Baton Rouge news

• Livingston Parish Superintendent added agenda item to address employee concerns during School Board meeting Thursday

  29-03-2023 21:24
  
  LIVINGSTON PARISH - After a canceled job fair and a mass teacher absence, the Livingston Parish Superintendent added an agenda item to address employees concerns during a school board meeting Thursday. The agenda item will be presented by Superintendent Joe Murphy and includes discussions of a four-day work week, teachers and faculty no longer having to work extra hours at after-school athletic events and an earlier dismissal date for the end of the year. Also proposed: All pr
  
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• From walk-on to consistent performer; Sierra Ballard has energized the 2023 LSU gymnastics team

  29-03-2023 19:08
  
  BATON ROUGE - The LSU Gym team is about to start their NCAA Tournament run on Friday. The Tigers got hot down the stretch after a rough start to the season, finishing third in the SEC Tournament two weeks ago.A big reason for that turnaround was Sierra Ballard, who went from being a walk-on to a consistent performer even though Ballard's first two years at LSU didn't go the way she wanted."Going two years without competing really can mentally take a toll on you. And you feel like you f
  
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• Hundreds of Vietnam War veterans honored Wednesday for 50th anniversary of troops' return home

  29-03-2023 18:00
  
  BATON ROUGE - More than 700 Vietnam War veterans gathered at the River Center for a 50th anniversary commemoration ceremony. On March 29, 1973, the last American troops returned home from Vietnam after nearly two brutal decades of fighting. Fifty years later, the horrors of the war are not forgotten, but Wednesday's ceremony aimed to focus more on the brotherly bonds created in the battlefield.“It’s in memory not only of the people that are here but the ones that ar
  
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• Some Livingston Parish schools cancel classes Thursday amid flood of teachers call-outs

  29-03-2023 17:41
  
  DENAHM SPRINGS - Livingston Parish Schools announced that the Denham Springs High School and Southside Junior High will be closed Thursday because too many teachers will be absent. Superintendent Joe Murphy said they tried to hire substitutes for the day, but too many teachers had called out. “The volume of absences that has been declared is greater than we can appropriately manage at this time. This large shortage of employees means campus leadership would not be ab
  
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• Some Livingston Parish schools cancel classes Thursday amid flood of teacher call-outs

  29-03-2023 17:41
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - Livingston Parish Schools announced that the Denham Springs High School and Southside Junior High will be closed Thursday because too many teachers will be absent. Superintendent Joe Murphy said they tried to hire substitutes for the day, but too many teachers had called out. “The volume of absences that has been declared is greater than we can appropriately manage at this time. This large shortage of employees means campus leadership would not be ab
  
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• Denham Springs High School cancels classes for Thursday, says too many teachers will be absent

  29-03-2023 17:41
  
  DENAHM SPRINGS - Livingston Parish Schools announced that the Denham Springs High School will be closed Thursday because too many teachers will be absent. Superintendent Joe Murphy said they tried to hire substitutes for the day, but too many teachers had called out. “The volume of absences that has been declared is greater than we can appropriately manage at this time. This large shortage of employees means campus leadership would not be able to provide a normal lea
  
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• Flight data gives more insight into what happened before deadly BRPD helicopter crash

  29-03-2023 16:27
  
  ERWINVILLE - Flight data shows that a BRPD helicopter abruptly fluctuated in speed just seconds before it crashed Sunday morning, killing both pilots on board. The helicopter's flight track, publicly available through FlightAware, shows that the aircraft jumped from 40mph to 102mph and back down to 30mph in the span of about 30 seconds. The aircraft also ascended to 1,300 feet just before the crash, which happened roughly 10 minutes after its takeoff from the BTR Airport. Inve
  
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• FAA says BRPD crash happened 'under unknown circumstances,' changes initial report

  29-03-2023 16:27
  
  ERWINVILLE - A new report released by the FAA Thursday removed mentions of a BRPD helicopter's tail rotor hitting a tree and instead said the crash happened "under unknown circumstances."The helicopter's flight track, publicly available through FlightAware, shows that the aircraft jumped from 40mph to 102mph and back down to 30mph in the span of about 30 seconds. The aircraft also ascended to 1,300 feet just before the crash, which happened roughly 10 minutes after its takeoff from the BTR Airp
  
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• Police asking public for help to identify man involved in Tigerland shootout

  29-03-2023 15:28
  
  BATON ROUGE - Police are asking the public for help in identifying a man who was involved in a gun battle in Tigerland. WBRZ obtained video of the gun battle at 9 a.m. on Feb 23. Security footage shows two men standing on one side of the Tigerland area and firing multiple shots across to the other side. Law enforcement responded to the shooting, but said all people involved had left the area. Anyone with information should call (225) 344-7867. Permalink| Comm
  
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• Police asking public for help to identify man involved in Tigerland shooting

