HOOVER, ALABAMA - The LSU Tiger baseball team was already facing back-to-the-wall adversity in their SEC Tournament opening game against Oklahoma on Tuesday night in Hoover, Alabama but then they got the news that expected starting pitcher William Schmidt would be a late scratch on the mound.

According to head coach Jay Johnson in a SEC Network television broadcast Schmidt was feeling tightness in his back and the coaching staff would not risk any further injury by running him out there against the Sooners.

Grant Fontenot made the start for the Tigers and did a solid job as he threw 2.1 innings allowing just one run. 

The Tigers showed some continued miscues but overcame them early in the game to take a 4-2 lead over the Sooners in the fifth inning.

LSU must win the entire SEC Tournament to earn an automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA postseason tournament.

The winner in this opening game will face sixth-seeded Auburn in the late game on Wednesday night.

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BATON ROUGE - Last month, East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore and several other district attorneys across the state asked the state legislature to help fund more assistant district attorney positions and a salary increase for starting ADAs, but Moore says that increase may no longer be on the table.

"We need relief, and we thought we saw relief coming pretty soon. We thought we saw some substantial relief, but it looks like that's probably not going to happen," Moore said.

Five constitutional amendments were on Saturday's ballot. One of those amendments would have reallocated money from education funds to give teachers and support staff a permanent pay raise.

But they all failed, leaving Governor Jeff Landry to take to social media on Monday, saying if teachers don't get a permanent raise this year, no state government employees will get a pay raise.

"Besides parents, teachers are there, and then there's police and district attorneys, that have to fill in when there's no parents or when things fail. So I think that we clearly understand there will probably be no raise in sight," Moore said.

 Moore went to the Capitol last month requesting 25 additional assistant district attorney positions.

 He says it's not just the failure of the amendments that could impact funding for more positions in his office.

He says it's also the fact that the revenue estimating conference's projection of the amount of money the state has to spend came back 200 million dollars less than what they thought.

"That surely set a lot of people's hopes and dreams and programs back, particularly district attorneys. So, that's something that we knew going in, that we were waiting on the estimation, and it came in a lot less than what everyone thought it'd be," Moore said.

Now, the legislature could still approve the additional positions for the district attorney's office, but they would still need the money to bring on more assistant district attorneys.

"We're still hopeful that the state can find some money to fund those positions, particularly for Baton Rouge, cause we are way behind and being very needy for assistant DA spots," Moore said.

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WALKER - The Walker Police Department arrested a man following a domestic disturbance call that turned into a standoff, according to officials.

The police department said that, around 5:10 p.m. on Wednesday, police arrived to see Marcus Paul Groves, 42, arguing with other occupants of the residence. He then displayed a firearm and threatened officers with violence, officials said.

Officers then moved back from the door of the residence while Groves remained inside, refusing police orders to surrender. Other people were also reported to be inside the residence. The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office was called to assist.

After deputies arrived, deputies were able to talk to Groves and persuade him out of the house, with a K-9 apprehension bringing an end to the standoff.

Groves was booked for aggravated assault on a police officer and resisting arrest.

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CENTRAL - Two people, including Central Mayor Wade Evans, were injured in a crash on Hooper Road and Blackwater Road in Central, emergency officials confirmed to WBRZ.

The Central Police Department, at around 8:24 p.m., said to avoid the road due to a "serious crash being investigated."

Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran confirmed Mayor Evans was one of the people injured in the crash; he described Evans' injuries as "minor," saying he went to the hospital as a precaution.

The two injured people were listed as being in stable condition. No other information was immediately available.

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PORT ALLEN — A hiring fair at GXO Logistics drew a large crowd today, with lines stretching out the door.

On-site interviews were held for more than 30 positions. GXO is looking for people with experience operating reach trucks, forklifts and other heavy equipment, as well as those with customer service backgrounds.

Requirements include appropriate equipment certifications, reliable transportation, strong communication skills and a dedication to workplace safety. Starting pay for the open positions begins at more than $20 an hour.

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BATON ROUGE — A coalition focused on early education gathered at the state capitol to push lawmakers to keep funding childhood programs during this year's legislative session.

The Ready Louisiana Coalition hosted an Early Education Day event, calling on legislators to continue investing in early childhood programs and the state Early Childhood Education Fund.

A bill tied to that effort has already cleared the House and the Senate Education Committee. Rep. Freiberg's HB 992 is now awaiting a final vote on the Senate floor.

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BATON ROUGE — An Oklahoma man was arrested after he allegedly sent sexually inappropriate messages to a Louisiana State Police trooper who was posing as a 15-year-old. 

LSP said it, with help from the FBI, began an undercover operation in January targeting people sexually exploiting children on social media. 

Jason Edgar Daniel, a 40-year-old registered sex offender in Oklahoma, allegedly sent an undercover trooper several explicit messages. 

