Baton Rouge news

• John Hurt, Oscar nominated for "The Elephant Man" dies at 77

  27-01-2017 21:56
  
  LOS ANGELES - The Oscar-nominated actor Sir John Hurt has died. He was 77.
      
  Hurt's agent Charles McDonald says the actor, who battled pancreatic cancer, died Friday in London.
      
  The actor received Academy Award nominations for playing a heroin addict in "Midnight Express" and the tortured John Merrick in David Lynch's "The Elephant Man." Hurt had a career that spanned over 50 years in television, film and voice work.  He terri
  
  Read more

• Trooper injured by passing driver during traffic stop

  27-01-2017 21:37
  
  GREENSBURG - A Louisiana State Police Trooper has been injured after being hit during a traffic stop by a passing driver.Police say the crash happened Friday afternoon. The trooper stopped a driver on Highway 449 south of Highway 37 in St. Helena Parish for a traffic violation. The trooper walked to the rear of the driver's car and was hit by 75-year-old Johnnie Lee of Covington, according to police.A spokesperson for Louisiana State Police Troop L says Lee struck the trooper on his right side a
  
  Read more

• Mississippi nurse arrested on Medicaid fraud charges

  27-01-2017 20:22
  
  JACKSON, Miss. - A registered nurse accused of stealing prescription drugs intended for a patient has been arrested.
      
  Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood says 35-year-old Stefanie Cook, of Collins, was arrested Friday following an indictment by a Covington County grand jury on one count each of Medicaid fraud and obtaining possession of a controlled substance by fraud, misrepresentation or subterfuge.
      
  At the time the crimes alleged
  
  Read more

• Death toll from Southeast tornadoes, storms rises to 21

  27-01-2017 19:38
  
  ALBANY, Ga. - The death toll from a weekend outbreak of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in the Southeast has increased to at least 21.
      
  A 77-year-old woman in southwest Georgia died from storm-related injuries Thursday night at a hospital. Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler told The Associated Press on Friday that Patricia Ann Gohman received head injuries after a tree fell on her home as a powerful tornado struck Sunday afternoon.
     &
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• 'Hamilton' cast to sing at Super Bowl 51

  27-01-2017 19:24
  
  NEW YORK - Original cast members of the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit "Hamilton: An American Musical," will sing "America the Beautiful" during pregame festivities at Super Bowl 51, the NFL and Fox announced Friday.
      
  The performance by Renee Elise Goldsberry, Jasmine Cephas Jones and Phillipa Soo, who starred as the Schuyler Sisters, will be televised live by Fox prior to kickoff Feb. 5 when the Atlanta Falcons face the New England Patriots.
    
  
  Read more

• Trump to speak with leaders of Japan, Australia

  27-01-2017 19:17
  
  WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump has scheduled telephone conversations with two more of his world counterparts.
      
  The White House says Trump will speak separately Saturday with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
      
  That brings to five the number of foreign leaders Trump plans to speak with.
      
  The White House had already said telephone conversations have been
  
  Read more

• Trump suspends Syrian refugees program

  27-01-2017 18:50
  
  WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is indefinitely suspending the United States' Syrian refugees program.Trump signed a presidential executive order Friday that declares the entry of "nationals of Syria as refugees" is "detrimental to the interests of the United States."Trump is suspending the program until he says their admission to the country is "consistent with the national interest."Trump's order also appears to be capping the number of refugees from other countries at 50,000 peop
  
  Read more

• Man accused of distributing child porn through chatrooms

  27-01-2017 18:10
  
  BATON ROUGE – Agents say a Baton Rouge man faces child pornography charges after he shared an illicit video in a chatroom last year.Louisiana’s Cyber Crime Unit reports that 20-year-old Shelly Stratton was charged with a felony count of distribution child pornography.On Oct. 19, agents received a tip via the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that someone using the username “2NPYTR3U” live streamed child pornography in a video chatroom. The
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge makes another bad traffic list

  27-01-2017 17:38
  
  It's one of the worst chokepoints in U.S.
  
