Livingston Parish schools upgrading security and welcoming a new multi-million dollar project - Louisiana news - NewsLocker (2024)

LIVINGSTON - Livingston Parish Schools is ready to welcome back faculty and staff this Thursday.The district, which consists of 43 schools, 3,800 employees and over 27,000 students, is also welcoming Jody Purvis, a new superintendent.He says he is hoping to increase parental and community involvement during his time serving."I want us all to work together. I want us to have that clear communication. I want that student to come in and be excited to learn and I want to see those teachers showing

Ed Daniels, longtime WGNO sports director, dies at 67

NEW ORLEANS - Long-time WGNO Sports Director Ed Daniels died Friday after a heart attack he suffered in late July during the New Orleans Saints' training camp in Los Angeles, according to WGNO.Daniels started as the station’s sports director in 1992 and was the creator of Friday Night Football. He graduated from Archbishop Rummel High School in 1975 and from Loyola University in 1979."Ed’s importance to WGNO cannot be overstated. He was the most important and impactful perso

Former WBRZ Investigative Reporter to be honored with room named in his honor at local recovery center

BATON ROUGE -- Former WBRZ and CNN reporter John Camp is being honored by the O'Brien House recovery center by naming a treatment meeting room in his honor.For more than half a century, the O'Brien House has been helping alcoholics and addicts in the Baton Rouge area recover. WBRZ got the chance to talk to the O'Brien executive director, Dr. Emily George Tilley, about how integral Camp was to making that happen."We offer 90-day residential services for clients with addiction, men and women. We

Local car club, 'The Mustang Mafia,' donated school supplies to Glen Oaks Elementary

BATON ROUGE - A local car club, "The Mustang Mafia," donated school supplies to Glen Oaks Elementary for the new semester Friday.The Mustang Mafia has been doing this school supply drive for the last three years."This means everything to us," Hunter Craig, the Mustang Mafia President said. "We're big on the cars, first off, and the families, second off. We always build a family within ourselves and a third goal to us is to give back to the community."The group says this is not the only event th

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COVID-19 having a small spike in cases, expert weighs in

LOUISIANA - According to the Louisiana Department of Health reports there has been more than 20% jump in positive COVID tests in the first two weeks of August.Doctor Katie Taylor the medical director of infection prevention at Our Lady of the Lake says these numbers are becoming more and more common since 2020."In the summer and winter, we're used to having them in winter, especially with the flu, the summer is kind of a newer thing; it has happened before," Taylor said.Taylor expects the level

Supreme Court keeps new rules about sex discrimination in education on hold in half the country

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Friday kept on hold in roughly half the country new regulations about sex discrimination in education, rejecting a Biden administration request.The court voted 5-4, with conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch joining the three liberal justices in dissent.At issue were protections for pregnant students and students who are parents, and the procedures schools must use in responding to sexual misconduct complaints.The most noteworthy of

Friday's Health Report: Learn more about the larynx, which plays an important part in speaking

BATON ROUGE — Many parts of the body work together to make sound. The larynx, also called the voice box, plays an important part in the process. "It is the primary organ that's responsible for your ability to speak, for your ability to swallow, to eat and drink, and to breathe," Mayo Clinic otolaryngologist David Lott said.The larynx also helps sense when food is swallowed. Lott says it governs those functions in two ways."When we swallow, the vocal folds close. That movement

$$$ Best Bets: Angel in the Sky! $$$

Hunter McCann has this weekend's best bets for the Paris 2024 Olympics and the MLB!FridayMLB:Nationals @ Phillies: Phillies -1.5Mariners @ Pirates: No Run First InningRed Sox @ Orioles: Orioles MLMarlins @ Mets: Mets -1.5White Sox: Astros: Astros -1.5Padres @ Rockies: Padres MLWNBA:Storm @ Dream: u157.5Mercury @ Fever: Fever -2.5Sun @ Wings: Suns -5.5Saturday MLB:Yankees @ Tigers: Yankees MLBlue Jays @ Cubs: Cubs MLRoyals @ Reds: o9 Total RunsGiants @ Athletics: Giants MLWhite Sox @ As

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Woman charged in brazen plot to extort Elvis Presley's family and auction off Graceland

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Missouri woman has been arrested on charges she orchestrated a brazen scheme to defraud Elvis Presley’s family by trying to auction off his Graceland mansion and property before a judge halted the mysterious foreclosure sale, the Justice Department said Friday.Lisa Jeanine Findley, 53, of Kimberling City, falsely claimed Presley’s daughter borrowed $3.8 million from a bogus private lender and had pledged Graceland as c

Food trailer found after theft in Erwinville

UPDATE: The West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office located the trailer Friday.-----ERWINVILLE - Deputies with West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office are investigating a theft of a food trailer that took place between August 5 and August 6. The trailer is a yellow 2002 model, and was stolen along U.S. 190 near Poydras Bayou Road. Anyone with information that can assist detectives, please give them a call at 225-382-5200.Permalink| Comments

