Mayor-President Melvin “Kip” Holden, District Attorney Hillar Moore, Sheriff Sid Gautreaux and Police Chief Dewayne White announced Wednesday that they are teaming up with juvenile services, probation and parole, social agencies, LSU and the faith-based community to launch a new program to curb violence in East Baton Rouge Parish.

The new Baton Rouge Area Violence Elimination Project will target known violent and drug-trade offenders in criminal hotspots, beginning with zip code 70805 in North Baton Rouge. 

A roughly three-mile square area, zip code 70805  has 13.5 percent of the city’s population, but accounts for 25 percent of its total police calls, 30 percent of its homicides, and 40 percent of its gun assaults.

“We are seeking to attack violence and the drug trade in zip code 70805 the same way that a medical team would attack an epidemic of influenza or some other disease,” Mayor Holden said.

Bring your high heels and march to take a stand against gender violence. Are you man enough? The event will be held on Sunday, April 29 from 4 to 6 p.m. at North Boulevard Town Square.

The event is sponsored by Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response Center.

It's part of National Crime Victims' Rights Week. The public is invited to attend.

The Baton Rouge Police Department conducted a sobriety checkpoint on Thursday, April 19 in the 7200 block of Corporate Boulevard.

A total of 103 vehicles were screened. There were 11 drivers arrested for Driving While Intoxicated. Officers also issued 11 traffic citations, one arrest for possession of marijuana, and one arrest for Drinking in a Vehicle.