Baton Rouge news

• Blue light bulbs out of stock at local businesses following police shooting

  29-07-2016 21:54
  
  Many local stores say they have consistently become sold out of blue light bulbs, purchased by residents looking to honor the officers who died in the Baton Rouge police shooting."People everyday are looking for them since Mr. Matt's funeral," Charles Creed, an employee at a local hardware store said, referring to Matthew Gerald, one of the officers killed in the police ambush that also killed Montrell Jackson and Brad Garafola, and injured two other officers. "We haven't had them in about two w
  
  Read more

• Baton Rouge funerals for police and victim of police couldn't be more different

  29-07-2016 21:05
  
  Before Alton Sterling's July 15 funeral, and as his body lay in an open casket, the music boomed and a choir gospel-rocked as it sang an updated version of a black church standard: "I'm so glad! / Trouble don't last...
  
  Read more

• Cousin of slain officer mistakenly arrested on day of Baton Rouge police shooting, website reports

  29-07-2016 20:40
  
  Damarcus Alexander said he was arrested as a suspect in the Baton Rouge police shooting, not realizing his cousin was one of the three officers killed.
  
  Read more

• One person dead after fiery crash; I-110 South remains closed

  29-07-2016 18:41
  
  BATON ROUGE – Baton Rouge Police say one person is dead after crash on the southbound lanes of Interstate 110 near Weller Avenue.Photos of the scene show two cars heavily damaged with smoke coming from one of the vehicles. BRPD says the Traffic Homicide division is still investigating the crash.Here's the scene on I-110 .. Firefighters working to put the fire out. Avoid SB 110 near Weller. @WBRZ pic.twitter.com/0bSdFNIl2b— Brett Buffington (@BrettBuffington) July 29,
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• I-110 South closed after firery crash; Traffic homicide investigating

  29-07-2016 18:41
  
  BATON ROUGE – Baton Rouge Police say the Traffic Homicide division is investigating a crash on the southbound lanes of Interstate 110 near Weller Avenue.Photos of the scene show two cars heavily damaged with smoke coming from one of the vehicles. Police have not confirmed the status of the drivers or any passengers at this time.Here's the scene on I-110 .. Firefighters working to put the fire out. Avoid SB 110 near Weller. @WBRZ pic.twitter.com/0bSdFNIl2b— Brett Buffington (@
  
  Read more

• Free supplies available at Baker Schools event next week

  29-07-2016 15:46
  
  BAKER - Students in need will have a chance to receive some free supplies for the school year ahead at an event scheduled for next Saturday in Baker.The giveaway will take place at the Baker School System Office on Saturday, Aug. 6 from 10 a.m. to noon. The office is located at 3033 Ray Weiland Drive.Baker Schools officials say the only eligibility requirement for students is enrollment in the Baker School System.Baker Superintendent of Schools Dr. Herman Brister Sr. says he hopes the supplies &
  
  Read more

• 15th travel related Zika virus case confirmed in Louisiana

  29-07-2016 15:45
  
  BATON ROUGE – Health officials Friday announced that another travel related case of the Zika virus was discovered in Louisiana.According to the Department of Health and Hospitals, the latest case brings the total to 15 cases of travel associated Zika confirmed in Louisiana.Health officials say local transmission occurs when an infected mosquito bites another person and transmits the virus. The most recent case in the state occurred after an individual traveled to an area with an ongoin
  
  Read more

• Skydiver to jump 25,000 feet without chute on live TV

  29-07-2016 15:27
  
  SIMI VALLEY, Calif. - An elite skydiver who has jumped in several movies, including "Ironman 3," plans to take the ultimate plunge – but this time without a parachute.Luke Aikins plans to jump out of an airplane at 25,000 feet over Simi Valley, California with nothing but the clothes on his back and without a wingsuit.Aikins plans to become the first skydiver to land safely in a net after two minutes of freefall.The attempt will be aired live at 7 p.m. on a special called "Heaven Sent"
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Series of public meetings to determine direction for Green Light Plan

  29-07-2016 15:22
  
  BATON ROUGE - Mayor-President “Kip” Holden has scheduled a slew of 12 public meetings next month to gather public input ahead of the beginning of the next phase of the city’s Green Light Plan.The Green Light Plan program is made up of a range of roadway infrastructure and citizen safety projects throughout East Baton Rouge Parish. It was created in May 2005 by Mayor Holden to address anticipated congestion and safety issues facing the city. It was extended in Octobe
  
