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. ENTERGY.

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

ZIEGLER FOUNDATION AND THE ZIEGLER ART MUSEUM IN JENNINGS

CITY HALL. THE MUSEUM FOCUSES ON EMERGING

ARTIST AND AN HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CENTER FOR SOUTHWEST

LOUISIANA. AND THE FOUNDATION FOR

EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING WITH SUPPORT FROM

VIEWERS LIKE YOU. OUR WHOLE SALES TAX SYSTEM IS

ONE OF THE WORST IN THE COUNTRY. NO TAX HOLIDAY THIS WEEKEND?

THE PROBLEMS WITH HOW WE COLLECT SALES TAX.

NOW IT'S EVERY APPLICANT WILL GET 100% REIMBURSEMENT.

GREAT NEWS THIS WEEK FOR LOUISIANA FLOOD VICTIMS

IT IS AN EFFORT TO REALLY LOOK AT DATA AT THE STATE AND

LOCAL LEVELS. HOW LOUISIANA TAKES CARE OF

ITS KIDS. THAT WAS THE SIGNATURE STORM

FOR LOUISIANA. THE LASTúO÷O ISLAND HURRICAN

1856. HI, EVERYONE.

I'M ANDRE MOREAU. MUCH MORE ON THOSE STORIES ON

"SWI" RIGHT NOW OTHER HEADLINES MAKING NEWS ACROSS LOUISIANA.

AN AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN IS RAMPING UP TO EDUCATE LOUISIANA

VOTERS ABOUT A PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT

WILL BE DECIDED THIS FALL. POTENTIALLY REVERSING A JIM CROW

ERA LAW THAT ALLOWS FELONY CONVICTIONS WITHOUT UNANIMOUS

AGREEMENT FROM JURORS. THE STATE IS ONE OF TWO THAT

ALLOWED SOKD SPLIT JURY VERDICTS.

A PERSONAL CAN BE CONVICTED IF 10 OF 12 JURORS AGREE A

DEFENDANT IS GUILTY. THE U.S. SENATE PASSED A

SHORT-TERM EXTENSION OF THE FEDERAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM

SENDING IT TO PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR HIS SIGNATURE JUST HOURS

BEFORE AN AUGUST 1 DEADLINE. THE 86-12 VOTE PRESERVED ACCESS

TO FLOOD INSURANCE FOR U.S. HOME OWNERS BUT PUNTS ON REFORMS TO A

PROGRAM THAT NOW COVERS MORE THAN 5 MILLION÷■ HOUSEHOLDS AND

COLLECTS MORE THAN $3 BILLION IN PREMIUMS YEARLY.

THE BILL EXTENDS THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE PROGRAM AND

ITS ABILITY TO BORROW MONEY THROUGH NOVEMBER 30.

GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS ANNOUNCED STEPHENSON

TECHNOLOGIES, LIU'S■■ APPLIED RESEARCH CENTER SECURED A $10

MILLION FEDERAL CONTRACT TO STRENGTHEN THE SIPER SECURITY OF

SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WORK WITH MANUFACTURERS IN LOUISIANA.

THE AWARD COMES FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE'S AIR

FORCE RESEARCH LAB. L.E.D. SECRETARY DON PIERSON

BECAME AN HONORARY LIFE MEMBER OF THE SOUTHERN ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL THIS WEEK, THE LARGEST AND OLDEST ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN AMERICA.

THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT LAFAYETTE PLANS TO OPEN A POLICY

CENTER IN HONOR OF GOVERNOR KATHLEEN BLANCO.

THE CENTER WILL FOCUS ON PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES THE GOVERNOR

WORKED ON DURING HER CAREER. THE STATE'S HAZING PENALTYS WILL

TOUGHEN. THE MARRIAGE WAITING PERIOD WILL

SHORTEN AND TYPES OF RECORDS SHIELDED FROM PUBLIC VIEW WILL

GROW, 430 NEW LAWS TOOK EFFECT THIS WEEK.

