Baton Rouge news

• Central firefighters respond to 2-alarm fire on Frontier Drive

  26-01-2017 21:42
  
  CENTRAL - Firefighters extinguished a 2-alarm fire on Frontier Drive in Central Thursday.Central Fire officials say the fire happened at a home in the 7100 block of Frontier Drive near Lariat Avenue around 8:30 p.m.A Central Fire Department spokesperson told News 2 the two-story home was built in a manner where no fire stops were installed in the walls. This caused the fire to easily climb up the wall from its point of origin onto the second flood of the home.
  
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• Hawaii bill would classify homelessness as medical condition

  26-01-2017 21:06
  
  HONOLULU - A Hawaii lawmaker wants to classify homelessness as a medical condition and let homeless people use Medicaid money to pay for housing.
      
  State Sen. Josh Green is also a medical doctor and says conditions like diabetes or mental illness are more difficult for patients to manage when they lack stable homes.
      
  He says the best way to solve homelessness is to allow doctors to write prescriptions for housing.
    
  
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• Proposal would establish California as separate nation

  26-01-2017 20:43
  
  LOS ANGELES - Another attempt is underway that could establish California as a separate nation.
      
  A proposal has been submitted to state election officials that would ask voters to repeal part of the state constitution that declares California an inseparable part of the United States.
      
  If it qualifies for the ballot and is approved by voters, the proposal could be a step to a future vote on whether California should break away from the
  
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• Edwards aide says of flood recovery: 'We're frustrated, too'

  26-01-2017 20:18
  
  BATON ROUGE - Gov. John Bel Edwards' chief of staff told state senators that federal regulations and laws governing disaster response are hampering Louisiana's ability to recover from two devastating floods last year.
      
  Ben Nevers spoke Thursday to a Senate committee hearing an update about recovery efforts, amid legislative complaints about the slow pace of aid to victims of the March and August floods in 2016.
      
  Nevers told senators:
  
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• 2 On Your Side gets man motor replacement for broken down car

  26-01-2017 18:03
  
  LIVINGSTON - A man's car broke down weeks after he bought it from Carmax and the warranty company said it wouldn't pay for the repairs.Stephen Parks says his car needs a new motor. He bought the 2012 Kia Forte at the end of August. Parks and his wife needed the new car after their other one got into a wreck. The two drive the car from Livingston to Baton Rouge where they work, about 30 miles."It's the only vehicle we have," said Parks.Not even a month later, the car broke down while Parks' wife
  
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• Zachary puts year deadline on FEMA trailers

  26-01-2017 17:41
  
  ZACHARY – Residents in Zachary are left scrambling trying to repair their flood-damaged homes due to the city's refusal to pass an extension for flood survivors to live in their FEMA trailers.For some residents, repairing their homes is taking longer than they expected.Zachary residents Earl and Nancy McCarthy live with their grandchild in a FEMA trailer in the Little Farm subdivision. They say that repairs to their home may take longer than expected to complete."I think it's ridiculou
  
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• Louisiana among most dangerous states for online dating

  26-01-2017 17:34
  
  Louisiana was recently ranked No. 3 in a study to determine the most dangerous states for online dating.In a report released by SafeWise and HighSpeedInternet.com, Louisiana ranks just behind Alaska and Washington D.C. for risky online meet ups. The top 10 was determined by compiling the most recent FBI violent crime and cyber crime data along with state by state STD rates from the CDC. "Furthermore, a look at sex education programs in each of these states indicated th
  
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• Southern University graduate makes Alabama history as youngest judge

  26-01-2017 17:08
  
  CAMDEN - At just 27-years-old, Briana Westry-Robinson has become the youngest African-American female judge in Alabama history.WSFA-TV reports Westry-Robinson became a district judge in Wilcox County after voters elected her in November to a 6-year term. She turned 28 two days after taking the oath-of-office last week.Westry-Robinson was born in Germany but raised in Camden. She graduated from the University of Alabama and earned a law degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge.Westry-Robins
  
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• Man shot by New Roads police released from hospital, taken to jail

  26-01-2017 16:00
  
  NEW ROADS - The man who attacked three New Roads police officers with a knife has been released from the hospital and booked into Pointe Coupee Parish Jail. Police say 31-year-old Dathon Ezenwekwe was booked on three counts of resisting arrest by force or violence, one count of child desertion and one count of aggravated assault by domestic violence. According to detectives, the incident happened on N. Carolina Avenue in New Roads. Officers were dispa
  
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• Crash involving 18-wheeler closes Nicholson near Bluebonnet

  26-01-2017 15:59
  
  BATON ROUGE – Nicholson Drive near Bluebonnet Boulevard is closed due to a crash involving an 18-wheeler and a landscaping truck. The crash occurred just before 4 p.m on Thursday.EMS transported one person from the scene. There are no details about injuries at the time of this post.A News 2 crew is on the scene. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Miss. Senate passes "Blue Lives Matter" bill

