Baton Rouge news

• State pay 'raise' for teachers, a slap in the face to many

  09-06-2023 17:32
  For months, school boards across the capital region have been searching for the money needed to give their employees a significant pay hike. Many teachers remained hopeful that raise could come from the state."We say teachers and paraprofessionals, all this, are heroes, then we're not getting paid like heroes," Jacob Newsom, a history teacher at Saint Amant high school, said, "When I don't get a raise that matches the cost of living increase, it's like you're taking food out of my kids mouth, b
  
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• La. teachers unsatisfied as lawmakers drop pay raise in favor of one-time stipend

  09-06-2023 17:32
  
  For months, school boards across the capital region have been searching for the money needed to give their employees a significant pay hike. Many teachers remained hopeful that raise could come from the state."We say teachers and paraprofessionals, all this, are heroes, then we're not getting paid like heroes," Jacob Newsom, a history teacher at Saint Amant high school, said, "When I don't get a raise that matches the cost of living increase, it's like you're taking food out of my kids mouth, b
  
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• Former BRPD chief blasts rehiring of fired cop: 'He should no longer be a police officer'

  09-06-2023 16:39
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Baton Rouge Police Department is facing criticism, including some from its former police chief, over a decision to rehire an officer who was ousted more than 20 years ago over claims of sexual harassment and other misconduct. BRPD answered inquiries about officer Tramell Neldare with a lengthy list of responses from Chief Deputy Myron Daniels addressing questions about his hiring. Records show Neldare was rehired March 27, 2023, decades after he was fired fol
  
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• Louisiana poised to stiffen penalties for fentanyl distribution, including life terms

  09-06-2023 16:21
  
  BATON ROUGE — A proposed Louisiana law that would stiffen penalties for those convicted of distributing fentanyl is pending Gov. John Bel Edwards' approval. In the worst cases, a dealer could be sentenced to life in prison.Watch live newscasts hereThe sponsor of the bill, Crowley Republican Rep. John Stefanski, says he has received assurances from Edwards' office that the proposal will become law.Those caught with more than 250 grams of fentanyl could receive the stiffest penalties. T
  
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• Trump kept classified documents in Mar-a-Lago bathroom and ballroom, indictment says

  09-06-2023 15:47
  
  MIAMI (AP) — Follow along for live updates on former President Donald Trump, who has been indicted on charges of mishandling classified documents at his Florida estate. The indictment marks the first time in U.S. history that a former president faces criminal charges by the federal government he once oversaw. Trump faces the possibility of prison if convicted.___SECRET SERVICE PREPARES FOR TRUMP COURT APPEARANCEThe U.S. Secret Service is preparing for Trump’s appearance at a
  
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• Civil rights groups seek swift action on La. redistricting after Supreme Court ruling

  09-06-2023 15:29
  
  BATON ROUGE - A coalition of civil rights organizations on Friday filed a motion to lift a court-ordered hold on a lawsuit seeking to throw out the current congressional map for the state in favor of a new one.The move comes one day after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that will force Alabama to redraw its congressional lines. The Louisiana lawsuit makes an argument similar to that at the center of the Alabama case -- that the recent redistricting effort was unfair to Black voters.About
  
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• Road work on Siegen Lane expected to impact weekend traffic for months

  09-06-2023 14:47
  
  BATON ROUGE - Weekend traffic on Siegen Lane might be heavier than usual until the end of July due to scheduled lane closures. Fred Raiford, Director of Transportation and Drainage for the EBR City-Parish, says the right southbound lane on Siegen between Ambrosia Bakery and Regions Bank will face intermittent closures for construction. Crews will add a transition lane to turn into the new Kenilworth Academy.Raiford says crews originally requested to close the lane on weekdays, but he d
  
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• Governor Edwards wagers with Kentucky's governor based on LSU baseball series

