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WBR Parish Council Votes to Put Health Unit Tax Before Voters, Eyes Federal Flood Money
Meeting Coverage

WBR Parish Council Votes to Put Health Unit Tax Before Voters, Eyes Federal Flood Money

By John Summers | WBR Independent | April 30, 2026 PORT ALLEN — West Baton Rouge Parish residents will have a say on whether to keep funding their local public health unit after the Parish Council voted Thursday to call a special election on a property tax renewal — one of several action items

John Summers April 30, 2026
When Your House Burns Down, the Red Cross Has No One in West Baton Rouge to Help
Meeting Coverage

When Your House Burns Down, the Red Cross Has No One in West Baton Rouge to Help

By John Summers | WBR Independent April 26, 2026 PORT ALLEN — When disaster strikes in West Baton Rouge Parish, the American Red Cross has no one here to respond. That was the message Burk Hughes, disaster programs manager for the Red Cross capital area, delivered to the Port Allen Neighborhood Watch

John Summers April 28, 2026
WBR Fire District Approves $77,500 Settlement with Ousted Deputy Chief
Meeting Coverage

WBR Fire District Approves $77,500 Settlement with Ousted Deputy Chief

The board voted to close a civil service appeal that raised questions about who had the legal authority to fire him. The West Baton Rouge Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 Board of Commissioners voted Thursday to approve a $77,500 settlement with former Deputy Fire Chief James Hartley Jr.

John Summers April 27, 2026
She reported a student being bullied. The district fired her.
News

She reported a student being bullied. The district fired her.

PORT ALLEN — A former Port Allen High School special education teacher is suing the West Baton Rouge Parish School System and Superintendent Dr. Chandler Smith, claiming the district fired her in retaliation for reporting that a paraprofessional was bullying a student with disabilities. Melissa Durham filed the lawsuit on March

John Summers April 23, 2026
Port Allen police getting a new rulebook — first major update in 25 years
Meeting Coverage

Port Allen police getting a new rulebook — first major update in 25 years

Council approves contract to modernize outdated policy manual; sewer project goes back out for bids PORT ALLEN — The Port Allen City Council voted unanimously April 8 to modernize the police department's policy manual for the first time since 2001, approving a contract with Lexipol, a company that provides

John Summers April 22, 2026
Port Allen Working on Written Utility Collection Policy After Audit Finding
Meeting Coverage

Port Allen Working on Written Utility Collection Policy After Audit Finding

PORT ALLEN — The city is working on a written policy to govern how it handles past-due water and gas accounts, after its outside auditor flagged the lack of one as a material weakness in the most recent annual audit. The finding, from Ericksen Krentel LLP's audit of the

John Summers April 21, 2026
Addis Takes First Step Toward Legalizing Golf Carts and UTVs on Town Roads
News

Addis Takes First Step Toward Legalizing Golf Carts and UTVs on Town Roads

ADDIS — It wasn't just the April 12 golf cart flip on Boulevard Acadian that brought the issue to a head. It's been building for years. Juvenile riders were involved in Sunday's crash. Nobody was seriously hurt. But for Addis Police Chief Jason Langlois, it

John Summers April 20, 2026
Brusly Smoke Shop Owner Arrested Twice in One Day for Selling Vapes, Alcohol to Minors
News

Brusly Smoke Shop Owner Arrested Twice in One Day for Selling Vapes, Alcohol to Minors

Brusly Smoke Shop Owner Arrested Twice, Loses ATC License

John Summers April 17, 2026
A Drainage Canal, Dead Goats, and a Disputed Deal: Addis Access Fight Goes Public
News

A Drainage Canal, Dead Goats, and a Disputed Deal: Addis Access Fight Goes Public

An Addis homeowner says surveyors entered his property without notice, a horse panicked, and his goats died. Now he's at the center of a drainage access dispute the town has no written record of — and a $32,000 demand nobody agrees actually happened.

John Summers April 16, 2026

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