THESE MEASURES ENDED IN MAY AND SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR.

WE ARE APPROACHING THE TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE AUGUST 2016

FLOODS THAT IMPACTED SO MANY PEOPLE IN 21 PARISHES COVERING

MUCH OF SOUTH LOUISIANA. REMEMBER, OF COURSE, TWO HUGE

FLOOD EVENTS IN 2016 THAT IMPACTED 56 PARISHES AND SO MANY

PEOPLE TRYING TO RECOVER. THE WORK TO HELP RECOVER IS

RESTORE LOUISIANA. THEIR WORK IS NEVER DONE.

PAT FORBES IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

YOU ARE AT THE CENTER, THE PERSON PEOPLE TURN TO ALL THE

TIME. ONE THING THAT IS HAPPENING BIG

THIS WEEK IS CHECKS ARE GOING OUT IN THE MAIL THAT WILL MAKE A

BIG DIFFERENCE. TELL US ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S RIGHT, ANDRE. IN JULY THE GOVERNOR ASKED THE

RESTORE LOUISIANA TASK FORCE TO LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO

INCREASE WHAT TO DATE HAS BEEN A 50% REIMBURSEMENT FOR WORK DONE

BEFORE WE GOT THIS. THAT WAS A BUDGETARY CONCERN

THAT WE HAD INITIALLY. IT LOOKS LIKE THE FUNDING IS

ADEQUATE. SO THE GOVERNOR SAID GO LOOK TO

100%. SO 100% FUNDING RIGHT NOW?

THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT.

UP UNTIL NOW A FEW FOLKS LOW TO MODERATE INCOME AND SOMEBODY

ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED IN THEIR HOME WAS ELIGIBLE FOR 100%.

NOW IT IS EVERY APPLICANT WILL GET 100% REIMBURSEMENT FOR

ELIGIBLE EXPENSES. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WE

TALKING ABOUT? IN THE END OVER 10,000

FAMILIES, OVER $110 MILLION. THIS WEEK WE WILL PROCESS

ADDITIONAL CHECKS TO EVERYONE WHO SO FAR RECEIVED THEñ■ 50%

REIMBURSEMENT TO@ú BRING THAT REIMBURSEMENT UP TO t■50%.Ñ■

4600 HAPPY@■ FAMILIES THISú?p■ WILL GET THEúñ LETTERSú■ OVER T

NEXT TWO LETTERS, THEñ■ CHECKS. IS THERE A LIMIT TO WHEN THAT

MONEY WILL RUN OUT? NOPE.

THE FUNDING, THE REASON WE ARE ABLE TO DO<u THAT IS5y WE

ESTABLISHED WE HAVE ADEQUATE■■ FUNDING TO COVER THE INCREASE

FROM 50% TO 100%. THE STATUS OF THE FDA

DUPLICATION OF BENEFITS AND WHERE THAT STANDS WITH ALL THE

POLITICAL GOVERNMENTAL RED TAPE THATTING IS -- THAT IS GOING TO

TAKE TO THAT HAPPENING SURE.

IT IS TIED TO THIS 100% REIMBURSEMENT.

A LOT OF FOLKS WHO HAVE THE SBA LOANS AND DUPLICATION OF

BENEFITS ARE WORRIED THAT OUR FUNDING OF THIS 100%

REIMBURSEMENT WILL AFFECT THEIR ABILITY TO GET PAID IF WE GET

THAT FIXED. THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

WE HAVE ADEQUATE FUNDING TO DO THE SBA FIX AS WELL AS THE 100%

REIMBURSEMENT. WHERE THE SBA FIX IS IS A

VERSION WRITTEN BY CONGRESSMAN GRAVES, HAS MADE ITS WAY OUT OF

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO THE SENATE WHERE THEY ARE

CONSIDERING IT. IT WOULD WIPE OUT ALL SBA LOANS,

WHETHER APPROVED -- I MEAN, WHETHER ACCEPTED, NOT ACCEPTED,

DRAWN, NOT DRAWN. IT WOULD ELIMINATE THEM AS A

DUPLICATION OF BENEFITS FOR OUR PROGRAM.

