Support for Louisiana.

The state we're in is provided by.

Every day I go to work for Entergy.

I know customers are counting on me.

So Entergy is investing millions of dollars to keep the lights on and installing.

New technology to prevent outages before they happen.

Together, together, together.

We power life.

Additional support provided by the Fred Bea and Ruth 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, and.

I'm seeing an unprecedented level of interest in terms of people wanting to vote early.

Updates on the midterms.

So if you start to think about where those pockets of highest density of unserved locations are, you could start to look at a map of Louisiana and think of oil as about.

Broadband access for all.

Coming up soon.

We must approach our goal of peace from all angles, and we have to do the work in order to see progress for our community, for our people.

How Baton Rouge is reducing crime.

We created this opportunity to present music to fans and for the venues and musicians in a safe way.

Festival season on the come up.

Hi everyone.

I'm kerosene singer Andre is out tonight.

We've been monitoring the tropics with bated breath this hurricane season and so far little activity has threatened South Louisiana.

But the National Weather Service reports that a tropical storm has formed.

It's named Tropical Storm Fiona.

Right now, it's headed toward Puerto Rico.

The current forecast is not predict the storm turning into a hurricane, but we'll continue to monitor that as hurricane season continues.

And now to other news making headlines across the state.

Louisiana legislators are revisiting discussions on eliminating state income tax during a tax writing committee meeting on Tuesday.

Lawmakers said that despite fiscal and political challenges, eliminating income tax would incentivize new businesses, corporations and residents to come to the state.

Personal income taxes are expected to raise 4.3 billion of the state's 39 billion annual operating budget.

Carjackings are surging across New Orleans with the numbers on track to surpass 2021, a record breaking high of 210 incidents.

As of this week, there have been over 175 armed carjackings.

In 2020, police responded to 204.

On Thursday, President Biden announced progress on a kindling railway labor strike.

Railroads and union representatives have been in negotiations at the Labor Department this week.

If they don't reach a deal, a strike could shut down rail lines across the country.

The strike could also disrupt passenger traffic as well as freight rail lines.

Following the agreement, Amtrak said it was working to quickly restore canceled trains and reaching out to impacted customers to accommodate on first available departures.

Internet access is something some of us may take for granted.

But in 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that over 400,000 homes in Louisiana had no Internet access at all, and about 42% didn't have broadband access.

The state is working to boost connectivity in the next few years with the Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity.

I sat down with the Executive Director to talk about that process.

So where is Internet access the most scarce?

So if you start to think about where those pockets of highest density of unserved locations are, you could start to look at a map of Louisiana and think of oil is a map.

If you think about the nexus of the challenge of those that are unserved and the digital divide, and you think about the sort of socio economically, how it's impacting people in those communities, it's going to be greatest.

So the need is really in rural areas.

It's, it's, it's in rural areas.

But I'll tell you, it's also equally in urban areas.

So you mentioned earlier the pandemic and how that's really been an eye opener for everybody, especially for teachers and educators.

Is any of this you know, this initiative, all of it, is it geared toward students at all?

So if you think about the byproduct of of all of these efforts, if even if you take a step back, independent of our efforts, every elementary, middle, high school, middle elementary, middle elementary and high school all has access to fiber optic connectivity going to each of the schools, every library.

And we've been to some really small towns and villages in Louisiana, places like Ada, Louisiana, Odessa, which is really a village and other areas.

A lot of those libraries have access to high speed Internet.

So independent of our efforts with the Office of Broadband and Connect L.A., the Board of Elementary, Secondary Education and the Board of Regents have done a phenomenal job making sure that students within the confines of their classroom has access to what they need from a technology perspective.

The challenge becomes once that student leaves the confines of the school and goes home, and that's where we're going to come, and we're going to help fill in that gap to ensure that there is universal connectivity from the moment a student leaves a high school, elementary and middle.

To the point that they go home.

So indirectly.

Yeah.

Yeah, it helps students.

