Louisiana news

• Baton Rouge 10-year-old to compete in international Rubik's Cube competition

  01-12-2021 21:20 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Just six months ago, 10-year-old Paul Evans got his first Rubik's Cube. Now, he and his family are preparing to travel to Tennessee, where he will compete in an international Rubik's Cube competition over the weekend.Evans can solve a Rubik's Cube in as fast as 24 seconds. Although the competition is tough, Evans is hoping to enjoy the event. "I'm not too nervous about it. I'm just there to have fun," Evans said. Solving Rubik's Cubes is just one of Paul's many h
  
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• State agencies receive formal complaint in wake of botched child rape investigation

  01-12-2021 18:41 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - State officials received a formal complaint over an investigation into reported child sex abuse that advocates say went unaddressed for years. A Louisiana State Police spokesperson confirmed to WBRZ on Wednesday that the agency received a formal complaint over the case highlighted in multiple WBRZ Investigative Unit reports. State Police said the complaint was forwarded to the state inspector general's office for further review. The case involves a juvenile in fo
  
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• Prosecutors will seek death penalty for accused Baton Rouge cop killer

  01-12-2021 17:38 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - A man accused of killing two people, including a Baton Rouge police officer, during a deadly shooting spree last year could face death if convicted. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore told WBRZ on Wednesday that his office is pursuing the death penalty in Ronnie Kato's case. Kato, 36, is accused of killing his girlfriend's step-father, Curtis Richardson, on April 26, 2020 then shooting two officers who tried to take him into custody later that same d
  
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• Driver killed after train strikes truck in Amite

  01-12-2021 17:28 via wbrz.com
  
  AMITE - A dump truck driver was killed after a train struck their vehicle Wednesday afternoon.Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office said the wreck happened around 4:15 p.m. while the driver was crossing train tracks on Ponders Quarter Lane.No one on the train was injured.No more information was immediately available.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Taysom Hill to start at QB for Saints against Cowboys Thursday night

  01-12-2021 16:43 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Taysom Hill will get his first start of the season at quarterback for the Saints when the Cowboys visit the Superdome in primetime Thursday night.ESPN reported the back-up quarterback and gadget player will line up under center instead of Trevor Siemian, who's gone 0-4 as a starter since leading the Saints to victory over the Buccaneers on Halloween night, the same game where Jameis Winston went down with a season-ending injury in the first half. The Saints, now 5-6, have
  
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• East Baton Rouge Parish schools work to find teachers amid nationwide teacher shortage

  01-12-2021 16:35 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE- In East Baton Rouge Parish, schools are working around the clock to fill teaching jobs.But with fewer teachers to go around, the job is much tougher.For East Baton Rouge Parish Public Schools, officials say there are between 90 to 100 vacancies.A job fair held Wednesday at Jefferson Terrace Academy was set in hopes to fill the gaps."When you have a lack of staff, it puts more pressure on the ones that are here, and when they get burned out, the students suffer," Tiffany Carter with
  
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• President and CEO of Visit Baton Rouge retiring after 20 years

  01-12-2021 15:45 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - The long-time President and CEO of Visit Baton Rouge, Paul Arrigo, said he will retire in 2022.Read the full statement below: “Throughout my tenure in this industry I’ve been mentored by some the industry’s greatest tourism leaders, Arrigo said. “The dedicated and outstanding staff that I have had the honor of working with through the years has allowed me to accomplish so much in the various roles that I have served in.”Ar
  
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• Grandson of Zachary judge dies after fall from French Quarter balcony

  01-12-2021 14:43 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW ORLEANS – The grandson of a Zachary City Court judge died last week after he fell from the balcony of a popular French Quarter bar.Matthew Myles, 19, died from his injuries at a New Orleans hospital, according to the Orleans Parish coroner’s office.New Orleans EMS paramedics responded to Pat O’Brien’s in the 600 block of Bourbon Street about 10:40 p.m. Friday and found Myles in critical condition.The New Orleans Police Department said the death remain
  
