Baton Rouge news

• Louisiana budget gap growing as tax hikes fall short; more cuts coming

  16-03-2016 23:17
  
  Louisiana's current-year budget gap is back, forcing larger cuts than lawmakers thought would be necessary when they ended a special session a week ago.  Legislators thought they were about $30 million short of closing a $950 million deficit in the budget cycle...
  
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• LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron to take $300,000 pay cut with extension

  16-03-2016 22:09
  
  New contract goes through 2018 season, expires March 31, 2019.
  
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• Louisiana still short more than $70 million for current budget, $750 million next cycle

  16-03-2016 17:49
  
  Louisiana is still facing a deficit of more than $66 million in the current budget cycle and a $750 million shortfall in the next fiscal cycle, despite Gov. John Bel Edwards and the Louisiana Legislature voting to raise $1.5 billion worth of taxes during the next 15 months.
  
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• Oil platform fire extinguished after Tuesday explosion

  16-03-2016 17:45
  
  BATON ROUGE – The Coast Guard and local authorities are still investigating a fire at an oil platform near Bayou Sorrel Wednesday.According to a statement Wednesday, crews extinguished the fire around 1 p.m. Wednesday and will remain at the scene to monitor the platform.Shortly before 9 a.m., a storage tank exploded on the platform in Berry Lake west of Bayou Richard as the platform was being dismantled. Two large storage tanks with an estimated 33,000 gallons of crude oil caught fire.
  
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• Edwards requests Ascension to be added to Federal Disaster Declaration

  16-03-2016 17:28
  
  BATON ROUGE – Governor John Bel Edwards requested Wednesday that President Barack Obama add three additional parishes to the federal disaster declaration issued last week.Edwards asked Obama to add Allen, Ascension and Calcasieu parishes to the list of locations to receive federal aid. Edwards said due to the recent weather, flood water has damaged more than 900 homes in all three parishes.Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes were already added to the designated FEMA disaster ar
  
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• Officials end Livingston Parish curfew

  16-03-2016 17:03
  
  LIVINGSTON – Officials have ended a curfew for Livingston Parish after severe weather brought record rainfall to the parish last week.Parish President Layton Rick announced Wednesday that the curfew was lifted.Rick and Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard issued the curfew last week that only allowed emergency responders to travel in flood effected areas after dusk. The curfew was only in effect for areas that experienced severe flooding.School officials closed schools Monday d
  
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• Morgan City housing agency's ex-employees plead not guilty in theft case

  16-03-2016 15:55
  
  LAFAYETTE - A former executive director of the Morgan City Housing Authority and two former employees have pleaded not guilty to charges they conspired to steal more than $500,000 in bonus payments from the agency.
      
  U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley's office says 78-year-old Charles E. Spann, 64-year-old Diana L. Pace and 59-year-old Sandra L. Green entered their pleas on Wednesday.
      
  Spann, Pace, Green and a fourth former employee, 38-ye
  
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• Chicago removes sales tax on tampons, sanitary napkins

  16-03-2016 15:52
  
  CHICAGO - The Chicago City Council has rescinded a city sales tax on tampons and sanitary napkins.Wednesday's vote followed a recommendation that was made without opposition by the City Council's finance committee last week. The items are taxed 10.25 percent in Chicago. The vote will remove Chicago's portion of that tax, or 1.25 percent. Supporters say the measure corrects an unfairness to women.Tampons and sanitary napkins are now characterized as medical necessities to be exempted.The tax on t
  
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• Michelle Obama tells SXSW crowd she won't run for president

  16-03-2016 15:47
  
  AUSTIN, Texas - Michelle Obama used the South by Southwest Music Festival to show off her vocal chops and make a quick announcement - she's not running for president.The first lady made her debut Wednesday at the Austin showcase of buzzworthy bands and technology. She sat with Grammy winners Queen Latifah and Missy Elliott to talk about girls' education and empowerment.But Mrs. Obama broke into song when reflecting on seven years in the White House. She said "time is almost up" before softly sin
  
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• College goes on lockdown after light saber mistaken for gun

