BATON ROUGE — A non-profit held a Juneteenth fundraiser at All Star Lanes tonight to raise money for young mothers in the area.

The proceeds benefit the Blooming Butterflies Maternity Home, which supports young mothers. The money raised goes toward resources, scholarships and funding for an upcoming community baby shower for people in need.

Over the past year, the organization says it has helped 60 families across Baton Rouge.

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EUGENE, Ore. - LSU junior sprinter Jaiden Reid had quite the day at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Reid set a collegiate record in the 200-meter dash after finishing in 19.63 seconds.

Reid took home another two medals on the day. He played a critical role on LSU's 4x100 relay team, which took second place in the finals behind Tennessee's team.

Reid's second silver of the day came in the 100-meter dash, in which he finished in 9.82 seconds with the help of some wind.

At the end of the night, LSU's 4x400 relay team ended up setting a school record with a time of 2:57.96. That team also came in second to win the Tigers another silver medal.

As a team, LSU placed 4th.

TEAM SCORES:

1. ARKANSAS, 56
2. GEORGIA, 49
3. TENNESSEE, 46
4. LSU, 42
5. OREGON, 40

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TICKFAW — A Tickfaw man was arrested after a police dog tracked a path from a burglarized business to his home, where stolen copper wire was found in the front yard, deputies said.

Samuel Knight, 38, was booked on two counts of burglary and one count of illegal possession of stolen property, according to authorities.

Earlier this week, a business in the 49000 block of Western Acres reported several pieces of equipment and copper wiring missing.

While detectives gathered information, the dog, Gunner, began tracking around the property. That track led to a residence about a quarter of a mile away off of Highway 442, where a pile of stripped wire was found sitting in the front yard.

A search warrant for the home turned up more stripped wire, all of which matched the type reported missing from the business.

Detectives identified Knight as the suspect and once located, he confessed to the burglary. He was then placed under arrest.

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LIVINGSTON — Residents near Ohio Street in Livingston may experience an outage as a tree has fallen onto power lines, according to the Livingston Police Department. 

According to officers, a tree fell onto the power lines on Ohio Street between Bloss Avenue and South Magnolia Street, with several power outages reported and confirmed. 

The department said officers are currently on the scene, and Entergy has been notified. 

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BATON ROUGE — Two people were arrested on Thursday for attempted second-degree murder after a group allegedly followed a woman through several Baton Rouge streets before firing into her vehicle.  

On May 25, officers with the Baton Rouge Police Department arrived at a shooting to discover that the victim had driven to Benny's B-Quick. While there, officers located a female victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

During the investigation, detectives learned that the victim was leaving a friend's residence when she was followed by another woman and several other people in a gray pickup truck. The victim told officers that while stopped at a red light near Airline Highway and Tom Drive, the woman allegedly exited the truck and began recording her vehicle.

The victim said the woman allegedly kicked the vehicle while yelling for her to get out, as the woman wanted to fight her due to a prior altercation.

According to the victim, the gray vehicle followed her through several streets before a person in the truck fired two shots at her vehicle on Lobdell Boulevard.

The victim claimed that once she reached Greenwell Springs Road, the truck pulled alongside her vehicle before a person in the rear passenger seat began firing multiple rounds into her vehicle, striking her in the process. 

According to arrest records, the victim sustained gunshot wounds to her hand, back and hip as well as a graze wound to her chin.

Arrest documents say that Taliyah Dupaty, 23, was identified as the person who initiated the confrontation, actively participated in the pursuit of the victim and was in the vehicle that pursued and fired at the victim. 

Officers later developed 18-year-old Alick Washington as a suspect in the incident. Washington was allegedly wearing an ankle monitor at the time of the shooting. Using GPS tracking technology, detectives placed Washington at several of the same locations as the suspect vehicle.

Dupaty was arrested by U.S. Marshals on June 9 and was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison for attempted second-degree murder, aggravated damage to criminal property and illegal use of weapons and dangerous instrumentalities.

On Thursday, Washington was arrested for principal to attempted second-degree murder, principal to illegal use of weapons and principal to aggravated criminal damage to property.

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Mosquitoes kill more people than any other creature in the world, spreading diseases like dengue, West Nile, Zika, chikungunya and malaria.

Dr. Conor McMeniman with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health says mosquitoes love to breed during the summer months, especially when there is a lot of rainfall and puddles in which they lay their eggs.

"First they smell you, then they see you and then they sense the warmth from your skin and then eventually land on you," McMeniman said.

The CDC says more than 200 types of mosquitoes live in the continental U.S. and U.S. territories. About a dozen of those spread germs that can cause illnesses.

There is no way to tell if a mosquito is making someone sick when it bites. "It's important to protect ourselves against mosquitoes and enjoy a bite-free summer," McMeniman said.

