Baton Rouge news

• Wildfires prompt Oklahoma emergency declaration

  07-03-2017 21:53
  
  OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin has declared a state of emergency in 22 counties due to wildfires.The order issued Tuesday allows state agencies to make emergency purchases needed to deliver necessary resources to local jurisdictions and is the first step toward possibly seeking federal assistance.Fallin's office said in a news release that up to 465 square miles have burned in Beaver, Harper and Woodward counties in northwestern Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Panhandle. The release says da
  
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• Chemical found in coffee machine linked to illnesses at Yale

  07-03-2017 21:47
  
  NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Yale University officials say a laboratory chemical has been detected in a coffee machine suspected to have caused four people at the university's medical school to fall ill.University spokeswoman Karen Peart said Tuesday independent lab tests on a single-service pod-style coffee machine at the medical school indicated the presence of sodium azide.She says the substance is commonly used in labs as a preservative and symptoms of exposure to it include headaches, nausea, vomitin
  
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• Freight train carrying hazardous materials derails, leaks

  07-03-2017 21:33
  
  NEWBURGH, N.Y. - A CSX freight train carrying hazardous materials has derailed in New York's Hudson Valley, spilling sulfuric acid.The lead locomotive of the 77-car train ended up straddling both lanes of a two-lane road in Newburgh, 60 miles north of New York City.State police say two crew members suffered minor injuries. They say the train derailed after striking an equipment loader that was crossing the tracks Tuesday afternoon.CSX spokesman Rob Doolittle says the train was carrying sulfuric
  
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• Flint's water line replacement to take until at least 2019

  07-03-2017 21:27
  
  FLINT, Mich. - The head of Flint's water pipe replacement program says the city in Michigan hopes to finish the project in 2019.Retired National Guard Brig. Gen. Michael McDaniel coordinates the FAST Start initiative to replace lines that leached lead into homes and businesses. He made his comments during the first day of a three-day water infrastructure conference in Flint.He says they hope to replace pipes to 6,000 homes this year. The city has said at least 30,000 homes may have service lines
  
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• Study: California fault could cause magnitude-7.4 quake

  07-03-2017 21:22
  
  SAN DIEGO - A new study says an earthquake fault running from San Diego to Los Angeles is capable of producing a magnitude-7.4 temblor that could affect some of the most densely populated areas in California.The study, announced Tuesday, looked at the Newport-Inglewood and the Rose Canyon systems. They'd been considered separate but the study concludes they're one long fault running offshore from San Diego Bay and on land through the Los Angeles basin.Study lead author Valerie Sahakian says the
  
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• Suspect arrested in O'Neal Lane Walmart arson

  07-03-2017 21:02
  
  BATON ROUGE - One suspect has been arrested in connection to a fire at the O'Neal Lane Walmart Tuesday.According to an official, 19-year-old Jarrett McCleskey was taken into custody at his home by the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office around noon. He was then taken to the Baton Rouge Fire Department for questioning.McCleskey admitted to setting the fire and said the others with him did not know what he was going to do.McCleskey will be booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on
  
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• Five children, three adults injured in 18-wheeler crash on I-110

  07-03-2017 20:47
  
  GONZALES - Eight people were hurt in a crash involving an 18-wheeler on I-110 North at Airline.Sources say all eight were taken to a hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Traffic still appears to be passing at the Airline exit.This story will be updated with more information as it becomes available. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Senate demands action to end threats to Jewish facilities

  07-03-2017 20:09
  
  WASHINGTON - The entire U.S. Senate is calling on the Trump administration to take more aggressive steps to counter the growing number of anonymous bomb threats against Jewish organizations and institutions across the country.All 100 senators say in a letter sent Tuesday that the incidents are becoming more frequent and failure to take swift action places innocent people at risk. Targets of the threats include synagogues, Jewish day schools and community centers.The letter is addressed to Attorn
  
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• Science standards rewrite wins support, with evolution tweak

  07-03-2017 19:34
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's top school board is poised to back a rewrite of the state's science standards for public schools, the first revamp of the teaching benchmarks in two decades.The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education gave preliminary support Tuesday to the standards. They were drawn up by a review committee packed largely with local educators.With a 9-0 vote, a panel of nearly all BESE's members agreed to the standards revisions. But support came only after language was added to re
  
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• One house is replaced by three in Hundred Oaks, some residents not happy

