1 00:00:01,301 --> 00:00:02,669 Support for Louisiana. 2 00:00:02,669 --> 00:00:06,139 The state we're in is provided by Entergy. 3 00:00:06,139 --> 00:00:09,142 Louisiana is strengthening our power grid throughout the state. 4 00:00:09,843 --> 00:00:13,646 We're reinforcing infrastructure to prepare for stronger storms, 5 00:00:14,114 --> 00:00:17,650 reduce outages, and respond quicker when you do need us. 6 00:00:17,751 --> 00:00:20,520 Because together we power lights. 7 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:24,290 Additional support provided by the Fred B and Ruth B Ziegler Foundation 8 00:00:24,290 --> 00:00:27,427 and the Ziegler Art Museum, located in Jennings City Hall. 9 00:00:27,794 --> 00:00:31,865 The museum focuses on emerging Louisiana artists and is an historical 10 00:00:31,865 --> 00:00:34,868 and cultural center for Southwest Louisiana. 11 00:00:35,702 --> 00:00:39,139 And the Foundation for Excellence in Louisiana Public Broadcasting. 12 00:00:39,406 --> 00:00:42,409 With support from viewers like you. 13 00:00:42,475 --> 00:00:46,112 It's now legal in Louisiana to carry a gun without any training, 14 00:00:46,413 --> 00:00:49,983 but state police still encourage people to get certified. 15 00:00:50,550 --> 00:00:54,821 Lafayette is the world epicenter of Olympic trampolining. 16 00:00:55,021 --> 00:00:57,257 We'll introduce you to a couple of athletes 17 00:00:57,257 --> 00:01:01,661 going for the gold in Paris and the state of wait. 18 00:01:01,895 --> 00:01:06,332 Doctor Ronnie Whitfield looks at the pros and cons of those popular weight 19 00:01:06,332 --> 00:01:09,502 loss drugs. Plus, a walk through time. 20 00:01:09,836 --> 00:01:13,006 I'll take you to the oldest cemetery in the Louisiana Purchase. 21 00:01:13,306 --> 00:01:14,374 Let's get started. 22 00:01:25,885 --> 00:01:27,787 Hey, everyone, I'm Karen LeBlanc. 23 00:01:27,787 --> 00:01:30,423 Much more on those top stories in a moment. 24 00:01:30,423 --> 00:01:33,493 On this week's edition of Louisiana, the State we're in. 25 00:01:34,527 --> 00:01:37,497 But first, former President Donald Trump 26 00:01:37,497 --> 00:01:41,601 appears to be recovering well after an attempted assassination. 27 00:01:42,001 --> 00:01:45,505 He spoke Thursday night at the Republican National Convention, 28 00:01:45,672 --> 00:01:48,675 where he formally accepted his party's nomination. 29 00:01:49,008 --> 00:01:52,011 As expected, all 47 of Louisiana's 30 00:01:52,011 --> 00:01:55,115 GOP delegates cast their vote for the former president. 31 00:01:55,548 --> 00:01:59,652 Trump speech came days after he suffered an injury to his ear 32 00:01:59,919 --> 00:02:02,922 when a gunman opened fire at a campaign rally. 33 00:02:03,089 --> 00:02:05,758 A man in the crowd was killed before 34 00:02:05,758 --> 00:02:08,761 Secret Service took out the shooter. 35 00:02:08,761 --> 00:02:10,730 The shooting raises concerns 36 00:02:10,730 --> 00:02:14,734 here in Louisiana, where a newly enacted law allows people 37 00:02:14,734 --> 00:02:18,571 to carry guns without any training or permitting from the state. 38 00:02:19,072 --> 00:02:23,309 I spoke with the bill's author and the Louisiana State Police to discuss 39 00:02:23,309 --> 00:02:28,309 whether the measure makes us safer, or could lead to even more gun violence. 40 00:02:29,048 --> 00:02:32,018 We are announcing that the eighth district 41 00:02:32,018 --> 00:02:35,054 station will soon fit the definition 42 00:02:35,522 --> 00:02:38,525 of a vocational technical school, 43 00:02:38,925 --> 00:02:41,928 as described in Louisiana 44 00:02:42,195 --> 00:02:47,066 Art as 1490 5.6, 45 00:02:47,634 --> 00:02:50,170 and thus the area within 46 00:02:50,170 --> 00:02:53,773 1000ft of this district station 47 00:02:54,107 --> 00:02:57,610 will be a firearm free zone for 48 00:02:58,945 --> 00:03:01,614 the New Orleans police station in the French Quarter 49 00:03:01,614 --> 00:03:05,385 found a workaround to the Louisiana constitutional carry law, 50 00:03:05,685 --> 00:03:09,422 keeping concealed weapons away from the eighth district station 51 00:03:09,622 --> 00:03:12,091 and out of most of the French Quarter. 52 00:03:12,091 --> 00:03:15,495 State Senator Blake Mayaguez authored the constitutional 53 00:03:15,495 --> 00:03:19,399 carry legislation, which passed in the January crime session. 54 00:03:19,766 --> 00:03:23,937 He says the law empowers citizens with the ability to defend themselves 55 00:03:23,937 --> 00:03:25,538 and their loved ones. 56 00:03:25,538 --> 00:03:28,341 Why did you personally see the need for this legislation? 57 00:03:28,341 --> 00:03:32,912 We already have the ability to carry a concealed weapon with a permit. 58 00:03:33,513 --> 00:03:35,481 Well, we join all of our neighboring states. 59 00:03:35,481 --> 00:03:38,818 If you look at Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, as well as 28 60 00:03:38,818 --> 00:03:41,821 other states and having constitutional carry legislation. 61 00:03:42,088 --> 00:03:45,325 Well, I think it's a time where we decided to align our law here 62 00:03:45,325 --> 00:03:48,661 in Louisiana with our constitu, our Second Amendment rights. 