Yeah.

So behind us, we've got this really lovely diagram that kind of explains what you guys are doing, how many places you're really going to.

Can you give a little bit more insight about what we're looking at?

So on July 25th, we made an announcement where we were going to award $130 million to several, several companies to provide access to high speed Internet to 66,300 locations.

That's going to impact 50 parishes.

And then on August 31st at our inaugural Broadband Solutions Summit that we did in Alexandria a couple of weeks ago, we launched another effort, a second wave of gumbo announcements.

38 million impacting 15,000 locations in in a dozen or so parishes.

And so what we are signifying in this in this board is within the last year and a half, in addition to scaling up our office, we've moved really aggressively to understand the needs of people and to appropriately direct where the funds are need to go in those areas that need it the most.

And so this these two boards really signify the effort that we've done in terms of how much money that we've committed over the last several months.

And it definitely represents progress and how far you guys are willing to go.

Right.

So is there anything else people need to know about this program?

No, it just stay tuned.

We're going to spend the next couple of months on the road meeting with folks from from a variety of different communities.

Really two things that we're going to really focus on over the next 6 to 8 months.

The first is we're creating the state's first digital inclusion plan, which we're really excited about.

And so we're partner with the Board of Regions and Stephen Barnes at the University of Louisiana to partner with a coalition of universities, including Grambling, Southern University, etc.

to put together the state's first digital inclusion plan.

That's important because there are segments of society folks that are disabled, folks whose language is it may not be English as a first language that we're severely impacted with the lack of broadband.

And so we need to understand the challenges that those segments and those in those folks have so that we can better, again, tactically address some of their challenges.

So we're going to work on developing the first digital inclusion plan.

But as we get ready for the infrastructure bill, we're going to put together a five year plan on how we're going to allocate those funds.

And so we're going to be spending a ton of time on the road throughout the state, meeting with folks, different constituencies, so we can get their feedback.

All right.

Well, it sounds like exciting things are happening.

Thanks so much.

Appreciate it.

Again, millions were allocated and that will be dedicated to 60,000 homes in Louisiana and midterms are coming up in less than two months.

Louisiana voters will be making their way to the polls in November for the primaries and December for the general elections.

We've had an interesting political year thus far with major changes coming out of the White House and the Supreme Court.

Here to talk about the latest voter trends as John Covey, a political analyst and pollster.

Thank you for joining us.

Thank you for having me tonight.

So how is Louisiana expected to vote this year?

So I would not be surprised if Louisiana goes fairly heavily Republican giving that that has been the trend over the last decade.

And in fact, the Democrats have not even field a candidate in the fourth congressional district up in Shreveport.

So they're not exactly running the same caliber of candidates that they might have, say, 15 years ago.

So are there any changes besides that, you know, from the last midterm election that we had?

One of the things which I think has been a big paradigm shift is the fact that you have more people since the pandemic started, they're choosing to mail in vote.

And in fact, the percentage of those who are mail in voting in Louisiana since the pandemic started has consistently, consistently rather been five times what it was before the pandemic.

In other words, about 15% of the vote has been cast by mail.

And I would expect that in-person early voting will be popular as well.

So in other words, you're looking at roughly 30 to 40% of the vote is already going to be cast before November 8th, which is Election Day.

Wow.

So that is a major shift from years before.

Correct.

So whenever you say 15% of people would be sending in mail in votes, about how many people is that?

So what you're looking at, if you want to assume about a 50% voter turnout or about 1.5 million voting.

What we're talking about is the potential for there to be 100 to 100 to about 225,000 people voting by mail, which is a pretty heavy volume.

So considering all the things that have happened in the White House and in the Supreme Court, a lot of people are paying attention to the demographics of people that are voting.

And recently in 45 states, including red states like Louisiana, people have been noticing more women registering to vote.

Is that expected to cause any change in how people are voting and what they're voting for?

The interesting thing about these stories I've been seeing and reading about women being energized to vote.

