Baton Rouge news

• Georgia's insurance commissioner estimates $100M in damage

  24-01-2017 20:31
  
  ADEL, Ga. - Georgia's insurance commissioner says the weekend's deadly storms wreaked at least $100 million worth of damage on the state.Ralph Hudgens tells WXIA-TV that the southwest Georgia city of Albany and associated Dougherty County suffered $40 million in damage.Hudgens says damage estimates are likely to rise because not a lot of people had insurance.Georgia Emergency Management Agency says 15 people were killed and 43 people were injured after a series of storms moved through s
  
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• Trump to take action on immigration Wednesday

  24-01-2017 20:23
  
  WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump will begin rolling out executive actions on immigration Wednesday, beginning with plans for building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and other enforcement measures, according to two administration officials.Trump is also expected to roll out plans for restricting refugee flows to the U.S. later in the week.Trump campaigned on pledges to tighten U.S. immigration policies, including beefing up border security and stemming the flow of refugees. He also called
  
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• State Dept. reviewing $221 million payment to Palestinians

  24-01-2017 20:20
  
  WASHINGTON - The State Department is reviewing a last-minute decision by former Secretary of State John Kerry to send $221 million dollars to the Palestinians late last week over the objections of congressional Republicans.The department said Tuesday it would look at the payment and might make adjustments to ensure it comports with the Trump administration's priorities.Kerry formally notified Congress that State would release the money Friday morning, just hours before President Donald Trump too
  
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• Sheriff: Suspect shot during undercover drug operation

  24-01-2017 20:17
  
  STUART, Fla. - Authorities say a central Florida deputy shot and wounded a man during an undercover narcotics operation.Local media organizations say the shooting occurred Tuesday afternoon in a hotel parking lot off Interstate 95 near Stuart.Martin County Sheriff William Snyder says the shooting appeared to be in self-defense. He says the suspect was involved in a major narcotics buy, rammed his car into several sheriff's office vehicles and drove at one deputy.Snyder says deputies opened fire
  
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• First legal Cuban cargo in more than 50 years arrives in US

  24-01-2017 20:12
  
  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The first legal cargo from Cuba in more than 50 years has arrived in the United State.The Miami Herald reports that two containers of artisanal charcoal arrived Tuesday morning at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale aboard a Crowley Maritime ship called the K-Storm.The special charcoal is made from Cuban marabu by private, worker-owned cooperatives. Marabu is an invasive woody species from Africa that is considered a nuisance on the island.The exports are legal under a rul
  
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• National park's climate tweets go viral

  24-01-2017 20:09
  
  WASHINGTON - Three climate-related tweets sent out by Badlands National Park have been deleted after they went viral on Twitter, sparking debate over whether the park was defying the Trump administration.The South Dakota park posted tweets Tuesday that accurately quoted climate science data, including the current record-setting high concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. President Donald Trump has called climate change a hoax.The tweets were shared thousands of times, and the Democr
  
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• White House moves to delay environmental rules

  24-01-2017 20:01
  
  WASHINGTON - The Trump administration is moving to delay implementation of at least 30 environmental rules finalized in the closing months of President Barack Obama's term. That could be a potential first step in seeking to kill the regulations.A summary of actions published Tuesday in the Federal Register includes rulings that updated air pollution standards for several states, renewable fuel standards and limits on the amount of formaldehyde that can leach from wood products.President Donald T
  
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• Suspect dead after officer-involved shooting by NOPD

  24-01-2017 19:45
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Police are at the scene of an officer-involved shooting that left a suspect dead.According to WWL-TV, the incident occurred in the 10000 block of Curran Blvd Tuesday afternoon. No officers were injured in the shooting, according to the New Orleans Police Department.This is a developing story. More details to come. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Doctors seeing increase in patients with the flu

  24-01-2017 17:45
  
  BATON ROUGE – Doctors are seeing an uptick in patients with the flu this time of year in Baton Rouge.Dr. Mindy Calandro, of the Pediatric Baton Rouge Clinic, said that she has seen more cases of the flu in the past two to three weeks. She also says that even children who received the flu shot are still getting sick, however their symptoms are milder."I've certainly seen a spectrum. I've had as young as a four months old come in with the flu in the past two weeks all the way up
  
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• Man arrested for carrying gun, marijuana in Terrebonne neighborhood

  24-01-2017 17:32
  
  TERREBONNE - Terrebonne Parish deputies arrested a man after they found him in possession of a firearm, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia in a neighborhood street.Deputies responded to a report of a man carrying a gun in the 400 block of Louis Dive Monday night. Upon arrival, deputies found 21-year-old Dain Stokes seated in a car in front of a home at 403 Louis Dr. Deputies say they detected a strong smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle and called a narcotics age
  