63 00:03:48,661 --> 00:03:51,764 That that right shall not be infringed is our right to defend ourselves 64 00:03:51,764 --> 00:03:52,532 and our loved ones. 65 00:03:52,532 --> 00:03:56,369 Remember, Louisiana has been an open carry state for some time, 66 00:03:56,502 --> 00:04:00,340 which means you can walk outside with no requirements, put a gun on your side 67 00:04:00,807 --> 00:04:01,908 and be perfectly legal. 68 00:04:01,908 --> 00:04:05,678 A background check is still required to purchase a handgun. 69 00:04:05,979 --> 00:04:10,950 And the new law does have restrictions on where and under what circumstances. 70 00:04:11,084 --> 00:04:14,587 An individual can carry a concealed weapon without a permit. 71 00:04:14,654 --> 00:04:18,157 If a constitutional carry does not allow just free 72 00:04:18,157 --> 00:04:21,394 carry of a handgun, anywhere you go. 73 00:04:21,661 --> 00:04:24,998 So, you know, you still can't carry firearms in school zones. 74 00:04:25,665 --> 00:04:28,034 courthouses. You still can't have them. 75 00:04:28,034 --> 00:04:31,037 you can't have them in police departments, you can't carry them at churches. 76 00:04:31,704 --> 00:04:33,606 bars are another place. You can't have them. 77 00:04:33,606 --> 00:04:36,743 And in addition to that, you know, you cannot be under the influence 78 00:04:36,743 --> 00:04:40,380 of alcohol or drugs and be in possession of a concealed handgun. 79 00:04:40,813 --> 00:04:44,117 Law enforcement warns that you cannot cross state lines 80 00:04:44,117 --> 00:04:46,552 with a permit less concealed weapon. 81 00:04:46,552 --> 00:04:49,656 37 other states do have reciprocity 82 00:04:49,656 --> 00:04:52,659 for concealed handguns with permits. 83 00:04:52,892 --> 00:04:57,297 Critics of the law claims it sets the scene for the wild, wild West, 84 00:04:57,430 --> 00:05:02,402 where anyone can get and use a gun without proper screening and training. 85 00:05:03,336 --> 00:05:05,438 I'd say that's just, fear mongering. 86 00:05:05,438 --> 00:05:06,205 It's not the truth. 87 00:05:06,205 --> 00:05:09,208 You look at we have 28 other states that have constitutional carry. 88 00:05:09,309 --> 00:05:12,078 We haven't seen the wild, wild West in any other states. 89 00:05:12,078 --> 00:05:14,714 I think that's just fear of the new law going into place. 90 00:05:14,714 --> 00:05:19,085 And the legislature was very, empathetic about when we passed this legislation. 91 00:05:19,352 --> 00:05:21,821 It didn't go into effect in January when we passed a law. 92 00:05:21,821 --> 00:05:24,824 It went into effect on July 4th, on our Independence Day, 93 00:05:25,024 --> 00:05:27,093 because it allowed us to go into a regular session 94 00:05:27,093 --> 00:05:28,828 and make sure that we got the law correct. 95 00:05:28,828 --> 00:05:32,398 I brought probably a half dozen bills that tweaked the legislation 96 00:05:32,632 --> 00:05:35,601 to try to perfect it by the time it came into law. 97 00:05:35,601 --> 00:05:39,706 How does a Louisiana constitutional carry law impact traffic stops? 98 00:05:40,073 --> 00:05:44,344 So usually in a traffic stop, you begin that traffic stop inside your vehicle, 99 00:05:44,344 --> 00:05:47,347 and everyone knows that your vehicle is an extension of your home. 100 00:05:47,513 --> 00:05:50,516 So in those circumstances, while it is not required, 101 00:05:50,883 --> 00:05:53,986 we do encourage the public to notify the officer, the trooper, 102 00:05:53,986 --> 00:05:58,324 that you are in possession of a firearm because it just makes it say for yourself. 103 00:05:58,324 --> 00:06:00,093 And then that trooper as well. 104 00:06:00,093 --> 00:06:04,297 Now, once you exit that vehicle and you come out, you are required 105 00:06:04,397 --> 00:06:07,633 to notify that that officer that you are in possession of a firearm. 106 00:06:07,900 --> 00:06:11,003 A companion bill that also became law July 4th. 107 00:06:11,237 --> 00:06:15,708 The statutory civil immunity law incentivizes individuals 108 00:06:15,708 --> 00:06:19,445 to voluntarily undergo firearms training for a permit 109 00:06:20,113 --> 00:06:23,583 at Sb2 is just as important because it gives permit holders 110 00:06:23,583 --> 00:06:26,552 the ability to have a civil immunity, 111 00:06:26,719 --> 00:06:29,355 in self-defense shootings, under the law. 112 00:06:29,355 --> 00:06:32,225 The Louisiana State Police Headquarters offers training 113 00:06:32,225 --> 00:06:36,462 with state certified instructors for a concealed handgun permit. 114 00:06:37,663 --> 00:06:40,800 Do you see challenges to doing your job? 115 00:06:41,134 --> 00:06:43,703 Protecting the public? 116 00:06:43,703 --> 00:06:46,172 So we're trained properly again. 117 00:06:46,172 --> 00:06:49,909 whether the public has a firearm, doesn't have one on them. 118 00:06:50,243 --> 00:06:53,212 We just want to ensure that the public, you know, is trained 119 00:06:53,212 --> 00:06:56,215 to handle a firearm. 120 00:06:56,916 --> 00:06:57,850 Next week, 121 00:06:57,850 --> 00:07:01,788 the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics get underway 122 00:07:01,921 --> 00:07:06,492 with several Louisiana athletes representing team USA in various games. 123 00:07:06,859 --> 00:07:10,329 In the sport of trampoline gymnastics, Lafayette is 124 00:07:10,329 --> 00:07:14,000 a world class training ground for Olympic hopefuls. 125 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:18,571 They come from around the world to train at Trampoline and Tumbling Express. 