Baton Rouge news

• Washington Parish public schools closed Tuesday - Social media details employee walkout

  28-08-2023 21:30
  
  WASHINGTON PARISH - Public school students in Washington Parish will be getting an extra day off on Tuesday after the school system canceled class. Washington Parish School System announced the closure around 9 p.m. Monday night, but did not give a reason - only "unforeseen circumstances." Teachers and faculty will still have to show up for work. According to social media posts cited by WWL-TV, a meeting regarding pay raises for teachers in the parish was held at the parish's
  
  Read more

• Washington Parish public schools closed Tuesday due to 'unforseen circumstances'

  28-08-2023 21:30
  
  WASHINGTON PARISH - Public school students in Washington Parish will be getting an extra day off on Tuesday after the school system cancelled class. Washington Parish School System announced the closure around 9 p.m. Monday night, but did not give a reason - only "unforseen circumstances." Teachers and faculty will still have to show up for work. On Monday, Livingston Parish schools were shut down for a bomb threat and last week East Baton Rouge Parish classes were canceled du
  
  Read more

• Washington Parish public schools closed Tuesday due to 'unforeseen circumstances'

  28-08-2023 21:30
  
  WASHINGTON PARISH - Public school students in Washington Parish will be getting an extra day off on Tuesday after the school system canceled class. Washington Parish School System announced the closure around 9 p.m. Monday night, but did not give a reason - only "unforeseen circumstances." Teachers and faculty will still have to show up for work. On Monday, Livingston Parish schools were shut down for a bomb threat and last week East Baton Rouge Parish classes were canceled du
  
  Read more

• 16 fire departments helping out BRFD during funeral service for fallen firefighter on Tuesday

  28-08-2023 20:50
  
  BATON ROUGE - Sixteen fire departments will be providing equipment and helping hands on Tuesday while Baton Rouge firefighters attend funeral services for a fallen firefighter. Captain Phillip Paternostro died Monday, Aug. 21. He worked with the BRFD for 23 years. He was 54 years old. BRFD said his cancer was believed to have stemmed from his work as a firefighter.According to an obituary, a visitation was held at Istrouma Baptist Church on Monday evening. Visitation will resume on Tue
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Deputies looking for man last seen in Albany on Friday morning

  28-08-2023 20:11
  
  ALBANY - Deputies in Livingston Parish are looking for a man who was last seen walking along AL-43 in Albany on Friday morning. The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office said 56-year-old Mark Hammac walks that way frequently, but has not been seen since. He was wearing an all-black outfit with a hat and backpack when he was last seen. He may be suffering from a medical condition and family members are worried for his safety. Anyone with information should call 911.&n
  
  Read more

• Weekend rain helped fire fight, but wildfire threat can still intensify

  28-08-2023 18:31
  
  BATON ROUGE - Over the weekend there was a little bit of relief in the fight against wildfires in Beauregard Parish, as some rain did finally fall, but for firefighters the battle is not over."Weather moved in a little bit. We had some thunderstorms move in, kind of capped the fire, kind of calmed everything down," operations section chief Pete Myers said.As of Monday morning, the fires that have burned more than 50,000 acres are about 50 percent contained, but the rain relief may have just bee
  
  Read more

• Fight between city workers in Baker leads to shooting; one person hospitalized

  28-08-2023 17:26
  
  BAKER - A city worker was shot after an argument escalated to gunfire in Baker Monday afternoon. The shooting was reported around 4 p.m. According to Baker Police, the shooting stemmed from an argument that started at the Department of Public Works building. The victim was taken to a hospital and is expected to undergo surgery, Police Chief Carl Dunn said.The suspected shooter was detained by police but has not yet been identified. Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• Parent who helped save bus driver from heat-related medical emergency calls for AC on buses

  28-08-2023 17:12
  
  ASCENSION PARISH - A woman who called 911 after noticing her daughter's bus driver was exhibiting signs of heat exhaustion is now hoping the Ascension school board will take action to get air conditioned buses. Last Thursday afternoon, Jamie Jacob noticed her daughter's bus was driving unusually slow down the street she lives on. "I knew something wasn't right," Jacob said. When the bus pulled up in front of Jacob's home, she checked on the driver and noticed the driv
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• A police chief by Christmas: Broome says picking a new top cop will seem different this time

  28-08-2023 16:55
  
  BATON ROUGE — Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome said Monday the timeline needed to select a new police chief for Baton Rouge will seem different than the one that ended with Murphy Paul being named the city's top cop in 2017.Applications were due to the city-parish last Friday, and according to a timeline provided by Broome's office the city will have a new chief by Christmas.Six years ago, Broome named an interim chief to replace Carl Dabadie following his abrupt resignation. He s
  
  Read more

• East Feliciana inmate jumps out of portable toilet, runs into woods in botched escape attempt

