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Award given to annually to college basketball’s top shooting guard

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Chaz Lanier has been named the recipient of the Jerry West Award, given annually to the nation’s top shooting guard.

the nation's BEST SHOOTING GUARDChaz Lanier is this year's recipient of the Jerry West Award, given by @Hoophall to the national Shooting Guard of the Yearread more → https://t.co/REXqgabkj9 pic.twitter.com/morUMW56KD

— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) April 5, 2025

Lanier became the first Tennessee player to earn the award. Dalton Knecht earned the Julius Erving award a year ago as the nation’s top small forward.

Couldn't help but feel Deja vu when Chaz Lanier hit this three last night.It reminded me a lot of what another transfer did on Rocky Top last season ???? #Vols pic.twitter.com/E22jfVT8xd

— John Sartori (@JohnSartoriTV) November 14, 2024

Lanier made 123 three-pointers in his lone season at Tennessee, setting a single-season program record.

"They just sit there and watch and they're like 'I don't even recognize that guy out there.'"The son of two Division I basketball players, Chaz Lanier's journey from North Florida to Tennessee has been fueled by the name on the back of his jersey. #Vols pic.twitter.com/s7PxW835wf

— John Sartori (@JohnSartoriTV) December 23, 2024

His 17.8 points per game were the most by any Volunteer during the team’s run to a second-straight Elite 8.

Chaz Lanier, big advocate of feeding the floor. #Vols pic.twitter.com/99t0AOsewm

— John Sartori (@JohnSartoriTV) February 1, 2025

The Nashville native was also named a Wooden All-American.

Copyright 2025 WVLT. All rights reserved.

Correction: This article has been updated to correct the model of Guy Fieri’s car that was spotted outside local restaurants. It was a Camaro, not a Corvette. 225 regrets the error.

Taking a trip to Flavortown might just mean cruising on down Perkins Road. That’s right—beloved seafood joint Phil’s Oyster Bar is set to be featured on an episode of Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives this Friday, April 4. “There’s serious seafood in Baton Rouge, La., crossing Creole crawfish with cheesecake and (charbroiling) out-of-bounds oysters,” a synopsis of the episode teases.

Filming for the hit TV show took place in February ahead of Super Bowl LIX. Triple D star Guy Fieri and his candy-red Camaro were spotted around the Red Stick, creating buzz and speculations about which food spots would score some air time on the show. Along with Phil’s, Dempsey’s and Iverstine Butcher are set to appear in episodes in April, according to local news reports and a telling Instagram post by Dempsey’s.

And in May, episode descriptions found on Food Network’s TV schedule confirm at least two more Capital Region spots will appear on the show. Clues in the descriptions seem to point to Elsie’s Plate & Pie and Cou-Yon’s in Port Allen, though the restaurants could not confirm at press time.

“I think Baton Rouge has unbelievable restaurants,” says Anthony Piazza, owner of Phil’s. “In 2 square miles of our restaurant, there’s probably 10 restaurants that I think are fabulous. I think that people do discredit Baton Rouge compared to New Orleans. But there are a lot of great restaurants in Baton Rouge. There’s a lot of family-owned restaurants and people that have taken it to the next level.”

Piazza says when the restaurant got calls from a producer of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in early January, his team thought it was a joke. Turns out that the producer was the real deal. Piazza says he found out a regular was friends with Fieri and mentioned to the host that he needed to make a trip to Phil’s if he ever filmed in the Capital Region.

“And then the rest is history,” Piazza laughs. “So, what happens is: (Producers) talk to you about your menu, what you’re known for and items that you specialize in. Then, they look at your menu from what you tell them, and they narrow it down to five or six items. They send you the five or six items, and you have to send back the recipes. And then they pick two of them.”

Piazza says he hears that Fieri is very hands-on when it comes to picking dishes to feature on the show. The Phil’s segment in Friday’s episode will feature its iconic charbroiled oysters and crawfish cheesecake. The restaurant blocked out two days to film, which they hid from customers by announcing closures due to private events.

“People that obviously didn’t pay attention to social media just showed up,” Piazza says. “When they saw the red car, for the most part, they were very gracious about it. … The producers were great about it and said, ‘Look, man, eventually, when people see why you closed for two days, they will understand.’”

In addition to filming the making of oysters and savory cheesecakes in the kitchen, the episode will also feature segments with Piazza and Fieri, along with shots of regulars in the restaurant. Piazza says working with Fieri was a great experience.

“He had just lost his dad to cancer last year, and obviously I lost my dad 17 years ago. When they interview you, they ask you the story behind the restaurant. And when I told him my story, the first thing he said was, ‘Yeah, I heard about your dad, and I’m sorry to hear,’” Piazza says. “He told me about his dad, so we kind of connected on that. He was actually fantastic to me. He interacted a lot (with) the front end and the back of the house, too. He’s a very smart, witty guy. He’s got a very dry sense of humor and is extremely funny.”

