Baton Rouge news

• Edwards, legislators to tour coast, oil and gas facilities

  26-10-2016 23:22
  
  Edwards will discuss the state's coastal master plan, and the role of the oil and gas industry in the state and national economy.
  
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• Pointe Coupee residents learn more about possible government change

  26-10-2016 20:49 via wbrz.com
  
  POINTE COUPEE - A change in government could be coming, as voters decide whether to keep their police jury or switch to a parish council.In a packed meeting, residents listened to arguments on both sides of the coin, before they get a chance to vote on the Novermber 8 election."I think it is something that needs to be done for the betterment of the parish as a whole," police jury member Justin Cox said.The parish Chamber of Commerce hosted the final meeting in a series, to talk about changing ho
  
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• John Bel Edwards says he is confident he'll win LGBT lawsuit

  26-10-2016 20:02
  
  Edwards thinks he will prevail over Attorney General Jeff Landry.
  
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• Louisiana man charged with trying to bring gun into Disney park

  26-10-2016 17:06 via wbrz.com
  
  ORLANDO - Authorities in Florida say two guests who tried to carry guns into Walt Disney World theme parks have been charged with carrying a concealed firearm.The Orange County Sheriff's Office says 61-year-old Michael Langston of Louisiana was arrested at Epcot, and 23-year-old Baleigh Turner of Alabama was arrested at Disney's Animal Kingdom a short time later on Monday.Arrest reports say Langston revealed his gun after a Disney security officer selected him for a random metal detector screeni
  
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• Chipotle's 1st Tasty Made burger store to open this week

  26-10-2016 15:46 via wbrz.com
  
  LANCASTER, Ohio - Chipotle's first burger store will open this week in Ohio as the company continues working to expand its offerings and win back customers after a series of food safety scares.Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. says the new Tasty Made restaurant is scheduled to open Thursday in Lancaster, 30 miles southeast of Columbus. The Denver-based company says the Tasty Made restaurant will serve only burgers, fries, milkshakes and sodas.Chipotle says the grilled-to-order burgers will be made fro
  
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• Sanders urges government to kill AT&T-Time Warner merger

  26-10-2016 14:59 via wbrz.com
  
  WASHINGTON - Sen. Bernie Sanders is calling on the government to block a proposed $85 billion merger of communications giants AT&T and Time Warner.The Vermont independent and former contender for the Democratic presidential nomination warns in a letter to President Barack Obama's Justice Department that the merger would lead to less "competition and diversity of content" and would "provide consumers less while charging them more."There is bipartisan opposition to the proposed acquisition by
  
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• GOP Senate candidates seize on news of rising premiums

  26-10-2016 14:54 via wbrz.com
  
  WASHINGTON - Republican Senate candidates are jumping on news of sharply rising premiums under President Barack Obama's health care law as they seek advantage in the closing days of the election.The unpopular law was already an issue in some key Senate races, a recurring attack line for GOP candidates in states including Arizona, Indiana, Wisconsin and Missouri.The rate hike news this week provides additional ammunition. Before taxpayer-provided subsidies, premiums for a midlevel benchmark plan
  
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• Deputies searching for 'improperly released' inmate in Lafayette

  26-10-2016 14:24 via wbrz.com
  
  LAFAYETTE – Lafayette Parish deputies are searching for an inmate who was ‘improperly released’ Wednesday afternoon.According to a KATC report, 29-year-old Joshua Simon was last seen wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans. He is described as being 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 155 pounds.Simon was in custody on a warrant for non-payment of child support in Ouachita Parish.Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office
  
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• Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office to host 'Boo and the Badge'

  26-10-2016 14:17 via wbrz.com
  
  ST AMANT – The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s office is teaming up with St. Amant Middle School and local firefighters to host “Boo and the Badge” Monday, Oct. 31.The event will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 31 at St. Amant Middle School at 44317 Highway 429.APSO said the event will have a spooky haunted house, fun activities and “lots and lots of candy!”Permalink| Comments
  
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• August's historic flooding continues to impact housing market

  26-10-2016 14:12 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – This year’s historic flooding in South Louisiana continues to impact the Baton Rouge Housing market, a new report says. But the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors says there is still a silver lining.A new report from GBRAR says that closed sales in the Baton Rouge area market were down 1.6 percent to 882 in September. That is not enough to pull down this year’s totals though. Closed sales are still up by two percent in 2016.The biggest change
  
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• Americans ate more seafood last year than they did in 2014

  26-10-2016 13:56 via wbrz.com
  
  PORTLAND - The government says the average American ate nearly a pound more seafood in 2015 than he or she did the previous year.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released the statistic Wednesday along with its annual Fisheries of the United States report. It says per capita consumption of seafood grew to 15.5 pounds in 2015. It was 14.6 pounds in 2014.The growth brings per capita consumption of seafood to its highest point since 2010. It's the biggest jump of its kind in at le
  
