Baton Rouge News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

The penny is fading from circulation, as production costs outweigh its value. The U.S. Mint and Federal Reserve have ceased producing pennies, leaving existing supplies to dwindle. Businesses must adapt to rounding transactions to the nearest nickel, as pennies are no longer distributed. This marks the end of an era for the penny, simplifying change and lightening our pockets.

Discover a prime office space on Goodwood Boulevard, spanning over 8,000 sq. ft. on a half-acre lot. Ideally located near Airline Highway and surrounded by vibrant neighborhoods, this property boasts proximity to retail centers and medical offices. With numerous private offices and ample parking, its a fantastic opportunity for businesses seeking a functional, well-located office space in a thriving area.

Louisiana ends contracts with major Medicaid insurance providers, affecting nearly 500,000 residents. The states Medicaid director informed Aetna Better Health and UnitedHealthcare of Louisiana that their contract extensions for 2026 would not be renewed. This decision came as a surprise, as state lawmakers had recently voted to extend these agreements. The state cited ongoing litigation concerning pharmacy benefit managers, which are affiliated with Aetna and UnitedHealthcare, as the reason for ending the contracts. Aetna covers about 157,800 Louisiana residents, while UnitedHealthcare covers approximately 330,700. The contracts were valued at billions of dollars for the upcoming fiscal years. The state plans to move affected enrollees to new health plans before the end of the year, using an algorithm to assign new plans and prioritize keeping families together and ensuring patients can continue seeing their current doctors.

A Wilkinson County family of six has lost their home and two dogs in a devastating house fire, leaving them with only the clothes on their backs. The community is rallying to support the family, who includes a five-year-old girl, a ten-year-old boy, a fourteen-year-old boy, a sixteen-year-old boy, a twenty-three-year-old man, and an adult woman. Donations of clothing and necessities can be dropped off at 215 Oak Lane in Crosby, Mississippi, with specific sizes provided for each family member.

A Baton Rouge man, Vance Gossett, shares his transformative journey from drug addiction and prison to recovery, thanks to a nine-month pretrial diversion program run by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC). However, the CJCC faces a proposed 54% budget cut, which could lead to the loss of life-saving programs and increased overdose deaths. Vance, now a volunteer helping others in recovery, fears that many will miss out on a second chance if the budget cuts go through.

Federal Judge Saris Rules Against Trumps Offshore Wind Memo, Upholding States Rights to Invest in Clean Energy In a significant victory for Massachusetts and other states, a federal judge has struck down a Trump administration directive that had halted offshore wind project permitting since 2017. The judge found the memo unlawful, arbitrary, and capricious, and ordered federal agencies to process applications and make determinations within a reasonable timeframe.

Two women, Chrideisha Johnson and Sharnice Whitfield, were arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. They face charges of contraband distribution and drug possession after a deputy discovered synthetic marijuana, methamphetamine, and tobacco near the prison. The women provided conflicting accounts of the incident, with Whitfield claiming they were unaware of the plan and Johnson denying any knowledge of the events.

West Baton Rouge Fire Chief addresses criticism over Erwinville pet fire response, disputes claims of volunteer reduction, emphasizes staffing challenges in handling advanced stage blazes, encourages community involvement.

The Jetson Center for Youth in Baker, Louisiana, is set to reopen after years of closure, with a focus on safety and security. A new seventy-two-bed facility is also planned to increase capacity for secured custody and serve as an intake and diagnosis center.