Baton Rouge news

• Wreck closes Airline Highway in Ascension Tuesday night

  31-01-2017 21:01
  
  PRAIRIEVILLE - Airline Highway South closed at Perkins Road Tuesday night due to a wreck.Authorities have not released specifics about the crash.  State traffic monitors issued an alert about the closure just before 9 p.m.An image from state traffic cameras in the area showed an ambulance and a fire truck on the scene.Click HERE for live traffic information and to access WBRZ's advanced traffic-tracking technology.***************Follow the publisher of this post on Twitter: @treyschmalt
  
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• Wreck closed Airline Highway in Ascension Tuesday night

  31-01-2017 21:01
  
  PRAIRIEVILLE - Airline Highway South closed at Perkins Road Tuesday night due to a wreck.Authorities have not released specifics about the crash.  State traffic monitors issued an alert about the closure just before 9 p.m.  The intersection reopened about two hours later, just before 11 p.m. An image from state traffic cameras in the area showed an ambulance and a fire truck on the scene.Click HERE for live traffic information and to access WBRZ's advanced traffic-trac
  
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• Woman killed in Airline Highway wreck

  31-01-2017 21:01
  
  PRAIRIEVILLE - According to Louisiana State Police, a pedestrian was struck and killed in a single vehicle crash around 8 p.m. Tuesday night. The victim has been identified as 53-year-old Tonya Gary of Baton Rouge.LSP said Gary walked in front of a 2016 Chevrolet Impala traveling southbound on Airline Highway. Gary was pronounced dead at the scene.LSP said the driver was 52-year-old Kellie Tanner of Prairieville. Police said she was not injured in the crash. Police took toxicology samples from b
  
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• Trump nominates to Supreme Court

  31-01-2017 19:10
  
  WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump has nominated federal appeals judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.The 49-year-old Gorsuch has served on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver since 2006, after being appointed by President George W. Bush. He once worked at the Supreme Court as a law clerk.If approved by the Senate, Gorsuch would take the seat left vacant since Justice Antonin Scalia died last year. Republicans refused to consider President Barack Obama's nominee for the seat, sa
  
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• Ambulance rear-ended while transporting patient on Hwy 190

  31-01-2017 18:56
  
  ERWINVILLE – An ambulance was rear-ended on Tuesday night while transporting a patient on Highway 190 south of Erwinville.Sources say that the patient and crew in the ambulance at the time of the crash are okay. There are no reports of injuries at this time.A News 2 crew is on the way to the scene. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Emergency crews responding to crash near Walker South Road

  31-01-2017 18:36
  
  LIVINGSTON – Authorities are responding to a crash on Hammack Road at Walker South Road.Emergency personnel performed CPR on the driver before transported from the scene. Witnesses said that the driver did not stop at a stop sign and then slammed into a tree.Bystanders ran to assist the driver as smoke was coming from the vehicle.A News 2 crew is on the scene. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.Permalink| Comments
  
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• PHOTOS: Ten homes with the highest property taxes in EBR

  31-01-2017 17:36
  
  BATON ROUGE – Property taxes of property in East Baton Rouge are due Mar. 1 and the owners of the most expensive homes have bills the size of most people's salaries.The new owners of the Pennington Mansion on Highland Road, Andre' and Jessica Bruni, have the highest property bill among homeowners in the parish. Taxes for the house at 11001 Highland Road are due at $64,705.19. The house itself is assessed at $4,500,000. A previous WBRZ.com report highlighted the sale price at nearly $6,
  
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• GALLERY: Ten homes with the highest property taxes in EBR

  31-01-2017 17:36
  
  BATON ROUGE – Property taxes of property in East Baton Rouge are due Mar. 1 and the owners of the most expensive homes have bills the size of most people's salaries.The new owners of the Pennington Mansion on Highland Road, Andre' and Jessica Bruni, have the highest property bill among homeowners in the parish. Taxes for the house at 11001 Highland Road are due at $64,705.19. The house itself is assessed at $4,500,000. A previous WBRZ.com report highlighted the sale price at nearly $6,
  
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• Family buys van with fake inspection sticker, warning others

  31-01-2017 17:19
  
  GONZALES - About a year and a half ago, a family bought a van for their cleaning business. Everything was normal until they came time to renew the inspection sticker.Matt Keene says his family bought the van in May 2015 on the side of the road in Gonzales. It was one of a handful for sale. He checked the brakes, the engine and gave it a test drive. His parents bought the van for $3,000."Everything checked out and they ended up buying it," he said.Shortly after the purchase, it was time
  
