LOCAL SCHOOLS, TO BUILD A BRIGHTER PATH TO BETTER JOBS AND

HELP PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION.

TOGETHER, WE POWER LIFE. NTERGY.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE FRED B. AND RUTH B. ZIEGLER

FOUNDATION AND ZIEGLER ART MUSEUM IN JENNINGS CITY HALL,

FOCUSING ON AN EMERGING LOUISIANA ARTIST AND AN

HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CENTER FOR SWERN LOUISIANA.

AND THE FOUNDATION FOR CLEANSE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS KIND OF

CONDITIONED TO EXPECT TO HEAR THE WORST.

AT THE STATE CAPITOL, IS IT POLITICS AS USUAL?

WE ARE WORKING ON A VERY THIN MARGIN OF PROFIT ON SOYBEANS AS

IT IS. LOUISIANA FARMER FEEL THE

PINCH OF CHINESE TARIFFS. I WANT YOU TO TAKE ONE

VACATION THAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY LEAVE LOUISIANA AND GO SEE A

PART OF LOUISIANA YOU HAVEN'T SEEN.

PUSHING STAYCATION, FESTIVALS AND THE LOUISIANA EXPERIENCE.

HI, EVERYONE, I'M ANDRE MOREAU.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE IN JUST A MOMENT.

NOW THE HEADLINES. EFFECTIVE MAY 8, SECRETARY OF

STATE TOM SCHEDLER WILL RESIGN FROM OFFICE.

RECORDS SHOW SCHEDLER USED HIS STATE E-MAIL ACCOUNT TO SEND

SEXUALLY SUGGESTIVE MESSAGES TO DAWN ROSS.

ROSS RECENTLY SUED HIM FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT CLAIMING HE

SENT HER LOVE LETTERS AND RETALIATED WHEN SHE REFUSED HIS

ADVANCES. SCHEDLER SAID HIS RELATIONSHIP

WITH ROSS WAS CONSENSUAL. HIS RESIGNATION LETTER READS, I

LEAVE THE OFFICE WITH A HEAVY HEART KNOWING I DISAPPOINTED THE

PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR ME THE MOST. THE COURT DEBATE CONTINUES OVER

A CRUDE LINE PIPELINE FROM THE CALCASIEU PAISH TO THE

ATCHAFALAYA BASIN TO THE@P@h@h JAMES PARISH.

A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT IN HOUSTON SAID IT WOULD REBLIB

FORESTED WETLANDS ELSEWHERE. A LAWYER SUING TO STOP

CONSTRUCTION SAYS FEDERAL REGULATORS HAVE NOT TAKEN INTO

FULL CONSIDERATION THE PROJECT'S CONSIDERABLE IMPACTS.

LSU SAYS AT LEAST 46 SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINTS AND

INVESTIGATIONS TOOK PLACE AT ITS MAIN CAMPUS IN BATON ROUGE

BETWEEN 2013 AND 2017. THIS, AFTER THE ADDITION OF

NEARLY 20 MORE CASES. THE INFORMATION GIVEN BY LSU IS

STILL INCOMPLETE. IT DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT

ALL TYPES OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS THAT MAY HAVE TAKEN

PLACE. THE UNIVERSITY SAYS THEY DON'T

INCLUDE THOSE THAT INVOLVE STUDENTS OR GRADUATE ASSISTANTS.

LSU TIES AMONG THE THIRD HIGHEST NUMBER FOR ITS REPORT.

LAYOFF NOTICES HAVE GONE OUT TO 770 EMPLOYEES OF LAFAYETTE

GENERAL HEALTH SYSTEM. THE NOTICES COME AHEAD OF DEEP

REDUCTIONS IN STATE FUNDING WHEN THE NEW BUDGET YEAR BEGINNING

JULY 1. GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS WANTS

LAWMAKERS TO PASS REPLACEMENT TAXES IN A SPECIAL SESSION TO

AVOID THE CUTS. BESIDES LAFAYETTE, HOSPITALS

WOULD CLOSE IN SHREVEPORT, MONROE, BOGALUSA AND NEW ORLEANS

AND HAVE DEVASTATING EFFECTS ON MEDICAL SCHOOLS IN SHREVEPORT

AND NEW ORLEANS BECAUSE THEY RELY ON THE FACILITIES TO TRAIN

THEIR STUDENTS. THERE IS BETTER NEWS IN

LOUISIANA'S AIR. THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THE

ENTIRE STATE IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL OZONE LEVELS.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE STATE GAINED COMPLIANCE BECAUSE OF A

BETTER OZONE REPORT FROM GREATER BATON ROUGE.

