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 IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND, YOU DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN.

THE COVID-RELATED DEATH OF A JUST-ELECTED CONGRESSMAN.

WHAT I FIND IS HE HAS A GENUINE CONCERN FOR PEOPLE.

PRAISE FOR LOUISIANA'S NEW CHIEF JUSTICE.

TO SEE THIS MANY BIRTHS IS KIND OF UNUSUAL AND NOT EXPECTED.

NEW LIFE BEGINS NINE MONTHS AFTER A PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN.

HI, EVERYONE.

I'M KARA ST. CYR.

AND I'M ANDRE MOREAU.

MUCH MORE ON THOSE TOP STORIES IN A MOMENT ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "SWI."

BUT FIRST, POLITICIANS FROM AROUND THE WORLD ARE CONDEMNING THE VIOLENCE OF WEDNESDAY'S ASSAULT ON THE NATION'S CAPITOL.

THEY ARE URGING RESPECT FOR AMERICA'S DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES.

A TOTAL OF FIVE PEOPLE, INCLUDING A DC POLICE OFFICER, DIED AS A RESULT OF THE STUNNING ATTACK BY THE PRO-TRUMP MOB.

SENATOR BILL CASSIDY CAME TO LPB TODAY.

HE RECALLED THE EVENTS OF WEDNESDAY AND WHAT HAS UNFOLDED SINCE.

LIKE MOST INSIDE THE CAPITOL, CASSIDY WAS WORKING, UNAWARE OF WHAT WAS ABOUT TO UNFOLD.

I WAS SITTING AT MY DESK AND A FELLOW SENATOR WAS GIVING A SPEECH.

I COULD SEE MIKE PENCE UP ON THE DAIS AND I LOOK TO TAKE NOTES.

I LOOK DOWN TO TAKE NOTES AND THEN MITT ROMNEY WALKS BEHIND ME REAL FAST AND HE IS CLEARLY UPSET.

I LOOK UP AND MIKE PENCE IS GONE, NOWHERE TO BE SEEN.

THE SPEAKER HAS STOPPED AND THEN SOMEONE SAYS THEY BREACHED THE CAPITOL.

THERE HAS BEEN A GUNSHOT.

THERE IS A RUSTLE THROUGHOUT THE CHAMBER.

PEOPLE GET UP AND START TO LEAVE AND THE SERGEANT AT ARMS GETS ON THE DAIS AND SAYS, STOP, DON'T LEAVE.

THIS IS YOUR PLACE OF SAFETY.

IF SOMETHING IS HAPPENING, I WILL GIVE YOU MORE DETAIL.

THEY TOOK THEN STAFFERS IN OFFICES AROUND THE CHAMBER AND BEGAN TO BRING THEM IN.

CLEARLY WE WERE THE SAFE SPOT.

THEY ASKED US TO STEP AWAY FROM THE DOORS, WHICH SUGGESTED TO ME THERE WAS AN ACTIVE SHOOTER OR AT LEAST THE FEAR OF IT.

FRANKLY, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.

AT SOME POINT I SIT DOWN, MY WIFE IS TEXTING ME A PICTURE, TED CRUZ IS ON THE INTERNET AND WE ARE LOOKING AT EACH OTHER'S CAMERA TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING.

THE SERGEANT OF ARMS SAYS, WE HAVE TO EVACUATE.

IT WAS ORDERLY, WE WENT DOWN, ALL FILE OUT, THERE IS A BACK WAY TO GO.

I CAN LOOK DOWN THE HALL AND THERE ARE THE RIOTERS DOWN THE HALLWAY WITH POLICE BETWEEN US.

I DON'T THINK THEY SAW US.

WE GO DOWN ANOTHER LEVEL AND POLICE HAVE MOVED A HEAVY PIECE OF FURNITURE IN FRONT OF A GLASS DOOR TO BARRICADE IT.

YOU FELT LIKE YOU WERE BEING ASSAULTED, YOU FELT LIKE YOU WERE BEING ASSAULTED.

