Baton Rouge news

• Agencies reporting 911 outage for AT&T customers across US

  08-03-2017 21:36
  
  HOUSTON - Various law enforcement and government agencies in Texas and other states around the U.S. are reporting that AT&T customers are unable to call 911 from their cellphones.
      
  A spokesman for Dallas-based AT&T said Wednesday evening the company is aware of service issues affecting some calls to 911 for wireless customers.
      
  The spokesman could not immediately provide more details on how many states have been affected by th
  
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• Disney CEO says he's staying on Trump's advisory council

  08-03-2017 21:33
  
  NEW YORK - The Walt Disney Co.'s CEO Bob Iger says he has no plans to leave President Donald Trump's business advisory council but says that doesn't mean he endorses any specific policies.
      
  During the Burbank, California-based media company's shareholder meeting in Denver on Wednesday, several people representing shareholders asked Iger if he would consider stepping down from the council.
      
  Iger says his being able to express specific
  
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• Louisiana community, technical college campuses to merge

  08-03-2017 21:09
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's community and technical college system is consolidating some of its campuses after years of shrinking state spending on higher education.
      
  The system's governing board approved the mergers Wednesday, along with other restructuring plans.
      
  System President Monty Sullivan says the moves are aimed at maintaining access in rural areas, coordinating with workforce needs around the state and responding to financial
  
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• Louisiana lags U.S. average in key jobs measure: report

  08-03-2017 20:56
  
  Slumping oil and gas sector blamed for low standing
  
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• Police identify Lorraine Street shooting victim

  08-03-2017 18:55
  
  BATON ROUGE – A man and woman were shot at a residence in the 2800 block of Lorraine Street around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night, according to Baton Rouge Police Department.Police say 28-year-old Decoty Joseph was shot and killed by a black male suspect who forced his way inside with a handgun, demanding money and jewelry. The second victim, a 26-year-old female, was hospitalized with non life-threatening injuries. Neighbors say the couple has young children who live inside the home.Police
  
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• Law enforcement say homeowner justified in killing intruder

  08-03-2017 18:37
  
  BATON ROUGE – East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore said Wednesday it appears an older man was justified in shooting a home invader earlier in the morning.The incident happened Wednesday around 1:30 a.m. in an area of Baton Rouge known as "the Bottom". Law enforcement said 40-year-old Antony Gordon of Baton Rouge tried to force his way into a home where women and children also live."The gentleman [victim] was at his own home with his family and was confronted by another indiv
  
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• 18-year-old killed in deadly motorcycle crash on LA 940

  08-03-2017 18:31
  
  GONZALES - Louisiana State troopers are investigating a deadly motorcycle crash that killed an 18-year-old Wednesday.According to state police, Aiden Womack of Gonzales was killed when he crashed his Kawasaki motorcycle into the vehicle of a 72-year-old woman on LA 940, west of LA 44. Police say Womack failed to yield and turned into the path of the woman's Ford F-150.Womack suffered serious injuries as a result of the crash and was transported to University Medical Center where he was later pro
  
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• 2-year-old in critical condition after falling into pool

  08-03-2017 18:12
  
  BATON ROUGE – Paramedics were dispatched to a reported drowning of a child Wednesday evening.A person at a house in the 16000 block of Fort Jackson in the Shenandoah neighborhood called 911 to report a two-year-old had drowned shortly after 6 p.m.  The child reportedly wandered into the pool while a gate was open. Sources say the child has been transported to an emergency room in critical condition.NEW: sources tell me the toddler is critical. Sheriff's spokesperson s
  
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• Suspect arrested following EBRSO SWAT team raid

  08-03-2017 18:11
  
  BATON ROUGE – A man has been arrested following a SWAT raid in North Baton Rouge.Wednesday evening around 6 p.m., the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office SWAT team raided a home at 3358 Wayne Drive. Police say the SWAT team and narcotics agents found 50 grams of marijuana, a 40-cal. handgun and close to $2,000 in cash. Police also found a scale to weigh marijuana in the garage. Police arrested 45-year-old Brian Keith bush at the residence and booked him into East Baton Rouge Parish Priso
  
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• EBRSO SWAT team raid home on Wayne Drive

  08-03-2017 18:11
  
  BATON ROUGE – The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office SWAT team raided a home in North Baton Rouge on Wednesday.The raid took place around 6 p.m. at a home on Wayne Drive.This story will be updated as more information becomes available.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Homeowners out thousands, sued by contractor that did little work

