Baton Rouge news

• John Bel Edwards increases federal relief request for flood protection efforts

  12-09-2016 22:56
  
  The governor is asking for $800 million more to fund local flood protection and infrastructure projects.
  
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• Mosquito population growing in some areas

  12-09-2016 20:59
  
  BATON ROUGE - There's a record number of mosquitoes this time of year with standing water still around after the flood. East Baton Rouge Parish Mosquito Abatement and Rodent Control is out in force from the ground to the air.While not every location in the parish is experiencing high numbers of mosquitoes, east of Zachary along Tucker road and the southeast portion of the parish are problem spots.A species more commonly found in Florida is producing high numbers in the south part of the
  
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• US flies bombers over S.Korea in show of force against North

  12-09-2016 20:37
  
  OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea - The United States has flown nuclear-capable supersonic bombers over ally South Korea in a show of force meant to cow North Korea after its fifth nuclear test and also to settle rattled nerves in the South.The B-1 bombers, escorted by U.S. and South Korean jets, were seen by an Associated Press photographer as they streaked over the Osan Air Base, which is 120 kilometers (75 miles) from the border with North Korea. The bombers were likely to return to their base in Gu
  
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• NCAA pulls 7 postseason events out of NC due to LGBT law

  12-09-2016 20:07
  
  INDIANAPOLIS - The NCAA has pulled seven championship events from North Carolina, including opening-weekend men's basketball tournament games, for the coming year due to a state law that some say can lead to discrimination against LGBT people.In a news release Monday, the NCAA says the decision by its board of governors came "because of the cumulative actions taken by the state concerning civil rights protections."Along with men's basketball tournament games set for Greensboro, the NCAA will rel
  
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• Young girl dies from injuries suffered in boat accident

  12-09-2016 19:56
  
  MORGAN CITY - A 7-year-old girl has died from severe head trauma suffered in a two-boat collision in Bayou Cheramie.The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said Monday that Jaidyn Montet, of Bayou L'Ourse, was pronounced dead at a Morgan City hospital after a bass boat collided Sunday with the 20-foot aluminum boat carrying her and three other people.The driver of the aluminum boat was treated for minor injuries. No other injuries were reported.Authorities say both vessels were negotiatin
  
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• New Orleans mayor backs Caroline Fayard in US Senate race

  12-09-2016 19:44
  
  BATON ROUGE - Democratic candidate Caroline Fayard has picked up the high-profile support of New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu in Louisiana's U.S. Senate race.Landrieu announced his backing of Fayard, a New Orleans lawyer and businesswoman, in a statement Monday that listed his endorsement in several races on the Nov. 8 ballot.He chose Fayard over the other major Democratic contender in the Senate race, Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell, who has the support of Gov. John Bel Edwards.The
  
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• Nuclear gauge reported stolen in West Virginia

  12-09-2016 19:40
  
  BEAVER, W.Va. - Federal regulators say a nuclear gauge has been stolen in southern West Virginia.The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says in a news release the portable gauge containing sealed radioactive material was reported stolen from an engineering firm technician's truck in Beaver on Saturday.The statement says the gauge, used for soil measurements, apparently had been locked two different ways as required by NRC regulations.The NRC says the gauge presents no hazard if the materials remain l
  
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• Increased security screenings planned at Arlington Cemetery

  12-09-2016 19:30
  
  ARLINGTON, Va. - Arlington National Cemetery will increase its security measures, including requiring a government-issued photo ID for people arriving in cars and screening pedestrian visitors.Cemetery spokeswoman Jennifer Lynch said in an email Monday that the measures will be phased in starting in November.All vehicle access will require presenting ID such as a driver's license or passport when entering the cemetery and will be subject to random inspections.All pedestrians will be screened thr
  
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• Officials give updates on flood damage in EBR

  12-09-2016 18:20
  
  BATON ROUGE – Officials gave updates on the damage to City-Parish property experienced in last month's flood and they say it is staggering.The Baton Rouge Police Department had 90 of its units flooded and is working with FEMA for those to hopefully be replaced, along with the equipment inside. The Baton Rouge Fire Department had two stations flooded and the Department of Public Works lost 20 vehicles with 11 buildings that went under water."We don't have a number yet, we're working wit
  
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• Train, vehicle collision in Sorrento Monday

  12-09-2016 17:52
  
  SORRENTO – Highway 22 in Sorrento near the railroad tracks was closed due to an accident involving a train and car for most of Monday evening.According to sources, a car tried to beat the train and was hit. Sources said one person was trapped in the car, but their injuries were minor. The train needed to be repaired at the scene.  The crossing was closed as mechanics repaired the train.  Eventually, it was able to move on its own power and the crossing was op
  
