Louisiana State News

INVESTIGATIVE: DA doesn't want Judge Eboni Rose's uncle to handle sentencing for ex-police officer

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 11:50:13 +0000

BATON ROUGE — East Baton Rouge Parish prosecutors don't want the uncle of 19th District Judge Eboni Johnson Rose to handle the sentencing for a former police officer she once convicted of a crime that doesn't exist. 

Judge Donald Johnson this month took over Rose's criminal docket after she returned from a monthslong suspension imposed by the Louisiana Supreme Court. After a number of errors on the bench, justices last summer removed her from the bench temporarily while a state panel reviewed her competency.

Former Baton Rouge Police officer Donald Steele had been accused of second-degree kidnapping and malfeasance. After a bench trial, Rose acquitted him of the kidnapping charge and said he was guilty of misdemeanor malfeasance, a crime that doesn't exist. 

At Steele's sentencing in April 2024, Rose vacated the guilty verdict and entered a plea of not guilty. The state appealed and the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal and the state Supreme Court each said Steele was guilty of felony malfeasance.

When Rose returned from her suspension in June 2025, she and her uncle switched dockets. She took over Johnson's civil docket.

"It is clear that all parties recognized that Judge Rose could not be an appropriate judge to handle sentencing in this matter," the district attorney's office wrote in a brief filed Friday. "... due to the close familial relationship between Judge Don Johnson and Judge Rose, and the profound impact that her handling of this matter had on Judge Rose's career, Judge Johnson should also be recused."

Assistant District Attorney Dana Cummings said the victim was aware of the situation and believes Johnson should step aside.

"The actions of Judge Rose in this case played a profound part of the public discipline that she received," Cummings wrote. "... (I)t is impossible for Judge Don Johnson, her uncle and mentor, to be fair and impartial."

In April 2024, Steele's lawyer had questioned whether Rose could find Steele guilty of malfeasance if she didn't find him guilty of any underlying charges, including an allegation that Steele had grabbed the breasts of a female motorist he had pulled over.

In her do-over, Rose said she made an error in her previous verdict and opted to find Steele not guilty of everything.

“The judge’s decision confirms what we always knew and fought for. Donald Steele is innocent. Reports to the contrary were premature and did not take into account the Court's determination that no sexual battery occurred," defense lawyer Franz Borghardt said in a statement at the time.

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'Dead zone' in Gulf smaller than estimates predicted for June 2025, could mean improvement for fishing

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 11:34:40 +0000

BATON ROUGE - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-supported scientists recently announced that data reveal this year’s Gulf hypoxia, known as the dead zone, is 21% smaller than estimates predicted for June 2025. This is the 15th smallest measurement on record.

The goal of reducing the dead zone has been a joint effort by many, and therefore it is difficult to determine how much contribution or impact any one organization has had on this reduction.

The LSU AgCenter has undertaken a range of projects—both preventive and restorative—aimed at reducing the impact of agriculture on the spread of the dead zone.

Essential nutrients, such as nitrogen, are added to fields in the form of fertilizers to help crops grow and produce high yields. However, these same nutrients can cause problems when they leave the farm through runoff and erosion, eventually entering bodies of water.

The Gulf is one of the major bodies of water affected by these high nutrient levels.

Hypoxia is associated with harmful algal blooms, which release toxins that can cause illness in animals and humans, as well as decrease oxygen levels in the water, killing marine life.

This has negative impacts not only on Louisiana but also on many areas near affected coastlines on a global scale.
One of the AgCenter projects aimed at helping to reduce hypoxia is the Best Management Practices on Model Farms project, which is funded by a Patrick F. Taylor Foundation grant.

Brenda Tubaña is an LSU AgCenter soil fertility expert and the lead scientist of the project.

“The Patrick Taylor’s Model Farms project demonstrates and promotes preventive actions in reducing losses of sediments and nutrients to bodies of water through soil health restoration and efficient agricultural inputs usage,” said Tubaña. “The project also highlights the value of the cooperating growers of these model farms in expanding the adoption of these practices. It is gratifying to be part of this team.”

