Baton Rouge news

• DJ who lost groping lawsuit to Taylor Swift in new radio job

  31-01-2018 21:41
  GREENWOOD, Miss.- The radio host fired after he lost a groping lawsuit to superstar Taylor Swift says he is "very grateful" for a new gig at a Mississippi station.
   David Mueller tells the Greenwood Commonwealth that he had difficulty finding work in a big-city radio market. He started his job Monday in Greenwood, home to about 14,000 people.
   A federal jury determined Mueller assaulted and battered Swift by grabbing her under her skirt as they posed for a 2013 photo in Denver
  
  Read more

• Terror threats could become felonies in Mississippi

  31-01-2018 20:11
  JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi lawmakers are considering making it a felony to make terroristic threats.  The House on Wednesday passed House Bill 1264 , which would require a prison term of up to 10 years for the crime.  It moves to the Senate for more consideration, where senators themselves are considering the similar Senate Bill 2585 .  Both measures say it's a crime when someone threatens to commit a violent or dangerous act, althoug
  
  Read more

• Strip club protest drowns out Bourbon St. news conference

  31-01-2018 20:09
  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A protest by strip club workers has drowned out a news conference by New Orleans officials on the city's iconic Bourbon Street.  The press conference Wednesday was designed to highlight recent renovations along Bourbon Street as Mardi Gras kicks into high gear. But, at times, speakers competed with people behind them loudly chanting, "Save Our Jobs."  The demonstrators were protesting recent law enforcement raids on clubs. Some held signs t
  
  Read more

• Former LSU researcher in hot water for selling fraudulent oysters

  31-01-2018 18:35
  BATON ROUGE- A former LSU assistant professor is being investigated after allegations that he was running a side business selling Alabama oysters he said were from Louisiana.John Supan, an oyster researcher, is being investigated for selling Alabama oysters here under the premise that those oysters were being grown in Grand Isle, which does not sit well
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Cajun Navy installing smoke detectors, needs more volunteers

  31-01-2018 18:18
  BATON ROUGE - They rescued people from their homes in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Great Flood of 2016 and Hurricane Harvey. Now, they're on a mission to keep people alive in a fire.There's a huge push to get smoke detectors installed in homes across Baton Rouge after people died in a handful of fires this month. The city got the Cajun Navy to help, but the need is so high that volunteers are asking for help themselves.“It’s horrifying, you don't know if
  
  Read more

• Trump reaches 45.6 million viewers for speech

  31-01-2018 17:06
  NEW YORK (AP) - President Donald Trump reached an audience of 45.6 million people for his first State of the Union address, not enough to give him bragging rights over his predecessor.The Nielsen company says former President Barack Obama drew 48 million people for his first State of the Union in 2010.Trump's audience was down from the 47.7 million people who watched his address to the joint session of Congress last February.Fox News Channel earned the top spot among the individual networks, wi
  
  Read more

• NASA: Asteroid will pass by Earth hours before Super Bowl kickoff

  31-01-2018 16:39
  MINNEAPOLIS- The Patriots and Eagles may have the greatest pregame show in the history of the Super Bowl.According to a report from NASA, asteroid 2002 AJ129 is moving toward Earth, and is said to make a close approach this Sunday.The space rock is about a half-mile long, but poses no threat to our planet."We have been tracking this asteroid for over 14 years and know its orbit very accurately," said Paul Chodas, manager of NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies."Our calculations
  
  Read more

• Alabama pokes New Orleans with Mardi Gras billboards

  31-01-2018 15:55
  MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Alabama likes to boast that it's the site of America's original Mardi Gras, and now it's advertising that claim in the city that made the celebration epic: New Orleans.  Alabama Tourism Director Lee Sentell says the state purchased 10 billboards around New Orleans and southern Mississippi to promote the Carnival season in Mobile.  The billboards are subtle: Rather than mentioning Mobile, they tell drivers how many miles they are from "
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• WATCH: Bald eagle gracefully floats down Mississippi River

  31-01-2018 15:37
  ELSAH, ILLINOIS- A bald eagle majestically made its way down the Mississippi River this week.Video footage from a hiker shows the national bird perched on an almost invisible sheet of ice. For several miles, the eagle maintains a steady glide in perfect rhythm with the flow of the river. Check out the video to see the graceful journey.Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• After On Your Side report, FEMA finally picks up flood victim's trailer