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• Hwy. 22 in Sorrento closed due to car accident involving train

  12-09-2016 17:52
  
  SORRENTO – Highway 22 in Sorrento near the railroad tracks is closed due to an accident involving a train and car.According to sources, a car tried to beat the train and was hit. Sources say there is one person still trapped in the car.
  Authorities are responding to the scene. According to the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office, all lanes on Highway 22 are closed until further notice. This is a developing story and will be updated as more details become available.Permalink| Com
  
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• Livingston Parish schools begin sharing facilities on first day back since flood

  12-09-2016 17:14
  
  LIVINGSTON – In Livingston, school buses were on the streets at odd hours Monday morning as students returned for the first time since last month's devastating flood. A handful of schools were destroyed and now some are sharing campuses.
  For Live Oak High School it was an early start for students as they are on a platoon schedule for now, but it was a day that teachers have been yearning for.
  "The hallways just aren't the same without our students," one teacher said.Students on the sch
  
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• Walmart planning for self-driving shopping carts

  12-09-2016 16:50
  
  The U.S. government granted Walmart a patent last week that hints at the company planning to roll out a system that allows shopping carts to drive themselves.
  According to the patent request, the carts will be equipped with detachable motors that have sensors and video cameras. Customers will be able to request a cart using a "user interface device" and the motors will be able to fetch a cart and bring it to a customer. The system will also be able to identity an unattended shopping car
  
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• Fund awards $350K in grants to small businesses recovering from flood

  12-09-2016 16:17
  
  BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana Small Business Rebirth Fund has awarded $350,000 in grants to 57 small businesses impacted by last month's flooding.
  Within the first week alone, the grant program awarded received more than 600 applicants. Some grant recipients specified that they would use the funding to pay employees who have helped with clean-up and recovery. The majority of recipients specified that they are trying to reopen in their current locations after repairs are made to their fac
  
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• Mayor Kip Holden blasts political opponent, defends lack of visibility

  12-09-2016 16:00
  
  BATON ROUGE- Freshly back from a trip to Taiwan, East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President addressed reporters during a news conference about the parish's flood response.For much of the news conference, Holden's right hand men and women praised his leadership and thanked one another for the great job they were all doing.When asked why he didn't go to Washington D.C. last week when Governor John Bel Edwards and three local mayors went to talk to congress, Holden said he wasn't invited. That's when
  
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• IOC decides against further punishment for Ryan Lochte

  12-09-2016 15:31
  
  LAUSANNE, Switzerland - Ryan Lochte will not receive separate punishment from the International Olympic Committee for lying about being robbed at gunpoint during the Rio de Janeiro Games.The IOC says it is "adequate" that United States team officials have already banned the swimmer for 10 months and required him to forfeit $100,000 in bonuses. Lochte will miss the 2017 world championships.The Olympic body says its disciplinary panel decided "no additional penalty was needed on its part."The IOC
  
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• FEMA reminds residents to check with officials before rebuilding

  12-09-2016 15:17
  
  BATON ROUGE – The Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and FEMA are encouraging residents to check with local officials before starting to rebuild following last month's flood.As more financial assistance reaches flood victims, more people are beginning to repair the damages they sustained to their homes and businesses.Officials want to remind residents of the following:Work that may require permits often includes plumbing, electrical system, foundation and
  
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• $15M in property tax breaks for manufacturers stalled

  12-09-2016 15:02
  
  BATON ROUGE - About $15 million in property tax breaks for manufacturing facilities have been stalled by a board that reviews them, after Gov. John Bel Edwards says he wants the tax breaks tied to jobs.Once seen as a rubber stamp on the tax breaks, the Board of Commerce and Industry on Monday deferred action on more than two dozen requests.In some instances, companies can submit additional information to try to persuade the board. In others, the board is awaiting guidance from Edwards on how far
  
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• Saints' Delvin Breaux out for 6 weeks with broken fibula

  12-09-2016 14:47
  
  NEW ORLEANS – Delvin Breaux, New Orleans Saints cornerback, broke his fibula during Sunday's 35-34 loss to the Raiders.Coach Sean Payton said that Breaux had surgery Monday morning to repair his fractured fibula. Payton said that he is expected to be out for six weeks.Breaux was injured during the second quarter of the game. He played again after halftime, but was then carted off to the locker room after he was helped off the field.Breaux tweeted Sunday afternoon to his fans thanking t
  
