Baton Rouge news

• Two in critical condition after crash involving 18-wheeler on Airline Hwy.

  30-10-2017 21:19
  BATON ROUGE - Two people were critically injured in a crash involving an 18-wheeler on Airline Hwy. Monday night.According to authorities, the crash occurred on Airline Hwy. near S Choctaw Drive sometime before 9:00 p.m.The two victims were transported to a local hospital in critical condition, according to authorities. One of the two injured appears to be a child, according to a News 2 crew at the scene. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Central School System elects new superintendent

  30-10-2017 19:17
  CENTRAL - The Central School Board elected its new superintendent Monday evening.Dr. Jason Fountain was unanimously elected as the new superintedent, according to former Superintendent Michael Faulk. Fountain is the current director of middle and high school curriculum for the school system.Faulk, the founding Central school superintendent, announced his resignation from the school system back in June. He served as the school system's superintendent for more than 10 years.Faulk's resig
  
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• Puerto Rico taking cues from Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Maria

  30-10-2017 18:43
  PUERTO RICO - Puerto Rico is following Louisiana's lead and establishing a "Shelter at Home" program, similar to what was implemented after last year's historic flooding.Roldan Montero planned a quiet, long-term retirement in the small town of Toaville. But shortly after he moved in, Hurricane Maria devastated the territory.Now, Montero lives in his home without power, unable to afford running a generator.Across the street, his young neighbor, Victor, has a working ge
  
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• Sexually-harassed employees say state won't help them

  30-10-2017 18:32
  BATON ROUGE - A group of people say their employer sexually harassed them, but they quickly found out there's little help from the state about their case. They called 2 On Your Side to help shed light on a prevalent topic.The four people who came forward to WBRZ say the business they worked for is so small, there's not much to protect them and they're looking for a change."I can see why no one has come forward, because they feel like there's nothing they can do," said Jillian Tomeno.Frustration
  
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• Firefighters deal with afternoon business blaze Monday

  30-10-2017 17:55
  BATON ROUGE - A fire tore through the attic of a home care business Monday afternoon.The blaze broke out around 4:30 in the ceiling of a building housing TCP, Inc., in the 8200 block of Tom Drive.  Numerous trucks, including one with a large ladder, blocked the street as fire crews dealt with the blaze.It appeared the building's roof and attic suffered major damage.*********************Follow the publisher of this post on Twitter: @treyschmaltzPermalink| Comments
  
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• Dog rescued after swimming a mile into lake

  30-10-2017 16:38
  NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard made an unusual rescue from Lake Pontchartrain Monday afternoon: a dog.A boatcrew was dispatched from a nearby Coast Guard station after a boater noticed the dog swimming in the lake about a mile from shore near UNO. The boater couldn't recover the dog, so called for help.The boatcrew just so happened to be preparing for a training mission when they were contacted. The team rescued the dog and turned it over to the local animal shelter.The dog was wearing a collar,
  
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• Vehicle fire causing traffic delays on I-12 West

  30-10-2017 15:09
  BATON ROUGE - A vehicle fire has shut down all but one lane on I-12 West near the Amite River Bridge Monday afternoon.The right and center lanes were shut down around 3 p.m. Monday as crews worked to clear the scene. Check back for updates. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Body found in New Orleans man's trunk after Texas police chase

  30-10-2017 14:20
  KAUFMAN, Texas - Officials east of Dallas say a New Orleans man who led authorities on a highway chase following a road-rage incident told a sheriff's deputy that a woman's body was in the trunk of his car.  Thirty-three-year-old Freddie Gilbert was being held Monday in the Kaufman County jail on charges that include evading arrest.  Kaufman County sheriff's spokeswoman Jolie Stewart says police were notified Sunday of a road-rage incident in which a gun was
  
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• Telephone scam targeting flood victims

  30-10-2017 14:03
  BATON ROUGE- Gov. John Bel Edwards Office of Community Development is warning residents about scam telephone calls that are targeting flood-impacted families.A release from Edwards' office said, the scam calls are asking people to provide  private information such as bank account numbers or make a financial deposit to complete their applications for assistance.If program applicants have doubts about the authenticity of a phone call or email, they should contact the Restore Lou
  
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• 66-year-old man convicted of sexually abusing two young girls

