Never be too sure. Advocate Staff Photograph by John Boss.Picture shot on 031399 At the Girl Scouts Urban Campout are,from left ,Donna Britt, Janet Vidrine, Gwen Hamilton, Patti Hiller. While I was at 332016 to 2018and it was widely known that Sharon Weston Broome would only give WBRZ the time of day. All rights reserved. Keyword Holiday Fair, Advocate staff photo by Kerry Maloney. The fourth candidate, U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-Metairie, did not participate. She commended the group on their publication of two issues of a race and ethnic studies journal titled 'America the Beautiful In Spite of It All.' Powell anchored the 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts at ABC11 a schedule which made for very long days. The People's Court also once aired on WAFB before going to WBRZ and later WGMB. Before an audience of 650 students and members of the public, twenty (20) Color Guard units paraded in and lined the gym with the US Flag and their unit colors to an inspiring march played by the Parkview HS Band. Liz Koh WAFB. 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. Golden Deeds recipient Donna Britt gets a standing ovation during the Golden Deeds awards Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, at the Baton Rouge Marriott. Buckskin was also one of the first shows in the United States to have a sign-language interpreter for hearing-impaired viewers prior to closed-captioning. Its happening at the Maurice A. Edmond Livestock Arena. 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. The WAFB news director at the time, Carlton Cremeens, heard Donna on the radio as a DJ and loved her voice. During that time, she spent 8 hours every week in December those 17 years manning a Christmas kettle. I am physically exhausted, Powell told The N&O in June. He called her in for an interview and hired her right away. Powell said this week that the folks at WAFB, a Gray Media station, had asked her what it would take to get her to come back to news. Neither Moreau nor station executives will discuss what led to th. She is survived by her husband, Mark Ballard, in addition to her daughter, Annie, and son, Louie, the outlet reported. The East Feliciana Police Chiefs Association held an appreciation luncheon on April 8 at Centenary Inn in Jackson. show--"Great Day at 9A." Caitlin Francis Traffic. I have ALS, Lou Gherigs disease. Id like to share some personal news with you tonight, Donna said. 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. Mark Ballard: My wife Donna Britt has ALS. Her two children include her daughter Annie and son Louis. what role does individualism play in american society. Photo 3 - US Coast . Press J to jump to the feed. Photo 3 - US Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Baton Rouge Color Guard of MMST2 James Nichols, MST3 Michael Thacker, ME3 Joseph Maldonado, BM3 Jarret Guerra was the lead Color Guard for the MOC ceremony. Louisiana native and veteran journalist Tisha Powell will join the WAFB 9News team in August 2021. Her contract wasnt renewed per someone I know who knows someone else who knows her. What to know about daylight saving time in NC, Goofy dog had no adoption inquiries for months. And they look at me like, Youre one of us and we want to make this work for you.. Visiting at the Baton Rouge Pan-Hellenic Council's annual banquet Aug. 9 are, from left, Co-Chairwomen Twana Malveaux and Geraldine Simms, Distinguished Citizenship Award recipient Donna Britt, Distinguished Service Award recipient Elmer Roy Burris and council President Mary Alice Darby. Cadet Commander of Troops, Cadet LTC Alisha Parker of Tara High School issued the vocal commands that moved the mass of flag carrying corps through the ceremony. [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! Picture shot on 3-13-01. 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. Average NC teacher pay is nearly $58,000, state says. Syndicated programming on WAFB (as of September 2022) includes Tamron Hall, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Inside Edition, 25 Words or Less, TMZ and Access Hollywood. Two games many adults can remember Buckskin playing were called "Hully Gully" which helped to teach counting numbers and the "Monday Morning March". On June 25, 2018, Atlanta-based Gray Television announced it had reached an agreement with Raycom to merge their respective broadcasting assets (consisting of Raycom's 63 existing owned-and/or-operated television stations, including WAFB), and Gray's 93 television stations) under Gray's corporate umbrella. Longtime friend and former co-anchor Margaret Lawhon smiled as she spoke of Mahaffey's nickname "The Duke" and how he got the name. Neither Moreau nor station executives will discuss what led to th It originally aired a digital signal on UHF channel 46 from a transmitter at its studios. Multiple people have been arrested following an investigation into prostitution happened at Baton Rouge area massage parlors. Donna Britt speaks to the crowd after receiving the Golden Deeds Award Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, at the Baton Rouge Marriott. Over the years, she played for thousands of church services as well as hundreds of weddings and funerals. Photos: Congrats to 2018 Golden Deeds award recipient, Donna Britt! George Sells, third from left, with former newsdesk anchors Andr Moreau and Mike Graham on hand for Donna Britt's final newscast. Hey! WDAM-TV in Hattiesburg, Mississippi moved to channel 7 to accommodate this switch. Copyright @2023 TigerDroppings.com. 