  09-06-2023 14:16
  
  Governor John Bel Edwards raised the stakes for LSU baseball's series against Kentucky this weekend, as LSU's potential trip to Omaha coincides with the governor gaining Kentucky's well-known drink.As No. 5 LSU hosts Kentucky in the super regional, Bel Edwards made a Twitter post where he proposed a wager with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. If Kentucky wins, Bel Edwards offered Louisiana seafood to Beshear; in return, he expects Kentucky bourbon if LSU pulls out the victory.Hey @GovAndyBeshear
  
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• State spending plan includes funding for PMAC renovations, LSU Library

  09-06-2023 14:09
  
  BATON ROUGE - The spending plan approved by Louisiana lawmakers in the waning moments of the regular legislative session Thursday includes millions of dollars in funding for LSU's long-neglected library and the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The capital outlay budget outlines $152,753,349 in funding for the Louisiana State University Library, with about $3.2 million of that money being prioritized in the budget. The bulk of the library funding is labeled as a "priority 5" budget item,
  
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• State spending plan includes funding for LSU library, PMAC renovations

  09-06-2023 14:09
  
  BATON ROUGE - The spending plan approved by Louisiana lawmakers in the waning moments of the regular legislative session Thursday includes millions of dollars in funding for LSU's long-neglected library and the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The Capital Outlay budget specifically outlines $152,753,349 in funding for the Louisiana State University Library, with about $3.2 million of that money being prioritized in the budget. A similar plan was approved by lawmakers last year.&
  
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• LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson pays for super regional tickets for students

  09-06-2023 14:05
  
  Thanks to LSU baseball Head Coach Jay Johnson, many LSU students can attend No. 5 LSU's Super Regional games against No. 12 Kentucky this weekend free of charge.LSU sent out an email to students who requested tickets for this weekend's games that Johnson covered the cost for tickets in the student section, which are sections 95-97, as a thank you for the students' "strong support all season."LSU hosts Kentucky Saturday at 3 p.m. in a best-of-three series that determines which team goes to the C
  
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• Youth basketball team in need of funds to attend championship tournament

  09-06-2023 13:47
  
  BATON ROUGE - A basketball team needs help making the trip to the national championship tournament after winning the regional UAA Under Armour Youth title.The group of fifth graders has grit, dedication, skills, and big goals."Go to the NBA," said sixth grade basketball player Blaize Zeno.Before that, there's the National Future Circuit in Cincinnati, Ohio. The tournament is from June 22 to June 25, and it's something the Baton Rouge team is dreaming of playing in. To get there, they need fundi
  
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• Lawyers blame ChatGPT for tricking them into citing bogus case law

  09-06-2023 09:43
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Two apologetic lawyers responding to an angry judge in Manhattan federal court blamed ChatGPT Thursday for tricking them into including fictitious legal research in a court filing.Attorneys Steven A. Schwartz and Peter LoDuca are facing possible punishment over a filing in a lawsuit against an airline that included references to past court cases that Schwartz thought were real, but were actually invented by the artificial intelligence-powered chatbot.Schwartz explained
  
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• Louisiana governor says he intends to veto anti-LGBTQ+ bills including ban on gender-affirming care

  09-06-2023 09:29
  
  BATON ROUGE (AP) — Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, said Thursday he intends to veto a package of bills passed by the GOP-dominated legislature that targets the LGBTQ+ community, including a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors and the state’s version of a “Don’t Say Gay” bill.Edwards has said throughout the legislative session, which ended Thursday, that he opposes the series of LGBTQ+ bills. If Edwards blocks the bil
  
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• Trooper reunites with trucker he saved after medical crisis

  09-06-2023 08:57
  
  BATON ROUGE - A Louisiana State Police trooper who performed roadside CPR on a trucker whose heart had stopped beating received thanks from the man whose life he saved.The incident happened on US 61 near Thomas Road on Sunday.Sgt. Trey Bellue was conducting a routine safety check on an 18-wheeler when the driver, Thomas Taylor, suffered a medical emergency.Taylor fell head-first from the cab to the ground below, striking his head and falling unconscious.Bellue issued a call for assistance and t
  
