WEBVTT 00:01.334 --> 00:02.702 Support for Louisiana. 00:02.702 --> 00:06.172 The state we're in is provided by Entergy. 00:06.172 --> 00:09.175 Louisiana is strengthening our power grid throughout the state. 00:09.876 --> 00:13.680 We're reinforcing infrastructure to prepare for stronger storms, 00:14.147 --> 00:17.684 reduce outages, and respond quicker when you do need us. 00:17.784 --> 00:20.553 Because together we power life. 00:20.553 --> 00:24.324 Additional support provided by the Fred B and Ruth B Ziegler Foundation 00:24.324 --> 00:27.460 and the Ziegler Art Museum, located in Jennings City Hall. 00:27.861 --> 00:31.898 The museum focuses on emerging Louisiana artists and is an historical 00:31.898 --> 00:34.901 and cultural center for Southwest Louisiana. 00:35.735 --> 00:39.205 And the Foundation for Excellence in Louisiana Public Broadcasting. 00:39.439 --> 00:42.442 With support from viewers like you. 00:42.675 --> 00:44.944 Flood prevention grants are up for grabs 00:44.944 --> 00:47.947 soon to elevate homes in flood prone areas. 00:48.081 --> 00:50.917 I'll bring you the details in this week's Live Pulse. 00:50.917 --> 00:55.455 Our medical expert looks at mental health risk associated with too much social 00:55.455 --> 01:00.455 media use, and a Louisiana family travels the state for snake education. 01:01.694 --> 01:06.099 I'll take you to one of their wildly popular presentations at local libraries. 01:06.366 --> 01:07.267 Let's get started. 01:27.020 --> 01:29.055 Hello, everyone, I'm Karen LeBlanc. 01:29.055 --> 01:33.393 Much more on those top stories in a moment on this week's edition of Louisiana, 01:33.393 --> 01:34.727 the State we're In. 01:34.727 --> 01:39.032 But first, it looks like state lawmakers are putting an end to efforts 01:39.032 --> 01:43.002 to rewrite Louisiana's constitution, at least for this year. 01:43.336 --> 01:47.474 Senate President Cameron Henry says there is neither the political will 01:47.707 --> 01:51.878 nor the time to hold yet another special session in 2024. 01:52.212 --> 01:55.381 Governor Jeff Landry, along with major Republican donors, 01:55.648 --> 02:00.253 hoped to hold a limited session in August to make changes to the Constitution 02:00.520 --> 02:03.323 in time to put it on the November ballot. 02:03.323 --> 02:06.993 An alternative plan to rewrite parts of the state's tax system 02:07.227 --> 02:08.995 has also been sidelined. 02:08.995 --> 02:11.097 For now. 02:11.097 --> 02:12.832 All eyes are on Washington 02:12.832 --> 02:15.835 ahead of the Democratic National Convention next month. 02:15.902 --> 02:19.939 President Joe Biden spoke to the nation Wednesday night after dropping 02:19.939 --> 02:24.744 out of the presidential race and endorsing his vice president, Kamala Harris. 02:25.912 --> 02:28.448 So I decided the best way forward 02:28.448 --> 02:31.451 is to pass the torch to a new generation. 02:31.985 --> 02:34.988 That's the best way to unite our nation. 02:35.522 --> 02:37.724 You know, there is a time and a place 02:37.724 --> 02:40.727 for a long years of experience in public life. 02:40.927 --> 02:43.930 There's also a time and a place for new voices. 02:43.963 --> 02:45.231 Fresh voices? 02:45.231 --> 02:47.767 Yes. Younger voices 02:47.767 --> 02:50.336 in that time and places. Now. 02:50.336 --> 02:54.941 Louisiana Democrats were quick to voice their support for Vice President Harris. 02:55.275 --> 02:56.743 The head of the Louisiana 02:56.743 --> 03:00.680 Democratic Party, Randall Gaines, said, quote, it's time we come together. 03:01.014 --> 03:04.017 And by throwing our full support behind her, 03:04.017 --> 03:07.120 we can beat Donald Trump again and continue Joe Biden's 03:07.120 --> 03:10.423 legacy of accomplishments and progress for our country. 03:10.590 --> 03:12.158 End quote. 03:12.158 --> 03:15.361 House speaker Mike Johnson says the GOP is considering 03:15.361 --> 03:19.199 legal action to somehow block the Democrats from switching candidates. 03:19.532 --> 03:23.436 He argues that changing nominees this close to the election 03:23.436 --> 03:26.472 could violate some of the state's ballot rules. 03:26.773 --> 03:31.644 Now, most political experts say that any legal maneuvers would lack teeth 03:31.644 --> 03:35.281 because no nominees have been formally put on ballots. 03:35.582 --> 03:38.518 As of this point, Harris appears to have already 03:38.518 --> 03:42.021 secured enough of the party's delegates to win the nomination. 03:42.388 --> 03:46.292 The Democratic National Convention begins August 19th in Chicago. 03:48.328 --> 03:50.597 Louisiana homeowners who live in flood 03:50.597 --> 03:54.567 prone areas could get assistance for projects to protect their homes. 03:54.934 --> 03:58.271 FEMA will soon open up applications for flood protection 03:58.271 --> 04:02.075 grants, asking cities across the state to apply for aid. 04:02.408 --> 04:05.979 The program is aimed at protecting homes and saving homeowners 04:05.979 --> 04:09.148 thousands of dollars in flood insurance premiums. 04:09.482 --> 04:12.485 Here's a look at how it works. 