Baton Rouge news

• Judge extends order halting travel ban

  29-03-2017 21:55
  
  HONOLULU - A federal judge in Hawaii is extending his order that blocks President Donald Trump's travel ban until the state's lawsuit works its way through the courts.
      
  U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson issued the written ruling Wednesday after hearing arguments.
      
  Seeking the longer-lasting hold, state Attorney General Douglas Chin argued that the ban's implied message is like a "neon sign flashing 'Muslim ban, Muslim ban'" that the
  
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• Recent car burglaries drive concerns for New Roads residents

  29-03-2017 21:53
  
  NEW ROADS - Residents are asking police to crack down on car burglars, but officials say they are having a hard time keeping them locked up when they are caught.One resident told WBRZ her car was broken into in the Fairfield subdivision one week ago. She said she "noticed that both of the car doors, were opened and the glove box had been taken out and left of the seat of the car."Another resident in that same subdivision, Frieda Whitney, said times are changing, and residents need to be careful.
  
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• DA seeks to revoke bond for accused drunk driver

  29-03-2017 21:12
  
  COVINGTON - A district attorney wants to revoke or raise the bond of a Covington woman accused of causing a fatal accident while driving drunk on a bridge connecting the north and south shores of Lake Pontchartrain.
      
  Olivia Matte posted $126,000 bond March 24 in Jefferson Parish in connection with the crash. Her blood-alcohol concentration registered 0.21 - more than twice Louisiana's legal limit for driving of 0.08. It was her third arrest on DWI charges in less t
  
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• Woman hurt in shooting on Titian Avenue

  29-03-2017 20:34
  
  BATON ROUGE - Police are investigating a shooting that left a woman injured on Titian Avenue Wednesday night.According to BRPD, the shooting occured in the 6000 block of Titian Avenue around 8 p.m. Police say the woman suffered non life-threatening injuries.The investigation of the shooting is ongoing.This is a developing story. We will update it with more details as they become available.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Lane reopens on I-110 South at Government St. after crash

  29-03-2017 20:20
  
  BATON ROUGE - All lanes of I-110 South are open at Government Street after a crash closed the left lane Wednesday night.The crash occured around 8 p.m. when a vehicle hit a guardrail in the median. The left lane of I-110 South was closed at the site of the crash. Police are unclear on what caused the crash.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Vacant house damaged by arson

  29-03-2017 19:42
  
  BAKER - Baton Rouge Firefighters have determined arson to be the cause of a fire that caused thousands of dollars in damage to a vacant home.According to Baton Rouge Fire Department officials, firefighters responded to the house fire in the 200 block of E. Jefferson St. around 6:30 p.m. When they arrived, they found smoke coming from a home that appeared to be boarded up.Firefighters discovered flames in a back room of the building.When the fire was extinguished, investigators determined arson c
  
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• How to protect yourself against gasoline pump skimmers

  29-03-2017 18:16
  
  BATON ROUGE - Skimming found at gasoline pumps are concerning for anyone swiping their card.Tuesday, the Department Of Agriculture and Forestry said at least 15 skimming devices were found in eight parishes in the last month.Following a complaint at a pump in Baton Rouge, WBRZ learned more about what to look for before pumping gas and how to help protect yourself from being scammed.Field agents, including Bill Hanson inspect more than 60,000 gas pumps a year in Louisiana, on a yearly basis and i
  
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• Haze appearing from ground prompts evacuation of ball park Wednesday

  29-03-2017 18:07
  
  CENTRAL – People were evacuated from a part of Lovett Road Park as a haze started coming from the ground Wednesday evening.Fire crews and a hazmat team were dispatched when people noticed the haze on a ball park. A WBRZ news crew reported people were moved from one baseball diamond to another while the situation unfolded.Firefighters said the haze could either be smoke or steam and could possibly be coming from an underground electrical system. Someone surmised something may have melte
  
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• Man accused of drugging, trafficking woman in Gonzales

