Baton Rouge news

• One year since the Inflation Reduction Act, its effects on Louisiana's environment

  17-08-2023 18:29
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana makes an effort to invest in clean energy. It's a priority set in the Inflation Reduction Act President Biden signed in 2022.While inflation was the law's primary target, it also aimed to address climate change and invest in clean energy nationwide.Governor John Bel Edwards set a goal of eliminating carbon emissions in Louisiana by 2050. While other states have earlier goals, like Hawaii's goal for 2045. Harry Vorhoff with the governor's office says 17 years is realistic
  
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• THC gummy produced at Southern University is the state's strongest on market

  17-08-2023 18:25
  
  The first medical marijuana dispensary to be licensed in Louisiana is now selling the state's most potent THC gummy.The 40 milligram chew from Ilera was launched Thursday in collaboration with Southern University Ag center."This is an excellent collaboration to have a higher education institution with a private entity both looking to achieve the same goal and that is to bring a good medicine to people who need it," said Dr. Orlando McMeans.Ilera and Southern teamed up in 2018, creating the bran
  
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• OJJ deputy secretary defends West Feliciana juvenile facility in court

  17-08-2023 18:23
  
  BATON ROUGE - For the third day this week, a federal judge listened to testimony about housing juvenile offenders at the Bridge City Center for Youth in West Feliciana, which is also referred to as Angola.Since October, juveniles in the OJJ, or Office of Juvenile Justice, system who engage in the worst behavior at other facilities have been taken to the West Feliciana campus. The temporary campus is part of the OJJ’s new Transitional Treatment Unit (TTU).Previous testimonies revealed
  
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• OJJ agrees not to transfer any juveniles to Angola facility until after federal judge makes her ruling

  17-08-2023 18:23
  
  BATON ROUGE - On the fourth of day of testimony, attorneys representing juveniles housed at the Bridge City Center for Youth, West Feleciana, rested their case."I think the evidence shows what is happening at the facility," attorney and executive director for Fair Fight Initiative, David Utter said.Youth justice expert Dr. Patrick McCarthy resumed his testimony from yesterday. He said that housing kids behind bars worsens their aggressive behavior, and that how they are treated inside contribut
  
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• Livingston school board approves stipends for employees amid fight over teacher pay

  17-08-2023 17:50
  
  LIVINGSTON - The Livingston Parish School Board has approved bonus payments for the district's staff  amid an ongoing fight over teacher pay. The school system announced Thursday that the board approved a proposal from Superintendent Joe Murphy to pay out stipends ranging from $2,000 to $4,600.Read the full statement below. The Livingston Parish School Board on Thursday (Aug. 17) voted to accept a proposal by Superintendent Joe Murphy and his staff to award employees
  
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• WATCH: Massive dust devil caught on video in Ascension Parish

  17-08-2023 17:12
  
  GONZALES - A WBRZ viewer captured stunning video of a huge dust devil outside a restaurant in Ascension Parish this week. The passerby caught the footage on a dashboard camera late Wednesday afternoon while driving down Burnside Avenue. Video shows the whirlwind towering over a nearby SUV and whipping around small pieces of debris in a parking lot.No significant damage was reported.The National Weather Service says dust devils typically range anywhere from 10 to 300 feet, with a rough
  
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• Former LSU standout Ja'Marr Chase files for restraining order against woman

  17-08-2023 17:00
  
  LOS ANGELES - Former LSU standout Ja'Marr Chase, who now plays for the Cincinnati Bengals, has filed for a restraining order after he claims a woman harassed him and his mother.Numerous media outlets report that Chase took his concerns to the courts in Southern California on Wednesday. The paperwork alleges that a woman -- Ambar Hunter -- is posting defamatory remarks about Chase."Pushing me down the stairs and dragging me out the house 2 months pregnant!!!" one of Hunter's posts states. "I sho
  
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• Louisiana Sheriff's Association throws support behind prosecutors challenging death row clemency requests

  17-08-2023 16:55
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Sheriff's Association released a resolution supporting the state's district attorneys seeking to keep the Louisiana Pardon Board from giving clemency hearings to inmates on death row.In the statement, the association questioned Governor John Bel Edwards' push to fast-track the hearings to those inmate. Prosecutors have argued the move effectively lets those inmates skip ahead of others who are due hearings."Be it resolved that the Louisiana Sheriff's Association stan
  
