Baton Rouge news

• Website shareholders jailed on California pimping charge

  10-10-2016 20:50
  
  SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California authorities say the former owners of the Village Voice in New York City have been arrested days after they were charged with sex trafficking through their control of an online site that advertises escort services.Kristin Ford, a spokeswoman for California Attorney General Kamala Harris, says 68-year-old Michael Lacey and 67-year-old James Larkin were booked into Sacramento County Jail on Monday.The controlling shareholders of the Backpage.com site are charged with
  
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• Police: Shark attacks surfer off Oregon coast

  10-10-2016 20:41
  
  PORTLAND, Ore. - Police say a shark has attacked a surfer north of Cannon Beach off the Oregon coast.Oregon State Police spokesman Lt. Steve Mitchell says in a news release that 29-year-old Joseph Tanner of Portland, Oregon, was apparently bitten while surfing near Indian Beach at Ecola State Park on Monday afternoon.Mitchell says Tanner was bitten in his upper thigh and lower leg.Tanner was stabilized at the scene and flown to a Portland hospital with serious injuries.Authorities are investigat
  
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• President Obama signs disaster declaration for North Carolina

  10-10-2016 20:31
  
  FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - President Barack Obama has signed a disaster declaration for North Carolina, making federal funding available to individuals affected by Hurricane Matthew, according to a White House statement.The disaster declaration will provide assistance to affected residents in 10 North Carolina counties.Federal funding is available to additional counties in partnership with local and state agencies.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Las Vegas casino execs back stadium for Raiders

  10-10-2016 20:28
  
  CARSON CITY, Nev. - Casino executives from Wynn Resorts, Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International are urging Nevada lawmakers to support a convention center expansion and a Las Vegas stadium plan backed by one of their competitors.Steve Wynn said Monday that there's been no single thing in his career that could transform Las Vegas as much as the arrival of professional sports.He said the proposed 65,000-seat stadium, which could house the Raiders of the NFL, would underwrite the emplo
  
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• Rio shootout kills 3, closes streets in Copacabana, Ipanema

  10-10-2016 20:23
  
  RIO DE JANEIRO - An hours-long shootout between police and suspected criminals in Rio de Janeiro has left three people dead, as well as blocking streets and closing shops in the posh Copacabana and Ipanema districts.The shootout erupted during a raid on drug traffickers in the Pavao-Pavaozinho slum, which is entrenched between and overlooks the two fancy neighborhoods, Rio police said in a statement.Witnesses said the exchange lasted for hours and they heard a bomb go off near a metro station in
  
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• Jay Dardenne hospitalized over the weekend, released Monday

  10-10-2016 18:48
  
  "I am heeding my doctors' advice regarding rest but look forward to returning to work as soon as I'm cleared." - Jay Dardenne in a written statement
  
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• Investigators will interview injured in probe of Warrior Dash collapse

  10-10-2016 18:17
  
  ST. FRANCISVILLE - Fire Marshal investigators will meet with an injured girl and her father as the state continues its investigation into the collapse of a piece of an obstacle course.Saturday, sixteen people were hurt when a wooden structure that was part of the course on the Warrior Dash fell apart. Brant Thompson with the Louisiana Fire Marshal's Office, said a preliminary inquiry points to the collapsed obstacle being poorly constructed."Our review of that structure... is that it was likely
  
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• Ascension to stop debris removal on Oct. 31

  10-10-2016 17:01
  
  ASCENSION PARISH – Ascension Parish Debris Removal will stop its operations in the parish on Oct. 31.Residents who have any debris remaining on their property or in their homes are asked to push the separated debris to the right-of-way in order for it to be picked up before the Oct. 31 end date.Officials say that nearly 300,000 cubic yards of debris have been removed in the parish since operations started on Aug. 23. Ascension Parish will continue to administer the extended curbside pr
  
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• North Carolina reports 11th storm-related death

  10-10-2016 16:35
  
  FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - Officials report the death toll linked to Hurricane Matthew in North Carolina has risen to 11 after the body of a 75-year-old man was discovered inside his car in Gates County.The state Emergency Operations Center said authorities received a report of a missing man on Sunday, and that the last ping on his cell phone came at 1:17 p.m. and was traced to an area of N.C. 32 near Gatesville which had been flooded.When the flood waters began to recede on Monday, the car w
  
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• Federal court blocks Louisiana online verification law

  10-10-2016 16:27
  
  BATON ROUGE – A judge signed an order permanently preventing Louisiana from enforcing a 2015 state law that required websites to verify the age of internet users before accessing non-obscene material that could be seen as harmful to a minor.The order was signed by Chief Judge Brian A. Jackson of federal district court on Friday. Judge Jackson previously granted a preliminary injunction in the case, Garden District Book Shop v. Stewart that states the law does not "adequately notify ind
  
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• Man surrenders after standoff with Slidell SWAT team

  10-10-2016 14:07
  
  SLIDELL – A man surrendered himself to the Slidell Police Department following a standoff with the department's SWAT team this weekend.On Saturday around 1 a.m., the Slidell Police Department received a phone call from a person screaming for help at a home on Hailey Avenue.After police arrived, a resident stated that she heard gun shots from the second floor of the home and that others were still inside. Another person fled from the home moments later and told police that the suspect,
  
