Baton Rouge news

• US temporarily bans use of cyanide predator traps in Idaho

  10-04-2017 21:06
  
  BOISE, Idaho - U.S. officials have temporarily stopped the use of predator-killing cyanide traps in Idaho after one sickened a young boy and killed his dog last month after they checked it out.The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Monday that it had halted all use of the traps on state, federal and private land in Idaho in response to a petition from 19 conservation and wildlife groups.The spring-activated devices called M-44s look like water sprinkler heads and are imbedded in the ground
  
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• New Alabama governor sworn in amid scandal

  10-04-2017 20:54
  
  MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Kay Ivey has been sworn in as Alabama's new governor after Robert Bentley resigned and pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges that arose from an investigation into his alleged affair.Ivey, who had been lieutenant governor, took the oath of office Monday at a ceremony at the Alabama Capitol. Bentley pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor campaign finance law violations.Ivey called it a dark day in Alabama politics and a day of opportunity. She promised her administration will be
  
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• US says global spam scheme targeted after mastermind nabbed

  10-04-2017 20:51
  
  WASHINGTON - U.S. authorities announced Monday they are working to dismantle a global computer network that sent hundreds of millions of spam emails worldwide each year. The Russian man alleged to be at the head of the scheme was arrested Friday in Spain.The U.S. Justice Department said it was working to take down the sprawling Kelihos botnet, which at times was made up of more than 100,000 compromised computers that sent phony emails advertising counterfeit drugs and work-at-home scams, harvest
  
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• Man kills estranged wife, student in San Bernardino classroom

  10-04-2017 20:24
  
  SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - Authorities say a man told a San Bernardino school that he had come to drop something off for his teacher-wife before shooting and killing her and a student in a special-needs classroom.Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said Monday at a news conference that 53-year-old Karen Elaine Smith was targeted and that her estranged husband, 53-year-old Cedric Anderson, opened fire "very, very quickly upon entering the classroom." There were 15 students in the classroom.Burguan says And
  
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• Change-of-plea hearing set in deadly 2013 offshore fire

  10-04-2017 20:09
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Federal criminal charges filed against an energy company over a deadly 2012 offshore oil platform fire may be headed for a resolution.Three Filipino workers died in the Nov. 16, 2012, fire on the platform operated by Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations.Black Elk has pleaded not guilty in the case. However, court records show that a change-of-plea hearing is set for April 26, and that prosecutors and Black Elk's lawyers jointly requested an order enabling Black Elk to enter a new p
  
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• Judge again finds discrimination in Texas' voter ID law

  10-04-2017 20:02
  
  AUSTIN, Texas - A judge has ruled for a second time that Texas' strict voter ID law was intentionally crafted to discriminate against minorities.The ruling by U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos of Corpus Christi on Monday comes more than two years after she likened the ballot-box rules in Texas to a "poll tax" meant to suppress minority voters.She is still holding to that conclusion after an appeals court asked her to go back and re-examine her findings.The Texas law requires voters to sho
  
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• Mexican inmates accused of telephone fraud in US

  10-04-2017 19:57
  
  MEXICO CITY - Prosecutors say inmates at a Mexican prison made extortion phone calls to Mexicans living in several U.S. cities.Jalisco state prosecutor Eduardo Almaguer said Monday the fraudulent phone calls targeted Mexicans living in Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago and cities in Texas, Oklahoma and Tennessee.He said inmates pretended to be relatives, a technique used in Mexico in fake kidnap calls. The inmates also managed to get migrants to send them tens of thousands of dollars by posing as lawy
  
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• United CEO defends employees in plane incident

  10-04-2017 19:45
  
  CHICAGO - The CEO of United Airlines' parent company is supporting the way his employees handled an incident with a passenger who did not want to go after being asked to leave a plane on Sunday night at Chicago's O'Hare Airport.In a letter to employees Monday evening, Oscar Munoz said he was "upset to see and hear about what happened." He added, however, that the man dragged off the plane had ignored requests by crew members to leave and became "disruptive and belligerent," making it necessary t
  
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• Graves reburied in Livingston Parish after destroyed by flood

  10-04-2017 18:28
  
  LIVINGSTON – Caskets are getting reburied at the Plainview Cemetery in Livingston Parish.
  It was the hardest hit cemetery during the August flood with almost 250 graves disturbed. The state has now taken over the restoration.
  "It's a sacred place, families come here to remember their loved ones so we want to return their earthly remains to their resting place," Able Goings, state cemetery consultant, said.With the cemetery severely damaged, only a contractor with special equipment coul
  
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• 12-year-old arrested for sexually assaulting young girl in group home