To keep mosquitoes away from the home, McMeniman says to remove standing pools of water that could be in potted plant bases or drainage areas. He also recommends using window screens.

When mosquitoes are most active, covering up by wearing long sleeves and pants can help. McMeniman also says to avoid natural or homemade insect repellents and use one that is EPA registered instead.

"Because they're being tested for safety and also efficacy against mosquitoes found in the United States," McMeniman said.

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BATON ROUGE — Emergency responders are urging residents to take precautions as extreme heat is sending more people to local emergency rooms.

According to the Louisiana Department of Health, more than 100 people across the greater Baton Rouge area have sought treatment for heat-related illnesses, including 21 cases in East Baton Rouge Parish and 49 in Ascension Parish.

Justin Hill with the Baton Rouge Fire Department said people should not ignore symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, confusion, or excessive sweating.

"If you start feeling a little off, now is the time to take a little break," Hill said.

Residents spending time outdoors say they're staying hydrated, seeking shade, and avoiding the hottest part of the day.

Health experts warn that older adults, children, and those with medical conditions face the highest risk during periods of extreme heat.

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BATON ROUGE — BREC is asking voters to renew an existing property tax later this month to keep its park system funded for another decade, but opponents are criticizing how the park system already spends its money. 

The measure appears on the June 27 ballot. BREC is seeking renewal of the existing 3.96 mill property tax, which dates back to the 1980s.

Interim BREC Superintendent Janet Simmons said the request is not a new tax but a re-approval of one already in place.

"We have grass that we have to cut. We have property that we have to maintain," Simmons said.

Simmons also addressed what could happen if the funding were to go away.

"Not having that maintenance money coming in would mean that we have to close parks earlier," she said. "We would have to reduce our hours."

The vote comes after BREC faced financial scrutiny. WBRZ reported that, in December 2024, BREC failed to reconcile accounts on time and lacked complete financial documentation in several areas.

That led a state lawmaker to push for greater financial transparency and to ask BREC to submit monthly financial records. State Rep. Dixon McMakin had a bill requiring monthly financial reports, but it failed in a legislative committee.

"I am very disappointed that once again, they had the same mistakes that they've had previously," McMakin said.

BREC says its audits are now all up to date. Simmons addressed voters who may be skeptical because of the spending controversy.

"I understand it," Simmons said. "We have caught up on all of our audits. We're completely up to date, and we're going to have our next audit up to date."

Some residents near the parks say management issues should not stop voters from approving the renewal.

Pat McCallister-LeDuff helped transform Scotlandville Parkway, a 3-mile stretch of green space that runs in part under Interstate 110, alongside other volunteers and BREC over the past five years.

"This is a good thing for our community," McCallister-LeDuff said. "Whoever is mismanaging, get them out of the office and hold them accountable."

McCallister-LeDuff also warned about what could happen without the funding. "Eventually they're going to be selling more parks, and they won't be maintained," she said.

Mitch Evans, who lives near City Park, said he plans to vote yes on the measure. "You know it doesn't have to be perfect," Evans said. "Sometimes imperfect is perfect."

Early voting runs from June 12 through June 20. Election day is June 27.

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HAMMOND - More than a week after 50-year-old Patricia Sheppard was shot and killed at a Hammond gas station, police are asking the public to help find two people of interest in the case.

Hammond Police Department said it is looking for Jarvis Steptoe, 26, and Reginald Steptoe, 21, both from the Hammond area, in connection with the shooting.

According to police, two gunmen followed a gray sedan to a Chevron along U.S. 190 around 1:15 a.m. on June 4, believing their intended target was inside.

Security footage obtained by WBRZ shows the gray sedan parked next to a gas pump. When the driver got out and walked inside, a white sedan pulled up alongside the gray car.

Two people wearing masks and carrying AR-style pistols got out of the white sedan and opened fire on Sheppard, who was sitting in the passenger seat. Police said between 70 and 80 bullets were fired into the car before the shooters left.

The shooters' vehicle was carjacked in McComb, Mississippi. Police believe the gunmen were targeting someone else — the intended target had been in the gray sedan earlier that night, but left and got into another car without the suspects knowing.

Sheppard's daughter, Brittney Richardson, said her mother worked at Sanderson Farms and often rode home with coworkers, which is what she was doing the night of the shooting.

Richardson flipped through her mother's Bible, stopping on handwritten letters Sheppard left for her children.

"To know something like that can happen to somebody who was just a sweet person, didn't bother anybody, you know, and just for her to be taken away," Richardson said. 

Richardson said she wants everyone responsible to be held accountable.

"As far as those guys, I do I want them caught as fast as possible, if possible," Richardson said. "I know God got his hands over all of this."

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BATON ROUGE - The Baton Rouge Police Department arrested a man for murder following a fatal shooting on Hollywood Street.

