Baton Rouge news

• More charges coming to accused fraud contractor

  22-02-2017 21:57 via wbrz.com
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - Matthew Morris, a contractor accused of scamming flood victims in three different areas, will be charged again by the Denham Springs Police Department.According to a DSPD spokesperson, Morris will be charged with 4 crimes. Those charges include misapplication of payments, engaging in business of contracting without authority, filing false public records, and home improvement fraud.Morris, the owner of Complete Construction, was booked into the Livingston Parish Detention Center
  
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• Both sides ready for Aug 21 trial in 'Mr Wonder' abuse case

  22-02-2017 20:34 via wbrz.com
  
  ALEXANDRIA - Defense and prosecution lawyers have told a judge they're on track for trial Aug. 21 for a former TV show host accused of child abuse.
      
  The Town Talk reports they spoke during a hearing for 77-year-old Frank Selas, who was known as Mr. Wonder while at Monroe's KNOE-TV in the 1970s.
      
  He's accused of molesting at least one boy during a 1979 camping trip in Rapides Parish.
      
  Arrested in January
  
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• Judge blocks law that prohibits posting of actors' ages

  22-02-2017 20:20 via wbrz.com
  
  SAN FRANSISCO - A federal judge in San Francisco has blocked a California law that allows actors and other entertainment professionals to force a popular industry website to remove their ages.The law that Gov. Jerry Brown signed in September was intended to prevent age discrimination in Hollywood.It affected the website IMDb.com, which provides information about movies, television shows and their casts and crews.U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria said Wednesday that the law raised First Amendmen
  
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• Cassidy faces off against angry crowd during town hall

  22-02-2017 20:04 via wbrz.com
  
  METAIRIE - Angry protesters face off against Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy during a town hall outside of New Orleans.
      
  When Cassidy arrived at the Wednesday event in Metairie, the crowd began to hiss and jeer.
      
  During the roughly one-hour exchange, he repeatedly asked the crowd to let him speak while the audience erupted into shouts and chants and some turned their backs on the senator.
      
  Many of the
  
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• Police: About 20 fires set at Dakota Access camp

  22-02-2017 19:57 via wbrz.com
  
  BISMARK, N.D. - Authorities in North Dakota say Dakota Access pipeline protesters set about 20 fires on the day their longstanding camp was scheduled for closure.
      
  They say at least two explosions resulted. A 7-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl were taken by ambulance to a Bismarck hospital to be treated for burns.
      
  Police say they arrested about 10 people in a confrontation outside the camp. They earlier said nine people were arres
  
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• Col. Mike Edmonson issues statement on LSP 'side trip'

  22-02-2017 19:21 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - State Police Colonel Mike Edmonson released a statement Wednesday addressing the investigation of four LSP officers who allegedly took a "side trip" with tax payer money.In the statement, Edmonson says that an inquiry has produced sufficient evidence to turn the matter over to Internal Affairs. Edmonson says he has turned over the preliminary evidence to the governor's office and the full investigation will commence immediately.The troopers in question reportedly took a si
  
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• Alabama bidding to set execution date for convicted killer

  22-02-2017 18:43 via wbrz.com
  
  MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Alabama is bidding to execute a convicted killer who has been on death row for more than 30 years.The state filed a motion Wednesday to set an execution date for inmate Tommy Arthur, one day after the United States Supreme Court turned down his latest appeal.Arthur has outlasted seven previous execution dates arising from a 1983 murder conviction.Alabama lawyers wrote that Arthur has manipulated state and federal courts with meritless litigation to avoid execution. The state i
  
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• Crews responding to smoke at South Walker Elementary School

  22-02-2017 18:08 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – Firefighters are responding to smoke coming from South Walker Elementary School on Wednesday afternoon.Crews arrived on the school's campus, located in the 13000 block of Milton Lane, to find smoke inside one of the building's hallways.Firefighters are working to determine what is burning.This story will be updated as more information becomes available. Permalink| Comments
  
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• INVESTIGATIVE UNIT: State Police back out of investigation into Sheriff Captain

  22-02-2017 17:51 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW ROADS- State Police suddenly backed out of an investigation into a Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff's Captain accused of claiming to be at work while he was actually working extra duty.
  The Investigative Unit showed found that, Adrian Slaughter, a captain over uniform patrol, claimed to be in two places at once.  That's when Sheriff Bud Torres called in Louisiana State Police to handle the criminal side of the investigation, as his office deals with the administrative side.
  What has tra
  
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• After a dozen floods, man moves into flood-free home

