Baton Rouge news

• Baker fire department slowly rebuilding

  02-09-2016 20:50
  
  BAKER - First responders have been crucial in the recent flood rescue and recovery efforts. Some fire and police stations were flooded recently and are in the process of being rebuilt.In Baker, several feet of water damaged the city's fire department. Chief Danny Edwards says the station took on about two and a half feet of water."Everything was lost," he said.Inside the station that was built in 2009, a familiar site of missing sheetrock. The station kitchen, sleeping quarters, and gym and admi
  
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• Wisconsin businesses prepare for huge economic impact from football fans

  02-09-2016 19:45
  
  GREEN BAY - Wisconsin business owners are expecting Saturday's matchup between LSU and University of Wisconsin to make a huge economic impact."We knew from this very onset this would be huge," hotel manager Tara Campbell said.On a typical Green Bay Packers gameday, the city usually makes an impact to the economy of $13 million dollars. But with the arrival of fans from both schools, the number could grow for the game."A lot of our hotels are telling us 3-night stays, 4-night stays," Campbell exp
  
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• Shelter at Home work begins in Baton Rouge

  02-09-2016 18:09
  
  BATON ROUGE - Work crews were in 15 Baton Rouge homes on Friday as the state Shelter at Home programs moves to full swing.One of those homes was already complete by the time the day was out. Louisiana's Shelter at Home program pays up to $15,000 to make homes safe so occupants can remain in their homes while more extensive repairs and improvements are made.Very basic initial work will include items such as mucking out the house, basic electrical restoration, installing a basic water heater, remo
  
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• Ascension Parish relaxes some rebuilding guidelines

  02-09-2016 15:47
  
  GONZALES- Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa temporarily suspended a provision that requires all homes to be built one foot above the record inundation elevation.
  The hope is that will eventually allow people to get back into their homes faster.
  This does not apply to residents living below the base flood elevation and have more than 50 percent of their structure damaged. They will still be forced to elevate their homes before they can rebuild.The backyard of Lynn DeBenedetto's Prairievill
  
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• Tangiaphoa Parish to waive permit fees as residents rebuild

  02-09-2016 15:21
  
  AMITE - Officials in Tangipahoa say they’re waving permit fees for residents who are making repairs and rebuilding after last month’s flooding.Building permits are required for all structural improvements in Tangipahoa, but local leaders say they will waves those fees as people begin to rebuild.Permits are issued for a variety of construction projects, including new buildings, additions, renovations and residential improvements like decks, garages, fences, shed, electrical wo
  
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• Fans board flights to Green Bay to cheer Tigers on

  02-09-2016 15:11
  
  BATON ROUGE - With kickoff less than 22 hours away, hundreds of loyal Tiger fans were headed to Green Bay on Friday.At Baton Rouge Metro Airport, around 500 passengers are boarding three charter flights that will fly straight into Milwaukee. Once they land, they'll caravan to Green Bay where the fun will really begin until they file into historic Lambeau Field for the Tigers season opener against Wisconsin.The Tigers themselves boarded buses just before noon on Friday so they could make their ow
  
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• FBI publishes notes on Clinton's use of private email

  02-09-2016 14:35
  
  WASHINGTON - The FBI has released 58 pages of documents from its recently closed investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server, including a summary of agents' interviews with Clinton and several of her aides.The documents include technical details about how the server in the basement of Clinton's home was set up.Friday's release of documents involving the Democratic presidential nominee is a highly unusual step, but one that reflects the extraordina
  
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• Ascension officials release web app for documenting flooding

  02-09-2016 14:30
  
  GONZALES - Ascension Parish officials announced a dedicated photo sharing  web app on Friday aimed at helping residents document damage from recent record flooding.Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa announced the site as part of efforts by parish officials to rebuilding the community after the historic flooding event.Matassa says the web application will provide a simple way for residents to share their photos and data on the highest elevation that the water reached on their prope
  
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• FAQs about FEMA Housing Assistance

  02-09-2016 13:38
  
  Q:  My house flooded. I need a place to live. What do I do first?A: The first step is to register with FEMA. Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362, (TTY) 800-462-7585. Once you have registered, FEMA will arrange for an inspector to look at your house. Then a specialist will determine if you are eligible for housing assistance. There are different housing options, and the helpline specialist will help you find the program that best suits your needs
  
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• Samsung recalls Galaxy Note 7 after reports of battery fires; company offering exchange program

  02-09-2016 13:25
  
  Samsung is suspending the sales of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone after reports of the gadget's battery catching fire or exploding while charging.The South Korean electronics company released the Note 7 two weeks ago in the U.S. and South Korea. According to the company there have been 35 reported cases of the battery issue worldwide and are conducting inspections with their suppliers to identify more possibly affected batteries.Koh Dong-jin, president of Samsung's mobile business, said that custo
  