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• Tip to authorities leads to drug arrest

  24-01-2017 17:01
  
  CONVENT - Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office deputies arrested a man suspected of selling heroin Tuesday after they received an anonymous tip.According to Chief Deputy Bobby Webre, police agreed to meet 35-year-old Irvin Mitchell of Convent at an undisclosed location. Mitchell immediately fled upon recognizing narcotics detectives in the area. Detectives later found Mitchell's vehicle occupied by 47-year-old David Bryant of Prairieville. Police found heroin and methamph
  
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• Man arrested for robbing Verizon store twice, stole $44,000 worth of phones

  24-01-2017 17:01
  
  ASCENSION – Ascension Parish detectives arrested a man who robbed a Verizon Wireless store in Prairieville twice last year.Deputies arrested 39-year-old Howard Julian III for two counts of armed robbery and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.The store was robbed on Oct. 3 and on Dec. 4.The investigation revealed that Julian forced employees into a storage room before leaving with a total of $44,000 worth of cell phones.Julian was arrested at his home in Baton Ro
  
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• Homeowner tired of patchwork on street, wants permanent fix

  24-01-2017 16:55
  
  BATON ROUGE - A homeowner says her street is full of holes and patches. She's been searching for a permanent fix to smooth out the drive.Josephine Washington has lived on Shelley Street for 36 years. After calling on the City-Parish too many times to count, she called 2 On Your Side to help find a solution."Nothing you can do, they just come out here and they just patch it," she said.Washington says she's been making calls to the city's 311 call center for years. Her first memory of calling for
  
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• House votes to bar funds for abortion coverage

  24-01-2017 16:43
  
  WASHINGTON - The House has approved legislation that would permanently bar federal funds for any abortion coverage.The measure, which passed 238-183, would also block tax credits for some people and businesses buying abortion coverage under former President Barack Obama's health care law. Republicans passed a similar bill in 2015 under veto threat from Obama.The legislation would have a better chance under Republican President Donald Trump. But it would have to first get through the Sen
  
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• Suspect wanted for shooting on N. 23rd Street; victim in critical condition

  24-01-2017 16:16
  
  BATON ROUGE – Baton Rouge Police detectives are attempting to identify a suspect accused of shooting a man on Jan. 20 on North 23rd Street near Jefferson Avenue. Investigators believe the shooting was a result of an argument between the suspect and the victim, a 35-year-old man.The man was transported to an area hospital with injuries that are life threatening and remains in critical condition, according to BRPD. The identity of the man has not been released
  
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• Train cuts FedEx truck in half, transit authority releases findings

  24-01-2017 16:05
  
  UTAH - No one was seriously injured Friday morning after a train struck a FedEx truck as it passed through a railroad crossing. On Tuesday, state transportation leaders released investigation results.Around 9:45 a.m., North Salt Lake City Police dash cam video shows, as the cargo truck crept through a railroad crossing in Woods Cross, Utah it was hit at a high rate of speed by a commuter train. None of the 82 passengers on board were injured according to ABC4 News.Tuesday morning, the U
  
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• LSU's Spring Game set for April 22, practice to start March 11

  24-01-2017 15:57
  
  BATON ROUGE – LSU will play its annual National L Club Spring Game on Saturday, Apr. 22 in Tiger Stadium.Details about the game and on-campus events leading up the game will be announced at a later time.Additionally, the Tigers return to practice for their first spring session under Coach Ed Orgeron on Saturday, Mar. 11. LSU will practice a total of 15 times during the spring, according to LSU officials.LSU returns with seven offensive starters and six defensive starters from last year
  
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• Philadelphia landlord fatally shoots tenant over unpaid rent

  24-01-2017 15:10
  
  PHILADELPHIA - Police say a Philadelphia landlord fatally shot her tenant during a dispute over his unpaid rent.Capt. James Clark says 28-year-old Anthanasia Moncrief got into a shoving match with 32-year-old Richard Spadel during the argument shortly after 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Spadel had been renting a room from her.Police say Moncrief went to get a gun and shot Spadel in the upper right back. He died at the scene.Moncrief's court appointed attorney, Michael Wallace, declined to comment Tuesday,
  
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• EBR Clerk of Court office on Coursey to relocate to Airline Hwy

  24-01-2017 15:01
  
  BATON ROUGE – The East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court has announced that the branch office currently located on Coursey Boulevard will be relocating to 9000 Airline Highway.The new location will be open for business on Monday, Jan. 30 at 7:30 a.m.According to EBR Clerk of Court Doug Welborn, the move is due to new ownership of the office space on Coursey. The Coursey branch office will be closing early on Jan. 27 to begin the moving process, however the downtown office will remain o
  
