Baton Rouge news

• What budget crisis? Louisiana lawmakers raising campaign cash

  02-03-2016 23:35
  
  Forty-two of the 144 members of the Legislature have held or scheduled political fundraisers in Baton Rouge during the 25-day special session that ends next Tuesday (March 9).
  
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• Angola prison triathlon canceled amid backlash

  02-03-2016 22:26
  
  'Escape from Angola' was scheduled March 20
  
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• LSU in disrepair, hundreds of millions needed to fix facilities

  02-03-2016 21:54
  
  BATON ROUGE – LSU estimates there is currently $600 million in damage and disrepair, nearly 70 percent of buildings on campus are more than 25-years-old, and Facility Services hasn't received consistent deferred-maintenance funding from the legislature since 2008.
  Chipped paint, broken windows, and old carpet are the least of worries. Decades-old air conditioning systems, leaking roofs and growing mold top a long list of maintenance priorities.If there were an epicenter of disrepair on
  
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• Priest travels the state in mobile confessional

  02-03-2016 21:05
  
  Baton Rouge - Most ambulances are used for physical emergencies, but Father Michael Champagnes uses his ambulance for spiritual emergencies.He converted an old ambulance into a mobile confessional. Father Champagnes travels the state searching for Catholics who have wandered away from the church. He visited Baton Rouge, Wednesday.He created the vehicle in response to Pope Francis' Jubilee Year of Mercy, giving people a convenient way to go to confession, even if they haven't been to church."I've
  
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• Questions for the fabulous traffic experts of Louisiana: JR Ball

  02-03-2016 20:59
  
  Shawn Wilson, the man in charge at Louisiana's Department of Transportation and Development, jokes -- we think -- the toughest part of his job is answering to 4.1 million bosses. Apparently every living, breathing resident of this state is an...
  
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• 3 accused of setting car on fire to collect insurance check

  02-03-2016 20:12
  
  BATON ROUGE - A Baton Rouge man is accused of setting his SUV on fire in East Feliciana to collect an insurance check, and deputies think two of his friends helped him.Jason Williams' car was found torched in Ethel on Feb. 4th. A day later, Williams contacted the Baton Rouge Police Department to report the GMC Yukon stolen and filed a claim with his insurance company. Evidence from the scene was taken to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab where investigators determined Williams started the fir
  
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• Marco Rubio quietly cancels Baton Rouge rally

  02-03-2016 18:47
  
  BATON ROUGE – After a poor showing in the Super Tuesday primaries, Marco Rubio quietly canceled his plans for a Baton Rouge event scheduled for Friday.Individuals who signed up for tickets to see Rubio received an email Wednesday that the event was canceled."In order to use Marco’s time as efficiently as possible before Saturday’s contests, Marco will not be making a stop in Louisiana Friday night,” the email read.Rubio originally announced he wou
  
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• Both Central La. lawmen accused of boy's murder in 2015 are free on bond

  02-03-2016 18:03
  
  MARKSVILLE - Derrick Stafford, the second Avoyelles Parish marshal charged in the shooting death of a six year old last year, bonded out of jail Wednesday.Stafford and Norris Greenhouse are accused of killing Jeremy Mardis and injury the child's father in the same shooting. The puzzling situation surrounding the shooting, which happened while Stafford and Greenhouse were on duty for a ward marshal's department is still unclear. Stafford and Greenhouse each had to post a $1 million bond to be rel
  
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• Traffic alert: 25,000 expected for LSU events Friday evening

  02-03-2016 17:35
  
  BATON ROUGE - Four different sporting events at LSU will likely mean huge crowds and lots of traffic Friday.Baseball, softball, gymnastics, and tennis are expected to draw as many as 25,000 people to the Nicholson area of campus. Events start at 5 p.m.North Stadium Road will close to traffic at 5:30 Friday, LSU said. Fans are reminded to arrive early and that free parking is available in lots 101, 104, 105, and 401. LSU Athletics – Weekend Home Event Schedule (March 4-6)Friday, March 4
  
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• New plea deal in ex-NFL star's US drug, sex assault case

  02-03-2016 17:30
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Former NFL star Darren Sharper has made a new plea deal with federal prosecutors in New Orleans in a drug and sexual assault case.Court documents filed Wednesday don't give any details on the new agreement.That filing comes two weeks after a federal judge rejected an earlier deal that would have meant a nine-year sentence for Sharper.Sharper had been given the option of withdrawing his earlier guilty plea. He was set for sentencing Thursday but attorneys on both sides have agreed t
  
