PROVIDED BY -- AT AMECARE WE HELP PEOPLE GET CARE, STAY WELL, AND BUILD HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.

CARE IS THE HEART OF OUR WORK.

AND BY THE US ARMY.

BATON ROUGE RECRUITING BATTALION.

COMMUNITY COFFEE.

AND THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY.

WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM HOTEL ENDIGO.

ENTERGY IS PROUD TO SUPPORT PROGRAMMING ON LPB AND GREENER PRACTICES THAT PRESERVE LOUISIANA.

THE GOAL OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES REALLY IS TO ENSURE THAT OUR KIDS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN BE LEFT WITH A CLEANER PLANET.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE FRED B.

AND RUTH B. ZIEGLER FOUNDATION AND THE ZIEGLER ART MUSEUM, LOCATED IN JENNINGS CITY HALL.

THE MUSEUM FOCUSES ON EMERGING LOUISIANA ARTISTS AND IS AN HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CENTER FOR SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA.

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

THEY PASSED A BUNCH OF TAX CHANGES THAT VOTERS WILL HAVE TO APPROVE IN THE GLAL A LOOK AT THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

THAT DAY I WAS JUST WORE OUT.

AND THE BUS WAS CROWDED RIGHT UP BEHIND THE GUY'S BACK.

REMEMBERING THE WOMAN WHO SPARKED THE BATON ROUGE BUS BOYCOTT OF 1953.

HE WAS REALLY WELL RESPECTED AND WELL LIKED BY HIS PEERS.

IVORY GIPSON THIS WEEK'S LPB LOUISIANA YOUNG HERO.

HI, I'M ANDRE' MOREAU.

KARA ST. CYR IS OFF TONIGHT.

RIGHT NOW ON SWI, THIS YEAR'S REGULAR SESSION OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS COME TO AN END.

GOVERNOR JBS SPOKE A HALF HOUR AFTER THE SESSION ENDED AT 6:00 P.M. THURSDAY NIGHT AND AMONG THE THINGS HE HIGHLIGHTED WAS TEACHERS AND STAFF WORKERS AND THE JOB THEY DID DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

TEACHERS RECEIVED AN $800 PAY RAISE AND STAFF $400, STILL NOT TO THE SOUTHERN REGIONAL AVERAGE, BUT AN IMPROVEMENT.

I WANT TO YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT OUR TEACHERS AND SUPPORT WORKERS AND EVERYONE WHO WORKS ON THESE CAMPUSES, EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN THROUGH OVER THE PAST 15 OR 16 MONTHS.

THEY WERE ABLE TO LEARN HOW TO TEACH REMOTELY DISTANCE LEARNING.

THEY PROVIDED IN TERMS OF THE SUPPORT WORKERS, MUCH-NEEDED MEALS TO CHILDREN DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AT RISK TO THEMSELVES, THEY WERE THERE WORKING TO PREPARE AND TO SERVE MEALS, EVEN WHEN THE KIDS WEREN'T IN SCHOOL, THEY COULD GO TO THE SCHOOLS AND GET MEALS.

THEY MADE SURE THAT THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WOULD BE SAFE WHEN WE RESUMED IN-PERSON EDUCATION, WHICH WE DID IN LOUISIANA TO A MUCH HIGHER DEGREE THAN THE VAST MAJORITY OF OTHER STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DISRUPTION TO CHILDREN'S EDUCATION WOULD BE AS SMALL AS POSSIBLE.

I'LL LOOK AT OTHER HEADLINES MAKING NEWS ACROSS OUR STATE.

NORTH LOUISIANA BAND DIRECTOR IS IN CONTENTION FOR THE 2022 GRAMMY MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD.

CORY CRAIG DIRECTS THE BENTON INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL BAND.

THE AWARD RECOGNIZES CURRENT EDUCATORS WHO HAVE MADE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION IN THE FIELD OF MUSIC EDUCATION AND THE BROADER CAUSE OF MUSIC EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS.

CRAIG'S LOVE OF MUSIC BEGAN IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHEN SHE WAS IN FOSTER CARE.

