Baton Rouge news

• 'Taken from me way too soon:' Mother wants justice after losing her son in shooting last week

  07-05-2025 21:25
  
  BATON ROUGE - The family of the man killed at The Reserve at White Oak last Wednesday is speaking out after the shooting. David Turley III was killed in a shooting at the complex, and his family says he was not a reflection of how he died."I'm still in disbelief, it feels like a horror movie just playing before my eyes," Jenet Rogers, David's mother, said. His family has still been piecing together the information surrounding his death."Nothing could've prepared us, nothing like this,
  
  Read more

• Bills looking to reshape BREC, reduce state income and sales taxes pass La. House

  07-05-2025 21:15
  
  BATON ROUGE - At the Louisiana House, bills addressing the restructure of the Baton Rouge park system, BREC, as well as bills looking to lower state income and sales tax passed Wednesday.The BREC bill passed with changes that include keeping the park's nine member board to oversee the park system with each East Baton Rouge mayor appointing a commissioner and the remaining four being appointed by the Metro Council.Additionally, lawmakers passed a pair of bills that could reduce the state income
  
  Read more

• Former Congressman Graves reflects on current state of politics, calls for accountability

  07-05-2025 19:39
  
  BATON ROUGE - Former Congressman Garret Graves issued a call to action to Louisiana voters, urging voters to hold public officials accountable and reflecting on his decade of service in Congress. Wednesday, Graves spoke to the Baton Rouge Rotary Club, reflecting on a decade of service. When the 6th Congressional District was reconfigured after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the old map was unconstitutional, Graves announced he wouldn’t run again for the seat. 
  
  Read more

• Baton Rouge high school students complete first year of program made to help achieve their dreams

  07-05-2025 18:06
  
  BATON ROUGE — Fifty students at Belaire Magnet High School celebrated their graduation from a new program Wednesday morning designed by State Representative Vanessa LaFleur to invest in the future of students in District 101. The students were a part of the pilot program Promise Lab. Rep. LaFleur said the program is designed to make a positive and lasting impact on the next generation. She said they’re guiding students toward achieving academic and personal goals, a
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• After devastating house fire, SGFD promised to build closer station with new tax. That was 10 years ago.

  07-05-2025 17:40
  
  ST. GEORGE - Members of the St. George Firefighters union are demanding answers from the chief about a fire station promised more than a decade ago.They calculate $20 million of tax payer money has been collected with no new fire facility to show for it.On Halloween weekend in 2014, a space heater fire destroyed a home in the back of the University Club subdivision off Nicholson Drive."In the back of U Club, we burned a house down. The response time, which hasn't changed, is around 15-20 minute
  
  Read more

• Real ID deadline sparks confusion and panic for some travelers at Baton Rouge Airport

  07-05-2025 17:17
  
  BATON ROUGE - Confusion arose among travelers at the airport today as the long-anticipated REAL ID deadline for airline travel arrived. Some travelers were caught off guard, unsure if they could board their flights.The REAL ID deadline is May 7th, which caused some confusion and worry for travelers at the Baton Rouge Airport."They just say you need the REAL ID and then you start freaking out that you're not able to fly out," Ashley Pernicone, who was flying to New York said. “I came d
  
  Read more

• 2 On Your Side: Ascension government finds dirt to cover area generating red dust for years

  07-05-2025 17:17
  
  BURNSIDE — Ascension Parish leaders on Wednesday announced a new deal to address red dust that has plagued a Burnside-area neighborhood for years: Surplus soil from an Air Products construction site near Sorrento will be used to cover the ground at an old aluminum refinery.As detailed in numerous 2 On Your Side reports, neighbors have complained for years about red dust wafting over their neighborhood and settling on everything when the wind blows just right (or wrong). State
  
  Read more

• Flooding poses danger to drivers after Tuesday, Wednesday's severe weather

  07-05-2025 16:20
  
  BATON ROUGE — After Tuesday's severe weather and heavy rainfall, AAA warns drivers of potential flooding hazards on capital area roadways.Transportation officials urge motorists to exercise extreme caution as forecasts continue to project rain Wednesday."If you can avoid being off the roads during heavy rain, we strongly recommend that," AAA spokesman Donald Redman said.For those whose travel is unavoidable, AAA stresses the importance of reducing speed, maintaining a significant foll
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Ponchatoula man arrested for child pornography, possession of narcotics

