Tagged News

• Louisiana sets public briefings for new Mississippi River bridge south of Baton Rouge Play Video

  September 29, 2025 4:39 PM

  PLAQUEMINE — State highway officials have scheduled a set of public briefings as it considers where to build a new bridge over the Mississippi River south of Baton Rouge, now that federal transportation officials have given the go-ahead. “We are excited to reach this important milestone on this vital... more »

• Army Corps of Engineers building underwater sill to combat saltwater intrusion in Mississippi River

  September 19, 2025 4:30 PM

  MYRTLE GROVE — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will build an underwater sill across the bed of the Mississippi River to stop saltwater from moving upstream. The USACE said on Friday that the river's water level has fallen low enough to allow saltwater from the Gulf to move... more »

• St. Gabriel mayor meets with Mississippi River leaders for quicker disaster relief in affected areas

  September 19, 2025 12:10 PM

  ST. GABRIEL — St. Gabriel Mayor Lionel Johnson was among three Louisiana mayors who participated in an initiative that will bring quicker disaster relief to cities along the Mississippi River in 10 states. Johnson, as well as Vidalia Mayor Buz Craft and Gretna Mayor Belinda Constant, met with the rest... more »

• On the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, return to one of the places the levees broke Play Video

  August 29, 2025 7:16 AM

  NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans and the state of Louisiana as a whole were forever changed 20 years ago when Hurricane Katrina made landfall. The devastating destruction of Katrina, which struck the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29, 2005, was made worse when the levee system protecting New Orleans from... more »

• TEAM 2 TRAFFIC: All lanes reopened on Mississippi River Bridge after Sunday afternoon wreck Play Video

  July 27, 2025 1:48 PM

  BATON ROUGE — Two lanes were blocked on I-10 Eastbound and one lane was blocked on I-10 Westbound in a wreck on the Mississippi River Bridge on Sunday afternoon. The left two lanes are blocked Eastbound on the bridge. The left-most lane was blocked Westbound. Traffic heading west... more »

• West Feliciana Parish flooding pushes wildlife onto properties, threatens crops Play Video

  April 30, 2025 6:12 PM

  ST. FRANCISVILLE - West Feliciana Parish is no stranger to spring flooding from the Mississippi River. However, this year, heavy rain from the north has already caused major flooding in Louisiana, pushing not just people from their properties but wildlife onto them. Parish President Kenny Harvard said hogs,... more »

• Wednesday AM Forecast: Warm & breezy ahead of next rainmaker Play Video

  April 30, 2025 5:09 AM

  Dry conditions continue Wednesday before a more active pattern sets up to end the week. Those with outdoor plans this weekend should monitor the changing forecast closely. Today & Tonight: Wednesday will remain dry but feature breezier conditions. Look for a warm afternoon with highs in the upper-80s and... more »

• Coroner identifies body found in Mississippi River at start of April as 24-year-old from Dallas Play Video

  April 15, 2025 6:31 PM

  BATON ROUGE — The East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner's Office has identified a body found in the Mississippi River on April 1. The coroner's office said that 24-year-old Adrien Ramirez from Dallas, Texas, was identified after being found in the water near the USS KIDD Museum and the planetarium.... more »

• Wednesday PM Forecast: Spring in full bloom, gorgeous weather for weekend plans Play Video

  April 9, 2025 4:38 PM

  The beautiful stretch of spring weather is set to continue. Sunglasses and sunscreen will be important items to have through the weekend. Tonight & Tomorrow: A slight warming trend is underway. Even so, another cool night is expected with lows dropping into the low-50s – a contrast from recent... more »

• Catastrophic flooding threatens areas to the north, local river rises expected Play Video

  April 1, 2025 7:40 PM

  Multiple rounds of heavy rain will take aim at parts of the Mid-Mississippi River and Ohio River Valleys late this week. Some locations could collect over a foot of rain, leading to widespread, potentially catastrophic flash flooding in the region. While this is of no immediate concern for Baton Rouge,... more »

