🌱 $3.5M Donated To LSU Campuses + LSU Testing Center Lost Power

Happy Friday, Baton Rouge! Here's everything you need to know about what's happening in town today.

First, today's weather:

A shower in spots. High: 79 Low: 70.

Here are the top stories today in Baton Rouge:

1. Lumber company RoyOMartin, along with LSU alumni Roy O. Martin III and Kathy Kilpatrick Martin donated $3.5M to three LSU campuses. One of those is a $101M science research center in Baton Rouge. The funding will go toward a new student success center at LSU Alexandria, an interdisciplinary science building at the flagship campus, and a new medical education center at LSU Health Shreveport. (Greater Baton Rouge Business Report)
2. An LSU testing center experienced a significant power outage during final exams. Students will be given the opportunity to make up their exams in order to complete course requirements. A reason for the outage has yet to be specified. (WBRZ)
3. Theatre Baton Rouge is continuing the "A Christmas Carol" tradition from Dec. 16-19, but it will be a new adaptation by John Mortimer. (The Advocate)
4. A murder victim in the Lobdell Boulevard shooting was identified as 25-year-old Brandon Williams. (The Advocate)
5. Lawmakers increased the fine for littering in East Baton Rouge from $50 to $500 for a first-time offense. (WBRZ)

Today's Baton Rouge Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Baton Rouge!

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with a new update!

— Kayla Harrison

About me: Kayla Harrison is a Writing Arts professor, as well as a freelance writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She holds a Master's Degree in Writing Arts and is grateful to incorporate writing into everything she does. In her free time, you can find her listening to podcasts, writing poetry, and visiting local coffee shops.