The project includes four model farms and two research stations in Louisiana, where trials are conducted to find the most effective and practical ways for farmers to implement conservation practices on their farms.

It serves as a space for testing emerging innovative technologies, producing data-driven results and supporting outreach efforts to educate the public on new developments in the agriculture industry.

“Many agencies and institutions have dedicated programs that were designed to reduce the amounts of sediments and nutrients leaving agricultural landscape, consisting of a diversity of tasks but a goal that transcends federal and state agencies including many members of EPA’s Hypoxia Task Force,” Tubaña said. “The smaller size of the dead zone than expected this year is a good sign that this concerted effort is starting to bring in results.”

For more information about the Taylor grant, visit www.LSUAgCenter.com/taylorgrant.

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Man serving 20 years in prison sentenced to 55 more years for 2017 Ascension Parish shooting

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 11:33:41 +0000

DONALDSONVILLE — A Donaldsonville man currently serving 20 years in prison for manslaughter was sentenced to an additional 55 years behind bars earlier this week. 

In May, Kahlil Howard, 27, pleaded guilty to attacking and shooting a man on the Sunshine Bridge in September 2017. On Tuesday, Howard was sentenced to 55 years in state prison, a sentence that will be served without the benefit of parole, probation or suspension. 

The attempted murder charge he was charged with carried up to 50 years in state prison, and the armed robbery carried up to 99 years in prison.

Howard and the man he shot met through a mutual friend, and Howard asked the victim for a ride. During the ride, Howard brandished a handgun and ordered the man to drive to a cow pasture over across the Mississippi River.

Once in the pasture, Howard held the man at gunpoint and told him to hand over his money. Howard then shot the man multiple times.

Shortly after, Ascension Parish deputies apprehended Howard and booked him for attempted second-degree murder and armed robbery.

Howard will serve his sentence after he finishes the 20-year sentence for a 2021 manslaughter conviction. The 23rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office said he was out on bond for the 2017 killing when the 2021 manslaughter happened. 

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Eligible Louisianians can now have seizure indicator added to license, state ID

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 11:13:40 +0000

BATON ROUGE — Eligible Louisiana residents can now ask to have a seizure indicator added to their driver's license or ID card. 

The optional designation, the Office of Motor Vehicles said, aims to promote health awareness and provide critical information to first responders. 

It will be made available to anyone diagnosed with a seizure disorder by a qualified medical or mental health professional and can be added to any class of driver’s license or identification card except handicap and voter ID cards.

"Please note that a license or ID card with a seizure indicator can only be combined with the Needs Accommodation and Autism indicator and may be removed at any time upon the applicant’s request," OMV officials said.

To apply, qualifying individuals must submit a Medical Examiner’s Certification of Seizure Disorder form completed by a licensed medical or mental health professional. It is important to note that an individual must be seizure-free for six months to maintain valid driving privileges, the OMV added.

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Bar busted for underage alcohol sales; 116 illegal purchases made in just three hours

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 11:04:30 +0000

HAMMOND - Three bartenders were arrested and a bar owner was issued a summons after video footage showed a Hammond bar making 116 alcohol sales to underage customers in three hours. 

Hammond Police started investigating a potential missing person case after clothing and personal items were found on the sidewalk along East Charles Street. The items belonged to 18-year-old Richard Clementi, who was soon found asleep in the sanctuary of a nearby church. He told detectives he and some friends went to The Brown Door Bar the night before and that he had been served alcohol. 

Detectives watched the surveillance footage from the bar the night before and found that in just three hours, the bartenders made 116 alcohol sales to underaged customers, including Clementi. 

Three bartenders from The Brown Door were arrested and charged with unlawful sales: 20-year-old Sydney Mitchell, 22-year-old Michael Cuccia and 21-year-old Tristan Stravinsky. 

The owner of the bar, 57-year-old Patrick Broussard, was also issued a misdemeanor summons for letting a disorderly place. 

Lastly, Clementi was issued a misdemeanor summons for unlawful purchase. 