Though Friday night’s premiere will be big for Phil’s, Piazza says he doesn’t plan to have a special viewing party for the episode, as it’ll be a busy Lenten Friday. He says he didn’t expect the episode to turn around so quickly but shares that customers may be able to catch it on a TV or two inside the restaurant. When asked about plans to watch his Food Network debut, Piazza shares that he hasn’t planned on how or when he’ll sit down to view the episode.

Throughout this experience, Piazza says he’s learned just how much of a loyal following Fieri and Triple D has. And while he’s not sure what to expect after the episode airs, he says he hopes it brings in some out-of-towners along with locals who haven’t ventured to Phil’s just yet.

But above all, Piazza hopes Phil’s national TV feature helps continue his father’s legacy.

“The biggest thing for me is that it gives (recognition) to my dad’s family business, which is something that he built, created and left to us,” Piazza says. “And it’s really great for Baton Rouge. My dad was a big Baton Rouge person. … I feel like in the last five or six years, we’ve stepped our game up and taken it to the next level. And I think he would be extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished—but I don’t think in his wildest dreams he would ever imagine Phil’s would have been on the Food Network.”

The Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives episode featuring Phil’s Oyster Bar will air on Food Network this Friday, April 4, at 8 p.m. Keep up with new episodes featuring Baton Rouge restaurants on the Food Network website.

Correction: This article has been updated to correct the spelling of Jonathon “Boogie” Long’s first name. 225 regrets the error.

Fans of the blues and novice listeners alike can show their support and listen to live music all weekend at the Baton Rouge Blues Festival, one of the oldest blues festivals in the country. Head over to downtown Baton Rouge this Friday, April 4, to Sunday, April 6, to get the full experience of all this free festival has to offer.

The event will host a plethora of musical artists throughout the weekend, as well as a Kids Corner, Kenny Neal’s Car Show, loads of food vendors, artist interviews, makers, merch and more. Check out the guide below to plan out your weekend visit to the festival.

Music will fill downtown from Friday afternoon until Sunday evening across four stages:

• Visit Baton Rouge Swamp Blues Stage at Galvez Plaza

• Chris Whittington Family LA 1 Stage outside the Shaw Center for the Arts

• Watermark Slim Harpo Stage at the intersection of Convention and Third streets, near the Watermark Hotel

• Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge Front Porch Stage at North Boulevard Town Square, which will operate as an unplugged space for headliners and up-and-coming artists

Performances will kick off with a special Live After Five edition featuring Hanna PK, Jovin Webb and Jonathon “Boogie” Long. Other artists that attendees can expect to see throughout the weekend include Chris Thomas King, Kenny Neal, Cedric Burnside, THEBROSFRESH, Adia Victoria and many others.

“Honestly, everyone who’s on a Blues Fest stage is incredible,” says Lauren Lambert-Tompkins, executive director of the Baton Rouge Blues Fest and Foundation.

“Absolutely do not miss the Sunday jam at the end of the festival,” she adds.

The Blues Fest Jam will start at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 6, at the Swamp Blues Stage. Many of the musicians will come onstage to play together. During the jam session, drinks at the bar will be half-price.

Satisfy your cravings with bites from over a dozen food vendors at the festival.

“We’ve got everything from Asian cuisine to Cajun, tacos, Mediterranean and boiled crawfish,” Lambert-Tompkins says. Food vendors include A & G Snack Shop on the Geaux, The Frying Station, Jake’s Tacos, Jambalaya by Shake, Chef Key’s Country Kitchen, Leroy’s Lip Smack’n Lemonade, Vel’s Mobile Cafe, AOK Caterer and more.

Food trucks will be set up on North Boulevard near the LA 1 Stage and the Front Porch Stage. Food tents will be set up near the River Center Branch Library and City Hall, facing the Swamp Blues stage.

Bar locations face the Swamp Blues Stage in Rhorer Plaza from Friday to Sunday. Another bar, known as Town Lawn, will be set up on North Boulevard under the large digital sign on Saturday and Sunday.

New to the fest this year, Kenny Neal’s Car Show will take place on North Boulevard in front of Louisiana’s Old State Capitol on Saturday, April 5. Neal, a blues legend and car enthusiast, will bring slick rides to downtown Baton Rouge.

“There’s a really big crossover between blues fans and antique car fans,” says Lambert-Tompkins. “Kenny’s got a few surprises up his sleeve.”

WRKF’s Behind the Blues: Musician Interviews, a hidden gem of the festival, according to Lambert-Tompkins, returns to the Baton Rouge Blues Fest this year.

Many local artists will be interviewed by the local NPR station on the second floor of Louisiana’s Old State Capitol, and attendees are invited to listen in.

Musicians on the lineup include Chris LeBlanc, Lil’ Jimmy Reed, Kenny Neal, Jonathon “Boogie” Long, Chris Thomas King and Hanna PK.

“Our mission as a foundation is to preserve these stories coming from swamp blues artists,” Lambert-Tompkins says. “Blues music is about the stories.”

The Humana Kids Corner, located near Louisiana’s Old State Capitol, will have many different family-friendly activities to keep attendees of all ages entertained. Kiddos can release some energy and embrace their competitive spirit on the GymFit Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course or try their hand at being a cowboy on an animatronic bull. For more laid-back activities, kids can ride a small train or make their own music at the instrument petting zoo on Saturday, April 5.