LIKE OUR COUNTRY WAS BEING ASSAULTED.

LIKE OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS WAS GETTING SAY SALTED.

CASSIDY RETURNED HOME TO LOUISIANA THURSDAY NIGHT TO PRAISE AND CRITICISM.

GETS BOOED FROM PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT THE PRESIDENT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING AND I DIDN'T STICK UP BEFORE THE PRESIDENT.

YOU HAVE TO PUT COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY AND BEFORE INDIVIDUALS AND THANK YOU FOR DOING IS SO.

IT HAS BEEN ALL OF THAT.

WE ALL NEED IN THE NATION TO LOOK AT OURSELVES AS SEE HOW OUR WORDS REFLECT UPON OTHERS.

IS IT BRINGING US TOGETHER?

IS IT REMINDING US OF THE GREATNESS OF AMERICA?

THE FREEDOMS THAT WE HAVE, BUT WITH THESE GREAT FREEDOMS COME GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.

THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE SHOULD ALL REFLECT ON.

CASSIDY WAS THE ONLY ONE OF SIX POLITICIANS THAT MAKE UP THE STATE'S GOP DELEGATION WHO DID NOT VOTE TO OVERTURN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE COUNT.

NOW A LOOK AT OTHER STORIES MAKING HEADLINES ACROSS LOUISIANA.

LOUISIANA IS SEEING THE HIGHEST COVID NUMBERS THIS WEEK SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS SAYS THE POSITIVITY RATE IS ABOUT 18% IN NEW TESTS.

AS THE SLOW DISTRIBUTION OF THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE BEGINS ROLLING OUT ACROSS THE STATE, HOSPITAL LEADERS ARE WARNING ABOUT A BED SHORTAGE BECAUSE OF THE INFLUX OF COVID PATIENTS.

LAKE CHARLES MAYOR NIC HUNTER HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS AND IS RECOVERING AT HOME.

IN A STATEMENT, HUNTER SAYS HE'S DOING WELL AND RESTING AFTER A ROUGH FIRST FEW DAYS.

HE SAYS HE'S ABOUT A WEEK INTO A 14-DAY QUARANTINE.

THOSE RECEIVING SNAP ASSISTANCE WILL SEE AN INCREASE IN THEIR BENEFITS FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE NEW YEAR AND MORE PEOPLE IN THE STATE ARE NOW ELIGIBLE.

THE ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR JANUARY WILL BE LOADED ON TO CURRENT EBT CARDS TODAY, JANUARY 8th.

THE MONEY IS PART OF THE STIMULUS BILL SIGNED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

TANGIPAHOA AUTHORITIES THIS WEEK ARRESTED AMITE CITY COUNCILMAN EMMANUEL ZANDERS ON EIGHT COUNTS OF ELECTION FRAUD.

RECORDS SHOW HE WAS BOOKED INTO PARISH PRISON AND LATER RELEASED.

IN OCTOBER, TANGIPAHOA'S REGISTRAR OF VOTERS RAISED CONCERNS WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE.

ZANDERS IS ACCUSED OF ILLEGALLY REGISTERING VOTERS AT ADDRESSES IN HIS COUNCIL DISTRICT WHERE THEY DIDN'T LIVE.

THE STATE WILL INCREASE MAIL-IN BALLOTING OPTIONS FOR SPRING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS AND TWO SPECIAL ELECTIONS FOR THE U.S. HOUSE.

ELECTION OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL ALSO USE THE SAME ABSENTEE-BY-MAIL VOTING THAT WAS IN PLACE FOR THE SUMMER AND FALL ELECTIONS.

THIS WEEK, MORE THAN 100 PHARMACIES ACROSS THE STATE BEGAN GETTING THE VACCINE FOR PEOPLE 70 AND OLDER.

MANY HEALTH CARE WORKERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN VACCINATED.

WE TALKED WITH A NURSE FROM OCHSNER MEDICAL CENTER IN NEW ORLEANS ABOUT IT.

