Baton Rouge news

• No timetable for end of Alton Sterling shooting probe, Justice Department says

  11-10-2016 21:53
  
  Federal authorities have dedicated hundreds of hours to their investigation of Alton Sterling's July 5 shooting, U.S. Attorney Walt Green said.
  
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• Australian report warns of possible damaging cyberattacks

  11-10-2016 21:46
  
  CANBERRA, Australia - An Australian government report has found that extremist groups could have the capability to launch damaging cyberattacks on Australia within three years.The report by the Australian Cybersecurity Center released says extremist groups seeking to harm Western interests currently pose "a low cyberthreat."But the report says that while their cybercapabilities were "rudimentary" and capable of compromising only poorly secured internet-connected services, they showed signs of im
  
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• Murder charges pending in police officer deaths

  11-10-2016 20:30
  
  PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - Riverside County prosecutors plan to file murder charges Wednesday against the man suspected of shooting two Palm Springs police officers.The district attorney's office has scheduled a news conference to announce the charges against 26-year-old John Hernandez Felix.Authorities say Felix fired an assault rifle through the screen door of his family's home Saturday, gunning down officers Jose Vega and Lesley Zerebny as they answered a domestic disturbance call.Police
  
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• Florida raises Hurricane Matthew death toll to 9

  11-10-2016 20:24
  
  MIAMI- Florida officials say nine deaths are now blamed on Hurricane Matthew.The state's tally includes two deaths in Miami-Dade County, one each in Orange, Putnam and Duval counties and four in Volusia County.The four deaths reported by Volusia officials were a woman struck by a falling tree during the storm, an elderly man later electrocuted by a downed power line, a boy who inhaled generator fumes and a worker crushed by a large log while removing trees in the storm's aftermath.Matthew brushe
  
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• Area of Iberville Parish under boil water advisory

  11-10-2016 19:53
  
  IBERVILLE PARISH - Officials said a boil advisory has been issued for Iberville Parish Water District No. 3 customers due to a disruption in service.The advisory effects residents located on Hwy. 405, from Texas Rd. south to the Iberville/Ascension parish line, including all intersecting streets.The advisory is in effect for residents of the area until further notice.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Large number of damage determination letters returned to Denham Springs City Hall

  11-10-2016 19:33
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - The City of Denham Springs recently mailed over 2,000 damage determination letters to both residents and business owners for substantial and non-substantial damage to property during the August flood.
  However, many of the letters were not delivered and were returned back to city hall. The city said the letters returned were unable to be delivered by the post office, mostly due to missing mailboxes for the properties.
  The city has advised those who are located within in the city
  
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• Escaped cows block traffic on Baton Rouge highway, TV station reports

  11-10-2016 19:14
  
  A cattle roundup closed traffic on a Baton Rouge highway for about an hour Tuesday morning
  
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• Error increased man's power bill; DEMCO inspecting meters

  11-10-2016 17:48
  
  ZACHARY - While many have noticed higher utility bills in September and October since usage was estimated when meter readers could not access properties during the flood in August, one man in Zachary said an error caused his to increase by 30%.Ty Meloncon told 2 On Your Side water rose around his elevated home.  The house did not food but his truck and other items low to the ground did - including his electrical meter.He believes the flood had something to do
  
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• PETA doesn't want LSU to get another live Tiger

  11-10-2016 17:37
  
  BATON ROUGE - PETA asked LSU not to replace Mike VI with another live mascot.PETA issued a statement Tuesday afternoon. LSU announced Mike VI died Tuesday morning. Earlier this year it was revealed Mike had cancer and as early as last week, veterinarians announced the cancer had spread and estimated Mike had only a month or two to live. "This sad day could mark a kind new beginning for LSU, where sensitive, intelligent tigers have been reduced to game-day props for decades," PETA said in a state
  
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• La. school board pushes ahead with teacher training revamp

  11-10-2016 16:49
  
  BATON ROUGE - By a one-vote margin, members of Louisiana's state school board have agreed to redesign the state's teacher training requirements, over the opposition of Gov. John Bel Edwards.The changes, pushed by Superintendent of Education John White, will require aspiring teachers to get more intense training and mentoring, including a one-year apprenticeship.The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted 6-5 for the redesign Tuesday, with Edwards' three appointees to the board in oppos
  
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• Creepy clowns force Ronald McDonald into hiding

  11-10-2016 16:15
  
  NEW YORK - The creepy clown sightings has forced Ronald McDonald to keep a lower profile.The Associated Press reported Tuesday, the popular burger chain said it's mascot won't make a bunch of appearances. McDonald's Corp. said it's being "thoughtful in respect to Ronald McDonald's participation in community events." It's not clear how long the company's clown might be in hiding. The burger chain's decision comes after a rash of pranks around the country that have involved eerie clown sightings.
  