  Read more

• New campaign to use anonymous texting to combat bullying

  29-07-2016 14:55
  
  DONALDSONVILLE - Ascension Public Schools have partnered with the local sheriff’s office to launch a new anti-bullying campaign in the parish.Central to the plan is a simple and anonymous way for students to report bullying via text message. In the school year ahead, students can report a bully by texting "APSO" followed by the body of their message to the number 847411.The program will take advantage of an anonymous tip line that was already set up at the sheriff’s office.Th
  
  Read more

• Coroner: Woman, 90, attacked by alligator near nursing home

  29-07-2016 14:22
  
  CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Charleston County coroner says it appears a 90-year-old woman found dead in a pond after disappearing from her nursing home was killed by an alligator.Coroner Rae Wooten said in a statement Friday that investigators think Bonnie Walker slipped or fell into the pond and then the alligator attacked her.Wooten says Walker had multiple sharp and blunt force injuries consistent with an attack from an alligator.Local media outlets report an alligator was removed from the pond ne
  
  Read more

• Lynch: Justice Department will help in wounded Baton Rouge

  29-07-2016 14:02
  
  BATON ROUGE - Attorney General Loretta Lynch has told community leaders in Baton Rouge that the Department of Justice will help their city overcome the violent tragedies that have shaken Louisiana's state capital in the past month.
  Baton Rouge is reeling from protests over the death of a 37-year-old black man at the hands of white police officers on July 5 and from the killing on July 17 of three officers in a shootout with a lone gunman angry at police.
  Lynch spent Friday morning meeting with p
  
  Read more

• Officer in critical condition to undergo more surgery Friday

  29-07-2016 13:52
  
  BATON ROUGE – Corporal Nick Tullier, one of the officers injured during the July 17th shooting, is set to undergo another surgery on Friday.Tullier was shot in the head and torso and has remained in the hospital in critical condition since the shooting took place. The surgery is for his torso.During his speech at a memorial service for the officers on Thursday, Vice President Joe Biden, said that family members and those who visit him should continue to talk to him while in intensive c
  
  Read more

• Bear at BR Zoo diagnosed with cancer

  29-07-2016 13:51
  
  BATON ROUGE - BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo announced that one of its spectacled bears has been diagnosed with cancer.Zoo officials noticed a growth of the bear, Plato, inside of his mouth and was anesthetized for a more thorough exam. Veterinarians were able to discover that the tumor is on his lower jaw.The procedure was performed a the zoo's Veterinary Hospital by Dr. Gordon Pirie, the zoo's vet. LSU vets also assisted with the biopsy.Results from the biopsy are expected to be back next week, accord
  
  Read more

• Computers hacked at Democrats' House campaign committee

  29-07-2016 13:48
  
  WASHINGTON - The computers of the House Democratic campaign committee have been hacked, an intrusion that investigators say resembles the recent cyber breach of the Democratic National Committee for which the Russian government is the leading suspect.The digital break-in at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which the organization acknowledged Friday, added another layer of mystery to the hacking of Democratic Party information that has been revealed in the heat of this year's pres
  
  Read more

• Plaquemine Police seeking info on individuals cashing bad checks

  29-07-2016 13:37
  
  PLAQUEMINE – Plaquemine Police are seeking the public’s help to identify the individuals wanted for questioning involving cashing thousands of dollars in bad checks at a local business.According to Chief Kenny Payne, the individuals cashed checks at a local business in Plaquemine of over $10,000.Investigators say the individuals were driving an older model blue Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck or an older model red Chevrolet Impala.Anyone with information is asked to contact Plaqu
  
  Read more

• Man killed in head-on crash with dump truck in Folsom

  29-07-2016 13:30
  
  FOLSOM - Louisiana State Troopers say a Madisonville resident was killed in a crash on LA 25 in Folsom early Friday morning.29-year-old Lawrence Lemoine Jr. was pronounced dead at the scene by the parish coroner.State Police said a Hammond Police officer initiated a traffic stop at around 2:15 a.m. on Friday after a truck driven by Lemoine traveled the wrong way down a one-way street. Lemoine pulled over into a parking lot, but fled the scene before the stop was over.A pursuit involving Hammond
  
  Read more

• Man dies after shooting on West Brookstown Drive

  29-07-2016 13:26
  
  BATON ROUGE – A man has died following a shooting that took place on Tuesday on West Brookstown Drive.Raymond Bailey, 24, died from gunshot injuries on Thursday night, according to BRPD. Police responded to the 4400 block of West Brookstown Drive around 10:30 p.m. and found Bailey lying near the road suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to an area hospital.There are no known motives yet, according to BRPD. Anyone with information relative to this incident is urged
  
