Baton Rouge news

• Concrete barriers eliminate shoulder on portion of I-10 East; will remain until 2027

  07-03-2023 17:43
  
  BATON ROUGE - The first signs of the I-10 widening project have appeared along the eastbound side of the interstate between the Washington Street and Perkins Road exits.The Department of Transportation and Development installed concrete barriers in January. Since then, some drivers have raised concerns about what should happen if an accident or breakdown occurs with no place to safely pull over. “The law is, move traffic if you can out of the travel lanes. So, you would go do
  
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• Livingston sheriff's office employee arrested for escape and DWI, resigns her post

  07-03-2023 15:59
  
  LIVINGSTON - An employee with the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office resigned her post Tuesday as the WBRZ Investigative Unit began asking questions about her arrest.Watch live newscasts hereOver the weekend, Kimberly Waters, 55, was arrested by Louisiana State Police on Highway 447 while driving a 2017 Jaguar XJ. Waters was charged with escape, DWI, possession of alcoholic beverages in a motor vehicle and improper lane usage. State Police would not say what led to the escape charge and whether
  
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• Sheriff: Woman murdered by live-in boyfriend during domestic dispute

  07-03-2023 15:32
  
  INDEPENDENCE - A man was arrested Tuesday after allegedly killing his girlfriend.According to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office, 40-year-old Shircreasia Madison was in a fight with her live-in boyfriend, 28-year-old Eric Harrell, when he shot and killed her. Deputies arrested Harrell and charged him with second-degree murder, obstruction of justice and felon in possession of a firearm. Anyone with information about the incident should call (985) 902-2045. Permali
  
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• Officials investigating BR man's drowning at Florida music festival; organizers release statement days later

  07-03-2023 15:16
  
  OKEECHOBEE, Fla. - Friends and family members are looking for answers after a man from Baton Rouge died at a popular music festival over the weekend.The Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office confirmed to WBRZ that investigators were looking into the apparent drowning, which happened sometime between late Friday night and early Saturday morning at the Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival. Those close to the situation identified the victim as Steven Nguyen, 26. The three-day festival attrac
  
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• Officials investigating Baton Rouge man's drowning at Florida music festival

  07-03-2023 15:16
  
  OKEECHOBEE, Fla. - Friends and family members are looking for answers after a man from Baton Rouge died at a popular music festival over the weekend.The Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office confirmed to WBRZ that investigators were looking into the apparent drowning, which happened sometime between late Friday night and early Saturday morning at the Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival. Those close to the situation identified the victim as Steven Nguyen, 26. The three-day festival attrac
  
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• Elementary school went on lockdown as deputies searched for man who robbed person at gunpoint, stole car

  07-03-2023 15:06
  
  BATON ROUGE - Deputies are looking for a man who robbed someone at gunpoint and took off in their car. According to the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office, the suspect pointed a gun at a man Tuesday morning along Yorkfield Drive and demanded his cell phone and car keys.The suspect stole the victim's car, which was spotted by deputies outside the Hair World Beauty Supply Store on O'Neal Lane. Deputies blocked the car in and the suspect ran away behind the Dollar Tree. Dep
  
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• La. Supreme Court permanently bans attorney from practice of law

  07-03-2023 14:29
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Supreme Court has permanently banned an attorney from practicing law -- a move that follows his previous interim suspension for "threat of harm to the public."The order, issued on Tuesday, applies to W. Glenn Soileau, an attorney based in St. Martin Parish and a former judge in Breaux Bridge City Court. The Court accepted a disbarment recommendation from a committee that examined various instances of misconduct.In Louisiana, permanent disbarment is an extreme step th
  
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• Shameless theft video highlights bigger problem, thefts go unreported

  07-03-2023 13:01
  
  BATON ROUGE - Retail theft is a problem all over the country. It's no secret, it also happens in and around Baton Rouge. What you might not know is a lot of it goes unreported.If you look around the parking lot and the building itself at the Walgreens on South Acadian Thruway and Government Street, you'll notice no visible surveillance cameras.Brian McGowen lives next to the Mid City Walgreens and has taken it upon himself to post surveillance cameras."Why do I have to have security on Walgreen
  
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• 2 kidnapped Americans found dead in Mexico, 2 others alive

  07-03-2023 11:37
  
  MEXICO CITY (AP) — Two of four Americans abducted in Mexico last week when their van was caught in a shootout were found dead, a top Mexican official said Tuesday. The two others have been found alive, with one wounded.Tamaulipas Gov. Américo Villarreal did not provide details on the extent of the wounded person’s injuries, saying, “right now the ambulances and the rest of the security personnel are going to give the corresponding support.” The
  
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• DOTD holds open house to answer questions about I-10 widening plans; many residents still undecided on project

  07-03-2023 11:25
  
  BATON ROUGE- The ballroom of the Marriott Hotel in Baton Rouge was packed with people Tuesday evening, many of them still concerned about what will happen when construction on the I-10 widening project starts.Newly appointed DOTD Secretary Dr. Eric Kalivoda says it was a great way to answer those questions."It's an opportunity to clear up confusion and misinformation that is out there so people can understand what is going on," Kalivoda told WBRZ.Posters showed different parts of the project an
  
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• Bond set at $570k for alleged horse thief

  07-03-2023 11:01
  
  ASCENSION PARISH - A man booked in connection with several area horse thefts will need to post bond of $570,000 for release while awaiting trial.An Ascension Parish judge set bonds in that amount for 24-year-old Treyvon Covingston. The total is a cumulation of six different bond amounts set for various counts against Covingston.Covingston surrendered himself to authorities last Friday. He is accused of stealing three horses from a Prairieville property on Feb. 25. One of those animals died afte
  
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• Edwards endorses Wilson for governor; Landry expected to get Trump endorsement

  07-03-2023 09:56
  
  BATON ROUGE – Gov. John Bel Edwards on Tuesday said he was endorsing Shawn Wilson, his former transportation secretary, for governor while Attorney General Jeff Landry’s campaign said he will head to Florida next month to pick up an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.“Shawn's reputation speaks for itself. He's spent his career bringing people together to accomplish the most difficult tasks,” Edwards said in a prepared statement. “We
  
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• Congressman Garret Graves says he won't run for La. governor

  07-03-2023 09:38
  
  BATON ROUGE - After spending months bouncing the idea of a potential gubernatorial run, Garret Graves says he plans to stick with his job in Congress.Graves made the decision official in an email to his supporters Tuesday. In recent weeks, Graves had said he was feeling pressure to join the growing field of Republican candidates vying for the state's top office. “After much prayerful consideration and hundreds of conversations, it is clear that the best service we ca
  
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• Woman arrested for unlawful disposal of human remains told deputies she didn't know there was a body in her car

  07-03-2023 06:12
  
  BATON ROUGE - Deputies arrested a woman weeks after a body was found off King Bradford Drive. According to officials, she said she didn't know anything about a body being in her car. The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office arrested Andrea Matthews, 41, Monday for unlawful disposal of human remains and obstruction of justice. Arrest documents say that Matthews' arrest stems from a death investigation that started when a body was found wrapped in bedding in a wooded area near King Bradford
  
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• Woman arrested for dumping human remains told deputies she didn't know there was a body in her car

  07-03-2023 06:12
  
  BATON ROUGE - Deputies arrested a woman weeks after a body was found off King Bradford Drive. According to officials, she said she didn't know anything about a body being in her car. The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office arrested Andrea Matthews, 41, Monday for unlawful disposal of human remains and obstruction of justice. Arrest documents say that Matthews' arrest stems from a death investigation that started when a body was found wrapped in bedding in a wooded area near King Bradford
  
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