Baton Rouge news

• Neighborhood receives blight clean-up weeks after canvass

  23-10-2017 21:46
  BATON ROUGE- More than 50 volunteers took to the streets of the East Brookstown neighborhood Monday afternoon to engage in a community clean-up.With gloves, rakes and weed-eaters in hand, they covered several blocks picking up trash, cleaning out ditches and beautifying the neighborhood.The initiative, started three weeks ago, includes people from the Mayor's Office, District Attorney's office, BRAVE and faith-based community leaders."I really like what I see," resident Christopher Odds said.&a
  
  Read more

• One injured in shooting on 3rd Street in Donaldsonville

  23-10-2017 21:12
  BATON ROUGE - A 24-year-old man was injured in a shooting on 3rd Street in Donaldsonville Monday night.According to authorities, the shooting occurred in the 700 block of 3rd Street near St. Vincent Street sometime before 9:00 p.m.The victim suffered non-life threatening injuries as a result of the shooting, according to the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office. Authorities say the victim was up and talking with police while on scene. He was then transported to a local hospital. 
  
  Read more

• Senate sets up disaster aid vote for Tuesday

  23-10-2017 20:28
  WASHINGTON - The Senate has given preliminary approval to a $36.5 billion hurricane relief package that would provide Puerto Rico with a much-needed infusion of cash.  The 79-16 procedural vote sets the stage for a final vote, most likely Tuesday.  The measure also provides $18.7 billion to replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency's rapidly dwindling emergency disaster accounts. On Monday, FEMA announced more than $500 million in aid to Puerto Rico,
  
  Read more

• California prepares to clean up wildfire waste

  23-10-2017 20:25
  SANTA ROSA, Calif. - Government agencies are mobilizing for a massive hazardous waste clean-up after California's wildfires.  Officials gave their first briefing to the public Monday on what they say will be the largest fire clean-up effort in state history.  More than 8,000 homes have burned in dozens of wildfires in Northern California. Authorities have declared a public health emergency because of the presence of household hazardous waste like freon or asb
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Biofuel company announces plans for Mississippi refinery

  23-10-2017 20:13
  NATCHEZ, Miss. - A British company aims to build a refinery in southwest Mississippi that will turn wood into the equivalent of diesel or jet fuel.  Velocys announced Friday that it has signed an option for a 100-acre site in Natchez.  The Natchez Democrat reports Velocys plans 40 refinery jobs paying an average of $100,000 yearly, and could indirectly support another 100 forestry jobs paying $40,000 on average.  Mississippi Development Auth
  
  Read more

• Federal buyout to be discussed at upcoming New Roads meeting

  23-10-2017 20:09
  NEW ROADS - Harold Terrance is back home in the Pecan Acres community of New Roads to feed his dog. His pet was left behind when he evacuated due to flooding over the weekend."We have all flooded, not just me," Terrance said.Terrance says Pecan Acres has flooded at least 17 times since he moved there in the 1970s. Now he's saying enough is enough.Lisha Gremillion also lives in Pecan Acres; she can't remember how many times her home has flooded."It's sad they we have to walk to our homes in this
  
  Read more

• Still recovering from 2016 flood, community struck by flooding once again

  23-10-2017 19:29
  CLINTON - Jean Matthews woke up to sinking feeling of déjà vu Sunday morning."I opened up that window and screamed 'It's flooding!' and it was just going, it was like a river had opened up," Matthews said. “At 7:30 a.m. it look just like it looks out there now, and at quarter to nine it was a river.”It was an unwelcomed sight for residents just shortly afer many recovered from the Great Flood of 2016. Sunday, waking up to find flood wa
  
  Read more

• WBRSO: Brusly man charged with attempted murder after firing at passing vehicle

  23-10-2017 18:50
  BRUSLY - Authorities say a man was arrested after he allegedly used a stolen firearm to open fire at a vehicle just yards away from his Brusly home Monday.According to the West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office, 38-year-old Travis Duncan shot at three people inside of a vehicle in the 6400 block of South River Road around noon Monday. Deputies were called to the scene and found a bullet hole in the victim's vehicle along with shell casings on the ground. The victims identified Dunc
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Mississippi at 61 West Nile virus cases so far in 2017

