News

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.

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.

State Sen. Elbert Guillory of Opelousas explains his recent switch from Democrat to Republican.

Robert Travis Scott takes a closer look at Louisiana's film tax credit program. Steve Spires of the Louisiana Budget Project discusses whether the film tax credits are worth it with entertainment industry consultant Sherri McConnell and Chris Stelly of the entertainment division of Louisiana Economic Development.

And Robert talks about the kayak fishing craze with Chris Holmes with Louisiana Sportsman magazine.

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.

Guest host Robert Travis Scott talks with the new owner/publisher of the Advocate, John Georges about his future plans for the Baton Rouge daily paper, and Baton Rouge Business Report publisher Rolfe McCollister.

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.

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.

State lawmakers cheered the end of the 2013 legislative session Thursday.

WRKF’s Kelly Connelly has been following every twist and turn over the past 2 months. News Director Amy Jeffries spoke with Kelly about her time covering the session.

Guest host Robert Travis Scott reviews the legislative session with LAPolitics.com journalist Jeremy Alford and LABI tax policy analyst John LeBlanc.

Robert chats with long-time New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond, whose district now includes north Baton Rouge.