Baton Rouge news

• Frozen roadways worry Mississippi residents

  06-01-2017 21:03
  
  WOODVILLE, Miss. - As winter storm warnings stay in effect, Mississippi counties are bracing for more ice and cold overnight.Throughout the day Friday, parts of Mississippi experienced rain, sleet, and some snow. What's left behind could cause a mess on the roads."My buddy passed a car and then I passed a car that skidded and wrecked on the bridge," one resident said. "The bridges are what's icing over."In downtown Woodville, the afternoon winter weather mix left things frozen, covering landmark
  
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• Reynolds, Fisher laid to rest at Hollywood Hills cemetery

  06-01-2017 20:56
  
  LOS ANGELES - Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher have been laid to rest together at a sprawling Los Angeles cemetery favored by celebrities. The mother and daughter had a private joint funeral Friday at Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills the day after a memorial at their two neighboring houses.
      
  Minimal details were revealed about the ceremony or the final resting places of the two actresses who died on consecutive days last week.
      
  But Reyn
  
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• These two cities blame I-12 median wall for Louisiana Flood of 2016

  06-01-2017 20:17
  
  Walker, Denham Springs file suit saying safety barrier blocked drainage, flooded homes
  
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• Man arrested, accused of raping 5-year-old girl

  06-01-2017 20:10
  
  SHREVEPORT - A Shreveport man accused of raping a 5-year-old girl has been arrested.
      
  The Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office says 20-year-old Jaquayveon Malik McGee was arrested Tuesday on a charge of first-degree rape. Bond was set at $75,000. It was unknown if he's represented by an attorney.
      
  Sheriff Steve Prator, in a news release Friday, said McGee's arrest followed an investigation by Detective Larry Pierce into an incident that alle
  
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• Governor: $300M deficit could trigger special session need

  06-01-2017 17:49
  
  BATON ROUGE - Gov. John Bel Edwards is suggesting a special budget-rebalancing legislative session may be likely to close a looming midyear deficit.The size of the gap will be decided next week. The Democratic governor said Friday if the deficit reaches $300 million or more, as has been projected, he believes a special session would be needed.House Republican leaders, however, hope to avoid such a session. House Speaker Taylor Barras says he'd prefer the governor and the Legislature's budget com
  
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• Send WBRZ your winter weather photos

  06-01-2017 17:33
  
  BATON ROUGE - Do you have winter weather photos or videos? We would like to see them! Email them to [email protected] or Tweet at us on Twitter at @WBRZ . We will add them to this image gallery and maybe even put them on air. Sleet and ice accumulation in Weyanoke, West Feliciana Parish via Stacy Gill | #LaWX @NWSNewOrleans pic.twitter.com/6d6mQZ799N— Josh Eachus WBRZ (@Josh_Eachus) January 6, 2017Permalink| Comments
  
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• Audubon Bridge closed due to winter weather conditions

  06-01-2017 17:20
  
  NEW ROADS – Traffic officials say the Audubon Bridge on LA 10 from US 61 to LA 10 in New Roads is closed due to winter weather conditions.#BREAKING: @WBRZ reporting that the Audubon Bridge has been closed. #LaWX @NWSNewOrleans— Josh Eachus WBRZ (@Josh_Eachus) January 6, 2017City and state leaders are urging residents to stay off the roadways as much as possible as icy conditions pass through the area."DOTD appreciates your patience and reminds you to please drive with caution
  
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• Mayor Broome urges residents to stay off roads during icy weather

  06-01-2017 16:55
  
  BATON ROUGE – Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome is urging all resident to stay off the road as winter weather passes over the Baton Rouge area.“Anyone who must drive is urged to use extreme caution,” Broome said during a new conference Friday afternoon.The Mayor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says it will be monitoring the conditions closely to ensure citizen safety. Broome has also been in touch with Gov. John Bel Edwards&
  
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• Livingston Sheriff's office now sending out 2016 tax notices

