Baton Rouge news

• Tropical funnel clouds possible Tuesday in New Orleans, Baton Rouge areas

  17-05-2016 20:31
  
  Short-lived funnels could touch down over or near bodies of water as waterspouts, forecasters say
  
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• Watch senator unload frustrations over hospital contracts

  17-05-2016 20:19
  
  Sen. Eric LaFleur, D-Ville Platte, got into an impassioned debate with hospital administrators on Sunday (May 15) over the contracts the state has with its safety net providers.
  
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• Are Louisiana taxpayers getting good value on hospital contracts?

  17-05-2016 20:12
  
  Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne is seeking to provide answers to legislators about how to get the best deal for the state in providing charity care.
  
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• Part of North St. closed after car knocks over light pole

  17-05-2016 17:36
  
  BATON ROUGE - North Street is closed to traffic at N. 30th St. following a crash involving a car and a power pole.#BREAKING North St closed because of nasty wreck involving car and a power pole. @WBRZ pic.twitter.com/n0LcabLFrf— BrettBuffingtonWBRZ (@BrettBuffington) May 18, 2016A News 2 Crew was on scene as an ambulance transported at least one person from the scene. Details about what caused the wreck and the extent of the person's injuries were not available at the time of this post
  
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• Going to Lambeau? The odds aren't in your favor

  17-05-2016 16:44
  
  BATON ROUGE - The LSU Tigers will head north to begin the 2017 season. Many Tigers faithful hope to join them, but that's going to prove to be a difficult and pricey venture.Director of Ticket Operations Tim Messa told News 2's Brittany Weiss 20,000 LSU fans have already requested tickets for the season opener against the University of Wisconsin at Lambeau field. There's only 20,000 tickets to go around, so unless you're a student or season ticket holder, luck isn't on your side.Usually when gam
  
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• Mayor quits as Nakamoto, WBRZ Investigative Unit report looms

  17-05-2016 14:32
  
  GREENSBURG - The mayor of this small town resigned amid a WBRZ Investigative Unit inquiry into where he resides. The story is still being finalized for a television presentation later this week, but Burke Jones wrote in an email Tuesday, he was stepping down. The story is scheduled to air on Thursday on WBRZ News 2 at 10:00 p.m."Because of the and uproar that has suddenly occurred, I have resigned my position," Jones wrote Tuesday evening.Jones said he will leave office in June. WBRZ Chief Inves
  
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• 2 Jefferson Parish lawmakers leaving the Louisiana House

  17-05-2016 12:58
  
  BATON ROUGE - Two Jefferson Parish lawmakers will soon end their tenure in the Louisiana House.
      
  Reps. Joe Lopinto of Metairie and Bryan Adams of Gretna, both Republicans, say they have gotten new jobs and won't complete their four-year terms that started in January.
      
  A lawyer and former sheriff's deputy in his third term, Lopinto will become in-house counsel for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. He told his colleagues Tuesday th
  
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• Cause of Fairwood Drive house fire undetermined

  17-05-2016 12:54
  
  BATON ROUGE - Firefighters are working to determine the cause of a fire at a residence in the 3900 block of Fairwood Drive early Tuesday afternoon.The Baton Rouge Fire Department was on the scene just before 2:30 p.m. and had the fire under control in a little more than 10 minutes. The house was fully engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived.Fire investigators say a family of nine was in the house when the fire started, but all were able to exit the home safely with no injuries report
  
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• California rock band's equipment stolen from Prairieville

  17-05-2016 12:49
  
  PRAIRIEVILLE- At least $25,000 worth of expensive band equipment and lighting kits got swiped from a neighborhood off Highway 73 near I-10 overnight.The lead singer for the California rock band Pullman Standard stopped in Prairieville Monday night to make a recording when he said someone cut the lock on the trailer with their equipment and hauled it off."Came back to the van where we had it parked in the neighborhood and just looked, where's our trailer," Timothy Daniels said. "How's that possib
  
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• Lemonade stand protection bill headed to the governor's desk

  17-05-2016 12:34
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's neighborhood lemonade stands will soon be off-limits for ticketing.
      
