Louisiana news

• Parents of LSU fraternity pledge open up months after his death

  13-12-2017 20:31 via wbrz.com
  The family of an LSU fraternity pledge who died in what has been called a hazing incident is opening up on the heartbreaking news.In an interview with ABC News reporter Amy Robach, Maxwell Gruver's parents discuss the events that occurred on the night their son died, and ways they believe it could have been prevented."Somebody's life is more important," Gruver's mother told Robach. "So if you're in that situation, you should be able to call. Every state, to me, should have that law, amnesty to
  
  Read more

• GMA interviews Max Gruver's parents in LSU hazing case

  13-12-2017 20:31 via wbrz.com
  BATON ROUGE - ABC's Good Morning America will air an interview Thursday with the parents of Maxwell Gruver, an LSU freshman who police say died after a hazing ritual in September."They're underage drinking, they're afraid they're going to get in trouble, and they shouldn't have to feel that way," Rae Gruver told ABC about her son's death.Gruver's parents want underage students to reach out when one of their friend's drinks too much."Somebody's life is more important," she said.In Baton Rouge, t
  
  Read more

• Kentucky lawmaker facing assault allegations commits suicide

  13-12-2017 20:01 via wbrz.com
  FRANKFORT, Ky. - A Republican lawmaker in Kentucky facing sexual assault allegations has committed suicide.  Bullitt County Sheriff Donnie Tinnell says Rep. Dan Johnson shot himself Wednesday on a bridge in Mount Washington, Kentucky. Tinnell confirmed the death to WDRB-TV in Louisville.  The 57-year-old Johnson was elected to the state legislature in 2016. On Monday, the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting published an account from a woman saying Joh
  
  Read more

• WATCH: Breaux Bridge student has priceless reaction to Harvard acceptance

  13-12-2017 18:43 via wbrz.com
  BREAUX BRIDGE- A video of 16-year-old Louisiana student finding out he's been accepted to Harvard while surrounded by classmates has become in internet sensation overnight.The video shows Ayrton Little and his classmates huddled together, anxiously awaiting the email from Harvard. The students can be heard chatting with one another in the moments leading up to the reveal.Little and his classmates erupt into celebration after realizing he's been accepted. You NEED to see this r
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Leaders upset over mayor missing meeting

  13-12-2017 17:43 via wbrz.com
  BATON ROUGE- Some elected officials who are members of a special group managing the police body camera roll-out for officers in Baton Rouge are frustrated with the mayor over what they perceive is a lack of earnestness.The city is dealing with the possibility of forfeiting more than $750,000 in federal grant money to pay for the cameras since the cameras were purchased before the grant was awarded. The city applied for the grant in early 2017, spending was approved and the cameras ordered betwe
  
  Read more

• Back the Blue event to help Baton Rouge officers

  13-12-2017 17:18 via wbrz.com
  BATON ROUGE - This Friday, there's an event to help raise money for injured Baton Rouge Police Officer Rickey Faust. In March, Faust was involved in a single-car crash responding to a call.A fundraiser a couple of weeks ago raised the funds needed to purchase a van, equipped with the tools necessary to take Faust in his wheelchair around town and to therapy appointments. Prior to that, Faust's family was dishing out $50 for a cab ride to church.But the need is bigger than a van. Back the Blue B
  
  Read more

• Dazzling meteor shower to take place Wednesday night, Thursday morning

  13-12-2017 17:06 via wbrz.com
  The annual Geminid meteor shower will streak across the night sky tonight, and scientists say it will be one of the best of the year.The meteors are expected to peak overnight. With good weather conditions, the cosmic display can be seen between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. CST.According to NASA, the largest number of meteors will be visible between midnight and dawn local time.This particular meteor shower is considered one of the year's most reliable showers.
  
