Baton Rouge news

• Same-sex marriage is legal, but most Louisianians still oppose it: Poll

  18-04-2016 23:25
  
  About 53 percent of Louisiana residents polled by LSU in February opposed same-sex marriage seven months after it was made legal nationwide.
  
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• How to donate $95k to the governor's inauguration when the limit is $5k

  18-04-2016 23:16
  
  A loophole allows multiple donations from multiple corporations, even if they're controlled by the same person.
  
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• Houston storm coming to New Orleans -- minus most of the rain

  18-04-2016 21:43
  
  System causing record flooding in Texas to lose its punch before arriving in southeast Louisiana, forecasters say
  
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• How Green Bay missed on Joe Montana and other NFL Draft tidbits

  18-04-2016 20:01
  
  NFL scout and consultant Chris Landry
  
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• Izzos Illegal Burrito sues Rouses Supermarket for $10 million

  18-04-2016 17:31
  
  BATON ROUGE- Izzo’s Illegal Burrito and its parent company have filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the owners of Rouses Supermarkets.The lawsuit alleges that the Thibodaux-based supermarket chain pressured the developers of some shopping centers to keep Izzo’s out of their developments.Developers of Juban Crossing in Denham Springs, the Long Farm in Baton Rouge and Berryland Development in Tangipahoa Parish were “pressured” into excluding Izzo&am
  
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• Bizarre death of area worker, two others prompts federal warning

  18-04-2016 17:30
  
  AMITE - OSHA is warning employers and employees in the mowing industry about potentially hazardous working conditions after a series of bizarre accidents killed three workers.In Tangipahoa Parish, a worker at Bracy's Nursery was found dead in a stream bed after the riding lawnmower he was using overturned and pinned him in the water. OSHA did not release specifics about the worker's identity, only saying the death happened in the last thirty days.Two others died in accidents in Austin, Texas, an
  
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• Louisiana Survey shows many state residents retain conservative views

  18-04-2016 16:57
  
  BATON ROUGE - The 2016 Louisiana Survey, a project of the Reilly Center for Media and Public Affair at LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication, indicates that Louisiana’s residents continue to hold primarily conservative views.The state survey shows just over half of Louisiana residents are still opposed to legal recognition of same-sex marriage, despite last year’s ruling by the Supreme Court that states can’t refuse to recognize the marriages
  
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• Turn lane of LA 73 near LA 42 to be closed for three weeks

  18-04-2016 16:01
  
  PRARIEVILLE - Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa announced that the turn lane of northbound LA 73 onto east LA 42 will be closed for the next three weeks.The turn lane will be closed from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily for three weeks while construction crews install a sewer pipe at the intersection.Right turns will still be allowed at the intersection onto east LA 42.Parish senior project manager Carl Ladmirault said the turn lane will closed beginning Apr. 19 and reopen on Friday, May 13 at 3 p.
  
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• Sources: Target boosts minimum wage to $10 an hour

  18-04-2016 15:09
  
  Sources indicate that Target Corp will increase its minimum wage to $10 an hour for all workers.The move to $10 an hour comes just more than a year after Target followed Wal-Mart by moving all workers to a $9 an hour. The raise comes as an across-the-board boost to the minimum of wage has become an increasingly popular topic of discussion nationally.Target executives have been outspoken in the past about their intention to keep wages competitive in order to retain employees, but pay adjustments
  
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• EBRSO looking for man connected to South Harrells Ferry Road shooting

  18-04-2016 14:53
  
  BATON ROUGE- East Baton Rouge Sheriff Detectives are looking for 26-year-old James Joseph Ely in connection with a shooting.The shooting occurred on Sunday on South Harrell’s Ferry Road.
  Anyone with information concerning this incident or the whereabouts of Ely is asked to contact the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office at 225-389-5000.Permalink| Comments
  
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• WBR jail leads in work release inmate escapes with 22 in 2 years

  18-04-2016 14:44
  
  BATON ROUGE - A new audit has found that the state's work release program for prisoners has had more than 250 escapes in the past two years alone.The legislative auditor found that the program does have its benefits, including saving money on inmate housing and decreasing the number of offenders who return to prison after they are released. However, more work needs to be done to ensure inmates aren't able to escape.West Baton Rouge Parish Jail led the pack with the most escapes with 22 incidents
  
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• Lafayette schools may change Pledge of Allegiance policy

  18-04-2016 14:43
  
  LAFAYETTE - The Lafayette Parish School System is taking steps to address concerns about its policy on students reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
      
  Officials are giving strong consideration to removing a policy requirement that students stand during the pledge, even if they do not recite it because of religious beliefs.
      