  29-03-2017 17:54
  
  ASCENSION – A man has been arrested for human trafficking following an investigation by deputies, according to the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office.Deputies arrested 38-year-old Dondrick Caine on Tuesday.According to the sheriff's office, detectives began an undercover operation on Mar. 28 and contacted potential prostitutes through a website, arranging a time to meet with them.The particular website that detectives visited often advertise services under the disguise of an escort, acc
  
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• Texas trooper: Multiple fatalities in church van-truck crash

  29-03-2017 17:28
  
  UVALDE, Texas - A Texas state trooper says there are multiple fatalities in a head-on crash between a church van and a pickup truck in southwestern Texas.Sgt. Conrad Hein of the Texas Department of Public Safety reports the van was carrying 14 people when it collided with the truck, which only had the driver inside. Hein did not know the exact number of deaths.The crash happened about 12:20 p.m. Wednesday on U.S. 83 outside Garner State Park, about 75 miles west of San Antonio.Permalink| Comment
  
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• Man sentenced to life in prison for Denham Springs murder

  29-03-2017 16:49
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - A man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole after he was charged with a 2016 murder.According to District Attorney Scott Perrilloux, 25-year-old Brian Allen was charged with killing 24-year-old Derick Stewart in a shooting off of Pete's Highway south of Hwy. 190 on Mar. 28, 2016.In February, a jury unanimously found Allen guilty of second-degree murder.The state presented the jury over 60 pieces of evidence proving that Allen committed the homicide. Among
  
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• Report: bad roads, traffic costing BR drivers $2,500 a year

  29-03-2017 16:00
  
  BATON ROUGE – Baton Rouge drivers are spending about $2,500 a year for bad roads and traffic, according to a report from TRIP, a national transportation research group.According to the report released on Wednesday, the bad roads in the area are costing drivers statewide $6.5 billion a year."Look, in Baton Rouge there is one issue that's the number one issue to every business owner in the area, and it is the traffic mess that is Baton Rouge," Adam Knapp, CEO BR Area Chamber, said.The re
  
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• Beggar charged with attempted murder for gas station stabbing

  29-03-2017 15:48
  
  BATON ROUGE - A beggar has been charged with attempted second-degree murder after he stabbed a man at a College Drive gas station Sunday.Authorities arrested 53-year-old Aron Becnel over the weekend after he reportedly stabbed another man at a Circle K gas station. Witnesses say Becnel was asking for money before he stabbed the victim around 2 a.m. Sunday morning.Becnel was initially charged with second-degree battery for the attack and booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Jail.&nbsp
  
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• Louisiana inmates sue over solitary confinement on death row

  29-03-2017 15:39
  
  BATON ROUGE - Three inmates on Louisiana's death row say in a lawsuit they face inhumane isolation for 23 hours a day in cells "the size of an average of home bathroom."A class action filed Wednesday claims prison officials are violating the constitutional rights of death row prisoners at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.The federal lawsuit says the conditions are inhumane and jeopardize their physical and mental health.The suit asks the court to order prison officials to alleviate the con
  
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• Edwards unveils long-awaited tax plan for upcoming session

  29-03-2017 15:27
  
  BATON ROUGE - Gov. John Bel Edwards is pushing significant changes that would shift more of the state tax burden to businesses, lessen sales taxes and raise hundreds of millions for next year's budget.The tax package unveiled Wednesday would replace $1.3 million in temporary taxes set to expire in mid-2018, while also raising another $400 million annually, according to estimates provided by the governor's office.Edwards says the effort is aimed at stabilizing state finances, ending continued cyc
  
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• Standoff ends after man barricaded in house near Gonzales school

  29-03-2017 15:12
  
  GONZALES – A standoff between police and a man who locked himself in a home on New River Road in Gonzales ended Wednesday afternoon. According to authorities, the man allegedly beat his girlfriend during an argument and she ran to St. Theresa School for safety. The school was on lockdown until the man was taken into custody. The Gonzales Police Department advised for citizens to avoid during the incident. The identity of the man and arrest information has not
  
