Baton Rouge news

• How a push to move up hurricane season could affect insurance

  25-07-2023 18:46
  
  BATON ROUGE - State climatologist Barry Keim says there is a push to officially move hurricane season up based on scientific data."We're finding that hurricane seasons are getting longer. They're starting earlier and ending later," Keim said. "We realized eight of the last nine years have had what we call pre-season storms."It's something emergency preparedness officials have been monitoring over the last couple of years--and while residents can't predict how a hurricane will impact them, they
  
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• 10,000 red drum to be stocked in Calcasieu Lake estuary as part of pilot program

  25-07-2023 18:37
  
  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — About 10,000 red drum fingerlings will be stocked in the Calcasieu Lake estuary as part of a pilot project to investigate the biological and ecological efficacy of stocking waterways with hatchery-raised fish, state wildlife officials said Tuesday.The fish are expected to be stocked later this year or in 2024. The Recreational Fisheries Research Institute will cover the costs of stocking and genetic analysis under the permit issued by the Louisiana Department o
  
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• Deputies looking for missing Denham Springs man

  25-07-2023 17:19
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - Deputies in Livingston Parish are searching for a man who was last seen July 22. According to the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office, 24-year-old Cameron McCrory was spotted around the Eden Church Road area of Denham Springs on Saturday, but has not been seen since. Anyone with information about McCrory's whereabouts should call (225) 686-2241. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Malfunctioning water heater causes fire at apartment complex along Burbank Drive

  25-07-2023 17:05
  
  BATON ROUGE - The wall of an apartment building was burned Tuesday afternoon when a water heater malfunctioned and caught on fire. According to the Baton Rouge Fire Department, the fire happened around 3:30 p.m. at the Armstrong Apartments along Burbank Drive. Firefighters said the outer wall of an apartment building was burned, damaging three units. There were no injuries and the apartment complex is finding a new unit for one of the residents. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Part of Baton Rouge ExxonMobil complex offline for maintenance

  25-07-2023 16:55
  
  BATON ROUGE - A shutdown of one unit at the ExxonMobil refinery in Baton Rouge is due to maintenance, and the complex otherwise is operating normally, officials said on Tuesday.Reports in some industry-focused publications suggested an outage at the facility was to blame, at least in part, for a spike in oil prices.But representatives told WBRZ that customer contractual commitments are being met and operations outside of the single unit continue, uninterrupted.There was no immediate timeline fo
  
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• INVESTIGATIVE UNIT: Officer arrested for stalking costs town of Jackson thousands of dollars in legal settlements

  25-07-2023 16:48
  
  JACKSON — A federal lawsuit filed against a troubled Jackson police officer spells out years of problems that the town knew about but didn't do anything to address.Instead, taxpayers in Jackson had to pay $75,000 to settle two different lawsuits filed against the officer, his police chief, the police department and the town, according to the mayor.One lawsuit, settled for $50,000, alleged a woman was sexually assaulted at a traffic stop conducted by Officer Travis Depew. Depew's histo
  
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• Bethany Church and Governor's Office partnering for luncheon about foster care in the state

  25-07-2023 15:44
  
  BATON ROUGE - Bethany Church and the Governor's Office are working together to put on a luncheon about foster care in the state. The event, called 'One Church, One Family, One Child,' aims to raise awareness about the need for more foster families in the state."I’m burdened to help change the direction of these foster children’s lives," said Jonathan Stockstill, lead pastor of Bethany Church. "Together, we’ll impact our communities’ future for th
  
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• Southern picked to win SWAC West at Media Days

  25-07-2023 14:38
  
  BIRMINGHAM - The Southern Jaguars were picked to finish atop the SWAC West in the coaches’ preseason selections at SWAC Media Day in Birmingham, Alabama on Tuesday morning.Southern finished atop in first place in the SWAC West last season under then first-year head coach Eric Dooley.  His Jaguar team would lose the SWAC Title game to Jackson St. last season.The league’s 2023 Preseason All-SWAC teams were also announced, and no Southern Jaguar made the first
  
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• Toll proposal for new I-10 bridge in Lake Charles drawing protest

  25-07-2023 13:50
  
  LAKE CHARLES - Opposition is taking shape after the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development released its proposed toll schedule for a $2.1 billion bridge planned for the southwest part of the state.The rates would skew heavily toward truckers driving I-10 across Lake Charles, and an association representing that industry is among those that have come out strong against the proposal."This bridge will be funded largely by silently taxing the truckers," the Louisiana Motor Transport
  
