Baton Rouge news

• Trump aide dismisses Statue of Liberty 'huddled masses' poem

  02-08-2017 20:45
  A poem at the Statue of Liberty that is a national symbol for the country's embrace of immigrants became the topic of a rancorous exchange at a White House news conference.  Senior White House aide Stephen Miller told reporters Wednesday that the poem written by Emma Lazarus about the "huddled masses" is not part of the original Statue of Liberty.  Miller says the Statue of Liberty is a "symbol of American liberty lighting the world" and suggested the statue
  
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• Deputy, suspect shot after altercation at Mississippi checkpoint

  02-08-2017 20:30
  COLUMBIA, Miss. - A safety checkpoint in Marion County led to an altercation that has left a deputy and a man wounded.  WLOX reports it happened just after midnight Wednesday in the Foxworth community.  Deputies asked Stephen Kitchens to exit his car after he couldn't produce a valid driver's license. Instead, Kitchens fled. Deputies stopped him nearby and again tried to take him into custody. Then a fight began. Deputies shocked Kitchens, who they say had a
  
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• Maine lobster boat crew saves bald eagle from Atlantic Ocean

  02-08-2017 18:22
  BIRCH HARBOR, Maine - A Maine lobster boat crew used some Yankee ingenuity to rescue a waterlogged bald eagle that it spotted struggling offshore in the North Atlantic.Lobsterman John Chipman, of Birch Harbor, said Monday that the struggling bird seemed to be relieved to see his boat and even tried to hop on board after Chipman came across the unusual sight of an eagle flopping around about a quarter-mile offshore, near Schoodic Island."The way he was acting, I knew that he wanted help. He seem
  
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• Accident on Essen Lane causing heavy traffic backups

  02-08-2017 17:45
  BATON ROUGE - Traffic is slowly creeping near Essen Lane at United Plaza Boulevard after an accident between at least two vehicles. The incident occurred on Essen Lane heading northbound around 5 p.m. Those lanes finally cleared at 6:15 p.m.Traffic is still backed up at this time. EMS says no injuries have been reported. No word on what caused the accident. Check back for updates. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Criminologist blames spike in crime on August flooding

  02-08-2017 17:41
  BATON ROUGE- LSU Criminologist Dr. Ed Shihadeh believes the recent spike in crime this area has seen so far this year can be attributed to mother nature. Right now, murders are up across the parish by almost 50 percent.
  "Right after August, sometime in October and November, we saw a spike in crime," Shihadeh said. "When we are talking about 100,000 people rendered homeless as a result of the flood, it has an enormously disorganizing scrambling effect on the community."Numbers obtained by the WB
  
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• Mermaid dock floating aimlessly in the Gulf puzzling authorities

  02-08-2017 17:33
  NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard is trying to figure out the mystery behind a bizarre dock found floating 180 miles in the Gulf of Mexico, south of Grand Isle.The dock has a pastel colored shed with a mermaid on the side. It appears to have broken loose from somewhere and floated out to sea. The Coast Guard is asking for people who might recognize the dock to provide the agency with additional information.The situation is so puzzling, an air crew flew over the dock Wednesday to search fo
  
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• CATS brings back Touchdown Express for LSU gamedays

  02-08-2017 16:57
  BATON ROUGE - The Capital Area Transit System's popular gameday transportation service is making a comeback this football season.CATS announced Wednesday that it would bring back the popular Touchdown Express' service for LSU home games during the 2017 football season. The service was suspended last football season due to the August 2016 flood.Touchdown Express provides local transit to and from LSU home games starting three hours before the game. The last sh
  
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• California man arrested while transporting drugs through St. Tammany Parish

  02-08-2017 16:43
  ST. TAMMANY PARISH - Authorities arrested a California man Tuesday after a traffic stop led to the discovery of two pounds of high-grade marijuana in his vehicle.According to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, 23-year-old Donald Roots-Scott, Jr. of California was pulled over on I-12 Tuesday morning after deputies spotted him traveling 86 miles per hour on the roadway. Deputies say he admitted that he was driving with an expired driver's license and had
  
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• Police: Man accused of indecent behavior at Baton Rouge hair salon

  02-08-2017 16:06
  BATON ROUGE - Police are seeking a man accused of inappropriately touching himself at a Baton Rouge hair salon. Police say the incident occurred June 17 at a hair salon in the 9000 block of Airline Highway. The Baton Rouge Police Department provided photos of the black male suspect, who allegedly walked into the salon, sat in a chair and began performing a sex act on himself in front of a female employee.Anyone with information on this individual is urged to contact the Specia
  