  23-10-2017 17:38
  JACKSON, Miss.- The Mississippi State Department of Health is confirming one new case of West Nile virus.  That brings the total so far this year to 61 cases of the mosquito-borne illness, including two people who died earlier. The new case is in Hinds County.  In 2016, the state had 43 cases with two deaths.  So far this year, there have been 15 cases in Hinds County; seven in Rankin County; five in Forrest County; four in Madison County; t
  
  Read more

• New blight numbers show a correlation to crime

  23-10-2017 17:33
  BATON ROUGE- New numbers paint a disturbing picture of how blighted properties have a correlation to crimes occurring in East Baton Rouge Parish.
  The numbers obtained by the WBRZ Investigative Unit show there are 7,963 blighted properties in East Baton Rouge Parish. In 70802, there were 753 violent crimes. In 70805, there were 943 violent crimes. Almost half of all of the violent crimes in those zip codes occurred within 100 feet of a blighted property, according to the numbers.In Old South Bat
  
  Read more

• Several wanted for thefts at Livingston Parish Walmart

  23-10-2017 17:26
  WATSON - Authorities say multiple thieves have stolen a wide assortment of items from an area Walmart in recent weeks.According to the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office, multiple thieves were seen stealing items from the same Walmart over the past three weeks in seemingly unrelated thefts. The sheriff's office says items stolen range from compound bows and televisions to baseball cards and batteries.Surveillance video from the store shows a number of male suspects as they exi
  
  Read more

• Guilty plea in January shooting of Louisiana wildlife agent

  23-10-2017 16:53
  MONROE- A woman accused of shooting a Louisiana wildlife enforcement agent during a traffic stop has pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder.The News-Star reports Amethyst Baird Rathore, of Monroe, entered the plea Monday in the January shooting of agent Tyler Wheeler. She also pleaded guilty to charges of obstruction of justice, illegal possession of a stolen vehicle and illegal possession of a stolen firearm.A sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 26.Wheeler was shot in the temple, jaw,
  
  Read more

• Baton Rouge native battling cancer attends Saints game in Green Bay, has an extraordinary moment

  23-10-2017 16:14
  BATON ROUGE- A father of three fighting cancer attended the Saints game on Sunday and recalls one of the most memorable sports moments of his life.When New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram scored a 12-yard run in the second quarter of the Packers game, he probably had no idea what kind of impact the Lambeau Leap that followed made on his chosen fans.47-year-old Todd Fruge from Baton Rouge was diagnosed with colon cancer in March of 2015. Fruge had the opportunity to go to the game when h
  
  Read more

• Louisiana man sentenced for 9 robberies in 3 states in 2016

  23-10-2017 15:59
  NEW ORLEANS - A man has been sentenced to more than 18 years in prison for nine robberies in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama - including one where he ordered a cheeseburger before robbing a fast-food restaurant.  The U.S. attorney's office for eastern Louisiana says Monday that 32-year-old Christopher Simms of New Orleans was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon.  Court documents show Simms pleaded guilty to robbing four fast-food rest
  
  Read more

• Iowa withdraws proposal to opt out of Affordable Care Act

  23-10-2017 15:54
  DES MOINES, Iowa - Iowa has withdrawn its request with the Trump administration to opt out of the Affordable Care Act and redirect federal money toward lowering premiums for younger participants in a single state-run program.  The idea was designed to stabilize health care insurance in the state, making premium costs based on age in addition to income. Just one company - Minnesota-based Medica - plans to provide policies next year with an anticipated 58 percent increase in pre
  
  Read more

• Blue Bell releases new 'Christmas Cookies' ice cream

  23-10-2017 15:19
  Brace yourselves, for Blue Bell has unleashed yet another limited-run flavor for Louisiana to obsess over.On Monday, the ice cream company announced it would be releasing a new, holiday-themed flavor this fall. The new 'Christmas Cookies' flavor combines hints of chocolate chip, snickerdoodle and sugar into a sugar cookie ice cream with red sprinkles and a green icing swirl.Most importantly, Blue Bell says the flavor is available NOW.'Christmas Cookies' is the latest limited e
  
