Baton Rouge news

• Here's how you can volunteer to help those affected by Louisiana flood

  22-08-2016 23:10
  
  If you're looking for a way to help out with flood recovery efforts, there are many volunteer opportunities available.
  
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• Obama paused vacation to fundraise but not to visit Louisiana

  22-08-2016 22:01
  
  In remarks President Barack Obama made August 15, he said that his wife, Michelle Obama, insists that he commit to vacation when he's on vacation. It's understandable that Mrs. Obama would insist that the president, a husband and father of...
  
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• Baton Rouge area students use time off to help flood victims

  22-08-2016 20:34
  
  Some teen relief driven by parents wanting children to understand gravity of disaster, but many students organize own volunteer work
  
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• Baton Rouge area students use time off to assist Louisiana flood victims

  22-08-2016 20:34
  
  With most Baton Rouge area schools closed, students are volunteering to assist in the flood recovery effort.
  
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• Feds: Ignore that post about banning driver cell phone use

  22-08-2016 19:41
  
  DETROIT - Briefly Monday, it looked like the federal government was going to push all 50 states to ban the use of cell phones and other wireless devices while people are driving.But the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration now says it was all a mistake.The agency posted non-binding guidelines on distracted driving for states on a federal website Monday morning. The guidelines recommended that states prohibit use of hands-free as well as hand-held devices. State laws control use of phon
  
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• Antique shops managing to pick up the pieces after flood

  22-08-2016 19:08
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS – The shops in the Denham Springs Antique District are known for the pieces of history they collect and sell. Now, these items, some hundreds of years old, are left in shambles."I didn't know the force of the water," Deanna Welch, of Louisiana Purchase Antiques, said.The flood water destroyed thousands of dollars of antiques, shattered shop windows and erased decades of work. Left behind is the overwhelming mess."And the mud once it settled, all of the small int
  
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• EBR Schools won't reopen until after Labor Day

  22-08-2016 18:48
  
  BATON ROUGE - The East Baton Rouge Parish School System pushed the return of school back to September 6th, the district announced Monday.Originally, officials hoped to open schools this week but decided the stress on the system was too great.  Numerous campuses were flooded and school buses took on water, too, when the area flooded after record amounts of rain.The district said the decision to push the start of school back to after Labor Day was made after an assessment of school system
  
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• Officials respond to Red Cross shelter complaints

  22-08-2016 18:35
  
  BATON ROUGE – People have been taking to social media, upset about how their donations for flood victims have been handled. They claim that the American Red Cross is tossing out the food and clothing they have been given.The Red Cross says that they are in the business of sheltering disaster victims and not collecting donated items."It's not the strength of the Red Cross," Robert Baltodano, of the American Red Cross, said."We don't manage material donations as far as food and clothing.
  
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• LSU students begin semester after flood

  22-08-2016 18:01
  
  BATON ROUGE – LSU students returned to campus on Monday and students have been sharing their experiences about last week's flood. Neighborhoods not too far from campus have been left in destruction.LSU Freshman Nick Danna is constantly remembering that.
  "My brother Taylor, he pretty much got three feet of water in his house," Danna said.Danna is starting his first year at LSU and says that helping people has to be put off for his studies which is not an easy thing for him to d
  
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• DSNAP distribution begins in Livingston

  22-08-2016 17:33
  
  LIVINGSTON – The distribution of disaster-related food stamps, known as DSNAP, began on Monday in Livingston Parish.
  Eight parishes are currently distributing the emergency food assistance and will expand to additional parishes in the coming weeks, with East Baton Rouge starting next Monday.There were two locations open in Livingston Parish, one of them being the Judson Baptist Church. Law enforcement had to temporarily turn people away because the church parking lot was full before th
  
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• Some Ascension Parish students to return to school on Wednesday

