Baton Rouge news

• 3 Baton Rouge protesters accused of causing $800K in damage handed federal indictments

  02-07-2020 13:43 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Three people accused of setting a handful of Baton Rouge-area businesses on fire as part of a political statement amidst the George Floyd protests earlier this year were formally charged in federal court.Court documents reveal Terry Dorsey, Kenyatta Huggins and Shamyrin Djhodi Johnson were all indicted on arson charges related to the fires set at four different businesses. The fires were set throughout the area over the course of a few days beginning in late May.The total cost of
  
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• Willie Mays, Giants' electrifying 'Say Hey Kid,' has died at 93

  18-06-2024 20:20 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Willie Mays, the electrifying “Say Hey Kid” whose singular combination of talent, drive and exuberance made him one of baseball’s greatest and most beloved players, has died. He was 93.Mays’ family and the San Francisco Giants jointly announced Tuesday night he had “passed away peacefully” Tuesday afternoon surrounded by loved ones.The center fielder was baseball’s oldest living Hall of Famer. His si
  
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• Gov. Landry criticizes insurance rates, vetoes bipartisan bill to restrict payout costs

  18-06-2024 19:42 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - At the start of this year's legislative session, Governor Jeff Landry promised to tackle Louisiana’s insurance crisis, but now he has vetoed a bill attempting to lower payouts if a car wreck gets to trial. Landry on Tuesday vetoed House Bill 423 by Rep. Michael Melerine, R-Shreveport, which received bipartisan support in the legislature. Melerine says the measure aims to lower auto insurance premium costs by limiting trial damages paid to an injured party if the
  
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• Residents living around University Lakes disappointed by construction mess

  18-06-2024 18:13 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE- One year after the start of the University Lakes Restoration Project, residents are not happy with the progress. Phase one began in June of 2023, which entails dredging City Park Lake, building “living shorelines” around City Park Lake and Lake Erie and improving May Street between City Park and University Lakes. One resident says the work has also resulted in overgrowth of vegetation in the lake behind his home on Stanford Ave. "Basic
  
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• Work-release escapes near Plank and Hooper roads; crews searching on ground and from the air

  18-06-2024 17:48 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Law officers were searching on the ground and from the air after a state prisoner fled from a van carrying a work-release crew in an area near Plank Road and Hooper Road, officials said Tuesday.The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office said the crew was from the state Department of Corrections and the inmate involved was being housed at a work-released facility in the parish.Dogs and deputies were on the ground searching for the inmate while a helicopter hovered overh
  
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• One person critically injured in shooting along Maplewood Drive

  18-06-2024 17:15 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - One person was hurt in a shooting along Maplewood Drive on Tuesday afternoon. Officials said the shooting happened along Maplewood Drive, near BREC's Maplewood Park, around 4:45 p.m. One person was taken to a hospital in critical condition. No more information about the shooting was released. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Man critically injured in shooting at BREC Maplewood Park

  18-06-2024 17:15 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - A man was critically injured after two groups exchanged gunfire at the BREC Maplewood Park on Tuesday. The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office said the shooting happened at 4:45 p.m.. One of the men involved was taken to a hospital in critical condition.No more information about the shooting was released. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Amount of vacant house fires in 2024 not alarming Baton Rouge fire officials

  18-06-2024 17:05 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - What may seem to be an abnormal amount of vacant house fires may just be the standard. Twenty vacant structure fires have popped up in the capital area in the first six months of 2024. Baton Rouge Fire Department Spokesperson Curt Monte says it is nothing out of the ordinary. "When you look at the comparisons from two years ago, last year and this year, the house fires are pretty much in line with what we've seen in the past few years," Monte said.There have been 17 arson
  
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• Officials still unaware of source of possible chemical leak in St. Gabriel

  18-06-2024 16:57 via wbrz.com
  
  ST. GABRIEL — On Monday, three people needed treatment at a hospital after fumes from a possible chemical leak wafted over portions of eastern Iberville Parish. On Tuesday, there were still questions as to how the leak happened.Two affected were older residents and the third was a firefighter dispatched to the scene.Local officials told WBRZ that the source was something along the Mississippi River. Residents said they fell ill after seeing a dark cloud with an unfamiliar smell pass t
  
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• Man arrested for possession of child pornography, sexual abuse of animal

  18-06-2024 16:47 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - A man was arrested Tuesday at the end of a months long investigation into his possession of child pornography. The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office said deputies got a tip the the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at the end of April that an account owned by 43-year-old Alexander Torres Orellana Darwin had child pornography files. After getting a warrant, deputies found Darwin's Google account had more than 900 images of people and 52 vid
  
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• Three men from Texas arrested for illegally possessing alligator in New Orleans