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• INVESTIGATIVE UNIT: City leaders admit "mistake" cost thousands of dollars

  31-01-2017 16:36
  
  GONZALES- Taxpayers are on the hook for nearly a quarter of a million dollars to repair the flooded out City Hall in Gonzales.
  Despite being in a flood zone, city leaders opted out of carrying flood insurance. City leaders said they never imagined the building would flood.
  "It never flooded," Mayor Barney Arceneaux said. "People never thought it would happen, and a mistake was made."In August, floodwater swamped City Hall in about eight inches of water. Flood maps currently on the books show the
  
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• Baton Rouge tax preparer arrested for "ghost company" fraud scheme

  31-01-2017 16:35
  
  BATON ROUGE – A Baton Rouge tax preparer faces felony charges for a tax fraud scheme involving “ghost” companies and phony business losses that cost Louisiana taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.Joseph A. Gillies, of 2136 Monaco Drive in Baton Rouge, prepared and submitted hundreds of tax returns that contained fabricated business losses for companies that, in some cases, did not exist.Numerous clients told investigators with the Louisiana Department
  
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• Entergy work to cause outages in Plaquemine

  31-01-2017 16:25
  
  PLAQUEMINE – Entergy will be performing work that will cause outages on Wednesday and Thursday in Plaquemine.The work will cause outages to all Plaquemine City Light & Water electrical customers. Electrical power will be turned off at 11 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1 for 20 minutes and again at 11 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2 for up to two hours.The city gets power from Entergy's power grid system and when repairs are necessary, the city can be affected.The outages are not being caused by
  
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• Elderly Livingston man sentenced for repeated indecent behavior with a juvenile

  31-01-2017 15:38
  
  LIVINGSTON- A 69-year-old man was sentenced to 21 years in prison for three counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile. According to District Attorney Scott M. Perrilloux, Otis Bedwell was found guilty in October 2016 of inappropriate sexual behavior with a 15-year-old boy who was doing yardwork on Bedwell's property. The victim revealed incidents to police during a forensic interview in which he told them that Bedwell offered him $20 to keep the encounter a secret. During the
  
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• All lanes open on Mississippi River Bridge following police activity

  31-01-2017 15:30
  
  BATON ROUGE – Delays remain after the right lane of I-10 eastbound on the Mississippi River Bridge was blocked on Tuesday afternoon due to police activity.Delays have reached one mile, according to DOTD. Monitor traffic with WBRZ's advanced traffic center here. Also get updates on Facebook and Twitter.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Entergy starts work on $869M St Charles Parish power plant

  31-01-2017 15:20
  
  MONTZ - Entergy says an $869 million power plant it's building in St. Charles Parish will be one of its cleanest, with carbon dioxide emissions 40 percent lower than those from its current gas-fired plants.Gov. John Bel Edwards was among speakers at a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for a "combined-cycle" gas power plant in Montz. Such plants use waste heat from a gas turbine to power a steam turbine, which also generates power.Edwards said Louisiana's economy depends on dependable, affordable e
  
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• Tolls possible as Louisiana looks for private help to ease Baton Rouge traffic woes

  31-01-2017 15:07
  
  But Gov. John Bel Edwards first wants more money from Legislature
  
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• Tigerland apartment destroyed in fire

  31-01-2017 14:04
  
  BATON ROUGE - A unit at the Cambridge Apartments complex in Tigerland was destroyed by a fire Tuesday. Firefighters responded to the blaze at 1221 Bob Pettit Blvd early Tuesday afternoon. Multiple surrounding units appear to have taken damage as well.No injuries have been reported yet. WBRZ will have more information as the story develops. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Man arrested for going to work drunk, threatening arresting deputy

  31-01-2017 13:53
  
  BATON ROUGE – A man was arrested for showing up to his workplace drunk and threatening the deputy that arrested him. The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office arrested 38-year-old Jason Hayes for charges of disturbing the peace and remaining at a place after forbidden.The incident occurred on Jan. 30 when Hayes showed up to his workplace drunk and was asked to leave. Hayes left without any incident, however he returned later more intoxicated and confrontational.Hayes was
  
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• Cara's House animal shelter awarded $50,000 for post-flood expansion

  31-01-2017 13:23
  
  SORRENTO – Cara's House animal shelter has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Petco Foundation to support its new expansion following the August 2016 flood.The Petco Foundation investment will help pay for three new buildings that will house additional dogs and cats available for adoption."CARA's House is so excited about this grant from the Petco Foundation and what it can do for the homeless pets of Ascension," Virginia Smith, Cara's president said.Cara's House is a nonprofit orga
  