THE SAME LOUISIANA STATE POLICE UNIT WHOSE TROOPERS STUNNED, PUNCHED, AND DRAGGED RONALD GREENE DURING A DEADLY 2019 ARREST, IS UNDER INTERNAL INVESTIGATION BY A SECRET PANEL OVER WHETHER ITS OFFICERS ROUTINELY TARGETED BLACK MOTORISTS FOR ABUSE.

THE PANEL WAS SET UP IN RESPONSE TO GREENE'S DEATH AND THREE OTHER VIOLENT STOPS OF BLACK MEN.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PUTTING UP $1.6 MILLION TO HELP THE STATE DEVELOP SMART PORTS THAT WILL GATHER DATA ABOUT MISSISSIPPI RIVER CONDITIONS AND TRAFFIC FROM TUGS, BARGES, AND OTHER VESSELS.

THE SMART PORT PROJECT IS A NATIONAL FIRST.

THE STATE IS ADDING $1.4 MILLION.

STATE LEADERS SAY IT WORKS LIKE THE WAZE APP FOR DRIVERS, AND THE DATA HELPS YOU DECIDE THE BEST ROUTE.

EXXON MOBIL BATON ROUGE IS ANNOUNCING $240 MILLION IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT IMPROVEMENTS.

THE PROJECTS WILL HELP EXXON MOBIL MEET DEMANDS OF THE FUTURE WHICH INCLUDES THE REDUCTION OF VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND EMISSIONS.

THE PROJECTS WILL HELP RETAIN 1300 EXISTING JOBS, AND SUPPORT 600 CONSTRUCTION JOBS ON SITE OVER THREE YEARS.

THE BLANCO PUBLIC POLICY CENTER PROJECTS DIRECT PROPERTY TAX REVENUE TO REACH $43 MILLION OVER THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO KNOW IF OFFSHORE WIND COMPANIES WANT TO MOVE INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO.

AREAS OF LOUISIANA, TEXAS, MISSISSIPPI, AND ALABAMA.

MORE SHALLOW GULF WATERS WHERE MANY OIL WELLS HAVE PLAYED OUT, RATHER THAN DEEP SEAS WHERE THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY IS NOW FOCUSED.

BIDEN WANTS ENOUGH WIND GENERATED ELECTRICITY FOR MORE THAN 10 MILLION HOMES BY THE YEAR 2030.

OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT REPORTEDLY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CREATE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF GOOD-PAYING UNION JOBS NATIONWIDE.

AND ALSO HERE IS SOMETHING TO BE AWARE OF.

AS OF 8:00 A.M. FRIDAY, THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER IS TRACKING A DISTURBANCE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.

THIS IS WAY DOWN SOUTH IN THE BAY OF CAMPECHE.

THE CENTER SAYS THE AREA OF LOW PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO FORM EARLY NEXT WEEK.

SLOW DEVELOPMENT IS POSSIBLE AS IT DRIFTS NORTHWEST.

IT HAS A 20% CHANCE OF DEVELOPING INTO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION IN THE NEXT FIVE DAYS.

THIS YEAR'S REGULAR SESSION OF THE LOUISIANA STATE LEGISLATURE HAS COME TO AN END.

AND JEREMY ALFORD WHO IS A MAINSTAY AT LPB AND ALSO WITH LAPOLITICS, ALSO WRITES, HAS WRITTEN BOOKS, WRITES FOR "THE NEW YORK TIMES," HE'S HERE TO GIVE US THE HIGHS AND LOWS AND WHAT'S AHEAD IF THERE IS SOMETHING AHEAD IN THE LEGISLATURE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

IT'S BEEN KIND OF AN INTERESTING SESSION IN THE SENSE THAT TO ME, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THERE'S BEEN ANYTHING THAT'S BEEN EXPLOSIVE.

BUT THAT MAY NOT BE YOUR TAKE AT ALL.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HIGH AND LOWS?

MY MENTOR JOHN McGUINESS, PEOPLE AT THE END OF SESSION WOULD ASK, AND HE SAID THE SAME THING AT THE END OF EVERY SESSION.