  28-08-2023 16:44
  
  EAST FELICIANA PARISH - A trusty inmate likely added years to his sentence after jumping out of a portable toilet during a parish road cleanup and trying to escape.According to East Feliciana Parish Sheriff Jeff Travis, 30-year-old Brett Brigham was working with a crew of other inmates around 10:15 Monday morning. Brigham is a trusty inmate because of his lower-level offenses and good behavior. Sheriff Travis said Brigham asked to use the portable toilet. A correctional officer assigne
  
  Read more

• Despite strict ban, burning persists at property linked to WBR Parish president and his family

  28-08-2023 16:36
  
  ADDIS - Two fires burning simultaneously in Addis happened on properties connected to the sons of West Baton Rouge Parish President Riley 'Pee Wee' Berthelot, he told WBRZ Monday.Residents who did not want to go on camera questioned why no citations were issued for a violation of the burn ban.Stream live newscasts hereSunday night, the West Baton Rouge Fire Department and several fire departments from surrounding parishes worked to contain and extinguish the flames. Residents were asked to avoi
  
  Read more

• LSU grad named person of interest in deadly shooting at UNC campus, report says

  28-08-2023 16:31
  
  CHAPEL HILL - An LSU graduate is linked to a shooting at the University of North Carolina that reportedly left a faculty member dead Monday, according to WRAL.The campus went on lockdown around 1 p.m. local time after the college put out an emergency notification to students and faculty of an armed and dangerous individual. Students were forced to shelter in place as officer swarmed the campus. About half an hour after the initial alert, campus police shared a photo of a "person of int
  
  Read more

• LSU grad named person of interest in deadly shooting at UNC campus

  28-08-2023 16:31
  
  CHAPEL HILL - An LSU graduate is linked to a shooting at the University of North Carolina that left a faculty member dead Monday.The campus went on lockdown around 1 p.m. local time after the college put out an emergency notification to students and faculty of an armed and dangerous individual. Students were forced to shelter in place as officer swarmed the campus. About half an hour after the initial alert, campus police shared a photo of a "person of interest." That person was later
  
  Read more

• LSU evacuating Choppin Hall for chemical leak

  28-08-2023 15:38
  
  BATON ROUGE - A chemical leak in Choppin Hall on LSU's campus has caused an evacuation of the building. LSU officials are asking people to avoid the area during the Hazmat situation. Choppin Hall houses LSU's Department of Chemistry. Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• Faulty alarm forced evacuation at LSU chemistry building Monday

  28-08-2023 15:38
  
  BATON ROUGE - LSU briefly evacuated a building housing its Department of Chemistry amid fears of a potentially dangerous chemical leak Monday afternoon.The university alerted students and faculty around 3 p.m. that Choppin Hall was evacuated due to the apparent leak. The building was later deemed safe, and it returned to normal operations shortly before 4 p.m. Baton Rouge Fire investigators have since attributed the situation to a malfunctioning alarm. Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• State urging residents to take precautions as wildfires impact air quality across south Louisiana

  28-08-2023 15:03
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana health officials are warning residents to take precautions as wildfires affect air quality throughout parts of the state. The warning Monday came just days after people around the capital area observed a haze and reported smelling smoke. Officials said that while no fires were actively burning in and around the Baton Rouge area over the weekend, wildfires likely carried over smoky air from fires in the western part of the state.Read the full announcement from th
  
  Read more

• Triple shooting along Plank Road left one dead Sunday, BRPD says

  28-08-2023 14:20
  
  BATON ROUGE - One person was killed and two others were hurt in a shooting along Plank Road over the weekend. The Baton Rouge Police Department said the shooting happened around 2:30 a.m. Sunday on Plank Road near Brady Street. Police arrived at the scene to find three people shot.All three were taken to a hospital. One of the victims, 47-year-old Andre Ardoin, died in the hospital later that evening. The other two victims are expected to survive. Investigators have not determ
  
  Read more

• Police identify man killed in shooting Sunday morning

  28-08-2023 13:57
  
  BATON ROUGE - Officers are investigating a fatal shooting that left a 42-year-old man dead. The Baton Rouge Police Department said Sherman McElroy, 42, was found shot multiple times on Monte Sano Avenue off LA-61. The shooting happened shortly after 9 a.m. Sunday. No further information was immediately released. Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• Trump's trial set for March in federal case stemming from 2020 election

  28-08-2023 13:30
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — A judge on Monday set a March 4, 2024, trial date for Donald Trump in the federal case in Washington charging the former president with trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election, rejecting a defense request to push back the case by years.U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan rebuffed claims by Trump’s attorneys that an April 2026 trial date was necessary to account for the huge volume of evidence they say they are reviewing and to prepare for what the
  
