Baton Rouge news

• Second Ascension Parish shooting suspect arrested at WBR hotel

  13-01-2017 21:03
  
  GEISMAR - According to the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office, authorities arrested 22-year-old Javante Haynes Saturday morning at a West Baton Rouge hotel.Sheriff Jeff Wiley said detectives received an anonymous tip that led to the arrest of Haynes, the second suspect in Monday's fatal shooting, who had evaded police until Saturday. With the assistance of West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office, detectives located Haynes in the hotel room and arrested him without inci
  
  Read more

• Ascension Parish shooting suspect turns himself in

  13-01-2017 21:03
  
  GEISMAR - Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Bobby Webre reports that 25-year-old Johnathan Darville turned himself into authorities on Friday evening, January 13.He was booked into Ascension Parish Jail and charged with second-degree murder in the Monday morning homicide of 39-year-old Kermit Jackson.According to Chief Webre, 22-year-old Javante Haynes remains at large.The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office is offering a reward for the information that leads to the arrest a
  
  Read more

• Mom killed, child injured in ATV crash

  13-01-2017 20:14
  
  ETHEL - East Feliciana Sheriff's Deputies are investigating an ATV crash that killed a 27-year-old mother Friday afternoon.Sheriff Jeff Travis tells News 2 the mom - who has not yet been identified - and her four-year-old daughter were riding a four-wheeler down the side of Dennis Mack Ln. when they crashed into a tree around 5:00 p.m.Both mom and daughter were ejected from the four-wheeler. The mother was pronounced dead at the scene.Family members rushed the little girl to a hospital with mino
  
  Read more

• Attorney: DC sniper life sentence unconstitutional

  13-01-2017 18:59
  
  ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) — An attorney for a man convicted of taking part in sniper shootings that left 10 people dead in the Washington area is asking a judge to toss his life sentence because he was convicted as a juvenile.In a motion filed Friday in a Maryland county court, public defender James Johnston argues that Lee Boyd Malvo's mandatory life sentence is illegal because the U.S. Supreme Court determined such sentences are unconstitutional for juveniles.Malvo was convicted in Marylan
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Seven students suffer minor injuries in Sorrento bus crash

  13-01-2017 18:26
  
  SORRENTO – First responders say seven students were injured, three of those taken to the hospital, after a school bus was involved in a crash in Sorrento Friday afternoon. The crash happened in the 8300 block of Main Street just after 6 p.m. Sources tell WBRZ’s Brett Buffington that the injuries are minor.#BREAKING 7 kids hurt in school bus crash in Ascension Parish. Happened on Main St in Sorrento. All injures are minor. @WBRZ— Brett Buffington (@BrettBuff
  
  Read more

• Liberty is depicted as african-american woman on $100 gold coin

  13-01-2017 17:02
  
  WASHINGTON - The U.S. Mint has unveiled a commemorative $100 gold coin that features an image of Liberty as a black woman.The 2017 American Liberty 225th Anniversary Gold Coin shows the woman's head in profile with a crown of stars. It features the year of the mint's founding, 1792, as well as the year 2017. The mint says the other side of the coin will depict an eagle in flight.The coin will be released April 6. The Mint says it's the first in a series of 24-karat gold that will also depict Lib
  
  Read more

• US citizen born in refugee camp seeks court order to marry

  13-01-2017 16:07
  
  BATON ROUGE - A Louisiana man who was born in an Indonesian refugee camp is asking a federal judge to immediately block enforcement of a state law that prevents him and other immigrants from getting married because they can't produce birth certificates.A court filing Friday by attorneys for Lafayette resident Viet "Victor" Anh Vo asks for a preliminary injunction that would allow him and others to obtain marriage licenses.Vo originally sued in October to challenge recent changes in the state's m
  
  Read more

• 2 arrested for DWI following sobriety checkpoint

  13-01-2017 15:49
  
  BATON ROUGE – There were only two DWI arrests after a multi-agency sobriety checkpoint on Thursday night.The checkpoint was conducted from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. and took place in the 3700 block of Nicholson Drive near South Stadium Drive.A total of 592 vehicles were screened.The full results from the checkpoint are as follows:Vehicles Screened:         592SFST:           &am
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• State clerical error spawns Twitter rant over Governor's Italian trip

