Louisiana news

• Gov. Jeff Landry to address Monday's severe weather as GOHSEP details next steps in recovery

  14-05-2024 13:02 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Gov. Jeff Landry is set to address Monday night's severe storms that left thousands without power and multiple schools and roads closed at a press conference Tuesday at noon.The press conference will be held at the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness headquarters on Independence Boulevard.In the lead up to Landry's press conference, GOHSEP announced preliminary plans to address the widespread outages in the capital areas, as well as multiple
  
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• Baton Rouge resident leads Louisiana Amateur Championship heading into final round

  08-06-2024 21:57 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Baton Rouge resident Greg Berthelot leads the Louisiana Amateur Championship by a stroke heading into Sunday's final round.Berthelot is at 6-under par for the tournament, held at the Country Club of Louisiana, after a 3-under par 69 on Saturday.Lafayette's Tyler Ledet and Covington's Patrick Blaum are one shot back at 5-under.The final group with Ledet, Blaum, and Berthelot tees off at 10:39 a.m. Sunday.Dunham graduate and current Southern Mississippi golfer Ryan Dupuy is two shot
  
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• Pedestrian in serious condition after accident on Sherwood Forest Boulevard

  08-06-2024 21:50 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - A pedestrian was transported to the hospital after being hit by a vehicle Saturday night, according to emergency officials.The accident happened on Sherwood Forest Boulevard near near Major Oak Drive. The pedestrian was transported in serious condition.No other information is available at this time.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Formerly highly-touted LSU baseball recruit LHP Cam Johnson enters transfer portal

  08-06-2024 21:43 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Another one of LSU's pitchers entered the transfer portal Friday evening, according to D1Baseball's Kendall Rogers.Cam Johnson, a freshman left-handed pitcher, entered his name in the portal. Johnson was ranked as 2nd best left-handed pitcher and the No. 11 overall player in the nation as a high school senior out of IMG Academy in Florida by Perfect Game.Johnson was ranked as the No. 42 overall prospect in the nation entering the June 2023 Draft by MLB Pipeline and was selected in
  
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• 'Pride in the Park' celebration shows support of local artists and vendors

  08-06-2024 21:16 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Saturday afternoon, the 'Pride in The Park' celebration kicked off in support of local vendors, artists and the LGBTQ+ community."It's a beautiful experience to just watch everybody come together and find a place that lets them be them," Precious McCray with the Independence Park Theatre said.The gathering also featured resources that attendants could look to such as Small Talk, a counseling organization, and Rainbow Connection, a supportive platform for those in the LGBTQ+ commun
  
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• Takeaways from Hunter Bidens gun trial: His family turns out as his own words are used against him

  08-06-2024 20:59 via wbrz.com
  
  WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Pictures of President Joe Biden’s son with drug paraphernalia and bare-chested in a bubble bath. Text messages between Hunter Biden and drug dealers. Testimony from Hunter’s exes about relationships destroyed by his drug use.Hunter Biden’s trial on gun charges brought by his father’s Justice Department has put on full display tawdry and embarrassing details about the president’s son, all while first lady Jill Bi
  
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• Third annual KidFest allows children to show off their own businesses, find career paths

  08-06-2024 16:57 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome's Summer of Hope continued this weekend with the third annual Kidfest. Hundreds made it out to Scotlandville Parkway for a day of fun, food, and music, while also learning about valuable resources for the upcoming school year and to see what kids are making a difference in their community. Kidfest is now in its third year, but this event has been going on under a different name for over 20 years. For many, this event
  
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• Former LSU basketball player and son of Pete Maravich, Josh Maravich, dies at 42

  08-06-2024 16:57 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Former LSU men’s basketball player Josh Maravich passed away on Friday at his family home in Covington at the age of 42, according to a press release from LSU.Josh was part of the LSU men’s basketball program for four seasons, 2001-05, under head coach John Brady. Maravich was one of two sons of the legendary LSU basketball and NBA star, Pistol Pete Maravich.“I wanted to come here for my dad to make him proud,” Josh said in a 2005 article in
  
