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• Mayor's office to host Youth Workforce Program to help over 400 high schoolers get work experience

  02-04-2025 21:46 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - The mayor's office launched the 2025 Mayor’s Youth Workforce Experience that is designed to help over 400 East Baton Rouge Parish high school students get paid work experience, career training and educational enrichment.According to the mayor's office, students will be placed at various host sites throughout the parish, receiving real-world exposure to the workforce in industries ranging from business and technology to education and pu
  
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• 'A pillar in the community:' family mourns Avenue E shooting victim

  02-04-2025 20:52 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - 80-year-old James Williams was sitting on his front porch Tuesday when police say a gunman came to the house he lived in for over 60 years before the gunman shot and killed him.Family members of Williams say he was a pillar in the community and will never be forgotten around the neighborhood for his generosity."You took him from us. I mean took him with a gun at 80-years-old. Why? Why would you do that? He can't hurt nobody. He's been here all his life. He wasn't bothering no one.
  
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• Man arrested after Denham Springs hit-and-run crash that injured pedestrian

  02-04-2025 19:30 via wbrz.com
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - A Denham Springs man was arrested after a hit-and-run crash on Monday left a pedestrian seriously injured.Troopers said the crash happened Saturday night shortly before 9 p.m. along Reinninger Road south of Weiss Road. Officials said the pedestrian was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. Brandon Chenevert was arrested after two anonymous tips identified him as the driver. HE was booked for felony hit and run, negligent injuring, obstruction of justice, failure t
  
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• Potential bills to lower auto insurance costs could be on the way

  02-04-2025 19:11 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Several bills could be filed in the next few days dealing with auto insurance rate and the ongoing battle between injury attorneys and insurance companies.One lawmaker says he would like to see more tort reform to drive down costs, especially since Louisiana has the highest auto insurance rates in the nation, according to Forbes."There's no doubt this is the number one issue to the people of Louisiana," Rep. Michael "Gabe" Firment, R-District 22 said.State Rep. Mike Johnson, R- Di
  
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• Springfield Police warn residents of calls from man pretending to be a police officer

  02-04-2025 18:51 via wbrz.com
  
  SPRINGFIELD — A man pretending to be a Springfield police officer has been calling people in Livingston and Ascension parishes claiming to be from the department's "civil division."The department does not have a civil division, Police Chief James Jones said Wednesday in an online post.In Springfield, the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office and the Livingston Justice of the Peace handle civil matters.The phony officer has called himself Sgt. Blanched or Belcher and has asked people to b
  
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• LSU baseball preps for tough weekend on the road in the SEC

  02-04-2025 18:50 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - The LSU Tiger baseball team is looking to bounce back from their first SEC road series this year with a new challenge in a new environment.For the first time in program history LSU will play in Norman, Oklahoma against the Oklahoma Sooners starting a three game series on Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN2.“Oklahoma is a very impressive team, obviously off to a very good start," head coach Jay Johnson said of the Sooners."They present a lot of problems on offense; they
  
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• Officials respond to structure fire on Rosedale Road

  02-04-2025 18:47 via wbrz.com
  
  PORT ALLEN — One person was injured Wednesday in a building fire on Rosedale Road. Firefighters responded to the reported fire in the 17000 block of Rosedale Road just before 6 p.m. The road was closed while firefighters worked to extinguish the fire.The injured person was treated at the scene and released, authorities said.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Family members turn to social media hoping to find answers in fatal hit-and-run crash on Plank Road

  02-04-2025 17:33 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — A Baton Rouge family said social media responded quickly to help solve a fatal hit-and-run crash on Plank Road that happened over the weekend.LaDerica Stewart, 22, was struck and killed in the crash. Her cousin Di'Arbonee Smith and two others were injured.Family members said their inboxes have been flooded with messages of people reaching out, offering any bit of information that might help them, as well as sympathy as the family grieves.“A lot of people send s
  
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• St. Amant High School teacher in running for national contest; could win visit from Bill Nye

  02-04-2025 17:32 via wbrz.com
  
  ST. AMANT - St. Amant High School social studies teacher Jacob Newsom is in the running for a nationwide competition where he could win $25,000, a trip to Hawaii and a virtual assembly for the school from Bill Nye.The competition is called America's Favorite Teacher and is put on by Collosal Management LLC.An alumnus of St. Amant High, Newsom has been a teacher at the high school for 11 years. He's taught at least seven different courses, including AP European History, World History, Fine Arts
  
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• Baton Rouge lawyer Ron Haley suspended by Louisiana Supreme Court 'pending further orders'

  02-04-2025 17:04 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW ORLEANS — The Louisiana Supreme Court on Wednesday suspended noted Baton Rouge attorney Ron Haley for an indefinite amount of time.A one-page order from the court said it considered a "petition for interim suspension for threat of harm" by the Office of Judiciary Counsel and suspended him pending further orders.The court also gave the Office of Disciplinary Counsel permission to seek a trustee to protect Haley's clients' interests during the suspension.The underlying reason for th
  
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• Appeals court steps in with ruling on grain-elevator project; can historic site host 56 silos?