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• Louisiana Sheriff's Association releases resolution opposing clemency hearings for death row inmates

  17-08-2023 16:55
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Sheriff's Association released a resolution supporting the state's district attorneys in their opposition of the pardon board from conducting clemency hearings for inmates sitting on death row.In the statement, the association reiterated Governor John Bel Edwards' desire to fast track the board's hearings and grant clemency to those on death row, the district attorneys' belief that the hearings are happening under improper procedure, and the how the association stand
  
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• CVS pharmacy on Government Street closing next month, workers say

  17-08-2023 15:42
  
  BATON ROUGE - A CVS pharmacy in Mid City is set to shut down in September amid the company's latest wave of closures. Staff at the Government Street location told WBRZ on Thursday that the store will permanently close its doors on Sept. 28. Since 2021, CVS has gradually closed hundreds of locations around the U.S., a move spurred in part by the coronavirus pandemic. At the time, the company said it planned to close about 900 locations over the span of three years. PRE
  
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• Local agencies taking part in statewide impaired driving crackdown

  17-08-2023 15:39
  
  BATON ROUGE - Local law enforcement agencies are among those who will participate in a "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign that begins on Friday.The statewide project runs through Sept. 4.During that more-than-2-week period, additional patrols will be enacted in key areas, targeting impaired drivers.The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office is one of the agencies touting its involvement. On Thursday, the department posted advance notice and encouraged anyone who gets behind the wheel to think
  
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• Livingston Parish 13-year-old reported missing

  17-08-2023 14:53
  
  LIVINGSTON PARISH - The sheriff's office is asking for help locating a 13-year-old girl missing from Livingston Parish.Marleigh Stephenson was last seen on North Susie Circle in Denham Springs around 7 a.m. on Tuesday.Marleigh is 5-foot-4, weighing 125 pounds. She has green eyes and blonde hair.At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing a khaki "skort," blue polo shirt and white high-to Nike Air Max shoes.The sheriff's office does not believe foul play is involved. Anyone with informatio
  
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• With high temperatures sticking around, BRFD finding ways to stay safe in 100-degree heat

  17-08-2023 13:19
  
  BATON ROUGE - We're seeing some relief in the past couple of days, but that's going to change once again as those 100-degree temperatures are coming back. The heat has been unbearable, but how are our first responders staying safe?Firefighters put on an extra 80 pounds with the gear and go out in the blistering heat and into dangerous fires. It's tough to keep cool.Earlier today, our very own Taylor Rubach suited up to get a first-hand look at what these responders go through while trying to st
  
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• Baton Rouge bus drivers set to get $9,500 in stipends after unanimous vote

  17-08-2023 12:45
  
  BATON ROUGE - The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board voted unanimously Thursday to give $9,500 in stipends to bus drivers, transportation aides and mechanics.Overall, with other previous stipends, employees will see a pay jump by a total of $12,500. This raises the starting salary of bus drivers from $19,150 to $32,150.Drivers are campaigning for a permanent raise rather than stipends, though, and that may still lead to a sickout Friday by bus drivers, leading to the cancellation of the schoo
  
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• Baton Rouge bus drivers set to get $9,500 in stipends after board vote

  17-08-2023 12:45
  
  BATON ROUGE - The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board voted Thursday to give $9,500 in stipends to bus drivers, transportation aides and mechanics.Overall, with other previous stipends, employees will see a pay jump by a total of $12,500. This raises the starting salary of bus drivers from $19,150 to $32,150.Drivers are campaigning for a permanent raise rather than stipends, though, and that may still lead to a sickout Friday by bus drivers, leading to the cancellation of the school day.The sc
  
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• Residents of Glen Oaks gather for community meeting about proposed crime prevention district

  17-08-2023 12:22
  
  BATON ROUGE - Hundreds of Glen Oaks residents gathered at the high school auditorium for a community meeting about crime prevention.One resident, Ms. Dorothy Thomas, talked about how she felt about the growing number of people getting involved in this initiative."Very good, it lets me know that we are together and we support this, so I'm glad to see a lot of people from our area here tonight," Thomas said.The idea was proposed by Senator Regina Barrow and Councilman Darryl Hurst, who both have
  
