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.

CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY LNS CAPTIONING

WWW.LNSCAPTIONING.COM

I'M SPEAKING TO OTHER STATES, SPEAKING TO OTHER COUNTRIES.

HOW THE STATE'S NETFLIX MODEL FOR HEP C COULD WORK FOR OTHERS.

IT SEEMS LIKE AN EXTREME MEASURE TO INCARCERATE SOMEBODY

SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT COME TO COURT WITH A PRIVATE DEFENSE

ATTORNEY. COURT WATCH NOLA SPEAKING OUT

AGAINST DEFENDANTS HELD IN CONTEMPT OF COURT FOR NOT HIRING

A PRIVATE ATTORNEY. WE'RE OFFERING SWIM LESSONS

TO PEOPLE WHO WOULD OFTENTIMES BE FORGOTTEN ABOUT.

HELPING INNER CITY KIDS LEARN TO SWIM.

HI, EVERYONE. I'M NATASHA WILLIAMS.

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

IN A MOMENT ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "SWI," BUT FIRST A

LOOK AT OTHER HEADLINES MAKING NEWS ACROSS THE STATE.

AN INTERNET SECURITY BREACH LED GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS TO

ISSUE AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION. THIS AFTER MALWARE ATTACKS WERE

DETECTED AGAINST THREE SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE STATE.

THE GOVERNOR DID NOT OFFER DETAILS ABOUT THE ATTACKS,

EXCEPT TO SAY THEY AFFECTED SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN SABINE AND

MOREHOW PARISHES AND THE CITY OF MONROE.

THE DECLARATION MAKES STATE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HELP

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS RESPOND TO THE CYBERATTACKS AND STOP FUTURE

DATA LOSS. THE LEVEL OF THE MISSISSIPPI

RIVER DROPPED ENOUGH THIS WEEK IS THAT THE ARMY CORPS OF

ENGINEERS BEGAN CLOSING BAYS AT THE BONNET CARRE SPILLWAY.

AS THEY START CLOSING BAYS, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE

RIVER. THE SPILLWAY WAS RE-CREATED TO

LIMIT THE RIVER'S RUSH PAST NEW ORLEANS.

THE SPILLWAY HAS BEEN OPEN FOR MORE THAN 75 DAYS.

TWO GRETNA POLICE OFFICERS WERE FIRED MONDAY, ONE FOR A FACEBOOK

POST CALLING U.S. REPRESENTATIVE ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ A VILE

IDIOT AND SUGGESTING THAT SHE BE SHOT.

THE OTHER LOST HIS JOB FOR LIKING THE POST.

GRETNA'S POLICE CHIEF ARTHUR LAWSON ANNOUNCED THE

TERMINATIONS MONDAY. OFFICER CHARLIE RISPOLI WAS

FIRED FOR A POST SAYING OCASIO-CORTEZ NEEDS A ROUND AND

NOT THE KIND SHE USED TO SERVE, AN APPARENT REFERENCE TO HER

ONCE BEING A BARTENDER. GOP CANDIDATE CANDIDATE FOR

GOVERNOR EDDIE RISPONE FINALLY GOT HIS FIRST TV SPOT ON THE

AIR, WHILE INFIGHTING AMONG THE TWO GOP CANDIDATES CONTINUES.

A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE SAYS U.S. REPRESENTATIVE RALPH

ABRAHAM IS NOT FOLLOWING REQUESTS TO AVOID VERBAL

ATTACKS. THE GROUP, SECURING LOUISIANA'S

FUTURE PAC, WHICH IS SUPPORTING ABRAHAM, RELEASED A FACEBOOK AD

PANNING RISPONE SAYING THE WEALTHY BATON ROUGE BUSINESSMAN

IS TRYING TO BUY HIS ELECTION, BUT HE CAN'T WIN.

THE TWO REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO KEEP INCUMBENT JOHN BEL

EDWARDS FROM A SECOND TERM AS THE DEEP SOUTH'S ONLY GOVERNOR

WHO IS A DEMOCRAT. FORMER SOUTHERN BAND DIRECTOR

NATHAN HAYMER IS ACCUSED OF POCKETING MORE THAN $293,000

FROM PUBLIC FUNDS OWED TO THE SCHOOL.

THIS FROM A REPORT RELEASED BY LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR DARYL

PURPERA. THE REPORT SAYS HAYMER SET UP A

COLLECTION SYSTEM WITH A THIRD PARTY TO SNAG THE MONEY.

