PROVIDED BY THE FRED B. AND RUTH
B. ZIEGLER FOUNDATION OF JENNINGS.
THE ZIEGLER MUSEUM IS A CULTURAL
CENTER FOR SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA,
FEATURING EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN
ARTISTS AND WILDLIFE DIORAMAS.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS PROVIDED
BY THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE
IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING
AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU. >>
HELLO EVERYONE, I'M CHARLIE WHINHAM.
WELCOME TO THIS EDITION OF
LOUISIANA: THE STATE WE'RE IN.
IT WAS A TOUGH WEEK AS NUMEROUS
TORNADOES RIPPED THROUGH
LOUISIANA THIS WEEK, WE WILL
RECAP THE DAMAGE WITH MIKE
STEELE OF GOHSEP. KELLY SPIRES
PREVIEWS THE SPECIAL SESSION AT
THE CAPITOL THAT BEGINS NEXT WEEK•.
AND AS WE RECOGNIZE BLACK
HISTORY MONTH, WE TAKE YOU OUT
TO NORTH LOUISIANA FOR A TOUR OF
THE EDDIE G. ROBINSON MUSEUM ON
THE CAMPUS OF GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY
BUT FIRST THE LOUISIANA HEADLINES.
>> GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS IS
IN WASHINGTON, DC, TO LOBBY FOR
MORE FLOOD AID. IT MARKS HIS
SIXTH TRIP IN AS MANY MONTHS
LOOKING FOR MORE FEDERAL DOLLARS.
EDWARDS MET WITH THE STATE'S
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AFTER
ARRIVING IN DC TO DISCUSS THE
EFFORT TO SECURE ADDITIONAL AID.
THE GOVERNOR ALSO MET WITH U.S.
SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS FROM
MAINE, SHE CHAIRS THE
APPROPRIATIONS SUB-COMMITTEE
THAT OVERSEES TRANSPORTATION AND
HOUSING FUNDING. LOUISIANA HAS
RECEIVED NEARLY 1-POINT-7
BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL
FUNDING THAT WILL GO TOWARD
FLOOD RECOVERY PROGRAMS LATER
THIS SPRING, ONCE MONEY IS
RELEASED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
EDWARDS SENT A LETTER TO
PRESIDENT TRUMP SEEKING
TWO-BILLION DOLLARS MORE IN
RECOVRY ASSISTANCE. THE GOVERNOR
WILL ALSO ATTEND THE D.C. MARDI
GRAS EVENT AND IS SCHEDULED TO
RETURN HOME ON SATURDAY. >> A
BATON ROUGE FAITH-BASED GROUP IS
HOPEING CITY POLICE WILL ADDRESS
WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS A DISPARITY
OF ENFORCING DRUG CRIMES IN THE
CAPITOL CITY. BRODERICK BAGERT
WITH TOGETHER BATON ROUGE TOLD
THE BATON ROUGE PRESS CLUB THIS
WEEK THAT THEY PUT TOGETHER A
REPORT THAT CONCLUDES EVEN
THOUGH THE RATE OF DRUG USAGE IS
RELATIVELY FLAT THROUGHOUT THE
CITY, POLICE ENFORCE DRUG
POSSESSION CRIMES 513-PERCENT
MORE OFTEN IN LESS EFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOOD
AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOODS. >> WE DO
SEE EVIDENCE THAT THE
ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES ARE
LEADING TO WILDLY HIGHER ARREST
RATES IN LOW INCOME MOSTLY
AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES
REGARDLESS OF INTENT. AND OUR
POSITION IS THAT IT'S SOMETHING
THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, EVEN
IF IT'S NOT THE GOAL OR INTENT
OF THE POLICE CURRENTLY. >> BRPD
RESPONDED TO THE CLAIMS SAYING
THOSE AREAS MENTIONED IN THE
STUDY ALSO HAVE HIGHER RATES OF
VIOLENT CRIME AND•. HIGHER
ENFORCEMENT OF OTHER CRIMES CAN
BE ATTRIBUTED TO A LARGER POLICE
PRESENCE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> EMMY AND OSCAR WINNING
FILMMAKER AND SHREVEPORT
ANNIMATOR WILLIAM JOYCE WAS
NAMED THE 2017 HUMANIST OF THE
YEAR AWARD BY THE LOUISIANA
ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES.
WILLIAM JOYCE HAS ACHIEVED
WORLDWIDE RECOGNITION AS AN
AUTHOR, ILLUSTRATOR AND PIONEER
IN THE DIGITAL AND ANIMATION INDUSTRY.
