Baton Rouge news

• Coal train derailment prompts boil advisory in Caddo Parish

  22-07-2017 20:39
  VIVIAN - Authorities have spent Saturday trying clean up a train derailment after after a coal train jumped the tracks with about 30 cars in tow.The train company says the 30 cars derailed in Caddo Parish around 1 a.m. Saturday. Coal ended up spilling out near the tracks, prompting a boil water advisory in the area. But officials now say there is no hazmat situation and no evacuations were required. The incident closed to major roadways in the area.The cause
  
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• Man dead after domestic dispute in Slidell subdivision

  22-07-2017 20:23
  SLIDELL - Deputies have arrested a woman accused of fatally stabbing her live-in companion during a domestic dispute Saturday.According to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a reported domestic disturbance in the 100 block of Seville Court around 9 a.m. Saturday. Upon arrival, deputies discovered 37-year-old Rondy Vernon had suffered a stab wound to the chest.Vernon was transported to an area hospital where he later died.The subsequent investigation
  
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• 5-year-old heart transplant recipient Ari Schultz dies

  22-07-2017 19:34
  BOSTON, Mass. - The Massachusetts boy who went viral earlier this year after his parents' blog shed light on the five-year-old's health ordeal, including one heart transplant and several other operations, died Friday.The boy's family made the announcement on Facebook."Ari passed away peacefully this evening listening to the Red Sox," Ari "Danger" Schultz's family wrote on its Facebook page.The sad news comes a day after Ari's parents, Mike and Erica Schultz, wrote on their Facebook pag
  
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• Fourth man charged in sex attack on New York churchgoer

  22-07-2017 18:33
  NEW YORK - A prosecutor says a fourth man has been arrested and charged in the robbery and sex attack of a woman heading home from her New York City church.
    
  Queens District Attorney Richard Brown announced the arrest Saturday. He said in a release that the men had a "pack-like mentality" when they attacked the 50-year-old woman on July 11 at gunpoint.According to ABC7 New York, the suspects have been identified as 20-year-old Brandon Walker, 17-year-old Justin Williams,19-y
  
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• Report: Police seek group accused of assaulting, robbing man in French Quarter

  22-07-2017 17:34
  NEW ORLEANS - Police are investigating a robbery in the French Quarter after a victim was allegedly beaten and robbed by a group of people Friday.According to a report from WWL, the incident occurred just before 6:30 a.m. near the corner of St. Louis Street and Chartres Street.Police said a 20-year-old man was approached by a group of three males and a female, who began to assault him. The group took the man’s cell phone and wallet before running off, officials said.Anyone with inform
  
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• 62-year-old woman donates kidney for granddaughter's life-saving surgery

  22-07-2017 17:27
  BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A toddler got a second chance at life after her 62-year-old grandmother gave up her own kidney for the 2-year-old child's surgery.At 2 months old, Wryn Graydon was diagnosed with congenital nephrotic syndrome, a rare disorder that affects the kidneys. Wryn had both her kidneys removed two months after her diagnosis and received further treatment from home.While Wryn's doctors waited for her to grow strong enough for a kidney transplant, the family began its search to find the
  
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• WATCH: Good Samaritan foils robbery at California Starbucks

  22-07-2017 16:50
  FRESNO, Cali. - Police say a bystander came to the rescue after a robber threatened a Starbucks employee with a knife Wednesday afternoon.According to police, suspect Ryan Flores walked into the cafe wielding a knife and a toy gun, demanding money from the barista.New surveillance footage shows the moment a bystander, Cregg Jerri, intervened by grabbing a chair and slamming it over the would-be robber's back. A scuffle then ensued as both men fought over the knife. Po
  
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• WATCH: Large gator crosses busy Florida roadway

