WBRZ - Baton Rouge

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• Red Cross volunteers assisting after explosion

  June 13, 2013 1:54 PM

  GEISMAR - The Baton Rouge chapter of the Red Cross deployed volunteers today to help people affected by this morning's explosion at the Williams Olefins chemical plant in Geismar. Volunteers are providing food, water and emotional support for workers and families with loved ones who were hurt in the... more »

• Police: MAP employee hit, killed by his vehicle

  March 25, 2013 5:16 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Police released the details about a crash that killed a Motorist Assistance Patrol worker Monday. Jim Gilmer, 68, was killed when his specialized state vehicle ran over him after it was rear-ended by a semi. The crash happened Monday morning in a westbound lane on I-10... more »

• MAP worker killed in Monday crash

  March 25, 2013 3:13 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A man killed on the I-10 Mississippi River Bridge Monday worked for the state Motorist Assistance Patrol, known as MAP. State transportation leaders said the employee was called to the westbound lanes of the bridge to remove debris. He was killed in a two-vehicle crash. Details of... more »

• People with flood damage asked to call it in

  January 15, 2013 10:35 AM

  DENHAM SPRINGS - Emergency officials asked Livingston Parish residents to take time from their cleanup efforts and call in any water damage they received from recent flooding. The parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness needs the information to apply for any public assistance that could be made... more »

• Fiscal cliff threatens federal aid for home heat

  December 12, 2012 1:37 PM

  PORTLAND, Maine - Poor and elderly Americans who rely on aid from the federal government to heat their homes stand to get less help this year if Congress and the White House fail to figure out a way to avoid the combination of tax increases and automatic spending cuts known... more »

• FEMA makes push to connect with storm victims in LA

  November 27, 2012 10:01 PM

  BATON ROUGE- People recovering from Hurricane Isaac can try to get more help from FEMA. The agency said Tuesday it has more assistance available. $530,000 has been added to the relief money for thousands of storm victims. FEMA also said it is making follow-up calls and some home visits.... more »

• FEMA center opens in Pointe Coupee Parish

  October 22, 2012 10:27 AM

  NEW ROADS - FEMA workers opened a Disaster Recovery Center in Pointe Coupee Parish this morning to help people there file for help dealing with damage caused by Hurricane Isaac. The center opens at 11 a.m. today at the Scott Civic Center in New Roads, with regular hours of... more »

• FEMA individual assistance for Isaac tops $101M

  October 10, 2012 9:30 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Homeowners and renters have received $101 million in individual aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency since Hurricane Isaac. More than 29,000 people have received housing assistance, which totals $83 million. Another $18 million has been provided for other types of individual assistance, according to FEMA.... more »

• FEMA extends assistance in 8 parishes

  October 2, 2012 2:57 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Federal Emergency Management Agency is extending federal disaster aid in eight parishes to include supplemental funding for infrastructure repairs in the wake of Hurricane Isaac. Eligible applicants in Catahoula, Franklin, Lafayette, Morehouse, St. Landry, St. Martin, Union and Vermilion parishes can now apply for FEMA... more »

• Disaster food aid sites to open in Felicianas

  September 20, 2012 8:36 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Residents in East Feliciana and West Feliciana parishes who were affected by Hurricane Isaac have seven days, beginning Thursday, to apply for disaster food benefits. State officials say they're opening sites at the East Feliciana Early Learning Center in Clinton and the Independence Community Center in... more »

• FEMA approves disaster assistance for EBR, two other parishes

  September 14, 2012 3:05 PM

  BATON ROUGE- At the request of the State of Louisiana, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved Individual Assistance for three additional Louisiana parishes affected by Hurricane Isaac Residents of East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana and West Feliciana parishes who suffered damages are now eligible for FEMA assistance. ... more »

• Hours extended to apply for food assistance

  September 12, 2012 7:46 AM

  BATON ROUGE - State officials say hours have been extended in Orleans and Jefferson parishes for residents seeking disaster food assistance following Hurricane Isaac. Suzy Sonnier, secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services, says both UNO's Lakefront Arena in Orleans Parish and the Alario Center in Jefferson... more »