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• Trump joining with GOP senators to push immigration changes

  02-08-2017 15:31
  WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump says proposed legislation to limit legal immigration would be the most significant change to the system in half a century.  Trump says the measure would make the system more "merit based" for skilled English speakers. White House officials say the bill will aim to create a skills-based immigration system to make the U.S. more competitive, raise wages and create jobs.The president says it would keep out people who will just end up co
  
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• Northwestern professor wanted for stabbing a man

  02-08-2017 15:00
  CHICAGO - An arrest warrant has been issued for a Northwestern University professor in the stabbing death of a Chicago man.  Cook County court records show that a judge issued a first-degree murder warrant on Monday for 42-year-old Wyndham Lathem and another warrant for 56-year-old University of Oxford employee Andrew Warren.  The two men are wanted in connection with the death of 26-year-old Trenton H. James Cornell-Duranleau. He was found fatally stabbed in
  
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• Man found shot in Greenwell Springs Rd. neighborhood Wednesday morning

  02-08-2017 14:56
  BATON ROUGE - Sheriff's deputies are investigating a shooting that left a man injured Wednesday morning.Deputies were called to the 6300 block of Cherryl, off Greenwell Springs Road, after 8 a.m. for reports of a man being shot.  When deputies arrived, they located a man injured but are not certain he had been shot at the location.  The shooting may have happened elsewhere, but authorities are still trying to determine specifics.The victim, who was not identified, is expected
  
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• Zachary police seeking suspected car thief

  02-08-2017 14:46
  ZACHARY - Police are attempting to identify a suspect in connection with a vehicle theft that occurred on Surrey Lane.The Zachary Police Department released a photo of the suspect, who was caught on surveillance video at an area store. Police believe the suspect is responsible for stealing a black 2011 Dodge Ram.Anyone with information regarding the theft is asked to call the Zachary Police Department at 225-654-1905.Permalink| Comments
  
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• City to upgrade street lights near Trevor J. Sims Bridge

  02-08-2017 14:36
  BATON ROUGE - The area near the Trevor J. Sims Memorial Bridge is going to get a little brighter after the city makes a few upgrades. The City of Baton Rouge will add brand new, energy-efficient LED lighting along a stretch of North Boulevard, from 10th Street to 19th Street including along and under the Trevor J. Sims Bridge.In 2013, the North Boulevard overpass was renamed the Trevor J. Sims Memorial Brid
  
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• Louisiana budget balanced with millions tied up in lawsuits

  02-08-2017 14:15
  BATON ROUGE - As they scraped together dollars to fill gaps in last year's budget, Louisiana lawmakers relied on $36 million from a state escrow account tied to ongoing tax litigation.  But those dollars can't be spent while the lawsuits are unresolved - and much of the money earmarked for spending in the budget year that ended June 30 remains inaccessible, leaving that fiscal year out of balance.  A $7.8 million transfer was made Tuesday evening after settle
  
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• Coast Guard to present four men with medals for August flood efforts

  02-08-2017 14:05
  BATON ROUGE - The United States Coast Guard will give medals to to four men for their life-saving efforts during the 2016 August floods. According to a news release, Rear Admiral Dave Callahan will present David Phung, Brandon Barrett, Jason Dixon and Robbie Reynold with the distinguished honor at a ceremony on Friday at Coast Guard Cutter White Alder Memorial. Phung will be honored with the Silver Lifesaving Medal for saving a woman and her
  
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• St. Amant man arrested for multiple outstanding warrants

  02-08-2017 13:41
  ST. AMANT - Ascension Parish Sheriff's deputies arrested a man they say committed a series of crimes such as burglary and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling. According to authorities, 26-year-old Jordan Debate robbed an unlocked shed on Rob Anderson Road on July 24 where he stole multiple items including two guns. Debate was captured on surveillance video walking away from the scene. On July 29, deputies responded to a complaint on Tiggy Duplessis Ro
  
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• Airport worker survives lightning strike on Florida runway

  02-08-2017 13:31
  FORT MYERS, Fla. - A man was hospitalized after he was hit by lightning while on the job at a Florida airport. Airport surveillance captured the moment a bolt of lightning struck a plane on the Southwest Florida International Airport runway and traveled through 21-year-old Austin Dunn's body.According to a report from WZVN, Dunn was just released from the hospital, nearly two weeks after the traumatic incident. He suffered third-degree burns all over his body
  