  02-04-2025 16:56 via wbrz.com
  
  WALLACE — A Louisiana appellate court on Wednesday upheld a decision barring the development of a 56-silo grain terminal in the middle of a historically Black community that was rezoned as "heavy industrial" in 1990.The Descendants Project had sued to stop construction after Greenfield Louisiana LLC said in 2021 that it would build a $400 million grain elevator and terminal at the site. The property was initially rezoned after Formosa Chemical Corp. said it would build a rayon pulp fa
  
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• Shrimp processing plant's wastewater affects small town; meeting Thursday to discuss compliance

  02-04-2025 16:44 via wbrz.com
  
  INDEPENDENCE - A small community in Tangipahoa Parish has been dealing with a fishy smell in the air for years. People say the smell gets stuck in their noses and mouths and trapped in their homes.It's coming from a shrimp processing plant's wastewater in the Town of Independence.Sharon Vedros and her neighbors live outside the town limits, in Tangipahoa Parish on Casen Road."Like rotten shrimp, that's the only way we can explain it," says Vedros.Independence is home to about 1,600 people. It h
  
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• INVESTIGATIVE UNIT: BRPD officer above legal limit when fiery crash happened, leaked document says

  02-04-2025 16:41 via wbrz.com
  
  ZACHARY - A document leaked to the WBRZ Investigative Unit shows what several sources had been telling us all along: Baton Rouge Police Officer Loren Gaskin was under the influence when he totaled an unmarked police unit in Zachary on March 16.On Wednesday, we received the document and confirmed its authenticity with BRPD. Breath alcohol tests from two hours after the reported crash time say Gaskin's BAC was .104.Fifteen minutes later, he took the test again and blew a .097.
  In Louisiana, anyon
  
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• Expect heavy traffic this weekend as the Rock the Country Festival comes to Livingston

  02-04-2025 16:31 via wbrz.com
  
  LIVINGSTON — Officials said Wednesday that residents and commuters can expect heavy amounts of traffic during the Rock the Country Festival in Livingston this weekend. Officials warned attendees about the potential heavy traffic as crews arrived to set up for the Friday and Saturday event at the Livingston Fairgrounds.Beginning Thursday afternoon, RVs will park at the fairgrounds. Officials said traffic will spike both days for the first time around 1 p.m.Festival gates will
  
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• Teen girl pleads guilty in plot that killed her mother, receives life sentence but is parole-eligible

  02-04-2025 16:10 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - A teenager accused of plotting with a 16-year-old to kill her mother in a Jefferson Highway apartment in 2022 has pleaded guilty to principal to second-degree murder.Jermyne Lewis, 18, entered a plea deal where she admitted she conspired to have her mother, Markeshia Stone, killed. She received a life sentence with her being eligible for parole after 25 years due to her being a juvenile offender.Lewis and Dwayne Barfield, 16, were arrested in October 2022 after deputies said Barfi
  
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• DOTD: Damage on Mississippi River Bridge column is cosmetic, no structural issues

  02-04-2025 15:58 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Columns under Interstate 10 on the Mississippi River Bridge have seemingly been cracked since March 2021 and are still structurally sound, a Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development said Wednesday.The issue with the column, which is located near Nicholson Drive near the approach to the bridge, is cosmetic, DOTD Director of Communications Rodney Mallett said."The outside concrete on the column is spalling (a large crack on the concrete's surface)," Mallett s
  
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• Ponchatoula Police seeking assistance on identifying theft suspect

  02-04-2025 15:48 via wbrz.com
  
  PONCHATOULA - The Ponchatoula Police are looking for information on a man who allegedly took several items without paying at a building supply store on Wednesday.According to police, the man is an unknown white man who fled in a red SUV.Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective RJ Hils at (985) 386-6548.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Multiple suspects arrested in February shooting death of plumber along Fairfields Avenue

