Tagged News

• Crews on Amite River clearing decades of debris Play Video

  February 20, 2024 4:39 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Work to clean out waterways in the Baton Rouge area continues. Crews are currently on the Amite River pulling out decades of debris that has piled up. "We're working all the way from East Feliciana down to Ascension Parish," Transportation and Drainage Director Fred Raiford said.... more »

• Inside The Weather: High Water on the Mississippi River Play Video

  March 21, 2023 6:30 PM

  In the spring, you will usually find the Mississippi River running at higher levels than usual. Sometimes, it even tips flood stage. WBRZ Chief Meteorologist Dr. Josh Eachus, explains why in the associated video. You can always find the latest river levels on wbrz.com/weather, right HERE . For more... more »

• River's changing course threatens to swallow Denham Springs neighborhood Play Video

  February 21, 2023 12:09 PM

  DENHAM SPRINGS - Several homes along the Amite River are at risk of being swallowed up by the fast-moving current. It's a problem that has escalated in the last several weeks. LaWanda Tinsley and her husband built their dream home along the Amite River in 1998. Back then, the... more »

• Police rescue man who crashed car into bayou, then write him a ticket

  October 28, 2022 10:09 AM

  HOUMA - Police wrote a man a ticket after they helped save him from drowning inside his car, which plummeted off a bridge and into a bayou after he failed to stop for a barricade. The Houma Police Department said good Samaritans had to help first responders fish the... more »

• Louisiana college student missing after out-of-state rafting accident

  June 13, 2022 12:50 PM

  EMMETT, Idaho - An LSU Eunice student is missing after he fell out of a raft in an Idaho River Saturday. Everette Jackson was tubing with friends when he fell out into the Payette River, according to KTVB-TV . Family members on social media said the 21-year-old and... more »

• Lawmaker doesn't 'see a pathway' to finished Comite River Diversion Canal this year Play Video

  January 31, 2022 10:53 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Even with construction well underway, work to complete the decades-delayed Comite River Diversion Canal will likely spill into next year, according to Congressman Garret Graves. Since all funding was secured for the project in 2018, the project has seen delays, most recently in March 2021 when... more »

• Police: River Rd. drive-by that killed child was a targeted attack Play Video

  December 10, 2021 7:25 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A man and his 5-year-old nephew were killed after their car was fired upon along the levee near LSU's campus Friday night. Baton Rouge Police said the shooting was reported around 6 p.m. on River Road near Gourrier Avenue. According to a BRPD spokesperson, a vehicle... more »

• Livingston Parish committee sends river safety ordinance to council following summer drownings, rescues Play Video

  September 28, 2021 11:36 PM

  LIVINGSTON PARISH - An ordinance to enact safety guidelines for recreational businesses along Livingston Parish waterways was approved by the parish's ordinance committee Tuesday, after a summer that saw dozens of tubing rescues and two drownings along the Amite River. The ordinance will be introduced to the parish council... more »

• After summer of rescues and drownings, Livingston Parish outlines ordinance for river safety Play Video

  September 21, 2021 11:24 PM

  LIVINGSTON PARISH - As the season for Tiki Tubing along the Amite River winds down, discussion and potential action on how better to protect those using that waterway and others in the parish is ramping up. "In the future, everybody understands what hazards exist, so when they get in... more »

• Lafayette woman found dead in St. Martinville

  August 30, 2021 9:23 PM

  BREAUX BRIDGE - A woman was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds early in the morning after Hurricane Ida moved through Louisiana. St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office said the body of 42-year-old Nicole Hamilton of Lafayette was found outdoors on Mills Highway around 3:25 a.m. Monday. Deputies said... more »

• Residents still feeling the impacts of 2016 flood Play Video

  August 12, 2021 8:01 PM

  DENHAM SPRINGS - 69-year-old Larnell Mount lives in his gutted-out house on East Street in Denham Springs. The house was all but destroyed in the 2016 flood. "I came in here, threw out the old furniture. I gutted it out. It's been like this since. What is it... more »

