Baton Rouge news

• GOHSEP urging Louisiana residents to adhere to burn bans in order to protect firefighters

  23-08-2023 21:40
  
  BATON ROUGE - Firefighters in the state have been working around the clock to stop the spread of wildfires due to the extreme heat and dry conditions.It's why GOHSEP activated the state emergency operations center Wednesday and held a press conference urging residents to adhere to the burn ban in order to protect those on the front lines."These fires, simply put, present a threat to our public to our families, our homes, our businesses and our property. There is an imminent threat to those who
  
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• REPORT: LSU's DT Maason Smith suspended for first game of the season

  23-08-2023 20:35
  
  BATON ROUGE - LSU's defensive tackle Maason Smith will not be playing during the first game of the season against Florida State, sources told The Advocate on Wednesday. The Advocate said Smith's suspension is the result of an NCAA violation for reception of improper benefits.LSU Defensive Tackle Maason Smith was back working out on the side today at practice.
  Was in running shoes yesterday after getting injured over the weekend. #LSU pic.twitter.com/lZkoNQD9HB— Michael Cauble
  
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• Man trying to break into house was detained at gunpoint by homeowner; deputies caught second suspect

  23-08-2023 19:55
  
  AMITE - A homeowner in Amite started his Wednesday morning with a surprise when two people tried to break into his home.The St. Helena Parish Sheriff's Office said two men went to an Amite home around 8 a.m. on Aug. 23. The homeowner saw the burglars on his home security system and grabbed a gun. Deputies said the homeowner confronted one of the men, Larry Joe Myrick, and detained him until law enforcement arrived. The other suspect, Mikhyl Parnell, ran away into a nearby woods and was
  
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• LSU Women's Basketball announces non-conference schedule

  23-08-2023 18:34
  
  BATON ROUGE - The LSU Women's Basketball team has announced all their non-conference games for the upcoming season. The full SEC schedule will be announced at a later date. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Forestry experts say trees need water during extreme heat, dry conditions

  23-08-2023 17:41
  
  BATON ROUGE - When winds pick up, a dry tree during hurricane season can be bad news for a nearby house or car. The recent drought in Louisiana is hurting trees that desperately need water for function and protection.Dr. Hallie Dozier is an urban forestry specialist and professor at Louisiana State University. "Water your trees, that's the bottom line," she said.It's easy remembering to water a favorite house plant, but when the outdoors feel more like and oven, trees need extra care t
  
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• State Police arrest two men for the kidnapping, rape of a missing juvenile

  23-08-2023 17:30
  
  BATON ROUGE - State Police tracked down two men who were connected to a juvenile who was kidnapped and raped in July. Troopers said 21-year-old Treymaine Nicholas of Baton Rouge and 18-year-old Caleb Smith of Hammond were arrested on Wednesday. Nicholas was booked with second-degree kidnapping. Smith was booked with four counts of first-degree rape in Tangipahoa Parish. He will be transferred to East Baton Rouge Parish, where he faces one count each of second degree kidnapping and firs
  
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• Warrant reveals new details in Baton Rouge doctor's death; 3 face charges for looting his house

  23-08-2023 16:44
  
  BATON ROUGE - Police have obtained arrest warrants for two men and a woman who allegedly ransacked a house — stealing guns and computers — after the homeowner lost consciousness and died while using drugs.The criminal charges stem from an ongoing investigation into the death of 43-year-old James Greer, who was found lifeless inside his own home on Aug. 10. Investigative documents from the Baton Rouge Police Department say Greer, who's listed in state records as an ER doctor,
  
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• Months after teen's killing in Baton Rouge, police arrest suspect on manslaughter charge

  23-08-2023 16:27
  
  BATON ROUGE - Police have arrested a man accused of killing a 19-year-old earlier this year, several months after officers say they first questioned the suspected shooter.Baton Rouge Police announced an arrest Wednesday in the April 20 shooting that left Kevin Dunn dead.  At the time, police said the shooter was the one who first called 911 to report the incident. That person was detained and questioned, but no one was immediately arrested in the killing. On Wednesday
  
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• Planning to sue over controversial 'Day of Hope' event, attorneys send demand letter to EBR superintendent

  23-08-2023 14:00
  
  BATON ROUGE - Attorneys representing the families of multiple students have sent a letter to East Baton Rouge Parish Schools Superintendent Dr. Sito Narcisse seeking documents related to the school district's controversial "Day of Hope" trip.The notice, known as a demand letter, is to notify a potential legal defendant of an intention to take legal action and for the defendant to retain specific records.In this case, the demand letter is asking the district to identify and present records relat
  
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• Poll gauges popularity of Edwards, Biden, Trump across Louisiana

  23-08-2023 13:42
  
  BATON ROUGE - Gov. John Bel Edwards is winding down his two terms in office with support from a majority of voters, according to a new statewide poll sponsored by WBRZ and other Louisiana organizations.President Joe Biden, another Democrat, fares far worse.Edwards, who is unable to run for reelection due to term limits, has a 54 percent approval rating in the poll by Faucheux Strategies. Another 36 percent disapprove of the governor, with 10 percent not providing an opinion on his performance.B
  
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• Road collapses along LSU lakes; portion of East Lakeshore Drive expected to stay closed for days

  23-08-2023 13:33
  
  BATON ROUGE - Due to a road cave-in, drivers will have to use an alternate route along East Lakeshore Drive. The road collapse was reported just north of the intersection of East Lakeshore and Morning Glory Avenue. Only local traffic will be allowed to pass on the street in that area.Work crews shut down access to the 2600 block -- which is near Morning Glory Avenue -- late Wednesday morning.Officials said the road is expected to stay closed for repairs until Monday, Aug. 28.&
  