  22-08-2016 17:17
  
  DONALDSONVILLE - Ascension Public Schools are set to reopen in two phases as the surrounding community continues to recover from catastrophic flooding.All APS employees are to report to work on Wednesday, Aug. 24. Students attending schools in Donaldsonville will also return on that day. All other students in the parish will resume classes on Monday, Aug. 29. The district is working to finalize a plan to accommodate more than 5,000 students displaced from five affected campuses.Galvez Middle, Ga
  
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• Crews begin cutting road to relieve flooding

  22-08-2016 16:26
  
  PRAIRIEVILLE- Crews cut a 40-foot section of Alligator Bayou Road Tuesday, in an effort to relieve rising water in the Spanish Lake Basin area.Earlier this week, pumps were set up and working at the Ascension and Iberville Parish line to try and drain the basin to give residents in Prairieville and St. Gabriel relief.  Iberville Parish Officials tell WBRZ, each pump is capable of pumping 50,000 gallons of water per minute. Our calculations show that you could fill up a
  
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• FEMA extends grace period to renew flood insurance policies in affected parishes

  22-08-2016 16:09
  
  BATON ROUGE – FEMA announced that the grace period to renew flood insurance policies has been extended to 120 days for affected Louisiana parishes.
  The grace period has been extended to 120 days and applies to the 20 declared disaster parishes: Acadia, Ascension, Avoyelles, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Vermilion, Washington and West Fel
  
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• Additional affected parishes eligible for disaster unemployment assistance

  22-08-2016 15:28
  
  BATON ROUGE – Additional parishes are now eligible for disaster unemployment assistance for those who lost work as a result of the flooding that occurred last week.The following parishes are eligible:Avoyelles*
  Evangeline*Iberville*
  Jefferson Davis*
  St. Martin*
  St. Tammany*Washington*West Feliciana*East Baton RougeLivingston
  St. Helena
  TangipahoaAcadia
  Ascension
  East FelicianaIberia
  Lafayette
  Pointe Coupee
  St. LandryVermilionThe Louisiana Workforce Commission is accepting applications
  
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• Majority of Entergy customers have power back

  22-08-2016 14:46
  
  BATON ROUGE - Entergy reports that power has been restored to all of its customers that crews can safely reach at this time.Some homes remain underwater in the St. Amant, Sorrento and False River areas. Entergy says it may take some time to return power to the around 2,000 customers whose flood damage was so severe they cannot yet be reconnected. Entergy is working with those customers on an individual basis until their power can be restored.A tropical-type weather system brought record-shatteri
  
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• Evacuations, road closures follow drunk driving crash in Slidell

  22-08-2016 14:17
  
  SLIDELL - A man was arrested for drunk driving after he lost control of his vehicle, hit a utility pole and then crashed into the side of a Slidell pizzeria on Sunday morning.Authorities said the crash destroyed the electrical panels for several of the businesses in the area and ruptured a gas line, resulting in the evacuation of nearby businesses and a church in the middle of Sunday morning services.After 20-year-old Hunter Champagne was taken into custody, several blocks surrounding the site o
  
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• 2,800 people remain in shelters after flooding

  22-08-2016 14:13
  
  BATON ROUGE - More than 2,800 people remain in shelters a week after the devastating flooding that wrecked homes across south Louisiana.The Department of Children and Family Services announced the latest figure Monday.The storm and its flooding have damaged an estimated 60,000 homes and forced thousands to seek temporary housing with relatives, friends or shelters.More than 106,000 people have registered for federal disaster aid, with the state saying $20 million has been distributed to individu
  
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• New active service areas added as Baton Rouge debris removal underway

  22-08-2016 13:59
  
  BATON ROUGE - Debris removal efforts are officially underway in Baton Rouge with teams actively working Monday morning to collect debris that has been placed curbside in several ZIP codes.While Monday was the official start of debris removal, the Mayor’s Office said crews have been able to start work sooner than anticipated due to careful planning over the past several days. A small number of trucks already collected more than 1,500 cubic yards of debris in some of Baton Rouge&rsqu
  