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. During 1988, AFLAC invested $2 million in redesigning the studio, dropped the -TV suffix from its call letters and began branding itself as "Louisiana's News Channel," a slogan the station continues to use today. One person was taken to the hospital after a crash in Zachary early Thursday, March 2, according to emergency responders. and Hibernia National Bank. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. WAFB television anchor Donna Britt, center, a longtime supporter and emcee of Baton Rouge's annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, gets a selfie with breast cancer survivors Dora Sanford, left, of Zachary, and Keisha Ricard, right, of Baton Rouge, before the 5K run/walk on Saturday, March 3, 2018. Pets may be the ones who impact people the most. Kiran is the only actual journalist they have over there. One of Donnas biggest passions while at WAFB was her ten years as a volunteer at Progress Elementary School where she referred to herself as the schools library elf. Every month, she decorated the schools library with giant cardboard decorations she painted at home. The Supreme Courts new 5-2 Republican majority voted along party lines to prevent the transfer of school funds. Donnas husband, Mark Ballard, says her family was by her side as she passed away peacefully Thursday morning. She is joined by colleagues Kiran Chawla, center, and Greg Meriwether. 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. At a luncheon to honor area volunteers are, from left, guest speaker, Mayor bobby Simpson and Donna Britt, Ron Winders, Janet Rack, Rob Stuart, Noel Parnell and Nick Simonette, representatives of sponsors WAFB-TV, Volunteer Baton Rouge! Now, she's battling ALS. A Denham Springs animal fostering program, Rescue Rehome Repeat, needs volunteers to take in local dogs. Davis was one of the first Black officers in the elite Army Green Berets. She started at WAFB in 1980 as a news reporter. Mahaffey, a graduate of the University of Texas, retired in 1999 and continued living in Baton Rouge. Until 2015, WAFB aired the syndicated version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire; the show aired on sister station WBXH until its cancellation in 2019. Andre Moreau is leaving WAFB-TV after eight years behind the nightly anchor desk. WAFB 9News is Louisiana's News Channel, servicing breaking news, weather and traffic coverage for Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Ascension, Assumption, Livingston, East Feliciana, West Feliciana . She was eventually teamed up with George Sells and the two of them became one of the most successful news anchor teams in the country. Based on the BRPD press conference the other day, it is abundantly obvious that BRPD needs no help looking like fools. her last tweet regarding the guy crashing his car into target in hammond, The guy who ran his car through the Hammond Target. 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. Donna Britt of WAFB gives the crowd some encouraging words before the fourth annual Red Wig Walk to raise awareness for HIV prevention on the levee near the USS Kidd in downtown Baton Rouge on Saturday, May 20, 2017. (Photo provided by KATHERINE JENSEN BOCCACCIO). Her husband, Mark Ballard, serves as the Capitol Bureau Chief for The Advocate newspaper. The extra pandemic food stamps have officially stopped. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry is seeking to get an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. It's not standard. What to Watch Friday: Dateline and 20/20 update Murdaugh murder trial coverage, $3B superstar region project planned for Apex after years-long delay, Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife, son in June 2021. And, it's a proud legacy. The longtime ABC11 evening anchor, who left the station at the end of July to move back to her native Louisiana and start a new career with more family friendly hours, told The News & Observer on Tuesday that part-time anchor jobs just dont happen. Before the end of the program the winners of the annual Color Guard competition were announced by LTG Middleton Chapter Commander, LTC Patrick