  22-02-2017 17:30 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - A man whose home has flooded a dozen times has moved out and into a new house.Jim Jobes and his wife moved into their home on Donaldson Drive in 1980. He had six feet of water twice, four feet of water twice and this last time was the worst. In August, flood water rose about four feet into his attic.Last week, Jobes bought a new home off Old Hammond Highway. He says he asked his neighbors before purchasing the house to guarantee it's never flooded before."Glad to be shed o
  
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• Work program to hire 100 youth begins in March

  22-02-2017 17:14 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – The EmployBR Young Adult Services program is looking to hire 100 of the community's youth who are out of school for an eight-week work experience program, Mayor-President Sharon West Broome announced.The program, Making a Positive Stop (MAPS), is open to applicants between the ages of 16 and 24 who are not attending any school. The program is also open to individuals who dropped out of school, offenders, youth who have aged out of the foster care system, homeless youth, y
  
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• Woman arrested for pawning stolen property

  22-02-2017 17:08 via wbrz.com
  
  SLIDELL- A Mississippi woman was arrested for possession of and attempting to pawn stolen property Tuesday. According to Waveland Police, they were investigating 52-year-old Kelly Wojdacz in relation to property that was reported stolen. During the investigation, police contacted Deep South Gold, a local pawn shop, to inquire about Wojdacz's previous pawn transactions.Wojdacz was coincidentally inside the store at the time of the call, trying to pawn jewelry and flatware valued
  
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• Budget compromise reached on last day of session

  22-02-2017 16:57 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's lawmakers have reached a deal to close the state's $304 million budget deficit.The agreement won final support Wednesday with only hours to go before the budget-rebalancing special session must end.After days of haggling, the arrangement will use $99 million from the state's "rainy day" fund, tap into other available financing and make $80 million to $90 million in cuts to eliminate the budget gap with four months remaining in the financial year.The question had largely
  
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• Teen in custody related to Ascension cyberbullying investigation

  22-02-2017 16:46 via wbrz.com
  
  GEISMAR - A teenager was taken into custody at Dutchtown High School Wednesday related to a cyberbullying investigation.The sheriff's office handled the arrest, but could not provide the teenager's name due to their age. However, WBRZ has learned the teenager is a 16-year-old student at Dutchtown High. The situation remains under investigation, the Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office said, and could not provide specifics about the case.The Ascension Parish School System said it was not able to spea
  
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• Pence condemns vandalism at Jewish cemetery

  22-02-2017 15:53 via wbrz.com
  
  UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. - Vice President Mike Pence is visiting a suburban St. Louis Jewish cemetery where more than 150 headstones were damaged earlier in the week. He says there is "no place in America for hatred or acts of prejudice or violence or anti-Semitism."Pence says at the cemetery in University City that the people of Missouri are inspiring the nation with their "love and care for this place." He is thanking them for "showing the world what America's really all about."Pence was joined by
  
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• LSU Football announces homecoming, special events plans

  22-02-2017 15:37 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – LSU's game against Troy on Sept. 30 will serve as the 2017 Homecoming contest for the Tigers.Troy will also serve as the “Purple Game” for the Tigers as LSU will wear its purple jerseys for the game against the Trojans. As part of the “Purple Game” festivities, fans will be asked to wear purple.
  As for other events, LSU's newest members of the school's Athletic Hall of Fame will be celebrated and introduced at the Syracuse contest o
  
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• Tax preparer costs clients nearly $300,000 in false filings

  22-02-2017 15:09 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – A Louisiana tax preparer faces fraud charges for a scheme that cost taxpayers an estimated $300,000.The Louisiana Department of Revenue reported the arrest of Melissa Cato for allegedly altering clients' state income tax returns to claim losses for businesses that did not exist. Auditors with the Department of Revenue noticed a pattern with hundreds of returns Cato filed in 2012 though 2015.Investigators determined that many of the clients never owned or operated business
  
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• Tax preparer accused of costing state nearly $300,000 in false filings

  22-02-2017 15:09 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – A Louisiana tax preparer faces fraud charges for a scheme that cost taxpayers an estimated $300,000.The Louisiana Department of Revenue reported the arrest of Melissa Cato for allegedly altering clients' state income tax returns to claim losses for businesses that did not exist. Auditors with the Department of Revenue noticed a pattern with hundreds of returns Cato filed in 2012 though 2015.Investigators determined that many of the clients never owned or operated business
  
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• Advocate posts security video of Sammy's Grill argument involving judge

