WBRZ - Baton Rouge

Tagged News

• Funding needed for parish shelter and animal population control Play Video

  April 11, 2013 10:16 PM

  LIVINGSTON - Livingston Parish residents and leaders agree the stray-animal population is out-of-control and changes to their shelter are needed. "Just in my district, I've seen thousands of stray animals just walking door to door," parish councilman Chance Parent said. "We're terrified every morning," resident Donna Herbert said.... more »

• E. Feliciana split over proposed tax to fund schools Play Video

  April 5, 2013 5:42 PM

  CLINTON - A tax proposal East Feliciana Parish residents will vote on Saturday has leaders torn down the middle. School Board Superintendent Henderson Lewis Jr. wants a $4 million proposed tax to raise money for the parish's struggling school system, which isn't meeting state requirements. "Even though we're... 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 »

• Residents begin cleanup after tornado Play Video

  December 11, 2012 3:16 PM

  BAKER - Residents spent the day assessing damage and cleaning up their properties following a tornado that tore through parts of Alsen and Baker. Carey Lee and some of his neighbors told News 2 they only had seconds to react when they heard the sound of a train. ... more »

• Bayou Corne residents worried about drilling plans

  August 14, 2012 10:20 AM

  BAYOU CORNE - Work is underway to begin drilling a relief well near the Assumption Parish sinkhole this week, and residents are concerned about what the drilling could mean for them. Many are still worried about the risks of drilling into a cavern near the slurry area in Bayou... more »

• Six Ascension Parish residents arrested

  August 10, 2012 4:31 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Ascension Parish Sheriff Jeff Wiley reported six arrests in connection with the operation, production and distribution of methamphetamine. Deputies were told a residence in Galvez was manufacturing and distributing methamphetamine on August 10th. Deputies searched the residence and found two methamphetamine labs, methamphetamine, marijuana and a... more »

• East Feliciana, Livingston residents sentenced for fraud

  August 1, 2012 2:50 PM

  BATON ROUGE - An East Feliciana Parish couple and four women from Livingston Parish have been sentenced for taking nearly $100,000 in ineligible food and child care assistance benefits. James and Luchan Myles, both of Clinton, pled no contest to charges of illegally obtaining $35,823 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance... more »

• Grand Isle to residents, visitors: conserve water

  July 4, 2012 6:42 AM

  GRAND ISLE - Jefferson Parish officials are asking Grand Isle residents and visitors to use as little water as possible for the next few days because a water transmission line in Bayou Barataria is leaking. A news release says a diver will examine the line and Blanchard Contractors will... more »

• Baton Rouge residents react to immigration change Play Video

  June 15, 2012 7:16 PM

  BATON ROUGE - President Barack Obama's announced change to U. S. immigration policies could potentially impact hundreds of people living and working in Louisiana. The change would allow certain young undocumented immigrants to stay in the U. S., if they came into the country while they were younger than... more »

• Residents, businesses benefit from ExxonMobil oil spill

  June 5, 2012 5:54 PM

  LIVONIA- After an estimated 80,000 gallons of oil were cleaned up in Pointe Coupee Parish, residents and businesses are seeing a big benefit from ExxonMobil's cleanup effort. "I'm well pleased with Exxon and all their employees," said Melva Williams, who lives near the spill site, "If I had another... more »

• Evacuated residents want compensation after fire

  May 29, 2012 10:15 AM

  ERWINVILLE - Some West Baton Rouge Parish residents forced from their homes because of a chemical fire say the Air Liquide company owes them. Authorities evacuated residents living within a mile around the Air Liquide facility after a fire last week ignited several acetylene containers in the plant. Several... more »

• Residents can't go home yet

  May 22, 2012 10:00 AM

  BATON ROUGE - As crews continue to investigate a fire and explosion at Air Liquide Chemical Plant in West Baton Rouge, more than a hundred people are not allowed back in their homes. We'll have more on where they had to stay last night and an update on what's... more »

• Metairie residents complain about 1-10 noise

  May 22, 2012 7:52 AM

  METAIRIE - State highway officials have asked the original contractor that install Interstate 10 sound walls in Metairie to come up with a fix following complaints from residents. Mike Stack, district administrator of the state Department of Transportation and Development, says the Federal Highway Administration is on board, a necessary... more »

• Chemical fire burns overnight, some residents head to hotels for the night Play Video

  May 21, 2012 10:11 PM

  WEST BATON ROUGE- Hundreds of Port Allen and Erwinville residents are spending the night in hotels as a chemical fire continues to burn. Monday morning there was an explosion at the Air Liquide plant on Highway 190 near Port Allen. Acetylene gas, used for welding, is burning, and that... more »