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• Police: FedEx packages found in woods at second Alabama site

  01-12-2021 14:34 via wbrz.com
  
  JEMISON, Ala. - Nearly two dozen FedEx packages have been found dumped in woods along a rural road in an Alabama town about 75 miles from a ravine where hundreds of undelivered FedEx parcels previously were discovered, police said Wednesday.Police in the town of Jemison said in a statement on social media that about 20 packages destined for locations on nine different roads were discovered.“We are in the process of contacting officials with Fed Ex so that they can investigate this sit
  
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• AP: 1st case of omicron variant identified in US

  01-12-2021 13:52 via wbrz.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — A person in California became the first in the U.S. to have an identified case of the omicron variant of COVID-19, a U.S. official told The Associated Press on Wednesday. It comes as scientists continue to study the risks posed by the new strain of the virus.The Biden administration moved late last month to restrict travel from Southern Africa where the variant was first identified and had been widespread. Clusters of cases have also been identified in about two doze
  
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• Justices signal they'll OK new abortion limits, may toss Roe

  01-12-2021 13:44 via wbrz.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court’s conservative majority on Wednesday signaled it would uphold Mississippi’s 15-week ban on abortion and may go much further to overturn the nationwide right to abortion that has existed for nearly 50 years.The fate of the court’s historic 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion throughout the United States and its 1992 ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which reaffirmed Roe, probably won’t be known u
  
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• Southern University to hold Fall Commencement Friday, Dec 10

  01-12-2021 12:34 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - An acclaimed Historic Black College (HBC) that's become one of Baton Rouge's most treasured institutions announced Wednesday that nearly 450 students will be honored as new graduates on Friday, December 10.Southern University and A&M College's Fall Commencement activities will begin at 10 a.m. next Friday at the F.G. Clark Activity Center.During the ceremony, Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees will be awarded. The chief student marshal is Ma
  
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• Coast Guard searching for man overboard near Baton Rouge

  01-12-2021 12:17 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW ORLEANS — Officials with the U.S. Coast Guard on Wednesday announced their search of the Mississippi River for a crewmember of a vessel called American Queen.  Authorities say the man went overboard near mile marker 229 in the Mississippi River, which is around the Baton Rouge area.Watchstanders with Coast Guard Sector New Orleans initially received a radio call regarding the incident at 2:03 a.m. when the American Queen contacted them and said a crewmember fell
  
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• Coast Guard searching for crewmember who fell off steamboat near Baton Rouge

  01-12-2021 12:17 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — The U.S. Coast Guard is searching the Mississippi River Wednesday for a missing crewmember who fell out of a steamboat near Baton Rouge.Authorities say the man went overboard near mile marker 229 in the Mississippi River, which is around the bridge near downtown Baton Rouge.Watchstanders with Coast Guard Sector New Orleans initially received a radio call regarding the incident at 2:03 a.m. when the American Queen contacted them and said a crewmember fell overboard. The c
  
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• Harvey Adger, head basketball coach at Glen Oaks, notches 900th victory

  01-12-2021 11:53 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Inside the gym that bears his name Wednesday night, Harvey Adger paced the bench as his Glen Oaks Panthers basketball team defeated Northeast High School for his 900th career win."He's been here 40-plus years, same spot," Kenneth Haynes, an assistant coach and former player for Adger, said. "He could’ve gone somewhere else, but he stuck to what he knows best. He loves the game of basketball."Beyond basketball, Adger prides himself on molding his players off the court. Pa
  
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• LSU hoops improves to 8-0 after beating Ohio 66-51

  01-12-2021 11:44 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - LSU basketball improves to 8-0 on the season, after beating Ohio 66-51. The Tigers got out to a fast start leading the Bobcats 14-0 and not allowing a point for the first 9 minutes of the game.Ohio would make a run and tied it at 37 with 14 minutes remaining in the game. But LSU would pull ahead for the 15 point victory. “Tremendous crowd. I thought the students were awesome. I think we set the student record tonight for the year. We had almost 2,500, 2,300 or so. We had
  
