS BRINGING IN FEDERAL ASSISTANCE WOULD HELP THE CITY RECOVER AND POSSIBLY GET BACK ON TRACK FOR VACCINATIONS.

♪ ♪ IF YOU'VE BEEN TO BATON ROUGE LATELY, YOU'VE SCENE SCAFFOLDING ON ONE SIDE OF THE COLDER.

TIERIOR -- CAPITOL.

EXTERIOR RESTORATIONS HAVE BEGUN, A PROJECT THAT WILL COST MORE THAN $6 MILLION.

DIRECTOR MARY EXPLAINED WHAT IS BEING DONE.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME MYSTERIES HERE HAPPENING HERE.

THAT'S CORRECT.

THE BUILDING IS IN REMARKABLE SHAPE, BUT THE BRICKS ARE FROM 1850 AND THE PLASTER HAS BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES.

AND THE WORK BEING DONE RIGHT NOW IS -- WE'RE HAVING GREAT DISCOVERIES ABOUT WHAT HAS GONE WRONG IN THE FAST AND HAD TO CORRECT IT AND WE HAVE MUCH BETTER PRODUCTS NOW.

SO THE HOPE IS THAT WHEN WE FINISH THIS, THE BUILDING WILL STILL NEED TO BE CLEANED AND PAINTED, BUT THE PLASTER WON'T HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.

SO IN HERE, WE HAVE A GREAT MODEL OF WHAT THE CAPITOL LOOKED LIKE IN THE BEGINNING.

IN 1850 WHEN IT OPENED.

WEDDING CAKE WHITE, THREE STORIES.

BUT IT'S THE SAME CONSTRUCTION THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

SO IT'S THE ORIGINAL BRICK COVERED WITH PLASTER.

THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MODEL, YOU SEE THE BUILDING AS IT WAS IN THE 1880S.

THIS IS WHEN THEY MOVED BACK TO HERE, BACK TO BATON ROUGE, AND THEY ADDED THE FOURTH FLOOR AND THE LANTERN ON THE VERY TOP.

AND THAT'S WHAT TAY LOUSE US TO HAVE THE BEAUTIFUL -- THAT'S WHAT ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE THE BEAUTIFUL DOME.

THEY WENT WITH THE COLOR AND THE TOURNAMENT, WHICH THEY'RE NO -- THE TURET, THEY'RE NO LONGER THERE.

THEY WERE CAUSING STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING.

SO THOSE WERE REMOVED IN THE EARLY 19 HOUSTON.

WE GET -- 19 HOUSTON.

WE -- 1900s.

WE GET LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THEM AND WE DON'T KNOW.

HOW ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION?

WHAT'S IN THE WALLS.

WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING IS NOT MARBLE.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF TRICKERY, IF YOU WILL.

AND SO THIS IS WHAT OUR WALLS ARE REALLY CONSTRUCTED OF.

SO THERE'S WOOD LATS AND PLASTER KEYS AND BRICK AND THEN SEVERAL LAYERS OF PLASTER.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WALLS ARE.

AND IT'S SCORED TO LOOK LIKE MARBLE.

OKAY.

AND SO WHEN SOME OF THE WORK IS DONE OUTSIDE, EXPOSED BRICK THAT'S THERE, BENEATH THE PLASTER.

THAT'S CORRECT.

YOU'RE SEEING THOSE BRICKS FROM 1850.

AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, JAMES TAKEON THE ARCHITECT WHO DESIGNED THIS BUILDING, HE GOT INTO A HUGE FIGHT WITH THE WISCONSIN INSTRUCTION PEOPLE BECAUSE HE THOUGHT -- WITH THE CONSTRUCTION PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY HOT THE BRICKS WERE SUBSTANDARD.

AND HE PULLED THEM OH AND THROW THEM AWAY.

THE PROJECT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW ADDRESSES JUST ONE SMALL AREA OF THE BUILDING.

WHICH IS THE NORTH BOULEVARD ACCESS, WHICH IS OUR FRONT DOOR.

AND THE ADMINISTRATION IS FUNDING THAT REPAIR.

IT'S $560,000.

AND LIKE I SAY, THIS IS SORT OF A PILOT PROJECT.

IT'S TO REALLY TEST THE MATERIALS AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE USING, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH BETTER PRODUCTS AVAILABLE NOW THAN WE HAD IN THE PAST.

