Baton Rouge news

• Tax law rewrite proposals released to Louisiana lawmakers

  02-11-2016 20:58
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's lawmakers are being urged to make sweeping changes to the state's sales tax, personal income tax and property tax policies.
      
  The effort is aimed at stabilizing state government finances and ending its boom-and-bust budgeting cycles.
      
  A study group created by lawmakers to recommend a tax revamp for consideration in the 2017 legislative session released its proposals Wednesday, after months of work.
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• Remnants of Clean Burning Ignitor destroyed at Camp Minden

  02-11-2016 20:45
  
  PINEVILLE - All remaining traces of Clean Burning Ignitor at Camp Minded have been destroyed following two large magazine burns conducted earlier in the week.A spokesperson for the Louisiana National guard says Explosive Ordance Disposal personnel from the Army's 797th Ordnance Company and 79th Ordnance Battalion in Forth Hood Texas assisted in the burn.The EPA monitored the burn at four stations, utilizing the Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer bus downwind of the burn."We can all sleep a little be
  
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• One person hit in shooting at Family Dollar store

  02-11-2016 19:04
  
  BATON ROUGE - One person was shot at the Family Dollar store on Choctaw Drive Wednesday.Police say it happened at the 3800 block of Choctaw Drive near North 38th Street.One person was shot but was not transported to the hospital, according to officers. They say it appears to have happened in the parking lot of the store. The Crime Scene Unit is investigating the shooting.This is a developing story. Check back for more details as they become available.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Dillard President says debate poll was rigged to include David Duke

  02-11-2016 18:27
  
  NEW ORLEANS – Dillard University's president took to Twitter to accuse Raycom Media of rigging poll results to increase TV ratings by including David Duke in Wednesday's U.S. Senate debate.President Walter Kimbrough tweeted “pretty clear polling rigged” for ratings and “any protests become part of reality show masquerading as news.”#myDU pretty clear polling rigged as Trump would say for ratings. Any protests become part of reality show masquerad
  
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• Three former Angola guards indicted for covering up inmate beating

  02-11-2016 16:58
  
  BATON ROUGE – Federal prosecutors announced Wednesday that three Angola prison correctional officers were indicted for beating a handcuffed inmate then conspiring to cover up the crime.United States Attorney Walt Green said 40-year-old Daniel Davis, 31-year-old John Sanders and 38-year-old James Savoy were charged in a multi-count indictment by a federal grand jury Wednesday.A statement from Green’s office said the three men caused bodily injury to an inmate then created a fa
  
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• Person found shot at LSU Lakes in Baton Rouge, TV station reports

  02-11-2016 16:21
  
  A shooting victim was found in a vehicle at the LSU Lakes in Baton Rouge and was taken to the hospital
  
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• Two men wanted for burglarizing car at Jefferson Highway apartments

  02-11-2016 16:05
  
  BATON ROUGE – East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Detectives are looking for two men seen burglarizing a vehicle at an apartment complex on Jefferson Highway.According to EBRSO, vehicle was burglarized at the Millennium Towne Center Apartments located at 6810 Jefferson Highway on Oct. 26.According to reports, the suspects entered the unlocked vehicle and stole the victim's debit card along with other items. The victim's debit card was used by an unknown person at a gas station on Greenwell Spri
  
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• Can a Democrat win a congressional race in north Louisiana?

  02-11-2016 15:10
  
  Louisiana Democrats to use Gov. John Bel Edwards' election victory as a model for success.
  
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• Louisiana early voting 44 percent higher than 2012, breaking record

  02-11-2016 14:25
  
  More than half a million people cast ballots through early voting for the Nov. 8 election.
  
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• All ready for trial next month in shooting of ex-Saints star

  02-11-2016 13:05
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Prosecutors and attorneys for the man accused of killing New Orleans Saints star Will Smith say they're ready for trial next month on charges including second-degree murder.Lawyers said after a hearing Wednesday that they expect about 100 potential jurors to be called to court Dec. 1 for the trial of Cardell Hayes, who shot Smith during a traffic altercation on April 9.Prosecutors say Hayes provoked the confrontation by ramming his Hummer into Smith's SUV.Defense lawyers say Smith
  
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• Early voting in Louisiana shatters records from 4 years ago

  02-11-2016 12:58
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana voters turned out in record numbers during early voting, surprising the state's top elections official who had worried the animosity of the presidential race could cause a voting slump.Instead, Secretary of State Tom Schedler says voters' anger about the presidential candidates seems to be driving people to the polls in Louisiana.More than 515,000 voters cast their ballots early in Louisiana's weeklong early voting period. That's 17 percent of the state's 3 million regist
  
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• Report names St. Francisville first in top 10 small-town escapes

  02-11-2016 12:52
  
  ST. FRANCISVILLE – Just a short drive from the Baton Rouge Metro area sits one of the nation’s best small-town escapes, a new report says.GardenandGun.com named St. Francisville as the top small-town escapes. The website reviewed small towns that are less than 90 minutes away from a major metro area, “but a world away.” The website reports that the towns are perfect for a weekend getaway or a place to settle down.GardenandGun.com says the “sleepy
  
