Baton Rouge news

• NBA warns Texas over proposed 'bathroom bill'

  17-02-2017 21:28
  
  AUSTIN, Texas - The NBA has warned that Texas could be overlooked for future events because of a proposed "bathroom bill" targeting transgender people.
      
  The Texas legislation is similar to a North Carolina law that prompted the league to move the All-Star Game out of that state. It would require people to use bathrooms that correspond to the sex on their birth certificate.
      
  NBA spokesman Mike Bass says an environment where people are
  
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• Push for "City of St. George" could return, but with obstacles

  17-02-2017 21:23
  
  BATON ROUGE - The City of St. George movement could return this summer, but a proposed bill would make it very difficult for a new city to form.Representative Ted James will reintroduce legislation that would allow all voters in the East Baton Rouge Parish to vote on an incorporation. He said he wants the bill for fairness in the parish."This is not anti-anybody," James said. "This is pro-East Baton Rouge Parish."The bill would require any proposed or future incorporations to be approved by the
  
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• Police presence will remain unchanged for weekend downtown events

  17-02-2017 21:10
  
  BATON ROUGE - The parades will roll on this weekend in Baton Rouge without an increased police presence, despite a violent week across the city.Thousands of people will be downtown this weekend as huge parades roll through the streets. Downtown business owners said they are not concerned, because they will have their own security.Crews at the Draft House on Third Street spent Friday getting ready for a huge crowd of customers looking to have fun."It means a whole lot of stress for this guy," man
  
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• Couple's bodies recovered at site of helicopter crash

  17-02-2017 20:42
  
  MANY - Authorities have recovered the bodies of a Texas couple killed in helicopter crash in Louisiana.
      
  Desoto Parish Chief Deputy Coroner Billy Locke on Thursday identified the two victims as the plane's owner, 54-year-old Terry Glenn Bailey, and his 57-year-old wife, Pamela Jo.
      
  The Federal Aviation Administration said the helicopter had departed Shreveport Downtown Airport and was headed to Center, Texas, when it crashed early Wed
  
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• Police chief says no reason to be alarmed despite 8 shootings in a week

  17-02-2017 20:39
  
  BATON ROUGE - There have been eight shootings in Baton Rouge in just one week. Five people were hurt and four others were killed.  Baton Rouge Police Department Chief Carl Dabadie said despite a violent week in the city, there is no reason for residents to be alarmed."We have increased patrols in all the areas that we've had these issues," Dabadie said. "We've also stepped up our street operations and were working with several different agencies to assist us with this stuff."On Monday,
  
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• He's the only person ever expelled from the Louisiana Senate

  17-02-2017 20:08
  
  While in prison, Greenwell Springs lawmaker put buddy on Senate payroll
  
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• Here's the only person ever expelled from the Louisiana Senate

  17-02-2017 20:08
  
  While in prison, Greenwell Springs lawmaker put buddy on Senate payroll
  
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• Boy or Girl? It's a sloth, so we don't know yet

  17-02-2017 19:55
  
  HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Zookeepers are waiting for a DNA test to learn whether Hattiesburg Zoo's baby sloth is a boy or a girl. That's because sloths' sex organs are internal.
      
  Mammal curator Stephen Taylor says they'll have to send a bit of fur to a lab to learn the gender of the Hoffman's two-toed sloth born to Mo and Chewy.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hey <a href="https://twitter.com/IMKr
  
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• All FEMA MHUs are on intended sites

  17-02-2017 19:12
  
  BATON ROUGE - All FEMA manufactured housing units are on their intended sites, according to a FEMA spokesperson.FEMA says some flood victims have already turned their MHUs back in to the agency. As people continue to do so, you may see more units on the road.The agency says they are still working out some issues in a few unique cases in which people did not receive a manufactured housing unit. For example, some victims with special needs never mentioned their situation, so crews never delivered
  
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• Chief: More police, partnerships will work to curb violent streak

  17-02-2017 17:46
  
  BATON ROUGE – The Baton Rouge Police chief said in an interview with WBRZ Friday evening, the city has established partnerships with other agencies to deal with crime.The details come after a week of an increase in violence – three murders, a shooting where a homeowner shot and killed a robber and four other shootings that injured five people. The three murders are related, police suspect.The chief said he could not release specific information about how the three murders are
  
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• Former Angola prison official pleads guilty to fraud

  17-02-2017 17:37
  
  BATON ROUGE - A high-ranking official at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of wire fraud linked to the theft or misuse of as much as $160,000 from a fund meant to improve recreational opportunities for prison employees and their families.The Advocate reports 46-year-old former Col. Shirley Whittington, who headed the maximum-security prison's Emergency Medical Services department, entered the plea Wednesday before U.S. District Judge James Brady in
  
