WBRZ - Baton Rouge

Tagged News

• Fire department fights fire without hydrant Play Video

  May 6, 2013 5:43 PM

  BATON ROUGE - An electrical short torched a home near the Amite River over the weekend. St. George Fire Department responded to the fire, which was almost two miles away from the nearest water source. The home off Hoo Shoo Too Rd. and Kendalwood Rd. was built long... more »

• Sandy dumped 11B gallons of sewage in waterways

  April 30, 2013 8:09 AM

  NEW YORK - Superstorm Sandy released 11 billion gallons of sewage from East Coast treatment plants into bodies of water from Washington, D.C., to Connecticut. That's according to a study by the nonprofit science journalism group Climate Central. It says that's equivalent to having Central Park covered 41 feet high... more »

• Boil order issued for parts of Iberville Parish

  April 11, 2013 3:59 PM

  IBERVILLE- Officials issued a boil order for water in parts of the parish Thursday afternoon. The order is for Iberville Parish Water Dist. 3 and includes Hwy. 992-3 (Tenant Rd.) from Hwy. 75 (Belleview Rd.) to Hwy. 1, and all intersecting streets in that area. It is recommended... more »

• Plan to slow water pumping is approved

  March 23, 2013 1:02 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A commission charged with managing saltwater intrusion into the aquifer serving Baton Rouge and surrounding areas has approved a plan calling for a reduction of 2 million gallons a day in the pumping of water in industrial areas of East Baton Rouge Parish by 2014. The Advocate... more »

• Brandywine resident searching for home Play Video

  March 6, 2013 6:17 PM

  BATON ROUGE- After the city gave residents of the embattled Brandywine apartment complex another month to find a place to live, at least one man is left without any options. Francis La Fleur owns his unit at the complex, but because of poor management, the complex's utilities will be... more »

• Brandywine without water Play Video

  March 4, 2013 5:54 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Water is shut off at Brandywine Apartments, after the owner failed to pay more than $109,000 in back payments for sewage services. Dr. Stephen Ayers was given a month to pay in full and residents were given a months notice before the shut off. "I worked... more »

• New Orleans awaits word on water quality

  March 4, 2013 11:46 AM

  NEW ORLEANS- Residents and businesses in much of New Orleans awaited word on when they would no longer have to boil tap water to ensure it was safe to consume. The mayor's office said Monday that test results to determine whether the water is contaminated were expected by mid-afternoon. Water... more »

• Shivering man rescued from near-freezing water Play Video

  March 1, 2013 5:48 PM

  ZACHARY - A man was rescued from near-freezing temperatures by Zachary Firefighters after he ran his car off Groom road and into a pond. It happened just before midnight at the intersection of Groom Rd. and Old Scenic Hwy. Mona Gates was inside her home nearby when she... more »

• Brandywine residents in power struggle Play Video

  February 15, 2013 6:00 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Residents at Brandywine Apartments may be in for a cold weekend after power was cut off to several units. It's because they didn't pay rent, but resident argue they shouldn't have to because management hasn't paid more than $100,000 in utilities payments. Now the water company... more »

• Mississippi closes 3 areas to oyster harvest

  February 6, 2013 6:27 AM

  BILOXI, Miss. - The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources has closed three areas to oyster harvesting because of water quality issues. The affected harvesting areas closed Tuesday involve Area II "A," which includes northern portions of the Pass Christian, Henderson Point Reef and northern portions of Hornet's Reef; Area II... more »

• Rules would make school snacks healthier

  February 1, 2013 11:07 AM

  WASHINGTON - The government for the first time is proposing broad new standards to make school snacks healthier, a move that would ban the sale of almost all candy, high-calorie sports drinks and greasy foods on campus. Under the new rules proposed Friday by the Department of Agriculture, school vending... more »

• Elusive apartment owner owes $100,000 to city Play Video

  January 30, 2013 6:37 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Conditions continue to get worse at an apartment complex with a history of trouble in Baton Rouge. The majority owner of the Brandywine Apartments, Dr. Stephen Ayers from Lake Charles, missed utility payments for years and now owes the city more than $100,000. The parish told... more »