Dozens of makers and vendors will showcase their art for attendees to peruse between sets. The Circa 1857 Arts Market will be held in Galvez Plaza, behind the Swamp Blues Stage, to showcase local goods and vendors.

Merchandise from the Baton Rouge Blues Fest will also be available for purchase to help keep the festival free for all to attend. Blues Fest merch will be located off North Boulevard in the Town Lawn bar, under the digital signs.

Check out the Baton Rouge Blues Fest online here. Volunteers will be handing out festival guides throughout the weekend, so be sure to grab one to stay in the know about everything that’s going on.

BATON ROUGE, La. – ExxonMobil announced its plans to invest more than $100 million in facility upgrades to produce high-purity isopropyl alcohol, a critical material for semiconductor chip manufacturing in the U.S.

The facility is located at the company’s Baton Rouge Complex in the legacy chemical plant. The project will help retain existing jobs, create approximately 45 construction jobs and is expected to be completed in 2027.

“ExxonMobil has a storied history in Louisiana that goes far beyond its refining capabilities and reflects the company’s commitment to growth, innovation and impact,” Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said. “Through the strengthening of the domestic supply chain, this upgrade is yet another example of how Louisiana is at the forefront of the American manufacturing renaissance. Thank you to ExxonMobil for its reinvestment in Louisiana, and we look forward to many more years of prosperity and partnership ahead.

Highly complex microchip manufacturing requires isopropyl alcohol with an extremely high purity level – 99.999% pure.

“We’ve been producing isopropyl alcohol at our Baton Rouge facility for more than 80 years,” said Kate Lightfoot, Baton Rouge Complex Chemical Plant Manager. “With this investment, we’re enhancing one of our legacy chemical products to meet growing demand in the tech industry.”

To support the project, the state of Louisiana offered ExxonMobil a competitive incentives package that includes participation in the Retention and Modernization Program, which provides manufacturers up to a 4% refundable tax credit of the amount of qualified expenditures. The company is also expected to utilize the state’s Industrial Tax Exemption Program.

“We’re delighted ExxonMobil is expanding its Baton Rouge operations by enhancing its isopropyl alcohol production,” Lori Melancon, President & CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, said. “Products made in the Baton Rouge Area go into the things that people around the world use each and every day. It is exciting to know that in the near future, the U.S.-manufactured microchips that will empower our daily lives get their start, in part, right here in Baton Rouge.”

Learn more about ExxonMobil’s isopropyl alcohol production here.

About LED Louisiana Economic Development is responsible for driving capital investment, job creation and economic opportunity for the people of Louisiana and employers of all sizes. Explore how LED is positioning Louisiana to win at OpportunityLouisiana.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: Kevin Litten, LED Strategic Communications Editor [email protected] 225.342.4321

With three days left before a statewide vote on four amendments to the Louisiana Constitution, Gov. Jeff Landry brought to Baton Rouge his statewide push to build support for one that is crucial to his agenda.

In a speech to the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge on Wednesday, Landry urged voters to support Amendment 2, part of his larger effort to rewrite Louisiana's tax laws. The pitch for the tax overhaul was the centerpiece of a wide-ranging speech in which he emphasized that Louisiana sits at an inflection point.

"Our opportunity, our moment in this state, is now, and it has been placed in your hands," Landry said.

If approved by voters Saturday, Amendment 2 would rewrite swathes of the part of the constitution that governs state taxes. It would lower the cap on the individual income tax rate from 4.75% to 3.75% — with seniors able to double their income tax deduction — put many tax exemptions in state law instead of the constitution, limit state spending increases and restructure government funds designated for specific purposes, such as health and education, by altering some and eliminating others entirely.

It would build into the state budget a temporary $2,000 teacher pay stipend approved by the Louisiana Legislature last year by liquidating three education trust funds.

"That amendment will lock in the reforms that will provide the largest tax cut in the history of this state, and it will be accompanied by fiscal reforms that will benefit this state for a long, long time," Landry said.

Landry has campaigned for the passage of the amendment around the state. He's made the case on radio shows, in newspaper editorials and in speeches to local groups. Notable advocacy organizations, including the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, the Louisiana Association of Educators, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, have endorsed the amendment.

But the amendment faces opposition from both groups on the left and the right. Some conservatives argue that the changes would make it easier to remove tax breaks for churches, while some on the left have said spending caps would make it harder to fund education, transportation and other programs addressing residents' needs.

In response to criticism over tax breaks, Landry said the amendment would preserve the homestead exemption and the exemption for religious organizations.

"Now, I just signed the bill to put the Ten Commandments in school," he said. "You think I would do anything to harm our religious organizations in the state?"

In his speech, Landry called the election a defining moment for Louisiana. He said it's an opportunity for the state to escape its boom and bust cycles, if the people will permit the legislature and Landry himself to "continue the success."

"I know y'all not used to so much good news. Y'all are like shocked," Landry said. "That's the problem we have in this state. We got a group of people out there — they just don't know how to win."