  16-03-2016 15:43
  
  EAST FARMINGDALE, N.Y. - A New York college that went on lockdown over a report of a gun on campus says the weapon turned out to be a light saber.Students and staff members at Farmingdale State College on Long Island were told to shelter in place Wednesday while police investigated a report that someone was assembling a rifle in a school parking lot.College spokeswoman Kathryn Coley says the rifle was actually a "Star Wars" toy.Farmingdale State is part of the State University of New York system
  
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• Sony to launch virtual reality headset in October

  16-03-2016 15:42
  
  SAN FRANCISCO - Sony confirmed on Tuesday that it will launch a PlayStation VR virtual reality headset in October for $399.The announcement was made during an event at the Game Developer’s Conference in California.The company says that more than 230 developers and publishers are working on the software that is compatible with PlayStation VR.As of Jan., the company reports that sales of Sony’s video game console topped $35 million worldwide.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Airlines dodge legislation aimed at curbing excessive fees

  16-03-2016 15:34
  
  WASHINGTON - A Senate panel has approved an aviation policy bill after a partisan fight over whether airlines are unfairly gouging consumers with fees for basic services like checked bags, seat assignments and ticket changes.The Senate commerce committee approved by a voice vote a bill to continue the Federal Aviation Administration's authority to operate through Oct. 1, 2017. That authority is currently due to expire on March 31.The committee's Democrats led by Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., trie
  
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• US: Rifle found at El Chapo hideout tied to Fast and Furious

  16-03-2016 15:32
  
  WASHINGTON - The Justice Department has confirmed that one of the guns Mexican officials say was found at the hideout of drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is associated with Fast and Furious, a botched gun-smuggling operation.The department said in a letter to Congress that a .50-caliber rifle recovered after El Chapo's arrest in January has been traced back to Fast and Furious.Officials say the weapon was one of 19 firearms recovered from the hideout and was the only one determined to be conn
  
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• Judge orders Chipotle to rehire worker fired after tweets

  16-03-2016 15:30
  
  HAVERTOWN, Pa.  - An administrative judge has ordered Chipotle to rehire a Philadelphia-area employee who was fired after criticizing the company on Twitter last year.Philly.com reports the judge on Monday found that Chipotle's social media policy violated the National Labor Relations Act. Chipotle was ordered to pay back wages to James Kennedy and post notices telling employees some of its past policies violated labor laws.Kennedy had tweeted about the company's "cheap" labor policies.
  
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• Court: Inmate who survived '09 execution can be put to death

  16-03-2016 15:28
  
  COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio Supreme Court says the state can try again to execute a condemned killer who survived a 2009 botched execution.The court ruled 4-3 Wednesday to reject arguments by death row inmate Romell Broom that giving the state prisons agency a second chance would amount to cruel and unusual punishment and double jeopardy.The state stopped Broom's 2009 execution after two hours when executioners failed to find a usable vein following 18 attempts to insert needles.The 59-year-old Br
  
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• Louisiana will know more about how big its budget hole is Wednesday

  16-03-2016 14:49
  
  Gov. John Bel Edwards appeared frustrated he didn't have more information about the financial shortfall on Monday, five days after the Legislature passed new taxes and budget cuts aimed at improving the financial shortfall.
  
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• 24-year-old man arrested by LSU police for stalking and harassing student

  16-03-2016 14:10
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana State University Police arrested 24-year-old Joshua Davis for stalking and criminal mischief of a student.According to LSU Police, four separate complaints were received from the victim where repeated harassment occurred through vandalism of her car.LSU police say the victim was previously in a dating relationship with Davis that ended in February 2015.
  According to LSU police, the victim was harassed by Davis through social media, phone calls and texts, in-person visits
  
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• Foster Moreau: 'All of a sudden I was playing SEC football'

  16-03-2016 13:30
  
  LSU sophomore tight end Foster Moreau missed an opportunity to get better this spring when he got sick and didn't participate in the first two practices.  He sure didn't miss his opportunity last year. Moreau, a New Orleanian who prepped at...
  
