Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Broome does not like Kiran Chawla of WAFB Just Baton Rouge 1.53K subscribers Subscribe 31 Share 12K views 5 years ago Mayor Sharon Broome of Baton Rouge tells WAFB they. The penny campaign was successful enough to purchase two. I know she was banned from going after BRPD's Chief Murphy Paul. In the mid-1990s, WBRZ experienced significant staff turnover and several news format changes while AFLAC and Raycom invested heavily in improving WAFB's news product by maintaining low turnover in its news staff and presentation (WAFB used the "Newschannel" theme by Gari Media from 1990 until Raycom switched its news music client to Stephen Arnold Music in late 2014), leading WAFB to overtake WBRZ's news ratings in 1994. "He not only had the camera-ready looks including a million-dollar smile, but he was a born story-teller. (Photo provided by KATHERINE JENSEN BOCCACCIO). I have ALS, Lou Gherigs disease. [2] It launched as a television counterpart to local radio stations WAFB and WAFB-FM, which both signed on in 1948 and were affiliated with MBS. In 1957, they sold the radio stations, with the AM station changing its format to black music and the FM station going off the air; a new WAFB-FM would sign on in 1968. Id like to share some personal news with you tonight, Donna said. woman accused of using aunts debit card for 136 DoorDash orders held on preset $18 million bond, WANTED: Officials searching for man accused of exposing himself, ExxonMobil faces racial discrimination lawsuit, Fight involving 9 people on Southerns campus leads to 1 arrest, Kentwood man arrested after months-long drug investigation; drugs, money, and guns seized, Man arrested for allegedly robbing victim at gunpoint in Denham Springs, CRIME STOPPERS: Mans killer, details surrounding his death remain a mystery, Emails show governors Europe trip raised staffing, itinerary questions, Juvenile caught behind wheel of stolen vehicle, officials say, Two arrested for flying drone over chemical plants in St. Charles Parish. 3 Local TV Group", "Gray Closes On $3.6 Billion Raycom Merger", ":: Baton Rouge Business Report:: Ron Winders heads back to Savannah", "Longtime WAFB anchor Donna Britt dies following battle with ALS", "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds", Louisiana State Archive and Research Library, LA Art and Science Museum (Yazoo&MS. My whole family is in this viewing area, even my dad who lives in North Mississippi, Powell said. "At one point in time, there was a meteorologist who made a low salary and his car broke. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Nielsen Media Research ratings showed that 16.2% of all households in the Baton Rouge area watched the show. For 23 of those years, she's been on the air in Baton Rouge reporting on the . She is survived by her husband, Mark Ballard, in addition to her daughter, Annie, and son, Louie, the outlet reported. The station began broadcasting on April 19, 1953, as the first television station in Baton Rouge, and the second television station in the state of Louisiana. Bella Notte Gala held at Greystone The third annual Bella Notte Gala was hosted by Greystone Golf & Country Club in Denham Springs on Saturday, March 19, 2011. A friend who had not heard from Roger since Friday checked on him about 9:30. But the WAFB position with the coveted part-time hours was too good to pass up. Shes a great investigative reporter. WAFB's newscasts have had the second-highest ratings at 10 p.m. in any of the country's biggest television markets according to The Des Moines Register in Iowa. Whether in a nearby gas station or your local smoke shop, youve likely seen kratom on the shelves of one store or another. I felt really flattered that they had enough faith in what they were getting that they were willing to create something that works for me, she said. Bottom row, left to right: Kathy Fergus, captain Donna Britt, Allison Gustavson, Ginger Bishop, Katherine Jensen, Becky Terkel, Tanya Arnold, Sonya Godwin. It was also in 1988 that the owners petitioned CBS to air the network's daytime programs in a different orderairing syndicated programming at 10 a.m., The Price Is Right at 11 a.m., and The Young and the Restless at 3 p.m. (later 4 p.m.) as a way to boost ratings as a lead-in to the noon and 5 p.m. newscasts. In 1988, Guaranty sold the