  Lawmakers have given final passage to a bill exempting minors engaging in sales of less than $500 a year from having to pay an occupational license tax.
      
  Sen. Gary Smith, a Norco Democrat, says he introduced the measure after municipal officials have written tickets to children for not having an occupational license to sell lemonade at their
  
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• Passenger transported to hospital after trapped for more than two hours

  17-05-2016 09:32
  
  FRENCH SETTLEMENT- The passenger of a car that was trapped for over two and half hours following a crash on Highway 444 has been transported to the hospital, according to sources.The driver was transported by helicopter and according to sources, there are no injuries reported at the time of this post.
  According to Acadian Ambulance, the crash occurred at 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday. Emergency responders were still in the process of extricating the driver from the car as of 3:15 p.m.The identity of the
  
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• Driver trapped for more than two hours following crash, EMS still on scene

  17-05-2016 09:32
  
  FRENCH SETTLEMENT- Emergency responders are trying to extricate a driver that has been trapped for the past two and half hours following a crash that happened on Highway 444 in French Settlement.
  According to Acadian Ambulance, the crash occurred at 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday. Emergency responders are still in the process of extricating the driver from the car as of 3:15 p.m.
  WBRZ is on the way to the scene to bring more details.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Driver transported to hospital after trapped for more than two hours

  17-05-2016 09:32
  
  FRENCH SETTLEMENT- The driver of a car that was trapped for over two and half hours following a crash on Highway 444 has been transported to the hospital, according to sources.The driver was transported by helicopter and there are no injuries reported.According to Acadian Ambulance, the crash occurred at 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday. Emergency responders were still in the process of extricating the driver from the car as of 3:15 p.m.The identity of the driver has not been released as of 4 p.m. on Tuesd
  
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• Woman who threatened to burn home down with people inside arrested

  17-05-2016 09:26
  
  LABADIEVILLE - A woman was arrested after Assumption Parish deputies say she told them she planned to burn a house down with everyone inside.Deputies say they made contact with Ann Thibodaux at her home in Labadieville after her mom and sister reported she was making harassing phone calls. When investigators spoke with her, Thibodaux told them she wanted to set a home on fire with people inside.Thibodaux was arrested and charged with Communication of False Information of Planned Arson. Deputies
  
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• Attorney: Driver of Lamborghini in fatal crash to face charges

  17-05-2016 09:16
  
  NEW ORLEANS - The attorney for a man who crashed a Lamborghini into a flood wall on Tchoupitoulas Street in New Orleans, killing a passenger in the process, has surrendered himself to police, according to his attorney.Jason Adams, a real estate broker and investor, will now face a charge of vehicular homicide in connection with the crash that took the life of 23-year-old Kristi Lynn Lirette just before midnight on May 4. Lirette was the passenger in the Lamborghini at the time of the wr
  
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• Capitol, casino bomb threat suspect under psychiatric evaluation

  17-05-2016 09:02
  
  BATON ROUGE - The suspect believed to be behind Monday's evening bomb threats at the State Capitol and Hollywood Casino has been committed for 24 hour psychiatric evaluation.Louisiana State Police Major Doug Cain says the suspect might not face charges due to his mental condition.A bomb threat was called in at the State Capitol just before 6:30 p.m. Monday. Just minutes later, a similar threat was received at the nearby Hollywood Casino. A swift response from State Police indicated the pair of t
  
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• Attorney general questioned as 'sanctuary city' bill delayed

  17-05-2016 08:00
  
  BATON ROUGE - A Senate committee has postponed a vote on a bid to penalize jurisdictions that don't align with federal immigration law, after some senators questioned whether the proposal gives the attorney general too much power.Attorney General Jeff Landry testified in favor of the House-approved bill that would allow his office to determine whether jurisdictions were operating as so-called sanctuary cities - municipalities that don't enforce federal immigration law without a court order.Under
  
