1 00:00:05,272 --> 00:00:09,343 WE SUPPORT SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING AT LOCAL SCHOOLS TO 2 00:00:09,510 --> 00:00:14,113 BUILD A BRIGHTER PATH TO BETTER JOBS AND HELP PREPARE THE NEXT 3 00:00:14,282 --> 00:00:15,248 GENERATION BECAUSE TOGETHER, WE POWER LIFE. 4 00:00:15,415 --> 00:00:20,153 ENTERGY. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED 5 00:00:20,287 --> 00:00:21,555 BY THE FRED B. AND RUTH B. ZIEGLER FOUNDATION AND THE 6 00:00:21,722 --> 00:00:25,792 ZIEGLER ART MUSEUM LOCATED IN JENNINGS CITY HALL. 7 00:00:25,927 --> 00:00:32,165 THE MUSEUM FOCUSES ON EMERGING LOUISIANA ARTISTS AND IS AN 8 00:00:32,298 --> 00:00:34,335 HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CENTER FOR SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA. 9 00:00:34,502 --> 00:00:35,870 AND THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC 10 00:00:36,037 --> 00:00:38,338 BROADCASTING WITH SUPPORT FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. 11 00:00:42,475 --> 00:00:53,887 CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY LNS CAPTIONING WWW.LNSCAPTIONING.COM 12 00:00:54,053 --> 00:00:59,693 WE REALLY FOCUS ON THE KIDS, MAKING SURE THEY KNOW WHY THEY ARE IN THE HOSPITAL. 13 00:00:59,860 --> 00:01:04,998 A VISION FOR THE FUTURE IS REALIZED WITH THE OPENING OF A NEW CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. 14 00:01:05,165 --> 00:01:08,702 WE WANT TO IMPROVE. WE WANT TO OVERALL. THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN 15 00:01:08,868 --> 00:01:11,572 STARTING OVER. CANDIDATES FOR BESE'S SIXTH DISTRICT TELL LPB WHY THEY ARE 16 00:01:11,705 --> 00:01:15,608 RUNNING. I AM VERY DISTRESSED BY THE NASTINESS. 17 00:01:15,775 --> 00:01:21,982 I AM VERY DISTRESSED BY THE INABILITY OF PEOPLE TO BE CIVIL. EARLY VOTERS HAVING THEIR SAY 18 00:01:22,148 --> 00:01:25,685 AT THE BALLOT BOX. HI, EVERYONE. I'M NATASHA WILLIAMS. 19 00:01:25,852 --> 00:01:30,992 I'M ANDRE MOREAU. MUCH MORE ON THOSE TOP STORIES IN A MOMENT ON THIS WEEK'S 20 00:01:31,158 --> 00:01:34,160 EDITION OF "SWI," BUT FIRST, NEWS TODAY FROM THE SUPREME COURT. 21 00:01:34,328 --> 00:01:40,533 THE HIGH COURT ANNOUNCING TODAY THEY WILL TAKE UP A LOUISIANA LAW THAT COULD LEAVE 22 00:01:40,700 --> 00:01:42,870 THE STATE WITH JUST ONE ABORTION CLINIC. A DECISION IS LIKELY TO COME BY 23 00:01:43,003 --> 00:01:53,280 THE END OF JUNE. THE LOUISIANA LAW IS VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL TO A TEXAS 24 00:01:53,447 --> 00:01:59,720 LAW THAT THE SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN IN 2016 THAT REQUIRED DOCTORS TO HAVE 25 00:01:59,887 --> 00:02:06,160 ADMITTING PRIVILEGES TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL. NOW A LOOK AT OTHER HEADLINES 26 00:02:06,327 --> 00:02:08,328 MAKING NEWS ACROSS LOUISIANA. REPUBLICAN RALPH ABRAHAM IS NOW PUMPING HIS OWN MONEY INTO HIS 27 00:02:08,495 --> 00:02:11,298 CAMPAIGN TO BE GOVERNOR AS HE STRUGGLES TO KEEP UP THE SPENDING PACE TO UNSEAT DEMOCRAT 28 00:02:11,465 --> 00:02:13,967 JOHN BEL EDWARDS. THE LATEST FINANCE REPORTS SHOW THE THIRD-TERM CONGRESSMAN FROM 29 00:02:14,133 --> 00:02:17,672 ALTO IN RICH LAND PARISH HAS LOANED HIS CAMPAIGN THE MONEY IN 30 00:02:17,838 --> 00:02:19,773 THE FINAL STRETCH BEFORE THE OCTOBER 12 ELECTION. 31 00:02:19,940 --> 00:02:22,075 PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS FINALLY COME OUT SWINGING IN 32 00:02:22,242 --> 00:02:24,043 REGARDS TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, URGING GOP VOTERS TO OUST 33 00:02:24,210 --> 00:02:26,147 EDWARDS. IN TWEETS THIS WEEK, TRUMP 34 00:02:26,313 --> 00:02:28,815 DIDN'T PICK AMONG EDWARDS' MAIN REPUBLICAN CHALLENGERS, BUT 35 00:02:28,982 --> 00:02:30,550 SIMPLY CALLED ON VOTERS TO TAKE THE DEMOCRAT EDWARDS OUT OF 36 00:02:30,683 --> 00:02:38,158 OFFICE. A STATE AGENCY HAS FIRST DOWN 27 37 00:02:38,325 --> 00:02:39,360 -- HAS FOUND 27 ISSUES IN AN AUDIT OF THE CITY 38 00:02:39,527 --> 00:02:40,827 OF SHREVEPORT'S 2018 FINANCES. THE FINDINGS OF THE STATE 39 00:02:40,995 --> 00:02:45,265 AUDITOR NOTE THE ARRESTS OF FOUR CITY EMPLOYEES ACCUSED OF USING 40 00:02:45,432 --> 00:02:49,302 CITY MONEY FOR THEIR OWN GAIN. THREE WERE ACCUSED OF USING CITY 41 00:02:49,437 --> 00:02:53,007 RESOURCES WORTH $25,000 FOR WORK ON PRIVATE DRIVEWAYS. 42 00:02:53,173 --> 00:02:57,243 THE AUDIT ALSO SAYS THE CITY WAS FINED NEARLY $190,000 FOR THE 43 00:02:57,410 --> 00:03:01,515 LATE FILING OF PAYROLL TAXES. SHREVEPORT OFFICIALS SAY THEY 44 00:03:01,682 --> 00:03:05,752 ARE WORKING WITH THE AUDITOR TO ADDRESS ANY PROBLEMS. 45 00:03:05,918 --> 00:03:08,922 THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS BOUGHT OUT AN ENTIRE FLOOD-PRONE 46 00:03:09,088 --> 00:03:11,192 NEIGHBORHOOD IN GONZALES AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED THERE HAVE 47 00:03:11,358 --> 00:03:14,762 MOVED TO HIGHER GROUND. THIS WAS ON SILVERLEAF STREET IN 48 00:03:14,928 --> 00:03:17,932 THE ASCENSION PARISH CITY. THE STREET WAS CARVED OUT OF A 49 00:03:18,098 --> 00:03:21,668 WETLAND AND FREQUENTLY FLOODED. THE AGENCY IS BUYING THE HOMES 50 00:03:21,835 --> 00:03:28,575 AT PRE-FLOOD MARKET VALUE AND RESTORE LOUISIANA IS OFFERING TO 51 00:03:28,742 --> 00:03:30,143 MAKE UP SHORTFALLS IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. 52 00:03:30,310 --> 00:03:32,780 THE FEDS ARE ALSO GIVING PLAQUEMINES PARISH A $4 MILLION 53 00:03:32,947 --> 00:03:35,982 GRANT TO IMPROVE ITS WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND HELP PROTECT 54 00:03:36,117 --> 00:03:39,152 BUSINESSES FROM NATURAL DISASTERS. 