WBRZ - Baton Rouge

Tagged News

• Flipped car causes backup on Miss. River Bridge

  May 22, 2013 10:45 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A wreck involving a flipped vehicle caused traffic to back up this morning on the Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge. The Department of Transportation and Development reported the wreck on I-10 East flipped a car and forced authorities to close some lanes in both directions.... more »

• Miss. River still closed after barges hit bridge

  April 22, 2013 9:10 AM

  VICKSBURG, Miss.- The Mississippi River remains closed at Vicksburg as authorities work to determine whether a sunken barge was a navigation hazard. Coast Guard Lt. Ryan Gomez says an assessment is underway but it is uncertain when the river will reopen to ship traffic. Gomez says 233 barges are waiting... more »

• I-10 West back open after wreck closed Miss. River bridge

  April 17, 2013 4:54 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Authorities reopened I-10 West this evening after a wreck on the Mississippi River Bridge closed it for more than an hour. The Department of Transportation and Development said several vehicles were involved, including multiple tractor trailers. Traffic was diverted north at the I-10 and I-110... more »

• Donaldsonville shedding light on history Play Video

  March 28, 2013 6:14 PM

  DONALDSONVILLE - A piece of history along Donaldsonville's Mississippi river front is getting a face-lift. Crescent Park, and the area around the park, will be updated with a new pavilion, a paved plaza, park lighting, trees and a dominant gateway, leading people to downtown. The city will use $780,000... more »

• Bills call for dredging Miss. River to Baton Rouge

  March 14, 2013 4:11 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu and U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond want the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the Mississippi River deep enough so it can handle the huge cargo ships expected to use the Panama Canal once its expansion is completed next year. The Louisiana Democrats submitted... more »

• Army Corps reports on 2011 Mississippi River flood

  February 25, 2013 2:11 PM

  MEMPHIS, Tenn.- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the near-historic Mississippi River flood of 2011 caused $2.8 billion in damage and tested the system of levees, reservoirs and floodways like no other flood before it. A report released today said the Mississippi River and Tributaries system worked as... more »

• Person on Miss. River bridge slowing traffic

  February 21, 2013 12:15 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Police in Baton Rouge removed a woman who was impeding noontime interstate traffic on the Mississippi River Bridge. Cpl. L'Jean McKneely said the woman was removed safely from the bridge a short time ago. According to DOTD, westbound I-10 traffic is backed up to the... more »

• Oil sheen spotted after barge collision on Miss. River

  February 15, 2013 10:48 AM

  BATON ROUGE- The Coast Guard says a collision between two barges spilled less than 400 gallons of oil into the Mississippi River at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge. No injuries were reported after one of the barges struck another that was offloading fuel at a transfer station Thursday night.... more »

• Oil cleanup resuming at leaking Miss. River barge

  January 31, 2013 2:49 AM

  JACKSON, Miss. - Vessels are moving cautiously through a section of the Mississippi River where a barge is leaking oil as the Coast Guard tries to ease the economic impact of shutting down one of the nation's vital commerce routes. Chief Petty Officer Paul Roszkowski says officials are allowing northbound... more »

• Barges testing closed section of Miss. River

  January 30, 2013 11:08 AM

  JACKSON, Miss.- The Coast Guard is letting southbound vessels pass through a closed section of the Mississippi River at Vicksburg to test how they will affect efforts to remove oil from a leaking barge. Chief Petty Officer Paul Roszkowski tells The Associated Press a 16-mile stretch of the river remains... more »

• Coast Guard: Barge leaked 7,000 gallons of oil

  January 30, 2013 7:03 AM

  VICKSBURG, Miss. - With more than 50 vessels idling on the water for a fourth day, authorities say they still don't know when they will be able to reopen a stretch of the Mississippi River that has been closed due to an oil spill near Vicksburg. Coast Guard Petty Officer... more »

