Baton Rouge news

• Who to call if you need to replace important documents lost in Louisiana floods

  24-08-2016 21:42
  
  FEMA has provided contact information for agencies that can help you get new documents.
  
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• Attorney general warns flood victims of scams and gives tips for protection

  24-08-2016 19:16
  
  BATON ROUGE – Attorney General Jeff Landry’s office is warning residents impacted by the flood of possible scams and tips they should practice to protect themselves in a time where many are vulnerable.See below for the list of scams and tips: Price Gouging- Occurs when someone charges inflated and unjustified prices for products or services during declared states of emergency- Report suspected price gouging to your local sheriff or district attorney and to the Attorney Genera
  
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• More FEMA disaster recovery centers open Thursday

  24-08-2016 18:57
  
  BATON ROUGE - FEMA says more disaster recovery centers will open Thursday in East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Livingston and St. Landry parishes. The centers will be open from 8 a.m to 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday until further notice. They are located at the following addresses: St. Louis King of France Catholic Church2121 N. Sherwood Forest Dr.Baton Rouge, La. 70815 Early Learning Center Gym9414 Plank Rd.Clinton, La. 70772 Word Ministries1960 W. Laurel Ave.
  
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• Long lines at landfill delays debris pickup

  24-08-2016 18:49
  
  LIVINGSTON – Some may be wondering why that pile of storm debris is still sitting in front of homes. One reason is that it is taking longer just getting it to the landfill.Piles of debris, some six feet tall, line the street in Denham Springs and causing a traffic jam at the local landfill it’s taking trash trucks almost an hour to get inside the gates.“We are going to expand our hours as long as volume continues to roll. We're working seven days a week and we''ll p
  
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• WATCH: What you need to know when repairing your home

  24-08-2016 17:55
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - Rick Foster, a building official for Denham Springs, took WBRZ News 2 cameras on a tour of his flood damaged home to explain what residents need to know when repairing their homes.Watch the video above for Foster's full explanation, but here are a few important points:-Check with building permit officials to make sure your house does not require elevating due to updated flood regulations.-After removing wet materials, give your house time to fully dry before replacing d
  
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• Elderly St. Amant couple starts from scratch after flood

  24-08-2016 17:49
  
  ST. AMANT – One aged couple from St. Amant, is starting from scratch as they recover from last week's flood. Nail by nail Perry Germillion has been taking down what he worked so hard to build."You work all your life to try and get a nice home and this happens," Germillion said.It is not easy for anyone to lose so much, but Germillion says that his faith remains strong."We're putting a lot of this in God's hands," Germillion said.However, at his age, with an oxygen tank secured
  
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• Ascension Parish debris removal information released

  24-08-2016 17:41
  
  GONZALES – Officials in Ascension Parish say up to 40,000 homes were impacted by water in the parish.According to an estimate released Wednesday, more than 80,000 people in Ascension Parish were affected by last week’s historic flooding. Nearly 800 businesses were also flooded.Spokesperson Lester Kenyon said DRC Emergency Services in New Orleans has been contracted for debris removal. Residents are asked to have debris separated for quick pick up per Department of Environment
  
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• Ascension Parish releases plan to accommodate students affected by flooding

  24-08-2016 16:23
  
  ASCENSION PARISH - Ascension Parish Public Schools released their temporary education plan for schools that are currently under remediation due to flood waters so that students can continue their education at alternate locations.The plan is available in detail at www.apsb.org/page/flood-recovery-temporary-education-plan.Galvez Primary-Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd Grades will attend at Lakeside Primary
  -3rd, 4th & 5th Grades will attend at the former RPCC Hwy 22 CampusGalvez Middle-6th, 7th &a
  
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• Governor, family still out of flooded mansion

  24-08-2016 16:19
  
  BATON ROUGE - Gov. John Bel Edwards and his family remain displaced by flooding from the Louisiana Governor's Mansion, with no return date set.The governor was asked about the damage Wednesday during his radio call-in show.Edwards and his family were forced to leave the mansion when chest-high water filled the basement and electricity was shut off. They're staying in a state police facility in East Baton Rouge Parish.The governor said it was the first time the mansion had flooded - and he noted
  
