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 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

WE REALLY FOCUS ON THE KIDS, MAKING SURE THEY KNOW WHY THEY ARE IN THE HOSPITAL.

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE IS REALIZED WITH THE OPENING OF A NEW CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

WE WANT TO IMPROVE. WE WANT TO OVERALL. THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN

STARTING OVER. CANDIDATES FOR BESE'S SIXTH DISTRICT TELL LPB WHY THEY ARE

RUNNING. I AM VERY DISTRESSED BY THE NASTINESS.

I AM VERY DISTRESSED BY THE INABILITY OF PEOPLE TO BE CIVIL. EARLY VOTERS HAVING THEIR SAY

AT THE BALLOT BOX. HI, EVERYONE. I'M NATASHA WILLIAMS.

I'M ANDRE MOREAU. MUCH MORE ON THOSE TOP STORIES IN A MOMENT ON THIS WEEK'S

EDITION OF "SWI," BUT FIRST, NEWS TODAY FROM THE SUPREME COURT.

THE HIGH COURT ANNOUNCING TODAY THEY WILL TAKE UP A LOUISIANA LAW THAT COULD LEAVE

THE STATE WITH JUST ONE ABORTION CLINIC. A DECISION IS LIKELY TO COME BY

THE END OF JUNE. THE LOUISIANA LAW IS VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL TO A TEXAS

LAW THAT THE SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN IN 2016 THAT REQUIRED DOCTORS TO HAVE

ADMITTING PRIVILEGES TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL. NOW A LOOK AT OTHER HEADLINES

MAKING NEWS ACROSS LOUISIANA. REPUBLICAN RALPH ABRAHAM IS NOW PUMPING HIS OWN MONEY INTO HIS

CAMPAIGN TO BE GOVERNOR AS HE STRUGGLES TO KEEP UP THE SPENDING PACE TO UNSEAT DEMOCRAT

JOHN BEL EDWARDS. THE LATEST FINANCE REPORTS SHOW THE THIRD-TERM CONGRESSMAN FROM

ALTO IN RICH LAND PARISH HAS LOANED HIS CAMPAIGN THE MONEY IN

THE FINAL STRETCH BEFORE THE OCTOBER 12 ELECTION.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS FINALLY COME OUT SWINGING IN

REGARDS TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, URGING GOP VOTERS TO OUST

EDWARDS. IN TWEETS THIS WEEK, TRUMP

DIDN'T PICK AMONG EDWARDS' MAIN REPUBLICAN CHALLENGERS, BUT

SIMPLY CALLED ON VOTERS TO TAKE THE DEMOCRAT EDWARDS OUT OF

OFFICE. A STATE AGENCY HAS FIRST DOWN 27

-- HAS FOUND 27 ISSUES IN AN AUDIT OF THE CITY

OF SHREVEPORT'S 2018 FINANCES. THE FINDINGS OF THE STATE

AUDITOR NOTE THE ARRESTS OF FOUR CITY EMPLOYEES ACCUSED OF USING

CITY MONEY FOR THEIR OWN GAIN. THREE WERE ACCUSED OF USING CITY

RESOURCES WORTH $25,000 FOR WORK ON PRIVATE DRIVEWAYS.

THE AUDIT ALSO SAYS THE CITY WAS FINED NEARLY $190,000 FOR THE

LATE FILING OF PAYROLL TAXES. SHREVEPORT OFFICIALS SAY THEY

ARE WORKING WITH THE AUDITOR TO ADDRESS ANY PROBLEMS.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS BOUGHT OUT AN ENTIRE FLOOD-PRONE

NEIGHBORHOOD IN GONZALES AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED THERE HAVE

MOVED TO HIGHER GROUND. THIS WAS ON SILVERLEAF STREET IN

THE ASCENSION PARISH CITY. THE STREET WAS CARVED OUT OF A

WETLAND AND FREQUENTLY FLOODED. THE AGENCY IS BUYING THE HOMES

AT PRE-FLOOD MARKET VALUE AND RESTORE LOUISIANA IS OFFERING TO

MAKE UP SHORTFALLS IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS.

THE FEDS ARE ALSO GIVING PLAQUEMINES PARISH A $4 MILLION

GRANT TO IMPROVE ITS WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND HELP PROTECT

BUSINESSES FROM NATURAL DISASTERS.