  07-03-2017 18:27
  
  BATON ROUGE – Some homeowners in the Hundred Oaks area are not happy with a new style of house that has popped up. Three shotgun-style homes were built in the neighborhood over the last year and some say they stick out like sore thumbs.
  "Look at the house that is built directly across the street from those lots. That is a typical Hundred Oaks home sight and this is what has come in the last 12 months, actually fewer than that," Hundred Oaks resident, Charles Lamar.The shotgun
  
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• Tip leads to arrest of man wanted for fatal shooting on N. 23 Street

  07-03-2017 17:48
  
  BATON ROUGE – A man was arrested on Tuesday for the shooting death of the man that occurred on Jan. 20 on North 23rd Street. The State Police Fugitive Task Force along with the Baton Rouge Police Department arrested 27-year-old Allen Turner for the shooting death of 35-year-old Devin Johnese.According to BRPD, Turner shot Johnese multiple times after an argument outside of a business in the 1700 block of N. 23rd Street. Johnese died as a result of the wounds days following the
  
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• INVESTIGATIVE UNIT: Rape kit never tested in Angola Assistant Warden case

  07-03-2017 17:38
  
  BATON ROUGE- There's a twist tonight in an alleged rape case in West Feliciana Parish. The district attorney now admits an assistant warden and a woman had sex, but claims it was consensual.
  Tonight, we've learned the rape kit administered in this case wasn't even tested. All of this surrounds a no true bill by a grand jury with the case against Barrett Boeker. A no true bill means the grand jury decided there wasn't enough evidence for Boeker to face rape charges.
  Boeker is essentially cleared
  
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• Marine commandant condemns nude photo-sharing by his troops

  07-03-2017 17:23
  
  WASHINGTON - The commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps is condemning the use of a secret Facebook page by some Marines to share nude photos of women, including female Marines. He's urging victims to come forward if they believe they were harassed or abused, including over social media.Gen. Robert Neller, in a sharp video message Tuesday, says hiding on social media and being disrespectful to other Marines is embarrassing to the Corps and to the nation. He says leaders must make sure that all Marin
  
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• Arkansas lawmakers advance plan to strip Lee from King day

  07-03-2017 16:41
  
  LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A plan to end Arkansas' practice of commemorating Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on the same day as slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. has won approval in the state Senate but faces an uncertain future in the House.The Senate on Tuesday voted 24-0 for the proposal to remove Lee from the state holiday on the third Monday in January honoring King. Only two other states, Alabama and Mississippi, the men on the same day.The proposal, which heads to the House, design
  
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• Entergy to present flood recovery grants to Salvation Army, St. Bernard Project

  07-03-2017 16:29
  
  BATON ROUGE – Entergy will present grants, totaling $225,000, to the Salvation Army and the St. Bernard Project in efforts to help the community recover from the August flood. The grants will be presented to the Salvation Army and the St. Bernard Project, which helps to rebuild damaged homes and buildings, on Mar. 9.
  The Salvation Army will receive $100,000 to repair its flood-damaged offices and the St. Bernard Project will receive $125,000 to help residents rebuild their hom
  
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• Two wanted for car burglary, using stolen credit cards

  07-03-2017 16:02
  
  BATON ROUGE – The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office is searching for two men wanted for car burglary.The burglary happened on Mar. 2 when a victim contacted the sheriff's office to report that her car had been broken into between Feb. 28 and Mar. 1 while at apartments in the 5900 block of Siegen Lane.The victim stated that multiple personal items were stolen from the car, including two credit cards. The cards were used at two separate stores in the Mall of Louisiana. Video fro
  
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• Separate crashes close parts of Government St.

  07-03-2017 15:34
  
  BATON ROUGE - Two separate crashes, one involving an East Baton Rouge Parish school bus, closed parts of Government Street in Baton Rouge Tuesday.Westbound traffic was diverted at Jefferson Highway as crews worked to clear one wreck. Photos from the scene show two cars with damage to their front ends. It is unclear if anyone was hurt in the crash at this time.TRAFFIC ALERT: West bound Government St is closed at Jefferson Hwy. Crews working to clear this crash. Traffic being diverted. @WBRZ pic.t
  
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• LSU baseball to meet University of San Diego at the Box

  07-03-2017 15:33
  
  BATON ROUGE – The LSU baseball team will face the University of San Diego on Tuesday in Alex Box Stadium.The game is set for 6:30 p.m.LSU had two wins and two losses last week, defeating Nicholls and Baylor, but dropping to TCU and Texas Tech."Our guys will have to be ready to play, because San Diego has some very talented ball players," head coach Paul Mainieri said.Tuesday's game marks the first meeting between LSU and San Diego. Additionally, LSU has a 6-2 mark overall against the c
  
