Baton Rouge news

• Baker submits audit to state 4 months late

  06-04-2016 19:23
  
  BAKER - Baker Mayor Harold Rideau admits he’s run a loose ship when it comes to tracking the state’s money and property. Now the city is scrambling to submit its financial information to the state four months late.
   
  Meltus Dike, who runs a business in Baker, said he’s concerned that his elected leaders and those being paid to do the city’s work are failing.“Every accountant is supposed to know what to do,” Dike said. &ldqu
  
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• Louisiana legislator pushing alternative for dealing with TOPS cuts: Spread the pain

  06-04-2016 19:07
  
  If TOPS isn't fully funded next year, one legislator wants all TOPS scholarship to be cut by a little bit, instead of some people not getting the scholarship altogether.
  
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• Rescuer talks about finding burglary victim beaten, bound Wednesday

  06-04-2016 18:27
  
  BATON ROUGE - Mike Womack heard screams for help Wednesday and stumbled into a busy crime scene."He was calling for 911, (for) someone to help him, call 911 or something," Womack told WBRZ reporter Natalia Verdina about how he found the victim of a home burglary who was attacked by the crooks. The attack happened on Wylie Drive in the Kenilworth area."He was bound up, we cut him loose and called 911 for him," Womack said. The unidentified victim was beaten and tied by two attackers who
  
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• City council will discuss embattled police chief Thursday

  06-04-2016 17:51
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - The city council will discuss the future of Police Chief Scott Jones at a special meeting Thursday afternoon.Jones has been on leave since early February while an internal investigation was conducted into how the Denham Springs Police Department handled a domestic violence call involving a city councilman. With Jones, Captain Steve Kistler was also placed on leave with pay.A meeting announcement about the council gathering Thursday reports the city's legislative body will "discu
  
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• How will lawmakers curb TOPS spending?

  06-04-2016 16:46
  
  BATON ROUGE – The House Education Committee met Wednesday to feel out plans to curb TOPS spending.Lawmakers tossed out some ideas but didn’t agree on any one plan. One proposal would raise the minimum grade point average requirement from 2.3 to 2.5. Another plan would require students to pay back some of their scholarship if they quit school.Committee Chairperson Nancy Landry said lawmakers are trying to make TOPS sustainable.“It’s not just here for studen
  
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• Treasurer Kennedy announces $800K raised for US Senate race

  06-04-2016 16:32
  
  BATON ROUGE - Republican Treasurer John Kennedy says he has raised more than $800,000 for his U.S. Senate campaign.Kennedy's campaign announced the fundraising figure Wednesday, more than a week before reports for the quarter ending March 31 are due to the Federal Election Commission.The state treasurer's campaign says 95 percent of the money came from Louisiana donors.When he announced in January, Kennedy started off well behind two of his GOP competitors. In their last campaign finance reports
  
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• Proposed high school in hands of voters Saturday

  06-04-2016 16:18
  
  SPRINGFIELD - The fate of a new high school campus will be in the hands of voters Saturday in the Springfield school district with a $14 million bond issue on the ballot.The money would go toward building a new school on land already owned by the Livingston Parish school system. Right now temporary buildings house 19 classrooms across the three schools in the Springfield area. Enrollment numbers have also continued to grow as Springfield High projects 405 students for next year, according to Pri
  
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• Study committee to discuss BRPD body camera program

  06-04-2016 12:34
  
  BATON ROUGE- A BRPD study committee will meet on Wednesday to discuss the use of a body camera program for its officers.The Metro Council approved 100 body cameras last year for a pilot program in the city.
  At the meeting, police will discuss their experiences with the cameras and the possible implementation of them into everyday patrols. Wednesday afternoon at City Hall to discuss the matter.The meeting will be at 1 p.m. at City Hall in Room 209.Permalink| Comments
  
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• State police: Trooper shoots, injures driver in Raceland

  06-04-2016 12:30
  
  RACELAND - Louisiana State Police say a trooper shot and wounded a driver during a confrontation following a traffic stop in Raceland.The Courier reports police say the incident happened Sunday night.State police Sgt. Nick Manale says a trooper spotted 48-year-old Preston Perez driving a minivan recklessly on Louisiana Highway 308.Police say Perez then lost control of the vehicle, hitting a bridge before ending up on the other side of the road.Manale says a confrontation ensued and the unidentif
  
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• Sentence set in misdemeanor BP oil spill pollution case

  06-04-2016 12:27
  
  NEW ORLEANS - A federal criminal case arising from the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is nearing its end.Donald Vidrine, a former BP engineer who was a supervisor aboard the Deepwater Horizon rig is set for sentencing Wednesday on a misdemeanor Clean Water Act charge.Prosecutors claimed Vidrine and another supervisor botched a pressure test before the rig's explosion, which sent millions of gallons of oil spewing into the Gulf.Vidrine pleaded guilty in December to the pollution charge.A
  
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• Edwards appoints Hogan to fisheries commission

  06-04-2016 12:24
  
  BATON ROUGE - Gov. John Bel Edwards has appointed the president and CEO of Ruston Bank to the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.William D. Hogan will serve as an at-large member. He replaces Ronny Graham of Ruston.Hogan will attend his first commission meeting as a board member Thursday in Baton Rouge.An avid outdoorsman and longtime Louisiana resident, Hogan says he's honored to serve and support the state's efforts to "conserve, protect and wisely use our abundant hunting and fishing
  