  The district received a letter Wednesday from the Appignani Humanist Legal Center. That letter alleges that a junio
  
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• L'Auberge, Hollywood parent companies agree on merger

  18-04-2016 14:35
  
  BATON ROUGE - Gaming regulators signed off on the merger of two casino companies Monday, paving the way for the parent companies of L'Auberge and Hollywood to join forces.Previously, shareholders for the L'Auberge parent company, Pinnacle, and the company that runs Hollywood, Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc., met simultaneously in March in Baton Rouge to discuss the $4.75 billion merger. According to reports about the meeting, Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc., would acquire the other compa
  
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• Streaming services: What Amazon, Netflix and Hulu cost

  18-04-2016 14:26
  
  NEW YORK - Amazon is taking on Netflix and Hulu, offering a stand-alone streaming service for the first time.Starting this week, the e-commerce company says customers can now pay $8.99 a month just to watch Amazon's Prime video streaming service. Previously, the only way to get access to Amazon's videos was to pay $99 a year for Prime membership, which includes free two-day shipping on items sold by the site. The video-only service does not come with free shipping.Here's how the Amazon, Netflix
  
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• Latest attempt to regulate surrogacy passes House committee

  18-04-2016 14:23
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana lawmakers' third attempt to advance a bill establishing regulations governing surrogacy births has passed its first test.Without objection Monday, the House civil law committee supported a proposal to create a state surrogacy framework. Former Gov. Bobby Jindal vetoed two previous attempts after each bill passed the House and Senate.Contracts for surrogacy, the arrangement in which a woman carries and gives birth to a baby for another couple, are unenforceable in Louisian
  
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• Medicaid expansion enrollment to begin in June

  18-04-2016 14:11
  
  BATON ROUGE- Governor John Bel Edwards announced that enrollment for Medicaid expansion will begin on June 1.Edwards testified before the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare’s oversight hearing on the issue. During the hearing, Edwards and Dr. Rebekah Gee, secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, discussed the positive impact Medicaid Expansion will have of the economy and working citizens of the state.“For years, Louisianans have paid for Medicaid Expansion, o
  
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• Man sentenced to 40 years in 1990 Ascension Parish murder case

  18-04-2016 14:05
  
  GONZALES - A man who pleaded guilty to the rape, kidnapping and murder of his aunt in 1990 was sentenced to 40 years in Ascension Parish Monday morning.Ascension Parish deputies were able to arrest the accused, Kenneth Lavigne, with the help of DNA evidence more than two decades after the crime was committed. Lavigne was taken into custody in March of 2013.Back in 2013, detectives and Louisiana State Police were able to reopen several cold cases. Kenneth Lavigne had been ruled out as a suspect i
  
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• Plea deal reached in I-10 speed trap scheme

  18-04-2016 13:50
  
  HENDERSON - There was a plea deal Monday in a ticket-writing scheme that involved a notorious speed trap at the western end of the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge.Oliver Mack Lloyd pleaded guilty to false accounting and admitted his role in the I-10 ticket scheme, KATC TV reported on its website. KATC covers the western area of the Basin and shares content with WBRZ.com, covering the other end.Lloyd was implicated in the scheme in 2013. Then, WBRZ.com first reported Lloyd and Chief Leroy Guidr
  
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• $145M expansion planned for Geismar manufacturing facility

  18-04-2016 13:45
  
  GEISMAR - Occidental Chemical Corporation plans a $145 million expansion of its OxyChem manufacturing plant in Geismar to produce material that will be used in refrigerants.
      
  Gov. John Bel Edwards and Occidental President Rob Peterson announced the plans Monday, saying the plant expansion will create 12 new jobs with an average salary of $80,000 annually.
      
  In Louisiana, OxyChem also has manufacturing facilities in Convent, Luling and
  
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• Lafayette used car dealer arrested for tax fraud

  18-04-2016 13:38
  
  LAFAYETTE- A Lafayette used car dealer has been charges with a tax fraud scheme that caused the state to lose thousands of dollars in sales tax revenue, the Louisiana Department of Revenue reported Monday.Larry Dwayne Brown, owner of LA Auto Sales in Lafayette, underreported the sale price of several vehicles and pocketed the difference.
  He allegedly defrauded the state of an estimated $20,000.In addition to the tax fraud scheme, Brown has not filed a personal state income tax return since 2003.
  