IT COULD HAVE DONE LESS BUT THEY RAN OUT OF TIME.

IT FITS MOST SESSIONS BUT THIS WAS A JAM-PACKED SESSION.

AND THE BROAD -- A LOT DID HAPPEN.

THE BIG BROAD OVERVIEW IS THEY PASSED A BUNCH OF TAX CHANGES THAT VOTERS WILL HAVE TO APPROVE IN THE FALL.

THEY SPENT A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY, MOSTLY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR COVID-19 RELIEF.

AND THEY ARE DIRECTING UPWARDS TO $300 MILLION A YEAR TO NEW ROAD AND BRIDGE WORK AND MAINTENANCE AS LONG AS THE GOVERNOR SIGNS OFF ON ALL OF THAT.

AND THEN THROUGHOUT -- IN BETWEEN THOSE ISSUES SOMEHOW THERE WERE JUST COUNTLESS TOPICS.

AND POLICY SUBJECTS THAT WERE DISCUSSED.

IT WAS BIG ONE FOR GAMBLING -- WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT?

SPORTS BETTING, THE FRAMEWORK, THE TAXES, HOW IT'S GOING TO BE SPENT IS ALL IN PLACE.

THE GAMING CONTROL BOARD WILL NOW MAKE SOME MORE CHANGES, OR MAKE THE ACTUAL RULES, BUT YOU'LL SEE IT BY THE FALL IN CASINOS, RACETRACKS, THERE WILL BE KIOSKS AT RESTAURANTS AND BARS THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH LOUISIANA LOTTERY.

SO IF YOU FEEL LIKE PUTTING MONEY ON FOOTBALL OR BASKETBALL, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT LEGALLY STARTING IN THE FALL.

WILL IT BE IN ALL PARISHES?

GOOD POINT.

THERE WAS A REFERENDUM VOTE WHERE PARISHES GOT TO CHOOSE, JUST LIKE WITH VIDEO POKER WHO WANTS IT AND WHO DOESN'T.

IN THOSE PARISHES THAT APPROVED IT ON THE BALLOT, THEY'LL SEE SPORTS BETTING THIS FALL.

MARIJUANA WAS A BIG TOPIC ALSO.

YEAH, WE -- IT WAS A GREAT SESSION -- IT WAS GREAT SESSION FOR WEED.

JUST A FEW YEARS AGO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNTHINKABLE THAT LEGISLATORS WOULD PASS A LAW THAT WOULD DECRIMINALIZE SMALL AMOUNTS OF MARIJUANA.

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 14 GRAMS, WHICH IS A HALF OUNCE.

PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH WEED IS THAT.

IT'S ROUGHLY, IF YOU ROLL THOSE INTO JOINTS IT'S ABOUT A PACK AND A HALF OF CIGARETTES EQUIVALENT IN WEED, WOULD BE DECRIMINALIZED, NOT LEGALIZED.

A SMALL FINE.

A VERY SMALL FINE.

ON THE MEDICINAL FRONT, THIS IS A PROGRAM LOUISIANA HAS EXPANDED OVER THE YEARS, NOW DOCTORS CAN PRESCRIBE MARIJUANA PRODUCTS FOR ANY REASON THEY DEEM FIT.

WHAT'S GOING TO CHANGE STARTING AS SOON AS JANUARY IS THAT MARIJUANA -- THE PATIENTS WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS FLOWER, ACTUAL MARIJUANA BUD THAT YOU CAN SMOKE AND INGEST IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

RIGHT NOW THE MARIJUANA PROGRAM YOU CAN GET CONTINUING CHUSHES, GUMMIES, THERE'S AN OIL THAT -- THAT CAN BE USED IN A VAPE PEN OR COOKED WITH OR JUST TAKEN ON THE TONGUE, BUT THIS WOULD ADD THE MARIJUANA FLOWER.

WHAT LAWMAKERS FAILED TO DO WAS TO ATTACH THE SALES TAX TO THAT MARIJUANA FLOWER.

IN ONE OF THE MESSIEST MOVES OF THE SESSION -- IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW MESSY THINGS GET, THIS IS THE BILL TO WATCH.