  31-01-2018 15:00
  DENHAM SPRINGS - Some flood victims are still living out of manufactured housing units. But one man says he's been moved out of his since November, and it took a call to 2 On Your Side to get it taken away this week."At least five different times we've called," said Sterling Vincent, who's been out of his MHU for months.Normalcy is what the flood victim is after, and he's just about there."I feel terrible, we've got a trailer sitting here that's ready to be used by somebody and nobody is pickin
  
  Read more

• WANTED: Pair spotted stealing TVs in Livingston Parish

  31-01-2018 14:41
  WATSON - Deputies are looking for a pair of thieves who strolled out of an area store with two stolen TVs in tow.According to the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office, the two were spotted leaving the store on Jan. 14, walking out with two TVs without paying.The two were then seen leaving the store in a burgundy Chevy Trailblazer with two broken windows.Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's office at 224-686-2241.Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• Steve Irwin's widow says she hasn't dated since his death

  31-01-2018 14:30
  The late Steve Irwin's wife, Terri Irwin, says in a new interview that she hasn't been on a date since "The Crocodile Hunter" star's death in 2006.In fact, the 53-year-old told People magazine, "I think it’s wonderful when people who have lost someone find love again, but I’m not personally looking, and I haven’t been on a date in 27 years."Terri, who is one of the leaders at the Australia Zoo and a TV star in her own right, lost her husband 12 years ago when he wa
  
  Read more

• Proposed redesign of Louisiana tuition program criticized

  31-01-2018 14:15
  BATON ROUGE - A proposal to rewrite Louisiana's TOPS college tuition program, to limit the dollars flowing to lower-performing students, is hitting pushback before it even gets a vote.  Sen. Dan "Blade" Morrish, a Jennings Republican, wants to lessen the amount of tuition covered for students who reach the basic award for a four-year college, to a flat $4,000 annual payment. The annual tuition rate in Louisiana averages $5,600.  Payments would increase for hi
  
  Read more

• Report: Topgolf teeing up location off Siegen Lane

  31-01-2018 13:48
  BATON ROUGE - Topgolf has reportedly secured a permit to build its latest high-tech driving range right here in Baton Rouge.According to a report from the Advocate, the permit to build the $10 million facility near I-10 at Siegen Lane was issued Friday. The company reportedly plans to build its 55,000-square-foot at the preevious location of the old Tinseltown movie theater.Topgolf ranges feature technology that tracks each visitor's ball to record their distance and accuracy,
  
  Read more

• Police looking for missing man with Down Syndrome

  31-01-2018 13:47
  MORGAN CITY- Police are asking for the public's help in locating a missing person.According to the Morgan City Police Department, 46-year-old Mickie Dale Emerson, who sometimes goes back the last name of Solar, was last seen on Jan. 30 around 1:00 p.m.Emerson is 5'10'', 260 pounds, has brown hair and brown eyes. Police say he is diagnosed with Down Syndrome and may be at-risk.Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to  please call the Morgan City Police De
  
  Read more

• Man poses as doctor (and patient) to get access to pain medication

  31-01-2018 13:45
  THIBODAUX - Authorities arrested a man accused of pretending to be a doctor in order to get access to pain medication.On Jan. 26 at approximately 3:39 p.m., police were called to the Thibodaux Regional Medical Center Emergency Room after a suspicious encounter with a patient.The patient was identified as 33-year-old Dustin Gatlin.Before he arrived at the hospital, someone claiming to be "Dr. Clark" called in a prescription for pain medication for Gatlin. When he arrived, Gatlin asked f
  
  Read more

• Oil spill near areas where young whooping cranes released

  31-01-2018 13:38
  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Coast Guard says nearly 1,300 gallons of oil spilled from an oil production facility into southwest Louisiana wetlands near the areas where young endangered whooping cranes are released into the wild.  A spokesman for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said Wednesday that staffers tell him all of Louisiana's whooping cranes are currently away from the spill.  The Coast Guard say a floating barrier was deployed around the
  