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• Battle between religious and gay rights splits GOP states

  06-04-2016 12:21
  
  JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Republican lawmakers have advanced measures in about a dozen states this year that could strengthen protections for those who refuse for religious reasons to provide services to gay couples.The bills could benefit court clerks, photographers, florists, bakers, wedding-hall operators and others who say gay matrimony goes against their beliefs.Mississippi's governor signed a wide-ranging measure Tuesday. But other sweeping measures have failed, stalled or are still pending in
  
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• Advocates to rally at Capitol to raise prosecution age

  06-04-2016 09:46
  
  BATON ROUGE- Louisiana is one of nine states that prosecute 17-year-olds as adults, and supporters looking to raise the prosecution age in the state are set to rally at the State Capitol on Wednesday to kick off the first Youth Justice Day.Supporters, including Gov. John Bel Edwards and State Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Johnson, are calling on the state to follow the 41 states that currently include 17-year-olds in the juvenile justice system.A rally will kick off the first Youth Justic
  
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• DOTD: Traffic signs to be installed on Walker South Road Wednesday night

  06-04-2016 09:19
  
  WALKER - DOTD crews are set to install permanent traffic management detour signs in the area on Wednesday night.The detour signs will be installed northbound on Walker South Road just south of Florida Boulevard and northbound on South Range Avenue south of Florida Boulevard.The northbound right lane of each affected road will be closed during the construction work and other lanes are to remain open.The work will start on Wednesday from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Permalink| Comments
  
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• State awards $800K loan to improve town's water system

  06-04-2016 08:52
  
  BATON ROUGE - The state Department of Health and Hospitals has awarded an $800,000 loan to improve a Louisiana town's water system.
      
  The department announced Tuesday that the town of Jackson in East Feliciana Parish closed the low-interest, subsidized loan on March 24.
      
  The money will pay for construction of a water well to replace a well that will be abandoned due to water quality concerns. A new emergency generator system also will
  
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• Police: 2 shot, wounded during drug deal in New Orleans

  06-04-2016 07:43
  
  NEW ORLEANS- Police say two men have been hospitalized after they were shot during a drug deal in New Orleans.
         New Orleans police say the unidentified men, ages 21 and 23, took a taxi to Algiers, where authorities say they arranged to meet a drug dealer.
      
  Police say at some point during the meeting, a fight broke out, and the suspected gunman shot both men.
      
  The New Orleans
  
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• April 6, 2016 Morning News Pop

  06-04-2016 06:54
  
  Here are today's top stories:CATS CEO quits Tuesday; read his resignation hereLegal weed proposals start moving through capitolRegulating booze, tailgating hours part of sweeping changes LSU is consideringSun early, a passing shower possible lateUpdates all day, every day:FACEBOOK | TWITTERPermalink| Comments
  
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• White House to transfer Ebola funds to combat Zika virus

  06-04-2016 05:37
  
  WASHINGTON- Congressional officials say the Obama administration is about to announce it will transfer leftover money from the largely successful fight against Ebola to combat the growing threat of the Zika virus.
      
  The officials say roughly 75 percent of the $600 million or so would be devoted to the Centers for Disease Control. The agency focuses on research and development of anti-Zika vaccines, treating those infected with the virus and combating the mosquitoes
  
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• Louisiana universities talk privatization while facing another round of budget cuts

  06-04-2016 04:26
  
  "If we raise our expectations to what we have in sports, we can do these things." - LSU President King Alexander, of competing with other flagship schools in academic around the country.
  
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• Sentencing hearing set in misdemeanor BP oil spill pollution case

  06-04-2016 04:19
  
  NEW ORLEANS- A federal criminal case arising from the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is nearing its end.
      
  Donald Vidrine, a former BP engineer who was a supervisor aboard the Deepwater Horizon rig is set for sentencing Wednesday on a misdemeanor Clean Water Act charge.
      
  Prosecutors claimed Vidrine and another supervisor botched a pressure test before the rig's explosion, which sent millions of gallons of oil spewing into the
  
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• San Francisco to require paid leave for new mothers and fathers

  06-04-2016 03:29
  
  SAN FRANCISCO- San Francisco officials are trying to make life a little more affordable for workers who eke out a living in one of the most expensive cities in the country by approving a novel paid parental leave policy.
      
  Mayor Ed Lee is expected to sign the legislation approved Tuesday that requires employers provide fully paid leave for new mothers and new fathers.
      
  Currently, the state of California pays about 55 percent of a worke
  
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• TOPS funding has never been this uncertain

  06-04-2016 02:38
  
  The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance has not been able to tell current college students, incoming freshman and their families what the ACT cutoff score to receive TOPS for next fall and spring will be yet.
  
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• Cruz, Sanders win Wisconsin

  06-04-2016 02:32
  
  NEW YORK- Republican Donald Trump is emerging from Wisconsin as a damaged front-runner following a crushing loss to rival Ted Cruz. It's a significant setback that deepens questions about the businessman's White House qualifications and pushes the GOP contest toward a rare contested convention fight.After months of dominating the Republican race, Trump suddenly finds himself on the defensive. He's struggled through a series of missteps, including his campaign manager's legal issues after an alte
  
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• Donte Jackson academically ineligible for spring practice

  06-04-2016 00:51
  
  Also done for the 2016 outdoor track season
  
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