Baton Rouge news

• Small fire extinguised at old Livingston Parish courthouse

  02-02-2017 21:13
  
  LIVINGSTON - Firefighters extinguished a small fire at the old Livigston Parish Courthouse Friday.Officials said they responded to calls about a fire at the building and smelled smoke when they first arrived on scene.Smoke inside the building set off the sprinkler system inside. The extent of the damage to the building is currently unknown.The fire was quickly contained, according to sources. The cause is unknown at this time.This is a developing story.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Judge dismisses Melania Trump's lawsuit against Daily Mail

  02-02-2017 21:07
  
  ROCKVILLE, Md. - A Maryland judge has dismissed first lady Melania Trump's libel lawsuit against Britain's Daily Mail newspaper over an article that contained insinuations that she had worked as an escort.
      
  Court records show that Montgomery County Circuit Judge Sharon Burrell ruled Thursday to dismiss the suit against Mail Media Inc., the corporation that publishes the Daily Mail's website. The Daily Mail's argument centered on whether the lawsuit should have been
  
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• Judge dismisses Melaina Trump's lawsuit against Daily Mail

  02-02-2017 21:07
  
  ROCKVILLE, Md. - A Maryland judge has dismissed first lady Melania Trump's libel lawsuit against Britain's Daily Mail newspaper over an article that contained insinuations that she had worked as an escort.
      
  Court records show that Montgomery County Circuit Judge Sharon Burrell ruled Thursday to dismiss the suit against Mail Media Inc., the corporation that publishes the Daily Mail's website. The Daily Mail's argument centered on whether the lawsuit should have been
  
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• Crash on North Foster Drive sends four to the hospital

  02-02-2017 20:31
  
  BATON ROUGE - Crews are treating multiple crash victims following an accident on North Foster Drive.Sources say four people are being transported for various non-life threatening injuries.The crash occurred on North Foster Drive and Fairfield Avenue.Stay tuned for updates.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Sanders says Trump may be right about his voters

  02-02-2017 20:03
  
  WASHINGTON - Sen. Bernie Sanders says President Donald Trump may be right in claiming he won the general election votes of some former Sanders supporters.
      
  A participant in a White House meeting Thursday says Trump said he got those votes because he and the Vermont independent think some trade treaties have hurt Americans. The participant spoke on condition of anonymity to describe a private meeting.
      
  Sanders was not present. He said
  
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• David Vitter joins Washington-based lobbying firm

  02-02-2017 18:49
  
  BATON ROUGE - Former U.S. Sen. David Vitter won't stray from Washington for his next job, joining a well-known lobbying firm in the city.
      
  Mercury LLC announced Thursday that Vitter has started working for the firm.
      
  The Republican former senator said he'll be working both out of the Washington office and helping to establish a Gulf Coast operation. He says he'll continue to live in Metairie.
      
  He expects
  
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• Baton Rouge Police must try to de-escalate situations before using deadly force, per new policy

  02-02-2017 18:42
  
  Mayor Sharon Weston Broome outlines new police policies after months of reform demands following the police shooting of Alton Sterling.
  
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• Baton Rouge police must try to de-escalate before using deadly force, per new policy

  02-02-2017 18:42
  
  Mayor Sharon Weston Broome outlines new policies after months of reform demands
  
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• 10-year-old from New Orleans wins "Chopped Junior"

  02-02-2017 18:35
  
  NEW ORLEANS - A 10-year-old New Orleans boy has won "Chopped Junior," a cooking competition for young cooks.Kaj Friis-Hecht won the $10,000 prize for the Food Network series patterned after the original "Chopped" for adults.The Advocate reports that the judges were chefs Marcus Samuelsson and Daniel Churchill and actress Allison Williams.Friis-Hecht's entries included a chocolate molten lava cake with strawberry candy ice cream and fruit salad for dessert, an appetizer of deep-fried chorizo with
  
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• Chief of staff change coming in governor's office

  02-02-2017 17:42
  
  BATON ROUGE - Gov. John Bel Edwards' leadership team will experience a shakeup later this month.The Democratic governor's chief of staff, Ben Nevers, is exiting after a year in the job. A former Jindal-era cabinet official, Mark Cooper, will fill the position.Edwards announced Thursday that Nevers, a close friend of the governor and former state senator, is retiring as his top adviser and administrator at the end of February. He'll leave shortly after a deficit-closing special legislative sessio
  
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• Residents upset after drivers use cemetery for shortcut

  02-02-2017 17:35
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS – Denham Springs drivers have been using a cemetery to cut down on their commute and those who come to visit their deceased loved ones are not happy.Memorial Cemetery, located on Range Avenue near Cockerham Road, sees many visitors on a regular basis. One visitor, Robert Portier, said that while visiting his loved ones, he has noticed more drivers use the cemetery as a shortcut."That's just disrespectful, going through a graveyard, using it as a thorough fare," Portier s
  
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• Man says he's been mailed red light violation in error, warning others

  02-02-2017 17:09
  
  BATON ROUGE - A man who was mailed a red light violation says he didn't do anything wrong. He says the photo that came with the ticket proves he's right.Syed Naqvi says the light malfunctioned and he's not going to pay the $177 ticket.There are multiple intersections in Baton Rouge with fully operational red light cameras. The purpose of the cameras is to reduce the number of preventable collisions at signalized intersections.Naqvi got one of those violations in the mail for a violation on Dec.
  
