News

Under the big top: business leaders embrace, sharpen AI skills in 'Carnival of Change'

BY IANNE SALVOSA | Staff writer
1 hr ago

Artificial intelligence is a cloudy crystal ball, but DisruptREADY is here to clear it up.

Standstill over Gonzales city finances continues as council members push back on mayor's proposal

BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT | Staff writer
1 hr ago

As the Gonzales City Council prepares for Monday’s vote on the city's budget, at least two council members say they will not approve it because it includes more than $280,000 for several job p…

Shaq to invest in new LSU arena: 'LSU and Baton Rouge deserve a world-class arena'

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER | Staff writer
13 hrs ago

Former LSU basketball player, four-time NBA champion and hall of famer Shaquille O'Neal will invest in the proposed new arena on the LSU campus.

Fire rages after plant explosion prompts evacuation in Tangipahoa. Former governor among evacuees.

BY DAVID MITCHELL and WILLIE SWETT | Staff writers
15 hrs ago

An explosion and raging fire at a plant in Tangipahoa Parish known to store highly flammable products prompted an evacuation order within a one-mile radius on Friday, affecting an elementary s…

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15-year-old boy killed in alleged drunken driving crash in Livingston Parish

BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD | Staff writer
16 hrs ago

A 15-year-old boy was killed in a crash while riding his bicycle Thursday night in Denham Springs, and the driver who hit him was allegedly driving drunk.

It was labeled Louisiana's 'hurricane highway.' Restoration could advance under new agreement.

By MIKE SMITH | Staff writer
Updated 11 hrs ago

The deal comes with the Aug. 29th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaching and as coastal advocacy groups press the Army Corps of Engineers to move forward on the project.

Louisiana's first two Buc-ee's stores are now delayed. Here are the new opening dates.

By JUSTIN MITCHELL | Staff writer
Updated 14 hrs ago

Those ready to buy Beaver Nuggets and brisket sandwiches from a Buc-ee's travel center in Louisiana are going to have a wait a bit longer.

Children arrested after climbing fence around BREC pool, 'armed' with painted BB guns

BY ELLYN COUVILLION | Staff writer
17 hrs ago

Three siblings, ages 12 and younger, were arrested by Baton Rouge Police this week and released to their parents after they climbed the fence around a BREC park last month, carrying BB guns ma…

This New Orleans high school is ranked No. 1 in Louisiana and among top 100 in U.S.

By MARIE FAZIO | Staff writer
Updated 16 hrs ago

Benjamin Franklin High School, a selective-enrollment charter school in New Orleans, took the top spot in U.S. News and World Report's ranking of Louisiana's best high schools and made the lis…

Lizards in New Orleans have highest blood-lead levels ever recorded, study finds

By EMILY WOODRUFF | Staff writer
Updated 11 hrs ago

The brown lizards scampering on New Orleans porches and sunning themselves on sidewalks should be dead by any other standard.

Bus driver shortage in Baton Rouge schools prompts $500 recruitment reward, rate increase for extra routes

BY CHARLES LUSSIER | Staff writer
19 hrs ago

A shortage of drivers is once again holding back East Baton Rouge Parish in its efforts to improve its much-maligned student transportation system.

Luxe and large Mandeville home in The Sanctuary has a pool and a putting green for $1.85M

BY VICTOR ANDREWS | Staff writer
19 hrs ago

In one of Mandeville's most sought-after sectors, a prime example of French country elegance sits with beaucoup amenities and a feeling that evokes the name of the gated community: The Sanctuary.

Tropical wave in Atlantic could become next named storm as Hurricane Erin continues to weaken

BY MARCO CARTOLANO | Staff writer
Updated 19 hrs ago

A tropical wave drifting in the Atlantic that hurricane forecasters have tracked for days could become the next named tropical storm over the weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center.

One dead, suspect arrested in shooting at Mississippi Coast shipyard that employs 10,000

BY MARCO CARTOLANO | Staff writer
Updated 14 hrs ago

One person is dead after a shooting at a Mississippi Coast shipyard Friday morning, Pascagoula, Mississippi police said.

