Baton Rouge news

• Governor Edwards surveys Beauregard Parish, assesses Tiger Island wildfire damage

  29-08-2023 21:29
  
  BEAUREGARD PARISH - On Tuesday, Governor Edwards took a flight over Tiger Island in Beauregard Parish, where wildfires have claimed over 38,000 acres of land and firefighters are working around the clock to contain them."With the amount of fuel that remains available for the fire here in Beauregard Parish, the Tiger Island fire, under the current conditions they're looking at can easily re-ignite and move at a half-mile per hour," Edwards said.Historic heat and a record drought are contributing
  
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• Drying up and overgrown, LSU lakes project hitting a snag as it nears key milestone

  29-08-2023 17:43
  
  BATON ROUGE - The blanket of purple flowers all over the University Lakes may look beautiful, but it's actually harmful.Water hyacinth—considered to be one of the world's most invasive aquatic plants—has always been in the lakes, but the reason it's so abundant this year has to do with the work going on."Our crews raking the lakes have stirred some of that up, and the work that's going on with the I-10 project. They built a weir across the lake under the interstate, so it's
  
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• After interim CEO's abrupt exit, CATS names new leader to oversee bus system

  29-08-2023 17:13
  
  BATON ROUGE - About a week after CATS lost its second CEO in under two years, the Baton Rouge bus system has installed a new leader to head up its operations.The CATS Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to name Theo Richards its newest CEO. In a statement, the agency said it will continue to search for another permanent leader to take on the job. "While the CATS Board of Commissioners has already begun the search for a new CEO to lead the organization, Richards' temporary appointment
  
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• Nearly two dozen on applicants list for BRPD chief; most are already in the department

  29-08-2023 16:09
  
  BATON ROUGE - Twenty-three people will be considered after submitting their names as possible successors to retiring Baton Rouge Police Murphy Paul.The list is dominated by internal candidates -- from public information specialists to high ranking officers including Deputy Chief Myron Daniels.The chief of the Central Police Department has applied, along with a private investigator and a FedEx operations manager.The complete list follows.Daren Ahmed: BRPD Public Information OfficerVarden Guillory
  
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• Assumption Parish man arrested after test reveals he impregnated minor in 2021

  29-08-2023 15:28
  
  LABADIEVILLE - A man was arrested nearly three years after impregnating a girl no older than 14.According to the Assumption Parish Sheriff's Office, deputies received a complaint from a school on Sept. 22, 2021 that a girl was impregnated by an adult. Deputies say they pinned Ricky Williams as a suspect and took a DNA test. The Sheriff's Office said the results did not come back until August 2023. Now, 22-year-old Williams is in jail for carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Permali
  
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• Deputies release new details in WBR chase that led to fiery crash; minor among 3 killed

  29-08-2023 13:35
  
  FORDOCHE - Weeks after a high-speed pursuit through multiple parishes led to a deadly crash, deputies have identified three people who were killed, as well as the sole survivor who is facing criminal charges.All four were inside a car that was fleeing deputies. Two of the deceased were identified as 21-year-old Kortez Morris and 18-year-old Kameron Gaston, who was driving the car. An unnamed 16-year-old was also killed in the crash.Davontae Stubbs, 19, survived the crash and was booked for poss
  
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• More than 33K acres burned in historic Tiger Island wildfire

  29-08-2023 13:19
  
  MERRYVILLE - A wildfire that's been burning for more than a week in western Louisiana has doubled in size in recent days, stretching to cover more than 33,000 acres of land. It's now the largest in the state's history.An update from the state on Tuesday said the Tiger Island fire in Beauregard Parish had burned 33,294 acres, more than twice the size of the 15,000-acre footprint that had been reported Friday, Aug. 25. In that same update, the state reported the fire was only 50 percent
  
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• Judge worried about deliberate indifference toward violent youth held at Angola

  29-08-2023 13:18
  
  BATON ROUGE — A federal judge said Tuesday that based on what she has heard so far, Louisiana is showing a “deliberate indifference” toward juveniles held at a youth center on the grounds of the state penitentiary at Angola. U.S. District Judge Shelley Dick said those challenging Louisiana’s sending its worst young offenders to the Bridge City Center for Youth in West Feliciana had adequately demonstrated problems at the facility. She re
  
