Baton Rouge news

• More wildfires burning in Tangipahoa Parish, mostly contained

  25-08-2023 20:58
  
  HUSSER - According to the Husser Volunteer Fire Department, multiple fires are still burning in Tangipahoa Parish, include the largest one on Hillcrest School Road.According to Tangipahoa Fire District 1, the Husser Fire Department was working on three smaller fires when the larger one started. Both them and Louisiana State Forestry claim the fire is under control, but it's still burning and firemen are monitoring it.The Husser Volunteer Fire Department urges people against driving down Hillcre
  
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• EBR parents express concern about students' time in class amid bus driver shortage

  25-08-2023 18:40
  
  BATON ROUGE - No solution to East Baton Rouge schools' bus driver shortage sent Superintendent Dr. Sito Narcisse back to the drawing board. In the meantime, some are raising the alarm about kids spending enough time in the classroom.During Thursday's school board meeting plenty of parents huddled and lined up at the podium to express their concerns, pushing the meeting end time to early Friday morning. "You owe these people, you owe these mothers, these children, these bus drivers dese
  
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• LA 1 in Plaquemine reduced to one lane in each director for 'critical' repairs; work to last three weeks

  25-08-2023 18:17
  
  PLAQUEMINE - For the next three weeks, traffic on the west side of the Mississippi River Bridge might be heavier than usual in Plaquemine. While DOTD crews preform critical repairs to the LA 1 Southbound bridge, LA 1 will be reduced to one lane in each direction between LA 77 (Bayou Jacob Road) and Depot Street. The southbound side of the roadway will be redirected into a northbound lane during this time. "The safety of the motoring public is more important than anything," sai
  
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• LA 1 in Plaquemine reduced to one lane in each direction for 'critical' repairs; work to last three weeks

  25-08-2023 18:17
  
  PLAQUEMINE - For the next three weeks, traffic on the west side of the Mississippi River Bridge might be heavier than usual in Plaquemine. While DOTD crews perform critical repairs to the LA 1 Southbound bridge, LA 1 will be reduced to one lane in each direction between LA 77 (Bayou Jacob Road) and Depot Street. The southbound side of the roadway will be redirected into a northbound lane during this time. "The safety of the motoring public is more important than anything," sai
  
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• Livingston Parish passes 160-day development moratorium

  25-08-2023 16:50
  
  LIVINGSTON - After almost a month of debate regarding a year-long development moratorium in Livingston Parish, the council passed another one that would last 160 days instead Thursday night.Initially, the council passed a year-long moratorium in July, but it was promptly vetoed by the parish president over concerns on how the moratorium violated the Fair Housing Act. The council then failed to override the veto, leading the council to go back to the drawing board.Initially, the council planned
  
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• Louisiana issues stricter burn ban as state responds to sprawling wildfires

  25-08-2023 15:29
  
  Louisiana officials have rescinded the state's existing burn ban and enacted a stricter ban that removes exceptions for farmers.The new burn ban was announced Friday afternoon. In a statement, the Department of Agriculture specifically removes exemptions for agricultural burns."This new burn ban order by Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, DVM, in collaboration with Louisiana State Fire Marshal Dan Wallis, in effect as of August 25, 2023, at 12 p.m., order
  
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• Another Beauregard Parish community ordered to evacuate

  25-08-2023 15:02
  
  BEAUREGARD PARISH - Officials have ordered an evacuation of the Bancroft community and surrounding areas in Beauregard Parish due to threats posed by wildfires there.The Beauregard Parish Sheriff's Office ordered a mandatory evacuation affecting all residents, and stressed that "it is of utmost importance to evacuate south on LA 389 towards DeQuincy."The order follows a prior evacuation of the town of Merryville.RELATED: Video shows 'Super Scoopers' flying in to aid fight against wildfires in B
  
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• Weekend closures planned on Jefferson Highway at Ascension-EBR parish line

  25-08-2023 14:44
  
  State highway officials have planned multiple weekend closures at the Bayou Manchac Bridge to allow for maintenance work.The roadwork is planned to start this weekend, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The next closure will occur at those same times on Sept. 9 and Sept. 10. Traffic will be forced to detour to Airline Highway during the closures.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Website helping Louisianians track wildfires across state, beyond

  25-08-2023 14:36
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana State Police are directing the public to a wildfire tracking website to help residents understand the threat and to keep them updated on the spread of the fires.The "Wildfire Aware" web page identifies wildfires that have been reported, then provides information on them -- such as the number of acres burned and the size of the crew battling the flames."Please utilize this real time wildfire tracking site if you would like a better view or understanding of the locations i
  
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• Livingston grass fire contained; up to 40 acres burned

  25-08-2023 14:17
  
  LIVINGSTON - A large brush fire prompted a response from multiple agencies in Livingston Parish Friday afternoon. Officials reported the fire started in Livingston, along LA 63 near LA 444, around noon Friday. Multiple fire departments were involved in the response. The fire departments had assistance from the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, who used two dozer crews to cut off the fire's spread by creating dirt lines.Up to 40 acres of land were burned in the fire.&
  
