Through two gracious campaigns from his show, Buckskin Bill helped to start the Baton Rouge Zoo. Donna Britt, beloved WAFB news anchor and 'a rare breed,' dies after This includes two newscasts on sister station WBXH-CD (weeknights at 9, which began on January 8, 2007, and Saturday mornings). 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. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. Baton Rouge General (BRG) has teamed up with Rouses Markets to offer free health checks to those in need. 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. 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. A Gray Media Group, Inc. Station - 2002-2023 Gray Television, Inc. 2002-2023 Gray Television, Inc. Gates started his career at WAFB-TV in March 1977 . Britt first announced her ALS diagnosis to viewersduring a newscast in 2017. Shown are, from left, Jeremiah Anthony Rogers, Teresa Bruno, Bea Gyimah, Britt and . She signed off the air on June 13, 2018 after 38 years of service at WAFB. Originally broadcasting an analog signal on UHF channel 28, WAFB moved to VHF channel 9 in 1960. Unfiltered With Kiran - Facebook 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. (WAFB) - Longtime WAFB anchor Donna Britt, a dedicated journalist and beloved member of the community, has passed away after her courageous battle with ALS. For nearly four decades, Donna Britt was a constant presence on televisions across the Baton Rouge area. 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. United Cajun Navy and community partners will organize a Search for Millard. [2] It launched as a television counterpart to local radio stations WAFB and WAFB-FM, which both signed on in 1948 and were affiliated with MBS. You have permission to edit this collection. So, now I know whats been paralyzing muscles all over my body all these months and shows no signs of stopping, she said. 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. When they told her they could make that happen, she asked her husband: Do I really want to go back?. 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. If they are not WAFB viewers now, they will be.. . The People's Court also once aired on WAFB before going to WBRZ and later WGMB. Demands Are Made to Fire This Anchor FTVLive Beloved WAFB anchor Donna Britt passes away There was a problem saving your notification. Photos: Congrats to 2018 Golden Deeds award recipient, Donna Britt! Tisha Powells new job as an afternoon anchor at WAFB in Baton Rouge is something she didnt think was possible. 6,529 talking about this. 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. seems like she was on the same side as most. 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. Take a look back through some pictures of her television work, volunteering and life in Baton Rouge. Keyword Fashion Clothing Association Communications. wcpo news anchor fired 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. July 29, 2021 5:45 AM. But besides that,he was a really fine human being.". new job as an afternoon anchor at WAFB in Baton Rouge, After leaving ABC11 last month, Tisha Powell lands a new anchor job, Given a second chance: ABC11s Tisha Powell on why shes leaving the news business, NC Supreme Court blocks transfer of school funds in Leandro court case, Get ready to change your clocks. It is owned by Gray Television alongside low-power, Class A MyNetworkTV affiliate WBXH-CD (channel 39). For most of its history, WAFB was a distant second to WBRZ in the ratings given WBRZ's consistent history on the VHF band and former roots in the Baton Rouge Advocate. Authorities arrested the stationmaster at the trains last stop, in the city of Larissa. Powell, who worked at WTVD for nearly 17 years before leaving last month, said in the WAFB. Pennington Biomedical Research Center is hosting a wellness day for women on March 4th from 7:00am through 1:00pm. 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. Donna served for 17 years on the Salvation Armys Community Board. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Remembering Donna Britt: Look through pictures of her time at WAFB But three days of testing at Houston Methodist Hospital have removed doubts. Identifed below by MAIDEN NAMES. 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. Never be too sure. "John Mahaffey was the consummate news anchor," addedLawhon. Donna adapted the same promise and always signed her name with lower-case letters, what she called a sign of continued commitment to serve God in the most enthusiastic and excellent way possible. Over the years, Donna supported numerous charities including those tied to research for ALS, Sickle Cell disease, HIV/AIDS and cancer. Donna played the piano and organ in multiple churches starting in the fourth grade. Photo provided by LAURIE HARDISON --- Volunteer breakfast --- Salvation Army Capt. [4][5][6] The sale was approved on December 20,[7] and was completed on January 2, 2019.[8]. In the recent ratings period, it beat the others stations' combined weeknights at 5, 6, and 10. 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. Longtime WAFB news anchor Donna Britt passes away after battle with ALS Honestly, I didnt think this was possible, Powell said. 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. She was born while her parents were in the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft Worth Texas. 