Baton Rouge news

• St. George Fire searching for man suspected of setting cars on fire with gas in Twin Peaks parking lot

  16-09-2024 16:28 via wbrz.com
  
  ST. GEORGE — St. George Fire is searching for a man who allegedly set fire to two cars in a parking lot of Twin Peaks on Siegen Lane.Shortly after midnight on Aug. 4, the man was seen on surveillance footage buying $1.50 of gas and pouring it on another vehicle's hood. St. George Fire officials said two vehicles, including a white Audi, were damaged in this fire. If you have any information on this incident you can call 225-279-1064Permalink| Comments
  
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• Grosse Tete Bridge set to reopen Sept. 24

  18-09-2024 20:48 via wbrz.com
  
  GROSSE TETE - Grosse Tete officials said the Grosse Tete Bridge is set to reopen seven days a week starting Tuesday, Sept. 24.The bridge was originally closed after a boat hit it on June 6.Officials said final testing is done and that the bridge is ready to reopen for "temporary vehicle traffic." The bridge will be open seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. The bridge will be closed from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for barge travel.The ferry's last day of se
  
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• Teenager hurt in shooting at Eaton Street apartment complex

  18-09-2024 18:28 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - A teenager was hurt in a shooting at an Eaton Street apartment complex Wednesday night. The Baton Rouge Police Department said a 17-year-old was shot at the Fairwood Apartments around 5:45 p.m. The teen was taken to a hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. No more information about the shooting was immediately available. Permalink| Comments
  
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• EBR officials break ground on 'Restoring Plank Road' project set to begin in October

  18-09-2024 17:29 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — East Baton Rouge Parish officials broke ground Wednesday on their "Restoring Plank Road" project.It is the largest project in the MOVEBR's Bus Rapid Transit Project and will stretch from Interstate 110 to Airline Highway.Ever since launching in 2019, MOVEBR has been working on its goal to modernize public transportation and enhance connectivity from North Baton Rouge to Mid-City, Downtown and LSU. In October, they'll move forward with the largest of 60 projects MOVEBR ha
  
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• Meet Frannie, the baby giraffe born at Global Wildlife Center the day before Hurricane Francine

  18-09-2024 17:24 via wbrz.com
  
  FOLSOM — During a rush to prepare more than 2,000 animals ahead of a Category 2 hurricane, a precious moment forced staff members at the Global Wildlife Center to take a break.The day before Hurricane Francine made landfall, a pregnant giraffe, Sarah, gave birth inside a barn. The newborn calf weighed 147 pounds and stood nearly six feet tall.Animal caregivers at GWC named the baby giraffe 'Frannie,' short for Francine."We had been waiting for this baby for a little while but it's har
  
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• DA discusses precedent set by mom's murder conviction for son's fatal OD

  18-09-2024 17:10 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Whitney Ard will be serving an automatic life sentence for the death of her 2-year-old son."I can't remember a mother being convicted of the death of a child with regard to fentanyl, but certainly not the first murder charge for someone who distributed fentanyl and somebody died," said EBR District Attorney Hillar Moore. While the defense tried to blame drug addiction, it took the jury less than an hour to convict her on murder charges."People have had enough of overdoses
  
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• Fire fighters save dog from Quebec Drive house fire

  18-09-2024 17:03 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — A dog was rescued from a Wednesday afternoon house fire on Quebec Drive, fire officials said.The East Side Fire Department — as well as the Baton Rouge and Central fire departments — responded to the scene around 2 p.m. to find a blaze that had overtaken the Quebec Drive home. According to fire officials, flames and smoke were coming out of three sides of the house.The fire was contained within 10 minutes, fire officials said, adding that they saved t
  
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• EBR school introduces new agriculture initiative to turn farm skills into life skills

  18-09-2024 16:46 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Northdale Superintendent's Academy is taking the barnyard to the schoolyard with its new farm program.The farm is located in the center of campus between academic buildings. Two goats and two pigs live on the farm, as well as several chickens, including a rooster. This is the program's first year in action, with the animals arriving over the summer."When the kids came back in August, they came back to a whole new scenery, and a whole new smell!" Northdale agriculture science teach
  
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• Detectives working to identify men who stole push mowers from Zachary business

  18-09-2024 16:32 via wbrz.com
  
  ZACHARY — Zachary Police Department detectives are searching for two men accused of stealing two push-mowers from a local hardware store.Officials say the suspects fled in a white 4-door Chevrolet Silverado after the theft.Anyone with information on the identity of either man can email [email protected]| Comments
  
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• Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame announces 2025 class; LSU tackle Andrew Whitworth among inductees

  18-09-2024 16:27 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Multiple LSU and Baton Rouge sports figures were inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame for 2025, according to the organization.The organization inducted former LSU national champion and Super Bowl Champion offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth after his 16-year NFL career in Cincinnati and Los Angeles. He played high school football at West Monroe, where he won three state titles and two national high school football championships.The class also features LSU gymnastics NCAA
  