55 00:03:39,318 --> 00:03:41,822 MOST OF THAT MONEY WILL BE DIRECTED AT THE BELLE CHASSE 56 00:03:41,988 --> 00:03:44,458 WATER TREATMENT PLANT. IT COMES FROM A PROGRAM DESIGNED 57 00:03:44,625 --> 00:03:47,627 TO HELP PAY FOR DISASTER RELIEF AND RECOVERY FROM HURRICANES AND 58 00:03:47,762 --> 00:03:53,467 OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS. PINK SLIPS STUNNED 376 WORKERS 59 00:03:53,633 --> 00:03:58,238 AT A STEEL MILL IN LAPLACE, WHICH SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. 60 00:03:58,405 --> 00:04:00,007 THE GOVERNOR SUGGESTED TARIFFS MAY HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN THE 61 00:04:00,140 --> 00:04:11,518 CLOSURE. THE BAYOU STEEL GROUP FACTORY IS 62 00:04:11,685 --> 00:04:13,253 THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH, BUT THE 63 00:04:13,420 --> 00:04:14,722 COMPANY SAYS IT WILL CLOSE BY THE END OF NOVEMBER. 64 00:04:14,888 --> 00:04:16,823 MORE THAN 150 RESTAURANTS IN THE STATE HAVE BEEN CITED FOR NOT 65 00:04:16,990 --> 00:04:18,592 TELLING CUSTOMERS THEY SOLD SEAFOOD IMPORTED AND NOT FROM 66 00:04:18,758 --> 00:04:22,128 LOUISIANA. A NEW STATE LAW REQUIRES FOOD 67 00:04:22,295 --> 00:04:25,298 BUSINESSES TO POST INFORMATION ABOUT IMPORTED CRAWFISH OR 68 00:04:25,465 --> 00:04:29,537 SHRIMP ON MENU OR ON ENTRANCE SIGNS. 69 00:04:29,703 --> 00:04:31,672 THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOUND VIOLATIONS FROM BATON ROUGE TO 70 00:04:31,805 --> 00:04:33,907 NEW ORLEANS, IN THE LAKE CHARLES AREA AND BOSSIER CITY AND 71 00:04:34,073 --> 00:04:37,510 SHREVEPORT. ALSO TODAY THE GOVERNOR 72 00:04:37,677 --> 00:04:39,212 RELEASED A NEW AD THAT WILL RUN IN THE FINAL WEEK OF THE 73 00:04:39,378 --> 00:04:42,282 ELECTION. IT'S CALLED "STILL JOHN BEL" AND 74 00:04:42,448 --> 00:04:45,985 ITS GOAL IS TO REMIND VOTERS OF HIS FIRST-TERM ACCOMPLISHMENTS. 75 00:04:46,153 --> 00:04:48,655 THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY ALSO ANNOUNCED BIG NEWS. 76 00:04:48,822 --> 00:04:51,292 MONDAY NIGHT, THE SON OF THE PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP JR., 77 00:04:51,458 --> 00:04:53,427 WILL HEADLINE A GOP EVENT IN LAFAYETTE. 78 00:04:53,560 --> 00:05:08,808 BOTH LEAD REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES PLAN TO BE THERE. 79 00:05:08,942 --> 00:05:11,445 STAFF OF OUR LADY OF THE LAKE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OFFICIALLY 80 00:05:11,578 --> 00:05:18,018 BLESSED THEIR BRAND NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART BUILDING THIS 81 00:05:18,185 --> 00:05:19,553 MORNING IN BATON ROUGE. TOMORROW THE DOORS OPEN AND 82 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:23,123 PATIENTS WILL BEGIN RECEIVING CARE AT THE $230 MILLION 83 00:05:23,290 --> 00:05:24,725 FACILITY, AS THE GOAL TO CREATE A PLACE SOLELY FOR CHILDREN AND 84 00:05:24,858 --> 00:05:29,497 THEIR FAMILIES BECOMES A REALITY. 85 00:05:29,663 --> 00:05:34,267 BECAUSE A HOSPITAL VISIT IS RARELY SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD 86 00:05:34,433 --> 00:05:36,903 TO, EXTRAORDINARY LENGTHS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO CALM AND COMFORT 87 00:05:37,070 --> 00:05:41,675 THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO ARRIVE AT OUR LADY OF THE LAKE'S 88 00:05:41,842 --> 00:05:43,277 BRAND NEW FREESTANDING CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. 89 00:05:43,443 --> 00:05:45,912 IT'S EVIDENT IN THE COLOR AND IN THE SOUND THAT ENVELOPE THE 90 00:05:46,078 --> 00:05:49,650 ENVIRONMENT. THE LAKE COMMISSIONED ACCLAIMED 91 00:05:49,817 --> 00:05:51,752 ARCHITECT, CHRISTOPHER JANNEY TO SET THE TONE FOR THE HEALING 92 00:05:51,885 --> 00:05:55,455 THAT DOCTORS AND HOSPITAL WORKERS WILL STRIVE TO ACHIEVE. 93 00:05:55,622 --> 00:06:00,760 BY COMBINING ARCHITECTURE AND JAZZ, IT'S ALWAYS ALLOWED ME TO 94 00:06:00,893 --> 00:06:03,097 THINK OF NEW IDEAS, SO SOMETIMES I TRY TO MAKE ARCHITECTURE MORE 95 00:06:03,263 --> 00:06:07,133 LIKE MUSIC. SOMETIMES I TRY TO MAKE MUSIC 96 00:06:07,267 --> 00:06:10,837 MORE LIKE ARCHITECTURE, SO COMING UP WITH THESE IDEAS THAT 97 00:06:11,003 --> 00:06:12,973 ARE REALLY THE SYNTHESIS OF THESE TWO DISCIPLINES ARE WHAT 98 00:06:13,140 --> 00:06:16,175 INTRIGUES ME THE MOST. THIS IS ACTUALLY A GROUP OF 99 00:06:16,343 --> 00:06:22,515 WORKS I'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS CALLED URBAN 100 00:06:22,648 --> 00:06:24,283 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND THIS PIECE TITLE HARMONIC GROVE IS 101 00:06:24,450 --> 00:06:28,355 THE LATEST ITERATION. VISITORS ENTER BENEATH A 102 00:06:28,522 --> 00:06:31,725 CANOPY OF BLUE AND GREEN AND ROSE COLORED STAIN GLASS WHICH 103 00:06:31,892 --> 00:06:36,830 CASTS COLORFUL SHADOWS. LOUISIANA SWAMP SOUNDS CHIRP AND 104 00:06:36,997 --> 00:06:38,432 CROAK FROM 24 INTEGRATED SPEAKERS. 105 00:06:38,598 --> 00:06:41,602 WHAT MAKES THE SPACE TRULY UNIQUE, THOUGH, IS THAT IT'S 106 00:06:41,768 --> 00:06:44,805 INTERACTIVE. ANYONE WHO PRESSES OR WAVES A 107 00:06:44,938 --> 00:06:47,975 HAND TO ONE OF THE INVITING HAND PRINTS, LOCATED ON SUPPORT 108 00:06:48,142 --> 00:06:51,878 COLUMNS, WILL TRIGGER A SERIES OF MELODIC INSTRUMENTS AND WILL 109 00:06:52,045 --> 00:07:04,725 EVEN AFFECT THE LIGHTING. ONE OF THE GOALS IS TO CREATE 110 00:07:04,892 --> 00:07:07,693 A PLACE OF PLAYFUL CREATIVITY WHERE CHILDREN OF ALL AGES CAN 111 00:07:07,860 --> 00:07:14,067 COME AND GET A SENSE OF EVEN BEFORE THEY GO INTO THE BUILDING 112 00:07:14,233 --> 00:07:21,475 THAT IT'S A PLAYFUL, BUT A CREATIVE PLACE, AND IN A SENSE 113 00:07:21,642 --> 00:07:26,813 PLAY WITH THE ARCHITECTURE. IT IS A PLAZA WHERE PEOPLE CAN 114 00:07:26,980 --> 00:07:29,582 RELAX AND IN A SENSE PLAY WITH THE ARCHITECTURE. 