STATE POLICE ARRESTED FOUR TROOPERS THIS WEEK, TWO CURRENT

AND TWO FORMER, ON ALLEGATIONS OF PAYROLL FRAUD.

THEY ARE ACCUSED OF USING A TRAFFIC TICKET PROGRAM TO CLAIM

EXTRA DUTY HOURS THEY DID NOT WORK.

THE ARRESTS FOLLOW A NEARLY SIX-MONTH INVESTIGATION.

ONE OF THE ARRESTED TROOPERS, FOR EXAMPLE, MADE $147,000 IN

OVERTIME PAY IN 2016 AND 2016, BUT A WVUE-TV INVESTIGATION

FOLLOWED HIM AND FOUND HIM AT HOME DURING HOURS HE CLAIMED TO

BE WORKING. SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY THIS WEEK

FIRED BAND DIRECTOR NATHAN HAYMER.

AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF REQUESTING A KICKBACK FOR THE

BAND TO APPEAR AT AN EVENT FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN.

IT PROMPTED A UNIVERSITY INVESTIGATION.

IN A STATEMENT THE POPULAR HAYMER SAID I ALWAYS TOOK PRIDE

IN BEING AN AMBASSADOR FOR SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND AT NO

TIME DID I ACT IN A NEFARIOUS MANNER BY ACCEPTING KICKBACKS AS

FALSELY REPORTED BY THE MEDIA. FORMER BAND DIRECTOR LAWRENCE

JACKSON WHO RETIRED FOUR YEARS AGO, WILL RETURN IN THE INTERIM

WHILE SOUTHERN CONDUCTS A SEARCH FOR HAYMER'S REPLACEMENT.

ON PAPER, THERE IS EXACTLY ONE MONTH LEFT FOR LAWMAKERS TO

FINISH THEIR REGULAR SESSION BUSINESS AT THE CAPITAL.

THEY HAVE TO FINISH BY JUNE 4. OFFICIALS SAY THEY WANT TO WRAP

UP EARLY, POSSIBLY AS SOON AS MAY 18 TO PATCH UP THE SHORT

FALL FOR THE SPENDING PLAN SET TO BEGIN ON JULY 1.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DATES TO KEEP STRAIGHT AND HERE TO HELP US

SORT IT ALL ARE ELIZABETH CRISP AND JEREMY ALFORD AND LPB'S

KELLY SPIERS STARTS US OFF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ANDRE.

IS THERE ENOUGH TIME IN THE SCHEDULE FOR THEM TO WRAP UP BY

MAY 18? ARE WE TAKING BETS HERE?

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY HOPEFUL.

YESTERDAY WE SAW THE HOUSE TRYING A LITTLE BIT OF AN

EXPERIMENT OF EXPEDITING PROCESS OF GETTING BILLS THROUGH.

THE SPEAKER AND ALSO THE MAJORITY LEADER BOTH SAID THEY

FEEL LIKE THIS WILL HELP THEM AS THEY CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT

COUPLE OF WEEKS IN THEIR PATH TO TRYING TO FINISH EARLY.

I'M A LITTLE HESITANT TO SPECULATE THAT THEY WILL

ACTUALLY DO IT BECAUSE THERE IS STILL A LOT OF GOING ON.

A LOT OF BILLS IN PLAY RIGHT NOW IN THE CAPITOL.

THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF HOUSE BILLS THAT NEED TO GO THROUGH

THE SENATE AND SENATE BILLS THAT NEED TO GO THROUGH THE HOUSE.

I THINK AT THIS POINT IT IS ANYBODY'S CALL.

RIGHT. SO THE GOVERNOR HAS SIGNED SOME

BILLS, BUT A LOT OF THE MORE CONTROVERSIAL BILLS ARE KIND OF

STALLED IN EACH CHAMBER, IT LOOKS LIKE.