MOST OF THAT MONEY WILL BE DIRECTED AT THE BELLE CHASSE

WATER TREATMENT PLANT. IT COMES FROM A PROGRAM DESIGNED

TO HELP PAY FOR DISASTER RELIEF AND RECOVERY FROM HURRICANES AND

OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS. PINK SLIPS STUNNED 376 WORKERS

AT A STEEL MILL IN LAPLACE, WHICH SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING.

THE GOVERNOR SUGGESTED TARIFFS MAY HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN THE

CLOSURE. THE BAYOU STEEL GROUP FACTORY IS

THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH, BUT THE

COMPANY SAYS IT WILL CLOSE BY THE END OF NOVEMBER.

MORE THAN 150 RESTAURANTS IN THE STATE HAVE BEEN CITED FOR NOT

TELLING CUSTOMERS THEY SOLD SEAFOOD IMPORTED AND NOT FROM

LOUISIANA. A NEW STATE LAW REQUIRES FOOD

BUSINESSES TO POST INFORMATION ABOUT IMPORTED CRAWFISH OR

SHRIMP ON MENU OR ON ENTRANCE SIGNS.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOUND VIOLATIONS FROM BATON ROUGE TO

NEW ORLEANS, IN THE LAKE CHARLES AREA AND BOSSIER CITY AND

SHREVEPORT. ALSO TODAY THE GOVERNOR

RELEASED A NEW AD THAT WILL RUN IN THE FINAL WEEK OF THE

ELECTION. IT'S CALLED "STILL JOHN BEL" AND

ITS GOAL IS TO REMIND VOTERS OF HIS FIRST-TERM ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY ALSO ANNOUNCED BIG NEWS.

MONDAY NIGHT, THE SON OF THE PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP JR.,

WILL HEADLINE A GOP EVENT IN LAFAYETTE.

BOTH LEAD REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES PLAN TO BE THERE.

STAFF OF OUR LADY OF THE LAKE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OFFICIALLY

BLESSED THEIR BRAND NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART BUILDING THIS

MORNING IN BATON ROUGE. TOMORROW THE DOORS OPEN AND

PATIENTS WILL BEGIN RECEIVING CARE AT THE $230 MILLION

FACILITY, AS THE GOAL TO CREATE A PLACE SOLELY FOR CHILDREN AND

THEIR FAMILIES BECOMES A REALITY.

BECAUSE A HOSPITAL VISIT IS RARELY SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD

TO, EXTRAORDINARY LENGTHS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO CALM AND COMFORT

THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO ARRIVE AT OUR LADY OF THE LAKE'S

BRAND NEW FREESTANDING CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

IT'S EVIDENT IN THE COLOR AND IN THE SOUND THAT ENVELOPE THE

ENVIRONMENT. THE LAKE COMMISSIONED ACCLAIMED

ARCHITECT, CHRISTOPHER JANNEY TO SET THE TONE FOR THE HEALING

THAT DOCTORS AND HOSPITAL WORKERS WILL STRIVE TO ACHIEVE.

BY COMBINING ARCHITECTURE AND JAZZ, IT'S ALWAYS ALLOWED ME TO

THINK OF NEW IDEAS, SO SOMETIMES I TRY TO MAKE ARCHITECTURE MORE

LIKE MUSIC. SOMETIMES I TRY TO MAKE MUSIC

MORE LIKE ARCHITECTURE, SO COMING UP WITH THESE IDEAS THAT

ARE REALLY THE SYNTHESIS OF THESE TWO DISCIPLINES ARE WHAT

INTRIGUES ME THE MOST. THIS IS ACTUALLY A GROUP OF

WORKS I'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS CALLED URBAN

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND THIS PIECE TITLE HARMONIC GROVE IS

THE LATEST ITERATION. VISITORS ENTER BENEATH A

CANOPY OF BLUE AND GREEN AND ROSE COLORED STAIN GLASS WHICH

CASTS COLORFUL SHADOWS. LOUISIANA SWAMP SOUNDS CHIRP AND

CROAK FROM 24 INTEGRATED SPEAKERS.

