Baton Rouge news

• Needing 2nd Louisiana ID to board an airplane is just stupid

  14-04-2016 21:18
  
  State Rep. Mike Johnson, the man who last year brought us the so-called "religious freedom" bill, believes Louisiana driver's licenses being compliant with federal standards is a bad -- and dangerous -- thing. It's so bad -- and so dangerous --...
  
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• Man wounded in Baton Rouge shootout that killed 2 is released from hospital

  14-04-2016 20:20
  
  Police said the 24-year-old exchanged gunfire outside an apartment complex with 22-year-old Ernest Bernard Felton, a part-time Southern student.
  
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• Confederate monument protection effort stalls in Louisiana Legislature -- for now

  14-04-2016 19:38
  
  Legislation to make it hard to remove Confederate monuments died in a 7-7 vote in a House committee that broke down along partisan and racial lines.
  
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• Students out of time to raise ACT score

  14-04-2016 19:26
  
  BATON ROUGE- Students hoping to boost their ACT scores to save their TOPS scholarships have run out of time. The last day to take the test to qualify for the next school year was Saturday.Before the latest round of state budget cuts were announced, students only needed an ACT score of 20 to qualify for the standard TOPS Opportunity Award. But the new projected cuts could mean students need a Composite score of 26.Students who scored below 26 will not have an opportunity to raise it in time for n
  
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• Near average 2016 hurricane season, Colorado State climatologists say

  14-04-2016 17:52
  
  But the report warned the prediction may change, depending on how quicklyEl Nino weakens and sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic increase.
  
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• 2016 hurricane season predicted to be about average

  14-04-2016 17:52
  
  But the report warned the prediction may change, depending on how quicklyEl Nino weakens and sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic increase.
  
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• Second driver arrested in deadly crash that killed two kids

  14-04-2016 17:28
  
  BATON ROUGE – State Police say a second person was arrested in connection to a deadly crash in Livingston Parish that killed two children.Louisiana State Police arrested 26-year-old Jerry Ervin III of Denham Springs for vehicular homicide.According to police, Ervin was the driver in a four vehicle crash that resulted in the death of a 4-year-old and 6-year-old in Livingston Parish.According to Bryan Lee with the Louisiana State Police, the crash happened around 9 p.m. Sunday night on L
  
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• House seeks decision-making in work mandate for food stamps

  14-04-2016 17:11
  
  BATON ROUGE - Lawmakers in the Louisiana House want more of a say in whether food stamp recipients should have to work to get the federal assistance.The House voted 56-28 Thursday for a proposal by Rep. Jay Morris, a Monroe Republican, that would require legislative approval to seek a federal waiver of the work requirements for able-bodied, childless adults who receive food stamps.Supporters of Morris' bill say they want to encourage people to work and use food stamps as short-term assistance. O
  
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• Cottages shooting suspect re-arrested, accused of leaving area

  14-04-2016 16:42
  
  BATON ROUGE-  Ernest Felton, arrested in connection with a shooting that left two Southern students dead, was arrested a second time Thursday afternoon for trying to leave the area.Felton was arrested for leaving the jurisdiction while on bond without court permission, according to court documents.  A source told the WBRZ Investigative Unit Felton traveled to Dallas, Texas, between the time he bonded out of jail Tuesday night and Thursday.  Being in T
  
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• Cottages shooting suspect arrested, accused of leaving area

  14-04-2016 16:42
  
  BATON ROUGE-  Ernest Felton, arrested in connection with a shooting that left two Southern students dead, was arrested a second time Thursday afternoon for trying to leave the area.Felton was arrested for leaving the jurisdiction while on bond without court permission, according to court documents.  A source told the WBRZ Investigative Unit Felton traveled to Dallas, Texas, between the time he bonded out of jail Tuesday night and Thursday.  Being in T
  
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• Bones found near Iberville grocery store

  14-04-2016 16:31
  
  ST. GABRIEL – Deputies say they believe they found human remains behind a grocery store in St. Gabriel.According to Iberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi, deputies found what appears to be human remains behind Wayne’s Groceries off Highway 75 in St. Gabriel.Stassi said the bones could be from people who committed suicide by jumping from a bridge into the Mississippi River. The bones appear to be old. Detectives are currently treating the investigation as a homicide,
  
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• LSU coaching staff ranked fifth in SEC, website says

  14-04-2016 15:55
  
  Alabama ranked No. 1.
  
