Baton Rouge news

• 2 psychologists plead guilty in $25 million Medicare scam

  07-09-2016 21:10
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Federal authorities say two psychologists have admitted participating in a $25 million scam that billed Medicare for unnecessary or nonexistent tests on nursing home residents in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.A Justice Department news release says 62-year-old Beverly Stubblefield of Slidell, Louisiana, and 46-year-old John Teal of Jackson, Mississippi, say they're responsible for more than $5.6 million in fraudulent Medicare claims.It says each pleaded guilty Wednesda
  
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• Haggling over on tweaking LSU hospital privatization deals

  07-09-2016 20:55
  
  BATON ROUGE - Gov. John Bel Edwards' administration is making its final offer Thursday to the operator of LSU's hospitals in Shreveport and Monroe for a renegotiated contract with the state.The governor has been trying to rework the privatization deals that turned over patient care previously handled by LSU at its hospitals and clinics to outside managers.Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says Thursday's presentation to the Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana is the l
  
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• West Feliciana's controversial advertisement

  07-09-2016 18:59
  
  ST. FRANCISVILLE - A row of signs line the entrance way at the West Feliciana Sports Park encouraging visitors to relocate in the parish. One sign appears to take a jab at Baton Rouge: 'Leave the crime and tuition behind.'Parish President Kevin Couhig said the signs illustrate positive aspects of living in West Feliciana, things like low crime, good public schools and no traffic."We're not talking about Baton Rouge, it's a wonderful place. I lived there for twenty years," said
  
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• LSU announces traffic and parking information before Saturday's home-opener

  07-09-2016 17:32
  
  BATON ROUGE – LSU takes on Jacksonville State for its home-opener game on Saturday and the university has issued traffic and parking information for fans to keep in mind when heading to campus.Fans are encouraged to arrive early and to carppol when possible in order to reduce the amount of cars on campus. Fans should visit www.lsusports.net/parking for parking updates, suggested routes to campus and other game day announcements.The university has issued the following updates and remind
  
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• Man injured during officer-involved shooting in Plaquemine dies

  07-09-2016 17:16
  
  PLAQUEMINE – A man has died after being injured during an officer-involved shooting in Plaquemine that took place on Aug. 11.According to Louisiana State Police, the man involved in the shooting was 54-year-old Tommy Seneca. Seneca was injured after deputies responded to a shots fired call at a home on LA 77 between Indian Village Bridge and the Gross Tete Bridge. A standoff situation ensued with officers speaking to Seneca on the phone and persuaded him to come out of his hom
  
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• Two hits for farmers mean strawberries could cost more this season

  07-09-2016 17:00
  
  PONCHATOULA - The Louisiana Strawberry was hit hard by two floods in 2016 and it could mean higher prices for the popular fruit in the coming months."They've had a significant.. loss," Ag Commissioner Mike Strain said. "[Tangipahoa] is the center of strawberry production," he said, and many farms were flooded in March and again in August."They've been hit twice."Strain will discuss the crop loss in an upcoming trip to Washington, D.C., with the governor. Strain said farmers were preparing for th
  
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• Climate change makes major Gulf Coast deluges more likely: study

  07-09-2016 17:00
  
  Warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, increases chance of multi-day rainfall events, researchers say
  
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• Woman charged with 2nd offense DWI after crashing into apartment

  07-09-2016 16:57
  
  ZACHARY - State Police reported the arrest of a woman on a second offense DWI charges and others after she crashed her vehicle through an apartment building.38-year-old Holly Bohling was booked on charges of DWI (2nd Offense), reckless operation of a motor vehicle, public intimidation and simple escape after her arrest Wednesday morning.Deputies said they were dispatched to East Mount Pleasant Road to reports of a possible impaired driver. When they arrived, the found that Bohling had driven her
  
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• Metro Council discusses debris removal, votes on elevation requirements

  07-09-2016 16:56
  
  BATON ROUGE – The East Baton Rouge Metro Council hosted a special meeting Wednesday evening at City Hall in downtown Baton Rouge to discuss parish elevation requirements after last month’s historic flooding.The council voted to raise "substantial damage" to 50 percent of the homes value for those living in "A flood zones" and ignore base flood level from the August 2016 flood, according to the Mayor's CAO.The council voted to strike certain requirements that would require res
  
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• Child care available while residents visit Celtic Studios FEMA center