WHAT MAKES THE SPACE TRULY UNIQUE, THOUGH, IS THAT IT'S

INTERACTIVE. ANYONE WHO PRESSES OR WAVES A

HAND TO ONE OF THE INVITING HAND PRINTS, LOCATED ON SUPPORT

COLUMNS, WILL TRIGGER A SERIES OF MELODIC INSTRUMENTS AND WILL

EVEN AFFECT THE LIGHTING. ONE OF THE GOALS IS TO CREATE

A PLACE OF PLAYFUL CREATIVITY WHERE CHILDREN OF ALL AGES CAN

COME AND GET A SENSE OF EVEN BEFORE THEY GO INTO THE BUILDING

THAT IT'S A PLAYFUL, BUT A CREATIVE PLACE, AND IN A SENSE

PLAY WITH THE ARCHITECTURE. IT IS A PLAZA WHERE PEOPLE CAN

RELAX AND IN A SENSE PLAY WITH THE ARCHITECTURE.

THROUGHOUT THE NEW HOSPITAL, EACH FLOOR IS MARKED BY ITS OWN

COLOR SCHEME AND BY WAYFINDING SIGNAGE.

EACH FLOOR HAS ITS OWN SET OF ANIMAL AMBASSADORS.

SHARON WESTBERRY, MANAGER OF THE CHILDLIFE DEPARTMENT, SAYS THE

SIGNAGE, THE SOUNDS, AND VISUALS WORK IN HARMONY WITH HER JOB,

WHICH IS TO MAKE THE CHILDREN FEEL THAT WHERE THEY ARE IS

SAFE. WE REALLY FOCUS ON THE KIDS

AND MAKING SURE THEY UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'RE IN THE HOSPITAL,

MAKING SURE THEIR ANXIETY IS DECREASED, YOU KNOW.

WE DON'T WANT THEM TO BE AFRAID BEING HERE.

WE TRY TO NORMALIZE THE EXPERIENCE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

AND WE DO A LOT OF TEACHING FOR KIDS AND THAT MEANS HELPING THEM

THROUGH PLAY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM WHILE

THEY'RE IN THE HOSPITAL. IT'S A CHALLENGE, I WOULD

THINK, RIGHT? WE GET ON A CHILD'S LEVEL,

WE GET TO KNOW THEM, KNOW WHO THEY ARE, AND WE REALLY JUST

GAIN THEIR TRUST. SO THAT'S A BIG PART OF WHAT WE

DO IN WORKING WITH KIDS, IS REALLY LETTING THEM KNOW WE ARE

A SAFE PERSON AND WE WANT THEM TO TRUST US.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO THE ROOMS AND TALK ABOUT

UPCOMING PROCEDURES. FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE DOCTOR

ORDERS AN I.V., SO WHAT IS AN I.V.?

SOME KIDS ASSOCIATE IT WITH POISON IVY, BUT WE WANT TO HELP

THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS AND ACTUALLY EXPLAIN ING

THROUGH PLAY THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS LEADING

UP TO THE ACTUAL PLACEMENT OF THE CATHETER INTO THEIR SKIN AND

SO WE PLAY THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE.

AND SO WE COME UP WITH A PLAN, A COPING PLAN.

AND ALLOWING THE CHILD TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR ROLE IS,

WHAT THE NURSE'S ROLE IS, AND WHAT MY ROLE IS AS A CHILDLIFE

SPECIALIST AND EVEN WHAT THE PARENTS' ROLE IS, AS SUPPORT FOR

THEIR KIDS. DR. TREY DUNBAR, PRESIDENT OF

CHILDREN'S HEALTH FOR OUR LADY OF THE LAKE, SAYS WHAT'S BEEN

DREAMT OF BY PEDIATRIC SPECIALISTS AND PEDIATRICIANS

FOR YEARS IS NOW A REALITY. SO HAVING THIS FACILITY IS

GOING TO BE HUGE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND WHAT WE'VE

ALREADY BEEN DOING. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE BEEN

DOING PEDIATRIC TRAUMA AT THE MAIN HOSPITAL.

THIS GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO TRAUMA IN TOTALLY DIFFERENT

WAYS AND EXPAND AND ATTEST TO BEING A TRAUMA PROGRAM ON OUR

OWN FOR PEDIATRICS, GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE MORE

INNOVATIVE IN HOW WE PROVIDE CARE.

ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT IS OUR ST. JUDE'S FLOOR.

A MAJOR PART OF THE IDEA OF THE HOSPITAL IS TO KEEP KIDS

CLOSE TO THEIR HOMES. SO IT MORE CLOSELY SERVES METRO

BATON ROUGE, THE STATE AND THE GULF REGION.

