Baton Rouge news

• Tyra Banks to host season 12 of 'America's Got Talent'

  12-03-2017 21:33
  LOS ANGELES - Tyra Banks is hosting the 12th season of "America's Got Talent."NBC said Sunday that the supermodel, Emmy-winner and creator of "America's Next Top Model" will be joining the competition series alongside returning judges Simon Cowell, Mel B, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel.Banks will be taking over hosting duties from Nick Cannon, who left the show earlier this year after eight years in the post. Banks said she looks forward to "connecting with the dreamers" and will try to get a few t
  
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• Woman says UMass basketball staff intimidated, imprisoned her

  12-03-2017 20:43
  
  AMHERST, Mass. - A woman is alleging in a lawsuit that University of Massachusetts basketball staff members intimidated her in an effort to keep her quiet about potentially damaging information about the team and staff.Ayanna Hickman says Assistant Coach Lou Roe and two other staffers imprisoned her by preventing her from leaving a room where they spoke to her in 2013. She previously dated Roe.The suit says Roe had told Hickman about the use of banned substances by team members, domestic violenc
  
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• Firefighter injured in partial roof collapse released from hospital

  12-03-2017 19:03
  
  UPDATE: Officials say the firefighter who suffered minor injuries at the Cast Iron Kitchen fire Sunday was treated and released.Original story below:BATON ROUGE - Firefighters responded to a fire at the Cast Iron Kitchen on Jones Creek Road Sunday afternoon.The St. George Fire Department confirmed the fire around 6:45 p.m.One firefighter was hurt when part of the building's roof collapsed onto him. He was taken to the hospital and treated for minor burns and h
  
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• Firefighter injured in partial roof collapse at Cast Iron Kitchen

  12-03-2017 19:03
  
  BATON ROUGE - Firefighters responded to a fire at the Cast Iron Kitchen on Jones Creek Road Sunday afternoon.The St. George Fire Department confirmed the fire around 6:45 p.m.One firefighter was hurt when part of the building's roof collapsed onto him. He was taken to the hospital and treated for minor burns and heat related symptoms.The fire is now under control, however the cause is undetermined at this time. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Crews responding to fire at Cast Iron Kitchen

  12-03-2017 19:03
  
  BATON ROUGE - Firefighters are responding to  a fire at the Cast Iron Kitchen on Jones Creek Road.The St. George Fire Department confirmed the fire late Sunday afternoon. Sources say one firefighter has been transported to a hospital with burns.The firefighter's condition is currently unknown.A WBRZ News 2 unit is at the scene. We will update with more information as it becomes available.Permalink| Comments
  
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• LSU sweeps Wichita State with 9-2 victory

  12-03-2017 17:55
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Tigers defeated Wichita State, 9-2, to sweep the Shockers in the final non-conference series ahead of Southeastern Conference play Sunday afternoon.Freshman Eric Walker started for the fourth straight week and moved to 2-0 on the season. Walker allowed just three hits and struck out three WSU batters on Sunday.Wichita State starter Zach Lewis suffered the loss, allowing seven runs on nine hits in just three innings.LSU returns for its newest game on the schedule against Louisia
  
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• WATCH: Car swerves off road, lands on roof in China

  12-03-2017 17:01
  
  CHINA - Footage showing a car landing on the roof of a home in China's Jiangsu Providence surfaced Sunday.The homeowner says he was investigating a loud noise in his home when he discovered the SUV had crashed through his ceiling. The driver of the vehicle said he was trying to avoid a tricycle and another vehicle when he accidentally stepped on the accelerator, forcing him to swerve off the elevated roadway.A crane was used to remove the car from the home.Neither the driver no
  
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• Multiple lanes blocked on I-10 East at Miss. River Bridge

  12-03-2017 16:12
  
  BATON ROUGE - The center and left lanes of I-10 East at the Mississippi River Bridge are blocked due to an accident.Traffic is currently passing through the right lane. Congestion from this incident has reached two miles beyond LA 415(Lobdell).Check back for updates, and keep an eye on WBRZ's traffic-tracking technology for updates across the Baton Rouge area.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Lanes reopen on I-10 East at Miss. River Bridge

  12-03-2017 16:12
  
  BATON ROUGE - All lanes are open on I-10 East at the Mississippi River Bridge after an accident closed the center and left lanes Sunday afternoon.Congestion from this incident still reaches six miles beyond LA 415(Lobdell).Check back for updates, and keep an eye on WBRZ's traffic-tracking technology for updates across the Baton Rouge area.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Confirmation hearing for Trump's labor pick now March 22

  12-03-2017 15:51
  
  WASHINGTON - The Senate confirmation hearing for President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Labor Department has been delayed until later this month.Alexander Acosta had been slated to appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Wednesday.But a spokesman for the panel's chairman, Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander, says the hearing will now be held on March 22.The spokesman, Taylor Haulsee, cites a scheduling conflict in which Alexander is to appear with Trump at an e
  
