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.

CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY LNS CAPTIONING WWW.LNSCAPTIONING.COM YOU WOULD THINK STATE REVENUE IS SUFFERING TERRIBLY.

ACTUALLY, IT'S NOT.

THE STATE AND AN INFLUX OF A LOT OF FEDERAL MONEY.

WE WERE LEANING TOWARD EXTENDING IT.

THE SEARCH FOR THOSE MISSING SEACORP MEN COMES TO AN END.

IT IS CRITICAL AS WE MOVE TO A STATE OF NORMALCY.

THE STRUGGLE TO BRING PEOPLE BACK IN FOR THAT SECOND DOSE.

HI, EVERYONE.

I'M KARA ST. CYR.

AND I'M ANDRE MOREAU.

MUCH MORE ON THOSE TOP STORIES COMING UP YOUR WAY ON THIS EDITION OF "SWI, BUT FIRST, A DEMOCRAT PRESIDENT AND HIS SWING THROUGH RED STATE LOUISIANA.

LAKE CHARLES WAS JOE BIDEN'S FIRST STOP IN THE STATE.

HE'S PUSHING FOR A $2.3 TRILLION PLAN TO REBUILD THE NATION'S INFRASTRUCTURE.

TAKING MONEY FROM CORPORATE TAX HIKES, POSSIBLY BONDS, AND GOING TO REBUILD WHAT HE SAYS MAKES AMERICA MOVE AND BUILD IT BACK BETTER.

THEN, IT WAS ON TO NEW ORLEANS FOR THE PRESIDENT AND HE HAD PLENTY TO SEE THAT NEEDS BIG HELP IN THE CRESCENT CITY.

HE HAD A TOUR OF THE DILAPIDATED CARROLLTON WATER PLANT AND MORE.

BIDEN'S PLAN WILL ALSO PUSH TO GET RID OF LEAD PIPES THAT CARRY DRINKING WATCH, MUCH OF IT IN THE NATION'S SCHOOLS, HE SAYS.

HE WANTS THIS ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION UPGRADE TO BE SOMETHING ALL LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES GET BEHIND.

THE AMERICAN JOBS PLAN IS A BLUE COLLAR BLUEPRINT TO REBUILD AMERICA.

A BLUE COLLAR BLUEPRINT TO REBUILD AMERICA, TO SUPERCHARGE OUR ECONOMY, SO WE CAN MOVE GOODS, GET TO WORK, BECOME MORE COMPETITIVE AROUND THE WORLD.

YOU KNOW, TO SHORTEN OUR COMMUTES, GIVE US BACK LOST TIME TO OUR FAMILY, ALL TOLD THE AMERICAN JOBS PLAN IS GOING TO MODERNIZE 20,000 MILES OF HIGHWAYS AND ROADS AND WILL FIX THE NATION'S 10 MOST SIGNIFICANT BRIDGES WHICH REQUIRE REPLACEMENT.

BRIDGES THAT GET TO SCHOOL, PEEK TO MARKET.

WHEN YOU BUILD BETTER ROADS, OR EXTEND THE TRAIN LINE TO THE NEXT TOWN OR INSTALL RELIABLE HIGH-SPEED INTERNET IT SPARKS NEW LIFE AND INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITIES.

IT GIVES PEOPLE HOPE.

NOW TO CORONAVIRUS NEWS.

WE CONTINUE TO LAG BEHIND OTHER STATES IN VACCINATION NUMBERS.

EACH WEEK, LOUISIANA IS ORDERING A SMALLER NUMBER OF DOSES THAN THE WEEK BEFORE.

ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE STATE'S POPULATION IS INOCULATED.

BECAUSE OF THAT TREND, ANY DOSES DRAWN AND NOT USED WILL BE DONATED TO OTHER STATES WITH A HIGHER NEED FOR THE VACCINE.

THAT STARTS NEXT WEEK.

TEENS 12 TO THE 16 ARE NOW ELIGIBLE AND YOUNGER KIDS COULD ALSO SOON BE.

BUT THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE SMALLER NUMBER OF DOSES COMING IN SHOULDN'T BE A CONCERN FOR ANYONE WHO IS STILL LOOKING TO BE VACCINATED.

