Baton Rouge news

• Huge Baton Rouge drug bust uncovers narcotics, gun, cash

  16-02-2017 21:47
  
  BATON ROUGE - The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office has arrested two men after they uncovered large amounts of illegal substances, including drugs and a gun, from two separate apartments.According to deputies, 35-year-old Damar Xavier Coleman and 23-year-old Jules Morris were arrested Friday.Deputies say the two men were originally stopped in their vehicle. Inside the vehicle, they found more than 92 grams of marijuana, more than 3 grams of powder cocaine, and a 12-gauge shotgun. They s
  
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• Bayou Bridge Pipeline backed by Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards

  16-02-2017 21:23
  
  He voices support for controversial project during monthly radio show
  
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• Vice admiral turns down national security job

  16-02-2017 20:52
  
  WASHINGTON - Vice Admiral Robert Harward has turned down an offer to be President Donald Trump's new national security adviser.
      
  A senior White House official says Harward turned the offer down due to financial and family commitments.
      
  The official spoke anonymously because Harward's decision has not been publicly announced.
      
  Harward would have replaced retired Gen. Michael Flynn, who resigned at Trump's
  
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• Student body presidents express concern over threats to higher education

  16-02-2017 19:58
  
  BATON ROUGE - In a plea to the governor, the Council of Student Body Presidents  expressed their concern over "constant cuts" to higher education.More than 30 student body presidents from Louisiana schools, including Louisiana State University and Southern University, issued a letter to Governor John Bel Edwards and other state legislators, saying they represent more that 215,000 college students across the state and the Student Government Association Presidents of Louisiana's colleges
  
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• Revenge hacker: 34 months, must repay Georgia-Pacific $1M

  16-02-2017 19:31
  
  BATON ROUGE - A fired computer expert who hacked into his former employer's system has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison and ordered to pay $1.1 million in damages to Georgia-Pacific Corp.
      
  U.S. Attorney Walt Green in Baton Rouge says 44-year-old Brian Johnson, of Zachary, was sentenced Wednesday for one count of hacking into an industrial computer system to damage operations.
      
  According to his plea bargain, Johnson was a
  
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• HUD approves plan for appropriation of flood relief money

  16-02-2017 19:18
  
  BATON ROUGE - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development had approved the first part of an action plan on how to use flood recovery money.The first appropriation is for about $438 million."This is great news for nearly 200,000 families who were impacted by historic floods in 2016," Governor John Bel Edwards said. "We know we still have a long way to go, but this is reassuring for families and businesses who are ready to rebuild their homes."More than $385 million has been allocated to
  
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• Ex-NFL receiver Meachem released from jail

  16-02-2017 19:06
  
  GRETNA - Former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Robert Meachem has been released from jail after paying $100,000 in child support and alimony to his ex-wife.
      
  The payment represents just a quarter of the nearly $400,000 Meachem owed when he was ordered jailed by state District Judge Adrian Adams on Monday.
      
  Adams gave Meachem a 30-day sentence, but ruled he could leave jail at any time by paying $100,000, which records show he did Th
  
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• Livingston neighbors concerned over abandoned post-flood homes

  16-02-2017 18:26
  
  LIVINGSTON – In Livingston Parish the flood damage as a result of the August flood was so bad that some residents just walked away. However, those who are trying to rebuild want something done about the remaining potential health hazards.In the Shadow Springs subdivision near Denham Springs, there are two flood-damaged homes that sit right next door to each other. Residents say they were vacant before the flood and have not been touched since."People who have been living in this neighb
  
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• Disturbance leads to arrests of multiple students in Livonia

  16-02-2017 17:35
  
  LIVONIA- A disturbance at Livonia High School led to the arrests of nine students. A fight broke out Monday, and those familiar with what's going on in the school say conditions have gotten so bad, some no longer feel safe.
  The Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff says there have been an increase in issues at Livonia High. That happened when the parish consolidated to one high school. Tonight, those problems have the attention of school leaders who made their case before students this week.
  "It's like a
  
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• Getting EBR public schools back to normal will be expensive

  16-02-2017 17:25
  
  BATON ROUGE - The East Baton Rouge Parish School System is working to get as many schools as possible back to some sort of normal following the August flood.At a school board meeting Thursday evening, members were scheduled to be briefed on the first stages of six projects.  The hope, according to school district officials, is to have students at Glen Oaks High, Glen Oaks Park Elementary, Greenbrier Elementary, Park Forest Middle and Park Forest Elementary by the fall.  The cos
  