  18-06-2024 16:24 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Three men from Texas were cited after they found an alligator in Lafitte and brought it to New Orleans. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said Ediberto Sanchez, 48, Matthew Erwin, 45, and Elgein Konesheck, 48, all from Sealy, Texas, found an alligator near a park in Lafitte on May 30. The men brought the alligator to New Orleans and were spotted on the sidewalk of Esplanade Avenue with the animal, but were gone when authorities showed up. On June
  
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• Baton Rouge Police searching for man who attempted to break into Sherwood Forest Boulevard business

  18-06-2024 15:58 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — The Baton Rouge Police Department is searching for a man who allegedly attempted to burglarize a business on South Sherwood Forest Boulevard.The man was seen attempting to enter a business at 3535 S. Sherwood Forest Boulevard on surveillance footage early morning on June 11. The suspect was unable to gain entry into the business but caused significant damage during his attempt, police said.Multiple businesses are located at the address, including Planet X Vape Shop, On T
  
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• Prayers answered; utility company responds with tree trimming crews

  18-06-2024 15:53 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Tree trimming trucks are giving hope to one neighborhood that's had several power outages so far this year. They were in the Mayfair Park area starting Monday morning.Entergy responded fast, inspecting the power lines to provide Barbara Woods and her neighbors with electricity. She spoke with 2 On Your Side earlier this month about the problems she has during inclement weather in her neighborhood. Woods says she says a prayer every time it rains."I pray and ask God to please help
  
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• One person shot along North 29th on Tuesday

  18-06-2024 15:53 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - One person was hurt in a shooting along North 29th Street on Tuesday afternoon. The Baton Rouge Police Department said the shooting happened before 3 p.m. near the corner of North 29th Street and Bogan Walk. One person was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. No more information was immediately available. Permalink| Comments
  
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• EBR contractor with history of fraud arrested after allegedly defrauding bank of $30,500 with fake checks

  18-06-2024 15:12 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — A contractor with a long history of fraud, who was arrested in 2022 on a bad-check charge, was arrested Tuesday morning for allegedly defrauding a bank out of more than $30,500, deputies said.Edmund LeBlanc, 61, allegedly deposited falsified checks at and withdrew money from an East Baton Rouge Parish credit union in March, an arrest warrant filed by the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office says.LeBlanc allegedly deposited the checks on March 6 and 7 payable to Handi
  
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• EBR School Board to decide on list of superintendent finalists immediately after Tuesday community meeting

  18-06-2024 13:48 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board is hosting a special meeting Tuesday evening to select the finalists for the board's new superintendent.East Baton Rouge Schools will decide the finalists from a pool of 17 applicants. Among the applicants is interim superintendent Adam Smith, who has been serving in the position since Sito Narcisse's departure from the role in January. Smith received the Board's backing in January.Many of the applicants have current or past exper
  
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• EBR School Board selects five finalists for superintendent job

  18-06-2024 13:48 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board selected five finalists for the board's new superintendent during their meeting Tuesday. From a pool of 17 applicants. the following five were chosen: Adam Smith, Andrea Zayas, Kevin George, Krish Mohip and Patrick Jenkins.Smith has been serving in the position since Sito Narcisse's departure from the role in January. He received the Board's backing in January.Tuesday's meeting is the third in a series to provide the publ
  
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• WBRZ names new general manager

  18-06-2024 13:38 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — WBRZ on Tuesday introduced Andrew Shenkan as its new general manager. Shenkan previously held a sales management role at the station."We are thrilled to welcome Andrew Shenkan back to the WBRZ family," said Jake Manship, chief executive officer of Manship Media. "Andrew's extensive experience and proven leadership in the broadcasting industry make him the perfect fit to lead our team and continue our commitment to delivering high-quality news and entertainment t
  
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• LDWF: Pontoon boat ran over group of three kids in False River over weekend that hospitalized 14-year-old

  18-06-2024 12:48 via wbrz.com
  
  JARREAU — A 25-foot pontoon boat ran over and injured a group of three kids on False River over the weekend, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said Tuesday morning.According to officials, the boating incident happened Saturday afternoon when a boat was towing three children in a tube when they fell off the tube and were floating in the water waiting for their boat to loop back around to pick them up when the pontoon boat ran them over.A 14-year-old had to be airlifted
  
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• Deputies searching for man, woman who stole cart full of merchandise from Port Allen Walmart

  18-06-2024 12:24 via wbrz.com
  
  PORT ALLEN — The West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office is attempting to identify two people who stole a shopping cart full of merchandise from a Port Allen Walmart in May.Deputies released photos of the individuals, a Black man and a Black woman, entering the store and leaving with full shopping carts without paying. They were both seen in security footage leaving in a white Mercedes SUV.If anyone recognizes the individuals and has any information about their identity, re
  
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• Raising Cane's owner makes $100K donation to Snoop Dogg's youth football organization

