Baton Rouge news

• Industrial tax break info to be posted online, Edwards says

  09-11-2017 21:37
  BATON ROUGE - Gov. John Bel Edwards says tax assessors in most Louisiana parishes will start posting the property tax breaks given to manufacturers on searchable online rolls next year, just like they list homeowners' property tax exemptions.
   On Thursday, Edwards told Together Louisiana, a group of faith-based and community leaders, that he's talked to Louisiana's Tax Commission chairman about enacting the posting requirement for information about the Industrial Tax Exemption Program.
  
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• Senate candidate accused of sexual misconduct

  09-11-2017 21:14
  WASHINGTON - Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore of Alabama is facing lurid allegations of sexual misconduct with minors decades ago - and an immediate backlash from party leaders demanding he get out of the race if the accusations prove true.
   The Washington Post reported Thursday that an Alabama woman said Moore, then a 32-year-old assistant district attorney, had sexual contact with her when she was 14. Three other women interviewed by the Post said Moore, now 70, approached them
  
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• O.J. Simpson banned from Las Vegas hotel-casino

  09-11-2017 20:49
  LAS VEGAS - O.J. Simpson's attorney says the former football star has been banned from The Cosmopolitan hotel-casino in Las Vegas.
   Attorney Malcolm LaVergne on Thursday told The Associated Press that Simpson received a trespass notice from the hotel Wednesday. He denied that Simpson was intoxicated or belligerent while at the Las Vegas Strip property.
   LaVergne says Simpson was not given a reason for the ban. He says Simpson contacted his parole officer Thursday and underwent
  
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• LSU honoring POW-MIA veterans with symbolic seat at Tiger Stadium

  09-11-2017 20:46
  BATON ROUGE - LSU will honor military veterans, prisoners of war, and soldiers missing in action, with a symbolic seat in Tiger Stadium.The Tiger Athletic Foundation and LSU Corps of Cadets sponsored a plaque and seat, situated near where the team runs onto the field each home game. The POW-MIA Chair of Honor will remain blocked off and vacant at all times, to symbolize that those soldiers will always have a place at Tiger Stadium."This is such a meaningful gesture for me and the over 322,000 v
  
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• 'BatonRougeVoice' among Russian-backed Twitter accounts used during 2016 election

  09-11-2017 20:39
  SAN FRANCISCO - Disguised Russian agents on Twitter rushed to deflect scandalous news about Donald Trump just before last year’s presidential election while straining to refocus criticism on the mainstream media and Hillary Clinton’s campaign, according to an Associated Press analysis of since-deleted accounts.Tweets by Russia-backed accounts such as “America_1st_” and “BatonRougeVoice” on Oct. 7, 2016, actively pivoted away from news
  
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• Governor meets with state college leaders to discuss hazing

  09-11-2017 19:43
  BATON ROUGE - Governor John Bel Edwards met with university presidents from across the state Thursday to discuss where each institution was in their crusade against hazing.Last month, each system submitted a report to the governor detailing what they have done and what they plan to do to prevent hazing. All of this was in response to the hazing death of LSU student and Phi Delta Theta pledge Maxwell Gruver in September."We have an obligation to reassure parents from across the
  
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• Greensburg Bridge to reopen Friday after August 2016 flood damage

  09-11-2017 17:13
  ST. HELENA PARISH– The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced on Thursday that the Greensburg Bridge will reopen to vehicular traffic on Friday, Nov. 10.The $2.1 million project began in March 2017 to rebuild the structure.According to LaDOTD, because of significant damage to the pile embedment, the bridge was considered unsafe to drive on. The structure had been deemed unsound and required the replacement as it is not feasible to simply repair the b
  
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• Social media posts lead to armed robberies in Ascension Parish; four arrested

  09-11-2017 16:06
  GEISMAR - Two men have been arrested in Ascension Parish after they allegedly used social media to set up two separate armed robberies Wednesday.According to the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office, 22-year-old Michael Lomas and 22-year-old Tyrell Jimerson were both arrested Wednesday. The sheriff's office says the men lured victims in with a post on social media advertising a phone for sale.Once each victim met them with the money to buy the phone, the two robbed them at gunpoi
  