• DOTD announces brief traffic switch for LA 1 Intracoastal Bridge project Play Video

  October 16, 2024 4:08 PM

  PORT ALLEN - A minor traffic shift is planned for West Baton Rouge Parish drivers at the end of the week. According to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, drivers on the Interstate 10 eastbound off-ramp to LA 1 southbound, as well as the Ernest Wilson Road ramp... more »

• Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative in Baton Rouge call on future president for action Play Video

  September 18, 2024 8:26 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Representatives from 30 cities along the Mississippi River met in Baton Rouge this week to encourage greater business and community connections. The Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative is an association of "local governments from across the Mississippi River Valley that came together in 2012 to... more »

• Historic Eucharistic Procession along the Mississippi River begins this Wednesday Play Video

  August 9, 2024 1:00 PM

  BATON ROUGE— A 14-foot monstrance holding the Eucharist is the highlight of a multi-boat procession along the 130-mile stretch from Baton Rouge to New Orleans which starts this Wednesday. The Fête-Dieu du Mississippi or "festival of God on the Mississippi River" will be the first recorded instance of any... more »

• Exhibit exploring architecture and history of Mississippi River bridges opens Saturday at Old State Capitol

  June 8, 2024 10:47 AM

  BATON ROUGE — An exhibit featuring photographs of bridges that cross the Mississippi River opens Saturday at the Old State Capitol, which is practically in the shadow of the Interstate 10 bridge at Baton Rouge. Architectural photographer Philip Gould explores the various spans, including how they were built and... more »

• Army Corps revises timeline, says recent efforts have slowed saltwater intrusion on Miss. River

  October 12, 2023 1:19 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Efforts to slow the incursion of saltwater in the Mississippi River have succeeded, to an extent, but the "wedge" is still moving upstream, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A revised timeline released on Thursday shows the saltwater flow will reach water treatment facilities... more »

• Capital Area water companies say saltwater intrusion not a threat to local supply

  September 25, 2023 12:46 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Several utilities that provide fresh water to Capital Area homes and businesses on Monday said a saltwater intrusion concern downriver should not have effects in or around Baton Rouge. Extremely low levels in the Mississippi River have allowed saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico to move... more »

• 'Old Bridge' to close to eastbound traffic for much of the weekend

  August 4, 2023 6:38 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Drivers who take the U.S. 190 "Old Bridge" eastbound will be sent on a detour for much of Saturday and Sunday as crews tend to emergency railroad repair work. The Department of Transportation and Development will close U.S. 190 east at LA 415 from 7 a.m.... more »

• 10 sites remain for new Mississippi River bridge; top 3 options to be decided in May Play Video

  March 28, 2022 11:38 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The list of potential locations for a new bridge over the Mississippi River was cut in half Monday, with the expectation that three final options would be chosen by the end of May. "One thing [is] for sure, what we got out there's not working," Fred... more »

• As legislative session looms, fight over Mississippi River Bridge funding brews Play Video

  March 11, 2022 11:32 PM

  BATON ROUGE - As lawmakers return to the State Capitol for the legislative session, which opens Monday, a battle over proposed funding for a new Mississippi River Bridge has already begun. In the executive budget proposal unveiled in January, Gov. John Bel Edwards proposes setting aside $500 million in... more »

• In latest estimate, DOTD says Mississippi River bridge project to cost $2 billion Play Video

  February 23, 2022 10:59 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The project to construct a new bridge over the Mississippi River is now expected to cost $2 billion, state transportation officials said Wednesday. The latest price tag for the long-awaited project was unveiled as the Department of Transportation and Development presented its latest budget during a... 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 »

• Coast Guard suspends search for man overboard near Baton Rouge

  December 3, 2021 6:43 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search of the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge for an American Queen crewmember who fell overboard Wednesday. Rescue crews searched more than 100 miles of the Lower Mississippi River for approximately 32 hours. The search began after Coast... more »

• Amid severe flooding and with few options, NOLA officials dumped untreated sewage into Mississippi River