  22-07-2017 15:00
  LAKELAND, Fla. - Some drivers in Florida were met with an aggressive jaywalker as they made their commute earlier this week.A Facebook video posted by Sherese Walker shows several drivers encounter with a huge alligator as it crossed all four lanes of Sleepy Hill Road in Lakeland Tuesday. The roadway runs near several condominiums and vacation spots.The video shows the gator narrowly dodging traffic as it travels from one side of the road to the other. The an
  
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• California man sues over denial of $5M lottery prize

  22-07-2017 14:49
  LONG BEACH, Calif. - A man who was denied a $5 million lottery jackpot because his teenage son bought the ticket is suing the California Lottery Commission.  Ward Thomas of Long Beach says he sent his son to buy Scratchers tickets from a gas station in October.  One was a winner.  Thomas says he validated the ticket at a lottery office but two months later, the prize was denied because his son was 16 and only adults can play. &n
  
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• Police pursue misdemeanor charges against teens who allegedly mocked, recorded drowning man

  22-07-2017 14:32
  COCOA, Fla. - Police in Florida are pursuing misdemeanor charges against five teenagers for failure to report a death after authorities say they recorded video of a man’s drowning and didn't intervene.The video, taken earlier this month in South Florida, shows a person's head bobbing up and down in a pond. The teenagers, who have not been named by police, are heard laughing and joking in the video, with one of them appearing to laugh and say, "He just died!"According to Cocoa
  
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• New York man arrested for using counterfeit money at Mall of Louisiana

  22-07-2017 13:58
  BATON ROUGE - A 47-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly used counterfeit money to purchase items at the Mall of Louisiana.According to arrest records, Dana Vincent, 47, of Brooklyn, New York was arrested on eight counts of monetary instrument abuse and one count of misdemeanor theft.Baton Rouge Police were dispatched to the Mall of Louisiana on June 22 after mall security found Vincent to be in possession of several counterfeit notes, along with merchandise he recently purchased from Vi
  
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• Brooklyn man arrested for using counterfeit money at Mall of Louisiana

  22-07-2017 13:58
  BATON ROUGE - A 47-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly used counterfeit money to purchase items at the Mall of Louisiana.According to arrest records, Dana Vincent, 47, of Brooklyn, New York was arrested on eight counts of monetary instrument abuse and one count of misdemeanor theft.Baton Rouge Police were dispatched to the Mall of Louisiana on June 22 after mall security found Vincent to be in possession of several counterfeit notes, along with merchandise he recently purchased from Vi
  
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• 90 hospitalized during Chance the Rapper show

  22-07-2017 13:48
  HARTFORD, Conn. - Police in Connecticut say more than 90 people were hospitalized during a concert featuring Chance the Rapper.  Authorities say many were taken to hospitals for excessive drinking.  Hartford Deputy Chief Brian Foley said Saturday that officers made 50 underage drinking referrals Friday at Hot 93.7's Hot Jam concert at Xfinity Theatre. Most of those charged were issued a summons to appear in court. Several other arrests were made throughout th
  
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• Country singer Scotty McCreery cited for handgun at airport

  22-07-2017 13:46
  RALEIGH, N.C. - Country singer Scotty McCreery has been cited after authorities say he had a loaded handgun with him in Raleigh-Durham International Airport.  Authorities told local media organizations that they found a loaded 9 millimeter handgun in McCreery's backpack at a security checkpoint on July 13. He told authorities he had been at a firing range and forgot to take the gun out. He was flying to Nashville, Tennessee.  Authorities say he had a valid co
  
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• Ponchatoula Police arrest alleged escapee, sex offender from Washington

  22-07-2017 13:40
  PONCHATOULA - The Ponchatoula Police Department arrested a man wanted by the Washington State Department of Corrections for 'Failure to Register as a Sex Offender' and 'Escape.'According to the Ponchatoula PD Facebook page, only July 20, Police were called to the Circle K on Highway 22 West on reports of a person harassing customers and acting suspiciously.Officers made contact with the person, identified as 30-year-old James Dean Duncan. A warrant check revealed Duncan was wanted by the Washin
  
