Baton Rouge news

• Tyrann Mathieu on Leonard Fournette: 'I admire him so much'

  25-02-2016 23:19
  
  Spoke in radio interview Thursday.
  
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• How the Louisiana House voted on tax hikes, budget cuts

  25-02-2016 19:52
  
  Here's a list of the tax increases and budget cuts the Louisiana House voted on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016.
  
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• Louisiana House votes on tax hikes, budget cuts: What has happened so far

  25-02-2016 19:51
  
  Here's a list of the tax increases and budget cuts the Louisiana House voted on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016.
  
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• Baton Rouge apparently not a capital place to live: JR Ball

  25-02-2016 19:13
  
  Being a hotbed of excitement is not exactly the thought that leaps to mind when most folks bother to think about capital cities. State government, buffoonery and quaint ... sure. Culture, sophistication and a great place to live ... not...
  
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• How Louisiana House members have tried to avoid voting for tax increases this week

  25-02-2016 18:47
  
  Representatives have suspended dozens of legislative rules to rush bills to the House floor that look at ways to find money and reduce spending without raising taxes.
  
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• Watson appliance repairman arrested for ripping off 85-year-old victim

  25-02-2016 17:47
  
  BATON ROUGE - Police said they arrested a Watson appliance repairman after an 85-year-old victim contacted them to say the man had ripped him off.37-year-old Evan Stribling was booked into the parish prison on charges of felony theft, theft of assets from aged/disabled person and misapplication of contractor pay.The victim told police that he contacted Stribling back in November after his refrigerator broke. Stribling was employed by Ace Appliances Repair Shop, which the victim found wh
  
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• LSU football adds Chris Kragthorpe, Carter Blount to support staff

  25-02-2016 17:41
  
  Kragthorpe returns as offensive analyst.
  
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• Mississippi governor: April named Confederate Heritage Month

  25-02-2016 17:35
  
  JACKSON, Miss. - Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant is proclaiming April as Confederate Heritage Month, without mentioning slavery.His proclamation was posted to the Mississippi Sons of Confederate Veterans website, but not on the governor's site. He signed it days before legislators killed bills that would have removed the Confederate battle emblem from the 122-year-old state flag.Bryant spokesman Clay Chandler says previous governors, Democrat and Republican, have issued similar proclamations. Chand
  
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• Insurance adjusters survey damage in Livingston

  25-02-2016 16:51
  
  LIVINGSTON - Insurance adjusters continued to survey storm damage Thursday in the town of Livingston.Alex Prokop with Safeco Insurance will visit at least 15 homes this week in Livingston after an EF-2 tornado damaged at least 30 structures Tuesday afternoon. Prokop says insurance adjusters try to put customers at ease first before securing properties to prevent further damage."Well the big thing is to let them know that the event they went through is covered by their policy. That's why they pay
  
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• Sleeping woman rescued from burning mattress

  25-02-2016 16:48
  
  BATON ROUGE - Firefighters rescued a woman from a fire just before 3 p.m. Thursday.The fire department was called to a home on Arcadia, in Mayfair Park, where they found light smoke. A woman outside told firefighters she evacuated but her daughter was asleep inside.The daughter, who the fire department identified as a lady in its press release about the situation, was asleep on a burning mattress. The unidentified woman suffered burns on her feet and smoke inhalation.The mother also suffered fro
  
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• Louisiana hit with credit rating downgrade, blow to state

  25-02-2016 16:41
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's credit rating has been downgraded, after years of budget instability that leave public colleges and government services wallowing in repeated financial uncertainty. The decision by Moody's Investors Service to drop the state's credit rating Thursday is another blow to a state teetering on the edge of financial calamity.And it comes as Gov. John Bel Edwards and lawmakers are grappling in a special legislative session with balancing the budget.Ratings from the credit agen
  
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• Powerful EF3 tornado plowed through Assumption; size upgraded

  25-02-2016 16:20
  
  PAINCOURTVILLE - The National Weather Service upgraded the tornado that tore through Assumption Parish Tuesday to a powerful EF3.At an EF3, the twister had 140 mph winds. NWS experts said they made the determination after looking at analysis. A team of meteorologists surveyed damaged areas after the storm.The storm system blew over a water tower, leveled homes and destroyed businesses along La. 1 and La. 70. Video from crews on the ground showed massive devastation. From above, via the lens of W
  
