Louisiana news

• 2 Make a Difference: Sylvia's Toys for Christmas celebrates its tenth anniversary!

  22-11-2024 21:32 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Sylvia's Toys for Christmas donation drive is back in action for its tenth anniversary.Barrels with Sylvia’s picture have been placed at sponsor locations for residents to drop off new, unwrapped toys.Drop-off locations include Chick-fil-A restaurants and Essential Credit Union branches.More than 3,000 children in under-served communities have taken home gifts thanks to your generosity.Those interested can donate new toys for children ages 2-13. The toys must b
  
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• Pedestrian hit, killed after being struck by vehicle on U.S. 190 in Denham Springs

  22-11-2024 21:08 via wbrz.com
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - A pedestrian is dead after being struck by a vehicle Friday, according to the Denham Springs Police Department.Police say they responded to a motor vehicle crash around 8:30 p.m. involving a vehicle and pedestrian on U.S. Highway 190 near Thornton Lane.All lanes of Hwy 190 are closed between South Range Avenue and Capital Street as of 9:20 p.m. No names will be released and the investigation is ongoing.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Former New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick visits Mike the Tiger's habitat

  22-11-2024 20:43 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Former six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Belichick visited Mike the Tiger's habitat Friday, according to the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine.The school said Belichick visited "to learn more about [their] beloved mascot."Belichick was previously the head coach of the Patriots from 2000 to 2023.Photo credit to the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Trump nominates former NFL player Scott Turner as housing and urban development secretary

  22-11-2024 20:14 via wbrz.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump said Friday he will nominate former NFL player and White House aide Scott Turner to be his secretary of housing and urban development.Turner ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office.Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transforme
  
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• 'Operational issues' lead to flaring at Baton Rouge ExxonMobil plant

  22-11-2024 19:13 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Operational issues led to unscheduled flaring at ExxonMobil's refinery and chemical plant, according to ExxonMobil officals.Video showed flaring taking place at the refinery and chemical plant, which officials said is taking place this evening due to "operational issues."A statement from the company said the flaring is not an "emergency situation" and that flares are safety control devices intended to consume excess gasses.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Record travel expected this Thanksgiving as more Americans take to the skies and roads

  22-11-2024 17:54 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, experts are predicting record travel as Americans hit the sky and roads to get to their destination. Kristin Jewell with Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport said they're likely to hit record flyers this holiday season. “TSA is predicting 18.3 million passengers which is a record around the nation, here were expecting more than 10-thousand of those passengers," Jewell said.They plan to increase TSA employees to get people
  
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• Man arrested after officer-involved shooting on North Sherwood Drive

  22-11-2024 17:49 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - A man was arrested after an officer-involved shooting on North Sherwood Forest Drive, according to Louisiana State Police.Casey Cagle Jr., 40, was arrested for aggravated battery and aggravated assault on a peace officer. Louisiana State Police say Baton Rouge Police Department officers responded to a domestic disturbance near the 3400 block of North Sherwood Forest Drive and that officers made contact with Cagle, who had a knife. LSP said that Cagle was asked to put down
  
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• LSU professor using VR headsets, noise-canceling headphones to help students with ADHD focus

  22-11-2024 17:44 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — An LSU professor and his team are using virtual reality headsets and noise-canceling headphones to help students with ADHD stay focused on their schoolwork.Associate Professor David Shepherd said he hopes that this will be able to treat ADHD without the use of medication. 
  Shepherd's team is comprised of LSU grad students, as well as collaborators from Rutgers University and the University of Zurich. The study is being funded by the National Institute for Mental
  
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• $$$ Best Bets: College Football Week 12: Can the Tigers get back in the win column? $$$

  22-11-2024 16:48 via wbrz.com
  
  Hunter McCann has this weekend's best bets for college football, the NFL, the NHL, the NBA and college basketball!FridayCollege Football:Temple @ UTSA: Temple +17.5Purdue @ Michigan State: Purdue +13.5UNLV @ San Jose State: San Jose State +7.5Men's College Basketball:N. Carolina Central @ Georgia State: N. Carolina Central +5.5St. John's @ Virginia: St. John's -10.5Little Rock @ Arkansas: Arkansas -20.5Baylor @ Tennessee: Baylor +4.5Duke @ Arizona: u160.5 Total PointsUNC @ Hawaii: UNC -16.5NBA:
  
