ST. FRANCISVILLE — St. Francisville remembers Civil War history each year with a cook-off, a play and a historical reenactment.

The "Day the War Stopped" in St. Francisville commemorates a 1863 truce in which Union and Confederate Masons temporarily put down their weapons to give Union Commander John E. Hart a proper burial with full honors.

Saturday's event kicks off at 9:30 a.m. with a historical reenactment of the Masonic funeral procession and graveside histories at Grace Episcopal Cemetery.

A jambalaya cook-off will also run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Courthouse grounds, with local Masonic lodges and teams competing in the "Battle for the Pot" for the Feliciana Cup.

Learn more here.

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DONALDSONVILLE - The City of Donaldsonville is marking 31 years of its Juneteenth celebration with a three-day series of events this weekend.

Everything kicked off on Wednesday with an author talk hosted in partnership with the Ascension Parish Library. Angela A. Allen Bell, author of "Under Indictment: Race, Juries & Justice in Louisiana," and Kim Jones, author of "Nouveaux Renaissance," both shared their works with the community.

On Friday, the committee is partnering with BASF and the Greater Baton Rouge Area Food Bank to host a food distribution for Donaldsonville residents. They will provide protein and a healthy food box to the community.

The main event takes place Saturday with the 31st Annual Juneteenth Music Festival. Attendees are welcome to bring family, chairs, blankets and umbrellas for a full day that includes five South Louisiana bands, food, shopping and more than 30 vendors; and it's all happening rain or shine.

The music festival lineup begins at 11 a.m. with a prayer, followed by Wanda August at 11:15 a.m., George Bell and Friends at 12:30 p.m., Justin Garner at 2 p.m., Red Tape Musiq at 3:30 p.m., Michael Foster Project at 5 p.m. and Royal Essence at 6:30 p.m.

Tamiko Francis Garrison, daughter of the festival's founders and chair for the last 15 years, reflected on the meaning behind the celebration.

"We have to continue to remind ourselves that Freedom is not Free. It comes at a cost and some give something they can only give once — their lives," Garrison said. "We must remember during Juneteenth the folded flags handed to grieving families in the fight for freedom and that in the sacred grounds of this nation rest men and women who paid the full price for freedom. We must never forget."

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BATON ROUGE - Louisiana Mobilization Collective will host a voting rally on Sunday. Itg's a partnership with several community organizations including 'Indivisible', 'Pumps to the Polls' and 'Earthworks'. 

They will also host a voting registration drive. The event starts at 2 p.m. at 1001 Capitol Access Drive, across from the governor's mansion.

Important Election dates:

June 23 is the deadline to request an absentee ballot for Election Day

June 26 is the deadline to return your absentee ballot for Election Day

June 27 is Election Day, polls open from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Learn more about early voting, which started Friday, here.

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BATON ROUGE - Local soccer fans are gearing up for a big night as the U.S. Men's National Team is set to play its first home World Cup match in 32 years when it takes on Paraguay on Friday.

Red Stick Outlaws and other soccer supporters are hosting a watch party Friday night at Court to Table and Pelican to Mars, inviting fans to come together and cheer for the U.S. team.

Fans of all ages are welcome at Court to Table, while fans 21 and older are welcome at Pelican to Mars.

Americans are ranked 17th by FIFA and hope that playing at home will help them make a breakthrough in the tournament. Forward Christian Pulisic is expected to play a key role, and coach Mauricio Pochettino leads the team after joining in 2024.

Paraguay, ranked 47th, is back in the World Cup for the first time in 16 years. The match will be broadcast on Fox, Telemundo and Peacock.

Fans in Baton Rouge are looking forward to kicking off the weekend by supporting the U.S. team with fellow soccer enthusiasts.

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BATON ROUGE — A crash on I-10 westbound near Dalrymple Drive caused two lanes of traffic to be shut down on Friday morning. 

