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• Mayor-President Sid Edwards' father died Sunday

  21-04-2025 21:32 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Emile Edwards, the father of East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sid Edwards, died Sunday. He was 84. Sid Edwards shared the news on his social media pages Monday, saying, "Honoring the life of my dad, Emile Lobrano Edwards a true hero in every sense. Your legacy of strength and love lives on in us. My family and I appreciate all the prayers and support."Funeral arrangements have not been announced. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Two hurt in Amite shooting on Monday night

  05-05-2025 21:55 via wbrz.com
  
  AMITE - Two people were hurt in a shooting Monday night inside the city limits of Amite. Law enforcement sources tell WBRZ that one person was shot in the abdomen and another person shot in the head along Martin Luther King Boulevard around 7 p.m. The Amite Police Department is investigating the shooting. Police were not responsive to questions Monday night. The conditions of the injured people has not been released. No more information was immediately availa
  
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• BRPD responding to reported shooting at AM Food Mart

  05-05-2025 21:06 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Baton Rouge Police officers responded to a reported shooting at the AM Food Mart along Highland Road on Monday evening. First responders and BRPD were called to the convenience store around 8:45 p.m. Monday for the shooting. WBRZ has a crew in the area and is working to gather information about what happened and if anyone was hurt. Permalink| Comments
  
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• SPARE NOTES: Louisiana High School Bowlings New All-Star Games

  05-05-2025 20:35 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Something new for high school bowling debuted this past Saturday at All Star Lanes in Baton Rouge with a format that is exactly what the sport needs and a showcase for those that bowled the best in their respective districts during the year.The high school coaches association conducted an event that featured the all-district teams from across most of the state from this past bowling season. Six of the seven regions in the state were represented and 25-of-the-29 districts were repr
  
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• Rayne Police officer shot, killed; State Police investigating

  05-05-2025 19:58 via wbrz.com
  
  RAYNE, La. (NEWS 15) — A Rayne police officer has died following a shooting, according to Louisiana State Police.Troopers said they were called to investigate the shooting, which happened in the 500 block of East Harrop Street near North Chavis Street on Monday, May 5.The officer's name has not been released yet.LSP is investigating the circumstances surrounding the officer's death.A News 15 crew on scene heard an officer indicate it was a case of friendly fire. Troopers noted they ar
  
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• Electronic surveillance used to build case against stepson in man's killing

  05-05-2025 19:30 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - An arrest warrant filed into court records Monday sheds new light on the roles electronic surveillance and crime scene processing played in investigating the death of Walter "Keith" Rowland, allegedly at the hands of his stepson Ian Seghers.Rowland, 66, was reported missing March 9 after he missed a weekly visit with his sister. His body has not been found.The warrant, charging 34-year-old Seghers with first-degree murder, was signed April 4, but was placed into court records Mond
  
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• LSU softball feels regular season prepared them for SEC tournament rigors

  05-05-2025 19:21 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - The LSU Tiger softball team feels like they've seen it all. Now they're hoping to show what they've learned at the right time of the year.Beth Torina and her LSU Tiger softball team has made it to the finish line of the regular season and will start SEC Tournament play on Wednesday against Mississippi State.It's been a challenging season in the SEC, but head coach Beth Torina feels like that has prepared her team for anything that may come their way in the conference tournament or
  
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• Public defender's office says failed DA tax impacts their office

  05-05-2025 18:48 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE— Sixty percent of parish voters rejected the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney's 20-year tax proposal Saturday.
  The tax would have raised over $24 Million a year for the office.Chief Deputy Defender Kyla Romanach said the public defender's office would’ve received a portion of the $8.7 million in the city-parish's general fund currently allocated to the DA's office.Hillar Moore told WBRZ that since the proposition failed his office would still receive the
  
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• Human Jukebox featured in Emmy nominated documentary

  05-05-2025 18:39 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - In two weeks, a group of Southern University students will know if their film, "The Hidden Sport," will win the 2025 Coca-Cola HBCU Sports Production Grant at the Sports Emmy ceremony. The documentary "explores the powerful legacy of the Southern University Human Jukebox," producer Sydney Cuillier said. Cuillier and her classmates held two screenings in Baton Rouge, the second selling out in less than an hour. The winner will be announced May 20. To see
  
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• Firefighters allege they're owed millions by St. George Fire Department

  05-05-2025 18:07 via wbrz.com
  
  ST. GEORGE - A five-year-long legal battle within the St. George Fire Department won't be coming to a solution anytime soon, as a countersuit has been filed.President of the St. George Firefighters Local 4524 Jason Turner says the bitter litigation began when fellow firefighters realized they weren't being paid equally."The central issue is some people were brought in from other departments, other areas, whatever, and they were paid different amounts than people who had been at St. George for a
  
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• Ponchatoula man accused of child porn charges in Tangipahoa Parish, South Carolina arrested