04:17.590 --> 04:18.458 Michelle Evans 04:18.458 --> 04:23.458 says her home has flooded five times since 2003, the year she bought the home, 04:24.330 --> 04:27.800 unaware that it was in a flood zone in this Baton Rouge neighborhood. 04:28.635 --> 04:30.570 It's almost like a soup bowl here, right? 04:30.570 --> 04:32.171 This is unheard of. Subdivision. 04:32.171 --> 04:35.975 And when it rains from Raymond all the way down here. 04:35.975 --> 04:37.510 Honeysuckle. 04:37.510 --> 04:41.147 the water through the neighborhood rushes and is trying to get to this canal 04:41.347 --> 04:44.217 right behind my house and my street. 04:44.217 --> 04:47.220 And the next two streets have mandatory flood insurance 04:47.587 --> 04:50.256 and the rest of the neighborhood is not. 04:50.256 --> 04:53.793 When you bought the house, did you know that you were in such an extreme 04:53.793 --> 04:56.462 flood zone? No, I would've never bought the house. 04:56.462 --> 04:59.432 They didn't disclose it until at the closing. 04:59.432 --> 05:01.367 I didn't find out about it to then. 05:01.367 --> 05:04.404 It went south pretty fast, but I had already invested my money 05:04.671 --> 05:07.440 on inspections, insurance, things, 05:09.275 --> 05:11.010 things that you have to get to buy a house. 05:11.010 --> 05:12.645 Termite inspections. 05:12.645 --> 05:15.715 So I didn't want to give it up, and I didn't think it'd be that bad. 05:15.948 --> 05:20.720 Michelle applied for a grant from East Baton Rouge Parish to elevate her home. 05:20.920 --> 05:24.791 The funds come from a federal Flood Mitigation Assistance grant that 05:24.791 --> 05:29.629 distributes money nationwide to municipal teams in need of flood prevention funds. 05:30.029 --> 05:32.899 It's an annual grant offered by FEMA. 05:32.899 --> 05:36.369 It's competitive in nature and where you compete 05:36.369 --> 05:41.369 with other communities across the country for funding, and it's designed to either 05:42.442 --> 05:47.347 elevate or acquire properties that have repetitively flooded in the past 05:47.347 --> 05:50.983 and have had flood insurance claims in the past. 05:51.317 --> 05:55.555 This is where the engineers come in and they look at the flood sound. 05:55.555 --> 05:58.124 This is the East Baton Rouge flood level. 05:58.124 --> 06:01.561 I had to leave my house at least that, I'm 411, 06:01.561 --> 06:05.098 so that gives you an idea of how hard they had to lift it. 06:05.398 --> 06:09.736 And I went ahead and went for an extra foot to make complete. 06:09.736 --> 06:11.871 Sure, I'm out in the flood zone. 06:11.871 --> 06:15.508 In 2021, contractors lifted Michelle's home. 06:15.608 --> 06:19.846 She paid out of pocket for extra curb appeal enhancements, including the brick 06:19.846 --> 06:23.583 cladding of the elevated foundation and the brick entrance steps. 06:24.083 --> 06:27.420 It's a lot involved in, and you do it yourself. 06:27.653 --> 06:29.889 You have to make the effort to get this grant. 06:29.889 --> 06:32.992 So I had six different bids and then I looked over the bids, 06:32.992 --> 06:35.995 interviewed the foot people and made a decision. 06:36.195 --> 06:38.865 So the homeowners was very involved. 06:38.865 --> 06:42.735 The homeowner across the street from Michelle accepted the flood mitigation 06:42.735 --> 06:46.839 grant money from East Baton Rouge Parish to acquire the home and clear the lot, 06:47.039 --> 06:51.511 while another homeowner down the street used the grant funds to elevate the home. 06:51.844 --> 06:56.315 So consumers need to make sure that by the deadline, 06:56.682 --> 07:00.253 which is normally around September 30th, that they have a flood 07:00.253 --> 07:04.657 insurance policy in place, keeping in mind that it's a 30 day grace. 07:05.057 --> 07:07.660 So normally by August 15th 07:07.660 --> 07:11.831 or so, you have to have a flood policy already in place and on your property. 07:11.898 --> 07:16.898 You just need to contact your local emergency management program 07:17.103 --> 07:21.874 in your community and see if they do offer that opportunity. 07:22.175 --> 07:25.445 Communities can reach out to the state. 07:25.478 --> 07:28.748 The Governor's Office of Homeland Security to find out more information 07:28.748 --> 07:31.851 about how to apply and when to apply. 07:32.084 --> 07:36.422 In addition to grant money, municipalities can opt to participate 07:36.422 --> 07:39.692 in the community rating system to reduce flood risk 07:39.692 --> 07:42.662 and lower flood insurance premiums for homeowners. 07:43.162 --> 07:47.066 The Community rating system, it's a voluntary program 07:47.166 --> 07:52.166 within the National Flood Insurance Program that communities 07:52.238 --> 07:57.238 participate, like 19 different activities that they can do under four series. 07:57.477 --> 08:01.013 And the activities they do gets them credit points 08:01.214 --> 08:05.418 and gives them discounts on the citizens flood insurance premiums. 08:05.952 --> 08:09.422 Participating communities that lift flood prone homes 08:09.589 --> 08:13.893 earn credit points toward flood insurance premium reductions for citizens. 