Baton Rouge news

• Central residents tired of dealing with dirty water

  17-11-2017 21:49
  CENTRAL - Homeowners in Central say brown water’s been spewing out of faucets for five days and they’ve had enough.
  “It started coming out a light tan color,” said Central resident, Jaclyn Dumas “and then over the next few days it turned into an almost dark sweet tea color.”Dumas lives off Sullivan Road. She’s been dealing with ‘disgusting’ water for years. Dozens of other residents have too.Now, residents
  
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• Government Street diet to begin in January

  17-11-2017 20:28
  BATON ROUGE- The smell of free food and live music filled the air Friday night in Mid City where people gathered for White Light Night. The annual event showcases local artists and musicians along one of Baton Rouge's main arteries, Government Street.It could also be the last major festival along the road before renovations begin next year."White Light Night is a very good representation of what the possibilities of Government Street are," said Gordon Mese, the owner of Garden District Nursery
  
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• Crews responding to reported shooting on Gov. Davis Drive

  17-11-2017 20:16
  BATON ROUGE - Crews are responding to a reported shooting on Gov Davis Drive.Sources tell WBRZ News 2 the shooting occurred before 8 p.m. in the 7700 block of Gov Davis Drive.The victim suffered a minor graze wound to the head, according to sources. They said the victim was in his early 20's.WBRZ News 2 has a crew on scene.This is a developing story. Check back for details.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Vehicle crashes into business on Florida Blvd.

  17-11-2017 20:00
  BATON ROUGE - Police are responding to a vehicle that crashed into a business on Florida Blvd.BRPD officials said the crash happened at the Vision4Less optometry business in the 9300 block of Florida Blvd.The extent of the damage and reports of any injuries was not immediately available.WBRZ News 2 has a crew en route to the scene.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Trump delays policy on importing elephant parts

  17-11-2017 19:34
  WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump says he's delaying a new policy allowing the body parts of African elephants shot for sport to be imported until he can review "all conservation facts."
   The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Thursday that it will allow the importation of body parts from African elephants shot for sport. The agency said encouraging wealthy big-game hunters to kill the threatened species would help raise money for conservation programs.
   Animal rights advoc
  
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• Battle over Livingston Parish gravel pit continues

  17-11-2017 18:55
  WATSON - After years of fighting against a gravel pit near the Oak Hills subdivision, a judge who originally stopped construction said it can resume.The 50 acre gravel pit is right next to the subdivision, and residents claimed it's caused noise and traffic problems for years."It gets very noisy," "Save the Hill" orgainzer Jim Norred said. "You can't hear the birds. People came out here for the quiet and peacefulness. It's always been a peaceful subdivision, until now."Earlier this year, a judg
  
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• Customer says Amazon digital service charges unexplained

  17-11-2017 18:00
  BATON ROUGE - For the past year, small charges have slowly been adding up on one man's credit card bill. He recently found out, he'd been paying for TV subscriptions through his Amazon Prime account and had no idea.Randy Rice lives in an Amazon Prime household and receives packages from the online retail giant multiple times a month. He has a credit card dedicated to the purchases and relies on emails to let him know those purchases are on the way.The bill is typically paid online, but Rice say
  
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• Housing development will bring facelift to blighted area of Baton Rouge

  17-11-2017 17:57
  BATON ROUGE - Hammers and nails are drowning out the silent sound of blight in one area of the city that's needed rehab for a while.Partners Southeast, a local affordable housing company, in conjunction with the city of Baton Rouge is building affordable, single-family homes, duplexes, and lofts in the Old South Baton Rouge area.  More than fifty units are planned and construction is progressing along.River South developments - 46 homes and duplexes - are scattered throughout the Old S
  
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• Reality TV star visits Southern, plans to attend in the fall

  17-11-2017 17:21
  BATON ROUGE – Southern University's about to get some star power of sorts.One of the stars of a reality dance show on cable visited campus this week for part of the show's filming and also ahead of her enrolling in Southern next year. Bring It! shot at Southern this week, the university posted on Facebook Friday.Bring It!, on Lifetime, is about a Jackson, Mississippi, dance troop called the Dancing Dolls. Coincidentally, Southern also calls its dance squad by the same name.Thursday, C
  