  08-03-2017 17:42
  
  PRAIRIEVILLE - There's an investigation into a contractor based out of Denham Springs. Multiple flood victims tell 2 On Your Side the company TWG Contractors appears to be signing onto jobs, taking payment and not completing the work.Jerry and Donna Baxter have lived in their Prairieville home for 27 years. The house sits on piers, but some of those piers were knocked off their foundation from the rushing water during the August flood. Water destroyed the floors and the home needs to be
  
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• Tennessee school bus driver indicted in deaths of 6 children

  08-03-2017 17:29
  
  CHATTANOOGA - A Chattanooga school bus driver has been indicted on six counts of vehicular manslaughter in a crash last November that killed a half-dozen children.The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported Wednesday that 24-year-old Johnthony Walker also was charged by a grand jury with four counts of reckless aggravated assault, one count of reckless endangerment, one count of reckless driving and one count of use of a portable electronic device by a school bus driver.Arraignment is scheduled Ma
  
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• IPSO seeking suspect in February New Iberia shooting

  08-03-2017 16:23
  
  NEW IBERIA - Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office investigators are searching for a man in connection to a shooting on Feb. 8.According to the sheriff's office, 23-year-old Jashawn McCoy shot the 41-year-old victim nine times. Investigators say the shooting was the result of an argument between the two. McCoy is wanted for one count of attempted second-degree murder.Permalink| Comments
  
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• INVESTIGATIVE UNIT: Parish boss suspended for using "n word"

  08-03-2017 16:13
  
  CLINTON- The highest ranking parish appointed employee in East Feliciana Parish is on suspension tonight, after she admitted to police jurors she sent racist text messages to another employee on her parish phone.
  Barbara Vail, known as "Babs" in East Feliciana Parish, has been an employee for the parish for 31 years. Tonight, her career is in jeopardy. When we went to question her about it, she slammed the door on us and broke our microphone.
  "Ma'am your comments please," Chief Investigator Chri
  
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• Director of Habitat for Humanity recognized by Beyonce for service to BR community

  08-03-2017 16:07
  
  BATON ROUGE – One woman has been recognized by music superstar Beyonce for her contribution to the Baton Rouge community following the August flood.Beyonce's website shared a post about "Women Making History" and featured Lynn Clark, the executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge . Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving communities and building affordable housing for those seeking to gain home ownership.Clark has worked for the o
  
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• Remaining victims from bus crash identified

  08-03-2017 15:36
  
  BILOXI - Authorities are releasing the names of the victims in a train-bus collision that killed four Texas tourists in Biloxi.Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove said Wednesday that 79-year-old Clinton Havran of Sealy, Texas, died at the scene of the wreck, while 62-year-old Deborah Orr died after surgery at a Biloxi hospital.Hargrove confirms that 82-year-old Kenneth Hoffman and 73-year-old Peggy Hoffman also died at the scene. A school district in Lockhart, Texas, had earlier announced the
  
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• Mishap forces Michigan college team's plane off runway

  08-03-2017 15:30
  
  YPSILANTI, Mich. - The plane carrying the Michigan men's basketball team slid off a runway during an aborted takeoff Wednesday, causing extensive damage. The team said everyone aboard was safe.Team spokesman Tom Wywrot emailed reporters describing the incident at Willow Run Airport, about 15 miles from the campus in Ann Arbor. Michigan faces Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday in Washington, D.C.Wywrot says the takeoff "was aborted" on a day marked by high winds and "after strong brak
  
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• Muted response from Louisiana Republicans on health plan

  08-03-2017 14:47
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's majority-Republican congressional delegation hasn't exactly embraced the GOP proposal to replace President Barack Obama's health care law.Only Rep. Steve Scalise, the third-ranking House Republican and a member of the leadership team pushing the replacement plan, has given a full-throated endorsement to the legislation.Other Louisiana Republicans in Congress are more reticent, saying they're studying it.Rep. Ralph Abraham says Congress is "on the right road," but he sto
  
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• PHOTOS: As school dismissed, major intersection closed due to overturned truck

  08-03-2017 14:37
  DUTCHTOWN - Sheriff's deputies asked people to avoid the area around the Highway 73/Highway 74 intersection Wednesday afternoon.An 18-wheeler flipped at the intersection.  The crash blocked traffic around the time nearby Dutchtown High School was dismissing.  Witnesses told WBRZ, the truck just toppled over."Looks like they just tried to make a turn and flipped over in the middle of the street," a worker at a business at the corner said. *************Follow the publish
  
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• Ahead of school dismissal, major intersection closed due to overturned semi