The crash was first reported around 5:55 a.m. By 6:30 a.m., the roadway reopened.

Congestion approached College Drive.

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SPRINGFIELD - An annual poker run benefiting the District 2 Volunteer Fire Department is coming back for its 35th year on Saturday.

The event kicks off at 10:30 a.m. and runs across 13 stops, including Boopalu's, Black Lake Club, Blind River Bar, Canal Bank, DiCarlo's, Fuel Dock, Gator's Den, Kat's Warsaw, Hilltop, Manny's, Prop Stop, Riverside Marina and Sunbuns.

The top prize is $1,500 for the best hand. Second place pays $750, third pays $300, fourth pays $200 and fifth pays $100.

Entry forms and official envelopes can be picked up at the Captain's Party at Canal Bank on June 11 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., at the Captain's Party at Boopalu's on Friday from 6 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. or at Boopalu's on Saturday morning.

The entry fee is $90. All proceeds go to the District 2 Volunteer Fire Department.

If the event is rained out, the rain date is June 20. 

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BATON ROUGE - An annual financial literacy event is returning to Baton Rouge's children's museum this weekend.

The "Earn and Learn Financial Literacy Weekend" at the Knock Knock Children's Museum introduces children to financial literacy through hands-on activities across 18 learning zones.

Visitors can complete jobs in each zone to earn wooden tokens, which they can save or spend at the Earn and Learn Shop.

Volunteers from the Society of Louisiana CPAs will guide children through tasks such as working at a farmers market, in a garage, or in a restaurant, and donating food.

The activities are designed to help children explore career pathways, money identification and financial decision-making.

The event is Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14. Admission is free on Sunday.

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Welcome to Good 2 Eat, brought to you by Supreme Rice, where every Thursday, 2une In will be cooking with Chef Kevin Belton to show you a new and delicious recipe to try at home!

Shrimp Creole

3 Tbsp. butter

1 bell pepper, chopped

1 onion, chopped

2 celery stalks, chopped

3 garlic cloves, chopped

1 Tbsp. flour

6 ounces tomato paste

14.5-ounce can crushed tomatoes

1 cup shrimp or chicken stock

2 Tbsp. Creole seasoning or more to taste

2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

2 Tbsp. Louisiana-style hot sauce

2 bay leaves

Salt and pepper to taste

1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined

Rice, chopped parsley, green onions and extra hot sauce for serving

Heat a large pan to medium heat and add the butter. Add the peppers, onion and celery and cook them down for about 5 minutes to soften.

Add the garlic and flour, and cook for another two minutes, stirring.

Swirl in the tomato paste and cook another minute.

Add the canned tomatoes, stock, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, Creole seasonings and bay leaves. Adjust for salt and pepper.

Stir and simmer the sauce for 20 minutes to thicken and let the flavors develop. You can simmer longer if you’d like.

Add the shrimp and tuck them under the sauce. Cook until the shrimp is nicely pink and cooked through.

Serve over rice, sprinkled with parsley and green onions. Add extra hot sauce if desired.

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FOLSOM - One of the largest free-roaming wildlife preserves in the country is taking celebrations to new heights this month!

Global Wildlife Center in Folsom is marking 35 years of conservation this June with a month-long celebration that includes two new giraffe births and an upcoming milestone birthday for one of its most well-known animals.

Kameel, the second-oldest giraffe in North America, is approaching her 33rd birthday. She is also the matriarch of the center's tower of giraffes and all but one of the giraffes on site are genetically related to her.

Two baby giraffes have recently been born at the center. One of them, a girl named Nova, is the fourth generation of Kameel's family to be on site.

Every weekend in June, the center will host birthday celebrations. One dollar from every safari wagon ticket sold on those weekends will go toward the Giraffe Conservation Foundation.

World Giraffe Day falls on June 21 and the center uses the occasion to raise awareness and support conservation efforts for giraffes in the wild.

