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• Walker will donate land for dog park

  May 19, 2013 11:00 AM

  WALKER, La. - Dogs in Walker will soon have a playground all to themselves. Mayor Rick Ramsey tells The Advocate that the city will donate land near the lake at Sidney Hutchinson Park to be used as a community dog park. The idea, the mayor says, was suggested by local... more »

• Shooting triggers change at BREC park Play Video

  May 16, 2013 6:06 PM

  BATON ROUGE- After a man was shot in the neck in the Melrose East neighborhood, community members are rallying to take back a nearby park. "They gathered up and they started to shoot dice and this is what led to the shooting in the neck," said community leader Carol... more »

• La. Tech Park opening video game incubator

  April 25, 2013 11:08 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Tech Park announced today they were opening a new studio for rising video game developers in Baton Rouge to get access to the tools and exposure they need to succeed. They said the "Level Up Lab" would be the first video game incubator in... more »

• Jefferson Parish to burn Isaac debris this week

  April 2, 2013 8:39 AM

  MARRERO - Jefferson Parish plans to burn branches, trees and stumps hauled off after Hurricane Isaac from three west bank towns Thursday and Friday in a Marrero park. If a controlled burn is not possible Thursday, the burning will start when the weather allows. FEMA approved debris removal at about... more »

• BREC park pool expecting renovations Play Video

  March 29, 2013 6:01 PM

  SCOTLANDVILLE - BREC will renovate the pool at Anna T. Jordan center instead of replacing it with a splash pad. The pool has been a part of Scotlandville for almost a century, and residents are happy it's going to stay. "When it's hot, you can just go down... 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 »

• Dominique Smith trial goes to jury

  March 25, 2013 12:50 PM

  BATON ROUGE - After about two hours hearing closing arguments from the defense and prosecution, a jury of nine women and three men will decide the fate of Dominique Smith. During closing arguments prosecutor Darwin Miller methodically went through the timeline of events refreshing its case to the jury... more »

• Jury gets rare look at scene in BREC park murder trial

  March 21, 2013 6:05 PM

  ZACHARY- A jury got a rare first-hand look Thursday at the BREC park where Dominque Smith is accused of killing a mother and her son, and trying to kill two more of her children. Smith is accused of killing Jessica Johnson Palmer, 23, and her son, three-year-old Jaun Palmer... more »

• Woman who claimed racial attack charged

  March 19, 2013 11:31 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A 21-year-old Winnsboro woman, who police believe set herself on fire in a local park in October after claiming she was attacked by Klansmen, faces two felony charges. District Attorney Mack Lancaster tells The News-Star Sharmeka Moffitt has been booked with one count of terrorizing and one... more »

• Lil Wayne's New Orleans skate park hits more snags

  February 16, 2013 12:20 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Rapper Lil Wayne's skate park project in the Lower 9th Ward is off to a bumpy start. The building that houses the park didn't pass a city electrical inspection and had to be rewired. Only a handful of children can skate at a time because of a... more »

• Students arrested after loaded gun found at school

  December 18, 2012 5:49 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Deputies on the School Drug Task Force arrested two East Baton Rouge students today after a gun was found in a garbage can outside Park Forest Middle School. Spokesperson Casey Rayborn Hicks with the EBR Sheriff's Office said the two 8th grade students, ages 13 and... more »

• Deputy injured in August ambush out of hospital

  November 26, 2012 5:59 PM

  MONTZ, La. - A St. John the Baptist Parish sheriff's deputy hospitalized since an August shoot-out that killed two other deputies is back home in Montz. Chief Deputy Harold Klibert says Jason Triche returned home on Monday from a Baton Rouge hospital. Klibert says people lined streets to welcome him.... more »

• 11 puppies found skinned, Pa. humane officials say

  November 26, 2012 12:34 PM

  MACUNGIE, Pa. - Animal welfare workers in northeast Pennsylvania say someone skinned 11 puppies before dumping their bodies near a public park. DNA tests will be done to determine if the puppies are dogs, coyotes or some other type of domestic or wild animal. The Lehigh County Humane Society says... more »