  Read more

• Department of Education revokes license of child care center in Ascension

  27-01-2017 17:03
  
  ASCENSION – The Louisiana Department of Education revoked the license and public funding of an early learning center in Ascension Parish on Friday.The Adventures in Learning child care center, located at 14469 Highway 44, had its license revoked after the department received a complaint that the center left 12 young children alone with an individual who was not a staff member on Dec. 28.Additionally, upon inspection, staff cited the center with 32 deficiencies, including failure to obt
  
  Read more

• New 911 center could reduce call times in Ascension Parish

  27-01-2017 16:42
  
  GONZALES- A multi-million dollar state-of-the-art 911 call center is set to open this year in Ascension Parish as the parish continues to see rapid growth.
  Last year, 911 dispatchers fielded 200,000 non-emergency calls and 50,000 emergency calls. Currently, dispatchers are working in congested and claustrophobic conditions. The recent growth has parish leaders feeling the growing pains.
  Right now, there are seven dispatchers on duty during peak times. When the new state-of-the-art 911 dispatch c
  
  Read more

• BRPD Union meets with Mayor-President for first time

  27-01-2017 16:08
  
  BATON ROUGE – Tensions between the Baton Rouge Police Union and Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome may be easing.For the first time since becoming mayor, Broome and Baton Rouge Police Union President Bryan Taylor met to talk about the future of the department.Sgt. Taylor remained tight-lipped in front of the cameras Friday. He did say that he was satisfied with the meeting and is willing to move forward with the mayor for the sake of the community.Police union waiting to meet with @M
  
  Read more

• Experts: Citrus trees should survive recent freezes

  27-01-2017 15:58
  
  ABBEVILLE - Citrus trees that dropped leaves and fruit after the recent freeze should survive, according to LSU AgCenter horticulture experts. Dan Devenport, AgCenter horticulture agent in Vermilion and Lafayette parishes, said the sudden cold snap was a shock to citrus trees. Cold weather is usually preceded by gradually lowering temperatures that help plants become acclimated to winter, but this frigid air came after continuous weeks of warm weather.Devenport is enco
  
  Read more

• New face of Gerber is 7-month-old baby from Ohio

  27-01-2017 15:47
  
  FLORHAM PARK - A 7-month-old boy from Ohio is the new face of Gerber baby products.Though he probably won't be saying much anytime soon, the spokesbaby named Riley has an "infectious laugh and big, gummy smile," according to his mom, Kristen Shines.Gerber announced Thursday that Riley, who lives with his family in Lewis Center, beat out more than 110,000 other entries. He now has the chance to star in a future ad.Riley's parents will receive $50,000 plus $1,500 in Gerber clothing. Shines says th
  
  Read more

• Colorado considers ending "Westside Story" switchblade ban

  27-01-2017 14:33
  
  DENVER - The switchblade knives wielded six decades ago by the fictional Jets and Sharks street gangs in the legendary Broadway musical "West Side Story" and in Hollywood films spooked lawmakers across the U.S. and helped usher in state bans.But 54 years after Colorado enacted its prohibition of the folding knives with blades that pop from their handles with the push of a button, a bipartisan group of state lawmakers is trying to repeal it.They are citing arguments from knife rights activists an
  
  Read more

• NASA opens exhibit on 50th anniversary of Apollo 1 fire

  27-01-2017 13:57
  
  CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA is opening an exhibit honoring the astronauts in the Apollo 1 fire - 50 years to the day they died.The hatch from the burning spacecraft is the main draw. It had been concealed, along with the capsule, for a half-century. On Friday's anniversary, the hatch that trapped Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee inside their capsule at the launch pad is finally going on display.The public exhibit at Florida's Kennedy Space Center also includes the redesigned hatch on the spacec
  
