Baton Rouge news

• Livingston Parish couple concerned after bold burglar steals several guns

  30-05-2017 21:12
  
  LIVINGSTON PARISH - A Livingston Parish couple is shaken up after a man broke into their home and stole several firearms.Marcus Billings says he's reviewed the surveillance video countless times. Marcus and his wife are both concerned after over $2000 worth of their property was stolen in the bold robbery, including three firearms."It's one of those things thats going to stick with you for a while," Billings said.The Billings family says their surveillance system is in
  
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• Louisiana House backs criminal justice overhaul proposals

  30-05-2017 21:07
  
  BATON ROUGE - Key pieces of Louisiana's planned criminal justice overhaul have passed the House, five days after they were unexpectedly shelved amid a wider political feud. House lawmakers approved five bills Tuesday that are part of Gov. John Bel Edwards' push to decrease Louisiana's highest-in-the-nation incarceration rate and save millions annually. Among the measures now headed to the Senate include Rep. Walt Leger's proposal to reinvest 70 percent of the estimated $262 mil
  
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• Mother, two children killed in Lafourche Parish crash

  30-05-2017 20:29
  
  LAROSE - Police say a woman and her two children were killed in a crash on LA 3235 Tuesday.According to Louisiana State Police, 39-year-old Carmen Valle and her two children, 5-year-old Christopher Valle and 4-year-old Valeria Valle, were traveling north on LA 3235 around noon Tuesday.Police say Valle lost control of her 1997 Ford F-150 and crossed the median, entering the southbound lanes. Her truck was then struck on its passenger side by an 2018 International box tr
  
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• Orlando airport suspect 'contained'

  30-05-2017 20:26
  
  ORLANDO - Police in Florida have tweeted that a reportedly armed suspect has been 'contained' at the Orlando International Airport and that no shots have been fired and there is no active shooter.The Florida Highway patrol said all roads to the airport were shut down, with "zero exceptions." Authorities warned people to stay in their vehicles and away from law enforcement.The call about an armed man came in about 7:30 p.m. and the situation was resolved nearly three hours later, after a crisis n
  
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• Settlement over protesters' arrests get initial approval

  30-05-2017 20:08
  
  BATON ROUGE - A federal judge has preliminarily approved a proposed settlement resolving a class action that accusses law enforcement agencies in Louisiana's capital of violating the constitutional rights of protesters who were arrested after a deadly police shooting. U.S. Magistrate Judge Erin Wilder-Doomes ruled Tuesday that the settlement agreement "appears fair in all respects." The deal calls for awarding cash payments ranging from $500 to $1,000 to nearly 80 protesters wh
  
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• Mexico to review rules of origin to help NAFTA renegotiation

  30-05-2017 19:59
  
  MIAMI - Mexico's foreign minister says the country is "inevitably" set to review rules of origin when renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement, giving a boost to President Donald Trump's manufacturing push.Foreign Relations Secretary Luis Videgaray said on Tuesday at an event in Miami that NAFTA has allowed Mexican industry to enter the U.S. market with lax rules of origin. The rules dictate how much U.S. content a product assembled in Mexico must have in order to escape tariffs whe
  
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• Flynn to give documents to Senate intel panel

  30-05-2017 19:55
  
  WASHINGTON - Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn will provide some documents to the Senate intelligence committee as part of its probe into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election.A person close to Flynn says he will turn over documents related to two of his businesses as well as some personal documents the committee requested earlier this month. The person says Flynn plans to produce documents by next week.Flynn's decision comes after he invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against
  
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• APSO: Domestic violence homicides increase

  30-05-2017 17:58
  
  GONZALES - The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office says over the past five years it has seen an increase in domestic violence homicides. In a parish where homicide levels are typically in the single digits, at least 35 to 40 percent of those can be attributed to domestic violence situations, according to the sheriff's office. "It allows us to start new initiatives on how to do assessments in the field and get people help in these domestic violence situations," Colonel Bobby Webre
  
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• Severe weather sweeps Lafourche Parish

  30-05-2017 17:48
  
  THIBODAUX - Storms sweeping across south Louisiana have caused street flooding and warnings of possible tornadoes.The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning Tuesday in Lafourche Parish, near the coast, southwest of New Orleans.New Orleans news outlets said there were eyewitness accounts and photos of tornadoes and waterspouts. However, there were no reports of damage.The Daily Comet reported street flooding in Lafourche Parish and WWL-TV reported that at least one flooded home in Cut
  