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• Deputies searching for man who brandished gun at Daiquiri shop

  02-03-2016 17:29
  
  PRAIRIEVILLE – Deputies are looking for the public’s help to identify a man who pulled a gun on employees and patrons at the Southpaws Daiquiri shop Friday.Ascension Parish Sheriff Jeff Wiley said during a fight with employees around midnight Friday, the man pulled out a handgun and pointed it at several bar patrons and employees. He then left in an older model Chevrolet Tahoe.Wiley described the suspect as a white male, about 6 feet tall and weighs about 220 pounds. He was w
  
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• Defense secretary favors strong encryption, not 'back doors'

  02-03-2016 17:12
  
  SAN FRANCISCO - Defense Secretary Ash Carter has told a tech industry audience that strong encryption is essential to the nation's security, adding that he's "not a believer in back doors" or encryption programs that leave openings for outsiders to read coded files.Carter said Wednesday he wasn't commenting on the FBI's legal battle with Apple over an encrypted iPhone used by a San Bernardino, California, gunman. But his views showed the complexity of the encryption debate at a time when law enf
  
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• US airlines vie for Cuba flights; Havana top destination

  02-03-2016 16:53
  
  NEW YORK - U.S. airlines are telling the Transportation Department what routes they would like to fly to Cuba. Government approval is expected to take months.At least seven carriers submitted applications to the DOT Wednesday. Most are looking to serve Cuba primarily from their large hub cities, with Havana being the most popular destination.The government will spend the next few months reviewing the requests and is expected to award the contested Havana routes this summer. Flights to smaller ci
  
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• Falcons release team's all-time leading receiver White

  02-03-2016 16:48
  
  ATLANTA - The Atlanta Falcons have released Roddy White, who holds the franchise career records for most catches, receiving yards and touchdown catches.White's role in the offense declined in 2015 under first-year coach Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. The Falcons announced the release of the 34-year-old White on Wednesday in a statement which included glowing compliments from team owner Arthur Blank, general manager Thomas Dimitroff and Quinn.Blank says White is "one of the gr
  
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• EXCLUSIVE: Teen mom talks about raising local teacher's love child

  02-03-2016 16:19
  
  PLAQUEMINE – A teenager who gave birth to a child fathered by her high school teacher is breaking her silence about the relationship and being a mom for the first time in a TV interview.Wednesday, Whittani Bullock talked candidly with WBRZ Chief Investigator Chris Nakamoto.  She said it was the teacher, Keavin Keith, who solicited her and made compliments about her body.Bullock said Keith remarked about her lips, commenting "those lips should be on mine.""I have bigge
  
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• Cockfighting could be a felony in home of fighting Gamecocks

  02-03-2016 15:33
  
  COLUMBIA, S.C.  - In a state where the flagship university's mascot is a fighting gamecock, some legislators are trying to toughen the penalties for cockfighting, which is illegal in all 50 states.But according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, South Carolina is among nine states where the crime is only a misdemeanor.Legislation considered Wednesday would make second and subsequent convictions a felony, bringing up to a $3,000 fine and five years in prison. Senators post
  
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• Trump to participate in Fox News debate

  02-03-2016 15:31
  
  MIAMI - Donald Trump and Fox News Channel are getting back together.A spokeswoman for the Republican presidential front runner confirms that Trump will participate in Thursday's debate sponsored by the news channel, even though his sometime nemesis, Megyn Kelly, will be one of the moderators. Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks says the billionaire developer "looks forward to participating."That's a departure from Trump's brawl with the network ahead of the Iowa caucuses in January when he dem
  
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• Senate rejects adding $600M to anti-heroin legislation

  02-03-2016 15:29
  
  WASHINGTON - The Senate has rejected a Democratic effort to add $600 million to a bipartisan bill targeting heroin and opioid abuse.Supporters of the immediate funding won a majority of the Senate votes. But the 48-47 tally fell short of the 60 votes required for New Hampshire Democrat Jeanne Shaheen's attempt to add the money.Republicans opposed to the proposal said there's plenty of previously approved money in the pipeline and that additional funding can wait until this year's round of regula
  
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• Teens say burning of ex's love letter led to school fire