126 00:07:18,905 --> 00:07:22,608 I met up with two trampoline gymnasts representing team USA 127 00:07:22,809 --> 00:07:25,812 with high hopes for the Paris Games. 128 00:07:33,619 --> 00:07:34,954 Alexi show starts 129 00:07:34,954 --> 00:07:39,492 athletic career is soaring as an Olympic bound trampoline gymnast. 130 00:07:39,959 --> 00:07:44,864 The 2024 Paris Olympics will be his second attempt at going for the gold. 131 00:07:45,798 --> 00:07:50,269 I really do feel like I'm part of something bigger than just me. 132 00:07:50,903 --> 00:07:52,538 And so the medal 133 00:07:53,573 --> 00:07:55,675 that you know, we're all going after. 134 00:07:55,675 --> 00:07:58,678 For me personally, it's for the future of 135 00:07:59,345 --> 00:08:00,947 USA trampoline. 136 00:08:00,947 --> 00:08:05,384 Alexi is from Belarus and moved to Lafayette to train at Trampoline 137 00:08:05,384 --> 00:08:10,384 and Tumbling Express, known worldwide as the Training Ground for Olympians. 138 00:08:11,157 --> 00:08:14,660 His coach, Dimitri LaRouche, is also from Belarus. 139 00:08:14,861 --> 00:08:19,031 The two time Olympian competed with Alexis father, also a trampoline 140 00:08:19,031 --> 00:08:24,031 gymnast, in the 1996 Atlanta Games and the 2000 Sydney, Australia Games. 141 00:08:24,804 --> 00:08:29,342 I'm very even happy to send like this gym here for the most Olympians in the world. 142 00:08:29,475 --> 00:08:31,577 On in the trampoline world, of course. 143 00:08:31,577 --> 00:08:36,577 Alexi trained alongside Paris Olympics bound trampoline gymnast Nicole Eisinger. 144 00:08:36,816 --> 00:08:38,851 She moved to Lafayette from California 145 00:08:38,851 --> 00:08:42,221 at the age of 16 to also train with coach Dmitri. 146 00:08:42,889 --> 00:08:47,460 I'm really excited to be back, for my third Olympic team, 147 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:48,728 but in a different role. 148 00:08:48,728 --> 00:08:53,728 I'm the alternate, so it should be an exciting role to cheer on team USA. 149 00:08:54,267 --> 00:08:56,969 Nicole competed in the 2016 Olympics 150 00:08:56,969 --> 00:09:00,873 at the age of 18, and again in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 151 00:09:01,073 --> 00:09:03,009 There, she was the only gymnast 152 00:09:03,009 --> 00:09:06,479 who represented team USA in the women's trampoline competition. 153 00:09:06,779 --> 00:09:09,782 She made history by placing sixth overall. 154 00:09:09,882 --> 00:09:12,952 That's the highest placement any American or 155 00:09:12,952 --> 00:09:15,955 I guess it tied it for the highest placement for an American. 156 00:09:16,355 --> 00:09:17,490 in trampoline. 157 00:09:17,490 --> 00:09:19,392 And I was like, oh my gosh, I'm on this high. 158 00:09:19,392 --> 00:09:20,927 Like, it's only three more years. 159 00:09:20,927 --> 00:09:22,795 I might as well try for it. 160 00:09:22,795 --> 00:09:26,332 And unfortunately, my body hurt a lot. 161 00:09:27,433 --> 00:09:30,269 so I ended up getting a whole body scan, 162 00:09:30,269 --> 00:09:33,739 and I tore everything in my ankle and tore everything in my shoulder. 163 00:09:34,307 --> 00:09:37,677 Nicole underwent surgery and rehab, working her way back 164 00:09:37,677 --> 00:09:41,647 to a regular training schedule for the 2024 Paris Games. 165 00:09:41,881 --> 00:09:45,785 Both Olympians are looking forward to a do over after competing 166 00:09:45,785 --> 00:09:49,455 under Covid restrictions in the 2020 Tokyo Games. 167 00:09:49,755 --> 00:09:52,592 I was grateful that I was able to fulfill my dream, 168 00:09:52,592 --> 00:09:55,561 but I knew like the day after, I was like, 169 00:09:55,761 --> 00:09:58,798 I want to go to Paris and I actually even made an Instagram post 170 00:09:58,798 --> 00:10:00,499 and I never really show this to anyone yet. 171 00:10:00,499 --> 00:10:03,703 But on my Instagram post in 2021, I wrote 172 00:10:03,703 --> 00:10:07,073 I will compete at the 24 Paris Games. 173 00:10:07,340 --> 00:10:12,211 It's definitely a crazy experience and I feel like I've had this like wild ride 174 00:10:12,211 --> 00:10:17,211 of a little girl that my dream was to go to the Olympic Games and now here I am 175 00:10:18,317 --> 00:10:22,688 making history, going to a third Olympics as an Olympic team member. 176 00:10:22,688 --> 00:10:26,192 No other woman has done that. in trampoline. 177 00:10:26,192 --> 00:10:29,862 So it's just it's just crazy to even think about it. 178 00:10:30,363 --> 00:10:33,466 How did Lafayette leap onto the world stage 179 00:10:33,466 --> 00:10:36,469 as an Olympic training ground for trampoline gymnast? 180 00:10:36,636 --> 00:10:39,639 Lafayette is like a set of trampoline in the world. 181 00:10:39,772 --> 00:10:42,875 Mr. Jeff Hennessy, who was a professor at UL. 182 00:10:43,909 --> 00:10:45,811 he also was the president of 183 00:10:45,811 --> 00:10:49,649 International Trampoline Federation Technical Committee. 184 00:10:50,416 --> 00:10:52,685 And he's the one who actually one 185 00:10:52,685 --> 00:10:56,222 of the pioneers of trampoline in the United States. 186 00:10:56,589 --> 00:11:00,092 Jeff Hennessy was an associate professor of physical education 187 00:11:00,326 --> 00:11:03,863 at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and director 188 00:11:03,863 --> 00:11:06,866 of the university's gymnastics and trampling program 189 00:11:06,999 --> 00:11:09,902 from 1959 to 1986. 