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• Naked woman trashes clothing store, jumps on car

  25-02-2016 16:07
  
  BATON ROUGE - A naked woman was arrested by sheriff’s deputies Wednesday afternoon after she trashed a clothing store and jumped up and down on a parked vehicle while shouting obscenities at passers-by.52-year-old Elizabeth Ferger was booked on charges of criminal damage to property, obscenity, disturbing the peace and simple battery following her arrest at around 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 24.EBRSO deputies said they responded to the scene at a clothing store on Jefferson Highway to find about
  
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• Livingston to host assistance meeting for storm victims Thursday

  25-02-2016 16:04
  
  LIVINGSTON - There will be a town meeting Thursday to help people who lost homes in the tornado this week get assistance.People from the town and other areas of the parish are encouraged to attend, organizers said. The meeting is at the Livingston Municipal Building located at 20550 Circle Drive in Livingston at 7 p.m.Organizers added they hope to match people and entities with those who need help.*****************Follow the publisher of this post on Twitter: @treyschmaltzPermalink| Comments
  
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• CDC confirms presumption Zika virus is in La.

  25-02-2016 15:38
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Centers for Disease Control confirmed the presumption that two people ill in Louisiana were infected with the Zika virus.Earlier this month, the state health department announced two people were ill and they were believed to have Zika. The individuals, who were not named, recently traveled to countries in the Caribbean. There have been no other cases and neither of the suspected cases involved a pregnant woman.Zika virus is a mosquito-borne disease that poses serious c
  
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• Apple: Order could lead to more hacking requests

  25-02-2016 15:16
  
  WASHINGTON - Apple has asked a federal magistrate to vacate her order that it help the FBI hack into a locked iPhone.The company said in a court filing Thursday that the FBI is seeking "dangerous power" through the courts.The filing represents Apple's first official response since the judge ordered Apple last week to provide specialized software as part of an investigation into the San Bernardino shootings.Apple is warning that if it's forced to help the government hack into an iPhone that was u
  
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• House raises sales tax by a penny; Senate must approve measure next

  25-02-2016 14:38
  
  BATON ROUGE - Lawmakers in the state house have approved a one-cent tax increase to help fill budget holes in two budgets: the current budget and next year's spending plan.The tax proposal was passed 76-27, WBRZ political correspondent Mark Armstrong first reported on Twitter Thursday afternoon. The senate will likely approve the measures next.The one-cent proposal expires in 18-months. If 1-cent sales tax bill stays as is... should bring in $200million this year. Will cost you avg. $12
  
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• Security camera recorded tornado move across Airline Highway Tuesday

  25-02-2016 14:22
  
  PRAIRIEVILLE - Captivating video shows the moment an EF-0 tornado moved across Airline Highway in Ascension Parish earlier this week.Thursday, businesses were cleaning up and shared the video with WBRZ reporter Natalia Verdina. The video shows debris flying around as the tornado moves closer to the camera. Eventually, the power shuts off and the video signal is gone. When the camera starts recording again, it is night time and the destruction is obvious."Everything was shaking, the ceilings fell
  
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• Clinic no longer performing abortions in Baton Rouge

  25-02-2016 13:52
  
  BATON ROUGE - Abortions are no longer being performed in Baton Rouge since the only abortion clinic here no longer meets state law.After a court upheld the law requiring doctors at clinics have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital, the facility in East Baton Rouge was forced to stop providing abortion services. However, medical staff can handle prep care and send women to New Orleans.No one returned calls for comment from the clinic in Baton Rouge, the Delta Clinic, on Colonial Drive.******
  
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• Boil order lifted in Assumption following Tuesday tornado

  25-02-2016 13:25
  
  NAPOLEONVILLE - A boil order for Assumption Parish was lifted Thursday afternoon.People who live in the parish have had to boil their water before using it since Tuesday when tornadic weather blew over a water tower and compromised the water system. In video recorded by SkyEye2, the helicopter used by the WBRZ news department, the water tower was seen crumbled on the ground and roped off with caution tape Wednesday.In Paincourtville and other communities along La 70, homes and businesses were de
  