IN 2009, HE CO-FOUNDED MOONBOT STUDIOS.
THE STUDY ON WON AN OSCAR IN
2012 FOR BEST ANIMATED SHORT
WITH "THE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOKS
OF MR. MORRIS LESSMORE." HE HAS
WRITTEN AND DESIGNED PROJECTS
WITH NEARLY EVERY MAJOR FILM
STUDIO INCLUDING DISNEY, DREAM
WORKS, 20TH CENTURY FOX AND PIXAR.
AND IN 2003 HE WAS NAMED AN LPB
LOUISIANA LEGEND. >> LOUISIANA
RESIDENTS ACROSS SEVEN PARISHES
ARE TRYING TO PUT THE PIECES OF
THEIR LIVES BACK TOGETHER AFTER
VIOLENT TORNADOES HIT PORTIONS
OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA. THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NOW
CONFIRMS THAT TWO OF THE
TORNADOES WERE RATED AS EF-3'S•
A RARE OCCURANCE IN THE STATE.
EF-3'S CAN HIT WIND SPEEDS UP TO
140 MILES AN HOUR. YET OUT OF
ALL THIS DAMAGE• FORTUNATELY
THERE WERE NO FATALITIES.
>> DESTRUCTION RIPPED THROUGH
LOUISIANA ON TUESDAY.
THIS TORNADO WAS RECORDED IN
NEW ORLEANS EAST WHERE 33 PEOPLE
WERE REPORTED INJURED, ROUGHLY
300 PROPERTIES DAMAGED.
THE DAMAGE TO NEW ORLEANS EAST
HARKIN PAINFUL MEMORIES OF
HURRICANE KATRINA'S DESTRUCTION
BACK IN 2005.
>> COUPLE OF SECONDS, THAT'S ALL
IT TOOK WAS A COUPLE OF
SECONDS.
>> THERE WERE CLOSE TO A DOZEN
TORNADOES THAT TORE THROUGH A
PAIRSISH ATTENTION, EAST
BATON ROUGE AND TANGIPAHOA.
AMONG SOME OF THE COMMUNITIES
HIT WERE DONALDSONVILLE,
PONCHATOULA AS WELL AS
NEW ORLEANS EAST.
>> TORNADO JUST CROSSED THE
BRIDGE.
>> MANY HOME IN DONALDSON RIDGE
FROM DAMAGED.
SOME MISSING ROOFS AND IN OTHER
SPOTS ENTIRE WALLS WERE BLOWN
AWAY.
UNCONFIRMED IF A TORNADO HIT
WATSON BUT A FAMILY OF FIVE
HUDDLED IN THEIR BATHROOM SAYING
ONLY A MIRACLE KEPT THEM ALIVE.
>> TWO OF MY KIDS WERE SLEEPING,
WOKE THEM UP AND RAN TO THE
BATHROOM.
AND -- JUST PRAYING TO GOD.
RAN TO THE BATHROOM.
AND THIS -- JESUS NAME IS ALL I
CAN SAY.
>> NORTH OF LAKE MARPA IN
KILLEEN, EMERGENCY RESPONDERS
WERE IN THE THICK OF IT AS A
TORNADO HIT THEIR LIVINGSTON
PARISH COMMUNITY.
>> I WAS ACTUALLY PARALLEL WITH
THE TORNADO WATCHING IT COME
THROUGH THE SWAMP, AS IT HIT
THIS AREA, THE DEBRIS IT WAS
DEBRIS CLOUD.
UNBELIEVABLE.
>> GOVERNOR JOHN BELLE EDWARDS
AND STATE EMERGENCY OFFICIALS
GOT A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF THE
MASSIVE DAMAGE.
>> TEED WE HAD A TOUGH DAY
ACROSS OUR STATE.
>> THE GOVERNOR DECLAREDDED A
STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR SIX
SOUTHERN PARISHES AND MOBILIZED
1 50 LOUISIANA NATIONAL
PERSONNEL TO ASSIST IN THE
RECOVERY.
>> THAT SHORT OF DESTRUCTION,
COULD HAVE DONE A LOT WORST THAN
IT DID.
>> MIKE STEELE WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF HOMELAND
SECURITY AND THE EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS JOINS ME NOW.
THANK YOU FOR BEING ON LPB.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
>> NO FATALITIES.
ANY REASON WHY WE WERE ABLE TO
SPARE LIVES AND SAVE LIVES?
>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU ABOUT
I HAD PROBABLY TWO DOZEN ALERTS
COME ACROSS MY PHONE DURING THE
COURSE OF THE DAY TUESDAY.
SO WE DEFINITELY THINK THAT
PLAYED A PART.
