Baton Rouge news

• New statement from Dow about massive explosion at plant in Plaquemine Friday night

  14-07-2023 21:31
  
  UPDATE - A new statement released by Dow has provided new information about the fire that set off a series of explosions Friday night.Dow says that at around 9:15 p.m. Friday, a fire occurred in Dow's Glycol 2 Unit.The Iberville Parish Council declared a shelter-in-place for half a mile on the south side of the site, which has since been lifted after Dow leaders advised that the area is safe.Highway 1 reopened at 8:45 a.m.While crews have substantially reduced the fire, they are still working t
  
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• Massive explosion at Dow plant prompts shelter-in-place order for Plaquemine

  14-07-2023 21:31
  
  A fire was visible Friday night at the Dow Plant in Plaquemine after six explosions took place at the Glycol unit.Stream live coverage hereIberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi confirmed six explosions thus far, but no injury or leaks are known at this time. Iberville Parish has issued a shelter-in-place out of caution, but said all personnel has been accounted for.This is a developing story.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Fire, explosions reported at Dow Plant in Plaquemine

  14-07-2023 21:31
  
  A fire was visible Friday night at the Dow Plant in Plaquemine after six explosions took place at the Glycol unit.Iberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi confirmed six explosions thus far, but no injury or leaks are known at this time. Police are monitoring wind conditions as well.This is a developing story.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Dow says no airborne threat after massive explosion at Plaquemine plant

  14-07-2023 21:31
  
  UPDATE - A new statement released by Dow has provided new information about the fire that set off a series of explosions Friday night.Dow says that at around 9:15 p.m. Friday, a fire occurred in Dow's Glycol 2 Unit.The Iberville Parish Council declared a shelter-in-place for half a mile on the south side of the site, which has since been lifted after Dow leaders advised that the area is safe.Highway 1 reopened at 8:45 a.m.While crews have substantially reduced the fire, they are still working t
  
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• Glen Oaks Crime Prevention District Bill signed by Governor, awaits vote in fall election

  14-07-2023 20:43
  
  BATON ROUGE -  It's a tag team collaboration between Senator Regina Barrow and Metro Council member Darryl Hurst to revitalize the Glen Oaks area by creating a crime prevention district."For a happy meal a month, you can have a better place to live, work and play," Hurst said. Both Hurst and Barrow have ties to the community and feel that investing in Glen Oaks will help it return to its former glory.  "When you focus on your legacy, that means you're doing things in
  
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• Troubled Baton Rouge condo fires manager; financial investigation underway

  14-07-2023 20:33
  
  BATON ROUGE- The office manager at Concord Condominiums has been fired after sources tell WBRZ he allegedly mishandled money and failed to keep accurate records.This was confirmed to WBRZ by several owners and a condo committee member. Additionally, have also been told the CPA is launching an internal audit to see if any money has gone missing.WBRZ has called the former office manager, Ted Baldwin, and even knocked on his door to get answers about why he was fired. We have not heard back.But te
  
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• New details in work release inmate who stole a van and more than $23,000

  14-07-2023 17:37
  
  Investigators want to know how a work release inmate was able to steal a van and end up with more than $23,000. Reginald Robertson is now being held on an $80,000 bond after leaving a work release program earlier this month.When investigators found Robertson after the escape, he was in a motel room on Airline Highway. Now, a search warrant reveals new details."These employers come in and interview these guys, and if they fit their needs, they hire them," Paul Perkins from Louisiana Workforce sa
  
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• WBRZ anchors Brittany Weiss and Michael Shingleton welcome their 2nd child

  14-07-2023 17:01
  
  Once again, the WBRZ family got a little bit bigger on Thursday as anchors Brittany Weiss and Michael Shingleton welcomed their second son.Walker Canon Shingleton was born at 10:28 a.m. July 13, weighing 7 pounds, 6 ounces and measuring 20.5 inches. Michael says Walker's birth went smoothly, and  everyone is happy and healthy.During her pregnancy, Brittany continued to watch out for the community with her 2 On Your Side reports and anchored WBRZ's 4 p.m. newscast. She'll spend
  
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• FBI contacted State Police about allegations against Livingston deputy months ago

  14-07-2023 16:26
  
  BATON ROUGE- Louisiana State Police confirmed to WBRZ that it received a tip from the FBI back in May pertaining to the case involving a Livingston Parish Sheriff's Deputy accused of molesting his children.Watch live newscasts hereA spokesperson for the agency issued the following statement:Louisiana State Police received a tip from the FBI on May 1, 2023 regarding allegations of sexual abuse involving children. Special Victims Investigators assigned to the LSP Bureau of Investigations learned
  
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• Official in charge of state's unemployment system is resigning after 7 years

  14-07-2023 15:51
  
  BATON ROUGE - Governor John Bel Edwards announced Friday that Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Cates, who's been in charge of the state's unemployment system for over seven years, is leaving her job.Read the full announcement below.Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that Louisiana Workforce Commission Sec. Ava Cates will resign effective August 31, 2023.“Sec. Cates has served honorably since the beginning of my administration,” said Gov. Edwards. “U
  
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• East Baton Rouge deputies arrest man and woman in separate child porn cases