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• Former BRPD officer accused of raping child

  24-08-2016 15:40
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - A retired BRPD officer turned himself into sheriff’s deputies in Livingston Parish after he was accused of raping a child.52-year-old Barry Parrish, of Denham Springs, was booked on one count of first degree rape following his arrest on Wednesday.LPSO Sheriff Jason Ard said during an investigation it was learned that Parrish had engaged in illicit sexual acts with a juvenile on July 16 of this year. Further details were limited.The sheriff also noted that Parrish is a
  
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• A flap over idea to smooth way for 'Cajun Navy'

  24-08-2016 15:10
  
  BATON ROUGE - A Louisiana lawmaker says he's looking for ways to provide smoother sailing for the volunteer rescue boaters known collectively as the "Cajun Navy."But ideas floated by state Sen. Jonathan Perry have met with skepticism and even anger.Volunteers who rescued people stranded in Louisiana flooding last week sometimes complained they were turned away by authorities in some areas.In a recent radio interview, Perry, a Republican from Kaplan, suggested legislation that would let
  
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• Relief supplies from Atlanta arrive in Baton Rouge

  24-08-2016 14:57
  
  BATON ROUGE - A Convoy of Care has arrived in Baton Rouge from Atlanta with six 18-wheelers filled to the brim with relief supplies.The convoy will wrap up when it arrives at the National Guard Armory near Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport at 10 a.m.Last Saturday, an outpouring of support came from the citizens of Atlanta when they showed up in droves to donate relief supplies at the Atlanta Civic Center. The Georgia Motor Trucking Association loaned six of their tractor trailers to the cause to
  
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• Loaded with supplies, Convoy of Care heads to Baton Rouge

  24-08-2016 14:57
  
  BATON ROUGE - Six 18-wheelers loaded with flood recovery supplies will roll into the city on Thursday after an outpouring of support from the residents of Atlanta.Last Saturday, Atlanta citizens were asked to donate to victims of recent flooding in Louisiana at the Atlanta Civic Center. The tractor trailers were loaned to the cause to bring the supplies to where they are most needed.After the convoy arrives at the National Guard Armory on Thursday morning, much needed goods like toiletr
  
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• Central school students to return Sept. 6; employees Sept. 1

  24-08-2016 14:42
  
  CENTRAL – Central Community School System officials announced that students will return to school on Sept. 6 and employees will return on Sept. 1.According to school officials, the school calendar will be adjusted to compensate for the missed days. School officials say that some schools will be have to be relocated until completely repaired. Tanglewood Elementary will take eight to 10 weeks to restore and students will be relocated to the Central Intermediate/Central Middle School camp
  
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• Federal help for uninsured residents needing prescriptions

  24-08-2016 14:26
  
  BATON ROUGE – Federal health officials announced Wednesday that the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program has been activated for the areas affected by last week’s historic flooding.According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the program pays for prescription medications for anyone without health insurance who was affected by disasters.“I visited today with people whose health conditions could easily be worsened by the major flooding in Louisia
  
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• Contact info for replacing lost or damaged documents

  24-08-2016 14:19
  
  BATON ROUGE - Many residents of the area may find they’ve had important documents destroyed or lost during the chaos that followed recent flooding. Below is a helpful contact info guide for securing new documentation:SNAP Cards
  (Food Stamps): Phone: 1-888-524-3578
  Website: www.dcfs.la.gov/DSNAPGreen Cards
  Phone: 800-375-5283
  Website: https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-green-card-granted/replace-green-cardBirth and Death Certificates
  Phone: 225-342-9500
  Website: http://new.dhh.louis
  
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• Sorrento church offering free supplies to flood-impacted residents

  24-08-2016 13:55
  
  SORRENTO- The Sorrento Baptist Church is prepared to distribute much needed supplies to those impacted by the recent flood.The supplies were delivered from out of state donors and include items, like diapers, cleaning materials and deodorant.
  Church organizers say the supplies are available on a first come, first serve basis.The church is located at 8275 Main St. in Sorrento.  Volunteers will be there until 5 p.m. Wednesday afternoon to distribute the supplies. Permali
  