  Read more

• Four arrested, one hospitalized after fight at local middle school

  13-12-2017 16:32 via wbrz.com
  GONZALES - Police were called to a local middle school after a fight between students got out of hand Wednesday.The Gonzales Police Department confirmed that officers were called to Gonzales Middle School early Wednesday afternoon in response to a fight involving several students. Police say all involved were minors.Though authorities are unable to reveal the names of the juveniles arrested, they did confirm that three are being charged with second-degree battery and a fourth charged w
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Shots fired at Penn State satellite campus, coroner at scene

  13-12-2017 16:26 via wbrz.com
  MONACA, Pa.- Officials say shots have been fired near a dining hall at a Penn State satellite campus near Pittsburgh and a coroner is at the scene.Penn State Beaver issued an alert just before 4 p.m. Wednesday that shots were fired, adding that the situation is contained and they say there is "no threat at this time." It asks students and faculty to avoid the Student Union building and food services area.Center Township police say a coroner is at the scene, but couldn&rsqu
  
  Read more

• First lady hopes giving spirit continues through holidays

  13-12-2017 15:55 via wbrz.com
  WASHINGTON- Melania Trump says she hopes the giving spirit that Americans displayed during a season of devastating hurricanes will continue over Christmas and into the new year.The first lady says she wants people to remember that the holidays are about family, service and gratitude - not gifts.She adds that Americans must continue to look out for and help one another.Mrs. Trump spoke Wednesday as she visited a Washington-area military base to help sort gifts for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys f
  
  Read more

• Autopsy shows 2-year-old boy's death a homicide

  13-12-2017 15:29 via wbrz.com
  CONCORD, N.H.- New Hampshire authorities say an autopsy of a 2-year-old boy who died under suspicious circumstances shows his death was a homicide.The autopsy also has revealed that the boy's cause of death was blunt force trauma to the abdomen.Manchester police responded to a home at 11:30 a.m. Monday for a report of an unconscious toddler. The boy was taken to a hospital, but was pronounced dead a short time later. He's been identified as Jacob Pelletier.Attorney General Gordon MacDonald said
  
  Read more

• North Louisiana car dealer pleads in fraud case

  13-12-2017 15:25 via wbrz.com
  SHREVEPORT - Federal prosecutors say a Louisiana car dealer has pleaded guilty in a bank fraud case.  Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook, in a news release Wednesday, said 41-year-old Larry Wayne Toms Jr., of Benton, pleaded guilty to taking out fake loans for three cars that didn't exist.  Tuesday's plea before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote was to one count of bank fraud.  Hook's office says Toms, a Bossier City car dealer,
  
  Read more

• Military wife creatively includes deployed husband in Christmas card

  13-12-2017 14:47 via wbrz.com
  Staff Sgt. Andrew Smith will spend his first Christmas away from his 3-year-old daughter this year, but he was not forgotten from his family’s Christmas card.Smith, a nearly 10-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, was Photoshopped into a card with his wife, Andrea Smith, and their daughter, Charlotte.The photo shows Andrew Smith in his military uniform stepping in to help as Charlotte stands atop toys in a Target grocery cart and Andrea Smith sits on the floor drinking a Starbucks.&
  
  Read more

• Pat DiNizio of The Smithereens dies at age 62

  13-12-2017 14:44 via wbrz.com
  Pat DiNizio, the lead singer and guitarist for '80s power rockers The Smithereens, passed away Tuesday, the band announced overnight. He was 62."It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Pat DiNizio, lead singer and songwriter of the influential New Jersey rock band, The Smithereens – America's Band," the band wrote on its Facebook page. "Pat was looking forward to getting back on the road and seeing his many fans and friends. Please keep Pat in your thoughts and prayer
  
  Read more

• WATCH: Polar bears play together for the first time

  13-12-2017 14:16 via wbrz.com
  SALT LAKE CITY-Two female bears got the chance to play together for the first time in their exhibit on Monday.Polar bears Nora and Hope live at the Utah Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City. The bears arrived at the zoo in November.According to the zoo, Nora was born at Columbus Zoo in November 2015. After a few zoo transfers, she was placed at the Utah zoo. Hope was born in December of 2015 at the Toledo Zoo.The Utah zoo felt the two bears would get along since they are similar in age and both share "t
  
  Read more

• Per Catholic rule, Baton Rouge bishop ready to retire on 75th birthday this month

