Remembering Those Who Gave Everything
Memorial Day isn't about barbecues or a day off. It's about the men and women who gave everything so the rest of us could have both.
May 25, 2026
John Summers
Founder and editor of WBR Independent. U.S. Army veteran, Purple Heart recipient, Eagle Scout, former volunteer firefighter. Covering West Baton Rouge Parish with principle, not politics.
Police investigating homicide on Jefferson Avenue in Port Allen
Port Allen Police are investigating a potential homicide in the 500 block of Oaks Avenue near Jefferson Avenue. This is a developing story.
May 22, 2026
Addis Council Closes Out ARPA Projects, Greenlights Road Work, and Takes Up Parking Woes
The Addis Town Council approved final payments on two federally funded pump station projects, greenlit a new round of road work totaling up to $644,000, and committed to drafting a parking ordinance after Sugar Mill residents warned emergency vehicles could be blocked.
May 20, 2026
Baton Rouge Man Arrested After Shooting Into Vehicle on Interstate 10
A Baton Rouge man faces attempted murder and drive-by shooting charges after allegedly firing into another vehicle on I-10 near the West Baton Rouge–Iberville Parish line Monday evening.
May 19, 2026
Brusly Police Calls Double as Department Builds Its Own Surveillance Trailer
BRUSLY — The Brusly Police Department is handling more than twice the call volume it did a year ago, the budget is feeling the strain, and the department has two officers per shift. So they built their own surveillance equipment. Department incident records show 1,197 total calls for service in
May 18, 2026
GXO Logistics hosting hiring fair Tuesday in Port Allen for 30-plus warehouse jobs
GXO Logistics and Spherion Staffing are hiring more than 30 reach truck operators at a fair Tuesday, May 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 2850 Sugarhouse Road in Port Allen. Starting pay is $20.50 an hour.
May 18, 2026
Port Allen Has a New Shipping Center, and It's Veteran-Owned
Joy and Mike Ruckman opened Ship-N-Mail Center at 540 Court St. in Port Allen — the first one-stop shipping and business services center on the West Bank. Mike is a Navy veteran. The community showed up for the ribbon cutting.
May 13, 2026
Two Brusly Officers Save Lives in Separate April Emergencies
Two Brusly officers received Life Saving Awards Monday night, but the full story includes a cardiac arrest, four doses of Narcan, and five more first responders who deserve recognition too.
May 12, 2026
Port Allen is finally writing the rules on utility payment plans
Port Allen's finance director presented a plan to formalize utility payment arrangements — fixing a problem auditors have flagged for years. The committee also heard about a $13,000 Lexipol correction, four police hires, and a budget focused on sewer repairs.
May 11, 2026