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• Murder under investigation after woman's body found along roadway in Loranger

  11-10-2016 16:14
  
  LORANGER – The Tangipahoa Sheriff's Office is investigating a murder in Loranger after a woman's body was found near the roadway.Around 4:20 a.m. on Tuesday, deputies responded to reports of a body laying near Briarpatch Cemetery Road. Deputies determined that the body was that of 27-year-old Heather Cox. The sheriff's department said that Cox was the victim of a murder and not of a pedestrian fatality as she suffered a gunshot wound to the torso. She was pronounced dead at th
  
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• La. Tech's live mascot retires

  11-10-2016 16:01
  
  RUSTON – Louisiana Tech University's mascot, Tech XXI, is retiring from active service, according to the university.The university announced on Tuesday that the live English bulldog mascot will retire from sideline duties and public appearances.Tech's retirement comes after a recommendation by veterinarians and guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Tech's retirement, according to university officials, follows Louisiana Tech's length-of-service protocol for the live mascot,
  
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• Assistant principal arrested for murder of school administrator pleads not guilty

  11-10-2016 15:16
  
  BATON ROUGE - The assistant principal of a Baton Rouge magnet school pleaded not guilty on Tuesday morning to charges of first degree murder and first degree feticide for the murder of a pregnant school administrator.39-year-old Robert Marks was arrested in June for shooting Lyntell Washington, a school administrator at Brookstown Middle School, where Marks was the assistant principal. The two were having an affair and Washington was 7 months pregnant with Marks' child at the time of he
  
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• TV photographer assigned to cover flood says he'll never forget the people of La.

  11-10-2016 14:40
  
  BATON ROUGE - Through a video essay, a local TV news photographer recalled the heartbreaking images he encountered while covering the August floods in south Louisiana."I'll never forget all the people who needed help," Randy Garcia said over video showing flooded homes and dead animals. Garcia produced the clip for KRGV.com, the website associated with the ABC affiliate in the Rio Grande area of Texas. KRGV is owned by the Manship family who also own WBRZ.Garcia and three others - another photog
  
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• Pickup crushed by logs from overturned log truck

  11-10-2016 14:03
  
  ZACHARY - People were taken by ambulance after a log truck overturned and spilled its load of logs on top of a pickup.The crash happened on US 61 at Mt. Pleasant Zachary Rd. Pictures provided by authorities showed the semi on its side and logs strewn about the highway. The front and bed of the pickup were smashed by logs. A WBRZ news crew is headed to the scene.Expect closures and traffic in the area.WBRZ's advanced traffic tracking technology showed slowdowns in the area. Click HERE to monitor
  
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• State revenue collections show improvements

  11-10-2016 13:16
  
  BATON ROUGE – September 2016 Net Receipts Report shows that total state revenues for 2016-2017 was $2.175 billion, a 25 percent increase compared to that time last year, according to the Louisiana Department of Treasury.Sales tax collections increased to 35 percent compared to last year, along with individual income tax, gasoline and special fuels tax and miscellaneous tax collections that also improved.A breakdown of the improvements are below:- General sales tax cash receipts for the
  
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• 2 planes clip wings on ground at airport, but no injuries

  11-10-2016 12:43
  
  NEWARK, N.J. - Two airplanes have clipped wings while on the ground at New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport.The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says no one was hurt in the Tuesday evening incident, but both planes had minor damage.A spokeswoman for Chicago-based United Airlines says a flight arriving from Beijing had landed safely at the airport and was at a stop when an empty Lufthansa plane made contact with it.The spokeswoman says the plane was towed to the gate and mai
  
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• DA candidate won't rush decision in police case