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• Bus runs into crowd in Haiti, killing at least 34 people

  12-03-2017 14:49
  PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Haitian rescue officials say a bus has plowed into a crowd in the city of Gonaives, killing at least 34 people.Regional civil defense coordinator Josepth Faustin says the accident occurred at about 3 a.m. Sunday when a passenger bus first hit two people at a bus stop and then continued into a crowd of people attending a music festival.He says angry festival-goers then attacked the bus and tried to burn it. The bus driver fled and is being sought.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Two crushed to death at massive Argentine concert

  12-03-2017 14:47
  
  SANTIAGO, Chile - Argentine officials say two people have died in a crush at a massive rock concert.The open-air site of Saturday night's concert in the town of Olavarria was set up for 200,000 people, but prosecutor Susana Alonso tells the Todo Noticias television channel that it was apparently overcrowded. She says an unspecified number of other people are injured.Singer Indio Solari saw people on the ground and paused the concert for several minutes during his third song to appeal for help.Lo
  
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• Man pleads not guilty to fraud on oil-spill recovery claim

  12-03-2017 14:26
  
  GULFPORT, Miss. - A man has pleaded not guilty to charges involving fraud in a $172,800 oil-spill recovery claim in 2010.The Sun Herald reported Saturday that 39-year-old Leonard Charles Thomas said he didn't receive the money by claiming he lost work as a deckhand after the BP oil spill. Trial is expected to start May 15 in U.S. District Court.Thomas was denied bond Feb. 22 after his arrest on a three-count indictment filed in 2015.The indictment states Thomas falsely claimed he was a
  
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• Firefighter killed after responding to Pennsylvania hoverboard fire

  12-03-2017 14:08
  
  HARRISBURG, Pa. - Authorities say a Pennsylvania fire department official injured in a crash while responding to a fatal fire has died of his injuries.The Harrisburg fire department said Lt. Dennis DeVoe died Saturday evening "surrounded by his family and close friends." He was a 21-year veteran of the department.Fire Chief Brian Enterline said DeVoe was on his way to the station to pick up his gear before heading to the scene of the fire when his vehicle was hit at an intersection.Officials sai
  
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• Woman backs car into lake at Burbank apartment complex

  12-03-2017 13:40
  
  BATON ROUGE - A woman reportedly backed her vehicle into a lake at an apartment complex on Burbank Drive late Sunday morning.Deputies with the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office were called to The Oliver, a student housing complex located at 4500 Burbank Drive, for a public assistance.The woman allegedly backed her 2009 Toyota Camry into the lake located in the center of the complex.She was able to get out of the vehicle and no injuries were reported, according to the Sheriff's Office.No
  
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• Louisiana seeking lenders to administer flood aid loans

  12-03-2017 13:16
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana is looking for lending organizations to dole out aid to qualifying small businesses impacted by the March and August 2016 floods.The state's flood recovery task force says the Office of Community Development is seeking nonprofits, community development financial institutions and federal credit unions to administer partially-forgivable loans through the Restore Louisiana Small Business Program.The application period opened Friday and will continue through April 11. Program
  
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• Firefighters respond to house fire on Fleet Drive

  12-03-2017 13:15
  
  BATON ROUGE - St. George Firefighters responded to a house fire that started Sunday morning on Fleet Drive.According to St. George fire officials, fire units were called to the 4700 block of Fleet Drive at 10:19 a.m. Heavy smoke was reportedly seen coming from the upstairs windows and attic vents.The fire eventually burned through the roof before firefighters were able to contain it around 11:30 a.m., according to fire officials.A family of four was inside the home when the fire started. The fam
  
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• 'Kong' outmuscles 'Logan' to become king of the box office

  12-03-2017 13:03
  
  LOS ANGELES - Kong is the king of the box office this weekend.Studio estimates say Sunday that "Kong: Skull Island" took in a strong $61 million in its first weekend in theaters. Starring Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson, the Warner Bros. and Legendary actioner cost a reported $185 million to produce.King Kong outmuscled another beast to take the top spot. Fox's Wolverine installment "Logan," dropped 58 percent from its debut and earned $37.9 million, raising its total to $152.7
  
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• Transgender candidate: Race for governor not about gender

  12-03-2017 12:57
  
  HARTFORD, Conn. - Connecticut's first transgender candidate for governor says her bid for the office isn't about her gender.Democrat Jacey Wyatt, a businesswoman from Branford, says she doesn't like what she sees happening in the state and believes a political outsider can bring a new perspective and fresh ideas. Wyatt recently filed paperwork to run in the 2018 election. She appeared Sunday on WFSB-TV's "Face the State" political affairs program.The 46-year-old says she believes voters will be
  
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• Documentary play about Boston Marathon bombing to premiere