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• Victim in Wax Road crash near Central High School dies

  16-02-2017 17:08
  
  CENTRAL – The driver in a crash on Wax Road near Central High School has died, according to the Central Police Department.The victim has been identified as 53-year-old Hodges Curry of Denham Springs.The crash involved a Fed Ex truck and another vehicle. The driver of the Fed Ex is okay, according to the department. The crash caused the closure of Wax Road at West Brookside.First pictures coming in from the crash on Wax Rd in Central. @WBRZ pic.twitter.com/hBCT79R6oV&a
  
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• One injured in crash on Wax Road near Central High School

  16-02-2017 17:08
  
  CENTRAL – Emergency crews are responding to a crash on Wax Road near Central High School where at least one person is injured.According to the Central Police Department, one person has been transported from the scene in critical condition. The crash involved a Fed Ex truck and another vehicle. The driver of the Fed Ex is okay, according to the department. The crash caused the closure of Wax Road at West Brookside.This story will be updated as more information becomes
  
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• More concerns over sidewalks with no handicapped access

  16-02-2017 16:59
  
  BATON ROUGE - Following a 2 On Your Side report Wednesday, more residents came forward and say they are all trying to accomplish the same thing.Residents living downtown Baton Rouge are calling attention to the intersection near a retirement home. They say the crossings at North Street and North 7th Street are unfriendly to people with mobility problems.Phil Templet is totally blind. He's been a Spanish Town resident for 10 years and uses a white cane when he walks around downtown."Bein
  
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• INVESTIGATIVE UNIT: Walker Mayor says no drainage impact study required for massive project

  16-02-2017 16:42
  
  WALKER- Some residents in Livingston Parish claim their elected officials are to blame for flooding them out of their homes last year. They say money, power and politics are at the root of their problem, not mother nature.Nearly 26 acres of wetlands were cleared and filled in for an expansive project. Walker officials ignored what's required in most parishes before development is allowed to proceed.Tom Pettitt's home on a sprawling piece of property in Brentwood Estates is his little slice of he
  
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• Vacant house fire on Evangeline Street caused by arson

  16-02-2017 16:39
  
  BATON ROUGE – The Baton Rouge Fire Department responded to a vacant house fire that was caused by arson on Evangeline Street Thursday afternoon.The fire occurred around 3 p.m. in the 6400 block of Evangeline Street. BRFD firefighters arrived on scene to find fire coming form the front of the home. Crews were able to contain the fire to the front room.The home received heavy fire and smoke damage estimated to be worth about $20,000, according to the fire department. An
  
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• Former Zachary High student arrested for firing shots at school

  16-02-2017 15:19
  
  ZACHARY – The Zachary Police Department arrested a former Zachary High student for firing a gun at the school on Feb. 6 that prompted five schools to be placed on lockdown.The department received a tip that 19-year-old Morgan Hubert fired two shots at Zachary High School. Hubert was questioned by police and admitted to shooting a .22 caliber firearm after watching the movie American Sniper.According to police, Hubert stated that he was cleaning out a travel trailer an
  
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• Two wanted for shoplifting more than $1,000 of alcohol from Walmart

  16-02-2017 14:54
  
  ASCENSION – The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office is searching for two suspects wanted for shoplifting more than $1,000 worth of alcohol from Walmart.The incident occurred on Jan. 1 at the Neighborhood Walmart in Prairieville. The total amount of alcohol stolen was $1,023, according to the sheriff's office. The sheriff's office says that one of the suspects captured on the store's video surveillance appears to be wearing a Walmart employee vest. Anyone with informatio
  
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• Marucci Sports acquires Pennsylvania bat manufacturer

  16-02-2017 14:44
  
  BATON ROUGE – The Baton Rouge based company that claims it “dethroned Louisville Slugger” has announced it has acquired a Big League bat supplier.Marcucci Sports announced Thursday that the company has acquired Victus Sports, a custom wood bat manufacturer known for unique color finishes and logo designs.“This acquisition made perfect sense,” Marucci CEO Kurt Ainsworth said. “Victus adds value to Marucci’s culture and balance
  
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• Detectives seeking thief that stole bank card from mailbox