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GROSSE TETE — The Grosse Tete Juneteenth Krewe is hosting the third-annual Grosse Tete Juneteenth Celebration this weekend, bringing together residents and visitors for a free, family-friendly event.

The celebration starts Saturday at 10 a.m. at Grosse Tete Park and will feature music from local DJ Malik Anderson, also known as DJ Flyte. 

People attending can expect a parade, recognition of community ambassadors from Grosse Tete, Rosedale and Maringouin, and the crowning of Charles Washington Sr. and Annie Mae Young as King and Queen. Brandi Lawrence, a native of Grosse Tete and Chief Prosecutor for the City of Baton Rouge, will serve as Grand Marshal.

“Juneteenth is more than a celebration of history — it is a reminder of freedom, resilience, progress, and the responsibility to carry that legacy forward,” Grosse Tete Juneteenth Krewe President Julie Wessinger said. “This event allows families and communities to come together, honor those who have helped shape our towns, and create joyful new memories for the next generation.”

Anyone interested in joining the parade, serving as a vendor or supporting the event can contact Mary Snell at 225-975-0652

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BATON ROUGE — Two lanes of I-10 eastbound coming into Baton Rouge on the Mississippi River Bridge were blocked Tuesday morning after a crash. 

The crash, first reported around 8 a.m., left a car turned around in the roadway with rear-end damage. The crash resulted in two left lanes being blocked.

By 9:30 a.m., the crash had been cleared and the roadway reopened.

Traffic was congested in West Baton Rouge Parish approaching La. 415. 

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BATON ROUGE - St. Vincent de Paul of Baton Rouge has opened its fifth thrift store and first outreach area!

The Holmes Thrift Store and Outreach Center is located on Greenwell Springs Road.

Abigail Whitam with 2une In got her own tour of the center on Tuesday morning. 

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BATON ROUGE — As of Monday morning, WBRZ and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital are sold out of raffle tickets for the 2026 St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway!

The annual fundraiser raises money for St. Jude's treatment of childhood cancers. This year, the 13,250 tickets sold raised $1.325 million for St. Jude.

This year, the fundraiser is giving away a 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom, 3,000 sq. ft. home on Oak Colony Drive, built by Alvarez Construction and valued at $500,000, as well as a brand-new 2026 Genesis G70 provided by All Star Automotive Group. 

The giveaway drawing is on June 18 on WBRZ.

Learn more here.

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ZACHARY - Zachary's second Restaurant Week is underway, giving residents a chance to try a variety of local spots at a fixed price.

The event features food ranging from quesadillas to seafood to peach cobbler.

Over 15 restaurants are participating this year, including Agave Blue, Bara Eats, Blue Bubble, CC's Coffee House, Cafe Phoenicia, Cajun Catch, El Mejor Mexican, Genivieve Sushi, Mami's Mexican, Off the Hook, Parish Crawfish, Peach Cobbler Factory, Spicy Nacho, Sweet Stirrings, T&T Smokehouse, T'Quila's and Walk On's.

Learn more here.

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CLINTON — What started as a favorite family gathering spot has become a family business for the owners of Café 94, a locally owned restaurant serving pizza, sandwiches and homemade desserts in the heart of Clinton.

The restaurant occupies the same space that was once owned by a local pizza shop, where the Jett family regularly dined.

“This place used to be a locally owned pizza restaurant, like it is now, before with a guy named Kevin Douglas,” said owner Kimble Jett. “Me and my family would come here and eat once or twice a week.”

Years later, the opportunity arose for the family to purchase the restaurant themselves.

“We would all come here and eat and it ended up working out to where my dad was able to buy it,” Jett said.

After taking ownership, the family renovated the restaurant, creating a brighter atmosphere while maintaining the welcoming environment that made them loyal customers in the first place.

“We came in and really remodeled the whole inside and made it more brighter and engaging,” Jett said.

The restaurant's name also carries personal significance. Café 94 is named after Jett's motocross racing number from his days as a professional rider.