  30-10-2017 13:34
  COVINGTON - A 66-year-old Louisiana man has been convicted of sexually abusing two girls - a 5-year-old and a girl abused starting when she was 8 years old.  District Attorney Warren Montgomery said in a news release Monday that a jury convicted Charles Pineda of Covington on Friday on two counts of sexual battery of a child under age 13.  He says Pineda was a family friend.  Montgomery says the older girl's abuse began in 2008 and
  
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• 66-year-old Covington man convicted of sexually abusing children

  30-10-2017 13:34
  COVINGTON - A 66-year-old Louisiana man has been convicted of sexually abusing two girls - a 5-year-old and a girl abused starting when she was 8 years old.  District Attorney Warren Montgomery said in a news release Monday that a jury convicted Charles Pineda of Covington on Friday on two counts of sexual battery of a child under age 13.  He says Pineda was a family friend.  Montgomery says the older girl's abuse began in 2008 and
  
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• In Puerto Rico, La. soldiers cheer for LSU and help island rebuild

  30-10-2017 12:46
  SAN JUAN, Puertro Rico - A Louisiana delegation is checking on state National Guard soldiers and assisting with local government operations in a quick trip to this battered island territory this week.WBRZ is traveling with the group, which includes Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards.A team of disaster recovery experts have been on the ground since Hurricane Maria slammed into Puerto Rico about six weeks ago. Among the initial wave of assistance was a group of National Guard soldiers from acros
  
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• Former Trump aide pleads guilty in Mueller probe

  30-10-2017 12:38
  WASHINGTON - A former campaign aide to President Donald Trump has pleaded guilty to lying to federal agents working for special counsel Robert Mueller as part of his probe into possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia.  George Papadopoulos pleaded guilty on Oct. 5 to one count of lying to FBI agents about the nature of his interactions with "foreign nationals" who he thought had close connections to senior Russian government officials. The plea was unsealed
  
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• Firefighter denounced by company after racist Facebook post

  30-10-2017 12:32
  LEBANON, Pa. - A Pennsylvania firefighter has been denounced by his fire company after he posted racist comments about a cereal mascot.  Lebanon firefighter Justin Snyder made the comments Wednesday on his Facebook page. The Lebanon Daily News reports Snyder was reacting to a news story that Kellogg would be redesigning its Corn Pops cereal box after receiving a complaint on Twitter that the art was racially insensitive.  The box shows cartoon Corn Pops hangi
  
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• Gonzales man pleads guilty to illegal firearm possession and domestic abuse

  30-10-2017 12:25
  GONZALES - A Gonzales man pled guilty Monday to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and domestic abuse battery charges.Johnson Lee Harris, 32, was arrested in February of 2017 following a domestic disturbance call. Upon arrival to Harris' residence, the victim advised Ascension Parish Sheriff's Deputies that he had slapped her several times the night before. The victim explained to deputies that she waited for Harris to leave for work the next day to call authorities because s
  
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• Local Humane Society holds meeting to discuss recent cat slayings

  30-10-2017 12:00
  BATON ROUGE - A series of cat killings sparked a humane society meeting Monday night.Several weeks ago, a cat was discovered hanging by a chain on the side of a building on Starring Lane. Surveillance video captured a male walking on top of the building dragging something behind him."We have a person of interest, which is a vague way of putting it," East Baton Rouge Animal Control Director Hilton Cole said.During the meeting, Cole answered several questions from concerned Humane Society members
  
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• Judge reinstates 6-game suspension for Cowboys' Elliott

  30-10-2017 11:25
  NEW YORK - A federal judge has cleared the way for the NFL to enforce a six-game suspension of Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott over domestic violence allegations.  U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla on Monday denied the request for a preliminary injunction from players' union attorneys working for Elliott.  It's the second time a federal ruling has overturned a reprieve that kept Elliott on the field, and likely will lead to another effort
  
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• Trump, first lady welcome ghosts, goblins on Halloween eve

  30-10-2017 11:24
  WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump are welcoming ghosts, goblins and everything in between to the White House for trick-or-treating on Halloween eve.  The first lady announced last week that children from more than 20 schools in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia were invited to the festivities on the South Lawn. Military families and members of community organizations are also attending.  Pumpkins carved with the li
  
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• Electrical fire damages nonprofit organization building