BRAD HARRISON HAS COMPLETED THE TWO-SHOT PROCESS.

I TALKED TO A COUPLE OF MY CO-WORKERS.

ONE SAYS SHE IS REAL TIRED FOR THE DAY AFTER.

I KNOW LAST NIGHT IT WAS A PARTICULARLY STRESSFUL NIGHT, BUT I HAD THE VACCINE BEFORE AND I THOUGHT, ALL RIGHT, DOES MY STOMACH HURT BECAUSE IT IS A HARD NIGHT AT WORK OR BECAUSE OF THE VACCINE?

IT DIDN'T REALLY HURT.

I'M BACK HOME AND I'M FINE.

WHEN YOU HEAR ALL THAT STUFF, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR SOME OF IT TO NOT GET IN YOUR HEAD EVEN IF IT DOESN'T DESERVE TO BE THERE.

FOR ME PERSONALLY, I HAVEN'T NOTICED ANY ADVERSE REACTIONS OR SIDE EFFECTS.

IT WAS KIND OF COOL TO KNOW BEING ON THE FRONTLINE THAT WE WERE -- THAT I WAS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO GET IT.

THAT WAS KIND OF NEAT IN A WAY.

BECAUSE YOU WORRY, OBVIOUSLY, I'M DOING EVERYTHING THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO, WEARING A MASK OUT IN PUBLIC, BUT YOU WORRY, WHAT IF I ACCIDENTALLY SLIP UP.

IT FEELS A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, BETTER, LIKE I FEEL, LIKE, OKAY, WELL, MAYBE IF I MAKE A MISTAKE OR AN ACCIDENT, I'VE GOT A LITTLE MORE COVERAGE.

I WORKED AS A DIALYSIS NURSE FOR OSCHNER'S MAIN CAMPUS IN NEW ORLEANS, THE MAIN ONE ON JEFFERSON HIGHWAY.

THE TYPE OF DIALYSIS I DO IS FOR THE IN PATIENTS IN THE ICU THAT ARE, INSTEAD OF BEING ON A REGULAR TYPE OF DIALYSIS TREATMENT WHERE YOU WOULD GO ON A MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY, THESE ARE THE ONES ON CONTINUOUS DIALYSIS IN THE ICU.

COVID MADE THE DIALYSIS UNIT MUCH BUSIER BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE VIRUS HIT WAS THE KIDNEYS ON A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THEY WOULD HAVE ACUTE KIDNEY INJURIES, IS THE WORD FOR IT.

AND SOME OF THEM, IT WOULD KNOCK IT OUT AND THEY WOULD NEVER RECOVER FROM IT AND OTHERS WOULD BE ABLE TO RECOVER FROM IT.

YEAH, WE WERE RUNNING DIALYSIS ON LOTS AND LOTS OF PEOPLE BACK IN MARCH AND APRIL WHEN IT WAS THE WORSE THAT IT WAS.

WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE VACCINE.

WE ARE LAUNCHING A NEW INTERACTION FEATURE ON OUR BROADCAST.

GO TO LBP.ORG/SWISURVEY TO GIVE YOUR THOUGHTS AND SEE WHAT OTHERS THINK.

I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES -- THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.

THAT IS A LOOK AT THE SWEARING IN CEREMONIES OF THE STATE SUPREME COURT BUILDING.

HE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THIBADAUX, WENT TO NICHOLLS STATE, AND THEN LSU LAW SCHOOL AND THURSDAY AFTERNOON, JOHN WEIMER WAS SWORN IN AS LOUISIANA'S NEW CHIEF JUSTICE.

HE'S ONE OF ONLY 12 JUSTICES NAMED IN THE LAST 100 YEARS.

TWO PEOPLE WHO KNOW HIM WELL ARE PRAISING HIM.

I TALKED WITH THIBADAUX ATTORNEY HAROLD BLOCK AND FORMER JUDGE AND CASA DIRECTOR, KATHLEEN RICHEY.