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• Two aftershocks hit damaged Greek island of Kos

  22-07-2017 13:21
  KOS, Greece - Two strong aftershocks have struck the eastern Greek island of Kos within minutes of each other, sending startled residents and tourists scurrying away from homes and restaurants.  A 4.4 magnitude tremor struck Saturday night at 8:09 p.m. (1709 GMT), followed by a 4.6 magnitude shock 16 minutes later, the Athens Geodynamics Institute reports. The first one was closest to the island, 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) to the northeast at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 mile
  
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• Actor John Heard, of 'Home Alone' movies, dies at 71

  22-07-2017 13:03
  NEW YORK - Actor John Heard, best known for playing the father in the "Home Alone" movie series, has died. He was 71.  His death was confirmed by the Santa Clara Medical Examiner's office in California on Saturday. TMZ reported that Heard, who lived in southern California, was found at a Palo Alto, California, hotel where he was recovering from back surgery.  Heard played Peter McCallister, the father of Kevin, played by Macaulay Culkin, in "Home Alone" and "
  
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• $53M to go to US national park maintenance, infrastructure

  22-07-2017 13:03
  ESTES PARK, Colo. - Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has announced more than $50 million for maintenance and infrastructure work at national parks.  Zinke made the announcement Saturday at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. With him was Colorado U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner.  The funding would go to 42 parks in 29 states.  The Interior Department says in a release that Congress has provided $20 million, and $33 million will come from outside o
  
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• Branden Grace breaks major record with 62

  22-07-2017 13:01
  SOUTHPORT, England - Branden Grace has made major championship history.  The South African shot an 8-under-62 Saturday, the lowest score ever in a major championship. He broke the previous mark of 63 by making eight birdies against no bogeys, finishing with a par from just off the back of the green on the 18th hole.  Grace put it to within 2 feet for his final putt.  The 62 also broke the course record at Royal Birkdale, set by Jamie Mudd in
  
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• Local festival offers entertainment, assistance for residents

  22-07-2017 12:53
  BATON ROUGE - A crowd packed itself into the Anna T. Jordan Community Center, jamming out to blues music Saturday.The Scotlandville Community Music and Heritage Fest, which is usually held outdoors, was forced inside after rain swept through the area.But this typically-outdoor festival is not just about fun and games, but about providing services that people need, including health check-ups."It's a lot of people in
  
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• Application period starts Wednesday for farm flood grants

  22-07-2017 12:32
  BATON ROUGE - Farmers who lost at least $10,000 to last year's floods can get federal grants to cover up to $100,000 in such losses, and the application period begins Wednesday.  The $9.5 million block grant program covers farmers and ranchers with operations in any of the 51 parishes declared disaster areas last year by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain announced the program late last month.  The LSU AgCenter notes
  
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• LSP: Driver ejected in fatal Terrebonne Parish crash

  22-07-2017 12:23
  HOUMA - A single vehicle crash claimed the life of a Houma man early Saturday morning in Terrebonne Parish.According to Louisiana State Police, Troop C was notified of a fatal single vehicle on LA 660 near Goodman Court shortly after 2 a.m. The crash took the life of 50-year-old Steven Belanger of Houma.Through the initial investigation, State Police discovered Belanger was traveling north on LA 660 in a 2015 Dodge pickup.Belanger entered a left curve and ran off the road on the right
  
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• Families' day at local water park cut short by stormy weather

  22-07-2017 12:08
  BATON ROUGE - We're one month into the summer and high temperatures are still forcing families to find a way to cool down.Families got out the door early, as they used their weekend to beat the heat.“Well we just wanted to get out, it’s so hot outside.” Stacey Fontenote said. She and her mother traveled from Slidell to enjoy the BREC Liberty Lagoon Water Park.Other families were looking for relief from the sweltering sun as well. Tammy Lucas said her famil
  
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