On Monday, FBI agents arrested Daniel on charges of indecent behavior with juveniles, attempted production of child sexual abuse material and computer-aided solicitation of a minor. LSP said he also admitted to having child pornography on his phone. 

Daniel now awaits extradition to East Baton Rouge Parish. 

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BATON ROUGE — An 18-year-old was arrested for allegedly trying to bring a gun into a high school graduation ceremony after a fight broke out. 

The Baton Rouge Police Department said an officer saw Allen Applewhite fighting several people inside the F.G. Clark Activity Center at Southern University, while the Istrouma High School graduation ceremony was going on. 

According to arrest documents, the officer watched Applewhite leave the ceremony and walk out to his car, where he grabbed a large drum magazine and put it under his jacket before heading back toward the activity center. 

When police approached Applewhite, documents say, he turned around and put the weapon back inside the car. He was placed under arrest, but not before police say he locked the car door and said he didn't know where the keys were, so that police could not get the gun.

The car was towed to BRPD's evidence shed, and investigators plan to search it once a judge signs off on a warrant. 

Applewhite was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on charges of carrying a firearm on school property, negligent carrying of a concealed handgun and disturbing the peace. 

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BATON ROUGE - Democratic U.S. Senate candidates Gary Crockett and Jamie Davis are headed to a runoff after Nick Albares announced Tuesday that he is conceding.

According to the Secretary of State's office, Davis received 47% of the votes from registered Democrats across the state. Crockett won 90,764 votes and Albares grabbed 90,480, sparking an automatic recall between the two. 

Albares conceded Tuesday afternoon. He sent the following statement: 

“While votes are still being tabulated and results are currently unofficial, I’ve decided today that it is time to end my campaign for the U.S. Senate and continue my work for dignity, solutions, and results through other means. I’m grateful to everyone who supported this campaign which was rooted in building an authentic community. Our campaign was focused on the dignity of every person, lowering healthcare costs, protecting Medicaid for the hundreds of thousands of families who rely on it, ending the corruption in Washington that is driving up costs, and ensuring that billionaires pay their fair share." 

Democratic voters will have to choose between Crockett and Davis at the polls on June 27. The winner of that election will go head-to-head against the Republican nominee, either Julia Letlow or John Fleming, in November. 

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ST. GABRIEL — An Iowa man known as "Santa Ames" was arrested for allegedly stealing tens of thousands of dollars from a Louisiana woman. 

The St. Gabriel Police Department said a woman reported $37,000 missing from her retirement account on March 31. Police say they tracked the stolen funds to an account in Ames, Iowa. 

After getting in touch with the involved bank, the police department identified David Greulich as a suspect. St. Gabriel Police Chief Kevin Ambeau said he was arrested in Iowa and will soon be extradited to Louisiana to be booked on charges of money laundering, theft over $25,000, bank fraud and identity theft. 

"We were able to gain evidence that he took part in this crime and how much he was going to get paid," Ambeau said. "So I want him to know I'm not making any mistake arresting Santa. We did our homework, we followed the leads, and I'm sorry, Santa will have to come back to Louisiana."

On his website, Greulich claims to be a trusted Santa in the Ames community with more than 20 years of experience. He is also listed as the contact for the Iowa chapter of the International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas, an organization whose website says it plans to "become the preeminent Santa Community in the World." 

"We're definitely going to arrest Santa. I know that it's May, but Santa Claus is coming to town," Ambeau said. 

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BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana State Supreme Court unanimously rejected a writ that would've prevented the use of body camera footage against three former BRPD officers that allegedly showed two of them discussing disposing evidence after roughing up a person.

The Supreme Court rejected the request without comment and did so unanimously. District Attorney Hillar Moore confirmed that, because of this ruling, the prosecution can use the body camera footage in court.

Former Street Crimes Unit members Douglas Chutz, Todd Thomas and Troy Lawrence Sr. are accused of roughing up a person during a 2020 strip search before disposing of a body camera video that documented the encounter. Lawrence briefly pulled his TASER, leading to multiple of the officers' body cameras being activated, court documents said.

According to court documents, while talking about disposing of another officer's body camera that caught the encounter, Chutz's body camera in the trunk of his patrol car caught him saying, "Cameras don't cost but $80," with Thomas agreeing to a plan to dispose of the evidence.

Thomas said, "I'm going to stay and f***ing smash it and scoop it up... and take it to the Mississippi River."

The camera that caught the encounter with the suspect was never docked, uploaded to the BRPD server or returned, court documents said. Chutz, however, later placed his camera that recorded the conversation into the docking station, and it automatically uploaded the video and audio content to BRPD's server.

