louisiana News

Fire Subdistricts Merging in West Baton Rouge

Fire protection services in Louisiana’s West Baton Rouge Parish will change drastically over the next year as the parish consolidates its six fire subdistricts into a single parishwide district. The Advocate reports the consolidation is being spearheaded by Parish President …

Investigators to Examine Heat Exchanger at Williams Companies Plant

State and federal officials investigating the cause of the deadly blast June 13 at the Williams Companies Inc. plant near Gonzales, La., plan to inspect a key element of the facility this week that one federal investigator said “failed catastrophically.” …

Louisiana Town Getting New Fire Hydrants

More than a dozen fire hydrants will be replaced around Franklinton, La., in June and July. The Daily News reports the purchase of 14 hydrants was paid for using a $23,000 grant from the state. Public Works Superintendent Reggie McMasters …

Hurricanes That Form Early in Gulf Can Be Deadly

Hurricanes that form in the Gulf of Mexico tend to catch gulf residents off guard – often forming in the month of June – and can develop into surprisingly strong storms, says a Texas A&M University at Galveston professor. William …

Plane Crashes Near Baton Rouge, Damages Homes

A small private plane crashed Friday afternoon in a Baton Rouge, La., suburb, killing the pilot and damaging three homes, authorities said. There were no reports of injuries to residents on the ground, said Nick McDonner, spokesman for the East …

Louisiana Woman Pleads Guilty in BP Oil Spill Claim Fraud

A 36-year-old New Orleans woman has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud relating to applications for financial help after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. U.S. Attorney Dana Boente’s office said Wednesday that Rachell …

Louisiana Town’s Fire Rating Falters

The rating for Louisiana’s Chackbay Volunteer Fire Department is in danger of being lowered but the chief says adjustments will be made to head off an increase in insurance costs for property owners. The Courier reports that during the department’s …

Thieves Take $1M in Copper Wire From a Louisiana Company

The DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office is searching for three suspects in the theft of about $1 million worth of copper wire from a Frierson, La., company. The Town Talk reports the thefts happened in six separate incidents at Trinidad Drilling …

Louisiana Authorities Push Seatbelt Safety

Between now and June 2, officers from 132 agencies will participate in the state’s largest-ever concentrated effort to increase the use of seatbelts. This year’s “Click It or Ticket” campaign includes stepped-up enforcement, broadcast advertising and public education in an …

Louisiana Revokes Company’s Explosives License

An explosives recycling company that authorities said improperly stored millions of pounds of a military propellant, causing the evacuation of a Louisiana town last year, was stripped of its state explosives licenses on Monday. Louisiana State Police spokeswoman Julie Lewis …