Baton Rouge news

• Crews responding to fire on Scenic Hwy; nearby residents without power

  16-11-2017 21:51
  UPDATE: As of Friday morning power was restored to all customers. BATON ROUGE - Crews are on the scene of a fire at a building on Scenic Highway.The fire occurred at a building on Scenic Highway near Gracie Street around 9:30 p.m. Baton Rouge Police Department officials said an 18-wheeler hit a power line, which fell and sparked, causing the fire.Firefighters having trouble getting into the building where flames are pic.twitter.com/t0Ap0oEbkf— Johnston vonSpringer (@johnstonv
  
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• 'Despacito' wins record of the year Latin Grammy

  16-11-2017 21:01
  LAS VEGAS - Luis Fonsi's megahit "Despacito" featuring Daddy Yankee has won the record of the year award at this year's Latin Grammys.
   The Latin Grammy Awards opened Thursday with a moment of silence for hurricane victims in Puerto Rico, followed by a performance by one of its native sons.
   Wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the Puerto Rican flag, rapper Residente kicked off this year's show with a performance of his song "Hijos del Canaveral," a tribute to his homeland.
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• Judge narrows challenges to some Louisiana abortion laws

  16-11-2017 20:45
  NEW ORLEANS - A federal judge has cut one Louisiana abortion law from a suit filed by an abortion clinic and its doctors, and has narrowed challenges to four other laws.
   Attorney Zoe Levine of the Center for Reproductive Rights says the law no longer in the suit forbids transferring or accepting any part of an aborted fetus for money, including reimbursement of storage and handling fees.
   She says the center is continuing challenges to the other six laws passed in the state l
  
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• Moore calls accusations 'scurrilous and false'

  16-11-2017 19:27
  BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Republican Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore is calling accusations of sexual misconduct against him "scurrilous and false," but he declined to take questions from reporters about them.  Moore says the accusations are "not only untrue but they have no evidence." He says he will be staying in the race despite calls from fellow Republicans to step down.  Religious and conservative allies of Moore held a Thursday news conference to show suppo
  
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• US votes against resolution condemning Nazi glorification

  16-11-2017 19:24
  WASHINGTON - The United States has voted against a yearly resolution that condemns the glorification of Nazism, though it doesn't like Nazis.  The resolution calls on all U.N. member nations to ban pro-Nazi speech and organizations and to implement other restrictions on speech and assembly. That is a non-starter in the U.S., where First Amendment protections guarantee everyone the right to say almost anything they want - even praise for Adolf Hitler's followers. &
  
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• Mother of child found dead accused of leaving her home alone

  16-11-2017 19:21
  DALLAS - The mother of a girl who was adopted from India and found dead last month in suburban Dallas has been charged with child abandonment after police allege that she left her home alone.  Richardson police say Sini Mathews turned herself in Thursday. Her bond was set at $250,000.  Police say 3-year-old Sherin Mathews was left home alone for 1½ hours the night of Oct. 6 while her family went to dinner and was still there when they returned. Pol
  
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• Suspect in New Orleans officer's death indicted for murder

  16-11-2017 18:40
  NEW ORLEANS - The suspect in last month's shooting of a New Orleans police officer has been indicted for first-degree murder.  Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro's office Thursday said a grand jury indicted 30-year-old Darren Bridges in the fatal shooting of Officer Marcus McNeil during a struggle. McNeil was shot after his patrol team left their cars to investigate something suspicious shortly after midnight Oct. 13.  Cannizzaro, in a news rele
  
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• Suspect wanted after weekend gas station robbery

  16-11-2017 16:23
  BATON ROUGE - Police are attempting to identify a suspect accused of robbing a convenience store on Plank Road Sunday.Baton Rouge Police Department officials said the suspect robbed the Shell Convenience Store in the 8100 block of Plank Road around 7:15 p.m.The suspect apparently entered the store a half hour before the robbery, then returned with two other unidentified men to rob the business, according to officers.Before leaving, police said the suspects attacked an employee who was cooperati
  
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• Les Miles sells million dollar home but isn't leaving Baton Rouge

  16-11-2017 16:02
  BATON ROUGE – The Miles family isn't leaving Baton Rouge but they're getting out of their upscale home along Corporate Boulevard.Former LSU coach Les and wife Kathy sold their home in the Bocage Lake neighborhood for “close to the list price” of $1.76 million. The sale closes next week.The family has lived in the home since moving to Baton Rouge in 2005.The home in the gated neighborhood has 6 bedrooms with as many bathrooms plus a half-bath in 5,535 square feet. T
  