190 00:11:09,902 --> 00:11:12,638 His coaching helped earn the university's 191 00:11:12,638 --> 00:11:16,609 trampoline gymnastics team 26 World Championships. 192 00:11:16,976 --> 00:11:20,513 Trampoline even made its first Olympic appearance at the 2000 193 00:11:20,546 --> 00:11:23,916 Games in Sydney with men's and women's competitions. 194 00:11:24,250 --> 00:11:27,253 So what happened to 16 men and 16 women competing? 195 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:32,558 So it's like it is hard, like, to like out the whole world. 196 00:11:32,558 --> 00:11:35,995 Only 16 spots available to watch Olympic Games, 197 00:11:36,062 --> 00:11:39,065 but selection is quite hard. 198 00:11:39,632 --> 00:11:41,067 yeah, you have to be in the top. 199 00:11:41,067 --> 00:11:43,969 And plus the trampoline, that kind of sport. 200 00:11:43,969 --> 00:11:44,704 Like a little miss. 201 00:11:44,704 --> 00:11:49,704 They can destroy you completely and you will be out of that loop on August 2nd. 202 00:11:50,209 --> 00:11:54,480 The men and women's teams compete in qualifying rounds, with eight 203 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:59,018 from each team advancing to compete in the final round for the Olympic gold. 204 00:11:59,251 --> 00:12:03,322 Those routines are actually judged off of, multiple elements. 205 00:12:03,389 --> 00:12:06,826 One of them being is execution, which everyone's familiar with. 206 00:12:06,826 --> 00:12:10,129 It's, how the routine looks, how pretty it is. 207 00:12:10,362 --> 00:12:14,767 The other one is, how far you deviate from the center of the trampoline. 208 00:12:15,568 --> 00:12:18,337 the third one would be how high you jump. 209 00:12:18,337 --> 00:12:20,706 So, you know, the high jump, higher scores. 210 00:12:20,706 --> 00:12:23,409 And then the fourth one would be the difficulty of your routine. 211 00:12:23,409 --> 00:12:26,145 Every single day I get to fly in the air. 212 00:12:26,145 --> 00:12:27,646 It's all power. 213 00:12:27,646 --> 00:12:30,649 It's technique, it's elegance. 214 00:12:30,983 --> 00:12:32,985 How you float in the air. 215 00:12:32,985 --> 00:12:37,656 It consists of ten skills, and it's the most difficult skills 216 00:12:37,656 --> 00:12:40,826 that you can put in a routine inside the gym. 217 00:12:40,826 --> 00:12:44,530 Trophy lined walls and banners on the ceiling chronicle 218 00:12:44,530 --> 00:12:48,134 the storied careers of many Olympians who trained at this gym. 219 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:51,904 Outside, a sign congratulates the next generation 220 00:12:51,904 --> 00:12:54,440 of top trampoline athletes, continuing 221 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:58,611 Lafayette's legacy as a world class trampoline training ground. 222 00:13:02,982 --> 00:13:03,382 Today's 223 00:13:03,382 --> 00:13:06,719 segment of our month long series, Life Pulse, examines 224 00:13:06,719 --> 00:13:11,190 the state of weight in Louisiana, from celebrities to consumers. 225 00:13:11,190 --> 00:13:14,193 Many people are turning to type two diabetes drugs 226 00:13:14,193 --> 00:13:17,763 like Ozempic and Munjal to shed some pounds. 227 00:13:17,763 --> 00:13:21,167 Now, originally, the drugs required a doctor's prescription. 228 00:13:21,367 --> 00:13:25,337 Now they are readily available as compounded versions, 229 00:13:25,604 --> 00:13:28,674 creating regulatory and quality control challenges. 230 00:13:29,074 --> 00:13:32,778 Doctor Ronnie Whitfield shares his medical insight on the benefits 231 00:13:32,778 --> 00:13:35,881 and consumer beware is tied to the weight 232 00:13:35,881 --> 00:13:38,851 loss medicines. 233 00:13:44,657 --> 00:13:47,193 In this episode of Life Pulse, 234 00:13:47,193 --> 00:13:51,630 we are focusing on the state of weight and in particular, 235 00:13:51,630 --> 00:13:55,201 all of the weight loss medication out there that is changing lives. 236 00:13:55,234 --> 00:13:58,437 Joining me right now is Doctor Ronnie Whitfield, 237 00:13:58,437 --> 00:14:01,440 aka the hip hop doc social media sensation. 238 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:04,009 I love saying that right to share with us 239 00:14:04,009 --> 00:14:07,780 his medical expertise on this very, very timely topic. 240 00:14:07,780 --> 00:14:11,550 I mean, look, if you don't know someone on one of these 241 00:14:11,550 --> 00:14:15,354 prescription weight loss drugs, you've certainly seen the commercials, right? 242 00:14:15,688 --> 00:14:19,825 Tell me, first of all, what are the the top weight loss drugs 243 00:14:19,825 --> 00:14:23,262 right now that people are taking and seeing results with? 244 00:14:23,395 --> 00:14:27,032 There's nothing out there, by the way, for our listeners that actually burns 245 00:14:27,032 --> 00:14:30,369 or cut fat, all these things either prevent fat absorption 246 00:14:30,369 --> 00:14:35,040 or they suppress appetite and then now there's the GLP ones, 247 00:14:35,507 --> 00:14:40,079 glucagon like peptide one, which is produced in the the stomach 248 00:14:40,479 --> 00:14:43,782 when we eat these hormones or peptides are normally produced 249 00:14:43,782 --> 00:14:45,150 and they suppress appetite. 