Baton Rouge news

• Fire extinguished at renovated home on Tiger Bend Road

  19-07-2017 21:14
  
  BATON ROUGE - St. George firefighters responded to a fire at a home under renovations, which closed the road while crews worked the scene.Officials responded to the fire in the 15000 block of Tiger Bend Road around 8 p.m. They say the fire was maintained to an area where renovations were taking place.The fire was under control 20 minutes later.Damage to the home was minimal, since first responders were able to get to the scene shortly after the fire was reported.Tiger Bend road was closed while
  
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• Front doors at Louisiana Capitol stay closed another year

  19-07-2017 20:36
  
  The front doors at the Louisiana Capitol have been closed for about two years as of summer 2017.BATON ROUGE- It was supposed to be a simple waterproof job on the exterior of the Louisiana Capitol but inspectors found a more serious problem. Not that waterproofing the exterior of Baton Rouge's tallest building is a simple task, it's just that state officials had hoped this would all be over with by now.The front doors of the 85-year-old structure were closed two years ago during the final months
  
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• Senator John McCain diagnosed with brain tumor

  19-07-2017 19:29
  
  WASHINGTON - Doctors say Arizona Sen. John McCain has a brain tumor associated with a blood clot that was removed last week.  In a statement late Wednesday, doctors reveal that McCain has been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive cancer. The statement says the 80-year-old senator and his family are reviewing further treatment, including a combination of chemotherapy and radiation.  The senator has been recovering at his Arizona home after doctors at the
  
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• Contractor facing new charges for allegedly scamming tornado victims

  19-07-2017 19:18
  
  ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH - Incarcerated contractor Matthew Morris is facing more charges in yet another parish Wednesday.According to the St. Jon the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office, the owner of Complete Construction Contractors LLC now faces new charges of contractor fraud. The sheriff's office says Morris is accused of taking advantage of residents whose homes were damaged by an EF-2 tornado that struck the parish in February 2016. These are the latest allegations agains
  
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• Years after charges for grandmother's death, woman asks for help during recent arrest

  19-07-2017 18:00
  
  BATON ROUGE – The granddaughter of a woman at the center of a disturbing elder abuse case was arrested again this weekend for drugs and admitted to authorities she “had a problem.”Lauren Looney was found with crack cocaine and marijuana in a car on the side of North Boulevard early Saturday morning, authorities wrote in arrest documents obtained by WBRZ. Authorities said they noticed a suspicious vehicle, smelled marijuana, saw the drugs and later found Looney who
  
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• Woman, 84, strangled to death at senior facility in Metairie

  19-07-2017 17:33
  
  METAIRIE - An 84-year-old woman was apparently strangled to death at a senior facility where she lived in suburban New Orleans.  Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand says deputies were called just before 8 p.m. Tuesday for what initially appeared to be a death by natural causes. However, Normand says in a news release that an autopsy Wednesday showed that Pauline Ballon died from strangulation.  Sheriff's spokesman Glen Boyd says that began a homicide inve
  
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• Report: Baton Rouge area crime-fighting initiative denied funding

  19-07-2017 17:25
  
  BATON ROUGE - The federal government has denied a request from Baton Rouge officials to extend an area crime-fighting initiative.According to a report from the Advocate, the Baton Rouge Area Violence Elimination project (BRAVE) has denied further funding by the federal government.  Federal officials noted the grant already had been extended once, and the city-parish had left more than $1 million earmarked for the project unused.Those unused dollars will now expire at
  
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• Baton Rouge area crime-fighting initiative denied funding

  19-07-2017 17:25
  
  BATON ROUGE - The federal government has denied a request from Baton Rouge officials to extend an area crime-fighting initiative.According to Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome's communications director, Janene Tate, the Baton Rouge Area Violence Elimination project (BRAVE) has been denied further funding by the federal government.  Federal officials noted the grant already had been extended once, and the city-parish had left more than $1 million earmarked
  
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• State wrongly seized money from woman, 2 On Your Side got it back

  19-07-2017 17:14
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - A woman who emailed 2 On Your Side is thankful she did. A serious mix-up at the state level cost her thousands of dollars.Rosie Blount says she's done everything by the book for years. Her late husband had a construction company, which she did all the office work for. The company thrived until 2014 when Blount decided to close the business. Recently, it's come back to haunt her.She received a letter in the mail from the LA Department of Revenue claiming she owed about $30,000.
  