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• WATCH: Dad gets emotional after receiving new puppy

  09-11-2017 14:49
  ONTARIO- A heartwarming video shows a father bursting into tears after his family surprises him with a new puppy.James Xuereb of Ontario recently lost his two dogs, Nemo and Lucy, to heart failure and old age. Xuereb's wife and daughter surprised him with a new Bichon puppy, and captured his unexpected emotional response on camera.Xuereb's daughter, Jaleen, explained his fortuitous reaction to ABC News."Honestly, we didn't know what to expec
  
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• John Paul I closer to sainthood as book debunks conspiracies

  09-11-2017 14:29
  VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis has moved Pope John Paul I - the pope who reigned for only 33 days in 1978 - a step closer to possible sainthood.The Vatican said Thursday that Francis had signed a decree declaring that John Paul I lived a life of heroic virtue. The Vatican must confirm a miracle attributed to his intercession for him to be beatified, and a second miracle to be canonized.Francis signed the decree just days after the Vatican endorsed a new book debunking four decades of conspiracy th
  
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• Port Hudson-Pride Rd. Bridge to close for month-long repairs

  09-11-2017 14:23
  ZACHARY- The Port Hudson-Pride Road Bridge over Copper Mill Bayou will close Monday for repairs, and will remain closed until mid-December.The East Baton Rouge City-Parish Department of Transportation and Drainage Traffic Engineering Division announced today that the bridge will be closed from Monday, Nov. 13th until Friday, Dec. 15th.The bridge is located a quarter of a mile west of Munson Drive.Traffic will be able to detour via Hwy 19 to Rollins Road to Hwy 964 to Port Hudson-Pride
  
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• Another Mississippi city furls Confederate-themed state flag

  09-11-2017 13:58
  CLEVELAND, Miss. - Another Mississippi city will stop flying the state flag because it includes the Confederate battle emblem that critics see as racist.  Aldermen in Cleveland voted 3-2 Tuesday to remove the flag from display at City Hall, the police department and other municipal property. Two aldermen were absent.  Mississippi has used the same flag since 1894 and it has the last state banner featuring the Confederate symbol  Several citi
  
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• Report: Man gets life in prison for murder of woman found dead on I-10

  09-11-2017 13:54
  GRETNA - A man is facing a life sentence for the murder of a woman whose body parts were found on I-10 in 2015.According to a report from WWL, 26-year-old Adam Littleton was found guilty of second-degree murder in July in connection with the death of 19-year-old Jasilas Wright.Prosecutors said Littleton was a pimp driving the victim to Texas against her will when she jumped out of the car on the interstate and was struck by other vehicles and killed.Officials said Littleton co
  
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• Man jailed days after criminal justice overhaul release in Louisiana

  09-11-2017 13:52
  NEW ORLEANS - Police in a New Orleans suburb say a 24-year-old man released from prison under new criminal justice legislation was arrested five days later in connection with an armed robbery.A Kenner Police Department statement says Tyrone "Smokey" White of Kenner, was freed Nov. 2. He was arrested following a robbery Tuesday at a residence where two men were doing roofing work.Interviews with people in the neighborhood led investigators to White. Authorities arrested him Thursday and recovere
  
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• Drivers get turkeys instead of traffic tickets in Montana

  09-11-2017 13:46
  BILLINGS, Mont. - Some Montana drivers got Thanksgiving turkeys instead of tickets when they were pulled over by traffic officers.  The Billings Gazette reports that officers with the Billings Police Department checked for outstanding warrants Wednesday after pulling over drivers for traffic violations.  If they found none, they issued a written warning and a frozen turkey.  Businessman Steve Gountanis bought the 20 turkeys and asked the dep
  
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• Bicyclist in critical condition after being struck in Plaquemine

  09-11-2017 13:14
  PLAQUEMINE - Authorities say a man riding a bicycle was struck in Iberville Parish, leaving him in critical condition.The crash was reported sometime Thursday morning. According to Plaquemine police, the man was riding in the center lane of Edmund Drive when he was struck by a vehicle attempting to merge lanes. Police say there were no warning lights on the bike.The victim was taken to an area hospital where he is being treated for life-threatening injuries.Check back for upda
  