08:14.193 --> 08:19.193 What was your flood insurance premiums prior to lifting the home? 08:20.132 --> 08:25.071 It was almost 5000 is 4000 and something, and now it's 400. 08:25.238 --> 08:27.707 It was pricing me out. One more increase. 08:27.707 --> 08:30.710 I couldn't have kept my house, but that kind of insurance 08:31.043 --> 08:34.914 in our community, we've purchased over 150 properties. 08:35.281 --> 08:38.985 We have elevated just over 50 already, 08:39.385 --> 08:43.289 and we have about 150 or so that are waiting in the pipeline 08:43.689 --> 08:48.594 that are either approved or about to be approved for grant funding to be elevated. 08:48.828 --> 08:53.599 The FEMA flood mitigation grants also pay for flood proofing infrastructure, 08:53.599 --> 08:54.800 including the construction 08:54.800 --> 08:58.304 of safe rooms for first responders and drainage projects. 08:58.571 --> 09:01.440 Michelle was able to rise above the flood risk 09:01.440 --> 09:03.576 that nearly priced her out of her home. 09:03.576 --> 09:08.576 FEMA awards more grant money in the fall of 2024 to help more homeowners statewide. 09:12.952 --> 09:15.054 The state health department is monitoring 09:15.054 --> 09:18.858 several cases of the West Nile virus in northeast Louisiana. 09:19.225 --> 09:24.030 Officials say that there are four people confirmed in the Winnsboro community 09:24.030 --> 09:27.900 that have tested positive for the mosquito borne illness earlier this month. 09:28.134 --> 09:32.705 That brings the total number of West Nile cases in Louisiana this year to eight. 09:33.172 --> 09:37.209 Health officials are urging people to use mosquito repellent when they're outdoors. 09:37.510 --> 09:41.647 They're also asking people to empty out any standing water in their yards. 09:43.182 --> 09:47.253 In our follow up file, we have an update on a Louisiana Speaks interview 09:47.253 --> 09:51.991 we brought you earlier this month focusing on solar energy projects in Louisiana. 09:52.425 --> 09:55.428 Two companies involved in a proposed solar farm 09:55.428 --> 09:59.131 in Saint James Parish have filed suit against the parish. 09:59.498 --> 10:02.401 This week, the Saint James Council rejected plans 10:02.401 --> 10:05.404 for the 2200 acre complex near battery. 10:05.738 --> 10:09.642 Council members say residents are concerned about possible safety issues, 10:09.909 --> 10:14.513 along with the loss of sugar cane land and the overall esthetics of the solar farm. 10:14.914 --> 10:18.484 Developers say these concerns are overstated or unfounded. 10:18.918 --> 10:20.753 If a deal can be reached. 10:20.753 --> 10:23.756 The solar farm would be one of the largest in the state 10:24.023 --> 10:28.160 and would supply energy to several industrial facilities in the area. 10:29.495 --> 10:29.895 And we have 10:29.895 --> 10:33.065 another follow up file to inform you of the Mid 10:33.065 --> 10:36.702 Barataria sediment Diversion project that we've been covering since last year. 10:36.969 --> 10:37.937 Here's the latest. 10:37.937 --> 10:41.273 A new study finds that the coastal restoration project could 10:41.273 --> 10:46.212 increase sales revenue in Plaquemines Parish by almost $2 billion, 10:46.212 --> 10:50.650 and by almost $3 billion for the five parish areas surrounding the work. 10:51.117 --> 10:54.453 According to the study, the five year project would also create 10:54.453 --> 10:55.921 several thousand new jobs 10:55.921 --> 10:59.625 in the region in a variety of sectors, from construction to health care. 11:00.026 --> 11:04.664 Experts want to funnel large amounts of sediment, fresh water and nutrients 11:04.664 --> 11:09.368 into the Barataria Basin to help restore thousands of acres of wetlands. 11:09.735 --> 11:14.206 Opponents say the study doesn't take into account the project's impact 11:14.206 --> 11:17.343 on the fishing industry and potential harm to 11:17.343 --> 11:20.346 some of the wildlife in the basin. 11:20.579 --> 11:24.717 Well, from hashtags to headlines, here's what's trending this week. 11:24.750 --> 11:27.520 The Olympics kick off this weekend in Paris. 11:27.520 --> 11:28.688 The Summer games. 11:28.688 --> 11:32.692 And joining me in studio is our special guest, Victor How, 11:32.925 --> 11:36.662 longtime sports commentator, former news colleague. 11:36.662 --> 11:37.897 And you probably recently 11:37.897 --> 11:42.435 saw this on the purple carpet, I think the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. 11:42.435 --> 11:47.039 So you are the person to talk all things athletes and Olympics. 11:47.039 --> 11:48.441 Welcome. Right. It's good to see you. 11:48.441 --> 11:50.943 And, you know, we were honoring Louisiana athletes at the Sports Hall of Fame. 11:50.943 --> 11:53.813 Now we get to talk about so many athletes with Louisiana ties 11:53.813 --> 11:56.048 on the international stage with the Olympics over there. Yeah. 11:56.048 --> 11:59.018 So before we get into all the athletes, let's talk about some of the fun 11:59.018 --> 12:02.021 stuff happening and kind of quirky stuff. 