  Read more

• Southern University campus closed Monday afternoon

  23-10-2017 15:05
  BATON ROUGE - The Southern University campus will be closed Monday afternoon due to utility work.All SU campuses in Baton Rouge, including the SU Law Center and Ag Center, will be closed starting 2 p.m. due to utility work already in progress. A campus-wide power outage is expected to begin at 2 p.m. and last until approximately 6 p.m. As a result all classes are cancelled for the remainder of the day.  Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• Storm damage closes multiple bridges in West Feliciana Parish

  23-10-2017 14:59
  WEST FELICIANA PARISH - At least two bridges have been shut down indefinitely in West Feliciana Parish after heavy rainfall caused flooding in the area over the weekend. According to the West Feliciana Parish Emergency Operations Center, the Tanner Creek Bridge on Como Road and the Polly Creek Bridge on Plettinberg Road are both in need of repairs after being damaged Sunday. Officials say both bridges will remain closed until more e
  
  Read more

• Street flooding shuts down Pride-Baywood Road

  23-10-2017 14:26
  CLINTON - Authorities say street flooding has shut down a portion of Pride-Baywood Road Monday.According to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office, Pride-Baywood is closed near Riley Road due to elevated water levels. Monday's road closure is the latest in a series of shut-downs that have plagued the area in the wake of Sunday's heavy rainfall.The roadway will remain closed until further notice.Check back for updates.Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• Former deputy pleads guilty to child porn charges

  23-10-2017 14:21
  ST.AMANT- A former Ascension Parish sheriff's deputy has pleaded guilty to 10 counts of attempted possession of child pornography, as well as indecent behavior with a juvenile. Todd Tripp was arrested in 2015 and booked with possession of pornography involving a juvenile and computer-aided solicitation of a minor. Trip was also arrested multiple times in 2013 on similar charges along with one count of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with
  
  Read more

• Ethics board waives fine for Democratic treasurer candidate

  23-10-2017 14:18
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's ethics board has agreed to waive a $2,100 fine levied on the Democrat competing to be the next state treasurer for not filing his campaign finance report on time.  Derrick Edwards, who is paralyzed from the neck down by a high school football injury, says he had difficulty finding voice-activated software compatible with submitting the finance forms electronically, as required. Edwards says he since has remedied the problem.  Kathlee
  
  Read more

• Company recalls vegetables over listeria fears

  23-10-2017 14:04
  SALINAS, Calif. - A California company has voluntarily recalled packaged vegetables distributed throughout the U.S. and Canada because of possible bacterial contamination.  Mann Packing of Salinas says there have been no reported illnesses associated with the products. The recall was ordered last week after random testing in Canada turned up a single positive result for listeria.  The vegetables have "best if used by" dates from Oct. 11 through Oct. 20.&n
  
  Read more

• Man accused of killing teen, dumping body in St. Martin Parish

  23-10-2017 14:03
  ST. MARTINVILLE - Officers from the St. Martinville Police Department arrested a man over the weekend after he allegedly killed a 19-year-old and disposed of his body.Saturday afternoon, officers received a call in reference to a suspicious vehicle parked on the property of an oil field business and hunting lease in the 1000 block of Aubrey Ozenne Road in St. Martinville.Witnesses said a black male subject was seen holding a firearm in an older model
  
  Read more

• Audit: More oversight needed of Medicaid managed-care firms

  23-10-2017 13:54
  BATON ROUGE- A new audit says Louisiana's health department doesn't properly monitor managed-care organizations that provide services for most state Medicaid patients to ensure they have enough specialists to treat mental health problems and drug addiction.The legislative auditor's report released Monday comes as the health department is asking lawmakers to extend the managed-care contracts.Auditors say 45 percent of providers listed by managed-care groups as licensed mental health professional
  
  Read more

• Trump promises 401Ks won't change

  23-10-2017 13:46
  WASHINGTON-President Donald Trump says there will be "NO change" to tax incentives for 401(k) contributions.Trump says on Twitter Monday: "There will be NO change to your 401(k). This has always been a great and popular middle class tax break that works, and it stays!"The president appeared to be responding to a recent report in The New York Times that Republican lawmakers were considering limiting the amount workers could save in 401(k) retirement accounts. Those savings are not taxed until re
  