THERE'S LEGISLATION BY TANNER McGEE THAT WOULD HAVE APPLIED A SALES TAX TO THIS MARIJUANA.

IT MADE IT OVER TO THE SENATE, THE SENATE TOOK IT AND ADDED SOME TRANSPORTATION RELATED MATERIALS TO THE BILL, DIVIDED THE HOUSE, IT ENDED UP GETTING CHANGED, ENDED UP PASSING AS LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REDEDICATE VEHICLE SALES TAX TO ROADS AND BRIDGES.

UPWARDS TO $300 MILLION A YEAR FROM THE GENERAL FUND WOULD BE MOVED JUST FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES.

THAT DOES SOUND PRETTY MESSY AND CONVOLUTED.

WHAT ABOUT THE SALES TAX?

THE TAX STRUCTURE?

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS KICKED AROUND BY LAWMAKERS.

A FEW YEARS AGO LAWMAKERS ADDED AN ADDITIONAL PERCENTAGE ON TO THE STATE SALES TAX STRUCTURE, .45%.

SO THE TOTAL STATE TAX STRUCTURE IS 4.45%.

THAT .45 ROLLS OFF IN 2025.

IT WAS ALWAYS MEANT TO BE TEMPORARY, THAT WAS THE LEGISLATIVE INTENT.

NOW LEGISLATORS ARE THINKING, THIS IS A FEW HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS WE'RE ABOUT TO GIVE UP IN 2025, IT COULD GO TO MAYBE ROADS AND BRIDGES.

BUT YOU GET INTO REAL INTENSE AND SPECIFIC POLICY DEBATE ON THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE CONSERVATIVES WHO BELIEVE IF A TAX IS SUPPOSED TO ROLL OFFER, AND YOU EXTEND IT, THAT IS A TAX INCREASE.

SO THAT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS DEAD ON ARRIVAL IN THE HOUSE AND IT WAS ABANDONED, BUT IF I LEARNED TWO THINGS FROM WATCHING THE LEGISLATURE, ONE IS IF THEY NEED MONEY IN A QUICK AND DIRTY WAY THEY'RE GOING TO TARGET THE SALES TAX.

THE STATE'S FLUSHED RIGHT NOW THERE.

WAS MONEY THAT WASN'T APPROPRIATED THIS SESSION.

THE SECOND THING IS THAT IF LAWMAKERS CAN KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND PUT OFF A DECISION, THEY'LL DO THAT EACH AND EVERY DAY, AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO MAKE A FINAL DECISION UNTIL 2025.

OKAY.

SO WHAT HAPPENS, LET'S SAY GOING AHEAD NOW.

WITH THE TAXES, WITH PEOPLE WILL NEED TO LEARN AND OBJECT ABSORB AND PERHAPS VOTE ON COMING UP LATER THIS FALL.

IF WE'RE ADVANCING THE STORY OF THE SESSION ENDING, THERE ARE TWO FRONTS TO KEEP AN EYE ON.

ONE IS THE GOVERNOR.

THE GOVERNOR STILL HAS THE ABILITY TO EXERCISE VETO AUTHORITY OVER CERTAIN BILLS.

THE GOVERNOR HAS A BIG CONCERN OVER THE INFRASTRUCTURE LEGISLATION WE DISCUSSED THAT WOULD REDIRECT THE VEHICLE SALES TAX TO ROADS AND BRIDGES.

HE DOESN'T LIKE THE IDEA OF EVENTUALLY TAKING $300 MILLION OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND USED FOR HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION.

IT COULD POTENTIALLY CREATE A BUDGET HOLE.

SO THE GOVERNOR HAS CONCERNS ABOUT THAT BILL, R. HE ALSO HAS CONCERNS ABOUT THE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD DO AWAY WITH THE CONCEALED CARRY LAWS IN THE STATE, AND ALLOW FOR PERMITLESS CARRY.

THAT'S ALL VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THE LEGISLATURE HAS THE ABILITY TO OVERRIDE A GUBERNATORIAL VETO.