KIND OF LIKE A GAME OF CHICKEN. I THINK THERE'S ENOUGH TIME

TO MOVE THE CAPITOL BACK TO DONALDSONVILLE AND DECLARE THE

CRAWFISH THE STATE BIRD. THE QUESTION IS THERE WILL IN

THE BODY. THE QUESTION IS THE BUDGET.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE TRYING TO FORGE A COMPROMISE, THE

SENATORS INTEND TO MOVE A BUDGET OUT OF SENATE FINANCE.

IS THAT PASSED IN TIME? DOES THAT END UP IN A CONFERENCE

COMMITTEE? IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER

LEGISLATURES AND THE GOVERNOR HAS UNTIL THE END OF THE FISCAL

YEAR NOT THE END OF THE SESSION WHICH IS THE LAST DAY OF JUNE.

WE HAVE BEGUN TO SEE THE NOTICES, THE HOSPITALS.

THESE ARE SCARY THINGS WHEN YOU HAVE 700 NOTICES GO OUT, PIN

SLIPS TO LAFAYETTE HOSPITAL, HEY, YOU HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER

PLACE TO BE IN THAT TIME PERIOD. THAT IS JUST ONE OF MANY.

WHAT IS THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF THAT AND WHAT IS THE REALITY?

ARE WE GOING TO REALLY SEE THIS? IT IS INTERESTING.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN BY VIRTUE OF TIMELINES

AND PROCESS BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY.

THEY HAVE TO START SENDING THESE OUT.

WE SAW IT WITH LAFAYETTE. NEXT WILL BE NEW ORLEANS

PROBABLY. WE WILL SEE MORE.

IF IT GETS TO THAT POINT, WE'LL SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING

NOTICES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE KICKED OUT OF NURSING HOMES.

IT IS REALLY SCARY. IT IS VERY, VERY SCARY.

YOU ALWAYS LIKE TO THINK SURELY THEY ARE GOING TO FIGURE THINGS

OUT BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, BEFORE IT GETS TO THAT.

BUT THEY HAVE TO -- THEY HAVE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW AND SO IT IS ONE

OF THOSE THINGS IT IS REALLY HARD TO TELL PEOPLE YOU

SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID ABOUT THIS, BUT IT IS THE REALITY OF WHERE

WE ARE AT THIS POINT BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE

TO, FOR TWO YEARS, FIGURE OUT HOW TO SOLVE THESE FINANCIAL

PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN TO THE POINT THESE THINGS ARE

HAPPENING. YEAH.

THIS IS ONGOING. OF COURSE, THE NOTICES HAVE TO

GO OUT. THAT IS SO UNSETTLING, BUT IT IS

MORE UNSETTLING WHEN YOU THINK, CERTAINLY, THIS CAN'T REALLY

HAPPEN. BUT IT CAN.

I MEAN, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IT IS PART OF THE PERENNIAL

SONG AND DANCE THAT GOES ON AROUND THE BUDGET.

OH, YEAH. ELIZABETH AND I THIS WEEK

FOUND OURSELVES UNEXPECTEDLY AT A SPEECH THE GOVERNOR GAVE.

THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THESE NOTICES AND THE GOVERNOR USED

THESE WORDS, I DON'T THINK THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

IF WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF THE BUDGET, THEN IT WILL HAPPEN.

ELIZABETH IS RIGHT. THESE THINGS HAVE TO GO THROUGH

THIS PROCESS AND WE ARE AT THAT POINT.

YEAH, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID THAT GROUP, RIGHT AFTER THE

LAFAYETTE HOSPITAL SENT OUT ALL THESE NOTICES.

WE HAVE A GOVERNOR WHO, IT'S BEEN REPLAYED AND BECOME THIS

KIND OF THING HE GOT ON TV AND SAID, WE MIGHT NOT HAVE LSU

FOOTBALL ANYMORE. AND ALL OF THAT.