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Affordable energy advocates urge PSC to wait to vote on requests to build plants for Meta AI data center

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 11:02:56 +0000

RAYVILLE — The Alliance for Affordable Energy is requesting that the state Public Service Commission delay its vote on new power plants that would serve a massive AI data center being built by Facebook's parent company, Meta, in Richland Parish. 

The group says that the PSC needs to wait until October to vote on Entergy's requests to build the new plants to power the data center because there are too many unanswered questions about how much Louisiana residents will be paying to offset the $3.2 billion plants. 

PSC is set to meet on Wednesday and is expected to vote on Entergy's request despite originally scheduling the vote for its October meeting. 

"The process is being expedited, allowing Energy to bypass the Request for Proposal competitive bidding process that is normally required for projects of this scale," the Alliance said.

The group added that the normal process with the originally proposed Oct. 22 vote would "ensure that customers are being provided the least cost form of generation for costs that they will be required to pay."

WBRZ previously reported that the new center, which comes from a $10 billion investment, will result in 500 or more new direct jobs, more than 1,000 indirect jobs, and 5,000 construction jobs during its construction.

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BRPD announce arrest in April killing near Choctaw Drive at N. 38th St.

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 10:46:05 +0000

BATON ROUGE — Police said Friday they had arrested a 19-year-old man and accused him of second-degree murder in the shooting death of a man at an intersection along Choctaw Drive.

Keithan Lee is accused of killing Jonathan Triplett, 18. Triplett was found dead April 26 in a car at a traffic light at the corner of Choctaw and North 38th Street.

Lee surrendered after his photo was distributed publicly.

According to Baton Rouge Police, Lee was booked on second-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon.

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Officials confirm murder-suicide connection after woman, man found dead in Wednesday shootings

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 08:57:43 +0000

BATON ROUGE - Police confirmed that two shootings that left a man and a woman dead Wednesday were part of a murder-suicide. 

The Baton Rouge Police Department responded to a shooting on Florida Boulevard early Wednesday. Mirtalarellana Ramirez, 55, was found unresponsive and taken to the hospital, where she later died. 

Later that morning, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office responded after a man, later identified as Guadalupe Reyes Vasquez, was found dead in a car with a gunshot wound to the head. 

Officials said witnesses told them Ramirez and Vasquez had been arguing for the last two weeks and that Vasquez was the person responsible for the shooting death of Ramirez. 

This is the third murder-suicide in the capital region since June. 

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Woman taken to the hospital in serious condition after being hit by train overnight

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 08:41:01 +0000

BATON ROUGE - A woman was taken to the hospital in serious condition after she was reportedly struck by a train late Thursday night. 

Emergency officials said the crash happened on Gayosa Street shortly before midnight. Police said the 40-year-old woman was attempting to crawl under the train while it was stopped, but then it began to move. 

Her injuries were reported to be critical but non-life-threatening. 

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Law enforcement searching for missing New Orleans 12-year-old with developmental condition

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 06:50:15 +0000

NEW ORLEANS - Law enforcement is searching for Bryan Vasquez, a 12-year-old with a developmental condition who went missing Thursday night. 

Vasquez was last seen Thursday night around 10 p.m. near the area of Beaucaire Street in New Orleans wearing an adult diaper. He is believed to have walked away in an unknown direction. 

Vasquez is non-verbal and does not understand English or Spanish. 

Anyone with information on Vasquez's whereabouts is encouraged to contact the New Orleans Police Department at (504) 658-6070 or call 911. 

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Officials investigating early morning vacant house fire in Baton Rouge

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 06:05:17 +0000

BATON ROUGE - Officials are investigating a house fire that happened early Friday morning. 

The fire happened on Sherwood Street near the intersection with Delaware Street. When Baton Rouge firefighters arrived, they saw the home was engulfed in flames. 

They were able to keep the flames from spreading to nearby homes, but the vacant building was a total loss. 

No one was injured. Investigators are working to determine a cause. 

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GET 2 MOVING: Yoga with Brittnee

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 05:24:38 +0000

BATON ROUGE - Ever wanted to try yoga, but don't know where to start? Or looking to up your Warrior Two? Well, Brittnee Castile is your girl.

