"He was a remarkable guy in that he had no ego and that's really rare in the news business," Spain said. WAFB Anchor Matt Williams is an anchor for 9News This Morning and Early Edition. The penny campaign was successful enough to purchase two. She also sponsored a no-holds-barred ice cream sundae party every month to the class who read the most library books. 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. Louisiana students have struggled in the classroom for years, but minority children appear to be falling behind the most. He was a giant figure in television news and he will be sorely missed, even after being retired for nearly 17 years.". 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. Her husband, Mark Ballard, serves as the Capitol Bureau Chief for The Advocate newspaper. A large storm system took aim at the Northeast on Friday, threatening heavy snow and coastal flooding after heavy winds and possible tornadoes damaged homes and buildings, left thousands without power and caused five deaths in a wide swath of the South and Midwest. Keyword Holiday Fair, Advocate staff photo by Kerry Maloney. 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. She is survived by her husband, Mark Ballard, in addition to her daughter, Annie, and son, Louie, the outlet reported. The Supreme Courts new 5-2 Republican majority voted along party lines to prevent the transfer of school funds. They can irritate your throat, nose, and eyes, some may even cause cancer. Good for whoever hires her next and shame on you . (WAFB) - Longtime WAFB anchor Donna Britt, a dedicated journalist and beloved member of the community, has passed away after her courageous battle with ALS. 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. WAFB's Donna Britt writes a thank you letter to a viewer before the 6pm newscast, Wednesday, June 6, 2018. 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! Keyword Fashion Clothing Association Communications. Even in cordial departures, they don't announce it and one day the reporter will just be gone and appear at a new station. Continue reading this story and get ACCESS to all our content from any device with a subscription now. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), a Black employee at Exxons chemical plant found a noose at his worksite in January 2020. WAFB also airs the Sunday services from the First United Methodist Church in the city. Shes probably just going to another network or something, it's not like that's a direct quote from the news station or anything, Looks like she got cancelled for forgetting to use the #Defundthepolice hashtag. He died late Thursday following surgery for a blood clot. Fruit plant? Get exclusive content only available to INSIDERS. 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. 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. If theyre looking for a woman to replace her they can give her spot to Jim Engster. 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. Disbarred attorney Alex Murdaugh received two consecutive life sentences Friday morning. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The candidates are, from left to right, Democratic Rep. John Bel Edwards, of Amite, Lt. Gov. 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. 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. Following her diagnosis, thousands of viewers and well-wishers showed up for Donna Britt Day, a charity event hosted by Chef John Folse to raise money for ALS research. 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. Upon being taken over by AFLAC, station management canceled the daily Storyland on September 30, 1988 and converted it to a Saturday morning hour-long program called Buckskin Bill and Friends that began airing on November 5, 1988. I know she was banned from going after BRPD's Chief Murphy Paul. Those relatives she moved back to Louisiana to be near can now watch her on TV. He was worried about how he'd get his car fixed. On March 3, 2008, WAFB became the first in Baton Rouge and the third in Louisiana to broadcast its local broadcasts in high definition. Valley Rail Depot), Odell S. Williams Now And Then African-American Museum, sorted by primary channel network affiliations, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WAFB&oldid=1132905661, Television channels and stations established in 1953, Television stations in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles using infobox television station, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, derived from former radio sister stations, This page was last edited on 11 January 2023, at 05:47. Donna loved to travel and she and her family saw much of the world together. Pennington Biomedical Research Center is hosting a wellness day for women on March 4th from 7:00am through 1:00pm. Every year in the United States, about 5,000 people are diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease. One person was taken to the hospital after a crash in Zachary early Thursday, March 2, according to emergency responders. Like house plant? Mahaffey started his career in Baton Rouge television at WAFB-TV. 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. LTC Widner presented the award to St. Amant High School with its near perfect synchronization as champion, and first runner up was Broadmoor High School with its specialized marching footwork. Attached is a group shot of the 1980 LSU Flag Line. Murdaugh, 54, faced two counts of murder and two weapons charges in the June 7, 2021, shooting deaths of 52-year-old Maggie Murdaugh and . 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). 18 LSU football jersey, sent to her by the university a few days before she retires. The beloved former WAFB-TV personality died Thursday after a battle with ALS. For the last nine months, doctors have tried to diagnose it, however many of the symptoms are the same for other diseases. Former WBRZ News. (Photo provided by KATHERINE JENSEN BOCCACCIO). Asians are considered white when being white is a bad thing. Submitted: Annie Fugler 225 802-6454 anniefugler@aol.com, 1978 LSU Flag Line -- listed by MAIDEN NAMES. "And so much of your legacy at Channel 9 was based on what Mahaffey brought and what Mahaffey built. Lawhon says Mahaffey had a love for first family first but his second love was for television news. 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. That means dinner at home every night with her husband and daughter. WAFB was one of a handful of stations that shifts the air times of various CBS programming. When longtime WAFB-TV weathercaster Diane Deaton first began in the news business, the role of weather reporter hadn't really been defined yet. Louisiana State Senate Communications Director Brenda Hodge co-anchored WAFB's 6 p.m. with Mahaffey for several years beginning in 1976. In 1988, Guaranty sold the station to AFLAC. You have permission to edit this collection. A married mother of two, she was a member of First United Methodist Church in Baton . He called her in for an interview and hired her right away. Donna rode in countless parades across South Louisiana. WAFB news director Rob Hays, left, poses with longtime anchor Donna Britt, Wednesday, June 13, 2018, as Britt prepares to sign off for one last time at WAFB studios in downtown Baton Rouge, La. Bill Black later became involved with the East Baton Rouge Parish Public Schools Board and other civic organizations until his death on January 10, 2018. All rights reserved. For 23 of those years, she's been on the air in Baton Rouge reporting on the . His last day on the air will be Friday, Sept. 2. Nielsen Media Research ratings showed that 16.2% of all households in the Baton Rouge area watched the show. Regis and Kelly (now Live with Kelly and Ryan) continues to air on WBRZ. In all, the 10-day excursion cost the public approximately $100,400 to cover 14 government officials travel, according to financial documents. Mahaffey paid to get his car fixed and, when it broke again, he bought him a new car,"Hodge recalled. 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. The fourth candidate, U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-Metairie, did not participate. 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. gazebo footing requirements. July 29, 2021 5:45 AM. It was a gross departure from procedure. 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. [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. He was 77 years old. Submitted by SVCINC COL Clay C. Le Grande, Jr., USA (Ret) Baton Rouge, LA 70817-3432 H - (225) 752-9780 c.legrande@cox.net. Updated: Jan. 22, 2021 at 3:35 AM PST. Southern alumnus, Vietnam Vet receives Medal of Honor, Arrests made during investigation of prostitution happening at massage parlors, Attorney General Jeff Landry seeks endorsement from Trump, plans to travel to Florida, Cajun Navy joins search for Nathan Millard, organizes outreach, Deputies: 1 wanted, 3 arrested after video of witness testimony shared on social media, First Free Sundays return to LSU Center for River Studies, La. I was a little apprehensive at first because I got my mind wrapped around coming back here and just finishing school and decompressing and going in a different direction, Powell said. It is owned by Gray Television alongside low-power, Class A MyNetworkTV affiliate WBXH-CD (channel 39). And, it's a proud legacy. Her two children include her daughter Annie and son Louis. WAFB-TV anchor is honored with a No. All rights reserved. Donna passed away on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. Authorities arrested the stationmaster at the trains last stop, in the city of Larissa. I don't know if either of those things have any truth to them. Tisha Powell's new job as an afternoon anchor at WAFB in Baton Rouge is something she didn't think was possible. 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.