12:02.088 --> 12:04.824 Your dog carried the Olympic torch 12:04.824 --> 12:07.827 to the last leg of the torch journey. 12:07.927 --> 12:08.594 What's up with that? 12:08.594 --> 12:10.930 You know, Snoop was a part of the NBC coverage 12:10.930 --> 12:13.399 four years ago, and he did it streaming on Peacock. 12:13.399 --> 12:16.769 So if you are a streamer and you watch from that way, he was on there 12:16.769 --> 12:20.773 doing late night coverage and his own Snoop Dogg way with comedians. 12:20.773 --> 12:22.541 It worked so well. It was so popular. 12:22.541 --> 12:25.311 They brought him over there now, shocked a lot of people 12:25.311 --> 12:26.579 that he actually got to carry the torch, 12:26.579 --> 12:29.982 but he'll be doing things for NBC and again, streaming for the late night. 12:29.982 --> 12:33.018 Not suitable for the entire family coverage of the Paris Olympics. 12:33.018 --> 12:33.819 But it is funny. 12:33.819 --> 12:37.323 And you got to wonder, is he going to wrap some of this Olympic coverage? 12:37.323 --> 12:38.657 I can't wait to see it. 12:38.657 --> 12:40.659 He does it in his own Snoop fashion for sure. 12:40.659 --> 12:45.030 So the Olympics definitely brings out all of the celebrities and who's who's. 12:45.030 --> 12:48.100 And it's also creating quite the sensation on social media. 12:48.334 --> 12:52.404 So TikTok is just like buzzing with all these videos 12:52.404 --> 12:55.674 of these Olympic athletes showing off their hauls. 12:55.674 --> 12:58.677 Oh, they're swag bags they're getting from brands Nike, 12:58.844 --> 13:03.048 Lululemon and as you pointed out, international brands and athletes. 13:03.048 --> 13:03.682 And I think it's 13:03.682 --> 13:06.752 also the opportunity for the Paris Olympics to say, hey, Academy Awards, 13:06.986 --> 13:08.621 hold my cocktail and get out of the way, 13:08.621 --> 13:11.624 because now you've got athletes by the thousands representing countries 13:11.657 --> 13:13.893 all over the world getting these tremendous swag bags. 13:13.893 --> 13:16.996 But on the way, you just said it is the biggest thing years ago 13:16.996 --> 13:18.597 you would hear about the swag bag, say, 13:18.597 --> 13:20.833 after an awards ceremony, after the Academy Awards 13:20.833 --> 13:24.637 with TikTok and Instagram and everything being right now and in your hands, 13:24.937 --> 13:26.138 they can get a swag bag, 13:26.138 --> 13:29.108 put it out there and it's instant marketing now everybody has to buy it. 13:29.108 --> 13:30.843 Wait, did you see that jacket Karen was wearing? 13:30.843 --> 13:34.079 I want to get that and immediately starts to search, you know, and to your point, 13:34.079 --> 13:37.883 these brands have launched whole Olympic lines for this show. 13:37.883 --> 13:40.886 Gone are the days of the sad little swag bag with your water bottle 13:40.886 --> 13:43.155 and your magnet and your sticker. That's exactly right. 13:43.155 --> 13:47.059 So Louisiana has a big turnout at the Olympics. 13:47.760 --> 13:51.130 LSU alone has 30 plus athletes. Yep. 13:51.564 --> 13:53.232 What are some of the athletes to watch? 13:53.232 --> 13:54.600 Well, you know, there's 35 13:54.600 --> 13:56.936 from the state of Louisiana that represent 20 countries 13:56.936 --> 14:00.439 internationally, which speak so highly as to how the state of Louisiana 14:00.439 --> 14:04.043 draws athletes from around the world to come and participate in the state. 14:04.210 --> 14:06.212 A finalist throughout many, many sports. 14:06.212 --> 14:07.780 But here are some to watch. 14:07.780 --> 14:09.181 Alia Finnegan is going to be one. 14:09.181 --> 14:09.882 She's a gymnast. 14:09.882 --> 14:13.118 Just won the national championship with LSU in gymnastics. 14:13.152 --> 14:14.620 She try it out in 2021. 14:14.620 --> 14:17.356 Did not have a good effort in the U.S trials. 14:17.356 --> 14:19.525 Thought maybe she wouldn't do international sports anymore 14:19.525 --> 14:21.360 except her mom's Filipino. 14:21.360 --> 14:26.198 She's qualified as the first Filipino to represent that country in the Olympics. 14:26.198 --> 14:28.567 She will be there in gymnastics. I love that that. 14:28.567 --> 14:29.735 So she gets a redo. 14:29.735 --> 14:33.572 And you know, a lot of returning athletes get a redo because the Tokyo 14:33.572 --> 14:36.842 Summer games in 2021, that was during Covid, right? 14:36.842 --> 14:41.347 So they didn't get the full vibe, the full audience experience. 14:41.347 --> 14:42.948 So Vernon Norwood is one of those. 14:42.948 --> 14:44.984 He actually got two medals in Tokyo. 14:44.984 --> 14:47.953 He's from Morgan City putting Morgan City on the international map. 14:47.953 --> 14:48.988 He is running in the fort. 14:48.988 --> 14:51.824 He's a four time world champ running in the 4x4 hundred, 14:51.824 --> 14:54.627 which is a team that is ranked second right now in the world. 14:54.627 --> 14:56.028 And how about Maggie McNeal? 14:56.028 --> 14:57.730 She's a swimmer from LSU. 14:57.730 --> 14:59.198 She represents Canada. 