BUT WHAT I WANT TO ASSURE EVERYONE, IS THAT THERE IS A VACCINE DOSE FOR YOU RIGHT NOW AT MORE THAN 1,500 LOCATIONS ACROSS THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT IN ADDITION TO WHAT DR. KANTER TALKED ABOUT, ONE OF THE KEYS TO OUR SUCCESS IS GOING TO BE MAKING SURE THAT PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VACCINATE THEIR PATIENTS WHEN THEY COME IN FOR A DIFFERENT REASON.

AND THEY HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT FACE-TO-FACE DISCUSSION.

AND NOW TO NEWS MAKING HEADLINES ACROSS THE STATE.

IT'S ALLEGED THE STATE HAD PAID ROUGHLY $6.2 MILLION IN IMPROPER UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TO NEARLY 1,200 PEOPLE LOCKED UP IN JAILS OR PRISONS.

THAT'S FROM A NEW REPORT FROM THE LEGISLATURE AUDITOR.

THE STATE LABOR DEPARTMENT DIDN'T DISPUTE THE GAFFE AND SAID IT WAS WORKING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS.

AT THE STATE CAPITOL, LAWMAKERS IN THE HOUSE WANT NEW ORLEANS AND FOUR NEIGHBORING PARISHES TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO PAY OFF A HEFTY DEBT TO THE FEDS FOR UPGRADES MADE TO THE FLOOD PROTECTION SYSTEM AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA.

THE LEGISLATION COMES YEARS AFTER THE DEAL WAS STRUCK FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS.

THE STATE OFFICE OF TOURISM LAUNCHED ITS LOUISIANA CIVIL RIGHTS TRAIL THIS WEEK, DURING NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK.

THE TRAIL IS MEANT TO BRING TOGETHER THE EVENTS OF THE 1950s AND 1960s THAT PLACED THE STATE AT THE CENTER OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

THE FIRST MARKER TO GO UP, JUST OUTSIDE OF THE FAMED DOOKY CHASE'S IS A SIX-FOOT HIGH STEEL SILHOUETTE OF A FIGURE CARRYING A PROTEST SIGN.

THE LEGENDARY LEAH CHASE TRANSFORMED THE RESTAURANT AS A SAFE MEETING SPACE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS TO STRATEGIZE OVER A BOWL OF GUMBO.

IT SERVED BLACK AND WHITE PATRONS, EVEN WHEN THERE WERE LAWS THAT PROHIBITED IT.

THE SECOND OF 15 PLANNED MARKERS WENT UP AT THE OLD STATE CAPITOL AND IT HIGHLIGHTS BATON ROUGE'S HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE AS THE SITE OF THE NATION'S FIRST BUS BOYCOTT IN 1953.

IN HOUMA, A BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM THIS WEEK OPENED AN EXHIBIT ABOUT ONE OF THE LAST SLAVE SHIPS THAT BROUGHT 400 AFRICANS ILLEGALLY TO THE U.S. AND SOLD SOME IN SOUTH LOUISIANA.

THE FINDING OUR ROOTS AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSEUM SAYS THE EXHIBIT MAY HELP VISITORS LEARN ABOUT THEIR OWN HISTORIES.

SOME OF THOSE ON THIS SHIP WERE SOLD TO PLANTATIONS IN TERREBONNE, LAFOURCHE AND ST. MARY PARISHES.

IF SNAKES MAKE YOU SQUEAMISH, YOU WON'T LIKE THIS STORY.

RESEARCHERS AT THE MEMPHIS ZOO HAVE RELEASED 50 ENDANGERED LOUISIANA PINE SNAKES INTO THE KISATCHIE NATIONAL FOREST IN AN ATTEMPT TO REVIVE THEIR POPULATION.

THE YOUNG SNAKES WERE PLACED INTO TUNNELS WHERE POCKET GOPHERS LIVE.

LSU'S BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REACHED OUT OF STATE TO NAME A NEW LSU PRESIDENT HE IS WILLIAM F. TATE, WHO WAS.

PROVOST AT SOUTH CAROLINA.

TATE IS AN EDUCATION AND SOCIOLOGY RESEARCHER AND HAS PUBLISHED DOZENS OF ACADEMIC PAPERS, THE MOST AMONG ANY OF THE FINALISTS.

HE WAS SELECTED OVER THE TWO OTHERS, INCLUDING UL SYSTEM PRESIDENT DR. JIM HENDERSON.