  September 3, 2021 5:14 AM

  NEW ORLEANS — Hurricane Ida left the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board with an extensive problem that led to the decision to dump untreated sewage into the Mississippi River, WWL-TV reports. Before Ida made landfall, officials anticipated sewage issues and urged locals to cut their usage of wastewater.... more »

• Hopeful Guinness record setter's 55-day kayak journey down Mississippi River ends in Louisiana

  July 14, 2021 10:29 AM

  Traci Lynn Martin, a nurse from Missouri, was a woman on a mission when she boarded her kayak on May 17 and began a 55-day long trip down the Mississippi River. According to The Advocate , Martin had her sights set on becoming a Guinness world record holder. ... more »

• Mississippi River cruises set to dock in Baton Rouge for first time in a year Play Video

  March 22, 2021 10:20 PM

  BATON ROUGE - On Tuesday morning the American Jazz, a river cruise ship, will dock in downtown Baton Rouge, becoming the first ship to bring passengers to the capital city since the COVID-19 pandemic brought cruise liners to a halt. American Jazz is expected to dock Tuesday at 7... more »

• War hero's headstone and others discarded like trash; AG's office investigating Play Video

  August 3, 2020 5:37 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The Attorney General's office is investigating a number of headstones that were discarded like trash underneath the Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge. At least one of the discarded grave markers is from Port Hudson National Cemetery and memorializes a soldier who died in 1967. It is... more »

• Landowner frustrated over Comite Diversion Canal land acquisition process Play Video

  March 5, 2020 5:57 PM

  UPDATE During the last week of April, John and Teresa Cop received a check for $1.18 million. The parties involved reached an agreement in April for all five acres of land. ZACHARY - State leaders have repeatedly said that the plan is to complete the Comite Diversion Canal project... more »

• Alligator spotted by levee downtown Play Video

  July 6, 2019 12:19 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Some folks just wanted to have a relaxing breakfast down by the levee this morning when they were joined by an uninvited guest. At first they thought it was just a log floating in the current, but soon realized that it was an alligator once... 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 »

• 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 »

• Officials expect Sunshine Bridge to remain closed for months Play Video

  October 12, 2018 6:04 AM

  DONALDSONVILLE – Damage to the Sunshine Bridge from a barge collision last week is far more extensive than originally thought, leading state officials to believe the crossing will be closed well beyond October. An update released by DOTD officials Monday said repairs to the highway linking both sides of... more »

• Some Metro Council members like new road tax plan better than last one Play Video

  June 20, 2018 11:49 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome had a series of private meetings with metro council members Wednesday about a number of issues including her new road tax plan. The mayor wants the metro council to place the initiative on the December ballot. "I like that the funding source... 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 »

• Officials monitoring levees northwest of Baton Rouge; Usual high water issues

  March 14, 2018 11:05 AM

  LETTSWORTH – Local and federal officials have been busy dealing with seepage and minor slides along the Mississippi River levee system northwest of Baton Rouge. Seepage has been reported along the levee in Pointe Coupee Parish but officials stressed Wednesday morning, issues have not risen to a crisis level.... more »

• Memphis dumping its wastewater into the Mississippi River

  March 9, 2018 7:16 PM

  MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A series of very unfortunate events prompted the city of Memphis, Tennessee, to pump wastewater into a fast-moving, southern-flowing Mississippi River. High water caused a pump failure at a city treatment plant, officials said Friday. A backup pump is running but it won't be able to... more »

• As water seeps under levee, officials to ease concern with HESCO baskets Play Video

  March 8, 2018 2:25 PM

  BATON ROUGE – Water began seeping from the ground and creating patches of moisture on streets, curbs and lawns along the Mississippi River levee south of downtown Baton Rouge Thursday. It's a usual – and mostly innocent – sign that the river is rising. As the river nears 40... more »