  30-10-2017 11:16
  BATON ROUGE - An electrical fire damaged a building on Tom Drive Monday afternoon, according to the Baton Rouge Fire Department.The building was reportedly occupied by Theophilus Agape Care Providers, Inc., a non-profit organization.Firefighters responded to the 8200 block of Tom Drive just after 5:00 p.m. to find smoke coming from the top corners of the building.Employees that were inside told firefighter they saw fire coming from the attic, according to BRFD.Firefighters were able to access t
  
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• Monday night BRPD trunk or treating event

  30-10-2017 09:27
  BATON ROUGE- Officers and staff from the Baton Rouge Police Department will be handing out candy today during the Drive Thru Trunk or Treat event.The event will run this evening from 6 p.m until 8 p.m at BRPD headquarters. Headquarters is located at 9000 Airline Highway. People can start showing up at 5:30. Those participating do not have to leave their vehicles. People attending, will enter the event from the Connell's Village Lane.Permalink| Commen
  
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• Bicyclist killed Sunday in Terrebonne Parish crash

  30-10-2017 09:12
  CHAUVIN- Louisiana State Troopers were on the scene of a crash that took the life of a man in Terrebonne Parish.The crash took place on LA 58 near LA 56. It took the life of 59-year-old Steven Angelle.Authorities say, Angelle was traveling west on LA 58 on his bike in the westbound lane. At the same time, Martha Worely was driving a 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe in the same direction.Worely struck Angelle from behind. The Terrebonne Parish Coroner pronounced&
  
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• Supreme Court rejects Louisiana dirt farmer's appeal

  30-10-2017 08:47
  WASHINGTON- The Supreme Court has turned away an appeal from a Louisiana dirt farmer who complained that a local flood control district took his soil without paying enough for it.The justices did not comment Monday in leaving in place a Louisiana Supreme Court ruling against Chad Jarreau (JAR'-roh) of Cut Off, Louisiana.The local government agency in charge of protection from hurricanes took the dirt from just under an acre of Jarreau's property to build up a nearby levee.The agency initially p
  
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• UN agency: CO2 concentrations grew at record rate in 2016

  30-10-2017 07:56
  GENEVA- The U.N. weather agency is warning that carbon-dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere increased at record-breaking speed last year.World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Petteri Taalas says rapid cuts to CO2 and other greenhouse gases are needed to avoid "dangerous temperature increases" by 2100 that would far surpass targets set in the Paris climate accord.He says "we are actually moving in the wrong direction."The latest WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin released Monday says
  
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• Manafort faces charges of conspiracy against US

  30-10-2017 07:38
  WASHINGTON-Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his business associate, Rick Gates, have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy against the United States and other felony charges.The indictments unsealed Monday in Washington contain 12 counts, including conspiracy to launder money, failing to register as a foreign agent, false statements, and multiple counts of failing to file reports for foreign bank accounts.Manafort, of Alexandria, Virginia, and Gates, of
  
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• Former Trump campaign chairman faces charges of conspiracy against US

  30-10-2017 07:38
  WASHINGTON-Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his business associate, Rick Gates, have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy against the United States and other felony charges.The indictments unsealed Monday in Washington contain 12 counts, including conspiracy to launder money, failing to register as a foreign agent, false statements, and multiple counts of failing to file reports for foreign bank accounts.Manafort, of Alexandria, Virginia, and Gates, of
  
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• DeVos may only partly forgive some student loans

  30-10-2017 07:04
  WASHINGTON- The Education Department is considering only partially forgiving federal loans for students defrauded by for-profit colleges. Department officials confirmed the change is being discussed. The change would abandon the Obama administration's policy of erasing that debt.Under President Barack Obama, tens of thousands of students deceived by now-defunct for-profit schools had over $550 million in such loans canceled.But President Donald Trump's education secretary, Betsy DeVos, is worki
  
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• Louisiana college sought to host teacher training consortium

  30-10-2017 06:54
  BATON ROUGE- Louisiana's education department is looking for a college in the state willing to be the home base for a teacher training initiative.The education department released its application for higher education institutions to apply to house the Louisiana Educator Research Consortium for a five-year period.The college that hosts the consortium will organize research, convene experts from around the state to do research, seek grant financing and work on teacher preparation policy. The coll
  
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• LIVE UPDATES: Monday commute

  30-10-2017 06:50
  BATON ROUGE - WBRZ has you covered with live updates for your Monday 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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