• Miss. River remains closed after barge accident

  January 29, 2013 6:14 AM

  VICKSBURG, Miss. - The Coast Guard says nearly four dozen vessels are stacked up on the Mississippi River near Vicksburg, awaiting clearance as crews work around the clock to clean up an oil spill. Coast Guard spokesman Jonathan Lally told The Associated Press early Tuesday workers are skimming oily water... more »

• Tug boat sinks in Mississippi River Play Video

  January 18, 2013 11:54 AM

  LAPLACE - The Coast Guard says a tug boat carrying 4,000 gallons of diesel and 100 gallons of lube oil sank in the Mississippi River near LaPlace. Petty Officer Alex Washington tells The Times-Picayune no one was on the vessel at the time and no injuries were reported. Washington... more »

• Wreck closes I-10 Miss. River bridge

  January 6, 2013 11:16 AM

  UPDATE: All westbound lanes crossing the river are open. Eastbound lanes will be intermittingly closed to remove vehicles involved in crash. BATON ROUGE - A crash this morning closed all lanes of the I-10 Mississippi River Bridge into East Baton Rouge Parish. The multi-vehicle crash involves an 18-wheeler... more »

• Mississippi River drops, threatening barge traffic

  December 27, 2012 2:33 PM

  ST. LOUIS- The Mississippi River's water level is dropping again and barge industry trade groups warn that river commerce could essentially come to a halt as early as next week in an area south of St. Louis. The Coast Guard remains confident that the nation's largest waterway will remain open... more »

• Annual bonfires will burn despite naughty forecast

  December 24, 2012 5:49 PM

  LUTCHER- An annual Christmas Eve tradition is a go, despite concerns of inclement weather. St. James and St. John parishes will light the bonfires on the Mississippi River levee. There was discussion about cancelling the event because of the severe weather. But, the weather situation is holding-off, and... more »

• Corps: Ridding Miss. River of rock pinnacles close

  December 14, 2012 6:32 PM

  ST. LOUIS - The Army Corps of Engineers says it's close to shoring up how soon contractors could begin removing treacherous southern Illinois rock formations impeding barge traffic in the drought-plagued Mississippi River. The corps says it has hired Newt Marine Service of Dubuque, Iowa, and Kokosing Construction Co. of... more »

• Mississippi River dropping slower than expected

  December 5, 2012 7:42 PM

  A bit of a breather for shippers on the Mississippi River as the forecast shows water levels are dropping slower and may not halt barge traffic. At least two companies are already lightening their loads over concerns about the river's depth. The level at St. Louis is 13 feet and... more »

• Mississippi river dropping slower than expected

  December 5, 2012 2:26 PM

  ST. LOUIS - A revised Mississippi River forecast is offering a bit of a reprieve for shippers, showing the water level isn't dropping as quickly as feared. Still, at least two large barge companies already are reducing loads over concerns about the river's depth. The river at St. Louis on... more »

• Lawmakers discuss low Miss. River with Corps

  November 29, 2012 3:10 PM

  WASHINGTON - A top Army Corps of Engineers official told federal lawmakers the agency can't legally reverse its decision to reduce the Missouri River's flow into the rain-starved Mississippi River. But Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois says Army Assistant Secretary Jo-Ellen Darcy did tell him and senators from Iowa and... more »

• Low Mississippi River could shutdown traffic

  November 28, 2012 4:11 PM

  BATON ROUGE- State leaders are warning there could be dire consequences if something isn't done soon about the water levels in the Mississippi River. In two weeks, a 200 mile section between Missouri and Illinois could shutdown because the levels are too shallow to operate river traffic. "We're... more »

• Forum: Prepare for Mississippi River changes

  November 12, 2012 10:37 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Speakers at a coastal conference say the mouth of the Mississippi River is moving north, and authorities need to prepare for it. Paul Kemp, vice president of the Louisiana Audubon Society's Gulf Coast Initiative, says the changes present opportunities to get more sediment into eroding coastal... more »

• Two killed in Miss. River Bridge wreck Play Video

  November 2, 2012 2:51 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Police said two people died in a wrong-way wreck which tied up traffic all morning on the I-10 Mississippi River Bridge. Cpl. L'Jean McKneely said Alex Dillman, 29, was driving an SUV the wrong way on I-10 East overnight when he struck a Freightliner head-on just... more »