  05-05-2025 15:11 via wbrz.com
  
  PONCHATOULA — A Ponchatoula man accused of possessing child pornography was arrested as a fugitive from South Carolina.Tangipahoa Parish deputies said that 27-year-old Herman Landry IV was arrested Friday on 28 counts of pornography involving juveniles from Ponchatoula, as well as three outstanding child porn warrants from Jasper County, South Carolina.Landry was arrested after deputies began investigating the upload of child porn to social media. Deputies said that Landry, who had re
  
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• DCFS secretary says he wants to encourage people to support foster families

  05-05-2025 15:11 via wbrz.com
  BATON ROUGE - Nearly 4,200 Louisiana children are in the foster care system, and during the entire month of May, the Department of Children and Family Services is encouraging people to become or support foster parents.“Foster parents aren’t the kind of people who will go up and say ‘Hey, I need,'" DCFS Secretary David Matlock said. “They’re the kind of people to ask what you need.”Matlock says the department is working to streamline th
  
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• Funeral plans announced for 20-year-old who died after Denham Springs hit-and-run

  05-05-2025 14:59 via wbrz.com
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - The funeral for a woman who died after injuries she sustained from a March hit-and-run has been scheduled.Jody Mann's funeral will be on May 24 at Central Funeral Home on Hooper Road from 10 a.m. to noon."Jody had an unwavering passion for helping others, which was evident in everything she did. She dedicated her life to making a difference, and her final act of love was to become an organ donor, giving the precious gift of life to those in desperate need. Through her selflessn
  
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• Four men arrested in Grand Isle child prostitution, sexual abuse investigation

  05-05-2025 14:59 via wbrz.com
  
  GRAND ISLE - Four men have been arrested as part of an investigation into child prostitution and sexual abuse, police said.The men, who range in age from 26 to 75, were booked Friday. Grand Isle Police Chief Christopher Hernandez said the investigation is ongoing and other charges are possible.Ray Arabie, 75, of Grand Isle, was booked with prostitution involving people under 17.Byron Crouch, 27, of St. Rose, was booked with indecent behavior with juveniles.Chad Perkins, 36, of Grand Isle, was b
  
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• West Baton Rouge Parish officials announce sandbag distribution locations ahead of potential flooding

  05-05-2025 14:53 via wbrz.com
  
  PORT ALLEN — With rainfall expected in the next few days potentially causing flooding across the capital region, West Baton Rouge Parish officials announced locations Monday where residents can get sandbags.Sand and bags will be available at the following locations, but residents are asked to bring their own shovels:William & Lee Park, 1631 Louisiana Avenue in Port Allen
  Rivault Park, 900 South Jefferson Avenue in Port Allen
  Alexander Park, 250 Elaine Street in Brusly
  Erwinville P
  
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• Family of man who drowned in Amite River over weekend starts fundraiser for funeral, birth of child

  05-05-2025 14:45 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — The family of a man who drowned crossing the Amite River over the weekend has started a fundraiser to raise money for a funeral and other expenses.Timothy Carey, 24, was trying to swim across the Amite River on Saturday when he drowned after he was swept under by a swift current. First responders were called to BREC's Frenchtown Road Conservation Area just after 5 p.m. and Carey's body was recovered at 7 p.m.Carey and his family went to the river to "try a new spot out a
  
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• Anthony Eyanson named SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week

  05-05-2025 14:43 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Despite dropping the weekend series to Texas A&M, LSU baseball got some good news on Monday. Junior right-hander Anthony Eyanson was named the Southeastern Conference Co-Pitcher of the Week after his dominant performance in Game 2.Eyanson helped the Tigers defeat Texas A&M 2-1 on Saturday night behind a complete game performance. He limited the Aggies to just one run on three hits with one walk and 14 strikeouts in his 9.0 innings of work. Eyanson is 7-2 this seas
  
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• 104-year-old WWII vet from Morganza among Louisiana veterans honored at State Capitol

  05-05-2025 14:42 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Monday was Veterans Day at the State Capitol and veterans who served as far back as World War II were honored.At the Capitol, a display highlighting Louisiana veterans was set up in Memorial Hall. Among those names was 104-year-old Elmo Sholes, a Morganza native who served in World War II.Sholes was also among several veterans given special honors. Resources were also made available to veterans as well.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Mestizo, other Mexican restaurants expect big turnouts for Cinco de Mayo

  05-05-2025 14:34 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Monday is Cinco de Mayo and Mexican restaurants across the capital area are preparing for big crowds. Cinco de Mayo marks the day Mexico beat back the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1892. Believe it or not, the fifth of May is not widely considered a holiday in Mexico. A manager of Mestizo, a Mexican restaurant on South Acadian Thruway, told WBRZ's Abigail Whitam that Americans make it a bigger day than it is for people in Mexico. "Fo
  
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• Officials contain oil, natural gas spill at well off Louisiana gulf coast

  05-05-2025 14:30 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW ORLEANS — A team of national and state officials on Monday successfully contained an oil and natural gas spill at a well off the Louisiana gulf coast.The Unified Command, consisting of the Coast Guard and the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office, said they cut off the flange of the discharging head at Well 59 near Garden Island Bay around noon. The containment of the spill comes a little more than a week after the spill was first reported on April 26.After the flow of the well
  
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• Assumption deputies arrest man accused of leading 100 mph pursuit through Pierre Part