• Central La. lakes losing water

  January 30, 2013 5:06 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says Larto and Saline lakes in Catahoula, LaSalle and Rapides parishes are losing water into the Black River because an embankment designed to hold that water in has failed. The co-manager of Uncle Bud's Cabins and RV Park on Larto... more »

• Neighborhoods remain flooded despite pumping station Play Video

  January 29, 2013 5:38 PM

  PRAIRIEVILLE - Two weeks after a major rain event, residents along Bluff Rd. in the Alligator Bayou area are still flooding. Last Friday, two temporary pumps were installed to clear some of the mess, pumping water from Frog Bayou to Bayou Manchac. Drainage officials report the water has gone... more »

• Swollen waterways to reopen at noon

  January 21, 2013 10:49 AM

  GONZALES - Authorities in Ascension and Livingston parishes announced waterways in both areas will reopen for recreational boat traffic at noon today. The rivers closed after heavy rain and flooding swelled local waterways to unsafe levels. Several parishes around the state delcared disasters after the flooding damaged bridges,... more »

• Roads, rivers still closed in Ascension Parish

  January 17, 2013 5:17 PM

  GONZALES - Parts of Ascension Parish are still dealing with flooding after recent severe weather. Parish emergency managers said the following roads are still closed because of high water. Recreational waterways are also still closed in the parish until the rivers drop back below safe levels. ROAD CLOSURES... more »

• Bridges damaged, flooding continues in Livingston Parish Play Video

  January 14, 2013 5:49 PM

  HOLDEN - Water levels continue to rise and fall in Livingston Parish with more rain in the forecast, and it's getting harder to travel around some areas. Bridges in the Holden area are closed for repairs. Water lifted the bridge on Frank Ballard Road and floated it several feet... more »

• Bridge repairs going on after flooding

  January 14, 2013 12:45 PM

  HOLDEN - Public works crews started repairs to bridges damaged by high water in Livingston Parish. Crews went out this morning to the Frank Ballard Road Bridge, one of several in the Holden area which were damaged. Parish DPW crews said the bridge floated about four feet off its... more »

• Roads, waterways still closed in Ascension Parish

  January 14, 2013 10:40 AM

  GONZALES - Ascension Parish authorities continued to deal with swamped roads and high river levels after heavy flooding last week and more rain this past weekend. Waterways are still closed to recreational watercraft until they drop back down to safe levels again. Here's a list of current road... more »

• Water threatens popular Livingston restaurant Play Video

  January 11, 2013 10:36 PM

  LIVINGSTON - Water is threatening the livelihood of residents and business owners in Livingston Parish. Val's Marina, a well-known restaurant, was flooded out during Hurricane Isaac. After a week of rain, water is inching closer and closer to their doorstep. WBRZ's Rosa Flores does a walk-through of the... more »

• Mayor Holden signs disaster declaration for EBR

  January 11, 2013 3:52 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Mayor-President Kip Holden officially declared a local disaster for East Baton Rouge Parish after two days of rainfall and localized flooding. The declaration activates parish emergency response plans and other activities. Holden's office noted that while the rain has stopped, the Amite and Comite rivers... more »

• Road conditions in Livingston Parish

  January 11, 2013 12:12 PM

  DENHAM SPRINGS - Emergency officials in Livingston Parish posted the following update on roads around the parish to Facebook. Drivers are asked not to go around barricades into flooded areas. Rescue workers said they had to spend more time helping people who drove past the barricades and got stuck... more »

• Rain moves on, high water remains

  January 11, 2013 10:17 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Heavy rain moved on after soaking Louisiana for two days, leaving behind swollen rivers and areas still dealing with high water. Livingston Parish declared an individual emergency to help residents there deal with flooding in their homes and businesses. Gov. Jindal also declared a statewide emergency... more »