AS RARE AS A UNICORN IN BATON ROUGE, BUT IT HAPPENS.

I BELIEVE IT HAPPENED DURING THE ROEMER TERM.

I SPOKE TO REPRESENT CRUZ ON THE WAY OUT OF THE CAPITOL AND HE TOLD ME THERE ARE A GROUP OF CONSERVATIVES ALREADY PUSHING FOR A VETO OVERRIDE SESSION THAT THEY THINK THEY CAN MAKE A BIG IMPACT, THIS SMALL ACT AND MAYBE DO SOMETHING IN JULY.

I WOULD SAY HISTORY AND THE CARDS ARE STACKED AGAINST THEM, BUTS THAT A NEW DYNAMIC.

I THINK EVERY SESSION FOR THE REST OF THE TERM WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OVERRIDE POTENTIAL CONVERSATIONS.

THE CONCEAL AND CARRY SUBJECT COMES AS A TIME AS ONE NIGHT THERE ARE EIGHT PEOPLE SHOT IN NEW ORLEANS EAST, AND ANOTHER NIGHT ANOTHER BIG NUMBER OF PEOPLE SHOT, ONE KILLED IN NEW ORLEANS.

AND ALSO IN BATON ROUGE.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY SPLIT ON THAT.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S SPLIT BY PARTY IT SEEMS LIKE.

IT WAS.

THAT GUNS SEEM TO TAKE ON AN UNUSUAL POSTURE IN THIS SESSION.

WE SAW A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BILL WHERE THE NRA BECAME ENGAGED AND IT RESULTED IN THIS ALTERCATION IN THE FINAL DAYS OF SESSION BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVE WHITE, AND THEY HAD TO BE PHYSICALLY SEPARATED ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, AND SHE HAD THREATENED TO GET HER GUN, SHE SAID SHE WAS TRIGGERED BY HIS CRITIQUE OF THE BILL, AND -- IT WAS A PROPER ENDING TO THAT SESSION, BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY DOMINATED AT CERTAIN TIMES BY PERSONALITIES IN THESE CONFLICTS.

THE MIDDLE PART OF THE SESSION WAS A HUGE PART WHICH WOULD NOT EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT MANY MONTHS BEFORE, THE ORDEAL FROM LSU AND THE TITLE NINE SITUATION.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT LEGISLATION I THINK NOT ONLY GAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THESE STORIES TO THE FOREFRONT, BUT I THINK THEY RECEIVED THE KIND OF SUPPORT IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR THIS, THEY WANTED -- THE GOVERNOR IS EXCITED ABOUT THE BILL AND THE LEGISLATION ALSO APPLIES TO THE COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES AS WELL, AND I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THEM, THEY SAID THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IMPLEMENTING THE -- WHATEVER NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE.

SO IT'S REALLY A STATEWIDE CHANGE TO HOW THIS IS HANDLED.

THE SESSION IS OVER L. THERE BE A SPECIAL SESSION?

I HOPE NOT.

BUT THERE IS -- THERE IS A GUARANTEE OF ONE SPECIAL SESSION COMING UP.

USUALLY THIS WOULD BE THE YEAR THAT WE WOULD HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION FOR REDISTRICTING, TO REDRAW ALL OF THE LINES BASED ON POPULATION COUNTS.

BUT IF YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE NEWS, THE CENSUS IS RUNNING BEHIND ON THESE FIGURES, THE DATA SETS ARE JUST I BELIEVE COMING TO THE STATE NOW.

SO THEY'RE LOOKING AT A SPECIAL SESSION, MAYBE IN FEBRUARY TO TACKLE REDISTRICTING, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A HECK OF A FIGHT BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S JUMPING OUT THAT WE NEED TO TOUCH ON BEFORE WE GO?

NO, I THINK IT'S ALL ABOUT WAITING FOR THE GOVERNOR'S VETOES RIGHT NOW, IF THERE ARE GOING TO BE ANY MORE, AND I SUSPECT THERE WILL BE.

YOU MENTIONED COVERING THE LEGISLATURE IS LIKE BEING IN A RELATIONSHIP THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO BE IN.

