Baton Rouge news

• Vigil honors man killed at Kansas bar shooting

  24-02-2017 21:20
  
  OLATHE, Kan. - Residents of a Kansas City suburb gathered at a church to honor a man who died in a shooting earlier this week at a bar across the street.
      
  About 400 people sang, prayed and lit candles Friday night at First Baptist Church in Olathe, Kansas, to honor Srinivas Kuchibhotla. He was killed and two other men were wounded Wednesday at Austins Bar and Grill.
      
  Those in attendance described the community as "tight-knit" and one
  
  Read more

• Foreign film Oscar nominees decry 'climate of fascism' in US

  24-02-2017 20:04
  
  LOS ANGELES - The six directors whose films are nominated for best foreign language film at the Oscars decried the "climate of fascism' in the U.S. and other countries, in a joint statement two days before the Academy Awards.
      
  The statement, released Friday, was signed by Iran's Asghar Farhadi, Denmark's Martin Zandvliet, Sweden's Hannes Holm, Germany's Maren Ade and the two directors of Australia's "Tanna": Martin Butler and Bentley Dean. The directors blamed "lea
  
  Read more

• Judge won't throw out Bergdahl case over Trump comments

  24-02-2017 19:49
  
  WASHINGTON - A military judge won't throw out charges against Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl despite scathing comments that President Donald Trump made on the campaign trail.
      
  Bergdahl's lawyers had argued that Trump's comments violated their client's due-process rights and that the judge should dismiss charges accusing him of endangering comrades by walking off his post in Afghanistan in 2009.
      
  The Judge, Army Col. Jeffery Nance, wrote in h
  
  Read more

• Brazil's Carnival kicks off with parades and street parties

  24-02-2017 19:17
  
  RIO DE JANEIRO - Revelers all over Brazil are gearing up for parades, balls and street parties on the first of five official days of Carnival celebrations.
      
  The world famous party in Rio de Janeiro is kicking off Friday afternoon with several street parties expected to draw tens of thousands. One street party group even has unpopular Brazilian President Michel Temer as its theme.
      
  Rio's top Carnival parades will happen on Sunday and M
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• 2 more men charged in shooting death of toddler in Chicago

  24-02-2017 19:15
  
  CHICAGO - Two more men have been charged in a Chicago shooting that killed two people, including a toddler, and wounded a pregnant woman.
      
  Authorities say Dionel Harris and Jeremy Ellis, both 19 and from Chicago, were charged Friday with first-degree-murder and attempted murder in a shooting on Valentine's Day that killed 2-year-old Lavontay White and Lavontay's uncle, 26-year-old Lazaric Collins.
      
  The shooting in a West Side Chicago
  
  Read more

• Livingston Parish property taxes due by midnight

  24-02-2017 18:28
  
  LIVINGSTON – Feb. 24 is the deadline for homeowners in Livingston Parish to pay their property taxes, even though they are still rebuilding from the August flood.
  One resident, Jimmy Alexander, has been living in his Denham Springs home for nearly 40 years. He is still making repairs to his home and still has to pay taxes, even though he has not lived in it for six months.
  "It's understandable. Still got to pay taxes on it. It's still standing," Alexander said.The deadline to pay prope
  
  Read more

• Pot on stove causes apartment fire on Airline Highway

  24-02-2017 18:04
  
  BATON ROUGE – The Baton Rouge Police Department responded to an apartment fire on Airline Highway Friday afternoon.
  The fire occurred around 4:15 p.m. in the 7600 block of Airline Highway. Firefighters arrived to the scene to find smoke coming from the apartment. The fire was discovered in the kitchen and crews were able to contain it.
  It was determined that the cause of the fire was due to a pot left on the stove.
  The apartment received an estimated $30,000 worth of damage, according
  
  Read more

• Shots fired at restaurant on Florida Boulevard

  24-02-2017 17:25
  
  BATON ROUGE – Crews responded to shot fired at Mike's Seafood on Florida Boulevard on Friday afternoon. Reports of the shots occurred around 5 p.m.
  According to EMS, no one was injured.
  This story will be updated as more information becomes available. Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Man arrested for firing shots during brawl in Zachary

  24-02-2017 17:01
  
  ZACHARY - Police arrested a man for firing several shots during a brawl at the BREC Community Park on Plank Road.
  The Zachary Police Department arrested Carlos Williams on four counts of second degree murder.
  On Feb. 3, a fight occurred at the park that stemmed from an altercation at the workplace of two females. The two were sent home from their workplace and met at the park to fight, according to Zachary Police Chief David McDavid.
  McDavid said that more people came to the park for the fight a
  