  13-12-2017 13:52 via wbrz.com
  BATON ROUGE – Per Catholic Church policy, Bishop Robert Muench is expected to submit his retirement to the Pope on his 75th birthday – December 28th.Church policy – called Canons – calls for bishops to resign their post upon turn 75.Bishop Muench has served since 2001 when Pope John Paul II appointed him.Sources told WBRZ, current Pope Francis has a practice of not accepting resignations or retirements until a successor is found. It's not clear if there i
  
  Read more

• Trial date set for ex-police officer in girl's hot car death

  13-12-2017 13:26 via wbrz.com
  BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. - A judge has set a trial date for a former Mississippi police officer charged with second-degree murder in the death of her daughter in a hot patrol car.  The Sun Herald reports that the judge set an April 2, 2018, trial date for 28-year-old Cassie Barker at her arraignment Monday. Barker also pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.  The former Long Beach officer is accused of leaving 3-year-old Cheyenne Hyer unattended in a patrol car
  
  Read more

• Ex-police officer pleads guilty in daughter's hot car death

  13-12-2017 13:26 via wbrz.com
  BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. - A former Mississippi police officer charged in the death of her daughter in a hot patrol car has pleaded not guilty.  The Sun Herald reports 28-year-old Cassie Barker was arraigned Monday on a charge of second-degree murder in the 3-year-old girl's death.  The former Long Beach officer is accused of leaving Cheyenne Hyer unattended in a patrol car for more than four hours while she was in another officer's home. The car's air conditione
  
  Read more

• WATCH: Firefighters rescue terrified dog trapped in frozen lake

  13-12-2017 13:12 via wbrz.com
  ROSCOE, IL. - Firefighters in Illinois came to the rescue of a dog in need after it fell through the ice of a frozen lake and became stuck in the ice-cold water.A crew was called to Legend Lakes in Roscoe after a man's dog made its way onto the frozen-over surface of the water and fell through. The owner of the dog tried to use a kayak to make his way across the lake, but he too soon fell through and became trapped.Photos and video from the scene show firefighters jumping into the freezing-cold
  
  Read more

• Man pleads guilty to shooting, killing cat outside animal rescue

  13-12-2017 13:04 via wbrz.com
  NEW ORLEANS- A man is facing thousands of dollars in fines, a psychiatric evaluation, and community service after pleading guilty to shooting and killing a cat outside an animal rescue.WWL-TV reports that the incident took place outside an Uptown animal rescue.Kyre West, 19, pleaded guilty to a felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals charge Wednesday.Reports say that West admitted to shooting a neighborhood cat named Blackie with a pellet gun on Oc.t 4. Authorities said that security came
  
  Read more

• Testimony today draws tears from confessed vigilante murder suspect

  13-12-2017 12:57 via wbrz.com
  BATON ROUGE – Jace Crehan, the confessed murderer on trial for killing a sex offender two years ago, wiped tears from his eyes in court Wednesday morning as prosecutors played a video of his confession.Crehan is accused in the death of Robert Noce. Noce was killed in 2015 after pleading no contest to sex-related charges involving Crehan's fiancee, Brittany Monk. Noce was found dead – stabbed and stuffed into a 55-gallon drum used to store wine in the kitchen of his Zachary t
  
  Read more

• Authorities identify second body pulled from Louisiana lake

  13-12-2017 12:33 via wbrz.com
  ST. LANDRY PARISH - Authorities are investigating after two bodies were pulled out of a lake in South Louisiana this week.According to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office, 21-year-old Lia Ali Kazan's body was pulled out of Lake Dubuisson after a fisherman hooked her purse Sunday, prompting search and rescue workers to search the water.Shortly after Kazan's body was pulled out of the water, her vehicle was found submerged with a s
  
  Read more

• Mayor has interviewed 3 of 5 chief candidates, will meet with all by week's end

  13-12-2017 12:15 via wbrz.com
  BATON ROUGE – The mayor has interviewed three of the five candidates vying to be the city's next police chief and interviews with the remaining two are scheduled for later this week, WBRZ learned Wednesday.Myron Daniels, Darryl Honore and Robert McGarner have met with the mayor. Between now and Friday, the mayor is expected to interview Murphy Paul and Ronald Stevens.Mayor Sharon Weston Broome has said she will hire one of the five by the end of the year.   *********
  