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• Loophole in state's domestic violence laws following Brown resignation

  17-02-2017 16:53
  
  BATON ROUGE – Troy Brown's resignation from the State Senate for domestic battery was celebrated by his fellow lawmakers this week, however it also sheds light to a loophole in the state's domestic violence laws.Brown criticized his former lawmakers for forcing him out of the Senate for two misdemeanor battery offenses."We must accept and understand that the constitutional dialogue does not say that a senator should be expelled from his seat by way of a misdemeanor offense," Brown said
  
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• U.S. Postal Offices to close on President's Day

  17-02-2017 16:12
  
  The United States Postal Offices will be closed on Feb. 20 in observance of President's Day.Postal officials say that only Priority Mail Express will be delivered on the holiday. Normal mail delivery, postal retail operations and mail collections will resume on Tuesday, Feb. 21.Business Mail Entry Units will be open for commercial customers on Feb. 20.Postal customers should visit www.usps.com and go to the tools drop-down menu, then click on Post Offices and Approved Postal Providers t
  
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• DEQ reminding residents open burning of household debris is illegal

  17-02-2017 15:50
  
  BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality is reminding residents affected by last week's tornadoes and severe weather thatthe open burning of household debris is illegal.According to DEQ, it is illegal to burn solid waste, household waste, construction debris, household chemicals and oil even if it is on private property. The department says that materials should be separated by type and set out curbside for proper removal by local waste management.When burned, ho
  
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• Officials close Penn State frat where pledge had fatal fall

  17-02-2017 15:11
  
  PENNSYLVANIA - Authorities are shutting down a Penn State fraternity where a pledge was fatally injured in a fall down the stairs. Police say 19-year-old Timothy Piazza, of Lebanon, New Jersey, was one of 14 pledges present Feb. 2 for a pledge acceptance ceremony. 
  It took fraternity members nearly 12 hours to report that they'd found him motionless at the bottom of basement stairs in their house.Help wasn't called until the next day. Piazza died at a hospital Feb. 4. 
  
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• Daily lane closures on US 190 in Pointe Coupee start Sunday

  17-02-2017 14:29
  
  TORBERT – Starting Sunday, the east and west bound left lanes on US 190 near Torbert will be closed as crews work to install guard rails.According to DOTD, the closure will start at the intersection of US 190 and LA 1 in Pointe Coupee Parish and end at the intersection of US 190 and La 978. Traffic officials say it will be a 24 hour a day lane closure.“DOTD appreciated your patience and reminds you to please drive with caution through construction sites and be on the lookout
  
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• LGBT employees ask Education Secretary to keep protections

  17-02-2017 14:05
  
  WASHINGTON - LGBT employees are asking Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to commit to safeguarding anti-discrimination regulations.The staffers sent an email to DeVos that was obtained Friday by The Associated Press. In the email, staffers urge the new education secretary to issue a statement confirming her commitment to Title IX rules, which prohibit discrimination based on sex in educational programs.The email was sent Wednesday by a group of LGBT Education Department employees and their support
  
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• Crash involving deputy on motorcycle reported on Airline Highway

  17-02-2017 13:36
  
  BATON ROUGE – Emergency crews were dispatched to a report of a motorcycle patrolman crashed on Airline Highway near Highland Road around lunchtime Friday.Reports about what happened were unavailable at the time of this post.  Sources said the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's deputy on the motorcycle was not hurt. Witnesses told WBRZ, an ambulance and law personnel were on the scene.The crash happened at the corner of Airline and Thad Cain Lane.Check back for
  
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• LSP: more troopers for Mardi Gras, NBA All-Star weekend

  17-02-2017 13:34
  
  NEW ORLEANS – State Police have deployed more than 100 Troopers for the 2017 Mardi Gras season and the NBA All-Star weekend in New Orleans.According to Louisiana State Police, 165 additional Troopers will be working in New Orleans to help with the events and Troopers already working in the city. Troopers will be on assignment in the French Quarter and metro area focusing on proactive patrols, criminal investigations, crowd and traffic control."Our primary focus during these events is p
  
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• Pentagon cites evidence of Islamic State "exodus" from Raqqa