14:59.198 --> 15:02.601 She did win a gold, a silver and a bronze in Tokyo. 15:02.768 --> 15:03.903 Here's her great story. 15:03.903 --> 15:07.172 She will be defending her gold medal in the 100 meter butterfly. 15:07.172 --> 15:10.442 And Karen, if she can win it again, not only does she represent LSU very well, 15:10.576 --> 15:13.512 she will be the first Canadian ever to repeat 15:13.512 --> 15:16.348 as a gold medal winner in the Olympics, so we wish her the best of luck. 15:16.348 --> 15:18.617 And don't forget a name everybody knows. 15:18.617 --> 15:21.153 If you're interested in track at all, Mondo Duplantis. 15:21.153 --> 15:23.989 He rewrote the record books at LSU in track and pole vaulting. 15:23.989 --> 15:25.291 He represents Sweden. 15:25.291 --> 15:27.860 He's already broken his own world record twice. Wow. 15:27.860 --> 15:30.963 This year, three months ago, he's really competing against himself. 15:30.963 --> 15:31.563 Would be great to see. 15:31.563 --> 15:35.668 So before we go on a personal note, if you could cover the Olympics, 15:35.668 --> 15:37.069 what would be your dream sport to cover? 15:37.069 --> 15:38.570 I dunno if I'd have a dream sport. 15:38.570 --> 15:41.607 I would want to go to venues that you really don't do a lot here in the States. 15:41.607 --> 15:44.109 Like I've played basketball, I cover basketball for my career. 15:44.109 --> 15:45.377 We have football, we have baseball. 15:45.377 --> 15:48.414 Yeah, I'd want to go to the kayaking or I want to go ping pong. 15:48.514 --> 15:49.415 Breakdancing. 15:49.415 --> 15:51.884 Believe it or not, breakdancing this year is a sport. 15:51.884 --> 15:52.952 It's the first time. 15:52.952 --> 15:55.120 How about trampoline y? You just had a story. 15:55.120 --> 15:56.622 We could go on the trampoline. Athletes. 15:56.622 --> 15:59.191 I would want to go to some venues that you just don't see every day. 15:59.191 --> 16:00.659 But it's on the international showcase. 16:00.659 --> 16:03.595 This is your chance to see it and I look for it over the next two weeks. 16:03.595 --> 16:08.200 Well, the Winter Olympics are coming back to the station after 32 years. 16:08.467 --> 16:13.467 they're headed back to Salt Lake City, the 2023, 2034 host city. 16:14.073 --> 16:15.240 So that's going to be cool. 16:15.240 --> 16:19.411 The last time Salt Lake City hosted the Winter Olympics, I think was, 2002. 16:19.411 --> 16:21.246 So Park City, Deer Valley, 16:21.246 --> 16:23.115 the canyon is one of the most beautiful areas in the country. 16:23.115 --> 16:24.783 They're going to get it back. It'll be great. All right. 16:24.783 --> 16:26.585 Well, Victor, thank you so much for joining us. 16:26.585 --> 16:27.186 It was great to see. 16:27.186 --> 16:30.122 So fun to chat about athletes in the Olympics. 16:30.122 --> 16:32.791 And we'll be watching. Looking forward to it. 16:34.059 --> 16:35.160 Well, Louisiana 16:35.160 --> 16:39.131 summers mean spending plenty of time outdoors. 16:39.131 --> 16:41.000 But one of the possible perils 16:41.000 --> 16:44.603 is coming across slithering and sometimes scary snakes. 16:45.070 --> 16:48.474 In this week's Good News, Louisiana, we meet a family on a mission 16:48.474 --> 16:52.711 to educate people about the important role snakes play in Mother Nature 16:53.045 --> 16:56.048 and to dispel some of the fears and misconceptions. 16:56.281 --> 17:00.452 I'm taking you to tangible a parish for a look at their growing 17:00.452 --> 17:03.422 fan base. 17:06.425 --> 17:07.993 Head over to the PCR test. 17:07.993 --> 17:10.996 Negative. 17:12.464 --> 17:13.599 For the hood family, 17:13.599 --> 17:18.370 snake education is a family affair that started with Matriarch and Hood. 17:18.570 --> 17:22.141 I would catch little dark snakes, which people call the brown rattler, 17:22.141 --> 17:24.543 which they're not the little dark snakes. 17:24.543 --> 17:28.047 And I let my children play with them, and then we put them, bag them in 17:28.047 --> 17:29.748 and be in a flower beds. 17:29.748 --> 17:31.550 And then they wanted to learn about them. 17:31.550 --> 17:34.420 And we didn't have cell phones or anything like that. 17:34.420 --> 17:37.856 So we had no Google whatever, so we'd have to go to the library. 17:37.856 --> 17:41.727 We always spent time in the library, and I always checked out the snake box. 17:42.061 --> 17:46.198 It's a full circle moment on this day at the Ponchatoula Branch Library. 17:46.265 --> 17:50.602 Or son, Kevin Hood, his wife Rachel, and sons Kyler and Landon 17:50.769 --> 17:55.574 held their first snake friendly event for library summer reading programs. 17:55.908 --> 17:57.776 Our main goal is to keep people from killing them 17:57.776 --> 18:00.212 because they get a bad reputation, so that's why we do what we do. 18:00.212 --> 18:04.683 So tell me how this whole idea of Louisiana snake idea came about. 18:05.384 --> 18:07.086 we moved our boys to a swamp in the, 18:07.086 --> 18:09.021 you know, and we would take pictures with snakes. 18:09.021 --> 18:10.022 We know what they are. 18:10.022 --> 18:13.959 And people realize we did, so people would start sending us pictures of snakes. 