AND SO WE HAVE HAD TWO YEARS OF ALL OF THESE TERRIBLES ARE GOING

TO HAPPEN. YOU LIKE TO THINK IT IS NOT

GOING TO HAPPEN. MORE BROADLY AND A LITTLE

MORE TECHNICALLY, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T HAVE A BUDGET BY

JUNE 30? WELL, LOUISIANA DOES NOT HAVE

A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN OPTION LIKE ABOUT A DOZEN OTHER STATES

DO. WE HAVE NEVER GONE INTO A FISCAL

YEAR WITHOUT A BUDGET IN RECENT HISTORY.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IS LOOKING AT IT.

THE TREASURY HAS BEEN LOOKING AT IT.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE STATES THAT THE PREVIOUS YEAR, FISCAL

YEAR BUDGET, DOES NOT ROLL OVER AND TAKE EFFECT.

THERE ARE SOME REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE WHO DO BELIEVE THAT.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF WE START HEARING SOME FOLKS LIKE

JEFF LANDRY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, START TO WEIGH IN ON

THIS. THERE IS NO CLEAR GUIDANCE IN

LAW, NO CASE LAW, NO PRECEDENT. YOU CAN LOOK AT ILLINOIS,

ILLINOIS ASSEMBLY FAILED TO PASS A BUDGET FOR 2016-2017 AND THERE

WERE FROM SOME VERY DRAMATIC RESULTS FROM THAT IN ILLINOIS.

VENDORS HAD TO SUE THE STATE TO GET PAID.

THERE WERE ENTITIES THAT HAD TO BE SHUT DOWN.

SO WE DON'T KNOW. WE ARE GOING HAVE TO WAIT AND

SEE, BUT AS LONG AS THEY HAVE SOMETHING ON PAPER BY THE END OF

JUNE, THEY SHOULD BE FINE. SOMEHOW THAT FEELS LIKE A HIGH

BAR FOR LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE. WE ARE IN A PLACE WHERE

EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO RESEARCH WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS.

WE HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS FOR TWO YEARS, TRYING TO FIX THE

SAME PROBLEM. WE ARE AT THE POINT WHERE

EVERYBODY YOU TALK TO IS TALKING ABOUT THE RESEARCH RIGHT NOW.

IS THERE LIKE ALMOST A BLAZE FEEL ABOUT THIS?

BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SO LONG, WE ARE CONDITIONED TO

EXPECT TO FEEL THIS KIND OF MALAISE, ALMOST.

IS THERE ANY SENSE OF URGENCY STARTING TO PICK UP?

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE INSIDE THE CAPITOL RECOGNIZE THE

URGENCY. MY CONCERN IS, AND I HEAR A LOT,

I GET A LOT OF READER FEEDBACK AND FEEDBACK ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND

EVERYTHING. IT SEEMS LIKE PEOPLE, THE

GENERAL PUBLIC IS KIND OF ALMOST AT THIS POINT CONDITIONED TO

EXPECT TO HEAR THE WORST. WE HAVE A TERRIBLE BUDGET

SITUATION. AND ALL THEY KNOW IS IT ALWAYS

GETS FIXED. AND SO THAT IS MY CONCERN, JUST

THAT OUTSIDE OF THE CAPITOL WALLS, ALL PEOPLE HAVE HEARD FOR

TWO YEARS IS DOOM AND GLOOM. AND EVEN BEFORE THAT.

SURE. AND SO IT JUST SEEMS LIKE I

DON'T KNOW THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC NECESSARILY FEELS THE

URGENCY AS MUCH ANYMORE BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SO

LONG. WELL, TO PUT A PIN IN BUDGET

TALK. KIND OF THE -- ONE OF THE

LARGEST NEWS ITEMS FROM THE WEEK IS THE SECRETARY OF STATE

RESIGNED AMID ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

WHAT IS TALK AROUND THE CAPITOL ABOUT WHO MIGHT RUN TO REPLACE

HIM? LOOKS LIKE WE'LL HAVE A

SPECIAL ELECTION, PROBABLY IN NOVEMBER.

I'M ASSUMING FOR THAT RACE. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOKING

AT THAT RACE. A LOT OF MAYBE CANDIDATES WERE

HOPING IT WOULD BE A SPECIAL ELECTION.