OUR EXPERIENCE IN DISASTER RELIEF GIVES US THE ABILITY TO

FAST TRACK SOME OF THESE ITEMS, WHICH IT IS NEVER FAST ENOUGH IF

YOU ARE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, BUT IT IS FASTER THAN A LOT

OF OTHER STATES. YOU'RE RIGHT.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE BEEN HIT BY A LOT OF DISASTERS, AS

EVERYBODY KNOWS. IT HAS GIVEN US A WORLD OF

EXPERIENCE THAT MAKES US BETTER ABLE TO REACT QUICKLY AND GET

THE THINGS IN THAT WE HAVE TO DO.

WE ARE GLAD WE HAVE THAT CAPABILITY.

WE ARE NOT SO HAPPY ABOUT THE REASON.

THE FACT IT HAPPENED. I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE

SURVEY DEADLINE THAT HAS PADS, THE APPLICATION.

THAT DEADLINE HAS NOT PASSED BUT WILL AT SOME POINT

THAT'S CORRECT. WE SET JULY 20 FOR THE SURVEY

APPLICATIONS. IF YOU HAVEN'T COMPLETED THE

SURVEY BY NOW, IT IS TOO LATE. WE HAVE NOT YET SET THE DEADLINE

FOR THE APPLICATIONS BUT IT WILL BE THIS FALL.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN INVITED BY RESTORE PROGRAM TO COMPLETE THAT

APPLICATION, I WOULD IMPLORE YOU TO DO SO BECAUSE WE HAVE THE

FUNDING AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND WE, THE PEOPLE WE

HAVE INVITED TO APPLY ARE VERY LIKELYl?ú■h?h?p?pór? TO BE ELIG.

HARD TO BELIEVE TWO÷■÷■■■■■ LATER SO MANY PEOPLE ARE DEALING

WITH THIS, NOT EVEN BACK IN THEIR HOMES.

AMAZINGLY. IF YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT,

YOU KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS. YOU KNOW FIRSTHAND.

THERE ARE LOTS OF FOLKS OUT THERE -- WE ARE GLAD WE HAVE

BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING SO FAST.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO THE WORLD.

TRYING TO CUT THROUGH AS MUCH RED TAPE AS POSSIBLE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CHECK OUT RESTORE.LA.GOV.

A FEDERAL GRANT ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK WILL ALLOW 4,500 KIDS FROM

LOW-INCOME LOUISIANA HOUSEHOLDS TO ATTEND HIGH QUALITY EARLY

HOLLYWOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THAT MAY SEEM LIKE A SMALL

NUMBER. KELLY SPIRES IS HERE TO EXPLAIN

WHY IT CAN MAKE SUCH A BIG IMPACT.

LOUISIANA RECIPIENTLY SCORED POORLY ON A NATIONAL REPORT THAT

LOOKS AT CHILD WELL BEING. EARLY EDUCATION IS A KEY WAY TO

IMPROVE THOSE MEASURES. 49th OVERALL, 50th IN ECONOMIC

WELL BEING, 47th IN EDUCATION AND 44th IN HEALTH.

EVERY YEAR THE ANNIE E. CASEY FOUNDATION COMPILES MEASUREMENTS

OF CHILDHOOD WELL BEING IN A REPORT CALLED KIDS COUNT.

THERESA FALLGOOD HEADS THE PROGRAM, THE LOUISIANA NONPROFIT

THAT HELPS THE COUNT. IT IS AN EFFORT TO LOOK AT

DATA AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS TO SEE HOW ALL CHILDREN

ARE DOING ACROSS AGES AND WELL BEING.