In April 2025, the defense argued that the recording occurred without the officers' consent in a circumstance in which they had a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Chutz and Thomas' cases were previously rejected unanimously in the First Circuit Court of Appeals. In Lawrence's case, he still lost, but one of the judges said the lower court should have looked at the video before deciding.

Chutz and Lawrence are scheduled to appear in court for a status conference on June 25. Thomas has not been scheduled for an appearance at this time. All three, and Martele Jackson, are being tried for malfeasance in office.

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BATON ROUGE — Baton Rouge police are asking for the public's help identifying the people who robbed a man at gunpoint outside a convenience store.

According to police, the robbery happened at around 10:15 p.m. on May 2 in the 6400 block of Harry Drive. Investigators say the victim had just walked out of a convenience store when the suspects confronted him.

The suspects physically assaulted the victim and robbed him at gunpoint. Before running away on foot, they also took items from his vehicle.

Anyone with information on the identity of the suspects can contact Crime Stoppers by calling 344-7867, downloading the P3 Tips App or visiting crimestoppers225.com. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate advanced legislation Tuesday that seeks to force President Donald Trump to withdraw from the Iran war, as a growing number of Republicans defied the president's direction on a conflict that has spanned well over two months.

Since Trump ordered the attack on Iran at the end of February, Democrats have forced repeated votes on war powers resolutions that would require him either to gain congressional approval or withdraw U.S. troops. Republicans had been able to muster the votes to reject those proposals, but Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy — fresh off a primary election loss in which Trump endorsed his opponent — switched sides.

While I support the administration's efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, the White House and Pentagon have left Congress in the dark on Operation Epic Fury. In Louisiana, I’ve heard from people, including President Trump’s supporters, who are concerned about this war.…

— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) May 19, 2026

The 50-47 vote tally showed that a small but growing number of Republicans are willing to challenge Trump on the Iran war, even though the effort may not advance much further. Three Republicans were absent Tuesday and their votes would be enough to defeat the measure, if they maintain their stance on the war.

Still, the vote showed how Republicans are increasingly uneasy with a conflict that shows no signs of ending, is stuck in a fragile ceasefire and is causing rising gas prices in the U.S.

“Republicans are starting to crack, and momentum is building to check him,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement after the vote. "We are not letting up.”

Republican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska had all previously voted for similar war powers resolutions and did so again Tuesday. Cassidy supported the legislation for the first time, while Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was again the only Democrat to vote against it.

After his primary election loss last week, Cassidy returned to Washington defiant. He said he was proud of his work to uphold the Constitution and would carefully consider how he would vote on several priorities of the Trump administration going forward.

Trump's grip on the Senate Republican Conference is potentially slipping after Cassidy's primary loss, as well as the president's decision Tuesday to endorse Republican Sen. John Cornyn's primary opponent.

“While I support the administration’s efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, the White House and Pentagon have left Congress in the dark on Operation Epic Fury,” Cassidy said on social media.

“Until the administration provides clarity, no congressional authorization or extension can be justified.”

House will also vote on war powers
Across the Capitol, the House is expected to vote on a similar war powers resolution Wednesday, and Democrats are bullish about their chances of passing it. Another war powers resolution barely failed in the House last week, the vote ending in a tie.

Even if Congress eventually passes legislation to compel Trump to withdraw from the conflict, it's not clear that he would comply. To circumvent requirements of the War Powers Resolution of 1973, the White House has claimed that it has technically ceased “hostilities” with Iran because there is a ceasefire.

Trump this week said he ordered preparations for an attack on Iran on Tuesday, only to call it off to give allies in the Gulf more time to work out an agreement with Iran.

“Peace negotiations are stuck and so day after day after day grocery prices climb, gas prices climb," Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said in a floor speech.

Lawmakers want more information on Iran war
On Capitol Hill, patience is clearly running out for a war that Trump launched without congressional approval.

Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota said he is supportive of Trump’s decision to go to war, but that more Republicans are growing concerned about a long-term plan. The administration may have to go into more detail about that, Rounds said.

The War Powers Resolution of 1973 “does provide an avenue for that discussion and debate to occur,” Rounds said.

He said he believes it’s not the right time to do that, and he would rather “stand strong with the president” at this point. “But I think a number of our members maybe just feel like it’s time to have the debate.”

Earlier this year, Republican senators voted to advance a war powers resolution on the conflict with Venezuela and compelled the Trump administration to make its case to Congress for the military campaign.

A handful of GOP senators forced a final vote on legislation to withdraw from the conflict. Two of the Republicans — Sens. Todd Young of Indiana and Josh Hawley of Missouri — ultimately flipped after Secretary of State Marco Rubio agreed to a public hearing about the administration's Venezuela strategy.

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BATON ROUGE — Baton Rouge Community College held its graduation ceremony today, with more than 1,000 students receiving their diplomas.