  16-02-2017 14:13
  
  BATON ROUGE – Detectives are looking for a man who used a bank card stolen from a mailbox last month.According to East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, a victim living in the 15000 block of Woodlore Drive said that they ordered a new credit card due to fraudulent charges.  The card was never received, but was activated and used to make multiple withdrawals at the Whitney Bank on Sherwood Forest Blvd.Deputies described the suspect as a white man wearing a long-sleeved sh
  
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• Louisiana company agrees to stop selling drugs, supplements

  16-02-2017 14:05
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Federal prosecutors say a Louisiana-based company has agreed to stop marketing untested substances that were labeled and advertised as treatments for heart disease, multiple sclerosis, cancer and other maladies.The agreement was announced Thursday by the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney in Lafayette. It also stops the company, known as Cili Minerals, and its owner from marketing dietary supplements that the government says were adulterated. The federal complaint said the co
  
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• Dudley DeBosier law firm to offer free Uber rides for St. Patrick's Day parade

  16-02-2017 13:59
  
  BATON ROUGE – Dudley DeBosier, a personal injury law firm, if offering free rides through Uber on Mar. 18, the date of St. Patrick Day Parade.The free rides are a part of the "Safe Ride Home" initiative where the firm offers to pick up the tab for car rides on dates that typically have high incidents of drunk driving. The firm created the program to reduce the amount of drunk driving that occurs during the parade weekend, as well as other holidays."Each person that uses this s
  
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• A month into presidency, Trump prepares for a campaign rally

  16-02-2017 13:38
  
  WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is holding a campaign rally Saturday in politically strategic Florida - 1,354 days before Election Day 2020.The unusually early politicking follows a pattern: Trump filed his paperwork for re-election on Inauguration Day last month.By comparison, President Barack Obama didn't make his re-election bid official with the Federal Election Commission until April 2011.Huge rallies were the hallmark of Trump's presidential campaign. He continued to do them, although
  
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• Idaho police: Joey the indoor pet squirrel stops burglary

  16-02-2017 13:35
  
  MERIDIAN - Police in southwest Idaho say an indoor pet, a squirrel named Joey, has thwarted a burglary attempt.The Meridian Police Department says a juvenile entered a home last week and told police after later being arrested that a squirrel attacked him when he tried to break into a gun safe.Meridian Police Officer Ashley Turner says the juvenile received scratch marks on his arm but no bites. The teen is believed to have entered three or four unlocked homes in the area. The juvenile's name has
  
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• LSU's Etling named vice-chair of SEC leadership council

  16-02-2017 13:22
  
  BATON ROUGE – LSU quarterback Danny Etling has been elected as the vice-chair of the Southeastern Conference Football Leadership Council, the league announced Thursday.Etling joins Kentucky's Greg Hart, who was selected to serve as chair for the group, as the two elected leaders of the football council. Etling and Hart were selected by a vote of their peers at the council meeting in Birmingham two weeks ago. The two will attend a portion of the meeting of the SEC's Athletics Directors
  
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• BRPD responding to shooting on Evangeline Street

  16-02-2017 11:46
  
  BATON ROUGE - BRPD is responding to a shooting on Evangeline Street.According to BRPD officials, it happened after 10:30 p.m. on Evangeline Street near Plank Road.According to sources on scene, a female victim was shot while inside a car after an altercation.Sources on scene say  the victim is in serious but stable condition. WBRZ News 2 has a crew on scene.BREAKING: one person going to the hospital after a shooting at Plank and Evangeline. @WBRZ pic.twitter.com/VtXwd2k2iz— Br
  
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• Deputies seeking man who robbed North Mall Dr. Sam's Club

  16-02-2017 11:37
  
  BATON ROUGE – Deputies are looking for the man they say robbed a Sam’s Club on North Mall Drive Wednesday night.According to East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, the man entered the front door of the Sam’s Club around 6:30 p.m. and told a greeter that he had a gun. He told the greeter not to move as he pushed a shopping cart to the TV section near the entrance.The man then exited the store with a Vizio TV and loaded it into the bed of an older model pickup t
  
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• 2 people shot in car on Finch Street

  16-02-2017 11:32
  
  BATON ROUGE - Two people are being taken to the hospital after a shooting on Finch Street in North Baton Rouge.According to a BRPD spokesperson, the shooting happened around 9 p.m. in the 2500 block of Finch Street.Officers say a male and a female victim suffered gunshot injruies while inside a vehicle.Both victims were transported to a local hospitals for non-life threatening injuries.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">H
  
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• Washington court rules against florist in gay wedding case