  02-04-2025 15:44 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Police said Wednesday that a multi-agency gang investigation led to the arrest of four suspects tied to the killing a 27-year-old plumber who was caught in the crossfire of a February shooting.Trevor Harrison was sitting in his truck on Fairfields Avenue while completing a job before being shot on Feb. 15 by a bullet intended for someone else.Police said that Dakhire Matthews, 18, Steven Hackett, 18, and Christian Hardesty, 17, were arrested for the shooting. They are be
  
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• 19-year-old arrested in Hammond after allegedly uploading child pornography to online cloud service

  02-04-2025 15:31 via wbrz.com
  
  HAMMOND - A 19-year-old man was arrested after allegedly uploading child pornography to an online cloud system, according to Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office.Ugochukwu Chukwudi, 19, from Nigeria, was arrested in Hammond after deputies identified Chukwudi as the person uploading child pornography onto a cloud service. An analysis of the devices Chukwudi had at the time of his arrest contained 64 video files containing child sexual abuse material with a majority of the victims being under the a
  
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• WATCH ON WBRZ - Trump announces new tariffs

  02-04-2025 15:15 via wbrz.com
  
  WATCH LIVE ON WBRZ CHANNEL 2After weeks of White House hype and public anxiety, President Donald Trump is announcing a barrage of self-described “reciprocal” tariffs on friend and foe alike.The new tariffs — coming on what Trump has named “Liberation Day” — are a bid to boost U.S. manufacturing and punish other countries for what he says are years of unfair trade practices. But by most economists’ assessments, the risky move
  
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• Trump announces sweeping new tariffs to promote US manufacturing, risking inflation and trade wars

  02-04-2025 15:15 via wbrz.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday a 10% baseline tax on imports from all countries and higher tariff rates on dozens of nations that run trade surpluses with the United States, threatening to upend much of the architecture of the global economy and trigger broader trade wars.Trump held up a chart while speaking at the White House, showing the United States would charge a 34% tax on imports from China, a 20% tax on imports from the European Union, 25% on So
  
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• Condemned Longfellow Drive property that caught fire in January demolished after On Your Side reports

  02-04-2025 15:05 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — An abandoned property off Longfellow Drive that caught fire in January has been torn down following a series of 2 On Your Side reports.The property was condemned by the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council last week. The property is owned by CEG Inc., which is a Collis Temple property located in District Five.Over the last few months, the property has had a homicide reported near it in January and caught fire later that month. The fire was later ruled arson.Permalink| C
  
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• LSU women's basketball guard Last-Tear Poa enters the transfer portal

  02-04-2025 14:41 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - After three seasons with the LSU women's basketball team, guard Last-Tear Poa has entered the transfer portal. The former national champion posted on social media that she is searching for a new place to play after the Tigers fell in the Elite 8 on Sunday.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Last-Tear Poa (@lasttear_poa11)
  Poa averaged 2.0 points and 1.9 assists this past season for the Tigers. She started in 15 games of the 30 she appeared in during the 2024-25 season, ave
  
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• Local deals for National Burrito Day

  02-04-2025 14:17 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Thursday, April 3 is National Burrito Day and there are some great deals in Baton Rouge to help you celebrate.Izzo's Illegal Burrito is offering a street burrito combo for $9.99 which gets you a burrito, chips, queso and a drink.You can buy one, get one free burrito or bowl at participating Moe's Southwest Grill locations.Qdoba rewards members can get a free entrée by purchasing any entrée and a drink.Torchy's Tacos is offering $5 breakfast burritos
  
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• Gov. Landry issues executive order instituting hiring freeze for state jobs

  02-04-2025 14:14 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Governor Jeff Landry has issued an executive order initiating a hiring freeze for the entire executive branch of Louisiana government. According to an email, Landry issued the order on Wednesday instituting a hiring freeze for the state government's executive branch. The email also states that the freeze affects all state departments and agencies but excludes local government. The order will "shore up" annual $20 million in general state funding to addr
  
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• Bald eagle treated at LSU Vet Med released back into the wild

  02-04-2025 14:04 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - A bald eagle that was being treated at the LSU vet school was released back into the wild Wednesday morning. The eagle was found in the New Orleans area with open fractures in one of his feet. His foot was splinted up for three weeks and he was transported to the flight cages to rebuild his stamina. He was released Wednesday morning and veterinarians said he would be able to follow the Mississippi River back home. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Sheriff's office organizes blood drive to help Pointe Coupee deputy struck by car

