Baton Rouge news

• Louisiana renews private prison contracts, as federal government cuts them

  26-08-2016 23:03
  
  The federal government's move away from private prisons comes after an audit showed private facilities had more safety problems than their government-run counterparts.
  
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• Some homes in Ascension Parish still underwater

  26-08-2016 18:20
  
  PRAIRIEVILLE – While most people are cleaning up after last week’s historic flooding, dozens living near Spanish Lake in Ascension Parish remain under water.In one area along Ridge Road in Ascension Parish, people are still waiting for waters to recede. Some homes can only be reached by boat.The water has gone down a few inches over the past few days, but at that rate it will be weeks before it dries up completely.In his lifted truck, Jason Richardson gave WBRZ News 2 a tour
  
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• FEMA disaster recovery center opens in Denham Springs Saturday

  26-08-2016 17:46
  
  BATON ROUGE – FEMA will open a disaster recovery center in Denham Springs Saturday after historic flooding ravaged much of Livingston Parish last week.The FEMA disaster recovery center will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the following location: North Park Recreation Center (At the corner of Lockhart)30372 Eden Church RoadDenham Springs, LA 70726 Represenatives from GHSEP, FEMA, the Small Business Administration, and volunteer groups will be available to answer quest
  
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• Sales tax refunds available for property destroyed in 2016 floods

  26-08-2016 17:27
  
  BATON ROUGE -  Taxpayers in certain parishes can claim refunds for state sales taxes paid on personal property destroyed by last week’s historic flooding or the March 2016 flooding.According to the Louisiana Department of Revenue, those refunds are only available to residents living in a parish declared a federal disaster area.According to state law, eligible losses must meet the following criteria:The loss was suffered by a Louisiana taxpayer on property used in or about the
  
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• Renters may be eligible for federal disaster aid

  26-08-2016 17:16
  
  BATON ROUGE – Renters who experienced losses from last week’s historic flooding may be eligible for federal disaster aid.According to a FEMA statement Friday, renters may be eligible for grants from FEMA to cover certain disaster related expenses, including:Disaster related medical and dental expensesReplacement or repair of necessary personal property (appliances and furniture, textbooks, computers used by students and work equipment for the self-employed)Repair or replaceme
  
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• Church confirms 'personal donation' from Trump to go to flood relief

  26-08-2016 16:56
  
  CENTRAL - Greenwell Springs Baptist Church on Friday confirmed they received a personal contribution from Donald Trump in order to aid local relief efforts at the church.GSBC has partnered with Samaritan’s Purse throughout the response to recent flooding with the church functioning as a base of operations for relief efforts in the Baton Rouge suburb. The church reported serving more than 1,000 hot meals every night since the weather event to residents who were displaced by the storm.&a
  
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• Man charged with animal cruelty after allegedly beating dog with stick

  26-08-2016 16:36
  
  BATON ROUGE - Police reported the arrest of a man on animal cruelty and drug charges after his neighbors reported seeing him beating his dog with a stick outside of his residence.33-year-old Paul Lambremont, of Baton Rouge, was booked on charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a firearm with CDS, resisting an officer and animal cruelty following his arrest on Friday.Police came into contact with Lambremont after they were contacted by his next door neighbor who r
  
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• Mosquito spraying over some Baton Rouge neighborhoods Friday

  26-08-2016 16:32
  
  BATON ROUGE – The East Baton Rouge Parish Mosquito Abatement and Rodent Control says it will be conducting aerial spraying Friday over Baton Rouge.Officials say the planes will be spraying over the Broadmoor, Sherwood Forest, S. Harrell’s Ferry Rd. and Woodland Ridge subdivisions Friday.EBRPMARC Assistant Director Randy Vaeth said the spraying is in response to West Nile virus positive mosquito samples collected earlier this week.For more updates on spraying, follow EBRPMARC
  
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• Buyer beware: Flood-damaged cars being sold to unsuspecting victims

  26-08-2016 16:12
  
  BATON ROUGE - The American Automobile Association is warning car buyers to be cautious of dishonest car dealers selling flood-damaged vehicles. Don Redman of AAA advises buyers to use their senses of sight and smell when purchasing a used vehicle to spot warning signs such as water and mud."We see it time and time again where cars that were flooded out are quickly scooped up and into the market and sold to unsuspecting customers," Redman said.The salvage yard at Roadrunner Towi
  
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• Flood recovery in small communities brings surprises and longing

  26-08-2016 16:00
  
  In house after house, the stories continued. Everyone had a memory. Some shared a laugh. Everyone welcomed strangers. A church sign read "encouragement."
  