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• ABC's Stephanopoulos to interview Alec Baldwin about set shooting

  01-12-2021 09:44 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — George Stephanopoulos of ABC News will conduct an hourlong interview with Alec Baldwin to air Thursday about the shooting on the set of the movie “Rust.”AN @ABC EXCLUSIVE: @GStephanopoulos has the 1st exclusive interview with Alec Baldwin following the deadly shooting on the set of “Rust.”Watch the primetime special event TOMORROW 8pm ET on ABC and stream next day on @Hulu. pic.twitter.com/bQhUPfKDcW— ABC News (@ABC) De
  
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• Baton Rouge man arrested on 50 counts of pornography involving juveniles

  01-12-2021 08:23 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Authorities have arrested a Baton Rouge man on charges of pornography involving juveniles.According to an affidavit from an official with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, Alberto Barragan Sr. allegedly used Facebook Messenger to upload a number of videos containing child pornography to a chat group.Special Agents with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation were first made aware of the allegations against Barragan in March.As of Wednesday, Barragan is in East Baton Rouge Paris
  
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• Baton Rouge man arrested on 50 charges of pornography involving juveniles

  01-12-2021 08:23 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Authorities have arrested a Baton Rouge man on charges of pornography involving juveniles.According to an affidavit from an official with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, Alberto Barragan Sr. allegedly used Facebook Messenger to upload a number of videos containing child pornography to a chat group.Special Agents with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation were first made aware of the allegations against Barragan in March.As of Wednesday, Barragan is in East Baton Rouge Paris
  
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• Pineville mayor to retire, won't seek a 7th term

  01-12-2021 07:58 via wbrz.com
  
  PINEVILLE, La. (AP) — The mayor of a central Louisiana city said Tuesday he won’t run for a seventh term and will retire when his current one ends on June 30.Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields’ statement said the decision came “after much soul searching and reflection.”“Serving as mayor has been one of the greatest joys of my life,” he said.. “I will forever be grateful to the citizens of Pineville for the trust placed
  
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• Man arrested in brutal beating, death of 63-year-old victim

  01-12-2021 07:44 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - After a man was beaten to death on Madison Avenue, Baton Rouge Police (BRPD) arrested a 49-year-old male suspect in connection with the crime.According to an affidavit from a BRPD officer, Lorenza Rolan Lemon was arrested for his alleged role in the death of Clyde McFadden.Police say it was October 15 when McFadden was found badly beaten in the front yard of a Madison Avenue home and transported to an area hospital by EMS.The affidavit goes on to say that two days later, McFadden
  
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• Garth Brooks is 'Callin' Baton Rouge' ahead of his spring concert at Tiger Stadium

  01-12-2021 07:41 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Iconic singer and songwriter Garth Brooks will be performing some of his many classic country music songs for a Baton Rouge audience this spring.The multi-award-winning singer's concert is set for April 30 at Tiger Stadium.Over the years, Brooks has entertained audiences with classics like 'Friends in Low Places,' and 'The Thunder Rolls,' but when the 59-year-old star visits Tiger Stadium, he's likely to play a song that will have special significance to both him and to his audien
  
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• Garth Brooks coming to Tiger Stadium for spring concert

  01-12-2021 07:41 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Iconic singer and songwriter Garth Brooks will be performing some of his many classic country music songs for a Baton Rouge audience this spring.The multi-award-winning singer's concert is set for April 30 at Tiger Stadium.It will mark Brooks' first time in Louisiana in almost five years and his first time in Baton Rouge in 24 years.According to a press release, tickets are $94.95, all-inclusive, with an eight-ticket limit per purchase. Click here for additional information on tic
  
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• Garth Brooks 'Callin' Baton Rouge' to announce spring concert at Tiger Stadium

  01-12-2021 07:41 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Iconic singer and songwriter Garth Brooks will be performing some of his many classic country music songs for a Baton Rouge audience this spring.The multi-award-winning singer's concert is set for April 30 at Tiger Stadium.Over the years, Brooks has entertained audiences with classics like 'Friends in Low Places,' and 'The Thunder Rolls,' but when the 59-year-old star visits Tiger Stadium, he's likely to play a song that will have special significance to both him and to his audien
  