I SAID THE END OF A SESSION IS LIKE GETTING OUT OF A RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE YOU DON'T PARTICULARLY LIKE.

IT'S ENDED FOR NOW.

BUT I COULD BE BACK IN THAT RELATIONSHIP TOO.

THAT'S RIGHT.

JEREMY ALFORD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

ALWAYS.

MARTHA WHITE, WHOSE ACTIONS HELPED LAUNCH THE 1953 BUS BOYCOTT IN BATON ROUGE DIED THIS WEEK.

SHE WAS 99 YEARS OLD.

IN 1953, WHITE, THEN 23, WAS WORKING AS A HOUSE KEEPER IN THE CAPITAL CITY WHEN SHE TOOK ACTION.

AFTER A LONG DAY OF WALKING TO AND FROM WORK TO REACH HER BUS STOP, SHE DECIDED TO SIT IN ONE OF THE ONLY BUS SEATS AVAILABLE, ONE DESIGNATED FOR WHITE PASSENGERS.

AN LPB DOCUMENT, "SIGNPOST TO FREEDOM," MARTHA WHITE DESCRIBED FOR US EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT DAY.

THAT DAY I WAS JUST WORE OUT.

AND THE BUS WAS CROWDED RIGHT UP BEHIND THE GUY'S BACK.

THERE WASN'T BUT ONE SEAT RIGHT THERE IN THE FRONT, AND I WENT AND SAT ON THE SEAT AND ANOTHER LADY CAME.

AND HE LOOKED BEHIND AND HE SAID WE COULDN'T SIT THERE.

AND SO THE LADY GOT UP AND I GOT UP.

SO THEY CALLED ME CHICKEN BECAUSE I GOT UP.

I SAID, WHY WOULD I SIT THERE AND EVERYBODY ELSE GOT UP?

SO I SAID, IF ANYBODY ELSE SITS THERE I WILL BE THE SECOND ONE.

A LADY WENT, AN OLDER LADY SIT DOWN AND THEN I WENT AND SIT DOWN.

HE SAW THAT AGAIN AND HE SAID GET UP.

I SAID I'M SO TIRED.

I SAID, IF WHITE PEOPLE GET ON THIS BUS I'D BE GLAD TO LET THEM SIT DOWN.

BUT THIS BUS IS FULL OF BLACK FOLK, AND I AM -- I NEED TO SIT DOWN.

I SAID, GET UP, AND HE WOULDN'T LET US SIT DOWN.

I NEVER SEEN HER, SHE TOOK IT UNDER CONSIDERATION, SHE SAID, NO, EVERYBODY'S GOING TO STICK TOGETHER.

NOBODY IS GOING GET OFF THIS BUS AND WE'RE GOING TO STICK TOGETHER.

THE BUS DRIVER CALLED THE POLICE TO ARREST THEM.

AND -- THE POLICE WAS COMING UP.

THE POLICE CAME, TRIED TO MAKE US GET UP AND MAKE US -- YOU PUT THEM TWO IN JAIL YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT ALL OF US IN JAIL.

HE SAID COME ON.

ALL OF US GOT UP, GETTING READY TO GO TO JAIL.

AND THE REVEREND CAME UP AND HE KNOCKED ON THE POLICE -- THE OFFICER TOLD HIM YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

THAT BROKE IT UP.

THE BUS DRIVER TOOK -- AND THE POLICE CALLED -- THEY LEFT JUST LIKE THEY CAME, ONE BY ONE, ONE BY ONE.

SO THE BUS DRIVER, AND THE HEAD OF THE BUS COMPANY WAS TRYING TO MAKE THE DECISION ON WHATEVER THEY WERE DOING OUT THERE.

WATCH "SIGNPOST TO FREEDOM" RIGHT NOW ONLINE IN OUR LOUISIANA DIGITAL MEDIA ARCHIVES.

LDMA.ORG.

THIS AND MANY OTHER MINNESOTA PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE AT LADIGITALMEDIA.ORG OR BY GOING TO LPB.ORG AND CLICKING ON THE ARCHIVE BUTTON.

