Baton Rouge Daily

The Advocate's Top Headlines

with Kelly P. Kissel | Metro editor

We appreciate you checking in on your way to the weekend. Here's what is going on.

Louisiana is the home of the nation's new spelling bee champion. She's from H-A-R-V-E-Y and we have plenty of stories about how the 14-year-old got here:

First off, here are five things to know.

And here are the words she spelled on the way to the title.

And here's something about her basketball skills.

And here's how The Associated Press described it.

The new president of LSU has been on the job less than a week and already making major changes. The provost is out.

And we have five more things to know. They're five things to do in and around Baton Rouge this weekend.

Thanks for dropping by. There is more news inside.

Today's top stories

Today is the last day to enter the first Shot at a Million prize drawing. Here's how to register.

The deadline to register for the first prize drawing is 11:59 p.m. Read more

Surge in Louisiana COVID cases traced to Delta variant, low vaccination rate: 'We're in it'

For weeks, experts have been bracing for the effects of the Delta variant, a version of the coronavirus first discovered in India that is t… Read more

Changes in LSU hierarchy: New president ousts Provost Stacia Haynie in his first week

Within three days of taking over LSU, System President William F. Tate IV already has begun rearranging the top leadership at the state’s f… Read more

'An absolutely terrible bill': Sheriffs, police chiefs urge lawmakers to oppose permitless carry

With a first-of-its-kind veto override session appearing increasingly likely, law enforcement leaders gathered Thursday to urge state lawma… Read more

Appeals court weighs whether Livingston DA can be sued over forced testimony claim

LIVINGSTON — A federal appeals court is weighing whether the district attorney for a part of the Florida Parishes can be sued for coaxing f… Read more

Zaila Avant-garde won the national spelling bee, but basketball is 'what I do.' Watch her moves.

The Harvey teenager has three Guinness World Records for her basketball skills. Read more

Day after ex-deputy Dennis Perkins has sex-crimes trial postponed, ex-wife wins delay, too

LIVINGSTON — The sex-crimes trial of a former Livingston Parish teacher who faces charges along with her ex-husband, a former sheriff's dep… Read more

Mall python's escape ends after 74 hours: 'It's the happy ending that we were all hunting for'

Cara did what any snake would upon seeing an opening: she slithered on out. But the 12-foot python achieved a level of notoriety few snakes… Read more

5 things to do this weekend in Baton Rouge: Cars, comedy, the Rowe, exhibits and the sun

Cool off with cars Read more