HE BECOMES THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRESIDENT AT LSU AND IN THE SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE.

FOR ME THIS POSITION IS ALL ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP STUDENTS AND GET PEOPLE ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

I HAVE A TREMENDOUS PASSION FOR THAT.

THAT IS REALLY IN MY DNA, HOW DO WE HELP PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF THE BACKGROUND.

WE FIND THE MONEY, GET YOU HERE AND GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE YOUR DREAM.

THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE IN THE UNITED STATES TO COME FIND YOUR DREAM THAN RIGHT HERE AT LSU.

TATE IS SET TO ASSUME THE ROLE JULY 2nd WITH INTERIM PRESIDENT TOM GALLIGAN SERVING UNTIL THEN.

THERE WAS A FAINT HOPE MORE SURVIVORS MIGHT BE FOUND FROM THE CAPSIZED SEACORP LIFT BOAT EIGHT MILES OFF THE LOUISIANA COAST, BUT ANY OFFICIAL SEARCHS ENDED EARLY IN THE WEEK.

THE CAJUN NAVY SUSPENDED THEIR ORGANIZED SEARCH FOR SEVEN MISSING MEN.

THAT MEANS OF THE 19 THAT WERE ONBOARD, ONLY SIX SURVIVED.

THE CAJUN NAVY STEPPED UP WHEN THE COAST GUARD CALLED OFF THEIR PURSUIT.

BUT THEY SAY TOO MUCH TIME HAS PASSED AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF FINDING ANYONE ALIVE IS SLIM TO NONE.

IT WAS A GUT WRENCHING DECISION TO MAKE, NONETHELESS.

TOWARD THE END OF LAST WEEK, WE WERE DISCUSSING INTERNALLY IF WE SHOULD ADHERE TO THAT TIMELINE OR KEEP IT GOING.

AND UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT WAS DIFFERENT.

WE WERE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE AND HOLDING OUT HOPE.

WE WERE LEANING TOWARD EXTENDING IT.

THE SEARCH EFFORTS WILL CONTINUE, JUST NOT IN AN ORGANIZED WAY.

SMALLER GROUPS OF VOLUNTEERS WILL KEEP LOOKING FOR THOSE MEN.

MEANWHILE, THE COAST GUARD HAS STARTED TO REMOVE THE FUEL FROM THE BOAT.

THEY SAY THE GULF'S CURRENT WILL DETERMINE HOW QUICKLY THEY CAN DO THAT.

WITH WEEK FOUR OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION COMING TO A CLOSE, LAWMAKERS WERE ABLE TO VOTE ON CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS LIKE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST HAIR STYLES AND WHETHER IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR TEACHERS TO PADDLE KIDS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

TONIGHT, I'LL LIST SOME TOPICS AND HIGHLIGHTS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED THIS WEEK.

SHOULD A TEACHER BE ABLE TO SPANK CHILDREN IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

LAWMAKERS VOTED YES.

A BILL TO BAN TEACHERS FROM PADDLING KIDS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS DID NOT GET ENOUGH VOTES TO PASS THROUGH THE HOUSE.

BUT IT WAS A CLOSE CALL.

THE BILL NEEDED 53 VOTES TO PASS, BUT ONLY 48 LAWMAKERS SUPPORTED THE BILL, WHILE 49 WERE OPPOSED.

OPPONENTS SAID SIGNING OFF ON A BILL LIKE THIS WOULD TAKE AWAY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S POWER TO CONTROL THESE SITUATIONS INTERNALLY.

ONE LAWMAKER SAID THAT RULES ARE IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THIS TYPE OF PUNISHMENT IS DONE PROPERLY.

LAWMAKERS WILL ALSO DEBATE CL CAMERAS SHOULD BE ALLOWED IN CLOMS, IT IS HEADING TO THE SENATE FLOOR.

CHARTER AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO HAVE CAMERAS WITH AUDIO IN SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOMS IF THE BILL WERE PASSED.

THE COST OF INSTALLATION FOR EVERY LOUISIANA EXPLANATION CLASSROOM WOULD SIT AROUND $8 MILLION.

THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL, SENATOR FRANKLIN FOYLE, DRAFTED THIS ON BEHALF OF THE LOUISIANA DISABILITIES COUNCIL AND CONCERNED PARENTS.