• Publc hearings set on proposed road project

  May 10, 2012 3:43 PM

  GONZALES - Ascension residents will get a chance to voice their opinions regarding a proposed Parish Road Program. Two public hearings will be held starting next week. The road program would be funded by a half-cent sales tax that will go before parish voters on the November ballot,... more »

• Gulf residents to get extra $64M for spill claims

  April 20, 2012 7:28 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The Justice Department says more than $64 million will be paid to about 7,300 people and businesses whose claims with BP's $20 billion compensation fund were shortchanged or wrongfully denied after the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The department recently announced that an independent... more »

• Residents get say in Livingston Parish growth

  April 9, 2012 10:21 AM

  DENHAM SPRINGS-- Monday night will be the first in a series of meetings to determine the future of Livingston Parish. Leaders there are working on a comprehensive master plan for the area, and they want input from people who live there. Monday night at 6:00, people will be able... more »

• Colorado firefighters battling wildfire west of Denver

  March 29, 2012 11:22 AM

  CONIFER - Firefighters in Colorado are trying to get a wildfire burning west of Denver contained enough to allow displaced residents to safely return to their homes. About 900 homes have been evacuated. The fire started after crews lost control of a burn intended to reduce the risk of... more »

• Bed bugs bugging BR retirement complex Play Video

  March 26, 2012 10:03 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Bed bugs are biting at a retirement complex downtown. Operators of Catholic-Presbyterian Apartments say they've been bugged by the insects for a year. Twelve cases were handled at the 195-unit building last year, five so far this year. Residents tell News 2 the bugs are crawling... more »

• Area residents dealing with mosquito problem

  March 8, 2012 2:54 PM

  Baton Rouge- Mosquitoes are bad now, but they are about to get worse, as area residents are trying to fight the bite. Local entomologist say you can help get rid of them by wearing protective clothing or by spraying insect repellent with deet. The mosquitoes out right now... more »

• Darkest Places airs tonight at 10 Play Video

  February 15, 2012 4:25 PM

  BATON ROUGE - When the sun goes down some Baton Rouge neighborhoods are literally left in the dark. Not all street lights can penetrate through the cover of darkness leaving some residents concerned about their safety. Joggers and bikers are concerned too, wondering whether they would be seen... more »

• Lower 9th Ward residents doubt they'll benefit from BCS game Play Video

  December 28, 2011 5:15 PM

  NEW ORLEANS- Residents in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans are happy to see the Big Easy benefit from all the big games in the Superdome in the coming weeks. However, they are skeptical about whether they will actually see a trickle down effect from it. At Pugh's... more »

• More La. residents relying on food stamps

  December 23, 2011 3:23 AM

  LIVINGSTON, La. (AP) - The face of Louisianians on food stamps has changed and broadened with the worsened economy in a state mired in poverty and repeatedly hit by disasters. Recipients now include college graduates, two-parent households, elderly residents with growing medical bills and the working poor. For hundreds of... more »

• New trash collection schedule for Denham Springs residents

  December 5, 2011 2:52 AM

  DENHAM SPRINGS - Residents in Denham Springs can expect to see changes in their trash and recycling collection schedules. Beginning today, residents living west of Range Ave. will have garbage collection on Monday and Thursday. Trash service for oversized items will only be collected on Mondays. more »

• Apartment residents on edge after rapist warning

  November 30, 2011 6:39 PM

  BATON ROUGE - People living near LSU's campus told News 2 they're on edge after two attacks on young women in the area. Sgt. Don Kelly said a woman was raped early Tuesday morning outside her Stanford Avenue apartment. The suspect matched the description of another attack a week... more »

• Apartment fire displaces 20 people in Port Allen Play Video

  November 29, 2011 5:51 AM

  PORT ALLEN - A fire tore through an apartment complex in Port Allen this morning. Eight units of the Katherine Square Apartments units on North 14th Street were damaged. The Red Cross is currently assisting more than 20 people displaced by the fire. No word on what... more »

• Residents displaced in Baton Rouge duplex fire

  October 18, 2011 2:22 PM

  BATON ROUGE - An accidental kitchen fire is to blame for a fire that forced out a number of residents of their single-story duplex home today in Baton Rouge. It happened just after 11 Tuesday morning in the 41000 block of Southpark. The kitchen and living room suffered... more »

