Louisiana news

• LSP: Parish employee drove drunk, crashed government vehicle

  19-04-2016 16:48 via wbrz.com
  
  LIVINGSTON - A parish employee was arrested overnight on DWI charges after a wreck in government vehicle in his driveway, the Investigative Unit learned Tuesday.Livingston Parish employee arrested for DWI after crashing parish vehicle overnight, per @LAStatePolice— BrettBuffingtonWBRZ (@BrettBuffington) April 19, 2016WBRZ reporter Brett Buffington broke the story first on Twitter. State Police confirmed Shevis Ball was booked with DWI and careless operation after a single vehicle crash
  
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• PHOTOS: Storm damage resulting from severe weather in Capitol area

  28-12-2024 21:25 via wbrz.com
  
  A round of severe weather hit southeastern Louisiana and Mississippi Saturday night, resulting in speculation of tornadoes touching down in Livingston Parish and damage in other areas.If you have photos of damage from Thursday night's storm, send them to [email protected] or [email protected]. Permalink| Comments
  
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• Jewel J. Newman Community Center gymnasium named in honor of former long time director

  28-12-2024 20:41 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — A dedication ceremony was held Saturday in honor of a lifelong resident of Scotlandville and former long-time director Carl E. Slaughter.The Jewel J. Newman Community Center gymnasium was dedicated in honor of Slaughter.Slaughter was the director of the North Baton Rouge Community Center, now Jewel J. Newman Community Center for 34 years.Slaughter said he's grateful, but the recognition belongs to the people he served. “I think that everybody that part
  
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• One dead after crash on Springfield Road and Gravesbriar Drive in Denham Springs

  28-12-2024 20:25 via wbrz.com
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - One person is dead after a crash on Springfield Road and Gravesbriar Drive, according to emergency officials.Deputies with the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office say they are on scene alongside first responders.LPSO advises drivers to stay off roads if possible.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Two reports of possible tornado touch downs in Denham Springs, several trees down on roads

  28-12-2024 19:49 via wbrz.com
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - Deputies say they have received two reports of possible tornadoes touching down in north Denham Springs.The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office says the National Weather Service has been notified. Additionally, several trees are down on North Corbin Road and Weiss Road, Buck Carroll Road, and Vincent Road west of South Range Avenue.There is also reported barn damage on Cane Market Road.Permalink| Comments
  
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• DEMCO, Entergy report thousands of outages in East Baton Rouge Parish during severe weather

  28-12-2024 19:29 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Thousands of East Baton Rouge Parish Entergy and DEMCO customers are without power during severe weather Saturday night.As of 7:25, DEMCO reported 3,240 outages in East Baton Rouge Parish and Entergy reported 5,490.For more information on the tornado warning around the parish, check here. Check the company's names for full outage maps for DEMCO and Entergy.Permalink| Comments
  
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• La. Supreme Court allows defamation lawsuit by librarian accused of promoting pornography to children

  28-12-2024 17:42 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW ORLEANS - The Louisiana Supreme Court says a Livingston Parish librarian, who says an organization wrongly accused her of promoting pornography to children, should be allowed to have her case heard in court.Amanda Jones, a Livingston Parish librarian, says she has been the subject of major defamation over the last few years after speaking up in a public meeting about library censorship in 2022.She later sued the defendant, Michael Lunsford, executive director of the Citizens for a New Louis
  
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• Ascension Parish officials announce closure of waterway as tornado warnings ordered through state

  28-12-2024 16:49 via wbrz.com
  
  SORRENTO — The Ascension Parish government announced Saturday that the Marvin Braud boatway is temporarily closed.The waterway is being closed for drawdown as weather intensifies with tornado warnings across the state.Officials said the waterway's pump stations are being manned during the closure.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Big Lots reaches deal to keep hundreds of US stores open

  28-12-2024 14:58 via wbrz.com
  
  The discount chain Big Lots, which filed for bankruptcy protection in September, has reached a deal that will keep hundreds of its stores and distribution centers open.Big Lots said Friday it will be sold to Gordon Brothers Retail Partners, a firm that specializes in distressed companies. Gordon Brothers will then transfer Big Lots’ stores, distribution centers and other assets to other retailers.Variety Wholesalers Inc., which owns more than 400 discount stores in t
  
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• Police searching for multiple people accused of breaking into cars in October

  28-12-2024 11:30 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE—Baton Rouge Police officers are attempting to identify multiple people involved in vehicle burglaries that occurred in October.Baton Rouge Police said the people are accused of breaking into cars on East Glenhaven Drive on Oct. 26.Anyone with information about the burglars is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 225-344-7867.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Deputies find missing 78-year-old last seen days before Christmas in Ponchatoula

  28-12-2024 11:18 via wbrz.com
  
  PONCHATOULA — Tangipahoa Parish deputies have found a missing 78-year-old man in good health after he was last seen shortly before Christmas in Ponchatoula.Miano did not have a cellphone and deputies said that he recently experienced an accident which may impair his judgment.Sheriff Gerald Sticker asks anyone with information regarding the man's whereabouts to contact deputies at 985-902-2017.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Deputies searching for man last seen in Hammond at start of December