  10-04-2017 18:21
  
  BATON ROUGE - A 12-year-old boy has been arrested after he was accused of sexually assaulting a 7-year-old girl in a group home Sunday.Baton Rouge Police say the incident happened on Carolyn Sue Drive early Sunday morning, just after midnight. The girl was allegedly assaulted while staying at a state-run home for seriously abused children.The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services released a statement Monday afternoon in response to the allegations. "We take any a
  
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• HUD releases $1.6 billion in flood recovery funds

  10-04-2017 18:00
  
  BATON ROUGE – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development officially released the $1.6 billion in flood recovery funds appropriated in 2016, the Governor's Office announced.
  HUD can immediately begin to withdraw funds for flood recovery and the state will begin to use the funds to conduct environmental reviews based on survey responses from flood victims.As of April 10, 4,200 homeowners completed the survey.Governor Edwards said that the funds will allow the state to move forw
  
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• Marksville officer in 6-year-old boy's death accused of badge misuse

  10-04-2017 17:01
  
  BATON ROUGE - Prosecutors say a Louisiana law enforcement officer charged with murder in a 6-year-old boy's fatal shooting had engaged in a pattern of abusing his badge to "satisfy his sexual desires."In a court filing Friday, prosecutors said the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff's Office fired Norris Greenhouse Jr. after the mother of a 14-year-old girl complained that she found him lying on a sofa with her daughter while he was dressed in his uniform.Prosecutors also claim Greenhouse made "sexual adva
  
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• Alabama governor resigns after plea deal

  10-04-2017 16:55
  
  MONTGOMERY - Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has resigned after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor charges of violating state campaign finance law.The attorney general's office announced the resignation Monday with a plea deal.Bentley was addressing the media Monday afternoon at the Alabama Capitol. Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey's announced that she will be sworn-in this evening as Alabama's governor at 6 p.m.Bentley's voice began choking with emotion as he addressed reporters at the Alabama Capitol. He said he
  
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• Saints 2017 preseason opponents announced

  10-04-2017 16:51
  
  NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Saints have announced their opponents for the 2017 preseason games.The team will play their first two preseason games on the road, followed by two home games in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The kick off the preseason, the Saints will play the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium.
  In the second week of the preseason, the Saints will face the Los Angeles Chargers at the StubHub Center, the temporary home of the Chargers since they relocated from San Diego
  
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• STPSO: Toddler struck by vehicle in Slidell

  10-04-2017 16:47
  
  SLIDELL - Deputies are investigating an incident in which a small child was struck by a vehicle Sunday afternoon.According to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, the toddle was struck on E. Forest Blvd. at Whisperwood Blvd.Few details are known at this time.This is a developing story. We will update it with more information as it becomes available.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Rapper Lil Boosie pepper sprayed while shopping in Biloxi

  10-04-2017 16:37
  
  BILOXI, Miss. - Baton Rouge rapper Lil Boosie was pepper sprayed by a security guard while shopping in a Mississippi department store Sunday.A video posted by a fan shows Boosie arguing with the security guard at a Dillards before Boosie and two others are pepper sprayed in the face. According to a report from the Advocate, the rapper was told to leave after too many people followed him into the store.Crystal Whitmore, who recorded the video, says the guard was telling the rapp
  
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• EBRSO: Women wanted for stealing money from College Drive Walmart

  10-04-2017 16:33
  
  BATON ROUGE – Deputies are searching for two women who they say stole money from cash registers at Walmart in the 3000 block of College Drive.According to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office, the incident occurred on April 9 when two women entered the store, walked to the apparel section and took one piece of clothing. The woman then walked to an unattended cash register.According to the sheriff's office, one of the women acted as a lookout while the other used a key to open
  
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• 2 new Republican members sworn into the Louisiana House

  10-04-2017 15:35
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana House has two new members.Reps. John Stefanski and Joe Stagni were sworn in Monday after winning elections earlier this year to two vacant seats.Stefanski, a Republican from Crowley, takes over the seat previously represented by Jack Montoucet, a Democrat who left when Gov. John Bel Edwards appointed him secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Stefanski is a lawyer and political newcomer.Stagni, a Republican chiropractor from Kenner, is a former city co
  
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• Owner of tax preparation businesses accused of defrauding state for second time

  10-04-2017 14:51
  
  BATON ROUGE – The owner of a chain of tax preparation businesses faces fraud charges after the Louisiana Department of Revenue says he schemed to defraud the state of payroll taxes and inflated income tax refunds.Leroi Gorman Jackson, owner of Taxman Financial Services, LLC, is accused of withholding payroll taxes from the paychecks of 103 employees during the 2016 tax year and failing to remit the state. The payroll withholding scheme cost the state an estimated total of $21, 891, acc
  
