Holden: BRAVE leading to more arrests, less violence

The Baton Rouge Area Violence Elimination program, which began last summer, already has led to more than 300 drug arrests and contributed to a 60% drop in the monthly homicide rate, Mayor Kip Holden says. Law enforcement officers involved in the program also have seized 46 handguns and assault weapons and confiscated more than $1 million worth of drugs, he says. Holden gave an update on the BRAVE initiative as part of his annual state of the city-parish address to the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge today. During his speech, Holden tried to emphasize the connections between the various issues that affect the quality of life in the parish, such as blight elimination, crime prevention and economic development. A listing of other topics Holden touched on during his address today is available in the full story here. —David Jacobs