PLUS WE THINK THAT PEOPLE TOOK
ACTION.
ONE OF THE PEOPLE YOU SHOWED IN
THAT REPORT RIGHT THERE SAID SHE
GATHERED HER FAMILY IN THE
WATSON AREA AND WENT TO THE
BATHROOM IN THE CENTER OF THEIR
HOME AND THEY SURVIVED AND
THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO
DO.
THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH ACTION YOU
CAN TAKE DURING THESE TIMES.
BUT WHAT SHE DID WAS WHAT IS
RECOMMENDED AND WE THINK THAT
GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE THROUGH THIS
EVENT.
>> SO YOU WERE IN THE HELICOPTER
WITH THE GOVERNOR ASSESSING
DAMAGE.
IT'S JUST AMAZING WHAT THESE
TORNADOES CAN DO.
>> IT WAS MUCH WORSE THAN WE
ANTICIPATED WHEN WE LEFT
BATON ROUGE.
YOU KNOW WE GOT DOWN TO THAT
TOUR AREA AND IT JUST SKIPPED
ALL ALONG THAT CORRIDOR AND
COMPLETELY DESTROYED HOMES IN
SOME AREAS AND THEN SPARED A FEW
AND THEN WIPED OUT ANOTHER
COUPLE OF BUILDINGS AFTER THAT
POINT.
SO IT'S AMAZING HOW THERE COULD
BE SO LITTLE IMPACT TO A
BUILDING JUST A FEW YARDS AWAY
FROM A HOME THAT'S COMPLETELY
FLATTENED.
>> WHAT'S NEXT?
IT'S NOW THE RECOVERY EFFORTS
AND WHAT TYPE OF INFORMATION IS
VITAL TO PASS ALONG TO OUR
VIEWERS AND FOLKS ACROSS
LOUISIANA?
>> LIKELY BY THIS EVENING WE
WILL HAVE A PRESIDENTIAL
DECLARATION REQUEST DISASTER
DECLARATION REQUEST GOING UP TO
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
WE ARE LOOKING AT FIVE PARISHES
RIGHT NOW FOR INDIVIDUAL
ASSISTANCE.
IT WOULD BE ASCENSION,
LIVINGSTONER ORLEANS,
St. JAMES AND ST. TAMMANY.
WE ARE GOING TO MAKE A PUSH FOR
THE HOME OWNER IN THOSE PARISHES
TO RECEIVE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE
FROM THE IA PROGRAM THROUGH
FEMA.
THAT'S INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE.
ALSO FOR PA, FOR PUBLIC
ASSISTANCE, WE ARE LOOKING AT
THOSE PARISHES PLUS ADDING
JEFFERSON PAIR SHRK JEFFERSON
PARISH HAD SOME DAMAGE BUT NO
HOMES WERE DAMAGED IN THAT
AREA.
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE WOULD HELP
WITH EVERYTHING FROM CERTAIN
TYPES OF DEBRIS REMOVAL ALL THE
WAY THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS
ARE THERE.
ROADS, BRIDGES, SCHOOLS.
THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
>> WE HAVE SOME INFORMATION I
WANT TO MAKE SURE TO PASS ALONG,
A FULL PAGE GRAPHIC OF
INFORMATION THAT IS VERY HELPFUL
FOR FOLKS TO STREAMLINE SOME
INFORMATION.
SO YOU CAN GET MORE INFORMATION
BY GOING ONLINE AT
EMERGENCY.LA.GOV.
NOAA.GOV IS A WONDERFUL SOURCE
THAT NEW ORLEANS IS PUTTING
TOGETHER AND THESE ARE IMPORTANT
PLACES THAT FOLKS CAN BEGIN
GETTING THE IMPORTANT
INFORMATION TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> YEAH.
WE MADE THAT AS A ONE-STOP
SHOP.
ALL OF THE PRESS RELEASES FROM
ALL OF THE STATE AGENCIES
INVOLVED IN THIS EVENT PLUS IF
WE WILL GET INFORMATION FROM THE
VOLUNTEER GROUPS, ANYBODY ELSE
THAT'S KIND OF AFFILIATED WITH
THE RECOVERY NOW WE WILL POST
THAT INFORMATION ON THAT SITE SO
THAT PEOPLE CAN GO THERE.
THE CITY HAS ALREADY DONE A
WONDERFUL JOB ON THEIR SITE ON
THE NOAA.GOV SITE POSTING
INFORMATION ABOUT THE VOLUNTEER
GROUPS THAT ARE ORGANIZING.