• Rising waters causes a stink in New Roads neighborhood Play Video

  January 10, 2013 6:43 PM

  NEW ROADS- As rain drops fall, the waters are creeping closer and closer to Josie Lewis' home. But surprisingly that's not what's really bothering her. "I went into my bathroom and I was like ‘what is this odor?'" she said. "It was sewage." Some of the water... more »

• Statewide emergency declared for flooding

  January 10, 2013 4:26 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency today for Louisiana in the wake of severe weather and flooding around the state. Jindal said Acadia, Avoyelles, Concordia, East Carroll, Evangeline, Livingston and St. Landry parishes have already declared states of emergency to help residents deal with... more »

• Closures due to Jan. 10 severe weather

  January 10, 2013 10:32 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Severe weather swamped already-flooded parishes this morning, forcing closed more roads and schools. Here's a list of updated closings for Jan. 10: SCHOOL CLOSINGS - Pointe Coupee Parish Public Schools: closing at noon - St. Mary Parish Public Schools - St. Helena Parish Public Schools... more »

• Flooding threat, rain linger through Thursday

  January 9, 2013 9:57 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A flash flood watch continues through Thursday night for much of the Capital City region. After nearly a day of rain, the skies dried. But, it will return overnight into early Thursday morning. Experts at WBRZ Weather 2 said to expect early thunderstorms and an additional... more »

• Closures due to high water Play Video

  January 9, 2013 10:29 AM

  BATON ROUGE - High water caused by the constant rainfall overnight closed some local schools and roads around the greater Baton Rouge area. All recreational boat traffic will be closed on Ascension Parish waterways as well, starting at 6 p.m. tonight. The following schools are closed as of... more »

• Weather 2: Flooding expected in 24 hours Play Video

  January 8, 2013 11:07 PM

  We are experiencing a classic example of rain falling on already saturated ground. Rain accumulations of four inches or more will cause flooding, no matter where you live and for sections of our viewing area, flooding is imminent. The National Weather Service in New Orleans issued a flash flood... more »

• High water closes roads in Ascension Parish

  January 8, 2013 8:16 PM

  ASCENSION PARISH- At least four roads are being monitored for high water and have been closed. Deputies set-up barricades to warn drivers the water is too high to cross. The following roads are believed to be impassable: Black Bayou at Roddy Road Duplesis at Beaujohn Road Hwy 73... more »

• 2 armed men carjack Sewerage & Water Board truck

  January 3, 2013 3:52 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - New Orleans police are looking for two men who carjacked a Sewerage and Water Board truck. Police say the men demanded the keys at gunpoint about noon Thursday from three sewerage board employees who were working in the back of the truck. Nobody was hurt. The truck... 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 »

• La. announces end of shrimp season in some areas

  December 18, 2012 10:28 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's fall shrimp season is closing in most state inside waters. Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham said last week that the season would close for most inside waters at sunset Tuesday to let white shrimp grow larger and more valuable. On Monday, he set closing Dec.... more »

• Rescuers searching for submerged car near mall

  December 10, 2012 2:32 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Rescue units responded to reports that a car drove off a frontage road between the Mall of Louisiana and I-10 East and was submerged in water. East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office spokesperson Casey Hicks said a witness called firefighters about the wreck around 1:35 p.m. They... more »

• St. Landry waterline extension work begins

  November 20, 2012 3:18 PM

  KROTZ SPRINGS - Construction is under way on a $1 million project to extend waterlines from the Krotz Springs municipal system to serve an area along La. Highway 105 dotted by residential water wells that have shown high levels of arsenic. The Advocate reports the project has been driven mainly... more »

• Boil advisory lifted for Clinton

  November 6, 2012 11:44 AM

  CLINTON - Town officials lifted a boil order for Clinton earlier today. They said health department tests of water samples came back clean, and people could stop boiling as of 11 a.m. today. The town issued the boil order last week after a contractor installing fiber optic cables... more »

