🌱 BR Boost Mobile Robber Pleads Guilty + Ebb & Flow Festival

Morning, Baton Rouge! Let's get you started this Friday with everything you need to know going on today in town.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 70 Low: 41.

Here are the top three stories today in Baton Rouge:

1. A Baton Rouge man who was accused of 2020 armed robberies pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday. Forrest J. Hardy reportedly pointed a firearm and demanded money at a Boost Mobile Store in January 2020. Hardy had previously been convicted of an armed robbery in East Baton Rouge in 2007. (BRProud.com)
2. The Ebb and Flow festival will take place this weekend with a two-day festival in downtown Baton Rouge. The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge is putting on the festival to celebrate Baton Rouge's connection to the Mississippi. The festival will feature food, live music, and art about the city's connection to the river. (BRProud.com)
3. The East Baton Rouge School Board met last night to talk about new election maps and big school maintenance contracts. They discussed vendors who are interested in maintaining several buildings and grounds. Currently, the school pays $22.4 million to maintain school facilities. (The Advocate)

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Today in Baton Rouge:

• Fitness In The Stacks At East Baton Rouge Parish Library (10:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• April marks the beginning of Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The Louisiana State Police continues to encourage drivers to give the phone a break, set aside all distractions, and focus on the road ahead. Troopers urge all Baton Rouge motorists to stay alert while driving. (Facebook)
• The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is holding a series of public open house events for the new Mississippi River Bridge. Meetings will be held in each of the parishes in which the bridge could be constructed, including Baton Rouge. (Facebook)
• LSU is no longer planning an implosion for the Kirby Smith dorm demolition. Get the full story on WBRZ. (WBRZ)

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You're officially in the loop for today! See you all tomorrow for your next update.

— Dan Casarella

About me: Dan Casarella is a writer, podcast producer, and small business development specialist who formerly worked in late-night television. He’s produced many talk segments, including with President Joe Biden, Kobe Bryant, and Chadwick Boseman. Dan studied Media Studies and Production at Temple University. He also enjoys running, painting, and the highs and lows of Philadelphia’s sports teams.