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• Samsung recalls Galaxy Note 7 after reports of battery fires

  02-09-2016 13:25
  
  Samsung is suspending the sales of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone after reports of the gadget's battery catching fire or exploding while charging.The South Korean electronics company released the Note 7 two weeks ago in the U.S. and South Korea. According to the company there have been 35 reported cases of the battery issue worldwide and are conducting inspections with their suppliers to identify more possibly affected batteries.Koh Dong-jin, president of Samsung's mobile business, said that custo
  
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• New charges against driver in bus accident that killed 3

  02-09-2016 13:24
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Louisiana State Police say new criminal charges of negligent homicide and negligent injuring have been filed against the driver of a bus in an accident that killed three people and injured dozens more near New Orleans.Authorities announced the new charges in a news release Friday, a day after a Mississippi man became the third victim to die.The driver has been identified as 37-seven-year-old Denis Yasmir Amaya Rodriguez. He now faces three negligent homicide counts, 41 counts of ne
  
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• BREC surveys damage at flooded parks, ends emergency camps next week

  02-09-2016 13:15
  
  EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH - BREC reports that attendance at its emergency camps has grown each day since flooding resulted in extended closures at area schools.BREC says it no only provided camps in its own facilities around the parish and at the River Center shelter, but numerous partner organizations were also allowed to operate camps in BREC recreation centers to maximize the number of families that were able to served as recovery efforts begin.13 camps were offered with more than 500 children
  
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• Delta says computer outage reduced revenue by $100 million

  02-09-2016 13:04
  
  ATLANTA - Delta Air Lines says last month's computer outage, which caused it to cancel 2,300 flights, cost $100 million in lost revenue.The airline also said that a key revenue-per-mile figure fell sharply in August, partly because of the outage.Delta reported that passenger revenue for every seat flown one mile fell 9.5 percent in August compared with a year earlier. Delta attributed 2 points of the decline to the outage.A fire and failure of a piece of equipment at Delta's Atlanta headquarters
  
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• DSNAP sites announced for Iberville, West Feliciana and other parishes

  02-09-2016 13:01
  
  BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services has announced DSNAP locations for residents in Iberville, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis, St. Martin, St. Tammany Washington and West Feliciana parishes.This will be the third week that DSNAP sites have been in operation since the historic flooding that has left 20 parishes affected.DSNAP operations will be open Tuesday, Sept. 6 through Saturday, Sept. 10 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the following parishes:Evange
  
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• DSNAP sites announced for Iberville, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana and other parishes

  02-09-2016 13:01
  
  BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services has announced DSNAP locations for residents in Iberville, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis, St. James, St. Martin, St. Tammany Washington, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana parishes.This will be the third week that DSNAP sites have been in operation since the historic flooding that has left 20 parishes affected.DSNAP operations will be open Tuesday, Sept. 6 through Saturday, Sept. 10 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for
  
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• Over 107K in Georgia lose power due to Hermine

  02-09-2016 12:57
  
  SAVANNAH, Ga. - More than 107,000 customers were reported without power across Georgia as crews worked to repair damage left by Hermine.Georgia Power reported on its online outage map shortly before noon Friday that about 30,000 were in the Savannah area and more than 20,000 others were in the Brunswick area near the coast.The utility reported that more than 11,000 customers were without power in hard-hit Lowndes County.Nearly 86,000 of those without power were Georgia Power customers.Georgia El
  
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• Police respond to shots fired at Memorial Stadium

  02-09-2016 12:06
  
  BATON ROUGE - Police are responding to calls of shots fired at Memorial Stadium on North 17th Street in Baton Rouge.The calls come as the stadium hosts the McKinley-Scotlandville High School football game.Police say there are currently no injuries.This is a developing story, and limited details are currently available. Stay tuned to WBRZ for updates.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Woman, 22, dies in equestrian show horse-riding accident

  02-09-2016 12:04
  
  SAUGERTIES, N.Y. - Authorities say a 22-year-old woman died after she was thrown from a horse and the animal fell on her during an equestrian show in the Hudson Valley.The Daily Freeman of Kingston reports Rebecca Weissbard was pronounced dead at the scene at Horse Shows in The Sun in Saugerties on Wednesday.Police say the woman from Manorville on Long Island was on her second run through a 10-hurdle course and had just cleared the first hurdle when her horse struck a cross pole. She was thrown
  
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• Gameday info. for LSU season-opener at Lambeau Field