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• Cara's House animal shelter awarded $50,000 for new buildings

  31-01-2017 13:23
  
  SORRENTO – Cara's House animal shelter has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Petco Foundation to support its new expansion following the August 2016 flood.The Petco Foundation investment will help pay for three new buildings that will house additional dogs and cats available for adoption."CARA's House is so excited about this grant from the Petco Foundation and what it can do for the homeless pets of Ascension," Virginia Smith, Cara's president said.Cara's House is a nonprofit orga
  
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• The Ruby Slipper Cafe to open Baton Rouge location

  31-01-2017 13:19
  
  BATON ROUGE – The Ruby Slipper Cafe will open its first location in Baton Rouge at the former Pei Wei location in the Acadian Village Springs Shopping Center on Perkins Road.The restaurant is expected to be open Spring 2017, pending permit approvals. The restaurant serves southern breakfast, brunch and lunch along with cocktails.The new location will be the sixth in Louisiana. The restaurant has five locations in New Orleans along with locations in Orange Beach and Pensacola."Our Ruby
  
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• All lanes open I-10 westbound on Basin Bridge, delays from earlier accident are five miles long.

  31-01-2017 13:08
  
  12:26 a.m. (BUTTE LA ROSE) All lanes open I-10 westbound on Basin Bridge, delays from earlier accident are five miles long.12:21 a.m. (BUTTE LA ROSE) Left lane now open on I-10 westbound at Butte La Rose, leaving right lane blocked. Five miles of delay.12:08 a.m. (BUTTE LA ROSE) Accident shuts down I-10 westbound at Butte La Rose.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Accident shuts down right lane I-10 westbound on Basin Bridge.

  31-01-2017 13:08
  
  12:21 a.m. (BUTTE LA ROSE) Left lane now open on I-10 westbound at Butte La Rose, leaving right lane blocked. Five miles of delay.12:08 a.m. (BUTTE LA ROSE) Accident shuts down I-10 westbound at Butte La Rose.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Fire destroys duplex on Tecumseh Street

  31-01-2017 12:54
  
  BATON ROUGE – Firefighters responded to a duplex fire in the 2100 block Tecumseh Street on Tuesday.According to the Baton Rouge Fire Department, firefighters arrived to the scene to find the rear duplex unit engulfed in flames. The front units received heavy smoke damage. The duplex is considered a total loss.The residents of the duplex were not at the location at the time of the fire. The homeowner later arrived after the fire was extinguished.The cause of the fire is not determined a
  
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• Sentencing for retired Saints star's killer reset for March

  31-01-2017 12:53
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Sentencing for the man who fatally shot former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith has been postponed to March 27.Prosecution and defense attorneys in the Cardell Hayes case agreed Tuesday to push back a sentencing in mid-February.Smith was killed in a traffic confrontation in New Orleans last April. The 29-year-old Hayes claimed self-defense but a jury convicted him of manslaughter, and attempted manslaughter for wounding Smith's wife.Prosecutors have said they'll seek the maximum
  
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• US says 872 'hardship' case refugees to come in

  31-01-2017 12:41
  
  WASHINGTON - A senior U.S. official says 872 refugees will be allowed into the United States this week despite the Trump administration executive order suspending the U.S. refugees program.Kevin McAleenan, acting commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, said these refugees would be granted waivers. He said that was allowed for under the order, in instances where refugees were ready for travel and stopping them would cause "undue hardship."McAleenan said this was being done
  
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• LSU football signees to appear on 25 billboards for National Signing Day

  31-01-2017 12:32
  
  BATON ROUGE – LSU will promote its 2017 football signees on billboards in four states to celebrate National Signing Day on Wednesday, Feb. 1.LSU football will have players on 25 billboards in six cities, including eight in the Baton Rouge area and five in New Orleans. LSU football billboards will also be located in Monroe, Houston, Nashville and Mobile/Spanish Fort.This year's version of LSU's signing day billboard says," Welcome to Death Valley" and displays the players' name, head sh
  
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• Justice Department reaches agreement to desegregate St. James schools

  31-01-2017 12:27
  
  WASHINGTON - The Department of Justice has reached an agreement with the St. James Parish School District that will end court supervision of the district’s schools.  The consent order, approved Monday by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, addresses all remaining issues in the school desegregation case, and when fully implemented will lead to the closing of that case.The consent order, negotiated with the school district and private
  