18:14.493 --> 18:17.162 unfortunately, snakes are different than, say, a frog or a bird or something. 18:17.162 --> 18:19.498 They would also send us pictures of dead snakes. 18:19.498 --> 18:23.469 The hood family created a Facebook page called Louisiana Snake ID, 18:23.836 --> 18:26.572 connecting with people curious about snakes. 18:26.572 --> 18:31.572 Today they educate, relocate, and care for snakes at their own expense. 18:32.044 --> 18:35.147 When you don't know what a snake is, send us a picture. 18:35.147 --> 18:36.482 We'll tell you what it is. 18:36.482 --> 18:40.652 The hood family owns more than 20 snakes, including the family pet, 18:40.752 --> 18:42.187 Chris, the corn snake, 18:42.187 --> 18:46.391 which they bring to their presentations as part of their snake petting zoo. 18:46.625 --> 18:49.862 I learned that, some snakes are transmission. 18:49.962 --> 18:52.931 Some snakes are not venomous. 18:53.165 --> 18:57.069 Louisiana has 48 different types of snakes, the hood family says. 18:57.169 --> 18:59.471 Of the 48, only seven are venomous. 18:59.471 --> 19:03.242 Their message to kids if you see a snake in your yard, 19:03.709 --> 19:07.479 you go get a grown up call a grown up should you spot a snake. 19:07.479 --> 19:08.914 But don't kill it. 19:08.914 --> 19:11.917 But X used a tongue to smell 19:11.984 --> 19:15.287 instead of being up nostrils. 19:15.721 --> 19:17.389 I personally just really enjoy 19:17.389 --> 19:20.425 knowing that all of these kids are really enjoying their time coming. 19:20.425 --> 19:22.794 They're not just coming because, you know, Mom and dad forced them to. 19:22.794 --> 19:25.864 They're coming here and like just to see the smiles on their faces 19:25.864 --> 19:28.800 when they're holding the snakes. It's one of the greatest feelings in the world. 19:28.800 --> 19:32.604 The family aims to expand the Louisiana Snake ID program 19:32.604 --> 19:35.607 and is establishing a nonprofit to raise funds. 19:36.141 --> 19:39.611 Tag items for sale, including t shirts and posters, help 19:39.611 --> 19:42.047 cover the cost of snake care and housing. 19:42.047 --> 19:45.184 We would love to have a snake facility like you see some. 19:45.184 --> 19:46.118 There are a lot of them north 19:46.118 --> 19:49.121 where people have those reptile facility where people could come see them 19:49.121 --> 19:51.223 and learn about them, and it's not just a part of the zoo. 19:51.223 --> 19:54.960 And then also we love to have a snake sanctuary where you could 19:54.960 --> 19:58.230 where we can release snakes of this pet, would acclimate to the area 19:58.564 --> 20:00.832 we want to travel, the state we would love to travel the country. 20:00.832 --> 20:04.770 One of the snake show takeaways is a respect for venomous snakes 20:04.770 --> 20:07.873 and their roles in medical research and disease treatment. 20:07.973 --> 20:11.777 A message Kevin's mom proudly wears on her t shirt. 20:11.910 --> 20:16.281 I'm a breast cancer survivor, so usually he'll say something about the Copperheads 20:16.281 --> 20:20.219 because I use that venom for that and, to treat it the venom. 20:20.219 --> 20:23.222 They use that for, breast cancer survivors and other things. 20:23.455 --> 20:28.427 More than 200 people turned out in a rainstorm to pet snakes and snap photos. 20:28.560 --> 20:31.463 Some even checking out library books about snakes, 20:31.463 --> 20:35.901 much like Kevin's childhood snake research trips to the library with his mom. 20:36.268 --> 20:39.838 The next snake friendly generation, captured in a selfie 20:39.838 --> 20:43.675 and posted, of course, on the Louisiana Snake ID Facebook page. 20:48.347 --> 20:49.715 In this week's Light Pulse, 20:49.715 --> 20:54.086 we're digging into the close ties between social media and mental health. 20:54.453 --> 20:57.389 People, especially young people, are spending more 20:57.389 --> 21:00.659 and more time glued to their phones or computers, 21:00.892 --> 21:04.329 which can lead to increased risk for anxiety and depression. 21:04.796 --> 21:07.432 Doctor Ronnie Whitfield shares his expertise 21:07.432 --> 21:10.435 and advice. 21:16.108 --> 21:17.976 In this episode of Life Pulse, 21:17.976 --> 21:22.848 we're taking a look at the relationship between social media and mental health. 21:22.881 --> 21:26.785 And joining me is Doctor Ronnie Whitfield, aka 21:26.818 --> 21:30.422 hip hop Doc, social media sensation here to share with us 21:30.422 --> 21:35.422 his insight and expertise, on mental health and social media. 21:35.527 --> 21:39.331 And we'll start this conversation by pointing out that the US surgeon 21:39.331 --> 21:44.169 general recently came out and announced, this is a real problem, and he's trying to 21:44.169 --> 21:49.074 establish some guidelines and create public awareness as a medical doctor. 21:49.107 --> 21:51.443 What do you see and what are your concerns? 