115 00:07:29,717 --> 00:07:31,718 THROUGHOUT THE NEW HOSPITAL, EACH FLOOR IS MARKED BY ITS OWN 116 00:07:31,885 --> 00:07:34,888 COLOR SCHEME AND BY WAYFINDING SIGNAGE. 117 00:07:35,055 --> 00:07:37,557 EACH FLOOR HAS ITS OWN SET OF ANIMAL AMBASSADORS. 118 00:07:37,723 --> 00:07:41,795 SHARON WESTBERRY, MANAGER OF THE CHILDLIFE DEPARTMENT, SAYS THE 119 00:07:41,962 --> 00:07:44,998 SIGNAGE, THE SOUNDS, AND VISUALS WORK IN HARMONY WITH HER JOB, 120 00:07:45,165 --> 00:07:48,168 WHICH IS TO MAKE THE CHILDREN FEEL THAT WHERE THEY ARE IS 121 00:07:48,335 --> 00:07:58,778 SAFE. WE REALLY FOCUS ON THE KIDS 122 00:07:58,945 --> 00:08:00,913 AND MAKING SURE THEY UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'RE IN THE HOSPITAL, 123 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:02,148 MAKING SURE THEIR ANXIETY IS DECREASED, YOU KNOW. 124 00:08:02,315 --> 00:08:04,083 WE DON'T WANT THEM TO BE AFRAID BEING HERE. 125 00:08:04,250 --> 00:08:07,787 WE TRY TO NORMALIZE THE EXPERIENCE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE 126 00:08:07,953 --> 00:08:12,558 AND WE DO A LOT OF TEACHING FOR KIDS AND THAT MEANS HELPING THEM 127 00:08:12,725 --> 00:08:14,695 THROUGH PLAY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM WHILE 128 00:08:14,862 --> 00:08:16,295 THEY'RE IN THE HOSPITAL. IT'S A CHALLENGE, I WOULD 129 00:08:16,463 --> 00:08:26,338 THINK, RIGHT? WE GET ON A CHILD'S LEVEL, 130 00:08:26,507 --> 00:08:28,475 WE GET TO KNOW THEM, KNOW WHO THEY ARE, AND WE REALLY JUST 131 00:08:28,642 --> 00:08:30,077 GAIN THEIR TRUST. SO THAT'S A BIG PART OF WHAT WE 132 00:08:30,243 --> 00:08:32,378 DO IN WORKING WITH KIDS, IS REALLY LETTING THEM KNOW WE ARE 133 00:08:32,545 --> 00:08:34,313 A SAFE PERSON AND WE WANT THEM TO TRUST US. 134 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:36,015 WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO THE ROOMS AND TALK ABOUT 135 00:08:36,148 --> 00:08:45,058 UPCOMING PROCEDURES. FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE DOCTOR 136 00:08:45,225 --> 00:08:47,060 ORDERS AN I.V., SO WHAT IS AN I.V.? 137 00:08:47,227 --> 00:08:48,628 SOME KIDS ASSOCIATE IT WITH POISON IVY, BUT WE WANT TO HELP 138 00:08:48,795 --> 00:08:59,438 THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS AND ACTUALLY EXPLAIN ING 139 00:08:59,605 --> 00:09:00,973 THROUGH PLAY THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS LEADING 140 00:09:01,140 --> 00:09:03,110 UP TO THE ACTUAL PLACEMENT OF THE CATHETER INTO THEIR SKIN AND 141 00:09:03,277 --> 00:09:04,677 SO WE PLAY THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE. 142 00:09:04,812 --> 00:09:06,813 AND SO WE COME UP WITH A PLAN, A COPING PLAN. 143 00:09:06,980 --> 00:09:08,948 AND ALLOWING THE CHILD TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR ROLE IS, 144 00:09:09,082 --> 00:09:11,585 WHAT THE NURSE'S ROLE IS, AND WHAT MY ROLE IS AS A CHILDLIFE 145 00:09:11,752 --> 00:09:13,387 SPECIALIST AND EVEN WHAT THE PARENTS' ROLE IS, AS SUPPORT FOR 146 00:09:13,553 --> 00:09:15,322 THEIR KIDS. DR. TREY DUNBAR, PRESIDENT OF 147 00:09:15,455 --> 00:09:17,523 CHILDREN'S HEALTH FOR OUR LADY OF THE LAKE, SAYS WHAT'S BEEN 148 00:09:17,690 --> 00:09:20,693 DREAMT OF BY PEDIATRIC SPECIALISTS AND PEDIATRICIANS 149 00:09:20,827 --> 00:09:26,433 FOR YEARS IS NOW A REALITY. SO HAVING THIS FACILITY IS 150 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:30,170 GOING TO BE HUGE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND WHAT WE'VE 151 00:09:30,337 --> 00:09:32,805 ALREADY BEEN DOING. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE BEEN 152 00:09:32,972 --> 00:09:35,442 DOING PEDIATRIC TRAUMA AT THE MAIN HOSPITAL. 153 00:09:35,608 --> 00:09:39,712 THIS GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO TRAUMA IN TOTALLY DIFFERENT 154 00:09:39,847 --> 00:09:48,722 WAYS AND EXPAND AND ATTEST TO BEING A TRAUMA PROGRAM ON OUR 155 00:09:48,855 --> 00:09:50,323 OWN FOR PEDIATRICS, GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE MORE 156 00:09:50,490 --> 00:09:51,357 INNOVATIVE IN HOW WE PROVIDE CARE. 157 00:09:51,492 --> 00:09:55,595 ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT IS OUR ST. JUDE'S FLOOR. 158 00:09:55,762 --> 00:10:00,667 A MAJOR PART OF THE IDEA OF THE HOSPITAL IS TO KEEP KIDS 159 00:10:00,833 --> 00:10:06,773 CLOSE TO THEIR HOMES. SO IT MORE CLOSELY SERVES METRO 160 00:10:06,940 --> 00:10:09,508 BATON ROUGE, THE STATE AND THE GULF REGION. 161 00:10:09,675 --> 00:10:10,943 AS AN AFFILIATE OF ST. JUDE'S CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, DUNBAR SAYS 162 00:10:11,110 --> 00:10:13,247 IT MEANS IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO VITAL RESEARCH FOR TRAUMA OR 163 00:10:13,413 --> 00:10:15,048 CANCER SERVICES. THERE AREN'T TOO MANY PLACES 164 00:10:15,215 --> 00:10:18,017 YOU CAN GO IF YOU'RE A CHILD WITH A BLOOD DISORDER OR CANCER 165 00:10:18,152 --> 00:10:21,187 AND GET CARE ALL IN ONE FLOOR. AND THAT'S WHAT OUR THIRD FLOOR, 166 00:10:21,353 --> 00:10:24,958 OUR ST. JUDE, ALLOWS US TO DO. HAVING A CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IS 167 00:10:25,125 --> 00:10:30,230 A DESTINATION FOR PEDIATRICS SPECIALISTS OR PEOPLE WHO WANT 168 00:10:30,397 --> 00:10:32,865 TO BE PROFESSIONALLY INVESTED IN PEDIATRICS. 