  07-05-2025 16:14
  
  PONCHATOULA - A man was arrested for uploading child pornography, as well as having narcotics and firearms.Tangipahoa Parish deputies say 41-year-old Christopher Parker shared videos of child sexual abuse on a chat app. Detectives determined Parker was the source, they obtained a warrant and searched his residence.Deputies found drugs and four guns in the raid. Parker was barred from owning firearms because of an active protective order against him.Parker was booked for 17 counts of pornography
  
  Read more

• WBRZ FLASHBACK: John James Audubon Bridge opens to traffic in 2011

  07-05-2025 16:11
  On May 5, 2011, the John James Audubon Bridge opened to traffic, connecting Pointe Coupee and West Feliciana parishes. Drivers that were used to an hour long commute to get from one side of the river to another could save about 40 minutes each trip with the new bridge. The project was announced in 1992 with an estimated cost of $50M but the price grew and left taxpayers on the hook for $409M, nearly a 700 percent increase. Organizers estimated the bridge would log abo
  
  Read more

• WBRZ FLASHBACK: Manship family sells The Advocate in 2013

  07-05-2025 16:03
  BATON ROUGE - On May 1, 2013, the Manship family sold The Advocate to the Georges Media Group. From when Charles P. Manship filed the charter of the Capital City Press in May 1909 to buying the State Times and ultimately publishing the Morning Advocate in 1925, the Manships have built and maintained a media dynasty. Just five years before the sale, the Manship family cut the ribbon on a brand new, state-of-the-art printing press in Baton Rouge. The big investment cemented the
  
  Read more

• Firefighters rescue four kittens trapped in engine

  07-05-2025 14:52
  
  BATON ROUGE - Baton Rouge Firefighters rescued four tiny kittens that were stuck in an engine. Feline rescue Cat Haven said that a woman drove into the parking lot Tuesday right before they were closing for the evening. They said she was frantic, telling rescuers she heard tiny meows coming from underneath the hood of her vehicle. Multiple firefighters from the Baton Rouge Fire Department came to the rescue and removed four little kittens that were trapped."All kittens are doi
  
  Read more

• Man accused of leading deputies on multi-parish pursuit in stolen school bus arrested

  07-05-2025 14:18
  
  LOBDELL — A man accused of leading deputies on a pursuit in a stolen school bus was arrested Wednesday morning.Samuel Selders Jr., 33, was arrested in West Baton Rouge Parish after leading the Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office on a pursuit on Interstate 10 eastbound around 6:30 a.m. Deputies used spike strips to stop the bus near the Lobdell exit of I-10, the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office said.Selders was arrested and booked into the Iberville Parish Detention Cent
  
  Read more

• LSU softball defeats Mississippi State 5-0 in 2nd Round of the SEC Tournament; will face Oklahoma on Thursday

  07-05-2025 14:11
  
  ATHENS, GA - LSU softball shutout Mississippi State 5-0 in the 2nd Round of the SEC Tournament on Wednesday morning after an impressive performance from freshman star Jayden Heavener in the circle. Heavener pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing only one hit and no walks with eight strikeouts.The Tigers scored four runs in the 2nd inning after a single from Maddox McKee, a walk from Avery Hodge that brought in a run and an infield single off the bat of Jalia Lassiter scored two runs
  
  Read more

• St. Mary Parish buildings damaged, roads flooded after Tuesday's heavy rainfall, strong winds

  07-05-2025 13:59
  
  MORGAN CITY — Tuesday evening's heavy rainfall left much of St. Mary Parish flooded, with several buildings also damaged as a result of heavy winds and the rain. Sharon's Tastee Freeze, a dinner in Morgan City, suffered significant structural damage, closing until further notice. Across town, businesses closed as they picked up the pieces from the damage. Elsewhere, residents shared images of their homes that were damaged, with one resident showing their carport coll
  
  Read more

• Coroner's office working to identify man found dead last month

  07-05-2025 13:58
  
  BATON ROUGE - The coroner's office is working to identify a man found dead last month in the back yard of a home on North Harco Drive.LSU's FACES Lab created an enhanced image of the man to aid in identification.The man was found dead April 9 in the back yard of a duplex in the 1800 block of North Harco. He was wearing a camouflage jacket, black pants and black shoes and had "no obvious signs of trauma," Coroner Beau Clark said in a news release.He is believed to have been homeless and slept in
  