  22-02-2017 15:00 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – Investigators released security video of an incident involving a judge at a Baton Rouge bar that sparked outrage earlier this month.Baton Rouge Judge Mike Erwin was accused of calling Kaneitra Johnson a "n****r" multiple times during an argument over a bar stool at Sammy's Grill on Highland Road Feb. 3.A detective's follow-up report, demanded by an Erwin staffer, did not find any witnesses that corroborate Johnson's story.The Advocate, which obtained the
  
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• After malfunction, plane diverted to Baton Rouge; Lands safely

  22-02-2017 14:24 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – A hydraulic issue on a small, commuter plane prompted an emergency alert and an unscheduled landing at the airport Wednesday afternoon.The alert required a large emergency presences on the runway as the jet approached for a landing just after 2 p.m. As is typical in such cases, authorities scrambled to secure safety crews around the airport. Emergency landings are unusual, but occur at times safely.  An alert was issued in January.  The plane in
  
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• Contractor accused of scamming flood victims booked into Livingston Parish

  22-02-2017 14:20 via wbrz.com
  
  LIVINGSTON – The contractor accused of scamming flood victims of thousands of dollars has been booked into jail for the third time this month.According to arrest records, Matthew Morris, the owner of Complete Construction, was booked into the Livingston Parish Detention Center Wednesday afternoon.Morris was charged with residential contractor fraud, misapplication of payments prohibited, contracting without a license, insurance fraud, filing or maintain false public records.Morris was
  
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• Patriots coach named as possible witness at Hernandez trial

  22-02-2017 14:06 via wbrz.com
  
  BOSTON - New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has been added to a list of people who could be called to testify at the double murder trial of former player Aaron Hernandez.Belichick's name appeared on a list of possible witnesses filed Tuesday by Hernandez's defense.Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels had previously been named as a possible witness.Hernandez is charged with the drive-by slayings of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in Boston in 2012. Prosecutors say Hernande
  
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• McDonald's to offer $1 sodas after customer visits decline

  22-02-2017 14:04 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW YORK - McDonald's is hoping $1 sodas can help draw more customers into its stores in the U.S. as it fights to reverse four years of declining visits.The company says it plans to offer $1 sodas of any size for a limited time starting in April, with smoothies, frappes and shakes being sold $2. The deals, earlier reported by Bloomberg, come after McDonald's sales dipped 1.3 percent at established U.S. location in the last quarter of 2016. Customer visits declined for the fourth straight year in
  
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• Skip Bertman Drive lane to close until mid March

  22-02-2017 13:46 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – The westbound lane of Skip Bertman Drive at Nicholson Drive will be closed until March 13 starting next week.The closure starts 6 a.m. Friday, Feb. 27 and will last until 6 p.m. Monday, March 13. DOTD said the closure is necessary to allow crews to install a driveway for the Nicholson Gateway Development project.Traffic officials say no detours are necessary for this closure.“DOTD appreciates your patience and reminds you to please drive with caution through the
  
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• Man arrested after chasing, shooting at landlord

  22-02-2017 13:46 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - A man was arrested by sheriff's deputies after he chased and attempted to shoot his would-be landlord. According to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office, the incident occurred while 26-year-old Kofi Lewis was meeting with his potential landlord. According to the victim, Lewis became angry after realizing that he could not get his deposit back. When the victim attempted to drive away in his truck, Lewis chased after him. Once he caught up with the vehicle, Lewis p
  
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• Judge finds probable cause for man who built explosives in trailer park

  22-02-2017 13:32 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Wednesday morning, 24-year-old Jordan Sergent appeared in court for allegedly manufacturing bombs inside his trailer home in Baton Rouge. This is the second time he's been in court this month related to the crime. Shortly after 9:30 a.m., Magistrate Judge Wilder-Doomes, of the Federal District Court downtown, explained that since Sergent is charged by criminal complaint, the court must determine whether or not there is probable cause.U.S. Attorney Adam Ptashkin argued that
  
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• Two arrested for stealing firearms from Gonzales home

  22-02-2017 13:11 via wbrz.com
  
  GONZALES - Two men were arrested after it was discovered they stole multiple firearms in a home burglary Monday.According to the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office, 25-year-old Rauol Dunn of Baton Rouge and 24-year-old Eric Moore of Baton Rouge were seen fleeing the scene of the burglary on Germany Road in a red Dodge Neon. Deputies later found the vehicle on highway 44 and conducted a traffic stop.During the stop, deputies found the stolen items and some quantity of marijuana inside the vehicle.
  