I MET JOHN IN THE MID 70s WHEN HE WAS THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT PRESIDENT AT NICHOLLS UNIVERSITY AND I WAS STUDENT GOVERNMENT PRESIDENT AT LOUISIANA TECH.

IN THOSE DAYS THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT PRESIDENTS MET REGULARLY TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES THAT ALL OF THE CAMPUSES SHARED.

I WAS IN A WORK SITUATION WITH HIM, BUT WE WERE COLLEGE KIDS AND WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME JUST HAVING FUN.

MY RECOLLECTION IS JOHN WEIMER WAS A PRETTY GOOD POOL PLAYER.

WE SPENT TIME DOING FUN STUFF AND DEVELOPED A FRIENDSHIP.

FIVE OF US STAYED CONNECTED.

OUR LAW CAREERS HAVE COINCIDED.

MEN HE WAS ON THE TRIAL BENCH, I WAS ON THE JUVENILE BENCH.

WE WOULD OCCASIONALLY TALK ABOUT CHALLENGING CASE US.

I RECOLLECTED WITH JUSTICE WEIMER WHEN I TOOK THIS JOB WITH LOUISIANA CASA BECAUSE I WORK WITH THE COURT.

CASA IS COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN.

EACH OF THE COURT HAS ACCESS TO CASA VOLUNTEERS AND WE COORDINATE THROUGH THE SUPREME COURT.

I HAVE FOUND HIM TO BE A REAL CHAMPION FOR CHILDREN.

WHAT I FIND IS HE HAS A GENUINE CONCERN FOR PEOPLE.

I THINK JUSTICE WEIMER AND REALLY THE WHOLE COURT WANT TO ENSURE PEOPLE IN THEIR LOUISIANA HAVE THEIR SITUATIONS BETTERED, THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN.

HOW WOULD YOU SAY HE MAY APPROACH THIS POSITION IN A DIFFERENT WAY BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS THAN SOME OTHER -- WELL, JOHN HAS A REALLY WONDERFUL SENSE OF HUMOR.

I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF FUN.

I ALSO THINK THAT JUSTICE WEIMER HAS A CERTAIN HUMILITY AND INNATE ABILITY TO RELATE TO PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

I THINK THAT CITIZENS OF THIS STATE ARE GOING HAVE THE LEADERSHIP OF THE COURT RAILLY BE SENSITIVE TO THEIR NEEDS AND UNDERSTAND AND INTEND TO HAVE THE LAW WORK ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE.

JOHN WEIMER HAS BEEN A FRIEND OF MINE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

I THINK I AM EXTRAORDINARILY PLEASED AND PROUD OF THE FACTS HE IS BECOMING THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT.

AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT THERE HAVE BEEN VERY FEW CHIEF JUSTICES FROM OUR AREA.

JUSTICE LEBLANC WAS FROM NAPOLEONVILLE, DOUGLAS WHITE FROM THIBADAUX WAS UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.

THIS IS A RARE HONOR FOR SOMEONE FROM OUT HERE IN THE COUNTRY, AS WE LIKE TO SAY.

HE WENT FROM BEFORE A PROFESSOR AT NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY TO BEING ON THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT IN THE SHORT PERIOD OF SIX YEARS, WHICH IS REALLY UNHEARD OF.

BUT IT IS JUST THE SIGN OF HIS AFFABILITY AND HE HAS A WAY OF MAKING FRIENDS THAT IS JUST EXTRAORDINARY.

STUNNED MOURNERS PAID TRIBUTE IN MONROE SATURDAY FOR LUKE LETLOW, JUST ELECTED AS THE STATE'S NEWEST CONGRESSMAN.

HE DIED DECEMBER 29 AFTER CONTRACTING THE COVID VIRUS.

HE WAS ONLY 41.

A BEST FRIEND SAID OF HIM, HE MADE PEOPLE FEEL THEY WERE THE MOST SPECIAL IN THE WORLD.

