WBRZ - Baton Rouge

Tagged News

• River drowning triggers local response Play Video

  May 28, 2013 5:53 PM

  WATSON - A day after Jacques Demare, 21, drowned while tubing down the Amite River, residents in the area are asking for more eyes on the water to keep the river cleaner and safer. Aaron Ott has lived on the edge of the water for nearly a decade. ... more »

• Ascension to get increased flood protection

  March 25, 2013 7:50 AM

  GONZALES - Ascension Parish officials hope two major drainage projects will provide parish residents with increased flood protection. A floodgate, which will help alleviate backwater flooding from the Amite River, is expected to be finished next spring, while a sixth pump at Marvin Braud could go online within the next... more »

• Waterways reopen in Ascension, Livingston

  February 18, 2013 11:25 AM

  PORT VINCENT - Waterways in Ascension and Livingston parish reopened today at noon after trash buildup shut them down last week. Bayou Manchac, the Amite River and the Diversion Canal are back open to recreational boat traffic. Emergency officials closed them on Friday because of debris-like tree limbs... more »

• Debris closes Livingston, Ascension waterways Play Video

  February 15, 2013 4:00 PM

  PORT VINCENT - Trash buildup shut down some waterways in Livingston and Ascension parishes today. Bayou Manchac, the Amite River and the Diversion Canal closed to recreational boat traffic at noon. Emergency officials said it was due to debris like tree limbs and plastic bottles washing downstream. People... more »

• Ascension, Livingston to hold public roads meetings

  February 13, 2013 10:11 AM

  GONZALES - Leaders in Ascension and Livingston will hold meetings next week to discuss an upcoming feasibility study on constructing a new pathway between the parishes. Ascension Parish President Tommy Martinez made the announcement today. Officials say the study will look at the impacts of building a new... more »

• Litter a problem on Hwy 42, Amite River

  September 20, 2012 10:23 AM

  PORT VINCENT- Trash lurking in the Amite River is becoming more visible following flooding from Hurricane Isaac. Residents in the area say the high waters floated trash into areas along the banks of the river. Those residents also say more people are littering along Hwy 42. News... more »

• Central residents handle flooding, power outages Play Video

  August 30, 2012 4:54 PM

  CENTRAL - Residents living in Bridlewood, a neighborhood sandwiched between the Comite and the Amite Rivers, are dealing with a lot of water that has nowhere to go. Water from a nearby lake which feeds off Beaver Bayou flooded residents' yards and roads, coming inches from their front doors.... more »

• Amite swelling closes waterways, sandbags available

  August 30, 2012 11:06 AM

  GONZALES - Swelling of the Amite River has led officials in Ascension Parish to close waterways. Parish officials expect river levels on the Amite River at Port Vincent to be above flood stage at that location this weekend. Flood stage at that site is 8 feet, according to the... more »

• Plans for Hooper Road extension move forward

  June 11, 2012 10:17 AM

  BATON ROUGE- Central city leaders say plans to build another crossing over the Amite River are moving forward. It would extend Hooper Road into the Watson area. Central Chief Administrative Officer David Barrow says two different routes for the project are being considered. News 2's Mike Steele will... more »

• Man arrested for boat crash that paralyzed LSU cheer coach

  September 27, 2011 4:35 PM

  LIVINGSTON - The man who crashed the boat on the Amite River that left LSU cheer coach Chico Garcia paralyzed and four others injured on August 27 was arrested Monday after blood alcohol content tests revealed he was over the legal limit. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement... more »

• Springfield, Maurepas dealing with flooding

  September 5, 2011 5:40 PM

  LIVINGSTON - Many people are checking their camps and homes near Lake Maurepas for flooding, and some are not liking what they see. Near Springfield, La. three to four feet of water cover the roadways around the Blood River. Maurepas, La. residents are dealing with the same thing. Camps... more »

• BRPD helicopter pilots assist in river rescue

  August 10, 2011 5:13 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Helicopter pilots for Baton Rouge rescued a man injured while tubing the Amite River today. Sgt. Don Stone said the Central Fire Department called for assistance around 1 p.m. They said a man was bleeding from a deep cut he got while tubing, and rescuers weren't... more »

• Body of missing boy found in Amite River

  June 12, 2011 12:51 PM

  DENHAM SPRINGS- Search and rescue crews found the body of the boy who drowned in the Amite River. The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office identified the boy as 12-year-old Gregory Hopkins, of New Orleans. Officials say Hopkins drowned yesterday afternoon during a Tiki Tubing trip. Witnesses told News 2 the... more »

• Divers, cadaver dogs searching for body of missing boy

  June 12, 2011 10:04 AM

  DENHAM SPRINGS- Livingston Parish authorities are still searching for the body of a 12-year-old boy who drowned in the Amite River yesterday afternoon. Witnesses told News 2 the boy went under water and never resurfaced. Several people who were on the river jumped in to try and save the... more »

• Roads, bridge are on BR delegation's wish list

  February 9, 2011 5:51 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Baton Rouge area delegation is looking for millions of dollars to pay for state construction projects around the metro area. The list includes widening all of Hooper Road between Blackwater Road and Greenwell Springs Road. It also includes paying for the design work for a... more »

• Truckers diagnose I-12 problems

  January 10, 2011 6:10 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Both lanes of I-12 eastbound are back open after traffic officials put recovery operations on hold for a crashed 18-wheeler. The truck, which was hauling potatoes, rolled onto its side in the construction zone near the Amite River Bridge this morning. There were no injuries, and... more »