  28-12-2024 11:12 via wbrz.com
  
  HAMMOND — Deputies are searching for a man last seen at the beginning of December in Hammond.Tangipahoa Parish deputies say that 34-year-old Andrew Monistere was last seen by family on Dec. 4 when he left his mother's house on North Billville Road.Monistere has short, dark brown hair with shaved sides. He has tattoos of a cross and a bull skull on his wrist.Deputies said he may be a danger to himself, having been diagnosed with multiple mental illnesses and showing a recent decline in
  
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• Olivia Hussey, star of the 1968 film Romeo and Juliet, dies at 73

  28-12-2024 11:03 via wbrz.com
  
  LONDON (AP) — Olivia Hussey, the actor who starred as a teenage Juliet in the 1968 film “Romeo and Juliet,” has died, her family said on social media Saturday. She was 73.Hussey died on Friday, “peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones,” a statement posted to her Instagram account said.Hussey was 15 when director Franco Zeffirelli cast her in his adaptation of the William Shakespeare tragedy after spotting her onstage in the play &ldq
  
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• Tornado warning issued for Zachary area, Felicianas

  28-12-2024 07:29 via wbrz.com
  
  ZACHARY — The National Weather Service has posted a tornado warning for northern parts of East Baton Rouge Parish and adjoining areas of the Feliciana parishes.The tornado warning is in effect until 7:30 a.m.Forecasters said the severe thunderstorm area was capable of producing a tornado. The Storm Prediction Center says there is a moderate risk of severe weather, including tornadoes, high winds and hail, in southwestern Mississippi and parts of Louisiana near the state line Saturday.
  
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• Tornado warning issued for East Baton Rouge, Livingston parishes

  28-12-2024 07:29 via wbrz.com
  
  ZACHARY — The National Weather Service has posted a tornado warning for central parts of East Baton Rouge Parish and northwestern Livingston Parish.The tornado warning is in effect until 7:45 p.m. The NWS says a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Denham Springs.Forecasters said the severe thunderstorm area was capable of producing a tornado. The Storm Prediction Center says there is a moderate risk of severe weather, including tornadoes, high winds and
  
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• Friday's Mega Millions drawing is worth an estimated $1.22 billion - see winning numbers here

  27-12-2024 20:35 via wbrz.com
  
  The winning numbers for Friday's Mega Millions jackpot worth around 1.22 billion were 55, 7, 3, 37, 49 and a gold Mega Ball 6.Here is a look at the largest U.S. jackpots won and the states where the winning tickets were sold:1. $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022 (one ticket, from California)2. $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023 (one ticket, from California)3. $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023 (one ticket, from Florida)4. $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13,
  
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• Friday's Mega Millions drawing is worth an estimated $1.22 billion, one of the games top jackpots

  27-12-2024 20:35 via wbrz.com
  
  Americans still dreaming of a really big Christmas present can keep that dream alive during Friday’s Mega Millions drawing for a jackpot worth an estimated $1.22 billion. Friday’s jackpot will potentially be the fifth largest in the game’s history. Mega Millions tickets are $2 a piece. But the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350, and the odds of winning any Mega Millions prize are 1 in 24, according to lottery officials. Tickets for t
  
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• Louisiana Supreme Court reinstates over $10 million award to truck driver disabled in crash

  27-12-2024 20:16 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Supreme Court reinstated a truck driver's award of over $10 million from a 2018 crash that left him partially disabled after a jury reduced the damages by nearly 75%, according to The Advocate.The award, which initially totaled almost $19 million adding consortium to the trucker's wife and children, was reduced to $5 million to the driver, Frank Cushenberry, and $600,000 to the family by the Louisiana Supreme Court on June 28. However, the court reinstated the initia
  
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• Former New Orleans priest convicted of raping teen boy dies while serving life sentence

  27-12-2024 17:48 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A 93-year-old former Catholic priest sentenced to life in prison earlier this month for raping a teenage boy has died, Louisiana authorities and his lawyer confirmed Friday.Less than two weeks after being sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars, Lawrence Hecker died of natural causes at 3 a.m. Thursday at the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center, according to Ken Pastorick, Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections communications
  
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• Fireworks disrupt Christmas Eve sleep, keeps Baton Rouge kids awake for Santa's arrival

  27-12-2024 17:26 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - On Christmas Eve, some parents found it difficult to keep their children asleep for Santa's arrival due to their children constantly waking up to the sounds of fireworks.While Santa was trying to make his stops at children's homes, parents say he couldn't because Christmas Eve fireworks were keeping their children awake.Cherie Burks said instead of helping Santa that night, she spent most of it putting her 5-year-old daughter back to bed. “2, 3 o'clock in the mo
  
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• Car crashes into building on Cross Gate Drive, driver extricated and taken to hospital

  27-12-2024 17:21 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - One person was extricated from a vehicle and taken to a local hospital after their vehicle crashed into a building, according to the St. George Fire Department.Officials say the crash happened around 10:09 a.m. Friday. The building had to be stabilized, which crews did using lumber to make sure the home was not left compromised by the structural collapse that took place.The occupant of the vehicle was removed, assessed by paramedics and taken to a local hospital. No information wa
  