TONIGHT WE MEET A RECENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE FROM NORTHEAST HIGH IN BATON ROUGE.

HE WILL ATTEND COLLEGE AT SKIDMORE COLLEGE IN SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK.

HE'S EXELD IN ACADEMICS, ATHLETICS, SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS, PLUS HE'S HELPED RAISE HIS YOUNG NIECE.

TONIGHT'S LPB YOUNG HERO IS IVORY GIPSON.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BATON ROUGE YOUTH COALITION, AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS UNDERSERVED STUDENTS TOWARD COLLEGE AND BEYOND.

ALL OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE MENTORS.

SO WITH -- THROUGH OUR ONE-TO-ONE SENIOR MENTOR PROGRAM, I WAS PAIRED WITH IVORY.

IT TOOK ME A MINUTE TO BREAK THROUGH.

I THINK HE HAD DOUBTS ABOUT ME.

WE MET AND JUST KEPT AT HIM, KEPT KNOCKING AT HIS DOOR AND EVENTUALLY BROKE THROUGH.

THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO MAKE SURE INCREDIBLY MOTIVATED STUDENTS LIKE IVORY WHO ARE UNDERSERVED HAVE THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THEY NEED THAT STUDENTS WHO HAVE -- STUDENTS FROM AFLAUNT FAMILIES HAVE THOSE RESOURCES IN DROVES, AND WANTING TO MAKE SURE THOSE RESOURCE GAPS ARE FILLED SO THEY CAN SUCCEED IN THE COLLEGE PREP, AND PURSUE THEIR DREAMS.

WHAT ARE THOSE DREAMS?

THE FIRST PERSON TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE IN MY FAMILY.

THAT'S THE FIRST ONE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE TRY TO DO WITH OUR STUDENTS IS EXPOSE THEM TO THE FULL RANGE OF GOALS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR, EVEN IF MAYBE THEY HAVEN'T HEARD OF THEM BEFORE.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT ONLY SCHOOLS WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE INCREDIBLY ACADEMICALLY AND SOCIOEMOTIONALLY SUCCESSFUL, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT FINANCIALLY VIABLE FOR OUR STUDENTS.

SO SKIDMORE HIT THAT CROSS-SECTION, AND WHEN HE GOT THEY OFFERED HIM A REALLY ROBUST SCHOLARSHIP PACKAGE.

HE GAVE THE INTRODUCTORY SPEECH AT HIS GRADUATION, AT THEIR SENIOR BREAKFAST HE WON SEVEN SUPERLATIVE AWARDS, MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED, BEST SCHOOL SPIRIT.

HE GIVES BACK TO THE NORTHEAST COMMUNITY AS A LEADER, AS A MODEL.

HE REALLY SETS A HIGH STANDARD FOR THE REST OF THE SCHOOL.

WHICH IS A GREAT SCHOOL LED BY A GREAT PRINCIPAL.

YOU COULD JUST SEE THE WAY HE IS WHEN HE'S IN HIS ELEMENT.

HE'S REALLY WELL RESPECTED AND WELL LIKED BY HIS PEERS.

HE MAY NOT SAY THIS ALL THE TIME, BUT HE'S ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT HIS FUTURE.

HE'S ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT WHAT HE NEEDS TO BE DOING TO PUT HIMSELF AND HIS PEOPLE, HIS FAMILY AND HIS CLOSEST FRIENDS IN THE BEST POSSIBLE POSITION.

AND I'M NOT ONLY PROUD OF HIM BECAUSE OF HIS OWN ACHIEVEMENTS AND HIS OWN PROGRESS AND THE FACT HE SECURED A FULL ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP TO A TOP-NOTCH SCHOOL, BUT ALSO BECAUSE HE REPRESENTS MANY OTHER YOUNG HEROES, PARTICULARLY YOUNG HEROES OF COLOR, WHO ARE BALANCING THE SAME KINDS OF RESPONSIBILITIES THAT IVORY IS BETWEEN HIS HOME DUTIES, SCHOOL DUTIES, AFTER-SCHOOL DUTIES, AND GRINDING.