  Read more

• Iberville Parish deputies confiscate 60 pounds of drugs, $4K in cash from traffic stop

  07-05-2025 13:50
  
  IBERVILLE PARISH - Deputies in Iberville Parish found 60 pounds of marijuana and $4,000 in cash during a traffic stop. Sheriff Brett Stassi said 25-year-old Yusef Chaisson Jr. from Lafayette was taken into custody and booked for possession with intent to distribute marijuana. “This arrest demonstrates our continued commitment to keeping illegal narcotics off our streets and highways,” said Sheriff Stassi. “Our deputies remain vigilant in protectin
  
  Read more

• The conclave to elect a new pope officially begins as the doors to the Sistine Chapel close

  07-05-2025 13:48
  
  VATICAN CITY (AP) — With the cry of “extra omnes” — Latin for “all out” — the great doors of the Sistine Chapel closed Wednesday and 133 cardinals began the secretive, centuries-old ritual of electing a new leader of the Catholic Church, opening the most geographically diverse conclave in the faith’s 2,000-year history.The red-robed cardinals entered the Sistine Chapel in pairs, chanting the meditative “Li
  
  Read more

• Police identify man killed in three-vehicle crash on I-12

  07-05-2025 13:48
  DENHAM SPRINGS - One person is dead after a three-vehicle crash on I-12 East across from the Bass Pro shop, according to the Denham Springs Police Department.Officials say the crash happened around 10:15 p.m. and 63-year-old Steven Slifkin from Holden was identified as the man who died on the scene. Police said the investigation into the crash was ongoing. No further details were provided about what lead to the crash. Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• One dead after three-vehicle wreck involving 18-wheeler on I-12; all lanes closed at I-12 East

  07-05-2025 13:48
  DENHAM SPRINGS - One person is dead after a three-vehicle crash on I-12 East across the Bass Pro shop, according to the Denham Springs Police Department.Officials say the crash happened around 10:15 p.m. and one person died at the scene.All lanes are blocked at this time and drivers are asked to use an alternate route.Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• Black smoke pours from Sistine Chapel chimney, indicating no pope was elected as conclave opens

  07-05-2025 13:48
  
  VATICAN CITY (AP) — Black smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel chimney on Wednesday, signalling that no pope had been elected as 133 cardinals opened the secretive, centuries-old ritual to choose a new leader of the Catholic Church.The cardinals participating in the most geographically diverse conclave in the faith’s 2,000-year history took just one round of voting Wednesday evening. After failing to find a winner on the first ballot, they retired for the night and will re
  
  Read more

• Disney to build its 7th theme park, this one in the United Arab Emirates

  07-05-2025 13:11
  
  ABU DHABI (AP) — Disney will build its seventh theme park, this one in the United Arab Emirates, the entertainment company said Wednesday.The waterfront resort will be built on Yas Island on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, already home to Formula One’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Ferrari and Warner Bros. amusement parks, SeaWorld and a waterpark.Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. Home to 9 million people
  
  Read more

• Two years after Houston murder, Ascension Parish family searching for answers in loved one's killing

  07-05-2025 13:10
  HOUSTON - An Ascension Parish family is still searching for answers two years after their loved one was shot and killed in Texas.On January 15, 2023, Zalon Carter was found shot to death in Houston. Law enforcement has not found the person responsible for Carter's death.Family said Carter was 18 when he died, just months away from graduating from St. Amant High School. Carter was a musician who performed under the name Chop6x. The music video for his song "Pills" has more than 700K views on You
  
  Read more

• Turkish Tufts University student detained by ICE in Louisiana can be sent to Vermont, appeals court rules

  07-05-2025 12:59
  
  BASILE (AP) — A federal appeals court on Wednesday granted a judge's order to bring a Turkish Tufts University student from a Louisiana immigration detention center back to New England for hearings to determine whether her rights were violated.A judicial panel of the New York-based U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in the case of Rumeysa Ozturk after lawyers representing her and the U.S. Justice Department presented arguments at a hearing Tuesday. Ozturk has been detained in Lou
  
  Read more

• Residents express frustrations, feel unheard over proposed subdivision on Comite Drive