THEY PREFER A SPECIAL ELECTION. IT IS LOW TURNOUT, CHEAPER THAN

A 2019 RACE. NO ONE OFFICIALLY HAS ANNOUNCED

FOR THE SEAT YET. I KNOW THAT THERE MAY BE ONE

COMING SOON FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

SEVERAL LAWMAKERS LOOKING AT IT. AND, YOU KNOW, IT IS IS RACE

BECAUSE IT IS A SPECIAL ELECTION, THERE'S NO REAL

DOWNSIDE TO BEING SOMEBODY WHOSE NAME IS THROWN OUT THERE AS

POSSIBLY RUNNING. BUT I DO THINK IT IS

INTERESTING, YOU HAVE A LOT OF REPUBLICANS RIGHT NOW WHO ARE

SIZING UP THIS RACE AGAINST THE GOVERNOR WHO IS UP FOR

RE-ELECTION THE FOLLOWING YEAR. AND IF NOTHING ELSE, IT IS AN

OPPORTUNITY FOR GETTING YOUR NAME OUT THERE.

I'VE TALKED TO SOME REPUBLICANS WHO ARE RIGHT NOW SAYING THAT

SERIOUSLY THERE ARE AS MANY AS 10 CANDIDATES WHO ARE LIKE

SIZING THIS UP RIGHT NOW. SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE

SAW A LOT OF SPECULATION OVER THE TREASURER'S RACE JUST A YEAR

AGO. BUT I THINK THAT THIS ONE IS

ACTUALLY GOING TO BE A BIT BIGGER.

AND THE TREASURER'S RACE IS PROBABLY A SOLID CASE STUDY FOR

THIS FALL ELECTION. A SPECIAL ELECTION, OFF YEAR, IT

WAS ALL ABOUT REGIONAL BASE. REGION MATTERS.

THE PARISHES AROUND NEW ORLEANS WSH TAKEN.

JULIE STOKES COULD DO FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE RACE.

WE WILL FIND OUT SOON. ELIZABETH, JEREMY, KELLY, THANK

YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. YEAH.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME. THE THREAT OF CHINESE TRADE

TARIFFS IS HITTING LOUISIANA FARMERS' POCKETBOOKS.

IT HAS COOLED OFF, BUT SHADOWING THE MARKETS.

SOYBEANS PLANTING IS JUST GETTING UNDERWAY.

THIS WEEK IN LOUISIANA AGRICULTURAL HAD THIS REPORT.

SOYBEAN SEED IS STACKED TO THE CEILING OLIVE LIVE FARMS IN

ARNAUDVILLE. LOOMING HIGHER THAN THESE

SOYBEAN SEEDS IS THE THREAT OF WHAT LOWER PRICES MAY BRING.

TARIFF DOES CONCERN ME FOR LONG-TERM PRICE OR PRICE

DECREASE BECAUSE WE ARE WORKING ON A VERY THIN MARGIN OF PROFIT

ON SOYBEANS AS IT IS. $10 IS ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO

MAKE US CONSIDER OR BE CLOSE TO BEING IN THE PROFIT MARGIN.

TODAY I THINK SOYBEANS ARE SELLING FOR $10.30-SOMETHING.

SO THERE IS NOT A WHOLE LOT OF PROFIT MARGIN TO BE MADE.

IF THIS TARIFF FORCES THE PRICE TO DROP 40 OR 50 CENTS, IT

FORCES US OUT OF THE MARKET. JOEY FARMS IS GETTING THE

EQUIPMENT READY. HE RECOGNIZES THE HARM TARIFFS

MIGHT DO, IT IS ALL STILL UP IN THE AIR.

THERE ARE ALREADY TALKS OF SUBSIDIES WHICH COULD COME INTO

PLAY. THAT MIGHT HELP IN THE LONG

TERM. IF THINGS, THESE TARIFFS COME

INTO PLACE AND THE GOVERNMENT ENACTS THESE SUBSIDIES TO HELP

US OUT, IT MIGHT COUNTERACT, OVERCOUNTERACT THE NEGATIVE.

OBVIOUSLY, IT COULD HURT, YOU KNOW.