  Read more

• New Orleans inmate had signs of 'drug, med-related' death

  24-02-2017 16:37
  
  NEW ORLEANS - The Orleans Parish Coroner's Office says an inmate found dead in his New Orleans cell did not appear to suffer any physical trauma and showed signs consistent with "drug or medication-related deaths."Coroner Dr. Jeffrey Rouse, in a statement Friday, said an autopsy reveals 23-year-old Colby Crawford had "no physical signs of trauma." He says the examination revealed "significant pulmonary edema and nasal frothing - signs often present in drug or medication-related deaths." He says
  
  Read more

• WBRZ staffer welcomes twins

  24-02-2017 15:50
  
  GONZALES – The WBRZ family grew by two Friday with the births of twins.Jocelyn Margaret and Genevieve Marie are the daughters of Megan and Jared Braud of Ascension Parish. Jared works in the TV graphics department at WBRZ. Jared is responsible for many of the on-screen text and still pictures seen during newscasts.Jocelyn Margaret weighs 5lb 5oz and is 19 inches. Genevieve Marie is 6lb 2oz,18 1/2 inches.Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• DHS intel report disputes threat posed by travel ban nations

  24-02-2017 15:49
  
  WASHINGTON - Analysts at the Homeland Security Department's intelligence arm found insufficient evidence that citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries included in President Donald Trump's travel ban pose a terror threat to the United States.A draft document obtained by The Associated Press concludes that citizenship is an "unlikely indicator" of terrorism threats to the United States and that few people from the countries Trump listed in his travel ban have carried out attacks or been involve
  
  Read more

• Two wanted for burglarizing car on Airline Highway

  24-02-2017 15:26
  
  BATON ROUGE – Baton Rouge Police detectives are attempting to identify two suspects accused of burglarizing a vehicle on Airline Highway earlier this month.The vehicle was burglarized in a parking lot located at 9110 Airline Highway on Feb. 8 around 1:30 a.m.The female suspect burglarized the vehicle while the male suspect acted as a lookout, according to BRPD.Anyone with information on this incident is urged to contact the Burglary Division at 389-3824.Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• SEC delivers $100,000 check for LSU employees impacted by flood

  24-02-2017 15:25
  
  BATON ROUGE – University officials say the Southeastern Conference has given LSU $100,000 to assist university employees impacted by August’s historic flooding.A statement from the university said the donation was made to the LSU Employee Assistance Fund, which was established by LSU President F. King Alexander in August.“On behalf of the LSU employees affected by the flood, I wish to thank Commissioner Sankey and the members of the Southeastern Conference their ass
  
  Read more

• White House bars major news outlets from press briefing

  24-02-2017 14:45
  
  WASHINGTON - News organizations including the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, CNN and Politico were blocked from joining an informal, on the record White House press briefing on Friday.The Associated Press chose not to participate in the gaggle following the move by White House press secretary Sean Spicer."The AP believes the public should have as much access to the president as possible," Lauren Easton, the AP's director of media relations, said in a statement.Several news organizations
  
  Read more

• Arrests made in 2016 murder of Ponchatoula teen

  24-02-2017 14:23
  
  PONCHATOULA – Arrests have been made in connection to a 2016 Ponchatoula murder case, the Louisiana Attorney General announced.Tony Johnson, 18, Dkerian Johnson, 18, and two juveniles were arrested in connection to the August 2016 murder of 19-year-old Christopher Franklin.According to the Hammond Daily Star, Franklin was found shot in the head in a home on Methvin Drive in Ponchatoula. The shooting also left a 32-year-old man injured.The arrests were made in partnership with the Livin
  
  Read more

• NASA weighing risk of adding crew to megarocket's 1st flight

  24-02-2017 13:57
  
  CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA is weighing the risk of adding astronauts to the first flight of its new megarocket.NASA's human exploration chief said Friday that his boss and the Trump administration requested the feasibility study.The Space Launch System will be the most powerful rocket ever built when it flies. It's intended for moon and Mars travel.NASA is shooting for an unmanned test flight in late 2018. Putting people on board would delay the mission and require extra money.The space agency's Will
  
  Read more

• Police: R.I. man posing as Uber driver sexually assaulted teen

  24-02-2017 13:55
  
  PROVIDENCE - Police have arrested a 36-year-old Rhode Island man who they say kidnapped and sexually assaulted a 15-year-old Providence girl while posing as an Uber driver.Maj. David Lapatin announced Thursday that Francis Scott, of Woonsocket, was charged with kidnapping and second-degree sexual assault following his arrest.The Providence Journal reports  the assault reportedly occurred the morning of Feb. 14, after the teen was dropped off at the Providence Career and Technical Academ
  