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• Bayou Country Superfest schedule, ticket and parking info

  17-05-2016 07:39
  
  BATON ROUGE- With Bayou Country Superfest approaching at the end of the month festival goers will need to know where to park and get last minute tickets as well as the times of when the country stars will hit the stage.The fest is from May 27, 28 and 29 in the LSU Tiger Stadium and will feature performances by Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Dierks Bentley, Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Little Big Town, Thomas Rhett and Cole Windell as well as several others.The schedule fo
  
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• Suit challenges ban on hunting deer with dogs in La. forest

  17-05-2016 07:35
  
  ALEXANDRIA - A group of hunters is suing to block a federal ban on using dogs to hunt for deer in Louisiana's only national forest.The lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court, claims the U.S. Forest Service's ban on "dog-deer hunting" in the 600,000-acre Kisatchie (kis-ATCH-ee) National Forest arbitrarily tramples on the state's "cultural fabric" by eliminating a tradition that dates back to colonial times.The Forest Service proposed the ban in 2009, citing conflicts between hunters and neighbori
  
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• Woman falls into trash compactor that turns on, mangles leg

  17-05-2016 06:03
  
  SALEM, Mass. - Authorities say a Massachusetts woman trying to fetch a pair of keys fell three stories into an apartment building's trash compactor that then turned on and mangled her leg.Police say a 19-year-old man had accidentally dropped his keys down the trash chute at the multistory building and offered the woman $20 to help him retrieve them. Investigators say he tied a sheet to the woman and lowered her into the chute. The sheet ripped, sending her into the compactor.The compactor switch
  
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• BRFD investigating morning car fire caused by arson

  17-05-2016 05:15
  
  BATON ROUGE- The Baton Rouge Fire Department is looking for information about a morning car fire that was caused by arson on Appleton Avenue.BRFD was called around 3 a.m. Tuesday morning of a reported car fire in the 2800 block of Appleton Avenue.When firefighters arrived on the scene, they found a car in flames under the carport that reached inside the home.The fire was extinguished, however the fire rekindled around 6: 40 a.m., according to BRFD.
  Crews arrived at the scene to find the fire goi
  
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• EBRSO looking for suspicious man after library incident

  17-05-2016 04:48
  
  BATON ROUGE - The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office is looking for a man in reference to a suspicious person investigation.On Monday, the man was at the local Baton Rouge library and approached a 13-year-old juvenile. It was not released what specific branch of the library the man was located.
  The man attempted to lure the juvenile to another area of the library away from the presence of adults.Once adults learned of the incident, the man fled the library on foot into the parking lot a
  
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• Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday not in effect for May

  17-05-2016 04:39
  
  BATON ROUGE- The annual sales tax exemption known as the Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday is not going to be in effect for this month.The holiday is not among the exemptions and exclusions considered “operative and in effect” for the fiscal year, which ends June 30.
  Normally, the Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday takes place during the last consecutive Saturday and Sunday each May.
  As a result, purchases during the statutorily-defined sales tax holiday weekend
  
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• Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday cancelled

  17-05-2016 04:39
  
  BATON ROUGE- The annual sales tax exemption known as the Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday is not going to be in effect for this month.The holiday is not among the exemptions and exclusions considered “operative and in effect” for the fiscal year, which ends June 30.
  Normally, the Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday takes place during the last consecutive Saturday and Sunday each May.
  As a result, purchases during the statutorily-defined sales tax holiday weekend
  
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• Woman wanted for murder in Sunday shooting turns herself in

  17-05-2016 04:28
  
  BATON ROUGE - Police say a woman wanted in connection with a fatal shooting on North Marque Ann Drive Sunday afternoon turned herself in to authorities on Tuesday morning.23-year-old Kiera Turner was wanted for the shooting death of 22-year-old De Shannon Browder. Turner is accused of shooting Browder multiple times after a verbal argument in the 1800 block of North Marque Ann Drive just before 3 p.m. on May 15.Browder was taken to an area hospital where she later died.Turner now faces charges o
  
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• WBRZ to air Sept. 3 LSU-Wisconsin opener at 2:30 p.m.