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• Authorities battling large grass fire in Livingston Parish

  25-08-2023 14:17
  
  LIVINGSTON - Emergency responders are responding to a burning field in Livingston Parish Friday afternoon.Officials reported the fire in Livingston, along LA 63 near LA 444, around 2 p.m. Friday. This is a developing story. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Your yard can wait: Baton Rouge, Ascension utilities ask customers to limit water use in drought

  25-08-2023 14:00
  
  BATON ROUGE — With scorching heat and strong winds accelerating the wildfire threat during Louisiana's extended drought, utilities in the capital region on Friday urged residents to use less water so reservoir levels can rebound whenever possible."The stresses caused by the current ongoing and record-breaking heat, and the complete lack of rain, are causing never-before-seen high demands on the water system," said Patrick Kerr, president of the Baton Rouge Water Utility, which also ma
  
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• Baton Rouge, Ascension water providers asking customers to limit water consumption amid extreme weather

  25-08-2023 14:00
  
  BATON ROUGE - Several capital area water providers are asking customers to use less water during the state's heat emergency.Read the announcement below.Read the announcement here.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Video shows 'Super Scoopers' flying in to aid fight against wildfires in Beauregard Parish

  25-08-2023 13:49
  
  MERRYVILLE - Stunning new video shows "Super Scooper" planes collecting water from Toledo Bend amid efforts to control a raging wildfire in Beauregard Parish. The video, taken Thursday near the Louisiana-Texas state line, shows the planes skimming along the surface, collecting water to dump on the sprawling fire impacting parts of southwest Louisiana.Additional video shared by the State Fire Marshal's Office on Thursday showed the plans dropping the water over scorched parts of the par
  
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• Lawmakers form caucus to throw federal support behind Tiger Stadium, other historic sports venues

  25-08-2023 13:17
  
  BATON ROUGE - Congressman Garret Graves and other U.S. representatives launched the Historic Stadium Caucus on Friday, a bi-partisan group of Congressmembers with the goal of "preserving the legacy and protecting the integrity" of the country's most historic sports venues.A news release Friday sad the group's goal is to not only preserve those stadiums but to enhance them to better meet modern expectations. The announcement highlights venues like LSU's Tiger Stadium and California's Rose Bowl S
  
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• East Baton Rouge Schools show unity for the football season jamborees

  25-08-2023 13:15
  
  BATON ROUGE - Friday night lights are back and schools in the capital are ready. The East Baton Rouge school district is kicking off their season with jamborees, and here's the times and places for the games:Games at Scotlandville Magnet High SchoolLiberty Magnet vs McKinley @ 6:30 p.m.Scotlandville vs. Istrouma @ 7:45 p.m.Games at Broadmoor High SchoolBroadmoor vs. Northeast @ 6:00 p.m.Tara vs. Glen Oaks @ 7:15 p.m.Belair vs Woodlawn @ 8:30 p.m.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Driver arrested in I-12 crash that killed 66-year-old Walker man Thursday

  25-08-2023 12:22
  
  HAMMOND - Troopers arrested a man after he reportedly crashed his vehicle and one of his passengers died on the scene. According to Louisiana State Police, Michael Clayton, 33, was driving on I-12 in a "reckless manner" when his truck left the road and hit a sign and a tree Thursday afternoon. Gene Duncan, 66, was a passenger inside the truck. He was properly restrained but sustained fatal injuries due to the crash. He died on the scene. Clayton and another occupant w
  
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• Man arrested after holding woman, 2 children hostage in Iberia Parish

  25-08-2023 12:14
  
  LYDIA - Deputies arrested a man after a hostage situation Thursday night involving a mother and her two young children. According to the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office, law enforcement with the New Iberia Police Department and Lafayette Police Department were called to a home on Leona Street on reports of a man, 25-year-old Alex Picou, threatening a neighbor with a weapon around 9 p.m. Thursday. Picou's mother then called law enforcement and said he was holding a woman and her
  
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• Fire breaks out at refinery in St. John the Baptist Parish; no injuries reported

  25-08-2023 08:41
  
  GARYVILLE - Officials with the Marathon Petroleum personnel and local emergency responders reported a fire at the refinery in Garyville Friday morning. Officials with St. John the Baptist Parish said they were responding to a naphtha release and a fire at one of the refinery's storage facilities. Naphtha is a flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixture commonly used as a solvent in soaps or varnishes.Emergency responders said the fire was contained to the refinery's property and there were no
  
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• GET TO MOVING: Goat yoga!

  25-08-2023 05:39
  
  GET 2 MOVING- A new experience offered that can be enjoyed by so many and that is goat yoga. The yoga workout is done outside in a fenced area by a professional coach, where the most adorable furry friends join the fun. There are so many benefits of sharing your workout session with goats. They offer a calming vibe on top of the zin that yoga already has to offer. Being fully in nature, sets a new element for a workout. A clearer mind and organic space to tune the rest of the
  
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