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 wishes.

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 to either gain congressional approval for the war or withdraw 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 to deliver a crucial vote to pass the legislation.

The 50-47 vote tally demonstrated the small but crucial number of Republicans voting to halt the war with Iran. The legislation will get a vote on final passage, but the timing was not immediately clear.

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 voted for the legislation for the first time.

After his primary election loss last week, Cassidy returned to Washington saying that 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.

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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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BATON ROUGE - The 2025 Big East Player of the Year, RJ Luis, has committed to LSU men's basketball, but he is currently ineligible to play this season.

According to Pete Nakos of On3, Luis is the latest addition to Will Wade’s 2026 roster. However, he will likely need to file a lawsuit in an effort to gain immediate eligibility.

BREAKING: Former pro guard RJ Luis Jr. has signed with LSU, @PeteNakos reports??

Luis was the 2025 Big East player of the year.https://t.co/mzMe9luCgH pic.twitter.com/ZdUDJKoec3

— On3 (@On3) May 19, 2026

After playing for the St. John's Red Storm in 2024-25, Luis entered both the transfer portal and the 2025 NBA Draft. He remained in the draft past the withdrawal deadline and ultimately went undrafted.

Luis later signed with the Utah Jazz before being traded to the Boston Celtics. He was eventually waived and signed with Boston’s G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics, but was waived again before appearing in a game.

Historically, the NCAA has ruled that players who sign NBA contracts are ineligible to return to college basketball, meaning Luis will likely have to sue the NCAA in order to gain immediate eligibility.

The 6-foot-7 small forward put together a dominant 2024-25 campaign, earning Big East Player of the Year honors and second-team All-American recognition. He averaged 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game for the Red Storm.

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GONZALES — A man was arrested for allegedly threatening and blocking another driver, just a few months after he faced backlash for allegedly harassing a fisherman at a neighborhood pond and calling him racial slurs. 

Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office deputies arrested Matthew Madere, 46, and booked him into the Ascension Parish Jail following a roadway disturbance near Cessna Street and Highway 429 in Gonzales. Deputies responded to the area after receiving reports of a verbal altercation involving multiple individuals in the roadway on May 15.

During the investigation, deputies say they learned Madere made multiple threats and drove his vehicle in a reckless manner, including blocking another vehicle on the roadway. Deputies say they reviewed witness statements and video evidence as part of the investigation.

Madere faces charges of disturbing the peace, simple obstruction of a highway of commerce and reckless operation.

In December 2025, Madere was also the center of a separate incident where he reportedly confronted a man fishing in a gated neighborhood.

Marlon Cox said that as he left the pond, he noticed a large truck driving aggressively and realized the driver was trailing him. Cox said he tried to back into someone's driveway to turn around, but the driver, identified as Madere, threw his truck in front of Cox's, blocking him in. Cox said video footage shows the driver calling him racial slurs and telling him to leave the neighborhood.

A police report was not filed in the first instance. 

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LAFAYETTE — On Tuesday, Lafayette Parish deputies arrested an Addis man on drug-dealing charges after he was pulled over along I-10.

David Butler, 31, was pulled over along I-10 during a traffic stop, deputies said. The smell of marijuana was coming from Butler's car and it was subsequently searched, deputies added. 

Deputies found a large amount of drugs, including nearly 2,000 grams of crystal meth, 2,155 grams of methamphetamine tablets, 60 Tapentadol tablets, 11 Xanex tablets, 2.5 grams of marijuana and 24 bottles of Promethazine. 

Butler was then booked on several possession with the intent to distribute charges, among other offenses. He remains behind bars pending a $1.055 million bond. 

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BATON ROUGE — Police have arrested a man connected to an auto theft ring in the Capital area.

Calvin James, 19, was arrested Monday after Baton Rouge Police raided a home on Mohican Street where they found multiple guns, marijuana, a scale, several vehicle keys and an Autel device, which is commonly used in car thefts. 

James and his group, BRPD said, stole several vehicles across the Capital area, with their primary targets being Dodge Chargers and Challengers. BRPD began investigating the group in April, a spokesperson added.

James was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on possession of a machine gun, possession of marijuana, illegal possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also booked as a fugitive on vehicle theft charges from Iberville Parish and Gonzales.

He was previously arrested for vehicle theft, burglary and trespassing, BRPD noted.  

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BATON ROUGE — An audit of the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services highlighted several ongoing issues at the department, including issues with temporary assistance and foster care programs.

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office's report about DCFS said that five of its 12 findings were repeated issues from previous years. 