  08-03-2017 14:37
  
  DUTCHTOWN - Sheriff's deputies asked people to avoid the area around the Highway 73/Highway 74 intersection Wednesday afternoon.An 18-wheeler flipped at the intersection.  The crash blocked traffic around the time nearby Dutchtown High School was dismissing.  Witnesses told WBRZ, the truck just toppled over."Looks like they just tried to make a turn and flipped over in the middle of the street," a worker at a business at the corner said. *************Follow the publish
  
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• STPSO seeking suspect in Covington stabbing

  08-03-2017 14:27
  
  COVINGTON - St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's detectives are searching for one suspect after he allegedly stabbed a man following an argument Tuesday.Deputies responded to the stabbing at the victim's home on Narrow Road around 2:30 p.m.  During the investigation, witnesses told deputies 51-year-old Marc Ingram Sr. had left the scene after stabbing the victim.The altercation occurred when the victim exited his home to find Ingram and Ingram’s girlfriend in his yard repairing the gi
  
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• Officials break ground on downtown green space

  08-03-2017 13:37
  
  BATON ROUGE – Officials broke ground on Central Green, a network of green spaces linking downtown Baton Rouge's cultural and civic attractions, on Wednesday morning.Central Green is a part of Plan Baton Rouge II, dedicated to reconnecting Baton Rouge with the Mississippi River through several green spaces near City Hall.Central Green will redesign the City Hall Plaza by linking institutions such as the library, the Old State Capitol, the Shaw Center and City Hall. The green spaces incl
  
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• Graffiti threatens 'Sandy Hook 2017' at East Jefferson High

  08-03-2017 13:24
  
  METAIRIE - The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office is investigating spray-painted threats that appeared at East Jefferson High School Wednesday morning.Graffiti reading "#Sandyhook2017" and "Shooting the school up - Crazy white boy" were found on walls of the school as students arrived for class.Classes were not canceled, however the school did notify JPSO and an investigation is underway. According to a report from WWL-TV, the school did not notify parents about the graffiti. They instea
  
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• 'Fearless Girl' statue stares down Wall Street's iconic bull

  08-03-2017 13:12
  
  NEW YORK - A statue of a young girl with a look of resolve has been placed in front of Wall Street's famous charging bull in time for International Women's Day.A big investment firm, State Street Global Advisors, put the statue there to highlight efforts to get more women on corporate boards.The work by artist Kristen Visbal is called "Fearless Girl."The girl appears to be staring down the bull. Her head is held high. Her hands are firmly planted on her waist. Her pony-tail looks as if it's in m
  
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• Strippers win latest round in challenge of minimum age law

  08-03-2017 13:10
  
  NEW ORLEANS - A federal judge in New Orleans has again blocked enforcement of a Louisiana law aimed at establishing a minimum age of 21 for exotic dancers.U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier said in Wednesday's 41-page ruling that three dancers who challenged the new law will likely win their case after making a strong case that it is unconstitutional.Barbier had temporarily blocked enforcement soon after the women filed suit last fall. Wednesday's preliminary injunction is stronger, blocking enfor
  
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• Senators seek evidence to support Trump's wiretapping claim

  08-03-2017 12:54
  
  WASHINGTON - The leaders of a congressional inquiry into Russia's efforts to sway the U.S. election are asking the Justice Department to provide information related to President Donald Trump's explosive wiretapping allegation.In a letter sent Wednesday, Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island are seeking any warrant applications and court orders that could show the Obama administration tapped Trump's phones during the presidential campaign.The letter went to
  
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• South Carolina bill tackles Dylann Roof gun loophole

  08-03-2017 12:52
  
  COLUMBIA - A South Carolina state senator says a bipartisan bill lengthening the time for background checks and strengthening reporting requirements for criminal charges and restraining orders might not have stopped Dylann Roof, but it would stop others.Democratic Sen. Marlon Kimpson said Tuesday it would get guns out of hands of people who should not have them.Kimpson's district includes Emanuel AME church in Charleston where nine black worshippers were killed by Roof in a racist massa
  
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• Apple: Many flaws disclosed by WikiLeaks are already fixed

  08-03-2017 12:37
  
  Apple says many of the security vulnerabilities disclosed by the anti-secrecy site WikiLeaks have already been fixed.On Tuesday, WikiLeaks released thousands of documents that it claims show a broad program by the CIA to turn everyday gadgets such as iPhones into snooping tools by exploiting previously undisclosed software flaws.Apple says its initial analysis shows that its latest version of the iOS system software for iPhones and iPads fixes many of those flaws. That version came out in Januar
  
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• Change smoke detector batteries when setting clocks forward Saturday