• Task force holds river counterterrorism drill Play Video

  October 11, 2012 4:45 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The Joint Task Force 7 held a counterterrorism drill on the Mississippi River to test their inter-agency skills, while neutralizing a simulated terrorist threat. The drill had sheriff's deputies from seven different agencies working together to find a mock bomb strapped to a pillar on the Mississippi... more »

• Dolphin found dead near Baton Rouge bridge

  October 2, 2012 10:39 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Wildlife officials said they will attempt to retrieve a dead dolphin discovered in the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge this week. A spokesperson for the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said the dolphin was reported yesterday near the Old Mississippi River Bridge, but they couldn't... more »

• EBRSO: Woman coming down after climbing onto La. 190 bridge

  September 7, 2012 4:33 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Authorities said a woman climbed out onto the Highway 190 bridge from East Baton Rouge to West Baton Rouge Parish this afternoon, forcing them to shut the bridge down. EBR Sheriff's Office spokesperson Casey Rayborn Hicks said they were called to the bridge around 4 p.m.... more »

• ExxonMobil reports minor oil spill in Miss. River

  September 5, 2012 11:14 AM

  BATON ROUGE -A minor crude oil spill was reported this morning by the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Refinery. Lana Sonnier Venable, ExxonMobil spokeswoman for Baton Rouge, said the spill in the river at its Mississippi River docks is less than five barrels of crude oil and was stopped immediately after... more »

• Barges moving slowly through Miss. trouble spot

  August 23, 2012 10:21 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - Shipping is being allowed to move slowly through a stretch of the Mississippi River near Greenville, Miss., that has been a trouble spot as low water caused by drought exposes sand and mud bars. Coast Guard Petty Officer Ryan Tippets said on Thursday barges are being allowed... more »

• Corps: Low Mississippi causes harbor closures

  August 21, 2012 3:32 PM

  MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers say low water levels that are restricting shipping traffic, forcing harbor closures and causing towboats and barges to run aground on the Mississippi River are expected to continue into October. Major Gen. John W. Peabody, commander of the Corps'... more »

• 11-mile stretch of Mississippi River closed

  August 20, 2012 3:55 PM

  MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The U.S. Coast Guard says 97 boats and barges are waiting for passage along an 11-mile stretch of the Mississippi River that has been closed because of low water levels. Coast Guard spokesman Ryan Tippets told The Associated Press on Monday that the stretch of river near... more »

• Midwest drought and low Mississippi River to increase food prices Play Video

  August 13, 2012 5:42 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The cost to do business for farmers could trickle down to the consumer as early as the end of this year. Drought conditions in the Midwest and transportations issues on the Mississippi River are making it difficult to grow and ship product. The Mississippi River... more »

• Mississippi River's depth lowest in years Play Video

  July 17, 2012 5:31 PM

  BATON ROUGE - At a depth of 6.4 feet, the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge is the lowest it's been in years, and it's much worse further north. The river's center channel between Baton Rouge and the mouth of the Mississippi River is much deeper, though, ranging between 44... more »

• UPDATE: All lanes open after I-10 bridge wreck

  July 10, 2012 12:12 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A wreck blocked several lanes of I-10 on the Mississippi River bridge during the noon rush today. The Department of Transportation and Development said the center and left lanes of I-10E on the bridge were blocked after the wreck. All lanes were reopened just before 1... more »

• Arrest made in July 4 bridge shooting

  July 9, 2012 4:38 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Police in Baton Rouge arrested a man in connection with a shooting that happened on the Mississippi River Bridge July 4, and closed one side of I-10 over the bridge for hours. Cpl. Tommy Stubbs said Eric Jackson, 35, of Port Allen faces charges of attempted... more »

• I-10 open after shooting shut down traffic

  July 4, 2012 7:09 PM

  BATON ROUGE- All lanes of I-10 Eastbound across the Mississippi River have are now open. Lanes were closed after a shooting near the I-10/110 Junction around 7p.m. Wednesday. A Baton Rouge Police spokesperson said things started with an altercation involving the victim in Port Allen, and led to... more »

• Body found in Mississippi River in Ascension Parish

  May 12, 2012 2:35 PM

  ASCENSION PARISH- The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office reports a body was discovered this morning in the Mississippi River. It was recovered near Darrow. A worker at a Geismar Plant made the discovery. Investigators say they believe the body could be a crew member from a Russian cargo ship.... more »

• More Crawfish Coming?