  16-02-2017 11:23
  
  OLYMPIA - The Washington state Supreme Court has ruled that a florist who refused to provide services for a same-sex wedding broke anti-discrimination laws.The nine justices posted their unanimous ruling on Thursday. Barronelle Stutzman, a florist in Richland, Washington, had been fined by a lower court for denying service to a gay couple in 2013.Stutzman had previously sold the couple flowers and knew they were gay but told them she couldn't provide flowers for their wedding because same-sex ma
  
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• Neighbors want answers after finding dead dog floating in apartment complex lake

  16-02-2017 11:18
  
  BATON ROUGE - A normal walk through his apartment complex turned terrifying when a man noticed the body of a dead dog in a nearby lake.Donald Morrison said he was walking his dog at the Lakeside Villas apartments off Millerville Road when he made the gruesome discovery."I kind of look over, and it's a dog in a garbage bag not even tied up. Just head laid out, and it's kind of on the shore, and I'm thinking 'oh my God, someone just threw away their dog."Morrison said he immediately called the pol
  
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• Caldwell Parish state senator running for treasurer's job

  16-02-2017 11:15
  
  BATON ROUGE - A third state lawmaker has entered the race to be Louisiana's next treasurer.Republican Sen. Neil Riser, a funeral home owner from Caldwell Parish, announced Thursday that he is joining two GOP colleagues - Reps. Julie Stokes of Jefferson Parish and John Schroder of St. Tammany Parish - in competing for the seat.In a statement, Riser says he'd be a "watchdog" for taxpayers. He says Louisiana's budget has grown too large and he'll push to curb waste in state government as treasurer.
  
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• Argument over social media ends in cafeteria brawl

  16-02-2017 09:36
  
  LOREAUVILLE – Deputies say two people were hurt in a brawl over social media at a high school cafeteria in Iberia Parish Thursday morning.According to Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, the fight happened around 7:15 a.m. in the Loreauville High School cafeteria. Deputies say a 16-year-old armed with a knife was fighting an 18-year-old. The 16-year-old had cut the woman multiple times and a school employee who tried to break up the fight was also hurt.Deputies say a second fight
  
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• Thimble tossed! Game piece voted out of Monopoly board game

  16-02-2017 09:17
  
  ATLANTIC CITY - You can still pass "Go" and collect $200 on the Monopoly board, but you soon won't be able to do it with the thimble game piece.Voters have rejected the thimble, an integral part of the game since being added to Monopoly in 1935. The move is part of a campaign to select the next generation of game pieces.Hashtags, emojis and even a rubber duck may replace dogs, cats and hats in an upcoming version.Hasbro Inc. is holding a worldwide contest to let people choose the eight tokens to
  
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• 'Rogue One' stars among Academy Awards presenters

  16-02-2017 09:12
  
  LOS ANGELES - Stars of "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" are heading to the Academy Awards.Oscar telecast producers announced Thursday that Felicity Jones and Riz Ahmed will serve as presenters at the Feb. 26 ceremony.Past Oscar winners Javier Bardem and Charlize Theron are also set to take on presentation duties at the show. Last year's Oscar winning actors - Brie Larson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Rylance and Alicia Vikander - will also appear on the telecast.They will join previously announced pres
  
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• Judge set to rule on Gov. Christie in bridge case complaint

  16-02-2017 09:09
  
  HACKENSACK - A New Jersey judge is set to rule on whether there's probable cause to proceed with a criminal case against Republican Gov. Chris Christie over the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal.The ruling is expected Thursday.The same judge previously found there was probable cause to let the case go forward, but a higher court judge reversed that decision and sent it back to the lower court for reconsideration.Former firefighter William Brennan's complaint accuses Christie of faili
  
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• Judge: Bridge case complaint against Christie can proceed

  16-02-2017 09:09
  
  HACKENSACK - A New Jersey judge says a criminal complaint against Republican Gov. Chris Christie over the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal in 2013 can go forward.Municipal Court Judge Roy McGeady announced his ruling Thursday in a complaint that accuses the governor of failing to stop subordinates from purposely creating traffic jams to punish a Democratic mayor who didn't endorse him.Applause erupted in the courtroom when McGeady announced his ruling.McGeady quoted from testimony f
  
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• Nightly lane closures of I-10E in WBR, Iberville start next week