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• Police arrest alleged carjacking suspect after high-speed chase in Los Angeles

  19-07-2017 17:02
  
  LOS ANGELES – Police in Los Angeles arrested a man, who is an alleged armed carjacking suspect, after engaging in a high-speed car chase on Wednesday.According to ABC 7, an ABC affiliate in Los Angeles, the car police were in pursuit of reached speeds of more than 100 miles per hour during the chase throughout the city. The suspect got into a T-bone crash with another car and then fled on foot. A civilian or off-duty officer chased down the man and held him
  
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• Watchdogs question discipline of trooper who improperly ran names through databases

  19-07-2017 16:45
  
  BATON ROUGE- A high ranking Louisiana State Police Lieutenant, Robert Burns II, was suspended for 64 hours recently after an investigation revealed he ran 52 searches in law enforcement databases for personal reasons, a violation of LSP policy and federal law.
  In speaking with the WBRZ Investigative Unit Wednesday about the situation, law enforcement watchdogs said the punishment equates to a slap on the wrist and think Burns should be prosecuted for violating federal law.
  "I've seen l
  
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• Foster parents surprise children with adoption date during Disney trip

  19-07-2017 16:21
  
  ORLANDO - A magical trip to Disney World became even more special for two children thanks to some wonderful news from Mickey Mouse.Disney's mascot surprised Janielle and Elijah Gilmour with their official adoption date after they had been living with their foster parents, Courtney and Tom Gilmour, for nearly three years.“I gave my parents a big hug because I was so excited to finally find out when the adoption date was going to be,” Janielle, 12, told ABC News. &
  
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• Customer threatened to shoot someone over bad sandwich

  19-07-2017 15:20
  SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio - Police in suburban Cleveland say a fast-food restaurant customer angry about the way his sandwich tasted and looked threatened to shoot somebody over it.The South Euclid Police Department reported receiving a call Tuesday about a man storming into the Steak 'n Shake restaurant "acting crazy," saying he had a gun and was going to shoot someone. Police said he entered the kitchen while customers fled.Police said he was "very irate and extremely uncooperative" but did
  
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• Deputies seeking suspected credit card skimmers in Livingston Parish

  19-07-2017 14:54
  
  LIVINGSTON PARISH - Deputies are seeking two suspects accused of stealing people's credit card information in Livingston Parish.According to the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office, detectives received several reports of cards being 'skimmed', duplicated and used without the owners' permission on May 8. The sheriff's office has now released images from a store's surveillance camera, showing the two male suspects. Detectives were also able to get an image of the suspects' vehicl
  
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• Nearly $221 million devoted to capital area resiliency projects

  19-07-2017 14:53
  BATON ROUGE - Governor John Bel Edwards has announced funding for several projects aimed at mitigating the damage from natural disasters.On Wednesday, the governor's office detailed the funding from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for each parish in the capital region. The capital area is composed of East Baton Rouge, Livingston, Ascension, East Feliciana, Saint Helena, West Feliciana, Pointe Coupee, Iberville, and West Baton Rouge Parishes.Nearly $22 million had
  
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• Man wanted for allegedly breaking into coin machines at Hammond businesses

  19-07-2017 14:35
  
  HAMMOND – The Hammond Police Department is investigating incidents of coin machines being broken into at several businesses. According to the police department, the businesses are car washes and laundromats located in the city. The suspect is described as a white man with a tattoo of an eagle and an American flag on his left upper arm. Police say the suspect is driving a small, white-colored Toyota Hatchback with black rims. Anyone who knows the identity of
  
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• EBRSO searching for missing Scotlandville teen

  19-07-2017 14:30
  
  BATON ROUGE – East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office detectives are searching for a missing teen last seen by her family in the Scotlandville/Baton Rouge area. Detectives are searching for 15-year-old Melodie Bell, who was last seen around 7 p.m. on July 13. Bell is described as being about 5'7'', 190 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Melodie Bell are urged to contact the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office at 225-389-5061.
  
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• Airline Highway to close near Miss. River Bridge over the weekend

  19-07-2017 14:19
  
  BATON ROUGE - Authorities will close a section of Airline Highway over the weekend as crews work to repair a railroad track.According to DOTD, part of the roadway will close from 8 p.m. Friday July 21, 2017 to 5 a.m. Monday, July 24, 2017. The closure will be at the Kansas City Southern railroad track, east of the Mississippi River Bridge, as crews work to replace tracks and reconstruct at the crossing. No traffic will be allowed through this area. The detour for this route is
  
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• Manhunt underway after high-speed chase ends with crash in Ponchatoula

  19-07-2017 14:04
  
  PONCHATOULA - A manhunt is underway in Ponchatoula after a high-speed pursuit ended in a crash Wednesday. According to the Ponchatoula Police Department, officers pursued the suspect in the area Yokum Road and Sister's Road.Police say the high-speed chase resulted in a crash, overturning one vehicle. The suspect then fled into a nearby wooded area.Police have blocked the scene from Yokum and Sister's to the North Haven subdivision as they ac
  
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• Man struggles with burglar inside home on Anita Avenue; burglar flees

  19-07-2017 13:58
  
  BATON ROUGE – A man struggled with a burglar on Wednesday morning at a home in the 2900 block of Anita Avenue, police say.  The man inside the home heard glass breaking and saw a burglar climbing through the window. The man approached the burglar and then a struggle ensued, according to the Baton Rouge Police Department.  The suspect then fled the scene. There are no reported injuries at this time.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Millions will be spent on buyouts, drainage following August flood

  19-07-2017 13:57
  
  BATON ROUGE - The governor announced an expansive flood restoration program that could buyout flood-prone homes and elevate others.Area parishes will share hundreds of millions of dollars to complete projects.  East Baton Rouge gets the bulk of the money, followed by Livingston and Ascension Parishes.  Details of the programs were revealed at a news conference with the governor Wednesday.Other parishes splitting money include East and West Feliciana, St. Helena, Pointe Coupee,
  