  Read more

• Protest camp cleared, but area far from normal

  24-02-2017 13:54
  
  CANNON BALL - Authorities this week cleared the last holdouts from a Dakota Access pipeline protest camp on federal land in North Dakota, but it will be a while before the region returns to normal.There's tons of debris to be cleared. There's a highway bridge that remains closed. Pipeline drilling continues. There's a court battle lingering. And hundreds of protesters remain in the area.Many in the closed camp have gone to other camps nearby on the Standing Rock Reservation. But the sta
  
  Read more

• Gov. Edwards hand delivers request to FEMA administrator

  24-02-2017 13:51
  
  WASHINGTON – Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards met with federal emergency officials Friday to discuss ongoing flood and tornado recovery relief efforts.Friday morning, Edwards hand delivered a letter to acting FEMA administrator Robert J. Fenton Jr. The letter asks Fenton to consider public assistance grand funding for Ascension, Livingston, Jefferson, Orleans and St. James parishes after tornados struck southeast Louisiana.Read the full letter by clicking here.On Sunday, Edwards wil
  
  Read more

• Daycare worker sentenced to five years for toddler's death in 2015

  24-02-2017 13:38
  
  BATON ROUGE – The woman accused of operating a daycare without a license and leaving a toddler in a hot van has been sentenced to five years hard labor.Sheila Newman was sentenced to five years hard labor, but will serve only two years with five years of probation after release. She was also sentenced to 300 hours of community service and ordered to pay $6075 in restitution to the family.In June 2015, Newman was accused of operating a daycare without a license. Police reports said Newm
  
  Read more

• Daycare worker sentenced to five years for child's death

  24-02-2017 13:38
  
  BATON ROUGE – The woman accused of operating a daycare without a license and leaving a toddler in a hot van was sentenced to five years hard labor in a Baton Rouge courtroom Friday.Sheila Newman will serve only two years with five years of probation after her release. She was also sentenced to 300 hours of community service and ordered to pay $6075 in restitution to the family.In June 2015, Newman was accused of operating a daycare without a license and negligent homicide. Police repor
  
  Read more

• Done with your FEMA unit? What you need to know

  24-02-2017 12:46
  
  BATON ROUGE - More Louisiana residents are returning home and no longer need their FEMA Manufactured Housing Unit. As of Thursday, Feb. 23, 87 units have been deactivated and collected.If you no longer need your MHU and are moved out, applicants should call their caseworker to request a deactivation inspection visit (fastest method) or call the helpline at 800-621-3362.FEMA says a caseworker will schedule an appointment to meet with the applicant and inspect the unit. During the appoint
  
  Read more

• Man arrested for driving wrong way on interstate, two good Samaritans struck

  24-02-2017 12:44
  
  BATON ROUGE – A man has been arrested for vehicular homicide after he drove the wrong way on the interstate, causing two people to be struck and killed by another vehicle.The Baton Rouge Police Department arrested 44-year-old Ramsey White for vehicular homicide, negligent homicide, negligent injuring, DWI second offense, reckless operations, driving the wrong way and operating a vehicle with a suspended driver's license.On Jan. 6, the Baton Rouge Police Department responded to
  
  Read more

• Boil water advisory lifted for parts of Iberville

  24-02-2017 11:39
  
  IBERVILLE – The boil water advisory that went into effect for parts of the Iberville Parish Water District No. 3 on Feb. 21 has been lifted.The advisory impacted customers located on Highway 75 from Jack Miller's Landing south to the end of Highway 75 in Bayou Pigeon. It also included all intersecting streets and all streets west of Highway 75, including Bayou Sorrel Road and Bayou Pigeon Road.According to officials, water testing indicated no contamination and the water has been deeme
  
  Read more

• Trump vows to deport immigrants in US illegally

  24-02-2017 11:03
  
  WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is vowing again to deport immigrants in the U.S. illegally who have committed crimes.Trump's telling a gathering of conservatives that "as we speak today, immigration officers are finding gang members, drug dealers and criminal aliens and throwing them the hell out."His declaration comes the day after he and one of his Cabinet secretaries offered clashing takes on the nature of the deportation push.Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly pledged in Mexico that
  
  Read more

• President Trump says welfare reform is coming

  24-02-2017 11:03
  
  WASHINGTON -  President Donald Trump is signaling more reforms are ahead for the nation's welfare system. He tells conservatives that "it's time for all Americans to get off welfare and get back to work." He adds, "You're going to love it."The nation's welfare laws were overhauled under former President Bill Clinton in the 1990s. The changes provided states with grants in exchange for greater flexibility in how they can use the funds.There's been a steady decline in the number of needy
  