  Read more

• Heavy smoke fills air as firefighters battle house fire

  13-12-2017 11:40 via wbrz.com
  BATON ROUGE – Billowing smoke from a house fire filled the sky just north of Ogden Park Wednesday morning.A house fire near the bus terminal at the corner of N. 22nd and Florida sent plumes of smoke into the air. Eyewitnesses said the house was near the intersection and was on fire.A WBRZ news crew captured large flames burning through the roof and out of windows.  Fire crews were dispatched to the blaze around 10:30. There was no immediate, specific information rele
  
  Read more

• Red-suited man on a sled rescues a deer on frozen pond

  13-12-2017 11:39 via wbrz.com
  SALEM, Ore.— Reindeer are supposed to pull Santa Claus’ sleigh, but in Oregon recently, a red-suited man on a sled wound up pushing a deer.The reverse-reality Christmas-season tale played out when a deer wandered onto a frozen golf course pond in Sunriver, Oregon, on Friday and then lost its footing.Try as it might, it couldn’t get all its legs underneath him. It skidded and slithered, and its legs buckled.Along came firefighter Jeff “JJ” Johnst
  
  Read more

• Epps leads LSU past Houston 80-77

  13-12-2017 11:34 via wbrz.com
  BATON ROUGE - Aaron Epps scored a career-high 26 points and Tremont Waters blocked a game-tying 3-point attempt in the final seconds as LSU defeated Houston 80-77 on Wednesday night.
   Epps, who also grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds, put the Tigers (5-2) ahead by six points on a 3-point play with 57 seconds remaining. Rob Gray pulled the Cougars within three points at 80-77 on a 3-pointer less than 10 seconds later.
   Following an LSU turnover, Houston (8-2) had a chance to tie
  
  Read more

• Deputy charged with D.W.I. after early morning crash

  13-12-2017 11:11 via wbrz.com
  GRAND BAYOU- Deputies from the Assumption Parish Sheriff's Office arrested a uniformed patrol deputy following a one vehicle crash near Grand Bayou early this morning.Authorities said 22-year-old Joseph Repp, had been a deputy for the past four months with the Assumption Parish Sheriff's Office.Deputies received a report of a vehicle crash at approximately 5 a.m. A follow up investigation indicated that Repp, who was off duty and in his patrol unit, ran into a ditch.Repp, according to authoriti
  
  Read more

• Prominent black supporter of Trump set to leave White House

  13-12-2017 09:07 via wbrz.com
  WASHINGTON- The White House says Omarosa Manigault Newman - one of President Donald Trump's most prominent African-American supporters - plans to leave the administration next month.White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders says Manigault Newman's resignation is effective Jan. 20, one year since Trump's inauguration.Manigault Newman's decision comes at the start of what's expected to be a round of departures heading into the new year.The White House said last week that deputy national
  
  Read more

• Family's 'A Christmas Story' house may become Lego set

  13-12-2017 08:41 via wbrz.com
  SYRACUSE, N.Y.- A central New York family is campaigning for their carefully crafted recreation of the house from "A Christmas Story" to become an official Lego set.News outlets report that Jason Middaugh's small family project to recreate the house from the classic holiday film turned into a six-month undertaking. Middaugh says he and his family, who live in Marcellus, scoured the internet to find the 2,000 pieces needed to construct the home.Jason Middaugh has lovingly recreated the house fro
  
  Read more

• Democratic sources: Smith to replace Franken

  13-12-2017 08:17 via wbrz.com
  ST. PAUL, Minn.- A Democratic operative with knowledge of the appointment says Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has chosen Lt. Gov. Tina Smith to fill Sen. Al Franken's seat until next year's election - and Smith will run in that election to complete Franken's term through 2020.The operative spoke on condition of anonymity because the operative wasn't authorized to speak ahead of an official announcement, scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday in St. Paul.A senior Democratic aide in the Senate also confirme
  