Among the graduates were 200 dual enrollment students from high schools across the parish who earned their associate degrees before receiving their high school diplomas.

That number is the highest in school history. The dual enrollment program lets students take classes at Baton Rouge Community College while continuing their high school curriculum at the same time.

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MORGAN CITY - J.S. Aucoin Elementary is on lockdown due to shots being fired nearby, St. Mary Parish deputies told WBRZ.

As of 3:39 p.m., deputies said that the school is under lockdown and they are not sure how long it will last. Officials also said they believe the school to be "safe" and that extra security has been called in to assist.

No other information was immediately available.

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A stormy pattern is afoot. Daily commutes and afternoon activities could face delays. If you are planning events outdoors for Memorial Day Weekend, such as pool parties or cookouts, you will absolutely want to arrange a covered or indoor alternative. The atmosphere will be holding a lot of moisture through early next week. Like a saturated sponge, any thunderstorms will squeeze out this moisture in the form of heavy rain.

Surge of T-Storms: busy afternoons Wednesday through Friday

Memorial Day Weekend: no washouts but plenty of reason for indoor backup plans

Lurking Flood Threat: if heavy rain hits the same neighborhood multiple days in a row

Tonight & Tomorrow: The Storm Station will be keeping an eye on a cluster of showers and thunderstorms far northwest of the Capital Area into tonight. If the system can hold together, some gusty winds and downpours will be possible overnight. Otherwise, expect a warm, sticky night with lows dropping into the low 70s. Tomorrow, showers and thunderstorms will ramp up as a weak upper-level disturbance passes closer to the region to trigger more substantial activity. 80% of the 13 Parish, 2 County Forecast Area will get measurable rain. Due to thickening clouds and earlier arrival of showers, highs will top out in the mid 80s.

Use the slider to advance through the next 24 hours of Futurecast

Up Next: To end the workweek, numerous to widespread showers and thunderstorms will continue. Of the two days, Friday may be slightly more active due to another weak upper-level disturbance moving over the region. However, for both days, steering winds will be weak, and so popping showers and thunderstorms will be slow and erratic. Any of them could dump a lot of rain over a short time to cause some nuisance flooding, especially for Baton Rouge and locations north and west.

The stormy weather pattern will stick around for Memorial Day Weekend. Daily rain coverage will be at 70% or higher on Saturday, Sunday, and Memorial Day Monday. Afternoon highs will consistently hover in the mid-80s, while nighttime lows stay muggy in the low 70s. If you have outdoor holiday plans, do not cancel them just yet, but definitely have an indoor option nearby for when lightning is around.

Over the next seven days, about 3-6 inches of rain is anticipated. Spaced out over that time, these amounts wouldn’t create major problems, but any areas that see such amounts in a few days or even a few hours would cause flooding.

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

Watch live news HERE.

– 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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JEANERETTE — One person was taken into custody after reports of an active shooting in Jeanerette early Tuesday afternoon.

Police said that there was an active shooter situation in the area of Pellerin at the railroad tracks and St. Nicholas Street at the railroad tracks. 

The suspect has since been taken into custody by the Jeanerette Police Department and the Jeanerette City Marshal’s Office.

"At this time, the scene has been secured and the area is considered safe," officials said.

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LAFAYETTE — The U.S. Senate confirmed Zachary A. Keller as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana on Monday.

Keller has been serving in the role on an interim basis since September 2025.

"Since beginning my service, I've woken up every morning with the mindset that serving my home as United States Attorney is the most important and impactful public service I'll ever perform and it's been the honor of a lifetime to work alongside my WDLA colleagues to keep our community safe," Keller said following his confirmation.

Keller is a West Monroe native who attended George Welch Elementary, West Monroe Middle School and West Monroe High School before going on to Louisiana State University and Yale Law School.

After law school, he started his career at Jones Day's Dallas office before moving into public service in 2016. Before becoming U.S. Attorney, he served as a Deputy Chief and Project Safe Neighborhoods Coordinator in the Major Crimes section of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida.

While there, he worked in the Civil, Appellate and Criminal divisions and handled cases ranging from manslaughter and carjacking to money laundering and child exploitation.

As U.S. Attorney, Keller oversees the investigation and litigation of all criminal and civil cases brought on behalf of the United States in the Western District of Louisiana. The district covers 42 of the state's 64 parishes and spans two-thirds of Louisiana.

"I thank President Trump for honoring me with the opportunity to continue serving my home community, and I look forward to the work that's ahead," Keller said.

Keller lives in Youngsville with his wife and two young children and the family volunteers with the Sunday school program at Asbury United Methodist Church.

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LIVONIA — An 18-wheeler ran over the guard rail dividing east and westbound traffic along U.S. 190 near Livonia on Tuesday.

The incident, Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff Rene' Thibodeaux says, resulted in one lane being closed in both directions along the highway.

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