NEW ORLEANS - Alvin Kamara's surprise arrival and the addition of star running back Travis Ettiene to the Saints run game have dominated the headlines in recent days, but the Saints' efforts to improve their bottom-five rushing attack is only a piece of the offensive puzzle. New Orleans has also made significant efforts to improve the offensive line.

The addition of offensive guard David Edwards is an example of that.

"Physically it's really impressive what David can do," said Saints head coach Kellen Moore. "His experience and communication skills are really special. How much he's communicating at the line of scrimmage is incredible him being at the left guard position and communicating with the tackles, the center and the quarter back. He gets football from a really high level."

One of those tackles that Edwards communicates with is Saints left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. Banks himself is another example of the Saints investing heavily up front. New Orleans drafted Banks ninth overall in 2025.

"It's been great, he's a great communicator," said Banks of Edwards. "He communicates a lot throughout the plays and even during plays, after the play, he's always communicating. It's been a real easy process being able to plug him in at left guard, we just gelled like that."

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COVINGTON — The body of an 18-year-old from St. Tammany Parish was recovered after the teen went missing under the water while tubing on the Bogue Chitto River, according to the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. 

Deputies said they received a call around 1:44 p.m. stating that someone, while tubing on the Bogue Chitto River, went under the water and did not resurface. 

The sheriff's office later recovered the body of 18-year-old Jonis Warren.

Deputies, along with volunteers from the District Six Fire Department and EMTs from Northshore Ambulance, responded, along with a diver equipped with sonar.

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BATON ROUGE — The Outstanding Mature Girlz Organization returned to Southern University on Saturday for its 13th annual conference at the Smith-Brown Memorial Student Union. 

The free event was open to girls ages nine and up and featured this year's theme, "Main Character Energy," which focuses on confidence, leadership and self-worth.

Organizers said the goal of the event is to connect young girls with mentors and community leaders while exposing them to opportunities in higher education and leadership. 

The event featured women with various careers who spoke with students about their experiences while encouraging the girls to pursue their goals with confidence and purpose. 

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Expect another round of scattered afternoon thunderstorms to develop on Sunday, though finding dry time outdoors will be a bit easier. Plan for even fewer disruptions next week as storm chances drop even more.

Tonight & Tomorrow: Following a stormy Saturday, activity will gradually taper throughout the evening. The overnight hours look largely dry under partly cloudy skies. However, expect a very warm and muggy night, with lows only dropping into the mid-70s. Sunday will feature plenty of dry time, but that doesn’t mean the day will be rain-free. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will fire as temperatures start peaking near 90° in the early afternoon. Showers will be fewer in number on Sunday, with roughly half of the Capital Area experiencing a brief downpour at least once. The areas most likely to experience a storm will be along and east of Baton Rouge toward I-55.

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Lingering tropical moisture may fuel locally heavy downpours on Sunday, though overall rainfall totals shouldn't be too high. While localized amounts up to 1” are possible, especially near I-55, most areas will see less. As always, if thunder is within earshot, lightning is close enough to strike, so have an indoor break option ready for the afternoon.

Up Next: Monday will bring an increase in cloud cover, which will make it more difficult for highs to top 90°. Despite a gloomier look, the clouds may actually limit overall storm coverage by keeping the ground from heating up. Nevertheless, a weak disturbance could still spark isolated afternoon thunderstorms. By Tuesday, a strong ridge of high pressure will take over in the upper atmosphere. Since these ridges bring warm, sinking air, they usually work against rain and storms, allowing heat to take control. Because of that, the forecast is loaded with highs in the 90s and just a 20-30% coverage of afternoon storms through the end of the workweek. As the ridge breaks down closer to next weekend, the door will open for a better chance of afternoon thunderstorms.

Get the latest 7-day forecast and real-time weather updates HERE.

Watch live news HERE.

The Tropics: For the Gulf, Caribbean, and North Atlantic, all is quiet. No development is expected over the next seven days.

— Meteorologist Malcolm Byron

The Storm Station is here for you, on every platform. Your weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and X for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

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BATON ROUGE — Ochsner Baton Rouge invited cancer survivors along with their families to a free community celebration on Saturday at the Ochsner Medical Complex, The Grove.

The event, held in honor of National Cancer Survivors' Day, highlighted resources, support and advancements in cancer care. 

Attendees enjoyed food, prizes, music and activities, and also spoke with health experts.