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• Gov. Edwards to lead bipartisan energy, coastal restoration trip

  26-10-2016 13:54 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – Governor John Bel Edwards is set to lead a bi-partisan coastal restoration trip across Louisiana’s coast later this week.According to statement released by Edward’s office Wednesday, the governor and the delegation will do a flyover and meet with Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Wednesday. The delegation will host a round table discussion in Port Fourchon to discuss Louisiana’s energy industry.Friday, the group will visit
  
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• Hacked emails show Clinton campaign's fears about Sanders

  26-10-2016 13:53 via wbrz.com
  
  WASHINGTON - Allies of Hillary Clinton felt threatened by the power of Sen. Bernie Sanders' candidacy and wondered about getting some signal of support from President Barack Obama in the heat of the Democratic primaries, according to the latest emails in a hacked trove from Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta.Ahead of the Illinois primary in March, liberal operative Neera Tanden asked Podesta, who formerly worked on Obama's transition in 2008, if the president could give any kind of indicatio
  
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• Toyota adds 5.8M vehicles to global Takata recall total

  26-10-2016 13:50 via wbrz.com
  
  DETROIT - Toyota is recalling about 5.8 million vehicles in Japan, Europe, China and other countries to replace potentially deadly Takata air bag inflators.The company says it knows of one person injured in a crash involving one of the vehicles, but a spokesman didn't know where the crash happened. Toyota says it hasn't determined if the injury was caused by a ruptured inflator.The vehicles have inflators that can rupture and spew shrapnel. U.S. vehicles with the same inflators are already under
  
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• North Dakota Pipeline security guards weren't licensed

  26-10-2016 13:48 via wbrz.com
  
  BISMARCK, N.D. -Investigators say private security guards with dogs who were involved in a clash with Dakota Access pipeline protesters weren't licensed to do security work in North Dakota.Morton County Sheriff's Capt. Jay Gruebele released a statement Wednesday saying results of his office's investigation have been forwarded to prosecutors for consideration of misdemeanor charges.The clash occurred Sept. 3, after construction crews removed topsoil from private land that protesters believe conta
  
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• Senate race features prostitutes, David Duke, cross-dressing

  26-10-2016 13:46 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's U.S. Senate seat features an open seat, two dozen candidates, prostitution allegations and a white supremacist contender.About the only sure thing seems to be that the race won't be decided Nov. 8 when most of the nation's political contests are settled. Instead, it's certain to head to a December runoff.The race is living up - or down - to the stereotypes of another oddball Louisiana election.One candidate faces allegations he was a client of prostitutes who were later
  
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• Part of Coursey Blvd to close starting Oct. 28

  26-10-2016 13:43 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – Coursey Boulevard will be closed to traffic just west of Jones Creek Road starting Oct. 28, City-Parish officials announced Wednesday.The closure is part of an ongoing intersection improvement project. Closing the road will shorten construction times on that portion of the intersection from several months to 12 days.During that time, access to local businesses will be maintained.Officials say drivers should expect the road to be reopened at 6 a.m. on Nov. 10.Drivers shoul
  
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• Boat crash in swamp injures woman Wednesday

  26-10-2016 13:22 via wbrz.com
  
  BUTTE LA ROSE - A woman was injured when a boat crashed in the Atchafalaya Basin Wednesday.The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said game wardens responded to the wreck. A single vessel ran into a bank along the Atchafalaya River near Butte La Rose in St. Martin Parish. LDWF said it is leading the investigation into what happened with the help of the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office.The woman was taken to the hospital, agents said. Her injuries were not released.The Atchafalaya R
  
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• Quick repairs planned for damaged Trump star

  26-10-2016 13:14 via wbrz.com
  
  LOS ANGELES - The group that oversees the Hollywood Walk of Fame says it's working to quickly repair damage to Donald Trump's star after it was vandalized.Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President Leron Gubler says it will take several days for the fixes to be completed.Los Angeles police are investigating after blows from a hammer destroyed the GOP presidential candidate's star early Wednesday.A man who identified himself as Jamie Otis says he's responsible for the damage. Otis tells Deadline Hol
  
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• Police investigate vandalizing of Trump's Hollywood star

  26-10-2016 13:14 via wbrz.com
  
  LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles police are investigating the vandalizing of Donald Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.Det. Meghan Aguilar says investigators were called to the scene before dawn Wednesday following reports that the presidential candidate's star was destroyed by blows from a hammer.A man who identified himself as Jamie Otis says he's responsible for the damage. Otis tells Deadline Hollywood (http://bit.ly/2dK4kON) that he originally intended to remove Trump's star. He says he wa
  
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• Two wanted for stealing tips from Hammond seafood restaurant

