Baton Rouge news

• Memo to Gov. John Bel Edwards and Louisiana legislators: Stop arguing, start prioritizing

  30-06-2016 23:49
  
  Here's what we know after three consecutive sessions of the Louisiana Legislature, spanning 19 argument-filled weeks: Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards and Republicans in the state House agree on pretty much nothing when it comes to the state's budget priorities and...
  
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• Mississippi claims water safe for swimming despite health advisories

  30-06-2016 21:58
  
  BAY ST. LOUIS - Mississippi's Department of Health Services says water levels along the coast are safe for swimming, one day after monitoring high bacterial levels near Gulfport.Many states between Florida and Texas, including coastal Louisiana, have issued health advisories for high levels of bacteria.On Wednesday, Baton Rouge resident Dick Empson was admitted to the hopital with necrotizing fascitis, a quick spreading, often deadly infection. Experts say the infection is rare, with about 96 di
  
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• New Orleans clinics, hospitals help pay for signing up new Medicaid clients

  30-06-2016 21:33
  
  The hospitals and clinics say these workers are crucial to ensuring the state can successfully implement the expansion of Medicaid to 375,000 recipients eligible for the federally subsidized health care program.
  
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• Heat-related illnessness numbers on the rise

  30-06-2016 21:06
  
  BATON ROUGE - About 10 days into summer and Baton Rouge EMS says it's seeing an increase in heat-related calls. With a high Thursday of 94 and a "feel like" temperature of 100, EMT Brad Harris says he's been busy."People are out more, they're enjoying themselves and unfortunately some people just aren't prepared for it," he said.Many probably think it's always hot in Louisiana, but in the last month Baton Rouge EMS says there have been 25 percent more heat-related illness calls
  
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• Theater says victims of 2012 Colorado shooting owe legal fees

  30-06-2016 21:04
  
  CENTENNIAL, Colo. - Attorneys for Cinemark want victims of a 2012 shooting at a Colorado movie theater to pay nearly $700,000 in legal fees after they unsuccessfully sued the theater chain.
      
  The company's lawyers say in court filings this month that they need the money to cover the costs of preserving evidence, retrieving and copying records and travel. A judge didn't immediately rule on the request. But Colorado courts allow the winning side of a court case to rec
  
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• Louisiana likely won't know about midyear cuts until fall

  30-06-2016 20:41
  
  We will have to wait for more information until late September.
  
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• Former East Feliciana Coroner under fire again for lack of record keeping

  30-06-2016 16:49
  
  CLINTON- The fallout finally rears its ugly head from a WBRZ Investigative Unit report from two months ago.In April, WBRZ reported Former East Feliciana Parish Coroner Laura DeJohn kept no written records in her office. Tonight, we've learned the District Attorney needs information while DeJohn was in office to prosecute a case involving a double murder.The lack of records could slow the case down. A subpoena filed in court for records that should have been held by Former East Feliciana Parish C
  
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• Local veterans help USS KIDD prepare for Fireworks on the Mississippi for the fourth of July

  30-06-2016 13:56
  
  BATON ROUGE – As the sponsor for WBRZ's Fireworks on the Mississippi for the 4th of July, the USS KIDD is preparing for the event with the help of several local heroes.Rick Munch and Mack Mackensen are just two of ten Navy veterans who work on the ship each week. Some of the veterans have been volunteering for over 15 years.
  "The guys on the ship become part of your family, and even though I've left my family from back in the 60's and came on board this ship, these guys became my ship
  
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• Louisiana Medicaid expansion and the promise of economic security

  30-06-2016 13:53
  
  Marigny resident Katherine White had been brought up with working class values: What you have is what you worked for, and friends and family were there to support you if you fell short. But then she got sick.
  
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• Who qualifies for Medicaid expansion and what's covered

  30-06-2016 13:51
  
  Medicaid expansion starts July 1.
  
