 BY DOUG GRAHAM | Staff writer East Baton Rouge public schools are having a rough week when it comes to safety. On Wednesday, for the second time in a month, a student managed to sneak a gun into Woodlawn High School. The freshman apparently hid a 9 mm handgun in the cushion of his wheelchair. He will be recommended for expulsion from Woodlawn High under Louisiana's zero-tolerance policy related to student misconduct. “We're trying to use best practices in terms of keeping everyone safe, including our students and our staff, but sometimes man, people just make these boneheaded decisions," Superintendent LaMont Cole said. In addition, Cole reported that a pair of pre-K teachers in the district were put on paid leave after one of them reportedly recorded a fight among students and laughed about it rather than intervening. And a man was arrested after he allegedly fought with a coach during a girls middle school basketball game Tuesday night, triggering a melee on the court and postponing the contest.
The State Civil Service Commission rejected a bid by Gov. Jeff Landry’s administration to permanently remove civil service employment protections for hundreds of attorneys and engineers in agencies across state government. One member of the board warned the move may not be constitutional. Read more about Landry's plan and what's next.
Fallout continues after Baton Rouge saw its sales tax revenue fall due to the incorporation of St. George. Live After Five, the long-standing free Friday night concert series in downtown Baton Rouge, is cutting back on its performances this year due to budget cuts. See what it means for the schedule. | 
