Baton Rouge news

• Bogue Chitto State Park evacuated as precautionary measure due to wildfire nearby

  21-08-2023 21:01
  
  WASHINGTON PARISH - State officials decided to evacuate Bogue Chitto State Park on Monday due to a wildfire nearby. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser made the decision as a precautionary measure as there was a fire three miles away from the park. It has since been contained. Park officials helped relocate 30 guests to nearby state parks. “I want to reiterate that this move was a precautionary measure. While the fire is under control, we will evaluate the s
  
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• ShaCarri Richardson caps comeback by winning 100-meter title at worlds

  21-08-2023 20:38
  
  BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Track, and fame, can be brutal games. Nobody felt that more over the past two years than American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson.On a sultry Monday night a half-world away from where her problems began, the 23-year-old earned a gold medal at world championships in the biggest 100-meter race this side of the Olympics.Sha'Carri Richardson is your 100 Meter ?????????? ???????????????? in her ?????????? Worlds' appearance!!! ???????? 10.65 seconds (PR!!!)
  
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• Human remains found in St. Helena Parish on Monday

  21-08-2023 19:56
  
  PINE GROVE - Human remains were found on Monday morning along a rural road in St. Helena Parish. According to the St. Helena Parish Sheriff's Office, the remains were found around 8:35 a.m. along Tungoil Road in Pine Grove. The LSU FACES lab has been called to assist in identifying the remains. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Fire crews extinguish blaze in Natalbany woods on Monday afternoon

  21-08-2023 19:46
  
  NATALBANY - On Monday, firefighter crews worked to put out a blaze in the Natalbany Woods. The Natalbany Fire Department said the fire sparked around 5:45 p.m. along North Baptist Road. A structure close to the flames was saved. The Louisiana Office of Agriculture and Forestry was called out to the scene. No information about how the fire started was released. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Baton Rouge, St. George fire departments sending help to scorched Sabine Parish

  21-08-2023 18:42
  
  MANY, La. - Personnel from the Baton Rouge Fire Department and St. George Fire Department are headed to Sabine Parish to help departments there as they battle raging summer wildfires.The Central Sabine Fire Department on Monday evening said five members of BRFD would be stationed at the Many station, while five personnel from St. George would be placed with the North Sabine Fire unit.The Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness and Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office are helping to coordina
  
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• Train collides with car in Tangipahoa Parish, one person injured

  21-08-2023 17:38
  
  HAMMOND - Tangipahoa Parish first responders are working to clear a wreck involving a train and a vehicle. According to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office, the crash happened Monday afternoon around 4 p.m. along Highway 190 near the Florida Parish Scrapyard. Deputies said one person was injured and was brought to a hospital. It was not clear what caused the crash.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Train collides with car in Tangipahoa Parish, no injuries reported

  21-08-2023 17:38
  
  HAMMOND - Tangipahoa Parish first responders are working to clear a wreck involving a train and a vehicle. According to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office, the crash happened Monday afternoon around 4 p.m. along Highway 190 near the Florida Parish Scrapyard. Deputies said no injuries were reported. Drivers should avoid the area if possible. Permalink| Comments
  
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• YMCA steps in to help parents amid EBR Schools fiasco

  21-08-2023 17:25
  
  BATON ROUGE - Frustration with the EBR Parish School System spilled into the homes of hard-working families in the community Monday as parents scrambled to find last-minute child care. "Even though EBR schools are closed, mom and dad still need to get to work so what could we do?" said Executive Director of the YMCA Christian Engle at the Baton Rouge Press Club meeting on Monday.As soon as YMCA administrators learned of class cancelations for Monday, they went to the drawing board to f
  
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• Man sexually assaulted sleeping child during early-morning home invasion, EBR deputies say

  21-08-2023 17:00
  
  BATON ROUGE - A man is accused of creeping into a family's bedroom and fondling a 7-year-old girl while she was sleeping next to her mother early Monday morning. According to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office, the assault happened around 1:20 a.m. at an apartment on Ned Avenue, in the Gardere area. The girl told investigators she was sleeping when the suspect, identified as 48-year-old Carlos Duartelanza, removed her pants and started grabbing her genitalia. The girl then
  
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• Mother says men shot her car after road rage incident on Siegen Lane