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• Florida dad admits killing 6-year-old son while playing video games

  30-06-2016 13:19
  
  ENGLEWOODb - A Florida man who kept playing videogames after pinning his 6-year-old son to the couch on Christmas Eve has pleaded guilty to killing the boy.The Herald Tribune reports that 31-year-old James Dearman pleaded guilty Thursday to aggravated manslaughter of a child in the death of his son Jimmy. He faces up to 20 years in prison at a July 28 hearing.A sheriff's report says Dearman used his weight to pin the boy to the couch where he was playing video games with his girlfriend, 22-year-
  
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• 1 critically injured motorcycle wreck

  30-06-2016 13:19
  
  BATON ROUGE- A motorcycle wreck sent one person to the hospital and left behind heavy delays on the interstate Thursday night.
  The wreck happened on I-10 Westbound near Citiplace just before 10 p.m. According to EMS, one person was transported to the hospital in critical condition. Authorities couldn't comment on whether or not the victim's injuries were life-threatening.
  Officials haven't released any more information about the crash at the time of this post.
  Check back for updates.Permalink| C
  
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• Man stealing tips from restaurant caught on security camera

  30-06-2016 13:03
  
  GONZALES - Restaurant owners are searching for answers after security video caught a man stealing a tip jar.The video shows a man taking the jar from a window at the Jambalaya Shoppe off of Airline Highway. The man then walked away from the window and left in a car that appeared to be driven by another person.According to the original Facebook post of the security video, the incident happened around 1:20 p.m. The woman who posted the video mentions the man is wearing a black brace on his right a
  
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• Sound barriers coming along I-12 near Essen Lane

  30-06-2016 13:01
  
  BATON ROUGE – An interstate project to build a sound barrier on I-12 is finally in the works.The project was first talked about two decades ago when resident Cathy Butler called her city councilman asking for a change.Butler lives along the interstate and says that the sound is so loud that the pictures on the wall in her home shake."You can see them. It would move, because the trucks, the sound, the vibration, and its from the sound, so with the sound wall up, that would break that an
  
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• Cops: Man set up sex encounter with teen he met on Snapchat

  30-06-2016 12:54
  
  KEENE, N.H. - Police say a California man has been charged in New Hampshire with arranging a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl he met on Snapchat.Twenty-seven-year-old Jonathan Christy, of Placentia, faces a felony charge of certain uses of computer services prohibited. He was being arraigned Thursday afternoon. Court officials didn't immediately have information on bail or on whether he had a lawyer.Police say the Keene girl's mother reported her daughter's contact with Christy on May 11
  
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• 1st self-driving car crash death reported involves Tesla S

  30-06-2016 12:25
  
  WILLISTON, Fla. - Officials have confirmed the first self-driving car death involving a Tesla S sports car where the driver was using autopilot."What we know is that the vehicle was on a divided highway with Autopilot engaged when a tractor trailer drove across the highway perpendicular to the Model S," Tesla said in a statement.The fatal crash occurred on May 7 in Williston, Florida. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says preliminary reports indicate the crash occurred when a t
  
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• Sheriff: Man dead after Facebook date turns into robbery

  30-06-2016 12:17
  
  HARVEY (WWLTV) - Authorities have arrested two people who investigators say lured a Slidell man on a date intending to rob him.Dana Lemar and Terrance Calloway were arrested in connection with the shooting death of Coraryle Robert. Investigators believe Lemar set up a date with Robert with intent to rob him, with Calloway's help.Authorities believe Robert was shot and killed in Harvey, after Lemar set up a meeting on Facebook.Robert's family reported him missing Friday
  
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• PepsiCo bringing back '90s drink after years off the shelf

  30-06-2016 12:12
  
  NEW YORK - PepsiCo is bringing back the 1990s this summer with an eight-week release of Crystal Pepsi, one of the iconic beverages of that decade.
      
  The clear cola was originally rolled out nationally in 1993 with a high-profile campaign that included Super Bowl ads featuring Van Halen's "Right Now." The product was widely regarded as a flop along the lines of New Coke after missing sales targets. It was soon reformulated with a lemon flavor and renamed Crystal.
  &am
  
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• Louisiana 1st state in Deep South to expand Medicaid

  30-06-2016 09:26
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana is becoming the first state in the Republican-dominated Deep South to expand its Medicaid program.More than 233,000 people - largely the working poor - have been enrolled so far in the government-financed insurance coverage offered under the health law championed by President Barack Obama. The expanded coverage starts Friday.Medicaid expansion fulfills of one of Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards' main campaign promises.Those eligible for coverage include adults ages 19 to
  