  07-09-2016 16:40
  
  BATON ROUGE – Residents that need to visit the FEMA disaster recovery center located at Celtic Studios will now have free child care service while they talk to recovery experts.According to a statement Wednesday, FEMA said child care service will be provided between 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.The disaster recovery center is located at 10000 Celtic Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70809.The service is being provided by volunteers of Children’s Disaster Services, a ministry
  
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• Concerts, instruments, money help music survive after floods

  07-09-2016 15:39
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Classical musicians are planning benefit concerts, an assistant professor of music in Mississippi is collecting instruments for Louisiana schools and a country music-affiliated charity is donating $30,000 - all to help make sure music survives the disastrous floods that hit south Louisiana in August.Musicians who lost homes, instruments and music - to Hurricane Katrina 11 years ago or to this year's floods - are performing in concerts Thursday and Sunday in New Orleans.A concert Th
  
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• Governor, other officials headed to D.C. to talk flood assistance

  07-09-2016 14:44
  
  BATON ROUGE - The governor and other high-ranking state elected leaders will fly to Washington, D.C., Thursday to lobby for additional flood relief.The group is scheduled to be in D.C. Thursday and Friday. Traveling with Governor John Bel Edwards will be Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. The group is set to leave early Thursday morning.The governor hopes Congress will approve a $2 billion federal aid package for Louisiana. The assistance would help cover hous
  
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• More than 700 remain in shelters as recovery continues

  07-09-2016 14:20
  
  BATON ROUGE - More than 700 residents remain American Red Cross shelters as recovery efforts continue in Baton Rouge and surrounding parishes.The largest number of sheltered residents remains at the Baton Rouge River Center, where more than 350 residents are still staying. Another 100 residents remain sheltered at the LM Lockhart Center in Denham Springs.Here's a full breakdown of the numbers from the Red Cross:Shelter NameShelter AddressTotal PopulationBaton Rouge River Center275 S River Rd, Ba
  
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• People of all races support Black Lives Matter

  07-09-2016 14:15
  
  On back-to-back days in early July, Baton Rouge police killed a black man named Alton Sterling and a Falcon Heights,Minn., officer killed a black man named Philando Castile. That's when Christina Xu, a New Yorker who describes herself as an ethnographic researcher and writer, decided...
  
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• Russian fighter jet flies within 10 feet of Navy aircraft

  07-09-2016 14:08
  
  WASHINGTON - The Pentagon says that a Russian fighter jet flew within 10 feet of a U.S. Navy surveillance aircraft, in what officials called an unsafe intercept over the Black Sea.Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, says the Russian SU-27 Flanker fighter made the unsafe maneuver Wednesday near a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft that was conducting routine operations in international airspace.The Russian jet conducted four intercepts of the Poseidon, and the one that was considered unsaf
  
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• Senate panel opens inquiry into EpiPen pricing

  07-09-2016 14:07
  
  WASHINGTON - A Senate panel has opened a preliminary investigation into why the price of lifesaving EpiPens has skyrocketed.The top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Homeland's investigations subcommittee said in a statement Wednesday that they began an inquiry into Mylan Pharmaceuticals' pricing and competition practices. Mylan has been sharply criticized for its steep price increases for the emergency allergy treatment EpiPen.The price has grown to $608 for a two-pack, up more than 500 per
  
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• Colorado hits another cannabis 1st with certified hemp seed

  07-09-2016 14:04
  
  DENVER - It's another milestone for the state of Colorado when it comes to cannabis.State agriculture officials today showed off the first domestic certified hemp seeds. The state Department of Agriculture has been working for years to produce hemp seeds that will consistently result in plants that are low enough in the chemical THC to qualify as hemp -- and not as its intoxicating cousin, marijuana.Hemp production was authorized by Congress in 2014. But farmers who want to grow it must have sta
  
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• Nintendo's Mario comes to the iPhone

  07-09-2016 14:01
  
  SAN FRANCISCO - The video game character Mario is coming to iPhones. CEO Tim Cook said the popular Japanese game had been missing until now.Shigeru Miyamoto, described as the "Father of Mario" from Nintendo, said through a translator that "Super Mario Runs" is designed to be played one-handed - while holding a handle on the subway, eating a hamburger or . eating an apple.Miyamoto didn't announce the price, but said the game will sell for a fixed price, so you won't have to keep ponying up as you
  
