Baton Rouge news

• George HW Bush still in hospital; George W Bush visits

  20-04-2017 20:59
  
  HOUSTON - Former President George H.W. Bush got a hospital visit from another former president - his son.
      
  A photograph was posted on Bush's Twitter account Thursday, showing him with former President George W. Bush. Both were smiling as the elder Bush spent another day at a Houston hospital where he's under observation after recovering from a mild case of pneumonia.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">
  
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• Trump to sign measures to review financial regulation

  20-04-2017 20:40
  
  WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is continuing to target a law meant to stop banks from growing "too big to fail."
      
  The president will travel to the Treasury Department Friday to sign three measures.
      
  One memorandum will order the treasury secretary to review a component of the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform law that allows federal regulators to liquidate large, failing financial firms during a financial crisis as an alternative
  
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• 14 arrested during south Louisiana warrant sweep

  20-04-2017 20:09
  
  BATON ROUGE - State authorities sent law enforcement into Calcasieu and Jefferson Davis parishes as part of a massive warrant sweep that has netted 14 people.
      
  The Department of Public Safety and Corrections' Probation and Parole officers and sheriff's deputies Thursday spent the morning searching for 50 people who failed to report to their probation and parole officer, violating the terms of their supervised release.
      
  The arrested in
  
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• Unusual April tropical storm forms far from land

  20-04-2017 19:51
  
  MIAMI - A rare April tropical storm has formed over the north Atlantic.
      
  The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Arlene, which formed Thursday, has maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (72 kph). The storm is far from land, about 815 miles (1,312 kilometers) west of the Azores.
      
  The system is expected to dissipate Friday and no coastal watches or warnings are in effect.
      
  Forecasters say tropical st
  
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• May hearing: Battery charge evidence in McKnight killing?

  20-04-2017 19:37
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Defense attorneys say prosecutors want to use a 10-year-old misdemeanor battery charge as evidence against the man who fatally shot former NFL player Joe McKnight.
      
  Matthew Goetz said after a status conference Thursday that a hearing May 25 will discuss whether the earlier case qualifies as a "bad act" that can be used against 55-year-old Ronald Gasser of Terrytown.
      
  Goetz describes it as a "misdemeanor, unadjudicated ba
  
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• Adsorbent Solutions expansion request fails in St. Gabriel

  20-04-2017 19:04
  
  ST. GABRIEL - The St. Gabriel City Council has voted against a zoning request by Adsorbent Solutions to expand it's facility.The council voted 4-1 against the expansion, going against the Department of Environmental Quality's decision to sign off on the project.Adsorbent Solutions is a company that recycles chemical waste. It is still in operation despite the council's decision.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">JUST IN:
  
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• Man shot on Greenwell Springs Road

  20-04-2017 18:40
  
  BATON ROUGE – One man has been shot on Greenwell Springs Road Thursday afternoon.The Baton Rouge Police Department is on the scene. Sources say the man was shot in the chest.He has been taken to the hospital with injuries that are life-threatening.A News 2 crew is on the scene.This story will be updated as more information becomes available. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Possible drainage district to come to Livingston Parish

  20-04-2017 18:23
  
  WALKER – Some parish officials want to create a drainage district to help relieve the flooding issues in Livingston Parish. However, some residents are concerned.Resident Joey Lemoine lives in the Jones Estates subdivision in Watson where he says it floods almost every time it rains. Lemoine says the problem comes from drainage in the area."When the water comes up so fast it makes so you can't use your bathroom. You have to wait until it goes down to use you toilet," Lemoine s
  
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• Storage renter finds belongings destroyed by mold, insects

  20-04-2017 17:17
  
  BATON ROUGE - A woman went to collect her furniture and other belongings from a storage shed only to find all its contents were destroyed.Donnis White says she went to her Life Storage locker on Florida Boulevard Monday but says all her items had been damaged by water, roaches, rats, termites and mold. She's had to toss her living room set, bedroom set and clothing. What's left is in pieces on the floor."I have lost everything I own," she said.Following a year of construction, White is finally r
  
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• DCFS: 25 percent increase in human trafficking victims in Louisiana