• Coast Guard investigating oil discharge in river

  January 4, 2018 10:14 PM

  GRAMERCY - An oil discharge on the Mississippi River prompted a cleanup effort spearheaded by federal officials Thursday. The Coast Guard released details of the incident late Thursday. It said earlier in the day, about 2,500 gallons of fuel oil discharged from the Petroleum Fuel and Terminal Mt. Airy... more »

• Facebook post rekindles memories of ferry service in Baton Rouge

  November 21, 2017 11:44 AM

  BATON ROUGE – A growing Facebook page shines the spotlight on yesteryear with pictures of a bygone Baton Rouge. A post Tuesday morning reminded us of the commute across the river before I-10 – a ride on the City of Baton Rouge ferry. Ironically, the post comes hours before... 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 »

• Mississippi River levels require levee inspections from Baton Rouge to Venice

  March 21, 2016 11:58 AM

  BATON ROUGE -The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began phase II of flood inspections along the Mississippi River on Monday. The phase begins after the river rose 15 feet at the Carrollton gage in the New Orleans District. The phase II activation applies to levees along the Mississippi River from... more »

• Roads closed, traffic gridlocked as storms pass through Baton Rouge

  March 10, 2016 12:43 PM

  BATON ROUGE - As severe weather passes over Baton Rouge, drivers traveling on the interstates can expect to have serious traffic delays. DOTD officials say a stalled tractor trailer blocked the left lane on I-10 west on the Mississippi River Bridge. Congestion from that incident backed up traffic to... more »

• Finally, Mississippi drops below flood stage

  February 4, 2016 11:49 AM

  BATON ROUGE - For the first time in 31 days, the Mississippi River has dropped below flood stage. Thursday morning, the river was just lower than flood stage of 35 feet in Baton Rouge. It crested at 43.5 feet between January 18th and 21st. The rising river required... more »

• I-10W reopened after truck loses load on bridge

  January 29, 2016 11:15 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Traffic officials shut down the westbound side of I-10 over the Mississippi River bridge after a truck loaded with steel construction materials lost its load. DOTD shut the interstate down at the I-10 / I-110 split in order to divert traffic to US-190. The ramp from... more »

• Span of Mississippi River near Hahnville reopened after barge capsize

  January 27, 2016 3:30 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard announced they’ve reopened a stretch of the Mississippi River near Hahnville that was closed to traffic after a barge capsized. The span of river that was affected was from mile marker 127 to mile marker 129. The Mississippi was closed in that area... more »

• Barge collision closes Mississippi River near Hahnville

  January 26, 2016 6:11 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard say they’re responding to yet another barge collision between two towing vessels near mile marker 129 on the Mississippi River near Hahnville. The Mississippi River has been closed from mile marker 126 to mile marker 131, according to the Guard. The Coast... 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 »

• Coast Guard reopens stretch of Miss. River near Plaquemines Parish

  January 22, 2016 11:24 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard says they reopened the Mississippi River to one-way traffic for a stretch of the river near West Pointe à la Hache Thursday night. Vessels planning to travel the area from mile marker 50 to mile marker 52 should contact the tow vessel Kyle... more »

• Coast Guard response to breakaway barges near Plaquemines Parish continues

  January 21, 2016 12:53 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard is still responding to a barge breakaway involving 22 vessels that happened on the Mississippi River near West Pointe à la Hache Wednesday. The river remains closed between mile markers 50 and 53 with the Guard overseeing operations to assess the location of... more »

• 22 barge breakaway closes stretch of Mississippi River

  January 20, 2016 6:16 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard says they’re responding to a 22 barge breakaway on the Mississippi River near West Pointe à la Hache. The Guard reports all 22 barges were loaded with coal and petroleum coke when they broke free at mile marker 54 on the river. ... more »

• PHOTOS: flooding Mississippi River reaches crest

  January 19, 2016 10:43 AM

  Aerial photos of the Baton Rouge area are coming into the WBRZ Weather Team as the Mississippi River is cresting. While the river is leveling off at many regional gauges, it will not recede very quickly. Water can be seen inundating river plain north and west of Baton Rouge.... more »