HE JUST GRINDS.

IT'S HUMBLING AND IMPRESSIVE, HONESTLY.

THESE ARE NOT THINGS THAT HE THINKS OF AS HEROIC.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT HE IS DOING BECAUSE IT'S FAMILY, BECAUSE IT'S WHAT YOU DO.

AND HE PROBABLY THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY WHEN HE FOUND OUT I HAD NOMINATED HIM FOR THIS, BUT I WANT HIM TO KNOW THAT I SEE EVERYTHING THAT HE DOES AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT ONLY ABOUT HIM, BUT SO MANY OTHER STUDENTS WHO ARE DOING THESE SORTS OF THINGS, WHO ARE STEPPING UP AT HOME IN BIG WAYS.

IT MAY BE NATURAL TO HIM, BUT WHAT'S NATURAL IS ACTUALLY EXCEPTIONAL.

I THINK IT IS EXCEPTIONAL.

I THINK WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT EVEN THE TIME MANAGEMENT THAT IS REQUIRED TO BALANCE BEING SO SUPPORTIVE OF HOME, WHILE BEING AN EXCELLENT STUDENT, WHILE BEING AN EXCELLENT ATHLETE AND AN ALL-AROUND KIND OF JUST BOSS AROUND SCHOOL, HE JUST GETS WHAT HE HAS TO GET DONE, DONE, AND I THINK IT'S DESERVING OF SPECIAL COMMENDATION.

FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS YOU'LL MEET THE OUTSTANDING STUDENTS THAT MAKE UP THIS YEAR'S CLASS OF LPB LOUISIANA YOUNG HEROES.

NEXT WEEK, JUNE 17th, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND PEDIATRICIANS FROM AROUND THE STATE WILL SHARE THE FACTS AND DISPEL MYTHS ON COVID-19 VACCINES DURING AN UPCOMING Q AND A FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES.

COVID-19 VACCINES AND CHILDREN -- WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW, WILL BE AT 5:00 NEXT THURSDAY, JUNE 17th.

DR. JOSEPH KANTER AND MANY OTHERS WILL TAKE PART.

TO JOIN THE DISCUSSION GO TO LDH.LA.GOV/VACCINES FOR MORE INFORMATION.

EVERYONE, THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN WATCH ANYTHING LPB ANY TIME WHEREVER YOU ARE WITH OUR LPB APP.

YOU CAN CATCH LPB NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS SHOWS AND OTHER LOUISIANA PROGRAMS YOU'VE COME TO ENJOY OVER THE YEARS.

AND PLEASE BE SURE TO LIKE US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND INSTAGRAM.

WE LEAVE WITH YOU A LOOK AT SOME OF OUR STATE PARKS WHICH YOU CAN VISIT FREE OF CHARGE WITH PROOF OF VACCINATION.

FOR EVERYONE AT LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M ANDRE' MOREAU.

Captioning Performed By LNS Captioning www.LNScaptioning.com SUPPORT FOR LPB'S 2021 LOUISIANA YOUNG HEROES IS PROVIDED BY -- AT AMERICARE, WE HELP PEOPLE GET CARE.

STAY WELL, AND BUILD HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.

CARE IS THE HEART OF OUR WORK.

AT AMERIHEALTH, LOUISIANA.

AND BY THE US ARMY.

BATON ROUGE REP CONTRIBUTING BATTALION.

COMMUNITY COFFEE.

AND THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY.

WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM HOTEL ENDIGO.

ENTERGY IS PROUD TO SUPPORT PROGRAMMING ON LPB, AND GREENER PRACTICES THAT PRESERVE LOUISIANA.

THE GOAL OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES REALLY IS TO ENSURE THAT OUR KIDS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN BE LEFT WITH A CLEANER PLANET.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE FRED B.

AND RUTH B. ZIEGLER FOUNDATION, AND THE ZIEGLER ART MUSEUM, LOCATED IN JENNINGS CITY HALL.

THE MUSEUM FOCUSES ON EMERGING LOUISIANA ARTISTS AND IS AN HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CENTER FOR SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA.

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