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• LSU baseball game against University of San Diego canceled

  07-03-2017 15:33
  
  BATON ROUGE – The LSU baseball game against the University of San Diego on Tuesday in Alex Box Stadium has been canceled. The game was set for 6:30 p.m. however the LSU baseball team tweeted that the game was canceled after being temporarily delayed due to heavy rain. The team then tweeted that the game would be made up later in the season against another opponent. The Tigers will try to find another opponent later in the season to make up for tonigh
  
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• Report: four dead after train strikes charter bus in Mississippi

  07-03-2017 15:19
  
  BILOXI -  Officials say at least four people died when a train collided with a charter bus in Biloxi, Miss.According to WLOX, several people were airlifted from the scene. Around 50 passengers were on the bus at the time of the crash.Biloxi city spokesman Vincent Creel says emergency responders were still removing injured people from the bus more than 30 minutes after the crash Tuesday.Creel says a CSX train headed eastbound hit the bus at a crossing in downtown Biloxi just before 2:15
  
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• State Department resumes press briefings after 6-week break

  07-03-2017 15:10
  
  WASHINGTON - The State Department has resumed news briefings after a six-week break.In the first briefing since Jan. 19, spokesman Mark Toner on Tuesday pushed back on suggestions that the department's role in the Trump administration has been reduced.The absence of briefings, the low profile adopted by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and reports that the diplomatic budget may be cut by 37 percent had all contributed to that impression.Toner, a career diplomat who had served as deputy spokesman
  
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• Little growth planned in state aid for La. public schools

  07-03-2017 15:01
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's public schools appear on track to receive largely standstill financing for the next school year.The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on Tuesday backed a recommendation for a $3.7 billion financing formula for the 2017-18 school year that would freeze the amount of money doled out per student.The proposal would include $18 million in new money for higher-need students and dual enrollment programs that help students earn credit toward advanced degrees.The board
  
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• Coach Orgeron previews LSU spring practice

  07-03-2017 14:37
  
  BATON ROUGE – Coach Ed Orgeron previewed the tigers' upcoming spring practice in a press conference Tuesday.The LSU football team will return to the field for spring practice on Saturday, Mar. 11, and Orgeron answered several questions about the tigers heading into Spring.Most of the questions pertained to the team losing several key defensive players and the everchanging quarterback situation. When asked about his plans fo
  
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• Harvard dropout Zuckerberg to address grads at alma mater

  07-03-2017 13:58
  
  CAMBRIDGE - Mark Zuckerberg is headed back to Harvard, but this time he'll be giving the commencement speech.The Ivy League school announced Tuesday that the Facebook CEO and Harvard dropout was chosen to address students at a May 25 graduation ceremony on the Cambridge campus.Harvard President Drew Faust says Zuckerberg "has profoundly altered the nature of social engagement worldwide," adding that she's glad to welcome him back.Zuckerberg went to Harvard as an undergraduate in 2002 but left af
  
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• Louisiana wildlife agent shot in traffic stop returns home

  07-03-2017 13:48
  
  MONROE - An enforcement agent for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries who was shot in a January traffic stop is back home in Ouachita Parish, but multiple surgeries from returning to work.Tyler Wheeler tells The News-Star he's awaiting surgeries to reattach a portion of his skull and to repair jaw damage. He says until the skull surgery, someone must monitor him around the clock and he can't do most physical activities.Wheeler was shot Jan. 7 in the temple, jaw, shoulder, arm and
  
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• Trump set to roll back federal fuel-economy requirements

  07-03-2017 13:43
  
  WASHINGTON - The Trump administration is moving to roll back federal fuel-economy requirements that would have forced automakers to significantly increase the efficiency of new cars and trucks.The requirements were a key part of former President Barack Obama's strategy to combat global warming.The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to reverse a decision made in the waning days of the Obama administration to lock in strict gas mileage requirements for cars and light trucks through 2025.A
  
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• Independence woman killed in Tangipahoa Parish crash

  07-03-2017 12:55
  
  HAMMOND – Deputies in Tangipahoa Parish say a woman was killed in a crash on Hano Road near Independence Tuesday morning.The crash happened around 6 a.m. Tuesday. According to a preliminary investigation, a Chevrolet Vista was traveling southbound on Hano Road "at an accelerated rate of speed" when it ran off the roadway. Investigators believe the driver, 32-year-old Kareta M. Franklin, overcorrected and crossed the roadway before crashing into an oak tree.The Tangipahoa Parish Coroner
  