• Terrebonne water system revamp on tap

  November 5, 2012 10:48 AM

  HOUMA - Terrebonne residents can expect major improvements to their water system to begin soon. The parish's Waterworks District received $20 million last week from a state bond sale to begin working on the overhaul. Al Badeaux, president of the parish water board, says the money comes from the sale... more »

• Boil order issued in Clinton

  November 2, 2012 3:08 PM

  CLINTON - Authorities in Clinton issued a boil water advisory for people on the town's water supply until further notice. City workers said a contractor installing fiber optic cables broke a water main, compromising the integrity of the town's water supply. The town recommended people bring water to... more »

• Zachary approves contract for water improvements

  October 24, 2012 7:41 AM

  ZACHARY - The Zachary City Council has unanimously accepted the low bid of $642,000 from Industrial Enterprises Inc. of Baton Rouge for water distribution system improvements. City engineer Bianca Carambat says the company has also worked on a road rehabilitation project with Zachary. Five other contractors submitted bids... more »

• Mosquito problem in Livingston Parish

  September 21, 2012 10:10 AM

  LIVINGSTON - Residents in Livingston Parish may be dealing with an issue bigger than they can handle. Recent rain and Hurricane Isaac left behind a lot of standing water, which could bring a lot of mosquitoes. The Livingston Parish Mosquito Abatement also doesn't have adequate funding to cover... more »

• Isaac victims flooded with emotion Play Video

  September 7, 2012 6:05 PM

  LAPLACE- Cleanup continues in St. John Parish more than a week after Hurricane Isaac sent flood water into several neighborhoods near Lake Pontchartrain. Residents whose property took on several feet of water are just beginning to deal with the damage caused by the flooding. "It was like the... more »

• Boil order lifted for West Baton Rouge, still in effect for Walker

  September 4, 2012 4:08 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A recent boil order for West Baton Rouge has been lifted, while another for Walker remains in place. Authorities in West Baton Rouge today said DHH testing confirmed water samples from the intercoastal area near Addis and Brusly were clear. They were put under a... more »

• Recreational boating still not allowed

  September 3, 2012 9:41 PM

  LIVINGSTON- Two parishes will keep waterways closed, indefinitely. Livingston and Ascension Parishes will won't reopen areas to recreational boating. Leaders say water levels have not receded enough. 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 »

• 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 »

• New toilet technology after 150 years of waste

  August 15, 2012 12:36 PM

  SEATTLE - These aren't your typical loos. One uses microwave energy to transform human waste into electricity. Another captures urine and uses it for flushing. And still another turns excrement into charcoal. They are part of a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation competition to reinvent the toilet for the 2.6... more »

• Flooding knocks LDWF offline

  August 14, 2012 3:52 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A broken water line knocked a state government agency off the internet this afternoon, potentially causing a problem for people who need hunting, fishing or boat licenses. A spokesperson for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said the broken line flooded their main office in... more »

• Heart attack likely caused death in NY lake rescue

  August 8, 2012 11:49 AM

  CARMEL, N.Y. - A coroner says a heart attack probably caused the death of a woman whose body was found in the middle of a suburban New York reservoir with a 6-year-old girl clinging to it. The coroner says an autopsy revealed that Pamela Kaner, a friend of the girl's... more »

• Audit finds bad record keeping, strange payouts at water district

  July 24, 2012 9:26 PM

  PLAQUEMINE, Louisiana - The Waterworks District #2 in Iberville Parish is in hot water after two scathing audit reports. The audits were presented to the Iberville Parish Council during a regular scheduled meeting Tuesday at the Iberville Courthouse. The parish auditor presented council with a Comprehensive Annual Financial... more »

• New report ties cold Gulf water, dolphin deaths

  July 18, 2012 4:25 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Researchers say snowmelt that chilled coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico may have contributed to baby dolphin deaths in the winter of 2011. A new research paper says 86 baby dolphins are known to have been aborted or died shortly after birth during the period. Researcher... 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 »