"USA TODAY" POLITICAL REPORTER GREG HILBURN KNEW HIM WELL AND TALKED ABOUT THE LOSS.

I WAS STUNNED' EVEN THOUGH I HAD BEEN FOLLOWING HIS ILLNESS AND HIS HOSPITALIZATION AND I KNEW IT WAS VERY SERIOUS AND I EVEN TALKED TO HIM JUST TWO OR THREE DAYS BEFORE WHILE HE WAS IN ICU.

SO I KNEW THIS WAS A POSSIBLE OUTCOME, BUT, OF COURSE, IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND YOU JUST DON'T THINK IT IS REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN.

HE IS 41 YEARS OLD.

HE IS IN GOOD HEALTH.

IT IS A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY OF A PROMISING CAREER CUT SHORT AND LIFE CUT SHORT.

IT'S TERRIBLE.

THIS IS A YOUNG MAN.

HIS MOM AND DAD, HIS FOLKS, HIS WIFE, HIS TWO LITTLE CHILDREN WHO WON'T REMEMBER THE FUNERAL, A LITTLE GIRL, 1 YEAR OLD, A LITTLE BOY 3.

IT WAS A SOMBER EVENT.

I WENT EARLY AND THEN I LEFT AND COVERED IT FROM THE LIVE STREAM BECAUSE IT GOING TO BE A DEADLINE SITUATION.

IT WAS GOING TO GO PAST.

BUT IT WAS A SOMBER MOMENT.

JUST PEOPLE IN SHOCK, TOO, STILL.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA THAT HE WAS SOME KIND OF AN ANTI-VIRUS, ANTI-MASKER REPUBLICAN.

HE WAS NOT.

HE WAS -- THERE ARE PHOTOS OF HIM WITHOUT MASKS WHERE HE WAS CARELESS, BUT I SEEN MANY CASES WHERE HE WAS WEARING A MASK.

MY LAST INTERVIEW AT HIS HOUSE AS I WALKED UP HE PUT ON A MASK BEFORE I CAME IN.

YES, THERE WERE TIMES HE WAS CARELESS, BUT HE CERTAINLY WAS NOT AN ANTI-MASKER OR COVID DENIER, NOT IN ANY SENSE OF THE WORD.

THIS IS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS STAGE HIS ENTIRE LIFE.

HE STARTED AT LOUISIANA TECH, A DRIVER FOR A FORMER CONGRESSMAN WHEN HE WAS 20 YEARS OLD.

HE WENT TO WORK FOR A POLITICAL WONDER KID IN YOUNG BOBBY JINDAL WHO WAS YOUNG, ENERGETIC AND CHARISMATIC.

HE WENT ON TO WORK FOR GOVERNOR JIND LARKS WHEN JINDAL WAS A CONGRESSMAN AND WHEN HE BECAME GOVERNOR.

HE LEFT POLITICS BEFORE CONGRESSMAN ABRAHAM ASKED HIM TO COME BACK AND RUN HIS FIRST CAMPAIGN AND HE WAS CONGRESSMAN'S ABRAHAM'S CHIEF OF STAFF FOR ALL THREE TERMS.

IN AN INTERVIEW HE TOLD ME, I WAS TAKING THE BEST OF ALL OF THESE PEOPLE, WHICH WERE EXTRAORDINARY TALENTS.

I WAS TAKING ALL OF THE BEST OF THEM WITH ME TO WASHINGTON AND USE THAT EXPERIENCE AND THAT GUIDANCE.

THAT WAS MUCH OF WHAT HE RAN ON WAS THAT HE MAY HAVE NOT BEEN IN ANY POLITICAL OFFICE, BUT HE HAS BEEN AROUND IT HIS ENTIRE LIFE AND INVOLVED WITH THE PROCESS.

HIS PASSION WAS FOR LOUISIANA.

I HAVE KNOWN HIM SINCE HE WAS YOUNG, SINCE HE WAS 20 DRIVING CONGRESSMAN COOKSEY AROUND.