  26-10-2016 13:06 via wbrz.com
  
  HAMMOND – Police need the public’s help to identify two suspects wanted for stealing tips from a seafood restaurant in Hammond.Surveillance video captured the two men stealing tips off a table at Don’s Seafood Restaurant on South Morrison Blvd on Oct. 17.Anyone with information is asked to contact CrimeStoppers at 800-554-5245. Be a part of the solution, and you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Ponchatoula man turns himself in after allegedly killing ex-wife

  26-10-2016 12:58 via wbrz.com
  
  HAMMOND – A Ponchatoula man has been charged with second-degree murder after deputies say he shot his ex-wife in the head outside her Hammond home earlier this week.The shooting happened around 8:44 a.m. Tuesday on Artie Road in Hammond. Sheriff Daniel Edwards said residents reported hearing gunshots, seeing a body lying in their neighbor’s yard.Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s deputies found the body of 50-year-old Linda Williams at the scene. Edwards said victims came
  
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• Diplomats: US expected to abstain on UN vote on Cuba embargo

  26-10-2016 12:20 via wbrz.com
  
  WASHINGTON - Diplomats say the United States is expected to abstain - for the first time - from a U.N. resolution criticizing America's economic embargo against Cuba.Such a step would effectively pit the Obama administration, with the United Nations, against the Republican-led Congress, which supports the 55-year-old embargo despite the United States' resumption of full diplomatic relations with Cuba.The diplomats say the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Samantha Power, will explain the decision sho
  
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• Newt Gingrich to Megyn Kelly: You're 'fascinated with sex'

  26-10-2016 12:15 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW YORK - Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich has told Fox News host Megyn Kelly she is "fascinated with sex" amid criticism of her coverage of sexual misconduct accusations against GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.The heated exchange came Tuesday night on Kelly's program. Kelly responded to Gingrich's comment with a chuckle and asked, "really?" She went on to say she's "not fascinated by sex," but is "fascinated by the protection of women" and added that she had a responsibility
  
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• Tax rebate program could revitalize "Hollywood South" status

  26-10-2016 12:08 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - A new tax rebate program could revitalize the film industry in what was widely called "Hollywood South."Production studios like Celtic in Baton Rouge were bustling in 2015.That changed when state lawmakers, desperate to fund hospitals and colleges, made a money grab at Louisiana's film tax credits. In the end, the state did not reimburse film companies like it promised.The state program is set to return to normal in a year and a half. There are signs the money will return.Now, East
  
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• Flooded homeowners: Free well water testing kits for science

  26-10-2016 12:08 via wbrz.com
  NEW ORLEANS - Virginia Tech and LSU Health New Orleans researchers are offering free well water tests to Louisiana homeowners affected by the August floods.They're studying how the floods affected private wells and whether the wells were effectively disinfected.Virginia Tech researcher Kelsey Pieper says well-owners will be mailed results of tests for metals and coliform bacteria.She's also talking with North Carolina officials about whether a similar project is needed in that state.Any homeowne
  
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• Bourbon bouncer guilty; broke tourist's jaw over $6 tab

  26-10-2016 12:06 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Prosecutors in New Orleans say they won a conviction against a Bourbon Street bouncer who broke a tourist's jaw in a dispute over a $6 bar tab.In a news release Tuesday, District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro's office said 35-year-old Clarence Lacombe pleaded guilty as charged to second-degree battery.The incident happened on April 2 on the 400 block of Bourbon Street.The release says Lacombe received a two-year suspended sentence.Permalink| Comments
  
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• BRPD investigating two separate shootings

  26-10-2016 08:10 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Authorities are investigating two separate shooting Tuesday morning.The first shooting happened around 12:30 a.m. at the 10 thousand block of Cletus Drive near Gum Street. No details about the shooting.Police responded to a shooting call before 7 a.m. at the 3200 block of Hollywood Drive near Longfellow Drive. Information about this shooting have not released at this time, but witnesses told News 2 that one man was injured.This is a developing story. We will have the latest on WBRZ
  
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• Migrant camp in France burns

  26-10-2016 07:07 via wbrz.com
  
  CALAIS, France - A makeshift migrant camp in Calais, France, is being destroyed by fire, but no injuries have been reported.Authorities say migrants set fire to the camp, as they were forced to leave them.A local official says that migrants "have a tradition" of burning their shelters before leaving.Thousands of migrants who had been living in the camp have been relocated to reception centers around France.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Pakistan city shuts down, mourns 61 killed at police academy

  26-10-2016 07:04 via wbrz.com
  
  QUETTA, Pakistan - Pakistan's city of Quetta is in shutdown following a militant rampage at a police academy this week and funerals are underway as families bury some of the 61 people killed in the attack.The brazen assault, in which police cadets jumped from windows and rooftops, fleeing for their lives, and troops battled the attackers for four hours, was one of the deadliest attacks on Pakistan's security forces in recent years.Most of the victims were young cadets and police trainees, in the
  