AS AN AFFILIATE OF ST. JUDE'S CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, DUNBAR SAYS

IT MEANS IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO VITAL RESEARCH FOR TRAUMA OR

CANCER SERVICES. THERE AREN'T TOO MANY PLACES

YOU CAN GO IF YOU'RE A CHILD WITH A BLOOD DISORDER OR CANCER

AND GET CARE ALL IN ONE FLOOR. AND THAT'S WHAT OUR THIRD FLOOR,

OUR ST. JUDE, ALLOWS US TO DO. HAVING A CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IS

A DESTINATION FOR PEDIATRICS SPECIALISTS OR PEOPLE WHO WANT

TO BE PROFESSIONALLY INVESTED IN PEDIATRICS.

SO WE'VE ALREADY HAD AN UPTICK IN OUR RECRUITMENT FOR SUB

SPECIALS OR PEDIATRIC NURSES WHO WANT TO TAKE CARE OF KIDS

IN A NEW AND INNOVATIVE ENVIRONMENT.

ALWAYS ON THE THIRD FLOOR ISSA'S ROOM.

DONATED AND FUNDED BY THE BOWMAN FOUNDATION FOLLOWING THE DEATH

OF THEIR DAUGHTER. THIS IS PALLATIVE CARE ROOM,

SO CHILDREN WHO ARE AT END OF LIFE CARE WILL BE PLACED IN THIS

ROOM UNTIL IT IS TIME FOR THEM TO PASS AWAY.

AND SO IT'S A LARGER ROOM AND IT'S THERE TO ACCOMMODATE

FAMILY, EXTENDED FAMILY, BUT THE GOAL OF THIS ROOM IS REALLY TO

MAKE IT MORE OF THAT FEELING OF HOME AND JUST BE A LARGER SPACE

FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE GOING THROUGH SUCH A DIFFICULT TIME IN

THEIR LIFE. THERE IS ALSO HOSPITAL

HISTORY INTEGRATED INTO THE NEW SIX-STORY STRUCTURE, EASILY

VISIBLE FROM INTERSTATE 10 IN BATON ROUGE.

THIS OUTDOOR PAVILION AND ITS STAINED GLASS WINDOWS ARE A

THROWBACK TO THE ORIGINAL OUR LADY OF THE LAKE HOSPITAL BUILT

IN DOWNTOWN BATON ROUGE IN 1923. THEY WERE DISCOVERED IN STORAGE,

HIDDEN AWAY FOR YEARS, AFTER THE HOSPITAL COMPLEX MOVED TO ESSEN

LANE IN 1978. THIS HOSPITAL IS SOLELY

DEDICATED TO CARING FOR KIDS AND SO WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE

THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH ALL STAFF AND JUST UNDERSTAND THE

UNIQUENESS OF CHILDREN AND HOW CHILDREN COPE AND HOW WE CAN

BEST HELP THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL DURING THEIR HOSPITAL STAY WITH

US. MEDICAL TEAMS HAVE SIMULATED

THE MOVING OF PATIENTS THIS WEEK, BUT IT HAPPENS FOR REAL

TOMORROW. 50 CHILDREN WHO'VE BEEN IN CARE

AT THE LAKE WILL BECOME THE FIRST PATIENTS TREATED IN THE

NEW CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. IT OFFICIALLY OPENS TOMORROW.

COULD LSU FOOTBALL BE A REASON WHY WE'VE SEEN A STRONG

TURNOUT OF EARLY VOTERS AT THE POLLS?

ON ELECTION NIGHT IN TIGER STADIUM, THE TIGERS TANGLE THE

FLORIDA GATORS IN WHAT COULD BE A MATCHUP OF UNBEATEN SEC

HEAVYWEIGHTS. REGARDLESS OF WHY VOTERS

TURNED OUT IN DROVES AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE

TELLS US EARLY VOTING REMAINS STEADY.

WE HIT THE STREETS TO TALK ABOUT RESIDENTS ABOUT POLITICAL

ENGAGEMENT AND IF THEY PLAN TO VOTE EARLY.

I ACTUALLY VOTED MONDAY AROUND NOON.

I LIVE IN WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH AND IT WAS VERY EASY TO

DO. I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE ARE

ENGAGED IN THEIR OWN CAMP AND NOBODY IS TRYING TO WORK

TOGETHER TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS AT HAND AND WHEN THEY DO, WE

SHOULD SEE THAT AS A GOOD THING. IT'S A POSITIVE THING FOR OUR

COUNTRY, FOR OUR PARISHES, OUR STATE, OR WHATEVER.