• Woman attacked, burned in Winnsboro park

  October 22, 2012 12:37 PM

  WINNSBORO, La. - A woman was attacked and burned in a park on Sunday night and authorities are investigating whether race was a factor in the assault. KSLA-TV reports that Sharmeka Moffitt, 20, was on a walking trail in the Civitan Park in Winnsboro in Franklin Parish when she was... more »

• ALCS Game 4 rescheduled for tonight

  October 18, 2012 10:24 AM

  DETROIT - Game 4 of the AL championship series between the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees has been postponed by bad weather in the area - although Comerica Park itself was still dry when the game was called. Wednesday night's game was rescheduled for Thursday at 4:07 p.m.,... more »

• Lil Wayne's skate park opening delayed

  October 10, 2012 4:41 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans skate park opened by Lil Wayne and corporate sponsors less than three weeks ago appears to be shuttered. Ward McLendon, who manages the Lower 9th Ward facility where the Trukstop skate park is located, said Wednesday there was a "misunderstanding" over when the park... more »

• Police investigating deadly shooting in Addis

  September 28, 2012 3:07 PM

  ADDIS - Police arrested a 22-year-old man they accused of shooting and killing a 15-year-old at an Addis trailer park this afternoon. Authorities responded to reports of a shooting at the Riverbend Trailer Park in Addis this afternoon. Family members said Tyreke Lemar, 15, was shot and killed during... more »

• Gettysburg already bracing for big 150th crowd

  September 27, 2012 3:22 PM

  GETTYSBURG, Pa. - The 150th anniversary of the decisive Civil War battle in Gettysburg is nine months away, but national park officials in Pennsylvania, tourism planners and hotels are bracing for what is expected to be a huge turnout. Gettysburg tourism office spokesman Carl Whitehill said Thursday many hotels in... more »

• Lil Wayne opens skate park in hometown N.O.

  September 26, 2012 4:26 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Lil Wayne is returning to New Orleans, his hometown, for the opening of the Trukstop skate park in the Lower 9th Ward - one of the most devastated sections of the city after levees failed during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The Grammy-winning rapper, who recently launched a... more »

• Jindal warns locals to leave even if dam no threat

  August 30, 2012 4:40 PM

  AMITE - Gov. Bobby Jindal says even if crews are successful in conducting an intentional breach of an endangered dam threatening a state park in southwest Mississippi, Louisiana locals near the structure should still heed warnings to evacuate. A lake bordering Tangipahoa Parish could burst through a locally operated dam.... more »

• Body found near Baton Rouge park

  July 23, 2012 11:55 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Police said foul play isn't suspected after a person was found dead in a Baton Rouge park this morning. Cpl. Tommy Stubbs said the body was found in an area of the City Park near Dalrymple and I-10. According to investigators, the victim appears to... more »

• Councilmen to recommend closure of Vinton park

  April 9, 2012 7:30 AM

  VINTON - The Vinton skate park is unlikely to remain open at its current location. Councilmen Kevin Merchant and Bliss Bujard say they expect a recommendation to have the park closed will be heard at the council's April meeting. Both Merchant and Bujard serve on a committee that is... more »

• Suspect captured in attempted murder of state trooper Play Video

  March 23, 2012 9:51 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana State Police captured the suspect accused of trying to run over a trooper early Friday morning. Police found Jakarta Carter Jones, 35, at a Baton Rouge motel and was brought in for questioning. Investigators say Jones led a trooper on a chase through the... more »

• Homeless create tent city near downtown Baton Rouge Play Video

  March 20, 2012 6:27 PM

  BATON ROUGE - On the banks of the Mississippi River, on the other side of the railroad tracks, and near the Pentagon Barracks, dozens of tents sit hidden inside the brush. They've been there for months, and the people that call it home say they can't get jobs in... more »

• Millennium Park arson trial reset for April

  March 5, 2012 7:16 AM

  LAKE CHARLES - A judge in Lake Charles has granted a second delay in the trial of a teenager accused of burning down a Lake Charles park built by thousands of volunteers. The trial had been scheduled to start Monday. Defense attorney Robert Shelton requested a delay, and... more »