  11-10-2016 12:35
  
  ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The sole candidate for district attorney in Albuquerque says he won't rush a decision on how to move forward with the case of two former Albuquerque police officers who were tried on second-degree murder charges in the on-duty shooting death of a homeless man.A 12-member jury deadlocked Tuesday in weighing the fates of now-retired Detective Keith Sandy and former Officer Dominique Perez, leading a judge to declare a mistrial.In a statement, Democrat Raul Torrez - the
  
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• Texas mascot shows support to Mike VI

  11-10-2016 12:09
  
  TEXAS- The University of Texas Silver Spurs showed their support to LSU's Mike VI when the news broke that the tiger has cancer.The Texas Longhorns' mascot along with the Texas Silver Spurs, Bevo XV, sent Mike VI a purple and gold flower arrangement to show their support and love to Mike VI.The arrangement was sent along with a note that reads: "Mike and All the Many People Who Loved Him, Remain in Our Thoughts and Prayers. - Bevo XV and The University of Texas Silver Spurs"A thank you note was
  
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• City-Parish officials asking residents to help report debris collection needs

  11-10-2016 09:02
  
  BATON ROUGE – Mayor Kip Holden and officials of the City-Parish are asking residents for help in identifying where debris still needs to be collected following the August flood.Any residents whose flood debris is placed curbside and in need of collection should contact the City-Parish by completing an online form for remaining debris collection needs. The form is located here and allows residents to report their address, contact information and type of debris in need of collection. The
  
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• All lanes back open on I-10 EB

  11-10-2016 08:46
  
  BATON ROUGE - All lanes are back open on I-10 eastbound.Tuesday morning, there was an overturned vehicle blocking the two right lanes on I-10 eastbound at LA 415.The delay from this incident is still one to two miles long.News 2's Ashley Fruge is monitoring the roadways. We will have updates on WBRZ.com and Twitter.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Court grants 1-day extension for FL voter registration

  11-10-2016 08:43
  
  WASHINGTON - A federal judge has issued a one-day extension to Florida's voter registration deadline and will hear arguments on a longer extension in a Wednesday hearing.The order from District Judge Mark Walker is at least a partial victory for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.The initial registration deadline had been Tuesday. But Florida Democrats asked the court to extend the deadline. They argue that would-be voters deserve more time after Republican Gov. Rick Scot
  
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• Hurricane Matthew's US death toll rises to 27

  11-10-2016 08:38
  
  LUMBERTON, N.C. - Officials in Robeson County, North Carolina, have found the body of a man who was in a car that was washed away in the flooding that followed Hurricane Matthew.Emergency Management Director Stephanie Chavis said the man's body was found late Monday afternoon after an extensive search.The man's name has not been released.The death raises the storm's toll to 27, including 15 deaths in North Carolina. All but one have involved motor vehicles.Chavis says officials have been working
  
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• 3 more storm-related deaths in North Carolina

  11-10-2016 08:38
  
  LUMBERTON, N.C. - North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory says three more people have died in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.McCrory said Tuesday that the new deaths were vehicle-related.The most recent deaths occurred when a tree fell on a vehicle in Wake County. The other two were traffic accidents in Wilson and Cumberland Counties.All but 1 of the 14 deaths have been vehicle-related. The other person died in a fire that was attributed to the storm.Permalink| Comments
  
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• 5 injured in fire at high-rise senior home in Los Angeles

  11-10-2016 07:07
  
  LOS ANGELES - A fire at a high-rise home for the elderly in Los Angeles left five people with burns and smoke-inhalation injuries.City fire spokesman Erik Scott says three of the injured are in critical condition and two are in serious condition after the Monday night blaze at the 15-story building.Scott says flames were showing only from the fourth floor, but it's not yet clear how much of the building burned or what caused the fire.The fire started at about 8:45 p.m. and was knocked down about
  
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• Shailene Woodley protests pipeline, livestreams arrest

  11-10-2016 07:02
  
  BISMARCK, N.D. - Shailene Woodley's arrest at a protest in North Dakota has been livestreamed to fans on Facebook.The "Divergent" actress was livestreaming her protest Monday of the four-state Dakota Access pipeline for a total of more than two-and-a-half hours Monday before her arrest by local authorities. Toward the end of a two hour video, Woodley is told by a law enforcement officer that she is being arrested for criminal trespassing. The video showing what appeared to be a peaceful protest
  
