Baton Rouge news

• Louisiana House passes 'right-sized' construction budget

  13-05-2016 23:48
  
  The House undertook an effort to prioritize projects based on need rather than politics.
  
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• Rebekah Gee holds punching bag for Legislature's health care frustrations

  13-05-2016 23:32
  
  The new health secretary was game for taking fire over Louisiana's health care situation, although legislators did find a few soft spots to hit Gee over.
  
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• Louisiana school board president blasts feds on transgender rule

  13-05-2016 23:24
  
  But he says it's up to local school boards to decide what to do
  
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• Louisiana House votes to fund hospitals over TOPS in budget

  13-05-2016 21:56
  
  The House voted 82-17 Friday (May 13) for the state budget after $72 million was diverted from TOPS and given to nine hospitals that serve the poor and uninsured
  
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• Termites are swarming, as you've probably noticed

  13-05-2016 21:46
  
  BATON ROUGE - Pest control experts say they've had hundreds, if not thousands of calls about swarming termites in the last week. Swarming termites were spotted right around Mother's Day and will continue to swarm until July.Chances are, if you have seen termites swarming around lights around your home, there are colonies of termites creeping in the area. Current problem areas include the 70810 and 70817 areas of Baton Rouge, Central, Denham Springs and Ascension Parish."They're all swarming for
  
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• Louisiana House rejects additional money for public defenders

  13-05-2016 20:19
  
  Rep. Cedric Glover, D-Shreveport, proposed taking $6.3 million from the Department of Corrections and giving that money to the state public defenders board during the next budget cycle.
  
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• LA 1 bridge to be repaired

  13-05-2016 18:54
  
  BATON ROUGE- The state says that it will build a new bridge since LA 1 over the Intracoastal Canal is the worst in the state, according to officials.Traffic is currently a huge problem drivers have to endure in the area." Well they (drivers) would just like to be able to cross in a reasonable amount of time, I feel, you know nobody wants to sit in traffic for a half hour to go two miles you know," driver Mike Weimer said.However, the state says that repairing the bridge is not an option because
  
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• BRFD responded to Government Street washeteria fire

  13-05-2016 18:16
  
  BATON ROUGE- The Baton Rouge Fire Department responded to a reported fire at a washeteria Friday afternoon.The washeteria where the fire broke out, Doc’s Wash & Dry, is located in the 2500 block of Government Street.Doc's & Dry was one of the washeteria's where a rash of thefts occurred in March where suspects vandalized and stole washing machines and dryer tops of the machines in order to steal the money inside of them.WBRZ was on the scene shortly after the fire department ar
  
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• BRFD responded to Government Street washateria fire

  13-05-2016 18:16
  
  BATON ROUGE- The Baton Rouge Fire Department responded to a reported fire at a washeteria Friday afternoon.The washeteria where the fire broke out, Doc’s Wash & Dry, is located in the 2500 block of Government Street.Doc's & Dry was one of the washeteria's where a rash of thefts occurred in March where suspects vandalized and stole washing machines and dryer tops of the machines in order to steal the money inside of them.WBRZ was on the scene shortly after the fire department ar
  
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• Baton Rouge letter carrier dog attacks up 100 percent

  13-05-2016 16:21
  
  BATON ROUGE - The United States Postal Service is announcing new safety measures as dog attacks in the Baton Rouge area have increased by 100 percent in the 2015 calendar year.The Postal Service announced Friday that 6,549 of its employees across the nation were attacked by dogs, according to the USPS annual report on the subject.“Even though dogs are protective in nature, no letter carrier should experience a dog bite,” said Baton Rouge Postmaster Sarah Augustine. &ldquo
  
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• Google launches new Gboard app

  13-05-2016 16:18
  
  Google has launched a new app called Gboard, that integrates Google Search into the iPhone’s keyboard.
   
  Once the app is installed on to Apple’s iPhone, a small icon will appear on the device’s keyboard and when tapped users can conduct Google searches without leaving the app they are in.
   