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• Video appears to show EBRSO deputy turning into traffic, causing crash

  17-11-2017 16:52
  BATON ROUGE - Paul Charbonnet captured video of an accident on his dash cam that he claims shows an East Baton Rouge Sheriff's deputy driving recklessly."The cars in front of me stopped, and then the cop just whipped out around in to the other lane, head-on. All of a sudden I hear screeching tires and this car comes from behind me, squealing, and turns to hit the median to avoid hitting the cop," described Charbonnet.The accident happened on Harding Boulevard as the deputy was attempting to res
  
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• Shockingly, filthy halfway house is operating correctly

  17-11-2017 16:46
  BAKER – The law allows for halfway houses to operate without licenses, and the sanitary situation at one in East Baton Rouge raises questions from family of people who live there.At the All the Way House off Highway 19, bed bugs cover mattresses, a dead rat is smashed in a trap and rat droppings are seen around the place. Nothing is technically wrong, though, since the state does not regulate such operations unless the homes provide medical care.Though, it's frustrating for people who
  
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• Victim of fatal Slidell fire identified

  17-11-2017 16:19
  SLIDELL - Firefighters recovered the body of a man while extinguishing flames at a residence Friday.St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's detectives said they were called out to the 37000 block of Brownsvillage Road around 9 a.m. after fire officials found the body on a bed inside.The St. Tammany Parish Coroner's Office identified the man as 63-year-old Bernard Walker. An autopsy was scheduled for Friday to determine the cause of death.The Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the cause
  
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• Officers from various agencies graduate BRPD academy

  17-11-2017 16:01
  BATON ROUGE - Seven new officers graduated from the BRPD 9th Post Academy Friday.Officials said the officers came from other agencies in the surrounding area and were previously Peace Officer Standards and Training, or POST, certified.<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbatonrougepolice%2Fposts%2F1984179148504614&width=500" width="500" height="723" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTranspar
  
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• Police responding after man refused to leave house following stabbing

  17-11-2017 15:08
  BATON ROUGE - Police are responding after a person reportedly stabbed someone and ran inside a house, refusing to come out.Baton Rouge Police Department officials said a man stabbed a woman with a screwdriver, then ran inside of a home on Thomas H. Delpit Drive near Cotton Street.  Police said the man refuses to come outside.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Louisiana Medicaid managed-care contracts rejected again

  17-11-2017 14:12
  BATON ROUGE - Gov. John Bel Edwards' administration has lost its latest effort to persuade House Republicans to back contract extensions for Louisiana's Medicaid managed-care companies.Friday was the second time House GOP lawmakers voted to block the deals.The companies coordinate health services for 1.5 million people. The House vote in the joint legislative budget committee was 17-7 against the extensions. Senators have previously supported the deals but didn't vote Friday because the House d
  
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• All lanes now open after traffic accident shuts down I-10 at Dalrymple

  17-11-2017 13:28
  UPDATE: As of 2 a.m all lanes have been reopened on I-10 West at Dalrymple, following a earlier accident involving an 18-wheeler.There's no word yet on how the accident happened, but one car did get pinned under the big rig.Traffic was backed up while crews cleared the scene.Check back for updates.BATON ROUGE- An early Friday morning accident has shut down traffic on I-10 West at Dalrymple Drive in Baton Rouge.Right now, there's no word on how the accident happened, or if anyone has been injure
  
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• FEMA to give $7.2M to help repair damages from 2016 flooding

  17-11-2017 13:15
  WASHINGTON- According to a release from U.S. Sen. John Kennedy's office, FEMA is granting $7.2 million to the East Baton Rouge School Board, Baker Schools System, West Feliciana Parish and Ouachita Parish.The money is to repair damage caused by the 2016 March and August flooding.A summary of the grants:East Baton Rouge School Board-$2,457,185.76 in federal funding to East Baton Rouge School Board (Brookstown Magnet Middle School) for permanent repairs to six buildings that flooded.&
  