IT'S JUST HARD TO REALLY KNOW AND SEE UNTIL IT COMES INTO

PLAY. WHILE THE OLIVIERS ARE

WAITING ON THINGS TO DRY OUT, THEIR SEED DEALER, DENNIS

MARCANTEL PAYS THEM A VISIT, WEATHER, AND PRICES ARE A BIG

THREAT TO HIS BUSINESS. KIND OF EARLY, BUT IF YOU

GIVE IT A MONTH OR TWO, THE COMMODITY MARKET COULD GO DOWN

AND GUYS IN SOUTH LOUISIANA COULD BACK OFF THE SOYBEAN ACRE.

EAST OF THE OLIVIERS, RAY SCHEXNAYDER IS CHECKING ON THE

250 ACRES OF BEANS HE ALREADY PLANTED SO FAR.

HE KNOWS MANY OF THESE SOYBEANS GROWING HERE WILL ONE DAY MAKE

THEIR WAY TO CHINA WHERE THE TARIFFS WILL HIT THEM THE

HARDEST. IT IS AN ISSUE GROWERS LIKE HIM

HAVE BEEN WORKING ON BEFORE THE TARIFF CAME UP.

BEING THAT CHINA IS OUR BIGGEST IMPORTISER OF SOYBEANS,

IT WAS KIND OF A BIG SCARE THINKING THEY WOULD RETALIATE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS JUST THAT MUCH USAGE WORLDWIDE AND

THAT IS WHAT KIND OF THE UNITED SOYBEAN BOARD THAT I SERVE ON,

WE ARE STARTING TO LOOK INTO SOME OF THESE COUNTRIES THAT

AREN'T SUCH BIG USERS OF BEANS AND TRYING TO GET THEM TO USE

MORE. FOR SWI IN IRWINVILLE, I'M

NIELE THAT COMES FROM "THIS WEEK IN

LOUISIANA AGRICULTURAL." THERE ARE MORE FESTIVALS IN

LOUISIANA THAN THERE ARE DAYS IN THE YEAR.

NO SURPRISE WE ARE OFTEN CALLED THE FESTIVAL CAPITAL OF THE

WORLD. WORLD FAMOUS JAZZFEST WRAPS UP

IN NEW ORLEANS AND MAY IS JAMMED WITH LOCAL FESTIVALS MUCH LIKE

WE SAW IN APRIL. I TALKED TO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

BILLY NUNGESSER ABOUT LOUISIANA'S FESTIVAL TRADITION.

WE ARE AT THE HISTORIC PENG BARRACKS IN DOWNTOWN BATON

ROUGE. HISTORY IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE

CELEBRATE THE MANY FESTIVALS WE HAVE IN LOUISIANA.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS AND MORE THAN

400 FESTIVALS YEAR AROUND IN THE STATE.

EVERY YEAR THEY KEEP ADDING NEW ONES.

ONE DAY I'M GOING TO GET AROUND TO ALL OF THEM.

THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. EVERY YEAR I THINK WE HADDED THE

BENIER FESTIVAL, THE FRIED CHICKEN, WE ADD MORE AND MORE TO

THE FULL YEAR THAT KICKS OFF THE SEASON ABOUT NOW.

THAT GO YEAR ROUND. VIRTUALLY.

RIGHT NOW THERE ARE EVENTS COMING UP, THE CRAWFISH FESTIVAL

AND THEY CALL IT PIRATE DAYS NOW IN LAKE CHARLES.

THOSE ARE REGIONAL EVENTS THAT DRAW PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE

COUNTRY, BUT A LOT OF LOUISIANANS.

THEY GO FROMú■ THE JAZZFEST, NE WEEK THE POUDFEST, BEAU BRIDGE

CRAWFISH. YOU HAVE THEM ALL OVER FROM THE

FROGFEST. EVERY AREA HAS THEIR NICHE AND

SOMETHING UNIQUE AND SPECIAL, MUSIC, FOOD, CULTURE, CRAFTS AND

THE PEOPLE. THE ONE THING THEY ALL HAVE IN

COMMON IS THEY ALL TREAT STRANGERS LIKE FAMILY.

THAT MAKES LOUISIANA SPECIAL. HOW HAS YOUR NEW MOTTO,

TOURISM SLOGAN, HOW HAS THAT GONE OVER AND WHAT KIND OF

TRACTION HAVE YOU SEEN WITH THAT?

IT SEEMS TO BE GAINING A LOT OF STEAM.