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• Bindi Irwin salutes late dad Steve Irwin on his birthday

  22-02-2017 12:55 via wbrz.com
  
  Bindi Irwin has posted a tribute to her late father, "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, on what would have been his 55th birthday.Irwin was just 8 years old when her father was killed by a stingray while filming a documentary on a reef off Australia in 2006. The now 18-year-old posted a picture on Instagram on Wednesday of her father smiling at a bird. She wrote in the caption, "Always in our hearts."Steve Irwin was the host of the internationally syndicated "Crocodile Hunter" documentary series.Bi
  
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• Trump expected to submit budget blueprint on March 13

  22-02-2017 12:52 via wbrz.com
  
  WASHINGTON - Capitol Hill Republicans say the White House is planning to submit President Donald Trump's budget plan to Congress in mid-March.GOP aides say the plan is due on March 14. They're expecting Trump's blueprint to contain fewer details than is typical since it's a new administration and Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney was only confirmed last week.The budget submission would include Trump's recommendations on reforming the tax code, cutting agency budgets, and is
  
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• La. House honors hero who saved officer from attack

  22-02-2017 12:26 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – A Baton Rouge Police Department officer that was saved by a woman during an arrest that went awry over the weekend was honored by the Louisiana House of Representatives on Wednesday morning.The House of Representatives commended BRPD Corporal Billy Amie, and the woman who saved him, Vickie Williams-Tillman, for their bravery and courage that both exemplified during Sunday's incident.The suspect Amie was trying to arrest began striking him in the head with his officer's ba
  
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• State trooper involved in crash on US 190 near Livonia

  22-02-2017 11:51 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – A Louisiana State Police trooper was involved in a crash on Airline Highway Wednesday afternoon.The two-vehicle crash happened around 10:45 a.m. on US 190 in Livonia. State Police are now responding to the scene.State Police say the trooper and a second person were hurt.  Details are limited at this time.This is a developing story. Stay tuned to WBRZ News 2 online and on Facebook and Twitter for updates as new information becomes available.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Police association: Double standard for officers and bosses

  22-02-2017 11:50 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – A police officers' association is considering appealing an officer's suspension over a dog's shooting death recently, claiming the police department's policies are confusing and unorganized.The Magnolia State Peace Officer's Association said it has concerns over the handling of officer Abraham Wilson's suspension. Wilson shot and killed a pit bull while investigating a robbery in early February. The association said Wilson tried numerous times to scare two pit bulls off w
  
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• Support pours in for damaged Jewish cemetery near St. Louis

  22-02-2017 11:34 via wbrz.com
  
  UNIVERSITY CITY - A suburban St. Louis Jewish cemetery badly damaged by vandals is getting a show of support from volunteers, well-wishers and financial contributors from across many faiths.Muslim groups have launched a crowdfunding campaign for the Chesed Shel Emeth Society cemetery in University City, Missouri, with a goal of $20,000. By midmorning Wednesday, $66,000 had been raised.Cleanup continues Wednesday. The cemetery has posted on Facebook that 154 headstones were damaged in a crime dis
  
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• Soldier reunites with family and friends at Baton Rouge airport

  22-02-2017 11:32 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - After months on the road, a soldier was reunited with his family during a huge celebration at the Baton Rouge Metropolitan airport.Staff Sergeant Joshua Goins and his family are back together for the first time since October. They've been separated since the birth of a new baby while Goins served for a year in South Korea."He's never been gone this long, so this is one of the first times being without him for more than about six months," his wife Candis Goins said.To make things ev
  
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• Teen crash victim remembered with balloon release

  22-02-2017 11:20 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW ROADS - A high school student killed in a weekend crash was laid to rest Wednesday.Students and staff at False River Academy held a balloon release in memory of 17-year-old Clayton Jarreau.Jarreau died Sunday morning when his car veered off Highway 417 in Pointe Coupee Parish. Two friends survived the crash.Family, friends, and classmates released balloons in his memory on the baseball field. For them, they say it was a somber reminder of how fast life can change."It's a horrible thing to go
  
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• Teen shot in hand in Plaquemine

  22-02-2017 11:02 via wbrz.com
  
  PLAQUEMINE - A teenager has been shot in the hand and wrist in Plaquemine, according to the Iberville Parish Sheriff's Department.Iberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi confirms a teenage victim was shot in the hand and wrist on James Street Wednesday evening before 10 p.m.IPSO is now investigating the shooting.This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Man accused of making bombs in trailer due in court

  22-02-2017 09:11 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – The man accused of building bombs in his Baton Rouge trailer is set to appear in court Wednesday.Baton Rouge Police discovered drugs, weapons and explosives inside 24-year-old Jordan Sergeant’s trailer two weeks ago. Authorities reported finding prescription medicine bottles filled with BB’s, a fuse and combustible powder. Police also found commercial smoke bombs wrapped in electrical tape.Last week, federal agents testified that two of the five bombs
  