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• White Castle tables vote on mayor salary, compensation for driving

  18-04-2016 13:18
  
  WHITE CASTLE - The White Castle Town Council briefly discussed an ordinance changing the mayor's salary and compensation for driving his personal care before tabling a decision until next month's meeting.Both issues have been the focus of a series of reports from The Investigative Unit. Ordinances for the mayor and police chief's salary don't match up with what was passed in the budget.The mayor has also been reimbursed for using his personal vehicle even though there is no ordinance on the book
  
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• Man arrested for attempted kidnapping

  18-04-2016 13:14
  
  BATON ROUGE - Police say they’ve arrested a man accused of attempting to take off in a woman’s car with her 5-year-old son and baby onboard when she left her vehicle to break up a fight at a Greenwell Springs Road motel last month.20-year-old Jerome Eackels was booked on four counts of aggravated criminal damage to property, attempted simple kidnapping and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.The incident happened on Mar. 2 in the 6400 block of Greenwell Springs at Sherdan Mot
  
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• Drone collision with jet highlights growing aviation danger

  18-04-2016 13:12
  
  LONDON - A collision between a British Airways passenger jet and a drone over London has left the plane undamaged but the aviation industry deeply shaken.British police and air accident authorities were investigating Sunday's incident, in which an Airbus A320 carrying 137 people struck an object believed to be a drone at a height of about 1,700 feet (518 meters) while it was approaching Heathrow Airport.The plane landed safely and was cleared to fly again after an inspection by engineers. But th
  
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• Give drug felons food stamps, many states now say

  18-04-2016 13:06
  
  LINCOLN, Neb. - Nebraska is desperate to stop the runaway growth of its prison population, but doing so depends a lot on people like Ronald Tillman. Tillman, 54, a paroled drug dealer who suffers from bipolar disease and a debilitating back injury, has lived since his 2013 release solely on his monthly $733 disability check. When his food runs short, he faces a choice that has costly implications for the state— if he gets caught."Sometimes when you need food, you have to steal it," sai
  
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• Justices seem divided over Obama immigration actions

  18-04-2016 13:03
  
  WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court appears divided over Obama administration programs that could affect millions of people who are in the country illegally.The administration's best hope for a favorable ruling after 90 minutes of arguments at the high court Monday appeared to rest with Chief Justice John Roberts. Roberts asked questions suggesting he could side with the administration if there is a small change in the proposed programs.The administration is asking the justices to allow it to put in
  
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• Attempted murder charges in April 8 N. Ardenwood shooting

  18-04-2016 13:00
  
  BATON ROUGE - Police reported the arrest of a man accused of attempted murder charges in connection with a shooting that happened at a North Ardenwood apartment complex earlier this month.According to BRPD, 20-year-old Jaquan Johnson was booked on charges of attempted second degree murder, illegal use of a weapon and carrying of a firearm by a convicted felon after he was identified by victims last Thursday.The shooting happened in the 650 block of North Ardenwood Drive at around 6 p.m. on Apr.
  
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• Man sues Kanye West, Tidal, over new album

  18-04-2016 12:41
  
  LOS ANGELES - A Kanye West fan is suing over the rapper's claim that his latest album would only be available to subscribers of the music streaming service Tidal.The proposed class action lawsuit filed Monday in a federal court in San Francisco by Justin Baker-Rhett states that he was duped into subscribing to Tidal based on West's promises that his "The Life of Pablo" album would only be available there and not anywhere else. The album is now available on Apple Music and Spotify.An email sent t
  
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• Groups voice support for drilling in Gulf

  18-04-2016 12:36
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Supporters of continued oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico say they're needed to support the economy and energy needs of the Gulf Coast and the entire nation.Brent Greenfield of the Consumer Energy Alliance says he represents 400,000 individuals as well as truckers, farmers and others who need reliable and affordable energy. He says the United States will rely on oil and gas for decades to come, and the Gulf provides 20 percent of the nation's crude oil supply.Lori L
  
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• Feds taking public comments on offshore drilling impact

  18-04-2016 12:36
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Supporters and opponents of offshore drilling can have their say Monday afternoon at a public meeting at a hotel near New Orleans' international airport.It's the first of three meetings rescheduled to let more people attend and comment about the potential environmental impacts of five more years of offshore drilling, from 2017 to 2022.The other rescheduled meetings will be in Houston and Washington.The Bureau of Offshore Energy Management's 279-page draft environmental impact state
  
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• Drilling protesters: 'The Gulf is not for sale!'