21:51.443 --> 21:54.446 Well, the first thing is I'm a father, so this is important to me. 21:54.479 --> 21:56.281 Not only did he come up with some strong guidelines, 21:56.281 --> 22:00.018 he recommended a labeling of social media, and I don't know how that would be done. 22:00.018 --> 22:02.120 But I guess when you open your screen, they'll say, warning, 22:02.120 --> 22:06.158 this is increases your risk of anxiety, depression, suicide, whatever. 22:07.959 --> 22:09.027 labeling of 22:09.027 --> 22:12.097 tobacco and alcohol, limited research 22:12.264 --> 22:15.734 on how effective or impactful it was in changing people's behaviors. 22:16.001 --> 22:18.570 But I think with social media, something has to be done. 22:18.570 --> 22:20.305 Social media is not all bad. 22:20.305 --> 22:22.441 If you curate your list and you're looking at, 22:22.441 --> 22:24.409 you know, I have a son and he likes basketball, 22:24.409 --> 22:26.678 and we're looking at basketball drills, that kind of stuff. 22:26.678 --> 22:29.114 And I'm doing it with him and I'm aware of what he's doing. 22:29.114 --> 22:30.015 That's fine. 22:30.015 --> 22:34.553 But you're seeing some very lewd behavior and nudity, vulgarity. 22:34.653 --> 22:37.255 Pranks that could be harmful to folks. These young people are seeing it. 22:37.255 --> 22:39.424 And particularly cyberbullying in comparison. 22:39.424 --> 22:42.627 A lot of these young ladies, particularly young women, will look at this stuff 22:42.627 --> 22:45.630 and say, I want to look like they will be like that, but I can't. 22:45.630 --> 22:47.065 and it's depressing for them. 22:47.065 --> 22:49.101 So we're seeing a lot of anxiety and depression 22:49.101 --> 22:52.637 and sometimes suicides from young people that are looking at social media. 22:52.637 --> 22:54.573 So there's a huge concern. 22:54.573 --> 22:56.942 So the U.S. surgeon general said that any 22:58.143 --> 22:59.444 screen time over 22:59.444 --> 23:02.881 3.5 hours a day is a problem, right? 23:03.281 --> 23:07.185 But realistically, I think many would say our youth are spending 23:07.185 --> 23:11.289 more than 3.5 hours a day in front of a screen of some sort. 23:11.289 --> 23:12.758 So he said three hours 23:12.758 --> 23:15.794 last year would increase your risk of anxiety, depression times two. 23:15.794 --> 23:16.862 And at that time, 23:16.862 --> 23:20.732 he was saying the average teen spent 3.5 hours alone on social media. 23:20.732 --> 23:24.669 It's up to 4.8 now, but I would take it a step further than most of the kids 23:24.669 --> 23:26.972 I know have the computer on why they're doing homework. 23:26.972 --> 23:28.640 Nobody's writing anymore. 23:28.640 --> 23:31.576 Their phone is open where they scroll to social media to see what's happening, 23:31.576 --> 23:34.713 you know, locally, and then also may have the TV on as well. 23:34.946 --> 23:37.716 And so you're able to condense or compress probably eight hours 23:37.716 --> 23:39.117 into that 4.8 hours. 23:39.117 --> 23:43.054 And that's a lot of overload for the brain effects sleep patterns and again 23:43.088 --> 23:44.823 anxiety and depression. It could go along with it. 23:44.823 --> 23:47.459 So we have to be able to control that screen time. 23:47.459 --> 23:50.195 Controlling screen time of our parents is very important. 23:50.195 --> 23:52.664 So what can a parent do. 23:52.664 --> 23:54.766 The number one is controlling screen time. 23:54.766 --> 23:57.202 Talk to your child about what's going on, what they're looking at. 23:57.202 --> 23:58.003 And also, 23:58.003 --> 24:02.040 you know, my daughter first got Instagram, which was in after middle school. 24:02.040 --> 24:05.043 I think she was in ninth grade when we first allowed to have Instagram. 24:05.110 --> 24:07.212 I had access to the account so I could see everything 24:07.212 --> 24:09.147 that she could see and follow, everything that she would follow. 24:09.147 --> 24:12.184 So making sure that there's some parental controls there, 24:13.718 --> 24:15.520 talk to your child about what they're interacting 24:15.520 --> 24:16.855 and what they're seeing on Instagram. 24:16.855 --> 24:18.423 And if there's some sort of keepsake 24:18.423 --> 24:20.759 Instagram, Facebook, whatever it might be TikTok. 24:20.759 --> 24:23.895 And then lastly, get out, put it down, set, 24:23.895 --> 24:26.898 set some parameters like that in an hour before bedtime. 24:26.898 --> 24:28.066 No more screen time. 24:28.066 --> 24:29.901 Take the phones on if you have to. 24:29.901 --> 24:30.469 You know they say 24:30.469 --> 24:33.505 blue light affects or the light affects how you sleep in that time. 24:33.505 --> 24:37.075 So take take those devices from your children and control the screen time. 24:37.609 --> 24:42.609 So as a medical doctor in one of your areas of active advocacy is heart health. 24:43.348 --> 24:45.884 This has got to be a concern for you because not only are 24:45.884 --> 24:48.887 they attached to these screens and it's affecting their mental health, 24:49.321 --> 24:52.524 but there's consequences for their physical health as well. 24:52.757 --> 24:53.725 You're not exercising. 24:53.725 --> 24:55.694 You're not moving. We're not getting any sunlight. 