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• Lafourche Parish Sheriff: White vehicle stickers not connected to sex traffickers

  17-11-2017 13:07
  LAFOURCHE PARISH -  The Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office says there is no evidence that white dots or stickers found on vehicle windows have any connection with sex traffickers. A rumor swirled around social media suggesting that white stickers were being used by sex traffickers to target certain vehicles. Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre said there is no intelligence or evidence connecting these stickers to sex traffickers. We
  
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• Man wanted for allegedly kidnapping and robbing high school pal

  17-11-2017 13:05
  BATON ROUGE- Authorities hope to arrest a man they say kidnapped and robbed a man he had known since high school.The incident took place Wednesday.Deputies from the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office responded to the Woman's Hospital at 100 Woman's Way in regards to an armed robbery. At the scene, the victim told authorities he was outside the hospital smoking a cigarette when he was robbed at gunpoint.According to an arrest warrant, the victim and his girlfriend recently had a baby. The victim
  
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• Man arrested for allegedly kidnapping and robbing high school pal

  17-11-2017 13:05
  BATON ROUGE- Authorities arrested a man they say kidnapped and robbed a man he had known since high school.The incident took place Wednesday.Deputies from the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office responded to the Woman's Hospital at 100 Woman's Way in regards to an armed robbery. At the scene, the victim told authorities he was outside the hospital smoking a cigarette when he was robbed at gunpoint.According to the affidavit, the victim and his girlfriend recently had a baby. The victim said one o
  
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• Deputies surprise drivers with turkeys instead of tickets

  17-11-2017 12:41
  CALCASIEU PARISH- Deputies from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office handed out Thanksgiving turkeys Friday morning to drivers instead of tickets.KATC reports that drivers that were pulled over and received turkeys committed minor traffic violations such as not wearing a seatbelt or speeding.Caran and Harry Shaheen, owners of the 5 Star Convenience Stores, donated 50 turkeys to the sheriff's office. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Sports Illustrated knows best, says LSU has America's greatest tailgate

  17-11-2017 12:30
  BATON ROUGE - When it comes to tailgating, Sports Illustrated knows LSU reigns supreme. Sports Illustrated writer Andy Staples followed LSU campus and "Touchdown Village" RV tailgators prior to the Oct. 14 victory over Auburn to experience LSU's mastery of tailgating.  In the article Staples talks about other tailgating experiences he's had at other universities like Michigan and Ole Miss, but says that "Nothing compares to
  
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• Election day reminders, Saturday election day across the state

  17-11-2017 12:07
  BATON ROUGE- Saturday Nov. 18 is election day across the state of Louisiana.According to a release from Secretary of State Tom Schedler, eligible voters will be casting their ballots for state treasure as well as an assortment of local races beginning at 7 a.m.Reminders for voters:-Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Anyone in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.-Voters can find their precinct and sample ballot by downloading the GeauxVote Mobile app for smartphones or by visiting&n
  
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• Rare comic showing Superman's 1st appearance to be auctioned

  17-11-2017 11:47
  LOS ANGELES- A well-preserved issue of the 1938 comic book that first featured Superman is heading to the auction block.Profiles in History announced Friday that it will sell a copy of Action Comics #1 at a Dec. 19 auction in Los Angeles. The comic, which features Superman hoisting a car over his head on its cover, is expected to sell for between $800,000 to $1.2 million.The auction house says the comic is in its original condition and has been rated in fine/very fine condition.The sale comes a
  
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• Vacant house damaged by fire on Georgia Street

  17-11-2017 11:43
  BATON ROUGE - Firefighters are working to determine the cause of a blaze at a vacant house on Georgia Street.First responders were called to the scene just before 7 p.m. Friday. When they arrived, the found the rear of the house engulfed in flames.Firefighters say the flames were extinguished in about 18 minutes.The house received heavy fire and smoke damage, according to officials, causing an estimated $30,000 in damage.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Authorities looking for man who failed to register as sex offender