L. Widner, USA Ret. (WAFB) - Longtime WAFB anchor Donna Britt, a dedicated journalist and beloved member of the community, has passed away after her courageous battle with ALS. My whole family is very excited. I have ALS, Lou Gehrigs disease. She signed off the air on June 13, 2018 after 38 years of service at WAFB. The station's digital signal is multiplexed: WAFB shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 9, on June 12, 2009, the official date in which full-power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate. Donna loved to travel and she and her family saw much of the world together. Left to right, second row: Katherine Jensen, Liz Jensen, Mary Greenfield, Sonya Godwin, Colleen Colclough, Rhonda Silvio, Renee Breaux, Dedee Alford, Lorna Matlock, Cheri Mullinex, Margaret Elgin, Merietta Spencer, Tammy Norton, co-captain Kathy Fergus, captain Donna Britt. The combined company will be in every Louisiana market except for Lafayette as a result. Community is key: How one ice cream parlor in Cary aims to be inclusive. A Gray Media Group, Inc. Station - 2002-2023 Gray Television, Inc. 2002-2023 Gray Television, Inc. During this campaign, he asked children to bring in their pennies to buy an elephant. A family is grieving one week after 41-year-old Jeross Banks was hit and killed while riding his bike to work along LA-1 in Iberville Parish. Even in cordial departures, they don't announce it and one day the reporter will just be gone and appear at a new station. 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. WAFB's Donna Britt, left, speaks with colleague Greg Meriwether before the start of the 6pm newscast, Wednesday, June 6, 2018. 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. Donna Britt, third from left, has always been a supporter of community events, like the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. Take a look back through some pictures of her television work, volunteering and life in Baton Rouge. Donna 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. On September 12, 2011, WAFB became the first station in the market (and, to date, the only station) to begin its morning newscasts at 4:30a.m. instead of 5 a.m. On March 26, 2020, WAFB became the second station in the Baton Rouge market to launch a 4 p.m. newscast in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and on August 3, 2020, WAFB became the first station in Baton Rouge to expand its 6 p.m. newscast to a full hour.[11]. She assumed his gender. This launched such a voracious battle to win the party, that the schools reading comprehension scores on standardized tests went up 4.7% the very first year and continually improved. So, I think both of the major TV stations have benefited from John Mahaffey having been there.". But three days of testing at Houston Methodist Hospital have removed doubts. Regis and Kelly (now Live with Kelly and Ryan) continues to air on WBRZ. 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 1 - LSU Pershing Rifles, Company D-17, Color Guard of Elijah Jones, Todd Dixon, Chris Scheuermann, and Ethan Nicosia. The WBXH broadcasts were included in the upgrade. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 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. Because a street full of potholes is not owned by the city and there is no homeowners association, property owners were left on their own to fix it. Advocate Photo by MARK BALLARD -- Three of the four candidates for Louisiana governor prepare Thursday as AARP forum moderator Donna Britt of WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge, reads a question picked out by seniors. "They just looked for somebody who looked all right . All rights reserved. Made me chuckle every time. Brett Meredith, left, presents the Above & Beyond Award to Donna Britt at the organization's Volunteer Recognition Breakfast. A legal challenge to a consent judgment announced Wednesday is possible, a lawyer for Mayor LaToya Cantrell said, The Kentwood Police Department along with members of the Hammond Police Department and other law enforcement agencies arrested a Kentwood man after a months-long drug investigation. 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. Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING. Donna retired from the station and anchored her last newscast nearly one year after publicly announcing her diagnosis. The show had a way of educating young children while making it fun to learn. 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. Coincidentally, the call letters of the station, WAFB, also spelled out their new owner: American Family Broadcasting (although the WAFB calls predate this ownership by 40 years when its former original sister radio station signed on in 1948 with the slogan "Always For Baton Rouge"). 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. A friend who had not heard from Roger since Friday checked on him about 9:30. 