  Read more

• Shots fired after crooks encounter employee inside store

  28-08-2023 13:08
  
  HAMMOND - A pair of would-be thieves fired several shots, then fled, after encountering a worker inside a store they intended to rob.Hammond police said the incident happened Monday about 3 a.m. at the Yellow Store in the 300 block of East University Ave.Two men used a crow bar to break through the glass front door and entered the business. There, they were surprised by an employee who was inside the store.Police say three shots were fired as the crooks ran off. The employee was not hurt.Survei
  
  Read more

• Shots fired after burglars crooks encounter employee inside store

  28-08-2023 13:08
  
  HAMMOND - A pair of thieves fired several shots, then fled, after encountering a worker inside a store they intended to rob.Hammond police said the incident happened Monday about 3 a.m. at the Yellow Store in the 300 block of East University Ave.Two men used a crow bar to break through the glass front door and entered the business. There, they were surprised by an employee who was inside the store.Police say three shots were fired as the crooks ran off. The employee was not hurt.Surveillance im
  
  Read more

• WATCH LIVE: Coach Brian Kelly previews LSU's season-opener

  28-08-2023 12:21
  
  BATON ROUGE - LSU Head Coach Brian Kelly is set to preview the Tigers' first game of the regular season Monday.Stream the live game preview at noon on WBRZ+ and the WBRZ YouTube Channel.LSU takes on the Florida Seminoles in Orlando this Sunday, Sept. 3. Watch the season-opener at 6:30 p.m. on WBRZ.Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• WATCH: Coach Brian Kelly previews LSU's season-opener

  28-08-2023 12:21
  
  BATON ROUGE - LSU Head Coach Brian Kelly held his first game preview of the 2023 regular season Monday, looking ahead to the Tiger's season-opener against Florida State this weekend.The game will air at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 3 on WBRZ, Channel 2.Subscribe to the WBRZ YouTube Channel to get more live updates and exclusive LSU football content.Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• East Ascension High School construction is on schedule to be completed by fall 2024

  28-08-2023 09:17
  
  ASCENSION PARISH - The Ascension Parish School district has been busy with renovations across the district, and the new building for East Ascension High School is something officials have been waiting for since 2009.The new East Ascension High School building has been in planning since 2009. However, after years of waiting the project broke ground last year. Now, the $6 million project is almost completed says Jeff Parent, the district's supervisor of construction planning and security.&nbs
  
  Read more

• Pair of sisters arrested after arriving at son's school, battering police officer

  28-08-2023 08:40
  
  BATON ROUGE - Two women were arrested after they allegedly arrived at Melrose Elementary School and battered an officer who was arresting one of their sons. The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office said they were called to respond to a fight on the campus. While they were responding, one of the students was put into handcuffs and school officials called the boy's mother. Shortly after, the boy's mother, Jamie Pate, 28, and her sister Darlene, 26, arrived at the school. Jamie Pate
  
  Read more

• Schools across the capital area targeted in bomb threat hoax; Livingston Parish cancels classes

  28-08-2023 06:53
  
  Bomb threats sent to several schools across multiple parishes prompted closures and heightened police presences across the capital area Monday.Livingston Parish Public Schools shut down all classes due to the threat. School will resume on Tuesday.The Livingston Parish school system issued the following statement to parents later Monday morning:Today we had multiple school staff receive e-mails from an unknown sender with a bomb threat on their campus.  Schools were cancelled today out
  
  Read more

• Power mostly restored in Ascension after outage likely caused by weather

  28-08-2023 04:38
  
  PORT VINCENT - The Entergy outage map showed 3,264 people were out of power in Ascension Parish early Monday morning. The map reported the outage started around 3 a.m. Monday. Entergy officials said the outage was likely caused by more severe weather that rolled through the area. At 5:45 a.m., power had been restored to all but 245 people in Ascension. Entergy said they hoped to restore the remaining customers' power by 10 a.m..Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• Over 3,000 without power in Ascension Parish due to power outage

  28-08-2023 04:38
  
  PORT VINCENT - The Entergy outage map showed 3,264 people were out of power in Ascension Parish early Monday morning. The map reported the outage started around 3 a.m. Monday, but did not immediately report a cause. As of 4:30 a.m., power was expected to be restored around 6 a.m. Monday.WBRZ has reached out to officials for more information about what caused the outage. Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• Over 3,000 without power in Ascension Parish due to outage

  28-08-2023 04:38
  
  PORT VINCENT - The Entergy outage map showed 3,264 people were out of power in Ascension Parish early Monday morning. The map reported the outage started around 3 a.m. Monday. As of 4:30 a.m., power was expected to be restored around 6 a.m. Monday. Entergy officials said the outage was likely caused by more severe weather that rolled through the area. WBRZ has reached out to officials for more information about what caused the outage. Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

Follow @BatonRougeNews_ on Twitter!