• Litter boom working to keep Bayou Fountain trash free Play Video

  August 1, 2021 4:27 PM

  BATON ROUGE – In an effort to clean up waterways throughout the capital region, a litter boom was placed in Bayou Fountain near Highland Road. The tool collects trash that floats downstream. Louisiana Stormwater Coalition donated the litter boom that Nathaniel Klumb with Paddle BR is maintaining. Klumb says... more »

• Several more rescued from Amite River on Saturday, one week after deadly tubing incident

  July 31, 2021 6:15 PM

  DENHAM SPRINGS - More people were rescued in the Amite River on Saturday, just one week after someone was killed while tubing in the waterway. The Livingston Fire Department District 5 initially reported it was called to assist more than a dozen tubers in the river due to dangerous... more »

• Groups clean out Baton Rouge waterway to install new litter boom

  July 24, 2021 4:23 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A floating litter boom has been installed at Bayou Fountain to hopefully cut down on trash in the waterway. BREC Parks workers and volunteers gathered in Bayou Fountain on Saturday morning to clean the litter out of the river before installing the boom. BREC said... more »

• Man lucky to be alive after car was trapped, submerged in extremely cold floodwater Play Video

  February 12, 2021 11:20 AM

  BATON ROUGE - One man is lucky to be alive after submerging his car in high floodwaters Friday morning. Thursday's heavy thunderstorms leveled the streets with the ditches in the area near Port Hudson Pride Road near Liberty Road. Barricades blocked off the dangerous roadways, but one driver... more »

• Officials searching Mississippi River for missing worker after hit-and-run crash

  January 15, 2021 2:21 PM

  DESTREHAN, La. - State police are searching for a driver who crashed through a construction zone early Thursday morning, sending a worker plummeting from a bridge into the Mississippi River. The crash happened around 1 a.m. on I-310 along the Hale Boggs Bridge in St. Charles Parish. Police said... more »

• Officials respond to person who passed out at Tiki Tubing

  September 6, 2020 5:31 PM

  DENHAM SPRINGS - Officials responded to a tuber, who passed out at Tiki Tubing Sunday afternoon. According to officials, two boats were sent out to rescue the person who passed out on their tube in the water. Livingston and Central officials responded to the scene. No word on... more »

• Baton Rouge man died in Iberville waterway after group abandoned capsizing boat

  July 11, 2020 1:45 PM

  PLAQUEMINE - Officials identified a man who was found dead after a boating incident in Cross Bayou over the weekend. The Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office was called to Bayou Pigeon around 12:30 Saturday in response to the incident. At the time, officials confirmed that two people were injured and... more »

• Mississippi River quietly climbing record charts again

  June 15, 2020 8:38 AM

  For the second consecutive year, the Mississippi River is spending a chart-topping number of days above the flood stage of 35 feet. As of Monday, June 15, the gauge at Baton Rouge had been above flood stage for 150 consecutive days (since January 18). That is the second highest total... more »

• Just months after record long flood, Mississippi River rising again Play Video

  January 21, 2020 1:35 PM

  If you feel like we just stopped talking about this, you feel right. In the climate cycle, a lot can happen in five months. We experience a variety of changes from heat to cold and dry spells to flood events. However, in the water cycle, five months is a short... more »

• Already low rain chances set to diminish as temps climb Play Video

  May 31, 2019 7:00 AM

  As quickly as they arrived, rain chances are just as likely to leave us over the weekend. Hot, mainly dry weather will return. THE FORECAST: Today and Tonight: A weakening cold front will crawl across the area on Friday, but provide enough of a trigger to create scattered... more »

• Front to increase late week rain chances Play Video

  May 29, 2019 7:17 AM

  The high pressure that has kept conditions warm and dry will continue through Wednesday. A better chance for afternoon showers and thunderstorms will come into the forecast by Thursday and Friday. THE FORECAST: Today and Tonight: Another mostly to partly sunny day is ahead with high temperatures peaking... more »

• Picking up where the last week left off Play Video

  May 28, 2019 7:16 AM

  The new, short workweek will begin much as the last ended. Afternoon showers and thunderstorms will enter the picture by late in the week while temperatures remain consistently warm and humid. THE FORECAST: Today and Tonight: Look for some early, passing clouds to give way to mostly sunny... more »