  17-05-2016 03:48
  
  BATON ROUGE - An afternoon kickoff time has been set for LSU and Wisconsin’s season opening clash this fall.The Tigers will meet the Badgers at historic Lambeau Field with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 3. The game will be aired right here on WBRZ Channel 2. Here’s what the entire opening day schedule on WBRZ and ESPN looks like:Oklahoma vs. Houston, 11 a.m., ABC (NRG Stadium, Houston)
  Hawaii at Michigan, 11 a.m., ESPN
  LSU vs. Wisconsin, 2:30 p.m., ABC (Lambeau Fiel
  
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• Alabama football players arrested with pot, guns in Monroe

  17-05-2016 03:40
  
  WEST MONROE - A pair of Alabama Crimson Tide football players were arrested in Monroe early Tuesday morning.Police said left tackle Cam Robinson and defensive back Laurence “Hootie” Jones were taken into custody at around 2:30 a.m. after marijuana was found in a vehicle the players were in. Firearms were also located in the vehicle.Robinson and Jones were booked on charges of possession of marijuana, illegal carrying of a weapon in the presence of narcotics and illegal posses
  
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• Teacher sorry for comparing special needs student to Hitler

  17-05-2016 03:21
  
  WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - A Pennsylvania school teacher has apologized for writing emails saying that accommodating a special needs student was similar to appeasing Adolf Hitler.The Citizens' Voice says Wyoming Area School District teacher Amy Kosko issued the apology Monday.The elementary school teacher is apologizing for emails sent in 2014 when school officials were following up on an educational plan for the girl, who has a learning disability.The girl is now a 12-year-old seventh grader. Her moth
  
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• US industrial production jumps by most since November 2014

  17-05-2016 02:44
  
  WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve says U.S. industrial production in April posted the biggest increase since November 2014 as utility output surged.
  Industrial output - which includes factories, mines and utilities - rose 0.7 percent from March. It had dropped the previous two months.
  Driving the climb was utility production, which surged 5.8 percent in April. It was the biggest jump since February 2007. Demand for electricity and natural gas returned to more normal levels after unusually mild Ma
  
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• Proposal to ban open burning of hazardous waste shelved

  17-05-2016 02:42
  
  BATON ROUGE - A Minden lawmaker has scrapped his proposal to ban open burning of hazardous waste in Louisiana, after failing to gain traction for the idea.
  Democratic Rep. Gene Reynolds said his bill "was not going anywhere." It was aimed at addressing concerns from people who live near Clean Harbors, a Colfax waste disposal company. Open burning, critics say, poisons air and drinking water.
  With his ban proposal stalled, Reynolds asked the House to direct the Department of Environmental Quality
  
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• Vote on downtown Lafayette bar zoning expected in July

  17-05-2016 02:14
  
  LAFAYETTE, La.  - A new policy on bars in Lafayette's downtown district likely won't come until July.The Associated Press reports Lafayette Consolidated Government Planning, Zoning and Development director Carlee Alm-LaBar gave an update on the effort to shape a new policy to the Zoning Commission on Monday.As a new zoning policy is drafted, she says the department is working with law enforcement through a program called the Knowledge Effect, which researches issues like impair
  
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• May 17, 2016 Morning News Pop

  17-05-2016 01:34
  
  Here are today's top stories:Body found in median of I-10 near Hwy 73Person detained following bomb threat at State CapitolFormer Lt. Gov. Bobby Freeman dies at 82Catching a breakUpdates all day, every day:FACEBOOK | TWITTERPermalink| Comments
  
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• Medical marijuana passes Legislature, heads to governor

  17-05-2016 00:52
  
  The Senate voted Monday to agree with House changes to the bill, which would make medical marijuana available in a year to 18 months.
  
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• Driverless cars could double traffic, increasing congestion

  17-05-2016 00:44
  
  Transportation researchers say self-driving cars will be used by people too much
  
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