Baton Rouge news

• BR icon "Buckskin" Bill Black has died

  11-01-2018 21:26
  Baton Rouge children’s television icon “Buckskin” Bill Black died Wednesday at his home, his family confirmed. He was 88.Black was best known for Storyland, a children’s show that ran on WAFB from 1955 until 1990.Through the show, he spearheaded a fundraising – rather, a penny-raising – campaign to gather enough money for the Baton Rouge Zoo to buy an elephant. Children contributed their pennies and some appeared on the hand o
  
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• White House won't deny Trump comment on Africa

  11-01-2018 17:02
  WASHINGTON - The White House is not denying that President Donald Trump used profanity in referring to African nations during a meeting on immigration.  Spokesman Raj Shah says in a statement that while "Certain Washington politicians choose to fight for foreign countries," Trump "will always fight for the American people."  He says Trump wants to welcome immigrants who "contribute to our society, grow our economy and assimilate into our great nation," and wi
  
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• Prosecutor investigates Missouri governor affair

  11-01-2018 17:00
  JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The St. Louis circuit attorney has launched a formal investigation to determine if Gov. Eric Greitens committed any crimes associated with an extramarital affair in 2015.  Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner initially said Thursday that no criminal complaint had been filed against Greitens, and no evidence of a crime has been presented to her office. But she said later Thursday that after further consideration, she believes an investigation is necessary.&am
  
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• Teacher who was arrested says board president should resign

  11-01-2018 16:56
  ABBEVILLE, La. (AP) - The Louisiana teacher who was arrested after questioning her superintendent's pay raise at a school board meeting says the board's president should resign.  Deyshia Hargrave, whose removal in handcuffs sparked internet outrage, made the remarks to The Associated Press before a Thursday rally of her supporters in the city of Abbeville. Supporters accompanied her wearing T-shirts with the words: "Stand by Deyshia."  Hargrave says Reggie Hi
  
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• Acadian Ambulance activating extra crews amid unprecedented flu season

  11-01-2018 16:23
  BATON ROUGE - Acadian Ambulance Services says it is dealing with a massive number of flu cases this season, noting the spike is causing 'near-epidemic' levels of sickness.According to Acadian, it transported 2,211 and patients on Wednesday, a daily record for the 46-year-old service which exceeded numbers usually seen in disaster situations. The Acadian CEO has attributed the increase to a rise in flu-like symptoms.To meet the increased demand, Acadian says it is continually activating extra cr
  
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• 68-year-old woman fatally struck on Jefferson Highway

  11-01-2018 15:22
  BATON ROUGE - Authorities say one person is dead after they were struck by a vehicle on Jefferson Highway Thursday afternoon.The incident was reported around 3:15 p.m. in the 12000 block of Jefferson Highway. The coroner says a 68-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene.There is currently no word on what caused the crash.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.Permalink| Comments
  
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• One in critical condition after reported shooting on Cadillac Street

  11-01-2018 15:17
  BATON ROUGE - Authorities are responding to reports of a shooting in North Baton Rouge Thursday afternoon.The shooting was reported around 2:45 p.m. Thursday in the 4700 block of Cadillac Street. Authorities say one person was taken to the hospital with critical injuries.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.Permalink| Comments
  
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• A look at the changes proposed to Louisiana's TOPS program

  11-01-2018 14:51
  BATON ROUGE (AP) - A proposal to redesign Louisiana's TOPS free college tuition program is being considered by a legislative task force studying the program. The proposal, which would require approval from the full Legislature if recommended by the task force, would adjust the grade point average (GPA) and score on the ACT college entrance exam that high school students must reach to get full tuition coverage and stipends:TOPS Opportunity Award:Current: 2.5 GPA, 20 ACT score required; Covers fu
  
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• Officer who handcuffed teacher faced excessive force allegation in 2011

  11-01-2018 14:47
  ABBEVILLE, La. (AP) - The law officer who handcuffed and arrested a Louisiana teacher in videos that sparked Internet outrage was a defendant in a lawsuit alleging excessive force in 2011.Reggie Hilts, now a marshal in Abbeville, was a police officer in the city of Scott when the incident occurred. He and another officer were accused in a federal lawsuit of slamming an ailing 62-year-old man's head on a concrete slab during an arrest.The officers denied excessive force was used. They said the m
  
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• Two booked on more than 60 child porn charges in Louisiana

  11-01-2018 14:34
  BATON ROUGE - The attorney general's office announced the arrest of two men on nearly 70 counts of child pornography Thursday.Javier Young, 30, of Bunkie was arrested and booked into the Avoyelles Parish Jail on 62 counts of sexual abuse images/videos of children. Travis Fontenot, 39, of Eunice was arrested on six counts of distributing sexual abuse images/videos of children and booked into the Eunice City Jail.According to the release from Attorney General Jeff Landry, both arrests were the re
  
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• A lofty proposal: 'Marry Me' etched in snow, seen from above