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• Promoting economic development for La., group seeks to end Cuban embargo

  25-02-2016 13:14
  
  BATON ROUGE - A grassroots effort to lift the trade embargo with Cuba took off in Louisiana Thursday.Engage Cuba revealed it has established a Louisiana coalition. More than 30 business and government leaders are part of the group, including Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain and executives from Louisiana ports."Our Louisiana State Council is another example of the momentum in support of lifting the Cuban embargo and opening travel with one of our closest n
  
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• West Baton Rouge meeting on I-10 rescheduled for March

  25-02-2016 13:03
  
  ADDIS - State officials rescheduled a meeting about improvements to I-10 after it was canceled due to severe weather earlier this week.Engineers will discuss with the community plans and ideas on how to deal with traffic on the congested interstate between La. 415 and the I-10/I-12 Split. The open-house style meeting will feature DOTD officials along with engineering and traffic experts who will present regional engineering and traffic study results based on input from the initial round of publi
  
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• Ex-BP engineer's trial nears end, with closing arguments

  25-02-2016 12:27
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Closing arguments are set to begin Thursday in the trial of a former BP engineer facing a federal pollution charge stemming from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.Robert Kaluza's trial began last week. He faces a single charge of violating the Clean Water Act. Prosecutors say he and a fellow rig supervisor, Donald Vidrine, botched a pressure test and missed clear signs of trouble before the explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil rig.The April 2010 blast sent millions o
  
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• Small town residents meet to talk about how to recover from storm

  25-02-2016 12:08
  
  LIVINGSTON - At a meeting Thursday night, residents of the town of Livingston met to discuss ways for residents to receive assistance following Tuesday's tornadoes.At least 30 structures in the small town received heavy damage from the storm. Mayor Derral Jones called the meeting to connect people in need with those that wanted to help."Obviously I don't have the magic wand to wave around and make all the problems go away, but there are things the city can do, and we want to make sure we do them
  
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• Powerful EF-3 twister one of many to tear through South La. Tuesday

  25-02-2016 11:45
  
  NEW ORLEANS - The National Weather Service has updated to ten the number of tornadoes that hit Louisiana Tuesday.Among the twisters was a powerful EF-3 that the National Weather Service upgraded Thursday afternoon.  It struck parts of Assumption Parish where damage was wide-spread. Three EF-2 tornadoes were responsible for the extreme damage in Convent and LaPlace.  A similar-sized tornado also hit  in Livingston Parish, the NWS said.  Meteorologist P
  
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• Intense EF-3 twister one of many to tear through South La. Tuesday

  25-02-2016 11:45
  
  NEW ORLEANS - The National Weather Service has updated to ten the number of tornadoes that hit Louisiana Tuesday.Among the twisters was a powerful EF-3 that the National Weather Service upgraded Thursday afternoon.  It struck parts of Assumption Parish where damage was wide-spread. Three EF-2 tornadoes were responsible for the extreme damage in Convent and LaPlace.  A similar-sized tornado also hit  in Livingston Parish, the NWS said.  Meteorologist P
  
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• Coroner releases names of Convent RV park tornado victims

  25-02-2016 11:33
  
  NEW ORLEANS - The St. James Parish Coroner has released the names of those killed in a tornado that ripped through an RV park during Tuesday’s bout of severe weather.59-year-old David Eugene Swann, of Satsuma, Alabama and 51-year-old Scott Ellis of North Carolina died Tuesday. St. James Parish Coroner Dr. Randall Poché was not sure of Ellis’ hometown.Autopsies have been performed as of Thursday morning, but the results aren’t in hand as of yet.Poch&ea
  
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• Four candidates for SU Law Center post announced Thursday

  25-02-2016 09:27
  
  BATON ROUGE - The search committee looking to select the next chancellor of the Southern University Law Center will pick from four candidates announced Thursday morning.Three of the four candidates are closely tied to the university already as internal candidates. The other is a state appellate court judge who received a juris doctorate from the Southern University Law Center.The final candidates are:John Michael Guidry, State Appellate Court judge, Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal, has a
  
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• House to debate governor's tax plans to rebalance budget

  25-02-2016 09:06
  
  BATON ROUGE- State House lawmakers are weighing whether to boost taxes on shoppers, smokers, drinkers, phone service and more as they try to end the boom-and-bust cycles of Louisiana's budget.
      