As a ten-year yoga master, Castile specializes in helping people deepen their yoga positions and stretches. This can be helpful for an athlete training to become more flexible or a yoga lover who wants to refine their technique.

Yoga is for anyone and can be catered to specific needs. It utilizes the same parts of the body as traditional workouts, like cardio or high-intensity training, but in a different way. Movements are practiced with slow, deep breaths and focus. Physically, it is just as much of a challenge as other workouts.

Castile says yoga can seem easy if you're not doing the moves correctly. It's supposed to be a true challenge where every part of the body is working and engaged to properly execute the movements.

Focus and breathing are huge aspects as well, as both allow people to focus more on the mental rather than the physical when the body is working through intense moments.

Castile offers private lessons for anyone, anywhere. She will meet you in your office at work during lunch break, at your house or even in the park for a great outdoor session.

Visit her Instagram, where she can be easily reached at @brittneeee_yoga. 

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Partner of inmate who died of suspected drug overdose wants answers

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 22:30:39 +0000

PORT ALLEN - The West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office announced Thursday that a 30-year-old inmate died in the correctional facility. Investigators suspect the death may be related to a drug overdose, and his partner wants answers.

According to the West Baton Rouge Sheriff's office, three inmates were found suffering from a medical emergency on Wednesday night. The inmates received on-site medical treatment. Two inmates recovered, while Jeremy Paul remained unresponsive and was pronounced deceased.

"My heart, my heart is hurting. I'm hurt. I'm hurt behind my husband, that's mine," Shingo Paul said.

Paul says she woke this morning to a call from an unfamiliar number.

"The person went on to tell me that my husband was deceased. I was confused. I didn't know if he had been released from jail. I didn't know if he was still in jail," Paul said.

Paul says she confirmed Jeremy Paul's death after speaking with one of his relatives.

"I spoke with the West Baton Rouge Coroner's office. They did identify that they did have the body of Jeremy Paul and that he was getting ready to leave the building to have an autopsy done," she said.

Investigators suspect the incident may be related to a drug overdose, but the official cause of death is pending autopsy results.

"I do feel that the drugs shouldn't be in the facility, however it got there, and however, the other two inmates survived the same drugs that Jeremy took. I would like for them to be investigated as well," Paul said.

Paul says she had a hard time getting information from the sheriff's office about what happened.

"The man got very upset, he started getting erratic, started cursing," Paul said

Paul and Jeremy have been married for around six years, but they've been separated for the last three.

"Regardless of whether we weren't together right now, a month later, a year ago, two years ago, I love you. When you get married, you go through things, things happen, but it's until death do us part, and I'm going to stand behind him 100%," Paul said.

An investigation is underway, which includes uncovering how drugs may have been smuggled into the jail.

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Baton Rouge residents meet at King David Baptist Church to discuss future of neighborhoods

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 22:19:47 +0000

BATON ROUGE — A community in Baton Rouge shared its vision for the future of its neighborhoods this evening.

Residents living in the avenues met at the Greater King David Baptist Church to voice their concerns.

It's part of a weekend aimed at enhancing the community in this area.

Organizer and councilman Anthony Kenney says he wants to help uplift the community.

"Back to the drawing board, to understand what do we need to do as a city-parish to ensure nobody loses their jobs, no services are disrupted, making sure every part of this parish, especially Baton Rouge, gets all the services needed to build a thriving community," Kenney said.

The outreach continues this Saturday with a community clean-up at the Greater King David Baptist Church at 8:30 a.m.

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THE INVESTIGATIVE UNIT: Former Port Allen mayor booked for rape, second person arrested

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 20:38:03 +0000

PORT ALLEN - A former mayor of Port Allen previously arrested for indecent behavior with a juvenile was also booked for third-degree rape, West Baton Rouge deputies said Thursday.

Derek Lewis, 64, was arrested Monday; deputies said additional evidence allowed them to charge him with third-degree rape.

Wyennetti Williams, 67, of Port Allen, was also booked with contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.

Lewis was sentenced in 2012 to 40 months in prison and two years of probation after pleading guilty to racketeering. A sting operation targeted various municipal officials and asked them to promote a waste bin-cleaning service in return for cash. In reality, the "businessmen" behind the operation were undercover officers.