A LAWSUIT IS CALLING THE MAPS USED TO ELECT THE STATE'S SEVEN

SUPREME COURT JUSTICES DISCRIMINATORY AGAINST

AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTERS. THE LAWSUIT FILED IN BATON ROUGE

U.S. DISTRICT COURT SEEKS A DECLARATION THAT THE DISTRICTS

VIOLATE THE FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

A CHICKEN PRODUCER IS PLANNING A $47 MILLION EXPANSION OF ITS

OPERATIONS IN LOUISIANA, CREATING A NEW FEED MILL AND

UPGRADES TO ITS HATCHERY AND PROCESSING PLANT.

THE NORTHWEST LOUISIANA EXPANSIONS OF HOUSE OF RAEFORD

FARMS SHOULD CREATE ALMOST 120 JOBS.

THE NORTH CAROLINA-BASED COMPANY SAYS IT'S SPENDING $41 MILLION

TO IMPROVE A FEED MILL IN LINCOLN PARRISH AND $6 ML

IMPROVEMENTS NO BIENVILLE PARISH.

A POPULAR DOWNTOWN SHREVEPORT CAFE LOCATED AT 1234 LOUISIANA

AVENUE IS UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP, BUT THE NEW BOSSES SAY THEY

EXPECT JACQUELYN'S TO BE THE SAME.

AND DON'T WORRY, THE SHRIMP SALAD SANDWICH ISN'T GOING

ANYWHERE, THEY SAY. AFTER 35 YEARS IN THE RESTAURANT

BUSINESS, FOUNDER JACQUELYN AND JIMMY CASKEY HAVE RETIRED, BUT

THE DOWN-HOME CHARM THAT HELPED THEIR PLACE BECOME A GO-TO SPOT

WILL REMAIN. AT LIVING FAITH CHRISTIAN CENTER

MONDAY, A NEAR FULL HOUSE ATTENDED MEMORIAL SERVICES

HONORING THE LIFE OF SADIE ROBERTS-JOSEPH.

A JULY 12 MURDER ENDED HER LIFE ON EARTH.

IT WAS NEWS THAT STUNNED EVERYONE WHO HEARD ABOUT IT.

MS. SADIE IS BEING REMEMBERED AS AN EDUCATOR, GIFTED STORYTELLER,

CIVIC LEADER, MATRIARCH, PRESERVATIONIST AND FOUNDER OF

THE BATON ROUGE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSEUM.

GOVERNOR EDWARDS AND BATON ROUGE MAYOR SHARON WESTON-BROOME WERE

AMONG THE SPEAKERS AT THE SERVICES.

MS. SADIE WAS 75. LOCKED UP BECAUSE YOU

COULDN'T AFFORD TO GET YOUR OWN ATTORNEY?

THAT'S WHAT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE SAY HAPPENED TO THEM IN ORLEANS

PARISH. AND THE WATCHDOG GROUP, COURT

WATCH NOLA SAYS THEY HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION TO PROVE IT.

THEY SAY IT'S ILLEGAL AND IT HAS TO STOP.

SIMONE LEVINE SAYS HER WATCHDOG GROUP COURT WATCH NOLA HAS

MONITORED THE ORLEANS PARISH COURT SYSTEM CLOSELY SINCE IT

WAS FOUNDED IN 2007. OUR REPORTS NORMALLY LOOK

INTO VICTIM RIGHTS, CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS PROBLEMS,

AND ISSUES OF PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS.

AND WE ALSO LOOK INTO ISSUES OF FINANCIAL IMPROPRIETIES OF THOSE

IN THE COURT SYSTEM. THE 2018 REPORT DETAILED WHAT

DOZENS OF COURT WATCHERS FOUND IN ORLEANS DISTRICT.

A MAGISTRATE AND MUNICIPAL COURTS AND LEVINE SAYS A LOT OF

WHAT WAS DOCUMENTED WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND ILLEGAL.

ONE ISSUE THAT THEY HAVE SEEN BEFORE HAS APPARENTLY FOUND ITS

WAY BACK INTO ORLEANS PARISH COURTROOMS.

WHAT WE HAD LOOKED AT WITH THIS REPORT, WE HAD LOOKED AT

CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS, PEOPLE WHO ARE ARRESTED, WHO ARE BEING

FORCED TO HIRE A PRIVATE DEFENSE ATTORNEY DESPITE THE FACT THAT

THEY MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD ONE.

