He was born in Tulsa, OK, grew up all over the country, and moved to Baton Rouge in July 2003. The #1 subreddit for all things relating to Baton Rouge, Louisiana! 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. A lot of people dont get the opportunity to work part-time anchoring, she said. He was 77 years old. 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. 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. 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. "He was a remarkable guy in that he had no ego and that's really rare in the news business," Spain said. She's not white. 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. Now, she's battling ALS. According to the lawsuit filed by the U.S. 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. I have ALS, Lou Gehrigs disease. Louisiana State Police Major Doug Cain, left, presents longtime WAFB anchor Donna Britt with the Superintendent's Award for Excellence as she is surrounded by friends, family, and coworkers, Wednesday, June 13, 2018, as she signs off for one last time at WAFB studios in downtown Baton Rouge, La. Good dudes, but definitely not journalists. Golden Deeds -- The 'first lady of Baton Rouge broadcasting' Donna Britt, center, is honored as this year's Golden Deeds winner and is congratulated by WBRZ's Whitney Vann and Sylvia Weatherspoon. 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. Like house plant? 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. 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. Mahaffey, a graduate of the University of Texas, retired in 1999 and continued living in Baton Rouge. Andre Moreau is leaving WAFB-TV after eight years behind the nightly anchor desk. Merriweather has inexplicably become a cheerleader and Scotty is just an affable news reader. The East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office made three arrests after a months-long drug investigation on Wednesday, March 1. In total, the station's news department produces 25 hours of news programming each week. A longtime Louisiana news anchor has died following a battle with Lou Gehrig's disease, her former employer said Thursday. Parkviews choir performed the military service songs as veterans from the services stood in turn to the applause from the audience. Those are some big shoes to fill. Get access to more than a decade of story archives. Former WBRZ News. The station made this change to give its noon and 5 p.m. newscasts a strong lead-in. 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. 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. CBS affiliate after eight years. Those relatives she moved back to Louisiana to be near can now watch her on TV. 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). 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! 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. Donna Britt, who worked for Baton Rouge station WAFB for nearly four . Golden Deeds winner Donna Britt, center, is pictured with Judi Terzotis, left, Advocate President, and Scott Berg, president of Lee Michaels Jewelry, at the Golden Deeds awards Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018 at the Baton Rouge Marriott. 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. Thats nothing controversial in the least. Top row, left to right: Stephanie LaBlanc, Cherrie Bell, Judy Hignight, Tammy Norton, Lynet Lewis, Gloria Sylvia, Hillary Holmes, Susan Ford, Beverly Lemley. Beloved WAFB anchor Donna Britt passes away, Donna Britt's last newscast - June 13, 2018 (end of show farewell), LSU WR Malik Nabers arrested in New Orleans; prosecutors refuse to charge with condition, Health experts, former athletes respond to NCAAs proposal to reduce game time and plays. A longtime Louisiana news anchor has died following a battle with Lou Gehrigs disease, her former employer said Thursday. I have ALS, Lou Gherigs disease. United Cajun Navy and community partners will organize a Search for Millard. Attached is a group shot of the 1980 LSU Flag Line. She also didnt want any cameras anywhere near her altogether. Donna passed away on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. . The WAFB news director at the time, Carlton Cremeens, heard Donna on the radio as a DJ and loved her voice. Royal Street owned the station until 1964, when it sold the station to locally based Guaranty Corporation. 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. 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. WBRZ-TV TV News Anchor Full Profile Jake Roblez Baton Rouge, LA Professions & Specialties News Anchor Commercial Announcer Presenter Experience & Education Title: Political News Anchor at Louisiana State University Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Area Industry: Mechanical or Industrial Engineering Full Profile Andrs Serna Baton Rouge, LA The extra pandemic food stamps have officially stopped. The fourth candidate, U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-Metairie, did not participate. Picture shot on 3-13-01. 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. 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. From left, longtime WAFB anchor Donna Britt on set as she is watched by her son, Louie Ballard, and husband Mark Ballard, Wednesday, June 13, 2018, as Britt signs off for one last time at WAFB studios in downtown Baton Rouge, La. During this campaign, he asked children to bring in their pennies to buy an elephant. WAFB-TV anchor is honored with a No. In an interview with The News & Observer the week before her final broadcast on ABC11, Powell said that she had worked nights for about 15 years at the station, and that working from home some during the pandemic had opened her eyes to the time she was missing with her youngest daughter, who is 7. 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. The Baton Rouge Police Department has arrested the mother of a child who officials say died of a drug overdose. '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. The Baton Rouge Pipes and Drums played their traditional bagpipe favorites, along with a medley of patriotic songs. WAFB's Donna Britt writes a thank you letter to a viewer before the 6pm newscast, Wednesday, June 6, 2018. 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. 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. Andre Moreau is leaving WAFB-TV after eight years behind the nightly anchor desk. She is survived by her husband, Mark Ballard, in addition to her daughter, Annie, and son, Louie, the outlet reported. Former WAFB-TV news anchor George Sells is keeping busy in retirement, producing video obituaries and lending his distinctive voice to various projects. 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. Tisha Powells new job as an afternoon anchor at WAFB in Baton Rouge is something she didnt think was possible. Advocate staff photo by JOHN OUBRE -- Cancer survivor Donna Britt, with WAFB news, speaks to the audience on Saturday during a Relay for Life rally in Gonzales. The Southern University AgCenter is hosting its 80th Annual State Livestock and Poultry Show March 2-4. Pennington Biomedical Research Center is hosting a wellness day for women on March 4th from 7:00am through 1:00pm. Shes a great investigative reporter. her last tweet regarding the guy crashing his car into target in hammond, The guy who ran his car through the Hammond Target. 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. what role does individualism play in american society. He was 51. WAFB also airs the Sunday services from the First United Methodist Church in the city. Women of Distinction -- At the Girl Scouts Louisiana East Women of Distinction luncheon are, from left, CEO Jacqueline Alexander; honorees Julie LeBlanc, Dr. Rebekah Gee, Donna Britt (seated) and Betsy Stoner; and board chairwoman Joan Molllohan.