  06-01-2017 16:41
  
  LIVINGSTON – The Livingston Parish Assessor’s Office has completed post flood reassessment, officials said Friday.Jeff Taylor says the 2016 tax roll has been approved by the Louisiana Tax Commission and has submitted the approved tax role to the Sheriff’s office.According to a statement, Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office is now working diligently to send out tax notices as soon as possible. 2016 tax payments will be due Feb. 24, 2017, and payments should
  
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• Gonzales man faces child desertion charges after leaving infants at gas station

  06-01-2017 16:02
  
  DUTCHTOWN – A Gonzales man faces drug and child desertion charges after deputies say he left his two children at a gas station table to use the bathroom Thursday.Brian Chadwick, 31, was charged with possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia, disrupting the peace and child desertion.The incident happened at a Race Track gas station on Highway 73 in Dutchtown Thursday. According to Sherif Jeff Wiley, a store manager was concerned about two infants that were sitting on a tabl
  
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• Fiat Chrysler recalls 100K vehicles to fix Takata air bags

  06-01-2017 15:22
  
  DETROIT - Fiat Chrysler is recalling more than 100,000 older trucks and SUVs worldwide to replace potentially dangerous Takata air bag inflators.The recall includes driver or passenger air bags in certain 2009 Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango SUVs, some 2010 Ram 3500 chassis cabs, and certain 2005-2009 Ram 2500 pickups.Takata inflators can explode with too much force and hurl shrapnel into vehicles. As many as 16 people have been killed worldwide and about 180 have been injured.Dealers will repl
  
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• Report says Putin ordered effort on US election

  06-01-2017 15:19
  
  WASHINGTON - A new declassified report says Russian President Vladimir Putin "ordered" an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the U.S. presidential election.U.S. intelligence officials released the 25-page public version of the report Friday, after they briefed President-elect Donald Trump and top lawmakers on Capitol Hill from a longer, classified version.The report says Russian efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election represent the most recent expression of Moscow's long-st
  
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• Trump to seek plan to fight cyberattacks

  06-01-2017 15:13
  
  WASHINGTON - President-elect Donald Trump says he wants his administration to develop a plan in its first 90 days to "aggressively combat and stop cyberattacks."Trump, in a statement released shortly after the conclusion of his Friday meeting with intelligence officials, said the nation's "government, organizations, associations or businesses" all need to strengthen their cybersecurity efforts.He adds that security "methods, tools and tactics" should "not be a public discussion
  
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• Middle school teacher, husband accused of operating meth lab

  06-01-2017 15:10
  
  HAHNVILLE - A St. Charles Parish teacher is in custody after investigators uncovered evidence that she and her husband were running a meth lab at the home they shared with their 7-year-old child.Sheriff's spokesman Capt. Pat Yoes says 37-year-old Kristy Allen and her husband, 42-year-old Ryan Allen, face multiple charges, including creating and operating a clandestine laboratory and possession of methamphetamine.The New Orleans Advocate reports the Allens, arrested Wednesday, were being held at
  
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• Man accused of dismembering parents returning to Tennessee

  06-01-2017 15:08
  
  BATON ROUGE - A man arrested in Louisiana on suspicion of stabbing and dismembering his parents at their Tennessee home will be taken back to the state where the killings occurred.Sheriff's officials from Knox County, Tennessee, were in a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, courtroom Friday when a judge ordered 28-year-old Joel Michael Guy Jr. sent back to Tennessee.Guy had refused to waive his right to an extradition hearing following his Nov. 29 arrest at his Baton Rouge apartment.Guy is accused of killin
  
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• BREC recreational facilities will close at 6 p.m. due to weather

  06-01-2017 14:53
  
  BATON ROUGE – All BREC recreational facilities will close at 6 p.m. Friday due the threat of dangerous road conditions.BREC says it will also delay opening times for the facilities until 10 a.m. Saturday for the safety of its employees and visitors.According to a statement, all after-school Youth 360 programs will still continue until 6 p.m. “so that students have safe, structured activities when school lets out for the day.”Permalink| Comments
  
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• Michelle Obama: Life's 'greatest honor' was being first lady