PEOPLE WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN
THOSE GROUPS, WE WILL TRY TO
HAVE THAT INFORMATION
AVAILABLE.
YOU KNOW THIS IS A VERY
DIFFICULT SITUATION BECAUSE YOU
HAVE A LOT OF HOMES IN THE
NEW ORLEANS AREA THAT ARE
IMPACTED AND YOU MAY HAVE
ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR ONE
AREA BUT NOT AVAILABLE ANOTHER
AREA BY THE TIME WE GET ALL OF
THE DATA COLLECTED SO WE MAY
NEED VOLUNTEERS AND PEOPLE FROM
LOUISIANA COMING TOGETHER AND
PULLING TOGETHER TO HELP EACH
OTHER OUT.
>> AND ONCE AGAIN THE IMPORTANCE
OF PROPERTY OWNERS TO DOCUMENT
THE DAMAGE, IT'S STILL ALWAYS
VITAL.
>> NO DOUBT.
YOU KNOW NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE TOLD US THIS COULD BE
THE NORM FOR THE NEXT -- FOR THE
NEAR FUTURE.
WE HAD A REALLY WARM WINTER AND
THOSE CONDITIONS COULD KIND OF
SPAWN THESE TYPES OF SYSTEMS
HITTING THE STATE MORE IN THE
FUTURE.
THIS IS THE SECOND OR THIRD
MAJOR WEATHER EVENT SINCE THE
BEGINNING OF THE YEAR THAT WE
ARE DEALING WITH.
AND SO IF IT IS THE NORM, MAKE
SURE YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO IF YOU
HAVE DAMAGE.
LIKE YOU SAID, DOCUMENT, TAKE
PICTURES OF EVERYTHING AND
NOTIFY YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
NOTIFY YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS OFFICES WHEN YOU
HAVE DAMAGE BECAUSE AS WE ARE
TRYING TO GET THE SCOPE OF THE
DAMAGE SENT TO WASHINGTON IN
SOME CASES TO SEE WHAT AID IS
AVAILABLE, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT
DAMAGE HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED.
SO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE KNOWS
WHAT'S GOING ON AND THEN MAKE
THE TEMPORARY REPAIRS TO YOUR
HOME AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN
BECAUSE THAT WAY IF THERE IS
MORE RAIN OR SOMETHING FOLLOWING
YOU WON'T HAVE MORE DAMAGE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> LOUISIANA LAWMAKERS ARE
COMING BACK TO BATON ROUGE NEXT
WEEK TO BALANCE THE STATE'S BUDGET.
WE ARE A LITTLE MORE THAN
HALFWAY THROUGH THIS YEAR'S
BUDGETING PERIOD, AND
POLICYMAKERS HAVE REALIZED THE
SPENDING PLAN IS 300-MILLION
DOLLARS SHORT. NEWS ABOUT
MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR SHORTFALLS
GREW REPETITIVE YEARS AGO. LPB'S
POLITICAL REPORTER KELLY SPIRES
SPOKE TO THE GOVERNOR'S
ADMINISTRATION, THE REPUBLICAN
LEADER IN THE HOUSE, AND A GOOD
GOVERNMENT GROUP TO PUT THE
DEFICIT INTO CONTEXT.
>> STEVEN SIS IT'S IMPORTANT --
IS IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE
BIG PICTURE GOING INTO SPECIAL
SESSION.
HE IS THE POLICY DIRECTOR OF
LOUISIANA.
OR PAR FOR SHORT.
HE SAYS THE STATE IS SET TO
SPEND.
$.6BILLION IN GENERAL FUND
REVENUE THIS YEAR.
>> THAT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF
WHERE 300 MILLION FALLS ON THE
SCALE AND ADDITION TO
$300 MILLION THAT'S ALREADY GOT
CUT OUT OF THE BUDGET BECAUSE
LAST YEAR WE FELL SHORT.
I DON'T WANT TO UNDERSELL IT TOO
MUCH.
YOU LOOKING AT $300 MILLION OUT
OF $9 BILLION.
>> THERE ARE THREE CATEGORIES OF
MANEUVERS IN GOVERNOR EDWARDS
PLAN TO CLOSE THE DEFICIT.
THE LARGEST ENTAIL THE RAINY DAY
FUND.
THE COMMISSIONER IS THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET CHIEF.
>> THE 119.6 MILLION RAINY DAY
FUND DOLLARS THAT WE THINK NEED
TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION AND
ABSENT THOSE DOLLARS BEING A
PART OF THE SOLUTION IS GOING TO
BE VERY DIFFICULT TO AVOID CUTS
TO AREAS THAT WE HAVE PROTECTED
IN THE PROPOSAL THAT GOVERNOR
HAS RELEASED.