LaDarius Lee, 18, was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison for first-degree murder and other charges after being arrested in Pointe Coupee Parish.

On May 24, responding officers arrived at the intersection of Beech Street and Douglas Avenue around 8:21 p.m. to find Johnathan Chambers, 20, suffering from gunshot wounds. 

He was later transported to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries. A female victim was also transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

According to arrest documents, Chambers and the surviving victim were selling marijuana to Lee when Lee gestured to additional unknown people to approach the vehicle. The vehicle and Chambers were shot multiple times; Lee exited the vehicle with the marijuana without buying it, according to BRPD.

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BATON ROUGE - 43 cadets graduated from the Louisiana State Police training academy on Friday morning.

The 108th Cadet Class began their 23-week training at the Louisiana State Police Training Academy on January 4, 2026. 

The graduation ceremony was hosted by the Louisiana State Police Training Academy at First Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. The new troopers will now  be assigned across the state and will participate in a 16-week field training program.

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BATON ROUGE - After a baby spent 29 days in the neonatal intensive care unit, her family took her home in style with a limo.

Baton Rouge General said the child, Amari, was born on May 14 weighing just over three pounds.

"No paparazzi, please - Amari headed home with parents Tramenia and Hayward Robertson for lots of naps, snuggles and the VIP treatment!", Baton Rouge General said.

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The Capital Area will have its hottest temperatures so far this season over the weekend, with feels-like temperatures climbing into the low 100s. Though there are no alerts, take it a little easier in the heat as our bodies are still getting acclimated coming out of the cool season. Relief will arrive early next week, but a stalling weather system will bring the potential for heavy rain and flooding.

Spiking Heat: feels-like temperatures 100-105 degrees this weekend

Stalling Front: rounds of thunderstorms early next week

Flood Risk: 3-6 inches plus over the wet stretch

Tonight & The Weekend: A quiet and warm evening is ahead for the Capital Area. Under mostly clear skies, it will be warm and muggy with overnight lows in the mid 70s. Hot temperatures will hold their ground through the weekend. With humidity slowly creeping up as well, feels-like temperatures will go well over 100 degrees, climbing as high as 105 degrees. As afternoons heat up the landscape, typical coastal breezes will develop and trigger isolated showers and thunderstorms. Know that there will be plenty of dry time each day; just have a nearby lightning shelter in case of one of those passing storms. Any activity that pops will fizzle after sunset.

Up Next: As the weekend comes to a close, the weather pattern will shift as a weak cold front moves into the Southeast. Ahead of this feature, deep tropical moisture will pool in the atmosphere and result in a round of stormy weather early next week. The incoming cold front will lose its forward push on Monday, parking itself directly over northern Louisiana. This stalled boundary will act as a track for repeated rounds of heavy thunderstorms Monday through at least Wednesday. Because our soils have already absorbed over a foot of rain in the past month, a flash flooding situation could develop a little more easily than usual.

Monday afternoon through Wednesday, occasional downpours capable of dumping 2 to 3 inches of rain per hour will be possible. Many spots will pick up 3 to 6 inches of water by Wednesday night, and a few areas could see total rainfall amounts over 10 inches. Street flooding will be a concern for all commutes through the middle of the week. Keep an eye out for standing water and never drive through flooded roadways. The National Weather Service (NWS) may issue a Flood Watch to account for this threat. Temperatures will not climb above 90 degrees due to the clouds and rain.

By Thursday, the front will dissipate and showers and thunderstorms will get back to a more typical pattern of popping up due to daytime warming. Also, highs will return to the 90s.

Get the latest 7-day forecast and real-time weather updates HERE.

Watch live news HERE.

The Tropics: A broad area of low pressure over the Bay of Campeche is producing disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity, but it faces an uphill battle for development. Environmental conditions remain only marginally favorable for the system as it tracks toward eastern Mexico, where it will likely move inland late Saturday or Sunday. Looking ahead into next week, the system could re-emerge over the northwestern Gulf on Tuesday or Wednesday and interact with a frontal boundary. However, atmospheric conditions are expected to remain unfavorable for significant organization in that area as well, keeping the overall chance for tropical cyclone formation at a low 20 percent.

– Josh 

The Storm Station is here for you, on every platform. Your weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and X for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

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DENHAM SPRINGS - Deputies rescued several animals that were left abandoned around Margot Lane and Linder Road.

The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office said citizens notified them of a six-week-old puppy and two kittens being abandoned in the area. The parish shelter took in the dog, while Rescue Rehome Repeat has the kittens.

Deputies say a 34-year-old woman faces a "cruelty to animals."

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DARROW — A woman pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with a 2024 Darrow shooting for which she was initially charged with murder. 