  06-01-2017 13:44
  
  WASHINGTON - Michelle Obama says being first lady has been "the greatest honor" of her life.Mrs. Obama bid an early farewell to the White House at a ceremony honoring the 2017 school counselor of the year.It was her final event as first lady, and she was overcome with emotion at times, with tears in her eyes and her voice breaking. The Obamas leave in two weeks.She told young people to get a good education and work hard. With those things, she said, everything is possible, "even becoming preside
  
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• Mardi Gras season kicks off with cakes, street car rides

  06-01-2017 13:42
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Mardi Gras season is kicking off in New Orleans.The holiday season begins on Epiphany, commemorating the day when the three wise men reached the baby Jesus. Fat Tuesday, which marks the culmination of Mardi Gras season, falls on Feb. 28.Across the city people are eating king cake, a traditional holiday bakery treat.People bring the cakes to their offices or home to share with family.In the evening, the Phunny Phorty Phellows, a historic Mardi Gras krewe, will mark the season with a
  
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• Police: 5 dead, 8 wounded in airport shooting

  06-01-2017 13:39
  
  FORT LAUDERDALE -  A county official says the Fort Lauderdale airport shooter pulled a gun out of a checked bag, loaded in a bathroom and started shooting, killing five people and wounding at least eight.Chip LaMarca, a Broward County commissioner, was briefed on the airport shooting by Broward Sheriff's office. He told The Associated Press by phone that the shooter was a passenger on a Canadian flight and had checked a gun.LaMarca says the shooter pulled out the gun in the bathroom aft
  
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• Chris Brown to box Soulja Boy over social media feud

  06-01-2017 12:40
  
  LAS VEGAS - A social media war between Chris Brown and Soulja Boy will apparently be settled in the ring with the help of boxer Floyd Mayweather.Both hip-hop stars have announced that they've signed on for a three-round bout that will be televised on pay-per-view and promoted by Mayweather's companies.Soulja Boy put up a post promoting the fight on Instagram on Wednesday and said in the caption: "It's going down! Signed my contract." Soulja Boy says Mayweather himself is training him for the fig
  
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• Obama derides 'reckless' plan to repeal now, replace later

  06-01-2017 12:36
  
  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama is deriding as "reckless" a Republican plan to repeal his health care law now and replace it later.Obama is urging lawmakers to come up with an alternative to the Affordable Care Act before voting to gut it. He writes in the New England Journal of Medicine that it would be "irresponsible" to do otherwise and could devastate the health care system.Obama says the resulting uncertainty could lead insurance companies to bail on the health care marketplaces during
  
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• FedEx: Storm causes big problems at Memphis hub

  06-01-2017 12:15
  
  ATLANTA - Shipping giant FedEx says delays are possible for packages being delivered across the country Friday due to winter weather that has swept through its home base in Memphis, Tennessee.The company posted a statement on its website saying FedEx Express experienced "substantial disruptions" at its Memphis hub overnight due to winter weather.The company says "potential delays are possible for package deliveries across the U.S." with a delivery commitment of Friday.FedEx says it is "
  
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• Flood plan expected to get money to homeowners by April

  06-01-2017 12:13
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana is submitting its plan to spend $438 million in federal flood recovery aid, a move Gov. John Bel Edwards' administration says should have money flowing by April.Nearly all the money, under the plan being sent Friday to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, will go to homeowners for repairs from the March and August floods.Pat Forbes, the governor's leader on disaster recovery, says an estimated 4,000 households will share in that money. The dollars will la
  
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• Louisiana to close oyster harvest east of Mississippi River

  06-01-2017 12:09
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is closing the oyster harvest on all public oyster seed grounds east of the Mississippi River in St. Bernard Parish at one half-hour after sunset on Sunday.Department officials said Thursday that recent harvest pressure has depleted the limited supply of oyster resources in the public oyster areas. Protection of the remaining oyster resources is in the long-term best interest of the oyster populations in that area.To view the lates
  
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• SeaWorld: Tilikum, orca that killed trainer, has died