PROSTITUTION IS STILL A PUNISHABLE OFFENSE IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

REPRESENTATIVE MANDIE LANDRY'S BILL TO TOSS OUT SEVERAL PROSTITUTION-RELATED OFFENSES WAS GOING TO BE REJECTED BY THE HOUSE CRIMINAL AND JUSTICE COMMITTEE.

SHE PULLED HER BILL OFF THE TABLE BEFORE IT COULD MAKE IT TO DEBATE.

DURING A THREE-HOUR HEARINGS PEOPLE SAID IT COULD REDUCE INCARCERATION AND SAID THE STATE SHOULDN'T MEDDLE IN THE SEXUAL ISHSZ OF CONSENTING ADULTS.

THE LOUISIANA SENATE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO MAKE IT ILLEGAL FOR EMPLOYERS TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST SOMEONE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY STYLE THEIR HAIR.

SENATOR TROY CARTER'S BILL IS AN EXTENSION OF ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS ALREADY IN PRACTICE.

THIS ONE WOULD INCLUDE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST HAIR TEXTURE, AND STYLES, LIKE BRAIDS AND NATURAL HAIR, A PART OF THE PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF RACE.

THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS THE HOUSE BACKED A $36.4 BILLION BUDGET PLAN FOR THE FISCAL YEAR STARTING IN JULY.

THE BUDGET SETS ASIDE MONEY FOR TEACHER PAY RAISES AND CORRECTION WORKERS, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

IT INCLUDES A LOT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS SUBMITTED IN HIS PROPOSAL.

THE GOP BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES PLANS TO INCREASE PAY FOR FOSTER PARENTS AND COLLEGE FACULTY.

PLUS FULL TUITION WOULD BE COVERED FOR STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR TOPS.

THE YEAR WAS EXPECTED TO BE AN ECONOMIC BUST, BUT BIG FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE BAILING OUT STATE GOVERNMENTS LIKE OURS.

I TALKED WITH ROBERT TRAVIS SCOTT, PRESIDENT OF THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH COUNCIL.

PAR HE GAVE HIS TAKE ON HOW THE SPENDING MIGHT GO, PLUS IF HE EXPECTS A TAX PLAN TO PASS THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

THERE'S BEEN A RECOMMENDATION THAT SO MANY STUDIES HAVE MADE FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT YEARS THAT WE NEED TO BRING DOWN THE RATES ON OUR INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX.

AND TO DO THAT, WE HAVE A SPECIAL DEDUCTION FOR THE FEDERAL TAXES PAID THAT WOULD TAKE OFF OUR STATE INCOME HERE WHEN WE FILL OUT OUR TAX FORMS, LIKE NO OTHER STATE HAS THIS.

WE ARE THE ONLY STATE THAT HAS THIS IN THE CONSTITUTION.

IT TIES YOU TO WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS DOING IN THEIR TAXATION, MAKING OUR REVENUES FLUX UP AND DOWN.

GET RID OF THAT.

OTHER STATES HAVE FIGURED THIS OUT.

TIME FOR US TO GET RID OF IT AND WE CAN LOWER OUR RATE.

MAKE IT REVENUE NEUTRAL FOR THE STATE SO THEY ARE NOT GETTING A LOT MORE OR LESS MONEY OUT OF IT AND MAKE IT REVENUE NEUTRAL FOR MOST PEOPLE PAYING TAXES.

WHAT IT DOES IS IT TAKES THAT UPPER RATE OF INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX THAT IS AT 6% RIGHT NOW, LET ME TELL YOU, THAT IS A HIGH RATE COMPARED TO OTHER STATES IN OUR REGION, OTHER STATES REALLY AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WE COULD BRING THAT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 4.25%.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU ARE GOING TO GET A HUGE TAX BREAK, RIGHT?

BUT IT DOES MEAN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A MORE STABLE TAX ENVIRONMENT.

YOU WILL HAVE A MORE STABLE TAX ENVIRONMENT AND WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT LOUISIANA, THEY WILL SAY, AMONG THOSE STATES THAT HAVE AN INCOME TAX YOU HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST RATES OUT THERE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MAP, WE ARE TRULY ON AN ISLAND.

YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE NORTHEAST OR THE WEST COAST TO FIND A CORPORATE INCOME TAX RATE THAT IS HIGHER THAN OURS.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT WOULD BE LIKE TRYING TO SWIM UPSTREAM IN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

YOU ARE TREADING, IF YOU ARE LUCKY YOU DON'T DROWN.

THAT'S RIGHT.

WHAT DO YOU DO, EXPLAIN TO EVERYONE, WE HAVE THIS SPECIAL EXEMPTION?

ASK MY ACCOUNTANT.

LET'S GET THE RATE DOWN.

MAKE IT MORE FAIR AND EVEN.

WE ARE FINDING A PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE A PROBLEM.

WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE HIGHER RATE.

WE CAN LOWER THE RATE WITHOUT REALLY GIVING UP ANYTHING.

THE ONLY THING WE ARE GIVING UP IS A RELATIVELY UNFAIR TAX SYSTEM AND A BAD IMAGE.

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF THIS HAPPENING, GOING THROUGH, NEXT TIME WE LOOK AT THE MAPS PEOPLE WILL SAY, LOUISIANA IS A GREAT PLACE TO DO BUSINESS.

I THINK A CHANCE OF A LOT OF THESE CHANGES MADE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE THIS SESSION ARE VERY GOOD.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF SOLUTIONS-MINDED LEADERSHIP OUT THERE, A LOT OF POWER BEHIND THIS THING.

I THINK THEY ARE TRYING TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.

THEY ARE VETTING THEIR PROPOSALS, TRYING TO MAKE SURE IT IS FAIR TO EVERYBODY.

THE REAL TEST IS GOING TO BE IN LOUISIANA, EVERYTHING IS IN OUR CONSTITUTION SO IT HAS GOT TO GO TO THE PEOPLE FOR A VOTE.

AS IT SHOULD.

IT IS TOO BAD WE'VE GOT TOO MUCH OF THIS STUFF IN OUR CONSTITUTION.

IT IS THE FACT THAT IT IS THERE AND YOU HAVE TO GO THE PEOPLE AND CONVINCE THEM THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE BETTER TAX DOLLARS.

THAT WILL BE THE REAL CHALLENGE.

THEY PRINT MONEY IN WASHINGTON AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE GET SOME OF IT.

THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO SPEND IT A CERTAIN WAY.

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF THAT TAKING SHAPE, HOW WOULD IT TAKE SHAPE, DO YOU THINK?

WELL, LOOK, YOU THINK AFTER A YEAR OF PANDEMIC, MAJOR SUGGESTDOWN -- SHUTDOWN OF THE ECONOMY, TROUBLE GETTING PEOPLE TO COME BACK TO WORK, YOU THINK THE STATE REVENUES ARE SUFFERING.

THEY ARE NOT.

THEY ARE DOING WELL, STRONGER THAN YOU EXPECTED.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFERING A GENEROUS MEDICAID MATCH TRYING TO HELP OUT THE STATES.

SO OUR MEDICAL EXPENSES HAVE GONE WAY DOWN, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE ALL THAT EXTRA MONEY IN EXISTING REVENUE STREAM TO SPEND ON OTHER THINGS.

PLUS WE'VE GOT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AND OTHER PLANS POURING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO THE STATES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, HIGHER EDUCATION, CHILDCARE, INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT IS AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS COMING THROUGH AND, OF COURSE, THE CONCERN THAT EVERYBODY HAS IN THE STATE CAPITOL AND EVEN THE GOVERNOR HAS EXPRESSED THIS IS THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO START PUTTING THIS INTO OPERATIONAL FUNDS.

IT WILL ACT LIKE ONE-TIME MONEY SO IT WON'T BE SUSTAINABLE FOR THE STATE IN A LONG RUN.

YOU DON'T WANT TO TRY TO REPLACE TOO MUCH REGULAR GOVERNMENT SPENDING WITH THE STIMULUS.

I WILL SAY THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL, EVEN THOUGH EVERYONE DOESN'T AGREE AND THE LEGISLATURE WANTS TO HAVE A HAND IN IT, IT SEEMS TO BE LARGELY AIMED TO THINGS THAT WOULD NOT CREATE AN UNSUSTAINABLE FUTURE IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

ROADS, WATER, SEWER, HELPING OUT THE LOCALS WITH THAT.