Women are not exactly a monolithic voting bloc in the same way that, say, whites or blacks or Hispanics are.

So the first thing I'm going to be looking at in the upcoming weeks, when we're talking about not only the fact that there are more women voting, is to look at the partizan composition of those registering to vote, because you do have Republican women and independent women as well as Democratic women.

So that is one of those kinds of things where I need more data before I can make a really appropriate judgment call as to which side that benefits more.

Why do you think that there's been a focus on this in particular for this midterm election?

So what I think has happened is that what was initially going to be an economic issues kind of election now has a flavor of social issues, more specifically, abortion.

Ever since the Supreme Court decision back in late June, which was leaked in early May, I do think that has provided yet more.

I guess, noise, as it were, as to things that are interesting voters as opposed to before it would have been talking about, say, the coronavirus policies and or inflation and or foreign affairs.

Now, abortion is basically becoming an issue in its own right, just like inflation has been.

Was this expected for the midterm elections, for this to be as big of a topic as it is right now?

It was sudden.

And, you know, the interesting thing about it was I did not really see any impact when the decision was leaked in early May.

If one believes the polls that have been released in August, which is the the latest data I have at my fingertips, it has benefited Democrats somewhat.

But I'm also of the opinion that what goes on in August isn't necessarily what's going to happen after Labor Day, when voters are more focused.

But I do think it has given a new spring to the Democrats steps to where instead of it being a 2010 or 2014 style Republican landslide, I could see more modest Republican gains unless Republicans have the ability to get an appreciable share of independent voters and or win back some of those voters who maybe attitudinally Republican but voted for Joe Biden.

Those two voter blocs, in my opinion, are going to be the story of election night.

So speaking of trends and voting trends are more people likely to show up at the polls this year, especially?

You know, I mean, in spite of all that's been going on with election integrity and people worried about the results.

I believe so.

And there's a couple of data points that already have as evidence for that.

The first is primary turnout when compared against 2018 is actually two and a half million votes higher is the highest I've seen going all the way back to 2006 when I'm studying, you know, the the number of people who actually voted in the primaries.

So that's data point number one.

Data point.

Number two is I'm seeing an unprecedented level of interest in terms of people wanting to vote early.

More specifically, as of this morning, I have seen 270 have already voted in Florida, North Carolina, and we have in Florida and North Carolina and Georgia.

And that's just data I know about.

But in Florida and North Carolina and Georgia, 200,000 people have already requested a mail in ballot.

So you're talking about people two months in advance of election who are already ready to vote.

And that, to me is interesting when you're talking about a midterm election.

So I am expected elevated turnout relative to 2018.

All right.

So the midterms are getting very, very, very close.

Thank you so much for coming in and giving us all this information.

My pleasure.

Okay.

It's been a rough few years for crime across the country.

Following the pandemic, homicides and drug use skyrocketed.

In Baton Rouge, officials recorded their deadliest year on record in 2021 with 149 murders.

The city's mayor, Sharon Weston Broome, is working to lower that crime rate.

She spoke at Press Club on Monday.

Here's a snippet of what she had to say.

One thing is clear.

Cities across the country are focused on investing in what actually creates safe, healthy and prosperous communities.

This includes housing, health care, mental health and substance abuse services.

Also community based restorative forms of justice that address the root causes of harm and violence.

For Baton Rouge, I have begun to tackle this complicated topic by working to address some of the root issues that can disrupt community safety, as well as looking at issues currently that strain our public safety resources.

We must approach our goal of peace from all angles, and we have to do the work in order to see progress for our community, for our people.

I've always held the belief that we are stronger together, and I have no doubt that that's a shared goal, that we all have a shared principle, shared belief.

Our work to create a community of peace, prosperity and progress is layered in a three pronged approach that includes law enforcement, mental health and community engagement law enforcement, mental health and community engagement, building and sustaining our police force in all city parish parishes, departments remains my top priority as mayor.