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• Deadline to apply for Sun Bucks EBT program for low-income students is Friday

  18-09-2024 16:26 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Those looking to apply for EBT funds for low-income families with school-age children through the state's Sun Bucks program have until Friday before applications close.According to the state Department of Children and Family Services, the Sun Bucks application period that opened on Aug. 19 closes Friday. The EBT Sun Bucks program provides grocery-buying funds for students while schools are closed. Each student who qualifies will receive a $120 payment.Permalink|
  
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• North Iberville High School begins construction on new campus building

  18-09-2024 16:18 via wbrz.com
  
  IBERVILLE — North Iberville High School officially broke ground for a new two-story classroom building on Wednesday.The Iberville Parish School District has been working on revitalizing the school’s campus since it reopened in 2022.“Thank you to our school board members for making this project possible,” the school district said.North Iberville High School was reopened following a vote held by the Iberville Parish School Board. Before that, the school sat
  
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• Man previously accused of burglary at Ben Hur homes wanted for peeping Tom, criminal trespass charges

  18-09-2024 16:06 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - A man who is wanted for burglary at multiple Ben Hur homes is also wanted for criminal trespass and peeping Tom charges that occurred in August, according to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office.According to an EBRSO affidavit, Ryan Devonta Williams, 32, was observed masturbating while peeping through a window of an occupied residence at 900 block of Shadow Bluff Drive on Aug. 23. The two victims were sitting in the living room when one of them checked their cell phone to see a s
  
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• Councilman, Companion Animal Alliance teaming up for free pet vaccination drive on Saturday

  18-09-2024 15:51 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — A free pet vaccination clinic is coming up on Saturday from the city-parish government and Companion Animal Alliance, District 5 Councilman Darryl Hurst announced Wednesday.Hurst said that the drive comes after an overwhelming outpouring of constituents at the last vaccination drive where more than 100 pets had to be turned away. "It became clear that the need for these services is far greater than expected," Hurst said in a release.According to the release, Hur
  
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• Police searching for man accused of burglary at Mayhaw Drive home

  18-09-2024 15:34 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Baton Rouge Police are searching for a man accused of burglarizing a home on Mayhaw Drive.Police are attempting to identify the man who was seen in surveillance footage burglarizing a residence in the 1100 block of Mayhaw Drive on Aug. 26. Anyone with information on the identity of this individual is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 225-344-7867.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Walker middle school receives $405,000 grant for aquaponics education program

  18-09-2024 15:24 via wbrz.com
  
  WALKER — A Walker middle school has been awarded a $405,000 grant to establish an aquaponics program aiming to develop and foster scientific and environmental literacy among students, the Louisiana Department of Education announced Wednesday. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Gulf Research Program awarded the grant to Westside Junior High School in Walker, where the program officially began on Wednesday.The initiative, called Greauxing STEM-Stewards, will
  
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• One person shot to death at Port Allen tire shop

  18-09-2024 14:19 via wbrz.com
  
  PORT ALLEN - One person was shot and killed at a Port Allen tire shop Wednesday afternoon. The Port Allen Police Department said the shooting happened around 2 p.m. at the Neighborhood Tires 1-Stop, which is near the intersection of LA-1 and Court Street.Police said the person died at the scene. No more information was immediately available.Permalink| Comments
  
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• One person dead at Port Allen tire shop; foul play not suspected

  18-09-2024 14:19 via wbrz.com
  
  PORT ALLEN - One man died at a Port Allen tire shop Wednesday afternoon.Despite initial reports that the man was shot at Neighborhood Tires 1-Stop near the intersection of LA-1 and Court Street., authorities later said that foul play was not suspected. The death was reported by Port Allen Police around 2 p.m.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Man who died at Port Allen tire shop may have had medical emergency

  18-09-2024 14:19 via wbrz.com
  
  PORT ALLEN - A man died Wednesday afternoon at a tire shop in Port Allen in what police say could have been a medical emergency. The Port Allen Police Department said a call came in around 2 p.m. that a shooting happened at Express Tire Shop near the intersection of LA 1 and Court Street. Officers at the scene believed that Rickey Merritt Sr. was shot to death in his truck. About an hour later, the coroner said that Merritt Sr. could have had a medical emergency and died. Offi
  
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• Raising Cane's owner Todd Graves set as guest on new season of 'Shark Tank'

  18-09-2024 13:13 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Raising Cane's founder and owner Todd Graves is gearing up to join Mr. Wonderful, Mark Cuban and the other Sharks on this season of ABC's "Shark Tank" as a guest host.Graves, who started Raising Cane's off LSU's campus in 1996, will be appearing on the upcoming 16th season of the popular entrepreneurship series as a guest on the panel of investors that entrepreneurs are trying to court to fund their startups. Graves' appearance was announced on the show's Instag
  