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BATON ROUGE — St. Vincent de Paul of Baton Rouge opened a new thrift store and outreach center on Greenwell Springs Road Saturday.

The Holmes Thrift Store and Outreach Center will serve as ST. Vincent de Paul's fifth thrift store and its first outreach center, with it being designed to provide retail services and outreach programs in the Greenwell Springs Road corridor.

"The Holmes Thrift Store and Outreach Center represents our continued commitment to meeting people where they are and removing barriers to essential services," Sunnie Johnson-Lain, President and CEO of St. Vincent de Paul of Baton Rouge, said.

"By expanding our presence along Greenwell Springs Road, we are creating greater access to the resources our neighbors need to move toward stability, dignity and hope, as well as providing low-cost essentials, revenue for our programs and employment opportunities."

The organization said its thrift stores support its mission with donated items becoming meaningful support for neighbors in need.

Purchases and donations made at the store help fund programs that provide food, shelter, clothing and healthcare.

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ZACHARY — Several restaurants in Zachary are offering special deals during Zachary's second annual Restaurant Week.

The week-long event begins on Sunday and runs until June 13, with participating restaurants offering three courses for one price. Most restaurants will offer an appetizer, an entree and a dessert.

Participating restaurants include Agave Blue, Bara Eats, Blue Bubble, CC's Coffee House, Cafe Phoenicia, Cajun Catch, El Mejor Mexican, Genivieve Sushi, Mami's Mexican Restaurant, Off the Hook, Parish Crawfish, Peach Cobbler Factory, Spicy Nacho, Sweet Stirrings, T&T Smokehouse, T'Quila's and Walk-On's. 

The event offers residents a great opportunity to dine out and support local businesses. 

For more information and to view menus, click here.

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GONZALES — Waterways in Livingston and Ascension parish were closed Saturday due to rising water levels.

In Ascension, The closure came as hazardous conditions enter the area, including high water, strong currents, floating debris and reduced visibility.

Residents are urged to avoid waterways and remain aware as conditions continue to be monitored.

Livingston Parish also closed its waterways on Saturday morning following a proclamation of emergency by Parish President Randy Delatte, as several low-lying areas near waterways began to flood due to the rising water.

One of the areas that saw this was at the Canal Bank Club on the Amite River Diversion Canal, which saw water levels rise to the point where water has started to flood into the parking lot.

"We're right at that beginning of the boating season, kids have gotten out of school last week and everybody's ready to go and primed up to get on the river, the weather's getting great and everything, but the rain and everything is just holding everything up," Canal Bank Club General Manager Anthony Gregoire said.

Livingston's Emergency Preparedness Director Chris Anderson says the closure is due to the rising water levels throughout the parish's waterways due to persistent strong west and southeast winds.

The Storm Station has been tracking that pattern for the last week.

"When that water starts getting pushed west over an enclosed space, it piles up on the westward side, and you see an increase in water levels. Rain can certainly allow the local rivers to swell," Storm Station Meteorologist Malcolm Byron said.

The parish sheriff's office and Wildlife and Fisheries says they have been patrolling the waterways, but there are some exceptions for who can be on the water during the closure.

"Which is still allowed if you're a commercial fishermen, you have to have an appropriate licensing," Anderson said.

Residents in Livingston and Ascension say they were upset when they found out about the closures.

"We were going to go on our boat and we could've gone tubing. We can't launch boats in Livingston or Ascension parish," Maddox Hubbs said.

Others say it was the right decision to make, saying the water is high at places like Fred's on the River in Praireville.

"Yes. Not only for the houses in the camp, but safety on the boats too because there's a lot of debris floating underneath the water that you can't see," Edward Jumonville said.

Anderson says they are going to continue monitoring the levels and will provide updates on the waterways tomorrow.

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CLINTON — A beloved local blueberry farm holds a special place in the heart of the people of Clinton.

Mimi's Blueberry Farm, owned by Peggy Stevens, allows visitors to pick fresh blueberries straight from the bushes. 

Each season, Stevens provides the community with delicious homegrown blueberries, creating a tradition that keeps families coming back year after year.

Mimi's Blueberry Farm has over 250 bushes that guests are allowed to pick from today; however, when Stevens first began the farm, she would pick all the blueberries herself. 

Stevens would then sell the blueberries to local grocery stores, at the Clinton Blueberry Festival and to different individuals from around the town. 

Stevens said her favorite thing to do is visit with her customers, so visitors should be ready to sit down for a chat when they arrive.

The blueberry farm is currently open to the public from daylight to dark. 