  May 2, 2012 8:58 AM

  Your platter of crawfish may be served up longer this season if the feds step in. Governor Bobby Jindal has asked the feds to help keep the crawfish industry alive by flooding the Atchafalaya Basin. He wants the Army Corps of Engineers to divert water from the Mississippi River into... more »

• DOTD studying how to eliminate I-10 traffic jams Play Video

  April 24, 2012 5:21 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The Department of Transportation and Development has hired a consulting firm to study how to improve traffic conditions on I-10 between the Mississippi River Bridge and the 10/12 Split. DOTD also wants to get some input from drivers and people who live near the interstate to help... more »

• Corps monitors levees as waters rise on river

  March 28, 2012 8:56 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - With the Mississippi River rising as it does every spring, the Army Corps of Engineers has begun monitoring the levees along the river. The corps says it has begun patrolling levees up and down the river between Baton Rouge to the mouth of the Mississippi because water... more »

• High water, extra Mississippi River levee checks

  February 10, 2012 4:12 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The Army Corps of Engineers says it's keeping an eye on Mississippi River levees because the river is high. The twice-weekly checks are a precaution because the water is expected to remain high for a while. The corps said Thursday that patrols began this week for levees... more »

• Coal freighter grounded in Mississippi River

  January 17, 2012 2:25 PM

  VENICE, La. - The Coast Guard says a coal freighter has run aground near the mouth of the Mississippi River and a tug has been dispatched to free it. The Coast Guard says the 738-foot-long Panamanian-flagged ship ran aground Tuesday morning on its way to the Gulf of Mexico, but... more »

• Study: Miss. River channel woes huge for economy

  January 10, 2012 2:34 PM

  Associated Press- The U.S. economy faces losing billions of dollars in trade unless the Army Corps of Engineers' budget for dredging the Mississippi River is not increased to prevent the river from silting in. That's according to a new study commissioned by businesses that rely on the river. Every... more »

• Corps of Engineers to receive millions for levee repairs

  December 30, 2011 3:47 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Army Corps of Engineers says it's getting $802 million to repair levees and other structures damaged by the historic flooding on the Mississippi River this year - work considered urgent before the next spring flood season starts. With forecasts for another wet spring next year,... more »

• Black bear found dead in Pointe Coupee Parish

  December 22, 2011 2:20 PM

  Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents are looking for leads into who may illegally killed a black bear that was found floating in the Mississippi River in Pointe Coupee Parish. Hunters in the area reported the bear to LDWF on Sunday, Dec. 11 near the old ferry landing.... more »

• I-10 traffic flowing smoothly after morning delays

  December 20, 2011 5:44 AM

  Update: All lanes are open on I-10 West. BATON ROUGE - An accident involving two tractor trailers caused major traffic congestion along I-10 westbound this morning. The accident is now cleared, however delays continued along the interstate for hours. more »

• Mississippi River threatens electricity in Pointe Coupee Play Video

  December 9, 2011 5:50 PM

  BONANZA LANDING - Pointe Coupee Electric leaders thought as many as 350 homes and camps could lose power before the end of next week because of the rising Mississippi River. That number dropped to about 50 homes and camps late Friday afternoon, according to Joseph Cotten, Jr., the general... more »

• Sediment shuts down Miss. river at St. Louis

  November 18, 2011 2:11 PM

  ST. LOUIS - Barge traffic on the Mississippi River is at a standstill in both directions near St. Louis as crews scramble to clear sediment that's clogging the waterway. Barges were lined up in a holding pattern near downtown St. Louis at midday Friday. They were expected to... more »

