Louisiana news

• School closures announced after severe weather

  17-05-2024 04:25 via wbrz.com
  
  School closures have been announced after overnight weather. The following list is current and more schools could be added:East Feliciana Parish
  - All schools closed due to downed trees on highwaysPermalink| Comments
  
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• LSU only Louisiana team, so far, to win in opening round of NCAA baseball tournament

  01-06-2024 07:39 via wbrz.com
  
  CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — LSU was the only Louisiana team to win its opening-round game in the NCAA baseball tournament, and the way the results fell Friday, two Louisiana teams will be eliminated Saturday. Louisiana Tech's rist-round result is still to be determined.Louisiana-Lafayette and Grambling face each other in the regional at Texas A&M on Saturday. The winner stays alive and the loser goes home.It's the same situation in Corvallis, Oregon. Nicholls and Tulane are fight
  
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• Inmate escapes from West Baton Rouge Parish Jail, refuses to leave pond

  31-05-2024 20:58 via wbrz.com
  
  WEST BATON ROUGE - An inmate from the West Baton Rouge Parish Jail escaped Friday evening, and police are attempting to recover him from a pond.According to Sgt. Landon Groger with the West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office, the escapee was found about 30 to 40 minutes after he escaped into a pond near the jail. The inmate refuses to come out of the pond.The deputies are currently trying to "tire out the inmate a little so [they] can get a game plan to arrest him."The identity of the inmate is curre
  
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• Inmate escaped from West Baton Rouge Parish Jail, refused to leave pond; now in custody

  31-05-2024 20:58 via wbrz.com
  
  WEST BATON ROUGE - An inmate from the West Baton Rouge Parish Jail escaped Friday evening, where police recovered him from a pond.According to Sgt. Landon Groger with the West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office, the escapee was found about 30 to 40 minutes after he escaped into a pond near the jail. The inmate refused to come out of the pond, but is now in police custody.Initially before deputies were able to get custody, they tried to "tire out the inmate a little so [they] can get a game plan to ar
  
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• Attorney says there's more work after Supreme Court reverses Baton Rouge judge's decision to free rapist

  31-05-2024 18:13 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - After the Louisiana Supreme Court reversed a Baton Rouge judge's decision to free a rapist behind bars for 50 years, his attorney is saying he believes other issues haven't been addressed. Donald Ray Link was 50 years into his life sentence for a 1972 rape conviction. Last week, he asked Judge Gail Horne Ray for parole eligibility, but she decided to overturn his conviction instead. Thursday, the Louisiana Supreme Court reversed that ruling. Link’s attorney, Rya
  
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• Louisiana Department of Veterans hosts first ever Women's Veterans Symposium

  31-05-2024 17:43 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — To celebrate the more than 30,000 women from Louisiana who have served their country, the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs hosted the first Women Veteran's Symposium Monday morning.The event was held at the American Legion Post 38 ahead of Women's Veterans Day on June 12.The department made the event after learning from female veterans that they'd appreciate a platform to talk about issues that they are facing. The department took it a step further and also inclu
  
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• BRPD searching for two people involved in fraud investigation

  31-05-2024 17:32 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — The Baton Rouge Police Department is attempting to identify two people wanted in a fraud investigation.BRPD's Financial Crimes Division provided two pictures of the individuals. They appear to be security footage from a casino.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Libraries mandating new cards for all minors starting this weekend

  31-05-2024 16:58 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — All libraries in the state of Louisiana, including East Baton Rouge Parish Libraries, will adopt a new set of tiered cards for minors starting Saturday.The new cards are a part of a recent state law change that went into effect at the start of the year. Saturday will be the first day the new law will begin to affect cardholders aged 0 to 17.Parents will have the option to either upgrade their child's current card that will have no restrictions or swap for a new tiered ca
  
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• WBR Parish Schools giving away free meals every Friday in June

  31-05-2024 16:42 via wbrz.com
  
  PORT ALLEN - A line of cars stretched down the road Friday morning, leading to Port Allen High School where free summer meal kits were being distributed to families. It's part of the school system's summer meals program, where children under 18 can receive a week's worth of food every Friday in the month of June. With this program, the school system is aiming to combat food insecurity."There are food deserts. We do know that. And because WBR parish is rural, there are a lot of people t
  
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• Beloved Advocate columnist Smiley Anders dead at age 86

  31-05-2024 16:23 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Smiley Anders, whose daily columns in the local daily newspaper were a must-read for more than four decades, died Friday after a long illness. He was 86.The Advocate reported Friday afternoon that Anders had died at his home in Spanish Town. It described Anders as the newspaper's "unofficial ombudsman and ambassador." It said he wrote more than 12,500 columns, nearly all of them a mix of observations made by him and his thousands of readers.“For decades, Smiley
  
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• Second victim dies, man arrested in Starboard Drive shooting that injured third person