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• Men accused of tossing kittens arrested for animal cruelty

  16-03-2016 13:25
  
  NEW IBERIA - The Humane Society reports a pair of men accused of throwing two kittens out on the side of a New Iberia road have been arrested on animal cruelty charges.Rocky Gates, Director of the Angel Paws Adoption agency, was leaving her facility around noon on Saturday when she said she saw two young men pull over in a truck, get out of the vehicle and then proceed to toss two kittens into tall grass near the edge of the road.Gates said the men then got back in the truck and sped away from t
  
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• Deion Jones' 40 time among notable LSU Pro Timing Day numbers

  16-03-2016 13:00
  
  Linebacker Deion Jones sets a blistering pace with 4.38 40-time. '
  
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• Detectives shut down Abita Springs pot dealing operation, seize $100k in drugs

  16-03-2016 12:29
  
  ABITA SPRINGS - Detectives with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office say a narcotics task force arrested two people and seized more than $100,000 in high-grade marijuana.37-year-old Wyrick Tyson was booked on charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 28-year-old Ashley Fleming was booked on charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and
  
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• GOP debate cancelled after Trump, Kasich skip

  16-03-2016 12:14
  
  WASHINGTON - The Republican presidential debate scheduled for Monday in Salt Lake City has been canceled after front runner Donald Trump and John Kasich said they would not attend.Karen Boe, a spokeswoman for the Salt Palace Convention Center, said they were informed Wednesday morning that the event was being scrapped.Donald Trump said Wednesday morning he would not participate because "we've had enough debates." Trump said Wednesday on Fox News that he's committed to a big speech the s
  
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• More than 1,000 La. National Guardsmen operating in flooded parishes

  16-03-2016 11:47
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana National Guard says more than 1,000 guardsmen are currently assisting with emergency flood operations in the wake of last week’s heavy rainfall.So far, the National Guard’s operations have included evacuations, engineer assessment search and rescue, distribution of meals and water, security and shelter support and sandbag distribution.During current operations, the Louisiana National Guard reports they have rescued over 5,185 citizens and 665 pets.
  
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• Coast Guard helicopter medevacs man from Venice marina

  16-03-2016 11:28
  
  NEW ORLEANS - A 55-year-old man was medevaced by a Coast Guard helicopter crew Tuesday night at a marina near Venice.The Coast Guard Sector New Orleans said they received notification that the man was having difficulty breathing and walking at Port Eads Marina in Venice, and a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew was dispatched to assist.The helicopter crew arrived on the scene at 11 p.m., hoisted the patient into the helicopter and transported him to Air Station New Orleans where
  
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• Trump still not doing well enough to guarantee nomination

  16-03-2016 11:12
  
  WASHINGTON - Donald Trump is the only candidate with a path to clinching the Republican nomination for president before the party's national convention in July.But despite four more wins on Tuesday, the billionaire businessman still must do better.Trump's rivals can only hope to stop him, forcing a contested convention with an uncertain outcome.The AP delegate count has Trump winning 47 percent of the delegates awarded so far. That's not good enough - it takes a majority of delegates to win the
  
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• Gov. Edwards wants more construction money on roads, maintenance

  16-03-2016 11:08
  
  BATON ROUGE - Gov. John Bel Edwards intends to rework Louisiana's construction budget.
      
  The governor says he will steer more dollars to roadwork and repairs of existing state buildings. He says his administration is going to drop some of the smaller, local projects favored by state lawmakers for their districts.
      
  It's an unusual decision for a Louisiana governor. Moving away from spending state construction dollars on local projects w
  
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• UPDATE: Obama says Supreme Court nominee confirmation above politics

  16-03-2016 09:31
  
  WASHINGTON -Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland says fidelity to the law and the Constitution has been the cornerstone of his professional life. He's promising to bring that same principle to the high court if confirmed.
      