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• Louisiana to close oyster harvest in part of Calcasieu lake

  24-01-2017 14:35
  
  CAMERON - All oyster harvest in the West Cove portion of the Calcasieu Lake Public Oyster Area in Cameron Parish is closing at a half-hour after sunset Tuesday.The oyster population in the lake has been in decline for several years and state officials say the continued commercial harvest may threaten the long-term sustainability of remaining oyster resources in the area.The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the closure Friday.To view maps detailing the department's actions vis
  
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• Aaron Neville to debut at this year's French Quarter fest

  24-01-2017 14:06
  
  NEW ORLEANS - For the first time, New Orleans' homegrown talent Aaron Neville will appear at this year's French Quarter Festival.French Quarter Festivals, Inc. announced the 2017 lineup Tuesday, noting that Neville is scheduled to perform on the opening day, April 6, on the Abita Beer Stage.The 34th annual event, presented by Chevron, runs through April 9 at various stages set up throughout the historic district, giving festival-goers a chance to listen to more than 1,700 musicians. The festival
  
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• Man wanted for questioning after posing as car seller online

  24-01-2017 13:56
  
  BATON ROUGE – The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office is attempting to identify a suspect wanted for posing as a car seller online.The victim of the incident lives outside of Louisiana and reported that they were corresponding with a person selling a vehicle online, according to the sheriff's office. The victim sent money to the seller via MoneyGram. However, the victim never recieved a vehicle and has not be able to contact the seller since.Anyone with information regarding this inciden
  
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• Louisiana's December unemployment rate dips as labor force shrinks

  24-01-2017 13:06
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Louisiana's unemployment rate dipped to 6.1 percent in December as people kept leaving the labor force.The jobless rate fell from 6.2 percent in November, but remained above December 2015's 5.8 percent level.Fewer people reported having jobs and fewer were looking. The number of unemployed Louisianans was 129,000 in December, down slightly from November, but 5,000 above December 2015 levels.Louisiana had the fourth-highest jobless rate among states, with Alaska worst at 6.7 percent
  
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• Armed man with mental illness shot, killed by Kenner police

  24-01-2017 12:48
  
  KENNER - Police in a New Orleans suburb say officers fatally shot a man who was armed with two knives as he exited a house and advanced on them following a standoff that lasted more than four hours.Kenner police say in a news release that 25-year-old Armond Brown died after he was shot Monday afternoon, shortly after 4 p.m.Police said they were called to the house at 11:37 a.m.The police statement said officers were called after Brown prevented his brother from entering the house. It said Brown
  
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• St. Tammany Sheriff addresses rough start to 2017

  24-01-2017 12:35
  
  ST. TAMMANY - St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith addressed the busy start to 2017 with the release of the office's 2016 Uniform Crime Reports. According to a release from the STPSO, crime is down in St. Tammany Parish, but the overall number of crimes reported has stayed virtually the same. Four shootings have already occurred in the month of January, one being an officer-involved shooting with Slidell police.“These numbers are nothing to be ashamed of, however, t
  
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• SU law center to host free title-clearing event for flood survivors

  24-01-2017 12:09
  
  BATON ROUGE – The Southern University Law Center will host a free title-clearing event for flood survivors.The legal aid session is open to flood survivors to provide services regarding title issues affecting flood-damaged property in East Baton Rouge, Livingston and Ascension parishes. The event is being held at the Southern University Law Center in A. Lenior Hall on Jan. 28 from 9 a.m. to noon.Those interested in going to the event should bring the following items:- Their death certi
  
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• Japan reports 1st trade surplus in 6 years on cheaper oil

  24-01-2017 11:47
  
  TOKYO - Japan reports that it posted a trade surplus in 2016, the first in six years, as lower oil prices pulled imports lower.The 4.1 trillion yen ($35.8 billion) surplus compared with a 2.8 trillion yen deficit in 2015. Exports fell 7.4 percent from a year earlier while imports dropped 16 percent.Japan's trade surplus with the U.S. fell nearly 5 percent.Japan's trade balance slipped into deficits after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami triggered meltdowns at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant
  
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• Five arrested for drugs, money laundering operation at Hammond Hotel

  24-01-2017 11:42
  
  HAMMOND - The Tangipahoa Sheriff's Office and the Hammond Police Department arrested five individuals after finding drugs and counterfeit currency in a Hammond hotel room.Police conducted a search warrant of room 205 at the Budget Inn Wednesay Jan. 18 after an on-going investigation revealed criminal activity was taking place from within the hotel room. Police arrested 38-year-old Glenn Dufrene of Albany, 28-year-old Robin Smith of Tickfaw, 33-year-old Jessica Ragan of
  