  07-05-2025 12:34
  BATON ROUGE - Residents said they felt as though their opinions were not heard after a community meeting was held Wednesday regarding a planned subdivision for Comite Drive near Baker.The meeting, put together by Metro Councilman Anthony Kenney, happened at Serenity Praise and Worship Tabernacle to discuss concerns about the new development; resident said they were never told about plans for the subdivision.Residents were asked to write down thoughts on note cards, but Pastor Willie Campbell sa
  
  Read more

• Woman arrested for alleged connection to Amite shooting that left two teens injured

  07-05-2025 12:17
  
  AMITE - A woman who allegedly played a role in the Monday evening shooting of two teenagers in Amite was arrested and charged with principal to attempted murder. Natajaa Williams, 18, was arrested Tuesday and charged with principal to attempted first-degree murder after the shooting at Martin Luther King Boulevard and South Fifth Street left a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old injured.Amite Police said that one person was shot in the abdomen and the other in the head, but their conditions
  
  Read more

• Woman arrested for alleged connection to Amite shooting that left one teen dead, another injured

  07-05-2025 12:17
  AMITE - One of two teenagers shot Monday evening in Amite died Wednesday morning. Nastajaa Williams, 18, was arrested Tuesday and charged with principal to attempted first-degree murder after the shooting at Martin Luther King Boulevard and South Fifth Street left a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old injured. After the 18-year-old died, one of Williams' charges was upgraded to principal to first-degree murder.Amite Police said that one person was shot in the abdomen and the other in the he
  
  Read more

• Coroner IDs teen killed after Amite shooting that injured another; woman arrested for alleged connection

  07-05-2025 12:17
  AMITE - One of two teenagers shot Monday evening in Amite died Wednesday morning. Nastajaa Williams, 18, was arrested Tuesday and charged with principal to attempted first-degree murder after the shooting at Martin Luther King Boulevard and South Fifth Street left a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old injured. After 18-year-old Jarvis Brister Jr. died, one of Williams' charges was upgraded to principal to first-degree murder.Amite Police said that one person was shot in the abdomen and the
  
  Read more

• Prairieville FD partners with Ascension schools to recruit young people into fire service

  07-05-2025 12:14
  PRAIRIEVILLE - Ascension Public Schools recently graduated its first class out of a program designed to recruit young people into the fire service.The program comes as a partnership with the Prairieville Fire Department. Students in the program attend classes at the fire department during the school year, and leave the program with four nationally recognized certifications."They could take these certifications and go to Texas, Florida or wherever and say, 'Hey, I've got these certifications.'"
  
  Read more

• Louisiana Supreme Court once again reconsiders death row for man convicted of killing four people

  07-05-2025 12:09
  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Supreme Court is reconsidering the fate of a convicted killer on death row.Darrell Robinson, 56, was convicted for murdering four people in Rapides Parish in 1996. The Louisiana Supreme Court previously reversed his death penalty conviction last year before reconsidering the decision months later. Justices have not said when they will rule on the case.Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• State troopers, Avoyelles Parish deputies close La. 1, evacuate nearby area after train derails

  07-05-2025 12:00
  
  MOREAUVILLE — State troopers and deputies have closed off a stretch of La. 1 south of Moreauville after a train derailed Wednesday morning. Around 7:38 a.m., Louisiana State Police said La. 1 was closed to vehicular traffic and commuters should take La. 114 to La. 451 as a detour. "Expect delays when traveling in that area," troopers and Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies said.Evacuations have also been started for nearby schools, homes and business
  
  Read more

• Man arrested after argument at Baker crawfish boil led to fatal shooting

  07-05-2025 08:42
  BAKER - Deputies have arrested a man accused of shooting and killing another man at a crawfish boil over the weekend. The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office arrested Steven Berthelot, 44, after he spent days in a hospital due to his injuries. Arrest documents said Berthelot was arguing with 27-year-old Gad Davis' mother at a family crawfish boil on Rolling Acres Drive Sunday. During the argument, Berthelot went into one of the bedrooms in the home and grabbed a gun. Da
  
  Read more

• Most travelers must have a REAL ID now to fly in US, or face extra screening

  07-05-2025 07:20
  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — REAL ID requirements for those flying within the United States begin Wednesday after nearly 20 years of delays.The day ahead of the deadline, people lined up at government offices across the country to secure their compliant IDs. In Chicago, officials established a Real ID Supercenter for walk-in appointments, while officials in California and elsewhere planned to continue offering extended hours for the crush of appointments.“I’m here today so
  
  Read more

Follow @BatonRougeNews_ on Twitter!