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• EBRSO searching for missing work release inmate

  02-11-2016 12:50
  
  BATON ROUGE – East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Detectives are looking for a work release inmate that walked away from his job site on Tuesday evening. According to EBRSO, the inmate is 51-year-old Michael Gambino, III. Gambino did not return from his work assignment Tuesday evening from the O'Neal Lane area.Gambino was serving time for burglary from New Orleans and arson from St. Tammany Parish. Gambino is a white male, 5'10'' in height, 170 pounds, has brown hair and green eyes.Any
  
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• Deadline to set out flood debris for pick-up in EBR Nov. 6

  02-11-2016 12:43
  
  BATON ROUGE – The deadline for residents to put out their remaining debris curbside to the public right-of-way is Nov. 6.Any debris that is not curbside by Nov. 6 may not be collected by crews. City-Parish officials are urging any residents who are not able to meet the final debris set-out deadline to contact the Department of Environmental Services at  (225) 389-4865.The City-Parish has a web-based form here for residents to use in reporting addresses where flood debris still
  
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• Uber takes its app down new road with redesign

  02-11-2016 12:22
  
  SAN FRANCISCO - Uber is taking its ride-hailing app down a new road in an effort to make it smarter, simpler and more fun to use.The redesigned app also will seek to mine personal information stored on smartphones in a change that could raise privacy concerns, even though it will be up to individual users to let Uber peer into their calendars and address books.It's all part of the biggest overhaul to Uber's app in four years. The app is used by millions of people to summon cars in more than 450
  
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• Trump camp calls KKK newspaper 'repulsive' after praise

  02-11-2016 12:18
  
  WASHINGTON - Donald Trump's campaign is firmly rejecting the embrace of a Ku Klux Klan-affiliated newspaper.The latest issue of The Crusader used Trump's "Make America Great Again" campaign slogan as its headline for an editorial praising the catchphrase and the Republican presidential candidate. The newspaper bills itself as "The Premier Voice of the White Resistance."The newspaper didn't specifically call for readers to vote for Trump.In a statement, the Trump campaign calls the newspaper "rep
  
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• Turbulent summer mars Baton Rouge mayoral race

  02-11-2016 12:07
  
  BATON ROUGE - After a turbulent summer of bloodshed, racial tensions and catastrophic flooding, Louisiana's capital will elect a new mayor to lead a city emerging from some of its darkest days.Turmoil in Baton Rouge has shaped the race and raised its stakes, yet the mayoral election remains an afterthought for many voters on the cusp of the Tuesday primary.Scattered residents are scrambling for help to repair homes after August's historic floods. In July, candidates took breaks from campaigning
  
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• 'Vote Trump' painted on wall of fire-damaged black church

  02-11-2016 12:03
  
  GREENVILLE - Authorities say a fire has partially damaged a black church in Mississippi, and television images show "Vote Trump" spray-painted on an outside wall.Fire Chief Ruben Brown tells The Associated Press that firefighters found flames and smoke pouring from the sanctuary of the Hopewell M.B Church just after 9 p.m. Tuesday.He says the sanctuary sustained heavy damage, while the kitchen and pastor's office received water and smoke damage. He says investigators don't know yet if it is a ca
  
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• FBI: civil rights probe of fire at black church

  02-11-2016 12:03
  
  GREENVILLE - An FBI spokesman says the agency has begun a civil rights investigation of a fire that heavily damaged a black church which was tagged "Vote Trump" in silver spray paint.Asked whether it's being investigated as a hate crime, Brett Carr wrote in an email that it's too early to determine what type of crime it could be.Greenville Mayor Errick Simmons told a news conference Wednesday that he considers it a hate crime.Gov. Phil Bryant, a Republican who has been campaigning for Republican
  
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• Protesters seek to block Duke's exit from campus

  02-11-2016 11:42
  
  NEW ORLEANS - The top six candidates running for Louisiana's soon-to-be-vacant U.S. Senate seat are meeting for their last debate ahead of next week's election, at Dillard University in New Orleans.
   
  But Wednesday's televised debate is drawing attention mainly for the sixth contender who will be on stage at the historically black university: white supremacist David Duke.
   
