WRKF News

Some Funds Slated for Districts to Go to 'Course Choice'

Amy Jeffries — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:19:53 +0000

The state's top school board is expected to give final approval Wednesday to $2 million in financing to pay for students to take individual classes elsewhere if their public school is underperforming or doesn't offer a course they want.

The money for the "Course Choice" program will be drawn from a state education trust fund stemming from an old oil drilling settlement, including $1 million that had been slated for local districts.

Fisherman, Sciencists Continue to Clash on Miss. River Diversions

Kelly Connelly — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:44:50 +0000

State plans to restore the coastline are trying to mimic the way the Mississippi built the coast. Thousands of years ago the river dumped sediment from the plains upriver into the marsh. But some fishermen are worried the plans will displace the saltwater fish they catch to make a living.

Fishermen voiced their opposition at a community meeting in St. Bernard Monday.

Second Deadly Industrial Accident in Ascension Parish in as Many Days

Amy Jeffries and Kelly Connelly — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 01:19:52 +0000

UPDATE 10:14 p.m. CST WRKF's Kelly Connelly on the scene in Donaldsonville:

An industrial accident at North America’s largest nitrogen complex in Donaldsonville, La. has left one dead and at least five injured.

A little after 6 p.m. Friday, a crew at the CF Industries plant loaded too much nitrogen into a transportation tank, causing it to rupture. Louisiana State Police Col. Mike Edmonson described the mangled piece of equipment as a popped balloon. Louisiana State Police Capt. Doug Cain told the Associated Press a fire sparked by the blast was quickly extinguished.

Geismar Plant Explosion Claims a Second Life

Kelly Connelly — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 21:20:56 +0000

Thursday’s chemical plant explosion in Geismar, La. has claimed another life. Seven remained hospitalized Friday with burns and respiratory complications.

Williams Companies CEO Alan Armstrong visited with workers and their families Friday. He called the incident a “major” explosion.

“This is a terrible and unprecedented tragedy," Armstrong said. "I’ve talked with a few of our employees and I know they are hurting, however, I’ve also seen and been inspired by their courage.”

Seeds Planted for Chess Culture in Baton Rouge Schools

Amy Jeffries — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:49:52 +0000

About 200 teachers from 42 schools in the East Baton Rouge Parish district have signed up for workshops this summer to learn how to start chess clubs and use the game in their classrooms. The first batch of teachers capped off their training with a mini tournament Thursday.

Deadly Chemical Plant Explosion in Geismar

Kelly Connelly , Amy Jeffries and Scott Neuman — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:18:29 +0000

UPDATED 9:22 p.m. CST:

The injured count is up to 77 and a 29-year-old man is dead after a chemical explosion in Geismar, La. Thursday.

300 people were evacuated from the Williams Olefins plant, which produces over a billion pounds of propylene and ethylene a year for use in the production of other chemical and plastic products. It was propylene that caught fire after the explosion. Ten workers stayed behind to monitor a burn-off.

Survey Says LA Swift Shut Down Could Hurt Jobs

Kelly Connelly — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 21:52:31 +0000

State plans to shut down the low-cost bus from Baton Rouge to New Orleans may harm economic ties between the cities.

According to a survey released Wednesday by The Center for Planning Excellence, more than half of LA Swift riders use the service to get to and from work.

Crime Still A Major Concern For EBR Parish Residents

Ashley Westerman — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:32:14 +0000

A widespread fear of crime remains among the residents of East Baton Rouge Parish. That’s according to the Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s latest City Stats report released Monday.

The Advocate's Secret Weapon: A Speedy Press

Amy Jeffries — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 11:56:10 +0000

It's sort of a fluke.

The Baton Rouge paper had been nursing its 1950s era letterpresses for years when it finally had to bite the bullet and invest in a new production facility. The speedy offset press came online in 2006, just as the country headed into a recession and the newspaper industry was tanking.

So when John Georges closed the deal to buy The Advocate in May, it came with one of the newest printing presses in the country.

BRAF Releases City Stats 2013

Ashley Westerman — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 17:11:46 +0000

The Baton Rouge Area Foundation released its annual City Stats report Monday. The survey, which looks at over 70 indicators, revealed some surprising answers this year.