I THINK JUDGES HAVE PRESSURE TO MOVE THEIR DOCKET AND ALSO I

THINK THERE'S A PROBLEM WHEN IT COMES TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER

SYSTEM HERE IN LOUISIANA. SHE SAYS THERE SIMPLY AREN'T

ENOUGH PUBLIC DEFENDERS, A WELL-DOCUMENTED ISSUE THROUGHOUT

THE STATE, BUT DEFENDANTS SHOULD NOT BE PUNISHED BECAUSE OF IT.

I THINK OFTEN JUDGES MAKE THIS QUICK DECISION THAT A

CRIMINAL DEFENDANT NEEDS TO HIRE A PRIVATE DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND

WE HAVE SEEN THAT THEY DON'T MAKE THE NECESSARY INQUIRY, SO

OFTENTIMES WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS A JUDGE WHO WILL REQUIRE A

DEFENDANT TO HIRE A PRIVATE DEFENSE ATTORNEY SIMPLY BECAUSE

THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE BAIL.

AND WE KNOW HERE IN LOUISIANA THAT IS AGAINST THE LAW.

IT SEEMS LIKE AN EXTREME MEASURE TO INCARCERATE SOMEBODY SIMPLY

BECAUSE THEY DID NOT COME TO COURT WITH A PRIVATE DEFENSE

ATTORNEY. LEVINE SAYS THE LAW IS VERY

CLEAR AND IT APPEARS SEVERAL JUDGES IN ORLEANS PARISH ARE

IGNORING THE DEFENDANTS' RIGHTS. SPECIFICALLY THE LAW SAYS,

THAT A DETERMINATION WHERE A DEFENDANT IS REQUIRED TO HIRE

PRIVATE DEFENSE SO NOT BE BASED SOLELY ON THE FACT THAT THEY

HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE BAIL. AND SHE SAYS THERE ARE CLEAR

REASONS WHY MAKING BAIL SHOULD NOT BE THE ONLY FACTOR USED

DETERMINE ONE'S ABILITY TO SECURE A PRIVATE ATTORNEY.

AND IT MAKES SENSE IF I HAVE A RICH UNCLE THAT BAILS ME OUT

OF JAIL AND THEN WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME.

I STILL CAN'T AFFORD A PRIVATE DEFENSE ATTORNEY.

SHE SAYS IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO SHED LIGHT ON THIS VERY

SERIOUS ISSUE. THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT WE

REPORTED ON THIS ISSUE BEFORE AND WE HAVE SEEN THE NUMBERS GO

DOWN, SO WE HAVE SEEN THE NUMBER OF JUDGES WHO REQUIRE A PRIVATE

DEFENSE ATTORNEY SIMPLY BECAUSE THE DEFENDANT HAS MADE BAIL, WE

HAVE SEEN THOSE NUMBERS GO DOWN SO WE KNOW THAT JUDGES ARE DOING

A BETTER JOB IN ORLEANS PARISH. THEY ARE DOING A BETTER JOB,

BUT SHE SAYS SOME JUDGES ARE CONTINUING TO PUNISH DEFENDANTS

AND EVEN LOCKING THEM UP UNJUSTLY.

WHAT WE LOOKED AT THIS TIME AROUND, THE PHENOMENON WHERE A

JUDGE CAN HOLD SOMEONE IN CONTEMPT IF THEY FAIL TO HIRE A

PRIVATE DEFENSE ATTORNEY. AND WE FOUND TWO JUDGES THAT DID

IT AND WE KNOW WE HAVE ONLY FOUND THE MINIMUM, SO THERE ARE

PROBABLY MORE JUDGES THAT HAVE DONE IT.

ONE OF THE JUDGES WE FOUND HELD A CRIMINAL DEFENDANT IN CONTEMPT

AND REQUIRED THE CRIMINAL DEFENDANT TO DO A LARGE AMOUNT

OF COMMUNITY SERVICE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT BRING A PRIVATE

DEFENSE ATTORNEY TO COURT. SHE SAYS WHAT IS UNCLEAR IN

NEARLY EVERY INSTANCE IS IF THE PROPER INVESTIGATION WAS

CONDUCTED ON EACH DEFENDANT TO CLARIFY IF THEY REALLY COULD

AFFORD TO PAY FOR AN ATTORNEY. AND IN ONE SPECIFIC CASE SHE

SAYS THE JUDGE SEEMED TO GET IMPATIENT AND BECAUSE OF IT, THE

DEFENDANT WAS SENT TO JAIL FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

THAT THE DEFENDANT DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO GIVE

HIM AND THEN HE HELD HIM IN CONTEMPT AND WHEN HE HELD HIM IN

CONTEMPT WHAT HE DID, HE HELD HIM IN CONTEMPT FOR NINE DAYS

AND HE DIDN'T SET A BAIL AMOUNT. IF I AM INCARCERATED FOR NINE

DAYS WITHOUT BAIL, THAT MEANS IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I HAVE ALL THE

MONEY IN THE WORLD. I CANNOT GET OUT.

