Baton Rouge news

• FBI Investigating New Orleans bank robbery

  11-08-2016 19:59
  
  NEW ORLEANS - The FBI New Orleans Division is investigating a bank robbery occurring Thursday afternoon.Authorities say a man robbed the Gulf Coast Bank & Trust on Carrollton Avenue around 2:45 p.m. He allegedly passed the teller a demand note, receiving an undisclosed amount of money. He then fled the bank.They described the robber as a white male, approximately 5' 5"- 5' 8", between 30 and 40 years old, with medium build, brown hair and a short untrimmed beard. He wore a dark-colored baseb
  
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• July Southwest Airlines outage costs company $54 million

  11-08-2016 19:46
  
  DALLAS - The cancellation of more than 2,000 Southwest Airlines flights due to a computer outage last month will cost the carrier an estimated $54 million.
      
  The Dallas Morning News reported the lost revenue and increased cost estimates based on a Southwest investor advisory released Wednesday.
      
  Dallas-based Southwest blamed a router failure for the July 20 outage and subsequent days of delays.
      
  While Sou
  
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• July Southwest Airlines outage costs comapny $54 million

  11-08-2016 19:46
  
  DALLAS - The cancellation of more than 2,000 Southwest Airlines flights due to a computer outage last month will cost the carrier an estimated $54 million.
      
  The Dallas Morning News reported the lost revenue and increased cost estimates based on a Southwest investor advisory released Wednesday.
      
  Dallas-based Southwest blamed a router failure for the July 20 outage and subsequent days of delays.
      
  While Sou
  
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• East Feliciana Parish not in compliance, state freezes funding

  11-08-2016 16:09
  
  CLINTON- Leaders in East Feliciana Parish held an emergency meeting today as money problems begin to set in. The state recently stopped sending public money to the parish since it's not in compliance with the State Legislative Auditor.The lack of money is leaving the Parish Council on Aging in a bind.
  Director Brenda Gardner said her office is currently operating on reserve funding. The Council on Aging in East Feliciana Parish is currently $34,000 in the hole.
  "We're using money from the previo
  
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• Road closures remain in effect in Ascension due to flooding

  11-08-2016 15:37
  
  DONALDSONVILLE - Heavy downpours throughout Thursday resulted in flooding throughout Ascension Parish that has led to the closure of several roadways.According to the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, the following roads were closed as of 1 p.m.:Evangeline Drive
  St Patrick Overpass
  Hwy 1 S Overpass
  Iberville/Mississippi
  Marchand/Railroad
  Marchand/Lafourche
  St Vincent/Opelousas
  Church/Clay
  Myrtle Grove
  Mississippi/St Patrick
  St Jude Subdivision
  Catalpa/Riverview Complex
  St Patrick/Will
  
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• Woman gets 12 years on federal terrorism charge

  11-08-2016 15:26
  
  OXFORD, Miss. - A Mississippi woman who once sought to disguise a planned journey to join the Islamic State group as her honeymoon has been sentenced to 12 years in prison on a terrorism charge.Vicksburg native Jaelyn Young was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock. Young pleaded guilty in March to one count of conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization.Young had faced up to 20 years in prison. Her parents pleaded for leniency Thursday, and Young broke
  
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• Heavy rain, flooding in St. Charles prompts emergency notice

  11-08-2016 14:02
  
  HAHNVILLE - Heavy rain and resulting flooding has prompted St. Charles Parish President Larry Cochran to declare a state of emergency.In a statement Thursday, Cochran says the move is precautionary in anticipation of further rainfall later this week.The Department of Wastewater has put a sewer notice in place for all residents in St. Charles Parish urging them to minimize their sewer use until further notice.Flooding has closed several roads in the parish including areas in Destrehan, Boutte and
  
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• Democratic VP candidate calls voting a 'sacred act'

  11-08-2016 14:00
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Tim Kaine says voting is a "sacred act."Kaine is in New Orleans addressing the Progressive National Baptist Convention, a group of African-American Baptist churches born out of the civil rights movement of the 1960s.Kaine spoke extensively about his religious upbringing including the year he spent in Honduras. He says when he came back from Honduras - at that time a dictatorship - he had a new attitude about the importance of voting.Kaine says
  
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• 1 in critical condition in officer-involved shooting in Plaquemine

  11-08-2016 13:23
  
  PLAQUEMINE - Sources say one person is in critical condition after being injured during an officer-involved shooting in Plaquemine on Thursday afternoon.Deputies said they responded to a shots fired call and showed up to the scene of a family fight on LA 77 between the Indian Village Bridge and Grosse Tete bridge.A standoff situation followed with officers talking to the suspect on the phone and eventually persuading him to come out of the residence.When the suspect came out of the hous
  
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• Nearly 4,500 Baton Rouge residents without power in heavy storms