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• Ciara, Seahawks' Russell Wilson announce pregnancy

  26-10-2016 07:03 via wbrz.com
  
  Ciara is expecting her first child with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, three months after the couple tied the knot.Both stars announced the pregnancy by sharing the same photo on Instagram last night.Ciara, who turned 31 Tuesday, says she's "excited to Finally share one of the Greatest Gifts of All that God could give."Wilson calls the baby "The Greatest Blessing of All." Ciara has a 2-year-old son from a previous relationship with rapper Future.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Man arrested outside Miranda Kerr's home charged with mayhem

  26-10-2016 06:58 via wbrz.com
  
  LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles prosecutors have charged an Australian man in an attack on a security guard outside supermodel Miranda Kerr's home earlier this month.The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office says 29-year-old Shaun Anthony Haywood was charged with attempted murder, aggravated mayhem and assault with a deadly weapon on Tuesday.Haywood is accused of entering Kerr's property in Malibu on Oct. 14 and slashing a guard's face with his own knife. The guard shot Haywood three times dur
  
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• Busch Gardens closes ride after fatal accident in Australia

  26-10-2016 06:51 via wbrz.com
  
  TAMPA, Fla. - Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Florida has decided to close a river rapids ride after four people were killed on a similar water ride at an amusement park in Australia.News outlets report Busch Gardens officials say the Congo River Rapids ride was shut down Tuesday "out of an abundance of caution" while they work to understand what happened in Australia.Officials there say two men and two women died while on the Thunder River Rapids ride after it malfunctioned at Dreamworld, a popular
  
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• 2 kids survive theme park accident in Australia

  26-10-2016 06:49 via wbrz.com
  
  SYDNEY - Police in Australia say two young children are fortunate to be alive, after they were thrown clear and survived a theme park ride accident that killed four adults, including their mothers. Two men and two women died Tuesday at Dreamworld, on a ride called the Thunder River Rapids. A police official in Queensland state says closed-circuit TV shows the ride was coming to an end when two rafts collided. One flipped backward and tossed some of the victims into a conveyer belt.Permalink| Com
  
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• USDA designates Pointe Coupee Parish as a disaster area

  26-10-2016 05:50 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated Pointe Coupee Parish as a primary natural disaster area due to damages and losses caused by severe storms and flooding that occurred in August.Farmers and ranchers in Avoyelles, Concordia, Iberville, St. Landry, St. Martin, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana parishes also qualify for national disaster assistance because their areas are contiguous.All of those parishes were designated natural disaster areas on Oct. 21, making each q
  
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• Couple wanted in flood contractor fraud scheme

  26-10-2016 03:23 via wbrz.com
  
  AMITE - Tangipahoa Parish sheriff's deputies say a man and a woman with numerous aliases are wanted in a flood contractor scheme that has taken more than $35,000 from two victims already in the Ponchatoula and Robert areas.Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Dawn Panepinto said in a news release Amber Contractors has been bidding jobs for home improvement work related to the August flood, accepting the initial step payment, employing unknowing subcontractors to do the work and then failing to pay those
  
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• HEISMAN WATCH: Can LSU's Fournette make a run at Jackson?

  26-10-2016 03:15 via wbrz.com
  
  Even after missing three games with injuries, Leonard Fournette is poised to make some noise in the Heisman Trophy race.The LSU running back is coming off one of the most impressive individual performances of the season, running for 284 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries in a rout of Mississippi. The No. 19 Tigers are off this week and preparing for No. 1 Alabama on Nov. 5.When Fournette plays, he is as good as advertised. The junior has reached 100 yards in each of the four games he has b
  
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• Man accused in hospital computer hack wages hunger strike

  26-10-2016 03:10 via wbrz.com
  BOSTON - A Massachusetts man who acknowledges launching a computer network attack against Boston Children's Hospital is unapologetic and now waging a hunger strike in prison as he awaits trial.Martin Gottesfeld says he will continue his three-week-old fast until the presidential candidates pledge to protect institutionalized children from abuse. He says he also wants overzealous federal prosecutors to halt "political prosecutions" of people accused of crimes he considers harmless.Gottesfeld's ar
  
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• Police: Oklahoma man wanted for violent crimes had hit list

  26-10-2016 03:08 via wbrz.com
  
  OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma County sheriff says Michael Vance, the man wanted since Sunday in a string of violent crimes including two homicides, had a hit list targeting several more people.Sheriff John Whetsel told The Oklahoman on Tuesday that authorities are "extremely concerned about those he may have indicated that he wishes harm to" and noted that the list was mostly people from outside of the county.Authorities say the 38-year-old Vance posted live videos to social media during a violen
  
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