Baton Rouge news

• School leaders have change of heart after gay couple banned from prom

  04-03-2016 21:57
  
  FRENCH SETTLEMENT -  A high school couple in Livingston Parish had to fight for their tickets to the Prom.Two gay students from French Settlement High School were told this morning they could not go to the prom together. One of the teen's mother called WBRZ News 2, and we started asking questions. The Livingston Parish School Superintendent was very interested too, and after all the curiosity, school administrators changed their tune.The two boys, one a junior and one a sophomore, went
  
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• Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards: 'Problem is in the House'

  04-03-2016 21:50
  
  Gov. John Bel Edwards said House Speaker Taylor Barras, R-New Iberia, is having problems getting House members to follow his lead.
  
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• You'll have to pry that daiquiri out of my frozen, dead hand: JR Ball

  04-03-2016 18:34
  
  The head of the Department of Health and Hospitals had the audacity to declare drive-through daiquiri stands should be eradicated from the planet.
  
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• Donated home for the Gales family could be under construction soon

  04-03-2016 18:13
  
  BATON ROUGE - As Devon Gales, his family and Southern fans prepare for Gales' homecoming Saturday, plans are already underway for moving his family to a home designed to meet his rehabilitation needs.In the last two weeks, about $35,000 has been raised by a non-profit in Georgia for the Gales' new home in Pointe Coupee Parish. The Triumph Over Tragedy foundation announced details of the fundraiser at a news conference when Gales was released from the rehabilitation facility in February.
  
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• Louisiana Legislature's budget solution has new $75 million problem

  04-03-2016 18:03
  
  The Louisiana Legislature will have to find an additional $75 million -- money it thought it already had -- to plug the state's $900 million budget deficit by June 30.  Lawmakers had been planning to use an "advanced sales tax"...
  
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• 1 killed, multiple hurt in North Baton Rouge crash Friday

  04-03-2016 17:50
  
  BATON ROUGE - At least one person has been confirmed dead after a wreck near the zoo Friday afternoon.Four people were rushed to area hospitals. Their conditions were not released.Specifics about the crash have also not been released. The wreck is near the intersection of Hwy. 19 and Thomas Road just north of the airport. Multiple vehicles are involved.Looks like three, maybe four cars involved. pic.twitter.com/2s3q7rikoV— Brittany Weiss WBRZ (@MsBWeiss) March 5, 2016Drivers in this ar
  
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• Common Core revisions OKd by state education board

  04-03-2016 17:38
  
  NEW ORLEANS- Louisiana's education board has approved Louisiana-specific revisions to the multi-state Common Core standards for math and English.Friday's 10-1 vote in Baton Rouge by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approves changes adopted last month in New Orleans by an advisory panel. That panel was assembled as a result of a legislative compromise last year between opponents and supporters of the standards.Gov. John Bel Edwards and legislators still have to review the standards
  
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• Carson suspends presidential campaign

  04-03-2016 16:49
  
  WASHINGTON, D.C. - Ben Carson confirmed what many assumed would happen: he has officially left the race for president.Carson first said earlier this week he saw no "path forward" following primary elections in multiple states Tuesday. Then, he said he would release specific information about his political future later.Friday, he said he was suspending his campaign and would lead a group focused on getting Christians to vote in November. He made the announcement at CPAC gathering outside Washingt
  
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• Amended alcohol tax fails in the House

  04-03-2016 16:36
  
  BATON ROUGE - Republican lawmakers in the House who have shown resistance to raising taxes also have been slow to come up with places they'd recommend slashing government to rebalance Louisiana's budget.Senate leaders, both Republican and Democrat, have repeatedly pointed out the House members causing some of the special session logjam have yet to offer a precise list of cuts. And some of the cuts House leaders suggested they acknowledged were unworkable.Lawmakers in both the House and Senate ha
  
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• Busy Walker road getting new pavement

  04-03-2016 16:21
  
  WALKER - Work began Thursday to improve Burgess Avenue before the state transfers ownership of the road over to the city of Walker.The Department of Transportation and Development will improve drainage and overlay Burgess Avenue from Highway 447 to West Colyell Creek.  When the work is completed in May, the state will transfer the road over to Walker. It's part of the state's road transfer program that aims to shed 5,000 miles of roads from state control. That would get Louisiana in lin
  
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• Hundreds pay their final respects to Ronnie Edwards

  04-03-2016 16:08
  
  BATON ROUGE - Hundreds of mourners turned out at the Living Faith Christian Center Friday afternoon to say their final goodbyes to State Representative Ronnie Edwards, who lost her two year battle with pancreatic cancer last week.She served as a Metro Councilwoman in Baton Rouge for six years before she was elected to the state house of representatives last November.When the crowd was asked how many people ever received an encouraging word from Ronnie, a sea of raised hands filled the r
  
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• Man convicted of murder; was 17-years-old at time of killing