  02-09-2016 09:45
  
  GREEN BAY – As fans travel to Lambeau Field for LSU's season-opener against The University of Wisconsin, they are reminded of game day information, events and policies.The Lambeau Field parking lot will be open on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., along with the start of the Coors Light Tailgate Party. The party will take place in the expanded Tundra Tailgate Zone area, which will include an Outdoor Beer Garden and music stage in the stadium's east side parking lot near the Oneida Nation Gate.Fr
  
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• Denham Springs Rite Aid opens temporary pharmacy to serve patients following flood

  02-09-2016 09:18
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS – Rite Aid announced the opening of a temporary pharmacy inside one of its Denham Springs stores to serve the pharmacy needs of patients who have been affected by the recent historic flooding.The temporary pharmacy will operate out of the Rite Aid store located at 2308 South Range Avenue, which is currently being rebuilt.The pharmacy will fill prescriptions and will also have diabetic supplies available.The hours of operation are :Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. t
  
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• LSU seeks new hospitals to train doctors in north Louisiana

  02-09-2016 08:49
  
  BATON ROUGE - LSU is shopping around for new health care deals in north Louisiana.The university system wants to move some of its doctors-in-training to more hospitals in the region because its relationship with the operator of the state-owned hospitals in Shreveport and Monroe continues to deteriorate.University System President F. King Alexander describes LSU's 2013 arrangement to have the Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana run the two north Louisiana hospitals as a dysfunct
  
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• Louisiana deer carcass ban delayed till after hunting season

  02-09-2016 08:40
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana won't ban the importation of dead deer carcasses until March 1, after this winter's hunting season.The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission pushed back the start date of the proposed ban in a Thursday meeting. Louisiana is hoping to keep chronic wasting disease from infecting the state's deer. The fatal disease causes deer to have tremors and other movement problems and lose weight. Commissioners also approved an amendment allowing bone-in meat to be broug
  
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• Louisiana retains worst adult obesity rate in 2015

  02-09-2016 08:38
  
   It was another year of too much jambalaya and crawfish pie for Louisianans, with new government data showing they remain the nation's fattest.More than 36 percent of Louisiana's adults were obese in 2015, higher than any other state. Louisiana's rate didn't change from 2014.An advocacy group, the Trust for America's Health, released a report Thursday analyzing data collected by a federal government telephone survey.The 2015 survey found adult obesity rates fell in Minnesota, Montana, N
  
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• Residents and governments in more parishes can get FEMA help

  02-09-2016 08:35
  
  BATON ROUGE - Individuals who suffered flooding damage in St. James and West Baton Rouge parishes in the August floods are now eligible for federal disaster assistance.The Federal Emergency Management Agency made the announcement Thursday, adding them to a list of 20 other south Louisiana parishes that have been declared federal disaster areas.People can go to www.DisasterAssistance.gov to register or call 1-800-621-3362 any day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Residents of the parishes who have already r
  
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• Three separate accidents cause heavy delays along I-10

  02-09-2016 07:05
  
  BATON ROUGE - Commuters may want to take an alternate route Friday morning due three separate accidents causing heavy delays from Ascension to Baton Rouge.The three accidents are on both sides of I-10, out of the roadway.One accident is right before LA 73 in Prairieville. The second accident is at LA 73 in Prairieville. The third accident is just before Highland Road.This is a developing story. News 2's Ashley Fruge is monitoring the roadways this morning during Good Morning America. We will hav
  
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• All accidents cleared along I-10

  02-09-2016 07:05
  
  BATON ROUGE - All accidents on I-10 are cleared. Delays remain from Gonzalez to Baton Rouge.Friday morning, three separate accidents caused heavy delays from Ascension to Baton Rouge along I-10.One accident was right before LA 73 in Prairieville. The second accident was at LA 73 in Prairieville. The third accident was just before Highland Road.3 separate accidents - I-10WB AT MM 166, MM 173 AND MM 175 - ALL OUT OF THE ROADWAY - HEAVY DELAYS ON BOTH SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE— WBRZ Traffic
  
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• Hermine hits Florida coast as 1st hurricane in a decade

  02-09-2016 06:54
  
  CARRABELLE, Florida - Officials say tens of thousands of people in Georgia are without power today thanks to Tropical Storm Hermine.In Florida, where the storm came ashore as the state's first hurricane in more than a decade, a couple suffered minor injuries when they drove into a downed tree.Wakulla County Administrator Dustin Hinkel says a storm surge of 8 to 10 feet hit the county's beaches, damaging docks and flooding coastal roads south of Tallahassee.Authorities in Florida's Pasco County s
  
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