KBZE 1059FM - South Louisiana Radio

SPORTS BRIEFS FOR MAY 15TH -THE JETS, AARON RODGERS & DETAILS ON THE PREAKNESS

Berwick defeats Doyle, becoming the 2023 LHSAA Division 3 Baseball State Champions

KBZE SPORTS - May 12, 2023
Berwick High School defeats Doyle High School, 4 to 2, and captures the Louisiana High School Athletic Association's Non-Select Division III Baseball State Title, in Sulphur, Louisiana.
John Arceneaux calls the game, assisted by Howard Castay 

Berwick vs Kinder - LHSAA Division 3 Baseball Semi-Finals - May 10, 2023

KBZE105.9FM Sports - Berwick defeats Kinder 4 to 1 in McMurry Park, Sulphur, Louisiana. 
Seth Thomas, KBZE Sports Director, has the call of the game. 

Louisiana Principal uses TikTok to connect to his students

Howard Castay
 
A Louisiana middle school principal made national news on May 1 with his
Tiktok page, which he uses as a platform to connect with students at Harry Hurst Middle
School in Destrehan Louisiana, 26 miles west of New Orleans.
Dr. David Schexnaydre  made the news on May 1, when he shared his use of TikTok with The 74, a nonprofit news organization that covers America's educational system from early childhood through college and career.
The 74 featured Schexnaydre on their internet news site at this link: https://www.the74million.org/article/how-one-middle-school-principal-is-using-tiktok-to-build-school-culture-recruit-teachers/
Schexnaydre is on TikTok with this address: @drdschex, with 3,114 followers, and 298,700 likes. You can view two of his TikTok's on YouTube, at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFFa9ZPsqvw
Some of his videos have monster view numbers including a video of him doing a happy dance at the start of Christmas break, that went viral with  1.3 million viewers.
Another video about forgetting your school id has 460,700 views, while a video of him serving a volleyball has 183,800 views.
Other videos teach, with topics like: self motivation,  getting to and from school safely, and how to properly handle a chromebook.
Then, there is a video where he pops the artist Drake in, to promote the school wrist bands which say, "Be better than Yesterday."
Also there's another video that spells out what HURST stands for - Honor, Unity, Respect, Self-Motivation and Tolerance.
Schexnaydre is also the 2023 Louisiana State Principal of the Year.
“Whether it’s academics, test scores or mental health, your initiatives will not work unless the school culture is right,” Schexnaydre told The 74 in their interview.
Additionally, Schexnaydre said these are some of the other reasons he uses TikTok:
It's been a good tool, not only with students but in recruiting new teachers, who see the videos and see the school is a great place to work.
We prove there is a way to use TikTok effectively 
It's reach, you have to go where people are and students use TikTok.
Denying access will only make students want it more

