🌱 Volunteers Wanted For BR Schools + LSU Foot Chase & Arrest

Good morning, Baton Rouge! It's Friday, so let's get you started with everything you need to know going on today in town.

First, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy and cold. High: 42 Low: 24.

Here are the top 3 stories today in Baton Rouge:

1. Organizations like Volunteers in Public Schools are looking for people to assist underperforming students. They are actively recruiting, training, screening, and placing individuals into public schools. Some students have been negatively impacted due to switching back and forth from in-person to online learning. (WAFB)
2. A man was caught with meth, cocaine, and a fully automatic handgun after a foot chase through LSU campus. Frederion Pratt was arrested by police after catching up to him outside Patrick F Taylor Hall. He was booked for resisting an officer, aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon, possession of a stolen firearm, unlawful handling of a machine gun, and multiple drug charges. (WBRZ)
3. BRPD postponed Citizen's Academy due to an increase in COVID numbers. The classes, hosted by the Baton Rouge Police Department, will start on Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. at the Baton Rouge Police Training Academy. (BRProud.com)

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Today in Baton Rouge:

• Penguin Pompom Keychains Grab-and-Geaux - East Baton Rouge Parish Library (12:00 AM)
• Fitness in the Stacks - Bluebonnet Regional Branch Library (10:00 AM)
• Fitness in the Stacks - East Baton Rouge Parish Library (10:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Wednesday, Louisiana State Parks' certified prescribed burners did some controlled burning at South Toledo Bend State Park. Don’t worry, no cabins were harmed in the process. Prescribed fire helps elimate fuel like dead limbs and debris on the forest floor and reduces the risk of dangerous wildfires. (Instagram)
• Have you gotten your tickets for Seussical at Theatre Baton Rouge? The show opens in two weeks, and Sunday, Feb. 6 is already sold out! Get your tickets today, while you still can! (Facebook)
• Baton Rouge Area Chamber announced the 37 members of Leadership BR Class of 2022! These participants represent a cross-section of the Capital Region's business, civic, and non-profit communities, and will join the ranks of Leadership Baton Rouge Alumni. (Facebook)

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That's it for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning 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. In her free time, you can find her listening to podcasts, writing poetry, and visiting local coffee shops.