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• Indiana woman charged in crash that killed daughter

  30-05-2017 16:58
  
  MUNCIE, Ind. - A woman who crashed on an Indiana road after being punched by her boyfriend has been charged in connection with the death of her 6-year-old daughter who was thrown from the vehicle.WRTV-TV reports that 28-year-old Jessica Skeens was arrested Tuesday on preliminary charges that include neglect of a dependent resulting in death and driving while intoxicated causing death. Police say she had a blood-alcohol over 08 percent, which is the legal limit. Taelyn Woodson w
  
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• West Feliciana crews rescue man after log truck overturns

  30-05-2017 16:42
  
  WILKINSON COUNTY – Firefighters of the West Felciana Fire District No. 1 rescued a man trapped in an overturned log truck over the weekend.The incident occurred on May 27 in Wilkinson County, Mississippi and took crews, using two heavy tow trucks, three hours to remove the man from the truck successfully. The Wilkinson County Fire department also responded to the incident.According to the fire district, the driver was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.There is no word at this
  
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• Man rescued after log truck overturns in West Feliciana

  30-05-2017 16:42
  
  WEST FELICIANA – Firefighters of the West Felciana Fire District No. 1 rescued a man trapped in an overturned log truck over the weekend.The incident occurred on May 27 and took crews, using two heavy tow trucks, three hours to remove the man from the truck successfully. The Wilkinson County Fire department assisted in the rescue.According to the fire district, the driver was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.There is no word at this time on the man's condition.Permalink| Com
  
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• Report: Slidell skydiver instructor died before impact

  30-05-2017 16:30
  
  SLIDELL – A skydiving instructor, who died during a tandem jump, died before hitting the ground.An autopsy performed by the St. Tammany Parish Coroner's Office showed that 58-year-old Bejamin Leroy Crowell died from heart disease and critical coronary artery disease before hitting the ground, WWL reports."Other forensic evidence confirms he was deceased before impact, although his body did sustain injury from striking the ground and his student, who landed atop him," Coroner Charles Pr
  
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• Lanes reopen on I-10 West at Prairieville after vehicle fire

  30-05-2017 16:03
  
  PRAIRIEVILLE - Both lanes of I-10 west were closed near Prairieville due to a vehicle fire Tuesday.According to the Department of Transportation and Development, both westbound lanes have reopened near LA 73. Congestion from the incident is extending for about three miles.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Uber, Lyft regulation bill shelved in Louisiana, deemed dead

  30-05-2017 15:57
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana won't join 44 other states in regulating ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft.Rep. Kenny Havard's House-backed measure to standarzdize rules and expand access to smaller cities was expected to be heard by a Senate committee Tuesday. Instead, it was shelved. Havard, a St. Francisville Republican, said after the meeting that the proposal is dead in the legislative session that ends June 8. He blames oppoisition from New Orleans lawmakers and taxi unions for
  
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• Flooded BREC equipment to be auctioned off next month

  30-05-2017 15:44
  
  BAKER - Maintenance equipment stored at a BREC park is concerning nearby residents. The equipment, consists of lawnmower parts, trailers, wheels of different sizes and about 40 golf carts that no longer work.Admon McCastle says he drives down Lavey Lane nearly every day and says the equipment is an eyesore."It's just a bunch of junk," he said.The rusting equipment has been there for about two months. It's positioned right along Lavey Lane in BREC's maintenance area of Dumas Golf Course."It's not
  
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• Investigation leads to arrest of St. Francisville man in possession of child pornography

  30-05-2017 15:32
  
  ST. FRANCISVILLE – An investigation led to the arrest of a man who authorities say had several photos and videos of child pornography.According to the Louisiana Attorney General's Office, Reese Kemp was arrested for 53 counts of sexual abuse images and/or videos of children. Kemp's arrest followed a joint investigation between the Attorney General's LBI Cyber Crime Unit, Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, the St. Francisville Police Department and Louisiana State Police.Kemp wa
  
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• Legislators to vote on revised gas tax hike