  Read more

• UPDATE: Missing Gonzales woman found safe

  27-01-2017 13:43
  
  UPDATE: APSO deputies say Amanda Wheat has been located and is safe.GONZALES – Deputies in Ascension Parish are looking for a 34-year-old woman who was reported missing Thursday.Chief Deputy Bobby Webre said Amanda Wheat was last seen leaving her home on KC Road in Gonzales on Jan. 19.Deputies describe Wheat as a white female, 5’3” tall and weighing approximately 130 pounds. She also has tattoos on both sides of her neck.No foul play is suspect at this time, Webre s
  
  Read more

• Deputies searching for missing Gonzales woman

  27-01-2017 13:43
  
  GONZALES – Deputies in Ascension Parish are looking for a 34-year-old woman who was reported missing Thursday.Chief Deputy Bobby Webre said Amanda Wheat was last seen leaving her home on KC Road in Gonzales on Jan. 19.Deputies describe Wheat as a white female, 5’3” tall and weighing approximately 130 pounds. She also has tattoos on both sides of her neck.No foul play is suspect at this time, Webre said.Anyone with information is asked to contact APSO at 225-621-4636
  
  Read more

• House fire on Buckeye Drive caused by lint in laundry's dryer

  27-01-2017 13:39
  
  BATON ROUGE – Firefighters responded to a house fire in the 6000 block of Buckeye Drive Friday morning.Firefighters arrived on scene to find smoke coming from the home's laundry room. According to the Baton Rouge Fire Department, the fire was caused by lint accumulated in the dryer's vent.The department says the home received an estimated $7,500 worth of damages.EMS and Entergy were both on the scene.Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• Two face federal charges for bank robberies in New Orleans area

  27-01-2017 13:19
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Two men are facing federal charges after they were accused of being involved in bank robberies in New Orleans and Slidell.U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite's office says 22-year-old Dwayne Anthony "Butter" Winans Jr. and 21-year-old Bryson Tuesno are charged together in connection with the Aug. 15 robberies. One occurred at a Regions Bank in New Orleans, the other was at a Gulf Coast Bank in Slidell.Winans is also accused of another New Orleans bank robbery that occurred Aug. 4 in which
  
  Read more

• Two face federal charges for August bank robberies in New Orleans, Slidell

  27-01-2017 13:19
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Two men are facing federal charges after they were accused of being involved in bank robberies in New Orleans and Slidell.U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite's office says 22-year-old Dwayne Anthony "Butter" Winans Jr. and 21-year-old Bryson Tuesno are charged together in connection with the Aug. 15 robberies. One occurred at a Regions Bank in New Orleans, the other was at a Gulf Coast Bank in Slidell.Winans is also accused of another New Orleans bank robbery that occurred Aug. 4 in which
  
  Read more

• Parts of I-10 to close near Lafayette Sunday morning

  27-01-2017 13:11
  
  LAFAYETTE – Parts of I-10 will be closed Sunday near Lafayette as crews work to pull power lines across the roadway.According to DOTD, both the eastbound and westbound lanes of I-10 will be closed for up to one hour Jan. 29 between Exit 103 and before Exit 104. The work is scheduled to take place between 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. weather permitting.The eastbound detour would consist of US 90/167 southbound at Exit 103 to LA 94 to LA 328 to I-10 eastbound.The westbound detour would cons
  
  Read more

• Parts of I-10 to close in both directions near Lafayette Sunday morning

  27-01-2017 13:11
  
  LAFAYETTE – Parts of I-10 will be closed Sunday near Lafayette as crews work to pull power lines across the roadway.According to DOTD, both the eastbound and westbound lanes of I-10 will be closed for up to one hour Jan. 29 between Exit 103 and before Exit 104. The work is scheduled to take place between 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. weather permitting.The eastbound detour would consist of US 90/167 southbound at Exit 103 to LA 94 to LA 328 to I-10 eastbound.The westbound detour would cons
  