To be effective, we must have qualified, well-trained and knowledgeable officers.

In August, we raise police officers, pay by 7% across the board.

This is a 13% pay increase for Baton Rouge police Department officers over the past two years, something we did without a tax increase.

And I will continue to fight for fair pay for the officers who protect and serve our communities, which also ensuring that they have the adequate equipment and technology to perform their duties effectively.

Along with pay raises, my administration has invested more than $10 million in recent years for technology, equipment, recruitment and training to enhance public safety not only in the city of Baton Rouge, but throughout the east Baton Rouge Parish.

Throughout this process, I'm reminded that change does not come easy, and it definitely does not come overnight.

This city is evolving day by day.

So that means that we must evolve our strategies to real change in our communities.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, It isn't enough to talk about peace.

One must believe in it, and it isn't enough to believe in it.

One must work at it.

I stand by this.

In our efforts to keep the residents and guests of East Baton Rouge Parish safe.

Complimenting law enforcement is mental health.

Even before the global COVID 19 pandemic, we have been witnessing an increase of individuals experiencing a crisis with mental health and substance abuse.

Over the last two years, the COVID 19 pandemic and the Social disconnection that it fostered has only intensified these mental health problems.

One of our leading mental health providers, the Bridge Center for Hope, opened in February 2021, and it served more than 3700 people experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis in East Baton Rouge Parish.

And it is imperative that they stay focused and remained remain efficient and effective because they are very much needed.

Additionally, we are developing the right initiative, investing $1 million allocated by Congressman Troy Carter to provide trauma informed therapy in neighborhoods with the greatest level of violence.

This is not a new focus for my administration.

Early on, we use the recast program, as you may recall, to address the trauma experienced by our community members and law enforcement personnel in the aftermath of the events of 2016.

Our third pillar of public safety is community engagement.

Baton Rouge is one of 16 cities in the White House.

Community violence Intervention Collaborative.

This collaborative empowers all of our local, state and federal public safety partners to work together, create best practices that are fair and equitable, and influence existing systems to produce the best, best health and safety outcomes for individuals and families.

Mayor Sharon Weston Broome says her teams filled with more than 33,000 community members and recorded their needs and suggestions to improve public safety in their neighborhoods.

NOLA by NOLA is a concert series that was created last fall as an effort to support musicians who lost their livelihood during the COVID pandemic.

The festival is back for a second year and will feature more than 300 musical performances at 35 venues across the city of New Orleans.

I got to talk to the co-founder of the Great Festival and a very special guest yesterday.

So take a look.

We are here today with Sig Greenbaum and none other than the Queen of Soul of New Orleans, Irma Thomas.

I'm so glad to meet with you guys this morning.

So we're going to be talking about Nola by Nola.

So what can first of all, can you explain to me what this festival is and how is it different from other Louisiana festivals?

Well, first of all, it's not like any other festival in Louisiana because it's not an outdoor daytime, nighttime music festival on a field or on in the downtown area in the French Quarter.

It's a festival that takes place in all of our music venues.

And our music venues are really the lifeblood of our culture in the city.

From Mardi Gras Indians to Grammy winners like Irma Thomas, Rebirth, Brass Band, everybody in between.

And last year, after two years of the pandemic and clubs being closed and musicians not being able to play and work, we created a coalition of music venues, 35 venues to support each other, promote each other, support musicians, and bring the city back to life.

And we did that over ten days with over 300 shows.

It was so successful and so widely received.

We decided to come back and do it again.

And this year we actually have 17 days with 55 venues participating between September 23rd and October 9th.

So it is unlike any other festival in terms of how you normally use the words, but it's, you know, between about 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

It's a music festival, that's for sure.

That's definitely unique.

And I know that like a lot of festivals that were happening in 2020, the pandemic messed with a lot of things.

So I know that this had a completely different, unusual approach and how it got started.

You want to tell me about that?

Yeah, the approach was venues were going to go out of business and artists were looking at jobs that had nothing to do with being professional musicians.