THERE IS NO BAIL THAT WILL GET ME OUT.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THE JUDGE MAY HAVE CHANGED HIS MIND MIDWAY

THROUGH AND THEN SET BAIL. THAT DEFENDANT SERVED FOUR DAYS

IN JAIL JUST SIMPLY BECAUSE THE JUDGE THOUGHT HE NEEDED TO HIRE

A PRIVATE DEFENSE ATTORNEY. LEVINE SAYS THERE IS ANOTHER

IMPORTANT POINT THAT WAS APPARENTLY IGNORED WHEN THE

DEFENDANT CAME BACK TO COURT. WHEN THIS JUDGE DETERMINED HE

WAS GOING TO HOLD HIM IN CONTEMPT, THERE IS A HIGH

STANDARD. THAT HAS TO BE MET IN ORDER FOR

SOMEONE TO BE HELD IN CONTEMPT. AND THIS DEFENDANT DIDN'T HAVE

AN ATTORNEY TO DEFEND HIM. HE DIDN'T HAVE AN ATTORNEY TO BE

ABLE TO SAY, LOOK, JUDGE, THIS DIDN'T MEET THE HIGH STANDARD OF

CONTEMPT. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THOSE

AFFECTED BY THIS THE MOST ARE THOSE WHO CAN'T REALLY AFFORD TO

FIGHT. 85% OF THE CRIMINAL DEFENDANT

COMMUNITY IN ORLEANS PARISH IN 2018 WERE FORCED TO HIRE THE

PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE SO 85% WERE CLOSE TO THE POVERTY LINE.

WE REACHED OUT TO TWO OF THE JUDGES NAMED IN THE COURT WATCH

REPORT FOR COMMENT, BUT THEY DID NOT RETURN OUR CALLS.

COMING UP NEXT MONTH ON "SWI," WE TALK TO MEMBERS OF THE

OVERBURDENED PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE WHO HAVE FILED A LAWSUIT

AGAINST THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AND GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS

BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY SAY IS A BROKEN FUNDING FORMULA.

THEY SAY THEY ARE SCHEDULED TO GO TO COURT IN SEPTEMBER.

AN EXTRA BUSY WEEK FOR HEALTH SECRETARY DR. REBEKA GEE.

JUST BACK FROM A CONFERENCE AT THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTES, WHERE,

YES, SHE TALKED ABOUT THE STATE'S NEW MODEL FOR TREATING

HEPATITIS C. THAT MODEL IS SUDDENLY THE RAGE,

WITH OTHER STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES WANTING IN ON WHAT

LOUISIANA KNOWS. SINCE THE HEP C MODEL WAS ROLLED

OUT IN LOUISIANA, THERE IS SO MUCH TALK ABOUT WHY IT WORKS.

WHY WAS IT THE RIGHT TIME FOR LOUISIANA?

HEP C IS THE LEADING KILLER, KILLING PEOPLE MORE THAN 60

OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES. IT IS THE ONLY ONE WE HAVE A

CURE FOR. WE DON'T HAVE A CURE FOR AIDS OR

THE COMMON COLD. WE HAVE 90,000 PEOPLE WITH THIS

CONDITION IN LOUISIANA AND MEDICAID, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO

TREAT 3% OF THE PEOPLE BECAUSE THE DRUG COSTS INITIALLY OVER

$80,000. HUGE PRICE TAG, NO WAY TO PAY

FOR IT, AND THE WAY WE WANTED TO, WHICH WAS CURE EVERYONE WHO

HAD IT. WE ASKED THE QUESTION AND IT

TOOK US THREE YEARS TO GET TO THE FINAL ANSWER, WHICH WAS,

YES, COULD WE DO THIS A DIFFERENT WAY?

