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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 residents weighed in on where to build a new sewer treatment plant. The 65-year-old facility is failing, and the city says it can't wait much longer.

John Summers May 06, 2026

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

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