  17-02-2017 13:27
  
  WASHINGTON - The Pentagon says it sees signs that the Islamic State group is preparing for the loss of its de facto capital in Raqqa, Syria.Navy Capt. Jeff Davis is a Pentagon spokesman. Davis says the extremist group's administrative structure in Raqqa is beginning to crack. He says IS "bureaucrats," those he describes as administrators and senior leaders, are fleeing east along the north bank of the Euphrates River in the direction of Deir el-Zour. He calls it an "exodus" and an organized with
  
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• La. House debates deeper budget cuts than Gov. Edwards wants

  17-02-2017 13:05
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana House lawmakers are debating a budget re-balancing proposal to slash $188 million from state spending over the remaining four months of the financial year.That's $128 million more than Gov. John Bel Edwards wants to cut to help eliminate Louisiana's deficit.Republican Rep. Rick Edmonds, of Baton Rouge, said although some reductions in his bill could be painful, "we find ourselves in desperate times."Democratic Rep. Walt Leger, of New Orleans, said Edmonds' propos
  
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• Beloved WBR Sheriff Randall Andre has died

  17-02-2017 12:08
  
  WEST BATON ROUGE – Retired West Baton Rouge Sheriff Randall Andre died this week at his Lakeland home.Family members say Andre died around 7 p.m. Wednesday surrounded by his family and wife of 55 years, Janice.Andre entered law enforcement in 1977 and continued until he retired as sheriff in 2004. He inspired his employees by leading with empathy, honor and dignity.Visitation will be Saturday, Feb. 18. from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lakeland. Mass t
  
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• Trump weighs mobilizing National Guard for immigration roundups

  17-02-2017 09:56
  
  A draft memo indicates that the Trump administration is considering a proposal to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants. The memo was obtained by The Associated Press.The proposal includes four states that border on Mexico -- California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. But it also includes seven other states that don't -- Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.White House spokesman Sean Spicer says the AP report is "100 per
  
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• La. National Guard not contacted for Trump immigration roundups

  17-02-2017 09:56
  
  WASHINGTON D.C. - A draft memo indicates that the Trump administration is considering a proposal to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants. The memo was obtained by The Associated Press.The proposal includes four states that border on Mexico -- California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. But it also includes seven other states that don't -- Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.According to the memo, governors in the 11 sta
  
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• No 'Jersey Shore' redux; beach town wary of new reality show

  17-02-2017 09:54
  
  SEASIDE HEIGHTS - Some residents of the New Jersey shore town stung by MTV's "Jersey Shore" are wary about plans by a bar featured in that series to hold a casting call for a new reality show.The Bamboo Bar in Seaside Heights is looking for "loud and fun" single people at a casting call Saturday.The planned show is tentatively titled "I Love Summer," and would follow roommates who work on the beach during the day and at the bar at night.Bamboo Bar owner John Saddy tells the Asbury Park Press tha
  
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• LAGOP says Brown's resignation should have come sooner

  17-02-2017 09:47
  
  BATON ROUGE – Louisiana Republicans say state Senator Troy Brown’s resignation should have come sooner.In a statement released Thursday, LAGOP Executive Director Jason Doré said his colleagues welcome Brown’s resignation.“We’re glad he finally saw that his actions were not to be tolerated by the Louisiana Legislature,” Doré said. “We hope that he comes to recognize that his acts of violence were unbefitti
  
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• Twin tragedies give survivor a new face and second chance at a normal life

  17-02-2017 08:49
  
  He'd been waiting for this day, and when his doctor handed him the mirror, Andy Sandness stared at his image and absorbed the enormity of the moment: He had a new face, one that had belonged to another man.
  
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• USPS commemorates JFK with President's Day stamp

  17-02-2017 08:37
  
  The U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the centennial of President John F. Kennedy’s birth by dedicating a new Forever stamp in his honor.The dedication will be made at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston. The stamps will be available in post offices nationwide by Feb. 21.The artwork on the stamp shows Kennedy in a reflective pose in Aaron Shikler’s 1970 oil painting.“Our family is honored that the Postal Service is commemorating my grand
  
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• Michel, GOP leader skilled at deal-making, dies at age 93

  17-02-2017 08:28
  
  WASHINGTON - A former aide says former House Republican leader Bob Michel has died at age 93.Michel was an affable Illinois congressman who served as leader of the GOP House minority for 14 years. His skill at seeking compromise with the Democrats was critical in helping Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush pursue their agendas during their presidential terms.Michel served 19 terms in the minority and retired one election too soon to be part of the Republican House majority that swept to power in
  
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• Pastor irate after American Girl introduces boy doll