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• Authorities: 4 officers, 1 civilian hurt in Plaquemine crash

  19-07-2017 13:31
  
  PLAQUEMINE - Officials say five people were involved in a crash in Plaquemine Wednesday, including four officers.The crash occurred around around 1 p.m. in the 24000 block of Eden Street. According to authorities, early reports indicate two Narcotics Unit vehicles and one civilian vehicle were involved in the crash.Officials say all involved in the crash suffered moderate injuries as a result.Two officers and the civilian were taken to the hospital by EMS. Th
  
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• TWG Contractors, owned by man arrested in 3 parishes for contractor fraud, gets licenses revoked

  19-07-2017 13:24
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Residential Contractors Subcommittee of the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors revoked three licenses from TWG, LLC. The owner of the company, Michael Simmers, has been arrested several times in at least three different parishes for contractor fraud.The company's commercial, residential and home improvement licenses were revoked on Wednesday morning.Simmers' company also faces a fine that is 50 percent of $53, 250, which totals to $26,625. The subcommitte
  
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• Tabasco to sell its hottest sauce yet: Scorpion

  19-07-2017 13:23
  
  AVERY ISLAND – The spiciest local brand is getting even spicier (yes, it's possible).This week, Tabasco launched its Scorpion Sauce. The Scorpion variety is 20 times hotter than the original Tabasco sauce.Tabasco cautioned the sauce is “not for the wary.” The release is making national news through many food reporting outlets. It was featured on the website of NBC News' Today Show.The sauce is made of scorpion peppers, guava, pineapple and some of the original Taba
  
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• APSO: Two men wanted for stealing $1,000 worth of cigarettes from Dollar General

  19-07-2017 12:53
  
  ASCENSION – The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office is looking for two men who allegedly stole $1,000 worth of cigarettes from a store. The incident occurred on June 29 around 2 p.m. when two men walked into the Dollar General on Highway 42. Surveillance video captured the two men walking into the store, then walking into a room that appears to be for employee-access only. The two can then be seen putting several boxes of cigarettes in a trash bag before running out leaving in
  
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• Reported cat killings scare Shenandoah neighbors

  19-07-2017 12:32
  
  BATON ROUGE - Several residents are on edge after neighbors have reported house cats found killed.Some neighbors in a Shenandoah community say they've found dismembered cats in their yards. They have placed signs, reading "pet killer in the neighborhood, be aware!" to warn others.Robyn Wade says she discovered her family's cat "Meadow," dead on her lawn.“Somebody broke her neck, cut her open, flipped her head around tucked her head in between the shoulders in her back," Wade said. "Cu
  
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• Coroner: St. Tammany fire chief's wife identified as house fire victim

  19-07-2017 12:13
  
  LACOMBE - Authorities say the body of a woman found dead after a house fire has been identified.  St. Tammany Parish Coroner Charles Preston said in a statement that DNA evidence was used to identify the body of 49-year-old Nanette Krentel following a house fire in Lacombe on Friday. Nanette Krentel was the wife of St. Tammany Fire District No. 12 Chief Stephen Krentel.  News outlets report the blaze destroyed the home and the roof had to be removed before an
  
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• Several area contractors appear before state licensing board

  19-07-2017 09:37
  
  BATON ROUGE - Several contracting companies in the Capitol area are before the Residential Contractors Subcommittee on Wednesday morning, to determine their compliance with licensing regulations.
  One of the companies on the agenda is TWG, LLC. The Prairieville-based business stands to lose their operating license due to repeated complaints from unsatisfied customers, that say the owner of the business accepted $322,720 for jobs that the company was not properly licensed to do and for not comple
  
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• Council member's request for police patrols leads to arrest in BREC park

  19-07-2017 07:42
  
  BATON ROUGE - At the request of Baton Rouge Metro Council member Donna Collins-Lewis Baton Rouge Police officers conducted proactive patrols of the BREC park on Ardenwood. The patrol lead to an arrest for drugs overnight on Tuesday.
  According to arrest records, a group of individuals were at the park after dark when officers arrived. Officers say, Keithric Jones was the only person to take off running when police officers identified themselves.
  Investigators say, as Jones ran from them, he was
  
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• Gulf Coast leaders push to new passenger train service

  19-07-2017 06:37
  
  BILOXI, Miss. - Community leaders along the Gulf Coast are pushing for a new passenger train route that would serve communities in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.
   The Gulf Coast Working Group is recommending that Congress consider two Amtrak routes - a New Orleans to Orlando, Florida daily round trip route and a New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama daily round trip.
   The recommendations from the Gulf Coast Working Group are outlined in a report issued Monday.
  &nbsp
  
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• President Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin had undisclosed hour-long meeting at G-20 Summit

  19-07-2017 02:30
  
  After his much-publicized, two-and a quarter-hour meeting early this month with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Group of 20 summit in Germany, President Donald Trump met informally with the Russian leader for an additional hour later the same day.
  
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