  Read more

• Union Savings and Loan to acquire Hibernia Bancorp

  13-12-2017 08:01 via wbrz.com
  NEW ORLEANS - Union Savings and Loan Association is acquiring Hibernia Bancorp Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Hibernia Bank, in a deal valued at $28.2 million.New Orleans CityBusiness reports Tuesday's announcement represents an all-cash transaction valued at $32 per share. The merger plans to result in a community bank with five offices and more than $200 million in assets.Union plans to change its name to "Hibernia Bank" at the transaction's closing, which is expected to be completed i
  
  Read more

• Singer of novelty song welcomes hippopotamus to Oklahoma

  13-12-2017 07:48 via wbrz.com
  OKLAHOMA CITY— Oklahoma City native Gayla Peevey has welcomed another hippopotamus to the city’s zoo, more than 60 years after her song about wanting one for Christmas helped the facility purchase its first.The singer was on hand as the 26-year-old pygmy hippopotamus Francesca made her first Oklahoma public appearance since moving from the San Diego Zoo.In 1953, the then 10-year-old Peevey sang the novelty hit, “I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas.” It le
  
  Read more

• Years of beatings ends in death for Louisiana woman

  13-12-2017 07:38 via wbrz.com
  KENNER- Police say a 38-year-old man beat and abused a 37-year-old woman over a six-year period that ended with her death from internal bleeding.According to WWL-TV, Alex Sanders is charged with second-degree murder for the death of Amy Cancienne.Officers from the Kenner Police Department responded to a call at Sander's residence on Nov. 12 and found Cancienne unresponsive and cold to the touch. She was pronounced dead at the scene.Cancienne's autopsy shows that she died from blunt for
  
  Read more

• Report: Former area athlete killed in botched armed robbery

  13-12-2017 06:33 via wbrz.com
  NEW ORLEANS - A former Gonzales high school wrestler was shot to death on Dec. 4 allegedly while participating in a botched armed robbery, according to the New Orleans Police Department.A report from the New Orleans Advocate says that Taibe Coleman, 22, was killed in the 4900 block of Major Drive in New Orleans. Coleman was a wrestler at East Ascension High School in Gonzales and at Arkansas Baptist College.On Dec. 11 a woman identified as Porsha Smith, 26, was arrested on one count of second-d
  
  Read more

• Cool with passing clouds, then weekend rain chances

  13-12-2017 05:58 via wbrz.com
  After a frosty start, some temperature moderation is expected before another front and another reinforcing chill. We are keeping an eye on rain chances for late weekend and early next week.THE FORECAST:Today and Tonight: Temperatures will once again max out near 60 degrees. Skies will be mostly sunny early, but a patch of mid-level moisture, which is showing up well on the water vapor imagery, may create some clouds during the afternoon hours. Winds will shift westerly at 5mph. The nighttime te
  
  Read more

• Area teen missing from new foster home, found safe

  13-12-2017 05:52 via wbrz.com
  UPDATE: Authorities said that Brandt Bennett was located and is safe.LAFOURCHE PARISH- Deputies from the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office are asking for the public's help in locating a missing 14-year-old boy.Brandt Bennett had been newly assigned to a foster home in the 600 block of Fairway Drive in Thibodaux Dec. 7. Authorities said Bennett left the home at around 2 a.m. Dec. 8.Investigators believe Bennett may be in Terrebonne Parish as he has family members in the Gray area. He may also be
  
  Read more

• Area teen missing from new foster home

  13-12-2017 05:52 via wbrz.com
  LAFOURCHE PARISH- Deputies from the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office are asking for the public's help in locating a missing 14-year-old boy.Brandt Bennett had been newly assigned to a foster home in the 600 block of Fairway Drive in Thibodaux Dec. 7. Authorities said Bennett left the home at around 2 a.m. Dec. 8.Investigators believe Bennett may be in Terrebonne Parish as he has family members in the Gray area. He may also be hanging out on the east side of Houma.Bennett was last seen wearing
  
  Read more

Follow @NewsLouisiana_ on Twitter!