  30-05-2017 15:29
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana lawmakers are set to vote on a revised proposal for a statewide gas tax hike.The proposal, which was originally presented as a 17 cent tax hike, would charge an additional 10 cents per gallon for gasoline purchases in the state. The amount was decreased after the original proposal did not earn enough support.Republican Rep. Steve Carter told the House the original proposed tax increase, which would raise more than $500 million a year for transportation w
  
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• I-12 West reopens at Satsuma after vehicle recovery

  30-05-2017 15:15
  
  SATSUMA - Part of I-12 was shut down Tuesday due to an 18-wheeler that appears to be blocking the roadway.The closure was reported after a truck became stuck in the roadway around 3 p.m. Tuesday. Crews removed the truck, which was blocking traffic on I-12 west near Satsuma. Congestion from this incident is still stretching for a few miles.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Mississippi National Guardsman dies in California training

  30-05-2017 14:49
  
  FORT IRWIN - One Mississippi National Guard member has been killed and three others have been injured during a training exercise in California.The Guard says in a news release Tuesday that investigators are trying to determine what caused the death and injuries Monday night at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin.The four are assigned to the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, based in Tupelo, Mississippi.The three injured soldiers were taken by military helicopter to the Loma Linda Univers
  
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• Thibodaux woman arrested after attack with hacksaw blade

  30-05-2017 14:33
  
  THIBODAUX – A woman was arrested after officers say she attacked her ex-girlfriend with a hacksaw blade.The Thibodaux Police Department arrested 23-year-old Lechelsea Jenkins on charges of home invasion, aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon, aggravated assault, domestic abuse battery and two counts of simple criminal damage to property.The incident occurred on Monday around 1:40 a.m. when Jenkins went to an apartment in the 600 block of Government Circle where her ex-girlfriend w
  
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• Ouachita Parish deputy charged with rape, fired

  30-05-2017 14:29
  
  MONROE - A former sheriff's deputy in Louisiana has been charged with third-degree rape.News outlets report 38-year-old Bradley Smith was charged Monday. The Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office said in a news release that Smith was fired as soon as he was arrested.Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office spokesman Glenn Springfield says no more information on the nature of the crime is available because the investigation is ongoing.It's unclear if Smith has a lawyer.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Louisiana senators won't rework marriage law, defer to court

  30-05-2017 14:25
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana senators have decided against rewriting a state marriage law that is temporarily blocked as part of an ongoing legal dispute, deferring to the courts.A federal judge in March stopped enforcement of a 2016 law requiring people to produce a birth certificate to get a marriage license. The law kept a foreign-born U.S. citizen from getting a marriage license because he couldn't produce the document.Republican Rep. Valarie Hodges, the law's sponsor, sought to tweak it with leg
  
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• LDAF constructing new mobile pet shelter for 2017 hurricane season

  30-05-2017 14:24
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is set to begin construction on a second mobile pet shelter to be used in emergencies.The shelter is to be used for "no-notice events" when pet sheltering facilities are not available. LDAF says the shelter should be completed by August 2017.The department says it will be constructed similarly to its first mobile shelter, which was used during the flood of August 2016.The mobile shelter will co
  
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• Louisiana senators reject call to punish 'sanctuary cities'

  30-05-2017 14:16
  
  BATON ROUGE - For the second consecutive year, Louisiana senators have jettisoned a proposal to penalize so-called "sanctuary cities" that limit cooperation with immigration authorities.A Senate judiciary committee Tuesday, without objection, rejected a bill from Republican Rep. Valarie Hodges that would have prevented sanctuary cities from receiving state grants.Attorney General Jeff Landry had backed the proposal, saying sanctuary cities harbor violent criminals. The House had supported Hodges
  
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• Texas Girl Scouts rescued from bayou in Natchitoches

  30-05-2017 13:36
  
  NATCHITOCHES PARISH - A group of Girl Scouts were rescued from Saline Bayou while kayaking in Natchitoches Parish on Monday.Search and rescue crews from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), U.S. Forest Service, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office, Natchitoches Parish Fire Department and Winn Parish Sheriff's Office were notified around 9 p.m. on Sunday about the missing kayakers. The crews searched through the night until they found them along the banks of Saline Bayou bef
  
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• Morning house fire reported in Watson