• Evacuated in 2011, Butte La Rose looking at spillway with new attitude Play Video

  May 23, 2019 6:22 PM

  BUTTE LA ROSE - As people prepare for the possible opening of the Morganza Spillway, in St. Martin Parish, there's a different approach. Last time the spillway opened in 2011, they were told to get out of the water's path and leave. But that water never showed up. Residents... more »

• Hot, mainly dry weather for weekend events Play Video

  May 23, 2019 6:40 AM

  The Capital Area is settling into a very repetitive weather pattern. Heat will be the main weather feature through Memorial Day. THE FORECAST: Today and Tonight: Another warm and humid afternoon is ahead with high temperatures reaching into the low 90s beneath mostly sunny skies. The southeast wind... more »

• Big Muddy not falling anytime soon, may set flood duration record

  April 26, 2019 9:08 AM

  A frontal boundary spanning from the Southern Plains to the Mid-Atlantic is likely to support unsettled weather for a large part of the eastern half of the country during the first week of May. An upper level trough over the Northwest will cause disturbances and surface low pressure systems to... more »

• Carrying sun into weekend before next front Play Video

  March 22, 2019 6:49 AM

  The first weekend of spring will begin in fine style. Low end rain chances enter the forecast next week. In a note about the tropics, Florence and Michael have been retired from the name rotation. You can read more about those storms and the replacement names for 2024, HERE .... more »

• Highway 61 getting new bridge for Comite Diversion Canal Play Video

  December 4, 2018 11:53 PM

  DENHAM SPRINGS - Project leaders on the Comite River Diversion Canal gave an update on the plan Wednesday night. The mitigation project is designed to reduce catastrophic flooding along the lower Comite and Amite Rivers. The canal will cut across four major highways and two rail lines in East... more »

• First Monday morning commute over the Sunshine Bridge Play Video

  December 3, 2018 9:13 AM

  ASCENSION PARISH - The Monday morning drive over the Sunshine Bridge was without incident for the most part as two lanes of travel are open. The partial reopening comes ahead of the mid-December deadline DOTD initially announced in the weeks following the crash that caused the bridge to shutdown.... more »

• Late start at Donaldsonville schools continues Play Video

  October 18, 2018 11:36 PM

  DONALDSONVILLE - There are no plans to change the later start time for the five Ascension Parish schools on the west side of the Mississippi River, according to a spokesperson Thursday. Employees need the extra hour to detour around the damaged Sunshine Bridge near Donaldsonville, but the late start time... more »

• Sunshine Bridge closure hurts sugar cane farmers Play Video

  October 16, 2018 11:43 PM

  SORRENTO - The closure of the Sunshine Bridge near Donaldsonville couldn't come at a worse time for sugar cane farmers on the east side of the Mississippi River. Harvest season just began and all the cane must be transported to sugar mills on the west side of the river. ... more »

• Plaquemine ferry picks up more slack from Sunshine Bridge closure, now adding second boat to weekend service Play Video

  October 15, 2018 11:55 PM

  UPDATE: During the duration of the Sunshine Bridge closure, additional ferry service hours will be: -Monday thru Friday, a second boat will run from 5:15 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. -Monday thru Friday, the first boat will run 4:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. -Saturday... more »

• Despite minimal updates on downtown library, EBR Library Board to discuss 2019 budget

  July 26, 2018 7:40 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Another week has passed without any major developments on Baton Rouge's downtown library. The only real item on the agenda for Thursday's EBR Library Board meeting will be the proposed library budget for 2019. It's hard to say what that budget will look like with the... more »

• Amite River changes route, concerns over flooding caused by debris Play Video

  June 12, 2018 6:46 PM

  CENTRAL - The thought of flooding again is still fresh in the minds of those who went through it a couple of years ago. In August 2016, many homes in Central, northern parts of East Baton Rouge Parish and Livingston Parish flooded when heavy rains inundated the Amite River... more »