169 00:10:33,032 --> 00:10:40,773 SO WE'VE ALREADY HAD AN UPTICK IN OUR RECRUITMENT FOR SUB 170 00:10:40,907 --> 00:10:46,747 SPECIALS OR PEDIATRIC NURSES WHO WANT TO TAKE CARE OF KIDS 171 00:10:46,913 --> 00:10:50,617 IN A NEW AND INNOVATIVE ENVIRONMENT. 172 00:10:50,783 --> 00:10:55,622 ALWAYS ON THE THIRD FLOOR ISSA'S ROOM. 173 00:10:55,788 --> 00:10:57,423 DONATED AND FUNDED BY THE BOWMAN FOUNDATION FOLLOWING THE DEATH 174 00:10:57,557 --> 00:10:59,358 OF THEIR DAUGHTER. THIS IS PALLATIVE CARE ROOM, 175 00:10:59,525 --> 00:11:03,062 SO CHILDREN WHO ARE AT END OF LIFE CARE WILL BE PLACED IN THIS 176 00:11:03,197 --> 00:11:07,833 ROOM UNTIL IT IS TIME FOR THEM TO PASS AWAY. 177 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:10,070 AND SO IT'S A LARGER ROOM AND IT'S THERE TO ACCOMMODATE 178 00:11:10,203 --> 00:11:13,138 FAMILY, EXTENDED FAMILY, BUT THE GOAL OF THIS ROOM IS REALLY TO 179 00:11:13,307 --> 00:11:18,445 MAKE IT MORE OF THAT FEELING OF HOME AND JUST BE A LARGER SPACE 180 00:11:18,578 --> 00:11:20,247 FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE GOING THROUGH SUCH A DIFFICULT TIME IN 181 00:11:20,413 --> 00:11:23,750 THEIR LIFE. THERE IS ALSO HOSPITAL 182 00:11:23,917 --> 00:11:27,453 HISTORY INTEGRATED INTO THE NEW SIX-STORY STRUCTURE, EASILY 183 00:11:27,587 --> 00:11:30,123 VISIBLE FROM INTERSTATE 10 IN BATON ROUGE. 184 00:11:30,290 --> 00:11:34,895 THIS OUTDOOR PAVILION AND ITS STAINED GLASS WINDOWS ARE A 185 00:11:35,062 --> 00:11:38,063 THROWBACK TO THE ORIGINAL OUR LADY OF THE LAKE HOSPITAL BUILT 186 00:11:38,232 --> 00:11:44,437 IN DOWNTOWN BATON ROUGE IN 1923. THEY WERE DISCOVERED IN STORAGE, 187 00:11:44,603 --> 00:11:47,073 HIDDEN AWAY FOR YEARS, AFTER THE HOSPITAL COMPLEX MOVED TO ESSEN 188 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:50,810 LANE IN 1978. THIS HOSPITAL IS SOLELY 189 00:11:50,977 --> 00:11:53,447 DEDICATED TO CARING FOR KIDS AND SO WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE 190 00:11:53,613 --> 00:11:57,183 THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH ALL STAFF AND JUST UNDERSTAND THE 191 00:11:57,350 --> 00:12:00,887 UNIQUENESS OF CHILDREN AND HOW CHILDREN COPE AND HOW WE CAN 192 00:12:01,053 --> 00:12:03,223 BEST HELP THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL DURING THEIR HOSPITAL STAY WITH 193 00:12:03,357 --> 00:12:11,698 US. MEDICAL TEAMS HAVE SIMULATED 194 00:12:11,865 --> 00:12:13,300 THE MOVING OF PATIENTS THIS WEEK, BUT IT HAPPENS FOR REAL 195 00:12:13,467 --> 00:12:14,900 TOMORROW. 50 CHILDREN WHO'VE BEEN IN CARE 196 00:12:15,068 --> 00:12:16,268 AT THE LAKE WILL BECOME THE FIRST PATIENTS TREATED IN THE 197 00:12:16,435 --> 00:12:30,917 NEW CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. IT OFFICIALLY OPENS TOMORROW. 198 00:12:31,083 --> 00:12:34,620 COULD LSU FOOTBALL BE A REASON WHY WE'VE SEEN A STRONG 199 00:12:34,787 --> 00:12:37,290 TURNOUT OF EARLY VOTERS AT THE POLLS? 200 00:12:37,457 --> 00:12:39,925 ON ELECTION NIGHT IN TIGER STADIUM, THE TIGERS TANGLE THE 201 00:12:40,093 --> 00:12:41,628 FLORIDA GATORS IN WHAT COULD BE A MATCHUP OF UNBEATEN SEC 202 00:12:41,795 --> 00:12:48,702 HEAVYWEIGHTS. REGARDLESS OF WHY VOTERS 203 00:12:48,868 --> 00:12:51,570 TURNED OUT IN DROVES AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE 204 00:12:51,738 --> 00:12:54,840 TELLS US EARLY VOTING REMAINS STEADY. 205 00:12:55,008 --> 00:13:00,147 WE HIT THE STREETS TO TALK ABOUT RESIDENTS ABOUT POLITICAL 206 00:13:00,313 --> 00:13:02,048 ENGAGEMENT AND IF THEY PLAN TO VOTE EARLY. 207 00:13:02,215 --> 00:13:05,585 I ACTUALLY VOTED MONDAY AROUND NOON. 208 00:13:05,752 --> 00:13:07,353 I LIVE IN WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH AND IT WAS VERY EASY TO 209 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:14,693 DO. I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE ARE 210 00:13:14,860 --> 00:13:16,697 ENGAGED IN THEIR OWN CAMP AND NOBODY IS TRYING TO WORK 211 00:13:16,863 --> 00:13:18,998 TOGETHER TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS AT HAND AND WHEN THEY DO, WE 212 00:13:19,165 --> 00:13:25,738 SHOULD SEE THAT AS A GOOD THING. IT'S A POSITIVE THING FOR OUR 213 00:13:25,905 --> 00:13:27,007 COUNTRY, FOR OUR PARISHES, OUR STATE, OR WHATEVER. 214 00:13:27,173 --> 00:13:28,375 I AM DEFINITELY GOING TO VOTE. 215 00:13:28,542 --> 00:13:29,975 WE KNOW WHO IS RUNNING, KIND OF KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE 216 00:13:30,143 --> 00:13:33,680 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, BUT WE USUALLY GO TO PAR OR ONE OF 217 00:13:33,847 --> 00:13:40,587 THOSE SITES AND SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE AMENDMENTS 218 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:43,390 AND SOMETIMES THE CANDIDATES, JUST AN OBJECTIVE OVERVIEW. 219 00:13:43,557 --> 00:13:53,132 I VOTED YESTERDAY. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO EARLY 220 00:13:53,298 --> 00:13:58,872 VOTE? EARLY VOTING IS MUCH MORE 221 00:13:59,038 --> 00:14:00,473 CONVENIENT THAN TO HAVE TO TAKE OFF FROM WORK AND VOTE ON THE 222 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:02,408 ONE DAY AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE PARTICIPATION 223 00:14:02,575 --> 00:14:04,543 AND ALL VOTE. I THINK IT IS REALLY 224 00:14:04,710 --> 00:14:06,112 DISHEARTENING, IT SEEMS, THAT POLITICIANS DON'T SEEM TO BE 225 00:14:06,278 --> 00:14:08,247 ENGAGED WITH THE CIVICS THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW AND DEFINITELY 226 00:14:08,382 --> 00:14:10,050 THE GENERAL POPULATION ISN'T ENGAGED IN THE CIVICS THEY NEED 227 00:14:10,217 --> 00:14:11,952 TO KNOW. AS IN WHAT ROLES POLITICIANS 228 00:14:12,118 --> 00:14:13,553 HAVE AND WHAT THEY CAN ACCOMPLISH OR THE LIMITS THEY 229 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:19,658 HAVE. I'M VERY DISTRESSED BY THE 230 00:14:19,825 --> 00:14:23,497 NASTINESS, BY THE INABILITY OF PEOPLE TO BE CIVIL TO EACH OTHER 231 00:14:23,663 --> 00:14:29,135 BECAUSE I THINK WE CAN DISAGREE, BUT BE FRIENDS. 