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ST. FRANCISVILLE — The West Feliciana Parish Sheriff's Office is investigating an overnight shooting after a person showed up to the hospital with gunshot wounds early Saturday morning.

According to the sheriff's office, around 1 a.m., a person showed up to the hospital with gunshot wounds stemming from an altercation that took place in the southern part of the parish.

Deputies said that following the altercation, two groups began shooting at each other from two separate vehicles while driving along La. 61. According to witnesses, the person struck by gunfire was in one of the vehicles. 

The sheriff's office said it has developed several suspects and is currently working to obtain arrest warrants. 

The investigation remains ongoing.

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ST. GEORGE — A New Orleans man was arrested following a fatal shooting at a residence on Tiger Bend Road on Friday, according to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office.

According to detectives, 56-year-old Alex Wilson arrived at the residence to pick up his child when he became involved in an argument with 44-year-old Marcus Jackson of New Orleans, the current boyfriend of the child's mother.

During the altercation, Jackson allegedly produced a handgun and shot Wilson multiple times before fleeing the scene in the child's mother's vehicle. 

Wilson was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. 

Detectives, with assistance from the Louisiana State Police Fugitive Task Force, tracked the vehicle to LaPlace and, in conjunction with the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office, established surveillance on the vehicle and a nearby apartment associated with Jackson. 

Following the execution of a search warrant by the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office SWAT Team, Jackson was taken into custody along with the suspected murder weapon.

According to investigators, Jackson later admitted to shooting Wilson following the argument.

Jackson remains in custody and will be transported to East Baton Rouge Parish, where he will be booked on charges of second-degree murder, illegal use of weapons and auto theft. 

The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office provided video of Jackson's arrest:

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LIVINGSTON — Livingston Fire Protection District 4, along with the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office, responded to an early morning structure fire on La. 1019 near the Hunstock Road exit on Saturday.

According to officials, the fire began around 4:15 a.m. when a tree limb fell on electrical wires attached to a meter, causing a short circuit.

The structure was unoccupied at the time of the fire, as the homeowners live in a separate home on the property. 

There were no reported injuries.

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DENHAM SPRINGS — The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office arrested three women on Friday for allegedly stealing from an Academy at Juban Crossing. 

According to the sheriff's office, on Friday, deputies received information that three women had targeted stores in other jurisdictions and planned to make a stop at Juban Crossing. 

Deputies later located the women at the Academy at Juban Crossing, where they were found to be in possession of stolen items, including those from several other stores.

Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard said that all three women originated from Mobile, Alabama. 

Curtiece Boykin, 31, Tykeriah Wayne, 24, and Jakera Rease, 22, were arrested and booked into the Livingston Parish Detention Center on several charges, including illegal possession of stolen things, tampering with surveillance and organized retail theft.

Sheriff Jason Ard released a video on social media Friday morning prior to the arrests, standing in front of the Academy, warning potential shoplifters that they would be arrested if they attempted to steal in the Juban Crossing area.

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LIVINGSTON — Waterways in Livingston Parish are closed until further notice, according to a proclamation of emergency authorized by Parish President Randy Delatte on Saturday morning. 

The closure comes as rising water levels have caused localized flooding in several low-lying areas near waterways throughout the parish. 

The Livingston Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is actively monitoring the rising water levels in the parish's waterways as strong east and southeast winds continue to push water into the Amite River, Tickfaw River and Diversion Canal systems. 

Forecasts indicate elevated wind speeds throughout the coming week, with officials expecting water levels to remain the same or potentially rise.

The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office, along with local fire departments and other response agencies, is actively monitoring areas of concern throughout the parish as field assessments are taking place to identify the impacts of the rising water and to ensure public safety.

Residents in the area are urged to avoid flooded areas and to refrain from attempting to navigate closed waterways, as conditions may change rapidly due to wind-driven water movement. 

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A tropical wave moving across Louisiana will keep showers and thunderstorms in the forecast through the weekend. While rain will be common at times around Baton Rouge and the Capital Region, conditions should gradually improve as we head into next week. 

Today and tonight: Periods of showers and thunderstorms will continue as tropical moisture remains in place. The rain won't be continuous, but numerous showers and a few storms are expected to develop through the day, with some producing brief heavy downpours. Rain coverage will remain highest during the afternoon and early evening hours before tapering somewhat overnight. Temperatures, due to the clouds and rain, will keep highs mainly in the 80s.

