Tagged News

• Barricades going up at infamous Baton Rouge overpass amid efforts to drive away vagrants

  August 16, 2023 5:31 PM

  BATON ROUGE - This week, crews with DOTD are building a barricade beneath an I-10 overpass well-known for drugs and its omnipresent panhandlers. WBRZ was at the overpass on Siegen Lane as the state workers put up metal gates blocking off the median beneath the interstate, a space regularly... more »

• Frustrated with homeless encampment, business owner posts strong message to mayor Play Video

  April 18, 2023 3:08 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A business owner says she's frustrated with having to clean up after a homeless group daily. The frustration reached a boiling point Tuesday when Erinn Shaw posted a message for the mayor on her sign board, asking for help cleaning up the trash left behind. ... more »

• Waste Management asks public to stop using its containers as shelter from cold weather

  December 21, 2021 9:45 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Waste Management issued a news release regarding the proper use of waste receptacles as temperatures drop during the cold winter season. According to its Tuesday news release, Waste Management asks that waste containers not be used as shelter from winter conditions. Tony Franco, area safety... more »

• HUD provides Louisiana with $7.6M to assist families at risk of homelessness

  June 11, 2021 8:57 AM

  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia L. Fudge announced Friday the awarding of the first tranche of American Rescue Plan funds for Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs) for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. Specifically, HUD is awarding Louisiana $7,651,392... more »

• BRPD investigating suspicious death on North 36th St.

  June 6, 2021 4:36 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Baton Rouge Police are investigating the death of a man found in an abandoned home Saturday afternoon. Police say Solomon Feltus, 41, was found deceased in a home located on the 1700 block of North 36th St. around 3:28 p.m. The cause of death is unknown... more »

• Homeless man arrested after going on crime spree in EBR

  June 3, 2021 9:29 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A homeless man was arrested Wednesday evening after going on a crime spree in East Baton Rouge. The suspect, identified as Dannell Barabin, 28, first caught the attention of police around noon on Wednesday when a woman reported him for sexual battery. An affidavit states... more »

• Louisiana uses three state parks to house homeless COVID-19 patients

  March 19, 2020 10:11 AM

  As Louisiana officials brace for increasing numbers of virus-infected residents, they've been taking measures to create temporary housing for patients with unique needs. The Advocate reports that Bayou Segnette State Park in Westwego has been evacuated and is hosting ten homeless/housing-vulnerable individuals who tested positive for the virus. ... more »

• Police form task force to solve killings of three homeless people in Baton Rouge Play Video

  December 31, 2019 5:38 PM

  UPDATE: Police have arrested a suspect in the killings. Click here for the full update. **** BATON ROUGE- A task force made up of members from local law enforcement agencies was formed in the wake of three homeless people who were mysteriously murdered during a two-week span. Christina... more »

• St. Vincent de Paul and Sylvia's Toys collaborate to serve the needy on Christmas Play Video

  December 25, 2019 3:59 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Volunteers with St. Vincent de Paul used Christmas to serve hot meals to a host of homeless and needy guests. Helpers were hard at work from mid-morning to about 1.p.m., preparing and serving holiday specialities. And the charitable efforts didn't stop with a warm meal.... more »

• Homeless man, woman found shot to death in Baton Rouge

  December 13, 2019 2:04 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A homeless couple were found shot and killed on the street Friday afternoon, police revealed in an update on the investigation. Christina Fowler, 53, and Gregory Corcoran, 40, were found dead on South 16th Street near the North Boulevard overpass in Downtown East around 12:52 Friday... more »

• Volunteers work tirelessly to provide Thanksgiving feast for those in need Play Video

  November 27, 2019 7:02 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Glazing hams, making sandwiches and icing cakes, it's all in preparation for Holiday Helpers and St. Vincent De Paul's annual Thanksgiving feast. "They say I should go to culinary school. Probably not going down that path though," high school student Khoa Dang said. He's spending... more »

• Homeless moving out from under Baton Rouge bridge Play Video

  April 20, 2018 12:15 AM

  BATON ROUGE- As many as 100 homeless people are being forced to relocate from underneath the North Boulevard bridge near downtown. They are also getting the opportunity to move into homes of their own. A developer is building a fence around the bridge to store equipment for renovations on... more »

• Baton Rouge moving homeless out of downtown Play Video

  February 10, 2018 12:15 AM

  BATON ROUGE- Homelessness has been a perpetual issue for much of the city's history. Advocates say new people end up on the street all the time. An estimated 80 percent of people who go homeless in Baton Rouge get placed in permanent housing within six months, according to homelessness... more »

• Broken pipes and chilly nights in Baton Rouge Play Video

  January 2, 2018 12:02 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Water leaked from underneath several houses near downtown Baton Rouge Monday. Freezing temperatures busted pipes, causing a wet and miserable maintenance problem for residents. "The ice froze up and busted the pipes," said a man working on South 17th Street house. "I've got to fix that,... more »

• Report: Man arrested for fatal stabbing under New Orleans expressway

  June 10, 2017 4:56 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Police have arrested a man accused of fatally stabbing a woman under the Pontchartrain Expressway Saturday morning. According to a report from WWL-TV, the stabbing occurred around 6 a.m. under Highway 90 at the corner of Calliope Street and Loyola Avenue. Police say 49-year-old Jules Williams... more »

• Police: Homeless man arrested for raping woman at duplex

  April 20, 2017 2:27 PM

  BATON ROUGE – A homeless man has been arrested after he allegedly raped a woman at a duplex. The Baton Rouge Police Department arrested 41-year-old Shuray Wells on charges of second-degree rape and simple battery. On April 7, a woman reported that she was forced to perform a... more »

• St. Vincent de Paul serves meals to the community for Easter

  April 16, 2017 11:20 PM

  BATON ROUGE - St. Vincent de Paul made Easter Sunday special for those in need, serving up meals for the Baton Rouge community. Chief Executive Officer Michael Acaldo says events like this come from the institution’s need to give back to the community. “The message is to love... more »

• Beggar charged with attempted murder for gas station stabbing

  March 29, 2017 4:48 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A beggar has been charged with attempted second-degree murder after he stabbed a man at a College Drive gas station Sunday. Authorities arrested 53-year-old Aron Becnel over the weekend after he reportedly stabbed another man at a Circle K gas station. Witnesses say Becnel was asking... more »

• Man strives to keep homeless in Baton Rouge from going hungry Play Video

  February 10, 2016 12:09 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A man in Baton Rouge has dedicated his time to making sure Baton Rouge's homeless don't go hungry. "You know the first day I did it, I posted it on my social media, and by the grace of God a lot of people from the community jumped... more »

• Southern University student set to graduate, spent semester homeless Play Video

  December 9, 2015 6:38 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A student at Southern University will be one of the last students to cross the stage with a bachelor's degree in architecture from Southern University in Baton Rouge. Two years ago, the Board of Regents voted to terminate the architecture program citing declining enrollment. Taikian Brooks... more »

• St. Vincent de Paul expecting to help more homeless this year

  November 18, 2015 7:03 PM

  BATON ROUGE - St. Vincent de Paul is expecting to have to help a larger number of people this year as the weather gets cooler. "When those cold nights take off in the coming weeks, I really think our numbers are going to surpass what we served last year. And... more »

• Taxpayer dollars paying for free rides out of town for homeless Play Video

  August 2, 2013 10:46 PM

  BATON ROUGE - One city is footing the bill for its homeless to take one way trips to places like Los Angeles and Tulsa. The Way Home program started through private funding and gave 75 vagrants tickets out of town. But recently, Baton Rouge Metro Council gave the... more »