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• Thieves steal turf from Cecilia Senior High School field

  02-02-2017 16:05
  
  BREAUX BRIDGE – Investigators in St. Martin Parish are trying to find the person responsible for stealing a roll of AstroTurf from a high school football field.Investigators believe the theft happened on or around Jan. 24 at Cecilia Senior High School. Deputies described the roll of turf as being 55’ by 8’ long with white and purple football field numbers and markings. The estimated cost of the roll is $1,000.Anyone with information is asked to contact the
  
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• Teens arrested for stealing trooper's rifle in crime spree

  02-02-2017 15:59
  
  MADISONVILLE - Two Ponchatoula teens were arrested, and another arrest is expected, for stealing Louisiana State Police equipment in a string of vehicle burglaries in the Madisonville area.According to St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, the teens broke into several vehicles near the Autumn Creek Subdivision off Highway 22 between Friday night and Sunday morning.Deputies say an unmarked LSP vehicle was burglarized while parked in front of the trooper's home. A department-issue
  
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• House scraps Obama background check regulation

  02-02-2017 15:36
  
  WASHINGTON - The House has voted to scrap an Obama administration regulation extending background checks for disabled Social Security recipients mentally incapable of managing their own affairs.The vote to repeal the regulation is 235-180.The vote is part of an effort to repeal a handful of regulations issued in President Barack Obama's final months and represents the first steps toward strengthening gun ownership under President Donald Trump.The background checks rule established the c
  
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• Student Trump backer beaten on Berkeley campus after protest

  02-02-2017 15:31
  
  BERKELEY, Calif. - A 21-year-old student who supports President Donald Trump was beaten up on the University of California, Berkeley campus a day after violent protests led authorities to cancel a controversial speech.Jack Palkovic says he was wearing a "Make America Great Again" cap and on his way to class Thursday when a white SUV slammed to a stop and two young men ran toward him.One of the men screamed an epithet, grabbed Palkovic's hat and pummeled him before the two got back in the vehicle
  
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• US lifts Russia sanctions for some electronics exports

  02-02-2017 15:29
  
  WASHINGTON - The Trump administration is revising some recent U.S. sanctions that prevented American companies from exporting some electronic equipment to Russia.The Treasury Department says U.S. companies can apply to Russia's Federal Security Service to sell encrypted electronic devices.That contact was barred under penalties the Obama administration imposed after U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russia meddled in the U.S. presidential election.Officials say several U.S. businesses an
  
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• Suspect in Joe McKnight shooting indicted on murder charge

  02-02-2017 14:16
  
  NEW ORLEANS - A grand jury has indicted the man accused of fatally shooting former NFL player Joe McKnight with second-degree murder charges.According to WWLTV, the grand jury's indictment raises the charges against 54-year-old Ronald Gasser Jr. from manslaughter - which he was booked on after the incident in Jefferson Parish.Investigators believe Gasser and McKnight were engaged in a road rage incident crossing the Crescent City Connection that ultimately ended on Behrman Highway. Read
  
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• Investigations lead to seizure of drugs, guns, money and 2 arrests

  02-02-2017 13:58
  
  BATON ROUGE – Investigations conducted by multiple law enforcement agencies led to two arrests and the seizure of several drugs, guns and money on Tuesday.Detectives with the BRPD Special Response Team, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office and the West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office assisted in investigations that led to the arrest of Darryl Spears and Johnny Grant.Spears was arrested after the agencies found drugs while conducting a search warrant. Grant was arrested later in the day,
  
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• Hardening concrete from spilled load closed I-110

  02-02-2017 13:52
  
  BATON ROUGE – Traffic officials say a concrete mixing truck lost its load on I-110 and the mess has started to harden, forcing a closure of southbound I-110 in Baton Rouge Thursday afternoon.According to DOTD, the right lane was blocked at North 9th Street around 1:15 p.m. as crews worked to clear the debris in the roadway. Minutes later traffic officials made the call to close all southbound lanes and divert traffic.As of 1:45 p.m., the roads remain closed and congestion is approachin
  