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• Woman arrested for vehicular homicide had a BAC 3 times the legal limit during chaotic June crash

  17-08-2023 12:05
  
  BATON ROUGE - A woman was arrested for vehicular homicide after allegedly causing a crash that left another woman dead in June. The crash happened on June 11, 2023. Keimaya Aites, 33, was driving on Plank Road when she struck a curb, overcorrected, and hit the median, causing her to go airborne into oncoming traffic, according to arrest documents. Aites' vehicle landed on the hood of a truck, which swerved into the adjacent lane and hit another car. The front passenger inside
  
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• Body found in Mississippi River identified as man who disappeared in downtown BR months ago

  17-08-2023 09:31
  
  BATON ROUGE - A body found in the Mississippi River late Monday night was confirmed to be that of a man who went missing in downtown Baton Rouge in March. Jody Bert, 44, was first reported missing on March 23, 2023. The Baton Rouge Police Department said he had dropped his family off at a hotel in the area and parked his car. His wallet and phone were found in the car, but Bert did not return to the hotel. The parish coroner's office was called to retrieve a body from the Miss
  
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• Vacant furniture store on Constitution Ave. bought by owners of neighboring restaurants

  17-08-2023 08:54
  
  BATON ROUGE - The former CORT Furniture Outlet on Constitution Avenue has been bought by the owners of the adjacent restaurants, Tio Javi's and Ruth's Chris, according to the Baton Rouge Business Report. The restauranteurs purchased the space in a $2.6 million deal filed Tuesday.The owners are undecided on what they want to do with the space for now, the Business Report said, but they secured the space to keep another restaurant group from establishing a business there. Permal
  
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• Owner of Mariner's Inn Restaurant and Bar in Hammond dies at 68

  17-08-2023 08:31
  
  HAMMOND - The owner of a popular restaurant in Hammond has passed away at the age of 68. Mariner's Inn Restaurant and Bar announced Bruce Labrecque's death in a social media post Wednesday morning. "Please keep our Mariner's family in your prayers as we navigate these uncharted waters," the post read. The staff says the restaurant will remain open because Labrecque "NEVER closed."Permalink| Comments
  
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• Missing 72-year-old man found safe

  17-08-2023 07:13
  
  UPDATE: Wilson was found safe at home Thursday morning. ----BATON ROUGE - Deputies said they were looking for a missing 72-year-old man last seen Wednesday morning. The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office is searching for Frank Wilson, who reportedly told his wife he was going to run errands Wednesday morning but did not return home. Deputies said Wilson is his wife's caretaker and does not leave her alone for long. Wilson's truck was found in a parking lot on North Mal
  
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• Deputies searching for missing 72-year-old man last seen Wednesday morning

  17-08-2023 07:13
  
  BATON ROUGE - Deputies said they were looking for a missing 72-year-old man last seen Wednesday morning. The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office is searching for Frank Wilson, who reportedly told his wife he was going to run errands Wednesday morning but did not return home. Deputies said Wilson is his wife's caretaker and does not leave her alone for long. Wilson's truck was found in a parking lot on North Mall Drive, but he was not located. He was last seen wearing bl
  
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• One injured in overnight shooting off Chippewa Street

  17-08-2023 06:12
  
  BATON ROUGE - Emergency officials said one person was injured in a shooting early Thursday morning. Officials said the shooting happened around 2:30 a.m. and one person was injured on Ontario Street. The extent of their injuries was not immediately clear. WBRZ has reached out to law enforcement for more details. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Juvenile injured in overnight shooting off Chippewa Street

  17-08-2023 06:12
  
  BATON ROUGE - Emergency officials said one person was injured in a shooting early Thursday morning. Officials said the shooting happened around 2:30 a.m. and one person was injured on Ontario Street. The extent of their injuries was not immediately clear. The Baton Rouge Police Department said the victim was a juvenile, but did not identify a suspect or motive as of Thursday morning.Permalink| Comments
  
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