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• Vegas police confirm case involving R&B singer Trey Songz

  01-12-2021 05:59 via wbrz.com
  
  LAS VEGAS (AP) — Police said Tuesday they’re investigating sexual assault allegations involving R&B artist Trey Songz at a Las Vegas Strip hotel.In a statement, Las Vegas police said sex crimes detectives received a complaint about a Sunday incident involving the singer and actor whose name is Tremaine Aldon Neverson. Sunday was his 37th birthday.Neverson was cooperating with the investigation and no arrests have been made, said Officer Misael Parra, a Las Vegas police s
  
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• Dr. Oz to run for Pennsylvania's open Senate seat as a Republican

  01-12-2021 05:58 via wbrz.com
  
  One of the nation's most popular doctors is hoping to bring his experience to the political arena. According to CNN, cardiothoracic surgeon and television personality, Dr. Mehmet Oz, is running for the US Senate in Pennsylvania as a Republican.In addressing his reason for the unexpected career move, Oz said it all stemmed from a pattern he observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.He wrote, "During the pandemic, I learned that when you mix politics and medicine, you get politics i
  
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• 1 dead, 1 missing after boating accident in Louisiana

  01-12-2021 05:01 via wbrz.com
  
  BOGALUSA, La. (AP) — One boater is dead and another missing after an accident on the Pearl River, Louisiana authorities said Tuesday.Search crews found the body of Joseph Newby, 50, of Franklinton, late Monday and were looking for a 47-year-old man and the 14-foot (4.2-meter) boat on Tuesday, said Adam Einck, a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries spokesman.He said the two launched out of Bogalusa at Pools Bluff about 4:30 p.m. Monday and were reported missing about four hou
  
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• 1 dead, 1 missing after boating accident in Bogalusa

  01-12-2021 05:01 via wbrz.com
  
  BOGALUSA, La. (AP) — One boater is dead and another missing after an accident on the Pearl River, Louisiana authorities said Tuesday.Search crews found the body of Joseph Newby, 50, of Franklinton, late Monday and were looking for a 47-year-old man and the 14-foot (4.2-meter) boat on Tuesday, said Adam Einck, a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries spokesman.He said the two launched out of Bogalusa at Pools Bluff about 4:30 p.m. Monday and were reported missing about four hou
  
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• ABC reveals Clayton Echard as new star of The Bachelor, Season 26

  01-12-2021 05:00 via wbrz.com
  
  ABC announced Wednesday that Clayton Echard is the next star of The Bachelor.View this post on InstagramA post shared by The Bachelor (@bachelorabc)Variety reports that Echard will lead Season 26 of the dating show, which premiers on ABC, January 3.In the first trailer for the upcoming season, the 28-year-old Missouri native says, "I’m just a Midwest guy from Missouri that just wants to find love. And I believe more than anything that my future wife is here"As Echard's quest for true
  
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• Today: Abortion rights at stake in historic Supreme Court arguments

  01-12-2021 03:15 via wbrz.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Abortion rights are on the line at the Supreme Court in historic arguments Wednesday over the landmark ruling nearly 50 years ago that declared a nationwide right to end pregnancies and has forged one of the most enduring fault lines in American life and politics.The stakes for the fate of the Roe v. Wade decision have never been greater as the most conservative court of the past 40 years weighs whether to uphold a Mississippi law 
  
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• Today: Abortion rights at stake in historic Supreme Court argument

  01-12-2021 03:15 via wbrz.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Abortion rights are on the line at the Supreme Court in historic arguments over the landmark ruling nearly 50 years ago that declared a nationwide right to end a pregnancy.The justices on Wednesday will weigh whether to uphold a Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks and overrule the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.Mississippi also is asking the court to overrule the 1992 ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which reaffirmed Roe. The arguments can be heard liv
  
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