24:55.694 --> 24:58.029 I see a lot of low vitamin D levels in my practice. 24:58.029 --> 24:59.631 This is because people are not getting out in the sun 24:59.631 --> 25:00.732 during, say, some eight hours. 25:00.732 --> 25:03.068 So again, another part of what parents should do 25:03.068 --> 25:06.805 is encourage activity in exercise and or hobbies and doing things outdoors. 25:06.805 --> 25:09.441 So getting away from that screen time, spending some time outdoors 25:09.441 --> 25:12.310 and doing more family time when it's dinner time, all phones down 25:12.310 --> 25:16.882 and, you know, come on, most families are not having a traditional meal together. 25:16.882 --> 25:19.150 But when you're able to do it, it should be phones down 25:19.150 --> 25:21.386 and they should take in a group chat of the family. 25:21.386 --> 25:23.722 So signs. Warning signs. 25:23.722 --> 25:25.223 Parents should look for if 25:26.424 --> 25:28.293 social media is, 25:28.293 --> 25:30.896 negatively impacting their child's mental health. 25:30.896 --> 25:32.163 Right? 25:32.163 --> 25:35.166 You need to look for typical signs of anxiety and depression. 25:35.166 --> 25:36.101 Addiction. 25:36.101 --> 25:39.538 So you have a child that is in the room all time just on the phone to 25:39.538 --> 25:41.373 scroll on to the phone 4 or 5 hours a time. 25:41.373 --> 25:42.874 What is impacting schoolwork? 25:42.874 --> 25:45.143 Impacting sleep? 25:45.143 --> 25:46.611 again, sleep. 25:46.611 --> 25:48.246 Interesting things they used to like to do. 25:48.246 --> 25:49.514 Guilt. 25:49.514 --> 25:50.315 Guilt issues. 25:50.315 --> 25:53.318 Their energy is down. 25:53.385 --> 25:56.555 weight gain because they're they're on a screen and they're just eating. 25:56.955 --> 25:59.658 The clinical signs of depression, anxiety are very evident, 25:59.658 --> 26:00.992 and they're easy to identify. 26:00.992 --> 26:03.028 But you have to pay attention to your child because it's easy to say, 26:03.028 --> 26:05.196 oh, you're in your room studying and just leave them. 26:05.196 --> 26:07.699 You need to check in, and see what's going on. 26:07.699 --> 26:07.999 All right. 26:07.999 --> 26:10.235 Final thoughts on social media 26:10.235 --> 26:13.438 and mental health, especially among our our young kids. 26:13.471 --> 26:16.074 Social media is not all bad, but it's definitely got, 26:16.074 --> 26:17.676 some, some things we need to address. 26:17.676 --> 26:19.544 And anxiety. Depression is real. 26:19.544 --> 26:24.082 I don't think I said it statistically, but about 95 to 96% of our young people, 26:24.149 --> 26:26.117 teenagers, are on social media. 26:26.117 --> 26:29.854 Surprisingly, about 46% of children between 8 to 12 have access 26:29.854 --> 26:31.756 to social media as well on a regular basis. 26:31.756 --> 26:34.392 So we need to be parents and parent our children 26:34.392 --> 26:36.962 and let them know that this is not good all the time. 26:36.962 --> 26:38.196 We need to do other things as well. 26:38.196 --> 26:38.863 All right. 26:38.863 --> 26:41.066 Doctor Ronnie Whitfield, thank you so much for joining us 26:41.066 --> 26:44.703 for this episode of Life Pulse and sharing your insight and expertise 26:45.036 --> 26:48.006 on the relationship between social media and mental health. 26:48.006 --> 26:51.743 This is a topic we will be following closely as more data comes out 26:52.043 --> 26:54.613 about some of the dire consequences. So again, thank you. 26:54.613 --> 26:55.013 Thank you. 27:03.722 --> 27:05.156 That's our show for this week. 27:05.156 --> 27:10.156 Remember you can watch anything LPB anytime wherever you are with our LPB app. 27:11.029 --> 27:14.699 You can catch LPB News and Public Affairs, as well as other 27:14.733 --> 27:17.702 Louisiana programs you've come to enjoy over the years. 27:17.702 --> 27:20.672 And please like us on Facebook 27:20.672 --> 27:24.743 and Instagram for everyone at Louisiana Public Broadcasting. 27:24.943 --> 27:27.579 I'm Karen LeBlanc. Until next time. 27:27.579 --> 27:30.582 That's the state we're in. 27:42.861 --> 27:44.195 Support for Louisiana. 27:44.195 --> 27:47.699 The state we're in is provided by Entergy. 27:47.699 --> 27:50.702 Louisiana is strengthening our power grid throughout the state. 27:51.403 --> 27:55.206 We're reinforcing infrastructure to prepare for stronger storms, 27:55.707 --> 27:59.210 reduce outages, and respond quicker when you do need us. 27:59.310 --> 28:02.080 Because together, we power life. 28:02.080 --> 28:05.850 Additional support provided by the Fred B and Ruth B Ziegler Foundation 28:05.850 --> 28:07.252 and the Ziegler Art Museum. 28:07.252 --> 28:12.223 Located in Jennings City Hall, the museum focuses on emerging Louisiana artists 28:12.424 --> 28:15.794 and is an historical and cultural center for Southwest Louisiana. 28:17.495 --> 28:20.165 And by Visit Baton Rouge. 28:20.165 --> 28:23.401 And the Foundation for Excellence in Louisiana Public Broadcasting 28:23.401 --> 28:25.503 and viewers like you. 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