  08-03-2017 12:31
  
  BATON ROUGE – Firefighters in Baton Rouge want to remind residents that the start of daylight savings time is the perfect time to check batteries smoke detectors.Daylight savings time officially starts at 2 a.m. Sunday March 12. The Baton Rouge Fire Department says it is always good practice to replace smoke detector batteries after setting your clocks forward an hour on Saturday night.“If there is a fire in your home, a working smoke detector can increase your chance of surv
  
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• Hammond murder believed to be in retaliation for 2016 shooting

  08-03-2017 12:16
  
  HAMMOND – The Hammond Police Department is investigating a murder that occurred at the intersection of East David Drive and Martin Luther King Boulevard.Police responded to a shots fired call around 1 a.m. Tuesday. Upon arrival, officers found 27-year-old Demarkius Jackson inside a vehicle suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to an area hospital in critical condition, however he died from his injuries on Wednesday.According to the police department, Jackson fatall
  
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• New science standards to be phased into Louisiana classrooms

  08-03-2017 12:02
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's new science standards for public schools will be phased into classrooms, taking full effect by the 2018-19 school year.The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education gave final approval Wednesday to the rewrite of the state's two-decades-old teaching benchmarks with no discussion.The upcoming 2017-18 school year will include teacher training and field testing in the new science standards, according to the education department. They will be fully implemented a year late
  
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• 11-year-old boy found safe

  08-03-2017 11:08
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Baton Rouge Police Department an 11-year-old boy that went missing on Wednesday has been found.Officials say Caden Williams ran away from his home in the 5200 block of North Afton Parkway, and was believed to be in route to a residence in the 11300 block of Greenwell Springs Road.Police say he is safe, but the it is unclear at this point where they located him.Permalink| Comments
  
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• AP Source: LSU's Jones out as basketball coach after 5 years

  08-03-2017 11:04
  
  NEW ORLEANS - A person familiar with the situation says LSU basketball coach Johnny Jones is out after five seasons at the school.
      
  The person spoke to The Associate Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday night because LSU has not announced Jones' firing.
      
  LSU labored through a school-record 15-game losing streak this season and finished with a 10-21 record following a 79-52 loss to Mississippi State in the first round of the South
  
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• BRPD: arrest made in 2014 murder; one suspect still on the run

  08-03-2017 11:03
  
  BATON ROUGE - Police say an arrest has been made in a 2014 murder in Baton Rouge.Baton Rouge Police say Leslie Ferguson, 24, was arrested Wednesday and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison for second-degree murder.Ferguson and a second man, Devante Treymayne Courtney, are accused of shooting and killing Nicholas Brumfield on May 31, 2014, at 5737 Greenwell Springs Road.Ferguson was located in EBR Parish Prison on an unrelated charge. Detectives are still working on the details surround
  
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• APSO: thief crawled through cooler to steal cigarettes

  08-03-2017 09:40
  
  PRAIRIEVILLE – Deputies in Ascension Parish are trying to identify a suspect who crawled through a Walgreens cooler and stole packs of cigarettes.APSO said the incident happened in early February at the Walgreens located on Highway 42 in Prairieville. Security video from the store shows the man crouch down and crawl through the cooler. Investigators say a second suspect was walking around the store as a lookout while the other suspect stole 11 cigarette cartons.Anyone with inf
  
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• Edwards says wetlands needs priority over roads in request to federal government

  08-03-2017 09:34
  
  BATON ROUGE – One of the governor's five priority projects for coastal protection he's asked the president to consider under an executive order is a project to re-establish natural freshwater in Maurepas Swamp.The swamp project could cost as much as $187 million. It'd divert freshwater through a diversion project located in St. John the Baptist and St. James Parishes.Other projects include:Barataria Sediment Diversion - This is a $1.3 billion, 75,000 cubic feet per second maxi
  
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• Pa. man convicted of not filing taxes over 'mark of the beast'

  08-03-2017 09:14
  
  ALLENTOWN  - A Pennsylvania man has been convicted of failing to file his income tax returns for 21 years because he considered using a Social Security number akin to using the "mark of the beast" spelled out in the Bible.James Schlosser, who lives in the town of Bird-in-Hand, was convicted in federal court in Allentown on Tuesday.Prosecutors say by failing to file the returns from 1994 to 2014 he didn't report $2.3 million in income he earned as a salesman of medical equipment. Prosecu
  
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• AMA won't back GOP's health overhaul as drafted

  08-03-2017 08:51
  
  WASHINGTON - The American Medical Association says it won't support the proposed health care plan as drafted by congressional Republicans.The nation's largest physicians group says the proposal is critically flawed and a threat to coverage for poor and sick people in the United States.The AMA has sent a letter to congressional leaders outlining the organization's concerns about the plan to replace the Affordable Care Act.The AMA says the proposed rollback in Medicaid expansion is especi
  