PERCENTAGE OF LOW WEIGHT BABIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE GRADUATING FROM

HIGH SCHOOL ON TIME. LOUISIANA IS ONE OF THREE

STATES WHERE ECONOMIC RANKINGS HAVE DROPPED SINCE 2010.

CHILD POVERTY RATE, PERCENTAGES OF CHILDRENS WHERE

PARENTS HAVE FULL TIME YEAR AROUND EMPLOYMENT AND THE

PERCENTAGE NEITHER IN SCHOOL OR WORKING AND IN FAMILIES WITH A

HIGH HOUSING COST. OUR STATE'S EDUCATION

RANKINGS HAVE IMPROVED. SOME OF THE F OF THE LARGEST OF

ANY STATE, BUT WE ARE FAR BEHIND.

8% MORE FOURTH GRADERS ARE PROFICIENT READERS THAN 2010,

BUT 74 PRESIDENT ARE STILL NOT READING AT A PROFICIENT LEVEL.

THAT IS CRITICAL. AT FOURTH GRADE KIDS ARE

MAKING THE TRANSITION FROM LEARNING TO READ FROM LEARNING

TO READ. IF YOU ARE NOT PROFICIENT IN

FOURTH GRADE YOU ARE HIGH RISK AT FAILING IN SCHOOL INCLUDING

DROPOUT. THE TREND IS MOVING IN THE REST

DIRECTION. WE ARE STILL CONTINUING TO SEE

HUGE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PERFORMANCE OF HIGHER INCOME

KIDS AND LOWER INCOME KIDS. ONE OF THE DRIVERS THERE IS OUR

RATE OF PERCENTAGE OF KIDS WHO ARE UNINSURED.

THAT RATE HAS DECLINED FROM 6% IN 2010 TO 3% IN 2017.

90% OF LOUISIANA KIDS ARE COVERED BY SOME FORM OF HEALTH

INSURANCE. THAT ECONOMIC NUMBER HAS TO

BE IMPROVED AND OTHER INTD OKAYTORS WILL RISE WITH IT.

KIDS ARE MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE POVERTY WHEN THEY ARE

YOUNGEST AND MOST VULNERABLE TO THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS.

WHAT THING COULD WE DO TO IMPROVE CHILD WELL BEING, FOCUS

ON CHILD POVERTY RATE AND GET MORE PARENTS CONNECTED TO HIGH

QUALITY JOBS. 30% LIVE IN POVERTY, TWISHDS

OF CHILDREN BIRTH THROUGH AGE 4 HAVE BOTH PARENT IN THE WORK

FORCE. 35% HAVE PARENTS WHO LACK SECURE

INCOME. MELANIE BRONSON IS WITH

LOUISIANA POLICY INSTITUTE FOR CHILDREN.

HER GROUP STUDIED HOW LIMITED ACCESS TO CHILD CARE AFFECTS THE

STATE'S ECONOMY. THEY ARE GETTING FIRED.

MISSING WORK. TURNOVER RATES.

IT COSTS LOUISIANA EMPLOYERS $800 MILLION BECAUSE OF CHILD

CARE BREAKDOWNS OF THEIR WORKERS.

IF PARENTS CAN GET BACK TO WORK AND CHILDREN CAN BE IN

QUALITY CHILD CARE PROGRAMS IT CAN BE A TWO-GENERATION SOLUTION

TO LOUISIANA'S POVERTY PROBLEMS, BRONSON SAID.

THE SCIENCE IS CLEAR THE BRAIN IS BUILT FROM THE BOTTOM

UP. 80% HAPPENS FROM BIRTH TO AGE 3.

30% OF CHILDREN ARE STARTING KINDERGARTEN HINTD.

THE REASON WE HAVE SO MANY CHILDREN STARTING BEHIND.

IT IS VERY OBVIOUS. WE INVEST LESS THAN AS A

STATE .5% OF OUR STATE GENERAL FUNDS ON EARLY CARE AND

EDUCATION. YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.