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• Students give final farewell to homeless veteran with no family

  16-11-2017 15:16
  BOSTON, Mass. - A homeless veteran who died on the streets of Boston received a proper sendoff thanks to a group of young men at a local high school.After students at Catholic Memorial High School learned that the homeless Army veteran, known only as 'John', was going to be buried with no one in attendance, they decided to do something about it. On Wednesday, John was laid to rest with full military honors following a mass at the school's chapel.“We have a l
  
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• Grand jury indicts man accused of sexually abusing, threatening to kill child

  16-11-2017 14:23
  BELLE ROSE- An Assumption Parish Grand Jury has indicted a man after he was accused of sexually abusing a child and threatening her life.Deputies from the Assumption Parish Sheriff's Office were alerted to an incident around Dec. 5, 2016, after receiving a complaint from the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services. Authorities were told about an incident relating to sexual crimes upon a female child under the age of 12.The suspect was identified as 22-year-old Trevis Ray.A
  
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• Radio anchor says she accepts Franken's apology over alleged sexual misconduct

  16-11-2017 14:11
  WASHINGTON - The Los Angeles radio anchor who accuses Democratic Sen. Al Franken of forcibly kissing her during a 2006 USO tour says she accepts his apology but he could have apologized earlier.  Leeann Tweeden anchors a morning talk show for California radio station KABC. She says Franken wrote a skit for the pair during a 2006 USO tour to the Middle East and insisted they practice a kiss during rehearsal.  During a news conference Thursday, Tweeden said Fra
  
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• House passes sweeping GOP tax overhaul

  16-11-2017 13:59
  WASHINGTON - The House has passed a sweeping Republican tax bill cutting taxes for corporations and many people.  It puts GOP leaders closer to delivering to President Donald Trump a crucial legislative achievement after nearly a year of misses.  The House voted 227-205 along party lines to approve the bill, which would bring the biggest revamp of the U.S. tax system in three decades.  Most of the House bill's reductions would go to business. Both th
  
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• Ex-Homeland Security Secretary Ridge hospitalized in Texas

  16-11-2017 13:59
  AUSTIN, Texas- A spokesman says former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge is in critical condition after undergoing an emergency heart procedure at a hospital in Austin, Texas.Ridge spokesman Steve Aaron says the 72-year-old Ridge, Pennsylvania's Republican governor from 1995 to 2001, was attending the Republican Governors Association conference when he called for help at his hotel about 7 a.m.The spokesman says Ridge underwent a cardiac catheterization at Dell Seton Medical Center at t
  
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• La. National Guard returns from relief effort in Puerto Rico

  16-11-2017 13:55
  BATON ROUGE - More than 300 National Guard soldiers and airmen returned to Louisiana after a month-long deployment in Puerto Rico to assist with hurricane recovery.Personnel were sent to assist with the island’s recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which struck in September. Puerto Rico received sustained winds of 155 miles per hour, making Maria the fifth strongest hurricane to ever hit the United States.The storm knocked out 1,360 out of 1,600 cell phone t
  
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• Iowa elementary school uses therapy pig to improve learning

  16-11-2017 13:55
  MUSCATINE, Iowa - An elementary school in eastern Iowa is using a therapy pig to help special education students manage emotions and focus on learning.  The Muscatine Journal reports that Frankie the pig serves as a calming mechanism. Students showing signs of emotional distress are asked to sit and read to the therapy pig for 15 minutes. The practice has proven to help students recover and return to learning more quickly.  Students are also in charge of feed
  
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• WATCH: Local student-athletes serve turkey to young children

  16-11-2017 13:46
  BATON ROUGE - Local student-athletes spent the morning cutting turkey and serving it to young children at Parkview Baptist High School Thursday morning.Parkview Baptist football seniors and head coach Jay Mayat spent the morning serving food to the daycare students at the school. The players say they are taking the time to give back to the school that's been supporting them through their playoff run. There’s too much cuteness pic.twitter.com/v1ydmTp
  
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• WATCH: Local student-athletes serve turkey to small children

  16-11-2017 13:46
  BATON ROUGE - Local student-athletes spent the morning cutting turkey and serving it to young children at Parkview Baptist High School Thursday morning.Parkview Baptist football seniors and head coach Jay Mayat spent the morning serving food to the daycare students at the school. The players say they are taking the time to give back to the school that's been supporting them through their playoff run. There’s too much cuteness pic.twitter.com/v1ydmTp
  