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• Pence blames both parties for manufacturing woes

  24-08-2016 13:55
  
  WASHINGTON  - Republican vice presidential candidate Gov. Mike Pence is blaming both Democrats and Republicans for the decline of manufacturing in the United States.The Indiana governor was addressing about 200 people Wednesday at Charlotte Pipe and Foundry in North Carolina.He said policies by both Republican and Democratic administrations have eroded America's manufacturing industry. Pence also said the country has been neither smart nor tough in defending U.S. jobs from international
  
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• Mississippi Islamic State recruit gets 8 years in prison

  24-08-2016 13:52
  
  OXFORD - A Mississippi man who tried to travel to Syria with his fiancee to join the Islamic State group has been sentenced to eight years in prison on federal terrorism charges.Muhammad Dakhlalla was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock. Dakhlalla pleaded guilty in March to one count of conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization.Dakhlalla, of Starkville, faced up to 20 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and lifetime probation.Jaelyn Young, his fiance
  
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• WATCH LIVE: Gov. Edwards gives update on flood relief efforts

  24-08-2016 13:50
  
  WATCH OUR LIVE COVERAGE HEREBATON ROUGE - The number of people registering for federal disaster aid after Louisiana's heavy flooding continues to rise.The state said Wednesday that the number of registrants with the Federal Emergency Management Agency has reached 119,000. More than $132 million has been approved by the federal agency in grants for temporary rental assistance, home repairs and other disaster response aid.Meanwhile, nearly 27,000 claims have been filed with the National Flood Insu
  
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• Number of FEMA aid-seekers edges up after floods

  24-08-2016 13:50
  
  BATON ROUGE - The number of people registering for federal disaster aid after Louisiana's heavy flooding continues to rise.The state said Wednesday that the number of registrants with the Federal Emergency Management Agency has reached 119,000. More than $132 million has been approved by the federal agency in grants for temporary rental assistance, home repairs and other disaster response aid.Meanwhile, nearly 27,000 claims have been filed with the National Flood Insurance Program, and state off
  
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• Salvation Army releases stats from Cortana flood relief center

  24-08-2016 13:41
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Salvation Army says 69 volunteers put in more than 335 hours of work at the organization’s Cortana Mall donation site in a statistics report released on Wednesday.The site has provided support, cleaning supplies, food and water for victims of recent catastrophic flooding in the area.Here’s how the rest of the stats looked:Disaster Food ServicesPrepared Meal 7,071
  Drinks 15,670
  Snacks 2,629Emergency Financial AidClient Interviews 1,375
  Total Individuals Assis
  
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• L.A. declares Wednesday 'Kobe Bryant Day'

  24-08-2016 13:22
  
  LOS ANGELES – The city of Los Angeles will honor retired Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant as it declares Wednesday "Kobe Bryant Day."Aug. 24 represents the two numbers that Bryant wore during his 20 seasons for the team. Bryant wore number 8 his first 10 seasons and 24 his last 10 seasons."For 20 years, we were all the beneficiaries of Kobe's incredible talent and legendary work ethic, and on 8-24 we'll gather to say, 'Thank you, Mamba,'" L.A. City Council member José Huizar s
  
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• President Obama met with Nick Tulliers family during La. trip

  24-08-2016 13:18
  
  BATON ROUGE – President Barack Obama met privately with the family of East Baton Rouge Sheriff Deputy Nick Tullier during his Tuesday trip to Louisiana.Tullier was one of six officers ambushed on July 17 on Airline Highway in Baton Rouge. He remains in the hospital fighting for his life.“Please keep caring and most important please keep praying for Nick,” James Tullier, Nick’s father, said.According to a statement from released Wednesday, Nick’s
  
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• Why should we care what 'heck of a job Brownie' thinks?

  24-08-2016 13:15
  
  Like mold appearing on the walls of a flooded house, every catastrophic weather event these days seems to be followed by an appearance from Michael Brown.  Brown, the incompetent head of FEMA when our papier mache floodwalls fell apart, seems...
  