  31-05-2024 15:57 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — A Baton Rouge man was arrested for the murder of two people, as well as the wounding of another person and a dog in a shooting at a Starboard Drive apartment, arrest records show.Kendrick Henderson, 45, was wanted for the May 24 murder of 36-year-old Terrell Williams. Henderson broke into his ex-girlfriend's home and opened fire, killing Williams and striking two others, deputies said. A dog was also wounded in the shooting, arrest records say. Deputies said that Henders
  
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• NTSB: Louisiana doctor's plane exceeded its safe operating speed in final moments before crash

  31-05-2024 15:57 via wbrz.com
  
  GONZALES — The National Transportation Safety Board said Friday that a small airplane piloted by a Louisiana plastic surgeon flew into moderate-to-heavy rain and was operating at an excessive speed before breaking up during a steep fall and crashing in Tennessee two weeks ago.The NTSB's preliminary accident report suggested no cause for the crash, instead providing a largely technical look at the flight's final moments. Investigators did note that the airplane surpassed its safe opera
  
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• BRPD releases body camera video of fights at mayor's Summer of Hope kickoff event

  31-05-2024 15:05 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Baton Rouge Police Department released new body camera video of multiple fights that broke out during Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome's Summer of Hope kickoff event at Liberty Lagoon.According to the police, the department is investigating the arrest of an adult female during the event held at Lobdell Avenue. BRPD says that in the video, a female officer attempted to detain an individual following a brief scuffle, but was unable to do so due to large crowd interf
  
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• Identity wanted for person involved in downtown Baton Rouge altercation

  31-05-2024 14:48 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Detectives are attempting to identify a person involved in a physical altercation in downtown Baton Rouge.Detectives with the Baton Rouge Police Department believe this individual was the aggressor in a physical altercation that occurred on May 19, 2024, in the 300 Block of North Boulevard.Anyone with information should contact 344-STOP (344-7867).Permalink| Comments
  
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• EBR school system seeks input on whether district should fence students in at some campuses

  31-05-2024 14:47 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — The East Baton Rouge Parish School District is looking into whether it should build fences around some of its campuses and is asking parish residents to weigh in with their thoughts.Through a form on the district's web site, administrators pose 12 questions including whether aesthetics or safety should be a primary concern if fences go up.The district web site does not say which schools it has in mind for possible fencing.The poll is available at https://bit.ly/EBRfencin
  
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• Broadmoor resident relieved after city removes dead tree threatening home

  31-05-2024 14:29 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - A dead tree that was threatening a woman's home has been taken down. The city's drainage department removed the tree Friday morning.Julia Walen reached out to 2 On Your Side in April about the tree after she had spent months trying to get the parish to help."I've reached out at least 12 times this year," said Walen.The tree, which grew along Jones Creek in Broadmoor was behind Walen's home. It has been dropping limbs since last summer when two of them pierced holes in Walen's roof
  
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• $$$ Best Bets: Postseason basketball, baseball and hockey, oh my! $$$

  31-05-2024 14:23 via wbrz.com
  
  Hunter McCann has the best bets for NBA playoffs, college baseball, MLB and Stanley Cup Playoffs!NBA Finals:The Celtics win the series against the Mavericks in 6 games (+470)FridayNHL:Oilers @ Stars: Stars MLMLB:Cardinals @ Phillies: Phillies -1.5Diamondbacks @ Mets: Diamondbacks MLAthletics @ Braves: Braves -1.5College Baseball:VCU @ Wake Forest: Wake Forest -3.5Texas @ ULL: ULL +1.5Illinois @ Indiana: Illinois MLSaturdayNHL:Florida Panthers @ New York Rangers: Panthers MLMLB:Athletics @ Brave
  
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• Donaldsonville man sentenced for 25 years for rape of two juveniles

  31-05-2024 14:18 via wbrz.com
  
  DONALDSONVILLE - A man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of rape Friday.Layne Barras, 28, pled guilty to two counts of third-degree rape as a result of a plea agreement with prosecutors. In July 2021, Assumption Parish Sheriff's detectives received information indicating that Layne Barras had committed sexual acts with two juvenile victims. Upon receiving this information, detectives initiated an investigation into the allegations, and during
  
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• BRPD arrests two suspects for robbery after chasing down stolen vehicle

  31-05-2024 14:11 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Following a chase involving a stolen vehicle, officers arrested two people for robbery. Monday, officers starting chasing after a car on Main Street. The car had been reported stolen. The pursuit led to the arrest of the driver, 41-year-old Billy Moore, and the passenger, 36-year-old Christera Holton. It was found that Moore and Holton were suspects in a robbery that happened the day before. The two were arrested and booked into the parish prison for fli
  
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• Deputies searching for owner of supposedly kidnapped rooster

  31-05-2024 13:59 via wbrz.com
  
  PATTERSON - Deputies had a burning question for parish residents Friday morning: "Is anyone missing a rooster?"The St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office said Friday morning deputies were called to find a runaway child. "So, it all started when a youngster decided to embark on an adventure, leaving home in search of a new life," deputies said. "We've all been there."The SMPSO found the child quickly, but quickly discovered the child hadn't run away from home alone. In his backpack was a rooster&m
  