  29-03-2023 15:28
  
  BATON ROUGE - Police are asking the public for help in identifying a man who was involved in a gun battle in Tigerland. WBRZ obtained video of the gun battle at 9 a.m. on Feb 23. Security footage shows two men standing on one side of the Tigerland area and firing multiple shots across to the other side. Law enforcement responded to the shooting, but said all people involved had left the area. Anyone with information should call (225) 344-7867. Permalink| Comm
  
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• Headed to Dallas? Here's how much resale tickets are going for

  29-03-2023 14:59
  
  DALLAS - LSU fans who don't already have tickets to Friday night's Final Four double-header will be paying a steep price in the secondary market.Online brokerage sites on Wednesday showed plenty of resale options, but nothing below the $200 mark. That was the threshold WBRZ found on several sites when looking for the cheapest available seat in the American Airlines Center -- and most resales then add a chunky service fee on top of that.The venue seats about 20,000 people for basketball games, a
  
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• Funeral arrangements set for 11-year-old shooting victim after city-backed fundraiser

  29-03-2023 14:53
  
  BATON ROUGE - City officials have announced funeral arrangements for an 11-year-old who was shot to death by a 17-year-old who was allegedly holding the boy's family hostage. The city-parish says services for Matthew Fortenberry will be held 11 a.m. Friday, March 31 at Wilson-Wooddale Funeral Home on Wooddale Boulevard. A repast will be held at the Charles R. Kelly Community Center located at 3535 Riley Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70805 immediately following the service.Last week, city lea
  
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• BR native hailed as a hero after Nashville school shooting: 'She protected her children'

  29-03-2023 14:27
  
  NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The headmaster of a school in Tennessee where six people were gunned down is being praised for her actions during the mass shooting, with reports saying she confronted the shooter in an effort to save her students.  Katherine Koonce, a Baton Rouge native, was among three adults who were killed in the attack, which also left three 9-year-old children dead. Cynthia Peak — a substitute teacher from Leesville, Louisiana — was also among those
  
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• Baton Rouge native hailed as a hero after Nashville school shooting: 'She protected her children'

  29-03-2023 14:27
  
  NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The headmaster of a school in Tennessee where six people were gunned down is being praised for her actions during the mass shooting, with reports saying she confronted the shooter in an effort to save her students.  Katherine Koonce, a Baton Rouge native, was among three adults who were killed in the Covenant School attack, which also left three 9-year-old children dead. Cynthia Peak — a substitute teacher from Leesville, Louisiana — was
  
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• Vatican: Pope to be hospitalized for days for lung infection

  29-03-2023 14:06
  
  VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis was hospitalized with a lung infection Wednesday after experiencing difficulty breathing in recent days and will remain in the hospital for several days of treatment, the Vatican said.The 86-year-old pope doesn’t have COVID-19, spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement late Wednesday.The hospitalization was the first since Francis spent 10 days at the Gemelli in July 2021 to have 33 centimeters (13 inches) of his colon removed.It immediately
  
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• Utility overcharge corrected, more lighting provided in bill fix

  29-03-2023 14:00
  
  BATON ROUGE - A business owner is in a much better position after reaching out to 2 On Your Side for help with her Entergy bill. Dorothy Holdon asked for help after she couldn't find a resolution on her own."Within a couple of days they were out installing lights," she said.Holdon is proud to have three new security lights surrounding her business on Plank Road in Baton Rouge. She's also happy to have a large credit on her account."It makes a big difference, the place is well lit and customers
  
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• Baker police looking for man who allegedly shot ex's new boyfriend

  29-03-2023 13:14
  
  BAKER - Police are looking for a man accused of shooting at a car that his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend were riding in.The shooting was reported Tuesday on Seville Drive, but few other details were immediately available. Police said both victims were in the car at the time, but only the boyfriend was shot.  The man survived the shooting, but his condition is unknown.Police are still looking for the suspect, identified as Keldrick Coates. He is wanted on two counts of at
  
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• Baker police looking for man who allegedly shot ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend

  29-03-2023 13:14
  
  BAKER - Police are looking for a man accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend Tuesday.The shooting was reported on Seville Drive, but few other details were immediately available. Both victims survived the shooting, but their conditions are unknown, Baker Police said in a statement Wednesday. Police are still looking for the suspect, identified as Keldrick Coates. He is wanted on charges of attempted murder, felon in possession of a firearm and illegal weapons.&n
  
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• Southern University announces new men's basketball coach

  29-03-2023 13:04
  
  BATON ROUGE - Southern University has announced that Kevin Johnson, previously an assistant coach at Tulane and University of Louisiana at Lafayette, has been selected as the new men's basketball coach for the Jaguars. Johnson has spent decades coaching in several Louisiana colleges, including Nicholls State and Louisiana Tech along with his time at Tulane and UL. You can read more about Johnson's coaching record on UL's website here and on Tulane's website here.Permalink| Com
  
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• Southern University announces new head men's basketball coach