• Mississippi river levels dropping

  October 17, 2011 5:59 PM

  BATON ROUGE-- The Mississippi River is nearly 20 feet below flood stage, in stark contrast with the swollen behemoth it was in May-- nearly ten feet above flood stage. That's because a drought in the mid west means land north of Baton Rouge has soaked up much of the... more »

• Gambling board agrees to delay BR casino opening

  September 15, 2011 1:13 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. - Louisiana's gambling regulators have agreed to delay the deadline for Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. to wrap up construction of its new $231 million Baton Rouge casino. The Gaming Control Board voted Thursday to give Pinnacle until July 31 to finish building the casino and hotel project,... more »

• Body found in river believed to be bridge jumper

  August 31, 2011 11:47 AM

  HAHNVILLE - Sheriff's deputies reported that a body found in the Mississippi River this morning is believed to be a man that led authorities on a high-speed chase before jumping off a Gramercy bridge last week. St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne said the Valero Refinery workers found a... more »

• Part of Mississippi River closed after barge sinks

  August 4, 2011 2:52 PM

  TRANSYLVANIA, La. - The Coast Guard says a section of the Mississippi River in north Louisiana has been closed after 35 barges pushed by a towboat broke free and a coal barge sank in the river channel. The towing vessel Sally Bromfield lost its barges at about 1:30 a.m.... more »

• Quest for renewable power turns back to water

  July 18, 2011 10:49 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The powerful flow of the Mississippi River, which brought destruction to scores living near its flooded banks this spring, is viewed by a new generation of energy entrepreneurs as a reliable alternative way of generating electricity. These developers aren't planning giant concrete dam projects that brought... more »

• "Fireworks on the Mississippi"

  July 4, 2011 2:47 PM

  BATON ROUGE - It's the biggest 4th of July fireworks show in Louisiana at 9 pm and you're invited! The fireworks can be seen from the Mississippi River levee, from both Port Allen and Baton Rouge. Other events that fill the day downtown this Independence Day are as... more »

• Strain looks at flood-damaged N. La. farmland

  July 2, 2011 1:16 PM

  LAKE PROVIDENCE, La.- Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain visited the Bunches Bend area of East Carroll Parish to see the 10,000 acres of prime farm land that flooded when a century old levee failed during the recent battles against a high-running Mississippi River. Bunches Bend had been protected on... more »

• Corps: Mississippi River flood damaged levees

  June 26, 2011 3:22 PM

  MEMPHIS, Tenn.- The head of the group overseeing work by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says another floodway could be needed to relieve pressure on levees along the Mississippi River. Maj. Gen. Michael J. Walsh told The Commercial Appeal that he's not saying the agency should build a new... more »

• Military department spends $8M on flood response

  June 15, 2011 4:09 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The state's military department expects to spend nearly $8 million through this month to respond to the Mississippi River flooding and the preparation for high waters around Louisiana. That includes the costs of activating more than 1,100 Louisiana National Guardsmen and of providing fuel, supplies and... more »

• Grounded tanker in Mississippi River freed

  June 15, 2011 3:48 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A grounded oil tanker on the Mississippi River has been freed from the mud where it got stranded about 5 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. The 800-foot tanker Ratna Puja was southbound carrying a load of carbon black oil when it got stuck Monday night.... more »

• Flooding likely to spread Asian carp

  June 10, 2011 3:06 AM

  NEW ORLEANS- Even as scientists scramble to prevent Asian carp from moving into the Great Lakes, some worry the spring flooding along the Mississippi River may be spreading the invasive species into many formerly carp-free bodies of water. Duane Chapman, a U.S. Geological Survey biologist and Asian carp expert, says... more »

• All Morganza Spillway bays could close by Sunday

  June 6, 2011 4:43 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Corps of Engineers could close the Morganza Spillway completely by next week. Corps spokesperson Rachel Rodi said two more bays were closed today, leaving only five currently open. She said because river levels keep falling they plan to close one a day until they're... more »