  The Gboard also allows users to search for photos, GIFs, and emojis. The keyboard also allows for glide typing, which allows you to slide your finger over lette
  
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• Shell: Skimmers in Gulf to clean up 88,200 gallon spill

  13-05-2016 15:51
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Shell says crews are preparing to clean up an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico after about 88,200 gallons of oil were released from a flow line about 90 miles off the coast of Louisiana.Shell says five boats were dispatched to clean up oil they can skim off the surface of the Gulf.The company says a remotely operated vehicle found a flow line as the source of the leak. The flow line is connected to four wells and Shell's Brutus platform. Shell says the leak has been contained and th
  
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• Drivers seek relief for insurance lapse fines owed to OMV

  13-05-2016 15:48
  
  BATON ROUGE - Millions of unpaid dollars stand between the Office of Motor Vehicles and thousands of seemingly uninsured Louisiana drivers.But drivers, who are legally required to have insured vehicles, say they are now insured but don't have the money to pay old fines.  As a result, they've had licenses revoked and tax refunds and bank accounts seized.Members of the House and Senate have filed bills with proposals to ease drivers' concerns, including amnesty guidelines, payment program
  
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• Take a 360-degree tour of the Canal Street sinkhole

  13-05-2016 15:19
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Thanks to some nifty tech you can now get a 360-degree view of the inside of the Crescent City's now infamous Canal Street sinkhole.Thanks to a special 360-degree camera produced by Ricoh, you can experience the sinkhole like you're really there! Check out the spherical photo now below:Take a #360 look at the Canal Street 'sinkhole' #theta360 - Spherical Image - RICOH THETAThe sinkhole opened up last month on Canal Street in front of Harrah's Casino, opening up above a tunnel that
  
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• SLIDESHOW: Baton Rouge Parade of Homes kicks off this weekend

  13-05-2016 13:54
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Capital Region Builders Association kicks off its annual Parade of Homes this weekend.The annual event allows residents to walk through and tour beautiful homes in the Baton Rouge area and get ideas for their home.According to the Capital Region Builders Association website, more than 50 houses of all sizes, layout and architectural styles will be on display. The tour will feature affordable starter homes, moderately priced houses and large homes and mansions. The even
  
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• Most popular baby names in La. last year were...

  13-05-2016 13:33
  
  Ava was the most popular name for girls born in Louisiana in 2015 and Mason was the most popular name for boys in the state, according to the Social Security Administration.
  The administration compiled a list of the most popular names in each state for babies born last year.Along with Louisiana, Ava was at the top of the list for girl names in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
  Mason was the most popular for boys in the state as well as in Arkansas, Pennsylvania, W
  
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• Donald Trump unites Louisiana GOP leaders and David Duke

  13-05-2016 13:29
  
  It was a nightmare scenario. In 1991, Democrat Edwin Edwards and Republican David Duke faced each other in a runoff for Louisiana governor. At first, state GOP leaders couldn't imagine supporting Edwards for a fourth term, regarding him a corrupt...
  
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• Louisiana House moves into second day of budget debate

  13-05-2016 13:09
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana House has resumed its debate on the nearly $26 billion state operating budget proposed for next year.College and health care programs are on the chopping block as lawmakers continue to grapple with how to close a $600 million shortfall in the financial year that begins July 1.It was the second day of the budget debate. The House spent nine hours Thursday haggling over how the state should spend its available money.Lawmakers were expected to consider reworking Thursday
  
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• NOPD look to find child missing for week

  13-05-2016 12:54
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Police in New Orleans have asked the public’s help in locating a child that has been missing for a week.11-year-old Anign Jordan was last seen on May 5 at Akili Academy of New Orleans, located at 3811 N. Galvez St. where she is a student. She has not been seen or heard from since.Jordan, pictured above, is described as a black female with black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing black-rimmed glasses and her school uniform - a dark blue polo-style shirt and kha
  
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• NOPD finds child after missing for a week

  13-05-2016 12:54
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Police in New Orleans have located an 11-year-old girl that has been missing for a week.
  11-year-old Anign Jordan was found Friday, May 13 in Eastern New Orleans in good health after she was last seen on May 5. She was at Akili Academy of New Orleans, located at 3811 N. Galvez St. where she is a student when she was last seen.More information from NOPD is forthcoming. Before found, Jordan was last seen wearing black-rimmed glasses and her school uniform - a dark blue polo-style shi
  
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• NOPD find child after missing for a week