  26-01-2017 14:51
  
  JACKSON, Miss. - A bill to double penalties for crimes targeting police officers, firefighters and medics has passed the Mississippi Senate.Senators voted 37-13 Thursday to send Senate Bill 2469 to House.The "Blue Lives Matter" proposal says any crime committed against emergency personnel because of their status as police officers, firefighters or emergency medical technicians would be a hate crime. State law currently doubles penalties for targeting people because of race, ethnicity, religion o
  
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• What the... 'Mr. Clean' gets creepy and dirty in new ad

  26-01-2017 14:16
  
  TORONTO – Creative types in Canada know how to get dirty and it appears they can create even dirtier characters as seen in Mr. Clean's ad that will appear in the United States during the Super Bowl.Depending on how you feel – you'll love it, be disturbed or feel a little tingly after watching the 30-second spot. The ad features a seductive, dancing computer generated “Mr. Clean” doing house work before he transforms into reality – a man with a &a
  
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• Earnings sought from album rapper allegedly made behind bars

  26-01-2017 13:59
  
  BATON ROUGE - Victims of a botched nightclub shooting are asking a judge to seize the earnings from an album that officials say rapper C-Murder recorded and released while in prison.The rapper, whose real name is Corey Miller, was convicted of attempted murder after a malfunctioning handgun prevented him from opening fire in a Baton Rouge nightclub in 2001. He is serving a life sentence for a separate slaying.The Advocate reports that attorneys for staff and patrons at Club Raggs told a judge Tu
  
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• Government St. lane will close Saturday for sewer improvements

  26-01-2017 13:56
  
  BATON ROUGE – Traffic officials say parts of Government Street will have one lane closed Saturday as crews work on sewer improvement construction.The lane closure will go into effect Saturday, Jan. 28, at 7 a.m. for the eastbound direction between S. 20th and S. 22nd streets. The closure will last until 8 p.m.DOTD says no lane restrictions or detours are necessary.“The City Parish of East Baton Rouge appreciates your patience and reminds you to please drive with caution throu
  
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• Genes may help grocery tomatoes catch up to heirloom taste

  26-01-2017 13:50
  
  WASHINGTON - Scientists have figured out how to add much needed taste to the bland mass-produced grocery tomato.By tinkering with the genetic recipe of the supermarket tomato, researchers think they can return much of the flavor that has been bred out over the decades. They hope to help the cheaper tomato catch up to heirlooms in taste.University of Florida researchers have identified changes to five genes that can add much of the lost taste.They say a tastier supermarket tomato could be ready w
  
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• LSU to retire Todd Walker's No. 12 jersey

  26-01-2017 13:42
  
  BATON ROUGE - LSU will retire the jersey of All-American second baseman Todd Walker at Alex Box Stadium Friday, April 14.The LSU Hall of Fame Committee unanimously approved the retirement of Walker’s jersey in May. Walker, a Bossier City native, is only the 11th LSU athlete or coach to have his jersey retired. He joins Furniss, Bertman and McDonald; men’s basketball players Bob Pettit, Pete Maravich, Rudy Macklin and Shaquille O’Neal; football players Billy
  
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• Senior diplomat resignations accepted as Trump team enters

  26-01-2017 13:26
  
  WASHINGTON - A number of senior career diplomats are leaving the State Department after the Trump administration accepted their resignations from presidentially appointed positions.The State Department said Thursday that several senior management officials as well as a top arms control diplomat would be leaving. All submitted their resignations prior to Donald Trump's January 20 inauguration as is required of officials holding jobs appointed by the president. They were not required to leave the
  
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• Man arrested for stalking woman on LSU's campus

  26-01-2017 12:52
  
  BATON ROUGE – A man was arrested for stalking a woman while on LSU's campus.Police arrested 31-year-old Nicholas Xenakis on Wednesday.The incident occurred on Wednesday around 4 p.m. when LSU Police officers were contacted about a man following a woman on campus. The woman stated that Xenakis had been following her on previous occasions earlier in the week.She told officers that Xenakis approached her while she and her friends were in front of the student union on LSU's main c
  
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• Six former LSU tigers to play in Pro Bowl Sunday

  26-01-2017 12:49
  
  BATON ROUGE - Six former LSU players will take part in the NFL Pro Bowl, which pits players from the NFC against those from the AFC, Sunday.The former tigers are evenly split between the AFC and NFC with three player on either side.The NFC team will feature wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. (Giants), offensive guard Trai Turner (Panthers) and cornerback Patrick Peterson (Cardinals). The AFC side will have Jarvis Landry (Dolphins), offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth (Bengals) and nose tack
  
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• Best photos from Thursday's vivid sunrise and sunset

  26-01-2017 12:34
  
  BATON ROUGE - It was a pretty nice sunrise and sunset across the Baton Rouge area Thursday. Although that might be an understatement.@JoshEachus Good call on the sunrise #nofilter #thursdaymorning #BatonRouge pic.twitter.com/0v3d2gpRvL— laura telhiard smith (@telhiard) January 26, 2017So, why don’t we see such brilliant colors every day? A number of factors contribute to vivid sunrises and sunsets including cloud presence, sun angle and lacking pollution. Incoming sunlight is
  
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• Best photos from Thursday's vivid sunrise across Baton Rouge