  17-02-2017 08:23
  
  ASHEVILLE - A North Carolina pastor is angry that the maker of the American Girl doll collection is selling a boy version of its pricey dolls.The Asheville Citizen-Times reports the Rev. Keith Ogden sent a message Wednesday to more than 100 parishioners titled, "KILLING THE MINDS OF MALE BABIES," upon watching a segment about American Girl on ABC's "Good Morning America."Ogden, a pastor at Asheville's Hill Street Baptist Church, says the doll will emasculate boys and encourage the alteration of
  
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• Pence aiming to reassure allies at start of Trump presidency

  17-02-2017 08:19
  
  WASHINGTON - Vice President Mike Pence is making his debut on the world stage with a trip to Germany and Belgium designed to reassure European and Mideast partners about U.S. foreign policy.Allies have been concerned about U.S. commitments in the wake of President Donald Trump's "America First" mantra. There are also lingering questions about Trump's relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and whether the new president may promote isolationist tendencies.Pence is scheduled to arrive i
  
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• Jets CB facing charges following fight

  17-02-2017 07:12
  
  PITTSBURGH - New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis has been charged with four first-degree felonies and one misdemeanor after he was allegedly involved in a fight with two men last weekend. The felonies include two counts of aggravated assault and a single count of robbery.Police say the alleged fight started when a man spotted Revis walking early Sunday morning. After Revis confirmed he was the NFL player, the man started recording the interaction before Revis grabbed the phone and tried to d
  
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• 11-foot python slithers into South Florida student's car

  17-02-2017 06:57
  
  DAVIE - A South Florida college student says he was startled when he saw a large snake crawl under his roommate's car.Nova Southeastern University students Ross Price and his roommate James Hand called an exterminator Feb. 1, but were told it was too late to send someone. So they called the Davie Police Department.The SunSentinel reports Officer Tony Bernardo - the go-to guy for dealing with wildlife - and two other officers responded. The snake put up a fight and moved deep into the Toyota Camr
  
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• New 30-day closed crab season begins Monday

  17-02-2017 06:36
  
  BATON ROUGE - A 30-day closed season on crabbing will begin Monday.The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission decided last year that something had to be done because overfishing was threatening the crab population.So through 2019, crabbing will be banned for 30 days, starting on the third Monday of February.For the 30 days starting Monday, any crab trap found in state waters will be presumed to be engaged in active fishing and considered illegal.There's also a year-round ban on harvesting i
  
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• Disaster food stamps approved for tornado victims

  17-02-2017 06:35
  
  BATON ROUGE - State officials say federal nutrition aid has been approved for people affected by last week's tornado that caused heavy damage in eastern New Orleans.The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services announced the approval Thursday of benefits through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.Information and a map of the affected area can be found at www.dcfs.la.gov/disaster .Permalink| Comments
  
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• Florida man charged in a plot to bomb retail stores

  17-02-2017 06:15
  
  OCALA, Fla. - Federal prosecutors say a Florida man planned to blow up several Target stores along the East Coast in an attempt to cheap stock in the company.The Orlando Sentinel reports 48-year-old Mark Charles Barnett of Ocala is charged with possession of a firearm (destructive device) affecting commerce by a previously convicted felon. Barnett is a registered sex offender in Florida.The U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint alleging Barnett built at least 10 explosive devices and paid
  
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• Florida man accused in plot to bomb Target stores

  17-02-2017 06:15
  
  OCALA, Fla. - A Florida man is accused in a plot to blow up several Target stores along the East Coast in an attempt to acquire cheap stock in the company if the stock value plunged after the explosions.The U.S Attorney's Office in the middle district of Florida said in a news release on Thursday that 48-year-old Mark Charles Barnett is charged with possession of a firearm affecting commerce by a previously convicted felon. Barnett is a registered sex offender in Florida.Barnett faces up to 10 y
  
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• Traffic: I-10 West blocked due to accident

  17-02-2017 02:13
  
  Baton Rouge- The right lane is blocked on I-10 East at Washington Street, due to an accident. Congestion is minimal.Refresh this page for traffic updates and alerts.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Traffic: I-10 Eastbound open

  17-02-2017 02:13
  
   2:48 AM- All lanes are open on I-10 East at Washington Street. Congestion is still minimal.Baton Rouge- The right lane is blocked on I-10 East at Washington Street, due to an accident. Congestion is minimal.Refresh this page for traffic updates and alerts.Permalink| Comments
  
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• I-10 eastbound open

  17-02-2017 02:13
  
  BATON ROUGE - All lanes are now open on I-10 eastbound.Early Friday morning, the right lane was blocked on I-10 eastbound at Washington Street due to an accident. Permalink| Comments
  
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