Baker city leaders launch mobile unit service to help with utility bills
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) – In Louisiana, where utilities can spike during the hot summer months, many families struggle to keep up. But a new partnership is bringing hope and helping those who need it most.
'What we want to do is meet the community where they are, and we want to be in the community providing basic needs because everybody deserves basic needs. We want to be accessible as a mayor's office to our community to make sure that whatever they need, we can meet that need,' said Christopher Toombs, who works with the Office of Mayor-President Sid Edwards.
Toombs says covering basic needs like electricity is critical. For families facing financial challenges, help with utility payments can mean a chance to get back on their feet.
'I've seen families completely transform by having their basic needs met. I mean, when you lose your energy and you need energy, and the energy is turned on, you see opportunity. When you have rental assistance, people that need help with their rent and their rent is made, then that gives them another 30 days to get more support.'
This not only helps the community in paying their bills but also with many other services and needs as well.
The purpose of having events like this is to build trust and show residents that help is available if needed.
'The city government is here to help assist and propel you to the next step in life. If you want a career, we've got you with EmployBR. If you want to help with some basic needs, we've got you with OSS. If your child needs an opportunity for early education, we've got Head Start.'
Family alleges Grindr fails to protect minors, leading to death of Florida teen
Baker city leaders launch mobile unit service to help with utility bills
Chrysler at 100: Plans for a bold comeback
Illinois woman loses $62K to scammer impersonating Kevin Costner
Scientists hooking flies on cocaine to study addiction: Reports
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Prairieville man arrested on multiple child pornography charges
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A man from Prairieville has been arrested on multiple child pornography charges following an investigation by the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Taskforce. APSO said Kyle Ardoin, 18, was taken into custody and charged with two counts of pornography involving juveniles under the age of 13 and one count of pornography involving juveniles. The investigation began on April 9, when the ICAC Taskforce received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Detectives discovered that Ardoin had allegedly received and saved graphic images depicting child sexual abuse. A warrant was issued for his arrest. The sheriff's office said Ardoin was later found in Pike County, Mississippi, where he was taken into custody and transported back to Ascension Parish. He is currently being held at the Ascension Parish Jail. Authorities said the investigation is ongoing. Former Ascension Public Schools employee arrested for felony theft Prairieville man arrested on multiple child pornography charges Illinois Republican mistakes Sikh for Muslim, calls him delivering prayer in House 'deeply troubling' Johnson expands size of Intelligence panel to give Stefanik spot Baton Rouge conference aims to inspire girls with guest speakers, music House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries says budget bill should be killed Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Baker city leaders launch mobile unit service to help with utility bills
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) – In Louisiana, where utilities can spike during the hot summer months, many families struggle to keep up. But a new partnership is bringing hope and helping those who need it most. 'What we want to do is meet the community where they are, and we want to be in the community providing basic needs because everybody deserves basic needs. We want to be accessible as a mayor's office to our community to make sure that whatever they need, we can meet that need,' said Christopher Toombs, who works with the Office of Mayor-President Sid Edwards. Toombs says covering basic needs like electricity is critical. For families facing financial challenges, help with utility payments can mean a chance to get back on their feet. 'I've seen families completely transform by having their basic needs met. I mean, when you lose your energy and you need energy, and the energy is turned on, you see opportunity. When you have rental assistance, people that need help with their rent and their rent is made, then that gives them another 30 days to get more support.' This not only helps the community in paying their bills but also with many other services and needs as well. The purpose of having events like this is to build trust and show residents that help is available if needed. 'The city government is here to help assist and propel you to the next step in life. If you want a career, we've got you with EmployBR. If you want to help with some basic needs, we've got you with OSS. If your child needs an opportunity for early education, we've got Head Start.' Family alleges Grindr fails to protect minors, leading to death of Florida teen Baker city leaders launch mobile unit service to help with utility bills Chrysler at 100: Plans for a bold comeback Illinois woman loses $62K to scammer impersonating Kevin Costner Scientists hooking flies on cocaine to study addiction: Reports Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
Investigator, family testify in civil rights activist Sadie Roberts-Joseph's murder trial
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The trial for the man accused of murdering local civil rights activist, 75-year-old Sadie Roberts-Joseph, in 2019 is underway. 44-year-old Ronn Bell appeared in court as the victim's family testified. Jurors heard from Sadie Roberts-Joseph's daughter and an investigator who worked on the case. A great-grandmother and a woman who worked tirelessly as the founder of the Baton Rouge African American Museum is how Robert-Joseph's daughter, Angela Machen, described her mother in court. A life that prosecutors say was ended when Ronn Bell strangled Roberts-Joseph to death back in 2019. Another witness called to the stand was former BRPD officer Lindsey Keller Lacoste, who worked on the case. She told the court that Bell was a tenant of Roberts-Joseph's, and he owed her rent a key part of the prosecution's case, because they say the money was the motive in this murder. Officer Lacoste also spoke about finding Ronn Bell's name and number on a note in Roberts-Joseph's home next to a daily prayer. Lacoste described more grisly scenes as well, finding Joseph's body in the trunk of her car and witnessing her autopsy. One other detail Lacoste talked about in court: finding Roberts-Joseph's cell phone on the side of the interstate near the 10/12 split shortly after the crime. Scientists hooking flies on cocaine to study addiction: Reports WBRSO deputy arrested, fired following domestic dispute Investigator, family testify in civil rights activist Sadie Roberts-Joseph's murder trial Lawmakers sit back to watch Trump-Musk blowup drama What We Learned: Casan Evans is him, LSU fans are spoiled Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