• Comite dredging bill heads to Governor Edwards Play Video

  May 2, 2018 11:43 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The Louisiana House of Representatives approved a bill Wednesday to allow dredging in the Comite River. It now heads to the Governor's desk for his signature. The bill (SB 490) removes the Comite from a protected class of scenic rivers. While it doesn't fund the dredging, it... more »

• New tax plan for bridge across Mississippi River Play Video

  April 5, 2018 11:54 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Would you vote for higher taxes if it paid for a new bridge across the Mississippi River? Voters in five parishes may soon get the chance. State Senator Rick Ward (R-Port Allen) has proposed creating a special taxing district encompassing East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Ascension,... more »

• Cool air, high pollen return after Tuesday front Play Video

  March 7, 2018 6:56 AM

  Cool and quiet weather will persist through the week. Wednesday and Thursday nights will bring the coldest temperatures with some upper 30s and light frost possible. THE FORECAST: Today and Tonight: Wednesday will bring temperatures about 10 degrees below average for the time of year with highs struggling... more »

• Changing calendars, changing weather

  March 1, 2018 7:10 AM

  Befitting of the calendar change, a weather pattern swap will occur on this first day of March. Behind showers, out go above average temperatures and in comes sunshine and seasonable temps. Looking back at February 2018, it was the warmest on record. With a monthly average temperature of 65... more »

• Abandoned well destorying woman's yard

  June 1, 2017 6:15 PM

  PLAQUEMINE - For weeks a Plaquemine woman has been dealing with a neighbor's well that's flooding her backyard. Gilda Coffee lives on Foundry street and says the well on the other side of her fence, is spewing water nonstop. "It's still running, this is 24-seven," she said. ... more »

• New Roads community commemorates Memorial Day with a 'blessing of the boats' Play Video

  May 28, 2017 11:25 PM

  NEW ROADS - A wreath was tossed into False River at New Roads to remember fallen solders over the Memorial Day weekend. "We set aside this Memorial Day to give thanks and recall all the blessings of life," Deacon Bob McDonner said. The services for those who died... more »

• STPSO recovers drowning victim at Slidell marina

  May 19, 2017 10:58 PM

  SLIDELL - The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office recovered the body of a person who drowned while swimming at a boat launch. STPSO deputies say their Special Operations division began searching for a subject who went swimming around 3:30 p.m. The body of the victim was recovered around 5:45... more »

• Mississippi River at Baton Rouge to reach highest level in six years

  May 16, 2017 12:26 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Mississippi River is soon expected to crest in Baton Rouge at its highest level in six years. As of Monday morning, the river level was at 39 feet in Baton Rouge, above the flood stage of 35 feet. River warnings are in place from Illinois... more »

• 17-year-old killed after vehicle submerged in St. James parish

  April 2, 2017 6:13 PM

  GRAMERCY - Police say a teenager was killed over the weekend after his vehicle was submerged in the bayou along Highway 61. According to Louisiana State Police, 17-year-old Evan Simoneaux of Laplace was traveling northbound on US 61 when his vehicled veered off the roadway and landed in the... more »

• After a dozen floods, man moves into flood-free home Play Video

  February 22, 2017 6:30 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A man whose home has flooded a dozen times has moved out and into a new house. Jim Jobes and his wife moved into their home on Donaldson Drive in 1980. He had six feet of water twice, four feet of water twice and this last... more »

• Firefighters rescue barge worker from Miss. River

  February 21, 2017 8:59 PM

  PORT ALLEN - Firefighters rescued a barge worker after she fell into the Mississippi River Tuesday night. Sources say the woman fell into the water while loading a barge at the Louis Dreyfus loading dock in Port Allen. The woman allegedly clung to a life ring until firefighters were... more »

• Parish presidents prioritize three major construction projects at drainage summit

  January 30, 2017 6:57 PM

  ASCENSION - Five area parish presidents agreed to a unified, regional approach to gain funding and move forward with construction of three major projects at a drainage summit Monday. The summit, called by Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa, was attended by representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers, the... more »

