(The Center Square) – President Joe Biden’s administration issued an order temporarily halting leases and permits for oil and gas development on federal land, fulfilling a pledge he made during his campaign, despite pushback from the industry and states that rely on revenue from energy development. Read more
The right lane of both Eastbound and Westbound US 190 will be closed at the US 190 overpass over LA 415 beginning Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021 at 6 p.m. and ending at 5 a.m. Friday, Jan. 29. Read more
(The Center Square) – Ten candidates signed up to run for one of Louisiana’s two open seats in Congress on the first day of qualifying Wednesday. Read more
Though a vaccine for COVID-19 is currently being distributed around the world, it doesn’t mean the virus will disappear anytime soon. Case numbers and deaths are at an all-time high ever since the coronavirus outbreak was declared a pandemic last spring. Read more
The West Baton Rouge Parish Health Unit is awaiting an allocation of COVID-19 vaccines from the Louisiana Department of Health, West Baton Rouge Parish officials said Tuesday, Jan. 20. The WBR Health Unit is on the list of authorized distributers and has requested COVID-19 vaccines, however … Read more
(The Center Square) – The number of Louisiana state workers who work under the governor has declined since 2013, though the average pay for those workers has increased, according to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor. Read more
Coronavirus Coverage: Vaccines available in all parishes, first case of UK variant identified in La.
The Louisiana Department of Health announced Monday that 298 vaccine providers across the state will receive very limited doses of the COVID vaccine. Read more
Girl Scouts Louisiana East and Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) kicked off the 2021 Girl Scout Cookie season nationally, during a challenging time when many Girl Scouts are selling in creative, socially distant and contact-free ways to keep themselves and their customers safe. Even in light of… Read more
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83.7% report at least one staff case in most recent four-week period Read more
The West Baton Rouge Parish Council’s first meeting of the New Year kicked off with the unanimous reelection of Councilmen Kirk Allain of District I and Carey Denstel of District VI as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Council. Read more
Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) will provide PBS NewsHour coverage of an inauguration like no other. Coverage begins Wednesday, January 20, at 9:30 a.m. with the swearing-in ceremony of the 46th President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden Jr. and the 49th Vice President of the United… Read more
LDH announced Monday that 298 vaccine providers across the state will receive very limited doses of COVID vaccine. These providers – including 150 chain pharmacies, 112 independent pharmacies, 19 federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), 3 rural health clinics (RHCs), and an additional 14 … Read more
The Louisiana National Guard, as directed by Governor John Bel Edwards, has sent approximately 174 soldiers and airmen to augment the District of Columbia National Guard to ensure a safe and secure presidential inauguration, Jan. 16. Read more
Saturday, the Louisiana Department of Health confirmed the state’s first identified case of the COVID-19 variant, SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7., frequently referred to as the U.K. variant because it is prevalent in the United Kingdom, in an individual in the Greater New Orleans area. Read more
(The Center Square) – The Louisiana Workforce Commission distributed almost $54.8 million in federal pandemic benefits to almost 180,000 state residents during the first two weeks of the program, the LWC says. Read more
(The Center Square) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday announced that retired Lt. General Russel Honoré, a Louisiana native best known for his role in the response to Hurricane Katrina, will lead a Capitol Hill security review. Read more
The first regular meeting of the Port Allen City Council began with Councilman Brandon Brown's election as Mayor Pro-Tem, with Mayor Richard Lee casting the deciding vote in favor. Brown abstained from voting for himself after attempting to nominate himself, which City Attorney Evan Alvarez … Read more
On Thursday, Jan. 14 the retail pharmacy at Ochsner Medical Complex – The Grove began distributing the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. This is in addition to the ongoing Pfizer vaccine distribution on the Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge campus. Read more
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced today that 11 projects around the state were let on January 13, 2021. Eleven contractors presented apparent low bids totaling $19.8 million. Read more
Brusly Town Council met Monday, Jan. 11 in front of an empty chamber to discuss several housekeeping items. Read more
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Port Allen native Rose Roche’s reign as Queen of Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, and the West Baton Rouge Museum is commemorating the year with an exhibit from Jan. 2 until Feb. 28. Roche served as the first Queen of Zulu who is not a native of New … Read more
On Friday, January 15, Capital Drive and Ernest Wilson Drive going to the Port of Greater Baton Rouge will have alternating lane closures in both directions. This road closure is needed to tie in the asphalt pavement to the railroad crossings. During this closure, flaggers will be present to… Read more
New representative quits Louisiana House Read more