250 00:14:45,150 --> 00:14:48,654 Well now we've created a way to inject this into your body. 251 00:14:48,654 --> 00:14:50,456 And it lasts for one week. 252 00:14:50,456 --> 00:14:52,024 And they have become very, very popular. 253 00:14:52,024 --> 00:14:53,492 These were initially drugs designed 254 00:14:53,492 --> 00:14:56,495 to treat diabetes with the side effect of appetite suppression. 255 00:14:56,762 --> 00:14:59,765 And so when you're seeing somebody losing 15 to 20% of their body 256 00:14:59,765 --> 00:15:03,369 weight and over a year that can truly impact the diabetes 257 00:15:03,369 --> 00:15:06,872 and actually is the closest thing to bariatric surgery that we've ever seen. 258 00:15:07,439 --> 00:15:10,042 So as a medical doctor, 259 00:15:10,042 --> 00:15:14,079 are you encouraged by these medical weight loss drugs 260 00:15:14,380 --> 00:15:17,650 and are they suitable for certain patients? 261 00:15:17,650 --> 00:15:20,486 But do you have concerns at the consumer level? 262 00:15:20,486 --> 00:15:24,189 So for the young lady who's BMI, which is body mass index, 263 00:15:24,189 --> 00:15:25,991 and I'll define it in a minute. 264 00:15:25,991 --> 00:15:28,494 is 25 and she's got a wedding in a couple of weeks 265 00:15:28,494 --> 00:15:32,031 and wants to go on, semaglutide to lose 7 or 8 pounds. 266 00:15:32,031 --> 00:15:33,599 Not excited about that at all. 267 00:15:33,599 --> 00:15:38,599 But for my morbidly obese, patient live with obesity that's got a BMI of 40, 268 00:15:39,805 --> 00:15:42,808 with hypertension, diabetes, disease, drugs that have been life saving. 269 00:15:43,108 --> 00:15:47,446 I think a lot of people want to know, is this drug a temporary fix? 270 00:15:47,446 --> 00:15:52,017 In other words, once you quit taking the shot, does the hunger come back 271 00:15:52,017 --> 00:15:55,688 and the weight gain return 70 for 70% of patients 272 00:15:55,688 --> 00:15:58,757 who stopped taking the drug will regain the majority of that weight back. 273 00:15:59,491 --> 00:16:03,429 but what you're hoping when I'm talking this individualized treatment plan, 274 00:16:03,429 --> 00:16:06,799 when I'm talking to my patients, that you are motivated to lose weight, 275 00:16:06,799 --> 00:16:07,299 we're going to talk 276 00:16:07,299 --> 00:16:11,003 about behavioral modifications, lifestyle changes, not just taking this drug. 277 00:16:11,270 --> 00:16:14,640 One of the fears of taking drugs like semaglutide is muscle wasting. 278 00:16:14,940 --> 00:16:18,210 So some people will lose 10% of their body fat, but they also lose 279 00:16:18,444 --> 00:16:20,612 10% of their protein or muscle mass. 280 00:16:20,612 --> 00:16:22,548 And so they're still not very healthy by definition. 281 00:16:22,548 --> 00:16:23,415 They're still considered fat. 282 00:16:23,415 --> 00:16:25,651 They may be thinner, but they're not healthier. 283 00:16:25,651 --> 00:16:28,087 And so you have to individualize that treatment. 284 00:16:28,087 --> 00:16:29,288 Just like with bariatric surgery, 285 00:16:29,288 --> 00:16:32,291 you just don't go to the doctor and say, I need weight loss and need to surgery. 286 00:16:32,458 --> 00:16:36,061 The drug is now become available at the consumer level as a 287 00:16:36,061 --> 00:16:37,830 compounded version right. 288 00:16:39,064 --> 00:16:41,233 There have been some concerns 289 00:16:41,233 --> 00:16:45,504 about regulation of these compounding pharmacies. 290 00:16:45,504 --> 00:16:49,608 A drug is available at medical spas and and walking clinics. 291 00:16:49,608 --> 00:16:54,608 And, you know, do you as a doctor, have some concerns about the availability 292 00:16:56,015 --> 00:17:01,015 of this compounded version of these weight loss drugs that came about? 293 00:17:01,587 --> 00:17:04,857 There was a shortage of the prescription drug at some point. 294 00:17:05,024 --> 00:17:09,995 And so the FDA allowed compounding pharmacies to make the drug. 295 00:17:09,995 --> 00:17:12,731 And so when you have legitimate compound finance pharmacies 296 00:17:12,731 --> 00:17:14,767 that know what they're doing, I have a cake recipe, 297 00:17:14,767 --> 00:17:17,269 I give it a cake recipe, you can make that same cake recipe. 298 00:17:17,269 --> 00:17:20,639 They were allowed to do it when the shortage was over. 299 00:17:21,340 --> 00:17:23,742 compound pharmacies were just supposed to stop making it, 300 00:17:23,742 --> 00:17:26,945 but the Board of pharmacies find it very, very hard to regulate and control it. 301 00:17:26,945 --> 00:17:28,781 So some of these weight loss clinics 302 00:17:28,781 --> 00:17:31,650 walk in clinics are getting medicines from out of the state. 303 00:17:31,650 --> 00:17:32,885 They don't know actually what they're getting. 304 00:17:32,885 --> 00:17:34,920 So there could be contamination in the product. 305 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:36,955 So there's definitely some concern there. 306 00:17:36,955 --> 00:17:37,623 Don't get me wrong. 307 00:17:37,623 --> 00:17:39,158 There's some legitimate compound pharmacies 308 00:17:39,158 --> 00:17:40,893 definitely right here in the state Louisiana. 309 00:17:40,893 --> 00:17:43,962 But again, some of these clinics are not following the rules and the standards. 310 00:17:43,962 --> 00:17:46,632 And there are some risks when patients visit these places, 311 00:17:46,632 --> 00:17:49,168 especially not without consultation with their physician. 