Louisiana news

• Springfield residents celebrate with holiday cheer at Christmas parade

  02-12-2024 21:49 via wbrz.com
  
  SPRINGFIELD - The Springfield Christmas parade kicked off Monday evening. Residents lined the streets, waiting for floats to pass by. Participants threw cups, candy and other treats to the crowds. Springfield Police Chief James 'Jimmy' Jones said the parade is a must-have for the community. "We try to have it whether rain, snow or sleet. We try to have it for the kids. I think since I've been here we've only had to postpone it twice," Jones said. This was the
  
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• Century-old building to be renovated into an affordable housing unit

  02-12-2024 21:10 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - The century-old Prince Hall Masonic Temple will be turned into a mixed-income development with 46 units. It's one of the several projects in the capital area intended to add more affordable housing.It was built in 1924 and was a work and social spot for the Black community during the 1900s. It housed the Temple Roof Garden and Temple Theater, hot spots for social gatherings in Baton Rouge. Louis Armstrong, B.B. King and Ray Charles were among the musicians who performed there. The
  
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• Springfield officer arrested, accused of inappropriate online relationship with a juvenile

  02-12-2024 20:16 via wbrz.com
  
  SPRINGFIELD - A Springfield Police officer was arrested Monday after he was accused of having an inappropriate online relationship with a juvenile. The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office said 31-year-old Taylor Lewis, from Hammond, was arrested following an investigation into a Department of Children and Family Services complaint. Deputies said Lewis maintained a relationship with the juvenile through different social media platforms. Details about the content of their message
  
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• Four propositions funding Iberville Parish Schools' salaries, facilities on December ballot

  02-12-2024 17:36 via wbrz.com
  
  PLAQUEMINE - The Superintendent of Iberville Parish Schools is urging people to vote in favor of four propositions on the Dec. 7 ballot."We're not getting a penny more of state funding and we're not getting a penny more of federal money, so it's critical and vital for us to have these tax revenues in place," Superintendent Louis Voiron said.The largest tax renewal proposed could generate $29 million annually and would go toward paying salaries, improving schools and building new facilities. Voi
  
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• Barbie Dreamhouse Truck making stop in Baton Rouge on Saturday

  02-12-2024 17:23 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Barbie Dreamhouse Truck will be making a stop in Baton Rouge on Saturday, Dec. 7. According to their website, the truck will be parked at the Mall of Louisiana between Soma and Columbia from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. that day. For more information, click here. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Man convicted of killing former BRPD officer during 2020 vehicle break-in sentenced to 25 years

  02-12-2024 17:06 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — A man convicted of the shooting death of a former Baton Rouge Police officer who attempted to stop a vehicle break-in in his neighborhood in April 2020 was sentenced to 25 years in prison, the District Attorney said Monday. Craig Willis, 31, was sentenced after he was found guilty in August of manslaughter, burglary and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The mother of 41-year-old Ryan Hord, who was killed in the 2020 shooting, requested the court impose t
  
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• Baton Rouge Police warn of porch pirates stealing packages this Cyber Monday

  02-12-2024 17:04 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - People are filling their online carts with all their Christmas gifts this Cyber Monday, which unfortunately makes it easier for porch pirates to snatch those packages from people's homes.Delivery drivers will start working overtime to get customers' online orders safely to their doorstep. But porch pirates, who steal those packages, can swoop in moments later and make off with your holiday cheer. Baton Rouge Police warn buyers to keep delivery security in mind when placin
  
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• More than 100 employees to be laid off in St. Gabriel facility

  02-12-2024 16:56 via wbrz.com
  
  ST. GABRIEL — A company that contracts with a plant in St. Gabriel is preparing to lay off over 100 contract employees, The Louisiana Workforce Commission announced.Records show Brown Eagle Contractors administered warn notices in mid-November that 122 employees would be laid off in early 2025.The company said these layoffs will happen on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Lafourche Parish armed robbery suspect arrested in St. Gabriel

  02-12-2024 16:02 via wbrz.com
  
  ST. GABRIEL — A man wanted for armed robbery in Lafourche Parish was arrested by St. Gabriel Police on Monday.Clyde Leroy Hodge was arrested after police received an alert on cameras indicating a vehicle driven by Hodge had entered the city.Officers arrested Hodge after he was found hiding behind an 18-wheeler off Geigy Access Road, police said.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Gonzales man hurt in series of Canal Street altercations that left six injured in New Orleans