I AM DEFINITELY GOING TO VOTE.

WE KNOW WHO IS RUNNING, KIND OF KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, BUT WE USUALLY GO TO PAR OR ONE OF

THOSE SITES AND SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE AMENDMENTS

AND SOMETIMES THE CANDIDATES, JUST AN OBJECTIVE OVERVIEW.

I VOTED YESTERDAY. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO EARLY

VOTE? EARLY VOTING IS MUCH MORE

CONVENIENT THAN TO HAVE TO TAKE OFF FROM WORK AND VOTE ON THE

ONE DAY AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE PARTICIPATION

AND ALL VOTE. I THINK IT IS REALLY

DISHEARTENING, IT SEEMS, THAT POLITICIANS DON'T SEEM TO BE

ENGAGED WITH THE CIVICS THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW AND DEFINITELY

THE GENERAL POPULATION ISN'T ENGAGED IN THE CIVICS THEY NEED

TO KNOW. AS IN WHAT ROLES POLITICIANS

HAVE AND WHAT THEY CAN ACCOMPLISH OR THE LIMITS THEY

HAVE. I'M VERY DISTRESSED BY THE

NASTINESS, BY THE INABILITY OF PEOPLE TO BE CIVIL TO EACH OTHER

BECAUSE I THINK WE CAN DISAGREE, BUT BE FRIENDS.

SO WHY ARE YOU EARLY VOTING? BECAUSE THERE IS A FOOTBALL

GAME, ONE, ON THE REAL VOTING DAY.

I DO FEEL LIKE I KNOW THE PEOPLE RUNNING.

I WISH I KNEW MORE ABOUT THE AMENDMENTS.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO READ THEM WHEN I GET THERE.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO EARLY VOTE?

I JUST WANT TO GO IN AND GET IT DONE, I GUESS.

WE WENT TO THE ARCHIVES AND SOMEONE SAID IF YOU ARE OVER 65,

LOOKING AT ME, THEY HAVE A SPECIAL ROOM FOR YOU.

WHAT WAS THE GIVEAWAY? ANYWAY, WE HAD TO GO THROUGH

LONG LINES OF PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT 65.

WE GOT IN THERE AND IT JUST TOOK A FEW MINUTES TO VOTE.

I'M HAPPY WITH IT. I'M UNHAPPY WITH OUR NATIONAL

POLITICAL SITUATION. I'M UNHAPPY WITH THE LOCAL

POLITICAL SITUATION. I'M CONSERVATIVE, BUT VOTING

LIBERAL MORE. IF EVERYBODY DOESN'T GET OUT

AND VOTE, IT IS LIKE VOTING FOR THE WRONG PERSON.

IF YOU DON'T GIVE YOUR OPINION, IT IS GIVING TO SOMEONE THAT

DON'T NEED IT. REALLY MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN CAST YOUR EARLY BALLOT UNTIL TOMORROW AT

6:00 P.M. YOU CAN GO TO LPB.ORG FOR A

COMPLETE LIST OF WHERE YOU CAN EARLY VOTE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

CLEO FIELDS IS TRYING TO REGAIN THE SENATE DISTRICT 14

SEAT HE ONCE HELD. HIS CHALLENGER IS LONGTIME

LAWMAKER PAT SMITH. FIELDS CONTINUES TO FACE

QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE HE LIVES AND HIS CHARACTER.

THE VETERAN POLITICIANS FACED OFF AT THE PRESS CLUB ON MONDAY.

DOMICILE IS 5346 HOLLYWOOD STREET FOR 30 SOME YEARS.

DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS OF CHANGING IT, WILL NOT CHANGE IT.

IF ANYBODY HAD ANY DOUBTS ABOUT WHERE I'M DOMICILED, THERE IS A

MECHANISM YOU CAN FILE A LAWSUIT.

WE HAVE MORE CANDIDATES CHALLENGED ACROSS THIS STATE

THAN EVER BEFORE, YOU KNOW. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WASN'T

CHALLENGED, BECAUSE I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE

CHALLENGE. BECAUSE MY DOMICILE IS 5347

HOLLYWOOD. DO I OWN OTHER PROPERTIES?

YES. THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF

THIS STATE GIVES ME THE RIGHT TO DO THAT.

