🌱 Visitations At State Prisons To Resume + BR Senior Wins Award

Hello again, Baton Rouge! Important update: You all, as readers, have made the Baton Rouge Daily so successful that it is my honor to announce the next stage of the newsletter. Patch is looking for a local writer and entrepreneur to take the helm of the Baton Rouge Daily. Although I have loved getting to know this community, we want to pass the torch to someone truly local to write about Baton Rouge long term. So if you’re interested in earning extra income while making this newsletter a more valuable resource for your neighbors, learn more and apply here.

First, today's weather:

Very warm with a brief shower. High: 80 Low: 51.

Here are the top 3 stories today in Baton Rouge:

1. The Baton Rouge Police Department announced an arrest was made on Wednesday in connection with the death of Joshua Shorter, 18, of Baton Rouge last November. Shorter was found shot to death in the driver’s seat of a vehicle on Gus Young Avenue near North 43rd Street around 10:15 a.m. on Nov. 29, 2021. With the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, they arrested Ralph Paul, 21, of Baton Rouge. (WAFB)
2. Louisiana’s Department of Public Safety and Corrections announced visitation at state prisons is resuming. Visitation policies began phasing in on Monday after the COVID numbers inside the prisons continue to decline, and the vaccination rates among prisoners and the general public increased. (WBRZ)
3. Victoria Williams, a senior at Baton Rouge High, won East Baton Rouge Parish Schools Student of the Year. She’d recently received the same honor at Baton Rouge High. After graduation, Williams plans to attend Columbia University pursuing a degree in chemical engineering and giving back to young minds in the STEM field. (BRProud)

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Today in Baton Rouge:

• Mardi Gras Grab & Geaux - East Baton Rouge Parish Library (9:00 AM)
• Pastel Open Studio - Art Guild of Louisiana (10:00 AM)
• Virtual Book Club: The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish - East Baton Rouge Parish Library (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Congratulations to Anthony Aguiniga on his promotion to Fire Captain! Anthony began his career with the Baton Rouge Fire Department in July of 2004 and has worked his way to a leadership role. Thank you Anthony for your service! (Facebook)
• Mardi Gras weekend is just around the corner, and Visit Baton Rogue can’t wait to celebrate all weekend long! Discover its rounded-up tips and tricks to help you let the good times roll! (Instagram)
• The registration deadline for Spouses for Couples from Louisiana COPS is right around the corner, March 1st! Don't miss out on this bonding retreat; register today! (Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Learn How To Reduce Your Risk For Heart Disease During American Heart Month (February 28)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you soon!

— 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.