Baton Rouge news

• Amid budget cuts, Louisiana keeps prison costs down in ways other states don't

  27-09-2016 22:36
  
  No other state has converted its private prisons to jails to save money.
  
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• 66-year-old man struck by train after attempting to cross track on his bicycle

  27-09-2016 21:15 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW IBERIA - A 66-year-old man was struck by a train late this afternoon when he attempted to cross at a non-roadway crossing area of the track.The Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office said around 4:22 p.m. Tuesday, deputies located the victim, 66-year-old Eddie Livingston on the north side of the railroad tracks in between Ann and S. Lewis Street. Officials said it appeared Livingston was attempting to cross the tracks with his bicycle when he was struck by a freight train traveling westbound.Livings
  
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• St. Tammany authorities seek public's help in ID of body

  27-09-2016 19:55 via wbrz.com
  
  SLIDELL - St. Tammany Parish detectives are asking the public to help identify a man whose bludgeoned, dismembered and decomposed body was found near a highway intersection two months ago.Authorities say advanced DNA analysis indicates the man probably had fair skin, brown or hazel eyes and dark brown hair.Capt. Daniel Seuzeneau (soo-zuh-NOH) said Tuesday that items found near the body indicate that either the man or his killer may have had ties to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.In addition, the man
  
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• Senate blocks stopgap bill to fund government

  27-09-2016 19:28 via wbrz.com
  
  WASHINGTON - The Senate has blocked a spending bill needed to keep the government open beyond Friday's midnight deadline.Most Democrats and at least 10 Republicans voted to block the bill, which also funds the fight against the Zika virus. Democrats are demanding money to help Flint, Michigan, address its lead-tainted water crisis.The 45-55 vote on Tuesday stalls the stopgap bill - for now. Republican leaders are promising to address the Flint issue after the election in a separate water bill, b
  
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• How big is Louisiana's deficit? Figure expected next month

  27-09-2016 19:16 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - A dollar figure for Louisiana's budget deficit will be released next month, after the state's financial analysts finish reconciling the accounting books.Louisiana leaders expect the state spent more than it brought into the treasury in the budget year that ended June 30. Gov. John Bel Edwards' administration says the gap could reach up to $300 million.But the closing of the books on a state government budget year, with billions in income and spending is complex. The Revenue Estimat
  
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• Pregnant woman, man escape burning car on I-12

  27-09-2016 16:09 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - A couple expecting a child was able to make it out of their burning car on the side of I-12 Tuesday.The sedan burst into flames near the O'Neal exit shortly before rush hour. Flames were seen shooting from the hood of the car.A good Samaritan tried to put out the fire but could not. Firefighters quickly arrived and put out the blaze.Fire crews on the scene i12 west near Denham Springs @WBRZ pic.twitter.com/rSHktBk2NH— Mark Armstrong (@TvMarkArmstrong) September 27, 2016Tr
  
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• Overturned semi off I-10 causing delays on I-10 E in Ascension

  27-09-2016 16:00 via wbrz.com
  
  SORRENTO - Eastbound I-10 is slow between Gonzales and Sorrento due to an overturned truck on La. 22 at La. 70.The box truck overturned just before 2 Tuesday. The semi flipped at the intersection just south of the Sorrento exit on I-10. Traffic backed up from local surface streets to eastbound interstate lanes.  As of 4 p.m., traffic had already slowed for four miles on I-10.State traffic monitors said to expect heavy delays Tuesday evening because of the situation.Click HERE to monitor
  
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• Overturned semi off I-10 caused delays on I-10 E in Ascension Tuesday

  27-09-2016 16:00 via wbrz.com
  
  SORRENTO - Eastbound I-10 slowed between Gonzales and Sorrento due to an overturned truck on La. 22 at La. 70.The box truck overturned just before 2 Tuesday. The semi flipped at the intersection just south of the Sorrento exit on I-10. Traffic backed up from local surface streets to eastbound interstate lanes.  As of 4 p.m., traffic had already slowed for four miles on I-10.State traffic monitors said to expect heavy delays Tuesday evening because of the situation.Click HERE to monitor
  
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• Still being a problem, two areas sprayed for mosquitoes by plane tonight

  27-09-2016 15:23 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Two areas of the parish will be sprayed for mosquitoes Monday night due to an increasing number of bugs.Crews will fly over Sherwood Forest east of Sherwood Forest Blvd. to Centurion Place. Also, an area of Highland Road and Perkins from Bluebonnet to the Country Club of Louisiana.Standing water still lingering following the flood in southern areas of East Baton Rouge and Ascension Parish is fueling an increase in mosquitoes, the EBR mosquito abatement division has said. The mosqui
  
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• Still a problem, two areas sprayed for mosquitoes by plane tonight

  27-09-2016 15:23 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Two areas of the parish will be sprayed for mosquitoes Monday night due to an increasing number of bugs.Crews will fly over Sherwood Forest east of Sherwood Forest Blvd. to Centurion Place. Also, an area of Highland Road and Perkins from Bluebonnet to the Country Club of Louisiana.Standing water still lingering following the flood in southern areas of East Baton Rouge and Ascension Parish is fueling an increase in mosquitoes, the EBR mosquito abatement division has said. The mosqui
  