BECAUSE IT WAS SO EXPENSIVE, THE DRUG WENT FROM $90,000 TO TENS

OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. TO GET THIS DRUG YOU HAD TO SHOW

YOU HAD END ORGAN DAMAGE, LIVER CANCER.

YOU HAD TO BE A LOT SICK. THIS IS A TOTALLY NEW MODEL, TO

CURE EVERYONE WHO HAS IT. WE ARE ABLE TO DO IT AT OR ABOUT

LAST YEAR IN OUR BUDGET, BUT GETTING UNLIMITED ACCESS.

IT IS NICE FOR LOUISIANA TO BE THE FIRST STATE IN THE NATION TO

DO THIS TYPE OF MODEL. IT HAS BEEN REALLY EXCITING NOT

JUST TO HAVE THIS IDEA, BUT TO SEE PEOPLE'S LIVES BEING

CHANGED. GIVE HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT.

AND LOUISIANA IS FIRST RIGHT.

EVERYONE IS LIKE, OKAY, SO TELL US ABOUT IT.

SO YOU ARE SPEAKING TO OTHER STATES?

YES. IF THIS MIGHT WORK FOR THEM?

I'M SPEAKING TO OTHER STATES, OTHER COUNTRIES, PEOPLE IN

ENGLAND LOOKING AT THIS VERY

VACCINES, ADDICTION TREATMENT. CERTAINLY AUSTRALIA HAD DONE

SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS. OF COURSE, THE IDEA OF A

SUBSCRIPTION IS NOT NEW. WE KNOW WHAT NETFLIX IS,

SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE, BUT APPLYING IT TO A MEDICAID PROGRAM IS

UNIQUE. IS THERE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR

THIS TO EXPAND TO THE MYRIAD OF OTHER MEDICATIONS THAT EXIST,

WHETHER IT IS ALZHEIMER'S OR DIABETES OR -- THERE ARE SO

MANY. COULD THIS MODEL WORK FOR THOSE?

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT?

YES. CONSIDERING?

YES. OUR GOAL IS TO CURE HEPATITIS C

AND END THE EPIDEMIC IN OUR STATE.

THAT IS A LOT OF WORK THAT WE HAVE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

SO WE ARE FOCUSED ON THIS FIRST, BUT CERTAINLY WE LOOK AT THE

ADDICTION ISSUES THAT WE HAVE. WE HAVE AN OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

PEOPLE NEED TREATMENT, NARCAN OR SUBOXONE OR DRUGS THAT HELP YOU

DEAL WITH ADDICTION. THOSE ARE EXPENSIVE.

THOSE TYPES OF THINGS WOULD BE A GREAT FIT FOR THIS MODEL.

OUR MODEL INCLUDES INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INCARCERATED.

WHY? BECAUSE 95% OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE

THIS DISEASE WHO ARE INCARCERATED WILL REENTER

COMMUNITIES. WE WANT THEM TO ENTER HEALTHY.

ALSO REDUCE LONG-TERM COSTS. IF WE CAN TREAT THEM IN A

CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, WHEN THEY GET TO MEDICAID, WE ARE NOT

PAYING FULL FOR THAT DRUG. IF YOU DEVELOP A CURE FOR

ANYTHING, YOU ELIMINATE IT. SO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A

FIVE-YEAR LEVEL SUBSCRIPTION TO THAT MEDICATION ALLOWS THEM TO

SAY TO THEIR INVESTORS, WE HAVE SECURED REVENUE.

THAT IS NOD A BAD THING FOR THE COMPANY.

WE DISCOVERED A WIN-WIN. WHERE ELSE CAN YOU HAVE A

WIN-WIN? ANYTHING THAT CURES CHILDHOOD

CANCERS. WE LEARN ABOUT THE HUMAN GENOME,

WE BECOME MORE SOPHISTICATED TO TREATING TYPES OF CANCERS.

SUBSCRIPTIONS MIGHT BE A WAY TO DEAL WITH THAT.

LISTEN, COMPANY, YOU WANT TO INNOVATE AND PROVIDE DRUGS FOR

CHILDHOOD CANCER, WE APPLAUD THAT.

WE COULD HAVE A NATIONAL INNOVATION FUND BUT SUP SKRIPGSS

THAT SAY, LISTEN, WE WILL SUPPORT YOU, BUT WE CAN'T SPEND

$200 MILLION ON YOUR DRUG, BUT WE CAN SPEND $10 MILLION OR $20

MILLION. SO THEY GET GUARANTEED REVENUE.