• LSP: I-12 back open after truck crash, could close again tonight

  January 10, 2011 4:15 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Both lanes of I-12 eastbound are back open after traffic officials put recovery operations on hold for a crashed 18-wheeler. The truck, which was hauling potatoes, rolled onto its side in the construction zone near the Amite River Bridge this morning. There were no injuries, and... more »

• I-12 E. shutdown due to overturned 18-wheeler

  December 31, 2010 8:07 AM

  BATON ROUGE - UPDATE 10:12 a.m. - Crews are working to upright the truck and remove it. Louisiana State Police said the interstate could by opened back up around noon. The east bound lanes of Interstate 12 near O'Neal lane in Baton Rouge are closed at this time due... more »

• Traffic shift for I-12 eastbound to occur starting Sunday

  October 15, 2010 4:50 PM

  Motorists traveling east on Interstate 12 can expect a shift to the new Amite River Bridge starting Sunday. In order for the shift to happen, the following road closures will occur Sunday: Eastbound I-12 between O’Neal Lane and 4-H Club will reduce to one lane from 8 p.m. to... more »

• People waiting on governor's plans for loop money

  June 29, 2010 5:31 PM

  The state's construction budget bill is still sitting on Governor Bobby Jindal's desk. The bill includes about $1.7 million for the Baton Rouge loop project. Some say the governor should veto that portion of the bill. Signs protesting the loop and the funding can be seen in several... more »

• Man drowns in Baton Rouge

  June 13, 2010 7:58 PM

  UPDATE: Deputies have released the name of a 19 year old man who drowned in Baton Rouge today. According to the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office, Ramiro Torres drowned in a canal that runs into the Amite River. East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's deputies are at... more »

• Possible drowning in Baton Rouge

  June 13, 2010 2:15 PM

  East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's deputies are at the scene of a possible drowning in Baton Rouge. It happened Sunday afternoon in the Amite River along Florida Boulevard. According to deputies, a woman called 911 after she saw a man go under the water and never resurface. The... more »

• Stolen boat leads to drug arrest in Livingston Parish

  May 28, 2010 1:59 PM

  Wildlife and Fisheries agents, along with the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office, arrested a Maurepas couple on drug and theft charges. Investigators say they spotted a boat, with two people fishing, on the Amite River with registration information spray-painted over. A search of the boat turned up a 9mm... more »

• Father drowns during fishing trip with son

  May 23, 2010 1:27 PM

  This morning rescue crews found the body of a man who drowned in the Amite River in Livingston Parish yesterday evening. Officials with the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office say Jose Ricardo Hernandez Chavez, of Denham Springs, La., was fishing with his 6-year-old son. Investigators believe the boy dropped his... more »

• Holden teen drowns overnight

  May 16, 2010 9:36 AM

  The body of Dylan Herring, 17, of 31649 Hwy 1036 Holden, LA., was recovered from the Amite River at 10:15 p.m. after a three hour search effort. According to Chief Deputy Tony Bacala, Herring was attending a party at 17266 Summerfield Rd., in Ascension Parish near Port Vincent. It was... more »

• U.S. 190 lane closure planned Thurs. & Fri.

  March 11, 2010 1:31 AM

  Road crews plan to close an eastbound lane Thursday and Friday on the U.S. 190 bridge over the Amite River. The right eastbound lane will close from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Crews need to repair the detour road. The state transportation department is building a new... more »

• Shooting at bar in Ascension Parish

  February 24, 2010 8:37 AM

  Ascension Parish deputies say one person was shot Tuesday night at Fred's on the River on Highway 42, which is on the Ascension side of the Amite River. The victim was taken to the hospital and their condition is unknown. The shooting remains under investigation. more »

• Amite River reopened, few roads remain closed

  December 22, 2009 2:10 PM

  The Amite River and the Amite River Diversion Canal are back open to recreational boat traffic, that's according to officials in Ascension Parish. However, several roads in Ascension Parish remain closed due to recent heavy rains, they include: • Amite River Rd., Brignac • Summerfield South Rd., Summerfield • Airport Rd.,... more »

• River flood warnings issued

  December 18, 2009 6:41 AM

  Due to all the rain we have received lately area rivers continue to rise and run high. River Flood Warnings are now up for the Amite, Comite, Tickfaw and Tangiaphoa Rivers. All areas will see the water get to, and just above flood stage! Click on the link... more »

• Magnolia Bridge plans announced

  December 15, 2009 11:40 AM

  A cash management plan will free up $120 million for road construction projects across the state, Gov. Bobby Jindal announced Tuesday. That will impact plans for the Magnolia Bridge, which connects northern East Baton Rouge and northern Livingston parishes. About $23 million dollars will be used to replace the... more »

• Livingston partners with Coast Guard to clean up waterways

  December 8, 2009 10:26 AM

  Livingston Parish is partnering with the U.S.Coast Guard to clean up 26 abandoned party barges, wooden pirogues, houseboats and pleasure craft in the Amite River, the Blind River and the Diverson Canal. In a press release, Parish President Mike Grimmer said, "Maritime junk is not only a serious public... more »

• Residents along Amite want boats to slow down

  October 7, 2009 12:20 PM

  Residents who live along the lower Amite River want boats to slow down. They are going to the Livingston Parish council to ask that the no wake zone be extended to slow boats through the area. News 2 spoke with residents in Head of Island who say big... more »