Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1986-05-07

Duration: 00:27:16

Subjects: FARMERS | TRIALS | Edwards, Edwin W. | Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1986 | Agriculture

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Nachman, Karen Reporter
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• LeBlanc, Bob Speaker
• Laborde, Raymond Speaker
• Landrieu, Mary Speaker
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker
• Ruppenicker, David Interviewee
• Evans, John Interviewee
• Gay, Price Interviewee
• Gay, John Interviewee
• Patterson, Felix Interviewee
• Timmons, Glenn Interviewee
• Canella, Victor Interviewee
• Brown, Craig Interviewee
• Martzell, Jack Speaker
• Simmons, Richard Speaker
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from May 7, 1986, features Ken Johnson hosting a daily legislative report on the 1986 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Johnson first reports on the day’s headlines. These stories include: Bob LeBlanc of the Office of Tourism testifying before the House Appropriations Committee against the proposed cuts to his office; State Representatives Raymond Laborde and Mary Landrieu debating the proposed budget cuts; and Governor Edwin Edwards discussing his view that the proposed state lottery will pass. Next, Karen Nachman reports on the record number of farm foreclosures in Louisiana. Her report includes an interview with David Ruppenicker of the Louisiana Farm Bureau. Johnson then presents a rebroadcast of his November 1985 report on the difficulties facing Louisiana farmers due to three hurricanes, high interest rates, low commodity prices, and a farm credit crunch. Next, Johnson conducts an in-studio interview with John Evans, a farmer from White Castle, Louisiana, and Craig Brown of the Louisiana Farm Bureau. They discuss: the farm credit system; farm foreclosures; and what farmers need to help them through this crisis. Lastly, Laura Myers reports on the latest news from the seventh week of the retrial of Governor Edwin Edwards and four other defendants in New Orleans on fraud and racketeering charges related to the permitting process for building new hospitals and nursing homes. Her report focuses on the defense’s closing arguments. Her report includes highlights of press conferences on the courthouse steps with defense attorney Jack Martzell, defense attorney Richard Simmons, and Governor Edwin Edwards.