Baton Rouge news

• LSU says 2nd special session would be bad timing for classes, staffing

  09-03-2016 22:15
  
  The university needs to know well in advance of July what its budget might be so it can schedule classes and retain staff. LSU wouldn't know how many people it would be able to hire for next year if its budget isn't set until June.
  
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• Another day, another dedicated tax request in Baton Rouge: JR Ball

  09-03-2016 21:46
  
  The East Baton Rouge Council on Aging, worried state government is about to whack a chunk of its funding, wants a dedicated property tax to keep its operation up and running. Here we go again. Another group, another dedicated tax...
  
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• LSU LB Duke Riley wants to be the next Deion Jones

  09-03-2016 20:42
  
  Senior linebacker getting a shot at OLB starting job.
  
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• Louisiana's derogatory tweets: Prejudice, or something else?

  09-03-2016 19:32
  
  Many commenters suggested that the high numbers might be because some people are using that "prejudiced language" in a positive way
  
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• With 6 p.m. deadline, Louisiana Legislature still doesn't have budget deal

  09-03-2016 19:10
  
  Senate President John Alario, R-Westwego, blames the stalemate on "Washington style" politics.
  
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• Federal appeals court to rehear Texas voter ID case

  09-03-2016 18:30
  
  NEW ORLEANS - A federal appeals court has decided to hold a new hearing on whether a Texas voter ID law has a discriminatory effect on minorities.
      
  A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled in August that it does. But an order issued late Wednesday says a majority of the full court, which currently has 15 members, has voted to hear the case again.
      
  A new hearing date hasn't been set. Last summer
  
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• State of Emergency declared in North Louisiana due to severe weather

  09-03-2016 18:21
  
  BATON ROUGE - Governor John Bel Edwards called for a State of Emergency for several North Louisiana parishes Wednesday afternoon in the wake of Wednesday's severe weather.The parishes covered by the declaration include Acadia, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, Desoto, East Carroll, Grant Lincoln, Morehouse, Ouachita, Red River, Richland, Union, Webster and West Carroll.The National Weather Service has issued flash flood watched in several Louisiana parishes.A strong storm system has caused t
  
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• Car flips into bayou along I-110 Wednesday evening

  09-03-2016 17:55
  
  BATON ROUGE - Traffic slowed as emergency crews worked a crash where a vehicle drove into a bayou along I-110 Wednesday evening.Crews were dispatched to the wreck off I-110 between Harding and Airline Highway shortly after 5:30.  The car flipped into Monte Sano Bayou.Police said the man driving the vehicle was headed northbound when, for unknown reasons, hit the guard rail and traveled along it for a time until flipping into the bayou.  The driver had minor injuries, p
  
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• Wednesday heavy rain, severe weather, will be mostly west of I-55

  09-03-2016 17:37
  
  There's still a 30 percent chance of rain in New Orleans, north shore on Wednesday, with small chance of severe weather.
  
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• Lower Livingston Parish bracing for flooding

  09-03-2016 17:29
  
  KILLIAN - People who live near the Tickfaw River in Livingston Parish are bracing for expected heavy rains that will likely create flooding issues.The ground is already saturated in parts of the town of Killian along a canal that is connected to the Tickfaw River. Five months ago during flooding, resident Ronald Falgout said he loves his riverfront home on Johnson Drive near Highway 22. He said he wouldn't give it up for anything in the world.Today that's a different story for Falgout."Oh I'm go
  
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• Ascension Parish Public Schools to remain open despite forecasted severe weather

  09-03-2016 16:57
  
  DONALDSONVILLE - Ascension Parish Public Schools say they’ll remain open Thursday despite a severe weather threat, but officials say they’re continuing to monitor the situation and will post updates online.A release from school administrators Wednesday afternoon said that officials continue to actively monitor weather forecasts, and they are consulting with emergency officials.They say local forecasts call for four to seven inches of rain between Thursday and Saturday along w
  
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• Executive charged with stealing $7.6M from company

  09-03-2016 16:34
  
  BATON ROUGE - A former corporate executive has been charged with engaging in a scheme to steal more than $7.6 million from a Baton Rouge-based company that provides home health services.
      