  20-04-2017 16:53
  
  A 2017 report on human trafficking indicates a 25 percent increase in the number of victims in Louisiana over the past year.The report, released by the Department of Children and Family Services, shows that almost half of the victims were children and 20 of those were 12 years old or younger."This report is undeniable evidence human trafficking exists, and it's a significant threat to our children and young people. In fact, with these reports, we believe we're just scratching the surface," DCFS
  
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• NOPD: Woman and five-month-old daughter missing, possibly in danger

  20-04-2017 16:08
  
  NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Police Department is searching for a missing woman and her five-month-old child who may be in danger.Police say that 27-year-old Kayla Shealy was last seen on April 19 around 5 p.m. when she left the 1200 block of Pauline Street with her five-month-old daughter Kaydence. Shealy is reportedly a drug user.Police say that Shealy and her daughter may be in danger.Anyone with information about Shealy or Kaydence's whereabouts is urged to contact the NOPD at 504
  
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• Paris police say officer and attacker shot, killed

  20-04-2017 14:50
  
  PARIS - Paris police say that a gunman killed one police officer and wounded another before being killed himself in an attack on the Champs-Elysees shopping district.Paris police spokeswoman Johanna Primevert told The Associated Press that the attacker targeted police guarding the area near the Franklin Roosevelt subway station Thursday night at the center of the avenue popular with tourists.The attack came three days before the first round of France's tense presidential election. Security is hi
  
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• Islamic State group claims Paris police attack

  20-04-2017 14:50
  
  PARIS - The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the shooting on Paris' Champs Elysees that killed a police officer and left two others gravely wounded.In a statement from its Amaq news agency, the group gave a pseudonym for the shooter indicating he was Belgian.The attacker opened fire on a police van on the avenue before being killed.The claim of responsibility came unusually swiftly for the group, which has been losing territory in Iraq and Syria.And the pseudonym, Abu Yusuf al-
  
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• Report: Man accused of beating woman, seven-week-old child

  20-04-2017 14:49
  
  LAPLACE – Deputies arrested a man after they say he beat a woman and his seven-week-old child, WWL reports.The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office arrested 29-year-old Ronald Lathers for attempted first degree murder.According to the sheriff's office, Lathers wanted to take his seven-week-old child from the woman, who has not been identified at this time. Police say Lathers hit the woman while she was holding the child and eventually hit the child in the head.EMS transported b
  
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• Teacher faces federal charge in Tennessee student case

  20-04-2017 14:45
  
  NASHVILLE - An acting U.S. attorney in Tennessee says the teacher who is accused of kidnapping his 15-year-old student has been charged with taking a minor across state lines to have sex.Acting U.S. Attorney Jack Smith announced the charge for Tad Cummins at a news conference on Thursday, just hours after authorities say the girl was found safe in a very remote area in northern California.Authorities say they received a tip late Wednesday night that the pair may be in the area of Cecilville, Cal
  
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• Authorities: Tennessee student found, teacher arrested in California

  20-04-2017 14:45
  
  NASHVILLE - Authorities say a 15-year-old Tennessee girl who disappeared with her teacher last month has been found safe in California and the teacher has been arrested.The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation tweeted Thursday that teacher Tad Cummins had been taken into custody. The agency said it would provide more details in a press conference later.Elizabeth Thomas disappeared from her home near Columbia on March 13. Columbia is about 45 miles (70 kilometers) south of Nashville.Court papers fil
  
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• Baton Rouge drugs traced to deal on I-12 in Tangipahoa

  20-04-2017 14:40
  
  HAMMOND – Two individuals were arrested on federal drug charges for allegedly distributing methamphetamine from Baton Rouge to Hammond.Roger David Hammond, Jr., 43, and Charlotte White, 50, were arrested after a joint investigation by the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration.The investigation revealed that Hammond, Jr. was traveling in the Baton Rouge area to get methamphetamine that he would later sell in Tangipahoa Parish. Agents with the sheriff
  
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• Lafayette council bans smoking in bars

  20-04-2017 14:19
  
  LAFAYETTE - The Lafayette City-Parish Council has voted to ban smoking in bars, clubs and other public places.Media outlets report the ban passed with a 7-2 vote during a Tuesday night council meeting.The ordinance bans smoking inside, but smokers can light up as long as they're at least five feet away from the doors. They can also smoke on bar patios.Bar owners have until Aug. 1 to enact the ban.The council had considered a similar ban in 2015, but it failed by a 5-4 vote, with opponents questi
  