  11-01-2018 14:32
  NEVIS, Minn. — An aviation student in northern Minnesota pulled off a sky-high marriage proposal by writing “Marry Me” in the snow, then flying his long-time girlfriend over his handiwork.Gavin Becker enlisted his family’s help to pen the life-changing question using a snow blower on the frozen Eight Crow Wing Lake near Nevis.Ed Becker, Gavin’s father, tells KARE-TV that it took about four and a half hours to create the 25-foot-tall letters and
  
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• Girl died after being misdiagnosed with the flu, family says

  11-01-2018 14:10
  VISALIA, Cali. - A seemingly vibrant 12-year-old California girl, who loved to sing and make her family laugh, suddenly died after her mother said doctors misdiagnosed an infection that kills more than 250,000 Americans annually as the flu.Alyssa Alcaraz died on Dec. 17 at Kaweah Delta Medical Center in Visalia, California, just days after her family was told she had influenza and was sent home with ibuprofen and instructions to rest for seven to 10 days, said the girl's mother, Keila Lino Alca
  
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• LDWF to transition to new recreational hunting/fishing license sales system

  11-01-2018 14:04
  BATON ROUGE- The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is currently transitioning to a new recreational hunting/fishing license sales system.LDWF says the new system will enhance the purchase process for customers in several ways, including giving license holders the ability to reprint their license online throughout the year at no cost. Users will also be able to create a username and password to login to their account to update contact information.A few dates to be aware of during LD
  
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• Louisiana governor considering work requirements in Medicaid

  11-01-2018 13:44
    BATON ROUGE - Louisiana is developing a proposal to impose work requirements on certain adult Medicaid recipients, as the Trump administration announced it will allow states to enact such provisions.  Gov. John Bel Edwards said this week that his administration is "actively working" on the concept, which would require federal approval to be enacted.  The Democratic governor said he wants the work requirements to be "reasonable," impacting
  
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• Deputies arrest man suspected of kidnapping woman in East Baton Rouge

  11-01-2018 13:41
  ERWINVILLE - Authorities have arrested a man suspected of kidnapping a woman in East Baton Rouge Parish Thursday.According to the West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office, the suspect was apprehended in Erwinville sometime Thursday afternoon.The sheriff's office says the female victim was kidnapped somewhere in East Baton Rouge Parish, but couldn't specify exactly where at the time of this post.The victim has been found is currently being checked out at an area hospital. Deputies say she is being chec
  
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• WANTED: Thieves break 80-year-old employee's arm while fleeing Walmart with stolen TVs

  11-01-2018 13:34
  BATON ROUGE- Authorities are asking for the public's help in identifying two suspects who stole televisions from a local Walmart.Early Wednesday morning, two suspects entered the Walmart on O'Neal Lane and grabbed two 32-inch TVs. The suspects, a male and a female, tried to exit the store through the garden center but were stopped by a greeter who asked to see a receipt.At that point, the suspects pushed the 80-year-old employee to the ground, causing her to break her arm.The sheriff's
  
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• Funeral set for woman, great-granddaughters killed in house fire

  11-01-2018 13:24
  BATON ROUGE - Funeral arrangements have been set for a woman and her two great-grandchildren who were killed in a house fire last week.Authorities say 77-year-old Gloria Anderson and the two children, 7-year-old Maylia Jackson and 6-year-old Michele Jackson, were killed in the fire on Iroquois Street Friday morning. Two others, a 19-year-old and a 5-year-old were reportedly in critical condition over the weekend.A visitation will be held Saturday, Jan. 13 at McKowen Missionary Baptist
  
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• Two men arrested after bringing guns to Assumption high school campus

  11-01-2018 13:11
  ASSUMPTION PARISH - Two men were arrested after they brought weapons to an Assumption Parish high school Tuesday night.Deputies responded to the area of Assumption High School in reference to a disturbance. While en route to the scene, deputies spotted the suspect vehicle on LA 308.Deputies stopped the vehicle and interviewed the driver, John Lewis Jr. The other occupants of the vehicle were also interviewed, including Javon Lacy.After speaking to the occupants, deputies seized two handguns and
  
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• Hundreds without power in Baton Rouge

  11-01-2018 12:06
  BATON ROUGE- More than 300 customers reported being without power Thursday morning.The power outage is affecting customers between North Street and Government Street as of 10 a.m. The Baton Rouge General Mid-City location is in the area without power.An official said the hospital still has power. The doctor's office building next door is running on emergency power.Entergy said it could take 30 minutes to an hour for customers to have power again.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Firefighters extinguished Livingston house fire

  11-01-2018 11:29
  LIVINGSTON- A kitchen fire in the town of Livingston has been extinguished, authorities said.One woman was home when the fire began, but she escaped safely. No injuries were reported.Authorities say most of the damage was to the attic area.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Sam's closing Cortana location