  16-02-2017 08:35
  
  PORT ALLEN – Crews will be closing lanes of I-10 east in between Ramah and Gross Tete overnight starting next week.According to DOTD, the nightly lane closures will be from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. starting the Feb. 20. The closures will start at mile marker 135 and end at mile marker 137.DOTD says the closures are necessary for the construction of the I-10 cable barrier system.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Airport shooting suspect due in Florida federal court

  16-02-2017 07:57
  
  MIAMI - The Alaska man accused of killing five people and wounding six in a Florida airport shooting rampage is due in federal court.A Miami federal judge scheduled a Thursday afternoon status hearing for 26-year-old Esteban Santiago. Prosecutors say Santiago flew from Anchorage, Alaska, to Florida on Jan. 6 where he opened fire at a baggage claim area of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.Santiago has been indicted on 22 federal charges that could bring the death penalty. He has pl
  
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• Local stores participate in 'Day Without Immigrants' protests

  16-02-2017 07:49
  
  BATON ROUGE - Immigrants across the country, including in Baton Rouge, are expected to stay home from school and work Thursday to show how critical they are to the U.S. economy and way of life."A Day Without Immigrants" actions are planned in cities including New Orleans, Philadelphia, Washington, Boston, Houston, Chicago and New York. The protest gained momentum on social media and by word of mouth.It comes in response to President Donald Trump, whose administration has pledged to increase the
  
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• 'Day Without Immigrants' protests being held across US

  16-02-2017 07:49
  
  PHILADELPHIA - Immigrants across the country are expected to stay home from school and work on Thursday to show how critical they are to the U.S. economy and way of life."A Day Without Immigrants" actions are planned in cities including Philadelphia, Washington, Boston, Houston, Chicago and New York. The protest gained momentum on social media and by word of mouth.It comes in response to President Donald Trump, whose administration has pledged to increase the deportation of immigrants living in
  
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• Councilman hosts District 7 community conversation

  16-02-2017 07:34
  
  BATON ROUGE – One East Baton Rouge Metro Councilmember is making moves to improve the quality of life in his district.District seven councilman LaMont Cole is hosting a community conversation Thursday to address the issues that plaque not only his district, but the entire city.Cole says he wants the community to bring forward their problems for discussion. It can be anything from trash pick-up to economic developments and quality healthcare.Cole said he will help moderate the meeting,
  
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• Teen denies trying to shoot student at Scotlandville high

  16-02-2017 07:08
  
  BATON ROUGE - A Baton Rouge high school freshman has pleaded not guilty after he was accused of trying to shoot a fellow student in the school's courtyard earlier this month.The 14-year-old Scotlandville High School student pleaded not guilty Wednesday to attempted second-degree murder.Prosecutors say the boy fired three shots Feb. 6 in a courtyard at the large public school following a confrontation with a few other students. No one was injured.The teenager is also charged with aggravated assau
  
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• Reduced charges in Bourbon St. shootout that killed BR man

  16-02-2017 06:58
  
  NEW ORLEANS - A magistrate judge has reduced the charges against two men accused in a shootout in New Orleans' tourist-filled French Quarter that left a Baton Rouge man dead and nine others wounded.Magistrate Judge Harry Cantrell said Wednesday that he could find no probable cause for a murder count and nine counts of attempted murder on which both suspects had been arrested following the November shooting. Instead, he found cause to hold the men on manslaughter and attempted manslaughter counts
  
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• Firefighters investigating early morning fire on Sherwood Street

  16-02-2017 05:52
  
  BATON ROUGE - Firefighters are investigating an early morning house fire on Sherwood Street in Baton Rouge.Firefighters say the fire started around 3 a.m. Wednesday morning in the 4700 block of Sherwood Street. Firefighters tell WBRZ that the house was empty at the time of the fire.The Baton Rouge Fire Department has not said what has caused the fire.This is a developing story. Stay tuned to WBRZ News 2 online and on Facebook and Twitter for updates as new information becomes available.&nbsp
  
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• Trump nominee has decried Medicaid for fostering dependency

  16-02-2017 01:56
  
  CHICAGO- The businesswoman President Donald Trump selected to oversee Medicaid has said the program is structurally flawed by policies that burden states and foster dependency.Seema Verma heads Indianapolis-based SVC Inc., a consulting firm that works with GOP-led states seeking federal leeway in how they spend Medicaid dollars. Her solutions to the flaws she sees in Medicaid can be seen most dramatically in Indiana, where enrollees pay fees and a missed payment means a six-month lockout from th
  
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