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• Legislature sends bills reducing income, sales, corporate taxes to governor as special session wraps

  22-11-2024 15:47 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Legislators on Friday adjourned their third special session of the year, this one focused on changes to the state's tax policy. Six bills were passed that will make changes to various aspects of the state's tax policy, including the reduction of corporate tax rates, the elimination of a corporate franchise tax and lowering income and sales taxes for residents.Bills also doubled the standard tax deductions for seniors, making permanent a $2,000 teacher pay raise
  
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• Firefighters work to contain abandoned house fire at corner of Aster Street, Nicholson Drive

  22-11-2024 15:16 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Baton Rouge firefighters worked to put out a fire on Aster Street near Nicholson Drive on Friday.Firefighters and other emergency officials responded to the scene just after 3 p.m. The blaze overtook the roof of a house and Baton Rouge Fire worked to contain it. Baton Rouge EMS said that the fire was in an abandoned house and no injuries were reported.WBRZ has reached out to Baton Rouge Fire for more information and will update this story as it develops.Permalin
  
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• Firefighters contain abandoned house fire at corner of Aster Street, Nicholson Drive

  22-11-2024 15:16 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Baton Rouge firefighters worked to put out a fire on Aster Street near Nicholson Drive on Friday.Firefighters and other emergency officials responded to the scene around 2:47 p.m.. The blaze overtook the roof of a likely-abandoned house and Baton Rouge Fire worked to contain it. According to fire officials, the fire extended to the building's right side.A majority of the fire was out by 3:45 p.m., but "a few hot spots" remained. Baton Rouge Fire said that they a
  
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• Former Baton Rouge city-parish contractor pleads guilty to distribution of child porn

  22-11-2024 15:03 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - A former Baton Rouge city-parish contractor pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography Friday, according to the United States Department of Justice.The Department of Justice said Blake Steiner, 37, initiated a conversation on a group chat with an undercover agent thinking he would gain access to a group chat disseminating child pornography. After being told by the agent to send a video of his face with the day's date, he sent the video and also sent a video of a 12-year-o
  
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• State Police searching for missing 13-year-old girl in West Carroll Parish

  22-11-2024 15:00 via wbrz.com
  
  PIONEER — Louisiana State Police are searching for a missing 13-year-old girl from West Carroll Parish.Adalynn Rawls was last seen Thursday at her grandmother’s home on Old Delhi Road in Pioneer. She was discovered missing this morning at approximately 8:00 a.m.Rawls is a white girl with brown hair and blue eyes. She is approximately 5’4” tall and weighs approximately 148 lbs.Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Adalynn Rawls should immediatel
  
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• State Police locates 13-year-old girl in West Carroll Parish

  22-11-2024 15:00 via wbrz.com
  
  PIONEER — Louisiana State Police located a missing 13-year-old girl from West Carroll Parish.The girl was reported missing Friday and was found safe.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Storage facility targeted by thieves, belongings discarded in mess

  22-11-2024 14:59 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - A Square Space Storage facility in Baton Rouge has been ransacked by thieves. Mark Gooden says the theft at the storage buildings went on for several weeks until nearly all 117 units were rummaged through or damaged in some way."I don't understand, they just throw your stuff out and you don't even know what's missing," said Gooden.The gates to the storage units are secured by locks and barbed wire, but some of the units face the street and are only secured by padlocks. Some of the
  
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• 4 men from 4 parishes accused of soliciting sex from a minor arrested by state, parish authorities

  22-11-2024 14:30 via wbrz.com
  
  HAMMOND — Four people from multiple parishes were arrested for soliciting sex from a minor, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office said Friday. Nicholas Hines, 43 of Walker, Michael Vicknair, 32 of Gonzales, Robert Trahan, 33 of Ponchatoula, and John Gros Sr., 60 of Mt. Hermon, are all accused of indecent behavior with a juvenile and computer-aided solicitation of a minor. Deputies developed their case against the men with the Attorney General's office and
  
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• Former volunteer coach previously arrested for child porn, molestation now accused of domestic abuse

  22-11-2024 14:15 via wbrz.com
  
  BRUSLY — A former volunteer coach at Christian Academy of Louisiana previously arrested on child porn and molestation charges was arrested a third time, this time accused of domestic abuse battery. Dennis Kennamer, 39, was arrested by Brusly Police on Thursday for domestic abuse battery with strangulation.In June, Kennamer was booked for indecent behavior with a juvenile, carnal knowledge of a juvenile, computer-aided solicitation and molestation. Shortly after his arrest, Christian A
  
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• LSU Police searching for man accused of battery during LSU-Alabama game

  22-11-2024 14:01 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — LSU Police are searching for a man accused of battery during the LSU-Alabama game.The bearded man, photographed on Nov. 9, is wanted for second-degree battery during the game. LSU lost the game to Alabama 42-13. Anyone with information on the man is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 225-344-7867.Permalink| Comments
  
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• LaDOTD announces southbound traffic shift on LA 1 Intercoastal Bridge starting Tuesday

  22-11-2024 13:48 via wbrz.com
  
  PORT ALLEN — Another minor traffic shift is planned on the LA 1 Intracoastal Bridge in West Baton Rouge Parish, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced Friday.Starting Tuesday night, all southbound traffic on LA 1 will be directed onto the LA 1 Southbound Bridge. This is expected to last until 4 a.m. on Wednesday.Additionally, intermittent left and right lane closures going south will continue through Dec. 13 from 7 p.m. to 4 a.m. Intermittent left lane cl
  
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• Officials identify woman who died in Thursday house fire; family says she was one day shy of 65

  22-11-2024 13:44 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Officials identified a 64-year-old woman who died after a house caught fire off Napoleon Street behind Greater Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church on Thursday morning.Phyllis Wilson, 64, died in the blaze. According to her family, Wilson would have turned 65 on Friday and the whole family was planning on celebrating her with a cruise set to leave Thursday. The Baton Rouge Fire Department was on the scene just after 4 a.m. Thursday, and the fire was under control by 5
  
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• Officials identify woman who died in house fire early Thursday morning

  22-11-2024 13:44 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Officials identified a 64-year-old woman who died after a house caught fire off Napoleon Street behind Greater Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church on Thursday morning.The Baton Rouge Fire Department was on the scene just after 4 a.m. Thursday, and the fire was under control by 5 a.m. that same morning.While crews were searching the home for other occupants, a neighbor across the street said a child had escaped the home and was staying at another home nearby. The child was not
  
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• Music, makers and more! White Light Night returns to Mid City on Friday evening

  22-11-2024 13:38 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - The biggest night in Mid City is back! The annual White Light Night art festival brings hundreds of pop-up shops and vendors into the spotlight along Government Street. From Electric Depot to Jefferson Highway, expect to see dozens of businesses participating in the fun. Every year, this event highlights the creativity Baton Rouge has to offer. There will be live music, food trucks, arts and crafts for sale, and more!Because of popular demand, Mid City Merchants, the orga
  
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• Deputies arrest man accused of stealing from Academy in Denham Springs

  22-11-2024 13:37 via wbrz.com
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS — A man accused of stealing from an Academy Sports and Outdoors in Denham Springs was arrested. Deputies arrested Andre Selders Thursday for stealing from the sporting goods store. Selders then left in a Nissan Altima, Livingston Parish deputies said.Selders, from Amite, was arrested and booked for felony theft.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Six Ascension Parish residents arrested for alleged involvement in drug trafficking ring

  22-11-2024 13:36 via wbrz.com
  
  DONALDSONVILLE - Federal agents busted a drug trafficking operation and arrested six Ascension Parish residents. An indictment filed after the investigation accused the six of being involved in a ring that distributed cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, oxycodone, and heroin around southeast Louisiana, the United States Department of Justice said Friday. During the investigation, agents found over 443 grams of substances containing fentanyl and 68 grams of cocaine as well as s
  
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• Five-year-old dies months after getting a hold of gun, accidentally shooting self

  22-11-2024 12:26 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Months after a toddler got a hold of an illegally modified handgun and shot himself, the child died from his injuries. The shooting happened on March 20, 2024 on 69th Avenue. Joshua Kelly Jr., who was four years old at the time, got a hold of the weapon and shot himself, leaving him in critical condition. The Baton Rouge Police Department said Kelly succumbed to his injuries on Thursday. His mother, 23-year-old Arieana Scott, was said to have heard a loud noise t
  
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• Early voting for the Dec. 7 election starts today; be prepared by knowing what's on the ballot

  22-11-2024 12:10 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Early voting for the Dec. 7 election started on Friday and will continue for a little over a week.The early voting period runs from Friday through Nov. 30 — excluding Sunday, Nov. 24, Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29. Early voting polling locations will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. A complete list of early voting locations can be found here.The Dec. 7 ballot includes multiple run-off elections from the Nov. 5 election, including for East Baton Rouge Pa
  
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• LSU looks to break losing skid on Saturday night against Vanderbilt

  22-11-2024 11:54 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - The LSU Tigers hope to finish their season on the right foot with their final two home games in Death Valley. Brian Kelly's squad hosts the Vanderbilt Commodores on Saturday night for the first time in 15 years.LSU is coming off a loss to the Florida Gators in the swamp last Saturday and has dropped three games in a row for the first time since 2021.Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has 3,126 passing yards on the season and is tied for the most passing touchdowns in the SEC at
  
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• Louisiana High School Football Scores - Second round of the Playoffs

  22-11-2024 11:38 via wbrz.com
  
  Here are the high school football scores from second one of the Playoffs for the state of Louisiana:Non-Select=Division I=Airline 42, Westgate 16Destrehan 63, Shreveport Northwood 21Neville 44, Covington 13Ruston 42, Zachary 21Southside 47, Walker 0West Monroe 20, Mandeville 9Division II=Franklin Parish 35, Brusly 14Franklinton 42, West Feliciana 21Iowa 24, Wossman 8Lakeshore 17, Iota 10North DeSoto 38, Belle Chasse 14Opelousas 30, Jennings 19Division III=Jena 56, Port Allen 20Kinder 28, Westla
  
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• Zachary convenience store owner arrested after police seize illegal THC, Kratom products from store

  22-11-2024 11:29 via wbrz.com
  
  ZACHARY — The owner of a Zachary convenience store was arrested after a large amount of drugs were seized from his store.Abdulfattah Saleh, 50, was arrested Thursday after police raided the LA 19 convenience store at the corner of Lower Zachary Road. This was after a weeks-long investigation, police said.Police seized a large amount of illegal THC and Kratom — a synthetic opioid banned in the city since earlier this year — in the raid.They seized 11 THC "Ghost Pens
  
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• Judge delays Donald Trump's hush money sentencing indefinitely

  22-11-2024 11:27 via wbrz.com
  
  The judge overseeing President-Elect Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial has adjourned his sentencing indefinitely. Judge Juan Merchan also agreed to hold off on making on decision regarding Trump's presidential immunity until after he reviews the court filings, CNN reported. Merchan granted Trump's request to file a motion to dismiss the case, but did not set a new sentencing date or make any further statements regarding the delay. Permalink| Comments
  
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• One taken to the hospital after EMS unit involved in crash on Satinwood Drive and Greenwell Street

  22-11-2024 11:05 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - One person was taken to the hospital after a crash that involved an emergency services vehicle, according to officials.Officials say the driver of the vehicle that crashed into the emergency services vehicle was transported.No other information on injuries is available.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Texas is taking a final vote on allowing Bible-infused lessons in public schools

  22-11-2024 09:16 via wbrz.com
  
  AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas would allow Bible-infused lessons in elementary schools under changes that were set for a final vote Friday and could test boundaries between religion and public education in the U.S.The proposed curriculum narrowly cleared a preliminary vote this week at the Texas State Board of Education, whose elected members heard hours of sometimes impassioned pleas from both supporters and critics over the material that schools could begin using next year.If adopted, t
  
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• Louisiana State Police release video of officer shooting two people after 7-mile chase

  22-11-2024 09:11 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana State Police released video of a shooting in which a Department of Public Safety officer shot two people inside a vehicle after a seven-mile chase. State Police said the Department of Public Safety Capitol Detail officers tried to stop a white Suburban on Chippewa near Daisy Avenue after a traffic violation on Nov. 4. After traveling along Interstate 110 and I-10, the vehicle exited at College Drive and ran into a neighborhood off Bawell Street.The video, which
  
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• Cutting in line? American Airlines' new boarding tech might stop you at now over 100 airports

  22-11-2024 08:19 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Sneaking a little ahead of line to get on that plane faster? American Airlines might stop you.In an apparent effort to reduce the headaches caused by airport line cutting, American has rolled out boarding technology that alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger tries to scan a ticket ahead of their assigned group. This new software won’t accept a boarding pass before the group it’s assigned to is called, so customers who get to the ga
  
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• Right lane blocked on I-12 eastbound near Covington due to overturned 18-wheeler

  22-11-2024 08:05 via wbrz.com
  
  COVINGTON - Lanes were blocked Friday morning on I-12 eastbound due to an overturned 18-wheeler. Louisiana State Police urged drivers to avoid the area or seek an alternate route. The right lane was blocked due to the crash. Officials said the truck was hauling some sort of powder but that it was not hazardous. Troopers did not specify whether anyone was injured or what led to the crash. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Lanes blocked on I-12 eastbound near Covington due to overturned 18-wheeler

  22-11-2024 08:05 via wbrz.com
  
  COVINGTON - Lanes were blocked Friday morning on I-12 eastbound due to an overturned 18-wheeler. Louisiana State Police urged drivers to avoid the area or seek an alternate route. Troopers did not specify whether anyone was injured or what led to the crash. Permalink| Comments
  
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• How to stay safe while using a heater in these cold temperatures

  22-11-2024 06:42 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - It's gumbo weather this weekend, which means it's also time to break out those space heaters. While they can warm up a room or a home and keep your comfortable in chilly temps, it's also important to make sure you're using them safely. 2une In's Mia Monet spoke with Justin Hill with the Baton Rouge Fire Department Friday morning about how to use a space heater responsibly and avoid starting unnecessary fires that can lead to injuries or the loss of your home. Per
  
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• Jeff Landry raises major doubts about a stalled $3 billion coastal restoration project

  22-11-2024 06:11 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry raised serious objections Thursday to a $3 billion project long hailed as key to restoring the state’s eroding coastline, decrying the growing cost and predicting dire harm to a coastal culture dependent on fishing, shrimping and oyster dredging.The Republican governor’s remarks to a Senate committee in Baton Rouge were his most extensive — and most decisively negative — on the Mid-Barataria Sediment
  
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• GET 2 MOVING: Zydeco Hockey

  22-11-2024 05:40 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - For the first time in decades, hockey is back in the capital city. The Baton Rouge Zydeco is the new team on the ice. Players go through rigorous drills and practices to get better each game. If skating on ice was not hard enough, the sport also requires extreme hand-eye coordination for the puck to meet the goal. Hockey is a fairly dangerous sport. There are numerous risks that come along with the game, such as the most common injury: muscle strains and ankle sp
  
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• 3 people displaced after house fire off Old Hammond Hwy.

  22-11-2024 04:38 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Three people have been displaced home on Stonegate Court caught fire late Thursday night.Firefighters arrived at the house off Old Hammond Highway just after 11 p.m. and found the detached carport and an outside vehicle on fire. Two adults and a child were already safely outside.Crews were able to put out the fire before it spread to neighboring houses. No one was hurt.Fire investigators are working to determine a cause.Permalink| Comments
  
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• 3 people displaced after house fire off Old Hammond Highway

  22-11-2024 04:38 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Three people have been displaced from a home on Stonegate Court after it caught fire late Thursday night.Firefighters arrived at the house off Old Hammond Highway just after 11 p.m. and found the detached carport and an outside vehicle on fire. Two adults and a child were already safely outside.Crews were able to put out the fire before it spread to neighboring houses. No one was hurt.Investigators are working to determine a cause.Permalink| Comments
  
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