DCFS failed to implement proper controls for requiring proper documentation of foster care payments, resulting in $66,597 in questioned costs. Around 33% of sampled foster care cases did not have proper authorizations for their housing requirments, with 13% having conflicting or inaccurate information on forms. 

Around 2% of cases saw overpayment of three days due to using an incorrect start date, among other issues.

To resolve this, the audit recomends that DCFS should strengthen internal controls to ensure foster care payments are allowable and recipients are eligible.

The report adds that DCFS also did not have controls in place to ensure proper documentation of fuel card transactions. One example cited in the report details an employee who, between August 2024 and June 2025, used state vehicles for non-state business, resulting in a potential benefit of $10,000. 

Out of 30 fuel card purchases sampled, 10 did not have required vehicle logs and five did not have receipts, which are also required, the report adds. 

The report also says that there were issues with the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, namely that some recipients of the program's funding did not follow proper procedures in cases of non-cooperation sanction holds. Six out of nine sampled cases did not see benefits denied after a hold should have been put on their assistance funding, resulting in $3,116 in questioned costs.

"TANF caseworkers did not ensure that individuals who had been reported as noncompliant by Child Support Enforcement were sanctioned timely or denied TANF benefits, if appropriate. Noncompliance with CSE cooperation requirements could result in penalties assessed on the state by the federal grantor," the report notes.

A repeated offense highlighted in the report was a fourth consecutive year of noncompliance with the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act reporting requirements for the foster care and TANF programs. 

The report also highlighted issues with payroll controls, missing approvals for Social Services Block Grant spending, weak oversight of Summer EBT reporting for children and other discrepencies.

The full report can be read here.

WBRZ has previously reported on issues DCFS has had stemming from audits.

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BATON ROUGE — The Baton Rouge Corvette Club has raised more than $1 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital over the course of its more than 50 years serving the community.

The club's president said the total donation amount sits at about $1.1 million, with $114,700 of that coming from 2025 alone.

The club has a multi-leg road trip coming up May 22- 27, with stops at Talladega, the NCM Motorsports Park and the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, as well as the Tail of the Dragon in North Carolina.

The club holds monthly meetings every second Wednesday night from January through November, with no meeting in December. Social time begins at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7 p.m. at St. George Fire Station at 14100 Airline Highway in Baton Rouge.

Corvette owners are welcome to join. More information is available here.

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GROSSE TETE — A Baton Rouge man was arrested and charged with attempted murder after a road rage shooting along I-10 near the Iberville and West Baton Rouge parish line, authorities said. 

West Baton Rouge Parish deputies and Louisiana State Police troopers responded to the shooting around 5 p.m. on Monday, where they learned that a person was driving west on I-10 when he came across a vehicle driving recklessly across both lanes. 

During the incident, a suspect, later identified as 39-year-old Bradlee St. Julien, stopped his car and blocked both lanes of traffic before continuing west on the interstate. When the driver attempted to pass St. Julien, he opened fire, striking the car several times. 

No injuries were reported. 

Shortly thereafter, state troopers found St. Julien's car near the Grosse Tete exit of I-10. He was subsequently arrested, authorities say. 

A gun was found in the car, which St. Julien's active protective order prohibited him from owning. 

St. Julien was then booked into the Iberville Parish Jail on second-offense DWI, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and violation of a protective order charges. 

After being released from Iberville custody, he will be booked into the West Baton Rouge Parish Detention Center on attempted second-degree murder, assault by drive-by shooting, reckless operation, aggravated obstruction of a highway of commerce and other charges. 

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PLAQUEMINE — The Iberville Parish government is offering sandbags at several locations across the parish as rain rolls through the Capital area starting Tuesday afternoon. 

Locations across the parish have been stocked with sandbags. They can be found at:
- St. Gabriel Town Hall?
- St. Gabriel Hwy 30 Fire Station?
- Bayou Paul Road/Bayou Paul Lane in St. Gabriel?
- Bayou Sorrel Fire Station?
- Old Bayou Pigeon Fire Station?
- Bayou Pigeon Fire Station at Hwy 404?
- Iberville Parish Maintenance Barn ?
?
The parish said there are no immediate flooding concerns in North Plaquemine or White Castle, so no sandbag locations have been set up in those areas.

Click here to learn more about weather on Tuesday and beyond from WBRZ's Storm Station Meteorologists. 

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BATON ROUGE — A major revitalization plan designed to triple downtown Baton Rouge's residential population has been approved by the city's planning commission.

The planning commission approved the Baton Rouge Area Foundation-authored Plan Baton Rouge III at its Monday meeting, marking a key milestone for the plan, which calls for more than $1.5 billion in early investments.