• Plaquemine ferry reopens

  June 6, 2011 3:13 AM

  PLAQUEMINE - The Plaquemine ferry has returned to service today after a three-week lapse. The Plaquemine landing was closed on May 11 because of the Mississippi River's high water levels. The Department of Transportation and Development have deemed the water levels safe for the boat to operate once... more »

• Plaquemine ferry opens Monday

  June 3, 2011 5:51 PM

  PLAQUEMINE - It's been well over three weeks since the Plaquemine ferry crossed the Mississippi River. That all changes Monday as the Department of Transportation and Development have deemed it safe for the boat to operate once again. The ferry closed once the river hit 43 feet. Last week... more »

• Evacuation order lifted for parts of St. Martin Parish

  May 30, 2011 2:36 AM

  ST. MARTINVILLE- St. Martin Parish officials say that water is still rising - but at 8 a.m. today, people will be able to return to homes in some areas south of Butte LaRose. Other parts of that area will remain under mandatory evacuation. A news release Sunday said residents need... more »

• Coast Guard continues patrols on Mississippi River

  May 25, 2011 3:59 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The U.S. Coast Guard continues to keep a close eye on a section of the Mississippi River where three barges sank last week. Workers are patrolling the river with boats, and requiring barges coming around a curve near "Southern University" to have assistance from special tow boats.... more »

• Floodwaters in South falling, but misery remains

  May 25, 2011 3:44 AM

  MEMPHIS- Floodwaters from the Mississippi River are slowly falling, but for people from Tennessee to Louisiana, the misery it left behind is only beginning as they face gutting their ruined houses soaked in polluted water. The bloated river has crested through the South and farmers with any hope of salvaging... more »

• Southbound river traffic begins moving again

  May 24, 2011 4:24 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Southbound River traffic on the mighty Mississippi began flowing again Tuesday morning. The Coast Guard told News 2, test runs were being performed on barges. About 40 of them are in a holding pattern north of Baton Rouge. News 2 took a ride with a tow... more »

• Fickle Miss. flooding frustrates some residents

  May 24, 2011 2:42 AM

  NEW ORLEANS- The Mississippi River's fickle flooding is testing the patience of residents, some of whom were returning to their homes after being driven away by the threat of rising water, while others are still being kept away as inspectors try to ensure the structures are sound. In Louisiana, Sheree... more »

• Butte LaRose residents to evacuate by noon

  May 24, 2011 2:33 AM

  BUTTE LAROSE- Residents of Butte LaRose are facing a mandatory evacuation as backwater from the swollen Atchafalaya River creeps toward homes in the Cajun community. The St. Martin Parish leaders say nobody will be allowed to enter the town once the order takes effect today at noon. The mandatory evacuation... more »

• River Road near Duncan Pointe closed for study

  May 23, 2011 3:12 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A section of River Road in Baton Rouge that was closed last week will remain shut down as long as the Mississippi River stays high, according to highway officials. Authorities closed River Road on Friday between Ben Hur Drive and the Farr Park Equestrian Center south... more »

• Coast Guard reviewing salvage plans for sunken barges

  May 23, 2011 2:27 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Coast Guard said today that they reopened a portion of the Mississippi River near Baton Rogue to northbound traffic, after determining three barges that sank last week don't pose a threat to those vessels. A nine-mile stretch of the river was closed Friday when several... more »

• Evacuation order lifted for parts of St. Landry Parish

  May 23, 2011 9:33 AM

  ST. LANDRY- The mandatory evacuation for residents south of Hwy 190, the Three Mile Lake area and the North Wilderness Road area has been lifted. These areas will remain under voluntary evacuation until further notice. Changes in the flood forecast and the slow approach of water prompted St. Landry... more »