OF COURSE, WE NEED EVERYBODY TO USE IT LOUISIANA FEED YOUR SOUL.

YOU CAN FEED YOUR SOUL WITH MUSIC, WITH FOOD, WITH÷■ CULTUR

WITH FISH, WITH HISTORY, WITH ALL KIND OF THINGS IN LOUISIANA

AND WE LET THE DATA DRIVE THAT SLOGAN.

WE DIDN'T JUST COME UP WITH IT. WE HAD FOCUS AROUND LOUISIANA,

DALLAS, HOUSTON, ATLANTA, DENVER, INTO CANADA AND WE ASKED

PEOPLE, WHAT DOES LOUISIANA MEAN TO YOU.

IT WAS THAT DEEP SOUL THAT RICH, THAT PERSONALITY THAT SEEMED TO

COME UP AND DREW EVERYTHING BACK TO LOUISIANA WHERE YOU CAN FEED

YOUR SOUL WITH JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.

YOU ARE LOUISIANA THROUGH AND THROUGH.

IT IS NO SECRET YOUR PASSION FOR LOUISIANA.

YOUR LOVE FOR OUR STATE. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE FESTIVAL?

THAT IS A LOADED QUESTION. YOU KNOW, I TELL YOU, I'LL BE

GOING TO THE FROG TEST. I REMEMBER CATCHING THOSE FROGS

WITH THOSE LONG LEGS. BUT I HAVE GONE TO AS MANY AS I

CAN MAKE SINCE I HAVE BEEN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

I REMEMBER AS A KID, GETTING IN THAT WOOD PANEL STATION WAGON

AND HEADING TO THE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY AND MEANING WITH ME GROWING UP AS A

KID AROUND LOUISIANA. ALL THE WAY UP NORTH TO THE

WATERMELON FESTIVAL. LAST TIME I BOUGHT A 350-POUND

WATER MELON. THEY ALL HAVE SOMETHING UNIQUE

AND SPECIAL AND SOMETHING I LOVE ABOUT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM

AND THE HISTORY BEHIND THEM. YOU ANSWERED THAT WELL.

THERE IS A SEAFOODú■ú■ú■ú■ AND FESTIVAL IN PLAQUEMINES PARISH.

THAT HAS TO BE DEAR TO YOUR HEART?

IT IS. IN FORT JACKSON, A LOT OF

HISTORY, BEST ORANGING GROWN IN PLAQUEMINES PARISH.

A LOT OF HISTORY IN THAT FESTIVAL IN PORT JACKSON EVERY

YEAR. THEY ALL HAVE A UNIQUE AND

ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO THEIR TOWN AND CITY.

THEY POUR THEIR HEARTS AND SOUL INTO PREPARATION.

ONE THING WE HOPE TO DO ON A STATEWIDE BASIS IS DO A BETTER

JOB AS WE CONTINUE TO PROMOTE STAYCATION AROUND LOUISIANA.

I WANT YOU TO TAKE ONE VACATION WHERE YOU WOULD NORMALLY LEAVE

LOUISIANA AND SEE A PART OF LOUISIANA YOU HAVEN'T SEEN.

WE THINK IT IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO■■ GROW TH

ATTENDANCE AT MANY OF THESE SMALL TOWNS AND THEIR EVENTS

THAT THEY HOST. x■ SOUNDS GOOD.

WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

WITH SO MANY THOUSANDS, BY THE WAY, CHECK OUT

LOUISIANATRAVEL.COM FOR COMPLETE FESTIVAL INFORMATION AND ALL THE

WAYS YOU CAN # FEEDYOURSOUL. WITH SO MANY THOUSANDS SPENDING

HOURS OUTDOORS, WE ARE REMINDED THE TOLL OF THE SUN AND HEAT CAN

HAVE ON YOU. HERE IS DOCTOR RANI WOODFIELD

YOU HAVE INCREASE RISK OF SUN CANCER AND DEHYDRATION.

PHYSICIANS TRULY FEAR HEATSTROKE.

YOUNG BABIES THAT ARE NOT BEING PROTECTED AND COVERED.

WE HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS IN THE SUMMER MONTHS.

