Mrs. Ray Helen Lawrence was the first African-American woman appointed and elected to the Port Allen City Council. She served 20 years, taught science for more than 30, and left a mark on nearly everyone she met. Port Allen lost her on April 13, 2026.
April 14, 2026
WBR Fire District No. 1 reached a settlement with former Deputy Chief James Hartley Jr. after a packed civil service hearing — but the amount won't be public until the Board of Commissioners votes. The legal questions it raised aren't going away.
April 13, 2026
Theodore "Mr. Teddy" Melancon, an 84-year-old Korean War veteran, walked into a Port Allen City Council meeting facing the loss of his home. Three months later, West Baton Rouge showed up — and brought him back to Gladiolus Street.
April 13, 2026
West Baton Rouge Parish Council approved new rules that could pull a hotel's operating permit over excessive police calls, overhauled building permit fees, and moved to buy land near the jail — all while residents continued pressing the council on an ICE facility proposal it still hasn't acted on.
April 09, 2026
Ianthia Washington, 72, was killed Wednesday morning when a train struck her vehicle at a La. 1 railroad crossing near the Dow Chemical plant in Addis. Louisiana State Police are leading the investigation.
April 08, 2026
Port Allen's police policy manual hasn't been updated since 2001. Tonight the city council votes on a $9,944 Lexipol contract that would change that — and keep it current automatically going forward.
April 08, 2026
Port Allen got six bids on a federally funded sewer project. The lowest came in $463,000 over budget. The highest was nearly three times the estimate. The city is going back out to bid.
April 07, 2026
West Baton Rouge Parish is proposing its first sewer rate increase since 2008 — 15 percent, adding about $3.54 a month for the average residential customer. The state originally wanted 95 percent. Here's how the parish got it down.
April 06, 2026
Port Allen approved a $179,500 sewer budget amendment to cover blower replacements at the wastewater plant — and suspended late fees for customers hit with $800–$900 bills after January's freeze.
April 01, 2026