FOR CHILDHOOD CANCERS, GENE THERAPIES, THIS COULD BE

HELPFUL. IT COULD BE HELPFUL FOR

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, ANY AREA WHERE YOU HAVE COMPETITION AND

LIMITED FUNS. WE FIGURED OUT THE KINKS AND NOW

WE HAVE DONE IT AND HAVE THE PLAYBOOK FOR YOU, BUT YOU HAVE

TO FIND THE WILLING PHARMACEUTICAL PARTNER.

SO I THINK THIS IS ONE MODEL, BUT I ALSO THINK WE NEED -- AND

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS PURSUING THIS -- SIGNIFICANT

REFORMS IN HOW WE PRICE PHARMACEUTICALS.

THIS IS ONE OF AN ARRAY OF SOLUTIONS THAT NEED TO BE

PURSUED. THIS MODEL AND WHAT COULD

COME NEXT REMAINS BIG NEWS IN MEDICAL CARE.

OUR THANKS TO DR. GEE FOR THAT INTERVIEW.

BATON ROUGE POLICE THURSDAY ARRESTED A 16-YEAR-OLD IN THE

SHOOTING DEATH OF AN 18-YEAR-OLD.

THE BODY APPARENTLY DUMPED IN A CITY PARK LAST MONTH.

THE MURDER TOOK PLACE IN JUNE.

A MONTH THAT WAS ESPECIALLY VIOLENT, MOSTLY SHOOTINGS ON THE

CRIME BLOTTER. ONE NIGHT AT ONE NIGHTCLUB,

SEVEN PEOPLE WERE SHOT. -- INJURED.

THIS MONTH "LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE" BROUGHT TOGETHER

PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO EXPLORE HOW TO

COMBAT THE CHALLENGES OF YOUTH AND GUNS.

SOMETIMES THESE YOUNG KIDS FEEL THEY NEED A WEAPON TO

PROTECT THEMSELVES AND MAYBE THEMSELVES ARE NOT IN ANY GANG

OR GROUP THAT WOULD CAUSE THEM TO NEED, BUT THEY FEEL THEY NEED

THAT. THAT IS A TOUGH CONVERSATION TO

HAVE. SO WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU FIND

YOUR CHILD WHO IS UNDER 21 THAT HAS A GUN?

WHO DO YOU CALL? WHO DO YOU GIVE THE GUN TO?

HOW DO YOU CONFRONT THAT CHILD? HOW DO YOU SECURE THAT WEAPON?

DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS TO HAVE, BUT IT SURELY HAS TO HAPPEN I

BELIEVE IN EVERYONE'S HOUSE AND HAS TO BE SURROUNDED BY THAT

NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT COMMUNITY. EVERYBODY HAS TO HAVE EACH

OTHER'S BACK. I THINK THAT IS WHERE WE ARE

LACKING AT THIS POINT RIGHT NOW. IT HAS TO START INDIVIDUALLY IN

THE HOUSE. I THINK IF YOU START ANY TYPE

OF KIND OF MENTORING PROGRAM IN YOUR SCHOOL WHERE MAYBE

UPPERCLASSMEN HAVE A MENTEE, OR SOME TYPE OF PARTNERSHIP WHERE

IF SOMEONE IS GOING THROUGH SOMETHING, THEY KNOW THIS IS A

GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WE TRUST ENOUGH WE CAN SAY SOMETHING TO

WITH THE UNDERSTANDING YOU HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH

ADMINISTRATION TO REPORT SOMETHING.

WHAT WE HAVE NOTICED SO MUCH IS A LOT OF WHAT WE SEE AND A LOT

OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS COMMUNICATED THROUGH SOCIAL

MEDIA AND KIDS SEE IT ALL THE TIME.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR STUDIO THAT CAN CHANGE THIS

NARRATIVE, THAT CAN HAVE A YOUNG BLACK MAN WALK INTO YOUR STUDIO

AND SAY, HEY, I DON'T WANT TO BE THE NEXT RAPPER THAT IS DEAD ON

THE STREET. I WANT TO BE A RAPPER THAT MAKES

A SONG THAT CAN BRING LIFE TO THE COMMUNITY.

FROM THE LAST YEAR, I'VE DRAWN LINES.

NO CURSING. NO TALKING ABOUT DRUGS, GUNS, NO

VIOLENCE. WE DO THAT BECAUSE WE TELL THEM

I WANT TO SEE WHAT ELSE YOU HAVE.