IN THE STATE DOESN'T INVEST EARLY IT SPENDS MORE LATER.

IF A CHILD STARTS KINDERGARTEN BEHIND, SHE IS MORE LIKELY

NEEDING MORE ATTENTION IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

THEN IS MORE LIKELY TO END UP IN BEING HELD BACK A GRADE AND

THEN IS MORE LIKELY TO NOT GRADUATE ON TIME OR AT ALL.

AND THEN LIKELY TO END UP IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THE INVESTMENT, THE COST THAT WE SPEND ON THE BACK END IS SO

GREAT. THE STATE'S POLICY CHOICES

HAVE NOT REFLECTED THAT RESEARCH.

IT IS ONLY 15% OF CHILDREN BIRTH TO 3 CAN ACCESS ANY

PUBLICLY FUNDED PROGRAM. ANY PROGRAM WE HAVE, THE CHILD

SCARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WE HAVE CUT THAT FROM SOIING ALMOST

40,000 KIDS 10 YEARS AGO TO 15,000 KIDS TODAY AND WE HAVE A

WAITING LIST OF 5,000 KIDS TO GET INTO THAT PROGRAM.

IS SITUATION IS BRIGHTER FOR 4-YEAR-OLDS.

WE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB SERVING OUR AT-RISK 4-YEAR-OLDS.

GREAT PRE-K PROGRAM, HIGH QUALITY.

90% OF HIGH RISK 4-YEAR-OLDS CAN ACT AS IF THEY CHOOSE A PRE-K

PROGRAM ACROSS THE@b@b■■ STATE. THE LEGISLATURE AGREED TO

MAKE EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION MORE ACCESSIBLE.

IT CAN BE UNAFFORDABLE EVEN FOR MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES.

THAT IS GOING BE A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO ACHIEVE IT TOMORROW.

YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO GET THERE UNLESS WE INCREASE BY 20% THE

ACCESS AND THEN 20% AND THEN 20%.

AND THEN STEP BY STEP, MAYBE LOUISIANA WILL ADVANCE IN THE

RANKINGS. NEXT WEEK A VISIT WITH STATE

SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS JOHN WHITE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT, KELLY.

THANKS SO MUCH. THIS WEEKEND WAS SUPPOSED TO

BE THE TIME FOR PARENTS TO GET A LITTLE DISCOUNT ON SCHOOL

SUPPLIES FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR. NO STATE SALES TAX.

BUT WHEN LAWMAKERS FINALIZED THE BUDGET, THEY ACCIDENTALLY GOT

RID OF SALES TAX FREE WEEKEND. SO KELLY, WHAT NOW?

WELL, ANDRE, LAWMAKERS COULD BRING A BILL NEXT YEAR TO BRING

THESE TAX FREE WEEKENDS BACK. WE SPOKE WITH ROBERT TRAVIS

SCOTT FROM THE RESEARCH COUNCIL ABOUT OTHER REFORMS THAT ARE

MORE PRESSING. CAN YOU TELL US WHY WE ARE NOT

HAVING A SALES TAX HOLIDAY THIS WEEKEND?

SO WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS THEY SET

THE STATE SALES TAX AT 4.45%. AND THEN THEY SAID HERE'S THE

LIST OF THE EXEMPTIONS THAT YOU CAN TAKE.

THERE ARE 109 OF THEM. IF YOU ARE NOT IN THAT LIST,

THAT EXEMPTION IS GOING TO BE SUSPENDED AS LONG AS THIS LAW IS

ENFORCED. WELL, THE SALES TAX HOLIDAYS

WEREN'T ON THE LIST. IS IT GOOD OR BAD TAX POLICY

TO HAVE A WEEKEND WHERE THE STATE IS NOT COLLECTING SALES

TAX? I THINK SOMETIMES PEOPLE FOOL

THEMSELVES A LITTLE BIT INTO THINKING I'M GETTING A BETTER

DEAL. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT SALE

WOULD HAVE BEEN. IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A STEEPER

SALE DISCOUNT THAN IT WAS THAT WEEKEND.