  02-04-2025 13:51 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW ROADS — The community can help Robert Williams, a Point Coupee Parish deputy who was injured Monday while on duty, by donating blood to help him with his medical expenses. The Point Coupee Parish Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday that there will be a blood drive at Pointe Coupee General Hospital to help Williams with his medical bills after he was hit by a car while directing traffic on U.S. 190 in Livonia.The blood drive is Friday in the front parking lot of the hospi
  
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• Baker School System to transfer control to charter school group

  02-04-2025 13:46 via wbrz.com
  
  BAKER— Baker's School Board approved a contract which will hand over control of its schools to a charter school system.The board unanimously approved a five year contract with Helix Community Schools. Previous WBRZ reports highlighted ongoing problems at Baker Schools. In February, Baker Heights Elementary School and Baker Middle School received their fourth consecutive "F" ratings. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Ascension Parish, National Water Infrastructure reveal location of new wastewater treatment plant

  02-04-2025 12:15 via wbrz.com
  
  GEISMAR - On Wednesday night, Ascension Parish and National Water Infrastructure revealed the location of the new regional wastewater treatment plant at an open house. This comes after a 2OYS investigation caused NWI to pull the project from its original location.The new alternative site is located along Ashland Road, near River Road in Geismar.Ascension Parish District Three Councilman Travis Turner said the parish needs a regional sewer system, but the original plan was met with backlash."The
  
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• Officials reveal new K-12 school transparency site

  02-04-2025 09:49 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - In a news conference Wednesday morning, Louisiana officials unveiled a new website designed to increase the transparency of the processes behind its K-12 schools. The site will give taxpayers "easy access to details regarding how public schools are spending public funds," according to a release from Treasurer John Fleming and Senator Rick Edwards. You can watch that conference on WBRZ's YouTube page here. Permalink| Comments
  
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• 2une In Previews: Seize the Day Warrior Walk

  02-04-2025 09:39 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Looking to get out and get moving for a good cause? Seize the Day Warrior Walk is happening this Saturday to raise fund for epilepsy patients and their families. The walk takes place on Apr. 5 at the Pennington Biomedical Research Facility. Same-day registration will be from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., the Warrior Walk starts at 9 a.m., and the 5K run/walk will start at 9:30 a.m.. There will also be activities, food and live music for attendees to enjoy. You ca
  
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• Nintendo offers new Switch 2 details ahead of June 5 launch

  02-04-2025 09:14 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Nintendo has announced a June 5 launch date for its latest gaming console, the Switch 2, which will introduce interactive chat and screenshare functions to connect gamers.At its 60-minute Nintendo Direct presentation, the company revealed a more vibrant display on the Switch 2, a larger screen and several games that will launch with the console.Central to its updated system is a new “C” button on its Joy-Con controller, which will launch a new &
  
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• Coroner identifies two victims in separate shootings that happened Tuesday night

  02-04-2025 08:33 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - The victims in two separate shootings that happened in the capital city Tuesday night have been identified. The victim in the targeted shooting that happened on La Margie Avenue has been identified as 25-year-old Samuel Jackson. The victim in the shooting on Avenue E has been identified as 80-year-old James Williams. There was no further information on what led to the shootings, but Baton Rouge police said Tuesday night that the shootings were not connec
  
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• 2une In Previews: Parish Housing Authority hosting Community Health Fair

  02-04-2025 07:07 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - This Saturday, take advantage of a community health fair offering free screenings and wellness exams.This Saturday, April 5, come to Kelly Terrace at 999 Rosenwald Road for the East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority's Community Health Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.. There will be free health screenings, food, activities and local resources to connect with if you need them. Officials from the EBRPHA spoke on 2une In Wednesday morning previewing the event.&nbsp
  
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• Baker School System to partner with Helix Community Schools for upcoming school year - What that means

  02-04-2025 05:39 via wbrz.com
  
  BAKER - The city of Baker school system will partner with Helix Community Schools for the 2025-26 school year, expanding some of its campuses and offering students new specialized classes. "Helix will help us manage and operate Baker High School and Park Ridge," Baker officials said in a statement posted to social media Tuesday night. In keeping with the Helix model, Baker will add a Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics focus to its curriculum as well as finan
  
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• Val Kilmer, 'Top Gun' and Batman star with an intense approach, dies at 65

  02-04-2025 05:26 via wbrz.com
  
  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Val Kilmer, the brooding, versatile actor who played fan favorite Iceman in “Top Gun,” donned a voluminous cape as Batman in “Batman Forever” and portrayed Jim Morrison in “The Doors,” has died. He was 65.Kilmer died Tuesday night in Los Angeles, surrounded by family and friends, his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, said in an email to The Associated Press. The Times was the first to report his death on Tuesday.V
  
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