  02-03-2016 15:28
  
  ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A case of burning love caused thousands of dollars in damage at a school playground in Alaska.Anchorage police say a fire from lit paper ignited rubber mulch and spread to two pieces of playground equipment, destroying both.After speaking to witnesses and reviewing surveillance video, police interviewed two 18-year-olds.The teens told investigators that they burned a love letter Tuesday night from an ex-girlfriend on the playground at Bowman Elementary School and left.Police
  
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• Wednesday afternoon snarl starts with overturned car on I-10

  02-03-2016 14:21
  
  BATON ROUGE - I-10 toward downtown was at a standstill for a part of Wednesday afternoon after a car overturned above Washington Street.The vehicle could be seen upside down from state traffic cameras. Numerous emergency crews were gathered around the vehicle and, at times, traffic was moving around the crash scene. There did not appear to be another crashed vehicle within sight of the camera but authorities have not released specifics.At the peak, the westbound traffic jam stretched four miles
  
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• US bans use of e-cigarettes on airline flights

  02-03-2016 14:20
  
  WASHINGTON - The Department of Transportation says it has issued final regulations prohibiting the use of electronic cigarettes on any domestic or foreign airline flying to, from or within the United States.Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx says the rule will protect passengers from unwanted exposure to aerosol fumes in the confines of an aircraft cabin.The department has long prohibited the smoking of cigarettes and other tobacco products on planes, and has interpreted that ban to include e
  
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• Missouri man charged with advertising for dependents

  02-03-2016 14:18
  
  SPRINGFIELD - A Missouri man has been charged with advertising on Craigslist for the identities of children he could claim as dependents on his taxes.The U.S. attorney's office says 37-year-old Raheem McClain, of Ozark, was charged in a three-count indictment that was unsealed Tuesday. The indictment alleges that he was behind a January 2015 Craigslist posting that said: "If you have some kids you aren't claiming, I will pay you $750 each to claim them on my income tax."He is accused of filing i
  
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• Even as gas prices rise, drivers will save at the pump

  02-03-2016 14:16
  
  DALLAS - Gasoline prices have started their annual spring climb, but they're expected to stay below the level of recent years.Auto club AAA says the national average price for a gallon of regular has risen for eight straight days - the first time that's happened since last May. Today's average of about $1.79 is 54 cents cheaper than at this time last year.Forecasters say prices should rise at least 30 cents or more by June. Demand will rise as people drive more, and supplies will tighten when re
  
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• Pentagon seeking a few good computer hackers

  02-03-2016 14:14
  
  WASHINGTON - The Pentagon is looking for a few good computer hackers.Screened high-tech specialists will be brought in to try to breach the Defense Department's public Internet pages in a pilot program aimed at finding and fixing cybersecurity vulnerabilities.Defense officials laid out the broad outlines of the plan Wednesday. They had few details on how it will work, what Pentagon systems would be tested and how the hackers would be compensated.The program called "Hack the Pentagon" will begin
  
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• Parents plead for taxes to pay for their children's services

  02-03-2016 14:11
  
  BATON ROUGE - Senators weighing deep cuts to state services were wiping away tears as parents pleaded for them to pass tax hikes to protect programs that help them care for their children.Health care services that serve thousands with developmental disabilities are threatened as lawmakers decide how to close a hefty budget shortfall.Ashley McReynolds talked Wednesday about her 9-year-old son Cooper.He has a genetic disorder that makes him feel like he's starving, along with other health troubles
  
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• Mississippi will defend lawsuit over Confederate-themed flag

  02-03-2016 14:09
  
  JACKSON, Miss. - Mississippi's attorney general says he will defend the Confederate-themed state flag against a lawsuit that seeks to remove the banner, even though he thinks the flag hurts the state and should change.Democrat Jim Hood said Wednesday that his opinion about state laws won't prevent him from fulfilling his oath to defend them.Carlos Moore, an attorney from Grenada, Mississippi, filed a federal lawsuit Monday that says the Confederate X on the flag puts him and other African-Americ
  
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• Ascension residents invited to emergency preparedness meeting

  02-03-2016 14:07
  
  GONZALES – Ascension Parish residents are invited to an emergency preparedness meeting on March. 16.Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa will announce parish drainage, flood zone and emergency preparedness and will take questions from the public.The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 16 at the library at 708 S. Irma Blvd in Gonzales.“Our staff will be on hand to answer questions like what residents need to do before and after a storm to protect their famil
  
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• LSU QB battle, coaching staff, Tiger defense and more: Your questions answered

  02-03-2016 14:00
  
  LSU spring football practice opens Monday.
  