  21-08-2023 16:17
  
  BATON ROUGE - The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office is investigating an alleged road rage incident that ended in gunfire off Siegen Lane Sunday night.Watch live newscasts hereAshley Mitchell said she was driving on Siegen when a black Acura with tinted windows was tailgating her. She said she pulled over so they could pass. When they didn't, she said she exited off by North Mall Drive, where the car got next to her and opened fire.Mitchell showed us the bullet hole in her door handle. Sh
  
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• Entergy suspends disconnects through Sept. 9 for heat emergency

  21-08-2023 16:02
  
  BATON ROUGE - Entergy customers who are not caught up on their electricity bills will still have lights—and most importantly AC— through Sept. 9. The company announced the suspension of disconnects on Monday afternoon. Entergy says they will not disconnect any customer's electricity until Governor Edward's heat emergency expires. Entergy says they will consider extending the suspension if the Louisiana Public Service Commission recommends. Permalin
  
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• West Baton Rouge Parish asking residents to stop watering lawns due to low water pressure

  21-08-2023 15:18
  
  WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH - Parish officials in West Baton Rouge are asking residents to stop watering their lawns, citing a drop in water pressure that could be imperative for WBR firefighters. Until further notice, residents are asked to use as little watering lawns as possible due to water pressure dropping from high demand. GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele said a state-wide burn that was put into effect on Aug. 7. Even with the burn ban, Steele says Assumption Parish
  
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• West Baton Rouge asks residents to be 'considerate' when watering lawns, cites higher risk for fires

  21-08-2023 15:18
  
  WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH - Parish officials in West Baton Rouge are asking residents to be mindful when watering their lawns, citing a drop in water pressure that could be needed for WBR firefighters.In a statement Monday, the parish initially called for residents to stop watering their yards. The parish later revised that announcement, asking those in the parish to "be considerate" when watering lawns and landscapes.Thanks to the dry and hot conditions, officials said the water is needed in cas
  
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• Truck snags power lines on Siegen Lane, knocks out power homes & businesses Monday

  21-08-2023 14:55
  
  BATON ROUGE - Parts of Siegen Lane went dark for hours Monday after a truck pulled down power lines at a busy intersection.Witnesses said a truck towing a trailer clipped the lines on Siegen just north of I-10 and pulled them down, shutting down nearby traffic lights and cutting power to several businesses along the Siegen corridor.Video appeared to show smoke coming from a traffic light control box at the intersection of Siegen and S Reitz Avenue. According to Entergy's outage map, mo
  
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• Power out along Siegen Lane after truck reportedly snagged power lines near I-10

  21-08-2023 14:55
  
  BATON ROUGE - Parts of Siegen Lane went dark Monday after a truck pulled down power lines at a busy intersection.Witnesses said a truck towing a trailer clipped the lines on Siegen just north of I-10 and pulled them down, shutting down nearby traffic lights and cutting power to several businesses along the Siegen corridor.Video appeared to show smoke coming from a traffic light control box at the intersection of Siegen and S Reitz Avenue. According to Entergy's outage map, more than 20
  
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• EBR resumes classes Tuesday, will keep altered dismissal schedule through Labor Day

  21-08-2023 14:12
  
  BATON ROUGE - Students will return to schools in East Baton Rouge on Tuesday after missing two days in a row due because of a pay dispute between the school system and its bus drivers. School leaders met with the disgruntled bus drivers Monday after more than half of the district's drivers skipped work on Friday. A crowd of people was seen filing into the gymnasium at Glen Oaks High ahead of the meeting Monday morning. After the meeting, School Board President Dadrius Lanus sa
  
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• Video shows crews battling huge grass fire outside Zachary home

  21-08-2023 14:00
  
  ZACHARY - Firefighters are working to contain a sprawling grass fire outside a home in rural East Baton Rouge Parish as the area contends with especially hot, dry weather conditions.Video shared with WBRZ shows the fire outside a house on West Port Hudson Plains Road in Zachary. More than a dozen firefighters were called to help put out the flames. As of around 2 p.m., no one was hurt and the fire had not spread to anyone's home.On Sunday, parts of southeast Louisiana were placed under
  
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• La. Senator Bill Cassidy says Donald Trump should bow out of presidential race

  21-08-2023 13:45
  
  Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy said Sunday that former President Donald Trump should bow out of the presidential race as polls show he will likely lose to President Joe Biden, according to The Advocate. Cassidy said on CNN Sunday that he thinks Biden should be ousted, as other Republican candidates stand a better chance against him than Trump, who is under four indictments. "He will lose to Joe Biden if you look at current polls," Cassidy said. Cassidy said the charge
  