  14-07-2023 15:44
  
  The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's announced two separate arrests for possession of child porn.Christopher Bryant Miller, 61, and Ashley M. Duplechain, 27, were both arrested for possessing pornography involving juveniles under the age of 13. The sheriff's office said they were arrested in separate cases.Miller's charges included 100 counts of possession of child porn.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Livingston jury convicts politically connected man of child sex crimes that were ignored for years

  14-07-2023 14:01
  
  LIVINGSTON — A man with family ties to multiple political figures in Livingston Parish was found guilty of rape and other charges stemming from sex crimes that went unaddressed for years.The case has been the focus of numerous reports by the WBRZ Investigative Unit.A jury found John Mack guilty of first-degree rape and attempted first-degree rape, though he initially faced even more charges, including two other counts of rape. The crimes involved foster children, one of whom tried to
  
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• Jury hears arguments in case involving long-ignored claims of foster home abuse

  14-07-2023 14:01
  
  LIVINGSTON - A jury is deliberating eight child sex abuse charges filed against a man related to a pair of politically connected Livingston Parish officials.John Mack is accused of rape and other crimes involving foster children. Mack is the uncle of a state representative and a Livingston Parish council member - and his connections led the local district attorney to step aside from the case.Judge Charlotte Foster gave the case to jurors about 11 a.m. Friday. They’re to weigh three ac
  
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• Feds investigating death of plant worker in LaPlace

  14-07-2023 13:34
  
  LAPLACE - A plant worker in St. John the Baptist Parish died Thursday after an incident involving a train, though law enforcement says they initially received a different explanation for what triggered the emergency response. A representative with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration told WBRZ on Friday that it is investigating the circumstance surrounding the worker's death.The Advocate reported the woman died Thursday after paramedics were called to the Denka Performance
  
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• Louisiana lawmakers will try to override Governor Edwards' vetoes

  14-07-2023 12:54
  
  BATON ROUGE (AP) — Lawmakers in Louisiana’s Republican-dominated Legislature have opted to return to the Capitol for a veto session next week in an attempt to override Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards’ recent bill rejections, which included blocking a gender-affirming care ban for transgender youths and the state’s version of “Don’t Say Gay” legislation.Edwards — who is in his final six months in office, unable to s
  
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• WATCH: Meteorite lit up the sky in south Louisiana early Friday morning

  14-07-2023 12:40
  
  BATON ROUGE - Videos circulating on social media show what appeared to be a meteorite lighting up the sky over the capital area before sunrise Friday morning.Those who weren't awake to see it for themselves around 4:30 a.m. woke up to find footage of the meteor on surveillance and doorbell cameras.Video shared by WBRZ viewers showed the object streaking through the sky. Check it out in the player at the top of this story.Have your own video of the meteorite? Send it in to [email protected]
  
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• WATCH: Meteor lit up the sky in south Louisiana early Friday morning

  14-07-2023 12:40
  
  BATON ROUGE - Videos circulating on social media show what appeared to be a meteor lighting up the sky over the capital area before sunrise Friday morning.Those who weren't awake to see it for themselves around 4:30 a.m. woke up to find footage of the meteor on surveillance and doorbell cameras.Video shared by WBRZ viewers showed the object streaking through the sky. Check it out in the player at the top of this story.Have your own video of the meteorite? Send it in to [email protected]|
  
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• Appeals court shuts down incorporation proposal for city of St. George for a second time

  14-07-2023 09:59
  
  BATON ROUGE - A Louisiana Court of Appeals denied the incorporation of the city of St. George for the second time Friday.In 2022, Judge Martin Coady — who was brought in from another jurisdiction to oversee the case — also shut down the incorporation. Coady wrote in his ruling the proposed city wouldn't be able to balance its budget and St. George would start off in a $3 million deficit on day one.First Circuit Judges Mitchell Theriot, Wayne Ray Chutz, and Steven Miller unan
  
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• Second Tsunami location coming to busy BR intersection - Click to see where

  14-07-2023 08:48
  
  BATON ROUGE - Tsunami, the sushi restaurant with a rooftop view atop the Shaw Center for the Arts, is getting a second location. The new location will be inside the office building at the intersection of Highland Road at Bluebonnet Boulevard. It will be on the first floor of the building. More information on the opening date will be released later. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Man arranged to be 'victim' in staged armed robbery targeting coworker; one of three alleged participants arrested

  14-07-2023 08:26
  
  BATON ROUGE - Police arrested a man for an armed robbery that he had conspired to commit alongside two others. The Baton Rouge Police Department said Ajavin Carter, 23, was arrested Thursday for a robbery that happened on May 26. He was booked for armed robbery, carrying a firearm on school property, and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Arrest documents said the BRPD responded to the initial armed robbery report on May 26 at Belfair Park off Fairfields Avenu
  
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• GET 2 MOVING: XtremeLife Fitness

  14-07-2023 05:37
  
  GET 2 MOVING: Tanesha Craig-Stewart with XtremeLife Fitness explains to us how easy it is to get a good workout on the go. Tanesha explained how staying active should be a lifestyle, not something you do just to prepare for special events.There is no one way to stay active, says Tanesha- "Fitness is like dating, you have to see what you like and go from there."She exclusively trains women but she offers training for all ages. Ending the generation cycles of unhealthy patterns is one thing Tanes
  
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