"We've gone 15 years or so without an update to our comprehensive master plan in the downtown area," BRAF's Eric Dexter said. "But we know what we've seen with the successes of Plan Baton Rouge I and II, which resulted in around $3 billion in public and philanthropic investments."

The plan says it will create nearly 5,500 new jobs, attract more than $1 billion in private funding and boost tax revenue by around $37 million over the course of a decade. The plan also predicts that, within the next decade, more than two miles of riverfront property will be developed, as well as seeing 7,350 new residents moving into the area and bringing in an estimated 4.5 million visitors annually.

"The plan is really grounded in a notion of strong community connections," Joshua Brooks, a planner with BRAF's consulting partner Sasaki, said. "At the same time, it really does position downtown as a riverfront city and positions key recommendations about how to use the riverfront that we have."

Brooks explained that the development of downtown will work to serve the broader region, connecting surrounding neighborhoods like Mid City, North Baton Rouge and the areas around both LSU and Southern University. This will be accomplished through improving transportation infrastructure in and around downtown. 

BRAF previously said key recommendations in the plan include a signature riverfront park and entertainment district, expanded housing options across income levels, a downtown transit network and investment in greenways, pedestrian corridors and cultural destinations.

It also emphasizes preserving and repurposing historic buildings, supporting small businesses and year-round programming to activate public spaces.

Attorney Michael Grace, speaking on behalf of property owners of land north of The Queen casino, said his clients opposed the project, which reimagines the area as a youth sports and entertainment complex. He said that he opposed seeing it redeveloped for recreational use, but Planning Commission Director Ryan Holcomb said that the proposal does not rezone the properties.

The commission approved BRAF's proposed plan with no objections from its members.

The Metro Council will hear the plan on June 17 before it is formally adopted into FuturEBR, the parish's overall comprehensive development plan. 

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Get ready for an active weather pattern, with the daily chances for showers and storms. All day washouts are not expected, but we will have many rounds all the way through the weekend.

Today & Tonight: Tuesday will be another warm and humid day, with temperatures climbing to near 87°. Persistent winds out of the south will continue to pump in moisture from the Gulf, priming the atmosphere for a round of afternoon downpours. These summer-like storms will be scattered, impacting about half of our viewing area. While it won't be a total washout, you will want to keep an eye on the skies as rain could slow down your evening commute. Heading into the overnight hours, our attention shifts to a line of storms developing to our northwest. While the majority of our forecast models suggest this system will fizzle out before reaching us, there is a slight chance it holds together longer than expected, which would keep our rain chances elevated late into the night. It is not a guarantee, but it is a scenario we will be monitoring closely.

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

Up Next: An extended stretch of wet weather is ahead for the central Gulf Coast, as a steady stream of deep moisture pushes in from the Gulf. This surge of humidity, combined with a series of weather disturbances moving through the upper atmosphere, will make rain a daily fixture in our forecast. Rain coverage will be highest on Wednesday and Friday, with about 80% of the region seeing activity, while coverage dips slightly to 70% on Thursday and through the Memorial Day holiday weekend. While the heaviest downpours are expected during the afternoon hours, a few overnight storms cannot be ruled out, meaning daily commutes, errands, and outdoor activities could face frequent delays. If you have outdoor holiday plans like cookouts or pool parties, it is highly recommended to have an indoor backup option ready. Widespread rainfall totals between Wednesday and Monday will average 2 to 5 inches, though isolated spots could see double that amount. This repeated rainfall over multiple days could lead to slower runoff, creating a risk for minor street and poor drainage flooding. On the bright side, the heavy cloud cover and rain will shave a few degrees off our afternoon highs, though the intense humidity will maintain a very muggy, summer-like feel across the region.

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

Watch live news HERE.

– Balin

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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Welcome to your Team 2 Traffic morning commute guide. This story will be updated as traffic occurs in and around the capital area to help you know what to expect on the roads each day.

The main Plaquemine ferry is in service 4:30am- 7:45pm. A second ferry runs from 5:15- 9am and 3:15- 7pm

4:30a: Off ramp blocked due to stall in Baton Rouge on I 10 EB off-ramp to Perkins Rd/Exit 157A; CLEARED

6a: Accident in Baker on Plank Rd at Pettit Rd; CLEARED

7a: Accident in Baton Rouge on I-110 SB at Hollywood St/Exit 5A, stop and go traffic back to Harding Blvd/LA 408/Southern Univ/Metro Airport/Exit 6; CLEARED

8a: Disabled vehicle. Left lane blocked in Baton Rouge on I 10 EB before LA-30/Nicholson Dr/LSU/Exit 155 A, stop and go traffic back to LA-1/Port Allen/Plaquemine/Exit 153

 

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