THERE IS MORE IN YOU. A LOT OF TIMES WE ONLY COULD

OPERATE OFF OF WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT WE HAVE BEEN -- YOU KNOW,

YOU HEAR THE SAME, YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT.

A LOT OF TIMES IN OUR COMMUNITY, URBAN COMMUNITY, OUR CULTURE IS

HIP-HOP, IT IS COOL. YOU KNOW, IT IS SWAG AND IT IS

NOT TALKING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE SPOKEN ON.

SO I GIVE THAT ENVIRONMENT TO WHERE YOU CAN SPEAK WHAT NEEDS

TO BE SAID. THE WORD OF GOD IS THE TRUTH.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM THE WORD OF GOD.

I STARTED MY CAREER IN CRIMESTOPPERS, ANSWERING THE

PHONES AS A POLICE CADET, TAKING TIPS, RUNNING THEM DOWN THE HALL

TO THE DETECTIVES AND WATCHING THE FRUITS OF THE INFORMATION

THAT THE PUBLIC GAVE RESULT IN A CLEARANCE OF A CRIME.

KIND OF WHAT GOT ME ADDICTED TO POLICE WORK.

AND SO IT WORKS. I CAN DEFINITELY TELL YOU IT

WORKS AND YOU ARE GOING TO REMAIN ANN ANONYMOUS.

SO YOU CAN SEE SOMETHING ONLINE AND CALL CRIMESTOPPERS

AND REPORT IT AND THERE WILL BE SOME FOLLOW-UP.

IF THERE IS A CASH REWARD, YOU CAN GET IT?

YEP. "YOUTH AND GUNS" REAIRS THIS

SUNDAY AT 11:00 A.M. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT

LPB.ORG/PUBLICSQUARE. TRAGEDY AT A PLACE KNOWN FOR

FUN IN SHREVEPORT. THE CORONER OF CADDO PARISH

TODAY CONFIRMING A 13-YEAR-OLD BOY DROWNED AT SPLASH KINGDOM

WATER PARK. HE REPORTEDLY WENT UNDER ABOUT

5:00 P.M. YESTERDAY AND NEVER CAME UP.

WILL LURKER REPORTS BECAUSE DROWNING IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE

OF UNINTENTIONAL DEATH FOR CHILDREN IN THE U.S., THE MOVE

TO TEACH KIDS HOW TO SWIM IS STRONGER THAN EVER.

COME ON. TRY IT.

ALL CHILDREN LOOK FORWARD TO COOLING OFF FROM A HOT SUMMER

DAY WITH A SPLASH IN A POOL, MANY WILL DIE WITHOUT HAVING THE

MOST BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO SWIM.

MANY OF THESE EAGER YET INEXPERIENCED CHILDREN RESIDE IN

NORTH BATON ROUGE. INNER CITY CHILDREN WHO OFTEN

DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SWIMMING POOLS, ARE FIVE AND A HALF TIMES

MORE LIKELY TO DROWN THAN SOMEONE WHO IS NOT LIVING INNER

CITY. THE OWNER OF SELA AQUATICS

SAW THIS VOLUNTEERING AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA.

I ENDED UP VOLUNTEERING IN A SHELTER IN BATON ROUGE.

UP WITH OF THE KIDS I TAUGHT FREE SWIMMING LESSONS TO RAN UP

TO ME AND SAID MR. ROB, I SWAM, I SWAM.

MR. ROB, I SWAM. AFTER TALKING TO HIM MORE, I

RECOGNIZED THIS PARTICULAR CHILD SWAM OUT OF HIS HOUSE AS IT WAS

FLOODING. IT SAVED HIS LIFE.

WE ASKED THAT PARTICULAR CHILD, WHERE ARE YOUR PARENTS?

HIS ANSWER WAS, NO ONE TAUGHT MY PARENTS HOW TO SWIM.

FROM THAT MOMENT, MY PERSPECTIVE ON WATER SAFETY CHANGED.

BY THE 1940s, AFRICAN-AMERICANS MADE UP A

THIRD OF BATON ROUGE'S POPULATION.

OPPORTUNITIES TO SWIM WERE LIMITED.

SEGREGATION KEPT BLACKS OUT OF WHITE-ON POOLS.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF CITY BROOKS, THE FIRST POOL FOR

AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHICH OPENED THREE YEARS LATER IN 1949.

