Baton Rouge news

• $180 million tax incentive for the film industry passes through House, headed to Senate

  01-05-2023 18:43
  
  BATON ROUGE- After nearly two hours of debating, the Louisiana House of Representatives passed a tax incentive that hopes to keep films being made in Louisiana.Executive Director of the Baton Rouge Film Commission, Katie Pryor, says the tax break brings productions, jobs and money to the state."Staying competitive in a global film market is very important and our incentives are one of the things that keeps us competitive. In addition to stage space, incredible crews, locations, it keeps Baton R
  
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• Residents of neighborhood where brothers drowned demand accountability from property owners

  01-05-2023 18:41
  
  INDEPENDENCE - Sunday night's sorrow turned into Monday's anger as residents of Deer Trail Lakes continue to demand that someone take accountability for the drowning deaths of two brothers."They died. They died. They're gone for life. They're never coming back, and all they had to do was put a fence around it," resident Jonathan Bellzen said.Over the weekend, 9-year-old Chase and 6-year-old Cayden drowned. Many are blaming property owner for not alerting children and parents to the dangers of t
  
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• Final grades issued for Louisiana water systems

  01-05-2023 17:50
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Department of Health has posted its final grades for drinking water services across the state.A 2021 state law authorized the health department, through its "Safe Drinking Water Program," to develop a grading system that would increase provider accountability.The 2022 preliminary report was released several months ago. The new scores reflect final tallies for each system.The utilities were assessed based on 7 standards, including whether they met state and federal wa
  
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• Student faces charge after alleged school bus attack

  01-05-2023 16:52
  
  ST. MARY PARISH - A Berwick teenager has been arrested on a warrant for simple battery after allegedly attacking another student on a school bus.The incident happened on Friday, police said. A parent contacted officers about the matter, and an investigation led to video of those involved.An unidentified 14-year-old was booked in the case. He was released to a guardian.Permalink| Comments
  
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• UPDATE: Suspect booked in deadly hit-and-run involving cyclist

  01-05-2023 16:42
  
  UPDATE: Officials have arrested Samuel Clay Richard, 32, of Church Point, on charges of felony hit and run, negligent homicide and operating a vehicle while under suspension. Richard was booked into the St. Landry Parish Jail.ST. LANDRY PARISH - Louisiana State Police are asking for assistance in locating the driver of a car that struck and killed a bicyclist last Friday.Randy Thibodeaux, 59, of Sunset, died when he was hit while riding in the 2600 block of La. Hwy. 932. The impact threw Thibod
  
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• Search on for driver who struck, killed bicyclist

  01-05-2023 16:42
  
  ST. LANDRY PARISH - Louisiana State Police are asking for assistance in locating the driver of a car that struck and killed a bicyclist last Friday.Randy Thibodeaux, 59, of Sunset, died when he was hit while riding in the 2600 block of La. Hwy. 932. The impact threw Thibodeaux into a ditch, where he was discovered Sunday afternoon by family members searching for him.The car involved left the scene, but investigators believe it may be a modern steel metallic/gray 2013-15 Honda Accord 2-door. The
  
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• Woman sought in connection with bus assault has history of legal trouble

  01-05-2023 16:07
  
  BATON ROUGE - A woman wanted on charges stemming from an attack on a school bus driver last week has a history of legal problems and is currently on probation, according to records reviewed by WBRZ.Brittany Banks, 34, has been in and out of courtrooms over the past 15 years on charges that have included aggravated battery, simple assault, public intimidation, theft and forgery, along with drug counts linked to oxycodone and MDMA (ecstasy).Some of the cases were resolved without a conviction, bu
  
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• Man caught by deputy moments after robbing Baton Rouge bank

  01-05-2023 15:48
  
  BATON ROUGE - A man was arrested shortly after robbing a bank Monday morning when his escape route crossed paths with a deputy. According to the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office, 58-year-old Willie Landry went into the Exxon Federal Credit Union on Scenic Highway around 10:45 a.m. Landry allegedly passed a teller a note saying he had a gun and demanded money. The teller gave Landry cash and he ran out of the bank and down the block to Winnebago Street, where a deputy w
  
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• Police investigating robbery at gas station on Nicholson Drive

  01-05-2023 15:44
  
  BATON ROUGE - Police are looking for a pair of robbers who held up a gas station near LSU on Monday morning.The crime was reported around 8 a.m. near the corner of Nicholson Drive and Aster Street. Police have not identified any suspects as of Monday. This is a developing story. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Former Tiki Tubing owner pleads guilty in sex crimes case, avoids prison

  01-05-2023 15:05
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - The former owner of the now defunct Tiki Tubing pleaded guilty Monday in a juvenile sex crimes case. The district attorney's office said John Fore pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent behavior with juveniles. He was sentenced to seven years for each count, but that sentence was suspended. Fore, 66, will serve three years probation and must register as a sex offender. He was first arrested last year after the allegations, which reportedly involved
  
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• Man who allegedly carjacked LSU student while out on bond faces more charges in crime spree

  01-05-2023 14:52
  
  BATON ROUGE - A man who was out on bond for an armed robbery arrest is back in jail after he allegedly went on a crime spree that involved carjacking an LSU student just off campus.WBRZ learned Monday that Judge Eboni Johnson Rose placed a hold on Karonte Shavers' bond after his latest arrest. Court records said Shavers, 19, was out on a $12,000 bond for a Jan. 1 armed robbery when he was arrested yet again on April 19. Arrest documents detail the spree, which started Sunday, April 16
  