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• Son of missing Mobile woman arrested, charged with murder

  29-03-2017 14:31
  
  MOBILE, Ala. - The son of a missing Mobile woman has been charged with murder in connection to his mother's homicide.Mobile police tell local media that 64-year-old Kay Atkins Raines was reported missing on Jan. 28. She was last seen at a Biloxi, Mississippi casino.Authorities believe that Raines' body was found Monday in Bay Minette near Alabama Highway 225.On Monday night, police arrested 34-year-old Clarke Raines - Kay Raines' son - and charged him with murder and 13 counts of fraudulent use
  
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• Pedestrian struck by vehicle at BRCC

  29-03-2017 13:33
  
  BATON ROUGE - Crews are responding to a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle at Baton Rouge Community College.The incident occurred around 1:15 p.m. at BRCC. EMS is en route to the scene.This is a developing story. We will update with more information as it becomes available.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Police: woman arrested for leaving children barricaded in apartment

  29-03-2017 13:01
  
  BATON ROUGE – Police arrested a woman after they say she left her children barricaded in her apartment while at work.The Baton Rouge Police Department arrested 30-year-old Tracy Griffin on three counts of child desertion.On Mar. 28 around 9 a.m. police responded to an apartment complex in the 3200 block of Singletray Drive where the property manager stated that there were children left in a locked apartment. According to arrest records, the responding officer had to make forced entry i
  
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• Security changes coming to Disney World's Magic Kingdom

  29-03-2017 12:36
  
  ORLANDO – Visitors can expect more lines soon at Walt Disney World, but not where they would normally expect.According to WFTV, the Orlando theme park is adding security checkpoints outside the Transportation and Ticket Center to screen guests before they get on a monorail or ferry.There are also plans to screen guests at Disney hotels before they hop on the monorail to the Magic Kingdom.The company tells local media that the move is to ease crowds directly in front of the park.Disney
  
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• Three Texas students accused of starting fire at high school

  29-03-2017 12:32
  
  MCALLEN – Three Texas high school students have been arrested after police say they started a fire on campus.According to a report from KRGV, the fire started on the McAllen Memorial High School football field in the pole vault area.According to police, two male students were arrested on Monday and another was arrested on Tuesday. All three were charged with second-degree felony arson.The students could face up to 20 years in prison along with a $10,000 fine.The fire caused an estimate
  
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• Samsung's Galaxy S8 phone aims to dispel the Note 7 debacle

  29-03-2017 12:26
  
  NEW YORK - Samsung seems to be playing it safe with its first major smartphone since the embarrassing recall of its fire-prone Note 7.The Galaxy S8 features a larger display than its predecessor, the Galaxy S7, and a voice assistant intended to rival Siri and Google Assistant. But there is no increase in battery capacity, providing the battery more breathing room. The Note 7 pushed the engineering envelope with its large battery, which contributed to a series of spontaneous smartphone combustion
  
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• Man accused of stealing tires, running over homeowner

  29-03-2017 12:22
  
  BATON ROUGE – A man faces attempted murder charges after police say he ran over a man after stealing tires from a vehicle on Greenwell Springs Road.Troy Bledsoe Staton, 53, was charged with attempted second degree murder, criminal trespass and theft Wednesday. He was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.According to arrest documents, the crime happened around 4:30 p.m. Jan. 26 in the 21000 block of Greenwell Springs Road.A victim told East Baton Rouge Sherrif's deputies that
  
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• Report: Shots fired near U.S. Capitol, suspect in custody

  29-03-2017 08:53
  
  WASHINGTON D.C. – Authorities in Washington D.C. are investigating an incident outside the U.S. Capitol building Wednesday morning.According to ABC News, one person was taken into custody after driving into a U.S. Capitol Police car attempting to hit officers. Police responded to Washington Ave and Independence Ave. That location is near the U.S. Botanic Garden and the Rayburn House office building. ABC News reports that Capitol Police fired shots, but no one was hit.
  