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• Beyoncé breaks record on Instagram with baby bump picture

  02-02-2017 13:32
  
  SAN FRANCISCO - Beyoncé has broken the record for the most-liked Instagram post ever.Beyoncé announced on Instagram Wednesday that she is expecting twins with husband Jay Z.Surrounded by flowers and clad in a sweeping green veil, Queen Bey shows off her baby bump in the Madonna-inspired photo .The photo won her the record for most-liked post ever, with more than 8 million likes and counting.She got more than 4 million likes in just the first two hours after posting.And it t
  
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• Super Bowl serves as peacemaker between Uber and Houston

  02-02-2017 13:23
  
  HOUSTON- Anybody using Uber in Houston during Super Bowl week can thank the big game for their ride.Uber had threatened to leave Houston ahead of the Super Bowl, insisting various city regulations, including fingerprint background checks of drivers, were too burdensome and prevented drivers from working.Houston officials and Uber reached a compromise in November that kept the popular app-based ride-hailing service in the city.But the dispute highlights the ongoing debate many cities across the c
  
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• Unsealed records shed some light on Roof's mental state

  02-02-2017 13:18
  
  CHARLESTON - Recently unsealed federal court documents reveal new details about mental health diagnoses faced by convicted Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof.One filing notes a psychiatrist found Roof showed signs of diagnoses including social anxiety disorder, schizoid personality disorder and possible autistic spectrum disorder.The information is among hundreds of documents unsealed this week by U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel.Gergel twice found Roof competent to stand trial on charges i
  
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• Federal agency traces listeria in Blue Bell product to Iowa

  02-02-2017 12:57
  
  BRENHAM, Texas - Federal inspectors have confirmed that listeria found in a brand of Blue Bell ice cream, prompting another recall of its products, originated with a third-party supplier.The Houston Chronicle reports that the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning letter last month to Iowa-based Aspen Hills detailing the company's failures in preventing contamination.The contamination that forced the Blue Bell recall in October was traced to Aspen Hills' chocolate chip cookie dou
  
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• Matassa bribery case moving too slow for some citizens

  02-02-2017 12:51
  
  BATON ROUGE- It's been six months since audio recordings first surfaced that supposedly show Ascension Parish Kenny Matassa offered a bribe to a Gonzales city council candidate. A handful of Ascesnion politicians and activists met with the Louisiana Attorney General's Office Thursday about the case but were only given reassurances the investigation would be fair.The AG's office is barred from discussing details of its grand jury investigation, they're not even allowed to acknow
  
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• Temporary campus for Denham Springs Elementary to open on Feb. 6

  02-02-2017 12:15
  
  LIVINGSTON – Livingston school officials, teachers, staff and volunteers are working to ready the new temporary campus for Denham Springs Elementary to welcome students on Monday, Feb. 6.The new temporary campus is located next to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Hatchell Lane. It will serve as the school's new campus as work is done to repair the original flood-damaged campus.Superintendent Rick Wentzel said that weather delays along with other challenges have previously s
  
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• Report: Doritos reigns supreme for Super Bowl LI snacks

  02-02-2017 12:12
  
  When the New England Patriots take on the Atlanta Falcons for Super Bowl LI, many Americans will be munching on Doritos, one company says.According to Jet.com, nacho cheese flavored Doritos is the top snack that America is planning to eat for the big game.Frito-Lay said last month that the company will not run Doritos commercials for the 2017 Super Bowl. The company told ABC News that product commercials did not fit with Frito-Lay’s marketing plans for the upcoming year.Below is the fu
  
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• Report: Doritos reign supreme for Super Bowl LI snacks

  02-02-2017 12:12
  
  When the New England Patriots take on the Atlanta Falcons for Super Bowl LI, many Americans will be munching on Doritos, one report says.According to Jet.com, nacho cheese flavored Doritos is the top snack that America is planning to eat for the big game.Frito-Lay said last month that the company will not run Doritos commercials for the 2017 Super Bowl. The company told ABC News that product commercials did not fit with Frito-Lay’s marketing plans for the upcoming year.Below is the ful
  
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• Reddit bans forum for white nationalists from its website

  02-02-2017 11:43
  
  Reddit has banned a forum for white nationalists from its social news website, citing the company's rules against posting personal information and online harassment.Reddit spokesman Anna Soellner said in a statement that the company banned its "r/altright" forum on Wednesday for repeated violations of its content rules. Soellner said Reddit users can be banned for posting personal information, but her statement doesn't cite any examples involving the banned forum.Thousands of users subscribed to
  
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• Tillerson: Diplomats must be a team despite personal beliefs