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• Edwards to launch monthly "Ask the Governor" radio show

  14-04-2016 15:32
  
  BATON ROUGE – Governor John Bel Edwards is planning to launch a monthly radio show next week.According to a press release Thursday, Edwards will air a show called “Ask the Governor” on the Louisiana Radio Network on April 19. At 2 p.m.Listeners can talk one-on-one with Edwards and ask questions about issues that are important to them.“I look forward to talking with folks from all walks of life who care about our great state, and I want to better understand
  
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• Teacher arrested after hiding in teen's closet

  14-04-2016 15:14
  
  ASCENSION- Ascension Parish Sheriff’s detectives reported that a man found hiding in a 16-year-old girl’s closet has been released on a $50,000 bond Thursday.The 30-year-old suspect, Jeremy Conner, was a band instructor at West Gate High School at the time of his arrest, according to the sheriff's office.The 16-year-old victim was related to Conner's teaching position, according to the sheriff's office.According to Lt. Col. Bobby Webre, juvenile detectives began investigating
  
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• 17-year-old arrested for Ponchatoula High School bomb threat

  14-04-2016 14:42
  
  PONCHATOULA- Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested 17-year-old Calvin Richardson for a bomb threat on Ponchatoula High School.Wednesday night Richardson posted a bomb threat at the high school through social media. TPSO Detectives were able to trace the threat back to Richardson’s cell phone, leading to his arrest.
  He was sitting in class in the process of sending another terrorizing threat through social media at the time of his arrest."I am encouraging all parents, gr
  
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• Budget cut debate mired in uncertainty about special session

  14-04-2016 14:33
  
  BATON ROUGE - Budget debates always include uncertainty about how much money agencies will receive in the upcoming financial year and whether they might take cuts.But that uncertainty is worsened this legislative session, complicated by questions about whether lawmakers will consider raising taxes further and when they'd make those decisions.Looming over all the budget cut talks is the likelihood of a second special session on taxes. Lawmakers can't raise taxes in their ongoing regular session t
  
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• Man wounded in deadly shootout released from hospital

  14-04-2016 14:18
  
  BATON ROUGE - A 24-year-old man who was wounded in a shootout that killed two 19-year-old Southern University students has been released from a Baton Rouge hospital.Baton Rouge Police Sgt. Don Coppola said he was notified Thursday that the man had been released from Our Lady of the Lake Hospital.Police said the 24-year-old exchanged gunfire outside an apartment complex with 22-year-old Ernest Bernard Felton, a part-time Southern student.Felton was arrested Sunday on an attempted second-degree mu
  
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• La. applies for $100 million transportation grant

  14-04-2016 14:05
  
  BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana Department of Transportation will formally submit a request for $100 million in grant funding for upgrades to I-10 near Lafayette.If approved, officials say the $100 million FASTLANE grant will let the state complete a 15-mile pavement replacement between I-10/49 interchange and the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge.“We’re committed to reengaging our federal partners to bring our tax dollars back to Louisiana to make the critical investme
  
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• DOTD: Washington Exit relief could be 3-4 years away

  14-04-2016 14:05
  
  BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development submitted a request for a $100 million grant for upgrades to I-10 near Lafayette.If approved, officials say the $100 million FASTLANE grant will help the state complete a 15-mile pavement replacement between I-10/49 interchange and the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge.“We’re committed to reengaging our federal partners to bring our tax dollars back to Louisiana to make the critical investments
  
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• Izzos founders to open Lit Pizza restaurant this summer

  14-04-2016 13:30
  
  BATON ROUGE- The founders of Baton Rouge-based Izzo’s Illegal Burrito are opening a pizza restaurant called Lit Pizza. The new fast-casual wood-fired  pizza restaurant is coming to 3930 Burbank in the Southgate shopping center this summer.Partners Ozzie Fernandez and Gary Kovacs will offer the same “craft your own” experience Izzo’s offers for the 11 inch pizzas.it was created based on our belief that everyone should be able to create the
  
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• Report released on firing of Denham Springs Police chief