  Read more

• Mayor Broome to cut ribbon at opening of local pharmacy's second location

  27-01-2017 12:54
  
  BATON ROUGE – Mayor Sharon Weston-Broome will attend a ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of a local pharmacy's second location.The pharmacy, Affordable Pharmacy, will open its second location at 1707 Gardere Lane (Suite F) on Saturday, Jan. 28 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.Mayor Broome is set to the cut the ribbon at noon.In honor of the grand opening, Affordable Pharmacy will also offer free flu shots, health screenings for diabetes, blood pressure, HIV and hepatitis. Free food, mus
  
  Read more

• Broome to cut ribbon at local pharmacy's second location

  27-01-2017 12:54
  
  BATON ROUGE – Mayor Sharon Weston-Broome will attend a ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of a local pharmacy's second location.The pharmacy, Affordable Pharmacy, will open its second location at 1707 Gardere Lane (Suite F) on Saturday, Jan. 28 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.Mayor Broome is set to the cut the ribbon at noon.In honor of the grand opening, Affordable Pharmacy will also offer free flu shots, health screenings for diabetes, blood pressure, HIV and hepatitis. Free food, mus
  
  Read more

• North Baton Rouge emergency room groundbreaking set for Tuesday

  27-01-2017 12:07
  
  BATON ROUGE – Our Lady of the Lake will host a groundbreaking ceremony on a new emergency room in Baton Rouge Tuesday.The groundbreaking ceremony will take place Tuesday, Jan. 31 from 9 to 10 a.m. at the LSU Health Baton Rouge North Clinic on Airline Highway.Hospital officials say the new emergency room will close a gap in emergency healthcare services and will bring lifesaving treatment closer to residents in North Baton Rouge.According to a statement released Friday, Mayor-P
  
  Read more

• Morning fire at apartment on North Marque Ann Drive

  27-01-2017 11:50
  
  BATON ROUGE – The Baton Rouge Fire Department responded to an apartment fire in the 1000 block of North Marque Ann Drive on Friday morning.Firefighters responded to the fire around 7:50 a.m. and found smoke coming from one of the apartments. Crews were able to gain entry into the apartment and found the fire coming from the back bedroom. The fire was contained and brought under control around 8:15 a.m., however the apartment received heavy fire and smoke damage. Two other apartment uni
  
  Read more

• Three arrested for child exploitation in Baton Rouge

  27-01-2017 11:38
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry announced the arrest of three men on nearly 50 charges of child exploitation Friday.Harold White, 31, of Metairie, Andrew Wiltcher, 25, of Oak Grove, and Justin Davis, 27, of Laplace, face multiple charges involving the exploitation of juveniles.According to Landry, the arrrests were a result of a joint investigation by the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation Cyber Crime Unit and several Louisiana Sheriff's offices.Whi
  
  Read more

• Stevie Wonder, Tom Petty, Maroon 5 to headline Jazz Fest

  27-01-2017 11:31
  
  Stevie Wonder, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Maroon 5 and Dave Matthews are among some of the big names playing at this year's New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.The lineup was announced Friday.Organizers said more than 500 bands will be performing at the festival, which features a diverse array of musical styles.Some of the other artists appearing including Snoop Dogg, Alabama Shakes, Kings of Leon, Pitbull and Widespread Panic.The festival also features a huge number of artists from
  
  Read more

• Stevie Wonder, Tom Petty & Maroon 5 to headline 2017 Jazz Fest

  27-01-2017 11:31
  
  Stevie Wonder, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Maroon 5 and Kings of Leon are among the headliners for the 2017 Jazz & Heritage Festival. Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds, Harry Connick Jr., Usher and the Roots, Snoop Dogg, Pitbull, Alabama Shakes, the Trey Anastasio Band, Nas, Wilco, Darius Rucker, Pattie Labelle, Budy Guy, Elle King, Jonny Lang, Corinne Bonnie Rae, Jon Batist and the Stay Human as well as Leon Bridges are also slated to perform. The festival tak
  
