Baton Rouge news

• New Orleans weather remains treacherous

  17-01-2018 20:58
  New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says city facilities and schools will remain closed Thursday.  Getting into and around in New Orleans is a challenge in this unusually cold weather. Parts of Interstate 10 within the city and to its east and west were closed throughout Wednesday. The 24-mile-long Lake Pontchartrain Causeway taking commuters from the north was closed as well. Ice closed the runways at Louis Armstrong International Airport until midday.  New Orl
  
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• Trial in former NFL player McKnight's death to resume Friday

  17-01-2018 20:53
  GRETNA, La. (AP) - The trial of the man who fatally shot former NFL football player Joe McKnight in 2016 has been delayed another day because of harsh winter weather in Louisiana.  Ronald Gasser is charged with second-degree murder in McKnight's death.  His trial opened Tuesday in a New Orleans suburb with jury selection. Icy weather prompted closure of the courthouse Wednesday. It will be closed again Thursday.  Opening arguments could come
  
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• Entergy asking customers to cut back on electricity Thursday morning, power shortages possible

  17-01-2018 20:43
  BATON ROUGE - Entergy is asking its customers in Louisiana to voluntarily cut back on energy consumption Thursday morning due to a possibility of power shortages.According to a release from Entergy, icy weather is causing a spike in the demand for power. Unexpected generator outages in the South are exacerbating the problem, meaning that the demand may exceed what available generators can still produce.Because of this, the power provider and its power reliability coordinator, the Midco
  
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• We did the math: When COULD interstates re-open?

  17-01-2018 19:14
  BATON ROUGE – If highway experts' methodology on what it takes to thaw the interstates holds true, major highways closed since Tuesday evening could reopen as early as Thursday afternoon.In a live interview on WBRZ News 2 at 6:30 Wednesday evening, highway chief Shawn Wilson said it typically requires five to six hours of sunshine and temperatures above freezing to thaw ice that has accumulated on a road surface. At the time of the interview on WBRZ+, the 24-hour local news cable chan
  
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• Coroner responding to reports of body found off Spanish Town Road

  17-01-2018 17:56
  BATON ROUGE - Authorities are responding to reports of a body found off Spanish Town Road Wednesday evening.The East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner's Officer confirmed it was responding to a body found off the roadway near N 14th Street around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday.Early reports suggest that the body may be that of a homeless person.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Sledding, biking & running Baton Rouge residents embrace the snow

  17-01-2018 17:21
  BATON ROUGE - Baton Rouge braced for the dangerous cold for another night Wednesday. But the city thawed out just enough for people to get out and stretch their legs.“We got snow, and we're taking full advantage of it,” said Rebecca Tucker.Tucker may be using a kid swimming pool that’s meant for the summer and using it as a sled, but that wasn't going to stop her from sledding down a hill with her two young boys.“They missed the snow in December
  
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• WATCH: Icy weather turns local woman's driveway into skating rink

  17-01-2018 17:09
  PORT ALLEN - One local woman is making the most out of the icy conditions gripping the capital area... by turning her own driveway into an ice-skating rink.WBRZ viewer Jordan Banta sent in video of her wintry escapades outside her Port Allen home, all filmed with the help of her mother, Michelle, and boyfriend, Casey.Jordan says she's been ice-skating for about 13 years, though most of that has  been done in actual ice rinks.You can find more viewer-submitted content from this week's "
  
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• WANTED: Surveillance video shows thief ringing doorbell before burglarizing home

  17-01-2018 15:16
  BATON ROUGE - Police are looking for a man who was seen ringing a doorbell shortly before he forced his way into a house and burglarized it.According to the Baton Rouge Police Department, the suspect was caught on camera just before the burglary on Windsor Drive Jan. 7. Police say the man seen in the video rang the victim's doorbell several times before kicking in the door.Police didn't give specifics but said that several items were stolen.Anyone with information on the burglary is urged to co
  
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• Baby killed, mother severely injured after losing control of vehicle on icy road

  17-01-2018 14:14
  METAIRIE- Officials say an 8-month-old child has died after a crash occurred Wednesday morning.Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto says a 19-year-old mother attempted to drive on an icy roadway along West Esplanade near Wilson Drive."We're asking people to stay off the roads for this exact reason," Sheriff Lopinto said. "It looks like her vehicle came over the Wilson bridge, which is completely iced over, lost control of her vehicle, and went into the canal itself."The sherif
  
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• Football star Leonard Fournette takes photos with officers, signs busted bumper for paramedic after car crash

  17-01-2018 13:23
  JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Former LSU running back and seemingly all-around good guy Leonard Fournette made the most of a car crash he was involved in Tuesday, giving a very special memento to a paramedic who lent him a hand.Football fans in Louisiana and much of Florida were worried when they heard that Fournette, who's now a starting running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars, was involved in a minor car crash. Authorities say the woman who crashed into him is being cited for reckless driving.The Fl
  
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• Local photographer and husband make the best of a frosty situation

  17-01-2018 13:08
  LOTTIE, La.- A photographer and her husband are making the best of the icy conditions in South Louisiana.Amie and Aubry Hendricks set up a hilarious beach-snow photo shoot in their front yard Wednesday morning in Lottie.Amie, who owns Bella Reflections Photography, told WBRZ she decided to jump in front of the camera this time with her husband. Their daughter snapped the priceless photos of the happy couple enjoying the snow.&nb
  
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• Fireman killed by vehicle while working wreck identified