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• Police investigating double shooting on Jean Street

  16-11-2017 13:42
  BATON ROUGE - Two people were hospitalized after a shooting on Jean Street Thursday afternoon.According to the Baton Rouge Police Department, officers responded to the call in the 4600 block of Jean around 1 p.m. Police say two people were taken from the scene with non life-threatening injuries.Info is limited at this time.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.Permalink| Comments
  
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• House GOP suggests changes to Louisiana Medicaid contracts

  16-11-2017 13:28
  BATON ROUGE- House Republicans have devised a list of proposed changes they want to see made to deals with the private companies that manage care for 1.5 million Louisiana Medicaid recipients.The GOP lawmakers remain at odds with Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards over how to approach multibillion-dollar contracts that are state government's largest.The governor is proposing 23-month, $15.4 billion extensions for the five managed-care companies. House Republicans on the joint legislative budget c
  
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• Baker police officer fired in case involving sheriff's son

  16-11-2017 13:21
  BAKER - A former Baker police officer accused failing to properly investigate a shooting involving the East Baton Rouge sheriff's son won't face criminal charges, but he has lost his job.EBR District Attorney Hillar Moore said his office found that Adam Procell broke no laws in his investigation of an April 27 shooting involving 44-year-old Ben Gautreaux outside of a Baker Walmart. Gautreaux is the son of EBR Sheriff Sid Gautreaux.&
  
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• Report: Body found wrapped in carpet on I-10 could be missing Miss. man

  16-11-2017 12:51
  NEW ORLEANS - A morbid discovery on I-10 Thursday morning may also be the latest development in a missing person case out of Mississippi.Hancock County investigators are now in contact with the New Orleans Police Department after a decomposing body was found wrapped in carpet off Interstate 10 in New Orleans East.According to a report from WWL, investigators believe the man could be 54-year-old Philip Whitaker. Whitaker was last seen in Harrison County Nov. 8, when he
  
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• K-9 awarded Purple Heart for protecting partner in line of duty

  16-11-2017 12:49
  PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla.- A K-9 officer was honored Wednesday with a Purple Heart for protecting his partner in the line of duty.K-9 Casper, with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, took a bullet meant for his human partner during a gunfight in Jupiter, Florida. Due to where the bullet hit, it made Casper's recovery faster because the bullet missed the dog's bones.Authorities were attempting to arrest a robbery suspect on May 12 when the individual opened fire on officers, striking
  
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• Metro Council to discuss new tax to bump pay for BRPD officers

  16-11-2017 12:20
  BATON ROUGE - Next week's East Baton Rouge Metro Council meeting will see councilmembers discussing a possible new tax to increase the pay for local police officers.According to a statement from councilman Matt Watson, the resolution was submitted Thursday for discussion at the Nov. 21 meeting.The measure will be heard before the full Council with public comment and considered for adoption on January 10, 2018. The proposal must be approved by voters within the city limits during the re
  
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• Rare Leonardo da Vinci painting fetches record $450M at auction

  16-11-2017 11:42
  A rare painting by Leonardo da Vinci auctioned in New York on Wednesday night fetched over $450 million, making it the most expensive painting ever sold.ABC News reports that fewer than 20 paintings by the Italian artist are believed to still exist.Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece Salvator Mundi achieves $450,312,500, a #worldauctionrecord for any work of art sold at auction. pic.twitter.com/snKxm7t3cb— Christie's (@ChristiesInc) November 16, 2017The 500-year-old oil on panel, titled "
  
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• 4 indicted in multistate health care fraud case

  16-11-2017 11:12
  ATLANTA  - Four people have been indicted on multiple counts of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and aggravated identity theft related to fraudulent claims filed with Medicaid programs in Georgia, Florida and Louisiana.
   U.S. Attorney Byung J. "BJay" Pak, in a news release Thursday, announced indictments against 42-year-old Matthew Harrell, of Atlanta; 42-year-old Nikki Richardson, of Fairburn, Georgia; 42-year-old Tomeka Howard, of Decatur, Georgia; and 42-year-old Andr
  
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• Five accused of Medicaid welfare fraud