• Coast Guard may reopen river to barge traffic

  May 23, 2011 9:18 AM

  BATON ROUGE- The Coast Guard may partially reopen a nine-mile segment of the Mississippi River to barge traffic as it reviews a plan to remove three barges that sank in the waterway in Baton Rouge last week. Petty Officer Stephen Lehmann said the Coast Guard expects to allow northbound traffic... more »

• Stretch of river remains closed after barges sink

  May 23, 2011 3:40 AM

  BATON ROUGE- A nine-mile stretch of the Mississippi River remains closed while the Coast Guard settles on a plan to remove three barges that sank in the waterway that is bulging with floodwaters from upriver. Roman Blahoski, a spokesman for the Archer Daniels Midland Co., says the company has... more »

• Stretch of river still closed after barges sink

  May 22, 2011 2:39 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A five-mile stretch of the Mississippi River at Baton Rouge remained closed Saturday, a day after an accident on the high, fast-moving waterway resulted in the sinking of three barges. The river was closed while officials assessed whether the barges posed a navigation hazard. The Coast... more »

• UPDATE: Barge resurfaces, Coast Guard "has a line on it"

  May 20, 2011 4:22 PM

  UPDATE- A barge resurfaced on the Mississippi just North of Downtown Baton Rouge and caused concern Friday night. At one point, authorities were considering an evacuation of the Hollywood Casino river boat. But, a spokesperson with the casino said late Friday, the Coast Guard had a "line on the... more »

• Coast Guard official tours parts of flooded river

  May 20, 2011 12:37 PM

  NATCHEZ, Miss. - Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Robert Papp is touring parts of the flooded Mississippi River and is being briefed on efforts to control ship traffic on the river. Papp met Friday morning with the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Greenbrier, along the flooded river near the Natchez... more »

• Town packs up ahead of weekend order to leave

  May 20, 2011 8:24 AM

  BUTTE LAROSE- Residents are leaving in the face of a mandatory evacuation order set to kick in on Saturday as Mississippi River water flowing through the Morganza spillway is expected to reach communities in the Atchafalaya Basin. Authorities went door-to-door Thursday notifying residents. Many already had evacuated. Farther down the... more »

• Frustrated farmers vent as rivers rise

  May 20, 2011 5:44 AM

  VIDALIA- An overflow crowd turned out Thursday for a meeting in Vidalia with state and federal agricultural officials. Farmers are suffering from the Mississippi River flood, even though flooding of fields is minimal. A drought, deer being driven into their fields by the rising river, and seepage - water pushed... more »

• Mississippi crests in Vicksburg lower than feared

  May 20, 2011 2:33 AM

  VICKSBURG, Miss.- The Mississippi River has crested at more than 14 feet above flood stage in Vicksburg, Miss., slightly lower than expected, easing worries about water spilling over a nearby levee and inundating thousands more acres of farmland. Still, officials warn that the flood is by no means over. The... more »

• Frustrated farmers vent as rivers rise

  May 19, 2011 5:16 PM

  VIDALIA - An overflow crowd turned out Thursday for a meeting in Vidalia with state and federal agricultural officials. Farmers are suffering from the Mississippi River flood, even though flooding of fields is minimal. A drought, deer being driven into their fields by the rising river, and seepage... more »

• High water closing Port Allen lock at night

  May 19, 2011 3:04 AM

  PORT ALLEN- The Coast Guard is limiting the Port Allen Lock to daylight use, since the waterway to which it links is closed because of high water. The lock links the Mississippi River to a north-south shortcut to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The waterway's Alternate Route runs from near Baton... more »

Tagged Blogs

• Record heat with only small chances for rain today...

  June 1, 2011

  By Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum I'm back! It was nice taking a few days off and spending time with my sisters in Chicago. The weather up there was cool over the weekend, but it got hot on Monday! They had high temperatures around 90, and that is extremely hot for... more »

• Less humid today, but Memorial Day Weekend will be much more humid...

  May 27, 2011

  By Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum Short Term : The cold front that moved through yesterday is sitting along the Northern Gulf Coast, and it will stay there today as it weakens. This will allow for some drier air to move over the Baton Rouge area, and this will make it... more »

• A breezy day, but some rain looks to return tomorrow...

