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,
DOCUMENTARIES, HOW-TOs AND MANY MORE PROGRAMS.
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.