• Tickfaw State Park closed due to high water

  February 22, 2012 5:18 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Tickfaw State Park will remain closed until Monday due to the rising water level of the Tickfaw River. The Office of State Parks predicts Tickfaw River will crest at 14 feet tonight, Wednesday evening. The high water is impacting the park's entrance, campground, trails, and... more »

• Authorities find safe that could be from deadly robbery Play Video

  February 20, 2012 5:19 PM

  GONZALES - Sheriff Jeff Wiley confirmed to News 2 that investigators located a safe today that matched the description of one stolen during a deadly home invasion in Ascension Parish this weekend. Wiley said the safe was found in a "remote area" of Livingston Parish. It was similar to... more »

• Work begins to remodel Baton Rouge park

  February 13, 2012 9:16 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Construction is underway on Baton Rouge's Repentance Park, the green space off River Road bordered on three sides by the River Center, the Old State Capital and City Hall. The $3.5 million renovation is expected to be completed by Sept. 3. The project is funded through state... more »

• Man barred from running cemetery without license

  January 26, 2012 7:34 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A judge has signed off on a court order that bars a man from operating a Baton Rouge cemetery without a license. The order signed last week by state District Judge Todd Hernandez restricts Lymus Washington or anyone working for him from operating Gilbert Memorial Park. Louisiana... more »

• Workers clean graffiti off walls at Ascension Parish park

  December 6, 2011 5:15 PM

  ST. AMANT, La.- Parish workers spent the day cleaning graffiti off walls at Butch Gore Memorial Park in St. Amant. This is the third time in a year vandals spray-painted graffiti at the park. Parish Recreation Director Garney Gautreau said he thinks a group of teens are responsible. The... more »

• Occupy New Orleans protesters urged to leave park

  December 5, 2011 5:50 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Protesters who have been camped out at a park across from City Hall in New Orleans say police have been handing out flyers informing them that they are no longer permitted to stay in the park overnight. Mayor Mitch Landrieu said Friday that it's time for... more »

• Cemetery clean-up brings hundreds amidst controversy

  November 5, 2011 5:31 PM

  Hundreds of folks came out to clean up Gilbert Memorial Park this morning. The historically black cemetery has been under fire lately for being unkept and unlicensed. One community group plans to bring Baton Rouge landmark back on track. Edith Brown buried her 18- year-old son at Gilbert... more »

• LPSO: Man suffers seizures, crashes truck into pond

  October 27, 2011 10:29 AM

  DENHAM SPRINGS - Firefighters removed a body from inside of a submerged truck this morning after it appeared that the vehicle had been driven into a pond at North Park. Authorities identified the man in the car as 36-year-old North Park employee Jayson Beard. Fellow co-workers say Beard... more »

• Man injured in shooting at a park in Baton Rouge

  September 26, 2011 5:43 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Sheriff's deputies in East Baton Rouge Parish are investigating a shooting that sent one man to the hospital. It happened Sunday evening at the BREC Park on Elvin Drive. Investigators say a two men shot at each other after an argument earlier that day. One of the... more »

• Grand Isle, Cypremort Point State Parks closed through Labor Day

  September 2, 2011 4:37 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana State Parks officials are announcing that Grand Isle State Park and Cypremort Point State Park will be closed through the Labor Day Weekend due to potentially heavy rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Lee. Campers affected by these closures may accept a refund or relocation to... more »

• N.O. seeking developers for former theme park site

  August 14, 2011 9:32 AM

  NEW ORLEANS- The city's Industrial Development Board has authorized issuance of a request for proposals to developers interested in redeveloping the former Six Flags theme park in eastern New Orleans. The board also authorized city officials to go-ahead with a plan to engage an auctioneer to sell the rides... more »

• Budget cuts hit Louisiana state parks, museums

  July 12, 2011 12:29 PM

  BATON ROUGE - In the heart of the summer tourism and vacation season, Louisiana's state-run recreational areas, parks and educational pastimes are shrinking visitors' hours and cutting staff to cope with lessened funding as the new budget year began July 1. Military history enthusiasts and fans of football great... more »