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• Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr., the 23rd overall draft pick out of LSU, signs 4-year deal worth roughly $14.6M

  08-06-2024 15:58 via wbrz.com
  
  JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Receiver Brian Thomas Jr., the 23rd overall pick in the NFL draft, signed his rookie contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Friday.Thomas was slated to get a four-year deal worth $14.6 million under the NFL’s rookie slotting system. The contract includes a signing bonus estimated at roughly $7.5 million as well as a club option for a fifth year.Jacksonville traded down six spots before drafting the former LSU standout to help build around franchi
  
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• Former astronaut William Anders, who took iconic Earthrise photo, killed in Washington plane crash

  08-06-2024 14:56 via wbrz.com
  
  SEATTLE (AP) — William Anders, the former Apollo 8 astronaut who took the iconic “Earthrise” photo showing the planet as a shadowed blue marble from space in 1968, was killed Friday when the plane he was piloting alone plummeted into the waters off the San Juan Islands in Washington state. He was 90.His son, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Greg Anders, confirmed the death to The Associated Press.“The family is devastated,” he said.
  
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• Longtime St. George fire official retiring after more than 42 years

  08-06-2024 13:45 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — The chief of operations for the St. George Fire Department has retired after a 42½-year career, including more than 25 years with St. George.Boyd Westbrook joined the District 6 volunteer fire department in 1981, after riding along with a friend who was signing up. After 17 years at District 6, including several as fire chief, he joined the St. George department in 1998.According to a post on the St. George Fire Department Facebook page, Westbrook was
  
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• New truck unveiled at Ponchatoula called 'Swiss Army Knife' of fire trucks

  08-06-2024 13:17 via wbrz.com
  
  PONCHATOULA — The Ponchatoula Fire Department has taken possession of a new vehicle described as the "Swiss Army Knife of a Fire Truck."The supplier of the Rosenbauer fire truck, Bonaventure Fire and Safety, said the truck has a 1,200-gallon water tank plus other features designed to aid firefighting efforts.The Tangipahoa Parish Rural Fire Protection District No. 2 announced the unit's arrival Friday.More information is available here.Permalink| Comments
  
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• New Orleans-based appeals court says Southwest lawyers can skip religious liberty training

  08-06-2024 13:02 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW ORLEANS — A Louisiana-based federal appeals court has blocked a judge’s order that three attorneys for Southwest Airlines get religious liberty training from a conservative advocacy group, saying the judge likely exceeded his authority.Three judges with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans put the training order on hold while appeals are pursued.The order is an outgrowth of a case in which a Southwest flight attendant, Charlene Carter, sued the airline an
  
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• Walker parks officials hosting Jeep show as part of farmers' market Saturday

  08-06-2024 12:59 via wbrz.com
  
  WALKER — The Walker parks department is holding its third annual Blessing of the Jeeps and Jeep show at its monthly farmers' market Saturday.The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sidney Hutchinson Park. The Parks and Recreation & Community Outreach Department will have live music, and all activities will be concentrated near the park's fishing pond at 20255 Corbin Avenue.The Jeep show includes these categories: Most Extreme, Best Themed, Best Classic, People&rs
  
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• Free Fishing Weekend lets anyone fish on Louisiana's public waters without a license

  08-06-2024 12:49 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — State wildlife officials this weekend are letting people fish without requiring them to hold a fishing license.The Free Fishing Weekend is intended to introduce more people to fishing. "Each year we designate a weekend of fishing with no need to purchase a fishing license as an incentive for families and friends to enjoy one of our state's most beloved pastimes," said Madison Sheahan, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. "Please take
  
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• Exhibit exploring architecture and history of Mississippi River bridges opens Saturday at Old State Capitol