  14-04-2016 13:25
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - The city of Denham Springs released a 200-page report on the investigation into recently-fired police Chief Scott Jones.The city of Denham Springs released a lengthy report to @WBRZ about the firing of Chief Scott Jones & Cpt. Kistler. pic.twitter.com/y5zATLznvf— Troy Gaulden WBRZ (@TroyGaulden) April 14, 2016The WBRZ Investigative Unit obtained the report Thursday. It states that an arrest warrant was issued on January 15 for Councilman Chris Davis. The next day M
  
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• Report released on firing of city's police chief

  14-04-2016 13:25
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - The city released a 200-page report on the investigation into recently-fired police chief Scott Jones.The city of Denham Springs released a lengthy report to @WBRZ about the firing of Chief Scott Jones & Cpt. Kistler. pic.twitter.com/y5zATLznvf— Troy Gaulden WBRZ (@TroyGaulden) April 14, 2016The WBRZ Investigative Unit obtained the report Thursday. WBRZ reporter Troy Gaulden is going through the report and will have the latest on the findings beginning on WBRZ News
  
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• Livingston council announces public hearing for term limits, gravel pits

  14-04-2016 13:24
  
  LIVINGSTON - The Livingston Parish Council made headway on a pair of items at a meeting Thursday night that have been in the works for months.The council briefly discussed and set a date for a public hearing about administering term limits for themselves. Voters replaced the entire council last fall, and the new group hopes to allow voters to decide on term limits this November.The council also announced a public hearing to change an ordinance about how close companies can build gravel pits to h
  
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• Tie vote stalls bill to protect Confederate monuments

  14-04-2016 13:19
  
  BATON ROUGE - A second effort aimed at protecting Louisiana's Confederate monuments has failed to draw enough support to advance in the state House.Rep. Thomas Carmody, a Shreveport Republican, says his proposal to preserve "public memory" would create a state board with the power to review monument removal. The House municipal affairs committee stalled the measure in a 7-7 vote Thursday.The panel's tie keeps the full House from weighing in on New Orleans' December vote to remove city Confederat
  
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• Witnesses urged to come forward at ceremony for victims' families

  14-04-2016 13:17
  
  BATON ROUGE - Grieving families gathered in Baton Rouge Thursday night at a special ceremony hosted by the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office.Nearly everyone in attendance at the Evening of Remembrance lost loved ones to violence in 2015. More than 70 people were honored Thursday, including Brittney Mills, who was shot and killed on her doorstep in April 2015. She was pregnant at the time, and her son died at the hospital a week later.  Brittney's mom, Barbara, spoke at the ceremo
  
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• Ag commissioner seeking 7 percent of medical marijuana sales

  14-04-2016 13:17
  
  BATON ROUGE - A proposal to give the state agriculture department a 7 percent cut of medical marijuana sales is advancing in the Louisiana Legislature.The bill by Rep. Major Thibaut, a New Roads Democrat, includes a list of fees that would be charged of the medicinal plant's state-sanctioned grower.Under Louisiana's medical marijuana law, the state will have one grower. LSU and Southern University get first right of refusal.Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain is pushing the fee bill, saying he
  
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• Senators reject school funding formula amid budget concerns

  14-04-2016 13:16
  
  BATON ROUGE - Senators have rejected the public school financing formula proposed by the state education board for next year, at the request of Gov. John Bel Edwards.Lawmakers in the current budget year boosted funding for K-12 public schools by $44 million outside of the annual financing formula. The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education proposed to roll that money into the formula for the 2016-17 school year, to make it a permanent increase.Edwards says the state can't afford that
  
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• Feds issue new, tougher offshore drilling rules

  14-04-2016 12:13
  
  NEW ORLEANS - The Obama administration has issued new rules to make offshore oil and natural gas drilling equipment safer and to reduce risks in digging wells, but the oil industry is blasting those rules as unnecessary and costly.The rules were published Thursday by the Interior Department, nearly six years after the catastrophic blowout of a BP well in the Gulf of Mexico killed 11 workers and injured many others. The out-of-control leak dumped millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf.The rules
  
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• Agency: New rules needed to make offshore drilling safer