Racing is a family tradition that spans generations.

“I started riding motorcycles when I was two,” Jett said. “My dad had done it and my grandpa. My whole family has always ridden motorcycles.”

That family-centered philosophy extends to the menu, which features a mix of longtime favorites and dishes inspired by family memories.

Among the offerings is a classic Hawaiian pizza topped with Canadian bacon and pineapple, along with a Philly cheesesteak po-boy loaded with roast beef, peppers, onions and melted cheese.

The restaurant's cookie skillet dessert was inspired by a childhood favorite of Jett's brother.

“We used to go eat at restaurants, and my brother would always, when he was a kid, want to order a cookie skillet,” Jett said. “Finally, my mom was like, we should just get those at Café 94 since Brady likes them.”

While some menu items trace their roots back to the restaurant's previous owner, others have been added to reflect the family's own traditions and tastes.

For the Jetts, the restaurant is about more than serving food. It's about serving the community they know so well.

“We pretty much know everybody in Clinton,” Jett said. “So if somebody walks in, we're probably going to know them personally.”

That hometown connection continues to draw customers through the doors, creating the same sense of community that once made the Jett family regulars themselves.

Today, Café 94 remains a place where family traditions, local flavors and familiar faces come together around the table.

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CLINTON — The "Beverly Hillbillies" ran from 1962 to 1971, and during its first two years, it was the number one program on the air, watched by millions. 

Donna Douglas, who played Elly May, the tomboy who loved what she called all kinds of critters, was born Doris Ione Smith in 1932 just outside of Clinton, in Pride, Louisiana. She went to St. Gerard Catholic High School, where she played softball and basketball.

She was named Miss Baton Rouge and Miss New Orleans in 1957.

As a relatively unknown actress in the 1960s, she was selected from among 500 actresses to work in "The Beverly Hillbillies."

Douglas died in 2015, at the age of 82, but her popularity continued with her estate sale packed, many fans and collectors trying to get a piece of hillbilly history.

"I met her one time and she was such a sweet woman," Lydia Williams, who bought one of Douglas' hats, said. "She was so sweet. It was just wonderful, so it's kind of nice to own a little piece of her."

She's buried in the Bluff Creek Community Cemetery, where below her real name is the iconic stage name known to generations.

"We kind of looked up to her as someone who made it from our area," Dianne Kimbrell, one of Douglas' neighbors, said.

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BATON ROUGE - Graduation marks a major milestone for teens, but it also signals the start of a new responsibility many are not ready for: managing their own healthcare.

A new survey found that two-thirds of youth say they would have benefited from more preparation before moving off their parents' insurance. Nearly 9 in 10 healthcare providers surveyed say the system does not adequately prepare young people to manage their care.

Susan Shanske, director of Transitional Care Support with the BRIDGES Adult Transition Program, spoke with 2une In's April Davis about what this shift looks like for teens and families.

Shanske, a licensed clinical social worker who has worked in the field for more than 25 years, said the transition to adult healthcare happens at the same time teens are taking on a lot of other responsibilities.

"Teens are graduating school, starting work, all sorts of things when they turn 18, that's a big deal," Shanske said. "They can vote, they're gonna deal with their financial pieces on their own potentially."

"Healthcare is a major place as well where decision making when you turn 18 is around who's going to consent to different procedures and who's going to get information," she added. "So there are lots of things happening for these teens all at once and healthcare is one aspect among many that we're asking them to navigate."

When it comes to insurance, Shanske said the situation varies by state and community. She noted that if a parent has a family plan through an employer, children can generally stay on that coverage until age 26.

She said young people need to understand their specific family situation, including whether they can stay on a parent's plan, whether their parents have insurance at all or whether a disability makes them eligible for federal or state insurance.

Her advice for teens taking ownership of their healthcare was straightforward.

"Be educated, practice a lot of the skills," Shanske said. "Don't show up with sort of no knowledge of what's happened before."