  Read more

• Police: San Diego officers shot in traffic stop

  29-07-2016 13:18
  
  SAN DIEGO - San Diego's police chief says the fatal shooting of a police officer and wounding of a second occurred during a traffic stop.Chief Shelley Zimmerman says the gang suppression officers reported they were making the stop shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday and almost immediately radioed for emergency cover.Responding officers immediately put one of the wounded officers into a patrol car and rushed off to a hospital but efforts to save him failed. Zimmerman says that officer had a wife and
  
  Read more

• Court upholds priests 'seal of confession' in sexual abuse case

  29-07-2016 13:15
  
  BATON ROUGE - A win for the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Baton Rouge today in a legal case that centered around a church doctrine prohibiting a priest from revealing what is said inside a confessional.A state appeals court affirmed that Father Jeff Bayhi does not have to reveal any conversation between him and a woman who claims she was sexually abused by a now deceased parishioner.Rebecca Mayeux claimed in a lawsuit against the Church that she told Bayhi about the alleged behavior i
  
  Read more

• Lynch meets with police after vigil for 3 slain officers

  29-07-2016 12:57
  
  BATON ROUGE - Attorney General Loretta Lynch has thanked a group of police officers in Baton Rouge for their work during "challenging times" after the shooting that killed three law enforcement officers earlier this month.During her meeting Friday with dozens of officers and other first responders, Lynch told them that "we feel with you, we feel for you and we support you."Lynch and Vice President Joe Biden spoke at a memorial service Thursday for the three officers killed during a July 17 shoot
  
  Read more

• Coast Guard, other agencies continue to respond to oil spill

  29-07-2016 09:57
  
  LAKE ECAILLE - The Coast Guard and other agencies are continuing their response to a crude oil spill near Lake Ecaille on Friday.So far, recovery efforts have yielded about 375 of oily water mixture and 250 bags of soiled sorbents, according to the Coast Guard. An oil spill response organization has deployed about 3,000 feet of hard containment boom to prevent further impact.Coast Guard aircrews and Hilcorp Energy reps will continue to conduct flyovers to monitor oil recovery operations.The caus
  
  Read more

• 2016 spring inshore shrimp season closes Monday

  29-07-2016 09:51
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says the 2016 spring inshore shrimp season will close Monday in the remainder of state inside waters except for the open waters of Breton and Chandeleur (SHAN"-dur-lear) Sounds. This action closes shrimping in the open waters of the Mississippi Sound.Effective with this closure, all state inside waters will be closed to shrimping except for the open waters of Breton and Chandeleur Sounds.  All state outside waters seaward
  
  Read more

• Teen escapes from detention center, goes on crime spree

  29-07-2016 09:38
  
  WASHINGTON PARISH - Authorities say a teen from the Bush area escaped from a juvenile detention center in Alabama before embarking on a crime spree in St. Tammany Parish.The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office said 16-year-old Jordan Cox was taken back into custody after he’d burglarized three different convenience stores in the parish in the time after his escape.When Cox was arrested by officers in Washington Parish, he was driving a GMC Sonoma that was reported stolen from
  
  Read more

• Livingston council considers election for term limits

  29-07-2016 09:21
  
  LIVINGSTON - The Livingston Parish Council is shopping for a new election date for a proposition on term limits after missing the deadline for the Nov. 8 ballot.
  The proposal, which would limit the council members and parish president to three consecutive terms, missed the deadline for the presidential election ballot due to a "miscommunication."
  Talbert proposed an ordinance to place the proposal on the March 25 ballot, but he added that the spring election date may be more costly for the paris
  
  Read more

• US Attorney General to address civil rights and community relations

  29-07-2016 07:33
  
  BATON ROUGE - U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch will meet first responders and civil rights leaders in a roundtable discussion Friday morning in Baton Rouge.The Department of Justice has called for the meeting to talk about community relations. The discussion will held at First United Methodist Church around 9 a.m.The department is handling the investigation into the shooting death of Alton Sterling by Baton Rouge Police in early July. The details of the shooting sparked days of protests.More
  
  Read more

• 3 businesses moving into LSU's research labs

  29-07-2016 07:13
  
  BATON ROUGE  - Three new tenants have moved or are moving into the research labs at LSU Innovation Park.The Associated Press reports Nano Meda/Meda BioTech LLC and Ayurvedic Doc started operations in the research facility this month and Endeavor Power Technologies LLC is moving into the park next month.Nano Meda is aimed at improving existing or new drugs by making them easier to dissolve.Ayurvedic Doc offers an array of natural products that provide relief from ailments such as acid re
  