And it was a really difficult time for everyone.

And so we created this opportunity to present music to fans and for the venues and musicians in a safe way.

We had COVID policies in place.

We made sure that we're being smart about it.

We got the support of the city, which was incredible, and we were able to actually execute tonight.

I will say Irma can speak to this much better than I can because she was the one standing.

We're right now at Preservation Hall.

This is a hundred person venue packed.

And I saw her here live during NOLA by Nola, and it was magical.

So I think Irma, you know, for you, what does that feel like?

It feels wonderful.

It gives me an opportunity to share what I love to do with those who love hearing me and those who grew up listening to me and to all the other musicians who are part of this city.

This is what Nola.

Nola does for us.

And like you said, we didn't want to go out looking for other kinds of jobs because this is the job we love.

And if you're going to work, you may as well do something you love doing.

And when you can do it and have other folks enjoy it with you, then this is what Nola by NOLA is all about.

Are there any other artists that I guess the both of you are looking forward to seeing?

Well, I'll be busy working, so I'll get to know I'll be a part of the ones being seen.

Well, I'm happy to say it's such a long list that I can't just go through it very quickly.

But, you know, Louisiana legends like the Rebirth Brass Band, the Hot Eight Brass Band, Big Sam with special guests.

We're going to do a special fado duo at Tipitina's.

We have things happening at Snug Harbor with jazz musicians.

You know, Howling Wolf, Maple Leaf, the list goes on and on.

And actually, if you want to see that list, you can go to NOLA by NOLA.com, which is Nola X NOLA dot com.

And all the venues that are participating on there, all the shows that are happening, you can see you can sort by neighborhood, by music, genre by venues.

It's all there for you at a, at a click, and you can even buy tickets from the venues that sell tickets online.

Irma I read that for you.

Whenever you're performing, you really perform for your audience and that's what you've said always that what your audience wants to hear, that's what you play.

So is there anything you're looking forward to playing, any requests that you're expecting?

Well, I expect my audience to let me know what it is they want to hear, because I'm there for them, not for me.

And trust me, in Louisiana, they know me well enough that if they call it out and I can remember it, if it's not in my cheek, Pat, I will still do what I know and we'll still have fun that night.

A cheap iPad.

I love it.

I love it.

So for the people that are really excited for these performances, if they want to get tickets, how do they go about doing that?

So in a lot of cases, you can just go to the venue and buy tickets as long as it's not sold out.

And again.

Nola by NOLA.com.

Nola X NOLA.com.

It will link you directly to each of the venues and so you can buy tickets online.

You can see if the show is sold out or not.

You can show up at the venue.

A lot of the venues do multiple shows in a single night, so the opportunity is to do shows and explore are continuous.

And of course, if you go to DBA on Frenchmen Street, there's a dozen venues you can go to within three blocks.

If you're on in the quarter here, Preservation Hall, you can go to the Toulouse Theater.

There's other places also within a couple of blocks of walking uptown, same type of situation.

We have lots of opportunities, lots of neighborhoods.

And you can you can you can kind of go and explore.

You can start with things, you know, and let the city take you.

And of course, you'll run into people, you know, and and they'll take you places that you've never been before.

Well, it sounds like a great time.

Thank you guys so much for taking the time to talk to me.

And good luck mall and your performances.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The concert start on September 23rd and you can catch live shows there October 9th.

And that's our show for this week.

Remember, you can watch anything, anytime, wherever you are with our KPBS app.

You can catch OPB 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, TikTok, and Instagram.

For everyone at Louisiana Public Broadcasting, I'm crossing here.

Until next time.

That's the state we're in.

Every day I go to work for Entergy.

I know customers are counting on me.

So Entergy is investing millions of dollars.

To keep the lights on.

And installing new technology to prevent outages before they happen.

Together, together, together.

We power life.

Additional support provided by the Fred Bea and Ruth Ziegler Foundation and the Zeigler 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.