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• Official: Russia knew of Syrian chemical attack in advance

  10-04-2017 14:48
  
  WASHINGTON - A senior U.S. official says the United States has concluded that Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack last week.The official says a Russian-operated drone flew over a hospital in Syria as victims of the attack were rushing to get treatment.Hours after the drone left, a Russian-made fighter jet bombed the hospital in what American officials believe was an attempt to cover up the usage of chemical weapons.Until Monday, U.S. officials had said they weren't sure if
  
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• BRPD seeking suspect in Office Depot burglary

  10-04-2017 14:45
  
  BATON ROUGE - Police are seeking information regarding a man suspected of burglarizing an employee's locker at an Office Depot in February.According to BRPD, the burglary occured at the Florida Boulevard store around 9:45 a.m. on Feb. 8, 2017. The suspect entered the business and proceeded directly to the employee locker area where he burglarized a locker and stole an employee's purse.The suspect then left the store and unsuccessfully attempted to use stolen credit cards at surrounding
  
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• New Orleans Police: Man robbed while helping jump-start car

  10-04-2017 14:10
  
  NEW ORLEANS - New Orleans police say a man who was apparently acting as a good Samaritan was robbed at gunpoint after he responded to someone who asked for help jump-starting their vehicle.The Times-Picayune reports that the victim was flagged down in the Algiers neighborhood by someone who was asking for help jump-starting their car. Police say that after the victim stopped to help, the person requesting the jump pulled out a handgun and forced the victim to turn over his belongings.The victim
  
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• Fight with shovel handle interrupts Easter egg hunt

  10-04-2017 13:45
  
  THIBODAUX – Police say two people were arrested after violence interrupted an Easter Egg hunt in Thibodaux Sunday afternoon.Florence Robinson, 25, was charged with aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon, criminal damage to property and disturbing the peace. Junius Boyd Jr. was charged with aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon.According to Chief of Police Bryan Zeringue, officers responded to Peltier Park just after 5 p.m. for what was initially reported as a man hitting a wom
  
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• County considers special tax for Trump's Mar-a-Lago visits

  10-04-2017 13:16
  
  WEST PALM BEACH  - Commissioners in a Florida county are so tired of spending money on President Donald Trump's frequent visits to his Mar-a-Lago resort, some are suggesting a special tax be levied against the property.Trump's visits have cost Palm Beach County taxpayers about $2 million. The county spends more spends more than $60,000 a day when the president visits, mostly for law enforcement overtime. The county has spent almost $2 million since January.Sheriff Ric Bradshaw says the
  
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• Police: 2 adults dead, 2 students hurt in San Bernardino school shooting

  10-04-2017 13:06
  
  SAN BERNARDINO - The San Bernardino police chief says two adults are dead after a shooting at an elementary school.San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan says on Twitter that investigators believe "the suspect is down." He says there is no further threat to the school.Burguan says the shooting is believed to be a murder-suicide. He says the shooting happened in a classroom.He said at least two students were taken to a hospital. The other students in the school were
  
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• BRPD graduates 83rd class of cadets

  10-04-2017 13:00
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Baton Rouge Police Department added the 83rd group of new cadets to their force on Monday morning. After 22 weeks of intensive, hands-on training, a group of 22 male and female cadets graduated the Baton Rouge Police Training Program. The commencement ceremony took place at Istrouma Baptist Church at 9 a.m.However, getting to the big day took hundreds of hours of work, commitment, and training sessions that simulate real-life scenarios. Some of that training i
  
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• Nissan denies breaking labor laws in Mississippi

  10-04-2017 12:44
  
  JACKSON, Miss. - Nissan Motor Co. disputes federal claims of labor law violations at its Mississippi assembly plant.The National Labor Relations Board added three new charges to a complaint against the Japanese automaker and a contract worker agency.Filed March 31, the board claims a supervisor illegally threatened the plant would close if the United Auto Workers union begins representing workers. The board also claims security guards improperly harassed union supporters, and that a Nissan polic
  
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• Lane closures on parts of I-10 in Iberville due to construction

  10-04-2017 12:43
  
  IBERVILLE – Parts of I-10 east and west will have alternating lane closures nightly starting Monday in Iberville Parish.DOTD said the lane closures are due to construction of the cable barrier systems. The nightly closures will be from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. until Friday, April 14.The lane closure starts at mile post 135 and ends at mile post 142.DOTD says that heavy delays are expected.Permalink| Comments
  
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• One person reportedly stabbed on N. 38th Street

