Baton Rouge news

• Explosion of propane tank in Erwinville injures one person, airlifted to hospital

  24-07-2023 20:41
  
  ERWINVILLE - One person was injured Monday night when a propane tank exploded and burned their face. Authorities said the person was airlifted from Erwinville to a hospital in Baton Rouge. The explosion happened shortly after 8:30 p.m. No information on the person's condition has been released. Permalink| Comments
  
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• ExxonMobil makes million-dollar commitment to EBR schools

  24-07-2023 18:02
  
  BATON ROUGE - ExxonMobil on Monday said it will direct $1 million to the East Baton Rouge School System between now and 2026 -- funding earmarked for teacher training, early elementary school literacy programs and on-the-job experiences for high school students.Nearly 75 percent of the pledged money will be invested to provide three years of math and science literacy training to teachers.“ExxonMobil wants to support our teachers as they are the heart of quality education," said ExxonM
  
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• Two pedestrians hit, killed in separate crashes in Livingston and Ascension parishes

  24-07-2023 18:00
  
  Two pedestrians were killed in separate car crashes early Monday morning. According to State Police, 41-year-old Sarah Berteau was walking along LA-935 near Roddy Road in Ascension Parish around 1 a.m. when she was hit by a car from behind. She died at the scene. Troopers said 39-year-old Candace Linder was walking along LA-1024 in Livingston Parish with another person around 3:30 a.m. Both people were hit by a car from behind. The pair were taken to a hospital where Linder di
  
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• Alabama woman confesses to fabricating kidnapping, said there was never a baby on the road

  24-07-2023 17:14
  
  HOOVER, Ala. (AP) — Authorities in Alabama said Monday that a woman has confessed to fabricating a story that she was kidnapped after stopping to check on a toddler she saw walking on the side of the interstate.Hoover Police Department Chief Nicholas Derzis said Carlee Russell’s attorney, Emory Anthony, provided a statement on Monday saying there was no kidnapping.“There was no kidnapping on Thursday July 13. My client did not see a baby on the side on the road,&am
  
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• Facing new charge, Jackson officer no longer on the job

  24-07-2023 17:08
  
  JACKSON - An officer for the Town of Jackson is no longer on the job, though town officials haven't addressed specifics of his departure.Travis Clay Depew was arrested this month on a misdemeanor stalking count. It comes just six months after he was convicted of simple battery for choking a 16-year-old during a 2021 confrontation.Depew was put on probation then and was able to keep his job.WBRZ News 2 reached out to several town leaders for details on Depew's separation from the department, but
  
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• Facing new charge, Jackson deputy marshal no longer on the job

  24-07-2023 17:08
  
  JACKSON - An officer for the Jackson Marshal's Office is no longer on the job, though town officials haven't addressed specifics of his departure.Travis Clay Depew was arrested this month on a misdemeanor stalking count. It comes just six months after he was convicted of simple battery for choking a 16-year-old during a 2021 confrontation.Depew was put on probation then and was able to keep his job.WBRZ News 2 reached out to several town leaders for details on Depew's separation from the depart
  
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• BRCC hosts hoops coaches camp in October

  24-07-2023 16:54
  
  BATON ROUGE - Baton Rouge Community College basketball head coach Byron Starks may be new to town, but he's quick to start making an impact.                                His Bears program will be hosting a coaches clinic in October to not only help promote the game, but also drum up support around his program.Starks has enlisted some of state
  
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• Kentwood woman killed in Monday morning car crash

  24-07-2023 16:51
  
  PONCHATOULA - A Kentwood woman was killed Monday morning when her car crossed the center line and hit another car head-on. State Police said 36-year-old Karrie Brumfield was driving along LA-22 near Dutch Lane in Ponchatoula around 5:30 a.m. when the accident happened. Brumfield died at the scene. Both the driver and a passenger from the other vehicle were taken to a hospital with minor injuries. Troopers said toxicology samples were taken from both the drivers. Perma
  
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• 2 cats rescued from apartment fire along Alaska Street