IT HAS A LONG HISTORY WHICH STARTED AROUND POOLS, EVEN WITH

THE SOCIAL EQUITY PROBLEMS THEY HAD GROWING UP IN THE 60s, WITH

THE DIFFERENT POOLS. EVEN WITH BROOKS, BUILDING THAT

POOL. THE SCARIEST PART FOR ME WAS

JUMPING IN THE DEEP END. IT WAS 10 FEET.

I HAD TO LEARN HOW TO SWIM IN 10 FEET.

I WAS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD. USING LOUISIANA TAX DOLLARS,

CHILDREN FROM ALL OVER THE STATE WERE LEARNING TO SWIM.

THERE WAS A GRANT WHERE EVERY SECOND GRADER IN THE ORLEANS

PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS GOT FREE SWIM LESSONS AS PART OF P.E.

CURRICULUM.

AS A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL, I VOLUNTEERED IN THAT PROGRAM.

DESEGREGATION REDUCED DROWNINGS EACH YEAR, THE PROBLEM

STILL CONTINUES. WITHIN THE LAST 10 YEARS ALL

THREE OF BRECK SWIMMING POOLS HAVE BEEN REDUCED IN SIZE AND

DEPTH TO REDUCE DROWNINGS. I DON'T THINK EVERYBODY IS

GIVEN THE SAME OPPORTUNITY. WITH BRECK, WE PROVIDE SOCIAL

EQUALITY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE SOCIAL EQUITY STATEMENT WE HAVE.

WE WANT TO FOLLOW THAT AND GIVE EVERYONE THE SAME THING.

BIG LIFE THREATENING THING 3-15 IS DROWNING.

WE PARTNER WITH THE RED CROSS AND SELA TO MAKE PEOPLE WATER

AWARE AND LEARN TO SWIM. INSTRUCTORS ARE TRAINED

THROUGH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS ON HOW TO TEACH LESSONS TO

CHILDREN WITH AN UNDERLYING FEAR OF WATER.

TAKE A RED CROSS INSTRUCTOR/TRAINER, BRING THEM

TO THE TABLE AND YOU DELIVER THE CONTENT THE RED CROSS HAS

CREATED AND YOU TAKE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOOD COMMUNICATORS, PEOPLE

WHO WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING, YOU TAKE HARD-WORKING

INDIVIDUALS AND DELIVER THAT CONTENT TO THEM AND LIKE THAT

YOU HAVE A QUALIFIED SWIM INSTRUCTOR.

THE FREE LESSONS HELP BRECK AND SELA ACCOMPLISH THEIR GOALS,

TO PROVIDE LIFE-SAVING SKILLS TO CHILDREN OF ALL BACKGROUNDS.

WE ARE OFFERING SWIM LESSONS TO PEOPLE WHO OFTENTIMES WOULD

BE FORGOTTEN ABOUT. NOW WE ARE NOT FORGETTING ABOUT

THEM. WE ARE OFFERING FREE SWIM

LESSONS. OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO BRING

THAT STAT DOWN. WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE THE

NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF UNINTENTIONAL DEATH.

THE SKILLS TAUGHT ARE BASIC, THEY ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO A

CHILD'S SURVIVAL AND THE FUN AND EDUCATIONAL MEMORIES WILL LIVE

WITH THEM THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

BRECSELA AQUATICS AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS HAVE

PARTNERED TO OFFER FREE SWIM LESSONS TO KIDS IN BATON ROUGE

AGE 5-12. THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS SUFFERED

THE LOSS OF ANOTHER MUSIC LEGEND THIS WEEK WITH THE DEATH OF ART

NEVILLE. NEVILLE, THE ELDEST OF THE

NEVILLE BROTHERS, FOUNDED THAT FAMOUS GROUP ALONG WITH THE

METERS. HE PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY AT HIS

NEW ORLEANS HOME MONDAY WITH HIS WIFE BY HIS SIDE.

IN HIS FIVE-DECADE CAREER, HE WON THREE GRAMMY AWARDS,

INCLUDING A LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD IN 2018.

ART NEVILLE WAS 81. THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS

WEEK. REMEMBER, YOU CAN WATCH ANYTHING

LPB ANY TIME WHEREVER YOU ARE WITH OUR BRAND NEW APP.

DOWNLOAD IT FOR FREE FROM YOUR APP STORE.

THIS UPGRADED VERSION FEATURES NEWS, PUBLIC AFFAIRS,

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AND PLEASE FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND

INSTAGRAM. 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 "STATE WE'RE IN."

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 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.