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• Federal judge sets July 18 hearing in church shooting case

  30-06-2016 09:00
  
  COLUMBIA - A hearing has been set for next month to sort out jury selection details for the federal trial of a white man accused of gunning down nine black parishioners at a historic South Carolina church.U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel on Thursday set a July 18 hearing in the federal case against 22-year-old Dylann Roof.Attorneys disagree about some juror selection details, such as whether they should come from across South Carolina or only from the Charleston area. Roof faces charges includ
  
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• Woman sentenced to 16 years in sex trafficking case

  30-06-2016 08:57
  
  BATON ROUGE – U.S. Attorneys say a Baton Rouge woman was sentenced to 16 years in prison for trafficking a minor for sex.Last year, a federal grand jury indicted 37-year-old Kellie M. Dominique with sex trafficking of a minor, attempted sex trafficking of a minor, obstruction of justice and four counts of using an interstate facility to aid in racketeering.The indictment accused Dominique of running a prostitution business out of her home on the website "backpage.com," and had minors w
  
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• Obama's legacy: immigration stands as most glaring failure

  30-06-2016 08:11
  
  WASHINGTON - Immigration overhaul will stand as the most glaring failure in President Barack Obama's 7 ½-year effort to enact his vision of social change.Despite two campaigns full of promises and multiple strategies, Obama imposed only incremental, largely temporary changes on the immigration system. He leaves behind a system still outdated and with some 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally.Obama's legacy will be judged by a sometimes contradictory mix of policies. He prote
  
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• Ryan: House to vote on barring guns for suspected terrorists

  30-06-2016 08:08
  
  WASHINGTON - House Speaker Paul Ryan has told Republican lawmakers that the House will vote next week on legislation aimed at keeping suspected terrorists from getting guns.The Wisconsin Republican says the prohibition would be part of anti-terrorism legislation. Ryan discussed his decision during a conference call with GOP lawmakers.The discussion was described by an official on the call.Another person on the call said the measure will be similar to a Republican bill the Senate rejected last we
  
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• New survey doubles the estimate of transgender adults in US

  30-06-2016 08:05
  
  NEW YORK - A team of experts has reported that about 1.4 million adults in the U.S. identify as transgender, double the estimate from a decade ago.Their survey was released Thursday and calculates that 0.6 percent of U.S. adults are transgender. It comes as several issues related to transgender rights are in the spotlight.The military is moving to allow transgender service members to serve openly, and there is intense debate nationwide over transgender people's access to public bathrooms.The new
  
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• Suicide rates highest in farmers, lumberjacks, fishermen

  30-06-2016 08:03
  
  NEW YORK - In a study of suicide rates by occupation, the workers that killed themselves most often were farmers, lumberjacks and fishermen.Researchers found the highest suicide rates in manual laborers who work in isolation and face unsteady employment. High rates were also seen in carpenters, miners, electricians and people who work in construction. Mechanics were close behind.Dentists, doctors and other health-care professionals had an 80 percent lower suicide rate than the farmers, fishermen
  
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• $200M oil spill damage payment expected Friday in Louisiana

  30-06-2016 07:56
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana is expecting Friday to receive $200 million from BP, the first portion of the state's settlement for economic damages associated with the 2010 Gulf Coast oil spill.Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne updated state officials Thursday about the payment, which is earmarked to fill state budget gaps.Louisiana is expected to receive up to $1 billion from BP as compensation for the spill's economic damages, with payments to arrive over 15 years. Lawmakers earmarked the
  
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• Oprah Winfrey added to list of speakers at Essence Festival in New Orleans

  30-06-2016 06:18
  
  BATON ROUGE – Oprah Winfrey has been added to the list of speakers for the 2016 Essence Festival in New Orleans for the first time in the event's history.Winfrey is scheduled to speak at the Essence Empowerment Experience Stage at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on Saturday at 4 p.m. Admission is free, however space is limited.Other speakers scheduled to take the stage are T.D. Jakes, Rev. Al Sharpton, Misty Copeland and Tyra Banks among others.Meanwhile, musical headliners in t
  
