Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE (La. Illuminator) — LSU has fired its chief financial officer, the administrator in charge of handling sex-based discrimination complaints and its former diversity, equity and inclusion staff in what campus leaders say are cost-reducing layoffs.Twenty-five employees were let go last week, and LSU President Wade Rousse said the savings will be redirected to hire new faculty and fund research.The layoffs will save LSU approximately $3.7 million, according to an analysis of

GONZALES — Essential Credit Union in Gonzales is now at a new location on La. 30 after a Wednesday grand opening. The relocated branch was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting that welcomed members, community leaders, local businesses and residents to the updated amenities, including an upgraded Live Teller Machine that, through an ATM, provides members with access to live teller assistance beginning one hour before the branch opens.The Live Teller Machine is designed to give me

BATON ROUGE - Gov. Jeff Landry is encouraging young Louisiana athletes to apply to participate in the 2026 Patriot Games, an athletic competition featuring high school students from across the country. Male and female athletes will be selected to represent their home state in a series of athletic competitions. The games are a part of America's 250th anniversary celebration. According to the Freedom 250 website, one male and one female winner will be selected and receive $120,

WALKER — A person was arrested outside of a Livingston Parish discount store at the end of a law enforcement pursuit that began in Tangipahoa Parish, according to Captain Sharp with the Walker Police Department. Sharp said law enforcement chased the suspect, who was riding a motorcycle, from Hammond to a Dollar General along Walker North Road, near the intersection of Ball Park Road, in Walker. When the suspect got to the Dollar General, Sharp said, he laid his bike

BATON ROUGE — The former Government Street home of Brew-Bacher's Grill has been purchased by a Baton Rouge-based development firm for $650,000. According to court records, the sale to Grand Development Group, a development firm tied to Grand Construction, was completed on July 2.The purchase included four parcels of land and all buildings at 5580 Government Street, which sits between Franklin and Concordia streets. Brew-Bacher's Grill closed after the burger restaur

BATON ROUGE — Residents woke up Wednesday morning to find water flooding St. Katherine Avenue and surrounding streets.According to residents, a car struck a fire hydrant near the corner of St. Katherine and Hammond Street on Sunday. A resident then called the Baton Rouge Water Company, which said that crews would not be able to come out to the area for another two days.  On Wednesday, however, the area was flooded. Residents told WBRZ that they can't even f

BATON ROUGE - A new coffee and doughnut shop is opening in Scotlandville near Southern University. Rise and Glaze will take over a vacant commercial space in the area, Councilman Anthony Kenney's office said.“We’re excited to welcome Rise & Glaze to Scotlandville,” Kenney said. “This investment is about more than coffee and doughnuts- it’s about bringing new life to a vacant commercial space, creating opportunity, and continuing th

UPDATE - July 8, 2026: Colorado State University researchers have released another update to their Atlantic hurricane season forecast, once again lowering their projected storm numbers. The forecast now calls for 9 named storms, four hurricanes, and one major hurricane. That's down from the June forecast of 11 named storms, five hurricanes and two major hurricanes.The further drop in numbers is primarily related to a high likelihood of strong El Niño around peak season. This will in

BATON ROUGE - LSU and Our Lady of the Lake have awarded $1.6 million in grants to seven research teams across the state as part of the Collaboration in Action Program. The winning teams aim to solve various health issues in Louisiana, including cancer, trauma, heart and lung disease. The program also works to advance sports medicine. Among these teams are:Predicting, Preventing Heat Illness in High School Football PlayersReducing Risk for Chronic Disease: Addressing Both Life

PORT ALLEN - Four inmates who were found unresponsive in a holding area of the West Baton Rouge Parish Jail likely overdosed on mojo, the sheriff's office said Wednesday. Mojo, a synthetic cannabinoid that can be sprayed on a piece of paper and ingested, has been linked to multiple overdoses behind bars. West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office Chief of Criminal Operations Major Kevin Devall said that it's an issue penal facilities across the country are dealing with. Devall said th