  Garland was visibly emotional as he accepted President Barack Obama's nomination in the White House Rose Garden with his family watching. He says being nominated by President Barack Obama is the greatest honor of his life, other than marrying hi
  
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• EBRSO: Victim defends himself against murder attempt with shovel, suspect arrested

  16-03-2016 09:18
  
  BATON ROUGE - East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office arrested 30-year-old Juan Vasquez for attempted murder of a man in the 3700 block of Victoria Drive.According to the EBR sheriff’s office, the incident occurred on Tuesday, Mar. 8, at around 3 p.m. when officers responded to three men fighting outside of a store.Police say that the victim stated he was confronted in front of the store near a trailer park by Vasquez and another male, Juan Omar Delgado.According to the sheriff&
  
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• Houma Civic Center hurricane upgrades completed

  16-03-2016 08:20
  
  HOUMA - Renovations to make the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center more resilient to hurricanes have been completed.
      
  Beginning in 2012, The Courier reports Terrebonne Parish began the work of hardening key facilities around the parish to allow needed officials and first responders to perform the work of getting the parish back on its feet after hurricanes.
      
  The Civic Center was included in an effort by the parish to make public buildings
  
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• Red Cross opens four additional shelters for residents impacted by flooding

  16-03-2016 08:11
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Red Cross opened four additional shelters in Natchitoches, Rapides, St. Tammany, and Washington Parishes for those affected by flooding due to the severe weather.
  Nearly 200 residents spent Tuesday night in 16 Red Cross and community shelters in Louisiana.Since the severe weather has slammed the state, Red Cross has provided more than 1,200 overnight stays in 24 shelters, served nearly 20,750 meals and snacks, and distributed more than 8,100 relief items.The four additional Red
  
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• Louisiana's Affordable Care Act enrollees 102K new customers

  16-03-2016 07:52
  
  BATON ROUGE- The Department of Health and Human Services says roughly 102,000 of the more than 214,000 Louisiana residents who bought health coverage for 2016 through the federal marketplace are new customers.
      
  Louisiana customers were also shopping for new Affordable Care Act plans. Those who switched insurers and plans saved an average of about $18 per month, or roughly $211 a year, for the same level of coverage.
      
  Health and human
  
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• March 16, 2016 Morning News Pop

  16-03-2016 07:15
  
  Here are today's top stories:For those in storm shelters, future still uncertainTangipahoa Parish residents blessed with arrival of more flood relief groups Unlikely qulifier Holy Cross plays Southern in First Four Mid-week begins with a transitioning weather patternUpdates all day, every day:FACEBOOK | TWITTERPermalink| Comments
  
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• I-10 remains closed at the Louisiana-Texas state line

  16-03-2016 07:03
  
  LAKE CHARLES- Louisiana State Police say Interstate 10 is closed in both directions at the Texas state line.
      
  Sgt. Gary Smith with Troop D in Lake Charles says rising flood water from the Sabine River is covering the interstate Wednesday morning on the Texas side.
      
  Troopers say drivers should use Interstate 20 to travel between the two states.
      
  National Weather Service meteorologist Stephen Carboni in La
  
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• Ascension Parish justice of the peace removed for misconduct

  16-03-2016 04:19
  
  NEW ORLEANS- The Louisiana Supreme Court has removed Ascension Parish Justice of the Peace Leroy Laiche Jr. from office over judicial misconduct.
      
  The court also Tuesday ordered Laiche, who served in the Second Justice of the Peace Court in Prairieville, to pay back the $14,244 that it cost the state Judiciary Commission to investigate his case.
      
  Laiche faced allegations of rude behavior to courtroom litigants, improper handling of pe
  
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• Coroner's Office says Derrick Todd Lee died of heart disease

  16-03-2016 03:20
  
  NEW ORLEANS- Officials say serial killer Derrick Todd Lee, who was suspected of killing seven women, died of heart disease.
      
  Chaillie Daniel, a representative for West Feliciana Parish Coroner, revealed the cause of death on Tuesday.    
  Lee died Jan. 21, days after being taken to a hospital outside the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, where he was being held on death row.
      
  Kim Hodgin, an assistant to
  
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• Emergency officials respond to Bayou Sorrel oil platform fire

  16-03-2016 01:08
  
  One storage tank collapsed and spilled crude oil in the water. Two workers aboard the platform when it exploded and caught fire weren't injured.
  
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