THE ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER BROUGHT FORWARD THE ISSUES ON

RESIDENCY AND DOMICILE. WHILE THE LAW PROVIDES YOU TO

HAVE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION ON A PARTICULAR HOUSE AND TO BE ABLE

TO VOTE THERE, IT IS A LOOPHOLE IN THE LAW AND I THINK IT IS

IMPORTANT THAT WHEN YOU DO WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE, YOU SHOULD

LIVE WITH THE PEOPLE YOU WANT TO REPRESENT.

CAN YOU SHARE WITH US TODAY WHAT YOU THINK YOUR MOST

SIGNIFICANT ACTIONS IN THAT CAPACITY HAS BEEN IN YOUR

CAREER? MOST SIGNIFICANT WAS WORKING

WITH THE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN MY DISTRICT.

BEFORE EVERY LEGISLATIVE SESSION, ONE OF THE THINGS I

DID, I MET WITH THE PRESIDENT AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND THE

PRESIDENT OF LSU. AND NOW BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY

COLLEGE IS PART OF THE 14th SENATORIAL DISTRICT AS WELL.

I ALWAYS CONSIDERED THE 14th DISTRICT AS THE HUB FOR HIGH

EDUCATION IN THIS STATE. I HAVE A NUMBER OF THEM, I

WILL PROBABLY GIVE YOU COUPLE OF THEM.

ONE, I HEARD THE MERGE OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND UNO, UH

STOOD THE GROUND. AND ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE

PAPER SHOWS ME HOLDING THE LINE WITH JIM TUCKER NOT BEING ABLE

TO BRING THAT BILL TO THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE.

AS THE CHAIR OF THE BLACK CAUCUS THAT IS SOMETHING I FEEL PROUD

ABOUT. SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY DID NOT LOSE

STATUS AS THE ONLY HBU SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY.

MY CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILLS WOULD BE SATISFYING FOR THE CITIZENS F

IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA BECAUSE IT DEALS WITH MASS

INCARCERATION IN OUR STATE. I THINK THE QUESTION IS HOW

SHOULD VOTERS LOOK AT A MEETING I HAD WITH THE GOVERNOR.

AS IT RELATES TO -- I THINK THEY SHOULD LOOK AT IT VERY

CAREFULLY. QUITE FRANLY, THE VOTERS HAVE

LOOKED AT IT AND THEY CONCLUDED I WAS WORTHY OF THE OPPORTUNITY

TO GO BACK TO THE STATE SENATE AND I THANK THEM FOR THAT.

LET'S BE CLEAR. MY OPPONENT TAKES A LOT OF SHOTS

AT ME ALL THE TIME. YOU FIND A MAN, A WOMAN OR A

CHILD THAT HASN'T MADE MISTAKES, THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING.

AM I A PERFECT SERVANT? NO.

I'M A PUBLIC SERVANT. DID I DO ANYTHING WRONG?

ABSOLUTELY NOT. FOLKS ASK THE QUESTION ALL

THE TIME AND MR. FIELDS HAS AN ANSWER.

IT IS UP TO THE PEOPLE TO DETERMINE IF THAT IS AN ANSWER

THEY WILL ACCEPT OR NOT ACCEPT. DISTRICT 14 INCLUDES LSU,

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, THE STATE CAPITAL, AND LOW-INCOME

NEIGHBORHOODS NEAR THE PETROCHEMICAL PLANTS.

THE BOARD OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION OR BESE, IS

RESPONSIBLE FOR THE POLICIES THAT COULD DETERMINE THE SUCCESS

OR FAILURE OF MORE THAN 720,000 PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN AROUND

THE STATE. WE SAT DOWN WITH ALL THE

CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THE SEAT IN DISTRICT SIX TO HEAR THEIR

PLANS FOR FIXING WHAT MANY SAY IS A BROKEN EDUCATION SYSTEM.

RONNIE MORRIS IS THE FIRST TO ADMIT HE WAS ANYTHING BUT A

TRADITIONAL COLLEGE STUDENT. I WENT BACK TO SCHOOL AT 32,

GRADUATED AT 37 WITH AN ENGINEERING DEGREE.

IT WAS REALLY A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE FOR ME, THE SORT OF

THING THAT CHANGES YOUR LIFE SO YOU WANT TO SHARE IT WITH OTHER

PEOPLE. YEARS LATER, HE WOULD TEACH

MATH AND PHYSICS, SPARKING HIS TRUE PASSION FOR EDUCATION.