Use the slider to advance through the next 24 hours of Futurecast

Up Next: The tropical wave will slowly move west on Sunday, allowing rain chances to gradually decrease. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will still be possible, but many locations should see more dry time compared to Saturday. Early next week, high pressure builds back into the area and returns South Louisiana to a more typical summertime pattern. Expect lower rain coverage, afternoon temperatures climbing into the lower 90s, and heat index values approaching 100 degrees by midweek.

Tropics: The tropical wave responsible for this weekend's wet weather is not expected to develop into a tropical system. According to the National Hurricane Center, tropical cyclone formation is not expected anywhere in the Atlantic Basin, Caribbean, or Gulf during the next seven days. Several tropical waves continue moving across the Atlantic and Caribbean, but none currently pose a threat to Louisiana or the northern Gulf Coast.

Get the latest 7-day forecast and real-time weather updates HERE.

Watch live news HERE.

– Dave

The Storm Station is here for you, on every platform. Your weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and X for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

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NEW ORLEANS - With Alontae Taylor getting a big payday from the Tennessee Titans, that left the star position open on the New Orleans Saints defense. Second-year defensive back Jonas Sanker has been slotted in that role with Taylor gone.

As a rookie, Sanker got plenty of time on the field. The former Virginia Cavalier started 16 games at safety after Julion Blackmon's season ending injury in week one. 

"Obviously we know the explosive player that he is," said Saints head coach Kellen Moore on Sanker's talents. "Jonas has that versatility, he can play inside, and it's those positions inside, that star position plays more often like a safety than playing corner."

With a good amount of NFL starts already under his belt entering year two of his professional career, Sanker learned by doing as a rookie. However, he also got to watch and learn Alontae Taylor succeed at the star position last year.

"Being able to see up close what Alontae was able to do in that role was definitely exciting," said Sanker. "Seeing someone able to do it at such a high level helped me kind of see this is what it looks like."

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ST. GEORGE — Hundreds of people gathered at Perkins Rowe this evening for the return of Food Truck Round Up.

Guests stopped by 17 local trucks offering a variety of food, from snowballs to soul food to ice cream. Live music was also part of the evening.

A spokesperson for the shopping center said dozens of trucks were considered for the lineup.

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BATON ROUGE - In this week's 2 Make a Difference, Sylvia Weatherspoon previews the 2026 Celebrity Waiter event.

If you know someone who makes a difference, send their name, contact information and a brief summary of their story to sylvia@wbrz.com. 

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BATON ROUGE - A house bill aimed at securing stable funding for the East Baton Rouge Parish public defender's office is headed to the governor's desk to be signed into law. The bill seeks to replace a shared city funding model with a $1 million commitment from the parish's general fund.

The bill was authored by state Rep. C. Denise Marcelle, who originally called for every city in East Baton Rouge Parish to split the public defender's bill.

St. George, Baker, and Central also agreed to provide a combined $400,000 as part of a partnership with the public defender's office. Zachary is the only city not committing funding.

"You can't have a judicial system that's lopsided; you've got to have judges, you've got to have public defenders, and you certainly have to have DAs and law enforcement. So all of them work hand in hand together. And so when we talk about crime, we have to look at it holistically," Marcelle said.

Marcelle says the bill is part of a broader effort to ensure every part of the criminal justice system has the resources it needs. Last month, District Attorney Hillar Moore sued the city-parish in hopes of fully funding his department.

"And so if we could come up with a concept where we could make sure that the public defender is not grabbing for crumbs every year or the DA's office is not grabbing for crumbs every year, and we could have a sustainable judicial system to move the process forward," Marcelle said.

Chief Public Defender Kyla Romanac says the bill is critical for her department, pointing to an existing backlog of cases in Baton Rouge.

"So I mean, obviously, there's a backlog of cases in Baton Rouge, and that would have just made it substantially worse," Romanac said.

Romanac says the funding will also help the office recruit and retain staff.

"The local funding helps us to at least have enough where we are able to find some quality people who are willing to work for what we can pay; without that local funding, we would not be able to staff that office," Romanac said.

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BAYOU VISTA - The Berwick Fire Department assisted with a four-alarm house fire in Bayou Vista, the department posted.

Officials said that around 2 p.m. on Friday, firefighters worked a single-story house fully engulfed in flames. Crews were able to contain the fire and prevent further spreading to surrounding properties.

No injuries resulted from the fire. More information will be released by the Bayou Vista Volunteer Fire Department and the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office.

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