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• Ruptured gas line closes street in Downtown Baton Rouge

  02-03-2016 13:46
  
  BATON ROUGE - Hazmat crews closed streets in downtown Baton Rouge Wednesday as they investigated a possible gas leak.Baton Rouge Fire Department spokesperson Curt Monte said an 'all clear' was issued just after 1:30 p.m.North 4th Street was closed northbound near the Chase building due to the ruptured gas line. There were no injuries.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Code enforcement inspector accused of extorting Baton Rouge business

  02-03-2016 13:38
  
  BATON ROUGE – Detectives say a Department of Development inspector was arrested Wednesday after they say he tried to extort money from several Baton Rouge business.Baton Rouge Police say 29-year-old Jeremy Jamal Johnson was charged with attempted felony theft, extortion, malfeasance in office and public bribery.Detectives say Johnson, a code enforcement officer, arrived at Tammy's Nails on Greenwell Springs Road requesting $3,000 to conduct an unscheduled inspection. When aske
  
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• Standoff between state House, Senate impeding progress

  02-03-2016 13:22
  
   BATON ROUGE - Tuesday at the capitol, discussions over raising sin taxes stalled again, but lawmakers did make a last minute decision to approve a one cent sales tax increase.For a 3rd consecutive day, Louisiana's House of Representatives refused to take an action on two tax increases - cigarettes and alcohol. Republican members want the senate to agree to their demands and cut government.Leaders in the senate say cuts go too far."They should not be surprised the senate is not happy wi
  
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• Standoff between state House, Senate impending progress

  02-03-2016 12:34
  
   BATON ROUGE - Tuesday at the capitol, discussions over raising sin taxes stalled again, but lawmakers did make a last minute decision to approve a one cent sales tax increase.For a 3rd consecutive day, Louisiana's House of Representatives refused to take an action on two tax increases - cigarettes and alcohol. Republican members want the senate to agree to their demands and cut government.Leaders in the senate say cuts go too far."They should not be surprised the senate is not happy wi
  
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• Mother accused of using cocaine while pregnant, causing newborn's death

  02-03-2016 12:34
  
  BATON ROUGE – Police say a woman was charged with negligent homicide Tuesday after police say she used cocaine while pregnant which eventually caused her newborn child to die.Baton Rouge Police say 36-year-old Jerasha Bowman gave birth to a child on Aug. 31 whose blood work tested positive for cocaine.Court documents say Bowman admitted to using tobacco, alcohol and cocaine throughout her pregnancy and even told BRPD detectives that she used cocaine the day before the child was born.Do
  
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• Anheuser-Busch to deliver cans of drinking water to tornado victims

  02-03-2016 12:03
  
  BATON ROUGE – Anheuser-Busch announced Wednesday that the company is partnering with the American Red Cross to deliver drinking water to victims recovering from last week’s tornadoes.Anheuser-Busch said its Georgia brewery will deliver more than 50,000 cans of emergency water to the Louisiana Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross.The water is expected to arrive Thursday.“Anheuser-Busch has a longstanding history of supporting the Red Cross in their disaster
  
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• US sanctions North Koreans for missile, nuclear programs

  02-03-2016 11:49
  
  WASHINGTON - The United States is sanctioning a dozen individuals and five organizations tied to North Korea's nuclear and weapons proliferation efforts.The actions taken Wednesday by the Treasury and State departments complement actions taken by the United Nations and are aimed at holding Pyongyang responsible for its illicit pursuit of nuclear and missile programs.The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday unanimously approved the toughest sanctions on North Korea in two decades, reflecting growin
  
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• Survey: US companies added 214,000 jobs in February

  02-03-2016 11:45
  
  WASHINGTON - U.S. businesses added a healthy 214,000 jobs last month, led by gains in construction and business services, a private survey says.Payroll processor ADP said hiring by private companies was up from 205,000 in January. The better-than-expected gains provide more evidence that the U.S. job market remains strong despite economic weakness overseas.Professional and business services companies added 59,000 jobs and construction firms hired 27,000.The ADP report comes out two days before t
  
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• 6 NJ papers: Christie should quit over Trump nod

  02-03-2016 11:44
  
  MIAMI - Six New Jersey newspapers say Gov. Chris Christie should resign over his endorsement of Donald Trump. They add that if Christie refuses to quit, New Jersey citizens should initiate a recall effort.The papers on Wednesday ran brutal editorials saying they are fed up with everything from Christie's famous sarcasm to "his long neglect of the state to pursue his own selfish agenda." They add that they are "disgusted with his endorsement of Donald Trump after he spent months on the c
  