312 00:17:49,168 --> 00:17:50,736 What can consumers 313 00:17:50,736 --> 00:17:53,939 do to protect themselves if they're interested in taking this drug? 314 00:17:53,939 --> 00:17:57,376 First, let's talk about this BMI or the definition of obesity. 315 00:17:57,676 --> 00:18:00,245 Normal way to BMI, which is just taking your height and weight. 316 00:18:01,246 --> 00:18:01,647 if your 317 00:18:01,647 --> 00:18:05,150 BMI is 18 to 24, 19 to 24, you consider normal weight. 318 00:18:05,150 --> 00:18:07,486 Anything greater than 30 is obese. 319 00:18:07,486 --> 00:18:10,189 Anything greater than 40 is severely obese. 320 00:18:10,189 --> 00:18:13,292 So when somebody comes into my office for these medications, 321 00:18:13,292 --> 00:18:17,196 I'm looking at their BMI, but also their other comorbid illnesses. 322 00:18:17,196 --> 00:18:20,199 If they have hypertension, diabetes, had a heart attack or stroke before. 323 00:18:20,466 --> 00:18:23,802 If your BMI is 27 or less and you have hypertension, diabetes, 324 00:18:24,036 --> 00:18:27,039 you may actually qualify for that drug in my opinion. 325 00:18:27,139 --> 00:18:29,308 But this is all individualized. 326 00:18:29,308 --> 00:18:30,843 And we also should point out 327 00:18:30,843 --> 00:18:33,512 at the consumer level, if you walk into one of these clinics, 328 00:18:33,512 --> 00:18:36,515 you know you're not getting the same powerful dosage 329 00:18:36,815 --> 00:18:39,852 that a diabetic patient is getting with a prescription. 330 00:18:39,985 --> 00:18:41,520 You don't actually know what you're getting. 331 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:44,022 And so you need to be very, very careful. Do your research. 332 00:18:44,022 --> 00:18:46,391 Make sure you research those claims before you go into them. 333 00:18:46,391 --> 00:18:48,193 There are some great legitimate clinics out there 334 00:18:48,193 --> 00:18:49,795 doing it the right way, but there are some there. 335 00:18:49,795 --> 00:18:53,132 And so at least you know, when I prescribe that penny with a pharmacy, pick it up. 336 00:18:53,432 --> 00:18:56,702 You're getting what I prescribe you and you're supposed to treat these drugs. 337 00:18:58,804 --> 00:19:01,874 by definition, monthly you increase until a patient reaches maximum benefit. 338 00:19:02,407 --> 00:19:04,610 but again, that's also individualized as well. 339 00:19:04,610 --> 00:19:09,114 Any concerns about long term effects of this weight of these weight loss? 340 00:19:09,314 --> 00:19:10,682 It's a relatively new drug. 341 00:19:10,682 --> 00:19:13,752 So it's being researched, just like the other 70 342 00:19:13,752 --> 00:19:16,755 plus anti-obesity drugs that are currently being researched. 343 00:19:17,356 --> 00:19:19,725 Ozempic slash will go over there. 344 00:19:19,725 --> 00:19:23,328 The same similar stat promises 15% of body weight loss in a year 345 00:19:23,929 --> 00:19:26,832 towards appetite or my general, I think 20%. 346 00:19:26,832 --> 00:19:30,102 And then there's one coming out I think pretty soon called triple G. 347 00:19:30,469 --> 00:19:32,804 That's 30% weight loss. 348 00:19:32,804 --> 00:19:33,872 We shall see. 349 00:19:33,872 --> 00:19:38,610 but I think, we will soon probably have an affordable pill formulation. 350 00:19:38,610 --> 00:19:41,580 There's actually a pill formulation of one of the semaglutide. 351 00:19:41,580 --> 00:19:43,415 It's called right below this, but it doesn't seem to cause 352 00:19:43,415 --> 00:19:45,317 as much weight loss as the injectables. 353 00:19:45,317 --> 00:19:47,352 But it does the same thing that mimics sensation. 354 00:19:47,352 --> 00:19:50,055 Satiety makes you feel full for about a week, 355 00:19:50,055 --> 00:19:51,657 and people tend to lose weight on it. 356 00:19:51,657 --> 00:19:56,461 Doctor Ronnie, final thoughts on the state of weight in Louisiana? 357 00:19:56,461 --> 00:19:59,765 All I can say is that in 1970, 15% of our country 358 00:19:59,765 --> 00:20:03,435 was overweight or obese, and now we're at 42%. 359 00:20:03,735 --> 00:20:06,138 Louisiana, I think, is somewhere close to 47%. 360 00:20:06,138 --> 00:20:08,240 This is a serious health issue. 361 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:09,841 It's a public health crisis. 362 00:20:09,841 --> 00:20:13,178 It's a growing population of people in our country that we don't want to see. 363 00:20:13,545 --> 00:20:16,815 And so we have to get serious about our health and I recommend everyone 364 00:20:16,815 --> 00:20:19,885 to see their physicians and talk to them about options for weight loss. 365 00:20:20,552 --> 00:20:22,921 Doctor Ronnie Whitfield, thank you so much for joining us 366 00:20:22,921 --> 00:20:24,890 on this edition of Light Pulse. 367 00:20:24,890 --> 00:20:27,726 The state of weights and valuable information. 368 00:20:27,726 --> 00:20:28,160 Thank you. 369 00:20:35,701 --> 00:20:38,704 The oldest cemetery and the Louisiana Purchase 370 00:20:38,937 --> 00:20:42,941 resides in Natchitoches as a memory keeper of the state's origins. 371 00:20:43,308 --> 00:20:46,311 Today, the American Cemetery welcomes the public 372 00:20:46,311 --> 00:20:50,082 for walking tours of the gravesites and a walk back in time. 373 00:20:50,482 --> 00:20:54,086 Upkeep is a labor of love by a volunteer organization 374 00:20:54,319 --> 00:20:57,856 that has maintained the city owned grounds for more than a century. 