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• Biden calls Trump's response to criminal conviction 'reckless,' 'irresponsible'

  31-05-2024 13:38 via wbrz.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden noted pointedly Friday that Donald Trump was found guilty by a unanimous jury, and he slammed the former president's attempts to cast the case against him as politically motivated as "reckless," "dangerous" and "irresponsible."Reacting a day after the conclusion of Trump's criminal trial in New York, when Biden's opponent in November's election was convicted on all 34 felony charges in a hush money case stemming from the 2016 election, Biden said
  
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• Fallen Denham Springs officer, others remembered at FBI event

  31-05-2024 13:22 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW ORLEANS — The FBI on Friday paid tribute to four Louisiana law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty during 2023, including Corp. Shawn Kelly of the Denham Springs Police Department.Kelly died last May after responding to a disturbance in a shopping center parking lot. Officers were summoned to the shopping center after being told about an argument between a man and a woman. Justin Roberts, 30, started shooting when police arrived, and struck Kelly.Roberts was later sh
  
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• Biden says Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another major attack against Israel

  31-05-2024 13:15 via wbrz.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Friday that Hamas is “no longer capable” of carrying out another large-scale attack on Israel as he urged Israelis and Hamas to come to a deal to release remaining hostages for an extended cease-fire.Biden addressed the nearly 8-month-old Israel-Hamas war as the Israeli military confirmed on Friday that its forces are now operating in central parts of Rafah in its expanding offensive in the southern Gaza city.“Th
  
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• Biden: Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another major attack against Israel

  31-05-2024 13:15 via wbrz.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Friday that Hamas is “no longer capable” of carrying out another large-scale attack on Israel as he urged Israelis and Hamas to come to a deal to release remaining hostages for an extended cease-fire.Biden addressed the nearly 8-month-old Israel-Hamas war as the Israeli military confirmed on Friday that its forces are now operating in central parts of Rafah in its expanding offensive in the southern Gaza city.“Th
  
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• Man accused of Ascension Parish carjacking and separate rape arrested in Houston

  31-05-2024 12:21 via wbrz.com
  
  HOUSTON — A man who was wanted in Ascension Parish crimes including a rape and separate kidnapping and carjacking has been captured in Houston, arrest records show.Zachary Alphonse Hendricks, 30, was arrested there Tuesday in two burglaries and for allegedly evading arrest. After that arrest, authorities discovered the outstanding warrants from Ascension Parish. He was then held as a fugitive.Hendricks has waived extradition back to Louisiana, Texas court records show.According to an
  
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• 2MAD: Planting seeds in the community through gardening work

  31-05-2024 12:01 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - In this week's 2 Make a Difference, Sylvia Weatherspoon highlights a gardener after the Annual Hilltop Arboretum featured some of their impressive garden.Anyone interested in highlighting someone making a difference in the community, send a name, information and a brief summary to [email protected]| Comments
  
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• Agents seize 164 sacks of oysters from Houma woman cited for harvesting violations

  31-05-2024 09:47 via wbrz.com
  
  FOUR LEAGUE BAY - Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents recovered 164 sacks of oysters that were improperly harvested. Santa Carbajal, 55, of Houma was cited for oyster harvesting violations after being stopped in Four League Bay. Agents found the sacks on board her vessel in a nonfunctional fridge, and officials said an average sack of oysters weights around 105 pounds. Carbajal also reportedly failed to fill out the oyster harvesting logbook. Violati
  
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• Downed tree crushes house, 2 cars, brings down power line

  31-05-2024 08:06 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - The resident of a home had to crawl out of their house after a tree fell on it, crushing two cars and bringing down a powerline in the process. The tree fell sometime overnight on Tecumseh Street off of Chippewa Street. Officials on scene told WBRZ the resident of the home hidden under the tree had to crawl out to escape. The Baton Rouge Fire Department is on scene due to a scent of gas in the area, and Entergy is on the way because of a downed line. Thi
  
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• Fire investigators arrest man for arson of home utility room

  31-05-2024 07:49 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - A man was arrested for arson after he allegedly set fire to a home on Laurel Street. The Baton Rouge Fire Department was called to a home on Laurel Street on the morning of May 17. Crews found the home's utility room on fire and estimated the damages to be around $5,000. Investigators found the fire was intentionally set. After over a week of investigating, officials took Lionel Coleman, 41, into custody for one count of simple arson. Permalink| Comments
  
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• St. Vincent de Paul to host prayer session ahead of above-average hurricane season

  31-05-2024 07:27 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Hurricane season starts on June 1, and the National Weather Service says it is projected to have an above-average amount of activity. That's why Bishop Michael Duca with St. Vincent de Paul is hosting a prayer session ahead of the official start of the season. JP spoke with Duca Friday morning on 2une In. Permalink| Comments
  
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