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. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting. Renee Kozak is the Relay for Life Volunteer Coordinator of the annual fundraiser. Like house plant? 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. SI Predicts Three Permanent Opponents For Each SEC Team If League Moves To Nine-Game Model, NCAA Proposing Timing Rules Changes In College Football To Shorten Games, Four-Star Destrehan LB Kolaj Cobbins Commits To LSU, Skenes Tallies Career-High 13 Strikeouts In 12-2 Victory Over Butler, Lady Tigers Set For Matchup vs. Georgia In Quarterfinals Of SEC Tournament, Nick Saban Not Happy With Proposed SEC Schedule, Incredible Sucker Punch Landed In Yesterday's SIU-Edwardsville vs.UT Martin Game, Checking In On Mississippi State Softball Player Brylie St. Clair At The Farm, XFL QB Reportedly Cut For Leaking Plays To Other Team. You have permission to edit this collection. I also saw Kevin Gallagher fanning flames on Twitter. 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. 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. She's not white. She is the service journalism editor and writes about TV and local media for The N&Os Happiness is a Warm TV blog. "He was a remarkable guy in that he had no ego and that's really rare in the news business," Spain said. 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. . STAFF PHOTO BY PAM BORDELON George and. Photo 2 - Ms Donna Britt, WAFB 9 News Anchor, the MOC guest speaker, is greeted prior to the program by LTG Middleton Chapter Vice Commander, LTC Reginald Brown, USA Retired. 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. Britt first announced her ALS diagnosis to viewersduring a newscast in 2017. I could completely see an argument erupting over this, someone losing their temper and saying something, resulting in termination. Golden Deeds -- With this year's Golden Deeds Award winner Donna Britt, seated, at a VIP reception before the dinner are, from left, Bob and Judi Terzotis, Larry and Dee Munzler, and Leslie and Scott Berg. Donna Britt, Herb Vincent among this year's Manship School Hall of Fame inductees. Nicole Nalepa is the anchor of Connecticut's #1 morning newscast, "Eyewitness News This Morning", and the co-host of WFSB's newest lifestyle T.V. In the recent ratings period, it beat the others stations' combined weeknights at 5, 6, and 10. Longtime Baton Rouge news anchor John Mahaffey passes away, LSU WR Malik Nabers arrested in New Orleans; prosecutors refuse to charge with condition. It was a gross departure from procedure. 99% of people agree with all that. When longtime WAFB-TV weathercaster Diane Deaton first began in the news business, the role of weather reporter hadn't really been defined yet. Those relatives she moved back to Louisiana to be near can now watch her on TV. Does anyone know why she was let go? Click to become an INSIDER for under $2.00 a week, Andre Moreau parts ways with WAFB after eight years, 2022 Welcome: Official Visitors Guide to Greater Baton Rouge. Chris Scheuermann is currently serving as the National Executive Director of The Pershing Rifles Group. Donna passed away. Pennington Biomedical Research Center is hosting a wellness day for women on March 4th from 7:00am through 1:00pm. WAFB anchors Donna Britt, left, and Greg Meriwether during the 6pm newscast, Wednesday, June 13, 2018, as Donna Britt signs off for one last time at WAFB studios in downtown Baton Rouge, La. WAFB's Greg Meriwether, left, applauds honorary chairwoman Donna Britt, Saturday, July 14, 2018, during Dancing for a Cause benefiting the Arc of East Ascension at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, La. They approached me and asked if I would be willing to work full-time and I said no if I wanted to do that, I wouldnt have left the job I had!. He died late Thursday following surgery for a blood clot. Copyright 2016 WAFB. July 29, 2021 5:45 AM. Deputies with the Iberville Parish Sheriffs Office are searching for a man accused of making threats via social media to a witness involved in a murder trial. Former Baton Rouge television news icon Donna Britt, who ended her 37-year run on WAFB in 2018 due to her battle with ALS, has passed away. Shield of Hope -- Honoring Donna Britt, seated, at the Salvation Army of Greater Baton Rouge's Shield of Hope Gala are, standing from left, Maj. Brett Meredith, Carissa Graves, Congresssman Garret Graves, Maj. Steve Morris, Roy O. and Kathy Martin, Maj. Mary Meredith and board chairman Todd Gerald. i mean, no way it was a race thing. She told them it would have to be a part-time job that would allow her to finish working on her Leadership and Communications Masters of Science degree at Purdue University, and also give her time with her family. "John Mahaffey was the consummate news anchor," addedLawhon.