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• Texas officer recovering after being hit by drunk driver

  02-08-2017 13:23
  FORT WORTH - A Texas police officer is recovering from a fracture and other injuries after he was struck by a suspected drunken driver while standing alongside a car during a traffic stop.  Dashcam video from Fort Worth officer Matt Lesell's patrol car shows Lesell being thrown heels over head into the roadway after being struck July 7.  Authorities say the only reason he survived is because the drunken driver first struck the car that was stopped on the side
  
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• Ascension Parish to host new music festival

  02-08-2017 13:04
  GONZALES - Country and rock acts will come together for a new, two-day festival in October. According to a news release, Flambeau Fest will be held on October 7-8 on the Ascension Fields of the Lamar Dixon Expo Center. The announcement was made Wednesday morning at a news conference by Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. The festival's headliners and lineup will be announced on Monday, August 7. Tickets will go on sale the same day. Ticket prices range from $119 to
  
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• Southern University obtains license to develop marijuana-based medicines

  02-08-2017 13:02
  BATON ROUGE - Southern University has been granted a cultivation license to develop pharmaceutical grade medicines from marijuana plants. Dr. Janana Snowden, Director of SIMP, stated that the Institute’s research will focus on natural product development and usage to address the major health issues.“Quality medicine is the goal of the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center’s medical marijuana program. We will develop medicines that
  
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• Last of the Peanut Butter 12 captured

  02-08-2017 12:41
  MIAMI - Tips led Florida authorities to a house north of West Palm Beach where they captured the last of 12 inmates who used peanut butter to escape from an Alabama jail.  Martin County Sheriff William D. Snyder announced Tuesday night that 24-year-old Brady Kilpatrick was arrested, along with his sister, her fiance and a family friend. He says two people drove him to the home from Alabama.  The inmates escaped Sunday by writing a number in peanut butter over
  
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• Contractor confronts man with his stolen trailer

  02-08-2017 12:29
  BATON ROUGE- A fast thinking contractor snapped several pictures of a stranger towing his stolen trailer. Jhonny Lopez said he confirmed the vin number and asked the man where he got it."The guy said he bought it from someone else for $300," said Lopez. "But I think he is a liar."The encounter happened last month at a Home Depot parking lot in Baton Rouge. The trailer had been missing since May when someone towed it away from a worksite in Comite Estates.The contractor called the East Baton Rou
  
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• Kids suspected of shooting out windows of parked cars in Baton Rouge

  02-08-2017 12:25
  BATON ROUGE – Sheriff's deputies fielded reports of a renegade group of kids who shot at cars recently.Four vehicles were damaged, deputies said, by the kids who shot out windows. The cars were parked at homes along Elvin Drive, off Burbank. One person posted on social media that the back window of their SUV was busted.Deputies said it appears the kids were using a BB gun to shoot at the vehicles.The kids have not been located.******************Follow the publisher of this post on Twi
  
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• Carnival extends contract to base cruise ship in Mobile

  02-08-2017 08:02
  MOBILE, Ala. - Carnival Cruise Line is extending its contract to base a cruise ship on the Alabama coast in Mobile.
   Mayor Sandy Stimpson says the Miami-based company is extending its deal to sail from Mobile through December 2018. That means the city won't endure a repeat of 2011, when the company ended service from Mobile.
   Carnival currently offers four- and five-day cruises aboard the 855-foot Fantasy from the Alabama Cruise Terminal.
   The company's original 13-mo
  
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• TRAFFIC ALERT: Earlier crash jams traffic on I-10 and I-12

  02-08-2017 07:42
  BATON ROUGE - News 2's Ashley Fruge’ has you covered with live updates for your Wednesday morning commute.Beat the traffic every time using WBRZ's advanced traffic tracking technology. Click here to go to our traffic center. Tweets by WBRZtrafficPermalink| Comments
  
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• Amazon holding giant job fair today

  02-08-2017 06:18
  FALL RIVER, Mass. - Amazon is holding a giant job fair and plans to make thousands of job offers on the spot at nearly a dozen U.S. warehouses.
   Wednesday's hiring spree is a sign of Amazon's growth at a time traditional retailers are closing stores and cutting jobs.
   Nearly 40,000 of the 50,000 packing, sorting and shipping jobs will be full time; most of them will count toward Amazon's previously announced goal of adding 100,000 full-time workers by the middle of next year.
  
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