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• EBR consolidates locations to sign waivers for debris removal that's not on the curb

  27-09-2016 14:56 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - The city started to consolidate locations where people can get information on debris removal.Seven-hundred homeowners have applied for the private property debris removal program, which allows crews to enter private residential property for flood-related debris removal purposes, provided the debris is placed within approximately 30 feet from the public right-of-way. Homeowners must sign paperwork clearing contractors can enter private property. It is a typical process of any post-d
  
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• Injured deputy's tattoo of cross maintains shape after surgery

  27-09-2016 14:50 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Injured sheriff's deputy Bruce Simmons is recovering from another surgery related to being shot during the deadly officer ambush earlier this summer.The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office shared news about his recovery in a Facebook post Tuesday. Staples and sutures were removed from Simmons' hip, leg and arm.Doctors were surprised a cross tattoo near an incision on his arm remained in tact during surgical work. Still, though, Simmons is having problems moving his wrist and s
  
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• School board member hit, killed walking on road; Driver arrested

  27-09-2016 13:09 via wbrz.com
  
  ST. FRANCISVILLE - A member of the West Feliciana School Board was killed while walking down a highway last week, the sheriff's office reported Tuesday.James White, 59, was hit while walking along Solitude Road near Heir Road shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday. Deputies said the driver of a sedan, Tiffany Cage, hit White as she drove by him.Cage, of Greenwood Road, was arrested and booked into jail on negligent homicide charges. She was released after posting a $10,000 bond. Toxicology samples were o
  
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• Superfest finds home in Superdome after Tiger Stadium pulls out

  27-09-2016 12:52 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW ORLEANS - After losing its home in Tiger Stadium, Bayou Country Superfest will move to New Orleans, concert promoters announced Tuesday.The 2017 festival scheduled for Memorial Day weekend will be held at the Superdome. The concert series will mark its eight season next year - it's first outside of Baton Rouge. Tiger Stadium announced it could not hold the concert series for the next two years due to construction in the stadium for the next two post-seasons.Promoters said the lineup and tick
  
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• Raising Cane's shows one love for Les Miles

  27-09-2016 12:50 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE- Owner of Raising Cane's chicken fingers Todd Graves has nothing but love for Les Miles. The founder and CEO of the famous restaurant chain posted a tweet that thanked Miles for the many years he represented the company as a spokesperson.The tweet also included a picture of a sign located at one of their Baton Rouge restaurants, thanking Miles for "12 years and great memories."Miles has appeared in multiple advertisements and promotions for Cane's in his time as LSU's head coach.
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• Ascension works to rebury caskets and vaults following flood

  27-09-2016 12:43 via wbrz.com
  
  GONZALES - Reburial of damaged or dislodged caskets and vaults will begin soon, Ascension Parish announced Tuesday.Family members of remains already identified are in the process of being notified. Other families, though, are asked to report the conditions of family grave sites. There are a number of caskets and vaults that are unidentified following the flood in August."Parish officials have begun notifying families or next-of-kin for those caskets that have been positively identified, and this
  
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• Thousands of dollars worth of electronics go missing from flooded school

  27-09-2016 12:25 via wbrz.com
  
  SPRINGFIELD - A man was arrested after sheriff's deputies say he stole thousands of dollars worth of electronics from a school in Livingston Parish.On August 20 and 21, contractors were on site to help clean flood damage. That's when about $50,000 worth of electronics went missing.The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office says 26-year-old Desmond Calloway turned himself into the authorities last week. He's charged with tampering with surveillance or monitoring equipment.Sheriff Jason Ard says, "Thr
  
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• Man arrested for foricible rape

  27-09-2016 09:08 via wbrz.com
  
  BAYOU L'OURSE - Assumption Parih Sheriff's deputies have arrested a Napoleonville man for forcible rape.Detectives investigated the case after receiving a call on July 24th and interviewed the victim and witnesses. They later identified 36-year-old Daniel Naquin as the suspect. Deputies obtained an arrest warrant on Naquin.  Naquin is booked into parish prison awaiting a bond hearing.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Password breach could have ripple effects well beyond Yahoo

  27-09-2016 08:53 via wbrz.com
  
  LONDON - Information security experts worry that the record-breaking haul of password data from Yahoo could be used to open locks up and down the web.One big worry is a cybercriminal technique known as "credential stuffing," which works by throwing leaked username and password combinations at a series of websites in an effort to break in, a bit like a thief finding keys in an apartment lobby and jamming them, one after the other, into every door in the building.The spillover effect on other webs
  
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• Cajundome renovations includes new seats, interactive murals

  27-09-2016 08:02 via wbrz.com
  
  LAFAYETTE - New seating and improved concession booths are some of the features of a major renovation underway inside Lafayette's Cajundome.The renovation, which started in May, is proceeding on schedule, maybe even a little ahead of schedule, with an anticipated Dec.1 re-opening date.While the focus is on the interior of the arena, The Advertiser reports bids should be in hand in August to resurface the roof of the Cajundome, which is mostly black from dirt and mildew.The $21 million i
  