  Read more

• Chef John Besh steps down from restaurant company amid sexual misconduct allegations

  23-10-2017 13:44
  NEW ORLEANS - Chef John Besh will step down from the restaurant group he created amid allegations that several female employees were sexually harassed while working for the Besh restaurant group.According to a report from the Advocate, Besh announced his exit Monday morning. In a letter to restaurant company staff, executive Shannon White announced that Besh “has decided to step down from all aspects of operations and to provide his full focus on th
  
  Read more

• Suspects in Freddy Krueger, Ghostface masks robbing Florida businesses

  23-10-2017 13:29
  OCALA, FL - Two businesses in Florida got an early scare this month.Robbers wearing Freddy Krueger and Ghostface masks stole money from a Pizza Hut and a Krystal fast food burger chain over a three-day span.Police in Ocala and Marion counties would not reveal how much money was stolen from each business. The masked pair also attempted to rob a Super 8 motel, but fled the scene when the doors were locked, police said.The suspects are still at large.The Marion County Sheriff's Office and Ocala Po
  
  Read more

• Trunk-or-treating in Baton Rouge

  23-10-2017 13:20
  BATON ROUGE- Children in Baton Rouge are invited to participate in a Trunk-or-Treat event taking place at the Charles R. Kelly Community Center.Trunk-or-Treating will be on October 31 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.Children can enjoy outdoor fun, food, car excitement are more. Costumes are encouraged for everyone that participates.Vehicle entries should be decorated with a theme. Prizes will be awarded for the best decorated vehicle. Trick-or-treating in Denham Spri
  
  Read more

• Edwards speaks to Harvard institute about crisis response

  23-10-2017 13:18
  BATON ROUGE- Gov. John Bel Edwards is speaking to students at Harvard University about his time as Louisiana's governor and his approach to dealing with crisis.  The governor's office said Edwards was talking Monday with the Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. He was delivering a lecture on homeland security to a class led by Juliette Kayyem, a former U.S. homeland security assistant secretary and member of the Council on Foreign Relations.&n
  
  Read more

• Boil water advisory issued in Clinton

  23-10-2017 13:14
  CLINTON - Officials have issued a boil water advisory in part of East Feliciana Parish after severe weather swept through the area over the weekend. Residents along Lower CC Road in Clinton are advised to disinfect their water before consumption. The advisory goes into effect Monday and will remain until further notice.It's believed that Sunday's heavy rainfall led to water lines being exposed.Check back for updates.Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• Comite River flood waters drain smoothly after weekend storms

  23-10-2017 12:40
  CENTRAL- High water in the Comite River from this weekend's storms is quickly draining south into the Amite. Officials in East Baton Rouge Parish said the river levels dropped as fast as they rose Monday with almost no back-fill flooding.The river approached moderate flood stage at the Joor Road bridge. Nearby residents in Comite Hills West like Hank des Bordes said he wasn't too worried."The water can get right up to the bottom of the bridge and I'm still not worried about it because my land i
  
  Read more

• Hit-and-run suspect crashes into pond with 8-year-old child in tow, leads to narcotics bust

  23-10-2017 12:09
  ASCENSION- A 30-year-old woman was arrested after a two-week long hit-and-run investigation. Drug paraphernalia was later found in the vehicle that had crashed into a residential pond.Louisiana State Police began an investigation on Oct. 6th after being dispatched to a hit-and-run accident on LA 44. Troopers found the 2017 Hyundai Sonata that had crashed into a residential pond nearby.The unauthorized driver of the vehicle was identified on Oct. 8th as 30-year-old Meagen&n
  
  Read more

• Children, ages 5 and 3, hospitalized after shooting

  23-10-2017 09:36
  NATCHITOCHES- Police say a shooting in Louisiana has injured two children.  Natchitoches police say in a Facebook post the 5-year-old and 3-year-old were hospitalized Sunday with injuries that are not life-threatening. Police had received numerous reports of people shooting at each other shortly before 5 p.m.  The 5-year-old was shot in the calf and the 3-year-old received a foot injury.  Investigators found that several apartments and three
  