  08-06-2024 09:47 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — An exhibit featuring photographs of bridges that cross the Mississippi River opens Saturday at the Old State Capitol, which is practically in the shadow of the Interstate 10 bridge at Baton Rouge.Architectural photographer Philip Gould explores the various spans, including how they were built and their history.The exhibit runs through Oct. 5.Gould will discuss the exhibit on June 25 at 6 p.m. Details are available at https://louisianaoldstatecapitol.org/exhibits-events/b
  
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• Plaquemine woman and son accused of obstruction after killing of her brother

  08-06-2024 09:31 via wbrz.com
  
  PLAQUEMINE — Plaquemine Police accused a woman and her son of obstruction-related charges after the woman's brother was killed on Friday.Jail records show Sammie Dorsey, 50, was arrested Friday and is accused of obstruction of justice and failing to report certain felonies. Her son Deandre Devon Dorsey faces the same accounts, according to Police Chief Stephen Engolio.Engolio said Saturday morning that Sammie Dorsey and the victim, Balize Mitchell Jr., are brother and sister. That wou
  
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• Plaquemine man accused of second-degree murder in death of uncle; mom accused of obstruction

  08-06-2024 09:31 via wbrz.com
  
  PLAQUEMINE — A Plaquemine man was accused Saturday of killing his uncle during an argument, and the accused man's mother was charged with obstructing a police investigation.Deandre Devon Dorsey, 19, is accused of killing Balize Mitchell Jr., 43, whose body was found with bullet wounds Friday morning. Dorsey's mother, Sammie Dorsey, 50, was arrested Friday on obstruction-related counts.Neighbors said they could hear a loud argument Friday morning among Mitchell and the two Dorseys, and
  
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• Livingston Parish librarian writes of death threats, lawsuits in forthcoming book

  07-06-2024 18:13 via wbrz.com
  
  LIVINGSTON PARISH - Livingston Parish librarian Amanda Jones wrote a book that is part memoir, part manifesto that will be released in August called "That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America."Jones says writing a book was never on her radar."I went through some really dark times and I journaled about it. One thing led to another and now I have a book," Jones said.Jones was the subject of criticism and threats after she spoke at a public meeting about book censorship. Because of
  
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• Livingston Parish librarian received death threats after a public meeting, upcoming book release

  07-06-2024 18:13 via wbrz.com
  
  LIVINGSTON PARISH - School librarian Amanda Jones wrote a book that is part memoir, part manifesto that will be released in August called "That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America."
  Jones says writing a book was never on her radar."I went through some really dark times and I journaled about it. One thing led to another and now I have a book," Jones said.
  Jones was the subject of harsh comments and threats after she spoke at a public meeting about book censorship. Because of the
  
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• LSU running back John Emery Jr. withdraws from transfer portal to stay at LSU

  07-06-2024 17:59 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - LSU running back John Emery Jr. has announced that he will stay at LSU for a final season after recently entering the NCAA Transfer Portal.Emery entered the portal during the Spring window in April. He publicly took a visit to UCLA a few weeks before making the decision to withdraw his name from the portal and remain at LSU.Emery, who will be a sixth-year senior in 2024, tore his ACL in LSU's game against Florida in 2023. The injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season, b
  
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• Baton Rouge's Catholic community joins national celebration of faith as pilgrimage group comes to town

  07-06-2024 17:47 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — A Catholic pilgrimage stopped at multiple churches in Baton Rouge on Friday as part of its journey to 65 Roman Catholic dioceses across the country.t's called the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and it's put on by the National Eucharistic Revival. "This is part of a three-year initiative in the Catholic Church to inspire a deeper devotion to the eucharist in the hearts of Catholics and to expose that love for the eucharist," Shayla Elm, a member of the NER, said
  
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• 'It's very heartbreaking:' Neighbor speaks out after BRPD releases body camera footage of May arrest

  07-06-2024 17:20 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - After repeated requests by the WBRZ Investigative Unit, body camera footage from May was released Friday morning showing exactly what happened when a Baton Rouge man said he was beaten by police during an arrest.Officers said the arrest was made early on the morning of May 21 on West Roosevelt Street. Law enforcement was called to the area due to multiple reports of gunshots. When they arrived, the officers found Rodrick Veal asleep or unconscious in a car that was running and fac
  
