(Twitter @alialmossawi)

Ali Almossawi is author of "Bad Choices: How algorithms can help you think smarter and live happier." Almossawi works on the data science team at Mozilla. He's an alumnus of MIT and Carnegie Mellon and has worked at the MIT Media Lab.

Also on today's program: State Sen. Dan Claitor is proposing to end the death penalty. He speaks with us about that here.

(kimberlywillisholt.com)

National Book Award winning author Kimberly Willis Holt grew up in Louisiana and attended LSU. She talks about her latest book, "Blooming at the Texas Sunrise Motel."

Also on today's program: LSU Faculty Senate President Kevin Kope on what budget cuts are doing to the university, here.

(lsu.edu)

Louisiana State University Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope discusses the impact of budget cuts on the university and on faculty morale. He addresses the effect on students with the reduction in TOPS benefits.

Cope says LSU's faculty has shrunk in the past two years from 1,425 to roughly 1,200 full-time people today.

(gov.louisiana.gov)

Julie Baxter Payer, Deputy Chief of Staff for Gov. John Bel Edwards, gets us up to speed on the latest regarding the Restore Louisiana homeowners assistance program. It's been 7 months since the historic flooding of 2016 and people are still getting back on their feet.

Over the weekend, The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development approved the state's action plan for the $1.6 billion in federal flood aid that Congress approved.

On Monday, April 10, Restore Louisiana is asking every flooded homeowner seeking assistance from the program to fill out an initial survey at the Restore Louisiana program's website. Payer says the 15-minute survey is an important first step for determining eligibility.

You'll find more information about Restore Louisiana, including the survey available next week, at restore.la.gov.

(Sue Lincoln)

Michael Henderson, Director of the LSU Public Policy Lab, discusses his research finding Louisiana voters in some cases are receptive to tax increases.

This is information that the governor and lawmakers may weigh as they prepare for the start of a legislative session in which the state budget is front and center.

(YouTube)

Thomas Groome, Professor of Religion and Theology, says Democrats are losing ground in key rust belt states, with Catholic voters moving to the GOP. He notes that President Trump won the White Catholic vote by 23 percentage points over Hillary Clinton, a group that President Bill Clinton won in each of his presidential elections of 1992 and 1996.

Professor Groome, in a recent editorial to the New York Times, urges Democrats to change the debate on abortion or risk losing more ground with Catholic voters.

(Sue Lincoln)

WRKF Capitol Access reporter Sue Lincoln joins us to compare the "cookie" and the "cleaning the room" elements of the governor's comprehensive tax reform package. We also hear tape as Michael Henderson from the LSU Public Policy Research Lab reviews part of the Louisiana Survey and what it says about public perception and expectations regarding taxes.

Also on today's program: Dan Collins talks about battling environmental violations he uncovered while working for the state Department of Natural Resources, here.

(preserve-louisiana.org)

Fairleigh Cook Jackson talks about efforts by her group, Preserve Louisiana, to save state landmarks.

Also on today's program: Dan Collins talks about battling environmental violations he uncovered while working for the state Department of Natural Resources, here.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Dan Collins is a Baton Rouge land man who has been battling the state in court over environmental violations he uncovered while working for the Department of Natural Resources. Collins talks about his whistle-blower lawsuit regarding Bayou Postillion.

Also on today's program: WRKF's own Capitol Access reporter Sue Lincoln gets us up to speed on this week's happenings at the state capitol, including the governor's revelation of his tax reform plan, here.

(YouTube)

Elliott Stonecipher, veteran pollster and demographer, analyzes why, since the 1970s, Louisiana has lagged behind other states, including those in the South, in population growth. Stonecipher takes calls from listeners illustrating loved ones who have left Louisiana for opportunity and other reasons.

Stonecipher also examines how the tax proposal by Gov. John Bel Edwards will resonate with lawmakers and the electorate and explains why he sees a correlation between taxation and population stagnation.

Also on today's program: Dan Collins talks about battling environmental violations he uncovered while working for the state Department of Natural Resources, here.