• Livingston Parish FEMA center opens

  September 7, 2012 11:35 AM

  SATSUMA - People who need help with disaster assistance in Livingston Parish can visit a new FEMA center which opened this morning. The center is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the shopping center just north of the I-12 Satsuma exit. After Saturday, the center will stay... more »

• Five more parishes approved for FEMA aid

  September 6, 2012 2:45 PM

  BATON ROUGE - FEMA approved five more south Louisiana parishes for individual assistance today in the wake of Hurricane Isaac, according to state emergency officials. Residents in Assumption, St. Helena, St. James, Terrebonne and Washington parishes are now eligible for federal assistance to cover uninsured damages from the stormor... more »

• Isaac: Federal cards can buy hot food during Sept.

  September 4, 2012 10:21 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Because of Hurricane Isaac, people on what used to be the food stamp program may use their cards to buy ready-to-eat hot foods during September. The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services says it got a federal waiver because many people had to evacuate and continuing... more »

• FEMA activates program to help pay for hotel stays

  September 3, 2012 9:37 PM

  BATON ROUGE- FEMA activated its Transitional Sheltering Assistance program, which allows people to receive help paying for hotels or motels after Hurricane Isaac. "Transitional Sheltering Assistance offers survivors temporary accommodations until other housing options can be identified and put in place," said Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall. "We... more »

• Unemployment aid available for Isaac victims

  September 3, 2012 10:29 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - People living in Louisiana parishes or Mississippi counties approved for individual aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and who have lost work because of the storm are eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. In Louisiana, the parishes are Ascension, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St.... more »

• Individual FEMA aid now available

  August 31, 2012 6:09 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Federal Emergency Management Agency says people in five Louisiana parishes can apply for grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and to cover uninsured property losses from Hurricane Isaac. FEMA says the major disaster declaration for Louisiana was amended Friday to allow individual aid in Jefferson,... more »

• Texas Brine offering aid for evacuated residents Play Video

  August 16, 2012 6:05 PM

  BAYOU CORNE - Texas Brine LLC announced that starting tomorrow they'll provide financial assistance to people who evacuated the Bayou Corne area because of a large sinkhole. The area grew by 50 ft. this morning, and swallowed a boat. Two men were rescued when a huge chunk of land... more »

• Four departments respond to house fire

  July 9, 2012 10:33 AM

  ZACHARY - A house fire in Zachary this morning took four fire departments to get under control. Members of Baker and Zachary fire departments responded to the fire at 23006 Jacock Road, then called for assitance from other fire departments near the area. Crews do have the fire... more »

• Obama offers storm assistance to Florida governor

  June 26, 2012 10:21 AM

  ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE - President Barack Obama has assured Florida Gov. Rick Scott that his state will have "no unmet needs" as it responds to extreme weather and flooding from Tropical Storm Debby. White House spokesman Jay Carney says Obama expressed his condolences for the loss of life, as... more »

• New steps to combat food stamp fraud

  May 24, 2012 11:47 AM

  WASHINGTON- The government is trying to crack down on food stamp recipients who are ripping off taxpayers by illegally selling their benefit cards for cash. The Agriculture Department wants to curb the practice by giving states more power to investigate people who repeatedly claim to lose their benefit cards and... more »

• Military Family Assistance Fund may expand

  March 7, 2012 5:33 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The State Legislature will consider a proposal to expand the Military Family Assistance Fund. The proposal will allow more members of the Louisiana National Guard, Louisiana Military Reserves and their family members to qualify for funding. Those who qualify today must have incurred a financial hardship caused... more »

• DCFS investigations lead to three arrests for assistance fraud

  September 30, 2011 2:48 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) investigation has resulted in the arrests of three individuals in St. Tammany and Livingston Parishes. They are accused of defrauding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly called Food Stamps, and other DCFS assistance programs of more... more »

