🌱 BR Legislative Session Begins + Highland Road Apartment Fire

Hey, people of Baton Rouge! It's me again, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Baton Rouge Daily.

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First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and pleasant. High: 69 Low: 50.

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Here are the top three stories in Baton Rouge today:

1. The 2022 legislative session has begun in Baton Rouge, which means politicians on both sides of the aisle will need to agree on how to spend the state's surplus of over $3 billion. Governor John Bel Edwards reportedly wants to spend most of it on education and infrastructure. In his opening remarks. Governor Edwards said this is a "historic opportunity to transform our state through pivotal investments" in every level of education, long-overdue infrastructure projects and pay raises for government workers, and climate change solutions. (WBRZ)
2. Three residents of The Hub at Baton Rouge have been displaced after their apartment caught fire on Tuesday afternoon. Baton Rouge firefighters were called to the Highland Road complex around 3:00 p.m. for a fire in a unit on the first floor. The flames were contained, but neighboring units reportedly suffered smoke damage. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the blaze is still under investigation. (BRProud.com)
3. Planning to celebrate St. Patrick's Day here in Baton Rouge? There are lots of fun activities happening all over the city through the weekend, including the 5K Shamrock Run at 8 a.m. and the 35th Annual Wearin' of the Green Parade at 10 a.m on Saturday, Mar. 19. Check out BRProud's list of local bars and eateries participating in the St. Paddy's festivities. (BRProud.com)

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Today in Baton Rouge:

• Metropolitan Council Special Meeting At 222 St. Louis Street Council Chambers (3:30 PM)
• Shamrock Ornaments Story/Craft At East Baton Rouge Parish Library (4:00 PM)
• GUGL: The Grown-Up Gaming League - Virtual Reality At East Baton Rouge Parish Library (6:00 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Tomorrow, Mar. 17, Baton Rouge Ochsner will be hosting a St. Patrick's Day blood drive, as supplies remain "critically low" across the country. The drive will be held at Ochsner Medical Complex from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the fifth floor. Donors must bring a picture ID.(BRProud.com)
• These Baton Rouge area pets need their forever home! Get the details on Pearl and other adorable animals who are currently available for adoption. (Baton Rouge Patch)
• LSU's AgCenter has created a program that allows gardeners to donate their produce to nearby food banks by registering their home gardens. Learn more and register here. (Facebook)

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More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Bayou Home Show & Cannata's Festival of Food (March 19)
• American Diabetes Association Diabetes Alert Day: Understand Your Risk (March 22)
• Add your event

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! See you all tomorrow morning for your next update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.