  26-01-2017 12:34
  
  BATON ROUGE - It was a pretty nice sunrise across the Baton Rouge area. Although that might be an understatement.@JoshEachus Good call on the sunrise #nofilter #thursdaymorning #BatonRouge pic.twitter.com/0v3d2gpRvL— laura telhiard smith (@telhiard) January 26, 2017So, why don’t we see such brilliant colors every day? A number of factors contribute to vivid sunrises and sunsets including cloud presence, sun angle and lacking pollution. Incoming sunlight is scattered by molecu
  
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• Mexican president says he will not attend meeting with Trump

  26-01-2017 12:29
  
  MEXICO CITY - Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto says he will not attend a planned Jan. 31 meeting with President Donald J. Trump.The cancellation comes hours after Trump tweeted the meeting should be canceled if Mexico won't pay for a border wall.Pena Nieto's message on Twitter ended days of uncertainty about what he would do.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Miss. bill proposes gas chamber, firing squad as backup execution methods

  26-01-2017 12:15
  
  JACKSON, Miss. - Mississippi, facing repeated court challenges to lethal injection and the difficulty of finding drugs, could start looking at alternative ways to carry out the death penalty.A state House committee on Thursday approved legislation to explicitly legalize the current drugs Mississippi plans to use to execute death row inmates.The bill also calls for other methods of execution, including the gas chamber, the firing squad and the electric chair as backup methods of execution.Lethal
  
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• Report: 6 reporters among 230 people charged in DC protests

  26-01-2017 11:31
  
  WASHINGTON - A newspaper is reporting that six people working as journalists were among the group of 230 people arrested in Washington after self-described anti-capitalists began breaking windows in Washington on Inauguration Day.The Associated Press had reported Sunday that lawyers said some innocent observers, including two journalists, were improperly swept up in the arrests. A report in The Guardian says four others arrested are also journalists. It names documentary producer Jack Keller and
  
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• Ryan says Congress will pay billions for wall

  26-01-2017 11:29
  
  WASHINGTON - House Speaker Paul Ryan says President Donald Trump's border wall will cost $12 billion to $15 billion - and Ryan says Congress will pay for it by this fall.The Wisconsin Republican made his comments to reporters in Philadelphia, where GOP lawmakers are holding their annual strategy retreat.Ryan was pressed on whether the wall's price tag would be added to the deficit - or whether Congress would find some ways to offset the cost. But he wouldn't commit.The point, Ryan says,
  
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• Thibodaux man arrested for child pornography

  26-01-2017 09:45
  
  TERREBONNE - A man has been arrested on 50 counts of child pornography following an investigation in which he was arrested for carnal knowledge of a juvenile.Police arrested 23-year-old Randy Himel of Thibodaux after his phone was seized and examined in relation to a different investigation. During the forensic exam, investigators found 50 images of child pornography.According to Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter, Himel was previously arrested May 16, 2016 after detectives learn
  
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• 12-year-old among 6 hurt in shooting at Chicago memorial

  26-01-2017 07:28
  
  Chicago police say the shooting happened at about 8:15 Wednesday night on the city's South Side. Police spokesman Ron Gaines says the girl suffered a graze wound to the head and is in stable condition.Gaines says a 16-year-old boy and a 20-year-old woman are hospitalized in serious condition with gunshot wounds. He says the other victims range in age from 17 to 43 and are in good condition.Community activist Jedidiah Brown says the shooting took place at a vigil for another victim of gun violenc
  
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• Shia LaBeouf arrested in NYC

  26-01-2017 07:26
  
  NEW YORK - Actor Shia LaBeouf faces a misdemeanor assault charge in New York after allegedly getting into a fight with another man outside a museum in Queens.Police arrested LaBeouf early today after they say he pulled the scarf of the man, scratching his face in the process and also pushed him.LaBeouf has spent the first few days of Donald Trump's presidency chanting, "He will not divide us," in front of a live camera outside the museum.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Trump expected to act soon on voter fraud

  26-01-2017 07:24
  
  WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump could sign as early as this week an executive action as ordering an investigation into claims of voter fraud.Trump on Wednesday said he believed that there was widespread voter fraud in November's election and that scores of people were on the voter rolls in multiple states or after they died.There is no evidence to support Trump's claims.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Trump wants detention and interrogation policies to change

  26-01-2017 07:23
  
  WASHINGTON - The draft of an executive order signals sweeping changes to U.S. interrogation and detention policy as President Donald Trump renews his support for using torture in questioning terror suspects.The draft order also would reverse President Barack Obama's order to close the military detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.And it orders up recommendations on whether the U.S. should reopen CIA detention facilities outside the United States.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Trump addresses fellow GOP at retreat

  26-01-2017 07:22
  
  PHILADELPHIA - President Donald Trump speaks today to fellow Republicans at the annual policy retreat in Pennsylvania.Despite Trump's veering off course to make false claims about voter fraud and his inaugural crowd size, many GOP lawmakers remain optimistic at the prospect of the work they can do together.They hope to see a Trump focused on unity and results.It'll also be the first time that Trump travels on Air Force One.Permalink| Comments
  
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