HE SET UP A WHOLE PROGRAM FOR THAT.

HE WANTS TO TRY TO REVITALIZE THE UNEMPLOYMENT TRUST FUND.

GENERALLY SPEAKING AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME IN EARLY MAY IN 2021, I WOULD SAY THAT THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE LEADERSHIP ARE WORKING AS CLOSELY OR MORE CLOSELY TOGETHER THAN WE HAVE SEEN HAPPEN IN A LONG TIME.

WE ALSO SEE, I THINK, A COORDINATION WITH THE FOURTH FLOOR OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ON A LOT OF ISSUES.

THE GOVERNOR IS ALSO, I THINK HE IS HELPING THIS PROCESS BY BEING CLEAR ABOUT WHAT HE WANTS.

A KEY TO REOPENING THE ECONOMY IS FOR HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS TO BE READY TO OPERATE AS THEY DID PRE-PANDEMIC.

AT FULL SERVICE.

BUT THERE'S A BIG PROBLEM NOW.

FINDING PEOPLE WILLING TO WORK.

PAUL ARRIGO, CEO OF VISIT BATON ROUGE IS HERE.

PAUL, THIS IS A PROBLEM NATIONWIDE AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST STUMBLING BLOCK TO FINDING STAFF?

YOU KNOW, ANDRE, WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE THE DEMAND IS SO STRONG RIGHT NOW FOR TRAVEL BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE SUPPLEMENT CHECKS AND WHAT HAVE YOU, YET THE WORK FORCE IS NOT COMING OUT.

THEY ARE USING THE SUPPLEMENTAL CHECK TO STAY AT HOME AND MAYBE DO SOME HOME IMPROVEMENTS AND RATHER THAN TRAVEL, RATHER THAN GO BACK TO TRAVEL JOBS OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A LACKING NUMBER OF PEOPLE OUT THERE.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT SE CHECKS A KEEPING THEM HOME BECAUSE THEY ARE MAKING AZ MUCH MONEY.

ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE A DEMAND APPROACHING LEVELS PRE-PANDEMIC STATEWIDE, CERTAINLY IN BATON ROUGE, THE STAFFING IS SO DIFFICULT FOR RESTAURANTS, ATTRACTIONS AND HOTELS.

OBVIOUSLY, THE STAFFING IS A BIG ISSUE, BUT FOR THE BUSINESSES THAT DID MAKE IT THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, HOW HARD WERE THEY HIT?

OH, WE ARE LOOKING FROM A HOTEL POINT OF VIEW, ABOUT 30% REVENUE DOWN AND WE WERE -- I DON'T WANT TO USE THE WORD FORTUNATE, BUT TOWARD THE END OF THE YEAR WE HAD TWO STORMS THAT HAD A POSITIVE EFFECT ON THE HOTEL USAGE.

HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THAT, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERABLY LOWER.

NATIONWIDE IT WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND 34%.

THAT AFFECTS JOBS, IT AFFECTS INCOME.

IT WAS DEVASTATING AND SOMETHING I DON'T EVER REMEMBER SEEING IN THIS INDUSTRY AND I HAVE BEEN IN IT ALMOST 50 YEARS.

IS THERE A PART OF THE STATE HIT WORSE?

IS NEW ORLEANS HIT WORSE THAN BATON ROUGE OR SHREVEPORT?

GOOD QUESTION.

NEW ORLEANS WAS HIT TREMENDOUSLY, PARTICULARLY WITH THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET.

WE DEPEND VERY MUCH ON NEW ORLEANS SO WE WERE SORT OF LIKE SECOND.

LAFAYETTE AND LAKE CHARLES WERE HIT, BUT THEY HAD THE HURRICANE, WHICH BROUGHT IN CONTRACT WORKERS AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

SO THEIR NUMBERS REALLY DID WELL TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR.

NORTH LOUISIANA FOR SOME REASON WAS NOT HIT AS HARD AS SOUTH LOUISIANA.

WE CAN'T FIGURE THAT.

WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS NOW?

IF YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE WORKERS, WHAT WILL YOU DO?

I THINK, YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME TYPE OF INCENTIVE TO GET BACK INTO THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.

THERE IS SUCH A DEMAND FOR WORKERS RIGHT NOW AND OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH IN THE INDUSTRY.