232 00:14:29,302 --> 00:14:33,105 SO WHY ARE YOU EARLY VOTING? BECAUSE THERE IS A FOOTBALL 233 00:14:33,272 --> 00:14:35,742 GAME, ONE, ON THE REAL VOTING DAY. 234 00:14:35,908 --> 00:14:38,143 I DO FEEL LIKE I KNOW THE PEOPLE RUNNING. 235 00:14:38,310 --> 00:14:40,613 I WISH I KNEW MORE ABOUT THE AMENDMENTS. 236 00:14:40,780 --> 00:14:43,583 I'M GOING TO HAVE TO READ THEM WHEN I GET THERE. 237 00:14:43,750 --> 00:14:47,287 WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO EARLY VOTE? 238 00:14:47,420 --> 00:14:50,257 I JUST WANT TO GO IN AND GET IT DONE, I GUESS. 239 00:14:50,423 --> 00:14:55,562 WE WENT TO THE ARCHIVES AND SOMEONE SAID IF YOU ARE OVER 65, 240 00:14:55,728 --> 00:14:58,565 LOOKING AT ME, THEY HAVE A SPECIAL ROOM FOR YOU. 241 00:14:58,732 --> 00:15:02,902 WHAT WAS THE GIVEAWAY? ANYWAY, WE HAD TO GO THROUGH 242 00:15:03,068 --> 00:15:06,205 LONG LINES OF PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT 65. 243 00:15:06,372 --> 00:15:10,177 WE GOT IN THERE AND IT JUST TOOK A FEW MINUTES TO VOTE. 244 00:15:10,343 --> 00:15:13,747 I'M HAPPY WITH IT. I'M UNHAPPY WITH OUR NATIONAL 245 00:15:13,913 --> 00:15:19,952 POLITICAL SITUATION. I'M UNHAPPY WITH THE LOCAL 246 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:23,155 POLITICAL SITUATION. I'M CONSERVATIVE, BUT VOTING 247 00:15:23,322 --> 00:15:26,225 LIBERAL MORE. IF EVERYBODY DOESN'T GET OUT 248 00:15:26,392 --> 00:15:29,628 AND VOTE, IT IS LIKE VOTING FOR THE WRONG PERSON. 249 00:15:29,795 --> 00:15:35,168 IF YOU DON'T GIVE YOUR OPINION, IT IS GIVING TO SOMEONE THAT 250 00:15:35,335 --> 00:15:39,338 DON'T NEED IT. REALLY MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. 251 00:15:39,472 --> 00:15:40,807 REMEMBER, YOU CAN CAST YOUR EARLY BALLOT UNTIL TOMORROW AT 252 00:15:40,973 --> 00:15:42,108 6:00 P.M. YOU CAN GO TO LPB.ORG FOR A 253 00:15:42,275 --> 00:15:45,712 COMPLETE LIST OF WHERE YOU CAN EARLY VOTE THROUGHOUT THE STATE. 254 00:15:45,845 --> 00:15:49,915 CLEO FIELDS IS TRYING TO REGAIN THE SENATE DISTRICT 14 255 00:15:50,082 --> 00:15:55,355 SEAT HE ONCE HELD. HIS CHALLENGER IS LONGTIME 256 00:15:55,488 --> 00:15:56,957 LAWMAKER PAT SMITH. FIELDS CONTINUES TO FACE 257 00:15:57,123 --> 00:15:58,958 QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE HE LIVES AND HIS CHARACTER. 258 00:15:59,125 --> 00:16:04,230 THE VETERAN POLITICIANS FACED OFF AT THE PRESS CLUB ON MONDAY. 259 00:16:04,397 --> 00:16:10,470 DOMICILE IS 5346 HOLLYWOOD STREET FOR 30 SOME YEARS. 260 00:16:10,603 --> 00:16:14,573 DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS OF CHANGING IT, WILL NOT CHANGE IT. 261 00:16:14,740 --> 00:16:18,845 IF ANYBODY HAD ANY DOUBTS ABOUT WHERE I'M DOMICILED, THERE IS A 262 00:16:19,012 --> 00:16:20,747 MECHANISM YOU CAN FILE A LAWSUIT. 263 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:24,817 WE HAVE MORE CANDIDATES CHALLENGED ACROSS THIS STATE 264 00:16:24,983 --> 00:16:28,555 THAN EVER BEFORE, YOU KNOW. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WASN'T 265 00:16:28,722 --> 00:16:31,590 CHALLENGED, BECAUSE I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE 266 00:16:31,757 --> 00:16:35,662 CHALLENGE. BECAUSE MY DOMICILE IS 5347 267 00:16:35,828 --> 00:16:37,830 HOLLYWOOD. DO I OWN OTHER PROPERTIES? 268 00:16:37,997 --> 00:16:40,065 YES. THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF 269 00:16:40,233 --> 00:16:42,168 THIS STATE GIVES ME THE RIGHT TO DO THAT. 270 00:16:42,335 --> 00:16:47,373 THE ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER BROUGHT FORWARD THE ISSUES ON 271 00:16:47,540 --> 00:16:50,777 RESIDENCY AND DOMICILE. WHILE THE LAW PROVIDES YOU TO 272 00:16:50,910 --> 00:16:54,247 HAVE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION ON A PARTICULAR HOUSE AND TO BE ABLE 273 00:16:54,413 --> 00:16:57,917 TO VOTE THERE, IT IS A LOOPHOLE IN THE LAW AND I THINK IT IS 274 00:16:58,083 --> 00:17:01,187 IMPORTANT THAT WHEN YOU DO WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE, YOU SHOULD 275 00:17:01,353 --> 00:17:03,723 LIVE WITH THE PEOPLE YOU WANT TO REPRESENT. 276 00:17:03,890 --> 00:17:07,527 CAN YOU SHARE WITH US TODAY WHAT YOU THINK YOUR MOST 277 00:17:07,660 --> 00:17:11,497 SIGNIFICANT ACTIONS IN THAT CAPACITY HAS BEEN IN YOUR 278 00:17:11,663 --> 00:17:13,933 CAREER? MOST SIGNIFICANT WAS WORKING 279 00:17:14,100 --> 00:17:19,138 WITH THE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN MY DISTRICT. 