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• DNA samples help identify suspect in 2014 burglary case

  09-11-2017 12:56
  NAPOLEONVILLE- The Assumption Parish Sheriff's Office reports the arrest of a man they say broke into a residence in 2014.The incident took place near Napoleonville on or about June 27, 2014.The victim told authorities she was asleep when she heard a door being pried open, the sound of shattering glass and her alarm going off. Authorities said the suspect entered the residence but fled when the alarm was activated.Evidence recovered from the scene was submitted to the State Police Crim
  
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• Driver turns self in after I-12 crash that killed 5-month-old

  09-11-2017 12:51
  DENHAM SPRINGS - A woman has been charged with negligent homicide after a violent, multi-vehicle crash that left a 5-month old dead in October.According to the Denham Springs Police Department, Jessica Cowart turned herself in to authorities Thursday morning. Police Cowart was texting and driving when she rear-ended an SUV with carrying a woman and her 5-month-old baby on Oct. 11. The child, identified as Reese Graham, suffered life-threatening injur
  
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• Driver arrested after I-12 crash that killed 5-month-old

  09-11-2017 12:51
  DENHAM SPRINGS - A woman has been charged with negligent homicide after a violent, multi-vehicle crash that left a 5-month-old dead in October.According to the Denham Springs Police Department, 23-year-old Jessica Cowart turned herself in to authorities Thursday morning. Police say Cowart was texting and driving when she rear-ended an SUV carrying a woman and her 5-month-old baby on Oct. 11. The child, identified as Reese Graham, suffered life-threat
  
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• 11 still hospitalized after Texas church shooting

  09-11-2017 12:38
  SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas - Eleven people remain hospitalized with wounds from a shooting at a small-town Texas church where more than two dozen people were killed.  A spokesman at University Health System in San Antonio said two adults and two children were still hospitalized Thursday. Doug Finley said conditions of the four ranged from good to critical. Finley declined to be more specific.  Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio says seven church shootin
  
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• More JFK assassination records available to the public

  09-11-2017 12:33
  WASHINGTON- The National Archives has announced the fourth public release this year of President John F. Kennedy's assassination records.According to a release, the  majority of the documents released Thursday were released previously in redacted form.The newest versions of the documents released were prepared by agencies prior to Oct. 26, 2017.The records can be found here.The National Archives released 676 documents on Nov. 3, 2,891 documents on Oct. 26, and 3,810 records on
  
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• New general aviation airport coming to Livingston Parish

  09-11-2017 12:05
  LIVINGSTON PARISH- The Livingston Parish Airport District has announced that it has acquired more than 242 acres for a new general aviation airport.The Livingston Executive Airport will be located near the Satsuma exit off I-12. The land was donated by the Garry Lewis family.The district has contracted with the aviation engineering consulting firm Michael Baker International to develop the airport, and in conjunction with GEC of Baton Rouge, assist with securing Federal Aviation Administration
  
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• Gonzales couple arrested, drugs and weapons found in home with residing juveniles

  09-11-2017 11:58
  GONZALES- Two people arrested on Monday in Ascension Parish are facing multiple charges.According to the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to an illegal use of weapons complaint at 41060 Turo Lane in Gonzales Monday evening.Upon arrival, 30-year-old Alexis Lopez told authorities that someone was after him and that he had to protect his family. Deputies located a female in the home, later identified as 25-year-old Chelsea Labat. Two juveniles were also inside of the
  
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• BRPD chief candidates narrowed down to nine

  09-11-2017 11:35
  BATON ROUGE- Nine candidates remain in the search for the new Baton Rouge police chief. Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome told her candidate review committee Thursday night she wants someone with integrity and vision."There is a common denominator that everyone shares, everyone wants to live in a safe community," said Broome.Broome has to replace Carl Dabadie who resigned in July in the wake of their strained relationship. Broome had campaigned on hiring a new chief in the wake the Alton Ste
  