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• Goodell doesn't agree with Kaepernick's actions

  07-09-2016 13:59
  
  NEW YORK - NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell disagrees with Colin Kaepernick's choice to kneel during the national anthem, but recognizes the quarterback's right to protest.Asked by The Associated Press about Kaepernick's decision not to stand before games when the national anthem is played, Goodell says: "I support our players when they want to see change in society, and we don't live in a perfect society. ... On the other hand, we believe very strongly in patriotism in the NFL. I personally belie
  
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• CATS not offering Touchdown Express Service for LSU football games in September

  07-09-2016 13:16
  
  BATON ROUGE – The Capital Area Transit System will not offer its Touchdown Express service for LSU football games this month.CATS says that it is still working to restore full service on all of its line following last month's flooding. CATS says that it has restored most of its routes and there were no buses that were a total loss. However, some buses have mechanical issues because they were driven through flood water to help move rescued residents, according to officials. CAT
  
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• State officials to host community flood relief meetings

  07-09-2016 13:02
  
  BATON ROUGE – State officials are holding two community meetings in an effort to help residents recovering from last month's flood.The meetings are to give residents information about recovery programs and services available for flood relief.The meetings will be hosted by State Senator Regina Barrow in partnership with State Representative Barabara Carpenter and State Representative Ted James. The first meeting will be held by Senator Barrow and Representative Carpenter on Thursday, Se
  
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• Edwards restarts stalled community college expansion plans

  07-09-2016 13:01
  
  BATON ROUGE - Construction is moving ahead on a stalled list of upgrades planned for Louisiana's community college campuses.Gov. John Bel Edwards is announcing the projects at events this week, restarting plans that he stymied earlier this year as he reworked state construction spending amid ongoing budget troubles.More than half the projects on the $280 million list for the Louisiana Community and Technical College System had been put on hold.Edwards says planned expansions are beginning on cam
  
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• Woman reportedly falls overboard from Carnival cruise ship

  07-09-2016 12:51
  
  FREEPORT - The Coast Guard is searching for a woman who reportedly fell overboard Wednesday from the Carnival Ecstasy, 27 miles southwest of Freeport, Bahamas.According to a KATC report, the 7th Coast Guard District command center received notification from the Carnival Ecstasy crew that a 32-year-old woman was reportedly seen falling overboard at approximately 2:30 a.m. Wednesday from the 11th deck wearing a white dress with a pink floral design.The Carnival Ectsasy's
  
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• FAQ: Understanding Your FEMA Determination Letter

  07-09-2016 12:35
  
  Q: My FEMA determination letter says that my application for disaster assistance is “ineligible” or “incomplete.” What can I do?A: All disaster assistance applicants have the right to appeal, and sometimes a quick fix is all that is needed to change a “no” to a “yes.” Read your letter all the way through to clarify why your application was labeled “ineligible” or “incomplete.”
  
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• Researchers: Climate change makes August flood more likely

  07-09-2016 12:20
  
  BATON ROUGE - Significant rainfall in August that lead to wide-spread and catastrophic flooding may have been exacerbated by climate change, a team of researchers said in research published quietly on the internet Wednesday.Extreme rainfall along the Central, U.S. Gulf Coast has become more likely and more intense in the last 116 years as a result of "long-term warming of the planet resulting from human activities such as burning fossil fuels," the report suggested. The research team said it bel
  
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• Starbucks moves into "content creation" with digital series

  07-09-2016 12:16
  
  NEW YORK - Starbucks is venturing into the world of "content creation" with stories it says will help balance the "cynicism" fueling media coverage of the presidential election.The coffee chain, which is known for chiming in on social issues, says it's positioned to give its Upstanders series about inspiring Americans a big stage through its popular mobile app. The move comes as more companies look to become a source of online content. Starbucks Corp. says it wants to emulate the quality of The
  
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• Obama nominates Muslim American for federal bench

  07-09-2016 12:15
  
  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has nominated a Washington, D.C., attorney for the federal bench. If confirmed, he would be the first Muslim American to serve as a federal judge.Obama has nominated Abid Riaz Qureshi of Maryland for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Qureshi's bio at Latham & Watkins LLP says he specializes in cases involving fraud and securities violations.An advocacy group called Muslim Advocates is applauding the nomination, saying that diversity hel
  