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• Want a Blue Dog sticker? Have to vote in Louisiana election

  10-10-2016 13:39
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana voters who cast ballots this fall will get an "I VOTED" sticker that could soon become a collector's item, featuring George Rodrigue's iconic Blue Dog.Secretary of State Tom Schedler unveiled the new sticker Monday, saying he hopes it will help draw higher participation in the Nov. 8 election.The sticker features the famous wide-eyed Blue Dog sitting in front of an American flag, an image created by Rodrigue in 2001.Voters will get the sticker at any polling location on E
  
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• Facebook launches new business version called Workplace

  10-10-2016 13:31
  
  Facebook has created a separate version of the social media site specifically used to connect workers of companies and organizations during their workday.Workplace is ad-free and not connected to users' existing Facebook accounts. Businesses can sign up as an organization and pay a monthly fee based on the number of users. It is free for nonprofits and educational institutions.Julien Codorniou, head of Workplace, said that the tool's goal is to "connect everyone" in all workplaces from desk-boun
  
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• Ryan tells GOP lawmakers he won't defend Trump

  10-10-2016 13:22
  
  WASHINGTON - Speaker Paul Ryan is telling congressional Republicans that he won't defend Donald Trump now or in the future and will spend the next month defending his party's House majority.The Wisconsin Republican is holding a conference call with GOP lawmakers. Many of them are worried that their party's presidential candidate is hurting their chances of winning re-election and is threatening their majority control of the House.One person involved in the call says Ryan has not withdra
  
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• Jay Dardenne hospitalized following chest pains this weekend

  10-10-2016 12:39
  
  BATON ROUGE - The state's budget czar was hospitalized with chest pains this weekend, WBRZ learned Monday.Jay Dardenne, the Commissioner of Administration, said in a statement he was taken to the hospital Saturday. Doctors found he had blockages.Dardenne said when he woke up Saturday, he felt pressure in his chest. His wife brought him to a Baton Rouge hospital."I’ve been treated and remain alert and very thankful," Dardenne said in a statement through his government spokesperson. "I a
  
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• Hotels, restaurants, real estate coming to downtown BR

  10-10-2016 12:37
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Downtown Development District is expected to announce nearly 150 new apartment spaces coming to downtown Baton Rouge on Tuesday.On Third Street in the downtown area, a used-to-be parking lot is now lined with fences and "Hard Hat Only" signs. It will soon become the downtown Marriott. And it's not the only job underway along the street, as finishing touches are being put on a new apartment complex and The Watermark Hotel. The director of the Downtown Development District, Davis
  
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• Livingston Parish gets high number of federal loans

  10-10-2016 12:30
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - Livingston Parish has the highest rate of federal loans awarded among parishes affected by the August flood.According to statistics provided by the Small Business Administration, 3,646 loans have been granted in a parish where 90 percent of structures reportedly flooded. In comparison, East Baton Rouge Parish has only been awarded 1.5 times more loans, but has a population four times greater. The loans are meant to help revitalize decimated communities
  
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• Woman's body found in park lagoon in New Orleans

  10-10-2016 12:28
  
  NEW ORLEANS – The body of an unidentified woman has been found in a lagoon at Audubon Park in New Orleans.The New Orleans Police Department discovered the body on Monday morning around 9:30 a.m. and are on the scene.A WWL crew, a sister station of WBRZ, is covering the story. This post will be updated as more information becomes available.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Blue Bell recalls all ice creams with suspect cookie dough

  10-10-2016 12:09
  
  BRENHAM, Texas - Blue Bell Creameries is recalling all of its ice cream products that contain cookie dough from an Iowa-based supplier.The move announced Monday night comes after Aspen Hills recalled cookie dough supplied to ice cream makers after finding potential listeria bacteria contamination.The Blue Bell recall involves half-gallons and pints of Blue Bell Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Blue Bell Cookie Two Step sold to retailers and three-gallon packages of Blue Bell Blue Monster, Blue Be
  
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• Samsung temporarily halts production of Galaxy Note 7 amid replacement phone concerns

  10-10-2016 12:00
  
  Samsung is temporarily halting its production of Galaxy Note 7 smart phones as fears spread that even replacement versions of the phone can burst into flames.Production of the phones has been temporarily suspended, according to the company."We are temporarily adjusting the Galaxy Note7 production schedule in order to take further steps to ensure quality and safety matters," a company spokesperson said.The announcement is the latest in a string of setbacks for Samsung over the Note 7, one of its
  
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• Teen arrested for shooting cousin following argument

  10-10-2016 09:23
  
  BATON ROUGE – The Baton Rouge Police Department arrested a teenager after shooting his cousin following an argument.On Oct. 5 around 3 p.m., 19-year-old Tyrus Veal went to his cousin's home to confront him. According to the arrest report, Veal wanted to confront him "about a possible confrontation with the police."Veal fired two gunshots into the ground to scare him, the report states. Veal's cousin then turned to go inside the home when Veal fired another shot, hitting him in the rear
  