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• Prairieville man arrested for entering alligator enclosure at Tampa resort

  09-06-2023 08:57
  
  TAMPA, Fla. - Florida police arrested a Prairieville man who allegedly climbed into an alligator enclosure at Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay. According to the Tampa Police, Jacob Pursifull, 20, jumped over a fence and illegally entered the park June 1. Pursifull, as well as two other subjects, walked to the alligator enclosure, and Pursifull jumped in while one of the people he was with filmed it and posted it to social media. ?DON'T DO THIS ? A man hopped the barrier around an al
  
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• G. Lee Griffin, BR philanthropist and head of LSU Foundation, dies

  09-06-2023 08:00
  
  BATON ROUGE - The head of the LSU Foundation, G. Lee Griffin, has died, according to sources.Griffin served as the head of the university's philanthropy arm and in many other positions in the foundation. The Foundation's website says Griffin was the longest-serving member on its Board of Directors and he was affiliated with dozens of organizations throughout Baton Rouge, such as the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, the University Laboratory School Foundation, and the Boy Scouts of America, to na
  
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• G. Lee Griffin, BR philanthropist and former head of LSU Foundation, dies

  09-06-2023 08:00
  
  BATON ROUGE - The former head of the LSU Foundation, G. Lee Griffin, has died, according to sources.Griffin served as the head of the university's philanthropy arm from July 2011 to April 2015 and in many other positions in the foundation over his 30-year career with them. The Foundation's website says Griffin was the longest-serving member on its Board of Directors and he was affiliated with dozens of organizations throughout Baton Rouge, such as the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, the Univers
  
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• From 'poor boy' to bank executive to LSU Foundation chief; G. Lee Griffin dead at 84

  09-06-2023 08:00
  
  BATON ROUGE — G. Lee Griffin, a self-described "poor boy" who later became the longest-serving member of the LSU Foundation's board of directors, has died. He was 84.The longtime bank executive served four years as the foundation's president and was affiliated with dozens of organizations in and around Baton Rouge.“Lee Griffin was an exceptional leader, friend, and donor," Rob Stuart, the current president and CEO of the LSU Foundation, said in a statement. "In all ways, he
  
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• Man allegedly stole nearly $2,000 of clothes from Ralph Lauren in Tanger Outlet

  09-06-2023 06:32
  
  GONZALES - Police are searching for a man who allegedly stole nearly $2,000 of clothing from a Ralph Lauren Polo. Security footage showed the man entering the store in Tanger Outlet Mall shortly before 8:00 p.m. on May 26. He was confronted by an employee as he was leaving the store with the stolen merchandise, the Gonzales Police Department said the man declared he had a knife as he was leaving. Anyone with information is encouraged to call detectives with the GPD at (225) 64
  
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• Car crashes into Geismar ditch, driver had to be extracted from mangled vehicle

  09-06-2023 06:04
  
  GEISMAR - A car crashed into a ditch on Highway 74 early Friday morning, causing some minor delays and leading to the driver having to be pulled from the wrecked vehicle. According to the Geismar Volunteer Fire Department, crews were called to Hwy. 74 between Bluff Road and Hwy. 3115 in Geismar shortly after 3 a.m. Friday. A car had run off the road and crashed into a ditch just off the highway. The driver was successfully pulled from the vehicle, leaving only the mangled wrec
  
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• Car crashes into Geismar ditch, driver extracted from mangled vehicle

  09-06-2023 06:04
  
  GEISMAR - A car crashed into a ditch on Highway 74 early Friday morning, causing some minor delays and leading to the driver having to be pulled from the wrecked vehicle. According to the Geismar Volunteer Fire Department, crews were called to Hwy. 74 between Bluff Road and Hwy. 3115 in Geismar shortly after 3 a.m. Friday. A car had run off the road and crashed into a ditch just off the highway. The driver was successfully pulled from the vehicle, leaving only the mangled wrec
  
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