280 00:17:19,305 --> 00:17:21,040 BEFORE EVERY LEGISLATIVE SESSION, ONE OF THE THINGS I 281 00:17:21,207 --> 00:17:25,512 DID, I MET WITH THE PRESIDENT AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND THE 282 00:17:25,678 --> 00:17:29,482 PRESIDENT OF LSU. AND NOW BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY 283 00:17:29,648 --> 00:17:33,920 COLLEGE IS PART OF THE 14th SENATORIAL DISTRICT AS WELL. 284 00:17:34,087 --> 00:17:38,157 I ALWAYS CONSIDERED THE 14th DISTRICT AS THE HUB FOR HIGH 285 00:17:38,323 --> 00:17:41,260 EDUCATION IN THIS STATE. I HAVE A NUMBER OF THEM, I 286 00:17:41,427 --> 00:17:44,197 WILL PROBABLY GIVE YOU COUPLE OF THEM. 287 00:17:44,330 --> 00:17:48,467 ONE, I HEARD THE MERGE OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND UNO, UH 288 00:17:48,602 --> 00:17:51,237 STOOD THE GROUND. AND ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE 289 00:17:51,403 --> 00:17:55,007 PAPER SHOWS ME HOLDING THE LINE WITH JIM TUCKER NOT BEING ABLE 290 00:17:55,173 --> 00:17:57,577 TO BRING THAT BILL TO THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE. 291 00:17:57,710 --> 00:18:03,650 AS THE CHAIR OF THE BLACK CAUCUS THAT IS SOMETHING I FEEL PROUD 292 00:18:03,817 --> 00:18:06,252 ABOUT. SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY DID NOT LOSE 293 00:18:06,418 --> 00:18:09,988 STATUS AS THE ONLY HBU SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY. 294 00:18:10,155 --> 00:18:14,993 MY CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILLS WOULD BE SATISFYING FOR THE CITIZENS F 295 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:19,165 IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA BECAUSE IT DEALS WITH MASS 296 00:18:19,332 --> 00:18:22,502 INCARCERATION IN OUR STATE. I THINK THE QUESTION IS HOW 297 00:18:22,635 --> 00:18:27,773 SHOULD VOTERS LOOK AT A MEETING I HAD WITH THE GOVERNOR. 298 00:18:27,940 --> 00:18:33,880 AS IT RELATES TO -- I THINK THEY SHOULD LOOK AT IT VERY 299 00:18:34,013 --> 00:18:36,882 CAREFULLY. QUITE FRANLY, THE VOTERS HAVE 300 00:18:37,017 --> 00:18:40,787 LOOKED AT IT AND THEY CONCLUDED I WAS WORTHY OF THE OPPORTUNITY 301 00:18:40,953 --> 00:18:45,458 TO GO BACK TO THE STATE SENATE AND I THANK THEM FOR THAT. 302 00:18:45,625 --> 00:18:48,728 LET'S BE CLEAR. MY OPPONENT TAKES A LOT OF SHOTS 303 00:18:48,895 --> 00:18:54,267 AT ME ALL THE TIME. YOU FIND A MAN, A WOMAN OR A 304 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:57,537 CHILD THAT HASN'T MADE MISTAKES, THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING. 305 00:18:57,670 --> 00:19:00,238 AM I A PERFECT SERVANT? NO. 306 00:19:00,407 --> 00:19:04,077 I'M A PUBLIC SERVANT. DID I DO ANYTHING WRONG? 307 00:19:04,243 --> 00:19:07,047 ABSOLUTELY NOT. FOLKS ASK THE QUESTION ALL 308 00:19:07,213 --> 00:19:09,582 THE TIME AND MR. FIELDS HAS AN ANSWER. 309 00:19:09,748 --> 00:19:12,752 IT IS UP TO THE PEOPLE TO DETERMINE IF THAT IS AN ANSWER 310 00:19:12,918 --> 00:19:19,025 THEY WILL ACCEPT OR NOT ACCEPT. DISTRICT 14 INCLUDES LSU, 311 00:19:19,192 --> 00:19:20,427 SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, THE STATE CAPITAL, AND LOW-INCOME 312 00:19:20,593 --> 00:19:33,072 NEIGHBORHOODS NEAR THE PETROCHEMICAL PLANTS. 313 00:19:33,238 --> 00:19:36,775 THE BOARD OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION OR BESE, IS 314 00:19:36,942 --> 00:19:39,945 RESPONSIBLE FOR THE POLICIES THAT COULD DETERMINE THE SUCCESS 315 00:19:40,078 --> 00:19:41,713 OR FAILURE OF MORE THAN 720,000 PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN AROUND 316 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:44,750 THE STATE. WE SAT DOWN WITH ALL THE 317 00:19:44,917 --> 00:19:48,453 CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THE SEAT IN DISTRICT SIX TO HEAR THEIR 318 00:19:48,620 --> 00:19:58,530 PLANS FOR FIXING WHAT MANY SAY IS A BROKEN EDUCATION SYSTEM. 319 00:19:58,697 --> 00:20:00,132 RONNIE MORRIS IS THE FIRST TO ADMIT HE WAS ANYTHING BUT A 320 00:20:00,298 --> 00:20:01,700 TRADITIONAL COLLEGE STUDENT. I WENT BACK TO SCHOOL AT 32, 321 00:20:01,833 --> 00:20:03,302 GRADUATED AT 37 WITH AN ENGINEERING DEGREE. 322 00:20:03,468 --> 00:20:07,540 IT WAS REALLY A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE FOR ME, THE SORT OF 323 00:20:07,707 --> 00:20:09,008 THING THAT CHANGES YOUR LIFE SO YOU WANT TO SHARE IT WITH OTHER 324 00:20:09,175 --> 00:20:11,243 PEOPLE. YEARS LATER, HE WOULD TEACH 325 00:20:11,410 --> 00:20:14,413 MATH AND PHYSICS, SPARKING HIS TRUE PASSION FOR EDUCATION. 326 00:20:14,580 --> 00:20:24,523 I WENT BACK TO LSU AND FOUNDED AN ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP 327 00:20:24,690 --> 00:20:26,625 FOR TEACHERS, FOR STUDENTS SEEKING A CAREER INCATION AND I 328 00:20:26,758 --> 00:20:28,227 HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THAT ENDOWMENT FOR THE LAST 19 YEARS. 329 00:20:28,393 --> 00:20:32,965 IT NOW IS THE LARGEST ENDOWMENT IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA FOR 330 00:20:33,132 --> 00:20:36,435 STUDENTING PURSUING A CAREER IN EDUCATION. 331 00:20:36,602 --> 00:20:44,210 HE ALSO FOUNDED A NONPROFIT WE PRODUCE GRADS, PROMOTING 332 00:20:44,377 --> 00:20:45,412 S.T.E.M. EDUCATION AND PROJECTS AT AREA SCHOOLS. 333 00:20:45,578 --> 00:20:46,845 MORRIS SAYS HE IS RUNNING FOR A SEAT AT THE STATE'S EDUCATION 334 00:20:47,012 --> 00:20:48,447 POLICYMAKERS' TABLE TO -- WORK WITH THE OTHER BOARD 335 00:20:48,613 --> 00:20:50,148 MEMBERS TO CREATE EFFECTIVE POLICY THAT WOULD INCLUDE 336 00:20:50,315 --> 00:20:54,820 INNOVATIVE APPROACHES FOR S.T.E.M. EDUCATION, BUT MAINLY 337 00:20:54,987 --> 00:20:56,922 IT'S ABOUT ENGAGING KIDS. YOU KNOW WE ARE IN THE 21st 338 00:20:57,088 --> 00:20:59,592 CENTURY. THERE ARE A LOT OF REALLY 339 00:20:59,758 --> 00:21:03,295 CREATIVE APPROACHES WE CAN DO TO ENGAGE KIDS. 340 00:21:03,462 --> 00:21:10,168 MY FOCUS IF ELECTED IS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. 341 00:21:10,335 --> 00:21:11,970 I THINK WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF IDENTIFYING SPECIAL NEEDS 342 00:21:12,138 --> 00:21:13,907 EARLY AND ADDRESSING THEM TIMELY. 