  A court filing says 41-year-old David Michael Pitts intends to plead guilty to the wire fraud charge that U.S. Attorney Walt Green's office filed against him on Wednesday.
      
  Pitts was a vice president for Amedisys Inc. from 2005 through July 2014 and
  
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• Local dealership receives highest award in nation from Ford Motor Company

  09-03-2016 16:18
  
  BATON ROUGE – Local car dealership Robinson Brothers Ford Lincoln has been awarded the 2015 President's award for Ford Motor Company for a second year in a row.The award was bestowed upon dealers who achieve the highest levels of customer satisfaction for sales and service. This year marks the second year in a row that the local dealership has won the prestigious award. The dealership is located at 11455 Airline Hwy. in Baton Rouge. You can view their website
  
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• Mexican former president: A Trump presidency risks trade war

  09-03-2016 15:58
  
  SAN FRANCISCO DEL RINCON, Mexico - Former Mexican President Vicente Fox says a Donald Trump presidency could lead Mexico and the U.S. to a trade war that would hurt both countries.A day after Trump stretched his lead over GOP rivals with wins in Michigan, Mississippi and Hawaii, Fox says that if he were to impose tariffs Mexico would have to react in kind.Fox says "we are going to lose everything in a trade war."He added Wednesday that it's up to Hillary Clinton to "save" the United States from
  
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• Science fair 7th grader shows footballs deflate sans Brady

  09-03-2016 15:29
  
  LYNN, Mass. - Seventh-grader Ben Goodell has earned honors at a Massachusetts school science fair for his demonstration of how footballs can deflate on their own.Ben Goodell - no relation to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell - tells The Daily Item he wanted to prove that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady didn't deflate footballs in the "Deflategate" scandal.The St. Pius V Elementary School student says he exposed properly inflated footballs to different weather conditions, includi
  
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• Chipotle store in Mass. closed on norovirus fears

  09-03-2016 15:08
  
  NEW YORY - Chipotle says one of its stores in Massachusetts is closed after four employees said they were feeling ill.The closure comes as Chipotle fights to win back customers following a series of food scares that sickened customers around the country. Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. has said it's instituting a number of food safety procedures to ensure such incidents don't happen again. That includes reminding workers they should stay home if they're not feeling well.The Denver-based chain says n
  
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• Jindal-era tax credit maneuver repealed by state lawmakers

  09-03-2016 14:32
  
  BATON ROUGE - Lawmakers have taken a shot at former Gov. Bobby Jindal in the special legislative session, giving final passage to a measure aimed at refuting his budget practices.The House and Senate agreed Wednesday to repeal a heavily-criticized tax credit, called SAVE, that Jindal pushed to protect his anti-tax record as he readied for his failed campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.The credit didn't raise new money or cut anyone's taxes. But it gave Jindal the ability to claim
  
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• Alcohol taxes to rise after rate hike receives final passage

  09-03-2016 14:30
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's drinkers will soon be paying more for their wine and beer.A bill to boost the tax rates charged on alcohol won final passage Wednesday with a 71-23 House vote. The measure heads to Gov. John Bel Edwards, who supports the tax hike to help balance Louisiana's budget.The increase kicks in April 1.Rep. Kenny Cox, the Natchitoches Democrat who sponsored the bill, says the tax hike will raise the cost of a case of beer by 18 cents - or about three-quarters of a penny per can.
  
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• 5 minutes with LSU OL Maea Teuhema

  09-03-2016 14:02
  
  Sophomore could become starting left tackle after strong freshman season.
  