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• Mail pick-up location for Denham Springs residents changes

  24-08-2016 13:02
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS – Denham Springs residents with the 70726 zip code who were impacted by the recent flood no longer have to pick up their mail at the Baton Rouge Mail Processing Plant, located on Bluebonnet Road.Instead, residents are advised to go to the Denham Springs Post Office located at 140 Del Orleans to pick up their mail and packages. A temporary tent will serve as the pickup point for P.O. Box customers and for anyone who has a received a "Left Notice" form in their mailbox rec
  
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• Business groups partner to start small business relief fund

  24-08-2016 12:49
  
  BATON ROUGE – The Baton Rouge Area Chamber and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry announced the creation of the Louisiana Small Business Rebirth Fund to help small businesses recover from the recent flooding. The Greater New Orleans, Inc., the Louisiana chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business, the Louisiana Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and One Acadiana are also partners of the fund.An amount of $100,000 has been pledged to th
  
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• Man wanted by FBI for NOLA bank robbery arrested in Florida

  24-08-2016 12:48
  
  JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A man wanted in connection with a bank robbery and carjacking in New Orleans East was apprehended in Jacksonville, Florida.WWL-TV reports Dwayne “Butter” Winans was taken into custody at a Greyhound bus station after he was spotted by local authorities.Winans was wanted by the FBI and NOPD in connection with an Aug. 4 bank robbery during which he disguised himself as a woman by wearing a long wig and eye-catching lipstick. Alerts issued about the man warn
  
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• In some US schools, resistance to ending corporal punishment

  24-08-2016 12:33
  
  The message from the U.S. Education Department to schools has been to work toward positive school climates and less punitive approaches to school discipline.While much of the focus has been on reducing suspensions, another punishment is regularly debated - corporal punishment. It remains legal in 19 states despite calls from the Education Department to curb punitive discipline, which it says tends to affect minority and disabled students disproportionately.In corners of the country where paddlin
  
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• Singapore citizens hail world's first self-driving taxis

  24-08-2016 12:27
  
  SINGAPORE - The world's first self-driving taxis will be picking up passengers in Singapore starting Thursday.
      
  Select members of the public will be able to hail a free ride through their smartphones in taxis operated by nuTonomy, an autonomous vehicle software startup based in Massachusetts and Singapore.
      
  Multiple companies have been testing self-driving cars on public roads for several years. But nuTonomy says it will be the first
  
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• "Blurred Lines" singers want copyright infringement case dropped

  24-08-2016 12:20
  
  LOS ANGELES - Attorneys for Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams are asking an appellate court to overturn a copyright infringement verdict against them over the 2013 hit song "Blurred Lines."
      
  An opening brief filed with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal on Wednesday contends the case should never have gone to trial and the verdict should be overturned, or a new trial ordered.
      
  The case centered on whether Thicke and Williams copied the
  
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• $42,000 worth of Monster Energy drinks stolen in Califronia

  24-08-2016 12:18
  
  CORONA, Calif. - Police in Corona are looking for some really wired thieves who swiped more than $42,000 worth of Monster Energy drinks.
      
  The Riverside Press-Enterprise says a parked big-rig containing the drinks was stolen earlier this week from a vacant lot in the eastern Los Angeles suburb.
      
  The truck cab and its trailer were found separately after midnight Wednesday in two nearby communities.
      
  But th
  
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• $42,000 worth of Monster Energy drinks stolen in California

  24-08-2016 12:18
  
  CORONA, Calif. - Police in Corona are looking for some really wired thieves who swiped more than $42,000 worth of Monster Energy drinks.
      
  The Riverside Press-Enterprise says a parked big-rig containing the drinks was stolen earlier this week from a vacant lot in the eastern Los Angeles suburb.
      
  The truck cab and its trailer were found separately after midnight Wednesday in two nearby communities.
      