343 00:21:14,073 --> 00:21:16,008 SECONDLY, I THINK WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB PREPARING OUR KIDS 344 00:21:16,175 --> 00:21:19,212 FOR KINDERGARTEN. WE NEED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES 345 00:21:19,378 --> 00:21:23,983 FOR KIDS THAT MAY NOT HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THE BRAIN 346 00:21:24,150 --> 00:21:27,687 STIMULATED, GET THEM INVOLVED IN PROGRAMS WHERE EXPERTS CAN HELP 347 00:21:27,820 --> 00:21:32,458 THEM WITH THAT BRAIN STIMULATION TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE AN EQUAL 348 00:21:32,625 --> 00:21:34,793 CHANCE AT THE STARTING LINE. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A CALL TO 349 00:21:34,927 --> 00:21:37,763 SERVICE. I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL, 350 00:21:37,930 --> 00:21:43,602 WENT INTO THE MILITARY TO SERVE FOUR YEARS AS A NAVY SEAL. 351 00:21:43,768 --> 00:21:46,272 I WAS CALLED IN THE MINISTRY WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE TO WORK 352 00:21:46,438 --> 00:21:49,975 WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AS A YOUTH PASTOR AND JUST LEARNED THE 353 00:21:50,142 --> 00:21:59,152 IMPORTANCE OF RAISING UP OUR YOUTH TO BE THE NEXT LEADERS, 354 00:21:59,318 --> 00:22:02,188 TAXPAYERS, AND LAWMAKERS OF THE NEXT GENERATION. 355 00:22:02,355 --> 00:22:03,755 GREG SPIERS IS A MILITARY VETERAN WHO ALSO TOOK A TOUR OF 356 00:22:03,923 --> 00:22:05,357 DUTY IN THE CLASSROOM AS A MATH TEACHER AND FOOTBALL COACH AT 357 00:22:05,525 --> 00:22:09,595 PONCHATOULA HIGH SCHOOL. I JUST LEARNED FROM THE 358 00:22:09,762 --> 00:22:18,637 INSIDE HOW TO REACH THOSE KIDS, AND THE STRUGGLES THEY DEAL WITH 359 00:22:18,803 --> 00:22:22,475 AND OUR TEACHERS DEAL WITH FROM DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. 360 00:22:22,608 --> 00:22:23,842 I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE NEED GOOD PEOPLE IN THOSE POSITIONS. 361 00:22:23,977 --> 00:22:26,212 HE SAYS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS HE IS RUNNING FOR A BESE 362 00:22:26,378 --> 00:22:27,780 SEAT IS TO REPLACE AND REPEAL WHAT HE BELIEVES IS STILL COMMON 363 00:22:27,947 --> 00:22:33,085 CORE. IT IS ONE OF THE GREATEST 364 00:22:33,252 --> 00:22:36,288 DETRIMENTS TO OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IN LOUISIANA AND HAS BEEN 365 00:22:36,455 --> 00:22:38,090 FOR NEARLY A DECADE. HE SAYS HE WILL ALSO TACKLE A 366 00:22:38,257 --> 00:22:42,628 NUMBER OF OTHER ISSUES IF ELECTED. 367 00:22:42,795 --> 00:22:46,365 FINDING A SUITABLE CONTRACT FOR A STATE SUPERINTENDENT, 368 00:22:46,532 --> 00:22:50,803 TEACHER EVALUATIONS, SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEMS, I HAVE 369 00:22:50,970 --> 00:22:58,010 MY VIEWS AND OPINIONS ON ALL THESE THINGS AND THINGS I WOULD 370 00:22:58,177 --> 00:23:02,113 LIKE TO GET DONE. BUT TEACHER ATTRITION IS ONE 371 00:23:02,282 --> 00:23:07,152 THING I WOULD LIKE TO ABSOLVE. WE ARE LOSING THOUSANDS OF 372 00:23:07,287 --> 00:23:08,787 TEACHERS EVERY YEAR AND I THINK A BIG PART OF THAT IS COMMON 373 00:23:08,922 --> 00:23:10,723 CORE, WHICH STRIPS THEM OF THEIR CREATIVITY. 374 00:23:10,890 --> 00:23:15,093 I ORIGINALLY DECIDED TO RUN AROUND OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR. 375 00:23:15,260 --> 00:23:16,695 CIARA HART IS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AND AN EIGHTH GRADE 376 00:23:16,862 --> 00:23:19,332 LOUISIANA HISTORY TEACHER WHO IS HOPING HER EXPERIENCE IN THE 377 00:23:19,498 --> 00:23:21,467 CLASSROOM WILL CHANGE HISTORY, SO TO SPEAK, HELPING LIFT 378 00:23:21,633 --> 00:23:25,170 LOUISIANA FROM THE BOTTOM OF MOST EDUCATIONAL CATEGORIES. 379 00:23:25,303 --> 00:23:28,373 I HAVE ENGAGED WITH A NUMBER OF ELECTED OFFICIALS AND WHAT I 380 00:23:28,540 --> 00:23:31,010 HAVE LEARNED IS IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW WELL YOU WRITE A 381 00:23:31,177 --> 00:23:37,383 POLICY IF YOUR HEART ISN'T WITH THE PEOPLE, 382 00:23:37,550 --> 00:23:38,783 THEN YOUR SKILL SET AS FAR AS POLICY WRITING OR EVEN BEING 383 00:23:38,952 --> 00:23:42,655 ENGAGED WITH POLICY WON'T BE AS EFFECTIVE. 384 00:23:42,822 --> 00:23:47,660 SHE SAID SHE NEEDED TO HELP TEACHERS LIKE HERSELF GET THE 385 00:23:47,827 --> 00:23:50,830 TOOLS SHE NEED TO HELP HER STUDENTS SUCCEED. 386 00:23:50,963 --> 00:23:56,102 I WRITE THE POLICIES, BUT THE POLICIES AFFECT ME EVERY DAY. 387 00:23:56,268 --> 00:24:01,273 I HOPE THAT WITH THAT I'M ABLE TO EXPRESS TO PEOPLE EVEN THOUGH 388 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:10,650 I MAY NOT BE A POLICY LEADER FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, I HAVE BEEN 389 00:24:10,817 --> 00:24:27,700 INVOLVED IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM. 390 00:24:27,867 --> 00:24:32,505 THERE ARE POLICIES THAT SHOW A SLIGHT MOVEMENT IN THE 391 00:24:32,672 --> 00:24:34,507 CLASSROOM. AND I BELIEVE WE NEED TO 392 00:24:34,673 --> 00:24:40,913 INCREASE THE FORMULA, THAT WAY IS AN EVERY YEAR INCREASE NOT 393 00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:46,052 CONVENIENT INVEES. I'M RUNNING TO BE A PART OF BESE 394 00:24:46,218 --> 00:24:57,863 BECAUSE I'M A VETERAN EDUCATOR. I AM RUNNING TO BE A PART OF 395 00:24:58,030 --> 00:24:59,265 BESE BECAUSE I AM A VETERAN EDUCATOR AND I AM NOT PLEASED 396 00:24:59,398 --> 00:25:00,833 WITH A LOT OF THE EDUCATIONAL REFORMS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE 397 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:02,033 OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS. PRIMARILY, A LOT OF THE 398 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:03,602 EDUCATIONAL REFORMS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE UNDER THE 399 00:25:03,768 --> 00:25:05,137 SUPERINTENDENT, THE CURRENT STATE SUPERINTENDENT MR. JOHN 400 00:25:05,303 --> 00:25:07,238 WHITE. SHE SAYS THERE IS TOO MUCH 401 00:25:07,407 --> 00:25:08,807 PRESSURE ON TEACHERS AND STUDENTS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH 402 00:25:08,973 --> 00:25:10,475 STAKES TESTING AND WHAT SHE CALLS A WASTE OF MONEY. 