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• Crews investigating fire at mechanic shop

  10-10-2016 08:20
  
  BATON ROUGE - Fire crews are looking into what caused an early morning fire at a mechanic shop on Monday.The fire happened on the 2000 block of North Street around 1 a.m. When firefighters arrived to the scene, they saw the building engulfed in flames.The fire was under control before 2 a.m. According to Baton Rouge Fire Department, the building was a total loss.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Kansas sheriff's deputy kidnapped, sexually assaulted

  10-10-2016 06:56
  
  OLATHE, Kansas - A Kansas sheriff's department says it's investigating after one of its deputies was kidnapped and sexually assaulted.The Johnson County Sheriff's Department says the deputy was abducted late Friday from a parking lot as she headed into work at the detention center in Olathe. It says the deputy, who has been with the department for about six months, did not know her abductors and was not in uniform at the time.The department says the deputy was released about two hours later in L
  
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• German police think bomb suspect had IS contacts

  10-10-2016 06:54
  
  A police chief in eastern Germany says a young Syrian suspected of planning a bombing attack is believed to have Islamic State group contacts.Saxony criminal police chief Joerg Michaelis also told reporters in Dresden on Monday that 22-year-old Jaber Albakr had been on the radar of the country's domestic intelligence agency since last month with "hints" he may be planning something.Michaelis says at this stage of the investigation, "the behavior and actions of the suspect currently speak for an
  
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• Slain Northern California officers honored at vigil

  10-10-2016 06:52
  
  PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - A parade of mourners created a makeshift memorial for two slain Northern California police officers during an emotional vigil held outside the Palm Springs Police Department.The mourners laid bouquets, written messages and candles outside police headquarters Sunday night, honoring and remembering officers Jose "Gil" Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny, local media reported. The two were shot dead Saturday responding to a domestic disturbance call and a third officer wounded.Po
  
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• Train service resumes after New Jersey crash

  10-10-2016 06:48
  
  Commuter rail service has resumed at a New Jersey transit station damaged after a train crash killed a woman on the platform and injured more than 100.Eight of the 17 tracks at Hoboken Terminal reopened Monday.Tracks 1 to 9 will remain out of service until further notice as repair work continues in that section of the busy station.Train 1614 slammed through a bumper at the end of the track and dislodged an overhead canopy, showering debris onto the train on Sept. 29. Federal investigators say th
  
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• Ryan Lochte engaged to former Playboy model Kayla Rae Reid

  10-10-2016 06:47
  
  LOS ANGELES - Ryan Lochte has gotten engaged to former Playboy model Kayla Rae Reid.The pair shared Instagram pictures Sunday night of the 25-year-old Reid sporting a big diamond ring in front of a Malibu backdrop. Reid's photo included the note, "Speechless. Absolutely beautiful. So in love with YOU."The 31-year-old Olympic swimmer and "Dancing with the Stars" contestant told USA Today for a story published last week that he was ready to ask Reid to marry him. He says they met in January at a n
  
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• Woman rear-ended, carjacked while checking damage

  10-10-2016 03:42
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Police in New Orleans say a woman has been carjacked after being rear-ended by a vehicle with four women inside.Local news outlets report that police say the incident happened Friday afternoon in Gert Town.An 18-year-old woman told police that she was driving when her car was rear-ended by a red car. The victim said when she got out to assess the damage, a passenger from the other vehicle got into her car and drove off.Police haven't released any details about the description of ei
  
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• Carport fire destroys home, kills Mamou couple in their 50s

  10-10-2016 03:27
  
  MAMOU - A state fire official says investigators are working to learn whether a carport barbecue pit, a window air conditioner or something else touched off a fire that killed a Mamou couple.Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Brant Thompson says 55-year-old Regina LeJeune and 57-year-old Michael LeJeune died early Saturday.He says the fire started in the carport, where neighbors saw them cooking about 8:30 or 9 p.m. Friday. But he says the carport had a number of electrical features where the fi
  
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• In debate, Trump signals aggressive end to presidential bid

  10-10-2016 03:07
  
  WASHINGTON - Donald Trump is leaving no doubt that he'll spend the election's final weeks dredging up decades-old sexual allegations against Hillary Clinton's husband, even if it turns off voters whose support he desperately needs.Faced with questions in Sunday's debate about his own predatory remarks about women, Trump accused Bill Clinton of having been "abusive to women" and said Hillary Clinton attacked those women "viciously." He declared the Democratic nominee had "tremendous hate in her h
  
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• Trump Taj Mahal to close 26 years after Trump opened it

  10-10-2016 03:05
  
  ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Donald Trump opened his Trump Taj Mahal casino 26 years ago, calling it "the eighth wonder of the world."But his friend and fellow billionaire Carl Icahn is closing it this morning, making it the fifth casualty of Atlantic City's casino crisis.The sprawling Boardwalk casino will shut its doors at 5:59 a.m. Eastern Time, having failed to reach a deal with its union workers to restore health care and pension benefits that were taken away from them in bankruptcy court.Nearly 3
  
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