• SF considering ways to curb plastic water bottles

  July 13, 2012 9:07 AM

  SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco lawmakers are considering a law that would require new and renovated buildings with water fountains to install special bottle-filling taps. Board of Supervisors President David Chiu says the law is meant to encourage San Franciscans to refill reusable bottles rather than use plastic water... more »

• False River celebrates freedom with boats, water balloons

  July 4, 2012 5:55 PM

  NEW ROADS- The False River Boat Parade drew hundreds to the oxbow lake to celebrate Independence Day with friends and family. The traditional celebration's theme for this year was 'Save Our Saints,' something that had people decorating their piers and boats with 'Bounty-Gate' references. "I just decided to... more »

• Grand Isle water line temporarily fixed

  July 4, 2012 2:28 PM

  GRAND ISLE - Jefferson Parish officials say water service was back on Grand Isle Wednesday after a temporary clamp was successfully placed on a busted line that provided drinking water to the barrier island. The repair was made about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. The Barataria Bay water transmission line was apparently... 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 »

• Litter clogging Iberville bayous Play Video

  June 18, 2012 5:07 PM

  PLAQUEMINE- Iberville Parish leaders are starting a campaign to stop littering in their bayous. Leaders fear litter in the city's streets and neighborhoods is winding up in nearby bayous, and could be detrimental to tourism as well as the ecosystem. "It makes the bayou look terrible and that's... more »

• DOTD headquarters closed, no water

  June 18, 2012 11:01 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development's (DOTD) headquarters building in Baton Rouge is closed today due to a lack of water service. Essential services will continue to be provided remotely and necessary meetings will be held at DOTD's LTRC building on LSU campus. Additionally,... more »

• High water blocks I-110 curve

  June 8, 2012 5:21 PM

  UPDATE 5:44 p.m. - All lanes are back open after this incident. BATON ROUGE - An afternoon downpour blocked several lanes of traffic along I-110 South in Baton Rouge, according to traffic officials. High water blocked the right and center lanes on I-110 South at 21st Street. Traffic... more »

• Fern infestation irritates hunters, boaters Play Video

  May 25, 2012 5:54 PM

  WHITE CASTLE - A pesky plant is spreading like wildfire all over Louisiana, frustrating hunters, boaters and fishermen. It's called Salvinia, and people with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries say it is just as insidious as its name sounds. This water weed doubles its size every six to... more »

• Infants learn to swim before learning to walk

  May 25, 2012 10:45 AM

  Teaching your infant how to swim early could mean the difference of life and death. News 2's Sarah Rosario speaks to one mom who says her son wouldn't be alive today if she hadn't. Find out what you need to know to keep your child safe in the... more »

• Crawfish season could end early Play Video

  April 26, 2012 6:16 PM

  BELLE RIVER- The crawfish season could end sooner than expected because of falling water levels in the Atchafalaya Basin. Overnight, levels near Belle River dropped at least three inches, leaving just a few feet to fish. "You got traps that you can't get to just to make it... more »

• Roads under water in Baton Rouge Play Video

  March 21, 2012 5:13 PM

  BATON ROUGE-- It's tough to tell whether some roads in Baton Rouge were for drivers or fish, because they looked more like rivers Wednesday morning. At least a foot of water covered Scenic Highway near 72nd, leaving many drivers turning around instead of fording what looked more like the... more »

• Ascension Water Co. asks rate hike

  February 15, 2012 7:20 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Public Service Commission will consider rate increases for Ascension Water Co. that would boost a variety of customers' monthly bills by about 19 percent. Commission staff and water company officials reached a joint agreement last month on rate increases on residential and commercial customers as... 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 »

• East Feliciana lifts boil advisory

  January 20, 2012 1:21 PM

  EAST FELICIANA - The East Feliciana Rural Water Systems lifted their voluntary boil advisory at noon Friday. The advisory went into effect Wednesday for residents who experienced water outages starting Tuesday night. Areas most affected by the outages included Boeneke Road, Old Liberty Road, Pace Road, Nesom Road,... more »