  04-03-2016 16:04
  
  BATON ROUGE - A man who was a teenager when he killed a 24-year-old two years ago will be sentenced for the crime in April.Brandon Boyd was found guilty of second degree murder Friday. Boyd was arrested in March 2014 for the shooting death of Emanuelle Myles on La Margie Avenue.Then, police said Boyd also shot a 19-year-old. Investigators said when he was arrested, Boyd fired into a crowd after a fight. *****************Follow the publisher of this post on Twitter: @treyschmaltzPermalink| Commen
  
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• Suspect in Feb shooting turns himself in to BRPD

  04-03-2016 15:51
  
  BATON ROUGE – Police say the suspect in a North Baton Rouge shooting in February has turned himself in Friday.Baton Rouge Police say 21-year-old Aurtrell Bivens shot at two people on Huron Street after an argument. One person was shot and was treated at a local hospital following the altercation on Feb. 23.BRPD said Bivens was wanted for two counts of attempted murder and illegal use of a weapon. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Traffic just got worse as Friday's commute wore on

  04-03-2016 15:28
  
  BATON ROUGE - The commute hit its usual afternoon snag Friday.Problems started before 3 p.m. and traffic monitors said it was expected to linger until after 7 p.m.  First, Traffic in both directions slowed between the New Bridge and Washington Street because earlier incidents on both sides of I-10.  A wreck on I-10 East at Perkins Road caused traffic to build toward La 415. A stalled vehicle caused the trouble for westbound traffic over the river. Its traffic jam started backin
  
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• Two transported to hospital after crash with BRPD unit

  04-03-2016 15:20
  
  BATON ROUGE – First responders say two people were transported to the hospital after a crash involving a Baton Rouge Police unit Friday afternoon.Witnesses say the crash happened near Scenic Hwy. and Amarillo. EMS said two people were transported from the scene. The officer was not transported.Baton Rouge Police say the two people and the officer only suffered minor injuries. The crash is still under investigation.This is a developing story. Stay tuned to WBRZ News 2 online and on Face
  
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• Supreme Court puts hold on Louisiana abortion clinic law

  04-03-2016 15:08
  
  WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court has blocked enforcement of a Louisiana law that could force all but one of the state's abortion clinics to close, a sign that a similar law in Texas also could be in peril.The justices on Friday are effectively reversing an order by the federal appeals court in New Orleans that allowed Louisiana to begin enforcing its 2014 clinic regulation law even as it is being challenged in the courts.The law requires doctors who provide abortions to have admitting privileges a
  
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• Submerged car found in Lake Pontchartrain holds 2 bodies

  04-03-2016 14:07
  
  KENNER - Police in Kenner say two bodies have been found in a car that was submerged in Lake Pontchartrain.Police say in an emailed statement that foul play is not suspected and the case was being treated as a traffic accident.The statement says that only the vehicle's luggage rack was visible when officers arrived at the scene Friday morning.The bodies - one male and one female - were discovered after the car was pulled out of the water.Police got the call shortly after 9:30 a.m. It was unclear
  
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• Obama cheers economy as 'pretty darn great'

  04-03-2016 13:56
  
  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says Republicans may be making "doomsday" claims about the economy, but he has another take: "America's pretty darn great right now."Obama delivered his glowing assessment of the economy on Friday as a new Labor Department report showed another strong month for job growth. Employers added 242,000 workers and the unemployment rate held steady at 4.9 percent.Obama says the numbers don't lie. He says the GOP candidates for president are talking down in the econom
  
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• Ride-hailing app Lyft launches operations in New Orleans

  04-03-2016 13:48
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Lyft has become the second ride-hailing service to enter the New Orleans market, joining Uber nearly a year after its competitor shook up the local taxicab industry.News outlets report that Lyft announced Thursday that it has received the city permits required under an ordinance passed last spring that legalizes ride-hailing services.Lyft and Uber were both involved in discussions with the New Orleans City Council and Mayor Mitch Landrieu's administration in which those rules were
  
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• ExxonMobil sued over Baton Rouge chemical plant's emissions

  04-03-2016 13:48
  
  BATON ROUGE - An environmental group's lawsuit claims ExxonMobil Corp. continues to violate Clean Air Act regulations despite a 2014 settlement over emissions from the company's Baton Rouge chemical plant.The Louisiana Environmental Action Network sued the company in federal court on Thursday. The suit alleges that pollution from the plant jeopardizes the health of nearby residents of a predominantly black, low-income area.A 2014 settlement agreement with the state called for ExxonMobil to pay m
  
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• Edwards criticizes 'lackadaisical' House effort

  04-03-2016 13:01
  
  BATON ROUGE - Gov. John Bel Edwards says with only days remaining in a special legislative session, lawmakers have "failed to produce" a budget balancing solution.While the Democratic governor's comments were broad Friday, he acknowledged his main point of complaint was the House, where Republican leaders have bottled up tax bills that could be used to bail out the budget.For days, Edwards has said he expected a deal would be struck to close hefty gaps in the budget for this year and for next ye
  
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• LAPD investigates knife purportedly found at OJ Simpson home