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• Last hospitalized Orlando shooting survivor discharged

  07-09-2016 12:09
  
  ORLANDO - Officials at an Orlando, Florida, hospital say the only survivor of the Pulse nightclub massacre who was still hospitalized has been released.Orlando Health announced on its verified Twitter account Tuesday afternoon that all 35 victims who had been hospitalized at Orlando Regional Medical Center have now been discharged.The condition of the last hospitalized victim had been upgraded from critical to guarded on Aug. 16.Two days after the June 12 shooting, six victims had remained in cr
  
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• House vote on impeaching IRS chief possible next week

  07-09-2016 12:08
  
  WASHINGTON - The House will vote as early as next week on a conservative effort to impeach IRS chief John Koskinen.After House Republicans met privately today for the first time since Congress returned from summer recess, leaders said GOP lawmakers will meet again next week to discuss their next steps on the IRS commissioner.Conservatives have pushed for his removal since last year. They've said he has impeded their investigation of how the IRS treated tea party groups several years ago -- befor
  
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• GOP faces choices on Zika, shutdown, impeaching IRS chief

  07-09-2016 12:08
  
  WASHINGTON - Congress' Republican leaders are facing decisions on averting a federal shutdown, containing the Zika virus and impeaching the head of the IRS.And they have to make them as approaching elections pressure the GOP to avoid doing anything that could damage its standing with voters. House Republicans are scheduled to meet Wednesday behind closed doors to hash out strategy on those and other issues.GOP leaders aim to send Congress home by September's end so lawmakers can campaign. That's
  
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• Michigan moves to not require human in driverless test cars

  07-09-2016 12:06
  
  LANSING, Mich. - Michigan would no longer require that someone be inside a self-driving car while testing it on public roads under bills advancing in the Legislature.The change won unanimous Senate approval Wednesday and could reach Gov. Rick Snyder's desk within months.The legislation is designed to keep the auto industry's home state ahead of the curve on autonomous vehicles.A researcher wouldn't have to be present in a self-driving test car. But the researcher would be required to "promptly"
  
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• PJ's Coffee expands internationally into Vietnam

  07-09-2016 12:03
  
  NEW ORLEANS - PJ's Coffee of New Orleans is going international.The company announced Wednesday the opening of its first shop in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, in the Vincom B Center Shopping Mall.Ballard Brands LLC, PJ's parent company, appointed TRG International - represented by Rick Yvanovich - as Vietnam's master franchisee. He plans to open a second PJ's location in December and at least 10 additional shops in the next five years.Company officials say Vietnam shares a strong love for coffee and inc
  
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• Man leads police on chase in stolen car

  07-09-2016 12:01
  
  KENNER - Police arrested Donald Harris of Baton Rouge Tuesday after he stole a vehicle and led police on a chase.Kenner Police's license plate recognition system received a "stolen hit" on a 2006 Honda Accord that had been reported stolen on Sept. 4.Police spotted the stolen vehicle while patrolling on Airline Drive. When officials attempted to stop the vehicle, Harris refused and led police on a chase through Metairie and back into Kenner. While driving, Harr
  
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• Louisiana offers scholarships for contractors in flood areas

  07-09-2016 07:50
  
  BATON ROUGE - Contractors in parts of Louisiana affected by recent flooding can qualify for a limited number of scholarships when registering for a new program to help small construction companies grow.
  The Louisiana Contractors Accreditation Institute will help people with small and emerging construction companies learn industry basics, including construction management, and prepare for the state licensing exam.
  The six-week course, Oct. 3 to Nov. 9, will have two-hour evening sessions twice a
  
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• All lanes now open on I-110 SB

  07-09-2016 07:43
  
  BATON ROUGE -All lanes are now open on 1-110 southbound at Capitol Access Road.Wednesday morning, an accident with injury closed the left and center lanes on I-110 SB at Capitol Access.The delay from this accident remains at Mohican Street.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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• Jeff Landry says John Bel Edwards can't hire his choice of lawyers for coastal lawsuits

  07-09-2016 00:32
  
  Gov. Edwards wants to hire attorneys that contributed to his political campaign to represent the state.
  
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• Jeff Landry says John Bel Edwards can't hire his choice lawyers for coastal lawsuits

  07-09-2016 00:32
  
  Gov. Edwards wants to hire attorneys that contributed to his political campaign to represent the state.
  
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