• Coast Guard, good Samaritans help burning ship in the gulf

  January 16, 2017 2:23 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard and good Samaritans are responding to a vessel that caught fire 150 miles south of Southwest Pass Monday morning. Watchstanders at the Eighth Coast Guard District command center received a report at 3:28 a.m. from the National Command Center of an electrical fire... more »

• Central leaders levy blame for unfinished Comite River Canal Play Video

  January 13, 2017 12:01 AM

  CENTRAL- City politicians and residents hashed out why the Comite River Diversion Canal lies unfinished Thursday evening. The small group met at the Knights of Columbus hall off Greenwell Springs Road. According to reports the diversion canal would have reduced the August flooding by several feet in certain areas.... more »

• Levee breach releases 6 million gallons of sewage into Bogue Chitto River

  September 17, 2016 4:43 PM

  A levee breach released approximately six million gallons of storm-water-diluted sewage into the East Branch of the Bogue Chitto River. The Bogue Chitto River is now under a "water contact advisory" for it's entire length in Louisiana according to the Louisiana Department of Health and the Louisiana Department of... more »

• LSU fan rescues drowning Milwaukee fan Play Video

  September 6, 2016 11:39 PM

  MILWAUKEE - A lot of LSU fans would probably rather forget about Saturday's game against Wisconsin, but one Milwaukee man will never forget what a quick thinking Tiger fan did for him after the game. According to WISN , Louisiana National Guard Col. John Dunlap, his wife Jill and... more »

• Central Fire Department addresses recent injuries in rivers Play Video

  July 1, 2016 11:23 PM

  CENTRAL - The Central Fire Department is warning residents to practice safety around rivers, after two separate diving injuries during the week. Since the beginning of the year, there have been five reported injuries involving people jumping or diving into the Amite and Comite Rivers. One of those resulted in... more »

• Commission discusses ways to move Comite Diversion Project forward Play Video

  March 15, 2016 10:49 PM

  BATON ROUGE - As residents and business owners are waiting for floodwater to go down, the Amite River Basin Commission met Tuesday for a regularly scheduled meeting. Board members spoke about the number of phone calls they have received in the last few days about the delayed Comite River... more »

• Some river levels in flooded areas falling

  March 15, 2016 12:23 PM

  FRENCH SETTLEMENT - Area rivers swollen by torrential rain last week will start falling after cresting over the last few hours. Most recently, the Amite River at French Settlement crested Tuesday morning. Already, the Amite at Denham Springs, Bayou Manchac and Port Vincent has crested and has started falling.... more »

• Residents keep watchful eye on Amite River as it crests, begins to recede Play Video

  March 15, 2016 12:05 AM

  LIVINGSTON - Most of the Amite River has already reached flood stage and begun receding, but part of the river won't crest until Tuesday morning. It's already crested in Denham Springs, Bayou Manchac and Port Vincent and should be back below flood stage at all three locations by Thursday evening.... more »

• Rising river has residents remembering flooding event 33 years ago

  March 11, 2016 9:37 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Rising water on the Amite River has some residents in Denham Springs concerned. They remember an event in 1983 that flooded homes. Then, the river crested at around 41'. Following this week's wet weather, it will crest at 39', just 2' lower than 33 years ago. Mike... more »

• Police say no foul play after body found near casino

  January 29, 2016 10:11 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Police said they do not suspect foul play after a body was found Friday morning along the Mississippi River near the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino. Cpl. L'Jean McKneely said the body was found along the river's embankment between the casino and the base of the... more »

• Corps of Engineers begins closing bays at Bonnet Carre Spillway

  January 25, 2016 12:22 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Members of the U. S. Corps of Engineers started closing bays along the Bonnet Carre Spillway Monday as water levels in the Mississippi River began to slowly return to normal. The Corps opened 210 bays of the Spillway on Jan. 10 to divert water from the... more »

• Sandbags, Guard members head out to prepare for flooding

  January 6, 2016 4:34 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - The Louisiana National Guard mobilized dozens of members and began moving equipment around to flood-prone areas of the state as river levels continue to rise. Guard officials said 70 people have been mobilized so far, and more are expected to be activated in the coming days.... more »