Former LSU basketball player and son of Pete Maravich, Josh Maravich, dies at 42 - Baton Rouge news - NewsLocker (2024)

BATON ROUGE - Former LSU men’s basketball player Josh Maravich passed away on Friday at his family home in Covington at the age of 42, according to a press release from LSU.Josh was part of the LSU men’s basketball program for four seasons, 2001-05, under head coach John Brady. Maravich was one of two sons of the legendary LSU basketball and NBA star, Pistol Pete Maravich.“I wanted to come here for my dad to make him proud,” Josh said in a 2005 article in

Sister of slain attorney discusses her domestic violence related murder 15 years later

BATON ROUGE - They say time heals all wounds. For Danita Tate -- it's not true after 15 years. "Time doesn't heal. It's just that some days are better than others," she said. It's been 15 years since her sister Chiquita Tate was murdered.Chiquita was a rising star defense attorney in Baton Rouge. She had recently opened her own practice, where she would be found stabbed to death."Even after 15 years it still hasn't left my mind about what she went through in there by herself."

Ascension Parish announces closure of waterways starting tomorrow following Tropical Storm Alberto

GONZALES - Ascension Parish announced Wednesday that its waterways will be closed to all recreational traffic starting at midnight due to the rising water levels caused by Tropical Storm Alberto in the Gulf of Mexico.Livingston Parish previously announced their closure of waterways Wednesday.  The Marvin Braud boatway will also close at the same time.This closure takes place midnight on June 20.Permalink| Comments

Our City, Our Problem: Domestic Violence

Domestic violence touches nearly every corner of Louisiana, including the Capital Region. Victims, non-profit organizations, and law enforcement say it is a constant battle for people’s lives.WATCH THE LIVE SPECIAL HEREIn this installment of the Our City, Our Problem series, the WBRZ Investigative Unit examines the root causes of domestic abuse, shares stories from victims, explores how victims and their families fight for justice, and takes you inside a domestic violence shelter to l

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Grand jury meets Thursday on consider charges in Loranger woman's death, daughters' kidnapping

AMITE — A Tangipahoa Parish grand jury will meet Thursday to consider charges against two people accused in the death of a Loranger woman and the kidnapping of her two young daughters.District Attorney Scott Perrilloux said Wednesday that the panel would convene at 9 a.m. and consider accusations against Daniel Callihan and Victoria Cox. They are accused in the deaths of Callie Brunett, 35, and, in Mississippi, in the death of Erin Brunett, 4. Another daughter, Jalie Brunett, 6, survi

In wide-ranging interview, Graves discusses decision against re-election; no plans to run for mayor

BATON ROUGE — Congressman Garret Graves is speaking candidly about his decision not to seek re-election in the district he's represented for nine years. Another term could have possibly netted him the top post on the House Transportation Committee."Look, this isn't what I wanted. I'll be really clear. It's not what I wanted. It's not what I anticipated. I mean being chair of that committee is something that I was really looking forward to doing because of the huge impact it c

St. George Council meets for education session as next step in forming new government

ST. GEORGE - The Louisiana Municipal Association met with St. George leaders Wednesday to lend some expertise to the new city's leadership as it builds out its new municipal services.The session took place at the St. George Fire Station — St. George's de facto town hall — where the leaders were able to learn what it takes to build a city.This is one of the first steps the city is taking to form its new government. Incoming leaders got a sneak peek at what challenges they cou

Despite alibi, City of New Orleans has yet to drop parking ticket

BATON ROUGE - It's a parking ticket mix-up that one Baton Rouge woman says is not hers to pay. The City of New Orleans mailed Susan Gould a ticket demanding payment and that payment has now tripled.The mix-up is causing Gould stress and what she calls an unnecessary effort to prove the truth."I haven't been in New Orleans in over 30 years and I flew!" said Gould.When she first got the notice in the mail in March, she thought it was a scam. Gould quickly learned it was not a scam and what starte

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Livingston Parish announces waterways will be closed starting tomorrow following Tropical Storm Alberto

LIVINGSTON — Livingston Parish announced Wednesday that its waterways will be closed to all recreational traffic starting at midnight due to the rising water levels caused by Tropical Storm Alberto in the Gulf of Mexico.The closure will be effective until further notice. Sandbags will be available at the Springfield Fire Department, the Killian Town Hall Fire Department and the Maurepas Fire Department, the parish announced on their Facebook page.Permalink| Comments

LSU gets first baseman out of Dayton from portal to add hitting and versatility

BATON ROUGE - LSU baseball's hunt through the transfer portal continued Wednesday with the addition of first baseman/catcher Eddie Yamin IV out of Dayton.Yamin, a rising junior, posted a .342 batting average, 13 home runs and 54 RBI on 68 hits during his sophom*ore season.He is listed by Dayton as infield/catcher, but he also played at right field as well during his freshman season.Permalink| Comments