• State park hours changed amid budget cuts

  July 9, 2011 10:24 AM

  BATON ROUGE- Budget cuts and reduced staffing have forced a change in operating hours at Louisiana state parks. The Office of State Parks says entrance station hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday - and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Gates... more »

• Gas leak closes portion of street, park in BR

  April 21, 2011 7:07 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A construction crew digging at Independence Park in Baton Rouge hit a gas line this afternoon and caused a significant leak, according to the city fire department. Robert Combs with BRFD said they've shut down Independence Street north of the park between East Airport Drive and... more »

• Arrest made in Geismar park murder

  February 24, 2011 11:39 AM

  GEISMAR - Authorities have arrested someone in the death of an Ascension Parish man who was found dead in a relative's car last week at Jackie Robinson Park in Geismar. Chief Deputy Tony Bacala said detectives arrested 19-year-old Dominique Brown of Gonzales Wednesday night in suspicion of killing 28-year-old... more »

• Arson suspected in Lake Charles park fire

  January 9, 2011 3:15 PM

  LAKE CHARLES, La.- A park built by thousands of volunteers has been destroyed by fire, and authorities suspect arson. The Saturday night fire destroyed much of the Shiver Me Timbers Millennium Park located near the Lake Charles Civic Center. Lake Charles Fire Chief T.A. Jones says the cause... more »

• Game developer to put new studio in Baton Rouge

  December 7, 2010 3:39 PM

  BATON ROUGE – A video game developer based in the U. K. is now the newest addition to the Louisiana Technology Park in Baton Rouge. Representatives from Firebrand Games and the Baton Rouge Area Chamber made the announcement with parish officials earlier today. They said Firebrand would locate a new... more »

• EBRSO investigating shooting at BREC park

  November 29, 2010 6:54 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A 16-year-old from Baton Rouge was found shot and killed inside a broken-into shed at a BREC park, according to the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office. EBRSO spokesperson Casey Hicks said deputies were called to 9142 Corlett Drive around 5:45 p.m. after Tyler Camel's body... more »

• Four Acadiana parishes create paddle trail

  November 14, 2010 10:00 AM

  LAFAYETTE, La. - The National Park Service will help four Acadiana parishes create a Bayou Teche paddle trail for canoes, kayaks and pirogues. Public meetings are planned Tuesday in Port Barre and Thursday in Charenton about the proposed route through St. Landry, St. Martin, Iberia and St. Mary parishes. Kristen... more »

• Civil War-era historic forts set to open

  November 14, 2010 9:45 AM

  PINEVILLE, La. - Twin forts built during the Civil War to stave off a Union attack during the Red River Campaign will open to the public this week as a historic site. The Fort Randolph and Buhlow State Historic Site in Pinveville is scheduled to open Thursday. Pineville Mayor Clarence... more »

• Officials inspect site of deadly roller coaster fall

  October 27, 2010 7:58 PM

  International investigators spent the day at a Baton Rouge amusement park, trying to figure out what caused a Lafayette woman to fall from a roller coaster to her death earlier this year. 21-year-old Lindsay Zeno died when she fell from the Xtreme Roller Coaster at Dixie Landin’ in June. The... more »

• DEQ: sewage pond leaked into waterways for thirty years

  October 22, 2010 6:53 PM

  A trailer park owner is cleaning up a sewage pond in Iberville Parish after it went unnoticed by state inspectors for thirty years. The pond is at a trailer park that closed in May, and officials believe runoff from it may have seeped into the Upper Grand River and other... more »

• Mountain goat suspected in death of hiker

  October 17, 2010 9:52 AM

  Rangers in Washington state suspect an encounter with a mountain goat killed a 63-year-old hiker in Olympic National Park. The park service says Robert H. Boardman, of Port Angeles, was hurt Saturday as he hiked near the park's Klahhane Ridge and died hours later at a Port Angeles hospital. Officials... more »

• Parents set up memorial for son at new Perkins Road Park

  October 13, 2010 6:25 PM

  Perkins Road Park will reopen this weekend after years of renovations and additions, and people may be surprised at what’s there. The Velodrome was built in 1985. Since then, a BMX bike track and tennis courts were added. Saturday, BREC will unveil an updated BMX track, a new... more »