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• Elayn Hunt Correctional cadet booked for trying to smuggle drugs, phones

  07-03-2017 12:54
  
  BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections fired a corrections cadet for trying to smuggle drugs and cellphones into the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center.St. Gabriel Police detectives arrested 29-year-old Jomar Jackson with felony introduction of contraband.Jackson tried to avoid a routine search of the corrections officers on Tuesday morning when officers stopped him and found four packs of synthetic marijuana and two cellphones inside his lunch box. Accordi
  
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• Public input meetings to be held on traffic issues

  07-03-2017 12:39
  
  ADDIS - Your opinion is wanted to cure traffic in the long term.The Capital Region Planning Commission will hold a series of public meetings, and launch an online survey to gather input for the Greater Baton Rouge area."While traffic congestion affects everyone daily, there are certain times your input can have a major impact in solving this challenge. Now is one of those times," CRPC Executive Director Jamie Setze said.There are five meetings across the region over the next week. All will begin
  
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• Open house lets WBR residents voice traffic concerns

  07-03-2017 12:32
  WEST BATON ROUGE - You've seen it. You've sat in it. And some folks are just plain tired of the traffic in Baton Rouge.Jamie Setze, the executive director for the Capital Region Planning Commission, said the open house held Tuesday evening is for residents to give suggestions on how to solve major traffic and infrastructure issues."If you're on the interstate and there's an incident, how do you get somewhere else to get around that problem? And that is one of the biggest problems we hav
  
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• Memorial service held for student killed by truck

  07-03-2017 11:51
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - A memorial service was held for Bryce Edling at Abundant Life Church Tuesday evening. Family members and friends gathered to share stories of the 14-year-old.Edling was struck and killed by a pick-up truck on his way to school last Thursday morning. Edling's parents thanked the community for the overwhelming support and prayers at Tuesday night's service."He knew what he wanted to do, I never had to tell him what to do, and how to do good. He just did it," said a friend
  
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• Helen Mirren to speak, receive honorary degree at Tulane ceremony

  07-03-2017 11:46
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Tulane University in New Orleans has announced that actress Helen Mirren will deliver the keynote address to graduates at its 2017 commencement.The ceremony is set for May 20 in the Superdome. Tulane's Monday news release says the English actress also will receive an honorary degree at the ceremony.Mirren is known for a variety of roles on television, on stage and in movies, including an Oscar-winning portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in the 2006 film "The Queen."Permalink| Comments
  
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• Mayor Broome, Homeland Security officials to hold emergency management summit

  07-03-2017 11:35
  
  BATON ROUGE – Mayor Sharon Weston Broome and the Mayor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness will host an emergency management summit for East Baton Rouge Parish on Mar. 7.The Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness will also take part in the event. It will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at MOHSEP's Emergency Operations Center on Harding Boulevard.The mayor, City-Parish leaders and Metro Council members will be in attendance."The summi
  
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• Mayor announces $167,478 grant to improve emergency communications

  07-03-2017 11:35
  
  BATON ROUGE – Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome announced Tuesday that Baton Rouge received a $167,478 grant from GHOSEP to enhance emergency communications across the parish.The money will be used to improve communication between emergency centers and municipalities, including Baton Rouge, Baker, Central and Zachary.Broome's office says 75 percent of the State Homeland Security Grant Program is allocated for public safety initiatives. Each city's portion can be used to buy
  
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• Congressman: People might need to chose either healthcare or an iPhone

  07-03-2017 11:34
  
  WASHINGTON, D.C. - The fight over healthcare took a powerful turn Tuesday morning when a high-ranking Republican in the U.S. House likened people's decision about healthcare to purchasing the latest gadgets.“Americans have choices and they've got to make a choice. So maybe rather than getting that new iPhone that they just love and they want to go spend hundreds of dollars on that, maybe they should invest it in their own healthcare,” Rep. Jason Chaffetz said. “They
  
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• Congressman: People might need to choose either healthcare or an iPhone

  07-03-2017 11:34
  
  WASHINGTON, D.C. - The fight over healthcare took a powerful turn Tuesday morning when a high-ranking Republican in the U.S. House likened people's decision about healthcare to purchasing the latest gadgets.“Americans have choices and they've got to make a choice. So maybe rather than getting that new iPhone that they just love and they want to go spend hundreds of dollars on that, maybe they should invest it in their own healthcare,” Rep. Jason Chaffetz said. “They
  
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• Report: Audubon Zoo gorilla throws wooden block at pregnant visitor