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• Sheriff: Snapchat scammers targeting teens in Livingston Parish

  01-05-2023 14:35
  
  Law enforcement in Livingston Parish is cautioning teenagers about a surge in scams targeting Snapchat users.The sheriff's office said Monday that it is seeing an uptick in the scheme, which involves scammers posing as young women on the app and asking for explicit photos. Once the victim sends over a compromising photo, the scammers then extort money out of that person by threatening to send the picture to their friends and family.Sheriff Jason Ard advises anyone who falls victim to not send a
  
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• Property owners on hook to fix damaged power equipment caused by garbage truck

  01-05-2023 14:34
  
  ALSEN - There's a blame game involving utility companies and a garbage company after the garbage truck pulled down some wires and took out power to several homes. So far, the responsibility to make repairs has fallen on the property owners, who tell 2 On Your Side that it's not right.J.W. Long lives on Old Rafe Meyer Road in Alsen. He says he was sitting in his front yard on Wednesday when a garbage truck drove by taking a low-hanging line along for the ride."I thought I saw Moses, all I know,"
  
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• Brian Kelly finalizes coaching staff with defensive line hire

  01-05-2023 13:52
  
  BATON ROUGE – LSU head football coach Brian Kelly rounded out his assistant coaching line-up with the hiring of Jimmy Lindsey as the defensive line coach for the Tigers on Monday.“Jimmy is an outstanding defensive line coach and we are excited to welcome him to our staff,” Kelly said. “He will do a great job of not only coaching our players on the field, but also helping them develop off the field as we continue our commitment to graduating champions.Kell
  
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• Governor's proposed pay raise for teachers hits snag in House budget proposal

  01-05-2023 13:50
  
  BATON ROUGE - Gov. John Bel Edwards’ plan to give $3,000 pay raises to the state’s public school teachers hit a rough patch Monday. The House Appropriations Committee this morning eliminated the $197 million in funding altogether, then restored about 75 percent of the money necessary - but at the expense of health care programs. Edwards visited with WBRZ ahead of his appearance at the Baton Rouge Press Club and noted that building Louisiana’s budg
  
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• Feds: Hospitals that denied emergency abortion broke the law

  01-05-2023 13:31
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Two hospitals that refused to provide an emergency abortion to a pregnant woman who was experiencing premature labor put her life in jeopardy and violated federal law, a first-of-its-kind investigation by the federal government has found.The findings, revealed in documents obtained by The Associated Press, are a warning to hospitals around the country as they struggle to reconcile dozens of new state laws that ban or severely restrict abortion with a federal mandate
  
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• Officers respond to shooting near BRPD station on Highland Road

  01-05-2023 13:13
  
  BATON ROUGE - Police are investigating a shooting that left at least one person hurt along Highland Road late Monday morning.The gunfire was reported around 11 a.m. at the intersection of Highland Road and West Harding Street. The shooting scene is located across the street from BRPD's second district building.Sources said one person was taken to a hospital in critical condition. This is a developing story.  Permalink| Comments
  
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• Incorrect results posted in St. Gabriel mayor's race, causing confusion

  01-05-2023 12:32
  
  BATON ROUGE - Newcomer Kyle Grace and 12-year incumbent Mayor Lionel Johnson faced off Saturday in the mayoral election for the city of St. Gabriel.Near the end of a tight race, it looked like Grace would take down the long time mayor, and he did. At least that's what it seemed like.The Iberville Parish Clerk of Court posted a live feed of the results showing Grace was the winner. Shortly after, confusion set in as the results showed that Johnson was actually staying in office. 
  "Well
  
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• Daughter of Buccaneers LB Shaq Barrett drowns in family pool

  01-05-2023 09:19
  
  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The 2-year-old daughter of Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Shaquil Barrett drowned in a swimming pool at the family’s home on Sunday, police said.Officers, responding to a call that a child had fallen into a pool, were sent to Barrett’s home in the Beach Park neighborhood in south Tampa shortly before 9:30 a.m. The football player’s youngest child, Arrayah, was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead.“The investigation i
  
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• Donaldsonville man killed in early morning crash

  01-05-2023 06:19
  
  ASCENSION PARISH - Louisiana State Police say a Donaldsonville man is dead following a crash early Monday morning. Troopers say the crash happened around 1:30 a.m. on LA 1 north of LA 18 in Donaldsonville. Macarthur Williams Jr., 53, is said to have been riding a bicycle on LA 1 north when a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado struck the rear of the Williams' bicycle.Troopers said Williams was wearing dark clothing, had no safety lights on his bicycle, and was not wearing a helmet. He died at the
  
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• Bicyclist struck and killed in Ascension Parish early Monday

  01-05-2023 06:19
  
  DONALDSONVILLE - A man is dead after he was struck by a pickup truck in Ascension Parish early Monday morning. Louisiana State Police says the crash happened around 1:30 a.m. on LA 1 north of LA 18 in Donaldsonville. Macarthur Williams Jr., 53, is said to have been riding a bicycle on LA 1 north when a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado struck the rear of the Williams' bicycle.Troopers said Williams was wearing dark clothing, had no safety lights on his bicycle, and was not wearing a helmet. He
  
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