IT IS HARD TO KNOW. BUT AS FAR AS TAX POLICY, THE

PROBLEM IS THE MORE EXEMPTIONS YOU HAVE THAT YOU -- THAT REALLY

ARE NOT REALLY UNNECESSARY, THEN THE MORE PRESSURE THERE IS TO

HAVE A HIGHER RATE ON YOUR SALES TAX RATE.

THAT IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT. THERE ARE KIND OF SOME BIGGER

ISSUES WITH LOUISIANA'S SALES TAX SYSTEM.

OUR WHOLE SALES TAX SYSTEM IS ONE OF THE WORST IN THE COUNTRY.

THAT IS PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE HUGE NUMBER OF EXEMPTIONS.

IT IS PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE LACK OFú1ú3v[ UNIFORMITY ANDé■÷; WHA

WE PLACE ON EACH ONE. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LOCAL

RATE AND STATE RATE AND WHAT WE APPLY THOSE TWO.

THE DECENTRALIZED, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE ARE IN CHARGE OF

SALES TAX COLLECTION. AS LAWMAKERS WERE RUNNING

AROUND TRYING TO DECIDE HOW MUCH MONEY THEY NEEDED TO RAISE, THE

U.S. SUPREME COURT CAME OUT WITH A DECISION.

IT IS KNOWN AS THE WAY FAIR DECISION.

IT WENT TO COURT WITH SOUTH DAKOTA TO TRY TO DETERMINE

WHETHER OR NOT SALES TAXES COULD BE COLLECTED THERE, EVEN IF THEY

DIDN'T HAVE A FISCAL PRESENCE IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

WHAT THE WAY FAIR DECISION DID BY THE SUPREME COURT SAID IT

DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A PHYSICAL PRESENTATION TO COLLECT SALES

TAX. IF YOU HAVE A SAAB STAN SHL

VIRTUAL PRESENTATION THAT CAN BE ENOUGH

THE LOCAL AND STATE TAXING DIFFERENT THINGS AND THE LOCALS

BEING MORE OF THE AUTHORITY IN COLLECTION ARE TWO POLIIES THAT

SET LOUISIANA BACK. THE SUPREME COURT DECISION

SAID THAT, WELL, WE LIKE SOUTH DAKOTA'S CENTRALIZED SYSTEM.

THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE THINK THAT THE SOUTH DAKOTA

SYSTEM DOES NOT VIOLATE THE CLAUSE, NOT PLACING UNDUE BURDEN

ON BUSINESSES TO DO INTERSTATE COMMERCE.

LOUISIANA DOESN'T HAVE A CENTRALIZED SYSTEM.

WHAT IT HAS DONE IS CREATE A REMOTE SALES TAX COMMISSION THAT

WILL BE IN CHARGE OF BEING THE CENTRAL COLLECTOR FOR A LOT OF

THESE REMOTE SALES. LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE ALREADY

MOVING AHEAD TO MAKE THE COLLECTIONS.

THE REMOTE SALES COLLECTION IS TRYING TO GET ITS DUCKS IN A ROW

AND START TO DO IT AT THE BEGINNING OF 2019.

A BIG QUESTION IS IN THE END HOW ARE THOSE TAXES GOING TO BE

COLLECTED AND WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES ARE THEY GOING TO BE COLLECTED.

SOMEBODY IS GOING TO SUE. ALL THIS IS GOING TO GO TO

COURT. I THINK THAT IS WHAT OUR

ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN SAYING FOR A WHILE.

WE SEE THIS COLLISION COURSE COMING.

WE SHOULD ALSO EXPLAIN THAT THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY THIS BIG

UNCOLLECTED PILE OF TAX REVENUE OUT THERE.