  07-03-2017 08:21
  
  NEW ORLEANS – The Audubon Zoo in New Orleans is investigating after a gorilla reportedly threw an object into a crowd of visitors over the weekend, local media reports. According to a WWLTV report, Praline, one of the zoo’s three gorillas, tossed a block of wood into a crowd during the zoo’s Soul Festival. The block of wood struck a pregnant woman, sending her to the hospital.“Everyone started scattering, like running, so I tried to cover
  
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• Entergy: thousands lost power across Baton Rouge Tuesday morning

  07-03-2017 08:17
  
  BATON ROUGE – Thousands were left without power across Baton Rouge Tuesday morning.Around 2,000 people briefly lost power off Kennilworth Parkway just before 9 a.m. Tuesday according to Entergy's outage map. Power was restored around 9:20 a.m.The Kennilworth Parkway was not the only Entergy outage Tuesday. After 10 a.m. another 2,000 customers lost power off Drusilla Lane.It is not clear what caused the outages at this time. Calls to Entergy were not returned.This story will b
  
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• Entergy: morning power outage impacted 2,000 customers

  07-03-2017 08:17
  
  BATON ROUGE – Nearly 2,000 people briefly lost power in the Kenilworth area Tuesday morning.The company’s outage map reported 1,887 customers were impacted by the outage. It is not clear what caused the outage at this time.This story will be updated with new details as new information is released.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Entergy: fallen tree limb caused Kenilworth Parkway outage

  07-03-2017 08:17
  
  BATON ROUGE – Crews say a fallen tree branch caused power outages for more than 2,000 customers off Kenilworth Parkway Tuesday morning.A spokesperson for Entergy said a tree limb fell from a customer's tree onto a power line. The outage impacted 1,800 customers. Crews restored power to the area one hour later.The Kenilworth Parkway outage was not the only outage reported across Baton Rouge Tuesday morning. Around 10 a.m. Entergy's outage map reported that 2,000 custom
  
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• US trade deficit jumps to 5-year high of $48.5 billion

  07-03-2017 07:35
  
  WASHINGTON - The U.S. trade deficit jumped in January to the highest level in nearly five years as a flood of mobile phones and other consumer products widened America's trade gap with China. The figure underscores the challenges facing President Donald Trump in fulfilling a campaign pledge to reduce America's trade deficits.The Commerce Department says the deficit in January rose 9.6 percent to $48.5 billion, up from a December deficit of $44.3 billion. It was the largest monthly gap since a de
  
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• For 1st time, Casey Anthony speaks about case

  07-03-2017 07:12
  
  WEST PALM BEACH - The Florida woman who was dubbed by cable TV-show hosts as "the most hated mom in America" after she was accused of killing her toddler says she still doesn't know how the last hours of her daughter's life unfolded.In exclusive interviews with The Associated Press, Casey Anthony says the last time she saw 2-year-old Caylee she "believed that she was alive and that she was going to be OK."Anthony was convicted of lying to police, and served three years awaiting trial.Anthony now
  
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• TRAFFIC ALERTS: Heavy delays on I-10 westbound from an earlier accident

  07-03-2017 05:19
  
  LIVE UPDATES: Tuesday traffic reportBATON ROUGE - News 2's Ashley Fruge has you covered with live updates for your Tuesday morning 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
  
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• Trump's new travel ban comes without the chaos of first one

  07-03-2017 04:32
  
  WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's new travel ban comes without the chaos the old one touched off.It doesn't go into effect immediately, giving the world time to assess its impact. And it comes after weeks of consultation with agency heads over legal issues and implementation.The scaled-back order still faces critics who question whether it actually will make the U.S. safer in the long run.The new order bars new visas for people from six Muslim-majority countries and temporarily shuts down Am
  
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• Trump reveals his Travel ban

  07-03-2017 04:32
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) - Opponents are promising to challenge President Donald Trump's revised travel ban.The new, narrower ban temporarily bars new visas for citizens of six predominantly Muslim countries. Iraq is no long on the list.The new ban also suspends the entire U.S. refugee program.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Ben Carson compares slavery to immigration to America

  07-03-2017 04:22
  
  WASHINGTON - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson is comparing slavery to immigration in the United States, a view that one slavery expert calls "inappropriate and wildly inaccurate."Carson was talking about the work ethic of immigrants who came through Ellis Island during his first speech to the department on Monday. He said, "There were other immigrants who came here on the bottom of slave ships."A HUD spokesman declined to comment when asked about Carson's statement.Rana Hogarth
  
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