  11-01-2018 11:11
  BATON ROUGE – Sam's Club has abruptly closed its Cortana location as part of its response to increased online demand, a company spokeswoman said.The store's pharmacy will remain open until Jan. 26.People were miffed when showing up at the store Thursday to find it locked. The phone was unanswered and Sam's had deleted the store information from its website.Other media outlets found much the same at stores in New Jersey, New York, Texas, Indiana, Georgia and Ohio. Spokeswoman Anne Hatf
  
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• Fire chief's family leaves courtroom in tears before crash video shown

  11-01-2018 09:49
  EDGARD- Denis Amaya-Rodriguez is on trial for several charges including negligent homicide, reckless operation and driving without a license, WWL-TV reports.Rodriguez, of Honduras, was driving a party bus to Baton Rouge when the bus crashed killing three and injuring dozens in August 2016. Authorities say St. John District Fire Chief Spencer Chauvin was killed in the crash.According to WWL-TV, when the dash camera video was going to be shown of the scene, some of Chauvin's family membe
  
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• Florida busboy finds, returns purse containing $1,500

  11-01-2018 09:26
  BOCA RATON, Fla. — When a Florida couple stopped for a quick hamburger while returning from a visit with their grandchildren, they left a purse containing $1,500 in cash hanging on the back of a chair.Nineteen-year-old busboy Matt Cureton found the purse while cleaning tables Monday at Wendy’s restaurant in Fort Pierce. He told the SunSentinel that per store policy he didn’t open the purse before handing it over to manager Betsy Hersha.Francis and Peggy Humanick no
  
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• LSU Design Building to be new home of City Pork location

  11-01-2018 09:05
  BATON ROUGE- The LSU Design Building will soon be the new home of City Pork Deli & Charcuterie, according to a release.Construction began in December on the new LSU Dining location. It will open this spring.“We are thrilled about moving into the new development at the College of Art & Design at LSU,” said Stephen Hightower, City Pork managing partner in a release. “This is a great business move for City Pork. The most important part of this move to LSU&
  
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• Cosby references #MeToo movement after meal in Philadelphia

  11-01-2018 08:48
    PHILADELPHIA- Bill Cosby referenced the #MeToo movement after a dinner at an Italian restaurant in Philadelphia.  The Philadelphia Inquirer reports the 80-year-old comedian was dining with an old friend and his publicist, and some members of the media were invited to document the event.  The news site says he shook a reporter's hand and said "Please don't put me on #MeToo," the social media movement denouncing sexual assault. &
  
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• Man arrested for killing Louisiana black bear

  11-01-2018 08:13
  CONCORDIA PARISH- A man was arrested earlier this week for allegedly killing a Louisiana black bear.Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents arrested 28-year-old Ronald Kimble on Jan. 8. Kimble is accused of killing the bear during a closed season.On Nov. 28, agents began investigating a dead black bear that was found shot to death in the Richard K. Yancey Wildlife Management Area. A necropsy revealed that the female bear had been shot twice with a rifle within a few days of being
  
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• Walmart raises starting wages, handing out bonuses

  11-01-2018 07:32
  BENTONVILLE, Ark.- Walmart is boosting its starting salary for U.S. workers to $11 an hour, giving a one-time $1,000 cash bonus to eligible employees and expanding its maternity and parental leave benefits.  The retailer said Thursday changes to its compensation and benefits policy will impact more than a million hourly workers in the U.S., with the wage increase effective next month.  The company is also creating a new benefit to assist employees with adopti
  
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• Organizations offering volunteer opportunities for MLK Day

  11-01-2018 07:10
  BATON ROUGE - In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, several volunteer opportunities are being offered in our area. Starting on Friday, volunteers can participate in The Wall Project's MLK Festival of Service. During the four-day event, volunteers get to help paint blighted buildings and murals, plant community gardens and trees, repair fences and haul trash away from properties.For more information or to sign up to volunteer click here.LSU will be hosting a MLK Day of Service on Mond
  
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• LIVE UPDATES: Foggy commute

  11-01-2018 06:28
  Tweets by WBRZtrafficPermalink| Comments
  
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• Two arrested for kidnapping, robbery over drug debt

  11-01-2018 06:25
  BATON ROUGE - Two men have been arrested for an attempted robbery and kidnapping Wednesday morning.  The victim was driving in the intersection of Airline Highway and Choctaw Drive when he was flagged down by two suspects. The suspects were identified as 28-year-old Dexter Marshall and 26-year-old Christopher Smith.According to the affidavit, the male victim stopped his car and let Marshall and Smith in. Once in the vehicle, Marshall pulled out a black semi-automatic
  
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• Crews respond to late night fire on Jefferson Ave.

  11-01-2018 05:53
  BATON ROUGE - Emergency crews were on the scene of a fire late Wednesday night.The call came in at 11:50 p.m. for a house fire in the 2300 block of Jefferson Avenue. Firefighters battled to bring the fire under control. Fortunately, crews were able to put the fire out before it spread to nearby homes. The house received heavy fire and smoke damage. No injuries were reported.Authorities say the cause of the fire is undetermined at this time. Permalink| Comments
  
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