🌱 Thousands Lose Power + Delayed Murder Trial Resumes In BR

Happy Tuesday, people of Baton Rouge! Let's get you all caught up to start today off on an informed note.

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First, today's weather:

Sunny to partly cloudy. High: 70 Low: 53.

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Here are the top three stories today in Baton Rouge:

1. A major power outage Monday morning affected thousands of Entergy customers in the Baton Rouge area. According to Entergy, over 6,400 households were without electricity, primarily north of the Millerville Road exit along I-12. The problem was reportedly due to an equipment failure at an area substation; service has since been restored. (WBRZ)
2. A Baton Rouge murder trial returned to court Monday after COVID-19-related delays. Handyman Ernesto Alonso faces first-degree murder charges in the death of his former customers, Denis and Suzanne Duplantier. According to East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar More, two positive coronavirus cases among attorneys delayed the trial. (WBRZ)
3. St. George firefighters were called to the scene of a "little grass fire" on Bayou Fountain Drive on Sunday. Crews with Engine 653 took care of the fire, then jumped in to help two nearby children dealing with a broken bike. According to the department, "the crew managed to fix the bike completely and the kids were able to ride home." (BRProud.com)

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Today in Baton Rouge:

• Grab & Geaux: Twisted - DIY Fidget Toy - East Baton Rouge Parish (9:00 AM)
• How to Use Pinterest - East Baton Rouge Parish Library (10:00 AM)
• Introduction to Excel - Delmont Gardens Branch Library (10:00 AM)
• The Amazing Horse! - Carver Branch Library (4:30 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Find your next dream job in Baton Rouge with Patch and ZipRecruiter's weekly roundup. (Baton Rouge Patch)
• Average gas prices in Baton Rouge have gone up nearly 18 cents over the last two weeks. (BRProud.com)
• Following COVID-related postponements, MLK events in the Capital City are back through Feb. 20. (BRProud.com)

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You're officially in the loop for today! See you all tomorrow for your next 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. In her free time, you can find her listening to podcasts, writing poetry, and visiting local coffee shops.