  06-01-2017 11:50
  
  ORLANDO, Fla. - Tilikum, an orca that killed a trainer at SeaWorld Orlando in 2010, has died.Sea World says in a statement posted online that Tilikum died Friday. A cause of death had not yet been determined, though the orca was being treated for a persistent bacterial infection. He was estimated to be 36 years old.Tilikum was profiled in the documentary "Blackfish," which helped sway popular opinion against keeping killer whales in captivity at SeaWorld parks.As SeaWorld's most prolific male or
  
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• DOTD cautions Baton Rouge drivers of slick roads overnight

  06-01-2017 11:35
  
  BATON ROUGE - DOTD officials are warning drivers possible icy conditions could leave the roads dangerous for drivers.Crews are prepared with salt to keep the roads from freezing overnight. There are many staging areas across the state, including by the Mississippi River Bridge.Workers say they hope to keep the Highway 190 bridge open at all costs. On Friday, the Audobon Bridge was shut down because of unsafe driving conditions.Even without a freeze, the slick roads are hazardous for drivers. Off
  
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• PHOTOS: Deputy saves cat stuck in garage door

  06-01-2017 11:27
  
  PRAIRIEVILLE – A daring cat rescue was a peaceful way to end 2016 for an Ascension Parish Sheriff's deputy.Details of the save were just released by the sheriff's office complete with pictures. The rescue happened on December 29.“Never in all of my years was I prepared to encounter what I saw upon my arrival,” Deputy Mike Scott said about what he saw when he arrived at a home in the Autumn View neighborhood.A cat was stuck in the garage door, wedged between the top
  
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• Yahoo deletes tweet that included racial slur

  06-01-2017 07:28
  
  Yahoo Finance says it accidentally tweeted out a racial epithet when promoting a story about the cost of President-elect Donald Trump's plans to increase the size of the U.S. Navy.The headline for the story on Yahoo Finance is, "Trump Wants a Much Bigger Navy: Here's How Much It'll Cost." But when it was tweeted Thursday, the word "bigger" had an "n'' as its first letter instead of a "b."The tweet was deleted and Yahoo Finance tweeted an apology , chalking it up to a spelling error. A company sp
  
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• Yahoo accidentally tweets racial slur

  06-01-2017 07:28
  
  Yahoo Finance says it accidently tweeted out a racial slur when promoting a story about the cost of President-elect Donald Trump's plans to increase the size of the U.S. Navy.The headline for the story on Yahoo Finance said, "Trump Wants a Much Bigger Navy: Here's How Much It'll Cost." Instead of tweeting a "B'' for the word "Bigger," an "N'' was accidentally tweeted.The tweet was deleted and Yahoo Finance tweeted an apology, chalking up the mishap to a spelling error.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Middle school teacher accused of asking teen for nude photos

  06-01-2017 07:26
  
  ORLANDO, Fla. - An Orlando, Florida, middle school teacher is accused of asking a former student for nude photos.Orange County Sheriff's Office says 31-year-old Andrew Montalvo was arrested Wednesday and charged with obscene communication.News outlets report that Montalvo had taught the student when she was 14, but kept in contact with her through social media. He allegedly received nude photos of the girl when she was 16.Deputies say Montalvo also paid the girl and her friend $2,000 so the two
  
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• Looting, protests in Mexico over gas price hikes turn deadly

  06-01-2017 07:25
  MEXICO CITY - Continued unrest in Mexico over gasoline price hikes has led to four deaths.Officials also say 300 stores have been ransacked and more than 700 people have been arrested.The combination of highway and port blockades and looting this week has forced many stores and businesses to close.Two people were found dead near looting in the port city of Veracruz.A police officer was killed trying to stop robberies at a gas station in Mexico City.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Russia says it starts Syrian drawdown with aircraft carrier

  06-01-2017 07:22
  
  MOSCOW - Russia says it is withdrawing its aircraft carrier and some other warships from the waters off Syria as the first step in drawing down forces in Syria.A Russian military official says the Admiral Kuznetsov carrier and accompanying ships will be the first to leave.He tells state news agency Tass that "in accordance with the decision by the supreme commander-in-chief (President) Vladimir Putin, the Defense Ministry is starting to downsize the grouping of armed forces in Syria."Moscow has
  
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• Trump on wall: Mexico will pay us back