>> RAINY DAY FUN IS WHAT IT
SOUNDS LIKE A POT OF MONEY THE
STATE HAS SET ASIDE.
IT'S BEEN TAPPED FIVE TIMES IN
THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.
LAWMAKERS CAN TAKE UP TO A THIRD
EACH TIME.
AND IN 2009, THE FUND HELD
$853 MILLION.
TODAY IT'S GOT $360 MILLION
LEFT.
>> THE DECISION POLICY MAKERS
HAVE TO MAKE IS IF THEY USE
$119 MILLION NOW TO PREVENT
CUTS, THAT MEANS IF THERE IS A
SHORTFALL NEXT YEAR AND
CONSIDERING WE HAD THE 14 IN THE
PAST SEVERAL YEARS, PROBABLY
WILL BE, THAT MEANS YOU ARE
GOING TO HAVE ONLY ABOUT
$90 MILLION PLUS OR MINUS TO
DEAL WHATEVER SHORTFALL THERE
IS.
>> USING THE RAINY DAY FUND AND
OTHER ACCOUNTING MANEUVERS IN
THE PLAN, THE STATE WILL BE SET
TO SPEND THE SAME AMOUNT NEXT
YEAR BUT HAVE LESS MONEY TO
COVER THAT AMOUNT.
THAT'S WHY REPUBLICAN LEADERS
ARE CRITICAL OF USING THAT
CASH.
ALEXANDRIA REPRESENTATIVE LANCE
HARRIS IS CHAIR OF THE
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS IN THE HOUSE.
>> WHEN YOU USE THE RAINY DAY
MONEY WHICH HAS CONCERNED ME
FROM THE BEGINNING, YOU USE
$119 MILLION OF THAT, THAT'S
$119 MILLION PROBLEM YOU WILL
HAVE NEXT YEAR.
IF YOU DON'T TALK ABOUT
SPENDING.
>> THE SECOND KIND OF MANEUVER
SHIFTS THIS YEAR'S PAYMENTS TO
NEXT YEAR.
THAT MEANS MORE EXPENSES AND THE
SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY TO PAY FOR
THEM.
>> WORST THING TO DO IS TO MAKE
SOMETHING WORSE.
SO FOR EXAMPLE PUSHING BACK A
PAYMENT.
NOW YOU ARE NOT ONLY HAVE NOT
HAVE THAT SOLUTION NEXT YEAR,
YOU MADE IT WORST NEXT YEAR.
>> I CAN'T DO THAT IN MY
BUSINESS.
I WOULD HAVE CREDITORS COMING AT
ME TOMORROW.
YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY THAT BILL
AT SOME TIME.
>> HARRIS ARGUES THAT STATE
SPENDING IS OUT OF CONTROL.
THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO GAUGE
THAT FIGURE.
>> WE HAVE TO BE FOCUSING OUR
EFFORTS ON THE SPENDING PROBLEM
AND HAVE TO DOO IT NOW
BECAUSE -- DO IT NOW BECAUSE NOW
WE WILL COME TO THE TAXPAYER
YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT RAISING
TAXES.
>> THE THIRD KIND OF MANEUVER IS
CUTTING SPENDING THAT LEADS TO
LESS EXPENSES AND THE SAME
AMOUNT OF MONEY TO SPEND NEXT
YEAR.
WHEN IT COMES TO TRIMMING
MID-YEAR, POLICY MAKERS ARE IN A
TOUGH PLACE.
ANOTHER NUMBER TO PUT THE BUDGET
INTO CONTEXT.
>> AFTER THE SPECIAL SESSION YOU
WILL HAVE MARCH, APRIL, MAY AND
JUNE TO FINISH THE FISCAL YEAR.
SO EVEN THOUGH IT'S
$300 MILLION, IT'S EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT TO DO A LOT OF MAJOR
RESTRUCTURING OR CUTS IN A FOUR
MONTH PERIOD BECAUSE IT'S GOING
TO FEEL FOUR TIMES AS BIG TO
MANY AGENCY BUDGET.
>> FOR BUDGETING BEST PRACTICES,
LAWMAKERS WILL MAKE THE KINDS OF
CUTS THAT HARRIS WANTS.
THOSE THAT CAN BE ANNUALIZED OR
NOT APPROPRIATED IN THE SPRING
WHEN LAW MAKERS PLAN THE NEXT
BUDGET THAT THAT WOULD MEAN CUTS
TO STATE SERVICES THAT THE
GOVERNOR CONSIDERS ESSENTIAL.