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• Livingston Parish schools return Sept. 12

  26-08-2016 15:35
  
  LIVINGSTON - All students will return to classes in Livingston Parish on Monday, Sept. 12, according Superintendent Rick Wentzel.“We are pleased to announce that all Livingston Parish Schools will be starting together, so we can begin the healing process and moving forward as one system,” Wentzel said.Wentzel said most students will report to their regular school campuses that Monday, but some middle and high school students will be platooned to nearby campuses. Some elementa
  
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• Donaldsonville man arrested after kicking in ex's door, kidnapping her

  26-08-2016 15:06
  
  GONZALES - Deputies arrested a man accused of kicking in his ex-girlfriend’s door and kidnapping her after she placed a restraining order on him.35-year-old Thomas Guillot, of Donaldsonville, was arrested and charged with violation of a protective order, simple robbery, false imprisonment and home invasion.APSO Chief Deputy Bobby Webre said deputies were dispatched to a residence on Colonial Oaks Drive in Gonzales after they received a call from a woman, yelling out the address of wher
  
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• Man accused of stealing trailer with $100k in tools inside

  26-08-2016 14:44
  
  GONZALES - Sheriff’s deputies in Ascension Parish say a tip led them to the arrest of a man accused of stealing a utility trailer containing more than $100,000 worth of tools in it last month.Deputies said the investigation began back on July 28 when they received reports that the trailer had been stolen from a residence on Coontrap Road in Gonzales.During the initial phase of the investigation, a tip led detectives to identify 44-year-old Jamie Clements, of Prairieville, as a person o
  
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• Disney draining, filling in pool at long-closed water park

  26-08-2016 14:39
  
  LAKE BUENA VISTA - Walt Disney World is draining and filling a pool at its long-closed River Country Water Park.The Orlando Sentinel reports the 330,000-gallon Upstream Plunge was a major attraction at the water park, which opened in 1976. It closed in 2002 after Disney's newer water parks - Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon - became more popular.The pool is surrounded by man-made boulders for jumping and diving platforms.Disney has said it has no immediate plans to tear down any other parts of
  
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• Trump immigration waffle reflects voter confusion on issue

  26-08-2016 14:10
  
  AKRON - Donald Trump's waffling on his hard-line immigration program reflects voter ambivalence and confusion on the emotional and complex issue.Polls often show large majorities support letting people in the country illegally stay here. But they also show support for tough measures that could lead to those immigrants' deportation. Majorities in Republican primary states told pollsters they backed letting immigrants stay but also voted for Trump.Now Trump is trying to soften his hard-line progra
  
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• New Orleans officer dies in traffic accident

  26-08-2016 14:08
  
  MARRERO - New Orleans police have identified an off-duty officer who died in a Jefferson Parish traffic accident.Police spokesman Tyler Gamble identified the officer as 45-year-old Tony Mitchell, a 19-year veteran of the department. Gamble says Chief Michael Harrison notified Mitchell's family.Jefferson Parish Coroner Dr. Gerry Cvitanovich (sih-TAN'-u-vich) said Mitchell's vehicle stalled on the elevated portion of the West Band Expressway Friday morning and he got out of the car. He sa
  
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• Welcome to the fourth grade: Teacher creates rap for incoming students

  26-08-2016 14:07
  
  SKOKIE, Ill. - A new teacher who made a music video to welcome his students has become a bit of a star with his fourth-graders.Dwayne Reed's video was posted on YouTube this week and has already been viewed more than a half-million times and earned him an appearance on ABC's "Good Morning America."The 25-year-old Reed just began teaching at Stenson Elementary School in the Chicago suburb of Skokie.In his video, Reed wears a lab coat and sings, "Welcome to the fourth grade. So happy to meet you.
  
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• EBR collects 51,000 cubic yards of debris in first week

  26-08-2016 14:05
  
  BATON ROUGE – Mayor-President Kip Holden announced Friday that crews have collected more than 51,000 cubic yards of flood debris over the last week, and that number will continue to grow.Holden said crews picked up nearly 17,000 cubic yards of debris just Thursday.And the work is expected to continue. Holden said 75 debris collection trucks will be on the street Saturday, moving into ZIP codes 70722, 70770 and 70791.Visit the East Baton Rouge progress tracking map to see where debris c
  
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• The colonel's secret recipe revealed? Not so fast, says KFC

  26-08-2016 14:03
  
  NEW YORK - Has Col. Sanders' nephew inadvertently revealed to the world the secret blend of 11 herbs and spices behind KFC's fried chicken empire?The company says the recipe published in the Chicago Tribune is not authentic. But that hasn't stopped rampant online speculation that one of the most legendary and closely guarded secrets in the history of fast food has been exposed.KFC - which is a subsidiary of Yum Brands Inc. - calls its recipe "one of the biggest trade secrets in the world."The Lo
  