Deputies investigating food trailer theft in Erwinville

ERWINVILLE - Deputies with West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office are investigating a theft of a food trailer that took place between August 5 and August 6. The trailer is a yellow 2002 model, and was stolen along U.S. 190 near Poydras Bayou Road. Anyone with information that can assist detectives, please give them a call at 225-382-5200.Permalink| Comments

Former Tangipahoa Parish Jail maintenance employee arrested; allegedly took inmate off-site to buy weapons

AMITE — A former maintenance worker who worked in the Tangipahoa Parish Jail was arrested Friday for taking an inmate out of the jail to buy weapons from him, deputies said.Donald Hammons, 56, was arrested on one count of malfeasance in office.Hammons was a Tangipahoa Parish Government employee assigned to conduct maintenance at the parish jail from 2010 until the sheriff’s office administration change in July.After the new leadership took over, it was learned that Hammons a

Deputies searching for man who stole $600 in laundry detergent from Gonzales Dollar General

GONZALES — Deputies are searching for a man accused of stealing about $600 worth of laundry detergent from a Gonzales Dollar General.Deputies said the man was seen near a black Buick sedan at the Dollar General on La. 74. Anyone with information that could help identify this the man is asked to call the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office anonymously at 225-621-4636.Permalink| Comments

'Showdown on the Bluff' football jamboree at A.W. Mumford stadium to take place August 29-30

BATON ROUGE - A football jamboree called "Showdown on the Bluff" featuring East Baton Rouge high schools will take place at Southern University's A.W. Mumford Stadium on August 29 and 30, according to EBR Schools.The release called it "the start of a historic athletic partnership" between EBR Schools and Southern.The games begin at 6 p.m. both days and will be broken into 12-minute halves. Here are the matchups:Thursday, Aug. 29
· Game 1: Capitol vs. Collegiate
· Game 2: N

LSU's summer graduation ceremony the largest in school's history; beats previous year's record

BATON ROUGE – LSU's summer commencement ceremony on Friday was the largest in the school's history, the university said.LSU awarded 1,061 degrees to graduates, beating a previous record of 1,037 set during the summer 2023 commencement.According to LSU, 26 students graduated with honors. The graduating class also represents 41 Louisiana parishes, 47 states and 36 countries. Women comprise nearly 60 percent of the class, and men comprise about 40 percent.The youngest graduate is 19, whi

Baton Rouge man sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for possession, distribution of meth

BATON ROUGE - A U.S. district judge sentenced a 47-year-old Baton Rouge man to 16 years in federal prison after the man was convicted for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.Allen Ambrose was arrested in June 2022 after a search warrant. Ambrose fled when he saw agents and discarded about three ounces of methamphetamine over a fence during the pursuit. Agents located over two pounds of meth alongside suspected marijuana, LSD and MDMA. He was questioned after his arrest

Luther Kent, blues musician and WBRH radio host, dies at age 76

DENHAM SPRINGS — Luther Kent, whose began singing the blues as a teenager and most recently hosted a popular radio program on Baton Rouge High School's WBRH radio station, died Friday of congestive heart failure. He was 76.Fellow musician Johnny Palazzotto said Friday no formal funeral arrangements were planned. He said Kent's family had notified him about the death Friday morning. According to Kent's website, he began singing professionally at age 14, recording "I Wanna Know

Subaru Baton Rouge gives EBR Parish elementary school $10k for classroom supplies

BATON ROUGE - As part of the Subaru Loves Learning initiative and a partnership with AdoptAClassroom.org, Subaru of Baton Rouge surprised teachers at Woodlawn Elementary School on Friday morning with a gift.According to Subaru, 92% of teachers nationwide have students from families who can't afford any school supplies. This leads to teachers spending an average of $860 out of their own pockets each year to equip their classrooms. To remedy this, Subaru of Baton Rouge "adopted" classroo

The Investigative Unit: Officer suspended after domestic violence arrest fired by St. Gabriel Police

ST. GABRIEL — A St. Gabriel Police officer arrested for allegedly pulling a gun on a woman has been fired from the force after previously being suspended without pay by the department, St. Gabriel Police said Friday.Ronald Monroe Jr. was fired from the department after Police Chief Kevin Ambeau advised the St. Gabriel City Council of his plans to fire the officer at their Thursday meeting. Monroe was arrested on July 29 for aggravated assault domestic abuse, as well as domest

Detectives: In 3-minute attack, man killed ex's new boyfriend at Hanks Drive apartment

BATON ROUGE — Deputies said Friday that a man arrested for murder drove to the mother of his child's home and shot her new boyfriend.Tyrus Watson, 22, was arrested for second-degree murder Thursday evening after a shooting at a Hanks Drive apartment complex that morning. Watson killed Kedrick Glasper, 31, according to deputies.According to an arrest warrant, Glasper was found shot dead outside of the second-floor apartment. The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office said Watson was at the