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• Doctor says Clinton has pneumonia; rest advised

  12-09-2016 14:25
  
  Hillary Clinton's doctor says the Democratic presidential nominee was diagnosed on Friday with pneumonia, put on antibiotics and advised to rest and modify her campaign schedule.Dr. Lisa Bardack says in a statement that Clinton is "recovering nicely" after attending a Sept. 11 anniversary event in lower Manhattan. Clinton was seen on video appearing to struggle to stay on her feet as she got into a vehicle to leave the event.Bardack says Clinton has been experiencing a cough related to allergies
  
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• Coast Guard: 6K gallons of oily water recovered from Bay Long oil spill

  12-09-2016 14:10
  
  NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard says more than 6,000 gallons of oily water have been recovered at the site of a spill near Louisiana's Bay Long.The Coast Guard said in a statement Sunday that workers were repairing the damaged section of a pipeline that discharged an estimated 5,300 gallons of crude oil on Sept. 4.Crews also were trying to safely capture and treat roughly 200 oiled birds around the Cheniere Ronquille Barrier Island and East Grand Terre Island.The spill was caused by a contractor w
  
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• FEMA to start contacting applicants by text

  12-09-2016 14:00
  
  BATON ROUGE – FEMA announces that flood victims who applied for federal help may soon get a text from officials to let them know of their application status.FEMA says it is using texts to connect with applicants in an effort to enhance communications as it allows to communicate quickly and easily with applicants.The agency says that applicants may still be contacted through email or phone if they chose one of those as a preferred communication method when they first applied.Applicants
  
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• Governor Edwards increases request for federal assistance to $2.8 billion

  12-09-2016 13:20
  
  BATON ROUGE – Governor John Bel Edwards sent an additional letter to President Barack Obama updating the state's request for federal assistance for an additional $800 million, bringing the total to amount to $2.8 billion. The additional $800 million requested will be used on projects to protect homes and businesses from future flooding. Gov. Edwards asked that the additional assistance be included in the Continuing Resolution that Congress will consider in the coming weeks.&am
  
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• Woman arrested in boyfriend's fatal shooting

  12-09-2016 12:29
  
  BATON ROUGE - Police say a Baton Rouge woman who claims she accidentally shot and killed her boyfriend during an argument has been arrested on a negligent homicide charge.Baton Rouge police said in a statement that 25-year-old Larriana Hughes was arrested Sunday after her boyfriend, 27-year-old Christopher Payne, died at a hospital.Hughes allegedly told investigators that Payne slapped her in the face in the driveway outside their home and then handed her a loaded handgun, telling her "this was
  
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• Lamar Dixon shelter reopens after parish steps in

  12-09-2016 12:24
  
  GONZALES - People staying at the Lamar Dixon Center shelter following the flood were told they would have to be out by this evening by 4 o'clock.The Red Cross in charge of the shelter told the several dozen still there that it was time to pack their stuff and leave. That is until the Ascension Parish Government stepped in and reopened the shelter, at least for now.For the people calling the shelter home, they said they had no idea where they would have gone. As the cots from th
  
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• Mayor, officials discuss on-going flood recovery in EBR

  12-09-2016 12:12
  
  BATON ROUGE - East Baton Rouge Parish officials discussed the on-going flood recovery effort Monday with media. The mayor joined top city advisers - from emergency response officers to environmental experts on the city's recovery efforts. Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie thanked the officers of the police department for their vigilant work in responding to emergencies during the flood. Dabadie said that over 100 officers and 70 civilian employees of the department were aff
  
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• Accident closes left lane of I-10 WB

  12-09-2016 09:06
  
  BATON ROUGE - Commuters may want tot take an alternate route Monday morning as the left lane is blocked on I-10 westbound at Perkins due to an accident.The delay from this incident is beyond the I-10/I-12 split.News 2's Ashley Fruge is monitoring the roadways. We will have updates on WBRZ.com and Twitter.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Officials: 3 dead as small plane crashes in Reno airport lot

  12-09-2016 03:45
  
  RENO, Nev. - Officials say three people are dead in a small plane crash in a parking lot at Reno-Tahoe International Airport.Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor says the single-engine plane crashed on takeoff around 6:15 p.m. PDT Sunday.Airport spokesman Brian Kulpin tells the Reno Gazette that the three were aboard the aircraft. No one on the ground was hurt.TV station KRNV reports that several cars in the parking lot suffered damage from crash debris and the lot was closed to
  
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