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• State attorney general rappels down Baton Rouge highrise in Boy Scouts fundraising drive

  18-09-2024 13:11 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Attorney General Liz Murrill rappelled down a downtown Baton Rouge high rise on Wednesday morning in a fundraiser event for local Boy Scouts.Murrill slowly scaled down Rivermark Centre as part of the "Over the Edge" initiative to benefit the Istrouma Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. According to Murrill, her office was one of a dozen sponsors who raised money to support local families as part of the Boy Scouts. The Istrouma Area Council of the Boy Scou
  
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• State Attorney General rappels down Baton Rouge high rise in Boy Scouts fundraising drive

  18-09-2024 13:11 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Attorney General Liz Murrill rappelled down a downtown Baton Rouge high rise on Wednesday morning in a fundraiser event for local Boy Scouts.Murrill slowly scaled down Rivermark Centre as part of the "Over the Edge" initiative to benefit the Istrouma Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. According to Murrill, her office was one of a dozen sponsors who raised money to support local families as part of the Boy Scouts. The Istrouma Area Council of the Boy Scou
  
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• Two men, woman arrested in drug raid yielding nearly three pounds of fentanyl

  18-09-2024 09:58 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Three people were arrested after a two-month-long drug investigation that yielded nearly three pounds of fentanyl, East Baton Rouge Parish deputies said Wednesday.Charles Brown, 25, was arrested Tuesday alongside Jamari Chambers, 21, and Elizabeth Billiot, 25, on possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl charges. Brown was booked with distribution of fentanyl, as well as possession with the intent to distribute suboxone, a drug used to treat dependence on opioid
  
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• Raising Cane's holding fundraiser Wednesday to support Make-a-Wish

  18-09-2024 09:55 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Get some chicken for a cause Wednesday - Cane's is donating 15% of all proceeds from customers who mention the Make-a-Wish Foundation at checkout. This afternoon from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., treat yourself to a late lunch or dinner at any Cane's in the capital region and mention the Make-a-Wish Fundraiser. Cane's will donate 15% of those proceeds to the Make-a-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana chapter, which served 47 counties in the Texas Gulf Coast and all 64 parishes.&
  
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• Middle school student arrested in Livingston Parish after reportedly bringing handgun to school

  18-09-2024 09:16 via wbrz.com
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - Law enforcement arrested a student Wednesday morning who reportedly brought a handgun to Live Oak Junior High, the school system said. The school system sent a note to parents emphasizing no students were injured and the only disruption to the other students' schedule was a brief lockdown. The school system said officials received a tip about the weapon on campus around 7:55 a.m. and the student was taken into custody and the firearm was removed within five mi
  
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• Middle school student arrested in Livingston Parish after reportedly bringing gun to school

  18-09-2024 09:16 via wbrz.com
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - Law enforcement arrested a student Wednesday morning who reportedly brought a gun to Live Oak Junior High, the school system said. The school system sent a note to parents emphasizing no students were injured and the only disruption to the other students' schedule was a brief lockdown. The school system said officials received a tip about the weapon on campus around 7:55 a.m. and the student was taken into custody and the firearm was removed within five minute
  
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• Americans can now renew passports online and bypass cumbersome paper applications

  18-09-2024 09:07 via wbrz.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans can now renew their passports online, bypassing a cumbersome mail-in paper application process that often caused delays.The State Department announced Wednesday that its online passport renewal system is now fully operational.“By offering this online alternative to the traditional paper application process, the Department is embracing digital transformation to offer the most efficient and convenient passport renewal experience possible,”
  
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• Iconic Tupperware Brands seeks Chapter 11 bankruptcy

  18-09-2024 08:16 via wbrz.com
  
  Tupperware Brands, the company that revolutionized food storage decades ago, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.The company plans to continue operating and will seek court approval for a sale, it said just before midnight on Tuesday.The company is seeking bankruptcy protection amid growing struggles to revitalize its business. Tupperware sales growth improved during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, but overall sales have been in steady decline since 2018 due to rising compet
  
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• Deputies searching for man who broke into woman's car, used her cards to purchase from gas station

  18-09-2024 07:53 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Deputies are searching for a man who allegedly stole a woman's purse from her unlocked car and used her debit cards to try and purchase from a gas station on Old Hammond Highway. The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office said the theft happened on Aug. 25. The woman told deputies sometime overnight, her car had been broken into and her purse had been stolen from inside. Someone reportedly attempted to use her card at the Save More Market on Old Hammond Highway, but t
  
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• Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative in Baton Rouge call on future president for action

  18-09-2024 07:26 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Representatives from 30 cities along the Mississippi River will meet in Baton Rouge this week in an effort to encourage greater business and community connections.  The Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative is an association of "local governments from across the Mississippi River Valley that came together in 2012 to create a new, influential and independent voice for the region," according to MRCTI's website.Over 170 people are attending the 13th conferen
  
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