375 00:20:58,290 --> 00:21:02,461 I'm taking you on a stroll through the past and present of life 376 00:21:02,461 --> 00:21:05,430 in Louisiana. 377 00:21:08,033 --> 00:21:09,501 The American Cemetery 378 00:21:09,501 --> 00:21:13,205 sits on the former site of a French colonial fort in Natchitoches. 379 00:21:13,605 --> 00:21:16,775 Today, a wrought iron arch greets visitors 380 00:21:16,775 --> 00:21:20,312 from its Second Street entrance, where people of all creeds, 381 00:21:20,579 --> 00:21:25,083 colors and social statuses share common ground in death. 382 00:21:26,385 --> 00:21:28,654 Hi. Hi. You must be pain. 383 00:21:28,654 --> 00:21:30,088 I am pain, Williams. 384 00:21:30,088 --> 00:21:30,756 Nice to meet you. 385 00:21:30,756 --> 00:21:33,392 I am well, thank you for taking a break. Sure. 386 00:21:33,392 --> 00:21:38,263 I know you're out here doing maintenance on the grave and working up a sweat. 387 00:21:38,297 --> 00:21:39,464 We are a little bit today. 388 00:21:39,464 --> 00:21:43,302 But you are a historian that actually wrote a book about the American cemetery. 389 00:21:43,302 --> 00:21:46,238 So you are the perfect person to talk to and give us a tour. 390 00:21:47,606 --> 00:21:49,841 Payne Williams grew up in Natchitoches 391 00:21:49,841 --> 00:21:54,646 and continues his family legacy of caring for the American cemetery. 392 00:21:55,047 --> 00:21:57,883 His great grandmother, Eliza Payne Williams, 393 00:21:57,883 --> 00:22:01,186 was president of the American Cemetery Association, 394 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:04,756 a group of volunteers who formed in 1904 395 00:22:04,923 --> 00:22:07,893 to maintain the city owned graveyard. 396 00:22:08,193 --> 00:22:11,163 How old is the American cemetery? 397 00:22:11,530 --> 00:22:15,500 Well, the oldest grave that we have marked is 1797. 398 00:22:15,500 --> 00:22:18,270 So when we think there's gravestones that are 399 00:22:18,270 --> 00:22:21,406 that would have been or burials that would have been well before that. 400 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:26,345 So they say this is the oldest cemetery in the Louisiana. 401 00:22:26,511 --> 00:22:29,514 It is the oldest European cemetery. Yeah. 402 00:22:29,614 --> 00:22:32,818 So it's this is where the French, the initial French residents and 403 00:22:33,151 --> 00:22:36,154 so forth were buried in these grounds. 404 00:22:40,225 --> 00:22:43,195 We stop at the gravesite of Doctor John Sibley, 405 00:22:43,195 --> 00:22:46,331 who donated the land for the American cemetery. 406 00:22:47,165 --> 00:22:49,935 He was a Revolutionary War soldier. 407 00:22:49,935 --> 00:22:54,406 He was sent by President Jefferson to this area to work as an Indian agent. 408 00:22:54,639 --> 00:22:57,542 And so he was writing letters back to, 409 00:22:57,542 --> 00:23:00,112 President Jefferson before the Louisiana Purchase. 410 00:23:00,112 --> 00:23:03,382 And they weren't he was explaining about the area, the various Indian 411 00:23:03,382 --> 00:23:06,385 tribes, the cultures, the food. 412 00:23:06,451 --> 00:23:09,654 And when he died, he donated the property to the city. 413 00:23:14,192 --> 00:23:16,461 Some people find cemeteries creepy. 414 00:23:16,461 --> 00:23:19,865 I find them fascinating as time capsules of history. 415 00:23:20,265 --> 00:23:23,268 And the American cemetery tells Louisiana's story 416 00:23:23,268 --> 00:23:26,271 from the start. 417 00:23:26,304 --> 00:23:27,339 The cemetery has 418 00:23:27,339 --> 00:23:30,809 people buried here that were in every war, from the Revolutionary War, 419 00:23:31,176 --> 00:23:34,179 through the Civil War, through the Korean War, through Vietnam. 420 00:23:34,613 --> 00:23:36,548 all the way up until just recently. 421 00:23:36,548 --> 00:23:39,584 And so this is the, Russell family. 422 00:23:39,584 --> 00:23:43,622 And they were members of the of the Confederates Confederacy, 423 00:23:43,989 --> 00:23:46,992 and they are buried here. 424 00:23:47,859 --> 00:23:49,628 The cemetery is open to the public 425 00:23:49,628 --> 00:23:52,631 for walking tours with a self-guided map. 426 00:23:52,664 --> 00:23:56,835 This plaque marks a popular spot to stop and look around. 427 00:23:57,202 --> 00:24:02,140 It was the scene of a funeral from the 1989 movie Steel Magnolias, 428 00:24:02,374 --> 00:24:06,178 which was filmed in Natchitoches all the way to Texas and back. 429 00:24:06,645 --> 00:24:07,746 But I don't. 430 00:24:09,881 --> 00:24:12,250 As we walked the property, I noticed 431 00:24:12,250 --> 00:24:16,154 several fenced in area surrounded by clusters of family graves, 432 00:24:16,621 --> 00:24:20,225 all tied to tragic tales of untimely death. 433 00:24:21,092 --> 00:24:21,827 And so this. 434 00:24:21,827 --> 00:24:26,198 You have four members just in this area here of the Tucker family, 435 00:24:26,932 --> 00:24:29,935 who all died at, before the age of two. 436 00:24:30,268 --> 00:24:33,171 And then over here, you see several more right here. 437 00:24:33,171 --> 00:24:36,241 And so I think we counted at one point, maybe up to 8 438 00:24:36,241 --> 00:24:39,211 or 9 of the family members, that red dot at a young age. 439 00:24:40,045 --> 00:24:43,081 Most of these that we see here were in the late 1800s. 440 00:24:43,148 --> 00:24:47,752 And it just shows you how, tough life was back in the day. Wow. 441 00:24:49,154 --> 00:24:52,824 Many of Nacogdoches notables were also laid to rest 442 00:24:52,824 --> 00:24:56,328 here, including former Mayor Theodore Edward Pullman, 443 00:24:56,595 --> 00:25:01,199 who was assassinated in 1922 by a disgruntled landowner. 