WHAT YOU HAVE TO REALIZE IS A LOT OF THE BIG ONLINE SALES IN

THE STATE WE ARE ALREADY COLLECTING SALES TAX ON IT.

THEY ARE ALREADY IN THE BOOKS SO TO SPEAK.

NOW YOU HAVE A WHOLE NEW REALM OF RETAILERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE

WHO ARE THE E-COMMERCE TIME. TYPE

YOUR ETSY AND EBAY. EXACTLY.

THERE WILL BE NEW REVENUE. BUT A LOT OF THE BIGGEST

RETAILERS OUT THERE THAT ARE ALREADY SELLING IN THE STATE

WE'RE ALREADY COLLECTING. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SEE AN

ENORMOUS LEAP UP OF MONEY. THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING WITH

US. ALWAYS GOOD TO TALK TO YOU.

GOOD LUCK. HURRICANE EXPERTS AT COLORADO

STATE UNIVERSITY NOW PREDICT THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR'S

ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON WILL BE BELOW AVERAGE.

THEY CITE A COOLER ATLANTIC OCEAN AND VERTICAL WIND SHEAR AS

REASONS. THEY PREDICT NINE MORE STORMS.

THERE HAVE BEEN THREE ALREADY, THREE REACHING HURRICANE

STRENGTH, ONE BEING MAJOR WITH A 19% CHANCE A MAJOR STORM WILL

STRIKE ALONG OUR GULF COAST. ANY TALK OF HURRICANES OFFERS

LITTLE COMFORT FOR THOSE OF US LIVING IN LOUISIANA LONG BEFORE

KATRINA BECAME THE BENCHMARK, 162 YEARS AGO THIS LAST MONTH

BECAME THE LAST ISLAND HURRICANE.

IT WIPED OUT THE PLACE TO SUMMER ALONG OUR COAST.

I TALKED WITH STATE CLIMATEOLOGIST BARRY KIME ABOUT

THAT TRAGIC EVENT. IN THE 1850s, A VISITOR

DESCRIBED THE STRETCH OF SAND AND SURF.

HE WROTE, THIS BEACH IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE FINEST

PLACES FOR PROMENADING I HAVE EVER SEEN.

IN THAT ERA, LOUISIANA WAS ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST STATES IN

AMERICA. FIVE MILES FROM THE MAINLAND, ON

THE GULF COAST OF TERREBONNE PARISH, THIS WAS A FASHABLE

BEACH RESORT FOR THE PLANTATION OWNERS AND THE WELL TO DO OF NEW

ORLEANS. ON THE WEEKEND OF AUGUST 9 AND

10 OF 1956, 400 PEOPLE PACKED THE 100 STRUCTURES ON THE

ISLAND. A MAINO TELL WITH BALL ROOM,

RESTAURANT, DINING AND FINERIES WAS THE FOCAL POINT.

FEW HAD GIVENS DANGERS OF SUMMERING ON A REMOTE BARRIER

ISLAND DURING HURRICANE SEASON. UNAWARE OF HOW VULNERABLE THEY

WERE. IT WAS A BEACH RESORT.

IT WAS A LITTLE OFF THE COAST. IT IS HARD TO GO TO THE BEACH IN

THE MARSH OF LOUISIANA. YOU AREú■ OFF THE MARSH, A FEW

MILES OFF THE COASTLINE. THE WATER IS FRESHER, A LITTLE

CLEANER. FRIDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 8, THE

WEATHER BEGAN TO TURN. IT WORSENED SATURDAY.

THE FULL IMPACT SUNDAY THE 10th. IN 1856 THERE'S NO REAL

WARNING THAT YOU KNOW A STORM IS COMING.

FORECASTING WAS ESSENTIALLY NONEXISTENT THEN.