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• Ohio Gov. John Kasich will have book out in April

  31-01-2017 11:51
  
  NEW YORK - Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a prominent Republican detractor of President Donald Trump, has a book deal.Thomas Dunne Books says Tuesday that Kasich's "Two Paths: America Divided or United" will be published April 25. The book will reflect on Kasich's career, his run for the presidency and his views on a wide range of issues, from media coverage of politics to voting rights.The 64-year-old Kasich was a leading competitor to Trump in the GOP primary race and declined to endorse Trump after h
  
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• LSU library targeted for demolition in new campus plan

  31-01-2017 11:51
  
  BATON ROUGE - LSU officials are considering a plan to demolish the crumbling and architecturally mismatched Middleton Library in order to return the campus' iconic Quadrangle to its original state by creating a courtyard park.Members of the LSU Board of Supervisors voiced their excitement Friday after receiving a presentation regarding the 10-year plan to redesign the Baton Rouge campus.Officials will not make a final decision on the library's fate until the summer, when the plan is presented wi
  
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• Our Lady of the Lake breaks ground on new emergency room in North Baton Rouge

  31-01-2017 11:23
  
  BATON ROUGE – Our Lady of the Lake officials and community leaders broke ground on a new emergency room in North Baton Rouge on Tuesday morning.The emergency room is expected to open in October 2017. The facility will be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by emergency physicians along with Emergency Medicine residents, similar to staffing at the Our Lady of the Lake emergency rooms at the main campus on Essen Lane and in Livingston Parish. An 8,000-square foot addition
  
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• Ascension public schools delay installation of temporary buildings

  31-01-2017 09:51
  
  DONALDSONVILLE - Weather delays have officially pushed back Ascension Parish public schools' plans for temporary buildings.The buildings were intended to help schools cope with heavy flooding that occurred in 2016.According to Supertintendent David Alexander, the buildings originally slated for installation on Feb. 3, 2017 were delayed by rough weather over the holidays. Alexander could not give a new completion date, but stated that plans for all schools were delayed by at least one we
  
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• Inmate killed just hours after being booked into Tangipahoa Parish Jail

  31-01-2017 09:32
  
  AMITE - An inmate was killed in the Tangipahoa Parish Jail after being in custody for less than 12 hours. According to Sheriff Daniel Edwards, jail staff responded to a disturbance between offenders late Monday night. Staff found an inmate in need of immediate medical attention and called for emergency crews.Prison staff was unable to revive the victim.The Criminal Investigation Division of the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Department are on scene and an investigation is under w
  
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• House aides advised Trump on immigration order

  31-01-2017 07:24
  
  WASHINGTON - The House Judiciary Committee is confirming that committee staff worked with Trump administration officials as they drafted an executive order temporarily halting the nation's refugee program.A committee aide says some committee staff offered their expertise, but says the Trump administration is responsible for final policy decisions, rollout and implementation.The work by committee staffers took place without the knowledge of House GOP leaders.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Several Senate committees to advance Trump picks

  31-01-2017 07:23
  
  WASHINGTON - It's a busy day for Senators on Capitol Hill today.Several Senate panels are expected to advance President Donald Trump's picks for health secretary, attorney general, Education Department and Treasury.All candidates have strong Republican support, though final confirmation votes by the full Senate haven't been scheduled.Trump complained in a tweet last night that "The Democrats are delaying my cabinet picks for purely political reasons. They have nothing going but to obstruct."Perm
  
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• Boente orders Justice to do 'our sworn duty'

  31-01-2017 07:14
  
  WASHINGTON - Acting Attorney General Dana Boente is ordering the Justice Department to "do our sworn duty" and defend President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration and refugees.Boente was named to the job last night after Trump fired Sally Yates, a Democratic appointee who had publicly questioned the constitutionality of Trump's controversial refugee and immigration ban and refused to defend it in court.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Trump plans to announce Supreme Court pick

  31-01-2017 07:12
  
  WASHINGTON - Tonight, President Donald Trump plans to announce his nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court.And three federal appeals court judges are seen as the leading candidates.Neil Gorsuch serves on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver; Thomas Hardiman works in Pittsburgh as a judge on the Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals; and William Pryor sits as a judge on the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.Permalink| Comments
  
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• LSU's Middleton Library targeted for demolition in new campus master plan

  31-01-2017 00:22
  
  Goals include returning Quadrangle to its original state, accounting for growth to south
  
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