  24-07-2023 16:05
  
  BATON ROUGE - Two cats were rescued from an apartment building on fire Monday afternoon. According to the Baton Rouge Fire Department, a fire started in the attic of a University Gardens Apartments building on Alaska Street just after 12:30 p.m. Firefighters said one unit had fire damage and four others were damaged by smoke. Two cats were found unresponsive in one of the apartments. Firefighters rescued them and their owner took the pets to the LSU Vet School where they are e
  
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• INVESTIGATIVE UNIT: Charges dropped against convicted sex offender accused of raping juvenile

  24-07-2023 16:02
  
  BATON ROUGE — Charges were dropped Monday against a convicted sex offender who was arrested in 2018 and accused of raping a teenage boy.Mark Russell, 61, was accused of raping and holding a 17-year-old male against his will while allegedly impersonating a police officer. The allegations came to light after another teen alleged Russell had done the same thing to him the year before.The WBRZ Investigative Unit found Russell at his home after Monday's court hearing. A decommissioned poli
  
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• Vandals trash Prairieville park; flip garbage cans, wreck bathrooms

  24-07-2023 13:58
  
  PRAIRIEVILLE - Deputies are searching for vandals who trashed a ballpark early Thursday. Pictures shared by the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office showed the bathrooms at Butch Gore Park on Harry Savoy Road littered with toilet paper and shards of one of the toilet's lids. Trash cans around the park were also flipped. Anyone with information about the vandalism is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at (225) 344-7867.  Permalink| Comments
  
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• Vandals trash Prairieville park; flip garbage cans, raze bathrooms

  24-07-2023 13:58
  
  PRAIRIEVILLE - Deputies are searching for vandals who trashed a ballpark early Thursday. Pictures shared by the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office showed the bathrooms at Butch Gore Park on Harry Savoy Road littered with toilet paper and shards of one of the toilet's lids. Trash cans around the park were also flipped. Anyone with information about the vandalism is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at (225) 344-7867.  Permalink| Comments
  
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• Southeastern Lions picked to win Southland once more

  24-07-2023 13:41
  
  The Southeastern Louisiana University Lions football team was picked to win the 2023 Southland Conference once again by the league's head coaches and media relations directors on Monday.After bringing home the title last year, the Lions were the favorites to do it again in the preseason selection process receiving nine first-place votes, narrowly outpacing UIW, which finished with the other seven first-place votes. Southeastern led the conference with 17 selections when the preseason A
  
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• Ready to dig in? More than 40 restaurants participating in Dig Baton Rouge Restaurant Week

  24-07-2023 13:37
  
  BATON ROUGE - If you're ready to get your grub on, this is the week to do it with dozens of restaurants participating in Dig Baton Rouge Restaurant Week.It's bigger than before with more than 40 restaurants offering their specials on a set menu. Each restaurant offers a three course meal, with prices ranging from $25 to $60. There's also a special hashtag to use when you go out to the participating restaurants. When you use the #EatBr, a $2 donation will be made to The Louisiana Restau
  
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• Deputies investigating reported drowning death of 7-year-old

  24-07-2023 13:26
  
  SLIDELL - A 7-year-old boy reportedly drowned Saturday morning in the Slidell area. While deputies could not provide extensive information, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office said they were called to Ranch Road near Slidell Saturday morning for an unresponsive child. The unidentified 7-year-old was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Deputies said his death appeared to be a drowning. No further information was released. Permalink|
  
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• Louisiana students set to make long distance call to NASA astronauts

  24-07-2023 12:43
  
  LAKE CHARLES - Students at a summer science camp in the Lake Charles are set to dial up the International Space Station in what is being described as the first call from Louisiana to space.NASA astronauts Frank Rubio and Woody Hoburg will answer prerecorded questions Tuesday morning from those taking part in the Louisiana Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Advisory Council’s NASA ASTRO CAMP.The Lake Charles area was affected by two recent hurricanes and the event is des
  
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• Baton Rouge man arrested for early-morning shooting in Livingston Parish