• Councilman touts effort to lure baseball academy

  September 29, 2010 5:39 AM

  A New Orleans City Council member will meet with a Major League Baseball official in hopes of bringing a youth program to a hurricane-damaged park. Arnie Fielkow meets today with Darrell Miller, director of the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy, as the city continues efforts to bring the Academy... more »

• Missing Calif. sect members found praying at park

  September 19, 2010 3:11 PM

  Authorities say the missing members of a breakaway religious sect have been found praying at a Los Angeles County park. Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore says the 13 adults and children were spotted late Sunday morning at Jackie Robinson Park in Palmdale. He says all members are apparently safe. The group... more »

• Baton Rouge mayor announces city cleanup target

  September 9, 2010 12:34 PM

  Mayor Kip Holden announced today that a Mid City neighborhood would be the kick-off location for Baton Rouge's city-wide cleanup starting Monday. The mayor said at a press conference today that Operation Restore Pride would start Monday in the Valley Park neighborhood, which is bounded by Perkins Road, Delta... more »

• Bastrop gets grant for industrial park

  August 27, 2010 8:17 AM

  The city of Bastrop has been awarded a $1.8 million grant to develop an industrial park. The hope is to lure new business to the city, which lost an International Paper Co. mill in 2009, along with 550 jobs. Economic development officials say targeted businesses will include metal fabrication, basic... more »

• New Orleans' first park proposed in 20 years

  June 9, 2010 5:25 AM

  Property once owned by a film production company that went bankrupt will become the first new public park in New Orleans in 20 years. The Trust, a national conservation group, told New Orleans CityBusiness that the $3.8 million project will be built on an 18-acre parcel along the Lafitte Corridor... more »

• Man suspected in 2006 killing arrested

  May 18, 2010 7:44 AM

  A man suspected of abducting a grandmother in a suburban New Orleans park and killing her in 2006 has been arrested in Mexico. Edmundo Cerda-Anima is the suspect in the 2006 killing of Allessandra "Sandra" Adams. She was abducted from Lafreniere Park in Jefferson Parish, sexually assaulted and struck by... more »

• Abita Springs adds park-and-ride lot

  April 15, 2010 7:30 AM

  Abita Springs has opened a new Park and Ride facility for commuters. The lot features 80 spaces for cars and a covered pavilion waiting area. The Abita Springs lot is the tenth parish-wide. more »

• Opening of state park delayed

  April 13, 2010 2:30 PM

  The opening of Bogue Chitto State Park near Franklinton has been delayed due to road construction. Workers are paving the existing dirt road from Highway 25 to the park entrance, along with select roads within the park. The 1786-acre site includes small streams, cypress tupelo swamps, a hardwood-forested... more »

• Easter celebrations across Baton Rouge

  April 4, 2010 6:40 PM

  Folks across the capital city area celebrated Easter in a variety of ways. Some flocked to the park to enjoy the weather, while others made sure to attend church early this morning. A few folks even used the holiday to give back to the community. News 2's Rob Krieger... more »

• Accused rapist caught in the act

  November 26, 2009 10:41 AM

  A man from Baton Rouge was arrested for rape after State Troopers say he was caught in the act. 24-year-old Samuel Munoz is accused of raping a young girl in a truck at BREC's Independence Park near State Police Headquarters. He was caught and arrested Wednesday night by an officer... more »

• EBR gets grant to build roads for aviation business park

  October 21, 2009 2:15 PM

  A $1 million federal grant has been given to East Baton Rouge Parish to help build access roads at the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport for a new Aviation Business Park. To qualify for the grant, the city-parish will have to put up $479,000 in matching funds. Officials say the... more »

• Man arrested for exposing himself in park

  September 24, 2009 8:19 AM

  Deputies in Livingston Parish have arrested 47 year old Robert Armstrong, who people say, was exposing himself to ladies at North Park in Denham Springs. Deputies spotted the man at the park and chased after him. After eluding deputies for several weeks, Armstrong was later caught in Saint Helena... more »