  Read more

• New Orleans man sentenced for robberies in three states

  23-10-2017 09:34
  NEW ORLEANS- A 23-year-old man was charged last week after previously pleading guilty to robbing two banks and seven other businesses.Christopher Simms was sentenced to more than 18 years in jail with five years supervised release. Court documents say, Simms robbed nine establishments between January 12, 2016 and February 8, 2016. Simms robbed three McDonald's in New Orleans, one McDonald's in Kenner, a Dollar General in Metairie, an Iberia Bank in Metairie,
  
  Read more

• BREC splash pads to close Oct. 31 for winter

  23-10-2017 08:48
  EAST BATON ROUGE- BREC will lose its splash pads October 31 in preparation of winter. Locations that will be closed include pads at City-Brooks, Forest, Greenwood, Jackson, Highland Road and Zachary Community Parks. All six locations will reopen in spring 2018. The splash pad at North Sherwood Forest Community Park is set to open next year. Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• Baton Rouge dad follows instructions to put daughter in bed very closely

  23-10-2017 08:12
  BATON ROUGE-  Ashlie Nicole Williams said she had to leave the room to laugh after she saw how her daughter was tucked into bed.Williams said in a interview with Buzzfeed News that she was doing dishes when Aaron Cade came home with their 2-year-old daughter London."He told me she was asleep so I told him to just put her in the bed and I'd wake her and bathe her later," Williams said. Cade agreed and left the kitchen, according to Williams.
  
  Read more

• Mexico joins legal fight against Texas sanctuary cities law

  23-10-2017 07:48
  NEW ORLEANS - Mexico has joined a legal battle against a Texas law cracking down on so-called sanctuary cities, one of the toughest of its kind in the U.S.The Mexican government filed an amicus brief Thursday in a lawsuit brought by several major Texas cities challenging the law in federal appeals court in New Orleans.The brief says the law forces Mexico to treat Texas differently than other states and interferes with diplomatic interests and ongoing negotiations on a range of bilateral issues.
  
  Read more

• Not so cold duck? Man keeps looking for bird thought extinct

  23-10-2017 07:33
  WASHINGTON- To most of the world, the pink-headed duck is probably extinct. But not to Richard Thorns.This week, he launches a seventh expedition into the wilds of Myanmar to search for the pink-headed duck that hasn't been seen alive since 1949, and that was in India. No one has seen the bird alive in Myanmar in more than a century.Thorns quit his shop clerk job 20 years ago to find the pink duck. The British writer has spent $20,000 of his own money on previous fruitless trips. His birder bro
  
  Read more

• City judge candidates forum Tuesday

  23-10-2017 06:58
  BATON ROUGE- City judge runoff candidates Judy Moore Vendetto and Chris Hester will speak at noon Tuesday  at the City Judge Candidates Forum.The forum is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of East Baton Rouge Parish. It will take place at Café Américain. Lunch is $19.50, payable to the restaurant.In the primary, Vendetto ran first with 4,129 votes, while Hester was second with 2,465. The runoff will be held November 18. Polls
  
  Read more

• Trump urges House GOP to move quickly on budget, tax cuts

  23-10-2017 06:31
  WASHINGTON- House Republicans leaders are hoping to pass a budget bill this week so they can turn their attention to tax reform. In a conference call, President Donald Trump personally urged House GOP members to pass the tax package or face political failure in 2018.He said it is crucial for Congress to pass what he described as historic tax cuts.The Senate last week passed a budget that includes rules that will allow Republicans to get tax legislation through the Senate without Democratic vote
  
  Read more

• Twin girls die in fire at Louisiana duplex

  23-10-2017 05:53
  GRETNA- Authorities say 8-year-old twin girls died in a fire at a Louisiana duplex.Deputy Chief State Fire Marshal Brant Thompson told news outlets that the twin girls and their first cousins were being cared for by their grandmother when the fire broke out in the Gretna home Sunday around 1:30 a.m.Thompson says the other children, ages 4 and 5, escaped the fire unharmed with the help of the grandmother. The parents were away during the blaze, but Thompson says they returned while the fire was
  
  Read more

Follow @BatonRougeNews_ on Twitter!