station to AFLAC. All rights reserved. Photo 1 - LSU Pershing Rifles, Company D-17, Color Guard of Elijah Jones, Todd Dixon, Chris Scheuermann, and Ethan Nicosia. Longtime WAFB anchor Donna Britt waves as she sees her husband and son in the studio, Wednesday, June 13, 2018, as Donna Britt signs off for one last time at WAFB studios in downtown Baton Rouge, La. A married mother of two, she was a member of First United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge and the daughter of a Southern Baptist preacher. It is owned by Gray Television alongside low-power, Class A MyNetworkTV affiliate WBXH-CD (channel 39). In addition, the new owners cancelled the station's beloved 33-year-old half-hour local weekday program Storyland, then the longest-running children's program, hosted by Buckskin Bill Black, and rechristened it as Buckskin and Friends, an hour-long show that aired on Saturday mornings until it was cancelled in September 1990. I am physically exhausted, Powell told The N&O in June. Louisiana native and veteran journalist Tisha Powell will join the WAFB 9News team in August 2021. transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts, https://www.linkedin.com/company/wafb-tv/, "GRAY AND RAYCOM TO COMBINE IN A $3.6 BILLION TRANSACTION", "Gray Acquiring Raycom For $3.65B, Forming No. Under new ownership, the station underwent many changes. VIPS pins -- At Volunteers in Public Schools pinning ceremony are, from left, Executive Director Judy Bethley, emcee Donna Britt and VIPS Reading Friends Sharee Harris and Marc Goldstein. Donna announced her diagnosis to viewers during WAFBs 6 p.m. newscast on July 27, 2017. I also saw Kevin Gallagher fanning flames on Twitter. The Baton Rouge Pipes and Drums played their traditional bagpipe favorites, along with a medley of patriotic songs. [9] However, on September 9, 2019, WAFB resumed airing TPIR and Y&R at their respective network-recommended times of 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.[10] The station aired Jeopardy! WAFB's Donna Britt writes a thank you letter to a viewer before the 6pm newscast, Wednesday, June 6, 2018. . During this campaign, he asked children to bring in their pennies to buy an elephant. [3] In 1965, the station moved its transmission tower from Zachary to south of LSU's campus, allowing viewers in a 90-mile (140km) radius to receive its signal; it was also in that year that the station started broadcasting in color. Guests were served a variety of appetizers, entrees and dessert prepared by DeAngelo's of Denham Springs and served by Livingston Parish Celebrity Waiters, Sen. Dale Erdey, Assessor Jeff Taylor, Sheriff Willie Graves, Walker Mayor Bobby Font, Denham Springs Council members Annie Fugler and John Wascom, Walker Police Chief Hunter Grimes, Denham Springs Police Chief Scott Jones, Greystone Managing Director Ron Menville and architect Jay Labarre. Authorities say the individual could have information about the incident. 18 jersey from LSU, AD Joe Alleva, Our Views: WAFB-TV's Donna Britt's good works are too many to name; you're in our prayers, Donna Britt remembered: Share your memories of the beloved Baton Rouge anchorwoman. WAFB also airs the Sunday services from the First United Methodist Church in the city. A familiar landscape in Central Louisiana left devastated by Category 4 Hurricane Laura is given new life in the upcoming film 65 thanks to Sony Pictures. Donna also served on boards for the Baranco-Clark YMCA, the Southern University Art Museum, the Baton Rouge Ballet Theater and the Louisiana Association for Arts in Education. The unit is performing for the first time in its new LSU historical cadet uniforms. The extra pandemic food stamps have officially stopped. Neither Moreau nor station executives will discuss what led to th. She is a terrific reporter. She is a good journalist and if WAFB fired her, they let one get away and one of their competitors will scoop her up quickly. Pretty well known that Mayor Broome and the police chief hated her since she was the only reporter in Baton Rouge whod call them out on things. Keyword Fashion Clothing Association Communications. Chris Scheuermann is currently serving as the National Executive Director of The Pershing Rifles Group. Known for her bubbly personality and community involvement, WAFB news anchor Donna Britt shows off her red wig in 2016's