  Read more

• Livingston Parish trustees arrested for theft of flood-damaged property, contraband charges

  27-01-2017 11:15
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS – Two Livingston Parish Detention Center trustees were arrested on Thursday for several charges including theft and contraband.The Denham Springs Police Department and the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office arrested 27-year-old James Hood and 32-year-old William Scott.The two were assigned to the Denham Springs Police Department to assist with post-flood repairs. Hood and Scott gained entry of a flood-damaged area where they took prescription medication from a p
  
  Read more

• Livingston Parish trustees arrested for stealing from flood-damaged property

  27-01-2017 11:15
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS – Two Livingston Parish Detention Center trustees were arrested on Thursday for several charges including theft and contraband.The Denham Springs Police Department and the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office arrested 27-year-old James Hood and 32-year-old William Scott.The two were assigned to the Denham Springs Police Department to assist with post-flood repairs. Hood and Scott gained entry of a flood-damaged area where they took prescription medication from a p
  
  Read more

• Baton Rouge sex offender wanted for attempted kidnapping

  27-01-2017 11:06
  
  HAMMOND - The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office announced a reward for information leading to the arrest of a convicted sex offender wanted for attempted kidnapping.According to Sheriff Daniel Edwards, 54-year-old John Lester of Baton Rouge is accused of attempting to kidnap a 38-year-old woman Tuesday afternoon. Lester allegedly pulled up next to the female as she was walking south on Old Baton Rouge Highway near the Dollar General Store. He then got out of his vehicle and at
  
  Read more

• Nominate a 2017 Louisiana Young Hero Today

  27-01-2017 11:02
  
  Louisiana Public Broadcasting and the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge are looking for their 2017 Louisiana Young Heroes. Now in its 22nd year, these awards spotlight students who are inspirational to those around them. No two Young Heroes have the same story. Some Young Heroes have battled various diseases and handicaps. There have been Young Heroes who have saved lives, Young Heroes who have bounced back from horrific events in their young lives, Young Heroes who have tirelessly wo
  
  Read more

• Edwards calls special session for Feb. 13-23

  27-01-2017 09:58
  
  BATON ROUGE – Governor Edwards announced on Friday that he is bringing the legislature into its next special session starting Feb. 13 to address the state's $300 million budget deficit. The special session will run to Feb. 23.Gov. Edwards: Next week, I intend to issue a call to bring the legislature into a special session. It will run Feb. 13-23. #lagov #lalege— Gov John Bel Edwards (@LouisianaGov) January 27, 2017The announcement was made at the state's budget commi
  
  Read more

• No evidence that dumbbell was intentionally tossed at New Jersey driver

  27-01-2017 09:46
  
  OLDMANS TOWNSHIP - Authorities have found no evidence suggesting that a dumbbell that went through the windshield of a 75-year-old motorist on the New Jersey Turnpike earlier this month was a deliberate act.State police reported that Jack DeCarlo died at a local hospital on Tuesday after succumbing to injuries he sustained in the Jan. 9 incident.DeCarlo was heading south on the turnpike near Oldmans Township when a 50-pound dumbbell smashed through the windshield of his SUV and struck him in the
  
  Read more

• Funeral services slated for Friday for slain officer

  27-01-2017 09:29
  
  NEW ORLEANS - A Westwego police officer killed last week is slated to be laid to rest Friday.Officer Michael Louviere was shot and killed Jan. 20 on his way home from work when he stopped to investigate a car crash.The crash resulted from a shooting that started that morning and ended with the officer and the woman driving the car dead.Authorities say Sylvester Holt, who had at one time been romantically involved with the woman, shot and chased her down after finding out she was pregnant by her
  