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• Officials: Zika spread through sex by man with no symptoms

  26-08-2016 14:02
  
  NEW YORK - U.S. health officials are reporting the first case of Zika spread through sex by a man with no symptoms of the disease.In earlier cases of sexual transmission, the virus was spread by someone who at some point had symptoms.Zika is mainly spread by mosquitoes, and causes only a mild illness in most people. But infection during pregnancy can lead to severe brain-related birth defects.Friday's report details the case of a Maryland man who went to the Dominican Republic, where there is a
  
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• US wants to force lower speeds on truck and bus drivers

  26-08-2016 13:58
  
  DETROIT - The U.S. is seeking to forcibly limit how fast trucks, buses and other large vehicles can travel on the nation's highways.A new proposal Friday would impose the nationwide limit by electronically capping speeds with a device on newly made U.S. vehicles that weigh more than 26,000 pounds. Regulators are considering a cap of 60, 65 or 68 miles per hour, though that could change.The government says capping speeds for large vehicles will reduce the 1,115 fatal crashes involving heavy truck
  
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• Fire marshal establishes guidelines for re-opening businesses after flooding

  26-08-2016 13:35
  
  BATON ROUGE - With Louisiana business owners entering the earliest stages of recovery as floodwaters recede, the State Fire Marshal’s Office has issued some guidelines to help business owners resume operations as soon as possible.The guidelines listed below will remain in effect until Nov. 30.- State law requires that repairs of commercial structures that affect exits, stairs, seating arrangements, fire detection and suppression systems, or other details of construction must be submitt
  
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• Head to brunch on Sunday to support BR flood victims

  26-08-2016 13:17
  
  BATON ROUGE - Area restaurants will be participating in another drive to help the community with this Sunday’s “Brunching for Greater Baton Rouge” event.Participating restaurants will donate 15 percent of the money they take in during brunch on Sunday, Aug. 28 to help benefit victims of recent catastrophic flooding. Attendees are also encouraged to bring school supplies, uniforms and other shelter items that can be donated to flood victims.Participating restaurants
  
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• Heavy traffic delays in Ascension expected through next week

  26-08-2016 13:11
  
  DUTCHTOWN – Parish officials warn that drivers in Ascension Parish should expect heavy traffic delays starting Monday until further notice on La. 73 near the Dutchtown area.Officials say students for St. Amant High School and Dutchtown High School will be attending classes at Dutchtown High due to last week’s historic flooding. Drivers should expect delays during the following times:        &
  
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• Amazon starts car research and review site

  26-08-2016 13:07
  
  NEW YORK - Amazon is starting a site offering research, reviews and other information on new and used cars.
  The latest venture by the e-commerce powerhouse will compete with established players in the field including CarSoup.com, Edmunds.com, truecar.com and cars.com.
  Amazon Vehicles won't sell cars. But in addition to car specifications, images, videos and customer reviews, the new site will let customers ask each other questions about cars.
  Amazon.com Inc. already sells car parts and accessori
  
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• OMV to offer free duplicate documents to flood survivors

  26-08-2016 12:51
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Office of Motor Vehicles says it will offer free duplicates of critical documents to victims of recent severe weather that may have lost them during the flood.A Twitter post from the Governor's Office says duplicate vehicle titles, driver's licenses, IDs and other documents will all be on offer at no cost for Lousiana flood survivors.OMV offers FREE duplicate vehicle titles, drivers licenses, IDs & other documents to #laflood survivors → https://t.co/SiyeXGjFrm #la
  
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• Aid available to farmers after historic flooding

  26-08-2016 12:50
  
  OPELOUSAS – The Louisiana Department of Agriculture is assuring farmers that state and federal aid is available to help them get through the flooding crisis.According to a release from LSU’s Friday, state Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain has held multiple meetings in Indian Bayou, Opelousas, Batchelor and Donaldsonville.LSU AgCenter economist Kurt Guidry estimates that $110 million was lost in the flooding. But, he said that number does not include figures for livestock d
  
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• How long the real estate shift is expected to last

  26-08-2016 12:20
  
  BATON ROUGE - About four months ago, real estate experts told News Two the amount of apartment complexes being built around the Baton Rouge area was going to create an imbalanced market.Following recent floods, many apartment complexes in the area are operating at maximum capacity.Wesley Moore with Cooke, Moore and Associates says if you're looking for an apartment, there's little to choose from."It will be difficult for the next few months to find anything local," said Moore.A similar situation
  
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• Where to volunteer in Louisiana this weekend (Aug. 26-28)