  13-05-2016 12:54
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Police in New Orleans have located an 11-year-old girl that has been missing for a week.
  11-year-old Anign Jordan was found Friday, May 13 in Eastern New Orleans in good health after she was last seen on May 5. She was at Akili Academy of New Orleans, located at 3811 N. Galvez St. where she is a student when she was last seen.More information from NOPD is forthcoming. Before found, Jordan was last seen wearing black-rimmed glasses and her school uniform - a dark blue polo-style shi
  
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• Thief takes off with LSU musician's trombones

  13-05-2016 12:33
  
  BATON ROUGE - A LSU musician's plans were messed up when someone stole his instruments. Someone broke into his apartment and stole his two trombones.Thomas McKee is a Texas native who will be a senior music major at LSU this fall."I'm a musician," he told News 2's Brett Buffington. "I perform a lot of places and need my instruments to do what I need to do."McKee says his instruments were in his apartment Thursday when someone walked through the front door and back out with his trombones
  
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• LSU graduates record numbers with Class of 2015-16

  13-05-2016 12:28
  
  BATON ROUGE - LSU says its 2015-16 class has set new records for African American, Hispanic, female, veteran and overall graduation numbers.Friday’s spring commencement ceremony includes a total of 4,102 degrees awarded, the largest amount of degrees awarded at a single commencement surpassing last year’s 3,977 degrees award in the spring.The 2015-16 class includes 697 African American graduates, 336 HIspanic graduates, 3,485 female graduates and 148 degrees awrded to veteran
  
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• Bayou Blue woman wanted on animal cruelty, other charges

  13-05-2016 12:08
  
  THIBODAUX - A Bayou Blue woman is on the run after deputies say they found dozens of small dogs on her property that were not being properly cared for.
  The Courier reports Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre says in a statement that 58-year-old Rhonda Hall is wanted on 14 counts of simple cruelty to animals and 14 counts of failure to vaccinate animals.
  Webre says Hall agreed to surrender the dogs to the Lafourche Parish Animal Shelter after a complaint about the animals being without sufficien
  
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• Oyster fisherman overjoyed when stolen boat is found

  13-05-2016 09:07
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Nearly a week after it was reported stolen from New Orleans East, a man is overjoyed to have his custom oyster boat back at his home.The owner of the 37 foot long, brand new steel boat, Paul McIntyre, says he owes the power of prayer for bringing his vessel back to him."Sally Ann's going to like this," McIntyre said, choking up. "I said a prayer to St. Anthony yesterday. It worked, so thanks to my little girl, who told me to say it.”McIntyre discovered the boat had been s
  
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• New Orleans plastic surgeon indicted on forcible rape charge

  13-05-2016 08:28
  
  NEW ORLEANS - A well-known New Orleans plastic surgeon is facing charges of forcible rape and voyeurism.
  A judge on Thursday set Dr. Alireza Sadeghi's bail at $2 million and issued a protective order barring him from going near the alleged victim or her children after a grand jury indicted Sadeghi in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court.
  The newspaper reports Sadeghi issued a statement late Thursday denying the allegations.
  Christopher Bowman, a spokesman for District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro'
  
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• May 13, 2016 Morning News Pop

  13-05-2016 07:19
  
  Here are today's top stories:Southern University to award posthumous degrees to studentsGraduation day at SU and LSUPolice look to ID culprits behind East Ascension HS graduation fightOutdoor plans look good againUpdates all day, every day:FACEBOOK | TWITTERPermalink| Comments
  
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• Louisiana House votes to fund hospitals over TOPS -- for now

  13-05-2016 06:15
  
  No one has found a way to fully fund both TOPS and nine hospitals set up to serve the poor and uninsured for the budget cycle starting July 1 yet.
  
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• Juvenile Justice chief retires as legislators question change in leadership

  13-05-2016 01:50
  
  Dr. Mary Livers had led the office since 2008, but came under withering criticism during Senate confirmation hearings.
  
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• Louisiana House votes to give Jeff Landry more power -- at the expense of John Bel Edwards

  13-05-2016 00:28
  
  No one could remember a proposal to take such budgeting authority from a governor. And the Edwards administration, as well as Democrats, have questioned whether it was constitutional.
  
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