On air: The Chopped episode featuring Baton Rouge’s own Jay Ducote will air Tuesday at 9 p.m. on the Food Network. Ducote, a local chef and food entrepreneur, is one of 16 chefs to compete in the five-week miniseries of Chopped, Gold Medal Games: Grilling. Each of the first four episodes will feature four chefs who will compete on the grill. The winners face off in the grand finale and compete for a $50,000 grand prize. A viewing party will be held from 7-10 p.m at Tin Roof Brewing Co. Ducote isn’t the only local entrepreneur set to make a TV appearance. The creators of Hanley’s Salad Dressing will appear on the Jan. 24 episode of CNBC’s Billion Dollar Buyer. A viewing party at Rotolo’s on Ben Hur Road will held from 8-11 p.m. on the day the episode airs.
Unopposed: Attorney Fred Crifasi has won election to the 19th Judicial District Court Division H bench as he was the only person to qualify for the race. Qualifying for the spring race ended Friday. Crifasi will replace retiring Judge Anthony Marabella Jr, who has served as a district court judge since 2003.
Swearing in: Murphy Paul, a longtime Louisiana State Police veteran, will be sworn in as Baton Rouge’s new police chief at 2 p.m. today at City Hall. Mayor Sharon Weston Broome announced Paul as her top pick for the job on Dec. 29. Paul was one five candidates for police chief a search committee recommended to Broome. He will replace Carl Dabadie Jr. chief, who stepped down in July.