I WENT BACK TO LSU AND FOUNDED AN ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

FOR TEACHERS, FOR STUDENTS SEEKING A CAREER INCATION AND I

HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THAT ENDOWMENT FOR THE LAST 19 YEARS.

IT NOW IS THE LARGEST ENDOWMENT IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA FOR

STUDENTING PURSUING A CAREER IN EDUCATION.

HE ALSO FOUNDED A NONPROFIT WE PRODUCE GRADS, PROMOTING

S.T.E.M. EDUCATION AND PROJECTS AT AREA SCHOOLS.

MORRIS SAYS HE IS RUNNING FOR A SEAT AT THE STATE'S EDUCATION

POLICYMAKERS' TABLE TO -- WORK WITH THE OTHER BOARD

MEMBERS TO CREATE EFFECTIVE POLICY THAT WOULD INCLUDE

INNOVATIVE APPROACHES FOR S.T.E.M. EDUCATION, BUT MAINLY

IT'S ABOUT ENGAGING KIDS. YOU KNOW WE ARE IN THE 21st

CENTURY. THERE ARE A LOT OF REALLY

CREATIVE APPROACHES WE CAN DO TO ENGAGE KIDS.

MY FOCUS IF ELECTED IS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

I THINK WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF IDENTIFYING SPECIAL NEEDS

EARLY AND ADDRESSING THEM TIMELY.

SECONDLY, I THINK WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB PREPARING OUR KIDS

FOR KINDERGARTEN. WE NEED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES

FOR KIDS THAT MAY NOT HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THE BRAIN

STIMULATED, GET THEM INVOLVED IN PROGRAMS WHERE EXPERTS CAN HELP

THEM WITH THAT BRAIN STIMULATION TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE AN EQUAL

CHANCE AT THE STARTING LINE. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A CALL TO

SERVICE. I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL,

WENT INTO THE MILITARY TO SERVE FOUR YEARS AS A NAVY SEAL.

I WAS CALLED IN THE MINISTRY WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE TO WORK

WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AS A YOUTH PASTOR AND JUST LEARNED THE

IMPORTANCE OF RAISING UP OUR YOUTH TO BE THE NEXT LEADERS,

TAXPAYERS, AND LAWMAKERS OF THE NEXT GENERATION.

GREG SPIERS IS A MILITARY VETERAN WHO ALSO TOOK A TOUR OF

DUTY IN THE CLASSROOM AS A MATH TEACHER AND FOOTBALL COACH AT

PONCHATOULA HIGH SCHOOL. I JUST LEARNED FROM THE

INSIDE HOW TO REACH THOSE KIDS, AND THE STRUGGLES THEY DEAL WITH

AND OUR TEACHERS DEAL WITH FROM DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE NEED GOOD PEOPLE IN THOSE POSITIONS.

HE SAYS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS HE IS RUNNING FOR A BESE

SEAT IS TO REPLACE AND REPEAL WHAT HE BELIEVES IS STILL COMMON

CORE. IT IS ONE OF THE GREATEST

DETRIMENTS TO OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IN LOUISIANA AND HAS BEEN

FOR NEARLY A DECADE. HE SAYS HE WILL ALSO TACKLE A

NUMBER OF OTHER ISSUES IF ELECTED.

FINDING A SUITABLE CONTRACT FOR A STATE SUPERINTENDENT,

TEACHER EVALUATIONS, SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEMS, I HAVE

MY VIEWS AND OPINIONS ON ALL THESE THINGS AND THINGS I WOULD

LIKE TO GET DONE. BUT TEACHER ATTRITION IS ONE

THING I WOULD LIKE TO ABSOLVE. WE ARE LOSING THOUSANDS OF

TEACHERS EVERY YEAR AND I THINK A BIG PART OF THAT IS COMMON

CORE, WHICH STRIPS THEM OF THEIR CREATIVITY.

I ORIGINALLY DECIDED TO RUN AROUND OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR.

CIARA HART IS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AND AN EIGHTH GRADE

LOUISIANA HISTORY TEACHER WHO IS HOPING HER EXPERIENCE IN THE

CLASSROOM WILL CHANGE HISTORY, SO TO SPEAK, HELPING LIFT

LOUISIANA FROM THE BOTTOM OF MOST EDUCATIONAL CATEGORIES.