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• Homeland Security head: US will meet Syrian refugees goal

  30-06-2016 06:10
  
  WASHINGTON - Homeland Security Secretary Jeh  Johnson says he believes the government will meet its goal of resettling 10,000 Syrian refugees this year.Johnson tells the Senate Judiciary Committee that approximately 5,000 refugees have been approved for settlement, and an additional 5,000 to 6,000 have been conditionally approved, pending security checks.The Obama administration decided last year to sharply increase the number of Syrian refugees taken into the United States. That decisi
  
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• Theater shows R-rated comedy trailer with "Finding Dory"

  30-06-2016 06:00
  
  CONCORD  - The owner of a California movie theater is apologizing after a trailer for an R-rated upcoming Seth Rogen comedy was shown ahead of a screening of Disney's "Finding Dory."The East Bay Times reports moviegoers eager to see the PG-rated "Dory" at a Brenden theater in the Bay Area city of Concord were surprised earlier this month with a preview of Rogen's "Sausage Party," animated film with dark themes about what happens to food after it's taken home from the supermarket.Brenden
  
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• US officials: Military concerned about transgender timeline

  30-06-2016 05:55
  
  WASHINGTON - U.S. officials say the Pentagon is poised to announce new rules allowing transgender individuals to serve openly in the U.S. military, amid concerns from senior military leaders who believe the department is moving too fast and has yet to resolve many details.The new policy would end one of the last bans on service in the military. It is expected this week.Several senior U.S. officials tell The Associated Press that the chiefs of the military services sought more time to fully devel
  
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• Pentagon ends ban on transgender troops in military

  30-06-2016 05:55
  
  WASHINGTON - The Pentagon will let transgender individuals serve openly in the U.S. military, ending one of the last bans on service in the armed forces.Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced the change Thursday. Carter says it's the right thing to do. He says only a person's qualifications should matter, and that there should be no other unrelated barriers to service.Carter's announcement comes despite concerns from senior military leaders that the department is moving too fast and that more ti
  
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• 700+ Corgis hit California beach for Corgi Con 2016

  30-06-2016 05:54
  
  SAN FRANCISCO - What do you get when you put 2,800 stumpy little legs on a beach in California? You get North Cal Corgi Con 2016.More than 700 Welsh Corgis were present at Ocean Beach in California for the gathering, which included a group photo, fundraisers and even a wedding proposal. Agility competitions, costume contests and lots of barking were also on the agenda for the event.North Cal Corgi Con was founded in 2013 and has been attracting an increasing number of the dwarf dogs eve
  
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• La. income estimates tweaked to add taxes, ahead of new year

  30-06-2016 05:45
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's income forecasts have been updated to reflect tax changes backed by lawmakers, adjustments needed to keep the budget that begins Friday in balance.But other money problems loom, including concerns Louisiana might have to take out a short-term loan to keep cash flowing and government services operating until taxes are collected.The Revenue Estimating Conference on Thursday revised its income projections, to account for the more than $260 million in taxes raised in the ju
  
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• BRPD assisting New Orleans police in search for missing woman

  30-06-2016 05:33
  
  BATON ROUGE – The Baton Rouge Police Department is assisting police in New Orleans in the search for a missing woman.Chanda Smith, 38, went missing around 1 p.m. from the Sheraton Hotel in the 500 block of Canal Street on Sunday, June 26.Smith is a white female, 5'2 in height, 110 pounds, has brown hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing an emerald green, eyelet sundress. She was also wearing a white cardigan with quarter length sleeves.Smith is without her daily required medica
  
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• Assumption deputies find diaper-clad 2-year-old on highway

  30-06-2016 05:20
  
  LABADIEVILLE - Sheriff's deputies say a 2-year-old wearing only a diaper was found standing alone in the middle of a state highway in Assumption Parish after leaving a home without being noticed.Sheriff Leland Falcon said in a statement Wednesday deputies arrested 41-year-old Ivone Pina, of Labadieville (LAH'-buh-dee-vill), on a charges of child desertion.Falcon said the child was supposed to be in Pina's care, but deputies believe the 2-year-old had been gone for no more than 30 minutes from a
  
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• 9 new state wildlife enforcement agents graduate

