WBR Fire District No. 1 fired Deputy Chief James Hartley — but his attorney argues nobody involved had the legal authority to do it. Part 4 of WBR Independent's ongoing investigation into Fire District No. 1.
March 19, 2026
West Baton Rouge Parish residents are receiving fake DMV texts threatening license suspension over traffic citations that don't exist. The link goes to a domain traced to the Philippines. Do not click, do not pay.
March 18, 2026
A passenger grabbed the steering wheel of an SUV on I-10 in Port Allen and forced the vehicle into a marked police unit, injuring the officer. John Cuevas, 42, faces attempted first degree murder of a police officer.
March 17, 2026
A West Baton Rouge Parish election supervisor filed suit against Louisiana's top election officials, arguing the state's paperless voting machines are unconstitutional. Louisiana is the only state in the country that uses DRE machines with no paper backup in statewide elections.
March 17, 2026
WBR District Attorney Tony Clayton wants drones that auto-dispatch when gunshots are detected — and he wants your Ring camera tied into a law enforcement network. Here's what Port Allen police outlined at the February Neighborhood Watch meeting.
March 17, 2026
Port Allen approved a $379,500 sewer blower contract and a $260,918 road rehabilitation contract — then tabled the budget ordinance needed to fund the sewer work after a dispute over the math erupted on the council floor.
March 16, 2026
Forty-two years of waiting ended Friday night in Lake Charles. The Brusly Panthers defeated two-time defending champion Wossman 45-38 to win the Division II nonselect state basketball championship — the program's first title since 1984.
March 13, 2026
WBR Sheriff Jeff Bergeron unveiled a pursuit alert app, a senior wellness check program, and an autism registry at the third SALT event in Erwinville. Lt. General Russel Honoré was the keynote speaker.
March 13, 2026
Brusly defeated Northwest 72-56 in the Division II nonselect semifinals to earn the program's first state championship appearance since 1984. They face two-time defending champion Wossman Friday — the same team that eliminated them last year on a controversial technical foul.
March 12, 2026