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• Manhunt underway for 3 men who escaped Tennessee jail

  09-11-2017 11:07
  Authorities are searching for three men who escaped from a Tennessee jail, including one charged with homicide.ABC News reports, that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says 20-year-old Dylan Cecil Ferguson has been added to its list of the top 10 most wanted people.Ferguson escaped from the Macon County Jail on Wednesday with two other men, Jeffrey Strong and Matt White.Ferguson faces criminal homicide and other charges in connection with the death of a man in 2016.Authorities say he should
  
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• $50,000 Powerball prize still unclaimed from June 14 drawing

  09-11-2017 09:15
  BATON ROUGE- According to the Louisiana Lottery, no one has claimed the $50,000 Powerball prize from the drawing on June 14.The winning ticket was purchased at Super 1 Foods on Northeast Evangeline Thruway in Carencro.  The winner has until Dec. 11  at 5 p.m. to claim the prize.The winning numbers for the June 14 drawing were 05-22-43-57-63 and the Powerball number was 24.“We look forward to the winner coming forward to claim this prize. &a
  
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• 'Real-life Iron Man,' Harlem Globetrotter set Guinness marks

  09-11-2017 09:05
  NEW YORK- A British inventor billed as a real-life version of the superhero Iron Man has hit the fastest speed in a body-controlled jet engine power suit at 32 mph, a Guinness world record.The record keeper announced Tuesday's feat on Thursday as part of its annual Guinness World Records day.Other marks announced included a Swedish baker's record for the world's largest vegan cake, which weighs in at more than 1,000 pounds. Harlem Globetrotter Thunder Law successfully made a basket Sunday on a
  
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• EBRSO looking for two vehicle burglary suspects

  09-11-2017 08:37
  BATON ROUGE- The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office is looking for two suspects they say burglarized vehicles on Nov. 5.The burglaries took place in the 6900 block of Siegen Lane.According to reports, three vehicles were burglarized in the parking lot of a health club on Siegen Lane.  Authorities said the suspects gained entry into the vehicles by defeating the locking mechanisms.Numerous credit cards and wallets were stolen from the vehicles. One victim reported that
  
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• House GOP tax plan would add $1.7 trillion to deficit: CBO

  09-11-2017 08:02
  According to a new review by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the House Republican-backed tax plan released last week would add $1.7 trillion to the deficit over the next decade, ABC News reports the plan adds $1.4 trillion to the deficit, but that figure goes up to $1.7 trillion with interest, according to the CBO, which put the review together in response to a request for information from Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., the top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Co
  
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• Millions in disputed Louisiana taxes now freed for spending

  09-11-2017 07:05
  BATON ROUGE- Millions in taxes paid under protest are available for state spending after Louisiana's chemical industry lost its lawsuit challenging a 2015 sales tax change.The state treasurer's office said Wednesday that $15.9 million was transferred this week, freed from the Department of Revenue's escrow account.Lawmakers already have earmarked the money for a list of state expenses.Chemical plants paid $18.7 million in protest as the Louisiana Chemical Association challenged the temporary re
  
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• In election glow, Dems see health care as a winning issue

  09-11-2017 06:50
  WASHINGTON- Democrats are starting to see a political edge in health care - particularly the idea of widening Medicaid access for more low-income people - after big election victories Tuesday night.In Virginia, Democrat Ralph Northam promised a vigorous push as governor to expand Medicaid. Voters who said health care was important went decisively for Northam.In Maine, voters defied Republican Gov. Paul LePage's determined opposition by passing a referendum to expand Medicaid to cover an estimat
  
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• Toddler ejected during crash, dies from injuries

  09-11-2017 06:21
  ASHTON- Louisiana State Troopers responded to a crash early Wednesday morning that took the life of a 2-year-old child.The fatal crash took place on LA 83 south of US 90 in Ashton. The driver of the car was identified as 27-year-old Grace Loustaloot.Authorities said that Loustaloot was driving a 2005 Ford Expedition southbound on LA 83 and ran off the right side of the roadway. Loustaloot overcorrected, causing the vehicle to slide across both lanes of travel and enter a ditch.Temperence Finist
  
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