  13-01-2017 15:32
  
  BATON ROUGE – Members of the governor's public relations team took to Twitter to voice frustration over a WBRZ.com report highlighting the cost of a surprise trip to Italy Friday.The trip, first reported on WBRZ.com Thursday night, was announced just before 6:30 Thursday evening. The governor, state legislators and the head of the State Police are traveling to Rome. At least the governor and State Police Col. Mike Edmonson will be accompanied by their wives, WBRZ learned.The Twitter ra
  
  Read more

• Man facing peeping tom charges says he was sleep walking

  13-01-2017 15:15
  
  BATON ROUGE – Deputies say a Baton Rouge man faces peeping tom charges after an incident in the early morning hours of Jan. 2.The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office says Paul Baquet, 32, was charged with criminal trespassing and being a peeping Tom.According to arrest reports, a resident living on Ibiza Drive was reviewing home security footage when she saw video of an unknown man wearing only shoes and underwear walking on her property. The victim said the man, who she believ
  
  Read more

• Inmate transferred following alleged beating by six Elayn Hunt officers

  13-01-2017 15:02
  
  ST. GABRIEL – An inmate who was allegedly beaten by six Elayn Hunt corrections officer has been transferred to another facility.The corrections officers were placed on administrative leave on Wednesday after an investigation began into the alleged battery of the inmate. The St. Gabriel Police Department and detectives from the Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office met with the investigative team at the facility.The inmate has been transferred to another state facility and the inve
  
  Read more

• UPDATE: Lanes reopen on I-10 after Miss. River Bridge accident

  13-01-2017 14:58
  
  UPDATE: All lanes of I-10 East has been reopened.BATON ROUGE - An accident has caused the closure of multiple lanes of I-10.The right and left lanes of I-10 East are blocked at the Mississippi River Bridge. Traffic continues to pass through the center lane.The left lane of I-10 West is closed due to emergency vehicles responding to the eastbound incident.Traffic continues to pass through the center and right lanes. Congestion from the accident has reached South Acadian Thruway
  
  Read more

• Burglars break into cop's rented car, get keys to truck, police car

  13-01-2017 14:20
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Police say burglars broke into an officer's rented car and found keys to an unmarked police car and a truck, and stole them both.A police spokesman says the unmarked car held the officer's gun and ammunition. Officer Aaron Looney says both vehicles were missing Friday, a day after the thefts.He says investigators are looking into why keys were in the rental car.The stolen vehicles are a silver 2015 Ford Taurus with public license plate No. 244838, and a white 2010 GMC Sier
  
  Read more

• Report: Trump aide in frequent contact with Russia envoy

  13-01-2017 13:57
  
  WASHINGTON — A senior U.S. official says the Obama administration is aware of frequent contacts between President-elect Donald Trump's top national security adviser and Russia's ambassador to the United States.The official says the contacts happened on the day President Barack Obama expelled dozens of Russian officials from the U.S. and imposed sanctions as punishment for election-related hacking. The official says the administration is also aware of contacts between Trump adviser Mich
  
  Read more

• Cuts loom as latest budget deficit tops $300 million

  13-01-2017 13:46
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's midyear deficit has been pegged at $313 million, a figure that Gov. John Bel Edwards' administration says will trigger the governor to call a special legislative session to re-balance the budget.An income forecasting panel downgraded Louisiana tax collection estimates Friday, to account for unemployment that is dragging income, business and sales taxes below expectations.Edwards' chief budget adviser Jay Dardenne says the governor will call lawmakers into a special sess
  
  Read more

• 'Hamilton' headed to New Orleans Saenger Theatre

  13-01-2017 13:29
  
  NEW ORLEANS - The hit Broadway musical Hamilton will make its way to New Orleans as part of the 2018 – 2019 season at the Saenger Theatre.According to a WWLTV report, performance dates and how to purchase tickets will be announced at a later time.Hamilton is the story of America's Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington's right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secr
  