  04-03-2016 12:32
  
  LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles police are investigating a knife purportedly found some time ago at the former home of O.J. Simpson, who was acquitted of murder charges in the 1994 stabbing deaths of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman.Police Capt. Andy Neiman confirmed the investigation Friday but released few details, stressing that the authenticity of the story is not known.The weapon used in the killings has been a mystery for decades.The account of the knife's discovery wa
  
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• Trump, Cruz rally in New Orleans area ahead of LA primary

  04-03-2016 12:05
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Donald Trump and Ted Cruz were in the New Orleans area Friday evening ahead of the Louisiana presidential preference primary.Donald Trump, the front-runner for the GOP talked about the problems he says the country faces including the military, health care, and education.
  " We can't win with our military. We can't win on the borders. We can't win with trade. We can't win with health care," said Trump.Ted Cruz was scheduled to speak at the Castine Center in Pelican Park, in Mandevill
  
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• Local dealership receives highest award in nation from Honda Motor Co.

  04-03-2016 12:04
  
  BATON ROUGE - Local car dealership TEAM Honda has been awarded the 2015 Honda President’s Award for a state record breaking 13th time. They also were named a Honda Masters Circle Award recipient, the highest distinction given by the American Honda Motor Company.“It is an honor to announce the members of the 2015 Honda Masters Circle,” said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of Honda Division. “The Masters Circle progra
  
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• Police: Shooting suspect at large, armed and dangerous

  04-03-2016 11:48
  
  BATON ROUGE - Police identified the suspect in a North Baton Rouge shooting from February.Detectives said Aurtrell Bivens, 21, shot at two people on Huron Street after an argument. One person was shot and was treated at a hospital following the altercation on February 23rd just before midnight.Police said Bivens had someone with him but did not release information about the other possible suspect. Bivens is wanted for two counts of attempted murder and illegal use of a weapon. Authorities descri
  
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• Annoyed Edwards hammers lawmakers over budget Friday

  04-03-2016 11:39
  
  BATON ROUGE - Hopes that the state budget crisis was nearing a resolve were shattered Friday when the legislative body that monitors finance determined a plan to generate $75 million before the end of the budget year wouldn't work out.The plan called for a change to the payment schedule under which businesses turn over sales tax collections to the state, the Associated Press reported. Lawmakers hoped the change would generate millions before June 30 th but Senate Finance Chairman Eric LaFleur re
  
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• Louisiana prepares for presidential primary in heated race

  04-03-2016 09:01
  
  NEW ORLEANS- Louisiana is preparing to take part in the country's heated presidential primary vote.
      
  Voters go to the polls Saturday to vote for their preferred candidates in the Republican and Democratic primary races.
      
  Candidates were in the state for last-minute campaigning. Donald Trump, riding high off his Super Tuesday success, was planning a rally Friday night in New Orleans. Ted Cruz was also rallying supporters in Mandeville
  
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• Medical examiner: Water, drugs led to Bobbi Kristina's death

  04-03-2016 07:24
  
  ATLANTA, GA.- A medical examiner says Bobbi Kristina Brown's face being immersed in water, along with drug intoxication, led to her death last year.
      
  The Fulton County Medical Examiner's office in Atlanta released a statement Friday morning on the death as it prepares to release the full autopsy report.
      
  The 22-year-old daughter of singers Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown was found face-down and unresponsive in a bathtub in her suburba
  
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• March 4, 2016 Morning News Pop

  04-03-2016 06:58
  
  Here are today's top stories:2 dead, 1 injured in overnight house fire Louisiana primary election being held on SaturdayDevon Gales returns tomorrowYour nice weekend starts todayUpdates all day, every day:FACEBOOK | TWITTERPermalink| Comments
  
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• Families of 12 passengers on Flight 370 file lawsuits

  04-03-2016 05:12
  
  KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia- Families of 12 passengers on Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 have sued the carrier and the government, ahead of a filing deadline next week on the second anniversary of the plane's disappearance.
      
  The Boeing 777 carrying 239 flew far off course for unknown reasons after leaving Kuala Lumpur for Beijing on March 8, 2014. A global aviation agreement sets a two-year deadline for lawsuits by next-of-kin over air accidents.
     &
  
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• Louisiana Senate, John Bel Edwards push back on House's deeper budget cuts

  04-03-2016 03:16
  
  The Senate Finance Committee said the House's cuts were mostly unworkable.
  
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• 2 dead, 1 injured in overnight house fire

  04-03-2016 02:46
  
  BATON ROUGE- Two people were killed and one was injured in an overnight house fire in Baton Rouge.Firefighters responded to the blaze in the 1600 block of N. 38th Street near Gus Young around 1:30 a.m. Friday morning. Two people were found dead at the scene. One woman was taken to the hospital with burn injuries. According to Mark Miles with the Baton Rouge Fire Department, the woman told firefighters that she tried to run into the house to rescue her father and son and that's when she
  
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• Mississippi River rising again, could trigger new restrictions

  04-03-2016 00:46
  
  The river won't rise enough to trigger another opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway, but will require restrictions on work near levees.
  
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• Watch LSU vs. Wisconsin football hype video

  04-03-2016 00:04
  
  Lambeau Field College Classic pits Tigers vs. Badgers.
  
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