86 posts
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
April 23, 2026
By John Summers | WBR Independent April 20, 2026 Here are the four changes to paste in manually: 1. LEDE — Replace everything from "ADDIS —" through "A vote is expected at the May meeting." ADDIS — It wasn't just the April 12 golf cart flip on Boulevard
April 20, 2026
BRUSLY — A month-long investigation by the Brusly Police Department ended with the arrest of a local smoke shop owner and the state pulling the business's alcohol and tobacco licenses. Ramez Smoke Shop, at 142 N. Vaughan Drive, came under scrutiny in early March after a mother reported that
April 17, 2026
By John Summers | WBR Independent April 16, 2026 ADDIS — When the Addis Town Council approved the First Baptist Church of Addis land subdivision in January, it appeared to resolve a long-standing drainage access problem along the Acadian Crossing canal. It didn't. The church property provided access to one
April 16, 2026
By John Summers | WBR Independent April 14, 2026 Port Allen lost one of its own Monday when Mrs. Ray Helen Lawrence passed away, leaving behind a legacy that stretched from the science classroom to the city council chamber — and into the history books. The Port Allen Police Department confirmed her
April 14, 2026
The West Baton Rouge Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 reached a settlement Monday with former Deputy Fire Chief James Hartley Jr., bringing an end — at least for now — to a civil service appeal that raised serious questions about who had the authority to fire him in the first place.
April 13, 2026
A Veteran Came Home To everyone who shared a post, made a donation, showed up on a cold Saturday morning, or simply followed along and cheered from the sidelines — this story belongs to you as much as anyone. Thank you for caring about one of your neighbors. WEST BATON ROUGE
April 13, 2026
By John Summers The West Baton Rouge Parish Council met Thursday, March 26, at the Government Building in Port Allen, approving new rules for hotels and motels, updating building permit fees, and introducing a pair of ordinances set for public hearing April 9 — including a budget amendment to purchase land
April 09, 2026
ADDIS — Ianthia Washington, 72, has been identified as the woman killed Wednesday morning when a train struck her vehicle at a railroad crossing on La. 1 near the Dow Chemical plant, close to the Iberville Parish line. The crash was reported just before 7 a.m. Washington was the sole
April 08, 2026