  Read more

• DC's March for Life to highlight gains by abortion opponents

  27-01-2017 08:03
  
  WASHINGTON - For the first time in years, abortion opponents will have all the political momentum when they hold their annual rally on the National Mall.The March for Life is held each year to mark the anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. The group says Vice President Mike Pence will address Friday's rally. The group adds no president or vice president has ever spoken previously at the event, now in its 44th year.One of President Donald Trump's top advisers, Kellya
  
  Read more

• Trump's choice for labor secretary outsourced jobs

  27-01-2017 08:01
  
  WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump vows to keep American jobs in the U.S. But his pick for labor secretary outsourced his company's technology department to the Philippines.A filing with the Labor Department shows that Andrew Puzder's company, CKE Restaurants Inc., laid off about 20 workers from its help desk in 2010 and sent the jobs to an IT firm overseas.A spokesman says the company still uses that firm - a decision that contradicts Trump's anti-outsourcing rhetoric and actions during his fi
  
  Read more

• German prosecutors: Ex-VW chief facing fresh questions

  27-01-2017 07:58
  
  BERLIN- Prosecutors in Germany say they have sufficient evidence to indicate that former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn may have known of his company's emissions cheating software earlier than he claims.The 69-year-old stepped down in September 2015, days after news of Volkswagen's use of software to cheat on emissions emerged in the U.S., saying at the time that he was not aware of any wrongdoing on his part.Prosecutors in Braunschweig said in a statement Friday that they have increased the n
  
  Read more

• 2 central Florida students arrested in high school shooting plot

  27-01-2017 07:57
  
  THE VILLAGES, Fla. - Authorities say two students who were plotting a Columbine-style attack at a central Florida middle school have been arrested.Sumter County Sheriff's officials said in a news release that the boys, ages 13 and 14, planned the attack at The Villages Charter Middle School for Friday.Deputies say rumors about a shooting began circulating Tuesday. The 13-year-old was questioned as he arrived at school Wednesday and told deputies he and another boy had talked about the plot. When
  
  Read more

• In need of allies, Trump and Britain's Theresa May to meet

  27-01-2017 07:55
  
  WASHINGTON - Donald Trump is set to meet his first world leader, Britain's Theresa May, since taking office.The prime minister is a friendly ally who hopes to nudge the populist president toward the political mainstream.The visit Friday comes a day after Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto called off his own trip to Washington, planned for next week, amid wrangling over who will pay for Trump's planned wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.May's meeting with the president in the Oval Office is bein
  
  Read more

• Kremlin says Putin-Trump call set for Saturday

  27-01-2017 07:53
  
  MOSCOW - The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to speak by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump over the weekend.Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that the conversation is set for Saturday, according to Russian news agencies. Putin congratulated Trump on his victory shortly after his election, but the Kremlin says they haven't spoken since then.The Kremlin has applauded Trump's promises to mend ties with Moscow, which have plunged to post-Cold War lows over the Ukr
  
  Read more

• Elderly survivors visit Auschwitz 72 years after liberation

  27-01-2017 07:51
  
  WARSAW, Poland - Dozens of Auschwitz survivors have placed wreaths and flowers at the infamous execution wall at the former German death camp, paying homage to the victims of Adolf Hitler's regime exactly 72 years after the camp's liberation.Elderly survivors also paid homage Friday to those killed by wearing striped scarves reminiscent of the garb prisoners once wore there, praying and lighting candles at the wall.Janina Malec, a Polish survivor whose parents were killed at the execution wall,
  
  Read more

• Kraft Heinz employees get day off after Super Bowl

  27-01-2017 07:09
  
  PITTSBURGH - Kraft Heinz says the Monday after the Super Bowl will be a day off for its salaried employees, and it has launched a tongue-in-cheek campaign to make the day - dubbed "Smunday" - a national holiday.The food producing giant is co-headquartered in Chicago and Pittsburgh, neither of which has a team in the Feb. 5 game.The company has started a Change.org petition and launched a website, www.smunday.org . If enough signatures are collected, Kraft Heinz says it will send the petition to
  
  Read more

Follow @BatonRougeNews_ on Twitter!