  Read more

• Woman kidnapped as newborn 18 years ago found alive in South Carolina

  13-01-2017 13:26
  
  JACKSONVILLE - A newborn girl stolen from a Florida hospital 18 years ago has been found alive - and overwhelmed - in South Carolina, where police accused the woman who raised her of kidnapping.Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said Friday DNA analysis identified the young woman, who never knew that her birth name was Kamiyah Mobley. He said she's in good health but understandably overwhelmed.Police arrested 51-year-old Gloria Williams of Walterboro, South Carolina, on charges of kidnapping and
  
  Read more

• Don's what? Portable toilet names covered for inauguration

  13-01-2017 13:20
  
  WASHINGTON - It's the great port-a-potty cover-up for President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration.Workers preparing for the inauguration Jan. 20 have taped over the name of the company - "Don's Johns" - that has long supplied portable restrooms for major outdoor events.Virginia-based Don's Johns calls itself the Washington area's top provider of portable toilet rentals. But the name apparently strikes too close to home for inaugural organizers.Workers have placed blue tape over the company name
  
  Read more

• Baton Rouge chemical plant to experience intermittent flaring

  13-01-2017 13:15
  
  BATON ROUGE - The ExxonMobil Baton Rouge chemical plant will experience intermittent flaring over the weekend.A public affairs manager from ExxonMobil says the flares are a result of scheduled maintenance activities over the next couple days. Flares are primarily safety control devices intended to consume excess hydrocarbons during shutdown and start-up activities during maintenance work.ExxonMobil has apologized for any inconveniences this may cause.Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• Report: FAA not prepared for major air traffic outages

  13-01-2017 12:50
  
  WASHINGTON - A government watchdog says that the Federal Aviation Administration isn't prepared to handle major air traffic control outages. That's despite promises to update contingency plans made after extended disruptions in 2014 and 2015.A report by the Department of Transportation's inspector general says the FAA has been working on new contingency plans since a fire at control facility in the Chicago area in 2014 led to widespread flight cancellations and delays for more than two weeks.The
  
  Read more

• Man accused in murder case gets 30 years for jail obscenity

  13-01-2017 12:27
  
  HOUMA - A man accused of helping a killer has been sentenced to 30 years for committing an obscene act in jail.Prosecutors say 25-year-old Maurice Banks of Houma was sentenced as a habitual offender.Defense attorney Tracy Schwab says he has appealed the sentence. He tells The Courier that video showed the act, but the maximum sentence would be four years without multiple offender status.Terrebonne Parish Assistant District Attorney Jason Dagate says Banks remains charged as a principal to second
  
  Read more

• Runners speed to Baton Rouge for Louisiana Marathon

  13-01-2017 11:51
  
  BATON ROUGE - Thousands of runner from across the globe will line up at the capitol for the Louisiana Marathon. Events kicked off Friday, and runners are already getting pumped up.Kristin Slay has been running for years and says it's easier than it looks."That's the beauty of running," she claims, "anybody and everybody can do it."At an expo in the Raising Canes River Center, runners could browse through all sorts of interesting gear, all things that could be of good use before or after the even
  
  Read more

• Cemetery Road in Ascension to close for drainage improvements

  13-01-2017 11:50
  
  ASCENSION – Cemetery Road in Galvez will be closed due to month-long drainage improvements.The Ascension Parish Department of Public Works will be upgrading the culverts under the road. Officials say that a temporary road will be installed so traffic will not be impacted while the new culverts are put in place.Construction begins on Wednesday, Jan. 18 and will last for one month. Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• EBR flood-debris removal to end Feb. 7

  13-01-2017 11:38
  
  BATON ROUGE – City-Parish officials have announced that flood-debris removal operations will end in East Baton Rouge Parish on Feb. 7.Residents in the parish who are still in need of flood-debris removal services must move any debris curbside by Monday, Jan. 16 for crews to collect it during their final pass. Once debris is placed curbside, residents should immediately report the location of their debris by going online here or calling the EBR debris removal hotline at 1-888-7
  