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• Man accused of making bombs in FEMA trailer due in court

  22-02-2017 09:11 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – The man accused of building bombs in his Baton Rouge FEMA trailer is set to appear in court Wednesday.Baton Rouge Police discovered drugs, weapons and explosives inside 24-year-old Jordan Sergeant’s FEMA trailer two weeks ago. Authorities reported finding prescription medicine bottles filled with BB’s, a fuse and combustible powder. Police also found commercial smoke bombs wrapped in electrical tape.Last week, federal agents testified that two of the f
  
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• What's in the safe? Deputies looking for missing safe's owner

  22-02-2017 07:55 via wbrz.com
  
  GONZALES – Deputies in Ascension Parish are looking for the owner of a safe that was recovered in Gonzales earlier this month.The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office said the safe was found on Parent Road in Gonzales on Feb. 8. Detectives are now trying to find the owner who has the security code to get the objects inside.Anyone with information is asked to contact APSO at 225-621-4636.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Legislators believe special session will come down to the wire

  22-02-2017 07:20 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - The pressure is on for lawmakers to find a way to cover the state's massive budget gap.They've spent the past nine days negotiating a plan, and many legislators believe it will come down to the wire.The main concern is approving how much of the rainy day fund should be used, and the House and Senate both have to agree on it.The Governor called for using $119.6 million dollars from the rainy day fund, and cutting $59 million.The House countered with a plan to use $75 million dollars
  
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• EBRSO searching for man who broke into flood damaged Baker home

  22-02-2017 07:16 via wbrz.com
  
  BAKER – Detectives are searching for the man they say is responsible for burglarizing a flood damaged home in Baker Tuesday.The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office shared photos of the suspect on their Facebook page Tuesday. According to EBRSO, a black man wearing a hooded jacket and sweatpants broke into the home that was being repaired in the 2400 block of Richmond St. in Baker.The victim told authorities that two separate burglaries happened at the same address within the la
  
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• SpaceX aborts approach to space station, delivery delayed

  22-02-2017 06:59 via wbrz.com
  
  CAPE CANAVERAL - A navigation error has forced SpaceX to delay its shipment to the International Space Station.SpaceX's supply ship, the Dragon, was less than a mile from the orbiting outpost Wednesday when a problem cropped up in the GPS system. The approach was aborted, and the Dragon backed away. NASA says neither the station nor its six-person crew was in any danger.Just a few hours earlier, Russia successfully launched a cargo ship from Kazakhstan, its first since a failed launch in Decembe
  
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• 'Refugees Welcome' banner unfurled at Statue of Liberty

  22-02-2017 06:53 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW YORK - The National Park Service is trying to figure out who unfurled a giant banner at the Statue of Liberty saying "Refugees Welcome."Park Service spokesman Jerry Willis says the 3-by-20-foot banner was hung from the public observation deck at the top of the statue's pedestal Tuesday afternoon. The banner was taken down more than an hour later.Willis says regulations prohibit anything fixed to the statue.The stunt happened the day the Department of Homeland Security announced expanded immi
  
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• Unclaimed $5000 Louisiana Lottery ticket expires Friday

  22-02-2017 06:42 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Lottery Commission says whoever bought an unclaimed $5,000 ticket in September has until 5 p.m. Friday to claim the prize.The commission said in a news release Tuesday that the Mega Millions ticket was sold for the Sept. 27 drawing.It was bought in Slidell, at the RaceTrac gas station No. 266 on Shortcut Highway.It matched four of five white-ball numbers and the yellow Mega Ball number.The white ball numbers were 14-16-26-53-72. The Mega Ball number was four.People us
  
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• 225 people evacuated from flooded California neighborhood

  22-02-2017 05:48 via wbrz.com
  
  SAN JOSE, Calif. - A San Jose fire official says at least 225 people have been evacuated from a neighborhood flooded by a swollen creek that broke its banks Tuesday.Fire Capt. Mitch Matlow says rescue crews are using boats to take the evacuees to a decontamination area where they can rinse off before being taken by bus to shelters.Matlow says the flood water is carrying debris, automobile fluid, garbage and sewage that can make them sick.He says rescue workers are helping with the evacuations an
  
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• LIVE UPDATES: Wednesday's commute

  22-02-2017 05:04 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - News 2's Ashley Fruge has you covered with live updates for your Wednesday commute.Beat the traffic every time using WBRZ's advanced traffic tracking technology. Click here to go to our traffic center.Tweets by WBRZtrafficPermalink| Comments
  
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