Kendra Washington, 54, on Tuesday, pled guilty to the shooting of 45-year-old Mark Perkins on June 15, 2024.

Washington was initially arrested on second-degree murder and illegal use of weapons charges after confessing to detectives that she shot Perkins with a handgun after an argument turned physical. The pair were in a relationship, WBRZ previously reported. 

She faces up to 40 years in prison. 

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BATON ROUGE — Gov. Jeff Landry on Friday signed a bill into law that increases state-paid survivor benefits for firefighters and law enforcement officers. 

HB 979, authored by Rep. Jeff Wiley, increases benefits for qualifying deaths occurring after July 1, 2025, to $300,000 for beneficiaries of law enforcement and firefighters. The previous law capped the benefits at $250,000. 

An amendment by State Sen. Caleb Kleinpeter made the increase retroactive to July 2025.

The new law formally goes into effect on July 1, 2026.  

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HAMMOND — A truck caught fire around noon on Friday along I-12.

The fire happened near Hammond, causing several miles of congestion on the interstate between I-55 and La. 43 going west toward Baton Rouge. 

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BATON ROUGE — LSU baseball's star shortstop will withdraw from the 2026 MLB Draft and return to LSU for the 2027 season, sources confirmed to WBRZ.

Steven "Monster" Milam will play his fourth season in Baton Rouge next spring, a big win for head coach Jay Johnson who is looking to bring the Tigers back to the postseason after a disappointing 30-28 record in the 2026 season. 

Milam finished the year with a .296 batting average and 11 home runs. He's averaged .305 in his LSU career and has a total of 30 home runs. 

The announcement is the latest in a recent string of wins for Johnson. On Wednesday, the twice-national championship-winning head coach secured a commitment from No. 1 transfer portal prospect Bino Watters, an outfielder from Notre Dame. On Thursday, Johnson landed Florida's Cade Kurland, a promising second baseman with a history of injuries. 

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Hunter McCann has this weekend's best bets for the World Cup, NBA and Stanley Cup Finals, WNBA, college baseball and the MLB!

Friday

World Cup 2026:
Canada vs. Bosnia: Canada ML (3-Way)
USA vs. Paraguay: USA ML (3-Way)

College Baseball:
Troy @ West Virginia: u11.5 Total Runs
Ole Miss @ UNC: UNC ML

MLB:
Mariners @ Nationals: Mariners ML
Braves @ Mets: Braves ML
Dodgers @ White Sox: Dodgers ML
Phillies @ Brewers: Brewers -1.5
Cardinals @ Twins: u9.5 Total Runs
Rockies @ Athletics: Gage Jump o5.5 Total Strikeouts

WNBA:
Tempo @ Mystics: Tempo +2.5
Valkyries @ Storm: u157.5 Total Points

Saturday

World Cup 2026:
Qatar vs. Switzerland: Switzerland -1.5
Brazil vs. Morocco: Brazil ML (3-Way)
Haiti @ Scotland: Scotland ML (3-Way)
Australia vs. Turkey: u2.5 Total Goals


NBA Finals:
Knicks @ Spurs: Spurs -5.5


College Baseball:
Oklahoma @ Alabama: Oklahoma ML
Texas @ Georgia: Texas ML

MLB:
TBD

WNBA:
Fever @ Sun: Fever -11.5
Lynx @ Aces: Lynx +3.5
Wings @ Fire: Wings -5.5
Sparks @ Mercury: Sparks +1.5

Sunday

World Cup 2026:
TBD

Stanley Cup Finals:
TBD

College Baseball:
TBD

MLB:
TBD

WNBA:
TBD

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MIDLAND, Texas (AP) — A shooter who opened fire in the West Texas city of Midland died Friday after a standoff with police following an attack that left one person dead and at least nine others injured, city officials said.

Midland police said the active shooter situation ended hours after the gunfire erupted in one part of the city before ending up near a veterinary hospital.

Police did not immediately say how the suspect died. Midland Mayor Lori Blong said authorities used robot and drone footage to confirm that the shooter was dead.

Andrea Mendias said she heard what sounded like a small explosion at the closed veterinary clinic next to the body shop where she works and saw several heavily armed police officers rush into the parking lot. Some appeared to go inside the building.

Mendias said she had earlier heard what sounded like at least 40 gunshots.

Video from Mendias showed officers pouring out of the back of an armored police vehicle and police deploying robots into the area.

Midland Memorial Hospital said four people underwent surgery and that three had been treated and released. Two others were in stable condition, the hospital said.

The city with about 140,000 residents sits in the heart of the state’s oil region and was near the site of a deadly shooting rampage in 2019.

In that shooting, a gunman who had been fired from his oil services job killed seven people and wounded two dozen others while firing at random as he drove around the Odessa and Midland areas. The two cities are more than 300 miles (482 kilometers) west of Dallas.

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