  05-05-2025 14:18 via wbrz.com
  
  PIERRE PART - A man accused of leading Assumption Parish deputies on a 100 mph chase was arrested.Eddie Hillery Ned, 24, was arrested Sunday morning after allegedly leading the high-speed pursuit on La. 70 in Pierre Part.A patrol deputy attempted to make a traffic stop on an eastbound vehicle, deputies said. The driver then took off at more than 100 mph, leading a pursuit ending just east of La. 996.Deputies then identified the driver of the car as Ned and he was booked into the Assumption Pari
  
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• La. 1 closed in Lettsworth near construction south of Simmesport Bridge until further notice

  05-05-2025 14:04 via wbrz.com
  
  LETTSWORTH — La. 1 is closed in Lettsworth near the construction site south of the Simmesport Bridge until further notice, officials said.Drivers traveling south from Simmesport are asked to take a left onto La. 418 and then take 418 to La. 15 to La. 1 to avoid the closure. Another option is to take La. 417 to La. 1 at Lucky 13.Northbound drivers can take La. 15 to La. 418 and then travel north to the Simmesport Bridge. Another alternative route is to take La. 970 to La. 417 and then
  
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• Hammond Fire put out early morning house fire on Dillon Lane

  05-05-2025 13:54 via wbrz.com
  
  HAMMOND — Hammond firefighters put out a house fire on Dillon Lane early Monday morning.Firefighters responded to the fire around 12:26 a.m. and quickly put out the fire.No injuries were reported, Hammond Fire officials said.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Man wanted for alleged involvement in August shooting arrested by Baldwin Police

  05-05-2025 13:33 via wbrz.com
  
  BALDWIN — A man was arrested over the weekend for his alleged connection to a Baldwin shooting in August.On Friday, Baldwin Police said that they were notified that 18-year-old James Austin III was arrested in Franklin last week and booked into the St. Mary Parish Prison.Austin was wanted for a shooting that left one person injured off TJ Hatcherson Street on Aug. 11. Austin was 17 at the time of the shooting.Now, nine months later, Austin was booked by Baldwin Police as a principle t
  
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• Siegen Lane Burgersmith to close later this month; staff offered positions at other BR locations

  05-05-2025 13:32 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Burgersmith restaurant on Siegen Lane will close by the end of May, according to a company news release.The owners chose not to renew the lease there and instead will reinvest in the company's other Baton Rouge area locations, the news release said. The staff at Siegen Lane will be offered positions at the other restaurants.Burgersmith has extended the lease on its Juban Crossing location by five years and plans to do some remodeling and refreshing to that restaurant and the o
  
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• Family of missing Amite man offering $10K reward for information about where he is

  05-05-2025 13:07 via wbrz.com
  AMITE - The family of a man who went missing in 2020 is offering a $10K reward for information about where he could be - living or otherwise. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office said 36-year-old Christopher “Do Man” Brewer, 36, was last seen in March 2020. The month prior, he went into the sheriff's Operation Angel drug rehabilitation program and walked away from the facility the second day he was there. People spotted Brewer in Wilmer, Amite and Kentwood during
  
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• Baton Rouge rapper Kevin Gates returning to capital city for stop on latest national tour

  05-05-2025 13:01 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Baton Rouge native and Billboard charting rapper Kevin Gates is going on tour this fall, including a stop at the Raising Cane's River Center. Gates will bring The Amilo Tour to the capital city on Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. Other tour stops include Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, Austin, Las Vegas and Boston. All of Gates' concerts on the tour will be hosted by Houston-based rapper DJ Chose. According to Gates's social media, the tour is named after the Italian word Am
  
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• Tesla hit following fair, owners believe crash was politically motivated

  05-05-2025 12:30 via wbrz.com
  BATON ROUGE - One family is looking for a driver who hit their Tesla after a church fair on Saturday night, believing the incident to be politically motivated.Tesla owner Jose Mendoza said his family was making their way back to the car after an evening at the Mercy Fair. Their car, a blue Tesla, sat alone with few other vehicles in the parking lot."I was approaching my car when I saw a Jeep near my car, really didn't think too much of it. Then, I saw it back up," Mendoza said.Seen in security
  
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• Addis American Idol contestant makes it to Top 7

  05-05-2025 12:18 via wbrz.com
  HOLLYWOOD - An Addis native has sang his way into the Top 7 of American Idol. Brusly High graduate John Foster preformed George Strait's "I Cross My Heart."Foster and the six other contestants are headed to Disneyland for their shows on Sunday and Monday. You can watch on WBRZ at 7 p.m. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Dozens line up at Express OMV as enforcement deadline for REAL ID looms

  05-05-2025 09:56 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — The enforcement deadline for REAL ID is Wednesday and dozens of people lined up Monday morning at the Express OMV at the corner of Siegen Lane and Perkins Road to get a compliant license or identification card.Around 50 people lined up both inside and outside the Express OMV office to sign up for REAL ID, which starting Wednesday, will be required to board both domestic and international flights, as well as access federal buildings and nuclear power plants. Without a REA
  
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