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• USPS routes, offices disrupted by floods

  22-08-2016 13:50
  
  BATON ROUGE - The United States Post Office issued a service disruption alert for several post offices and routes in Louisiana after recent flooding.The message from USPS is as follows:Retail, delivery and acceptance service has been disrupted due to torrential rains, which produced a ravaging flood in several Louisiana cities. The US Postal Service is monitoring conditions.The following offices have resumed normal operations:Husser PO 70442
  Abbeville PO 70510
  Delcambre PO 70528
  Erath PO 70533
  M
  
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• Uber partners with Red Cross to give discounted rides to shelters

  22-08-2016 13:39
  
  BATON ROUGE – In partnership with the American Red Cross, Uber is offering discounted rides to people in Baton Rouge and Lafayette who have been impacted by last week's flooding.Uber is giving $15,000 in ride credits to those staying at emergency shelters in and around Baton Rouge and Lafayette. The company has also donated $10,000 to the American Red Cross National Disaster Fund.A ride credit will automatically be applied to trips to or from select shelter locations. In Lafay
  
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• Baker schools return with strong numbers after flooding

  22-08-2016 13:30
  
  BAKER – City of Baker schools says a large number of its students return on Monday, just days after what some say is the worst storm since Hurricane Sandy.Baker High Principal Traci Morgan said that she was surprised by how many students showed up on Monday's check in."This was greater than anything that I had ever dreamed of," Morgan said. "And most of the students are in uniforms, too. We are up and ready to go already."Baker High students are attending classes at Baker Middle School
  
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• On Your Side: Dealing with mold; act before it's too late

  22-08-2016 13:07
  
  BATON ROUGE - Homes are susceptible to mold following the flood.The LSU AgCenter on how you can remove mold from your flood damaged home.  You need to be meticulous, it can pay off in the end. AgCenter Housing Specialist Claudette Reichel warns mold colonies can start within two days so getting things clean and dry as fast as possible is critical.  Most people know to pull wet carpeting, pads, upholstery, wet draperies as well as remove wallboard and insulatio
  
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• LSU economist estimates one- year recovery period from flood

  22-08-2016 13:03
  
  BATON ROUGE – With 31 inches of rain, 13 people dead, more than 30,000 residents and 1,400 rescued, some say it will take one year to recover from the recent flood damage that struck the state last week.James Richardson, LSU economist and professor of public administration, says that the state will take one year to fully recognize the economic impact of the flood."Businesses, for the most part, will get back up and running quickly. Perhaps not some small businesses in areas badly hit l
  
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• On Your Side: Saving flood-damaged photographs, documents

  22-08-2016 12:53
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana State Archives released tips on how to save photographs and important documents that may have been damaged in the flood.For documents:·        If the documents were submerged, leave them submerged until they can be air dried or frozen.  Schedler recommends you transfer the documents to clean water if you can.·      &nb
  
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• Speedo USA, Ralph Lauren drop Lochte after Rio incident

  22-08-2016 12:29
  
  NEW YORK - Ryan Lochte has lost two majors sponsors after Speedo USA and Ralph Lauren announced they are dumping the swimmer over a drunken incident during the Rio Olympics that he initially described as an armed robbery.
  Both companies announced their decisions Monday, one day after the end of the games.
  Speedo says it will donate $50,000 of Lochte's fee to Save The Children to benefit needy youngsters in Brazil. Ralph Lauren says its sponsorship of Lochte was specifically in support o
  
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• Speedo drops sponsorship of Ryan Lochte

  22-08-2016 12:29
  
  NEW YORK - Speedo is the first major company to drop its sponsorship of swimmer Ryan Lochte.
  The swimsuit maker owned by PVH in New York says that it doesn't condone behavior that is counter to its values.
  Lochte fabricated a tale that he was robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro during the Olympics. He later apologized.
  Speedo says it is donating $50,000 from Lochte's sponsorship fee to the global charity Save the Children for children in Brazil.Permalink| Comments
  