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• Ascension Parish teacher honored for excellence, to receive high seas vacation

  25-07-2023 13:44
  
  ASCENSION PARISH - A Dutchtown High School history teacher is one of 20 winners selected from two countries in a contest celebrating excellence and innovation in the classroom.As one of the 2023 honorees, Ryan Bravata receives a 7-day voyage for himself and a guest on Norwegian Cruise Line, which sponsored the "Giving Joy" contest.Winners were announced on Tuesday.Bravata is the sole Louisiana educator to be honored in the contest, which saw more than 3,400 nominees from the United States and C
  
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• Don't start your engines: Gasoline, diesel in wrong tanks at WBR Circle K

  25-07-2023 13:02
  
  PORT ALLEN - Fuel pumps at a West Baton Rouge convenience store are shut down after gasoline was put in a diesel storage tank and diesel fuel was put in one holding gasoline.Motorists who filled up recently at a Circle K near the Lobdell exit off Interstate 10 in Port Allen shouldn't run their engines until their vehicles can be checked out. A mechanic may have to drain the fuel system. The Commissioner of Agriculture, Mike Strain, said the fuel tanks were filled on Sunday but the erro
  
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• Don't start your engines: For 2 days, WBR Circle K pumped gasoline, diesel from wrong tanks

  25-07-2023 13:02
  
  PORT ALLEN — Fuel pumps at a West Baton Rouge convenience store are shut down after gasoline was put in a diesel storage tank and diesel fuel was put in one holding gasoline, then sold to unsuspecting customers for nearly two days.Motorists who filled up recently at a Circle K near the Lobdell exit off Interstate 10 in Port Allen shouldn't run their engines until their vehicles can be checked out. A mechanic may have to drain the fuel system.Affected drivers can file a complaint onlin
  
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• Saints bring back tight end Jimmy Graham and add guard Trai Turner

  25-07-2023 12:42
  
  METAIRIE, La. (AP) — The New Orleans Saints have brought back former tight end Jimmy Graham and also agreed to contract terms with guard Trai Turner.The moves came Tuesday as veterans reported for the club’s training camp at team headquarters.The 36-year-old Graham, who did not play last season, became an unusual success story early in his career, having played only one season of college football at Miami — where he was a four-year basketball player — bef
  
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• P.A.C.E. Center in up-and-coming Gonzales development should be completed by mid-December

  25-07-2023 12:23
  
  GONZALES- A city within a city - that is what Mayor of Gonzales Barney Arceneaux calls Heritage Crossing in Gonzales right by Highway 30.The main attraction of the new development will be the $10 million P.A.C.E Center for conferences and performing arts.Workers were seen Tuesday, continuing to work on the building, which should be completed by mid-December. But what has Arceneaux the most excited is what Heritage Crossing will look like when it is done."I call it a city within a city, because
  
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• Bronny James, son of NBA star LeBron James, suffers cardiac arrest at practice

  25-07-2023 12:18
  
  LOS ANGELES, Calif. - LeBron James' eldest son Bronny reportedly suffered cardiac arrest during a workout at the University of Southern California. According to a statement from a family spokesperson sent to CNN, Bronny James was out of the ICU and reportedly in stable condition. Statement from a James family spokesperson: pic.twitter.com/vnSEmxAJr2— ESPN (@espn) July 25, 2023Bronny is an 18-year-old incoming freshman to USC. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Central City Council passes resolution to increase police presence throughout city

  25-07-2023 12:14
  
  CENTRAL - More people, more police, less crime: the Central City Council is hoping this is a solution for safety in a growing city. "We have a great police department here in the city of Central, this resolution adds to the presence of law enforcement in our city. We know that law enforcement presence helps to deter crime and we want to send a loud clear message that crime will not be tolerated here in the city of Central," District 2 Councilman J.D. Lavergne said.The council says this
  
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• Teenagers crash ATV; 14-year-old dies after being trapped in wreckage Monday afternoon

  25-07-2023 09:49
  
  LORANGER - Two teenagers crashed a 4-wheeler they were driving Monday afternoon, leaving a 13-year-old injured, a 14-year-old dead, and his mother badly burned. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office told WBRZ the crash happened around 2 p.m. Monday. The two teens were driving an ATV when it left the roadway and hit a culvert. The 13-year-old was thrown from the wreckage and taken to a hospital, but updates on their condition were not available. The 14-year-old was not thrown
  
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• WATCH: Truck rams into building in Iberville Parish; driver reportedly speeds off