  Read more

• Shreveport man charged with murder in death of small child

  13-01-2017 11:15
  
  SHREVEPORT - A Shreveport man has been charged with second-degree murder following an investigation into the death of a small child.News outlets report that 11-month-old Mar'sharrd Ross died at a hospital Monday after authorities were told the boy stopped breathing inside a relative's home earlier that morning.Police say 44-year-old Frederick Clark had dropped off the boy at the home shortly before the boy stopped breathing.Based on evidence, Clark was arrested and initially charged with second
  
  Read more

• School buses to receive new engines in Volkswagen settlement

  13-01-2017 11:05
  
  BATON ROUGE - School buses in Louisiana will receive new engines that cut down on pollution as part of a settlement with Volkswagen.Volkswagen Group agreed Wednesday to plead guilty to criminal charges and pay $4.3 billion for attempting to defraud the U.S. government by rigging more than a half-million diesel-powered vehicles to give false emission ratings. The Advocate reports State Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Chuck Carr Brown says Louisiana will receive about $18 million of
  
  Read more

• Man ejected from vehicle, killed on Old Hammond Highway

  13-01-2017 11:00
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana State Police say a driver was killed in a single vehicle crash on LA 426 early Friday morning.Kenneth Salinas, 26, of Baton Rouge, ran off the road while traveling westbound on US 190 in 2012 Lexus IS250. The vehicle struck a culvert and became airborne before landing in a parking lot.Salinas did not wear a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. The East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner's Office responded shortly after 3 a.m. and pronounced Salinas dead at
  
  Read more

• $10K grant for LSU Health student program to help homeless

  13-01-2017 09:27
  
  NEW ORLEANS - A New Orleans human services nonprofit is giving $10,000 to a program run by medical students to help homeless women and children get health care and education.LSU Health New Orleans says the grant comes from La Societe des Dames Hospitalieres.Students from five of the six schools at LSU Health New Orleans and pharmacy students from Xavier University work together to provide health care and education to residents of the New Orleans Women and Children's Shelter.Two medical students
  
  Read more

• Group: New Orleans inmates held months after sentences end

  13-01-2017 09:26
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Two New Orleans inmates held in a north Louisiana jail well past the time their sentences ended could be released as early as Friday.However, attorneys for inmate advocates say they believe there are others in the same predicament at the East Carroll Parish jail, where some New Orleans inmates are being held due to short staff at the notoriously violent New Orleans lockup.The Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center said Thursday it filed lawsuits on behalf of Jessie Crittin
  
  Read more

• Motorcyclist dead following crash on Highway 67

  13-01-2017 09:19
  
  EAST FELICIANA – One motorcyclist is dead following a crash in East Feliciana Parish on Friday morning.The crash occurred on Highway 67 northbound at Gross Road.A red crossover utility vehicle was also involved in the crash. The identity of the motorcyclist has not been released at the time of this post.Check back for updates as more information becomes available.Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• 2 members of R&B Tower of Power hit by train, injured

  13-01-2017 07:15
  
  OAKLAND, Calif. - Two members of the R&B group Tower of Power have survived being hit by a train as they walked across tracks.The group's manager says it happened Thursday evening before a scheduled gig in Oakland, California.He says drummer David Garibaldi and bass player Marc van Wageningen are both responsive and being treated at a hospital.One of Tower of Power's most popular songs is the 1973 hit "So Very Hard To Go."Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• Trump: My team will have 'full report on hacking' in 90 days

  13-01-2017 07:09
  
  WASHINGTON - President-elect Donald Trump says his team will have a "full report on hacking within 90 days." He's again dismissing as fake a document alleging Russia has damaging information about him.Trump tweeted Friday morning that the dossier includes "totally made up facts by sleazebag political operatives, both Democrats and Republicans - FAKE NEWS!" He added: "Russia says nothing exists," and that the allegations will never be proved.U.S. intelligence officials briefed Trump and President
  
  Read more

Follow @BatonRougeNews_ on Twitter!