HE LOVED LOUISIANA.

HE USED TO SEND ME BOOKS OR OLD PHOTOS FROM GRAVEYARDS, CHURCH GRAVEYARDS IN LOUISIANA.

HE HAD A PASSION FOR LOUISIANA, ESPECIALLY RURAL LOUISIANA.

I COVERED HIM, BUT I HAD KNOWN HIM SINCE HE WAS 20 YEARS OLD.

I KNEW AND KNOW HIS BROTHER.

I GOT TO KNOW LUKE WHEN HE WAS ENTERING THE POLITICAL ARENA AND I REALLY GOT TO KNOW HIM A LOT BETTER WHEN HE WAS LOOKING FOR THEN CONGRESSMAN JINDAL.

PEOPLE WHO LOSE SOMEONE SUDDENLY TELL YOU SHOCK IS YOUR BEST FRIEND FOR THAT TIME PERIOD UNTIL YOU CAN BEGIN TO BELIEVE THIS HAS HAPPENED.

I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE THE IMPACT ON HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

YOU KNOW, LIFE CONTINUES FOR THAT YOUNG FAMILY.

HIS WIFE JULIA, VERY ACCOMPLISHED IN HER OWN RIGHT IS CONSIDERING RUNS FOR THAT SEAT TO FILL THAT VACANCY.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY WILL MAKE THE FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT NEXT WEEK.

THANK YOU, GREG HILLBURN.

WE'VE LEARNED THIS WEEK THAT ALEXANDRIA BUSINESSWOMAN CANDY CHRISTOPHE, A DEMOCRAT, WILL RUN IN THE SPECIAL ELECTION FOR THIS 5th DISTRICT.

SHE NARROWLY MISSED MAKING THE DECEMBER 5th RUNOFF.

NEARLY NINE MONTHS AFTER THE STAY-AT-HOME ORDER BEGAN, SOME LOUISIANA HOSPITALS ARE STARTING TO SEE AN UNUSUAL UPTICK IN BABIES BORN THIS YEAR.

I SPOKE WITH THE CHIEF NURSING OFFICER AT WOMEN'S HOSPITAL IN BATON ROUGE AND SHE SAYS THE JUMP IN BIRTHS IS JUST GETTING STARTED.

AFTER THREE YEARS OF TRYING, THE FRIDDLES STILL WEREN'T ABLE TO GROW THEIR FAMILY.

THE SITUATION FELT HOPELESS, BUT KIRSTEN FRIDDLE KNEW SHE HAD TO TRY.

IT FINALLY SEEMED LIKE EVERYTHING WAS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR FRIDDLE AND HER HUSBAND JUSTIN.

THEY WERE SIGNED UP FOR AN INVITRO FERTILIZATION, UNTIL THE PANDEMIC HAPPENED.

IN VITRO APPOINTMENTS WERE CANCELED FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND THEN A MIRACLE HAPPENED.

FRIDDLE GAVE BIRTH TO A HEALTHY BABY BOY ON JANUARY 1st.

HE WAS THE FIRST BABY BORN IN THE NEW YEAR.

HIS NAME IS JAX FRIDDLE.

AND TO HIS PARENTS AND THE STAFF AT WOMAN'S HOSPITAL, HE'S PERFECT.

BUT HE'S ALSO PART OF A BIGGER PICTURE.

BABY JAX IS PART OF THE BABY BOOM HAPPENING IN LOUISIANA.

MORE BABIES ARE PROJECTED TO BE BORN THIS YEAR THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT.

I HAD AN APPOINTMENT LIKE TWO WEEKS PRIOR, DECEMBER, LIKE A WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND MY DOCTOR WAS ASKING ME WHAT MY PLAN WAS.

BECAUSE THE INDUCTION SCHEDULE WAS SO FULL.

AT WOMAN'S HOSPITAL IN BATON ROUGE, THE STAFF ARE PREPARING FOR A JUMP IN BABIES BEING BORN TOWARD THE SPRING.