  Read more

• Judge: Only 1 Cosby accuser can testify at sex assault trial

  24-02-2017 08:43
  
  PHILADELPHIA - A judge will let only one other accuser testify at Bill Cosby's sexual assault trial to support charges the comedian drugged and molested a woman at his estate near Philadelphia.The judge's ruling Friday means that prosecutors cannot call 12 other women as "prior bad act" witnesses.The 79-year-old comedian is set to go on trial in June over the 2005 complaint by former Temple University employee Andrea Constand.Prosecutors reopened the case in 2015 after newly released court docum
  
  Read more

• Baton Rouge woman accused of robbing man during drug sale

  24-02-2017 08:33
  
  BATON ROUGE - Police say a Baton Rouge woman faces armed robbery charges after they say she robbed a man during a drug deal in October.On Oct. 8, East Baton Rouge Sheriff's investigators report that a man said he was robbed at gunpoint at a home on Mariner Drive in Baton Rouge. The victim said he was trying to purchase drugs when Careena Bender, 22, put a gun to his back and said, "I'm going to shoot you if you move!"Arrest reports say the victim handed over $80 in cash and an iPhone 6. Bender a
  
  Read more

• Trump goes blames FBI for failing to stop media leaks

  24-02-2017 07:11
  
  WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is blaming the FBI for failing to stop leaks to the media, saying the information being reported is classified and could have a "devastating effect" on the country.Trump made the remarks in a tweet early Friday. His tweet follows reports that White House chief of staff Reince Priebus had asked a top FBI official to dispute media reports that Trump's campaign advisers were frequently in touch with Russian intelligence agents during the election.Trump writes, "T
  
  Read more

• Gamer dies while attempting 24-hour stream for charity

  24-02-2017 07:06
  
  VIRGINIA BEACH - Police are investigating the death of a popular Virginia gamer who died during the home stretch of a 24-hour marathon video game session he was streaming online to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.News outlets report that 35-year-old Brian Vigneault was about 22 hours into playing "World of Tanks" on Twitch.tv when he stood up from his computer early Sunday to take a smoke break. He never returned.Vigneault was found unresponsive at his Virginia Beach home later that e
  
  Read more

• Tom Brady: The Movie? Fans divided and foes say they'll pass

  24-02-2017 06:55
  
  BOSTON - A new book and a movie are in the works about Tom Brady and the "Deflategate" suspension he overcame to earn an unprecedented fifth Super Bowl ring.But Patriots Nation seems ambivalent, and the superstar quarterback's foes say they'll take a pass.Author Casey Sherman and Boston writer Dave Wedge are collaborating on the book under the working title "Let's Go!" - Brady's rallying cry.The pair co-authored "Boston Strong," which inspired this year's "Patriots Day" film about the 2013 Bosto
  
  Read more

• J.C. Penney plans to close up to 140 stores

  24-02-2017 06:47
  
  NEW YORK - J.C. Penney says it will be closing anywhere from 130 to 140 stores as well as two distribution centers over the next several months as it aims to improve profitability in the era of online shopping.The closures, announced Friday, represent about 13 percent to 14 percent of the company's current store count, and less than 5 percent of total annual sales.The news came as Penney posted a profit in the fourth-quarter compared to a loss a year ago.The company posted quarterly sales of $3.
  
  Read more

• Caitlyn Jenner calls Trump transgender decision 'a disaster'

  24-02-2017 06:23
  
  WASHINGTON - Caitlyn Jenner is taking President Donald Trump to task for his administration's reversal of a directive on transgender access to public school bathrooms.Jenner addresses Trump in a video posted Thursday night on Twitter. She says, "From one Republican to another, this is a disaster."The Trump White House has ended a directive issued during Barack Obama's presidency that told public schools to let transgender students use bathrooms and locker rooms of their chosen gender.Jenner is p
  
  Read more

• LIVE UPDATES: Friday's commute

  24-02-2017 05:04
  
  BATON ROUGE - News 2's Ashley Fruge has you covered with live updates for your Friday commute.Beat the traffic every time using WBRZ's advanced traffic tracking technology. Click here to go to our traffic center.Tweets by WBRZtrafficPermalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• Fatal collision on Choctaw Dr. near Plank Rd.

  24-02-2017 04:18
  
  Baton Rouge Police and EMS responded to a deadly collision involving a motorcylce just after two this morning.The accident happend in the 2600 block of Choctaw Dr. and Plank Rd.We will continue to provide details as the information comes available. Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg visits Baton Rouge for some barbecue: report

  24-02-2017 00:13
  
  Facebook founder in Baton Rouge as part of his road trip across the south.
  
  Read more

Follow @BatonRougeNews_ on Twitter!