  12-03-2017 12:09
  
  BOSTON - "Finish Line," a documentary play about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, will make its world premiere this week in Boston.The Boston Theater Company production draws from interviews with survivors, runners, first responders and others. Actors use verbatim transcripts to convey each person's story."Finish Line" is being presented by the Boch Center at the Shubert Theatre starting Wednesday and running through March 26.The play doesn't re-create the attack or portray those responsible, b
  
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• Plans expand for LNG plant in Cameron

  12-03-2017 12:02
  
  CAMERON - A 500-acre expansion has been announced for a planned liquefied natural gas plant in Cameron Parish.The American Press reports that officials of G2 LNG say they plan the expansion because of growing interest among potential customers.The Baton Rouge-based company announced in October 2015 that it planned to build an $11 billion LNG plant on 766 acres in Cameron. Once the land for the expansion is secured, the facility will cover 1,266 acres on the west side of the Calcasieu (KAL'-kah-s
  
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• 35 killed, dozens missing in Ethiopia garbage dump landslide

  12-03-2017 11:49
  ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - Officials say the death toll has risen to 35 after a landslide swept through a massive garbage dump on the outskirts of Ethiopia's capital.Addis Ababa city spokeswoman Dagmawit Moges says most of the dead are women and children, and more bodies are expected to be found in the coming hours.One resident says about 150 people were there when the landslide occurred Saturday night.The cause of the accident was not immediately clear, but residents say dumping of garbage had res
  
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• In 1st budget, Trump to push conservative view of government

  12-03-2017 11:40
  
  WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump comes out with a proposed budget this week, and it'll sharply test Republicans' ability to keep long-standing promises to bolster the military - through politically painful cuts to popular domestic programs.The Republican president will ask his adopted political party - which runs Congress - to cut domestic agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the departments of Education and Housing and Urban Development.Also on the chopping block are gran
  
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• Who and why, twin mysteries behind leak of CIA's cybertools

  12-03-2017 11:33
  
  WASHINGTON - WikiLeaks' release of nearly 8,000 documents that purportedly reveal secrets about the CIA's tools for breaking into computers, cellphones and even smart TVs has given rise to multiple theories about who did it and why.Investigators aren't yet saying if they know whether it was a U.S. spy or contractor who felt jilted, or perhaps a foreign country out to embarrass U.S. intelligence. Maybe a CIA employee worried about Americans' privacy rights?The anti-secrecy group says the source s
  
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• Dutch flag replaced with Turkey's at consulate

  12-03-2017 11:29
  
  ROTTERDAM, Netherlands - A man has climbed onto the roof of the Dutch consulate in Istanbul and replaced the Netherlands' flag with the Turkish one.Television footage shows a man standing on the roof of the building shouting Allahu Akbar, Arabic for "God is great."A small group of men holding Turkish flags are seen outside the consulate shouting "Damn Holland" and "Racist Holland."The incident occurred Sunday morning amid escalating tensions between the two NATO allies after the Netherlands barr
  
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• Ousted S.Korea leader leaves presidential palace

  12-03-2017 11:24
  
  SEOUL, South Korea - Ousted South President Park Geun-hye has left the presidential palace in Seoul two days after the country's Constitutional Court removed her from office over a corruption scandal.An official from the Blue House said Sunday evening that Park left for her private house in southern Seoul, where hundreds of police officers, reporters and supporters were gathered in anticipation of her arrival.Workers were earlier seen carrying a television, washing machine, bed and other househo
  
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• Madagascar cyclone death toll reaches 50, authorities say

  12-03-2017 11:21
  
  JOHANNESBURG - Madagascar's government says the death toll from Cyclone Enawo has risen to at least 50, with 20 people missing.The island nation's disaster management agency on Sunday said the cyclone that made landfall in the northeast on Tuesday also has driven 110,000 people from their homes. At least 183 people were injured.Enawo brought heavy rains and winds in excess of 140 miles (225 kilometers) per hour - the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane.Officials say the full extent of the damag
  
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• Video shows more progress in Deputy Nick Tullier's recovery

  12-03-2017 11:20
  
  HOUSTON, Tx. - A new video posted Sunday shows more progress in Deputy Nick Tullier's slow recovery.The video, posted by Tullier's girlfriend, shows the deputy lifting himself up with his forearms without any assistance. Deputy Tullier was shot and injured in an ambush in July on Airline Highway. He spent months hospitalized in Baton Rouge before moving to The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR) at Memorial Hermann hospital in Houston's Texas Medical Center.Earlier
  
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• Galvez Middle School opens temporary campus Monday

  12-03-2017 11:09
  ASCENSION - Students of Galvez Middle School are ready to return to class Monday morning.The students and staff have been displaced since the floods last August, and the temporary campus is finally ready for 500 students to fill its halls."The Galvez Pirates are coming home. All our schools, all our families, all our support staff, back in one place," Superintendent David Alexander said.But getting to this point wasn't easy. The entire school has been displaced up to this point, and many teacher
  
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