444 00:25:01,900 --> 00:25:03,168 He found Mr. 445 00:25:03,168 --> 00:25:06,071 Pullman on, I think it was Saint in East Street and shot him. 446 00:25:08,273 --> 00:25:09,040 From humble 447 00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:13,144 headstones to the chiseled tree stump designs on grave markers 448 00:25:13,378 --> 00:25:17,549 of Modern Woodmen of America members, to the large stone monuments, 449 00:25:17,849 --> 00:25:22,621 people from all walks of life found their final resting place here. 450 00:25:23,421 --> 00:25:25,857 The initial grave that really caught my attention 451 00:25:25,857 --> 00:25:28,860 was the one we're going to see next, which is John Gideon Lewis. 452 00:25:28,927 --> 00:25:32,597 He was born in Toronto in 1851 and then eventually 453 00:25:32,597 --> 00:25:35,600 made his way to Natchitoches, and he started the Prince Hall Masons, 454 00:25:36,601 --> 00:25:39,337 which is a group that has, 455 00:25:39,337 --> 00:25:41,606 significant amount of members. 456 00:25:41,606 --> 00:25:44,309 and so he had their newspaper started here. 457 00:25:44,309 --> 00:25:47,312 this is the only mausoleum we have in the American cemetery. 458 00:25:47,512 --> 00:25:49,247 He died in 1931. 459 00:25:49,247 --> 00:25:53,652 And so for this gentleman who was black to have the only mausoleum 460 00:25:53,652 --> 00:25:55,253 in the cemetery, obviously, 461 00:25:55,253 --> 00:25:57,956 it shows the respect that he had from the entire community 462 00:25:57,956 --> 00:26:01,259 and throughout the state to the American cemetery, 463 00:26:01,259 --> 00:26:04,863 with its modern day homages to deceased loved ones 464 00:26:05,297 --> 00:26:09,501 and historic relics of iron crosses and weathered headstones, 465 00:26:09,901 --> 00:26:13,338 Chronicles early life in Louisiana and continues 466 00:26:13,338 --> 00:26:16,641 to serve as the final resting place for the community. 467 00:26:17,342 --> 00:26:20,312 Any idea how many bodies are buried in the American cemetery? 468 00:26:20,445 --> 00:26:22,080 a couple thousand for sure. 469 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:26,518 We have a map that shows where every marked and unmarked grave is. 470 00:26:26,885 --> 00:26:28,987 Can bodies still be buried in the cemetery? 471 00:26:28,987 --> 00:26:30,355 Where is it? Closed for business. 472 00:26:30,355 --> 00:26:33,558 It's, It's gotten to the point where if it's not close, it's 473 00:26:33,992 --> 00:26:35,393 very close to being closed. 474 00:26:35,393 --> 00:26:37,329 And so what we're going to have to do is inspect 475 00:26:37,329 --> 00:26:40,332 some of the areas where we're in the what we call the old section 476 00:26:40,632 --> 00:26:44,703 and look and see if we have any area that we think may be available. 477 00:26:45,036 --> 00:26:46,972 But at this point, it's pretty much 478 00:26:48,006 --> 00:26:48,873 sold out. 479 00:26:48,873 --> 00:26:50,342 Sold out, if that's the right. 480 00:26:50,342 --> 00:26:54,512 No more real estate in the American cemetery where everything's negotiable. 481 00:26:55,146 --> 00:26:58,149 So it might help with those preservation dollars. 482 00:26:58,383 --> 00:27:01,386 Yeah, exactly. 483 00:27:03,655 --> 00:27:05,190 That's our show for this week. 484 00:27:05,190 --> 00:27:10,190 Remember, you can watch anything LPB, any time, wherever you are with our LPB app. 485 00:27:11,062 --> 00:27:13,965 You can catch LPB news and public affairs shows, 486 00:27:13,965 --> 00:27:17,802 as well as other Louisiana programs you've come to enjoy over the years. 487 00:27:18,203 --> 00:27:21,840 And please like us on Facebook and Instagram 488 00:27:22,140 --> 00:27:25,076 for everyone that Louisiana Public Broadcasting. 489 00:27:25,076 --> 00:27:27,812 I'm Karen LeBlanc. Until next time. 490 00:27:27,812 --> 00:27:30,815 That's the state we're in. 491 00:27:42,694 --> 00:27:44,029 Support for Louisiana. 492 00:27:44,029 --> 00:27:47,532 The state we're in is provided by Entergy. 493 00:27:47,532 --> 00:27:50,535 Louisiana is strengthening our power grid throughout the state. 494 00:27:51,236 --> 00:27:55,040 We're reinforcing infrastructure to prepare for stronger storms, 495 00:27:55,507 --> 00:27:59,010 reduce outages, and respond quicker when you do need us. 496 00:27:59,144 --> 00:28:01,946 Because together, we power lights. 497 00:28:01,946 --> 00:28:04,082 Additional support provided by the Fred B 498 00:28:04,082 --> 00:28:07,085 and Ruth B Ziegler Foundation and the Ziegler Art Museum. 499 00:28:07,085 --> 00:28:12,057 Located in Jennings City Hall, the museum focuses on emerging Louisiana artists 500 00:28:12,257 --> 00:28:15,660 and is an historical and cultural center for Southwest Louisiana 501 00:28:17,362 --> 00:28:19,998 and by Visit Baton Rouge. 502 00:28:19,998 --> 00:28:23,268 And the Foundation for Excellence in Louisiana Public Broadcasting. 503 00:28:23,268 --> 00:28:25,370 And viewers like you. Thank you.