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• East Lakeshore Drive temporarily closed due to road cave-in

  23-08-2023 13:33
  
  BATON ROUGE - Due to a road cave-in, drivers will have to use an alternate route along East Lakeshore Drive. Only local traffic will be allowed to pass on the street near Morning Glory Avenue. Officials said the closure is expected to last until Monday, Aug. 28. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Interim CATS boss abruptly quits as problems persist for troubled bus system

  23-08-2023 13:31
  
  BATON ROUGE - Interim CATS CEO Dwana Williams has resigned a little more than a year after she took the place of the bus system's last boss, who was ousted amid a series of WBRZ Investigative Unit reports uncovering the many problems at the agency. Sources with the agency say Williams resigned Wednesday. She held the title of interim CEO since April 2022, when the board fired Bill Deville amid reports that the bus system was behind on paying its bills and claims from another administra
  
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• BRCC appoints former LSU baseball coach as special advisor

  23-08-2023 12:59
  
  BATON ROUGE - In an announcement Wednesday, Baton Rouge Community College said it would be appointing former LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri as the special advisor to its head baseball team. Mainieri will work closely with the head coach to provide guidance and mentorship to the team. "We are beyond thrilled to welcome Coach Mainieri," said Brock Kantrow, Head of Athletics at Baton Rouge Community College. “He has been an integral part of baseball in Baton Rouge for
  
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• Damaged support prompts emergency lane closure on Intracoastal Bridge - Roadway reopened

  23-08-2023 12:54
  
  UPDATE: The roadway is now back open after an emergency closure. PORT ALLEN - State transportation officials closed down a lane on LA 1 as workers make emergency repairs to the Intracoastal Bridge.In a statement late Wednesday morning, DOTD announced the right southbound lane was closing immediately so repairs could be made to a damaged finger joint. It was unclear what caused the damage to the bridge support.The state has not said when it expects the repairs to be completed. 
  
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• Damaged support prompts emergency lane closure on Intracoastal Bridge - Roadway back open

  23-08-2023 12:54
  
  UPDATE: The roadway is now back open after an emergency closure. PORT ALLEN - State transportation officials closed down a lane on LA 1 as workers make emergency repairs to the Intracoastal Bridge.In a statement late Wednesday morning, DOTD announced the right southbound lane was closing immediately so repairs could be made to a damaged finger joint. It was unclear what caused the damage to the bridge support.The state has not said when it expects the repairs to be completed. 
  
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• Damaged support prompts emergency lane closure on Intracoastal Bridge

  23-08-2023 12:54
  
  PORT ALLEN - State transportation officials closed down a lane on LA 1 as workers make emergency repairs to the Intracoastal Bridge.In a statement late Wednesday morning, DOTD announced the right southbound lane was closing immediately so repairs could be made to a damaged finger joint. It was unclear what caused the damage to the bridge support.The state has not said when it expects the repairs to be completed. Permalink| Comments
  
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• State gives update on Beauregard wildfires, burn ban - Watch the news conference here

  23-08-2023 12:20
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana is triggering emergency protocols in wake of "hundreds of wildfires" that have impacted the state amid its ongoing heat emergency. The Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness activated its Emergency Operations Center on Wednesday.GOHSEP and the Fire Marshal's Office will be joined by other state agencies during a 4 p.m. news conference discussing the burn ban and the wildfire emergency in Beauregard Parish. Watch the press conf
  
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• Louisiana activates emergency operations center to help coordinate response to 'hundreds of wildfires'

  23-08-2023 12:20
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana is triggering emergency protocols in wake of "hundreds of wildfires" that have impacted the state amid its ongoing heat emergency. The Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness activated its Emergency Operations Center on Wednesday.Read the full announcement below. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness has activated the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) due to hundreds of wildfires
  
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• Amid 'hundreds' of wildfires, Louisiana activates emergency operations center to help coordinate response

  23-08-2023 12:20
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana is triggering emergency protocols in wake of "hundreds of wildfires" that have impacted the state amid its ongoing heat emergency. The Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness activated its Emergency Operations Center on Wednesday.Read the full announcement below. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness has activated the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) due to hundreds of wildfires
  
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• Flames devour forests and homes as wildfires that have left 20 dead in Greece burn out of control

  23-08-2023 09:48
  
  ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Advancing flames devoured forests and homes as dozens of wildfires raged across Greece on Wednesday, leaving 20 people dead over the past three days, while major blazes also burned in northwestern Turkey near the Greek border and on Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands.Greece’s largest forest fire was burning out of control for the fifth day near the city of Alexandroupolis in the northeast, while another major blaze on the northwestern fringe o
  
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• Students of unaccredited academy that operated for 23 years without certification forced to redo high school

  23-08-2023 07:40
  
  BATON ROUGE - Second Chance Academy has received a lot of attention since the school administrator Corey Nash was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with several minors at the school.Nash was arrested and charged with the alleged crimes, but the backlash is affecting more than just him; it also affects his former students. Their transcripts are not being recognized by school districts. Second Chance first opened 34 years ago in 1989, but for the last 23 years, the school h
  
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• CATS announces 30-day fee waiver program for students struggling to find ride to school

  23-08-2023 07:16
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Capital Area Transit System announced a 30-day fee waiver agreement to help students find rides to school amid a "transportation emergency."CATS will be waiving fares from Aug. 23 to Sept. 22 to help students continue their education without interruption. All students need to do is present their ID upon boarding to take advantage of the waiver. While many middle and high school students will be able to ride the buses on their own, CATS stressed that riders under 13 st
  
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