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• Trump vows to 'send in the Feds' to help Chicago

  24-01-2017 11:39
  
  WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is offering to "send in the Feds" if Chicago can't reduce its homicide figures.Trump tweeted Tuesday night, "If Chicago doesn't fix the horrible 'carnage' going on, 228 shootings in 2017 with 42 killings (up 24% from 2016), I will send in the Feds!"Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel criticized Trump on Monday for worrying about the size of the crowd at his inauguration. Emanuel, a longtime political ally of former President Barack Obama, also acknowledged his own frus
  
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• Trump takes executive actions to advance oil pipelines

  24-01-2017 11:37
  
  WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump has signed executive actions to advance the construction of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines.Trump tells reporters in the Oval Office that the moves on the pipelines will be subject to the terms and conditions being renegotiated by the U.S.President Barack Obama killed the proposed Keystone XL pipeline in late 2015, saying it would hurt American efforts to reach a global climate change deal.The pipeline would run from Canada to U.S. ref
  
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• Facebook CEO Zuckerberg reconsiders process to get land

  24-01-2017 11:32
  
  The chief executive officer of Facebook said Tuesday he is reconsidering trying to gain isolated pockets of land on his sprawling Hawaii estate through a law unique to the islands.Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement that they were "reconsidering the quiet title process and discussing how to move forward."He says they want to make sure they are following a process that protects the interests of property owners and respects the traditions of native Hawaiians. The story was first reported by the Ho
  
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• Board could create more charters, despite funding questions

  24-01-2017 11:13
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's top school board is poised to create new public charter schools, despite questions about how the state would pay for them. Ongoing litigation has put financing for more than 30 similar schools in doubt.A committee of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved applications to create more of the schools Monday. The full board was to consider that recommendation Tuesday.But an appellate court has ruled that money from Louisiana's public school funding formula
  
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• Ex-judge faces sentencing trying to bribe officer with beer

  24-01-2017 11:07
  
  RALEIGH - A former judge in North Carolina faces sentencing in March for trying to bribe an officer with two cases of Bud Light.The News & Observer of Raleigh reported former Wayne County Superior Court Judge Arnold O. Jones II was convicted in October of charges including paying a bribe.Jones was to be sentenced this week, but a federal judge rescheduled it for March 27 in Wilmington.Prosecutors said Jones texted a sheriff's deputy, who also was a member of an FBI gang task force,
  
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• Man pleads guilty to 2 counts of molestation

  24-01-2017 09:59
  
  MONROE - A Mississippi man has pleaded guilty to molesting a boy in Louisiana.The News-Star of Monroe reports that 52-year-old Charles Edward Milton Jr. of Magee, Mississippi pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of molestation of a juvenile.An arrest warrant says Milton traveled to suspect John Carter Jr.'s home in West Monroe in 2015 to have sex with boys. Authorities say the two men had met on Craigslist.Milton's plea carries a sentence of 20 years of hard labor for each of the two counts. The
  
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• Judge weighs death penalty for 5-year-old girl's slaying

  24-01-2017 09:52
  
  GULFPORT, Miss. - A Mississippi judge has begun examining evidence and hearing testimony into whether a man should receive the death penalty after he admitted to sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl and hanging her by using her socks.News outlets report that Harrison County Circuit Court Judge Lisa Dodson reviewed crime scene photos and autopsy photos of the child Monday as she decides whether to sentence Alberto Garcia to death or life without parole for the 2014 killing of Ja'Naya Thompson. T
  
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• All lanes open in Prarieville after multiple crashes Tuesday morning

  24-01-2017 09:05
  
  ASCENSION - I-10 westbound between LA 30 and LA 73 reopened to drivers after it was shut down for hours due to multiple crashes.Commuters experienced heavy delays around 9 a.m. until the interstate reopened around 11:30 a.m. According to Louisiana State Police, there was an accident involving an 18-wheeler and a car on fire at mile marker 173. LSP said there was also a six car pileup at mile marker 176.Only one lane of I-10 westbound was open due to the vehicle fire. The left lane was b
  
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• 'La La Land' ties Oscar history with 14 noms

  24-01-2017 08:03
  
  BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - The candy-colored love letter to musicals "La La Land" has landed a record-tying 14 Academy Awards nominations, matching it with "Titanic" and "All About Eve" for most nominations ever."La La Land" has earned nods for best picture, its stars Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, its songs and its 32-year-old writer-director, Damien Chazelle.The other nominees for best picture are: "Moonlight," ''Arrival," ''Manchester by the Sea," ''Hell or High Water," ''Lion," ''Fences," ''Hidde
  