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• Over 80 Xerox employees to be terminated

  09-03-2016 13:44
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Xerox State and Local Solutions Inc. branch on Florida Boulevard has announced it will layoff 84 employees by May 6.The company says included in the terminations are 77 customer care specialists, five customer care supervisors and two quality assurance specialists.A spokesperson for the Xerox Corporation said the company is transfering its customer care center operations supporting the Louisiana Department of Family and Child Services to a new vendor."Xerox has supported the St
  
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• New app for smartphones allows citizens to request city services

  09-03-2016 13:33
  
  BATON ROUGE - Baton Rouge Mayor Melvin “Kip” Holden announced the launch of a new web and smartphone app that aims to provide easy-to-use tools so residents can request government services and report issues in real-time.The app, called Red Stick 311, allows users to create online accounts to request and then keep track of the status of service requests. Residents can even upload relevant images to go with those requests.GPS-enabled location services attached to user requests
  
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• Nancy Reagan's final journey complete

  09-03-2016 13:32
  SIMI VALLEY, Calif. - A motorcade carrying former first lady Nancy Reagan's casket has reached the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.Hundreds of people watched Wednesday along the road leading to the library in hill country northwest of Los Angeles.The public will be allowed to pay respects Wednesday afternoon and Thursday before Friday's funeral.Earlier, family and close friends attended a brief service at a Santa Monica mortuary before beginning her final journey.&a
  
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• LSP: 1 dead after wreck involving tow truck in Iberville Parish

  09-03-2016 13:20
  
  WHITE CASTLE - State Police reported a crash in Iberville Parish that left one dead after a car ran a stop sign and was hit by a tow truck.Troopers identified the victim of the wreck as 19-year-old Orthello Batiste, of White Castle.State Police say the crash happened on LA 1 at the intersection of Corporal Herman Brown Jr Street as Batiste failed to yield at a stop sign while traveling westbound. His vehicle was struck by a tow truck driven by 36-year-old Russell Gerace Jr.Batiste was wearing a
  
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• Race, weed and tax evasion topics at Wednesday Metro Council meeting

  09-03-2016 13:01
  
  BATON ROUGE - In what is a relatively short agenda for Wednesday's Metro Council meeting, city leaders started discussing some potentially controversial topics.One item to be discussed is a report from various Baton Rouge government offices about the possibility of providing financial incentives to lure a hospital to North Baton Rouge. City leaders are trying to create a special economic opportunity zone for the area and want a hospital. The proposed North Baton Rouge Economic Opportunity Zone c
  
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• Video shows Google self-driving car hit bus

  09-03-2016 12:57
  
  LOS ANGELES - Newly released video shows the moment a Google self-driving car learned the hard way not to tussle with a public bus.
  The Lexus SUV, outfitted by Google with special sensors, struck the bus on Valentine's Day in the Silicon Valley city of Mountain View.
  Footage released to The Associated Press shows the Lexus edging toward an oncoming Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority bus, then hitting its side. Cameras on the bus recorded the collision.
  A transit agency spokeswoman says
  
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• La. National Guardsmen to help with flooding

  09-03-2016 12:56
  
  NORTH LOUISIANA - Several parishes in northwest Louisiana have declared a state of emergency over widespread flooding, and in response the governor has authorized the National Guard to help.
  Governor John Bel Edwards issued the order Wednesday after nearly a foot of rain fell over parts of northwest Louisiana Tuesday night and Wednesday and more rain is on the way.
  The governor's office says eight guardsmen and four high water vehicles will be used in Bossier Parish.
  Dozens of homes were flooded
  
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• 1st African American female astronaut to speak at Southern University Founders' Day

  09-03-2016 12:33
  
  BATON ROUGE - Southern University will host its 136th Founders' Day on Thursday with the Dr. Mae Jemison, the first African American female astronaut, as the key note speaker.Jemison flew into space in 1992 aboard NASA’s Endeavor Space Shuttle. Jemison will speak at the mid-morning Community Prayer Brunch and the Founders’ Day Convocation in the Felton G. Clark Activity Center on Southern’s campus.The celebration will include a series of activities commemorating the
  
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• New Millerville development to feature TX-based Buc-ee's

  09-03-2016 12:22
  
  BATON ROUGE - Buc-ee's, the behemoth gas station and shopping center with a cult following, will open its first location outside of Texas at a new development at the intersection of I-12 and Millerville.Frequent travelers of I-10 in Texas know Buc-ee's: a 50,000 to 60,000 square foot store with as many as 90 filling stations. The company also boats the "Cleanest restrooms in America." A stop at a Buc-ee's will get you gas, food and clothes since the stores offer a line of clothing and "Beaver Nu
  
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• Chance of severe weather, including tornadoes, on Wednesday

  09-03-2016 09:33
  
  There's a 5 percent chance of tornadoes on Wednesday in Baton Rouge and the River Parishes, and 2 percent chance in the New Orleans area.
  