DARDEN HAS ANOTHER NUMBER.
>> ZERO.
AND ZERO BECAUSE THAT'S THE
AMOUNT OF CUTS THAT ARE BEING
IMPOSED UPON HIGHER EDUCATION
AND CORRECTIONS AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND
FAMILY SERVICES, K-12, MFP
EDUCATION.
WE HAVE TO MAKE A MINOR CUT IN
OUR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNER
HOSPITAL PARTNERS BUT IT'S LESS
THAN 1%.
>> ALL SIDES AGREE THE SPECIAL
SESSION WILL MOST LIKELY ONLY
SERVE AS A JUMPING OFF POINT FOR
LARGER CONVERSATIONS.
NOT THE TIME TO TACKLE THE
LARGEST PROBLEMS.
>> WE ARE HAVING THIS
$300 MILLION CONVERSATION ABOUT
THE SPECIAL SESSION, BUT THE
REAL BIG ISSUE THAT'S LOOMING
OUT THERE IS $1.1 BILLION IN
TEMPORARY TAXES THAT ARE GOING
TO FALL OFF BEFORE THERE IS
ANOTHER FISCAL SESSION YOU CAN
ADDRESS THEM WITH.
>> AND THAT WOULD LEAD TO A LOT
LESS CASH TO COVER THE SAME
AMOUNT OF EXPENSES.
THERE IS ONE FINAL NUMBER TO
KEEP IN MIND OVER THE NEXT FEW
WEEKS.
>> 70 BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE
VOTES THAT ARE NEEDED IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE
TWO-THIRDS VOTE NEEDED FOR THE
RAINY DAY FUN.
>> SPECIAL SESSION KICKS OFF
MONDAY AT 6:30 P.M. AND
LAWMAKERS WILL HAVE TO WRAP IT
UP BEFORE THE CLOCK STRIKES
MIDNIGHT ON THE 22nd.
>> GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS
WILL GIVE HIS OPENING REMARKS
THIS MONDAY EVENING AND YOU CAN
CATCH IT RIGHT HERE LIVE ON
LPB.
THE GOVERNOR IS SCHEDULED TO
ADDRESS BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE
MEMBERS INSIDE THE CAPITOL
BEGINNING AT 7PM. YOU CAN ALSO
WATCH IT ONLINE AT LPB.ORG.
ALSO, TUNE IN TO LOUISIANA: THE
STATE WE'RE IN NEXT WEEK FOR
UPDATES FROM THE SPECIAL SESSION.
>> IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY
MONTH, LPB SHOWCASES THE EDDIE
G. ROBINSON ON THE CAMPUS OF
GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSTIY.
"COACH ROB" LED GRAMBLING OVER A
56-YEAR COACHING CAREER AND WON
408 GAMES AS THE TIGERS HEAD COACH.
THANKS TO A COUPLE OF VERY
SPECIAL MEN, GRAMBLING BASEBALL
COACHING LEGEND WILBERT ELLIS
AND LINCOLN AND UNION PARISH
DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOHN BELTON•
THE DREAM OF MAKING AN EDDIE
ROBINSON MUSEUM BECAME A REALITY.
>> THIS BUILDING ON THE CAMPUS
OF GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY
HOUSES THE STORY OF LEGENDARY
FOOTBALL COACH EDDIE ROBINSON.
COACH ROBINSON PUT THE SMALL
NORTH LOUISIANA COMMUNITY ON THE
MAP AS HE PUT TOGETHER ONE OF
THE BEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL
PROGRAMS IN THE NATION.
HE LED THE GRAMBLING STATE
TIGERS FOR 57 YEARS AND WON AN
UNPRECEDENTED 408 GAMES AND SENT
OVER 200 PLAYERS INTO
PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL.
FORMER GRAMBLING BASEBALL COACH
WILBERT ELLIS AND LINCOLN PARIS
DISTRICT ATTORNEY KNEW EDDIE
ROBINSON WELL.
THEY PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN MAKING
THIS MUSEUM A REALITY.
THESE DAYS COACH ELLISON AND
JOHN SERVE AS A LIVING HISTORY
LINK TO THE LEGENDARY COACH.
>> EDDIE THE BEST COACH EVER?
>> YEAH.
HE WAS THE BEST.
HE EWAS THE BEST.
THEY GOT A LOT OF GREAT
COACHES.
YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT EDDIE AS
MORE THAN JUST A FOOTBALL
COACH.
HUMANITARIAN.
A MAN THAT GO BEYOND THE GAME OF
FOOTBALL, BUT HE TOOK FOOTBALL
TO MAKE ALL OF THESE OTHER
THINGS WORK.