What temps can Louisiana expect for fall 2025? See what NOAA, Farmers' Almanacs say.

By JULIA GUILBEAU | Staff writer
Updated 14 hrs ago

After the latest bout of high heat in Louisiana, fall weather can't seem to come soon enough.

$5 million used to plug gap in Baton Rouge schools food service budget but must be paid back

BY CHARLES LUSSIER | Staff writer
23 hrs ago

Baton Rouge public school leaders on Thursday plugged a nearly $5 million hole in their student meal service budget after those in charge of the program promised they will pay it all back with…

Fentanyl took away their loved ones in Louisiana. They hope a new law will save others.

BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer
Aug 22, 2025

Several shared their stories of loss at an event highlighting federal legislation known as the HALT Fentanyl Act sponsored by U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy.

Displaced after Katrina, they had to leave New Orleans and start over. Where are they now?

BY JOHN SIMERMAN | Staff writer
Updated 3 hrs ago

Cash Smith was thin on prospects and stranded inside the Astrodome when a voice wafted over the PA system, about an offer: Free seats on a flight to Denver, a place to live when you get there,…

Local private equity firms are putting south Louisiana on the map of big-time investors

By STEPHANIE RIEGEL | Staff writer
Updated 14 hrs ago

Four longtime south Louisiana companies have been acquired in the past three months, all by out-of-state private equity firms, raising alarms among civic leaders about the loss of corporate de…

Woman killed in police chase after fleeing car crashes into back of Baton Rouge store

BY QUINN COFFMAN | Staff writer
Aug 21, 2025

An attempted traffic stop Wednesday evening in Baton Rouge led to a two-minute police chase, a hastily ditched illegally modified gun, and a crash that killed a 24-year-old woman.

Roughly the size of Texas, Hurricane Erin is one of the largest Atlantic storms in history. Why?

By KASEY BUBNASH | Staff writer
Updated Aug 21, 2025

Most hurricanes that go down in history are remembered for the devastation they bring. But with little to no chance of hitting land, Hurricane Erin will be remembered for something else: its size.

Nexus Louisiana is moving to downtown Baton Rouge after 33 years in Bon Carre complex

BY IANNE SALVOSA | Staff writer
Aug 21, 2025

Nexus Louisiana's new home will be in downtown Baton Rouge.

'Beef bandit' arrested for allegedly stuffing pants with packs of meat at Denham Springs Walmart

BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD | Staff writer
Aug 21, 2025

A Port Allen man was arrested after he allegedly stole hamburger meat and ribeye steaks from the Walmart in Denham Springs by stuffing the packs of meat into his pants.

'One-stop-shop' event for potential BRCC students to be held Saturday

Advocate staff reports
Aug 21, 2025

A one-stop-shop registration event for new Baton Rouge Community College students will be held on Saturday.

Livonia High had 3 unrelated fights, 1 'brutal', in a week. Warrants have been issued

BY ELLYN COUVILLION | Staff writer
Aug 21, 2025

Arrest warrants have been issued for seven people in connection with a fight at Livonia High School on Monday, when a student was stabbed twice in the head with a sharp object, Pointe Coupee P…

Cost for new West Baton Rouge school jumps by $7M due to tariffs, officials say

BY HALEY MILLER | Staff writer
Aug 21, 2025

High tariffs and the rising cost of steel left the district with no other option, the superintendent said.

St. George is moving into a new city hall building. How is the transition going?

BY IANNE SALVOSA | Staff writer
Aug 21, 2025

St. George Mayor Dustin Yates is all moved in at the new City Hall building and expects other local government leaders will follow him in the next few weeks.

Former gymnastics coach who worked in Prairieville arrested on child exploitation charges

BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT | Staff writer
Aug 21, 2025

A former gymnastics coach who once worked at a Prairieville gym has been arrested for allegedly producing child sex abuse images in Mississippi, prompting the FBI to ask any Louisiana victims …