Officials did not give any information on the specific allegations behind the arrests. The investigation is ongoing.

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Missing mother, three-month-old son found safe

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 19:01:55 +0000

UPDATE: The missing mother and her child have been found safe. Their information has been removed from this story for their privacy.

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BAKER - The Baker Police Department is seeking information on a missing woman and her three-month-old son.

Anyone with information on their whereabouts is urged to contact the Baker Police at 225-775-6000.

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TEAM 2 TRAFFIC: Stalled 18-wheeler on I-10 Eastbound stacks traffic across the bridge

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 18:16:46 +0000

BATON ROUGE - Traffic is backed up across the Mississippi River Bridge on Thursday afternoon due to a lane closure on Interstate 10. 

An 18-wheeler stalled along I-10 Eastbound near I-110 around 5:45 pm., moving traffic in the the area down to one lane. 

No injuries have been reported. 

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Concerns raised over conditions at East Baton Rouge Parish Prison

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 17:57:28 +0000

BATON ROUGE -- Over the past several days, WBRZ has received several calls and emails from concerned citizens saying female inmates at the EBR Parish Prison are allegedly being moved to the men's sections.

All of these claims also say that the conditions are "horrid" with allegations of mice and mold.

The city-parish, which is responsible for the maintenance of the facility, denies the claims about the female inmates. The EBR Sheriff's Office and EBR Metro Councilman Darryl Hurst agreed.

"Everything you're probably hearing about the incidents is not all true. What I heard is that they had to separate people for safety reasons and put them in two different parts of the jail," Hurst said.

The Sheriff's Office told WBRZ that it often shuffles inmates throughout the facility in order for repairs to be made to different sections or for disciplinary issues. It also said the women are never intermingled with the men.

However, both EBRSO and Hurst did say that claims that conditions are poor were true.

Hurst said that one thing that happened around four months ago was that a company said that it could no longer guarantee that the bars at the prison would stay locked.

"We had to shut down a wing and move them from a wing that we had just moved other inmates from because it wasn't safe," Hurst said.

A spokeswoman for EBRSO told WBRZ that it was "no secret a new prison facility is needed due to age."

Councilman Hurst has been pushing for a new facility and has even taken citizens on tours that show the conditions of the facility.

"In terms of the prison being deplorable, that answer is absolutely correct. They're sleeping in a place that I wouldn't want my dog to be," Hurst said.

"Our air conditioning went out about a year ago, a year and a half ago, where we had 100-degree heat in the prison for about a month or two because they couldn't find the parts. We had to search all around the country," he added.

The EBR Parish Prison Reform Coalition's Alexis Anderson said that it has always been tough to get anyone to take responsibility for the aging facility.

"Where is the track record from DPW of the work orders? Where are the procurement records? If you have an exterminator, somebody had to contract them. It is very easy to prove or disprove that these services are not only being maintained, but they're being adequately maintained," Anderson said.

Hurst and Anderson both say that a new prison is needed to ensure the health and safety of employees and the inmates.

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One Tank Trips: Chapple Farms

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 17:43:51 +0000

PRAIRIEVILLE — It’s a dirty job, but somebody has to do it, especially when you have land filled with unique animals.

Alexander Chapple and his family own 11.7 acres of land filled with unique species of animals you may not be familiar with. 

When it comes to taking a walk on the wild side, you don't have to go very far, especially for animal encounters.

"We got horses, we got mini cows, we got alpacas, we got goats, capybara‘s, caveys, emu, swines," Chapple said.

Right in the town of Prairieville, there are many animals that you can get up close and personal with.

“We also do field trips, farm tours, birthday parties, lots of fun activities for the whole family,” Chapple said.

Expand your knowledge on fruits you may not know exist, like the miracle fruit that temporarily changes your taste buds, or try a fruit that tastes like peanut butter. 

"I think the most popular animal is the capybara," Chapple said.

So if you are looking for something to make you feel happy, visit Chapple Farms and feed a cappy.

Chapple Farms is open seven days a week and is booked by appointment only. Just call or text 225-828-7160.