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• Abortion case appears to split depleted Supreme Court

  02-03-2016 11:41
  
  WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court appears sharply divided over Texas abortion clinic regulations in its biggest abortion case in nearly a quarter-century.The court's liberals and conservatives are signaling in nearly 90 minutes of arguments that there's little common ground as they try to figure out what to do about rules that Texas says are aimed at promoting women's health.The clinics say the real purpose of the regulations is to reduce access to abortion.Justice Anthony Kennedy holds the key to
  
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• Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump cemented as 2016 leaders

  02-03-2016 11:38
  
  MIAMI - Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump are beginning to focus on each other in the race for the White House.Both front-runners were emboldened by commanding victories Tuesday across large swaths of the country.Clinton previewed a "love and kindness" message while Trump traded his typical rollicking rallies for a sober media conference where he pressed his case that Clinton is a proven failure as a longtime politician.Both spoke from Florida, where the general election is of
  
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• Edwards urges House Republicans to support more tax bills

  02-03-2016 11:35
  
  BATON ROUGE - Gov. John Bel Edwards tried to persuade Republican lawmakers to back additional taxes as his special legislative session on rebalancing Louisiana's budget moves into its final week.The Democratic governor met privately with GOP House and Senate members Wednesday morning, urging action.Edwards said he told Republicans "we're still far short of where we need to be" on closing this year's budget shortfall and addressing next year's larger gap.The governor's focus was mainly on House a
  
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• New Orleans to hold online property auction

  02-03-2016 11:27
  
  NEW ORLEANS - The City of New Orleans holds its monthly online auction for adjudicated properties on Wednesday.From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 40 properties are scheduled to be sold throughout the community, where winning bidders will receive full ownership and title insurance for each property.A property is adjudicated to the city when its property taxes have not been paid and the city is unable to sell the property at a tax sale. All owners of adjudicated properties scheduled for auction have received
  
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• Train derailment causes evacuations in New York

  02-03-2016 07:21
  
  RIPLEY, NEW YORK- Crews are working to contain a leak on an ethanol tanker that was among 16 cars on a freight train that derailed in far southwestern New York and forced the evacuation of several homes.
      
  A spokesman for Norfolk Southern says a train derailed on the rail company's line around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday in the town of Ripley, about 60 miles southwest of Buffalo. Gov. Andrew Cuomo had earlier said the accident occurred around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.
   &am
  
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• March 2, 2016 Morning News Pop

  02-03-2016 06:41
  
  Here are today's top stories:Person transported with gunshot wound after traffic stop, car chase Fire temporarily closes Dearman's Soda ShopUpon Saturday return home, Devon Gales will be honored at SU basketball game Waiting for one more, then warming Updates all day, every day:FACEBOOK | TWITTERPermalink| Comments
  
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• ULL racial discrimination trial begins

  02-03-2016 04:55
  
  BATON ROUGE- A former head coach of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette football team is suing the school, claiming that the university fired him in 2001 because of his race.
      
  The racial discrimination trial between former head coach Jerry Baldwin and the university began Tuesday with opening statements.
      
  Attorney Karl Bernard, who represents Baldwin, told the East Baton Rouge Parish jury that Baldwin had received positive evalua
  
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• Louisiana Senate, House aren't making progress on fixing the state budget as deadline approaches

  02-03-2016 04:00
  
  "I've got assurances they're working on it," said Senate President Alario, R-Westwego, when asked if the House had the votes to pass the tax bills he wants.
  
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• Snake fungal disease found in Louisiana for 1st time

  02-03-2016 03:36
  
  NEW ORLEANS- The U.S. Geological Survey says a disease that causes high death rates in some kinds of snakes has been confirmed for the first time in Louisiana.
      
  Ecologist Brad Glorioso says Louisiana is the 16th state where snake fungal disease has been found.
      
  He says Louisiana's first case is one of the few documented in this country in a juvenile snake. Glorioso says that's worrying, because deaths of many juveniles could devastate
  
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• Louisiana Senate approves 5-year sales tax hike

  02-03-2016 02:22
  
  No legislator -- Republican or Democrat -- is particularly happy about raising the sales tax, but the state has few options for dealing with its immediate budget crisis.
  
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