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• Police arrest suspect in shooting of 2 Miami-Dade officers

  29-03-2017 08:31
  
  MIAMI - A 19-year-old Miami man is charged with two counts of attempted murder after police say he opened fire in an "ambush-style" shooting on two plainclothes detectives who were investigating gang activity.Miami-Dade police announced an arrest on Twitter Wednesday morning but provide no details. The Miami Herald reports a tip led officers to Damian "Damo" Thompson.The shooting happened Monday night after detectives Terrance White and Charles Wood pulled into the housing project to monitor a s
  
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• UK letter to EU calls for 'sincere cooperation'

  29-03-2017 07:46
  
  LONDON - British Prime Minister Theresa May offered a polite and conciliatory statement in the letter to the European Union triggering Brexit talks.May said in the letter that "we should engage with one another constructively and respectfully, in a spirit of sincere cooperation."May says it is in the "best interests of both the United Kingdom and the European Union that we should use the forthcoming process to deliver these objectives in a fair and orderly manner, and with as little dis
  
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• First reactions to 'Pirates of the Caribbean 5' at CinemaCon

  29-03-2017 06:44
  
  LAS VEGAS - The Walt Disney Studios unveiled the fifth installment in their "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise "Dead Men Tell No Tales" Tuesday night at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.Initial reactions from those in attendance were largely positive, celebrating a return to form for the franchise and the well-done VFX.Gizmodo writer Germain Lussier wrote that it was the best since the first, adding that while that isn't saying much, it does occasionally capture that magic. Collider.com editor in chief
  
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• Louisiana governor, superintendent clash over rules rewrite

  29-03-2017 06:38
  
  BATON ROUGE - Gov. John Bel Edwards and Superintendent of Education John White are at odds over how to redesign Louisiana education policies to comply with a federal education law.The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has been placed in the middle of that dispute and will decide Wednesday whether to submit White's plan to the federal government in April, five months earlier than Edwards wants.White's plan would change the way student performance is measured, along with the method for c
  
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• Loyola to make free textbooks available for 400

  29-03-2017 06:36
  
  NEW ORLEANS - It's a program that could lower costs for as many as 400 incoming students at a major university in New Orleans.Loyola University is launching a free textbook program for first-year students who start classes in the fall.To be eligible, admitted students must register online for a college preparedness discussion. Once that discussion is completed and a deposit is received, the student is enrolled to receive free text books for the freshman fall and spring semesters.The program is l
  
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• 3 storm chasers killed in Texas crash identified

  29-03-2017 06:22
  
  NORMAN, Okla. - Investigators have identified the three storm chasers killed in a two-vehicle crash at a rural West Texas intersection.Sgt. John Gonzalez of the Texas Department of Public Safety identified the storm chasers as 57-year-old Kelley Gene Williamson and 55-year-old Randall Delane Yarnall, both of Cassville, Missouri, and 25-year-old Corbin Lee Jaeger of Peoria, Arizona.Gonzalez said a Chevrolet Suburban driven by Williamson ran a stop sign at the intersection and slammed into the Jee
  
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• TRAFFIC ALERT: Crash blocks lane on I-10, jams traffic eastbound into Baton Rouge

  29-03-2017 05:07
  
  BATON 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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• Congress sends bill to Trump blocking online privacy regulation

  29-03-2017 04:40
  
  WASHINGTON - Congress has sent President Donald Trump legislation that would kill an online privacy regulation. That move could eventually allow internet providers such as Comcast, AT&T and Verizon to sell the browsing habits of their customers.The Federal Communications Commission rule issued in October was designed to give consumers greater control over how internet service providers share information. But critics said the rule would have stifled innovation and picked winners and losers am
  
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