  02-12-2024 15:27 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW ORLEANS — A man from Gonzales was injured after a Saturday shooting in New Orleans, one of multiple shootings over the weekend along Canal Street, WWL reported.The Gonzales man was one of six people injured after the Saturday night and Sunday morning shootings that escalated from skirmishes, New Orleans Police said. The first incident was a brawl on Bourbon Street that caused a stampede of people. Among the chaos, a man involved in the fight shot a 15-year-old boy in the
  
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• Police: Driver of car that hit, killed man in front of Denham Springs restaurant not facing charges

  02-12-2024 15:09 via wbrz.com
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - Police said Monday they are not pursuing charges for the driver of a car that hit and killed a man outside of a local Denham Springs restaurant.Thomas Sapp, 53, of Bogalusa, died when a car hit him outside of Yellow Brick House on Nov. 22.Denham Springs Police said that the driver stayed at the scene after the crash that killed 53-year-old Thomas Sapp in front of Yellow Brick House. No signs of impairment were detected, police added.Sapp had walked into the restaurant, where he
  
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• One lane blocked on US 61 south near LA 10 after truck catches fire on shoulder

  02-12-2024 14:58 via wbrz.com
  
  JACKSON — One lane was blocked going south on US 61 near the exit of LA 10 near Jackson after an 18-wheeler caught fire Monday.Fire fighters, law enforcement and other emergency officials responded to the scene and the road was briefly blocked as the truck's fire was extinguished. The truck was on the shoulder of the road.WBRZ reached out to multiple law enforcement agencies to get additional information about the crash and will update this story as new information becomes available.&
  
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• BRPD: Siblings of eight-year-old killed in drive-by shooting near Southern expected to recover

  02-12-2024 14:42 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — The two siblings of an 8-year-old boy who was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting last week are expected to recover from their injuries from the shooting after being hospitalized, Baton Rouge Police said Monday.According to Baton Rouge Police, the shooting happened around 2:20 p.m. on Wednesday near Lofton Hair Care, just off Southern University’s campus. Courtlyn Daniels was driving a Honda Accord with her five children inside when more than 20 shots were f
  
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• BRPD: Siblings of eight-year-old killed in drive-by shooting expected to recover

  02-12-2024 14:42 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — The two siblings of an 8-year-old boy who was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting last week are expected to recover from their injuries from the shooting after being hospitalized, Baton Rouge Police said Monday.According to Baton Rouge Police, the shooting happened around 2:20 p.m. on Wednesday near Lofton Hair Care. Courtlyn Daniels was driving a Honda Accord with her five children inside when more than 20 shots were fired at the car. Diellon Daniels and two of his s
  
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• East Baton Rouge voters accounted for 40% of state's early voting numbers ahead of Dec. 7 election

  02-12-2024 13:43 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — East Baton Rouge Parish voters cast around 40% of the state's early ballots, more than any other parish in the state, ahead of the Dec. 7 election, Secretary of State data released Monday shows. Of 93,893 early votes cast, 37,251 — 39.67% — came from East Baton Rouge Parish. The second-highest turnout was Jefferson Parish with 5,240 early ballots cast.East Baton Rouge Parish has multiple important measures on the ballot for the Saturday elect
  
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• Police searching for missing woman with epilepsy, schizophrenia

  02-12-2024 13:24 via wbrz.com
  
  WALKER - Police are searching for a 30-year-old woman with severe epilepsy who was last seen Nov. 23. Patricia Gardner, 30, was last seen Nov. 23 wearing a pink shirt, jeans, a baseball hat, and pink flipflops around 1 p.m.. Gardner has been diagnosed with severe epilepsy and schizophrenia. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Walker Police Department or Gardner's mother at (850) 461-0560.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Central High School will close Friday for semifinals preparation

  02-12-2024 12:41 via wbrz.com
  
  CENTRAL - The Wildcats football team has made it to the state semifinals!The school system posted to social media Monday saying that since so many students, parents, and teachers will be traveling to Monroe for the game to support the team, officials made the decision to close the high school Friday, December 6 in preparation. "This will allow all members of our school community the opportunity to travel safely and participate in this important event," the school system wrote.&nbsp
  
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• Berwick residents asked not to use hot water during morning, early afternoon on Tuesday

  02-12-2024 12:35 via wbrz.com
  
  BERWICK — Berwick residents are being asked not to use hot water on Tuesday as a water line is repaired. The town government said the low water pressure will last from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. as the main water line on Snead Street is repaired. "Please do not use hot water due to a potential risk to burn the element," officials said.Permalink| Comments
  
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• US 90 westbound entrance, exit ramps in Baldwin closing for construction lasting through June