  29-03-2023 13:04
  
  BATON ROUGE - Southern University has announced that Kevin Johnson, previously an assistant coach at Tulane and University of Louisiana at Lafayette, has been selected as the new head men's basketball coach for the Jaguars. Johnson has spent decades coaching in several Louisiana colleges, including Nicholls State and Louisiana Tech alongside his time at Tulane and UL. You can read more about Johnson's coaching record on UL's website here and on Tulane's website here.Permalink|
  
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• Men wanted for kidnapping, armed robbery after potentially gang-related attack in Darrow

  29-03-2023 12:15
  
  DARROW - Deputies are searching for two men allegedly connected to an armed robbery and gunfire in Ascension Parish, suggesting that the suspects may be tied to gang activity.According to the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office, deputies are searching for Calvin Adams III and Kevin Ross Jr. after law enforcement responded to report of a shooting near Galaxy and Neptune Boulevards in Darrow around 9 a.m. Monday. Detectives found multiple spent shell casings and "other evidence" indicating
  
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• Deputies searching for two men accused of attempted murder, kidnapping after armed robbery

  29-03-2023 12:15
  
  DARROW - Ascension Parish deputies are searching for two men allegedly connected to an armed robbery and shooting Monday morning. According to the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office, deputies are searching for Calvin Adams III and Kevin Ross Jr. after law enforcement responded to report of a shooting near Galaxy and Neptune Boulevards in Darrow around 9 a.m. Monday. Detectives found multiple spent shell casings and "other evidence" indicating a shooting had happened, but no inj
  
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• Train derails in Port Allen; officials say no injuries, no public threat currently reported

  29-03-2023 09:50
  
  PORT ALLEN - A train derailed in Port Allen Wednesday morning, but officials are saying the situation is not severe. The derailment happened around 9:45 a.m. Wednesday on a railroad that runs parallel to LA-1 near the Anchorage overpass. The West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office said there was currently no known threat to the public, and no injuries were reported. The Louisiana State Police Hazmat team was called to the scene to investigate, according to WBRSO.This is a dev
  
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• Train derails in Port Allen; no injuries, no immediate danger to public

  29-03-2023 09:50
  
  PORT ALLEN - A train derailed in Port Allen Wednesday morning, but officials are saying the situation is not severe. The derailment happened around 9:45 a.m. Wednesday on a railroad that runs parallel to LA-1 near the Anchorage overpass. The West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office said there was currently no known threat to the public, and no injuries were reported. The Louisiana State Police Hazmat team was called to the scene to investigate, according to WBRSO.State Police
  
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• Train car derails in Port Allen; officials say no injuries, no public threat currently reported

  29-03-2023 09:50
  
  PORT ALLEN - A train derailed in Port Allen Wednesday morning, but officials are saying the situation is not severe. The derailment happened around 9:45 a.m. Wednesday on a railroad that runs parallel to LA-1 near the Anchorage overpass. The West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office said there was currently no known threat to the public, and no injuries were reported. The Louisiana State Police Hazmat team was called to the scene to investigate, according to WBRSO.This is a dev
  
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• Deputies searching for man accused of theft from Renaissance Festival site

  29-03-2023 09:42
  
  HAMMOND - Tangipahoa Parish deputies are searching for a man accused of a theft that happened on the site of the Louisiana Renaissance Festival. According to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office, Chad Babb, 49, is allegedly connected to a theft from the festival's site at 46468 River Road on March 7. Babb currently has warrants out for his arrest on counts of simple burglary, obstruction of justice, and criminal damage to property. Though deputies did not specify wh
  
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• 'Basic training without yelling': Baton Rouge native benefits from Army basic training prep course

  29-03-2023 07:36
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Last August, Daysia Holiday decided to try one more time to join the Army.She’d taken the academic test and failed three times. So, when she was offered a slot in a new Army prep course to help improve her scores and qualify for basic training, she jumped at the chance.Seven months later, Pvt. 2nd Class Holiday is a proud graduate of Army basic training, and is finishing her advanced instruction at Fort Lee, Virginia, to become a power generation specialist
  
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• Two dead, including suspected gunman, after overnight standoff in Slidell

  29-03-2023 06:58
  
  SLIDELL - Two people, including a gunman, were left dead after a standoff with deputies Tuesday night. The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, along with SWAT team members, detectives, and crime scene technicians responded to a home on Lake Village Boulevard shortly after 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Deputies made contact with a man inside the home, who said there had been an "exchange of gunfire" between him and an acquaintance. The STPSO did not specify how long the situation went on
  
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• Police investigating shooting death of 23-year-old in park off Plank Road

  29-03-2023 04:43
  
  BATON ROUGE - Homicide detectives are investigating a shooting that left a 23-year-old man dead in a park off Plank Road Tuesday morning. According to the Baton Rouge Police Department, Troy Williams was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds in a park on Geronimo Street around 10:43 a.m. Tuesday. Police said a suspect and motive are not known at this time. This is a developing story. Permalink| Comments
  
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