  After days of closed-door negotiations, the House on Thursday is scheduled to debate more than 30 tax proposals aimed at raising new cash for state government.
      
  The short-term problems are acute: Louisiana has a budget gap around $900 million t
  
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• Foundation to build Devon Gales, family a new home

  25-02-2016 09:03
  
  ATHENS, Georgia - In his last public appearance before returning to Baton Rouge next week, Southern University football player Devon Gales met with the opposing team from the game that changed his life.( LIVE STREAM HAS ENDED; WATCH REPORTS ON NEWS 2 BROADCASTS TODAY )The show of support from @UGAAthletics front of the room at #DevonGales event. @WBRZ pic.twitter.com/HEB7ZcUpKR— BrettBuffingtonWBRZ (@BrettBuffington) February 25, 2016Gales was injured and had to spend the last five mon
  
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• NOPD announces guidelines for release of body camera footage

  25-02-2016 08:04
  
  NEW ORLEANS- The New Orleans Police Department has announced new guidelines for releasing audio and video recordings from officers' body cameras.
      
  The department released the guidelines Wednesday which detail when and in what cases it plans to publicly release footage for some of the more serious use-of-force incidents involving police.
      
  NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison said at press conference Wednesday that he would like to rele
  
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• February 25th, Morning News Pop

  25-02-2016 06:41
  
  Here are today's top stories:SkyEye2 finds wide spread destruction in Assumption Parish United Way raising funds to help tornado victims in Convent Firefighters respond to 3 fires overnightSeasonable, all clear Updates all day, every day:FACEBOOK | TWITTERPermalink| Comments
  
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• Authorities investigate deadly shooting in Pointe Coupee Parish

  25-02-2016 05:01
  
  LETTSWORTH- Authorities are investigating a possible murder in Pointe Coupee Parish.
  According to the Sheriff's Department, a man was found shot in his car at the corner of Church and Johson Street in Lettsworth, located in the northern part of Pointe Coupee Parish.The victim was later identified as 25-year-old Terrell Antoine Davis.As of 5 a.m. Thursday morning, Sheriff's Deputies were still on the scene waiting for the State Police crime lab to arrive.This is the second shooting to happen in P
  
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• Crews respond to 3 fires overnight in Baton Rouge

  25-02-2016 04:38
  
  BATON ROUGE- Authorities have responded to three fires throughout the Baton Rouge area since Wednesday night.The first fire broke out around 10 p.m. in the 1300 block of Oleander Street. A spokesperson for the Baton Rouge Fire Department says the blaze was determined an arson fire and is being investigated. The house was completely destroyed.
  Shortly after that fire, Saint George firefighters responded to a blaze at an apartment complex on Rush Avenue near Gardere. Some of the windows at the apa
  
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• Appellate court rules against abortion clinics in Louisiana

  25-02-2016 03:34
  
  NEW ORLEANS- A federal appeals court has ruled against abortion clinics by allowing a Louisiana law to take effect that requires doctors who provide abortions to have admitting privileges at hospitals within 30 miles.
      
  On Wednesday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked a federal judge's ruling that had found the admitting privileges unconstitutional.
      
  U.S. District Judge John deGravelles in Baton Rouge last month barred Louis
  
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• John Bel Edwards will sign bill to attract SEC baseball tournament

  25-02-2016 02:58
  
  Gov. John Bel Edwards is expected to sign legislation aimed at attracting the SEC baseball tournament to Louisiana.
  
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• John Bel Edwards is reviewing House Republican leader's demands

  25-02-2016 01:50
  
  The list of demands came in a letter on Wednesday from from Alexandria Rep. Lance Harris, head of the Republican caucus.
  
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