  16-11-2017 09:47
  BATON ROUGE- Five Louisiana residents have been arrested on Medicaid welfare fraud charges."My Medicaid Fraud Control Unit works tirelessly to fight fraud, waste, and abuse in the welfare program that helps our state's neediest," said Attorney General Jeff Landry in a release. "Louisiana's Medicaid program costs billions of taxpayers dollars so we will continue doing all we legally can to ensure the people's hard-earned money is not being stolen."Those arrested include:-James Poree, 24, four co
  
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• Pedestrian struck on Nicholson and Skip Bertman Drive

  16-11-2017 09:15
  BATON ROUGE- Authorities say a pedestrian has been taken to a hospital after being hit by a vehicle at the intersection of Nicholson Drive and Skip Bertman Drive.Preliminary information was that the pedestrian has minor injuries.WBRZ has a crew at the scene. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Edwards' Puerto Rico trip cost Louisiana taxpayers $5,100

  16-11-2017 09:05
  BATON ROUGE- Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards' two-day trip to Puerto Rico to discuss the island's ongoing recovery from Hurricane Maria cost taxpayers about $5,100.Most of the money, according to expense information provided to The Associated Press, paid for the governor's state police security detail. Troopers' overtime, lodging, transportation and meals cost $4,200, according to an expense break-down from the agency Wednesday.Another $470 was spent on hotel rooms for Edwards, his wife Donna a
  
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• GOP, Democratic senators back bill to bolster FBI gun checks

  16-11-2017 09:01
  WASHINGTON- A bipartisan group of senators has reached agreement on legislation to ensure federal agencies and state governments accurately report relevant criminal history to the FBI's database of prohibited gun buyers.Congress has taken no steps on guns in the weeks after deadly shootings in Las Vegas and Texas. The bill has the backing over several GOP and Democratic senators, including the No. 2 Republican, John Cornyn of Texas.The measure comes after the Air Force's acknowledgement that th
  
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• Ivanka Trump says child tax credit 'not a pet project'

  16-11-2017 08:52
  BAYVILLE, N.J.- Ivanka says she doesn't consider her efforts to boost the child tax credit to be a "pet project."The presidential daughter and adviser has been on the road to sell the Republican tax overhaul plan, after months of behind-the-scenes work on the policy. She calls the child tax credit a "major initiative" for "middle-income tax relief."Trump, who'd already been to Japan, California and Maine in the previous two weeks, spent Monday zipping from a morning television interview in New
  
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• Man steals from sibling multiple times, admits to crimes

  16-11-2017 08:24
  BATON ROUGE- Authorities say a man stole from his sister multiple times in one week.Jireh Wyre is charged with two counts of access device fraud and theft over $200.The first incident took place on Nov. 5. According to the affidavit, the victim gave Wyre permission to use her bank card to purchase something for their mother. The victim said Wyre's purchase was not to exceed $10.Later when she looked at her bank account, the victim learned that Wyre had spent $66.On Nov. 7, the victim said her n
  
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• Deputies looking for burglary suspects wanted on several charges

  16-11-2017 07:53
  ASCENSION PARISH- Deputies from the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office are currently looking for 41-year-old Aaron Kimble and 44-year-old Dino Saunders.Authorities said the men are wanted on four counts of simple burglary, theft, two counts of theft less than $1,000 and three counts of criminal damage to property.Anyone with information regarding the two is encouraged to contact the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office at 225-621-4636.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Driver in 2011 crash that killed five to be resentenced

  16-11-2017 07:13
  BATON ROUGE- One of the drivers who caused a deadly road-rage crash in 2011 will be resentenced.Five people were killed in a wreck, authorities called a high-speed game of cat-and-mouse on Interstate 10.David Leger, who was drunk when the crash happened, was originally charged with five counts of vehicular homicide and sentenced to eight years in prison. Investigators say Leger got into a cat-and-mouse game with a woman identified as Kelsey Hall, just before the crash happened.Hall was previous
  
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• Duplex near downtown catches fires overnight

  16-11-2017 07:01
  BATON ROUGE - Emergency crews responded to a duplex fire in the 2000 block of N. 17th Street just before midnight Wednesday night. Fire officials say the cause of the fire was accidental and no injuries were reported. The house did receive heavy fire and smoke damage, but the blaze was under control in within the hour. Red Cross is assisting the victims. Permalink| Comments
  
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• DENSE FOG: live updates for your Thursday drive

  16-11-2017 05:42
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• DENSE FOG: live updates for your Thurday drive

  16-11-2017 05:42
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