403 00:25:10,642 --> 00:25:12,077 THE CURRENT BESE BOARD IMPLEMENTED POLICIES AND 404 00:25:12,243 --> 00:25:14,113 PROCEDURES TO PROHIBIT SCHOOLS FROM POPPING UP OVERNIGHT, THESE 405 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:15,715 PRIVATE SCHOOLS. IT STIPULATED THE SCHOOL HAD TO 406 00:25:15,882 --> 00:25:17,450 BE IN EXISTENCE FOR TWO YEARS WITH SELF-SUFFICIENT FUNDING, 407 00:25:17,617 --> 00:25:20,485 MEANING THAT PARENTS WERE PAYING TUITION PRIOR TO BEING ALLOWED 408 00:25:20,652 --> 00:25:35,835 TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LOUISIANA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. 409 00:25:36,002 --> 00:25:36,902 ALSO KNOWN AS THE VOUCHER SYSTEM. 410 00:25:37,068 --> 00:25:38,503 SHE SAYS THOSE SCHOOLS HAVEN'T PROVEN THAT THEY ARE 411 00:25:38,670 --> 00:25:40,205 MORE EFFECTIVE, BUT ARE BASICALLY TAKING VALUABLE 412 00:25:40,372 --> 00:25:42,207 RESOURCES FROM ALREADY STRUGGLING LOUISIANA PUBLIC 413 00:25:42,373 --> 00:25:43,808 SCHOOLS AND IT'S SOMETHING SHE WOULD WORK TO CHANGE 414 00:25:43,975 --> 00:25:45,410 IMMEDIATELY. TOLLIVER AUGUST BELIEVES IT'S 415 00:25:45,577 --> 00:25:47,513 TIME TO LOOK FOR A NEW SUPERINTENDENT. 416 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:50,182 I AM NOT SURE WHY BESE CANNOT COME TO A CONSENSUS IF THEY 417 00:25:50,348 --> 00:25:51,750 CANNOT RENEW HIS CONTRACT, THEY SHOULD, IN MY OPINION, START 418 00:25:51,917 --> 00:25:53,352 LOOKING FOR A NEW STATE SUPERINTENDENT. 419 00:25:53,518 --> 00:25:55,487 SHE SAYS SHE WOULD ALSO WORK TO STOP THE FLOOD OF CHARTER 420 00:25:55,653 --> 00:26:00,258 SCHOOLS IN THE STATE. FAR TOO MANY CHARTER SCHOOLS 421 00:26:00,425 --> 00:26:04,497 ARE EXPANDING WITHOUT ACTUALLY SHOWING A SCHOOL PERFORMANCE 422 00:26:04,663 --> 00:26:08,733 SCORE WHERE THEY ARE MUCH BETTER THAN THE LOCAL PRIVATE SCHOOLS. 423 00:26:08,900 --> 00:26:14,038 FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE ALLOWING 424 00:26:14,207 --> 00:26:18,810 THESE BIG INDUSTRIES TO COME IN, A LOT OF CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE RUN 425 00:26:18,977 --> 00:26:24,450 BY BIG CHARTER MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS FROM OUT OF STATE. 426 00:26:24,617 --> 00:26:26,052 A LOT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE FUNNELING MONEY INTO THE BESE 427 00:26:26,218 --> 00:26:30,488 CAMPAIGNS. TO ME THAT SAYS IT'S MORE ABOUT 428 00:26:30,655 --> 00:26:32,492 MAKING MONEY THAN PROVIDING OUR CHILDREN WITH A QUALITY 429 00:26:32,658 --> 00:26:46,838 EDUCATION. THE CANDIDATE WHO WINS THE 430 00:26:47,005 --> 00:26:47,840 SEAT DISTRICT SIX SEAT REPLACES KATHY 431 00:26:48,007 --> 00:26:49,142 ED MONSTON, WHO IS RUNNING FOR A SEAT IN THE HOUSE OF 432 00:26:49,308 --> 00:26:50,542 REPRESENTATIVES. THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS 433 00:26:50,708 --> 00:26:51,810 WEEK. REMEMBER, YOU CAN WATCH ANYTHING 434 00:26:51,977 --> 00:26:53,245 LPB, ANY TIME, WHEREVER YOU ARE, WITH OUR BRAND NEW APP. 435 00:26:53,412 --> 00:26:55,313 DOWNLOAD IT FOR FREE FROM YOUR APP STORE. 436 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:57,015 THIS UPGRADED VERSION FEATURES NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, 437 00:26:57,148 --> 00:26:58,483 DOCUMENTARIES, HOW-TOs, AND MANY MORE PROGRAMS. 438 00:26:58,650 --> 00:27:00,085 AND PLEASE FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM. 439 00:27:00,252 --> 00:27:01,687 FOR ALL OF US AT LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M ANDRE 440 00:27:01,853 --> 00:27:02,888 MOREAU. AND I'M NATASHA WILLIAMS. 441 00:27:03,055 --> 00:27:04,857 THANKS FOR WATCHING. UNTIL NEXT TIME, THAT'S THE 442 00:27:05,023 --> 00:27:31,917 "STATE WE'RE IN." SUPPORT COMES FROM -- 443 00:27:32,083 --> 00:27:34,553 ENTERGY PROVIDES MUCH MORE THAN POWER. 444 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:37,222 WE SUPPORT SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING AT LOCAL SCHOOLS TO 445 00:27:37,388 --> 00:27:40,927 BUILD A BRIGHTER PATH TO BETTER JOBS AND HELP PREPARE THE NEXT 446 00:27:41,093 --> 00:27:43,562 GENERATION BECAUSE TOGETHER, WE POWER LIFE. 447 00:27:43,728 --> 00:27:48,867 ENTERGY. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED 448 00:27:49,033 --> 00:27:51,537 BY THE FRED B. AND RUTH B. ZIEGLER FOUNDATION AND THE 449 00:27:51,703 --> 00:27:54,707 ZIEGLER ART MUSEUM LOCATED IN JENNINGS CITY HALL. 450 00:27:54,873 --> 00:27:57,910 THE MUSEUM FOCUSES ON EMERGING LOUISIANA ARTISTS AND IS AN 451 00:27:58,077 --> 00:28:02,682 HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CENTER FOR SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA. 452 00:28:02,848 --> 00:28:04,783 AND THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC 453 00:28:04,950 --> 00:28:10,455 BROADCASTING WITH SUPPORT FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.