AND WE FEEL LIKE IF WE COULD DO THIS ALL OVER THE BUILDING, IT WOULD BE MUCH BETTER PRESERVED AND MUCH MORE COST EFFECTIVE, BECAUSE IN THE FUTURE, YOU'D BE ABLE TO CLEAN IT.

YOU WOULDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO REMOVE THE PLASTER.

SADLY, THE TICKET TO DO THAT IS $6.6 MILLION.

TECHNOLOGY JUST CHANGES OVER TIME.

AND THESE ARE THE FERRIS METAL, THE STAINLESS STEEL THAT'S AROUND ALL THE WINDOWS, THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING NEVER SEES SUNLIGHT FOR MUCH OF THE YEAR.

SO RUST HAS SET IN THERE AND IF YOU DON'T ARREST THAT, IT WILL JUST CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE THE METAL.

SO THE CONSTRUCTION CREWS IS USING GROUND GLASS TO BLAST THE RUST OFF AND GET DOWN TO THE VERY BARE METAL AND TO RESEAL AND REPAINT.

AND SO WE FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOME PERMANENT SOLUTIONS THAT WE'RE UNCOVERING RIGHT NOW.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE DRIVING BY FROM THE STREET WOULDN'T NECESSARILY OR EVEN REMOTELY SEE.

YOU LOOK AT THEM AND YOU HONESTLY THINK IT'S WOOD, BECAUSE IT'S JUST A DECORATIVE PIECES THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE ACTUAL WOOD WINDOWS.

AND SO IT'S THE QUADRY FOILS THAT YOU SEE AT THE TOP OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE CHAMBERS, THE WINDOWS THAT LOOK LIKE MUCH LIKE IN A CATHEDRAL.

THAT YOU WILL -- ALL THAT IS CAST IRON.

THERE'S SO MUCH EOS CAST IRON, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE.

THIS IS SOMETHING WHEN PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO DOWN, THEY WANT TO SEE IT.

WE SHOT A SPOT FOR A TOURISM INFORMATION FROM CANADA.

WE SEE TONS OF TOURISTS -- FOREIGN TOURISTS OFFER -- EVERY YEAR, PRE-COVID-19.

FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND ALL OVER THE WORLD.

AND THEY COME BACK.

BECAUSE THIS BUILDING IS SO DIFFERENT.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS IS THE ARCHITECT, THOUGHT LOUISIANA WAS A DIFFERENT KIND OF STATE AND WE ARE.

WE ARE FRENCH AND SPANISH AND NATIVE AMERICAN AND ITALIAN AND GERMAN AND ALL THE GUMBO THAT IS LOUISIANA, AND SO MANY OF THE STATE CAPITOLS MIRROR THE NATIONAL CAPITOL.

THE DOME AND TWO WINGS.

AND HE SAID LOUISIANA IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF STATE AND WE NEED TO HAVE A DIFFERENT CAPITOL TO GET MORE INFORMATION AND ALSO TO DONATE, GO TO THE WEBSITE FOR THE OLD STAYED CAPITOL.

-- STATE OPENED.

KATHERINE LEXIE DAVIS IS A HIGH SCHOOL CHEF WITH A TASTE FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE.

SHE SERVED FOOD TO THE LESS FORTUNATE AND ORGANIZED A SERVICE THAT MADE PPE AVAILABLE TO THE ELDERLY.

SHE CELEBRATES HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS AN LBD LOUISIANA YOUNG HERO.

BEFORE ANYONE BEGINS A HOBBY, IT HAS TO START WITH A SPARK.

THAT SPARK COULD COME FROM ANYTHING, A TV SHOW OR EVEN A SONG.

BUT FOR LEXI DAVIS, IT WAS SIMPLE.

THAT SPARK WAS HER DAD'S LOVE OF FOOD.

MY DAD WAS LIKE MY BEST FRIEND.

WE WOULD COOK TOGETHER AND NO MATTER HOW BAD I MESSED UP, HE ALWAYS SEEMED TO PUSH ME THROUGH IT.

PUSHING HER THROUGH IS IT -- THROUGH IT IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

HER DAD INSPIRED HER.

HE'S ALWAYS BEEN MY BIGGEST SUPPORTER.

HE HAD A PASSION FOR FOOD THAT WAS ONLY RIVALED BY THE LOVE OF HIS COMMUNITY, AND HE SHOWED IT IN EVERY CATERING EVENT AND EVERY VOLUNTEER MISSION.