  10-04-2017 12:24
  
  BATON ROUGE - One person was reportedly stabbed on N. 38th Street Monday evening.The stabbing allegedly took place in the 3300 block of N. 38th Street near Winbourne Avenue around 9:45 p.m.Injuries to the person appear to be non-life threatening, according to the Baton Rouge Police Department.More information will be added to this story as it becomes available.Permalink| Comments
  
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• 2 South Carolina children in hospital in bounce house flight

  10-04-2017 12:19
  TAYLORS - A church pastor says two children are still in a hospital after a bounce house was lifted into the air by a gust of wind in western South Carolina.Officials said five children were taken to the hospital after the inflatable attraction was carried into the air about 2 p.m. Saturday at Springwell Church in Taylors.Fire Battalion Chief Ricky Reed said the bounce house at a church carnival was anchored when it was lifted into the air.Operations pastor David Pearson said in a Facebook post
  
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• Masters-style green jacket bought for $5 sells for $139K

  10-04-2017 12:17
  
  DENVILLE - An authentic green jacket from Augusta National Golf Club that was once bought for $5 at a thrift store has sold at auction for more than $139,000.Green Jacket Auctions says the distinctive sport coat worn by members of the famed Georgia club and presented each year to the winner of the Master's tournament was sold Saturday, a day before the final round of this year's Masters.The auction house says in its listing that the jacket was discovered in 1994 in a Toronto consignment shop. Th
  
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• Subdivision demands answers to drainage problem

  10-04-2017 12:07
  
  WALKER - A subdivision in Walker is finally getting some results to a bad drainage problem they've been dealing with for years. But the Department of Public Works said it's going to take time and money for it to happen.A room full of frustrated residents who live in Suburban Acers gathered Monday evening and said they are tired of dealing with a lack of drainage in their neighborhood.Every time it rains, residents said, it floods. On Monday night, residences, like Lee Etue, said they are ready t
  
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• NY makes tuition free, but students must stay after college

  10-04-2017 09:37
  
  ALBANY - There's a big string attached to New York's free middle-class college tuition initiative: Students must stay in the state after graduation or else pay back the benefit.Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday that the requirement was added to protect the state's investment in a student's education by ensuring they don't take advantage of free tuition and then leave New York.The tuition initiative, which Cuomo says is a national model, covers state college or university tuition for in-st
  
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• New York lawmakers approve free middle class college tuition

  10-04-2017 09:37
  
  ALBANY - New York is set to make tuition at public colleges and universities free for middle-class students.The tuition initiative is part of a new state budget approved Sunday by the state Senate, a day after the Assembly approved it.Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed the tuition plan, which will cost an estimated $163 million.In-state students whose families earn $125,000 or less will be eligible. Cuomo says the idea is to provide new economic opportunities for New Yorkers by making college
  
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• Florida sheriff to heroin dealers: 'We're coming for you. Run!'

  10-04-2017 09:32
  
  TAVARES - A Florida sheriff is sending a stern warning to heroin dealers: "We're coming for you. Run!"In a video posted to the agency's Facebook page Friday, Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell told dealers his undercover agents have already bought heroin from them, adding that officials are "simply waiting for the arrest warrants to be finalized."Flanked by four agents wearing black hoods and masks, the sheriff told dealers to "enjoy looking over your shoulder and constantly wondering if today
  
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• Video shows guards dragging passenger off United flight

  10-04-2017 08:42
  
  CHICAGO - Video shows three security officials dragging a passenger from a United Airlines flight at a Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.The Louisville Courier-Journal reports a United representative confirmed Sunday night that a person was removed from Flight 3411 to Louisville, Kentucky, saying it was "overbooked."@united @FoxNews @CNN not a good way to treat a Doctor trying to get to work because they overbooked pic.twitter.com/sj9oHk94Ik— Tyler Bridges (@Tyler_Bridges) April 9
  
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• Police: speed possibly a factor in deadly Livingston Parish crash

  10-04-2017 08:16
  
  HOLDEN – State Police say speed is suspected to be a factor in a crash that killed a Napoleonville man Sunday night.According to Louisiana State Police, the single vehicle crash happened around 8 p.m. on I-12 west at LA 441 in Livingston Parish.Investigators believe 34-year-old Christopher Lasseigne was traveling at a high rate of speed when he tried to exit onto LA 441. Lasseigne lost control of his pickup and was ejected when the vehicle overturned.State Police say Lasseigne
  
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• Toyota announces $1.33 billion investment in Kentucky plant