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• 'Deliberate indifference' toward violent kids at Angola? Federal judge says it looks that way

  29-08-2023 13:18
  
  BATON ROUGE — A federal judge said Tuesday that based on what she has heard so far, Louisiana is showing a “deliberate indifference” toward juveniles held at a youth center on the grounds of the state penitentiary at Angola. U.S. District Judge Shelley Dick said those challenging Louisiana’s sending its worst young offenders to the Bridge City Center for Youth in West Feliciana had adequately demonstrated problems at the facility. She re
  
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• Water outage at Southern University causes certain classes to cancel until 1 p.m. Tuesday

  29-08-2023 12:40
  
  BATON ROUGE - A water outage at Southern University has caused officials to cancel classes in affected buildings until 1 p.m. Tuesday so repairs can take place. Below is a list of buildings affected by the outage:The cause for the outage was not immediately clear. Permalink| Comments
  
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• All classes at Southern University canceled Wednesday due to ongoing water issues

  29-08-2023 12:40
  
  BATON ROUGE - A water outage at Southern University has caused officials to cancel classes Wednesday.The outage began Tuesday morning and only affected certain buildings on campus, prompting a closure until 1 p.m., but it continued until Wednesday morning. Officials posted Wednesday that all classes would be canceled due to the continuing issue. The university posted where alternative bathrooms and showers could be found on campus for those living in student housing. That information c
  
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• Congressman Steve Scalise diagnosed with cancer

  29-08-2023 12:00
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana lawmaker and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has been diagnosed with cancer, according to his fellow lawmakers.Senator Bill Cassidy released the following statement on Tuesday.“I join with so many others in prayer for Steve and his family. The same faith, family support, and internal strength that made Steve such an inspiration to others after he was shot, will bring him through this illness and once more inspire us all,” Dr. Cassidy said.This is
  
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• Idalia strengthens to a hurricane, pushing a surge of ocean water toward Florida

  29-08-2023 09:56
  
  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Much of Florida was in disaster mode on Tuesday with only hours to go before an onslaught from Idalia, forecast to strengthen rapidly into “an extremely dangerous major hurricane” before hitting the Gulf Coast on Wednesday.Florida residents loaded up on sandbags and evacuated from homes in low-lying areas along the Gulf Coast to prepare for a storm that the National Hurricane Center projected could have sustained winds of up to 120 mph (193 kph).
  
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• Vehicle versus electrical pole on College Drive at Perkins Road causes delays in morning commute

  29-08-2023 07:01
  
  BATON ROUGE - Photos from the intersections of Perkins Road and College Drive showed the aftermath of a car hitting an electrical pole Tuesday morning. One person was taken to the hospital, but the severity of their injuries was unclear. The Entergy outage map did not show any losses of power. Traffic delays at the intersection were slowly building as of 7 a.m., but it was unclear if there were any complete roadway closures. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Entergy expects to cut power for around four hours to make repairs after vehicle hit pole

  29-08-2023 07:01
  
  BATON ROUGE - Photos from the intersections of Perkins Road and College Drive showed the aftermath of a car hitting an electrical pole Tuesday morning. One person was taken to the hospital, but the severity of their injuries was unclear. The Entergy outage map did not show any losses of power, but officials said they would have to cut power to the surrounding area for around four hours to make repairs to the equipment.  Perkins Road was closed between College
  
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• Man arrested for attempted murder after allegedly shooting at partygoers that started fight

  29-08-2023 06:02
  
  BATON ROUGE - Deputies arrested a man for two counts of first-degree murder after he allegedly fired multiple shots at a vehicle leaving a party. The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office was called to meet with the victims at the Coca-Cola plant on Plank Road. The victims said they were leaving a party late on Aug. 26 when their vehicle was struck by multiple rounds of gunfire after they drove away. The victims said they left the party after multiple fights transpired. B
  
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