IT IS THE FOURTH LARGEST INDUSTRY IN THE STATE AND FELT ANYWHERE.

NORTH, CENTRAL, SOUTH, CENTRAL, NEW ORLEANS, BATON ROUGE.

NOW FOR A YOUNG PERSON TO WANT TO GET IN THE INDUSTRY AND START SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, THIS WOULD BE THE PERFECT TIME.

NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THINGS ARE STARTING TO OPEN UP, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT WILL TAKE FOR PLACES TO BOUNCE BACK?

I THINK WE WILL SEE SOMETHING IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS PROVIDED WE DON'T HAVE A RELAPSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A GOOD FALL.

EVERYTHING THAT WAS IN THE SPRING IS MOVING TO THE FALL, AT LEAST IN THE BATON ROUGE AREA.

I THINK YOU LOOK AT THAT NATIONWIDE.

WE DIDN'T EXPECT IT.

JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE LAST MARCH 17 WHEN THE HAMMER DROPPED, WE HOSTED TRAVEL SOUTH HERE IN BATON ROUGE, WHICH AFFECTED THE ENTIRE STATE.

IT SHOWCASED THE ENTIRE STATE OF TRAVEL WRITERS.

THE 11th OF MARCH.

THEN, BOOM, EVERYTHING FALLS OUT.

WE WERE BUSY RELOCATING BUSINESS, TRYING TO FIND NEW DATES DOWN THE LINE, REBOOKING BUSINESS.

THE SUMMER COMES, TWO HURRICANES HIT THE LAKE CHARLES AREA, I THINK FIVE HIT THE STATE.

HERE WE ARE TRYING TO FIND ACCOMMODATIONS FOR CONTRACT WORKERS AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

SO OUR WHOLE MODEL OF WHAT WE NORMALLY DO, MARKETING CHANGED.

DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATIONS, 60 SOME ODD OF US THROUGHOUT THE STATE, WE HAD TO CHANGE OUR WHOLE WAY OF DOING BUSINESS.

NOW WE ARE BACK IN THE MARKETING BUSINESS.

PEOPLE GET VACCINATIONS, THAT WILL HELP.

ANDRE, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE HOTELS AND WHAT HAVE YOU TO GET THE VACCINATIONS.

AND, AGAIN, THE DEMAND.

LET'S GET BACK TO WORK AND BACK INTO THIS INDUSTRY.

PAUL ARRIGO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

MY PLEASURE.

AS WE LEARNED IN THE GOVERNOR'S WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE, ANY VACCINE DOSES THAT LOUISIANA DOESN'T USE WILL BE SENT TO OTHER STATES WITH A HIGHER NEED FOR THEM.

BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED HERE.

IT'S BECAUSE NOT MANY PEOPLE ARE GETTING IT.

THE PHARMACY SERVICES DIRECTOR AT BATON ROUGE GENERAL HOSPITAL SAYS SHE'S NOTICED PEOPLE MISSING APPOINTMENTS AND NOT SHOWING UP FOR THAT CRUCIAL SECOND DOSE.

WE'VE ALL HEARD THIS PHRASE THROWN AROUND.

HERD IMMUNITY.

IT'S THE MILESTONE WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO REACH SINCE MARCH 2020.

AT FIRST THERE WAS CONFUSION AROUND WHAT IT IS AND HOW TO GET THERE, BUT NOW WE'VE GOT A MUCH BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF IT.

A LARGE POPULATION HAS BECOME IMMUNE TO THE DISEASE.

IN OUR CASE, THE BEST WAY TO REACH IMMUNITY IS GETTING EVERYONE VACCINATED, BUT RANEESHA FORD, THE DIRECTOR OF FARM SERVICES AT BATON ROUGE GENERAL HOSPITAL SAYS THE STATE AND REALLY THE COUNTRY IS STRUGGLING TO GET EVERYONE TO THE CLINICS AND PHARMACIES.

IT'S THE HESITANCY THAT MEDICAL OFFICIALS KEEP TALKING ABOUT BLOCKING PROGRESS.

IF WE HAVE A LARGE ENOUGH NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO DECIDE, YES, I NEED TO GET TO VACCINE BECAUSE IT PROTECTS ME AND IT PROTECTS OTHERS, THE LARKER THAT NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE, IT PROTECTING EVERYBODY, INCLUDING THOSE WHO DO NOT CHOOSE, FOR WHATEVER REASON, TO BECOME VACCINATED.