"Practice making your own appointments, speaking up in appointments, giving over your own health history, really paying attention to your symptoms in your body, whether you have a chronic condition or you've generally been healthy," she said. "You're going to want to practice those skills that are involved in accessing healthcare."

Shanske pointed to two resources for teens and families looking for guidance: the Got Transition national resource center and the habit-building website called Healthcare Shift.

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CLINTON — The third annual Feliciana Wildflower Festival is happening this weekend, and it's expected to draw hundreds of people to the small town of Clinton.

It all started in 2024 when a group of people started meeting to plan the first-ever wildflower festival.

"In February of 2024, we decided to start meeting and four months later, we had our first festival," Rainee Dunham, festival director, said.

Dunham counted herself in the founding group.

"It was pretty exciting came together really quickly and pretty easily. It felt very meant to be," she added. "It seems like the community embraced it and it was a success."

Since then, the festival has only grown, with vendor booths, exhibits and even educational presentations.

"The purpose of it is to educate people on the purpose of native plants and our pollinators," Dunham said.

They also hand out packets of wildflower seeds so that people can plant their own.

"It is so that families can maybe grow their own wild flowers at home or along their roadsides in front of their homes. We just thought it was a great way to give back to the community," Dunham added.

She made 400 packets to give out at the festival, but other directors are making more.

Each packet contains at least 50 seeds with a wide range of wildflowers.

"It helps pollinators, it helps the local wildlife and it is a great activity for families to do together. To me, it all works well together and it's great for our community and the environment," Dunham added.

WBRZ will be live covering the festival live on Friday during its 2 Your Town coverage in Clinton.

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Welcome to Good 2 Eat, brought to you by Supreme Rice, where every Thursday, 2une In will be cooking with Chef Kevin Belton to show you a new and delicious recipe to try at home!

Pollo Guisado

2-1/2 lbs. chicken, cut up, skin on
2 Tbsp. adobo seasoning
1 Tbsp. sazon seasoning
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1/4 cup sofrito
1/2 cup olives
3 Yukon gold potatoes, halved and quartered
2-3 bay leaves
8 oz. tomato sauce
1 cup chicken stock
Spicy chili flakes and fresh chopped parsley for garnish

Season the chicken with adobo and sazon seasoning.

Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, skin side down and cook for 10 minutes to brown all sides, flipping half way through.

Add the onion, bell pepper, garlic and sofrito. Stir and cook for 3-4 minutes.

Add the olives, potatoes, bay leaves, tomato sauce and chicken stock.

Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover. Simmer for 30 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and fall-off-the-bone. Chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Garnish with red pepper flakes and fresh chopped parsley and serve.

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BATON ROUGE- A Louisiana native is getting attention for his role in one of television's biggest dramas.

James Landry Hébert was born in Lafayette and spent much of his adolescence on the Chitimacha Indian Reservation in Charenton. Hébert later graduated from LSU and is now appearing in the latest season of HBO's "Euphoria" alongside Zendaya, which aired its series finale on Sunday.

Hébert plays a character named Harley, who is a character named Laure's cousin.

"He's a deeply flawed modern-day outlaw," Hébert said. "I think what was so interesting to me is I feel Harley's Euphoria was about infamy, about being feared, remembered and respected. And I think that's why he may have overcompensated for some of these power plays in the show."

The role also came with a memorable moment on set.

"I've done Westerns my whole career and somehow Euphoria gave me one of the wildest cowboy scenes I've ever done," Hébert said. "I'm riding my horse to set and Sam Levinson asks me if Zendaya tried to get away, could you chase her down and tie her up... A month later, Harley was doing that."

Hébert has built a resume that includes roles in "1883," "The Righteous Gemstones," "Stranger Things," "Horizon: An American Saga" and "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood."

His appearance in "Euphoria" adds to a career that has placed him alongside some of Hollywood's biggest productions.

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