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. TV: Former ABC11 anchor Tisha Powell lands job at WAFB News | Raleigh BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - Longtime Baton Rouge news anchor John Mahaffey has died. The station also aired Time for Beany during its early years on the air from the Paramount Television Network and was briefly affiliated with the NTA Film Network, airing programs Sheriff of Cochise, How to Marry a Millionaire, and This is Alice. Neither Moreau nor station executives will discuss what led to th Even in cordial departures, they don't announce it and one day the reporter will just be gone and appear at a new station. BATON ROUGE, La. Her mother trained for a ministry in church music. Patio music was provided by Mike Fontenot. Meet the Team - WAFB Former WAFB reporter Kiran Chawla says her love of investigative reporting and the viewing public sparked her to start her new YouTube channel. 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. Like house plant? His last day on the air will be Friday, Sept. 2. From what I can tell, the Tulliers got involved because his wife started saying things on FB, which got a lot of people fired up. 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Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Broome does not like Kiran Chawla of WAFB Renee Kozak is the Relay for Life Volunteer Coordinator of the annual fundraiser. About Us - WAFF What are we talking here? The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 46 to VHF channel 9. Lawhon says Mahaffey had a love for first family first but his second love was for television news. Photo by Carol Anne Blitzer. She physically trained on an elliptical machine for two months, morning and evening, to build her stamina for the grueling push. 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. From left, Dot Thibodeaux, Cynthia Whitaker, master of ceremonies Donna Britt and Constance Walker attend the 21st annual Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference. All rights reserved. For those who dont know, Delta-8 is a form of cannabis different from marijuana that contains a higher concentration of THC. Hey! I have ALS, Lou Gherigs disease. Get exclusive content only available to INSIDERS. 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! Nielsen Media Research ratings showed that 16.2% of all households in the Baton Rouge area watched the show. According to the station, Powell will co-anchor the 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. newscasts there starting Aug. 9. BATON ROUGE, La. The Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriffs Office caught a juvenile driving a stolen vehicle from an area where law enforcement officials say they have been investigating a string of vehicle thefts. ADVOCATE STAFF PHOTO BY PAM BORDELON -- Golden Deeds -- Golden Deeds winner Donna Britt, seated, with son Louie and husband Mark Ballard. He was born in Tulsa, OK, grew up all over the country, and moved to Baton Rouge in July 2003. I feel so fortunate to be able to find that and to be able to find that at home. Meet the Team - WFSB They did not release the mans name or the reason for the arrest, but the stationmaster is responsible for rail traffic on that stretch of the tracks. Average NC teacher pay is nearly $58,000, state says. They can irritate your throat, nose, and eyes, some may even cause cancer. 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. 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. 18 LSU football jersey, sent to her by the university a few days before she retires. So, I think both of the major TV stations have benefited from John Mahaffey having been there.". Because of concerns about COVID-19, the family plans to wait to hold a memorial service for Donna at a later date, he said. WAFB's Donna Britt, left, speaks with colleague Greg Meriwether before the start of the 6pm newscast, Wednesday, June 6, 2018. 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. 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. He was 77 years old. Please continue, we want to know how deep your knowledge is, That she made a comment that got out of hand, Nick Tullier's father is somehow involved? Law enforcement leaders and community organizations gathered for the Page/Rice Camera Initiative, unveiling one of the new crime cameras in north Baton Rouge. A friend who had not heard from Roger since Friday checked on him about 9:30. Copyright 2016 WAFB. The only station to get a bigger share of the local audience was KCCI, the CBS affiliate in Des Moines, which was watched by 17.9% of area households. 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. show--"Great Day at 9A." Caitlin Francis Traffic. The Supreme Courts new 5-2 Republican majority voted along party lines to prevent the transfer of school funds. Kiran Chawla of Wafb fired? : r/batonrouge - reddit Disbarred attorney Alex Murdaugh received two consecutive life sentences Friday morning. The East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office made three arrests after a months-long drug investigation on Wednesday, March 1. 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. Regis and Kelly (now Live with Kelly and Ryan) continues to air on WBRZ. Brett Meredith, left, presents the Above & Beyond Award to Donna Britt at the organization's Volunteer Recognition Breakfast. Her husband, Mark Ballard, serves as the Capitol Bureau Chief for The Advocate newspaper. For 23 of those years, she's been on the air in Baton Rouge reporting on the . "At one point in time, there was a meteorologist who made a low salary and his car broke. The kids were told they could use the 20 or more toppings for their ice cream in an allyou-can-eat buffet. 99% of people agree with all that. "He not only had the camera-ready looks including a million-dollar smile, but he was a born story-teller. Said program ended in late 1990 after Black resigned from WAFB. She had joined the station in 1980 and appeared on the air as an anchor until her deteriorating health from the disease forced her to retire in June 2018. WAFB's weekday morning news is repeated on that station. Her ALS diagnosis is causing her to pull back on those activities. Live with Regis and Kelly and The Oprah Winfrey Show were seen until the late 1990s. 