  17-11-2017 09:50
  ASCENSION PARISH- Deputies from the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office are actively looking for a man who they say failed to register as a Tier 1 sex offender in Ascension Parish.The man has been identified as 33-year-old Calvin Fisher Sr.Anyone with information on Fisher's whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Sheriff's Office at 225-621-4636.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Commercial fishery for grey triggerfish to close Saturday

  17-11-2017 09:35
  BATON ROUGE- The commercial fishery for gray triggerfish in Louisiana waters will close at 12:01 a.m. Nov. 18 and will remain closed until Jan. 1, 2018.The decision was made by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Jack Montoucet, following notification by NOAA Fisheries.After the closure all commercial harvest, possession, purchase, barter, sale or attempts to purchase, trade or sell gray triggerfish is prohibited until 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1, 2018.For more information visit&
  
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• Traffic accident shuts down I-10 at Dalrymple

  17-11-2017 09:16
  2:00 A.M. UPDATE: All lanes have reopened on I-10 West at Dalrymple, following earlier accident.UPDATE: Left lane has opened, leaving center and right lanes still blocked from accident.BATON ROUGE- An early Friday morning accident has shut down traffic on I-10 West at Dalrymple Drive in Baton Rouge.Right now, there's no word on how the accident happened, or if anyone has been injured.We will keep you informed, as new information comes in.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Celebrities lash out at Trump administration over reversing ban on elephant trophies

  17-11-2017 08:58
  The Trump administration's move to reverse a ban on elephant trophies has elicited strong reactions all over social media, including a number of celebrities invested in preservation.ABC New reports, that the government is likely to overturn a ban on hunters bringing trophies of elephants they killed in Zimbabwe and Zambia back to the U.S., according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The ban on elephant trophies was put into place by the Obama administration in 20
  
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• Over 10 pounds of pills collected in Lafourche Parish

  17-11-2017 08:28
  LAFOURCHE PARISH- According to the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office over 10.5 pounds of pills were turned in during last months Drug Take Back Day.Authorities also report that 20 in-home lock boxes were distributed.Those interested in obtaining a lock box are encouraged to call Prevention Partnership at 985-446-0643.As a reminder to Lafourche Parish residents, they can drop off unwanted medication at the Thibodaux, Lockport of Galliano offices.Permalink| Com
  
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• Different views on an immigration meeting

  17-11-2017 08:12
  NEW ORLEANS- New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu has met with U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions about the city's law enforcement policies regarding immigrants.The Justice Department earlier this year said New Orleans could lose grant money for failing to comply with federal law. After Thursday's meeting the department issued a statement saying the city has committed to sharing information with federal law enforcement authorities.Landrieu, a Democrat, issued a statement saying Sessions and Louisi
  
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• Louisiana Medicaid managed-care deals up for a third debate

  17-11-2017 07:53
  BATON ROUGE- Gov. John Bel Edwards' administration is trying a third time to persuade lawmakers to approve contract extensions for Louisiana's Medicaid managed-care companies, which coordinate health services for 1.5 million people.The joint legislative budget committee debates the deals again Friday.GOP lawmakers have questioned whether the health department is doing enough to monitor and squeeze savings out of deals estimated to cost $15.4 billion over 23 months.The Edwards administration say
  
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• Tigerama is back, first performance Monday

  17-11-2017 07:36
  BATON ROUGE-Next week the biggest tailgate and music extravaganza LSU has to offer will take place.It's time for Tigerama. The first performance will be Nov. 20 at the LSU Union Theatre in Baton Rouge. The 10:30 a.m performance is for K12 only. The 7:30 p.m. performance will be open to the public.On Nov. 21 the extravaganza will be at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans.The event brings together the best music LSU has to offer including performances b
  
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• Man accused of arson for setting ex's mother's car ablaze

  17-11-2017 06:12
  BATON ROUGE- Authorities arrested a man they say set his ex-girlfriend's mother's car on fire after he was not able to visit with the couple's child.The incident took place on Aug. 8 at a residence on Leafwood Avenue.Authorities were called to the scene to investigate a vehicle fire. After processing the scene, the fire was determined to be the result of arson.George Jacobs was identified as a suspect.According to the affidavit, Jacobs and an unknown accomplice intentionally poured an ignitable
  
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