  Read more

• Judge to decide if indicted Louisiana sheriff can carry gun

  29-07-2016 07:10
  
  LAFAYETTE - A federal judge will decide if a south Louisiana sheriff accused of making anti-Semitic threats can carry a gun while awaiting trial on charges he directed officers to assault prisoners.Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal already is prohibited from possessing firearms following his indictment, but his attorney says recent killings of police officers in Baton Rouge and Dallas demonstrate he needs a gun to protect himself.U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick Hanna scheduled a hearing Friday for
  
  Read more

• Police looking for father of 4-month-old found dead

  29-07-2016 06:46
  
  LAKE CHARLES - Lake Charles police say the mother of a 4-month-old infant who died earlier this month faces a charge of second-degree murder. Police say they are looking for the infant's father.Police Chief Don Dixon says 25-year-old Courtney Morris was arrested Wednesday, and officers are searching for 40-year-old Larry Champ.Dixon tells local media outlets police received a call July 14 about a dead infant. He said the child had no signs of injuries.Dixon says the coroner's office did a routin
  
  Read more

• DC Metro train derails, 1 passenger evaluated for injury

  29-07-2016 06:23
  
  ARLINGTON, Va. - Metro says a train has derailed in northern Virginia and fire officials say one of about 75 passengers on the train is being evaluated for a minor injury.Metro tweets that the train derailed at the East Falls Church Metro station Friday morning. The derailment is causing delays on the orange and silver lines with no service between McLean and Ballston.Arlington County Fire Department spokesman Deputy Fire Marshal Peter Porbino says passengers have been unloaded from the train. H
  
  Read more

• Power restored for 1,700 residents

  29-07-2016 06:01
  
  BATON ROUGE - A crash on Airline Highway at Greenwell Street left 1,700 people without power Friday morning.A vehicle hit a power line at around 5 a.m. Baton Rouge Police Department said the injuries from this accident are non life-threating.According to Entergy, power was restored to all residents at around 6:45 a.m. Friday morning. The light is still out, so commuters should treat it as a four-way stop.News 2's Ashley Fruge is monitoring the roadways this morning on 2une In. We will have updat
  
  Read more

• UPDATE: One officer dead, another expected to survive following shooting in San Diego

  29-07-2016 03:27
  
  SAN DIEGO - One police officer has died and another is expected to survive following surgery after being shot in a San Diego neighborhood, authorities said early Friday.The San Diego Police Department gave an update on the officers on its Twitter account, but offered no additional details.The shooting occurred late Thursday night.There was no immediate word on what touched off the violence, which occurred around 11 p.m. PDT in the southeastern part of town.Police searched the area for suspects a
  
  Read more

• Police: 2 San Diego police officers shot

  29-07-2016 03:27
  
  SAN DIEGO - Authorities say two police officers have been shot in a San Diego neighborhood, and a suspect is reportedly in custody.The San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that police said the shooting occurred late Thursday night.The officers have been taken to a hospital, but their condition was not released.There was no immediate word on what touched of the violence, which occurred around 11 p.m. PDT in the southeastern part of town.The paper says police flooded the area in search of suspects
  
  Read more

• Sandy Hook school opening to public, 4 years after massacre

  29-07-2016 03:13
  
  NEWTOWN, Conn. - The public will get its first glimpse of the Connecticut school built to replace the one where 20 first-graders and six educators were massacred.The old Sandy Hook Elementary School was torn down after the gunman's rampage in December 2012.The new $50 million, 86,000-square-foot school was built on the same property but not in the old footprint, and is scheduled to open next month.A media tour will precede a public open house on Friday.Superintendent Joseph Erardi says the distr
  
  Read more

• Pope arrives at Auschwitz death camp

  29-07-2016 03:11
  
  OSWIECIM, Poland - Pope Francis has walked beneath the notorious "Arbeit Macht Frei" gate at Auschwitz, beginning a somber visit to the Nazi German death camp.He then was driven into a small car along a path lined by barracks, and is to pray at the site of executions and meet with camp survivors.He has become the third consecutive pontiff to make the pilgrimage to the place where Adolf Hitler's forces killed more than 1 million people, most of them Jews. But Francis is the first pope to visit wh
  
  Read more

Follow @BatonRougeNews_ on Twitter!