SPORTS BRIEFS - MAY 1ST

WDSU WEATHER FORECAST - MAY 1ST

Black Entrepreneur calls banning TikTok and other social media, rulership

by:  Howard Castay
 
CBSRadio News is reporting that TikTok is now banned from use across the entire State University System in Florida. Universities across the state are prohibited from using campus WI-FI or school-owned devices to access the platform, after a recent decision from the Florida Board of Governors.
The ban includes the includes the state's largest institutions:  the University of Florida, Florida State University, Florida Atlantic University, and the University of South Florida.
Meanwhile, the State of Arkansas is on the verge of passing a bill to require all children to need their parent's permission, in order to access all social media sites.
The Arkansas majority-Republican House approved by an 82-10 vote the restrictions, which have the support of GOP Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. The proposal goes back to the Senate, which approved an earlier version of the bill, but needs one more vote before it can head to Sanders’ desk.
Jondrea Smith calls the government's actions to ban TikTok, "rulership and not government."
"Their plans will stifle communication and the sharing of ideas, not to mention small business commerce," Smith said. 
Smith is a woodworking digital artist from the Mississippi Delta.
After living in New Orleans for 12 years, he and his wife (who has family in Louisiana), moved to Birmingham.
Smith's work includes turning wood into furniture pieces, in addition to commemorative pieces, and other creative art.
"I feel this move is also somewhat racial because it constricts the African Diaspora. We are naturally creative, our dance, our music, our food. We communicate and share our thoughts and ideas within our culture."
"Now, our fundamental freedoms appear to be at risk," he said.
"Word of mouth is very important in our culture. It creates sales for us entrepreneurs. If this goes away, so does the outlets we presently have for customers to discover our work. TikTok gives a platform that is the sole avenue for many minorities."
While focused on social media freedoms for his business, Smith agrees that parents need to control how much time their children spend with TikTok and other social media, however, they should not have to leave, "tracking tokens to state agencies."
"Arkansas needs to explain how they plan to protect the privacy of its residents, parents and children, who use social media. What security will you provide to verify people?"
"This kind of thing makes me really uneasy. There is no public outcry, no public health issue for passing a law to clamp on the use of social media. Again, it's rulership and not government. Content filters are not a state function."
 Here are just some of the reasons why Smith feels a TikTok ban doesn’t make sense:
 
For many content creators, TikTok is a sole source of livelihood. Many Black entrepreneurs rely on the platform to generate revenue and expand their business. TikTok’s popularity spans many industries, including fashion, music, food, and art, all parts of the African Diaspora. 
TikTok offers new ways for students and young adults to learn. The platform is rich in easy-to-digest video resources, from financial planning to home renovation hacks and meal prepping.
Banning TikTok takes away from our fundamental freedoms. Americans have the right to pursue their dreams and be entertained. If Congress bans TikTok, who knows what is next?
 
 

WDSU WEATHER - MARGARET ORR FORECAST - APRIL 25

SPORTS BRIEFS FOR APRIL 25TH - AARON RODGERS JOINS THEJETS

Louisiana nurse says she is growing an informational platform, thanks to TikTok

April 23, 2023
by: Howard Castay 
     Lafayette, La. - Shauna Sias is a nurse expert in bullying and suicide prevention,  and diabetic care.
      Outside of her professional job however, Shauna calls herself, "The Conduit," a name that someone dubbed her after she started posting information on facebook, that many persons were unaware of.
      But in June of 2022,  Sias moved what became her platform,  "The BullyBox Passion Project," to TikTok, where she is currently growing impressions, with 14,700 likes to her posts, and 2,194 followers.
      "I'm like an information highway for all of Louisiana. And, Tiktok is helping me get to folks right where they are," Sias said.
        "I've been told the information I give, good, bad or neutral, has been quite beneficial to many people, including parents and children."
        "Tiktok is a very beneficial medium, if used correctly. I believe it's more accessible than the internet in certain demographic locations," she said.
         "Tiktox reaches more people than what television, radio or newspaper could ever do."
          She said, "The Bullybox Passion Project," was birthed in 2019 after the suicide of 13-year-old Traeh Thyssen, a student in Baton Rouge, "who was allegedly buillied  in the classroom.
          "There are situations in our public schools that no one knows. There are rights that you as a parent have - you need to know what they are, and how you can exercise them. Education is just one of the topics on my show," Sias said.
           The Opelousas native calls the recent scrutiny by the government over TikTok  ridiculous.
           "If you don't like it, don't use it. But you do not have the right to tell someone where they can and cannot receive sources of information. It's the same concept as regulating my uterus," Sias said.
             "Why ban TikTox when the NRA is still in full effect!"
             "Americans love things that are colorful, and entertaining. TikTok does that - it makes America feel good."
              Here are Silas' suggestions for the government, when it comes to TikTok:
Employees should not put any information about their job on TikTok, but they should be allowed to use their phones on a break, or at lunch, at their desks if they so wish.
Encourage parents to supervise their children - find out how much time they're spending on TikTok, and what they are looking at. 
Focus on more gun control, and expand programs to fight suicide and bullying in schools.
(Click to listen to a few excerpts of my interview with Sias).