WBR Independent WBR Independent
  • Home
  • About
  • Submit a tip
  • Support Us
Sign in Subscribe
Addis Makes Golf Carts Street Legal — Here's What You Need to Know
Meeting Coverage Featured

Addis Makes Golf Carts Street Legal — Here's What You Need to Know

The Addis Town Council voted unanimously to allow golf carts and utility terrain vehicles on town streets. Councilwomen Rhonda Kelley and Bliss Bernard led the effort and put together a nine-step registration guide for residents.

John Summers May 28, 2026
Port Allen's robotics team just made WBR history
Community Featured

Port Allen's robotics team just made WBR history

Port Allen High's Catahoula Blue Dogs became the first robotics team from West Baton Rouge Parish to compete at the FIRST Robotics World Championship — in only their second year. FRC Team 10217 finished 11th in Louisiana out of 40 teams.

John Summers May 27, 2026
Secret recordings could cost you in court under a Louisiana bill unless you're catching corruption

Secret recordings could cost you in court under a Louisiana bill unless you're catching corruption

A bill moving through the Louisiana Legislature would require anyone recording a private, in-person conversation to notify all participants first. The Senate added protections for documenting public corruption before sending HB 410 to the full chamber for a final vote.

John Summers May 26, 2026
WBR Independent Appeals Ruling in Public Records Lawsuit
Announcements

WBR Independent Appeals Ruling in Public Records Lawsuit

A judge has ruled in favor of the West Baton Rouge Parish Government and Fire Protection District No. 1 in an ongoing public records lawsuit. WBR Independent and its attorneys vigorously disagree and will be appealing to a higher court.

John Summers May 26, 2026
Louisiana native returns to West Baton Rouge to share story rooted in Jim Crow
Community

Louisiana native returns to West Baton Rouge to share story rooted in Jim Crow

Author Linda Lowe Erley returned to West Baton Rouge for a reading and book signing of her debut novel, a historical fiction inspired by the woman who raised her during Jim Crow.

John Summers May 25, 2026
Remembering Those Who Gave Everything

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.

John Summers May 25, 2026
Police investigating homicide on Jefferson Avenue in Port Allen

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.

John Summers May 22, 2026
Addis Council Closes Out ARPA Projects, Greenlights Road Work, and Takes Up Parking Woes
Meeting Coverage

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.

John Summers May 20, 2026
Baton Rouge Man Arrested After Shooting Into Vehicle on Interstate 10
Emergency Services

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.

John Summers May 19, 2026
Brusly Police Calls Double as Department Builds Its Own Surveillance Trailer
Emergency Services

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

John Summers May 18, 2026
GXO Logistics hosting hiring fair Tuesday in Port Allen for 30-plus warehouse jobs
Local Business

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.

John Summers May 18, 2026
Port Allen Has a New Shipping Center, and It's Veteran-Owned

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.

John Summers May 13, 2026
Two Brusly Officers Save Lives in Separate April Emergencies
Emergency Services

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.

John Summers May 12, 2026
Port Allen is finally writing the rules on utility payment plans
Meeting Coverage

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.

John Summers May 11, 2026
One Year of WBR Independent: What's Next
Announcements

One Year of WBR Independent: What's Next

One year in. Editor John Summers reflects on what it took to build West Baton Rouge's only independent news publication — and what's coming in year two.

John Summers May 11, 2026
Port Allen Asks Residents to Weigh In on Where to Build a New Sewer Plant
Meeting Coverage

Port Allen Asks Residents to Weigh In on Where to Build a New Sewer Plant

$6.6 million separates two proposed sites — and the clock is ticking PORT ALLEN — The city's search for a new sewer treatment plant came down to two properties and one question Monday night: Is saving $6.6 million worth building closer to a neighborhood? Mayor Terecita Pattan hosted

John Summers May 06, 2026
He ran 100 miles for his sister. Now Port Allen keeps running for him.
Community

He ran 100 miles for his sister. Now Port Allen keeps running for him.

By John Summers | May 6, 2026 PORT ALLEN — The rain wasn't going to stop them. Despite the rain, a good turnout of runners and walkers gathered at Jack's Place on Thursday evening for the annual Running for Rachael 5K, a walk and run held in honor

John Summers May 05, 2026
A Neal Family Tradition Finds a New Home at the West Baton Rouge Museum
Community

A Neal Family Tradition Finds a New Home at the West Baton Rouge Museum

By John Summers | May 2, 2026 PORT ALLEN — Syreeta Neal grew up in a family where music wasn't something you studied first. You sang first, and figured out the theory later. That philosophy is at the center of Sunday Chanté, a free monthly singing circle for women that

John Summers May 02, 2026

Stay Informed. It's Free.

Get WBR Independent delivered to your inbox. Local government, public safety, and community news for West Baton Rouge Parish.

WBR Independent

© 2025 WBR Independent. Published by West River Solutions LLC. Port Allen, Louisiana. Principle, not politics.

Powered by Ghost
  • Sign up
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy