Louisiana news

• Video of Fatal Police Shooting of Louisiana Boy, 6, Is Released

  29-09-2016 23:58
  The boy was a passenger in his father’s car when he was killed in 2015, and two deputy marshals will be tried on charges of second-degree murder in a case that raises questions about police tactics.
  
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• Manufactured housing unit fails inspection, locked for days

  29-09-2016 21:47 via wbrz.com
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - A man has been trying to get answers about his manufactured housing unit for the past week and a half. William Kelly finally got the keys to his mobile unit Thursday, after sleeping in his truck for weeks.Water flooded his home, along with a truck last month. He lost everything.An MHU was approved and dropped off on his property, next to his flooded home 10 days ago. Up until Thursday, he wasn't able to go inside. Kelly says it took four days for an electric crew to install a me
  
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• State Police release dash footage of Camp Minden explosion

  29-09-2016 21:26 via wbrz.com
  
  MINDEN - Louisiana State Police have released dash camera footage that shows the moment an explosion at Camp Minden occurred.Police shared the video on their Facebook page, explaining that "Although this explosion looks significant in this video, it was much smaller than the one in 2012 and the earth covered storage bunker did exactly what it was designed to do, which is what ultimately minimized the damaged caused by this blast."The blast occured around 5 a.m. Thursday morning. Hazmat crews det
  
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• LSU senior brings Spanish flair to LSU football broadcasts

  29-09-2016 21:08 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Passion. Energy. Volume. It's what makes watching an LSU game in Spanish an experience unlike any other.Mario Jerez is using his voice and heritage to bring the all-American sport of football to Spanish-speaking homes across south Louisiana."I grew up here," Jerez explains, "and I grew up a big football fan, because my parents, being from Guatemala, kind of used LSU football as a way to engrain themselves into the culture. They went to the football games a lot, socialized a lot."Ta
  
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• Central Fire investigating blaze at home on Gurney Road

  29-09-2016 20:39 via wbrz.com
  
  CENTRAL - Central Fire Department is investigating a house fire on Gurney Road Thursday.Officials say the blaze started just after 6:00 p.m.When crews first arrived, they say they saw visible flames coming through the roof. It took nearly 45 minutes to bring the fire under control.Authorities say no one was home at the time, but two dogs were killed in the fire. One firefighter was treated on scene by EMS and released.The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the Red Cross is assis
  
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• Lady Gaga to perform in Super Bowl halftime show

  29-09-2016 20:09 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW YORK - It's official: Lady Gaga will headline the Super Bowl halftime show.
      
  The NFL and Pepsi announced Thursday that the pop star will take the stage Feb. 5 at NRG Stadium in Houston.
      
  Gaga sang the national anthem at the Super Bowl this year in Santa Clara, California. Beyonce, Bruno Mars and Coldplay headlined the halftime show.
      
  Gaga will release a new album, "Joanne," on Oct. 21. The Grammy win
  
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• From farm to table-- New Orleans students taste, learn the trend

  29-09-2016 19:05
  
  The program is implemented by the FirstLine Schools, to teach children how to make healthy connections to the earth, themselves, and their community by understanding the importance of food.
  
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• Volunteer firefighters needed in West Baton Rouge Parish

  29-09-2016 18:29 via wbrz.com
  
  BRUSLY – Lynn Thomas was home when a fire broke out at his home on Lukeville Lane in Brusly. And while he and his brother tried to put the fire out, the house was completely destroyed.Neighbors said only two or three firefighters responded to the fire when the call came through. And they say the first unit on the scene was from Addis, the next town away.Three other departments also responded, including a crew from Plaquemine in Iberville Parish.West Baton Rouge Parish council member Na
  
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• Baker High to celebrate homecoming post-flood

  29-09-2016 17:29 via wbrz.com
  
  BAKER – Baker High School is celebrating homecoming this week even though the school was damaged in last month's flood.Superintendent Herman Brister said the school sustained three feet of water from the flood. The students are currently relocated to Baker Middle School."They had to pull all these floors up and bleachers out, actually put humidifiers and dryers in here to get all the moisture out of the blocks and the floors," Brister said.Empty books stood in the school's library afte
  
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• Video Shows Shooting of Louisiana Child

  29-09-2016 17:09
  
  Body camera video released on Wednesday by a Louisiana judge shows two deputy city marshals shooting into car, killing a 6-year-old boy and critically wounding his father. (Audio begins at 15 seconds.)
  
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• Funeral services for WBR deputy and daughter set for Saturday

  29-09-2016 17:09 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - A deputy who was killed along with her daughter in a double-murder suicide on Tuesday will be laid to rest on Saturday.Corporal Donna LeBlanc and her 21-year-old daughter, Carli Jo, were killed during a shooting at their home. Police identified the shooter as their neighbor, Gregory Phillips.The West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office put a black ribbon on its door and deputies wore a black band on their badges in her honor. The West Baton Rouge courthouse also lowered their flags half s
  
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• Clinton says Trump flouted US law in Cuba work

  29-09-2016 17:02 via wbrz.com
  
  WASHINGTON - Hillary Clinton says a new report alleging that Donald Trump may have violated the U.S. embargo on communist Cuba is just more evidence that he puts his own interests ahead of the nation's.Newsweek reported Thursday that Trump explored business opportunities in Cuba in the late 1990s, apparently in violation of the U.S. embargo.Clinton told reporters aboard her campaign plane that "We have laws in our country," and Trump knew what they were. She added that "he deliberately
  
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• Department of Insurance warns of state's increased opioid overdoses

  29-09-2016 16:30 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – Mortality rates in the U.S. are rising and due in part to more people dying from drug overdoses, according to the Louisiana Department of Insurance.The Department of Insurance cites that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has seen an overdose death rate in Louisiana that exceeds the national average. The department also cites a study conducted by the Workers Compensation Research Institute that found that one in six injured workers in the Louisiana was identif
  
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• Man charged with forcing woman to prostitute for food

  29-09-2016 15:47 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – Deputies say a man was booked on human trafficking charges Thursday after they say he forced a woman to prostitute for food.According to arrest records, the victim told Louisiana State Police that 56-year-old Ricky Hale forced her to perform sexual acts between June and August 2015. The victim said Hale threatened to abuse her if she refused to have sex. He would also set up encounters without her consent and drove her to the locations.The victim said Hale controlled her
  
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• Denham Springs man killed after head-on crash on US 190

  29-09-2016 15:29 via wbrz.com
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS –State Police say a Denham Springs man is dead after a two car crash on US 190 west Thursday morning.According to Louisiana State Police, 68-year-old Harold Bergeron was killed when for “unknown reasons” he began to make a left turn onto Grey Eagle Road into the path of another vehicle. Both vehicles collided head-on in the eastbound lane on US 190.Investigators say Bergeron was wearing seatbelt, but still received serious injuries in the crash. He wa
  
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• Men posing as FEMA workers force into home at gunpoint, shoot resident

  29-09-2016 15:08 via wbrz.com
  
  AMITE – Deputies in Tangipahoa Parish are still looking for one man who they say posed as a FEMA worker, forced his way into a home at gunpoint then shot a resident in August.The shooting happened on Aug. 20 around 10:51 a.m. Deputies say 47-year-old Deshaun Harness and another man posed as FEMA workers to gain entry into a home on Franklin Street in the Village of Tangipahoa. When a woman answered the door, the two men asked her to sign a form.Investigators say one of the men
  
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• BRPD to offer free self-defense classes for women

  29-09-2016 14:33 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – The Baton Rouge Fire Department is offering free self-defense classes for women next month.The class will be held at the Baton Rouge Police Department Training Academy located at 9000 Airline Highway from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. for each session.The session dates are as follows:Session 1:
  Tuesday, Oct. 25Session 2:
  Thursday Oct. 27Session 3:
  Tuesday, Nov. 1Session 4:
  Thursday, Nov. 3The class is no charge and open to women over the age of 13. Participants should wear comfort
  
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• More than 500 FEMA housing units approved for disaster victims

  29-09-2016 14:25 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – Officials with the Governor's Office of Homeland Security, FEMA and the Small Business Administration gave their weekly update on Thursday afternoon.FEMA officials say that 557 mobile home units have been approved and placed for flood victims either on commercial and private sites. Currently there are 196 flood victims in the units.Tito Hernandez, FEMA housing expert, said the process to get a mobile home unit takes on about two to three weeks. According to Hernandez, dur
  
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• Obama signs flood aid, government funding bill

  29-09-2016 14:17 via wbrz.com
  
  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has signed a short-term funding bill to keep the government from shutting down at the end of the week.Lawmakers eager to leave town to campaign for re-election gave themselves breathing room by voting to continue existing spending levels for another 10 weeks, beyond the Nov. 8 election.Members of Congress will have to reach agreement on funding for the rest of the budget year when they meet in a lame-duck session after the election.The bill Obama signed Thursd
  
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• Search committee named to find new chancellor at BRCC

  29-09-2016 13:57 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - A search committee has been formed to find the next chancellor of Baton Rouge Community College.The Louisiana Community and Technical College System Board of Supervisors says the committee consists of board members, community members, college faculty and staff and a student representative.Supervisor Michael Murphy will serve as chairman. The deadline for applications is Oct. 24, with semifinalist interviews tentatively set for Nov. 2-3 and finalists announced Nov. 9.The panel's goa
  
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• Congress tied up in partisan knots over the most basic duty

  29-09-2016 13:54 via wbrz.com
  
  WASHINGTON - Congress has completed its most elementary task - but only after an intense, weekslong struggle to reach a deal to fund the government just days ahead of a shutdown deadline.The legislation extends existing spending levels a mere 10 weeks, past Election Day, while finally addressing the Zika crisis with $1.1 billion and providing long-sought help for the residents of Flint, Michigan, and flood victims in Louisiana. The legislation passed the Senate on a 72-26 vote and was backed by
  
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• Baton Rouge man charged with distributing child porn

  29-09-2016 13:48 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – A Baton Rouge man was charged with 100 counts of possession of child pornography, Louisiana State Police said Thursday.Louisiana State Police say 42-year-old James R. Fontenot II was also charged with one count of distributing child pornography.Investigators say the arrest comes after serving a search warrant at Fontenot’s Baton Rouge home. State Police said “a large amount of images indicative of child pornography” was found on several lapto
  
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• Fleming hits GOP opponents, says acting like in junior high

  29-09-2016 13:39 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - After lagging in polls, Republican U.S. Rep. John Fleming thinks he's found his path to the runoff in Louisiana's U.S. Senate race, positioning himself as the grown-up among the major GOP candidates.In his latest TV ad released statewide this week, Fleming hits the two leading Republicans in the race, U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany and Treasurer John Kennedy, as engaged in a "junior high food fight."Fleming, a doctor in office since 2009, suggests his GOP competitors are trading jabs a
  
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• DOTD adds permanent operation of second Plaquemine ferry

  29-09-2016 13:33 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – DOTD announced that the department will permanently operate a second morning ferry at the Plaquemine landing.The landing was added temporarily last month following the flood to ease congestion and benefit drivers. The ferry's hours of operation will be extended a half hour each weekday. The ferry will operate on weekdays from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.. The second ferry previously operated only until 8:30 a.m. each weekday.During the time period when the landing was added tempor
  
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• New no turn sign in Gonzales after serious crashes

  29-09-2016 13:22 via wbrz.com
  
  GONZALES – Drivers in Gonzales will no longer be able to turn left onto Highway 30 at Murphy’s and Walgreens.According to the Gonzales Police Department, the temporary change was approved to improve public safety. Gonzales Police and Fire Departments have worked several serious crashes at the location.Gonzales Police say the signs are temporary and the Department of Transportation is conducting a study on a more permanent solution.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Accident closes lanes on I-10 WB on Mississippi River Bridge

  29-09-2016 12:04 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Commuters may want to take an alternate route Thursday morning as the two right lanes are closed on I-10 westbound on the Mississippi River Bridge due to an accident.The delay from this incident has reached the I-10/I-12 split.News 2's Ashley Fruge is monitoring traffic. We will have updates on WBRZ.com and Twitter.Permalink| Comments
  
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• EBRSO warns residents of scam text messages asking for debit card info.

  29-09-2016 12:01 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office is warning residents of a phone scam asking bank users for their debit card number.An area bank has reported that several of its customers have reported receiving text messages from the phone number (844)-584-3379 stating that their debit card has been locked. The text message instructs the cardholder to call (844)-237-6009 in order to unlock their debit card.When the cardholder calls the phone number, an automated answering service i
  
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• State Police checking possible explosion at Camp Minden

  29-09-2016 09:06 via wbrz.com
  MINDEN - Louisiana State Police say a hazardous materials unit is on the scene investigating a possible explosion in northwest Louisiana at the same site where a company was previously accused of abandoning 7,800 tons of potentially explosive artillery propellant.Lt. Jeff White says the Troop G office in Bossier City started receiving calls around 5 a.m. Thursday.Explosive Services International of Baton Rouge is working at Camp Minden on the burn operation to destroy millions of pounds of impro
  
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• Camp Minden explosion happened in storage area

  29-09-2016 09:06 via wbrz.com
  MINDEN - Louisiana State Police say the explosion at Camp Minden happened in one of many bunkers where 7,800 tons of explosive M-6 propellant is stored.Trooper Matt Harris says the hazardous materials unit is surveying the area by air to see the extent of damage.Harris says once the area is deemed safe, investigators will start looking for a cause of Thursday morning's explosion. He says no one was injured in the blast.Explosive Services International is in the process of destroying propellant t
  
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• Commuter train hits New Jersey station; 1 dead

  29-09-2016 08:47 via wbrz.com
  
  HOBOKEN, N.J. -  A state lawmaker says one person was killed and two critically injured when a commuter train plowed into the Hoboken station.Democratic Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, who represents Hoboken, said a transit official confirmed the death to him. A New Jersey Transit spokeswoman, Jennifer Nelson, earlier said that more than 100 people were injured in the crash.The train from New York crashed during the Thursday morning rush hour. It caused serious damage to both the train and st
  
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• Driver of van charged after woman falls off mattress, dies

  29-09-2016 07:12 via wbrz.com
  
  HAYMARKET, Va. - Authorities in Virginia have charged the driver of a van after a woman fell to her death while riding atop a mattress the two women were trying to move.Local news organizations report that 41-year-old Norma Guadron Canales of Culpeper was driving the van Friday morning while 20-year-old Sindy Zelaya Gonzalez rode atop the mattress on the van's roof. The mattress came off and Gonzalez fell.The Prince William County Police Department says the two women had found the mattress curbs
  
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• Homecoming 2016: Brother Martin reveals its court

  29-09-2016 05:41
  
  Brother Martin High School announces six young Catholic school ladies who will represent Brother Martin High School at the 2016 Homecoming festivities, in alphabetical order: Madeline Christenberry, Jamie Hanzo, Madison LaCoste, Emily Malter, Andrea Palmer, and Shelby Villarrubia.
  
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• Cuban-born artist Elsa Baker blends cultures for Que Pasa Fest poster

  29-09-2016 05:15
  
  Cuban-born and current St. Tammany artist Elsa Baker will see her art come alive on a Hispanic arts festival poster.
  
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• Two fire dept. investigating blaze on Patricia Dale, 1 firefighter transported

  29-09-2016 05:06 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Two fire departments are investigating the cause of a house fire on Patricia Dale Drive early Thursday morning.Eastside Fire Department was called to the scene around 1:45 a.m. and saw fire coming out of the roof. The Central Fire Department assisted with battle. Both were able to get the fire under control around 3 a.m.According to Central Fire Department, a firefighter felt overheated in the process and transported by EMS. No one was in the house at the time.Permalink| C
  
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• The NCAA president is set to visit the campus he once led

  29-09-2016 03:27 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - The president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association is set to visit the university he once led as chancellor.Mark Emmert visits LSU Thursday. He's scheduled to give an evening lecture on "Leadership in Challenging Times."Emmert was the LSU chancellor from 1999 to 2004. The university says in a news release that he is giving the lecture as the inaugural "Brian and Barbara Haymon Distinguished Visiting Professor."Permalink| Comments
  
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• St James Parish president indicted for malfeasance

  29-09-2016 03:25 via wbrz.com
  
  CONVENT - St. James Parish President Timothy Roussel has been indicted on six counts of malfeasance.Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry announced Wednesday's indictment in a news release. Roussel's director of operations, Blaise Gravois, and Assistant Finance Director Ashley Poche were also indicted on corruption charges.Roussel is accused of defrauding parish residents in excess of $70,000.Landry says Roussel allegedly authorized the construction of about 4,500 feet of natural gas line, a 10
  
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• Second deadline to be missed by Louisiana tax study group

  29-09-2016 03:22 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - A study group aimed at recommending changes to state tax and budget policy will miss its second deadline for pulling together its suggestions.Legislative leaders have agreed to give the task force, created by state lawmakers, until Nov. 1 to turn in its recommendations and report, rather than Friday. It's the second extension the group has received.Task force members have been working since March, spending long hours delving into complex discussions of tax policy that affects indiv
  
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• New nursing home standards preserve patients' right to sue

  29-09-2016 03:08 via wbrz.com
  
  WASHINGTON - The Obama administration is issuing new nursing home standards that reverse a longstanding industry practice and preserve the rights of patients to sue in cases of abuse or neglect.Currently, many nursing homes require patients seeking admission to first agree to resolve disputes through binding arbitration, relinquishing the court system.The industry argued that arbitration -done properly- can keep costs down for all patients by avoiding large jury awards. Consumer advocates and tr
  
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• California suspends some Wells Fargo business amid scandal

  29-09-2016 03:06 via wbrz.com
  
  SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California Treasurer John Chiang says he's suspending some of the state's business with Wells Fargo amid a scandal over millions of accounts allegedly opened without customers' permission.Chiang, a Democrat, said Wednesday he wants to send a message that the bank's behavior was unacceptable and he hopes his colleagues in other states will follow suit.Chiang's office is the nation's largest issuer of municipal debt. He says for the next 12 months he will stop using Wells Farg
  
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• 1936 Olympians receive overdue recognition at White House

  29-09-2016 03:01 via wbrz.com
  
  WASHINGTON - Relatives of Jesse Owens and the 17 other African-Americans who competed at the 1936 Olympics will be welcomed to the White House to meet President Barack Obama on Thursday - an honor Owens and others didn't receive after they returned home from Berlin 80 years ago.U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun announced the historic visit during an Olympic awards ceremony Wednesday night.Owens won four gold medals at the Berlin Games, but it was Adolph Hitler's refusal to shake his hand
  
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