I HAVE ENGAGED WITH A NUMBER OF ELECTED OFFICIALS AND WHAT I

HAVE LEARNED IS IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW WELL YOU WRITE A

POLICY IF YOUR HEART ISN'T WITH THE PEOPLE,

THEN YOUR SKILL SET AS FAR AS POLICY WRITING OR EVEN BEING

ENGAGED WITH POLICY WON'T BE AS EFFECTIVE.

SHE SAID SHE NEEDED TO HELP TEACHERS LIKE HERSELF GET THE

TOOLS SHE NEED TO HELP HER STUDENTS SUCCEED.

I WRITE THE POLICIES, BUT THE POLICIES AFFECT ME EVERY DAY.

I HOPE THAT WITH THAT I'M ABLE TO EXPRESS TO PEOPLE EVEN THOUGH

I MAY NOT BE A POLICY LEADER FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, I HAVE BEEN

INVOLVED IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

THERE ARE POLICIES THAT SHOW A SLIGHT MOVEMENT IN THE

CLASSROOM. AND I BELIEVE WE NEED TO

INCREASE THE FORMULA, THAT WAY IS AN EVERY YEAR INCREASE NOT

CONVENIENT INVEES. I'M RUNNING TO BE A PART OF BESE

BECAUSE I'M A VETERAN EDUCATOR. I AM RUNNING TO BE A PART OF

BESE BECAUSE I AM A VETERAN EDUCATOR AND I AM NOT PLEASED

WITH A LOT OF THE EDUCATIONAL REFORMS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE

OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS. PRIMARILY, A LOT OF THE

EDUCATIONAL REFORMS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE UNDER THE

SUPERINTENDENT, THE CURRENT STATE SUPERINTENDENT MR. JOHN

WHITE. SHE SAYS THERE IS TOO MUCH

PRESSURE ON TEACHERS AND STUDENTS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH

STAKES TESTING AND WHAT SHE CALLS A WASTE OF MONEY.

THE CURRENT BESE BOARD IMPLEMENTED POLICIES AND

PROCEDURES TO PROHIBIT SCHOOLS FROM POPPING UP OVERNIGHT, THESE

PRIVATE SCHOOLS. IT STIPULATED THE SCHOOL HAD TO

BE IN EXISTENCE FOR TWO YEARS WITH SELF-SUFFICIENT FUNDING,

MEANING THAT PARENTS WERE PAYING TUITION PRIOR TO BEING ALLOWED

TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LOUISIANA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

ALSO KNOWN AS THE VOUCHER SYSTEM.

SHE SAYS THOSE SCHOOLS HAVEN'T PROVEN THAT THEY ARE

MORE EFFECTIVE, BUT ARE BASICALLY TAKING VALUABLE

RESOURCES FROM ALREADY STRUGGLING LOUISIANA PUBLIC

SCHOOLS AND IT'S SOMETHING SHE WOULD WORK TO CHANGE

IMMEDIATELY. TOLLIVER AUGUST BELIEVES IT'S

TIME TO LOOK FOR A NEW SUPERINTENDENT.

I AM NOT SURE WHY BESE CANNOT COME TO A CONSENSUS IF THEY

CANNOT RENEW HIS CONTRACT, THEY SHOULD, IN MY OPINION, START

LOOKING FOR A NEW STATE SUPERINTENDENT.

SHE SAYS SHE WOULD ALSO WORK TO STOP THE FLOOD OF CHARTER

SCHOOLS IN THE STATE. FAR TOO MANY CHARTER SCHOOLS

ARE EXPANDING WITHOUT ACTUALLY SHOWING A SCHOOL PERFORMANCE

SCORE WHERE THEY ARE MUCH BETTER THAN THE LOCAL PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE ALLOWING

THESE BIG INDUSTRIES TO COME IN, A LOT OF CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE RUN

BY BIG CHARTER MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS FROM OUT OF STATE.

A LOT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE FUNNELING MONEY INTO THE BESE

CAMPAIGNS. TO ME THAT SAYS IT'S MORE ABOUT

MAKING MONEY THAN PROVIDING OUR CHILDREN WITH A QUALITY

EDUCATION. THE CANDIDATE WHO WINS THE

SEAT DISTRICT SIX SEAT REPLACES KATHY

ED MONSTON, WHO IS RUNNING FOR A SEAT IN THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES. THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS

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FOR ALL OF US AT LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M ANDRE

MOREAU. AND I'M NATASHA WILLIAMS.

THANKS FOR WATCHING. UNTIL NEXT TIME, THAT'S THE

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