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• Minnesota governor eyes fast return to work after collapse

  24-01-2017 07:54
  
  ST. PAUL, Minn. - Dayton plans to return to work today after collapsing Monday night during his State of the State speech.The 69-year-old Democrat struck his head on a lectern after stumbling over his words and collapsing roughly 40 minutes into the annual address.Dayton's chief of staff Jaime Tincher says the governor quickly recovered and plans to get back to work, releasing a detailed budget proposal Tuesday morning.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Death toll 20 from Southern storms

  24-01-2017 07:49
  
  NEW YORK - A powerful storm system that tore across the Deep South over the weekend has left devastation.At least 20 people were killed, including 15 in south Georgia.The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma says at least 39 possible tornadoes were reported across the Southeast from early Saturday into Sunday evening.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Rain showers continue in flooded CA

  24-01-2017 07:46
  
  LOS ANGELES - Rain showers could continue into early morning in California after weeks of rain have flooded roads and homes and trapped people in swamped vehicles.Over the weekend, at least four people died, three are missing and others were rescued from raging floodwaters.Gov. Jerry Brown has now declared a state of emergency for 50 counties.One of those missing is an 18-year-old woman whose car plunged into rushing water southeast of San Francisco.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Syria talks end in Kazakhstan

  24-01-2017 07:35
  
  ASTANA, Kazakhstan - Syria's government envoy says discussions in Kazakhstan have succeeded in consolidating a cease-fire, and have paved way for further peace talks.The talks between the Damascus government and rebel factions have wrapped up, with Russia, Turkey and Iran striking a deal on a three-way mechanism to consolidate the country's nearly month-old cease-fire.Kazakhstan's foreign minister read a statement today, saying the three countries will use their "influence" to strengthen the tru
  
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• British court rules in Brexit lawsuit

  24-01-2017 07:26
  
  LONDON - Britain's Supreme Court says the government must get parliamentary approval before starting the process of leaving the European Union, potentially delaying Prime Minister Theresa May's plan to trigger negotiations by the end of March.Supreme Court President David Neuberger says the vote was a majority of 8-3. The court also unanimously decided that there's no need to consult Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland on Brexit.May's office says it will respect the decision by the Supreme Court.P
  
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• Trump meets with auto industry

  24-01-2017 07:19
  
  WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump continues his outreach efforts today as he meets with executives from the auto industry.One of his meetings yesterday included a White House reception for congressional leaders of both parties.Today Trump also meets with his newly sworn-in CIA Director Mike Pompeo and he'll speak by phone with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Helicopter ferrying injured skier crashes in central Italy, death toll rises

  24-01-2017 07:17
  
  PENNE, Italy - A helicopter ferrying an injured skier off the slopes crashed Tuesday in central Italy with at least six people aboard, another tragedy to hit a region slammed by recent earthquakes, heavy snowfall and an avalanche.Italy's civil protection agency spokesman Luigi D'Angelo said poor visibility was hampering efforts by rescue crews to reach the downed chopper. He said the helicopter was taking the injured skier from the Campo Felice ski area to the Abruzzo regional capital of L'Aquil
  
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• Helicopter ferrying injured skier crashes in central Italy

  24-01-2017 07:17
  
  PENNE, Italy - A helicopter ferrying an injured skier off the slopes crashed Tuesday in central Italy with at least six people aboard, another tragedy to hit a region slammed by recent earthquakes, heavy snowfall and an avalanche.Italy's civil protection agency spokesman Luigi D'Angelo said poor visibility was hampering efforts by rescue crews to reach the downed chopper. He said the helicopter was taking the injured skier from the Campo Felice ski area to the Abruzzo regional capital of L'Aquil
  
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• All lanes open on LA 1, heavy delays on I-10 WB

  24-01-2017 05:49
  
  BATON ROUGE - All lanes are now open on LA 1.Tuesday morning, the LA 1 exit ramp from I-10 westbound was partially blocked due to an accident.This incident is causing major delays to Essen Lane on I-10 westbound.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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• 18-wheeler and train collision on Scenic Hwy

  24-01-2017 05:09
  
  BATON ROUGE - East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office is on the scene of a train and 18-wheeler collision on Scenic Highway outside of the Exxon plant.The roadway is open, but the crash is partially blocking an entrance to the plant.A WBRZ crew is on the scene now, and News 2's Ashley Fruge is monitoring the roadways during 2une In. We will have updates on WBRZ.com and Twitter.Permalink| Comments
  
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