  06-01-2017 07:19
  
  WASHINGTON  - President-elect Donald Trump says Mexico will reimburse taxpayers for a new border wall and that U.S. money spent will be for the "sake of speed."Trump's aides are considering a plan to ask Congress to ensure money is available in U.S. coffers for the wall. But Trump would rely on existing law that authorizes fencing and other technology along the southern border.The potential approach was confirmed by two congressional officials and a senior transition official with knowl
  
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• GOP, Trump team discuss Mexico border wall

  06-01-2017 07:19
  
  UNDATED - Will President-elect Donald Trump still push for Mexico to pay for a wall along the border?Three congressional and transition officials say the latest discussions between congressional Republicans and Trump's transition team would be to use existing legislation authorizing fencing and other technology along the Southern border.And Congress would be asked to ensure that enough money is appropriated to take additional new steps to build the wall.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Convincing Trump

  06-01-2017 07:18
  
  WASHINGTON - Top intelligence officials travel to New York today to present to President-elect Donald Trump evidence they say shows that Russia interfered with the election on his behalf by hacking Democratic groups.Trump has continued to challenge that finding, and tweeted last night that he questioned how officials could be "so sure" about the Russia hacking if they hadn't examined DNC servers.Permalink| Comments
  
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• A traditional end to an unconventional presidential election

  06-01-2017 07:17
  WASHINGTON - A joint session of Congress is set to count the Electoral College votes, a traditional ending to a most unconventional presidential election.Barring something bizarre happening, Republican Donald Trump will be declared the winner at today's session. He will be sworn in on Jan. 20.All 538 electors met in their respective state capitals in December to cast their votes. A tally by The Associated Press showed Trump with 304 votes and Democrat Hillary Clinton with 227. It takes 270 Elect
  
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• Snow causes headaches in Southeast

  06-01-2017 07:15
  
  CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Snow, sleet and freezing rain is threatening to disrupt weekend travel and bring misery to millions in the Southeast.Officials in Alabama and Georgia say they're in emergency mode.Classes have been canceled across several states and motorists are being told to avoid unnecessary travel.Authorities say a man in Kentucky died Thursday when his pickup truck slid off a snow-covered road.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Major accident shuts down I-110 NB, multiple exit ramps

  06-01-2017 03:48
  
  BATON ROUGE - Commuters may want to take an alternate route Friday morning as I-110 northbound is closed due to a major accident involving several cars and an 18-wheeler. The delay from this incident has reached College Drive on I-10 westbound.The ramp from I-10 eastbound to I-110 northbound is closed. Traffic on I-10 westbound can get to I-110 northbound, but must exit at Government Street. The I-110 southbound exit at Government is also closed.This is a developing story and a WBRZ crew is on t
  
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• Delays remain but lanes opened after deadly interstate crash this morning

  06-01-2017 03:48
  
  UPDATE: All lanes have opened on I-110 at Government after a morning crash; but delays remain.  The on-ramp to I-110 northbound from I-10 eastbound is also open.  Congestion is from I-10 westbound at College. Monitor traffic flow here.BATON ROUGE - Commuters may want to take an alternate route Friday morning as I-110 northbound is closed due to a major accident involving several cars and an 18-wheeler. The delay from this incident has reached College Drive on I-10 west
  
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• Accident closes I-110 NB at Government

  06-01-2017 03:48
  
  BATON ROUGE - Commuters may want to take an alternate route Friday morning as I-110 northbound is closed at Government Street due to an accident involving an 18-wheeler.The delay from this incident has reached the I-10/I-110 split.This is a developing story. We will have updates on WBRZ.com and Twitter.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Watch out for detours on I-10 from Jan. 13 to 16 in Ascension Parish

  06-01-2017 01:14
  
  If you're driving from Baton Rouge to New Orleans a couple of weekends from now, expect a detour.
  
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• Flood-damaged Denham Springs, Walker sue state over I-12 widening: report

  06-01-2017 00:16
  
  The cities of Denham Springs and Walker are also suing contractors involved in the I-12 widening project, WAFB in Baton Rouge reports.
  
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