  11-08-2016 13:08
  
  BATON ROUGE - Strong thunderstorms rolling through Baton Rouge have caused power outages in the city and surrounding areas Thursday night.By 11 p.m., an outage map by Entergy showed nearly 4,400 customers had lost power.Another 4,300 customers near New Orleans have also gone without power through the night.You can check Entergy's outage map for yourself by clicking here.Permalink| Comments
  
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• West Bank schools in St. James Parish dismissed early due to weather

  11-08-2016 13:04
  
  ST. JAMES – The St. James Parish School System has announced the early dismissal of its West Bank schools for Thursday.The early dismissals are due to the severe weather in the area.However, West Bank Gramercy Magnet students will remain at school until regular dismissal.Stay with WBRZ on Facebook and Twitter for updates.Permalink| Comments
  
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• All St. James Parish schools closed on Friday due to weather

  11-08-2016 13:04
  
  ST. JAMES – The St. James Parish School System has announced that all of the schools within the parish will be closed on Friday due to the severe weather in the area.The school system announced early dismissal all of its West Bank schools on Thursday afternoon. However, West Bank Gramercy Magnet students remained at school until regular dismissal.Stay with WBRZ on Facebook and Twitter for updates.Permalink| Comments
  
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• 1,400 employees safely evacuated after Motiva refinery fire

  11-08-2016 13:04
  
  CONVENT - The general manager of the Motiva refinery that saw a large fire on Thursday says all personnel at the site have been accounted for with no injuries reported.The GM said around 1,400 people were on site at the plant when the fire started late Thursday morning. Initial reports said there was an explosion at the facility, but the GM declined to confirm this.The oil refinery is located on Highway 44 near the Sunshine Bridge in St. James Parish.According to Motiva, a heavy oil conversion u
  
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• CATS plans to release videos of CEO interviews

  11-08-2016 12:24
  
  BATON ROUGE - Job interviewers are preparing to release videos of the remaining seven candidates who have applied to head East Baton Rouge Parish's bus transportation system.The CEO search committee interviewed the final seven candidates to lead the Capital Area Transit System via teleconference this week.Spokeswoman Amy McNaylor said CATS managers expect to upload the videos of the interviews Thursday afternoon so the public can see how the applicants responded.The videos will be available at b
  
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• School briefly on lockdown as police search area for suspect

  11-08-2016 12:21
  
  BATON ROUGE - A school was briefly placed on lockdown Thursday morning while police searched the area around the school for a suspect in a crime.A large law enforcement presence was gathered around the 1600 block of North Foster. Police were searching neighborhoods around the intersection of Greenwell Springs Road, North Foster and Gus Young Avenue.Police said the suspect was spotted stealing parts of a car and a chase ensued. The suspect ran toward Greenville Superintendent's Academy.T
  
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• Employees left in vault after bank robbery

  11-08-2016 12:19
  
  BATON ROUGE -- Three employees were left in a bank vault Wednesday after a holdup that began when the robber confronted an employee outside, police said.A female teller was leaving the Whitney Bank at 3617 South Sherwood Forest Blvd. about 5:45 pm when the robber pointed a gun at her and forced her back inside. The bank was closed at the time, Sgt. L'Jean McKneely said.The robber, who had something covering his face, stole money from the bank and made the employees stay in the vault as he made h
  
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• Several houses flooded in Donaldsonville

  11-08-2016 12:09
  
  DONALDSONVILLE- Heavy storms throughout the day have caused homes throughout the area to become flooded.In Donaldsonville, strong showers doused the city for hours. Rain water filled ditches and soaked yards.Many residents said "it's been awhile" since their area experienced such severe storms and flooding. Some homes were able to escape the flooding; other's weren't as lucky."It came down a lot," Donaldsonville resident Daniel Scott explained. "You can see the water line on the house."Scott say
  
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• Clinton to release 2015 tax returns soon

  11-08-2016 12:00
  
  WASHINGTON - Hillary Clinton will soon release her 2015 tax returns.A source close to the Democratic presidential nominee says she will release them in "the coming days." Her running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine and his wife, Anne Houlton, will also release the last 10 years of their returns. The source spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday to discuss the plans in advance.Clinton has hit Republican nominee Donald Trump for not releasing his returns. Trump has said he won't release them until after an
  
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• Man in 'Beast Mode' steals $1,300 from Walmart register

  11-08-2016 09:54
  
  BAYOU VISTA - Investigators are looking to identify a man who broke into a St. Mary Parish Walmart cash register before making off with more than $1,300 in cash late last month.Deputies responded to the reported theft in Bayou Vista on July 28. Walmart employees said a man used a tool to break into the automotive department’s register inside the store at around 8:30 p.m. He grabbed the cash that was in the register and left.Anyone with information about the theft is urged to contact th
  
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• Government won't reclassify marijuana, allows more research