  14-04-2016 12:13
  NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Chemical Safety Board says drilling companies in U.S. waters should be required to work more closely with rig workers and regulators, as they do in Norway and the United Kingdom, to reduce the risk of accidents.The Chemical Safety Board investigates major industrial accidents. It is concluding a long-running probe into the catastrophic blowout of a BP well six years ago in the Gulf of Mexico that killed 11 workers and injured many others.The agency issued its safety recomm
  
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• Councilman: CATS knew about issue before bus hit house

  14-04-2016 12:12
  
  BATON ROUGE- Authorities responded to an accident where a CATS bus struck a house Thursday morning, that authorities say could have been caused by mechanical problems. Thursday night, Metro Councilman John Delgado questioned whether that bus should have been on the road at all.According to Baton Rouge Police, the bus and an SUV collided, causing the bus to propel into a house in the 3300 block of North Boulevard.Police say the crash was caused "by a possible mechanical
  
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• Suspect in Smith shooting described as 'mild-mannered' guy

  14-04-2016 12:08
  NEW ORLEANS - A minister and a former coach describe the man accused of gunning down former Saints player Will Smith as a soft-spoken man who always calls older women "ma'am" and was a team leader in high school.Minister Sha'Teek Nobles and Lee Green, who coached Cardell Hayes from 2001 to 2005, take issue with Arizona Cardinals' safety Tyrann Mathieu's tweeted description of Hayes as "a hating ... coward."Hayes is in jail, accused of firing eight bullets along the left side of Smith's back.Atto
  
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• The Pledge of Allegiance: Ascension Christian Elementary

  14-04-2016 09:32
  
  BATON ROUGE- Today's Pledge of Allegiance comes from the 1st grade at Ascension Christian Elementary.Be sure to watch The Daily Pledge every weekday on 2une In at 5:58 a.m. to see if your child's school is featured!Permalink| Comments
  
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• Teachers and parents to discuss SU Lab issues

  14-04-2016 09:24
  
  BATON ROUGE- Southern University Laboratory School parents and teachers plan to hold a meeting about issues they have with the school.The school’s parent-teacher organization and Kitten Club are seeking answers from school officials regarding “irregular hires, fires, suspensions of administrators, teachers and officer personnel. In the 2015-2016 school year, the school has had three financial directors, financial problems, operational standards, disciplinary issues,
  
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• Councilwoman Banks, teachers and parents to discuss SU Lab issues

  14-04-2016 09:24
  
  BATON ROUGE- Councilwoman Chauna Banks and Southern University Laboratory School parents and teachers plan to hold a meeting about issues they have with the school.Banks, along with the school’s parent-teacher organization and Kitten Club are seeking answers from school officials regarding “irregular hires, fires, suspensions of administrators, teachers and officer personnel.According to Banks, in the 2015-2016 school year, the school has had three financial directors, financ
  
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• Woman arrested for attempted murder of boyfriend of nine years

  14-04-2016 08:59
  
  BATON ROUGE- The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office arrested 36-year-old Tonyetta Loveless for attempted murder of her boyfriend of nine years.On Sunday around 10:49 a.m., EBRSO Patrol Deputies responded to a reported shooting in the 4100 block of Libuse Drive.Deputies arrived to find the home was not locked and Loveless and the victim were not there.Short after, deputies learned the victim was at a local hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper back.EBRSO Homicide Detective
  
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• Livingston Council to discuss term limits and vote on gravel pit regulations

  14-04-2016 08:41
  
  LIVINGSTON- The Livingston Parish Council is set to consider term limits for its council members at Thursday’s meeting.After the council puts the issue on the ballot, voters would then decide whether or not to add term limits.
  Back in February, the Council took up the issue and Councilman Gary Talbert told WBRZ’s Troy Gaulden that he believed all council members are in support of term limits.Also on the Council’s agenda is a plan to amend mining regulations which wo
  
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• Funeral set for Southern students killed in shootout

  14-04-2016 08:05
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Southern University Athletic Department released funeral arrangement for two students who were shot and killed last weekend.LaShuntae Benton will be laid to rest at Christian World Ministries in Lake Charles at noon on Saturday, April 16th. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. that day, and a wake will be held the preceding Friday from 5 - 8 p.m.Annette January will be buried the same day at noon at the Community Church of God in Christ in Hammond, Indiana. A wake will be held the p
  
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• EBRSO to host Evening of Remembrance