• La. shrimpers seek help in bad market, turtle case

  June 22, 2011 2:21 PM

  BATON ROUGE - More than 250 Louisiana shrimpers and supporters gathered on the steps of the Capitol to protest what they see as a lack of assistance from the federal government in the wake of the BP oil spill. Protesters said Wednesday that the price of Gulf shrimp has... more »

• Senate rejects bill to drug test welfare seekers

  June 21, 2011 5:06 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Senate has voted to scrap a Metairie representative's proposal to require drug testing of welfare recipients who receive cash assistance. Republican John LaBruzzo says random screening would help break the cycle of addiction among welfare recipients. But critics say it is inaccurate - and potentially... more »

• Senate agrees to consolidate La. housing programs

  June 7, 2011 3:16 AM

  BATON ROUGE- The Louisiana Senate has backed a Jindal administration proposal to create a new corporation to run all state housing assistance programs. The nonprofit Louisiana Housing Corporation would take oversight of programs currently spread across five agencies and develop a unified housing policy for the state. An 11-member board... more »

• Terrebonne Parish getting help from Plaquemines Parish

  May 14, 2011 5:37 PM

  MORGAN CITY - Flood-fighting efforts in Terrebonne Parish are getting some help from eastern Louisiana. The parish has accepted an offer of assistance from Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser, according to his office. The parish was sent trailers with flood tubes, pumps and generators, as well as several... more »

• La. sending search team to Alabama

  May 2, 2011 10:01 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana is sending a 120-person search team to help with recovery efforts in storm-ravaged areas of Alabama. State police said in a news release that the Urban Search and Rescue team began preparations on Sunday for deployment to Tuscaloosa. State police Superintendent Mike Edmonson says... more »

• Acadia Parish to seek help for Rayne

  April 14, 2011 11:35 AM

  CROWLEY - The Acadia Parish Police Jury is seeking the support of Louisiana's congressional delegation in helping Rayne acquire financial assistance stemming from tornado damage March 5. The police jury unanimously passed a resolution on Wednesday. The Federal Emergency Management Agency rejected Rayne's initial request for financial assistance... more »

• Energy assistance program keeps heat on in BR

  December 28, 2010 3:19 PM

  BATON ROUGE – People who need help with their energy bills to stay warm this winter can apply for another round of assistance from East Baton Rouge Parish. The Office of Social Services is now accepting applications for its Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP. They will take... more »

• FEMA awards $21.8M to continue hurricane recovery

  October 26, 2010 11:23 AM

  FEMA announced today they were giving more than $21.8 million to projects that were continuing the recovery process from hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 12 projects are eligible to receive portions of the funding, including construction work in New Orleans, St. Bernard, Plaquemines and Cameron parishes. The list includes: ... more »

• Food stamp usage increases in La.

  October 13, 2010 6:14 PM

  The number of people on food stamps in Louisiana is staggering. The state is well above the national average. One in five people gets help paying for food, and that’s about 850,000 people. That’s also 19 percent of the population, compared to the national average of about 13 percent. News... more »

• SBA says it's ready to handle next disaster

  August 24, 2010 10:39 AM

  The federal Small Business Administration says over the past five years it has upgraded technology and streamlined the entire loan process to improve how it helps disaster victims. But questions linger about whether the agency is prepared to handle storms on the scale of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which caused... more »

• La: Pre-apply now for disaster food assistance

  August 11, 2010 2:42 PM

  Louisiana's Department of Children and Family Services says now is the time to pre-apply online for disaster food assistance. Officials say the aid shouldn't be needed for the tropical depression approaching Louisiana, but pre-applying can prevent long waits when a disaster does strike. People can pre-apply at www.dcfs.louisiana.gov... more »

• Lacombe man sentenced for fraud linked to Katrina

  May 13, 2010 5:07 AM

  A Lacombe man has been sentenced in connection with a disaster loan he and his wife applied for in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Keith Stobaugh was sentenced to three years of probation and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty. Police say Stobaugh and his wife, Denise, applied for a loan... more »