  25-07-2023 09:14
  
  BAYOU PIGEON - Deputies said a driver crashed his truck into a building in Iberville Parish before speeding off. Sheriff Brett Stassi with the Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office said the man lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the Lil Pigeon Monday night around 9:30 p.m., leaving rubble and debris littered in the parking lot as well as a gaping hole in the side of the wall. The man then drove off, according to the IPSO. This is a developing story. Per
  
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• WATCH: Truck rams into building in Iberville Parish; driver now in custody

  25-07-2023 09:14
  
  BAYOU PIGEON - The driver whose vehicle crashed into a business in Iberville Parish Monday night surrendered to authorities on Tuesday.Deputies said the vehicle slammed into the building about 9:30 p.m., then sped off, leaving significant damage in its exhaust. Sheriff Brett Stassi with the Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office said the man apparently lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the Lil Pigeon store. The aftermath included strewn rubble and debris in the parking lot, as we
  
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• Truck rams into building in Iberville Parish; driver reportedly speeds off

  25-07-2023 09:14
  
  BAYOU PIGEON - Deputies said a driver crashed his truck into a building in Iberville Parish before speeding off. Sheriff Brett Stassi with the Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office said the man lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the building, leaving rubble and debris littered in the parking lot as well as a gaping hole in the side of the wall. The man then drove off, according to the IPSO. Deputies did not immediately specify where or when the crash happened.&a
  
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• Former Shreveport police officer accused of shooting unarmed Black man faces second criminal charge

  25-07-2023 07:21
  
  SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) — State prosecutors have added a second felony charge against a former Louisiana police officer accused of fatally shooting an unarmed Black man earlier this year.The second criminal charge of felony malfeasance was added Monday as former Shreveport officer Alexander Tyler, who is white, was arraigned on charges of shooting Alonzo Bagley at an apartment complex in February. Tyler and another officer were responding to a report by Bagley’s wife of a domes
  
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• WBRZ's Stuff the Bus campaign to benefit local students and teachers - Collection day Wednesday

  25-07-2023 07:16
  
  BATON ROUGE - It's that time of year again - WBRZ'S Stuff the Bus campaign is here!Each year ahead of the start of school, WBRZ hosts Stuff the Bus to support teachers and students in East and West Baton Rouge Parishes. The two drop-off locations are across the river from one another, and our goal is to fill at least one school bus on each side of the bridge for those in need. Collection day is Wednesday from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Monetary donations can also be made online through our d
  
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• Tractor trailer catches on fire early Tuesday morning, leaves I-12 east partially blocked for hours

  25-07-2023 05:16
  
  BATON ROUGE - I-12 eastbound at O'Neal Lane was partially closed due to a large vehicle fire Tuesday morning. All three lanes were blocked shortly after 5 a.m.. Traffic was passing in the left shoulder while crews worked to control the flames. Multiple lanes remained blocked for hours while officials worked to remove the trailer from the roadway, but all lanes on the Interstate were passable shortly before 9 a.m..Emergency officials said there were no injuries. Permal
  
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• Tractor trailer catches on fire early Tuesday morning, leaves I-12 east partially blocked

  25-07-2023 05:16
  
  BATON ROUGE - I-12 eastbound at O'Neal Lane was partially closed due to a large vehicle fire Tuesday morning. All three lanes were blocked shortly after 5 a.m.. Traffic was passing in the left shoulder while crews worked to control the flames. Emergency officials said there were no injuries. CORRECTION: A push alert sent early Tuesday incorrectly read lanes were blocked on I-12 westbound. The vehicle fire is blocking lanes on I-12 eastbound. This has been corrected.Pe
  
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• Early-morning fire at BR warehouse determined to be arson

  25-07-2023 05:13
  
  BATON ROUGE - A fire that started at a warehouse on Airline Highway was determined to be an arson. According to the Baton Rouge Fire Department, crews were called to the Shoppers Value on Airline Highway around 2 a.m. Tuesday. No injuries were reported, and firefighters were able to get the flames under control. After further investigation, it was determined that the cause was arson.Anyone with any details is encouraged to call Capital Region Crime Stoppers at (225) 344-7867.&
  
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• Early-morning fire at BR grocer determined to be arson

  25-07-2023 05:13
  
  BATON ROUGE - A fire that started at a grocery store warehouse on Airline Highway was determined to be an arson. According to the Baton Rouge Fire Department, crews were called to the Shoppers Value on Airline Highway around 2 a.m. Tuesday. No injuries were reported, and firefighters were able to get the flames under control. The BRFD later said the flames were contained to several pallets of paper towels and the rest of the building sustained smoke damage. After further inves
  
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