  30-06-2016 05:12
  
  BATON ROUGE - There are nine new state wildlife and fisheries enforcement agents on the force.The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries graduated its 30th cadet class Wednesday during a ceremony in Baton Rouge.After six months of intensive physical and academic training, officials say the newly commissioned agents are ready to begin enforcing hunting, fishing and boating regulations that govern the use of the state's natural resources.The department's secretary, Charlie Melancon, told t
  
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• Workforce initiative for SNAP participants to begin Friday

  30-06-2016 05:10
  
  BATON ROUGE – A new workforce initiative related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will begin in the state on Friday, July 1.In April, Governor John Bel Edwards signed an executive order creating new state standards that will require Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents who participate in the SNAP food assistance program to participate in job training and assistance programs in order to remain eligible.The Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) and the Department of Child
  
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• Ku Klux Klan dreams of rising again 150 years after founding

  30-06-2016 05:09
  
  BIRMINGHAM - The Ku Klux Klan is trying to make a comeback and reshape itself for a new era.The white supremacist organization was born in the defeated South after the Civil War. It's 150 years old and has been in decline for decades.Yet Associated Press interviews with Klan leaders show the group is still alive and dreams of restoring itself to what it once was: an invisible empire spreading throughout society.Watchdog groups estimate total Klan membership at only a few thousand nationwide, and
  
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• Do you have unclaimed cash? Click here!

  30-06-2016 04:37
  
  BATON ROUGE – Officials say more than 4,000 people in Louisiana have unclaimed money after a recent settlement with mortgage services.State Treasurer said the state received $2.4 million after a settlement stemming from the 2008 housing bubble burst.“If you lost your home to foreclosure during the national credit crisis, check our Unclaimed Property database to see if you are owed money,” Kennedy said. “We want to get this money back to you.”Kenn
  
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• Revolver, knives stolen during burglary of Livingston furniture store

  30-06-2016 03:41
  
  LIVINGSTON - Detectives are investigating a burglary that happened at a Livingston furniture store last weekend.Officers suspect the burglary happened sometime between 8 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday at the V. Watts Furniture Store located in the 13000 block of Florida Boulevard. An unknown subject (or subjects) forced their way into the business, stealing a chrome revolver and several knives, according to police.Investigators believe the suspects possibly fled the scene on foot due to the ite
  
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• Official: No active shooter found at base

  30-06-2016 03:12
  
  JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. - A law enforcement official says no active shooter was found at a military post outside Washington.The law enforcement official was not authorized to discuss the matter by name and spoke on condition of anonymity.Joint Base Andrews had been placed on lockdown Thursday morning after an active shooter was reported. The base is home to Air Force One and is about 20 miles from Washington.An active shooter exercise had also been planned at the base, but officials said the sit
  
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• First responders trying to secure military post

  30-06-2016 03:12
  
  JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. - Officials say first responders are trying to secure the scene of an active shooter report at a military post near Washington.Joint Base Andrews, which is about 20 miles outside the nation's capital and is home to Air Force One, said in a tweet Thursday that the base is reacting to the active shooter report to ensure the safety of all personnel.It was not immediately clear if any shots were fired or if anyone was wounded.Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson
  
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• Vehicle overturns after hit-and-run causing I-12 West delays

  30-06-2016 02:26
  
  BATON ROUGE - An overturned vehicle on I-12 West at O’Neal Lane is causing heavy Thursday morning commute delays.At 8:30 a.m., the closed right lane reopened, leaving the center and left lanes blocked. Congestion related to the crash had stretched to Juban Road by that time.Baton Rouge Police have called the crash a hit-and-run. Injuries have yet to be reported, but that update is expected shortly.Check back with this story for more details and follow News 2’s Ashley Frug&
  
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• 3-day qualifying period opens with Joe Marino filing to succeed Bryan Adams

  30-06-2016 01:18
  
  The special election is scheduled for Aug. 6.
  
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• Louisiana's interstate highways being a mess should surprise no one

  30-06-2016 01:12
  
  Raise your hand if it comes as any surprise that yet another study declares Louisiana's interstate highways are a nightmare. C'mon, do we really need well-meaning wonks to tell us we've got miles and miles of highways of hell? Aren't...
  
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