Hour 2: Will the Saints go offense or defense? AI to help with 911 and 311 calls?

·24 min·2 clips

For each auto accident in Orleans Parish, 911 receives 20 or more calls from participatory citizens.

The episode begins with an interview featuring Alex Corey, Outreach and Partnership Manager for the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children. She introduces the Best Place for Working Parents program, a national network that designates businesses based on 10 research-backed family-friendly policies, such as paid time off and child care assistance. Corey explains that businesses can take a three-minute confidential assessment to earn the designation, which helps with recruitment and retention. She highlights that two-thirds of Louisiana children have all available parents in the workforce, making these policies essential. From a business standpoint, parental absences due to child care issues cost Louisiana businesses $762 million per year and have a $1.3 billion impact on the economy. For children, access to high-quality early childhood education leads to benefits like increased graduation rates and lower criminal justice involvement. Corey shares personal anecdotes as a working mom and notes that child care benefits are now more valued than retirement benefits by young professionals. She addresses misconceptions that family-friendly policies are expensive, emphasizing that options like flexible schedules can be low-cost. The segment concludes with information on how businesses can take the survey at bestplace4workingparents.com. Next, Carl Fasold, Executive Director of the Orleans Parish Communication District, discusses the district's role in providing 911 and 311 services. He explains that an AI agent has been deployed on the 911 system for almost two years to handle specific scenarios. The AI activates when all emergency communication specialists are busy and a call comes in within 200 meters of a known auto accident. Fasold reveals that for each auto accident in Orleans Parish, 911 receives 20 or more calls from citizens, leading to congestion. The AI asks if the caller is reporting the accident and, if not involved, allows them to hang up, freeing up operators for more serious emergencies. This system respects caller time and reduces queue waits, with all calls recorded for potential follow-up. Fasold clarifies that the AI only intervenes under strict conditions and if the caller says anything but 'yes,' they are quickly transferred to a human. The segment ends with Fasold emphasizing the goal of prioritizing critical emergencies. Finally, Steve Geller, WWL Sports Director, joins to preview the NFL Draft, focusing on the New Orleans Saints' eighth overall pick. He discusses mock drafts that suggest the Saints might select a wide receiver or edge rusher. Wide receiver prospects mentioned include Carnell Tate from Ohio State, Makai Lemon from USC, and Jordan Tyson from Arizona State, with Tyson noted for talent but health concerns. Edge rusher options include Reuben Bain Jr. from Miami, who had 9.5 sacks last season but has arm length concerns, and Reuben Bailey from Texas Tech. Geller also considers safety Caleb Downs and cornerback Mansour Delane as potential picks, debating between best player available and pressing needs. He notes the Saints' historical tendency to trade up rather than down and predicts the team will likely stay at pick eight. The segment concludes with Geller's preference for an edge rusher but acknowledgment it could be a coin flip.

As heard by us

Louisiana workplace policy, AI-assisted 911 triage, and Saints draft needs share a brisk, practical hour.

Working parents, busy 911 lines, and the Saints' draft board give this hour a practical local sweep. Alex Corey of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children outlines the Best Place for Working Parents designation, built around a quick assessment of research-backed policies…

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Why you'd press play

You get working-parent policies, an AI answer for duplicate 911 accident calls, and Saints draft debate in one easy swing.

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