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• Louisiana Senate agrees to limit hunting sales tax holiday

  20-04-2017 14:06
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Senate has agreed to scale back the state's sales tax holiday for hunting supplies.A proposal by Sen. Barrow Peacock, a Bossier City Republican, would keep state sales taxes from being charged on firearms, ammunition and archery supplies on the first weekend of September.But the sales tax holiday would no longer apply to off-road vehicles, airboats, pirogues, animal feed and some other items that have been tax-free.The change would generate savings for Louisiana.A fin
  
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• BRPD to hold blood drive for officer injured in I-12 crash

  20-04-2017 13:57
  
  BATON ROUGE – The Baton Rouge Police Department will hold a blood drive for an officer who was injured in a crash on I-12.BRPD officer Rickey Faust was responding to an alarm call last month and was driving his unit on I-12 east between the Millerville and Sherwood Forest exit. A vehicle switched lanes in front of Faust, causing him to swerve and lose control of his unit. His unit crashed into a concrete barrier on the median and he sustained severe injuries to his spine and ribs.Faust
  
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• Police: Homeless man arrested for raping woman at duplex

  20-04-2017 13:27
  BATON ROUGE – A homeless man has been arrested after he allegedly raped a woman at a duplex.The Baton Rouge Police Department arrested 41-year-old Shuray Wells on charges of second-degree rape and simple battery.On April 7, a woman reported that she was forced to perform a sexual act while staying the night at a duplex on North Boulevard. The woman stated that she was homeless and her friend allowed her to stay the night at the location. After she fell asleep on the floor, the woman wo
  
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• Day-long gridlock continues on westside, I-10 East

  20-04-2017 13:18
  
  LOBDELL – Gridlock hit the interstate system early Thursday.Delays were reported on I-10 Eastbound from the Iberville/West Baton Rouge line into downtown Baton Rouge.  In some areas, traffic had slowed to a crawl of only 18 mph on the interstate.  Delays were caused by earlier incidents, state traffic monitors said. Some slowdowns may have been due to a minor crash that reportedly involved two 18-wheelers around 1 p.m. Thursday. All the issues slowed traffic
  
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• Google Home's assistant can now recognize different voices

  20-04-2017 13:11
  
  SAN FRANCISCO - Google's voice-activated assistant can now recognize who's talking to it on Google's Home speaker.An update coming out Thursday will enable Home's built-in assistant to learn the different voices of up to six people, although they can't all be talking to the internet-connected speaker at the same time.Distinguishing voices will allow Home to be more personal in some of its responses about estimated commute times, daily calendars and music preferences, depending on who triggers th
  
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• Charlie Murphy remembered by fellow comedians at funeral

  20-04-2017 12:59
  
  Dave Chappelle, Cedric the Entertainer and George Lopez were among comedians who gathered to say goodbye to fellow comic Charlie Murphy, who died last week following a battle with leukemia.Cedric the Entertainer posted a photo on Instagram of the group of comedians wearing black at what appeared to be a funeral home. In the caption he wrote: "Tonite we joined Family n Friends to pay tribute and lay to rest our brother the Legendary #charliemurphy."The 57-year-old Murphy is best known for his wor
  
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• Man jailed on charges he financially exploited federal judge

  20-04-2017 12:51
  LAKE CHARLES - A Louisiana man has been jailed on charges he financially exploited a federal judge while working as her personal assistant.The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office said in a statement that 28-year-old Justin Gray turned himself in Wednesday after investigators obtained a warrant to arrest him on charges of forgery and unauthorized use of a credit card.Parish prosecutor Cynthia Killingsworth said Gray worked as an assistant to U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi, who took medical le
  
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• Killer of former Saints player sentenced to 25 years

  20-04-2017 12:42
  
  NEW ORLEANS - The man who killed retired New Orleans Saints star Will Smith and wounded his wife during a traffic dispute last year has been sentenced to 25 years in prison, far less than the maximum.Louisiana district Judge Camille Buras sentenced 29-year-old Cardell Hayes to 25 years for manslaughter and 15 for attempted manslaughter. He had faced up to 60 years if the maximum sentences were to be served consecutively.Hayes repeatedly shot Smith in the back as the men argued in the street the
  