Search fails to turn up work-release escapee; there's speculation he went to SW Louisiana

BATON ROUGE — Law officers said Wednesday that they suspect a state prison inmate who leapt from a van while being transported to a work-release site may have left the Baton Rouge area for southwestern Louisiana.Shawn Simien, 34, had been convicted on a first-degree robbery charge after being accused in Calcasieu Parish in 2019. He had been taking part in a work-release program pending his release from prison on August 2025.Workforce officials said Simien jumped from the van Tuesday w

Officials apprehend escaped work-release inmate after finding him in empty building on Maplewood

BATON ROUGE — Law officers said Wednesday that they caught a state prison inmate who leaped from a van while being transported to a work-release site.Shawn Simien, 34, was apprehended around 4:45 p.m. in an empty building off Maplewood Drive in the Glen Oaks area. He will be booked by the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office on a simple escape charge.Simien had been convicted on a first-degree robbery charge after being accused in Calcasieu Parish in 2019. He had been taking part in a wo

Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Craig Greene announces he will not seek reelection

BATON ROUGE — Days after Congressman Garret Graves announced that he will not run for reelection, Louisiana Public Service Commissioner for District 2 Craig Greene announced Wednesday his decision not to seek reelection.“When you know, you know. For almost a decade, I’ve worked hard to keep a watchful eye on our utility providers, holding them accountable to keep prices affordable for the many families in our community struggling to get by. I’ve had the c

Slidell man arrested for allegedly placing cameras in Alabama condo

SLIDELL - A man was arrested after investigators found evidence he allegedly placed hidden cameras in a condominium in Alabama as well as the guest bathroom of his home. Jonathan Bethancourt, 31, was arrested for 11 counts of video voyeurism after a babysitter found a hidden camera in the guest bathroom of his home, disguised as a smoke detector. Investigators searched Bethancourt's home and found another hidden camera as well as video from a condo in Orange Beach. They also f

State Police say water lapping onto La. 1 between Golden Meadow and Grand Isle as Alberto churns

GOLDEN MEADOW — Even though Tropical Storm Alberto is in the southern Gulf of Mexico and headed toward Mexico and Texas, it's impact is being felt along the Louisiana coast.State Police said Wednesday that water is already lapping onto La. 1 between Golden Meadow and Grand Isle.The road remained passable late Wednesday morning, with a few inches of water covering the roadway in spots. If conditions worsen the highway could be closed.State Police advise motorists to not drive into deep

Firefighters return to vacant Anna Street house after it catches fire one day after initial blaze

BATON ROUGE — Firefighters were called Wednesday to an abandoned Anna Street house that caught fire around after previously catching fire early Tuesday, Baton Rouge Fire officials said.Officials said the cause of Wednesday's fire was not initially known, but investigators were on their way to the scene.On Tuesday, the house off Plank Road caught fire around 2 a.m. and was deemed a total loss by the time it was contained at 2:30 a.m. The cause of this fire was also under investigation.

BRFD investigating vacant Anna Street fire as arson after it catches fire after initial blaze Tuesday

BATON ROUGE — Firefighters were called Wednesday to an abandoned Anna Street house that caught fire around 11:15 a.m. after previously catching fire early Tuesday, Baton Rouge Fire officials said.The Baton Rouge Fire Department said the cause of Wednesday's fire was not initially known, but investigators went to the scene. Investigators are working the fire as an arson, officials said.Wednesday was the third time units were sent out to the Anna Street address, officials added.On Tuesd

Landry signs law making Louisiana first in nation to require Ten Commandments posted in public classrooms

BATON ROUGE (AP) — Louisiana has become the first state to require that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public school classroom under a bill signed into law by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry on Wednesday.The GOP-drafted legislation mandates that a poster-sized display of the Ten Commandments in “large, easily readable font” be required in all public classrooms, from kindergarten to state-funded universities. Although the bill did not receive final approval

Biloxi man arrested after K9 unit seizes $44,000 worth of cocaine during traffic stop in Sorrento

SORRENTO — The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office K9 Unit seized $44,000 of cocaine from a Biloxi man during a traffic stop in Sorrento.Deputies performed a traffic stop Monday on Binh Truong, 52, on Interstate 10 near Sorrento. During the stop, K9 Deputy Krya located two kilograms of cocaine with a street value of around $22,000 per kilo, deputies said.Truong was arrested and booked into the Ascension Parish Jail. He is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, deputi

Army veteran shares why Juneteenth matters

BATON ROUGE - Baton Rouge residents celebrated Juneteenth at the Unity Festival on Wednesday, commemorating the freedom of African-Americans slaves in the U.S..Veteran Connie Commenia-Freeman says that educating the youth about this holiday is extremely important. "It gave our people their freedom. I had the freedom to join the military and I'm a product of a plantation, so it's special to me knowing that we are free," she says. Freeman grew up in poverty with ten other siblin