Gov. John Bel Edwards’ request for a Major Disaster Declaration due to damage in Louisiana from Hurricane Zeta has been approved by President Trump. This will help provide direct assistance to those people and communities impacted by the storm. Read more
District Attorney Antonio M. “Tony” Clayton took his oath of office on Thursday, January 7, serving as District Attorney for the parishes of Iberville, Pointe Coupee, and West Baton Rouge. He was unopposed for the position and assumed the reins from former District Attorney Richard “Ricky” W… Read more
Gov. John Bel Edwards extended the modified Phase 2 order during a press conference held today. The extension will keep COVID mitigation measures in place for another 28 days, through Feb. 10. Read more
The Louisiana Supreme Court has issued a moratorium on jury trials beginning Monday, Jan. 11 through March 1. Read more
West Baton Rouge begins 2021 with a new District Attorney, new councilmembers in Port Allen, Brusly and Addis and a new Chief of Police for the Port Allen Police Department. Read more
This week, 209 vaccine providers across the state will receive very limited doses of COVID vaccine, the Louisiana Department of Health announced Monday morning. Read more
Beginning on Wednesday, January 20, the south bound right lane of LA 1 will be closed approximately 1-mile south of Choctaw Road and Lukeville Lane. The lane will be closed from 9:00 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 20 and Thursday, January 21. Read more
The Louisiana Army National Guard will operate COVID-19 testing sites for the Baton Rouge region the week of January 11 to January 16. A full list of LANG testing sites is below. Read more
(The Center Square) – Opening a spectrum previously reserved for public safety to the private sector could help bring high-speed wireless internet service to unserved areas, officials said Friday. Read more
(The Center Square) – Louisiana’s state government should not implement a strict crackdown on businesses that misclassify their employees as independent contractors, business advocates said Thursday. Read more
Following the swearing-in of the Port Allen City Council and Mayor Richard Lee by District Attorney-elect Tony Clayton, the City Council held its first committee meeting of 2021 to set the agenda for the first regular meeting of 2021 on Wednesday, January 13. Read more
(The Center Square) – Louisiana officials expect to receive about the same number of COVID-19 vaccines next week as they did this week while they work through the “tremendously complex” logistics of distribution, Gov. John Bel Edwards said Wednesday. Read more
A live stream of the Port Allen City Council induction ceremony and first meeting of 2021 will be live streamed on the West Side Journal website and Facebook page beginning at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6. Read more
Beginning on Thursday, January 7, Capital Drive and Ernest Wilson Drive going to the Port of Greater Baton Rouge will have alternating lane closures in both directions. These roads will be closed from Thursday, January 7th to Friday, January 8th. This road closure is needed to tie in the asp… Read more
The annual Addis Firemen’s Ladies Auxiliary annual Mardi Gras parade joins Iberville Parish’s only nighttime Mardi Gras parade as the latest additions to the cancellation of 2021 carnival celebrations throughout the state due to the COVID pandemic. Read more
January will bring a different life for District Attorney Richard “Ricky” Ward, who is retiring after 30 years of being actively involved in major criminal case prosecutions on a daily basis. Newly elected District Attorney Tony Clayton will be sworn in at the West Baton Rouge Courthouse on … Read more
The Louisiana Association of School Superintendents (LASS) named West Baton Rouge Parish Superintendent Wes Watts the Region II Superintendent of the Year on Dec. 17, 2020. Watts was selected from a group of ten finalists in Region II for the award. He currently serves as the president of the LASS. Read more
(The Center Square) – The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) posted Monday a list of 107 pharmacies in 51 parishes where some of the state’s limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine doses are available by appointment only. Read more
Starting today, Louisiana will begin receiving the first limited doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine at 107 pharmacies across the state. Read more
The Louisiana State Police has issued a Level II Endangered/Missing Child Advisory on behalf of the Madison Parish Sheriff’s Office. They are requesting assistance in locating an 11-year-old girl reported missing from her residence on Shoemaker Road, in Tallulah, LA. Read more
(The Center Square) – Louisiana residents who are at least 70 years old and some health care workers can begin scheduling appointments to receive COVID-19 vaccinations on Monday, Gov. John Bel Edwards said Thursday. Read more
Former Brusly police chief Jamie Whaley has found himself on the wrong side of the law again. Read more
(The Center Square) – Louisiana residents who are at least 70 years old and some health care workers can begin scheduling appointments to receive COVID-19 vaccinations on Monday, Gov. John Bel Edwards said Thursday. Read more
Brusly police arrested a teenager for possession with intent to distribute in the presence of a firearm during a traffic stop on Tuesday, Dec. 29. Read more
DOTD announced a southbound lane closure on LA 1 at Evergreen Rd. in Plaquemine beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, December 29 until 6 a.m. on Wednesday, December 30. Read more
Congressman-elect Letlow said to be in stable condition during COVID-19 hospitalization Read more
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