WE WANT TO HAVE A GREAT TIME. WE WANT YOU TO PROTECT YOUR SKIN

AND YOUR HEALTH. LET'S TALK ABOUT SKIN

PROTECTION FIRST. YEAH.

YOU HEAR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT SPF, SUN PROTECTION FACTOR IN

SUNSCREENS. PEOPLE SAY IT IS HOT OUTSIDE, I

DON'T WANT TO HAVE A LONG SLEEVE SHIRT.

YOU CAN START WITH SUN PROTECTION FACTOR STARTING AT 15

THAT DELAYS THE TIME THE SKIN TURNS RED FOR A FEW HOURS.

WE SWEAT SO YOU WANT TO REAPPLY EVERY HOUR, ESPECIALLY IN A

SWIMMING POOL. ONCE YOU COME OUT OF THE POOL,

REAPPLY THE SUNSCREEN. PEOPLE SAY, I KNOW THIS, THIS

IS NOT NEW. PEOPLE FORGET AND HAVE TO BE

REMINDED. THEY FORGET UNTIL THEY SHOW

UP IN OUR OFFICE AND I HAVE TO DO A SKIN BIOPSY AND TELL THEM

THEY HAVE SKIN CANCER. IT IS TREATABLE, BUT WHO WANTS

TO DEAL THAT. MELANOMAS CAN ACTUALLY KILL YOU.

AFRICAN-AMERICANS DO GET SKIN CANCER.

BEING IN THE SUN DURING THE SAFE HOURS BEFORE 10EK AND AFTER 3:00

IS SUPPOSED TO REDUCE THE U.V. LIGHT THAT PENETRATES THE SKIN.

THERE IS STILL EXPOSURE. WHAT IF YOU SEE A FRECKLE OR

SOMETHING THAT LOOKS DIFFERENT? FIRST THING YOU DO IS TALK TO

YOUR DOCTOR. WE ARE LOOKING FOR IRREGULAR

BORDERS, THINGS THAT GROW VER GAITED, BLACK, BROWN, PINK AND

WHITE. IF THEY GET IRRITATED EASILY.

YOU COME IN. FIRST THING IS COME INTO THE

DOCTOR. STAYING HYDRATED.

YOU WANT TO KEEP FLUIDS IN YOUR BODY BECAUSE ONE THING WHEN YOU

LOSE YOU CAN LOSE YOUR ORIENTATION.

BY THE TIME YOU ARE THIRSTY, YOU ARE 3% TO 5% DEHYDRATED.

YOUR URINE SHOULD BE LIGHT YELLOW TO CLEAR.

BEING TIRED, YOU SWIMMING TWO OR THREE DAYS IN A ROW, YOU ARE

FATIGUED AND TIRED. CHECK YOUR WEIGHT.

IF YOU WEIGHED 100 POUNDS ON MONDAY AND 98 POUNDS ON TUESDAY,

YOU ARE PROBABLY DEHYDRATED. I GO TO FESTIVAL WHAT DO I

NEED TO TAKE? HAT, SHADES, WATER, LOTS OF

WATER. GATORADE, POWERA DERKS IF YOU

ARE DOING DANCING AND JUMPING AROUND.

MINIMIZE THE ALCOHOL IN THE HEAT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.

OUR THANKS TO DR. WHITFIELD. THAT IS OUR SHOW.

YOU CAN WATCH LPB ON DEMAND WITH OUR LPB ANYWHERE APP.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM.

I'M ANDRE MOREAU THANKS FOR WATCHING.

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

SUPPORT COMES FROM NTRGY PROVIDES MUCH MORE THAN POWER.

WE SUPPORT SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING AT LOCAL SCHOOLS TO

BUILD A BRIGHTER PATH TO BETTER JOBS AND HELP PREPARE THE NEXT

GENERATION. TOGETHER, WE POWER LIFE.

NTRGY. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED

BY THE FRED B. AND RUTH B. ZIEGLER AND THE ZIEGLER ART

MUSEUM IN JENNINGS CITY HALL. THE MUSEUM FOCUSES ON EMERGES

ARTIST AND AN HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CENTER FOR SOUTHWEST

LOUISIANA. AND THE FOUNDATION FOR

EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING WITH SUPPORT FROM