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• Who will pay? A look at tax bills approved by lawmakers

  09-03-2016 08:56
  
  BATON ROUGE- Louisiana's lawmakers are wrapping up work Wednesday in a special legislative session aimed at balancing this year's budget, with decisions on several tax proposals that could help drum up more money for the state treasury still pending. Here's what passed and what's still pending in the final hours:
      
  WHAT PASSED:
      
  - Boost the cigarette tax from 86 cents per pack to $1.08, starting April 1. Revenue raised: $11 million for
  
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• Devon Gales' road to recovery

  09-03-2016 08:13
  
  BATON ROUGE- Since suffering a serious spinal injury back in September, Southern University's Devon Gales has inspired people all over the world with his courage and positive attitude.  He arrived back in Baton Rouge last weekend after spending the last six months at a rehab facility in Atlanta.
  Gales stopped by 2une In Wednesday morning to talk to JP and Kylie about how his road to recovery and what he has planned for the future.
  Gales has progressed immensly since suffering the injury
  
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• March 9, 2016 Morning News Pop

  09-03-2016 07:05
  
  Here are today's top stories:La. residents brace for severe weatherSpecial session comes to an end at 6 p.m.Mosquito numbers could rise Increased threat for severe weather, heavy rain todayUpdates all day, every day:FACEBOOK | TWITTERPermalink| Comments
  
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• Increased threat for severe weather today, heavy rain tomorrow

  09-03-2016 06:27
  
  The next three days will bring most of the activity that has been forecast since last week. Today and Tonight: Expect showers and thunderstorms to increase through Wednesday. By the afternoon hours, a few storms could be severe with gusty wind and an isolated tornado possible. Locations west of Baton Rouge, and over the Atchafalaya Basin, run the greatest risk for strong storms. Heavy rain could be an issue as well. It will feel muggy with highs in the upper 70s. A wind advisory has bee
  
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• Sentencing day in 'Hollywood South' tax credit trial

  09-03-2016 05:13
  
  NEW ORLEANS- Sentencing time is near for two people convicted last year in a fraud case stemming from the state tax credit program often touted for turning Louisiana into "Hollywood South."
      
  Husband-and-wife film producers Peter Hoffman and Susan Hoffman face sentencing Wednesday. Prosecutors said the Hoffmans were part of a scheme involving renovation of a dilapidated New Orleans mansion into a film production facility. It included the use of fraudulent documents
  
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• John Bel Edwards, Louisiana Legislature closer to reaching a budget deal

  09-03-2016 04:06
  
  "We don't have a choice," said state Rep. Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, when asked if a budget deal would be reached by Wednesday.
  
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• 50 Cent expected in bankruptcy court to explain cash piles

  09-03-2016 03:32
  
  HARTFORD, CT.- Rapper 50 Cent is expected in a Connecticut courtroom to explain photos of him with piles of cash to the judge in his bankruptcy case.
      
  The hearing is set for Wednesday afternoon in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Hartford.
      
  Judge Ann Nevins ordered 50 Cent to court to explain several Instagram photos, including one of him next to piles of cash arranged to spell "broke." The U.S. trustee's office is asking Nevins to appoint an
  
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• Mardi Gras beads are exempt from sales tax now, but maybe not for long

  09-03-2016 03:08
  
  The current sales tax exemption allows "carnival organizations" and Louisiana-based "nonprofit organizations...participating in a parade" to not pay sales tax on purchases of beads, cups, doubloons, coasters and other items that feature their names or insignias.
  
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• Up to 7 inches of rain likely for southeast Louisiana through Friday night

  09-03-2016 01:18
  
  The heaviest rain is expected late Wednesday night and Thursday. Local governments urged residents to clean catch basins, secure back yards
  
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• LSU RB Derrius Guice returns to spring drills Tuesday: Practice report

  09-03-2016 00:07
  
  Tigers work indoors after showers drench practice field.
  
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