CHERI JOHNSON, THE CHIEF OF NURSING AT WOMAN'S HOSPITAL SAYS THE HOSPITAL WAS EXPECTING ONLY ABOUT 8,000 BABIES FOR 2021, BUT FOLLOWING THE LOCKDOWN AND DIFFERENT PHASES, SHE SAYS THEY'VE ESTIMATED ABOUT 200 MORE BABIES WILL BE BORN THAN EXPECTED, WITH THE MOST POPULAR MONTH BEING IN MARCH.

WE REALLY THOUGHT THAT WE MIGHT SEE A CONTINUED DECLINE IN BIRTHRATES.

WE KIND OF HAVE TO GO WITH WHAT WE ARE SEEING NATIONALLY.

NATIONALLY, THE BIRTHRATE DROPPED FROM 2014.

THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TRACKED 23,000 BIRTHS, IN 2020, 42,000 BIRTHS.

EVEN FIVE YEARS AGO, PEOPLE WERE HAVING A BABY, 24 TO 26 YEARS OF AGE AND NOW WE SEE 27 TO 28 YEARS OF AGE.

JOHNSON CREDITS THE UPTICK TO ABOUT THREE THINGS, SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS, CELEBRATORY EVENTS AND, OF COURSE, ANYTHING ELSEWHERE PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO BE AROUND EACH OTHER FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.

IN 2020, THERE WAS NO SHORTAGE OF EITHER.

LOUISIANA SUFFERED THROUGH SEVERAL HURRICANES, MANY DEVASTATED AND COVID-19 KEEPING PEOPLE INDOORS.

THERE IS GOING TO BE A SLIGHT UPTICK.

BRINGING PEOPLE CLOSER TOGETHER.

WE DO SEE A LITTLE UPTICK.

THIS IS MORE UNUSUAL AND MORE THAN WHAT WE EXPECTED.

THERE IS ANXIETY THAT COMES WITH THIS.

YOU HAVE ALL THESE THINGS THAT GO THROUGH YOUR MIND SO YOU ARE ALREADY YOUR STRESS OR ANXIETY IS KIND OF HIGH BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, BUT NOW YOU HAVE THE ADDED PRESSURE ON TOP OF IT.

JUST MAKING SURE THAT YOU PLAN AND HAVE THE PROPER PREPARATION BEFORE SHE GETS HERE.

ONE OF THE THINGS SHE IS WORRIED ABOUT IS CHILD CARE AFTER HER BABY GIRL IS BORN.

SHE WILL HAVE TO WORK AND HER DAUGHTER WILL NEED TO BE SOMEWHERE SAFE.

HER ONLY HOPE IS THAT THINGS TURN AROUND IN 2021.

HOPEFULLY 2021 HAS A BETTER OUTLOOK AND EVERYBODY CAN JUST SLOWLY START TO GET BACK TO NORMAL.

BATON ROUGE GENERAL HOSPITAL IS ALSO SEEING THAT UPTICK IN PREGNANT WOMEN.

A SPOKESPERSON TOLD ME PRENATAL VISITS IN 2020 WERE UP BY 20%.

HOW WILL COLLEGE CAMPUSES LOOK WHEN SCHOOL OPENS FOR THE SPRIN SEMESTER?

I TALKED WITH LSU SYSTEM PRESIDENT TOM GALLIGAN AND UL SYSTEM PRESIDENT JIM HENDERSON.

WE'RE LOOKING BACK AT HOW FALL LOOKED.

THERE WERE A LOT OF GREAT LESSONS LEARNED FOR FALL.

A LOT OF THINGS WE PUT INTO PLACE WORKED EXCEPTIONALLY WELL.

THE THINGS WE HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THE VIRUS SINCE THEN, HOW IT IS TRANSMITTED, HOW WE CAN PREVENT TRANSMISSION OR MITIGATE TRANSMISSION.