  26-08-2016 12:13
  
  BATON ROUGE - There's still plenty of work to be done in Louisiana after historic flooding destroyed thousands of homes and businesses. A large portion of that will be done by volunteers.If you can spare the time, please consider the following volunteer opportunities this weekend.LOOKING TO GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY?SAMARITAN’S PURSESamaritan’s Purse is accepting volunteers to assist with debris removal and mudouts until Oct. 29.Volunteers can register online as a day volunteer or
  
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• Gruesome killing of New Mexico girl stuns friends, neighbors

  26-08-2016 09:34
  
  ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - It was in early morning darkness that officers scrambled to sort out the chaos at an Albuquerque apartment complex where a couple had reportedly been attacked, the woman bleeding from a head injury and the man sporting a black eye and wearing blood-stained shorts.The woman told officers her 10-year-old daughter was still inside apartment number 808 from which they had escaped.What the officers didn't know was that the child was already dead, her battered and dismembered body
  
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• FEMA encourages residents to read determination letters carefully

  26-08-2016 09:27
  
  BATON ROUGE - If you’re a survivor of recent flooding and receive a letter that says your application for federal assistance is “ineligible” or “incomplete,” be sure to read the letter all the way through to the end to find out why.FEMA officials point out that all applicants have the right to appeal and, in many cases, a quick fix can remedy the situation.FEMA listed some common reasons why people receive an ineligible determination:The most com
  
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• Yellen suggests rate hike is coming but offers no timetable

  26-08-2016 09:12
  
  WASHINGTON - Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen says the Fed is moving toward raising interest rates in light of a solid job market and an improved outlook for the U.S. economy and inflation. But she's stopping short of signaling any timetable for the next rate hike.Yellen is offering a generally upbeat assessment of the economy in a speech to a conference of central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She notes strong gains in employment and strength in consumer spending. Yellen notes that inflat
  
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• Ascension Parish dials back estimate of house flooding

  26-08-2016 09:08
  
  GONZALES - Ascension Parish government has significantly reduced its estimate of house flooding, one day after parish officials announced flooding had affected 30,000 to 40,000 homes.
  Officials said Thursday revised numbers suggest 16,000 to 19,000 structures were affected to some extent, similar to earlier numbers released about the flooding after historic storms battered the Baton Rouge region.Parish officials said they were revising their previous statement and the 30,000-to-40,000 homes figu
  
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• Former code officer pleads not guilty to extortion charge

  26-08-2016 08:13
  
  BATON ROUGE - A former code enforcement officer and inspector has pleaded not guilty to a charge of extortion after officials say he tried to shake down a Baton Rouge business.
  According to the arrest warrant, 29-year-old Jeremy Jamal Johnson went to Tammy's Nails and requested $3,000 to conduct an unplanned inspection. The warrant says he lowered the fee to $2,800 when business representatives questioned the inspection.
  After being told the business didn't have that kind of money, Johnson alleg
  
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• Annual Ascension Hot Air Balloon Festival cancelled

  26-08-2016 08:06
  
  GONZALES - Officials in Ascension Parish say that this year’s Ascension Hot Air Balloon Festival is cancelled due to recent historic flooding and in anticipation of any further weather events.“We are hurting, but on the mend, in Ascension Parish. Over 50% of our annual attendees at the Hot Air Balloon Festival are folks from the affected areas,” said Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa. “I want them to know we are experiencing this trial together, and
  
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• Facebook 'like' gets Florida man a return trip to jail

  26-08-2016 06:50
  
  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - A Florida man is back in jail after clicking "like" on a Facebook photo posted by a witness in a case against him.The SunSentinel reports that West Palm Beach judge Krista Marx revoked Paul Maida Jr.'s bond Wednesday, saying he violated a court order to avoid any contact with his ex-girlfriend Bianca Fichtel by liking a photo on her Facebook page earlier this month.Assistant State Attorney Laura Laurie says Fichtel is a key prosecution witness in the DUI manslaughter case
  
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• Kerry, Lavrov meet in Geneva to discuss Syria, Ukraine

  26-08-2016 06:46
  
  GENEVA - The top diplomats of Russia and the United States are meeting in Geneva to discuss the Syria civil war, the Ukraine crisis and other issues.U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are meeting as part of a new U.S. bid to enlist Russia as a partner in Syria as the fighting on the ground becomes more volatile with the introduction of Turkish ground forces.The U.N. has been clamoring for a 48-hour cease-fire in beleaguered Aleppo so humanitarian aid ca
  
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• Correction: Michael Brown wasn't college buddy of his FEMA predecessor

  26-08-2016 01:19
  
  In a column published this week, I erroneously stated that Michael Brown, the disgraced head of FEMA, got his start at the agency when he was hired by his college roommate.  Joe Allbaugh, the man who preceded Brown as the director...
  
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