  But th
  
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• Amite River falls below flood stage in Louisiana

  24-08-2016 09:54
  
  BATON ROUGE - The National Weather Service says the entire Amite River is now below flood stage and water levels should continue to fall.
  Forecaster Fred Zeigler says backwater flooding, which has contributed to widespread flooding, appears to have leveled off and is retreating in some locations of St. John the Baptist, St. James, Ascension, Iberville, East Baton Rouge and Livingston parishes.
  Zeigler says the Baton Rouge area could see 1 inch to 3 inches of rain Wednesday afternoon.  H
  
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• Lane blocked on I-10 eastbound due to an accident

  24-08-2016 07:39
  
  BATON ROUGE - Commuters may want to alter their route Wednesday morning as the right lane blocked on I-10 eastbound before the Washington exit due to a breakdown.The delay from this incident is two miles beyond LA 415.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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• Accidental fire damages house on North 20th

  24-08-2016 07:26
  
  BATON ROUGE - Fire crews responded to an early morning house fire that was believed to be accidental on Wednesday.It happened in the 2300 block of North 20th street before 4 a.m. The owner said his dog knocked over a candle in the living room, which ignited the fire. When firefighters arrived to the scene four minutes after the call, the living room and kitchen were covered in flames.The Baton Rouge Fire Department got the situation quickly under control at 4:15 a.m. No one was injured.Permalink
  
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• ACT shows weakness in reading, math, science in Louisiana

  24-08-2016 07:08
  
  NEW ORLEANS - The release of 2016 ACT college readiness scores shows relatively few Louisiana students are meeting benchmarks indicating readiness for college-level science, math and reading studies.Fifty-nine percent meet the English benchmark, but only 35 percent reached the reading benchmark; 26 percent hit the math benchmark; 27 percent, the science benchmark.The average composite score on the ACT test has edged up in Louisiana, from 19.4 in 2015 to 19.5 this year.State officials note that L
  
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• One lane blocked due to accident on I-10

  24-08-2016 07:00
  
  PRAIRIEVILLE - Commuters may want to take an early commute Wednesday morning as the left lane is blocked on I-10 westbound at LA 73 due to an accident.The delay from this incident is approximately three 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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• Accident on LA 1 southbound, right lane blocked at Intracoastal Canal Bridge

  24-08-2016 06:09
  
  BATON ROUGE - Commuters may want to take an alternate route this morning as there is an accident on LA 1 southbound at the Intracoastal Canal Bridge. The right lane is blocked.The delay from this accident has reached College Drive on I-10 westbound.News 2's Ashley Fruge is monitoring the roadways this morning. We will have updates on WBRZ.com and Twitter.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Accident closes one lane on LA-1

  24-08-2016 06:09
  
  PORT ALLEN - Commuters may want to take an alternate route Wednesday morning as there is an accident on LA 1 southbound at the Intracoastal Canal Bridge.The right lane of LA-1 is blocked. The delay from this accident has reached College Drive on I-10 westbound.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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• Death toll from earthquake in Italy climbs to 73

  24-08-2016 04:53
  
  AMATRICE, Italy - Italy's civil protection agency says the death toll from the magnitude 6 earthquake in central Italy has reached 73.The head of the agency's emergency service, Immacolata Postiglione, gave the breakdown at a briefing Wednesday but stressed that the figures were still provisional.The civil protection agency is coordinating the rescue, which has involved hundreds of crews from across Italy and even the Vatican. It is setting up tent cities around the hard hit cities to c
  
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• State schedules drawdown on Indian Creek Lake

  24-08-2016 04:24
  
  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - State wildlife and fisheries regulators have scheduled a drawdown on Indian Creek Lake in Rapides Parish for hydrilla control, organic reduction and fish habitat improvement.The lake should dewater at a rate of two to four inches per day once the water control structure opens on Sept. 6. Initially the lake will be lowered to six feet below pool stage to allow for a vegetation survey.The Indian Creek lake control gates are scheduled for closure on Dec. 15 to allow the lake
  
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• Louisiana called 'premature' in demanding U.S. pay for MR-GO work

  24-08-2016 02:52
  
  5th U.S. Circuit says Corps of Engineers within its rights to demand state pay for operation,maintenance of MR-GO closure dam
  
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• 5th Circuit: State's demand that Corps pay 100% of MR-GO restoration 'premature'

  24-08-2016 02:52
  
  And Corps within its rights to demand state pay for operation and maintenance costs of MR-GO closure dam, court rules.
  
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