GIVING BACK THROUGH FOOD IS ONE OF THE LAST THINGS THEY DID TOGETHER I.

IT WAS A FRIDAY OR SATURDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS.

AND HE ASKED IF I COULD COME -- IF KATHRYN COULD COME AND ASSIST HIM IN THAT EVENT.

BY 2020 THOSE DAYS OF CATERING TOGETHER WOULD BE A MEMORY.

GEORGE DIED ON JANUARY 5TH FROM DIABETES-RELATED COMPLICATIONS.

IT WAS HARD.

IT WAS REALLY HARD.

THAT PAST WEEK, EVERY DAY, HE JUST WENT DOWNHILL.

AND JUST BEING ABLE TO BE THERE, WATCHING HIM PASS AWAY, IT WAS -- IT WAS REALLY HARD.

LOSING HER TAD DAFT -- DAD LEFT BEHIND AN ACHE, NOT JUST FOR HIM BUT THE WORK THEY DID TOGETHER.

AND IT STARTED DAVIS ON A MISSION TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

SO SHE STARTING COULD, BUT THIS TIME FOR PEOPLE THAT WERE LESS FORTUNATE.

SHE STARTED HER OWN COMMUNITY MEALS PROGRAM, FOOD FOR SOULS, AND SHE EVEN LEARNED HOW TO COOK SPECIFICALLY FOR DIABETICS, LIKE HER LATE FATHER AND HER AUNT MARGARET.

AS A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL, HER ACTIONS MADE HER A ROLE MODEL FOR KIDS IN HER CLASSES.

WIN OF MY FAVORITE PHOTOS OF HER IS REMEMBER WHEN WE MADE THE OLISO.

WHEN WE MADE THE SIX ONION SOUP AND I HAVE THIS PRECIOUS PHOTO OF HER HOLDING HER SUIT, KIND OF MASKED UP.

AND SHE HAS -- I GUESS IT WAS AROUND THANKSGIVING AND SHE HAS ON SHIRT ON, THAT SAYS I'M THANKFUL FOR MY FAMILY.

AND I LOVE THAT.

I THINK THAT'S A PICTURE OF KATHRYN THAT I'LL HAVE IN MY MATTER AND MIND FOREVER.

BUT -- IN MY HEART AND MIND FOREVER.

HER TRADEMARK IS NOT A DISH.

IT'S JUST HER SPIRIT.

IT'S HER ABILITY TO UNIFY PEOPLE.

EVEN DURING THE PANDEMIC, LEXI WAS TRYING TO GIVE BACK IN HER OWN WAY.

SHE MADE HER BLESSING BAGS WITH WIPES, HAND SANITIZER, AND EVEN OTHER CLEANING PRODUCTS FOR THE ELDERLY.

HER MOTHER SAYS HER HEART IS SUPER BOWL FROM HER DAUGHTER'S SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

SHE'S A REALLY HUMBLE CHILD WHO ALWAYS WAS LOOKING TO NURTURE SOMETHING OR SOMEBODY.

SHE'S ALWAYS LOOKING TO LEARN MU THINGS.

AND WHAT'S NEXT FOR THIS HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR?

FIRST UP IS COLLEGE AT NICHOLS STATE.

HER MAJOR IS EASY TO GUESS, IT'S THE CULINARY ARTS.

AND AFTER THAT, HER OWN CATERING BUSINESS TO CONTINUE HER FATHER'S LEGACY.

I KNOW RIGHT NOW -- WELL, I KNOW THE BIG THINGS THAT I'M DOING NOW, I KNOW HE'S -- I KNOW HE WOULD BE PROUD OF ME.

FOR THE NEXT SIX WEEKS WE'LL PROFILE EACH OF THIS YEAR'S LOUISIANA YOUNG HEROES.

LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

EVERYONES, THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

YOU CAN WATCH ANYTHING LPB ANYTIME, WHEREVER YOU ARE, ON OUR APP.

YOU CAN CATCH LPB NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS SHOWS AS WELL AS OUR OTHER LOUISIANA PROGRAMS YOU'VE GOM TO -- YOU'VE COME TO ENJOY.

IN THE NEXT -- UNTIL NEXT TIME, THAT'S THE STATE WE'RE HIGH SCHOOL.

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