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• What to know about debris organizing and pickup

  22-08-2016 12:27
  
  BATON ROUGE - This past weekend, many homeowners started to gut their homes, piling items and soiled possessions at the curb."It looks like a bomb went off," said Jason Myer about the cleanup in his neighborhood.The debris will be going to multiple landfills across the area. The Department of Environmental Quality is taking a look at what needs to go where because not every landfill can take each item.Debris pickup has already begun in some areas. DEQ is asking households to organize de
  
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• Relic believed to be fragment of 'True Cross' missing from Catholic church

  22-08-2016 12:23
  
  SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco police are searching for a relic believed to trace back to 325 AD that went missing from a Catholic church on Thursday.According to ABC San Francisco affiliate KGO, officials are investigating the disappearance of what is believed to be an ancient religious artifact from St. Dominic's Catholic Church.The leaders of the church and local parishioners say they are praying that the artifact will be safely returned to the parish.At mass on Sunday, Father Michael Hurley i
  
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• Obama to visit Baton Rouge on Tuesday

  22-08-2016 09:57
  
  BATON ROUGE - President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit Baton Rouge this week after federal disaster declarations have been made in several South Louisiana parishes.The President's visit will be on Tuesday with Obama expected to meet some thousands of people involved in the federal aid request.Obama's first and only visit to the Capital City came seven months when he visited to engage in a Q&A session with students at McKinley High School.Gov. John Bel Edwards has made it clear he wants t
  
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• Everything to know: DSNAP, Disaster Loans, Temporary Housing

  22-08-2016 08:39
  
  BATON ROUGE - The first of three phases of DSNAP benefits for residents affected by recent historic flooding begins on Monday.DSNAP, formerly called Disaster Food Stamps, provides food assistance to eligible households who do not receive regular SNAP benefits and who need help buying groceries due to lost income or damages following a disaster.The following locations will open for the first time on Monday, Aug. 22. They will open each day through Saturday, Aug. 27 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.E
  
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• Evacuation order for Gueydan lifted

  22-08-2016 08:07
  
  GUEYDAN - Vermilion parish officials have lifted the evacuation order for the town of Gueydan.
  Rebecca Broussard, director of emergency preparedness for the parish, tells The Advertiser Sunday it's safe for all residents to return home.
  The levee along Louisiana Highway 713 just north of Gueydan was breached on Wednesday.
  Volunteers from the town of about 1,500 residents worked around the clock bring in equipment and begin repairs.
  Helicopters carried 4,000-pound sandbags dropped them along the
  
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• Right lane of 1-10 W closed at Essen, vehicle on fire

  22-08-2016 07:13
  
  BATON ROUGE - Commuters may want to take an alternate route this morning as a vehicle is on fire on I-10 West.The right lane is blocked on I-10 westbound at Essen Lane. The delay from this accident is nearly two miles long.News 2's Ashley Fruge is monitoring the roadways during Good Morning America. We will have updates on WBRZ.com and Twitter.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Limited inventory of homes available in Baton Rouge

  22-08-2016 07:06
  
  BATON ROUGE - The south Louisiana floods, which have forced tens of thousands of people to look for housing, comes at a time when the metro Baton Rouge housing market was already grappling with a limited inventory of homes.As of July, the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors' Multiple Listing Service found there were 3,382 homes on the market in the metro areas.In the immediate aftermath of the flooding, Ginger Maulden, president-elect of the Baton Rouge realtor's group, tells The Advocat
  
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• Volunteers work to soften Louisiana flooding's gut punch on Sunday

  22-08-2016 06:01
  
  "I wanted to cry this morning, but then they showed up. We are so grateful," a Gonzales resident said of the volunteers who came to help with his flood-damaged home.
  
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• Green Party's Jill Stein visits Baton Rouge amid presidential campaign

  22-08-2016 05:49
  
  Candidate plans to livestream her activities Monday morning on Facebook.
  
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