  30-05-2017 13:25
  
  WATSON – Crews worked a house fire in Watson around 8 a.m. Tuesday morning.The house crews responded to is located on Oak Hills Drive.There are no details on the cause of the fire or reports of injuries at the time of this post.This story will be updated as more information becomes available.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Surviving victim of Portland train attack out of hospital

  30-05-2017 13:14
  
  PORTLAND - The lone surviving victim of a triple stabbing aboard a Portland light-rail train has been released from the hospital.Micah Fletcher suffered a neck wound Friday after coming to the defense of two young women who were verbally abused by a man before he allegedly stabbed Fletcher and two other men who died. One of the women was wearing a hijab.Legacy Emanuel Medical Center Julie Reed spokeswoman said Tuesday that the 21-year-old man was discharged.Fletcher is a local college student an
  
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• Houma man dies in crash on LA 182

  30-05-2017 13:05
  
  HOUMA – A crash on LA 182 in Houma took the life of a 52-year-old man on Tuesday morning.The crash occurred as Ricky Bergeron was traveling east on LA 182 in a 2002 Dodge Durango. According to Louisiana State Police, for reasons still under investigation, Bergeron crossed the center line and ran off the roadway to the left.His vehicle struck a tree and Bergeron suffered fatal injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Terrebonne Parish Coroner's Office.According to Louisiana
  
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• Officers found Woods asleep at the wheel

  30-05-2017 12:53
  
  JUPITER - Police say Tiger Woods was asleep at the wheel but had no alcohol in his system when officers spotted his car stopped along a Florida road.An affidavit released Tuesday said Woods was alone and wearing his seat belt when Jupiter Police officers found his Mercedes early Monday in the right lane. The car's engine was running and its lights were on.The report says officers woke Woods, who had "extremely slow and slurred speech" and told them he took several prescriptions.According to the
  
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• UN aid chief accuses Syria of using suffering as war tactic

  30-05-2017 12:03
  
  UNITED NATIONS - The U.N. humanitarian chief is accusing the Syrian government of increasingly using civilian suffering as "a tactic of war," saying it denies aid and pushes people in cities under attack to choose between starvation and death or fleeing to places just as unsafe.Stephen O'Brien told the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday that at least 10 communities faced this choice in recent months while in recent weeks thousands more have been moved from two besieged neighborhoods in Damascus an
  
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• US shoots down mock warhead over Pacific

  30-05-2017 12:01
  
  WASHINGTON - The Pentagon says it has shot down a mock warhead over the Pacific in a success for America's missile defense program.The test was the first of its kind in nearly three years. And it was the first test ever targeting an intercontinental-range missile like North Korea is developing.The military says an interceptor rocket launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California slammed into the warhead as it traveled outside the Earth's atmosphere after being launched from a test range o
  
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• Teen dies shielding cousin from shooter; Trump honors heroes on Memorial Day (10 Things to Know for Tuesday)

  30-05-2017 08:25
  
  Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Tuesday.
  
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• Lane closure scheduled between WBR and Iberville Parishes this weekend

  30-05-2017 08:03
  
  The east bound lane of 1-10 from the Mississippi River Bridge to the Atchafalya Bridge will be closed beginning Friday, June 2 at 6:30 p.m.The closure will last through Monday, June 5 at 6:30 a.m.According to DOTD, the closure is necessary for asphalt rehabilitation, weather permitting.DOTD advises motorists to drive with caution through construction sites and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Texas crackdown on "sanctuary cities"

  30-05-2017 07:59
  
  AUSTIN, Texas  - Immigrants from Arizona and elsewhere are urging grassroots resistance against Texas' recently passed crackdown on "sanctuary cities."
   The Texas law is similar to a 2010 Arizona law that lets police inquire about a person's immigration status even during routine interactions such as traffic stops.
   But as the group joins with local activists, their effort is coming too late for a small portion of foreign-born Texans who have already begun evacuating t
  
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• Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega dead at 83

  30-05-2017 07:55
  
  PANAMA CITY  - For years, Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega was a close, sometimes secret ally of the U.S. in a nation holding the strategic Panama Canal.Then things soured as the populist dictator grew increasingly independent and more embarrassingly thuggish.
  Grand juries in Florida alleged he was in cahoots with drug traffickers, and as 1989 neared a close U.S. troops invaded to depose him.Noriega was never again free, doing time in prisons in the U.S., France and home until his de
  
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