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. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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Longtime WAFB television anchor Donna Britt, recipient of the 2018 Golden Deeds award, photographed in her home on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Heres how. 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. Photo shot on 3/7/2009. 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"). Thats nothing controversial in the least. what role does individualism play in american society. She is joined by colleagues Kiran Chawla, center, and Greg Meriwether. Donna Britt, Herb Vincent among this year's Manship School Hall of Fame inductees. Now, she's battling ALS. WAFB was one of a handful of stations that shifts the air times of various CBS programming. '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. A breast cancer survivor, she was also very active with breast cancer fundraisers. A married mother of two, she was a member of First United Methodist Church in Baton . She is the service journalism editor and writes about TV and local media for The N&Os Happiness is a Warm TV blog. So, now I know whats been paralyzing muscles all over my body all these months and shows no signs of stopping.. gazebo footing requirements. "But he was a solid journalist, he loved the news business, and he loved to beat the competition. (Photo provided by KATHERINE JENSEN BOCCACCIO). WAFB's Donna Britt, a breast cancer survivor, has been a fervent supporter of the local Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. She is survived by her husband, Mark Ballard, in addition to her daughter, Annie, and son, Louie, the outlet reported. 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. 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. Longtime WAFB anchor Donna Britt checks out a cake held by coworker Derron Daquano as she is joined by friends, family, and coworkers, Wednesday, June 13, 2018, after signing off for one last time at WAFB studios in downtown Baton Rouge, La. The station aired the syndicated version of Family Feud hosted by Steve Harvey until 2020 and aired the versions hosted by Louie Anderson, Richard Karn, and John O'Hurley, with the exception of Karn's first season, which aired on KZUP-CD, and Harvey's second through fifth seasons, which aired on WVLA. 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. Longtime WAFB anchor Donna Britt 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. 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.' 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. My whole family is very excited. Beloved WAFB anchor Donna Britt passes away - KPLC 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 . The event is an American Cancer Society, Relay for Life fundraiser. Mahaffey started his career in Baton Rouge television at WAFB-TV. WAFB anchor Donna Britt interviewed some writers and editorial staff members at The Red Shoes. Jeanne Burns is a veteran broadcaster with 25 years of experience in news. Longtime Baton Rouge news anchor John Mahaffey passes away - WAFB Updated: Jan. 22, 2021 at 3:35 AM PST. 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. Press J to jump to the feed. Louisiana native, veteran journalist Tisha Powell to join WAFB news team 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. Thanks for contacting us. 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. Another bonus? 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. Im sure her employer hasnt been thrilled with her dating partner being a news topic on multiple occasions in the past few years. "They just looked for somebody who looked all right . Asians arent immune from cancel culture. Donna retired from the station and anchored her last newscast nearly one year after publicly announcing her diagnosis. The WAFB news director at the time, Carlton Cremeens, heard Donna on the radio as a DJ and loved her voice. What to know about daylight saving time in NC, Goofy dog had no adoption inquiries for months. In all, the 10-day excursion cost the public approximately $100,400 to cover 14 government officials travel, according to financial documents. 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. (WAFB) Tisha started her career in journalism as a reporter and producer for WCBI-TV in. Bond set at $1.5 million for Walter Allbritton III, man accused of driving into Target in Hammond, La last Friday. In the eighth grade, an outstanding Bible teacher in Donnas life told her how God had inspired her to sign her name in lower-case letters, an act of humility and a promise to always to push to achieve her best in everything. Detectives with the Baton Rouge Police Department are still searching for answers regarding a man who was found dead last year. During an investigation, police say evidence was found to place the babys mother under arrest. 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. 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. Two games many adults can remember Buckskin playing were called "Hully Gully" which helped to teach counting numbers and the "Monday Morning March". Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting. Louis S. Prejean and associates (Modern Broadcasting of Baton Rouge) were the first owners of the station, and they sold it to Royal Street Corporation of New Orleans in 1956, which owned WDSU-TV, the first television station in Louisiana. 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. Bond has been set for a St. Gabriel police officer who was arrested in connection with the murder of a Denham Springs man that happened overnight, officials said.