• Baker water meters spur complaints

  January 3, 2012 5:57 AM

  BAKER, La. (AP) - After years of using city-supplied water without giving much thought to the cost, some residents are keeping a closer eye on their utility bills now that the city has installed residential water meters for the first time in its history. Mayor Harold Rideau tells The Advocate... more »

• EPA IG: Louisiana flunks enviro enforcement

  December 13, 2011 4:47 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Louisiana is among the worst states at enforcing federal clean air, clean water and hazardous waste laws, according to a report by the Environmental Protection Agency's inspector general. The Times-Picayune reports that the inspector general's report does not spotlight specific environmental problems caused by Louisiana's alleged lax... more »

• Monroe police arrest meter tamperers

  December 10, 2011 4:02 PM

  MONROE-Water thieves beware. Monroe is arresting those who tamper with their water meters. Police chief Quentin Holmes says since January, nine arrests have been made, with arrest warrants issued for three others. Zachary Simmons, supervisor for the city's Utility Billing Division, says the city is now taking extra measures to... more »

• Plaquemines pumping storm water off highway

  September 5, 2011 3:40 PM

  MYRTLE GROVE, La.- Plaquemines Parish authorities say temporary pumps appeared to reduce water levels Monday, and they might not need to cut a hole in a levee to drain water that Tropical Storm Lee pushed onto a main highway. No homes were expected to be affected by the actions.... more »

• La. National Guard surpasses 1M gallons of water dropped on marsh fire

  September 1, 2011 2:28 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Governor Bobby Jindal announced today that the Louisiana National Guard's UH-60 Black Hawks have dropped more than one million gallons of water in the aerial firefight against the marsh fires in the Bayou Sauvage area. Governor Jindal said, "Our guardsmen have worked tirelessly to fight the... more »

• State OKs restart at mill blamed for fish kill

  August 29, 2011 5:26 PM

  BATON ROUGE - State environmental regulators have approved plans for operations to resume at a Bogalusa paper mill responsible for a massive fish kill in the Pearl River. The Department of Environmental Quality said Monday that it had approved Temple-Inland's request for authorization to restart operations at the mill... more »

• More than 39 tons of trash removed from Bayou Manchac

  August 23, 2011 5:36 AM

  BAYOU MANCHAC- Crews in Asension Parish removed more than 39 tons of trash and a fallen tree over the weekend from Bayou Manchac. Thirty one volunteers from Ascension and East Baton Rouge Parish participated in the two-day event and removed by hand over 15 cubic yards or 1.5 tons... more »

• Water-borne amoeba blamed for three recent deaths

  August 18, 2011 6:01 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Health officials are telling the public there's little risk from a water-borne amoeba that's been blamed for three recent deaths, including a southeast Louisiana man. The organism, naegleria fowleri, gets into the brain through the nasal cavity, usually from someone swimming and getting water up their... more »

• BRPD: Fight over water bill led to shooting

  July 29, 2011 4:49 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A fight over a water bill sent two men to the hospital, and landed one of them in jail according to Baton Rouge Police. Sgt. Don Stone said detectives were called to 5304 Sycamore after reports of shots fired around noon. Investigators said they found Anthony... more »

• Experts predict Gulf 'dead zone' growth

  July 18, 2011 3:02 AM

  COLLEGE STATION, Texas- Texas A&M oceanographers say they expect the 3,800-square-mile "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico to expand because of floodwaters flowing from the Mississippi River. The zone is now the size of Rhode Island and Delaware combined. It's where the Gulf waters off the Southeastern Louisiana and... more »

• Dow found responsible for water pollution

  July 9, 2011 1:03 PM

  PLAQUEMINE, La.- The Dow Chemical Co. has been found responsible for contaminating a water source in Iberville Parish. State District Judge Jerome Winsberg ruled that the Midland, Mich.-based company must clean up the Upper Plaquemine Aquifer. The Advocate of Baton Rouge said the groundwater supply has tested positive for... more »