  10-04-2017 07:05
  
  LOUISVILLE - Toyota says it's investing $1.3 billion to retool its sprawling Georgetown, Kentucky, factory where its flagship Camry sedans are built.The automaker said Monday that no new factory jobs are being added, but the investment will sustain the existing 8,200 jobs at Toyota's largest plant, where nearly one-fourth of all Toyota vehicles produced in North America are made.Toyota says the upgrades amount to its biggest single investment ever at an existing plant in the United States.The fa
  
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• Trump and taxes: Back to drawing board, seeks GOP consensus

  10-04-2017 07:00
  
  WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is going back to the drawing board. He has scrapped the tax plan he campaigned on and is searching for Republican consensus behind legislation to overhaul the U.S. tax system.The administration's first attempt to write legislation is in its early stages and the White House has kept much of it under wraps.But it has already resulted in consideration of a series of unorthodox proposals including a drastic cut to the payroll tax, aimed at appealing to Democrats.S
  
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• Ford says hybrid police car catches bad guys, saves gas too

  10-04-2017 06:55
  
  DEARBORN - The next time the cops chase you down for speeding, they could be driving a fuel-efficient gas-electric hybrid.Ford Motor Co. says it will offer a police pursuit version of the hybrid Fusion midsize sedan, in response to requests from cities nationwide. Ford sells more police cars in the U.S. than any other automaker.The new car, with its 2-Liter four-cylinder engine and 1.4 kilowatt lithium-ion battery, is expected to get 38 miles per gallon of gas in combined city-highway driving. T
  
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• New report gives US airlines better grades across the board

  10-04-2017 06:53
  
  DALLAS - The airlines are getting better at sticking to their schedules and are losing fewer bags. Their customers seem to be complaining less often.Those are the findings of an annual report on airline quality being released Monday by researchers at Wichita State University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.The researchers use information compiled by the U.S. Department of Transportation to rate the airlines for on-time performance, baggage handling, bumping passengers off oversold fligh
  
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• Louisiana lawmakers return Monday to another tax debate

  10-04-2017 06:51
  
  BATON ROUGE - Gov. John Bel Edwards will make his case for rewriting Louisiana's tax laws to legislators slogging back for another session where debate focuses on budget cuts and spending levels.Louisiana's two-month regular session opens at noon Monday, with little consensus emerging about how to remedy the budget instability.Edwards will lay out his proposals to the House and Senate an hour later, pushing a tax overhaul that aims to end the budget gaps by more heavily taxing businesses.Republi
  
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• Charleston Church shooter takes guilty plea, wrapping up the case

  10-04-2017 04:32
  
  CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - Convicted Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof is expected to plead guilty to state murder charges, leaving him to await federal execution and sparing his victims and their families the burden of a second trial.The 23-year-old Roof is set to plead guilty Monday to all state charges, including nine counts of murder. It's part of a deal with prosecutors in exchange for a life prison sentence.The self-avowed white supremacist was unapologetic at his federal trial as he hear
  
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• President Trump's Nat. Security Advisor says Russia should rethink Syria support

  10-04-2017 04:28
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump's national security adviser is calling on Russia to re-evaluate its support for Syrian President Bashar Assad, leaving open the possibility of additional U.S. military action against Syria.In an interview on "Fox News Sunday," H.R. McMaster pointed to dual U.S. goals of defeating the Islamic State group and removing Assad from power.McMaster says Russia will have to decide whether it wanted to continue backing a "murderous regime" as Trump weighed next st
  
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• This morning Judge Neil Gorsuch will be sworn into the Supreme Court

  10-04-2017 04:22
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) - Judge Neil Gorsuch is about to take his place as the newest Supreme Court justice. The 49-year-old appeals court judge from Colorado will be sworn later today. Gorsuch's nomination led to a bruising fight that saw Republicans change the rules for approving Supreme Court picks over the fierce objection of Democrats.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Gorsuch sworn in as Supreme Court justice

  10-04-2017 04:22
  
  WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is praising new Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch during a public White House ceremony. He says Gorsuch will rule "not on his personal preferences but based on a fair and objective reading of the law."In a Rose Garden ceremony, Trump says in Gorsuch, Americans see "a man who is deeply faithful to the Constitution of the United States." The president is predicting Gorsuch will go down as "one of the truly great justices" in the court's history.The 49-year-old
  
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• Christian community mourns after two deadly bombings

  10-04-2017 04:14
  
  JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel has closed its Taba border crossing to Egypt following a warning by its anti-terrorism office of an "imminent" militant attack there.Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz said in a statement Monday there was intel regarding a potential "terror attack" against tourists in the Sinai peninsula. The crossing is open for those wanting to return from Egypt.A pair of church bombings during Palm Sunday ceremonies killed more than 40 people Sunday; shortly after those attacks, Israel
  
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