  02-12-2024 12:29 via wbrz.com
  
  BALDWIN — The US 90 westbound entrance and exit ramps at LA 83 in Baldwin will close Tuesday at 7 a.m. for about six months. The closure, which will last until June 30 at 5 p.m., is to allow crews to perform bridge repairs, base construction, concrete pavement and asphalt pavement operations on the ramps. Emergency vehicles will not have access to the area, the Baldwin Volunteer Fire Department said. A detour for the US 90 westbound exit ramp to LA 83 will be availab
  
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• Mailing of West Baton Rouge property tax bills will be delayed; deadline to pay extended

  02-12-2024 12:09 via wbrz.com
  PORT ALLEN — West Baton Rouge Parish taxpayers can expect a delay in the mailing of their 2024 property tax bills. The bills are delayed due to "unexpected circumstances," the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office said Monday.The delay was caused by a delay from a third-party data collection company that the parish uses to create the tax bills, representatives from the sheriff's office, who serves as the parish's tax collector, said.Bills are expected to be mailed out in t
  
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• Report: 4 years after bombshell reports, most Title IX complaints go nowhere in understaffed LSU office

  02-12-2024 11:50 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Four years after LSU was embroiled in scandal following multiple reports that the university mishandled numerous cases of sexual misconduct, there are still vacancies and dead-end investigations in the university's Title IX office, the Louisiana Illuminator and Tiger Rag reported Monday.The Illuminator's report showed that most Title IX complaints go nowhere, with many stalling when complainants don’t respond when the office contacts them.LSU’s most r
  
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• Deputies confirm identity of inmate who died in Ascension Parish jail Sunday

  02-12-2024 11:31 via wbrz.com
  
  DONALDSONVILLE - Deputies confirmed the identity of a 40-year-old man who died in custody at the Ascension Parish jail Sunday. The inmate was identified as 40-year-old Darvin Mumphrey of Donaldsonville. He was booked into the jail Saturday morning but later passed away. His cause of death is pending an autopsy. Mumphrey was booked for domestic abuse and resisting an officer. Jail records show he has been booked in Ascension before for several bench warrants as well as
  
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• Coroner: 69-year-old man died in fatal mobile home fire last week; no foul play suspected

  02-12-2024 11:24 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — The East Baton Rouge Parish coroner said Monday that a 69-year-old man died in a mobile home fire last week. Johnny Norton died in a Nov. 26 mobile home fire on Hooper Road. The fire started around 5 p.m., Baton Rouge Fire told WBRZ last week.The trailer was engulfed in flames when fire fighters arrived and found Norton unresponsive outside. He ultimately died from his injuries after being taken to a hospital.Baton Rouge Fire officials also said Monday that the
  
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• New state tax overhaul raises questions about costs

  02-12-2024 11:06 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - A new tax system is coming to Louisiana at the start of the New Year, but there are questions about whether it will actually save folks money after a flat rate was set for income tax, but a temporary sales tax hike was added.Lawmakers set the income tax in Louisiana at a flat three percent, but that came with a trade-off. State sales tax will go up from 4.45% to five percent for five years. According to Rep. Roger Wilder, R-Denham Springs, if a Louisiana resident makes a $45,000 s
  
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• 2une In Previews: The Nutcracker with Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre

  02-12-2024 07:18 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - What better way to get into the holiday spirit than to attend the classic Nutcracker performance?The Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre is putting on its 31st annual production of the musical this December. There will be four showings of the production on Dec. 14 and 15 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Raising Cane's River Center. Tickets can be purchased from the River Center through Ticketmaster here. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Elton John says he has lost his eyesight and struggles to see his new stage musical

  02-12-2024 07:06 via wbrz.com
  
  LONDON (AP) — Elton John says he struggled to watch his new musical because he has lost his eyesight after contracting an infection.The singer-songwriter attended the opening night of “The Devil Wears Prada” in London on Sunday and told the audience that “I haven’t been able to come to many of the previews because, as you know, I have lost my eyesight.”“So it’s hard for me to see it, but I love to hear it and, boy,
  
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• Man with chainsaw fatally shot by police inside senior-living facility in Illinois, officials say

  02-12-2024 06:43 via wbrz.com
  
  A man wielding a chainsaw inside a senior-living facility in St. Charles, Illinois, was shot and killed by police early Sunday, state and local law enforcement said.The man, whom police have not publicly identified, was allegedly attempting to cut down a tree on the facility's property at about 8:45 a.m. on Sunday. He was "shirtless" when police arrived at the facility, on the 900 block of North 5th Avenue, the St. Charles Police Department said in a press statement."Just before police arrival,
  
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