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• Vehicle strikes utility pole along US 190, downs power lines across highway

  21-08-2023 13:22
  
  BATON ROUGE - Westbound traffic approaching the old Mississippi River bridge was blocked off to traffic after power lines fell onto US 190 Monday morning. DOTD reported the lines were down shortly after 11 a.m. Monday near the Scenic Highway intersection. An Entergy spokesperson said the lines were knocked down after a vehicle struck a utility pole.It was not immediately clear how long the road would stay closed. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Downed power lines blocking US 190 near Scenic Highway

  21-08-2023 13:22
  
  BATON ROUGE - Westbound traffic approaching the old Mississippi River bridge was blocked off to traffic after power lines fell onto US 190 Monday morning. DOTD reported the lines were down shortly after 11 a.m. Monday near the Scenic Highway intersection. It was not immediately clear what caused the lines to fall or how long the road would stay closed. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Youth isolation jumps at OJJ's Angola center, 'bloodshed and broken bones' to blame

  21-08-2023 13:09
  
  BATON ROUGE — The co-creator of a rehabilitation program for young criminal offenders testified in federal court Monday that recent violence at a temporary youth center at Angola — including bloodshed and broken bones —has led to an increase in “cell restrictions” that isolate children from their peers.“Six to eight weeks ago, the incidents became more harsh,” justifying the need to segregate the youth from the rest of the po
  
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• Psychologist outlines what 'cell retention' looks like for youthful offenders held at Angola

  21-08-2023 13:09
  
  The co-creator of a program designed to rehabilitate young criminal offenders returned to the witness stand Monday as a trial resumed on whether Louisiana should continue to send children to a unit housed on the grounds of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.U.S. District Judge Shelley Dick said last week that the state should stop sending youths to the Bridge City Center for Youth in West Feliciana until she rules on the case. Lawyers representing the children's interests say the site i
  
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• Iberia Parish deputies investigating fatal shooting after body found on porch

  21-08-2023 09:48
  
  IBERIA PARISH - Deputies are investigating a shooting that left one man dead Saturday. According to the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office, deputies were called to Orange Grove Drive early Saturday morning in response to a shooting. A man was found dead on the back porch of a home. Deputies did not provide further information about a suspect or a motive. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Seven students ticketed after brawl at Central High

  21-08-2023 09:21
  
  CENTRAL - Officials said a fight prompted a police presence at Central High School Monday morning. According to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office, three students got into a fight with another three students. There were no injuries. The sheriff's office said seven students were ticketed for disturbing the peace and released to their parents. There was no word on what started the fight. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Fight breaks out at Central High School, prompts law enforcement repsonse

  21-08-2023 09:21
  
  CENTRAL - Officials said a fight prompted a police presence at Central High School Monday morning. According to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office, three students got into a fight with another three students. There were no injuries. Deputies said students were detained but did not specify how many. There was no word on what started the fight. Permalink| Comments
  
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• BR foundation receives thousands in federal dollars to help reduce crime

  21-08-2023 08:37
  
  BATON ROUGE - The United States Justice Department gave $375,000 to TRUCE, a prosecutor-led non-profit foundation formed to address the reduction of crime in the capital area. The DOJ made the announcement Monday morning that TRUCE would be receiving the money. "TRUCE laid the groundwork and formed the core public safety partnerships that have become a vital component in EBR's public safety ecosystem," the DoJ said. TRUCE will use the money to enhance the framework to
  
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• BRCC Mid-City campus announces changes to parking, entrances for fall 2023

  21-08-2023 07:57
  
  BATON ROUGE - Students returning to Baton Rouge Community College's Mid-City campus should expect some new routines and work around campus this semester. The fall semester starts Monday, and students should expect to see construction for the school's new nursing facility. The new facility is worth $25 million and will be 92,800 square feet with a capacity for 1,200 students. With the construction going on, traffic will be routed away from the east entrance to campus. 
  
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• State of the Schools address postponed - Rescheduled date TBA

  21-08-2023 07:22
  
  BATON ROUGE - The State of the Schools Address with East Baton Rouge Parish School System Superintendent Sito Narcisse has been postponed, according to the EBRPSS website.The address was scheduled to take place Monday evening but was announced to be postponed early Monday morning. All EBR classes were canceled Monday due to a bus driver sick-out. Friday, 196 of the school system's 375 bus drivers called out sick. Officials are adamant classes will resume Tuesday, but the EBRPSS website
  
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