  Duke narrowly reached the 5 percent polling benchmark set by Raycom Media for participation in the debate
  
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• One murder, shooting and stabbing keep police busy Wednesday morning

  02-11-2016 11:24
  
  BATON ROUGE - Police had worked three shootings - including one where someone died - by 10 a.m. Wednesday.All crime scenes were in the area around Old South Baton Rouge.  Two were off Highland Road, the third was in an upscale area around the lakes in City-Brooks Park.First, police said 18-year-old Keondrae Ricks was shot in the 1900 block of Nebraska Street just after midnight.  Ricks died at the scene.  His body was found in the street.Hours later, just befo
  
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• LSU-Alabama rivalry apparent across Baton Rouge ahead of gameday

  02-11-2016 11:14
  BATON ROUGE - As the LSU Tigers prepare for perhaps the biggest game of the season against the University of Alabama Crimson Tide, fans from far and wide are preparing for an exciting Saturday night in Death Valley.Businesses like Zippy's Burritos, Tacos & More are getting in the gameday spirit, poking fun at the Crimson Tide with witty signs.
  "As long as Fournette can put up some yards, I think we have a chance," Zippy's employee Dakota Hostly said.Their sign is just one of many that show i
  
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• Teen dead following Nebraska Street shooting

  02-11-2016 09:41
  
  BATON ROUGE – Baton Rouge Police detectives are investigating a shooting that left one teen dead on Nebraska Street.Detectives found 18-year-old Keondrae Ricks shot in the 1900 block of Nebraska Street just after midnight on Wednesday. According to BRPD, Ricks was lying in the street with multiple gunshot wounds to the upper torso area.BRPD said that the motive for the shooting is unknown at the time of this post.Anyone with information regarding the shooting is urged to call the Viole
  
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• Managers hurt trying to stop Halloween costume bandits

  02-11-2016 09:23
  
  KENNER - Three women are accused of trying to steal Halloween costumes from a Kenner store, injuring managers in the process.Kenner police Lt. Brian McGregor said that 21-year-old Dannika Cains, 20-year-old Artese Monroe and 20-year-old Whitney Williams, all of New Orleans, were arrested on battery, theft and other charges.McGregor says Williams drove Cains and Monroe to the Spirit store Sunday and waited while both women tried to leave with about $439 in unpaid merchandise.Three manage
  
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• FEMA grant helps Livingston school campuses reopen following flood

  02-11-2016 09:14
  
  BATON ROUGE – With the help of a $17.5 million FEMA grant, Livingston Parish school campuses have reopened for students following the August flood.Students were able to return to the following Livingston Parish school campuses: Doyle Elementary, Holden School, Springfield Elementary, Denham Springs Junior High, Freshwater Elementary, Northside Elementary, Lewis Vincent Elementary, Seventh Ward Elementary, Walker Freshman High, Westside Junior High and Live Oak High.The grant paid for w
  
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• FEMA grant helps Livingston Parish campuses reopen following flood

  02-11-2016 09:14
  
  BATON ROUGE – With the help of a $17.5 million FEMA grant, Livingston Parish school campuses have reopen for students following the August flood.Students were able to return to the following Livingston Parish school campuses: Doyle Elementary, Holden School, Springfield Elementary, Denham Springs Junior High, Freshwater Elementary, Northside Elementary, Lewis Vincent Elementary, Seventh Ward Elementary, Walker Freshman High, Westside Junior High and Live Oak High.The grant paid for wor
  
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• Accident closes lanes on I-110 SB at North 22nd Street

  02-11-2016 07:31
  
  BATON ROUGE - Commuters may want to take an alternate route Wednesday morning as the two left lanes are blocked on I-110 southbound at North 22nd Street due to an accident.The delay from this incident has reached Evangeline.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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• Shooting in Memphis park leaves 1 teen dead, 5 wounded

  02-11-2016 06:50
  
  MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A teenager has been killed and five others were injured in a shooting at a Memphis park.
  Memphis police say the shooting occurred at Zodiac Park near the Mississippi state line about 8:15 p.m. EDT. Police say the suspects, whose faces were reportedly covered with bandanas, began firing shots at a group of people, killing a 16-year-old girl and wounding four other females and one male. The suspects fled the scene in a tan vehiclePermalink| Comments
  
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• Suspect in Iowa officer shootings is in custody

  02-11-2016 05:55
  
  DES MOINES, IOWA - Police say the suspect in the killings of two Des Moines area police officers is in custody.Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek says Scott Michael Greene was taken into custody without incident Wednesday morning.Greene is suspected in the killing of a Des Moines police officer and an Urbandale police officer earlier Wednesday.Police say a "series of leads and investigative tips" led them to identify Greene as the suspect in the killing of two Des Moines area police officers.Gr
  
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• Police: 2 Iowa officers ambushed in their cars

  02-11-2016 05:55
  
  DES MOINES, IOWA - Police say the suspect in the killings of two Des Moines area police officers is in custody.Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek says Scott Michael Greene was taken into custody without incident Wednesday morning.Greene is suspected in the killing of a Des Moines police officer and an Urbandale police officer earlier Wednesday.Police say a "series of leads and investigative tips" led them to identify Greene as the suspect in the killing of two Des Moines area police officers.Gr
  
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• 2 Iowa officers ambushed in their cars

  02-11-2016 05:55
  
  DES MOINES, IOWA - Police in Des Moines, Iowa, say two officers who were killed in ambush-style attacks were both shot while they were sitting in their patrol cars.Des Moines Police Sgt. Paul Parizek said Wednesday that authorities are developing suspect information but there was nothing that authorities were ready to share with the public.Parizek was emotional during a news conference. He says there is "clearly danger" right now for police officers in the area because the officers were gunned d
  
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