The return of Murphy's Bar, LSU's quarterback battle and more. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
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Blue Bayou is back. Also: Gangs in Donaldsonville?

BY MATTHEW ALBRIGHT | Staff writer​ ​ ​

Blue Bayou and Dixie Landing are a microcosm of the economic roller coaster we've all been on the past few years. The water park and theme park closed in 2020 due to COVID, and only partially opened last year because of worker shortages.

They've opened again this year, but there are still some limitations. Check out the details here. 


You've probably read plenty about how gun violence has increased in cities like Baton Rouge and New Orleans. But Donaldsonville, with fewer than 7,000 people, is also seeing a spike in shootings, local law enforcement leaders say. They blame it on feuds between rival organized groups, which the sheriff says are basically gangs.

Here's what law enforcement plans to do about it. 


Here's one possible effect of the larger increase in homicides: A few years ago, Louisiana leaders of both parties passed a wave of criminal justice reform bills, aimed at scaling back harsh jail terms and other laws that gave Louisiana one of the highest incarceration rates in the country.

Now some lawmakers are trying to roll back those changes. Here's their argument, and why others think that's not the right response. 


Shootings, gang-like activity rising in Donaldsonville, sheriff says; he plans to step up patrols

A sharp increase in shootings, drug trafficking and gang-like activity in Donaldsonville has alarmed Ascension Parish law enforcement leaders enough that they are launching a new task force to step u… Read more

Amid crime spike, are Louisiana criminal justice bills 'rollbacks' or 'needed tweaks'?

Before getting to the meat of why Gov. John Bel Edwards last week vetoed legislation that would have changed the criteria for when a four-time felony offender could get out of prison, he waxed about … Read more

 
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More Stories

Murphy's Bar gets a do-over: Iconic Baton Rouge bar will get a new life on West Chimes Street

Kristen Spring, attorney at Commerce Title, announced via social media that an undisclosed LLC purchased the property at 268 W. Chimes Street, formerly the site of the West Chimes Textbook Exchange, … Read more

5 things you need to know about the LSU quarterback battle

One of the most common topics of discussion for LSU fans entering the 2022 season will revolve around the battle to determine who will be the Tigers' starting quarterback. Read more

All clear: Ammonia leak halted at Mosaic's west bank plant after brief closure of River Road

An ammonia leak from the Mosaic Faustina plant in northwestern St. James Parish briefly forced the closure of a stretch of River Road south of the Sunshine Bridge before crews got the release in hand… Read more

 
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