  14-04-2016 07:28
  BATON ROUGE - East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux III is hosting the annual Evening of Remembrance Thursday night.The event is dedicated to remembering victims of homicide.Family and friends will honor their loved ones. One of the guest speakers is Barbara Mills, the mother of Brittney Mills, who was murdered in her home last year. Investigators never found Mills' murderer. The Sheriff's Office is advising people not to bring children to the event
  
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• EBRSO to host Evening of Rememberance

  14-04-2016 07:28
  
  BATON ROUGE - East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux III is hosting the annual Evening of Remembrance Thursday night.The event is dedicated to remembering victims of homicide.Family and friends will honor their loved ones out 79 victims in the past year. One of the guest speakers is Barbara Mills, the mother of Brittney Mills, who was murdered in her home last year. Investigators never found Mills' murderer. The Sheriff's Office is advising people not to bring
  
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• Senate backs bill letting police automatically scan plates

  14-04-2016 06:45
  
  BATON ROUGE- A Lake Charles senator is back with his proposal to allow law enforcement agencies to automatically scan motorists' license plates.
      
  Former Gov. Bobby Jindal vetoed the bill last year, so Republican Sen. Ronnie Johns asked senators to try again this year now that Gov. John Bel Edwards is in office.
      
  The Senate voted 30-3 Wednesday for the measure.
      
  The bill would create a pilot program that
  
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• April 14, 2016 Morning News Pop

  14-04-2016 06:13
  
  Here are today's top stories:Metro Council kills smoking ban proposalEBR Sheriff hosts Evening of RemembranceNOLA hosts balloon release for Hokie GajanScattered storms continue, downpours and hail possible Updates all day, every day:FACEBOOK | TWITTERPermalink| Comments
  
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• Kobe Bryant scores 60 points in final game

  14-04-2016 05:13
  
  LOS ANGELES- Kobe Bryant went out absolutely firing in his final game before retirement, giving the Los Angeles Lakers one more dazzling display of offense to close out his 20-year career.
      
  And he went out a winner.
      
  Scoring 60 points - on 50 shots - Bryant's career came to a close Wednesday night with the Lakers beating the Utah Jazz 101-96. Bryant hugged former teammate Shaquille O'Neal in the final seconds and scored 23 points in t
  
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• New shelter to house 20 military veterans in New Orleans

  14-04-2016 04:17
  
  NEW ORLEANS- A new shelter in New Orleans is set to house 20 military veterans as part of the city's goal to eliminate veteran homelessness.
      
  Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans unveiled on Wednesday its Oscar J. Tolmas Veteran Center.
      
  The 20-bed shelter will increase the capacity of the nonprofit's transitional housing program for homeless veterans.
      
  The program offers veterans temporary shelter
  
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• Proposal to double seatbelt fine passes Louisiana House

  14-04-2016 03:38
  
  BATON ROUGE- The Louisiana House has backed a proposal to double fines against people caught not wearing seatbelts.
      
  Rep. Walt Leger, a New Orleans Democrat, says his bill to increase the fine from $25 to $50 will generate more money for the state and save lives. Drivers would pay $75 each additional time.
      
  The House passed the bill to raise the fine Wednesday in a 62-34 vote. The proposal now moves to the Senate for a committee heari
  
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• Nungesser: Tourism up in 2015, another record-breaking year

  14-04-2016 03:14
  
  BATON ROUGE- The number of tourists coming to Louisiana keeps going up.
      
  Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser says 28.9 million visitors came to Louisiana last year, up by 200,000 from 2014. He says it marked the fourth consecutive year of record-breaking tourism in Louisiana.
      
  The data on tourism is part of the University of New Orleans's Louisiana Tourism Forecast Report for 2015.
      
  State officials estimate spendin
  
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• TOPS changes get support in the Louisiana Senate, not in the House

  14-04-2016 02:06
  
  The Louisiana Senate passed two bill to change TOPS, but the House hasn't approved any TOPS changes yet.
  
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• Wet spring, more hurricanes? Not that simple, forecasters say

  14-04-2016 01:20
  
  Repeat cold fronts to blame for rainfall, flooding. El Nino is fading and could be replaced by La Nina by this fall, which could foretell an active hurricane season.
  
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