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Part of Cane Market Road closed after multi-vehicle crash

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 17:37:32 +0000

DENHAM SPRINGS - At least one person was injured in a multiple-vehicle crash along Cane Market Road on Thursday. 

The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office is working the crash that happened shortly after 5 p.m. near the corner of Cane Market and Clinton Allen roads. 

LPSO said that minor injuries were reported. 

No more information was immediately available. 

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Flash flood warning in effect for New Orleans, Jefferson Parish; parking restrictions lifted

Sat, 12 Jul 2025 20:46:00 +0000

A flash flood warning was issued for a portion of Southeast Louisiana that included New Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes Saturday afternoon.

Orleans Parish Coroner Dwight McKenna's office violated legal duty, judge rules

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 23:40:00 +0000

A Civil District Court judge has found Orleans Parish Coroner Dwight McKenna’s office liable for “outrageous and reckless” misconduct after it failed to identify a body and notify the deceased's person's family, the second time this year a judge has…

Our Lady of the Lake Arena? See more on plans for proposed new venue at LSU.

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 22:00:00 +0000

On renderings of a proposed new arena on the LSU campus is signage bearing its potential name: Our Lady of the Lake Arena.

Boil water advisory lifted for parts of New Orleans East, remains active in Venetian Isles

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 20:55:00 +0000

A boil water advisory issued Thursday afternoon for portions of New Orleans East was lifted Friday afternoon, according to an alert from the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans. The advisory remains in effect for all of Venetian Isles.

How a flood of letters, including from Trump voters, got a New Orleans woman out of ICE custody

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 20:00:00 +0000

Mandonna Kashanian, a New Orleans resident since the 1970s, was released this week after neighborhood outcry.

Louisiana's Fort Johnson becomes Fort Polk again but with a new namesake

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 19:24:00 +0000

Two years ago, Fort Polk became Fort Johnson, shedding its Confederate namesake and honoring a Black World War I hero.

The new 'Superman' has deep family roots in New Orleans and tied the knot here

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 17:28:00 +0000

Superman's biological family may come from Krypton, but David Corenswet, the latest actor to play the caped crusader, has family ties to the Crescent City.

Marines being sent to ICE detention facilities in Louisiana, feds say. Here's why.

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 16:05:00 +0000

Members of the U.S. Marines Corps are coming to Louisiana to aid U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with administrative and logistical work as ICE continues its immigration crackdown across the country, according to the Department of Defense's U.S. Northern Command.

Gayle Benson’s beloved Yorkie Petey, king of Barkus, dies: ‘The apple of my eye’

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 21:45:00 +0000

Master Petey Benson, a Yorkshire terrier who belonged to Saints owner Gayle Benson and reigned in March as King Barkus XXXII, has died, the board of the all-canine Mardi Gras krewe announced Thursday.

Partial building collapse in the French Quarter, New Orleans firefighters say

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 20:31:00 +0000

A four-story French Quarter building partially collapsed this week, sending construction materials onto the sidewalk and street, according to the New Orleans Fire Department.

LSU 'evaluating' implications for Baton Rouge arena project after developer’s CEO indicted

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 19:45:00 +0000

A day after the CEO of the firm that is the sole finalist to build a new LSU arena was indicted in Texas, university officials said they are weighing how the criminal charges could affect the project in Baton Rouge.

Boil water advisory issued for parts of New Orleans East. See the affected areas.

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 19:01:00 +0000

A boil water advisory was issued Thursday afternoon for portions of New Orleans East, according to an alert from the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans.

Mayor LaToya Cantrell signs emergency French Quarter sanitation deal; council tries to block

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 16:39:00 +0000

The New Orleans City Council on Thursday voted 5-1 to repeal an emergency declaration Mayor LaToya Cantrell filed a day before to install her choice of sanitation contractor in the French Quarter and Downtown Development District, the latest salvo in…

You can pay one price for access to 6 trendy New Orleans pools through 2026. Here's how.

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Summer's here and it can be a struggle to stay outside for too long in the New Orleans heat.

