Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1984-05-11

Duration: 00:24:49

Subjects: Landrieu, Mary, 1955- | Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1984 | Louisiana World Exposition (1984: New Orleans, La.) | Mental Health | Mental illness | People with mental disabilities

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Ekings, Robyn Host
• Alario, John Interviewee
• Rukeyser, Louis Interviewee
• Piker, Bea Interviewee
• Boyd, Joe Interviewee
• Escalada, Virginia Interviewee
• Piper, Claudia Interviewee
• Kent, Andrea Interviewee
• Landrieu, Mary Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from May 11, 1984, features Ken Johnson and Robyn Ekings hosting a daily legislative report on the 1984 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Johnson first previews the opening of the 1984 World’s Fair in New Orleans. His report includes interviews with Speaker of the House John Alario and Louis Rukeyser of “Wall Street Week.” Next, Johnson reports on the Alliance for the Mentally Ill’s efforts to establish a Bill of Rights for the Mentally Handicapped in Louisiana. His report includes interviews with: Bea Piker and Joe Boyd of the Alliance for the Mentally Ill; Virginia Escalada of the Parc School in Kenner, Louisiana; Claudia Piper, a special education teacher; and Andrea Kent, a teacher intern. Lastly, Johnson and Ekings conduct an in-studio interview with State Representative Mary Landrieu. She discusses: her bill adding the mentally ill into the existing employment and housing protections for people with mental disabilities; the public’s fear of dealing with mental illness; and the debate over a bill on group homes.