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• Trump fires top Virginia staffer

  11-10-2016 07:00
  
  Donald Trump has fired his top Virginia staffer for organizing a protest outside the Republican National Committee.
  The Trump campaign declared Monday that Virginia chairman Corey Stewart is "being replaced, effective immediately."Dozens of pro-Trump protesters waved signs and chanted outside the RNC building on Capitol Hill Monday afternoon for about an hour. They passed a petition urging party leaders and Republican office holders to fully support Trump. Many protesters lashed out at RNC Chair
  
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• Austrlian opposition expected to sink gay marriage vote

  11-10-2016 06:58
  
  CANBERRA, Australia - The Australian opposition is widely expected to dash government plans to allow a public but non-binding vote on recognizing gay marriage in Australia.Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's conservative coalition government needs the support of the center-left Labor Party to get enabling legislation through the Senate to hold a national vote on gay marriage on Feb. 11.While Labor supports gay marriage, it argues the plebiscite would trigger a divisive public debate.A meeting of L
  
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• Australian opposition expected to sink gay marriage vote

  11-10-2016 06:58
  
  CANBERRA, Australia - The Australian opposition is widely expected to dash government plans to allow a public but non-binding vote on recognizing gay marriage in Australia.Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's conservative coalition government needs the support of the center-left Labor Party to get enabling legislation through the Senate to hold a national vote on gay marriage on Feb. 11.While Labor supports gay marriage, it argues the plebiscite would trigger a divisive public debate.A meeting of L
  
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• No strike for Chicago teachers

  11-10-2016 06:57
  
  CHICAGO - The Chicago Teachers Union says its members will not be going on strike over contract negotiations with the nation's third-largest school district.The union had set Tuesday as a strike date, but both sides have reached a tentative agreement.The decision averts the second major strike for Chicago teachers since 2012. The district's nearly 400,000 students will be in class today.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Obama to talk sports, race, achievement and Clinton in NC

  11-10-2016 03:19
  
  WASHINGTON - Sports, race, achievement and Hillary Clinton are among the topics President Barack Obama will be discussing in North Carolina, one of the most competitive states in the White House race.Obama is visiting Greensboro on Tuesday to participate in a forum hosted by The Undefeated. The ESPN website explores the intersection of race, sports and culture.The president is expected to talk about leadership, his "My Brother's Keeper" initiative for minority males, the role of historically bla
  
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• Tensions flare as Republicans clash over Trump

  11-10-2016 03:17
  
  WASHINGTON - Donald Trump's candidacy has long exposed divisions within the Republican Party. But GOP leaders appear to be failing at attempts to hold off an all-out split at least until after the election.House Speaker Paul Ryan effectively abandoned Trump on Monday, telling fellow lawmakers he would neither campaign for nor defend the floundering businessman in the election's closing weeks. Meanwhile, the head of the Republican National Committee, Reince Priebus, said he's in full coordination
  
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• Beware extremes: Exercise, anger may trigger heart attack

  11-10-2016 03:12
  
  If you're angry or upset, you might want to simmer down before heading out for an intense run or gym workout. A large, international study ties heavy exertion while stressed or mad to a tripled risk of having a heart attack within an hour.Regular exercise is a healthy antidote to stress and can help prevent heart disease - the biggest problem is that too many people get too little of it. But the new research suggests there may be better or worse times to exercise, and that extremes can trigger h
  
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• Flood damage closes 1 state park, camping at 2nd

  11-10-2016 03:07
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's Office of State Parks says the park at Tickfaw and the cabins and campgrounds at Lake Fausse Pointe will be closed for up to a year to repair flood damage.Spokeswoman Sharon Broussard said Monday that Tickfaw State Park cannot open for day use because the August floods damaged the bathrooms as well as the cabins and campgrounds.She says bathrooms at Lake Fausse Point State Park did not flood. That park is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week.Officials say high
  
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• Most Louisiana Republicans steer clear of mentioning Donald Trump at GOP rally

  11-10-2016 00:04
  
  Even Republicans who said they are still supporting him avoided talking about him at a Republican event in Lake Charles this weekend.
  
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