  02-02-2017 11:18
  
  WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says America's diplomats are entitled to express political beliefs but says "we cannot let our personal convictions overwhelm our ability to work as one team."Tillerson is addressing employees at the State Department on his first day on the job. He's alluding to a "dissent cable" signed by hundreds of diplomats criticizing President Donald Trump's immigration order.Tillerson says the election was hotly contested and he wants U.S. diplomats to apply t
  
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• No shadow for Louisiana's Shadeaux

  02-02-2017 09:30
  
  NEW IBERIA – Louisiana's Cajun weather rodent did not see his “shadeaux” Thursday., insinuating a longer Spring for the Bayou State.According to The Daily Iberian newspaper in Iberia Parish, nutria Pierre C. Shadeaux appeared from his habitat under heavy fog early Thursday to decipher the weather forecasters apparently can't with the latest technology. Shadeaux's Groundhog Day appearance south of Lafayette gave us better news than his counterpart, Punxsutawney Phil,
  
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• La.'s weather predicting nutria contradicts Groundhog Day forecast

  02-02-2017 09:30
  
  NEW IBERIA – Louisiana's Cajun weather rodent did not see his “shadeaux” Thursday., insinuating a longer Spring for the Bayou State.According to The Daily Iberian newspaper in Iberia Parish, nutria Pierre C. Shadeaux appeared from his habitat under heavy fog early Thursday to decipher the weather forecasters apparently can't with the latest technology. Shadeaux's Groundhog Day appearance south of Lafayette gave us better news than his counterpart, Punxsutawney Phil,
  
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• Metal objects in some cans prompt Skoal tobacco recall

  02-02-2017 08:28
  
  WASHINGTON - Some varieties of Skoal, Copenhagen, Cope and Husky brand smokeless tobacco are being voluntarily recalled amid complaints of metal objects, some of them sharp, being spotted in cans.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says all of the recalled products were manufactured at U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company's facility in Franklin Park, Illinois. The FDA says the company initiated the recall after getting eight consumer complaints about the metal objects in six states. The FDA says the
  
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• Trump tweets that Iran is 'on notice' for firing missile

  02-02-2017 08:22
  
  WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump says Iran was on the verge of collapse until the U.S. gave it a "lifeline" in the form of the Iran deal.The president tweeted Thursday, "Iran has been formally PUT ON NOTICE for firing a ballistic missile." He adds, "Should have been thankful for the terrible deal the U.S. made with them!"Trump was repeating comments made by National Security Adviser Michael Flynn,Trump also tweeted, "Iran was on its last legs and ready to collapse until the U.S. came along an
  
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• Risk to women's health benefits seen in health law repeal

  02-02-2017 08:18
  
  WASHINGTON - The Republican push to repeal the Obama-era health care law already is raising concerns that women could be hit hard.The 2010 law ended a common insurance industry practice of charging women more than what a man would pay for policies purchased individually.It made maternity and newborn care a required benefit for virtually all medical plans.And it established a set of preventive services that have to be provided at no extra cost to women, including birth control and breast pumps fo
  
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• Traffic fix coming to LSU area

  02-02-2017 08:10
  
  BATON ROUGE - The LSU area will soon see some traffic improvements on West Parker Boulevard towards Burbank Drive.Mike Olsen, the traffic engineer for the City of Baton Rouge says the area was in need of a change.“I’ve been out here in the afternoons and its backed up all the way to Highland Road, so it seems like people are pretty calm, I think they are used to it, but just because you are used to it doesn't mean you can make better change,” he said.The ch
  
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• Multi-vehicle crash on LA 1 in New Roads, several hospitalized

  02-02-2017 07:45
  
  POINTE COUPEE - New Roads Police said there was an accident involving five vehicles on LA 1 at Hospital Road around 6:30 a.m. Thursday morning.Police said there was an initial crash involving two vehicles in front of train tracks. Two more cars approached the accident and stopped. The fifth car reportedly crashed into those cars, resulting in a domino-effect accident. Police said heavy fog in the area may have caused the pileup.Emergency crews reported that eight people were hospitalized. Howeve
  
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• UC Berkeley speech by Breitbart's Milo Yiannopoulos canceled because of violent protests

  02-02-2017 07:33
  
  A speech by conservative firebrand Milo Yiannopoulos was canceled at the University of California, Berkeley on Wednesday amid violent protest that sparked at least one fire.
  
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• 1 hostage dead, another alert at Delaware prison

  02-02-2017 07:30
  
  SMYRNA, Del. - Delaware prison officials say one hostage is dead and a second is alert and talking after authorities went into a building at the state's largest prison where inmates took staff members hostage.Officials announced in a statement Thursday morning that the building where the disturbance occurred at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center is now secure. The prison is in Smyrna, about 15 miles north of the state capital of Dover.Officials say after police breached the building, one De
  
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