WE HAD BASICALLY THE STORM THAT GINS UP IN THE EXTREME

SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO. THE FIRST SHIP REPORTS OF THIS

STORM IS ABOUT 100 OR SO MILES WEST OF KEY WEST.

MY SUSPICION IS IT PROBABLY MOVED OUT OVER WHAT IS CALLED

THE LOOP CURRENT. A WARM WATER CURRENT THAT COMES

OUT OF CARIBBEAN AND GOES TO THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO.

THE STORM GOT OUT OF ONE OF THOSE EDDIES.

EXPLODED. KATRINA AND RITA DID THAT IN

2005. I ASSUME THIS STORM DID

SOMETHING SIMILAR AND MADE LAND FALL AT THE DERNIERES.

WIND STRENGTH 150 MILES PER HOUR.

SPEAK OF THE REACTION THAT HAD TO HAVE EXISTED FOR

SOMETHING TO GO FROM SOMETHING SO GRAND TO NONEXISTENT PRETTY

MUCH OVERNIGHT. AN 11 OR 12 FOOT STORM SURGE

ROLLED OVER THIS ISLAND. THE HIGHEST POINT ON THE ISLAND

IS 6 OR 7 FEET. EVERY POINT OF THE ISLAND WAS

UNDER WATER, FIVE OR SIX FEET OF WATER.

W.W. PUGH, A WEALTHY PLANTER FROM ASSUMPTION PARISH AND

SURVIVOR SAID, NOW THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE COMMENCED AND HORROR ON

EVERY FACE. ALL CAUGHT WITHOUT SHELTER OR

SOMETHING TO HELD ON TO FELL VICTIM TO THE MERCILESS WATERS.

THAT WAS THE SIGNATURE STORM FOR LOUISIANA IN THE LATTER

PARTS OF THE a a a0i8i1800s. NUMBER@R@r@r@r@r@r@r@r THE @r@r■

ú>ú>■■ THE NEXT DAY THOSE SUR SURROUNDED THE DERNIERES

SURROUNDED BY DEAD. THE NEW ORLEANS DAILY PICAYUNE

SAID THIS, THE HOTEL BEGAN TO SWAY.

ONE TREMENDOUS CRY OF AGONY WENT UP AND IN FIVE MINUTES NAUGHT

WAS TO BE HEARD BUT THE HOWLING OF THE WINDS AND THE LASHING OF

THE WATERS. IT8■ IS BELIEVED@x MORE THAN 32

PEOPLE DIED. NOT ONE STRUCTURE, NOT EVEN A

FOUNDATION WAS LEFT STANDING. THE ISLAND SPLIT IN TWO BY THE

STORM WAS NEVER INHABITED AGAIN. YOU DON'T WANT TO BELIEVE

THESE KIND OF STORMS CAN HAPPEN, BUT WHEN THEY DO, YOU HAVE TO

SAY, THIS CAN HAPPEN. THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO BE

PREPARED FOR IN THE FUTURE. IT IS SOMETHING IN LOUISIANA WE

HAVE HAD TO COPE WITH SINCE THEY FOUNDED NEW ORLEANS IN 1818.

YOU KNOW THEY CAN HAPPEN, BRACE YOURSELF BECAUSE SOMETHING IS

RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. TODAY WHAT REMAINS OF LAST

ISLAND FORMS THE ISLE DERNIERES CHAIN, THE TERREBONNE BARRIER

ISLANDS REFUGE HOME TO NESTING BIRDS.

THAT IS OUR SHOW. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER

AND INSTAGRAM. FOR EVERYONE AT LOUISIANA PUBLIC

BROADCASTING, I'M ANDRE MOREAU. THANKS FOR WATCHING.

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

CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY LNS CAPTIONING

WWW.LNSCAPTIONING.COM

SUPPORT COMES FROM ENTERGY 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. BECAUSE TOGETHER, WE POWER LIFE.

ENTERGY. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED

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

ZIEGLER ART MUSEUM 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.