  11-08-2016 09:39
  
  WASHINGTON - The Obama administration isn't going to reclassify marijuana and remove it from the list of the most dangerous drugs.The Drug Enforcement Administration says in a lengthy notice in the Federal Register that it consulted with the Health and Human Services Department and concluded that marijuana will remain in the class of drugs that have "no accepted medical use in the United States."The agency is opening the door to further medical research of the drug by expanding the number of age
  
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• La. consumers warned to remain wary when hiring locksmiths

  11-08-2016 09:11
  
  BATON ROUGE - Attorney General Jeff Landry issued a consumer alert for residents who need to hire a locksmith on Thurday morning.AG Jeff Landry says that some locksmiths advertising themselves as “local” may not in fact be local at all. Some may not be licensed and others may use intimidating tactics in order to overcharge customers.“While many Louisiana consumers may believe they are getting a local locksmith company, they too often are actually getting service fro
  
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• Man faces felony counts in threats to officer at casino

  11-08-2016 08:53
  
  BATON ROUGE - A man accused of passing out at a casino and then refusing to leave faces felony counts of public intimidation and terrorizing after authorities said he repeatedly threatened the officer who arrested him.
  State police said Brandon Trask fell asleep twice at a table at L'Auberge on Tuesday afternoon and refused a security officer's request for him to leave.
  When State Police Sgt. Robert Fontenot identified himself and asked the man if he was OK, Trask said he did not care w
  
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• Teams from schools hit by flooding to visit Saints camp

  11-08-2016 08:42
  
  CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Football teams from two West Virginia schools hit by flooding have been invited to watch the New Orleans Saints practice this weekend at The Greenbrier resort.The teams from Herbert Hoover High School and Elkview Middle School are scheduled to spend Sunday at the Saints practice facility in White Sulphur Springs. Saints coach Sean Payton is expected to talk to the teams' players.Herbert Hoover coach Tim Meyer calls it a great opportunity and says the trip is "just something t
  
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• Macy's to close around 100 stores as profits decline

  11-08-2016 08:26
  
  Macy’s has announced plans to close around 15 percent of its department stores as the chain continues its efforts to adjust to shifting consumer preferences.There's no word yet concerning the Mall of Louisiana location because Macy’s has yet to disclose which specific stores will be closing, but most of them are expected to close early next year. It amounts to around 100 store closures around the country.Among the chief pressures cited by Macy’s is an increasing shi
  
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• Officer dies after shooting in Arkansas

  11-08-2016 07:04
  
  HACKETT, Ark. - An Arkansas sheriff says a man suspected of shooting and killing a deputy had wanted to cause a "ruckus" ahead of a court appearance.Sebastian County Sheriff Bill Hollenbeck said Wednesday that 34-year-old Billy Monroe Jones had pointed a weapon at his father, who called 911. The sheriff said responding officers found Jones with a rifle and body armor and that Jones fired at Deputy Bill Cooper and Hackett Police Chief Darrell Spells, among others.Cooper died. Spells suffered supe
  
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• Officer dies after shooting

  11-08-2016 07:04
  
  HACKETT, Ark. (AP) - An Arkansas sheriff says a man suspected of shooting and killing a deputy had wanted to cause a "ruckus" ahead of a court appearance.Sebastian County Sheriff Bill Hollenbeck said Wednesday that 34-year-old Billy Monroe Jones had pointed a weapon at his father, who called 911. The sheriff said responding officers found Jones with a rifle and body armor and that Jones fired at Deputy Bill Cooper and Hackett Police Chief Darrell Spells, among others.Cooper died. Spells suffered
  
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• Canada terror suspect dead after police operation

  11-08-2016 06:54
  
  TORONTO (AP) - Canadian police say a man previously banned from associating with Islamic State extremists was plotting a suicide bombing in a public place.A police official says they thwarted that plot when suspect Aaron Driver was killed last night in southern Ontario.He's described as a man in his mid-20s originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Authorities aren't saying how Driver was killed.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Several missing in Maryland apartment fire

  11-08-2016 06:49
  
  SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) - Fire officials say up to seven people are unaccounted for following a large fire and the partial collapse of an apartment building in Silver Spring, Maryland. Firefighters rushed to the scene just before midnight last night, and they had to rescue several people from upper floors of the building. Fire officials say some residents and bystanders reported hearing an explosion.Permalink| Comments
  
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• My family's first brush with Baton Rouge public schools is an epic disaster

  11-08-2016 03:51
  
  Wednesday was the first day of school for many Baton Rouge students. For my family, it was our first official day of having a child attend an East Baton Rouge Parish public school. My daughter, after 10 wonderful years at...
  
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• New Orleans legislators call on Sen. Troy Brown to resign

  11-08-2016 00:07
  
  "In my opinion, it is time for State Senator Troy Brown to step down." - Sen. J.P. Morrell, D-New Orleans
  
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