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• 45% of inspected Denham Springs structures damaged by flood

  27-09-2016 07:39 via wbrz.com
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - Denham Springs officials say about 45 percent of flooded structures in their city evaluated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency have been deemed substantially damaged.The Advocate reports Rick Foster of the Denham Spring Building Department told the city council Monday FEMA inspectors evaluated 2,729 residential and commercial structures and found 1,222 had sustained damage estimated to cost 50 percent or more of the structure's value to repair.Foster said he ask
  
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• 4 plaintiffs awarded $13.6M in Geismar plant explosion

  27-09-2016 07:33 via wbrz.com
  
  PLAQUEMINE- A Louisiana jury has award a total of $13.6 million to four men injured in the 2013 explosion at the Williams Olefins Geismar plant.The Advocate reports a jury in Iberville Parish ruled late Monday night the company, several plant officials and its parent company were negligent and knew with substantial certainty that the deadly fire could occur.The jury rendered its verdict after five hours of deliberation in the three-week trial in the first of several lawsuits related to
  
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• Abita Brewing Co. to launch new beer for Louisiana

  27-09-2016 07:12 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Abita Brewing Co.'s has a new brew but it's only going to be available in Louisiana.The latest creation, called The Boot, will go on sale Oct. 3.On Monday, the Abita Springs-based brewery announced the new beer was crafted to show the company's appreciation for people in its home state.President and Chief Executive David Blossman says they wanted to create something special for Louisiana residents - "the folks who have been with us from the start."The Boot is brewed with white whea
  
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• Strip club dancers sue state over new age restrictions

  27-09-2016 07:04 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Three dancers have filed a federal lawsuit alleging that a law requiring performers in New Orleans strip clubs be at least 21 years old is unconstitutional.The lawsuit comes about a week before state officials have said they'll begin enforcing the new law statewide.The dancers say the law will rob them of the ability to express themselves, in violation of the First Amendment guarantee of free speech. They also claim the law unfairly targets women, citing a clause that defines strip
  
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• Children of suspect of Amber Alert found dead, mother arrested

  27-09-2016 07:03 via wbrz.com
  
  ELKHART, Ind. - Two Indiana children who were the subject of an Amber Alert have been found dead and their mother has been arrested on murder charges.Elkhart, Indiana, police say they believe the two children found dead on Monday afternoon were seven-year-old Liliana Hernandez and six-year-old Rene Pasztor. They had been the subject of an Amber Alert earlier in the day warning that their mother may have abducted them.Police say their bodies were found in a car matching the description of the car
  
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• Taiwan closes schools, offices ahead of island-wide typhoon

  27-09-2016 07:01 via wbrz.com
  
  TAIPEI, Taiwan - Schools and offices are closed on Taiwan and people in dangerous areas have been evacuated as a large typhoon with 100 mile-per-hour winds approaches the island.Disaster officials say the typhoon is expected to cover the entire mountainous island.Landfall is forecast Tuesday evening.It's Taiwan's fourth typhoon of the year.Permalink| Comments
  
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• DC appeals court set to hear Clean Power Plan case

  27-09-2016 03:31 via wbrz.com
  
  WASHINGTON - The federal appeals court in Washington is set to hear arguments in the legal fight over President Barack Obama's plan to curtail greenhouse gas emissions.The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is scheduled to hear oral arguments Tuesday on the Clean Power Plan.About two dozen mostly GOP-led states sued over the carbon-cutting Obama plan, which aims to slow climate change by reducing power-plant emissions by one-third. The Supreme Court has delayed i
  
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• Court hears case of officer immune from manslaughter charge

  27-09-2016 03:28 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW ORLEANS - A federal appeals court is hearing the case of a white Texas officer who a judge earlier said was immune from prosecution in the shooting death of a black man.The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals is hearing the case in New Orleans.A Texas grand jury indicted Charles Kleinert for manslaughter in the death of Larry Jackson Jr. in July 2013.Kleinert was an Austin police officer assigned to an FBI-led task force on bank robberies.He was investigating bank robbery when he encountered Jackso
  
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• WHO: Excessive air pollution affects 92 percent of people

  27-09-2016 03:07 via wbrz.com
  
  GENEVA - The World Health Organization says more than nine out of 10 people worldwide live in areas with excessive air pollution, contributing to problems like strokes, heart disease and lung cancer.The U.N. health agency says in a new report that 92 percent of people live in areas where air quality exceeds WHO limits, with southeast Asia, eastern Mediterranean and western Pacific regions hardest hit.The country-by-country figures come from new satellite data as well as traditional ground measur
  
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• Alton Sterling's family wants swift federal investigation

  27-09-2016 01:12
  
  Relatives of a black man who was shot and killed during an altercation with two white Baton Rouge police officers called Monday for a swift resolution to the Justice Department's investigation.
  
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