• Brusly residents concerned about leftover debris

  September 1, 2011 10:16 PM

  BATON ROUGE- In West Baton Rouge Parish, people are worried about what's left behind from the last thunderstorm, and what it could do with a storm blowing in this weekend. Piles of debris that vary from some the size of school-aged children, to others as high as a house,... more »

• Residents call for better care of animals at feed store in Port Allen

  August 17, 2011 5:48 PM

  PORT ALLEN- The West Baton Rouge Parish President says animals at a feed store in Port Allen are, at times, being neglected. Parish President Riley Berthelot plans to meet with the District Attorney tomorrow to discuss charging the store owner with animal cruelty. Animals were seized by Animal Control... more »

• Butte LaRose residents must evacuate tomorrow

  May 23, 2011 6:05 PM

  BUTTE LaROSE - Butte LaRose residents must be out of their homes or camps by tomorrow at noon. St. Martin Parish leaders postponed the mandatory evacuation because the water is rising slower than expected. The evacuation was originally scheduled for Saturday. John and Janell Mitchell own a camp... more »

• Flood preparation creates lots of work in St. Landry Parish

  May 16, 2011 5:09 PM

  KROTZ SPRINGS - Some people in the Three Mile Lake area of St. Landry Parish are doing everything they can to save their property, including raising them almost a full story off the ground. Rita Hernandez and her husband paid a contractor to raise a house in their campground... more »

• Mandatory evacuation order for some of St. Landry Parish

  May 14, 2011 5:03 PM

  OPELOUSAS - Residents in some areas of St. Landry Parish are being told to evacuate by the parish president. President Don Menard put out a mandatory evacuation order for all residents in the Basin south of LA 190 to be out of the area by 5 p.m. Sunday. This... more »

• Sand bags available for Stephensville-Belle River residents

  May 9, 2011 6:25 PM

  STEPHENSVILLE, La- Some people in Stephensville, in Saint Martin Parish, are piling sand bags to protect their homes. Despite a notice to self-evacuate, some people say they don't plan on leaving, others say they're waiting for the water to rise. With help from family, Wayne Rink started bagging sand... more »

• Stephensville-Belle River residents urged to self-evacuate

  May 7, 2011 2:43 PM

  St. Martinville, La.- Due to the impending high water levels expected from the rising water of the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers, residents in the Stephensville-Belle River area are being urged to self-evacuate. All valuable possessions should be moved to higher ground prior to evacuation and all water, gas, and electricity... more »

• FEMA trailer residents face $800 monthly fine

  May 1, 2011 12:57 PM

  NEW ORLEANS- Fines of $800 a month kicked in Sunday for more than 350 Louisiana families still living in FEMA trailers. The Times-Picayune reports 40 percent of the stragglers are located in New Orleans, where city officials continue their push to levy additional fines against residents who haven't managed... more »

• Income tax deadline pushed back for La. residents

  January 8, 2011 10:33 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana residents have one more day to prepare their income taxes this year. State officials have set a May 16 filing deadline for Louisiana indvidual income tax returns. The Department of Revenue normally sets a May 15 deadline, but that date falls on a Sunday this... more »

• New Roads residents react to new mayor

  November 3, 2010 5:20 PM

  NEW ROADS - "A return to responsible government" is what New Roads mayor elect Robert Meyer called his win over former mayor Tommy Nelson. Meyer received 53% of the vote and has many plans to move the city in Pointe Coupee Parish forward. Today, residents made their concerns for... more »

• New Roads residents ready for change

  November 3, 2010 2:13 PM

  NEW ROADS - People in New Roads said today they're ready to see a change after voting out Mayor Tommy Nelson in last night's general election. Local businessman Robert Myer defeated Nelson with 53-percent of the vote. Today Myer told News 2 that he hopes to improve education in... more »

• DPW to repair sidewalks damaged by city trees

  October 13, 2010 7:01 PM

  The Department of Public Works in Baton Rouge is ready to repair blocks of sidewalks destroyed by Mother Nature. Giant live Oaks are tearing up concrete in the Garden District and beyond. A parish-wide ordinance states residence are responsible for maintaining sidewalks in front of their homes, but several... more »

• Residents in Plaquemine worry about safety after murder

  September 28, 2010 4:48 PM

  Tightened security is what residents in Plaquemine are calling for after the city's first murder of 2010. It happened on Allen Street Sunday morning. Residents who live on that street are now worried about their safety. "I don't feel safe because a bullet could have gotten into our... more »