WE ARE INCORPORATING SOME EXPANDED TESTING AND WE ARE UTILIZING SOME NEW TYPES OF TESTING THAT WILL MAKE TESTING MORE AVAILABLE, MORE QUICKLY UNDERSTOOD AND RESULTS MORE QUICKLY KNOWN.

WE THINK THAT IS GOING TO ENHANCE THE SPRING SUCCESSFUL.

WE ARE ELIMINATING THE BLOCK ONE WEEK SPRING BREAK AND WE ARE DISTRIBUTING THAT STUDENTS WOULD HAVE HAD OFF THROUGHOUT THE SEMESTER.

INSTEAD OF HAVING A WHOLE WEEK OFF FOR SPRING BREAK, STUDENTS WILL HAVE A DAY HERE, A DAY THERE.

THAT WAS AT THEIR REQUEST.

WE THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY REASONABLE REQUEST.

THEY NEED BREAKS.

WHAT WE WANT TO DISCOURAGE IS WE WANT TO DISCOURAGE THEM GOING AWAY EN MASSE TO SOME BEACH SOMEWHERE AND COMING BACK.

IF A STUDENT IS NOT COMFORTABLE BEING COMFORTABLE ON CAMPUS, THEY CAN BEGIN THE SEMESTER ON LINE AND REMAIN ONLINE?

CORRECT.

WE ARE STILL GOING TO BE WEARING OUR MASKS, WASHING OUR HANDS, PHYSICALLY DISTANCED AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF TESTING.

THE BEST WAY TO COMBAT THIS VIRUS IS CHANGING HUMAN BEHAVIOR OR ADAPTING.

WE KNOW WEARING MASKS AND KEEPING PHYSICAL DISTANCE PREVENTS OR STRONGLY MITIGATES THE SPREAD OF THIS DISEASE.

WE SAW THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND A SINGLE CASE OF IN-CLASSROOM TRANSMISSION.

THERE WAS ONE STUDY THAT CAME OUT IF EVERYONE FOLLOWED MASK PROTOCOLS OR 70% OF PEOPLE FOLLOWED MASK PROTOCOLS TO THE LETTER, WE COULD BASICALLY ERADICATE THIS VIRUS OVER THE COURSE OF THREE TO FOUR WEEKS.

THAT IS POWERFUL.

YOU HAVE HEARD OF WASTEWATER TESTING PIONEERED AT LSU, WE HAVE AN APPROACH PIONEERED AT UL LAFAYETTE, USING TO IDENTIFY LEVELS OF THE VIRUS IN COLLECTIVE COMMUNITIES AND DORM ROOMS IF YOU WILL OR DORM SPACES.

WASTEWATER HAS BEEN A GOD SEND.

WE TESTED EVERY WEEK.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO TEST.

JOHN PARDU AND GUS AND THEIR TEAM WILL TEST NEXT WEEK.

FIRST DAY OF CLASSES MONDAY AND TUESDAY, WE'LL GET TEST RESULTS, WE WILL ACT ACCORDINGLY, IT ENABLES US TO TARGET A PARTICULAR RESIDENCE HALL ON CAMPUS WHERE THERE IS VIRUS AND GO IN AND SAY THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS AREA, YOU HAVE TO GET TESTED.

I'M NOT SURE WE ARE IN THE GUN LAP OF THIS.

YOU ARE A FORMER TRACK ATHLETE OF THIS.

YOU KNOW THE GUN LAP.

I'M NOT SURE WE ARE IN THE LAST LAP, BUT WE CAN SEE THE END OF THE TUNNEL WITH THE VACCINE.

WE ARE SOCIAL ANIMALS.

IT IS DIFFICULT TO STAY APART, BUT IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THAT NOW SO THAT GOING FORWARD WE CAN ENJOY ALL OF THOSE LIBERTIES, ALL OF THOSE PIECES, THE JOY DE VIVE WHO WAKES US WHO WE ARE.

AND CLASSES BEGIN NEXT WEEK.

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.