  24-07-2023 12:35
  
  WALKER - Deputies arrested a Baton Rouge man for attempted murder after a shooting early Monday morning. According to the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to Arnold Road in Walker for a reported shooting around 2 a.m.. A 26-year-old was found with a gunshot wound and was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Detectives identified Cole Allen, 24, as a suspect and arrested him for attempted second-degree murder and resisting an officer. Permal
  
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• La. Superintendent of Education meets with controversial political organization to discuss current state of schools

  24-07-2023 12:26
  
  BATON ROUGE - Parents, teachers and protestors were all present for a discussion on the current state of schools in Louisiana with the Superintendent of Education, Dr. Cade Brumley, put on by the Moms for Liberty. The conservative political organization was founded in 2021 by two school board members in Florida who opposed COVID-19 restrictions. Since then, the group has been in the spotlight for controversial opinions about censorship in classrooms, gender identity and critical race t
  
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• Some West Baton Rouge Parish properties to lose natural gas service temporarily

  24-07-2023 12:23
  
  WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH - Properties along Rougon Road from Section to Burnside will lose natural gas service for much of Tuesday, parish officials said.Utility crews will be lowering the gas line on that section of Rougon Road. The interruption will affect about 40 houses in the area.Gas service should be restored by 5:00 p.m. Anyone with questions may contact the West Baton Rouge Utilities Office at 336-2406. 
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• LSU names new director of Tiger Marching Band

  24-07-2023 12:22
  
  BATON ROUGE - With little fanfare, LSU announced a new director of the Golden Band from Tigerland, just weeks after its previous director announced his resignation.Simon Holoweiko, who works as the Associate Director of Bands, will take over directorial duties, according to new information published on LSU's website.Holoweiko replaces longtime director Kelvin Jones, who announced July 7 that he was stepping away to step back and "focus on [his] family."Prior to joining LSU in 2020, Holoweiko se
  
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• Deputies searching for men who attempted to break into Ponchatoula home

  24-07-2023 12:03
  
  PONCHATOULA - Deputies are searching for four people who attempted to break into a home in Ponchatoula early Friday morning. According to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office, four men with gloves, masks and guns went to a home on Wadesboro Road and tried to get in the door. Deputies said the homeowner activated an alarm and scared away the unwanted guests. Anyone with information on the suspects should call (985) 902-2040. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Board to decide how to move forward with death row inmates' clemency requests

  24-07-2023 08:49
  
  BATON ROUGE - A meeting of the Board of Pardons and Parole set for Monday morning will decide how the board will move forward with Louisiana death row inmates' clemency requests. The Board will review requests for clemency for those District Attorney Hillar Moore calls the "worst of the worst." It will go over requests from 52 inmates.This is a developing story and will be updated with more information. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Elon Musk reveals new black and white X logo to replace Twitter's blue bird

  24-07-2023 05:58
  
  LONDON (AP) — Elon Musk has unveiled a new black and white “X” logo to replace Twitter’s famous blue bird as he follows through with a major rebranding of the social media platform he bought for $44 billion last year.Musk replaced his own Twitter icon with a white X on a black background and posted a picture on Monday of the design projected on Twitter’s San Francisco headquarters.The X started appearing on the top of the desktop version of Twit
  
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• Pedestrian killed in early-morning Gonzales crash

  24-07-2023 05:05
  
  GONZALES - A pedestrian was killed in an early-morning crash Monday. According to TotalTraffic, there was a crash with a fatality early Monday morning in Ascension Parish. The crash reportedly happened on Bayou Narcisse Road at Roddy Road. The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office later confirmed that a pedestrian had been struck and killed. This is a developing story. Permalink| Comments
  
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• One killed in early-morning Gonzales crash

  24-07-2023 05:05
  
  GONZALES - One person was killed in an early-morning crash Monday. According to TotalTraffic, there was a crash with a fatality early Monday morning in Ascension Parish. The crash reportedly happened on Bayou Narcisse Road at Roddy Road. WBRZ has reached out to law enforcement for more information. Permalink| Comments
  
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