BRPD: Man picked up 150 pounds of meth from strip club, had fentanyl delivered to Baton Rouge home

BATON ROUGE — A man arrested by the Baton Rouge Police Department after they seized nearly 5 pounds of fentanyl had drugs delivered to at least one Baton Rouge home and picked up 150 pounds of meth outside a West Baton Rouge Parish strip club as part of a large-scale drug dealing operation, arrest records show. Cendy Sammy Keophimanh, 42, was arrested Wednesday on multiple drug and gun possession charges, including possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphet

Man deliberately crashed car through Baptist church, said he was 'riding with demons'

BATON ROUGE - A man arrested Thursday for crashing nearly through an entire church on Scenic Highway reportedly told officers he had been "riding with demons" prior to the crash. Tervont Johnson, 26, was arrested Thursday after he crashed his car through Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church on Scenic Highway. His vehicle also caught on fire immediately after the crash.The Baton Rouge Police Department said Johnson appeared to be incoherent at the time of his arrest. He waived his rights to couns

Prairieville home's garage catches fire early Friday morning; cause unknown

PRAIRIEVILLE — A home caught fire early Friday morning in Prairieville, fire officials said.Prairieville Fire Department crews were dispatched to the residential structural fire on JD Broussard Road around 12:35 a.m. According to fire officials, the fire started in the home's garage and the occupants had already left the building when firefighters arrived.The fire was contained by 1:10 a.m. and no injuries were reported, fire officials said. The cause of the fire is still under invest

Hours being extended for Grosse Tete pedestrian ferry as bridge continues repairs

GROSSE TETE - The hours for the pedestrian ferry are being expanded as repairs on the Grosse Tete drawbridge continue. Starting Aug. 19, the pedestrian ferry will offer extended hours seven days a week, including holidays. Additionally, a captain has joined the pedestrian ferry team with a "100-ton" license. The new member has allowed the team to expand the ferry service. The new hours will be Saturday-Wednesday 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Thursday-Friday 4 a.m. to 11 p.m..P

EBR School Board approves contract of deputy superintendent Adam Smith

BATON ROUGE - The East Baton Rouge School Board voted to finalize deputy superintendent Adam Smith's contract Thursday.The board voted 7-0 in favor of the contract with two members abstaining. His contract would give him a $235,000 per year salary.Smith's contract is set to expire after December 2028; Superintendent LaMont Cole's contract is set to expire at the end of July 2028.Permalink| Comments

Experts explain 112% increase in child solicitation cases in Louisiana over past three years

LOUISIANA - The state of Louisiana has seen a dramatic increase in cases involving sexual predators pursuing children online.In 2021 there were 3,478 reported incidents, in 2022 there were 6,128, reported, and then in 2023 it skyrocketed to 13,644 reported cases in the state. That is a 112% increase in three years, with officials telling WBRZ that 2024 is looking to match or surpass that number.The increase in reported incidents has led to a surge in arrests as well. David Ferris, the Cyber Cri

University Lakes meeting addressed community concerns after over a year of the project

BATON ROUGE - The University Lakes project has been progressing for more than a year, and yet those leading construction say getting to the finish line could take a couple more years.On Thursday, project leaders met with those who like along the lakes to talk next steps. Posters displayed future plans, and project leaders guided conversations about the improvements and fielded concerns from residents.Mark Goodson, the project's manager, says the lake will get deeper and healthier as the dredgin

Vehicle in river at Highway 22 in Maurepas

MAUREPAS - A vehicle was in a river at Highway 22 near Falcon Road, according to the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office.Images showed the black vehicle off the roadway and slightly into a nearby river.No injuries were reported.Permalink| Comments

DOC employee alleges widespread drug problem at Elayn Hunt, DOC investigating

ST. GABRIEL - A Department of Corrections employee is choosing to remain anonymous, but blowing the whistle on what they claim are relaxed drug policies at Elayn Hunt Correctional."The drug problem is off the charts," they said. The employee says recently a large part of officers' duties at the prison have been resuscitating overdosing inmates."The intoxication is off the charts. You might see anywhere from five to 10 intoxications in any day."They say the drugs are mainly coming from

Thousands without power after outages in Livingston, St. Helena parishes

WALKER - Thousands of people in Livingston and St. Helena parishes are experiencing power outages, according to both DEMCO and Entergy maps.According to DEMCO maps, 9,965 people in Livingston Parish and 5,013 people in St. Helena Parish experienced outages as of 5:30 p.m.Entergy had 3,174 people experiencing power outages in the city of Walker.The Walker Police Department said traffic lights are not functioning and advised residents to stay off roadways until the weather clears.According to DEM