  18-06-2024 12:22 via wbrz.com
  
  DALLAS, Tex. - Raising Cane's owner Todd Graves has been friends with rapper Snoop Dogg for years, and this is only made more apparent with Graves' recent donation to the musician's youth football organization, The Snoop Youth Football League. SYFL is a league based in Los Angeles that provides a safe and productive way for inner-city kids to have fun during their summers and learn about team values, sportsmanship, and fairness. “Snoop and I have been friends for yea
  
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• Raising Cane's owner makes $100 thousand donation to Snoop Dogg's youth football organization

  18-06-2024 12:22 via wbrz.com
  
  DALLAS, Tex. - Raising Cane's owner Todd Graves has been friends with rapper Snoop Dogg for years, and this is only made more apparent with Graves' recent donation to the musician's youth football organization, The Snoop Youth Football League. SYFL is a league based in Los Angeles that provides a safe and productive way for inner-city kids to have fun during their summers and learn about team values, sportsmanship, and fairness. “Snoop and I have been friends for yea
  
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• East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority donates computers to families in Monte Sano Village

  18-06-2024 12:00 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - The East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority donated computers to more than 60 families in the Monte Sano Village on Tuesday. The EBRPHA is partnering with the James M. Cox Foundation to pay for and distribute the laptops and desktops. The donation is part of the housing authority's access initiative. The goal of the partnership is to provide residents easier access to things like virtual learning, telemedicine and job opportunities, which they say is key to ach
  
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• Victim shot during 2021 armed robbery attempt dies from complications 3 years later

  18-06-2024 08:32 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - An investigation into an armed robbery from 2021 continues as the victim, who suffered a gunshot wound during the incident, died from complications. Warren West, 35, died Monday from complications stemming from a gunshot wound he received on February 7, 2021 during an armed robbery.No information on possible suspects was immediately known. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Teenager arrested for allegedly trying to break into vape shop

  18-06-2024 08:26 via wbrz.com
  
  LAPLACE - Deputies arrested a juvenile who allegedly tried to break into a vape shop. Surveillance footage from early Saturday morning showed a juvenile trying to break through the glass front door of 420 Vape Shop in LaPlace. When deputies from the St. John Parish Sheriff's Office arrived, they saw the same juvenile leaving the area on a bike. The teenage was arrested and booked into the Sherman Walker Correctional Facility for violating a juvenile curfew, simple criminal dam
  
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• Lawsuit fighting to remove Angola's farm line to be heard by federal Judge Tuesday afternoon

  18-06-2024 07:39 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Prison rights advocacy group Voices of the Experienced has filed suit against the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Commissions. The lawsuit will be heard in federal court for the first time Tuesday afternoon.The lawsuit, Voices of the Experienced v. James LeBlanc, fights against Angola's infamous hard labor practices where inmates do agricultural work outdoors.VOTE says this kind of work in Louisiana's high temperatures is "harsh and unconstitutional.""The purpose of the
  
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• Lawsuit fighting to remove Angola's farm line heard by federal judge Tuesday afternoon

  18-06-2024 07:39 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Prison rights advocacy group Voices of the Experienced has filed suit against the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Commissions. The lawsuit will be heard in federal court for the first time Tuesday afternoon.The lawsuit, Voices of the Experienced v. James LeBlanc, fights against Angola's infamous hard labor practices where inmates do agricultural work outdoors.VOTE says this kind of work in Louisiana's high temperatures is "harsh and unconstitutional.""The purpose of the
  
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• Advocates ask federal judge to keep prisoners out of Angola fields on the year's hottest days

  18-06-2024 07:39 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Advocates for inmates at the Angola State Penitentiary asked a federal judge Tuesday to keep prisoners out of the complex's massive agriculture fields during the hottest days of the year.U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson did not immediately rule on the request for a temporary restraining order. "We know men are being forced to work in the fields with their bare hands without proper (equipment), without shade, without sunscreen, without clean water, under threat
  
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• Vacant house burns down Tuesday morning

  18-06-2024 03:46 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - A vacant home off Plank Road burned down early Tuesday morning.Baton Rouge firefighters arrived at the scene on Anna Street just before 2:00 a.m., where the building was fully engulfed. Crews had the fire under control by 2:30.The house was deemed a total loss. Fire investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire.Permalink| Comments
  
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• How Garret Graves congressional departure will affect House of Representatives

  17-06-2024 21:17 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - After almost a ten year run in congress, Garret Graves announced that he will not be seeking re-election.The decision came after a long legal battle over Louisiana's congressional maps. Graves' district was completely reshaped when a federal judge ordered Louisiana lawmakers to redraw district lines to create a second majority-minority district.Political analyst James Hartman says changing one of the candidate's districts was inevitable. "Somebody had to be forced into a
  
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