Red Wig Walk, which raises awareness for HIV prevention, treatment and supportive services. Bond set at $1.5 million for Walter Allbritton III, man accused of driving into Target in Hammond, La last Friday. Asians are considered white when being white is a bad thing. But three days of testing at Houston Methodist Hospital have removed doubts. He died late Thursday following surgery for a blood clot. He was 51. It will still be breezy in the afternoon, but not as much as the morning, otherwise today will become sunny and nice with highs in the 70s. By Steven Ardary, Patrick Phillips and Gray News staff. AT a luncheon marking National Girl Scout Week are, from left, Colette Dean, Donna Britt, Marilyn Zimmerman and Nell McAnelly. She had joined the station in 1980 and appeared on the air as an anchor until her deteriorating health from the disease forced her to retire in June 2018. "And, if you think about it, those of us who knew him so well knew that Mahaffey did sort of have this presence and manly swagger about him that was not unlike a John Wayne persona." Both stations share studios on Government Street in downtown Baton Rouge, while WAFB's transmitter is located on River Road near the city's Riverbend section. Then shelter shared desperate plea. Mahaffey loved to write and he could deliver everything from hard news to his signature humor in a 'Final Note'at the end of each newscast with equal aplomb. You could score a free Bojangles biscuit almost every day for a week. Originally broadcasting an analog signal on UHF channel 28, WAFB moved to VHF channel 9 in 1960. July 29, 2021 5:45 AM. Just a theory, but IIRC, she was very involved and remained involved in covering the families of the police officers that were killed/wounded in 2016. Attached is a group shot of the 1980 LSU Flag Line. A man is behind bars in Livingston Parish for allegedly robbing a man at gunpoint while he was at an ATM Tuesday night, February 28. Good dudes, but definitely not journalists. Volodymyr Dorogobid, 38, and Tigran Avetisyan, 39, both of Brooklyn, New York, were booked on three counts of unlawful use of an unmanned aircraft system and also for obstruction of justice for tampering with evidence. Investigators say Maili Morris made 136 purchases using her 73-year-old aunts debit card, which she had linked to her personal DoorDash account. While I was at 332016 to 2018and it was widely known that Sharon Weston Broome would only give WBRZ the time of day. Law enforcement leaders and community organizations gathered for the Page/Rice Camera Initiative, unveiling one of the new crime cameras in north Baton Rouge. Longtime WAFB anchor Donna Britt checks out a cake held by coworker Derron Daquano as she is joined by friends, family, and coworkers, Wednesday, June 13, 2018, after signing off for one last time at WAFB studios in downtown Baton Rouge, La. Remembering Donna Britt: Look through pictures of her time at WAFB 'Unmasking ALS' -- At the ALS Association Louisiana-Mississippi Chapter's Black & White Gala Bal Masqu Unmasking ALS Together are Iron Horse Award winner Donna Britt, center, with board member Flynn Foster, left, and Dr. Jyoti Pham. Photo by Carol Anne Blitzer. The East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office is searching for a man who reportedly exposed himself to a woman. Community is key: How one ice cream parlor in Cary aims to be inclusive. Bond has been set for a St. Gabriel police officer who was arrested in connection with the murder of a Denham Springs man that happened overnight, officials said. Its happening at the Maurice A. Edmond Livestock Arena. A longtime Louisiana news anchor has died following a battle with Lou Gehrigs disease, her former employer said Thursday. About a week after a man disappeared, the Baton Rouge Police Department continues to ask the public for help locating him, as new evidence has surfaced in the case. There were several characters that were regulars on the show including "Seor Puppet" (a marionette voiced by Sid Crocker) and "Whatsyourname" (another puppet voiced by Mary Hillen). There you go. Britt, who has been with WAFB for over 37 years, has announced she will retire from the local news station after being diagnosed with ALS 11 months ago. Louis S. Prejean and associates (Modern Broadcasting of Baton Rouge) were the first owners of the station, and they sold