• Burn bans issued for Winn, Caldwell parishes

  September 17, 2010 7:31 AM

  State agriculture officials say a burn ban on all outside fires has been ordered for residents in Winn and Caldwell parishes. Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain said Thursday that the ban is effective immediately. Strain says the Winn and Caldwell parish police juries initiated the burn bans. Temperatures... more »

• Medical relief events to mark Katrina anniversary

  August 26, 2010 5:20 AM

  Free medical, vision, and dental services will be provided for residents in Orleans, Jefferson, and St. Bernard parishes this weekend. The free services will be available Friday through Sunday, beginning at 6 a.m. each day at the Taylor Center/Park in New Orleans. The services being offered during the three-day... more »

• WBR residents face flooding again

  August 18, 2010 6:05 PM

  Sandbags saved some residents from rising flood water Wednesday in a West Baton Rouge Parish neighborhood. Three weeks ago, dozens of homes in the Lynndale Subdivision near Brusly flooded. Almost a foot of water turned the subdivision into a pond. Some residents blame an old drainage system for the... more »

• LA/SPCA: neuter enforcement starts in Oct.

  August 18, 2010 5:14 AM

  New Orleans residents must now get a permit from the Louisiana SPCA if they don't want to spay or neuter their dogs. The ordinance passed this year is aimed at reducing the number of strays and dogs that bite people - and at cutting an animal control deficit expected to... more »

• LSUHSC assessing oil spill mental health needs

  August 16, 2010 4:53 AM

  The LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans has a state grant to assess Louisiana residents' current and long-term mental health needs caused by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The medical school's department of psychiatry will interview about 1,500 adults, some by phone and some in person, in St. Bernard,... more »

• 3 to be arraigned in Katrina police shootings

  July 27, 2010 5:53 AM

  Three current or former New Orleans police officers are to be arraigned on charges they conspired to cover up deadly shootings of unarmed residents after Hurricane Katrina. Sgt. Arthur Kaufman and retired Sgt. Gerard Dugue, who investigated the shootings, face federal charges including obstruction of justice. The indictment claims former... more »

• Road construction troubles some Baton Rouge residents

  July 19, 2010 8:41 PM

  The latest portion of a year-long road widening project in Baton Rouge has some residents and business owners concerned. Construction crews recently began work to widen a bridge near the intersection of Flannery Rd. and Florida Blvd. The bridge is part of the multi-million dollar project to improve the... more »

• La. parish president is face of anger over spill

  June 29, 2010 6:40 AM

  One local politician in Louisiana hasn't been afraid of taking on everyone from big oil to big government since crude started washing ashore. Billy Nungesser, a feisty millionaire who is president of Plaquemines Parish, has been the voice of thousands of coastal residents. His sometimes unpolished demeanor captures their angst,... more »

• Gulf coast benefit concert

  June 23, 2010 11:21 AM

  You can attend a free concert in Gulf Shores, Ala. next month, to show your support for those affected by the oil spill. Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer band, along with Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown, Allen Toussaint, Jessee Winchester, and others, will perform. The CMT cable network... more »

• Baker may increase utility rates

  June 21, 2010 6:57 AM

  Residents in the city of Baker could see their rates for natural gas, water and sewer service go up in order to offset rising expenses for operating the city's utility system. The council is expected to introduce an ordinance Tuesday, and a final vote could come at the council's July... more »

• Ex-officer expected to plead in bridge shootings

  June 4, 2010 5:20 AM

  A former New Orleans police officer, charged with helping cover up the deadly shootings of unarmed residents on the Danzinger Bridge after Hurricane Katrina, is expected to plead guilty to two federal charges. Ignatius Hills was charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice and misprision of felony under a bill of... more »

• Rabid dog found at Lafayette apartment complex

  June 2, 2010 6:04 AM

  Louisiana health authorities are posting flyers in a Lafayette apartment complex to warn residents that a little spotted dog caught there had rabies. Dr. Tina Stefanski, regional medical director for the Department of Health and Hospitals, said Tuesday that anyone who may have been bitten, licked or had other contact... more »

• Census filings lower than 2000

  April 22, 2010 7:26 AM

  Less Louisiana residents have returned their 2010 census forms by mail. Only 62 percent have turned it in, a number lower than the 2000 census total of 65 percent. Officials say this week is the last week mailed back forms are processed. Residents who have not mailed back their census... more »

• All clear given in St. Charles Parish

  April 14, 2010 5:38 AM

  Officials in St. Charles Parish have given the all-clear following yesterday's chemical release at the Dow Plant in Norco. Residents who evacuated may now return home. All schools will also hold classes today at their regularly scheduled times. more »