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• Louisiana drivers facing fines for lapsed insurance getting some relief

  07-06-2024 16:34 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - For years, people have been facing large fines for lapsed insurance. Pending the governor's signature, the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles is making some changes intended to help people who owe large fines.The purpose of the fines is to encourage people to get and retain car insurance. The fines have sent many people into serious debt and never-ending payment plans. Thousands of people owe anywhere from $125 to $30,000."I think it may have gotten out of control," said OMV Commi
  
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• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge's senior food program not affected by recent LDH contract

  07-06-2024 16:33 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge said Friday it will continue taking part in a food-distribution program for seniors despite the Archdiocese of New Orleans discontinuing their contract with the Louisiana Department of Health.The diocese said Friday it wanted to ensure people knew that the Baton Rouge-based program would continue. When Feeding Louisiana said it would begin administering the program, the archdiocese said it would drop out.The Faith-Full Mobile Foo
  
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• Baton Rouge Catholic Diocese will remain in senior food program even while New Orleans drops out

  07-06-2024 16:33 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge says it will continue taking part in a food-distribution program for seniors run by the state Department of Health even though the Archdiocese of New Orleans is stopping its participation.The diocese said Friday it wanted to ensure people knew that the Baton Rouge-based program would continue. When Feeding Louisiana said it would begin administering the program, the archdiocese said it would drop out.The Faith-Full Mobile Food Pa
  
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• Volunteer coach arrested for molestation of a juvenile, other charges

  07-06-2024 16:29 via wbrz.com
  
  ADDIS - A former volunteer coach at Christian Academy of Louisiana was arrested for molestation of a juvenile, according to officials.Dennis Kennamer was booked on two counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile, two counts of felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile, one count of computer-aided solicitation for sexual purposes and one count molestation of a juvenile.Christian Academy of Louisiana issued a statement saying that the school began an immediate investigation and banned Kennamer from t
  
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• $$$ Best Bets: NBA and Stanley Cup Finals $$$

  07-06-2024 16:20 via wbrz.com
  
  Hunter McCann has the best bets for NBA Finals, college baseball, MLB and Stanley Cup Finals!FridayMLB:Dodgers @ Yankees: Dodgers -1.5Cubs @ Reds: Cubs MLRed Sox @ White Sox: Red Sox -1.5College Baseball:West Virginia @ UNC: UNC -2.5Kansas State @ Virginia: Virginia -2.5SaturdayStanley Cup Finals:Oilers @ Panthers: Panthers MLMLB:Phillies @ Mets @ Phillies -1.5Blue Jays @ Athletics: Athletics -1.5Mariners @ Royals: Royals MLCollege Baseball: TBDSundayNBA Finals:Mavericks @ Celtics: Mav
  
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• Popular vacation spot for Louisianans shuts down beach after two shark attacks injure woman, teens

  07-06-2024 16:14 via wbrz.com
  
  DESTIN, Fla. — Beaches on Florida's Gulf Coast were closed to the public Friday following two shark attacks within two hours that left a woman with an amputated leg and two teenagers injured, Walton County deputies said.The attacks happened between Destin and Panama City Beach, popular destinations for Louisianans' summer vacations.One attack occurred around 1:15 p.m. A woman was brought to a hospital by the South Walton Fire District. The Walton County Sheriff’s Office said
  
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• Popular vacation spot for Louisianans shuts down beach after two shark attacks injure woman, teen

  07-06-2024 16:14 via wbrz.com
  
  DESTIN, Fla. — Beaches on Florida's Gulf Coast were closed to the public Friday following two shark attacks within two hours that left a woman and a teenager injured, Walton County deputies said.The attacks happened between Destin and Panama City Beach, popular destinations for Louisianans' summer vacationsOne attack occurred around 1:15 p.m. A woman was brought to a hospital by the South Walton Fire District. The Walton County Sheriff’s Office said that double red flags &am
  
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