it to Royal Street Corporation of New Orleans in 1956, which owned WDSU-TV, the first television station in Louisiana. Left to right, first row: Sherrie Holliday, Gwen Kelly, Ronnell Nolan, Karen Tabor, Crystal Seeley, Judy Hignight, Cheryl Bagert, Sheri Stevenson, Beth Allison, Dianne Mays, Kathy Tremont. News - WAFB Her two children include her daughter Annie and son Louis. The combined company will be in every Louisiana market except for Lafayette as a result. For the last nine months, doctors have tried to diagnose it, however, many of the symptoms are the same for other diseases, she said at the time. The beloved former WAFB-TV personality died Thursday after a battle with ALS. Powell, who said she is still in the middle of unpacking at her new home, will co-anchor the 4 and 5 p.m. newscasts at the station starting Aug. 9. PROVIDED PHOTO "I'm moving on," Kiran Chawla said. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting. Donna Britt,who worked for Baton Rouge station WAFB for nearly four decades, succumbed on Thursday at age 62 to the neurological disease, which is also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, according to the news outlet. The station also aired Time for Beany during its early years on the air from the Paramount Television Network and was briefly affiliated with the NTA Film Network, airing programs Sheriff of Cochise, How to Marry a Millionaire, and This is Alice. It's made worse by other officers standing by. Jay Dardenne, a Republican from Baton Rouge, and Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, R-Breaux Bridge. Never be too sure. Owned by Branson Visitors TV; Gray holds a 50.1% interest in this company. Brooke Cain is a North Carolina native who has worked at The News & Observer for more than 25 years. And they look at me like, Youre one of us and we want to make this work for you.. I always enjoyed the WAFB news promo ad where she's standing there with her microphone held out and the guy says "Please LEAVE" and shuts the door in her face. Photo provided by LAURIE HARDISON --- Volunteer breakfast --- Salvation Army Capt. For those who dont know, Delta-8 is a form of cannabis different from marijuana that contains a higher concentration of THC. "But he was a solid journalist, he loved the news business, and he loved to beat the competition. Power of 9 -- Veteran WAFB news anchor Donna Britt receives a bouquet of flowers from Capital Area United Way CEO George Bell, left, and Capital One Baton Rouge President David Mullens for her dedication to the Power of 9 initiative. Distinguished Citizen -- With Boy Scouts of America Istrouma Area Council 's inaugural Distinguished Citizen honoree Donna Britt, seated, are, from left, Scout Executive Gary Mertz, John Turner, Jerry Fischer, Louie Ballard, Mark Ballard, Franklin Foil, Paula Davis and Jay Grymes. Those relatives she moved back to Louisiana to be near can now watch her on TV. But a group of folks is already trying to take care of the problem. WAFB Anchor Matt Williams is an anchor for 9News This Morning and Early Edition. The show had a way of educating young children while making it fun to learn. Longtime WAFB weathercaster Diane Deaton is retiring after 37 years "And so much of your legacy at Channel 9 was based on what Mahaffey brought and what Mahaffey built. Keyword Holiday Fair, Advocate staff photo by Kerry Maloney. TV: Former ABC11 anchor Tisha Powell lands job at WAFB News | Raleigh Britt first announced her ALS diagnosis to viewersduring a newscast in 2017. From 1988 until 2019, The Price Is Right aired at 11 a.m. instead of 10 a.m., and The Young and the Restless aired at 4 p.m. instead of 11 a.m. But three days of testing at Houston Methodist Hospital have removed doubts. The only station to get a bigger share of the local audience was KCCI, the CBS affiliate in Des Moines, which was watched by 17.9% of area households. Color Guards representing US Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Baton Rouge, LSU Pershing Rifles Company D-17, Civil Air Patrol Ascension Composite Squadron, Knights of Columbus Bishop Ott Assembly, Parkview Eagle Scouts, Parkview Boy Scouts, Parkview Girl Scouts, and ROTC units from Tara High, Central High, St. Amant High, Zachary High, Belaire High, Broadmoor High, Glen Oaks High, Lee High, Northeast High, McKinley High, Scotlandville High, and Woodlawn High.