  17-01-2018 12:48
  ST. FRANCISVILLE – A firefighter died while working a crash Wednesday morning.State Fire Marshal Butch Browning said the firefighter died in the line of duty after being hit by a vehicle. The fireman was working a wreck on US 61 north of St. Francisville around 10:45 Wednesday.The man has been identified at 48-year-old Russell Achord. He was a fireman for the West Feliciana Parish Fire Department."Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of this dedicated firefighter, as well as
  
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• Fireman hit, killed by vehicle while working wreck

  17-01-2018 12:48
  ST. FRANCISVILLE – A firefighter died while working a crash Wednesday morning.State Fire Marshal Butch Browning said the firefighter died in the line of duty after being hit by a vehicle. The fireman was working a wreck on US 61 north of St. Francisville around 10:45 Wednesday."Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of this dedicated firefighter, as well as to his fire service family and the community of West Feliciana Parish,” Browning said.The fireman's name has not
  
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• Plumbers seeing increase in work due to freeze

  17-01-2018 11:41
  BATON ROUGE – Freezing temperatures are sticking around the capitol area a little bit longer, but for local plumbing companies, the work has already started.“It’s been overwhelming,” Brandon LeBlanc of Central Plumbing Company said. “The calls are still coming in.”The volume of calls are so high they are having to prioritize what work they can do.“People that aren’t able to turn off their water, we’re tryi
  
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• Governor Edwards declares state of emergency amid icy weather conditions

  17-01-2018 11:39
  BATON ROUGE- Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency across Louisiana on Wednesday morning due to icy conditions.Edwards says more than 1.5 million pounds of salt will be distributed throughout the state.WBRZ will continue complete coverage of traffic, weather, outages, and other factors affected by the freezing temperatures.Gov. Edwards has just declared a state of emergency across Louisiana due to the winter weather and dangerous conditions. More than 1.5 mil
  
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• Photo Gallery: Icepocalypse 2018

  17-01-2018 11:01
  As Wednesday's icy conditions caused many to stay home from work, school and really going anywhere, some were able to capture what they saw as Icepocalypse 2018. The photos and videos in this story are submitted by WBRZ viewers who were kind enough to share their moments with us. Check out this video of LSU's campus from Wednesday morning. Plank Road is covered in ice. The slick roads caused a catering van to spin out.&
  
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• South Baton Rouge residents lose power amid weather conditions

  17-01-2018 08:51
  BATON ROUGE - According to Entergy, about 2,000 residents are without power in the area of S. Sherwood Forest Blvd. near I-12. The outage was reported just after 8 a.m. Residents have been quoted a restoration time of 10:30 a.m. No word on what cause the outage at this time. If you are without power or gas, contact your local provider. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Widespread gas outages reported Wednesday

  17-01-2018 08:10
  NEW ROADS – People are experiencing low gas pressure on either side of the Mississippi River.Wednesday morning, authorities said an increased use of natural gas to run home heaters put a strain on the system in Pointe Coupee Parish. Specifically, areas south of New Roads.  Authorities shared the information in a live interview on the extended morning news seen on WBRZ Channel 2 Wednesday.Authorities asked people to turn heating units down to 68 degrees. Doing so will lessen t
  
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• Low gas pressure reported in areas; Customers asked to lower heat

  17-01-2018 08:10
  NEW ROADS – People are experiencing low gas pressure on the west side of the river.Wednesday, authorities said an increased use of natural gas to run home heaters put a strain on the system in Pointe Coupee Parish. Specifically, areas south of New Roads.Authorities shared the information in a live interview on the extended morning news seen on WBRZ Channel 2 Wednesday.Authorities asked people to turn heating units down to 68 degrees. Doing so will lessen the strain on the system.A sim
  
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• Deputy shares picture of iced squad car in Livingston Parish

  17-01-2018 07:52
   DENHAM SPRINGS – Sheriff's deputies patrolling overnight shared images of frozen highways and even icicle hanging from their squad cars.Temperatures dropped to one degree by Wednesday morning after the windchill was factored into the forecast. Even as the sun rose, most streets were dangerously iced or slick.Click HERE for the latest forecast. Click HERE for the latest traffic information.The sheriff's office shared a few pictures on Facebook.There were no major issues repor
  
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• Two-dozen wrecks reported in Ascension Parish this morning

  17-01-2018 07:26
  GONZALES – Emergency officials staffed the operations center overnight and all day Wednesday as Ascension Parish dealt with the impacts of a deep freeze.As of 10 o'clock Wednesday morning, twenty-four wrecks were reported on parish highways. Authorities continued to warn drivers to stay off the roads.Also around 10 o'clock, authorities announced gas service was restored to the Pelican Point area. It had reported low gas pressure earlier in the morning as the system was strained by an
  
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• As temperatures reach record lows, low gas pressure reported in Ascension neighborhood

  17-01-2018 07:26
  GONZALES – Technicians are working to restore full gas service to a large subdivision in Ascension Parish.Around 7:20 Wednesday morning, authorities reported Pelican Point had low gas pressure. The gas company is in the neighborhood, working to fix the situation.Gas is provided by ATMOS, according to a tweet from the parish emergency preparedness office.Pelican Point is off La. 44 south of I-10.******************Follow the publisher of this post on Twitter: @treyschmaltzPermalink| Com
  
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• Flight cancellations, delays due to icy conditions

  17-01-2018 06:25
  BATON ROUGE - Due to the icy conditions, departure flights at the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport have been either delayed or cancelled. According to the BTR Flight Tracker, flights from Delta, United and American scheduled to depart before 8:30 a.m. will not be taking off. On Tuesday, United Airlines cancelled multiple flights from Baton Rouge to Houston, citing inclement weather. We will update this information with any changes as information becomes avail
  
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