  18-04-2016 12:36
  
  NEW ORLEANS - About 50 opponents of continued oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico rallied on the sidewalk and then brought their chants into a public meeting about potential impacts of continuing the lease program for five more years.For a few minutes, they stood in a circle in a hotel meeting room where the federal agency in charge of oil and gas leases had set up stations for its officials to talk with people. After a couple of short speeches, they chanted "The Gulf is not for sa
  
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• Amid cash crunch, Edwards slows community college buildings

  18-04-2016 12:10
  
  BATON ROUGE - A building boom planned to expand and improve Louisiana's community college campuses is being put on hold by Gov. John Bel Edwards, amid a tightening of state construction spending.More than half the projects on the $280 million list for the Louisiana Community and Technical College System won't be completed for now. Instead, they'll be stalled for an unknown period while the state digs out of its budget troubles.Edwards wants to steer the state's limited construction money mainly
  
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• US homebuilder sentiment held steady in April

  18-04-2016 08:54
  
  U.S. homebuilders' confidence held steady in April, reflecting an overall optimistic outlook in the market for new homes even as a gauge of current sales fell slightly.The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index released Monday was unchanged at 58. It hasn't budged in three months.Readings above 50 indicate more builders view sales conditions as good, rather than poor. The index had been in the low 60s for eight months until February.Builders' outlook for sales
  
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• The Pledge of Allegiance: Greater Baton Rouge Hope Academy

  18-04-2016 08:53
  
  BATON ROUGE- Today's Pledge of Allegiance comes from Mrs. Lato's class at Greater Baton Rouge Hope Academy.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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• Houston area submerged after 16 inches of rain in 24 hours

  18-04-2016 08:34
  
  HOUSTON - Storms have dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods and forcing the closure of city offices and the suspension of public transit.
  The National Weather Service says the area received up to 16 inches of rain in the 24 hours through Monday morning.
  Mayor Sylvester Turner says city offices will be closed Monday and is encouraging people to stay home and avoid high water areas. Classes have been cancelled for the Houston Independent School Distr
  
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• Tax filing deadline approaches

  18-04-2016 07:23
  
  BATON ROUGE - Millions of taxpayers are expected to file for their tax returns or ask for a six-month extension on Monday.The deadline was extended from Friday, April 15 to Monday, April 18th because Emancipation Day was observed in the District of Columbia. The D.C. legal holiday commemorated the President Abraham Lincoln's signing the Emancipation Act that freed slaved in the area.Residents in flood-affected areas are eligible for filing extensions. That includes residents in Livingston, Ascen
  
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• April 18, 2016 Morning News Pop

  18-04-2016 06:57
  
  Here are today's top stories:More than 5M tax returns expected Monday as deadline nearsLivingston and Ascension shut down waterways due to floodingZoo hopes to cage concerns following tiger cub's deathStill on the cloud lineUpdates all day, every day:FACEBOOK | TWITTERPermalink| Comments
  
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• Axl Rose to join AC/DC on tour, replacing Brian Johnson

  18-04-2016 04:31
  
  NEW YORK- Along with prepping a reunion tour with Guns N' Roses, Axl Rose is joining AC/DC on the road.
      
  AC/DC announced Saturday that Rose will replace Brian Johnson on its Rock or Bust World Tour beginning May 7 in Lisbon. Rose will remain with the band through its European dates and 10 rescheduled U.S. shows.
      
  Johnson is pulling out of the tour after being advised by doctors that further concerts could permanently impair his hearin
  
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• Death toll rises to 272 after Ecuador earthquake

  18-04-2016 03:56
  
  PORTOVIEJO, Ecuador- There are devastating losses along Ecuador's Pacific Ocean coast, after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck over the weekend.
      
  At least 272 people were killed, highways buckled and homes and buildings were flattened.
      
  President Rafael Correa says Saturday night's quake was the worst natural disaster to hit Ecuador since a 1949 earthquake in the Andean city of Ambato, which took more than 5,000 lives.Permalink| Comme
  
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• N.C. governor: Louisiana's LGBT order was about Democratic politics

  18-04-2016 00:08
  
  The North Carolina governor was doing an interview about his state's controversial bathroom law.
  
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