🌱 'Tiny Player' In LA Insurance Market + BR Christmas Day Fire

Good morning, Baton Rouge! Like many of you, the Patch team is taking some time off to celebrate the New Year, so there will not be a newsletter in your inbox tomorrow. We appreciate your understanding of this slight pause in our schedule, and I will be back on Monday with the next edition of the Baton Rouge Daily! Now, here's everything happening around town today.

First, today's weather:

Near-record temperatures. High: 79 Low: 74.

Here are the top three stories today in Baton Rouge:

1. A 'tiny player' in the Louisiana market will take insurance policies from failed firms and is set to grow dramatically. SafePoint will, however, have the option to not renew policyholders who had been with Access Home or State National Fire for less than three years. (New Orleans CityBusiness)
2. Investigators are linking Christmas Day fire injuries to a lack of working smoke detectors. Two people were seriously injured and ten others were displaced due to a fire caused by unattended cooking. St. George Fire Protection District urged residents to follow all safety reminders regarding smoke detectors, home evacuation and cooking safety. (WAFB)
3. An LSU grad stars in Disney's hit show 'The Mandalorian.' Barry Lowin plays the character of Din Djarin, and he expresses that his work on the show "has been such a gift." He attributes his LSU degree to helping him get there. (WAFB)

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!

Today in Baton Rouge:

• Breakfast at Frank's Coffee House - Baton Rouge Amateur Radio Club (8:30 AM)

From my notebook:

• Celebrate New Year’s Day in a rosy way this year by watching the Louisiana Travel Feed Your Soul float roll in the Rose Parade® this Saturday, Jan. 1. Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana shared a behind-the-scenes look at bringing the float to life with Fiesta Parade Floats, which will feature 34,000 roses. (Facebook)
• Theatre Baton Rouge is excited to feature its Drama for Young Actors Class and Instructor, Amy Himel Gomez. Register today for classes every Saturday from Feb. 12, 2022 to March 5. The classes will focus on stage presence skills, improvisation and character building, using open scenes and monologues. (Facebook)
• Louisiana Public Broadcasting is hosting a free virtual event in partnership with the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame on Jan. 20 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Join LMP as they explore Muhammad Ali’s role as a community activist and show how his legacy lives on today for young athletes across Louisiana, through the work of an organization he co-founded, Athletes for Hope. (Facebook)

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• Ring In the New Year With 15 Percent Off Beautiful Blooms From FTD! (December 31)
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You're all caught up for today. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow Monday with your next update. Have a happy New Year!

— 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.