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• $$$ Best Bets: Bowl season is heating up! $$$

  27-12-2024 16:49 via wbrz.com
  
  Hunter McCann has this weekend's best bets for college football, the NFL, the NHL, the NBA and college basketball!Friday
  College Football:
  Texas Tech @ Arkansas: Texas Tech -2.5
  Syracuse @ Washington State: u59.5 Total Points
  Texas A&M @ USC: USC +3.5
  NBA:
  Knicks @ Magic: Magic +7.5
  Spurs @ Nets: Spurs -8.5
  Pacers @ Celtics: Pacers +12.5
  Grizzlies @ Pelicans: Grizzlies -7.5
  Mavericks @ Suns: Mavericks +1.5
  Warriors @ Clippers: Warriors +5.5NHL: 
  Hurricanes @ Devils: Hurricanes ML
  M
  
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• St. Michael High School holds 16th annual Holiday Cup raising awareness for heart screenings

  27-12-2024 16:28 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - St. Michael the Archangel High School started its 16th annual Holiday Cup tournament Friday morning. The tournament hosts more than 40 teams each year, but what makes this tournament special is its potential ability to save a life.In 2008, Lottie Cobb lost her son Jared Adcock to a rare heart disease called arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. He was only 15 and was a soccer player at the school at the time."He was on vacation with his family. He woke up (and) was tire
  
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• Supreme Court says Livingston librarian can keep pursuing defamation case over 'pornography' claim

  27-12-2024 15:51 via wbrz.com
  
  NEW ORLEANS — The Louisiana Supreme Court says a Livingston Parish librarian who claims she was defamed by an organization that accused her of promoting pornography to kids should have her day in court.The 1st Circuit Court of Appeal had ended Amanda Jones' lawsuit against the Citizens for a New Louisiana and its leaders last January, after a lower court had ruled against her in 2022 and 2023."To catch you up, when we discovered erotic materials in several local public library childre
  
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• Lake lot owner sent violations over land erosion, HOA suggests bulkhead at his expense

  27-12-2024 15:34 via wbrz.com
  
  CENTRAL - Stanley Martin is facing fines for what his homeowner's association is calling a violation. The Wisteria Lakes homeowner has been given two violation notices that cite a lack of erosion prevention.Martin moved to Wisteria Lakes because of the view. He moved into his home in 2020 and hasn't had an issue up until a couple of months ago, when he received a friendly reminder about how he hasn't been meeting the neighborhood's property standards. The violations say he's been out of complia
  
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• Bird flu virus likely mutated within a Louisiana patient, CDC says

  27-12-2024 15:29 via wbrz.com
  
  A genetic analysis suggests the bird flu virus mutated inside a Louisiana patient who contracted the nation’s first severe case of the illness, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this week.Scientists believe the mutations may allow the virus to better bind to receptors in the upper airways of humans — something they say is concerning but not a cause for alarm.Michael Osterholm, a University of Minnesota infec
  
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• LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. announces he will return to LSU for 2025

  27-12-2024 15:02 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. announced he will return to LSU for the 2025 season, per his Instagram.Perkins, who was awarded the No. 7 for the 2024 season, tore his ACL when LSU played UCLA.He had 0 sacks in his four games played in 2024, but had 5.5 in 2023 and 7.5 in 2024, which was his freshman season.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Harold Perkins (@_perkkkk)Permalink| Comments
  
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• 13-year-old killed while riding bike along highway in Kentwood

  27-12-2024 12:59 via wbrz.com
  
  KENTWOOD - A 13-year-old was killed after being hit by a car while riding his bike along a highway in Tangipahoa Parish. The crash happened on Thursday at around 6:30 p.m.. Benjamin Mixon and another bicyclist were riding in the southbound lane of Highway 1061 near Crawford Road where a Chevrolet Silverado hit both of them. Mixon and the other bicyclist were taken to a hospital where Mixon died from his injuries. Louisiana State Police said both riders were wearing da
  
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• Dutchtown High, Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson declares for NFL draft

  27-12-2024 11:47 via wbrz.com
  
  KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson is heading to the NFL draft after leading the Southeastern Conference in rushing and setting a handful of school records.The SEC Offensive Player of the Year announced on social media his intention Friday to leave after his junior season. He helped the seventh-ranked Vols go 10-3 with a first-round loss in the College Football Playoff where Sampson was limited by an injur
  
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• Hammond restaurant's pig mascot returned safely after Christmas caper

  27-12-2024 11:40 via wbrz.com
  
  HAMMOND - After Salty Joe's pig mascot was stolen from its storefront on Christmas day, deputies were able to safely recover her and return her to her rightful place. The restaurant posted security footage of the pig being stolen on Dec. 25, and thanks to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office, the pig has been recovered with only slight damage to her ear. "She is in recovery as we speak," Salty Joe's posted on Facebook Friday. It was not clear whether the thief would
  
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