HE WAS AN OVERCOMER.
WHAT DID HE OVERCOME?
LET'S LOOK AT THE TIME HE WAS
BORN IN.
WE ARE TALKING EARLY 1900s.
SEPARATE BUT EQUAL.
SO HE WAS BEHIND THE EIGHT
BALL.
HE HAD TO COME FROM WAY BEHIND
TO GET WHERE HE ENDED UP.
BUT HE DID IT, NOT WITH A
STICK.
HE DIDN'T DO IT WITH CARRYING A
BIG SKIT.
HE DID IT WITH CARRYING A BIG
SMILE.
>> AND IT'S THE FIRST THING YOU
SEE WHEN YOU ENTER THE EDDIE
ROBINSON MUSEUM A LIFE-SIZED
BRONZE STATUE OF COACH ROB WITH
THAT UNMISTAKABLE WINNING
SMILE.
>> EDDIE LOVED PEOPLE.
CARED ABOUT PEOPLE.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW HE TALKED ABOUT
AMERICA.
HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT ONE SEGMENT
OF OUR SOCIETY.
HE TALKED ABOUT AMERICA.
THAT INCLUDES EVERYBODY.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO
AS LONG AS I LIVE AND I HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO GO MANY, MANY
PLACES.
I'M STILL SPREADING THE NEWS
ABOUT GRAMBLING.
40.
VICTORIES ON THE FOOTBALL -- 408
VICTORIES ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD
AND THOUSANDS OF VICTORIES OFF
THE FIELD.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS MUSEUM, IT
HOUSES A STORY OF FAITH, HARD
WORK AND OVERCOMING.
IT ALSO HOUSES A STORY BETWEEN
HE AND MRS. ROBINSON.
YOU KNOW HE TALKED ABOUT ONE
WIFE, ONE JOB.
SO THAT'S WHY COACH ELLISON AND
I AND OTHERS THE TEAM AS I WANT
TO SAY, MADE A POINT TO MAKE
SURE WE HAD A DORIS ROBINSON IN
HONOR OF HER.
>> COACH ELLISON AND JOHN LEAD A
WAY ON A BRIEF TOUR OF THE
MUSEUM IT HIGHLIGHTS THE TIGERS
FOOTBALL TRADITIONS AND HUNDREDS
OF ROBINSON COACHED ATHLETES
THAT WILL GO ON TO PLAY
PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL.
>> THIS IS WHERE ALL OF THE
FOOTBALL PLAYERS PLAYED.
OVER 200-SOME PLAYERS.
TO MY LEFT OVER HERE, THE TIGER
MARCHING BAND.
AND THEY ALL WENT TOGETHER.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE BAND,
YOU TALKED ABOUT FOOTBALL.
>> EDDIE ROBINSON COACHED FOUR
NFL HALL OF FAMER INCLUDING
WILLIE DAVIS OF THE GREEN BAY
PACKERS, BUCK BUCHANAN OF THE
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, CHARLIE
JOINER OF THE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
AND WILLIE BROWN OF THE OAKLAND
RAIDERS.
>> FOUR GUYS IN THE NFL HALL OF
FAME AND THAT'S SOMETHING.
>> AMAZING.
>> THIS IS A WALL OF FAME IN
HERE.
THIS IS WILLIE DAVIS.
>> WILLIE DAVIS ROOM.
LINSEY FOUNDATION DONATED
$150 ON HIS BEHALF AND WE NAMED
THIS ROOM AFTER WILLIE DAVIS.
COACH ROBINSON DID A GOOD JOB IN
PREPARING YOUNG MEN TO BECOME
MEN AND TO BECOME HALL OF FAME
FOOTBALL PLAYERS.
>> AND INSIDE THE MUSEUM YOU
WILL SEE AN EXACT REPLICA OF
COACH ROBS HOME OFFICE.
>> JUST LIKE IT WAS AT HIS
HOUSE.
IT'S THE SAME WAY.
HIS BOOKS AND EVERYTHING WAS
THERE HIS CHAIR, THE SAME
CHAIR.
THEY DID A LITTLE SOMETHING WITH
THE DESK AND ALL OF THAT, BUT
THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE BOOKS ARE
JUST LIKE HE PUT IT.
AND OVER HERE YOU SEE WE ARE
WHERE THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CAME
AND SPOKE FOR OUR COMMENCEMENT,
BILL CLINTON.
AND COACH WAS FIXING HIS ROBE.
AND HE DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY
ELSE -- I WAS THE GRAND MARSHAL,
BUT HE DIDN'T WANT ME.
