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.