Baton Rouge celebrates Juneteenth with Unity Festival

BATON ROUGE - Baton Rouge will celebrate Juneteenth on Wednesday evening with a Unity Festival at The Main Library on Goodwood Boulevard.The festival will have live entertainment, food trucks and creative activities like character art."It is important for us to be involved, be a part because it is essentially our work. We are responsible for cultivating the entire creative sector throughout our city and our 11 parish region. Finding a way to curate and cultivate a playlist that is diverse and b

Teenager, mother arrested after argument led to deadly shooting on Boulevard De Province

BATON ROUGE - A teenager and his mother were arrested after an argument led to a deadly shooting earlier in June. The teenager was arrested Tuesday for second-degree murder after allegedly shooting and killing Sarantis Thomas, 22, on June 6. The shooting happened at an apartment complex on Boulevard de Province. The teenager's mother, D'ana Broadway, was also arrested Tuesday for being an accessory after the fact following the murder. "My heart first goes out to the f

Teenager, mother arrested after argument led to deadly shooting

BATON ROUGE - A teenager and his mother were arrested after an argument led to a deadly shooting earlier in June. The teenager was arrested Tuesday for second-degree murder after allegedly shooting and killing Sarantis Thomas, 22, on June 6. The shooting happened at an apartment complex on Boulevard de Province. The teenager's mother, D'ana Broadway, was also arrested Tuesday for being an accessory after the fact following the murder. "My heart first goes out to the f

Russia and North Korea sign partnership deal that appears to be the strongest since the Cold War

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday signed a new partnership that includes a vow of mutual aid if either country faces “aggression,” in a pact that came as both face escalating standoffs with the West.Details of the deal were not immediately clear, but it could mark the strongest connection between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War. Both leaders described it as a major upgrade

Early blast of heat and humidity leaves millions sweltering across the US

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — A blast of heat and humidity in the Midwest and Northeast days before the official start of summer put a wet blanket on outdoor activities from festivals to sports camps as officials urged people to take precautions.Cities that opened cooling centers this week advised that Wednesday’s Juneteenth holiday means some public libraries, senior centers and pools where residents could beat the heat will be closed.The dangerous temperatures were expected to peak

DOTD announces upcoming project to remove homeless camps at O'Neal Lane underpass

BATON ROUGE - A fenced-in underpass may be coming to O'Neal Lane in an effort to remove the homeless camps there. DOTD's director Fred Raiford says he has been working closely with the department and a contractor to find a solution for the never-ending camps under and near the O'Neal Lane underpass. Raiford said they are having their last planning meeting Wednesday to go over logistics before moving forward."You've got to have something that's resistant from people from gettin

Willie Mays, Giants' electrifying 'Say Hey Kid,' has died at 93

NEW YORK (AP) — Willie Mays, the electrifying “Say Hey Kid” whose singular combination of talent, drive and exuberance made him one of baseball’s greatest and most beloved players, has died. He was 93.Mays’ family and the San Francisco Giants jointly announced Tuesday night he had “passed away peacefully” Tuesday afternoon surrounded by loved ones.The center fielder was baseball’s oldest living Hall of Famer. His si

Gov. Landry criticizes insurance rates, vetoes bipartisan bill to restrict payout costs

BATON ROUGE - At the start of this year's legislative session, Governor Jeff Landry promised to tackle Louisiana’s insurance crisis, but now he has vetoed a bill attempting to lower payouts if a car wreck gets to trial. Landry on Tuesday vetoed House Bill 423 by Rep. Michael Melerine, R-Shreveport, which received bipartisan support in the legislature. Melerine says the measure aims to lower auto insurance premium costs by limiting trial damages paid to an injured party if the

Residents living around University Lakes disappointed by construction mess

BATON ROUGE- One year after the start of the University Lakes Restoration Project, residents are not happy with the progress. Phase one began in June of 2023, which entails dredging City Park Lake, building “living shorelines” around City Park Lake and Lake Erie and improving May Street between City Park and University Lakes. One resident says the work has also resulted in overgrowth of vegetation in the lake behind his home on Stanford Ave. "Basic

Work-release escapes near Plank and Hooper roads; crews searching on ground and from the air

BATON ROUGE — Law officers were searching on the ground and from the air after a state prisoner fled from a van carrying a work-release crew in an area near Plank Road and Hooper Road, officials said Tuesday.The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office said the crew was from the state Department of Corrections and the inmate involved was being housed at a work-released facility in the parish.Dogs and deputies were on the ground searching for the inmate while a helicopter hovered overh