NORD and its foundation haven't done financial audits for years, Inspector General finds

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

The city recreation department and its foundation both failed to complete legally required financial audits in recent years, the New Orleans Office of Inspector General said in a report released Wednesday.

Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson will run for reelection, as top challengers file bids

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Despite rock-bottom approval ratings and a barrage of criticism two months after May’s jailbreak, Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson said Wednesday she’ll stay in the race for another term, while three others filed formal bids to oppose her in the…

Cantrell uses emergency power in effort to install trash contractor in French Quarter

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 01:00:00 +0000

Mayor LaToya Cantrell filed an emergency declaration in Civil District Court on Wednesday, a move that would allow her to install her preferred sanitation contractor in the French Quarter and Downtown Development District.

Formosa sued over access to Louisiana site where activists say slaves were buried

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 21:40:00 +0000

The groups allege the site's owner, a U.S. arm of Taiwanese chemical giant Formosa Plastics, has hindered their ability to access the unmarked cemetery they say holds the graves of their enslaved ancestors.

Finalist for LSU arena project indicted in federal case saying he rigged bids at UT Austin

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 19:50:00 +0000

The CEO of the finalist developer that LSU enlisted to potentially build a new arena on campus has been indicted in a federal case saying he rigged the bidding process over a similar project at the University of Texas at…

Nuclear plants in Louisiana, Mississippi rack up low-level safety, security findings, group says

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 16:45:00 +0000

Tallies of safety findings from 2022-2024 made the plants along the Mississippi River the first- and second-most-cited single-unit plants in the nation over a three-year period, the group says.

July 9 may be the shortest day ever in history, scientists say. How much time will we lose?

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 15:22:00 +0000

It's a phenomenon that has left scientists baffled, but the Earth's rotation is spinning unusually fast and Wednesday may be the shortest day ever on record.

Feeling lucky? Unclaimed $2,000,000 Powerball ticket sold in Lafayette

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 14:40:00 +0000

The Louisiana Lottery Cooperation announced the winner of a Power Play match-5 prize, set at $2 million is in Lafayette.

It started with bandanas: Meet this Louisiana designer headed to New York Fashion Week

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Kate Fusilier didn't go to school for design. She didn't grow up knowing how to sew. In fact, Fusilier started making clothes just over a year ago — and her looks have already caught the attention of New York Fashion…

Krewe of Oshun in limbo as NOLA City Council tackles messy Mardi Gras parade permits

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Mardi Gras parade permits are precious. They allow organizations to present the glittering, blaring processions known around the globe. But the process of acquiring a parade permit in New Orleans can be chaotic.

USS New Orleans lost its bow in WWII but kept fighting. Now the wreckage has been found.

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON — On a dark night with no moon and heavily overcast skies on Nov. 30, 1942, the USS New Orleans was one of 11 cruisers and destroyers sailing in formation into the waters near the Solomon Islands in the…

Raising Cane's founder Todd Graves donates $1 million for Texas flood relief

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 18:00:00 +0000

Todd Graves, the owner and founder of Raising Cane's, had donated $1 million to the American Red Cross to provide relief to the victims of the flash floods in Texas Hill Country that have killed at least 100 people.

Cleco lineman died from accidental electrocution while on duty, St. Tammany coroner says

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 12:11:00 +0000

The death of a Cleco line worker on the northshore on July 2 was ruled accidental, according to the St. Tammany Parish Coroner's Office Tuesday.

This Louisiana-based movie was named one of the best this century by The New York Times

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 17:40:00 +0000

The New York Times took stock of the past 25 years in films and compiled a list of the 100 best movies released so far in the 21st century.

Camp Mystic 'grieving the loss' of 27 campers and counselors after Texas floods

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 11:55:00 +0000

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Camp Mystic says it is "grieving the loss" of 27 campers and counselors as the search continued Monday for victims of catastrophic Texas flooding over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Civil rights leaders, lawmakers slam Trump budget bill during Essence Fest in New Orleans

Sat, 05 Jul 2025 20:30:00 +0000

“This is the largest transfer of wealth from poor, working, and middle-class Americans to billionaires in American history," said Marc Morial, National Urban League president and former New Orleans mayor.