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• Defense to plead for leniency in death of former Saints player Will Smith

  20-04-2017 12:42
  
  NEW ORLEANS - The defense gets a chance to make its case for leniency Thursday in the shooting death of former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith.Smith's widow and other loved ones took the stand at a pre-sentence hearing Wednesday. They tearfully aimed bitter remarks at Smith's killer, Cardell Hayes.The 29-year-old owner of a tow-truck business could be sentenced to 60 years for fatally shooting Smith and wounding Smith's wife in a confrontation after a traffic crash last year.Hayes insisted at
  
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• Police investigating shooting death behind Raceway gas station on Airline

  20-04-2017 09:50
  
  BATON ROUGE - Baton Rouge Police are investigating the shooting death of a man found in an open field behind the Raceway Gas Station on Airline Highway shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday.51-year-old Felicito Canales suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene.The motive and suspects involved are unknown at this time. Anyone with information is urged to contact police at 389-4869.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Man arrested in connection to Lorraine Street assault

  20-04-2017 08:33
  
  BATON ROUGE - A man has been arrested in connection to Wednesday's "pistol whipping" assault in the 2700 block of Lorraine Street.According to arrest reports, 50-year-old Anthony Mullens, also known as Anthony Ruth, pulled a handgun from his waistband after the victim accused him of theft Wednesday afternoon around 2 p.m. The victim reportedly told Mullens that his vehicle was broken into earlier that day, and he had a picture of Mullens stealing from the car. The victim said Mullens pulled out
  
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• Stretch of I-10 damaged after fiery crash but safe for drivers, DOTD says

  20-04-2017 07:47
  
  PORT ALLEN – Road crews spent some of Thursday morning cleaning and removing debris that remained from a deadly, fiery wreck on I-10 hours earlier.Six people were injured and a 26-year-old was killed in a collision involving two 18-wheelers and three passenger vehicles Wednesday evening. The crash was caused by the driver of one semi who rear-ended the other vehicles. The wreck was on I-10 East near La. 415.The interstate was closed between the Basin Bridge and Baton Rouge for hours We
  
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• 1 year after Prince's death, another turn for The Revolution

  20-04-2017 07:15
  
  A year after Prince died of an accidental painkiller overdose, members of his band from the "Purple Rain" era are reuniting and hitting the road for a spring U.S. tour. The Revolution performs Friday at Paisley Park in the Minneapolis suburb of Chanhassen on the anniversary of Prince's death and then tours until July 15 in Seattle.Guitarist Wendy Melvoin says reuniting The Revolution is a way to help band members and Prince's fans cope with his death. She says the band is going out to people "wh
  
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• Love game for Serena: Spox says Williams is pregnant

  20-04-2017 07:13
  
  A spokeswoman for Serena Williams says the tennis star is pregnant.Kelly Bush Novak wrote in an email to The Associated Press on Wednesday: "I'm happy to confirm Serena is expecting a baby this Fall."Earlier in the day, Williams posted a photo of herself on the social media site Snapchat with the caption "20 weeks."The 35-year-old Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open in January - a little less than 12 weeks ago - and has not competed since, citing a knee injury w
  
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• Arkansas execution plan again thrown into doubt

  20-04-2017 07:08
  
  LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - An aggressive effort by the state of Arkansas to carry out its first executions since 2005 stalled for the second time this week as courts blocked two lethal injections planned for Thursday, prompting Gov. Asa Hutchinson to express frustration at legal delaying tactics.While the latest court rulings could be overturned, Arkansas now faces an uphill battle to execute any inmates before the end of April, when one of its lethal injection drugs expires.The state originally set ei
  
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• Police investigating possible murder-suicide in Iberia Parish

  20-04-2017 04:53
  
  IBERIA - Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office is investigating a possible murder-suicide that happened shortly after midnight Thursday.IPSO said that deputies responded to a residence in the 5100 block of Old Jeanerette Road after concerned family members found the bodies of the male and female resident inside the home.The victims have not been identified. The Iberia Parish Coroner's Office is determining the cause of death. The investigation is ongoing.Permalink| Comments
  
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