  May 25, 2011

  By Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum Short Term : The Summer-like heat and humidity will continue once again today thanks to an area of high pressure sitting off the Georgia Coast. The southerly winds will be quite breezy again as they pump up the moisture. This will lead to a mix... more »

• No relief from the heat, and the Mississippi River is slowly falling...

  May 24, 2011

  By Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum Short Term : People say that Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start to Summer. Well, no one told that to Mother Nature since we have had Summer-like heat the last few weeks, and there is no break from it in the near future. The... more »

• More heat & humidity as the Mississippi River SLOWLY falls...

  May 23, 2011

  By Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum Short Term : The Summer-like weather continues across the Deep South again today as an area of high pressure remains along the East Coast. We will have a mix of sun and clouds with a stray shower possible, and a near record high this afternoon.... more »

• The weekend will feel like Summer, and the Mississippi is still cresting...

  May 20, 2011

  By Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum Short Term : The Summer-like heat and humidity will continue today through the weekend. This is all due to an area of high pressure sitting over the Southeast U.S. It will continue to bring southerly winds over Louisiana, and that leads to higher humidity levels.... more »

• The Mississippi River continues to crest, and we are getting warmer...

  May 19, 2011

  By Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum Short Term : It was not as cool this morning across the Capital City thanks to the winds coming out of the east verses the north as the area of high pressure moves toward Northern Florida. By the afternoon, the winds will be out of... more »

• Mississippi River crests today, and the temperatures continue to rise...

  May 18, 2011

  By Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum Short Term : It was another very cool morning, but we will see the warmer temperatures return this afternoon. This is all due to the area of high pressure moving to the east of Louisiana, and that will bring back the southerly winds. We will... more »

• Mississippi River runs high, but our temperatures are not...

  May 17, 2011

  By Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum Short Term : BRR!! We had a record low this morning as our temperatures dipped into the upper 40s!! The old record was 51 set back in 1907, so we shattered that 104 year old record!! You will want that jacket this morning, but you... more »

• Mississippi River cresting soon, but the cooler weather stays for now...

  May 16, 2011

  By Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum Short Term : We have some clouds moving into the area this morning thanks to an upper-level low that is spinning around the Northeast U.S., and a weak disturbance that is moving around it. This will lead to partly cloudy skies by this afternoon, and... more »

• The Mississippi is still rising, but the temperatures will be falling...

  May 13, 2011

  By Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum Short Term : We will be dodging scattered showers and thunderstorms today. They will be associated with a little disturbance that is moving across the Deep South, and ahead of a cold front that will move through tonight. The sun will be popping out from... more »

• More on the River Watch, and changes are coming to our weather...

  May 12, 2011

  By Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum Short Term : It looks like we will have one more Summer-like day before some significant changes are coming to our weather. The area of high pressure is located to the east of Louisiana today, and that will continue to pump in the warm and... more »

• More heat, and the Mississippi gets higher...

  May 11, 2011

  By Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum Short Term : The ridge of high pressure will continue to control our weather by bringing us dry conditions along with hot temperatures. We will have similar weather to what we saw yesterday with mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies and high temperatures around 90.... more »

• As the Mississippi rises, our temperatures stay hot...

  May 10, 2011

  By Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum Short Term : Once the low clouds and fog dissipate, we will be left with mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies this afternoon just like yesterday. This is due to the ridge of high pressure parking itself right over the Deep South. That also means... more »

• Warmer and more humid weather returns this weekend...

  May 6, 2011

  By Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum ...Ozone Action Day... Short Term : The fantastic weather will continue today, and even into the weekend. The area of high pressure is still sitting over the Southeast U.S., and that is why we have the great weather. We'll have plenty of sunshine today,... more »

• More comfortable weather today and into the weekend...

  May 5, 2011

  By Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum Short Term : If you liked the weather yesterday, then you will enjoy it today too! The area of high pressure remains over the Southeast U.S., and that is what is bringing us plenty of sunshine along with comfortable humidity levels. We will have mostly... more »