• River Road by Brightside now open

  July 5, 2011 10:48 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A section of River Road by LSU has reopened after water seeping in from the levee forced it to close. The section of road south of Brightside Drive near the BREC Farr Park Equestrian Center had been closed since mid-May. Now the high-water period is... more »

• Residents take firework precautions at home displays

  July 4, 2011 10:11 PM

  LIVINGSTON PARISH- People took action to protect property from fire this Fourth. A state-wide burn ban was put into effect a month ago, but parish leaders had the say-so about fireworks. Livingston and Ascension went back and forth, but eventually said okay with a warning. While we didn't... more »

• Boil-water order issued for part of East Feliciana Parish

  July 3, 2011 3:45 PM

  EAST FELICIANA PARISH- Residents in the Bluff Creek area of East Feliciana Parish are under a mandatory boil-water order. Officials with East Feliciana Rural Water said a pipe ruptured earlier today. Workers repaired the pipe and are working to flush the system before the boil-water order is lifted. more »

• As high waters go down, wildlife areas reopen

  July 2, 2011 10:27 AM

  BATON ROUGE- As the Fourth of July weekend kicks off, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says it has reopened four wildlife management areas closed since May due to the high river waters that have flooded many parts of the state. The department says it has reopened all... more »

• Crawfish supply, demand drops during flooding

  June 9, 2011 6:10 PM

  BAYOU SORREL- As the prices of crawfish fall, the catch in some areas are down, too. Bayou Sorrel was expected to have a large catch following the flow of water from the Morganza Spillway, but so far the pay out isn't big. "We thought with the high water the... more »

• Krotz Springs could still see floodwater

  June 8, 2011 5:20 PM

  KROTZ SPRINGS- While waters begin to recede in some parts of Louisiana, backwater flooding is now beginning to threaten parts of Krotz Springs protected by a temporary levee system. Flood waters are a few hundred yards away from the levee constructed by the Louisiana National Guard, but many folks... more »

• Water use dramatically up in Livingston Parish

  June 8, 2011 10:46 AM

  LIVINGSTON - Rural water users in Livingston Parish are using more than 10 million gallons of water each day to combat drought, so officials are asking them to be careful when they use it. Preston Killcrease, manager of the Ward 2 Water District, said the water usage in his... more »

• DEQ, DNR give lawmakers a flood impact report

  June 7, 2011 5:46 PM

  BATON ROUGE- State environmental agencies say oil and gas facilities were notified and prepared for the Mississippi River flooding, despite reports of some chemical storage facilities being threatened by the rising water. Members of the Department of Natural Resources and Dept. of Environmental Quality said the opening of the... more »

• Pontoon Bridge to close in intervals for drivers

  June 6, 2011 11:26 AM

  ST. MARTINVILLE - Authorities in St. Martin Parish will start closing the Pontoon Bridge for an hour twice a day because of falling water levels. The sheriff's office said the bridge will close from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and again from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. each day... more »

• Happy Town residents return after evacuation

  June 1, 2011 5:29 PM

  BUTTE LAROSE - Mandatory evacuation orders were lifted for areas of St. Martin Parish early this morning, including the small fishing and hunting community known as Happy Town. The area is still under a voluntary evacuation, but that didn't stop Geno Collatta from trying to check in on his... 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 »

• Lightning strike causes boil order in East Feliciana Parish

  May 27, 2011 4:06 PM

  CLINTON - Customers of Water District 7 in East Feliciana Parish are being told to boil their water at least through Tuesday before drinking it or using it to prepare food. The district's maintenance supervisor, James Jenkins, told The Advocate the order was issued after lightning struck a water... more »

• Baton Rouge swamp fighting drought

  May 26, 2011 5:30 PM

  BATON ROUGE- BREC's Bluebonnet Swamp is fighting drought as Louisiana faces one of its driest years in recent memory. The swamp is home to several species, but some are leaving the relative protection of the swamp to search for water. "The swamp itself is pretty much bone dry and... more »