  Read more

• Police seeking women in connection with armed robbery

  31-01-2018 13:23
  BATON ROUGE - Police are looking for two women who were seen using a debit card stolen in an armed robbery last month.According to the Baton Rouge Police Department, the armed robbery occurred Dec. 9, 2017 in the 3300 block of North Acadian West. Police believe the two women, who were seen using the stolen card a day after the robbery, may also have information on the initial crime.Anyone with information is asked to contact police at (225)389-3845.Permalink| Comments
  
  Read more

• Volunteers install over 1,000 smoke alarms in the capital city

  31-01-2018 11:33
  BATON ROUGE- In response to the spike in fire-related deaths earlier this year, many residents will be getting smoke alarms installed.Mayor Sharon Weston Broome is partnering with the American Red Cross, the United Cajun Navy, the Cajun Army, the Baton Rouge Fire Department, the Louisiana State Fire Marshal, and faith-based organizations to install the devices.According to a release, more than 1,000 free smoke alarms have been installed throughout the city. The Cajun Navy will
  
  Read more

• Judge: 265 have come forward as Nassar victims

  31-01-2018 11:22
    LANSING, Mich.-A Michigan judge says more than 265 people have come forward to say they were sexual assault victims of disgraced former sports doctor Larry Nassar.  Judge Janice Cunningham gave the figure as another sentencing hearing for Nassar began. Previously, the total number of sexual assault victims was estimated below 200. More women and girls have been coming forward in the wake of Nassar's highly publicized sentencing hearing last week in Lansing.
  
  Read more

• Five dogs found dead, possibly poisoned in Mississippi

  31-01-2018 11:13
    JAYESS, Miss.- A man says four of his hunting dogs and another pup have died from eating poisoned meat.  The Clarion-Ledger reports pastor Andy May found his beagles - Buckeye, Scoot, Fred and Easy Money - and a friend's dog dead on Friday morning, days after the four beagles were taken on a hunting trip in Mississippi.  May took to social media to find out how his dogs were poisoned, and his original post has already garnered more than 10
  
  Read more

• New logo program to certify authentic Louisiana products

  31-01-2018 09:37
  BATON ROUGE- The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry has launched a new system to certify authentic Louisiana products.“People want to know where their food comes from and many want to support local
  agricultural producers and locally owned businesses,” said LDAF Commissioner Mike
  Strain, D.V.M.According to a release, the certified logo program has new logo designs and a new website to further increase visibility of Louisiana's agricultural products.For a product
  
  Read more

• CDC director resigns after report she bought shares of tobacco company

  31-01-2018 09:13
  WASHINGTON - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chief Brenda Fitzgerald has resigned due to investment issues.According to ABC 15, the news comes after a report that Fitzgerald bought shares in a tobacco company one month after taking over an agency tasked with working to stop people from smoking."Dr. Fitzgerald owns certain complex financial interests that have imposed a broad recusal limiting her ability to complete all of her duties as the CDC Director," a HHS statement said. "Due to
  
  Read more

• LDWF launches online ordering for oyster hatchery larvae

  31-01-2018 07:56
  BATON ROUGE- Beginning at 8 a.m. on Feb. 6., the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will launch an online order portal so people can order oyster hatchery larvae.People will be able to order hatchery-reared oyster larvae and seed from the Michael C. Voisin Oyster Hatchery. Requests will only be accepted via the online ordering portal and will be filled based on the order that they are received.According to the LDWF, priority will be given to in-state large orders. Large orders may b
  
  Read more

• House GOP outlines spending controls wanted in tax debate

  31-01-2018 05:55
    BATON ROUGE - House Republicans have released details of spending controls they want from Gov. John Bel Edwards in exchange for considering taxes to fill Louisiana's $1 billion budget gap.  The items proposed by House Speaker Taylor Barras in a three-page list Tuesday had been talked about broadly in the ongoing budget and tax negotiations. But the list has specific details, in response to the Democratic governor's push for additional information. 
  
  Read more

• Authorities offer $5,000 reward for information on death of teen found in ditch

  31-01-2018 05:45
  RESERVE- Authorities are offering a $5,000 reward to anyone who has information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects responsible for the death of an 18-year-old who was found shot in a ditch over the weekend.WWL-TV reports that Colay McCovery's body was found in a ditch on East 27th and Farlough Street in Reserve on Saturday around 11:50 a.m. Authorities say he had several gunshot wounds.Anyone with information regarding the shooting can call St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff&
  
  Read more

Follow @BatonRougeNews_ on Twitter!