I WANT EDDIE TO FIX MY ROBE.
AND YOU SEE COACH THERE FIXING
HIS ROBE AND PINNING ON.
COACH SIGNED THE BALL FOR HIM
AND ALL OF THAT.
IT WAS A GREAT MOMENT.
>> YOU CAN ALSO WALK THROUGH AN
EXACT REPLICA OF EDDIE'S OFFICE
ON CAMPUS AND EVEN STEP INTO THE
GRAMBLING LOCKER ROOM WHERE
COACH ROB WILL DIAGRAM HIS PLAYS
TO THE TEAM.
THE MUSEUM IS ALSO INTERACTIVE.
ONE AREA ALLOWS VISITORS A SPOT
ON THE BLOCKING SLED.
OR TAKING A CRACK AT
QUARTERBACK.
BUT THIS MUSEUM IS EXTRA SPECIAL
TO COACH ELLIS AND JOHN JUST
BEFORE COACH RABUNSON PASSED
AWAY THEY PROMISED THAT ONE DAY
THERE WOULD BE AN EDDIE ROBINSON
MUSEUM.
>> HE ASKED ME ONE THING AND
COACH ELLIS WAS THERE, TOO.
HE SAID, COULD YOU PROMISE ME
THAT IT WILL BECOME A REALITY?
THAT YOU WILL SEE IT TO THE
END?
AND WITH GOD'S GRACE AND THE
BLESSINGS OF ALMIGHTY GOD AND
THE VOLUNTEERS AND THOSE THAT
DEDICATED AND COMMITTED TO MAKE
IT HAPPEN AS A TEAM, WE NOW SIT
HERE IN THE EDDIE ROBINSON
MUSEUM.
>> YOU CAN THINK ABOUT A LOT OF
GREAT PEOPLE.
YOU CAN THINK ABOUT GANDHI.
YOU CAN THINK ABOUT MOTHER
TERESA.
YOU CAN THINK ABOUT DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR..
YOU CAN THINK ABOUT GEORGE
WASHINGTON.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
THEY STILL LIVE TODAY.
AND GREATNESS LIVES FOREVER.
AND COACH ROBINSON IS A GREAT
MAN.
AND IT IS BECAUSE HE IS STILL
WITH US.
WHEN HE LIVED HERE ON EARTH IN
HIS BODY, HE WAS A GREAT MAN.
AND HE STILL LIVES ON.
AND SO THIS MUSEUM IS JUST AN
EXHIBIT OF THOSE THINGS THAT HE
ACCOMPLISHED.
OFF THE FIELD AND ON THE FIELD.
THAT HE STILL LIVE IT AND WILL
FOREVER LIVE IT BECAUSE OF HIS
GREATNESS.
>> AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON
THE EDDIE G. ROBINSON MUSEUM,
YOU GO ONLINE AT
ROBINSONMUSEUM.COM.
>> >> AND•. THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR
THIS WEEK. REMEMBER YOU CAN
WATCH LPB ON DEMAND ON YOUR
PHONE OR TABLET WITH OUR LPB
ANYWHERE APP. >> JUST GO TO YOUR
APP STORE TO DOWNLOAD OUR FREE
APP AND YOU CAN CATCH LPB NEWS
AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS SHOWS AS WELL
AS OTHER LOUISIANA PROGRAMS YOU
HAVE COME ENJOY OVER THE YEARS.
>> AND DON'T FORGET TO LIKE LPB
ON FACEBOOK AS WELL. FOR
EVERYONE AT LOUISIANA PUBLIC
BROADCASTING, THANKS FOR WATCHING.
UNTIL NEXT TIME, THAT'S THE
STATE WE'RE IN. WE END OUR SHOW
TONIGHT WITH A VIDEO POSTCARD
FROM REX Q. FORTENBERRY. REX
GIVES US A FRONT ROW SEAT TO A
BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE ALONG LAKE
PAULORDE IN MORGAN CITY. GOOD NIGHT.
>> WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
WRITE LOUISIANA, THE STATE WE'RE
IN, 7733 PERKINS ROAD IN BATON ROUGE.
CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-272-8161.
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THIS AND OTHER EDITIONS ARE
>> SUPPORTON HOME VIDEO.
FOR THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BY
THE FRED B. AND RUTH B. ZIEGLER
FOUNDATION OF JENNINGS. THE
ZIEGLER MUSEUM IS A CULTURAL
CENTER FOR SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA
FEATURING EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN
ARTISTS AND WILDLIFE DIARAMAS.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS PROVIDED
BY THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE
IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING
AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.