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• Donaldsonville still recovering one month after tornado

  08-03-2017 08:14
  
  DONALDSONVILLE - One month after devastating tornadoes ripped through South Louisiana, residents of one small town are struggling to get back on their feet.The city and parish cleaned the streets of debris almost overnight, but it appears most of the rebuilding process stopped there.Out of around a half dozen homes that received damage on Saint Patrick Street, only one roof has been repaired in the past four weeks. Some homeowners who rode out the storm, are now living another nightmare
  
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• Women's March organizers call for 'A Day Without a Woman'

  08-03-2017 07:30
  
  PHILADELPHIA - Organizers of January's Women's March are calling for women to take the day off and encouraging them not to spend money to show their economic strength and impact on American society."A Day Without a Woman" on Wednesday is the first national action by organizers since the nationwide marches held the day after President Donald Trump's inauguration. They drew millions of women onto the streets to protest misogyny, inequality and oppression. Though it is unclear how many women could
  
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• Deadly blazes sweep across multiple states

  08-03-2017 07:14
  
  Winds are expected to diminish as emergency crews in four states continue to battle wildfires that have killed six people and destroyed hundreds of square miles of land.The Oklahoma-based Storm Prediction Center says powerful wind gusts that fanned the flames in Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas should ease to about 10 to 20 mph on Wednesday.Wildfires in Kansas have burned about 1,000 square miles of land and killed one person. At least four people died in Texas, where three fires burned abou
  
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• Gas station shooting sends one person to hospital

  08-03-2017 06:15
  
  BATON ROUGE - Police say one person was shot in the arm at a gas station on South Sherwood Forest late Tuesday night.The shooting happened at the Shell gas station in the 2200 block of South Sherwood Forest Boulevard near Harrells Ferry Road around 11:30 p.m.Baton Rouge Police say the victim was transported to the hospital with non life threatening injuries. Details about the shooting are limited at this time. Police are still investigating.Permalink| Comments
  
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• LIVE UPDATES: Wednesday traffic report

  08-03-2017 05:06
  
  LIVE UPDATES: Wednesday traffic reportBATON ROUGE - News 2's Ashley Fruge has you covered with live updates for your Wednesday 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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• Expect 5 mile delays on I-12 from Holden to Livingston due to an accident

  08-03-2017 05:06
  
  LIVE UPDATES: Wednesday traffic reportBATON ROUGE - News 2's Ashley Fruge has you covered with live updates for your Wednesday 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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• Train hits bus carrying Texas tourists in Mississippi; 4 die

  08-03-2017 04:27
  
  BILOXI, Miss.- A freight train crashed into a bus full of Texas tourists visiting Gulf Coast casinos, killing four in Biloxi, Mississippi.Forty people were hurt, seven critically. The cause of the Tuesday afternoon crash is under investigation.Witnesses told Mississippi news outlets the bus appeared to have been stuck on the tracks when it was hit. The crossing is on a steep embankment and has a sign warning drivers that it has a low ground clearance.Authorities on the scene said it took more th
  
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• Homeowner shoots, kills man trying to break-in

  08-03-2017 03:40
  
  BATON ROUGE – Police are questioning a homeowner who shot and killed a man trying to break-in. It happened on the 500 block of Carr Alley, just before 2AM, Wednesday morning.District Attorney Hilar Moore tells News 2, the shooting looks to be justified.“It appears at this point that a family was just minding their own business in their home and an individual attempted to enter the home.” Moore told News 2’s Brett Buffington.Baton Rouge Police Officers tape
  
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• BREAKING: Homeowner shoots, kills man trying to break-in

  08-03-2017 03:40
  
  BATON ROUGE – Police are questioning a homeowner who shot and killed a man trying to break-in. It happened on the 500 block of Carr Alley, just before 2AM, Wednesday morning.District Attorney Hilar Moore tells News 2, the shooting looks to be justified.“It appears at this point that a family was just minding their own business in their home and an individual attempted to enter the home.” Moore told News 2’s Brett Buffington.Baton Rouge Police Officers tape
  
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• Lights out at Statue of Liberty for several hours

  08-03-2017 02:09
  
  NEW YORK - For several hours, Lady Liberty didn't shine so brightly.The famed The Statue of Liberty was temporarily in the dark Tuesday night after what a spokesman calls an "unplanned outage."WCBS-TV reports (http://cbsloc.al/2mDMjds ) the statue was dark except for the crown and torch. The lights returned shortly before midnight.The outage sparked conversation on social media that perhaps it was done deliberately for Wednesday's "A Day Without Women" protest of inequality.But National Park Se
  
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