THE CDC FOUND THAT IN ALMOST EVERY PARISH IN LOUISIANA, AT LEAST 20% OF THE POPULATION IS STILL HESITANT.

THE VACCINE IS FULLY FUNCTIONAL, IF YOU GET BOTH DOSES.

WITHOUT BOTH YOU ARE LOOKING ABOUT 70% TO 80% EFFECTIVENESS.

AT BATON ROUGE GENERAL HOSPITAL, WHERE FORD WORKS, SHE'S NOTICED A TREND IN PEOPLE NOT COMING IN TO GET THAT CRUCIAL SECOND DOSE.

INITIALLY THE PERCENTAGE THAT 'YOU SEE THAT SECOND DOSE, YOU ARE NOT FULLY PROTECTED FROM THE VIRUS.

IT IS CRITICAL AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE TO A STATE OF NORMALCY AND RETURN TO LIVES WHERE WE ARE INTERACTING AND ENGAGING WITH ONE ANOTHER IN CLOSER PROXIMITY THAT EVERYONE WHO RECEIVES THE VACCINE IS FULLY VACCINATED AND RECEIVES BOTH DOSES.

BESIDES JEOPARDIZING HERD IMMUNITY, FORD SAYS NOT GETTING THE SECOND DOSE IS ALMOST LIKE A WASTE.

THE VACCINE FOR THOSE APPOINTMENTS HAVE A SHELF LIFE.

IF YOU DON'T SHOW UP TO GET IT, AND NO ONE ELSE USES IT, THAT VACCINE IS THROWN AWAY.

I THINK THERE IS THE FEAR OF THE SIDE EFFECTS OF THE SECOND DOSE.

AS WE KNOW, MANY INDIVIDUALS HAVE ENHANCED SIDE EFFECTS AFTER RECEIVING THE SECOND DOSE OF THE VACCINE.

AND I THINK SOMETIMES PEOPLE JUST GET BUSY AND MISS THEIR APPOINTMENT FOR THE SECOND DOSE AND DON'T CALL OR REACH OUT TO RESCHEDULE OR TO FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT BECAUSE THEY MISSED IT, ARE THEY STILL ABLE TO COME BACK AND GET IT.

WE DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE ANYONE, EVEN IF YOU'RE PASSED THE 21 OR 28 DAYS TO RESCHEDULE AND COME BACK AND GET YOUR SECOND DOSE.

IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.

LUCKILY, OUT OF THE NEARLY 30,000 VACCINES BATON ROUGE GENERAL HAS GIVEN OUT, ONLY ABOUT 50 HAVE ENDED UP IN THE TRASH.

THIS IS, I WOULD SAY, DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT IS OCCURRING ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S THAT THERE ARE MISSED SECOND DOSES MORE THAN INITIALLY WHEN WE FIRST BEGAN VACCINATING.

I THINK THAT HEALTH SYSTEMS EVEN WITH THE RETAIL PHARMACY CHAINS ARE EXPERIENCING MISSED SECOND DOSE APPOINTMENTS AND AS A RESULT OF THAT WASTING VAXS.

FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DO GET THE VACCINE, YOU CAN HAVE DIGITAL PROOF WITH THE LA WALLET APP.

THE SPACEX CIVILIAN CREW USED THE WEEK FOR SOME PHOTO-OPS.

HERE'S A LOOK AT THE FOUR.

OF COURSE, LOUISIANA NATIVE HAYLEY ARCENEAUX IS THERE.

SHE IS A CANCER SURVIVOR AND IS REPRESENTING ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

THEIR THREE-DAY TRIP AROUND EARTH IS SCHEDULED TO LAUNCH SEPTEMBER 15.

ST. JUDE IS WORKING TOWARDS A GOAL OF RAISING $250 MILLION FOR CANCER RESEARCH AND CARE.

AND, EVERYONE, THAT IS 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 AS WELL AS OTHER LOUISIANA PROGRAMS YOU'VE COME TO ENJOY OVER THE YEARS.

AND PLEASE LIKE US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND INSTAGRAM.

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

I'M KARA ST. CYR.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, THAT'S THE "STATE WE'RE IN."

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.