Louisiana news

• U.K. sees first change in government in 14 years after Labour Party defeat Tories in landslide victory

  05-07-2024 14:05 via wbrz.com
  
  LONDON (AP) — The U.K. has its first change in government in 14 years after the Labour Party won a landslide victory early Friday in a general election that saw the Conservative Party suffer its biggest defeat ever.The new government faces huge challenges, including fixing the country’s sluggish economic and social malaise resulting partly from the U.K.’s exit from the European Union, the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and several Conservative Party scandals
  
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• Superintendent search finishes with final round of candidate interviews

  09-07-2024 21:51 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE – The final round of interviews for the two candidates vying for the East Baton Rouge School’s superintendent job wrapped up Monday.For 90 minutes, Andrea Zayas and Kevin George were grilled separately on processes, structure, and techniques that can be used to improve the EBR school district. They spoke about their individual experiences that best prepare them to serve East Baton Rouge in a leadership role. In reflecting on the hiring process s
  
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• Deputies looking for washing machine thieves

  09-07-2024 21:49 via wbrz.com
  
  AMITE - Deputies are searching for two men who stole several washing machines from a Tangipahoa Parish business. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office said surveillance video showed two men hauling away multiple washing machines from the Cutrer’s Appliance & Furniture on June 17. The owner said they took a few scrap washing machines and a Maytag 565 washing machine that was under repair — totaling around $500. Anyone with information about the thefts c
  
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• LSU offering $3K housing buyout for some incoming freshmen

  09-07-2024 21:36 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Due to an on-campus housing shortage, LSU is offering incoming freshmen living within a 30-mile radius of the university a $3,000 stipend to commute.LSU students Emma Skeath and Rachel Bancroft feel that the live-on requirement for freshmen is the main reason why it has come to this."If you weren't requiring it, you wouldn't have to pay people not to do it," Bancroft said.Both feel that if the school can not house incoming freshmen, then the enrollment rate should be lowered."They
  
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• Central PD to get new state-of-the-art tech for officers

  09-07-2024 18:53 via wbrz.com
  
  CENTRAL - The City of Central Police Department is once again bringing some of the latest, state-of-the-art technology to the front lines."Some people would say 'toys,' but it's new equipment that will help us out in the field," Chief Roger Corcoran said.The new "toys" include brand-new body cameras, unit cameras and Tasers.Though Central officers already wear body cameras, these new ones come with a novel feature."One good thing about these new cameras, if one of my officers gets in a pursuit
  
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• Angola Farm Line case remains in legal limbo as temperatures soar

  09-07-2024 17:51 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Angola inmates who work on the Farm Line, where they tend crops by hand, are caught in a battle between advocates and state officials over how to handle Louisiana's dangerous heat.Advocates for some of the inmates sued the state in federal court in an effort to force more protections for them during the most sweltering seasons.U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson issued a temporary restraining order July 2 limiting inmate work once the heat index reaches 88 degrees. Three days later,
  
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• Sen. Cassidy pushing for Congress to lower flood insurance costs amidst damage from Hurricane Beryl

  09-07-2024 17:35 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) is demanding Congress to make FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program more affordable following Hurricane Beryl's impact in Texas.Cassidy has been discussing the increased cost of taxpayer-subsidized flood insurance for months in Congress. Now with Beryl having hit Texas and forecasters at Colorado State predicting this hurricane season to be even more active than before, he's trying to promote legislation that would make policies for peo
  
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• Department of Public Safety: Angola guards stop escape attempt by inmate

  09-07-2024 17:28 via wbrz.com
  
  ANGOLA — Correctional officers at the Louisiana State Penitentiary stopped an inmate from escaping on Tuesday morning, the state Department of Public Safety said. The officers were able to capture the attempted escapee before he was able to leave the Camp D prison facility.No other details were available, including the identity of the prisoner. Permalink| Comments
  
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• BREC puts fence up to keep turtles from walking onto Stanford Avenue

  09-07-2024 17:24 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - After dozens of turtles were found dead along Stanford Avenue, conservationists with BREC were quick to take action.In May, LSU employee Libby Haydel noticed several cracked and broken shells along the side of the road as she walked around University Lake. Haydel took a cell phone video of the gruesome scene and sent it to BREC officials, who manage Milford Wampold Park. The turtles were hit by cars as they were looking for a dry place to lay eggs, said BREC Natural Resou
  
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• Gonzales supermarket honors life of employee who was killed

  09-07-2024 16:32 via wbrz.com
  
  GONZALES — The Ascension Parish community gathered to celebrate the life of head cook Brenda Morris at Lamendola's Supermarket after her tragic death last month.Morris was shot and killed in June. Her husband, Sean, was arrested for second-degree murder, illegal use of weapons and eight counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.The supermarket unveiled a picture of Morris that was placed on the store's wall and a plaque with her shirt above the deli market where she worke
  
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• State's child neglect hotline temporarily offline, asks people to call law enforcement in emergencies

  09-07-2024 16:25 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — The Department of Child and Family Services' Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline went offline on Tuesday."We are experiencing technical difficulties," DCFS' website reads.  Officials at DCFS say there is a team working to get the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline back online, but people should call law enforcement in case of an emergency.Permalink| Comments
  
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• Two suspects sought in counterfeit money investigation in Hammond

  09-07-2024 16:02 via wbrz.com
  
  HAMMOND— Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's deputies are asking for the public's help in identifying two suspects accused of using counterfeit money in Hammond on Wednesday.On social media, deputies posted pictures of a Black female and a Black male driving up to a business on Highway 190. Investigators say they counterfeit $10 bills for two separate purchases.   Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Sheriff's Office at (985) 902-2072.Permalink| Comments
  
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• EBR Schools employee accused of participating in scheme to steal $100K in COVID relief funds

  09-07-2024 14:55 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE— An East Baton Rouge School System employee is accused of working with an unnamed suspect to steal thousands of dollars of COVID relief money by filing applications from fake businesses.According to documents from the U.S. Middle District Court of Louisiana, 38-year-old Kenyall Williams was one of many people recruited by an unnamed suspect to file the fake applications between November 2022 and April 2023. The suspect used Williams's name to open bank accounts for the fak
  
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• Gov. Jeff Landry declares State of Emergency following Hurricane Beryl

  09-07-2024 14:47 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Gov. Jeff Landry on Tuesday declared a State of Emergency following the effects of the remnants of Hurricane Beryl on southwest Louisiana.The storm advanced from Texas into western Louisiana throughout the day on Monday, with the outer connective bands from the storm spread throughout Louisiana causing one fatality and major damage to homes and businesses, as well as massive power outages, the governor's office said.The emergency order will assist affected parishes and p
  
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• Tangipahoa Parish deputies searching for man who pulled gun on Hammond liquor store clerk

  09-07-2024 14:20 via wbrz.com
  
  HAMMOND — The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office is seeking to identify a man who pointed a gun at a Hammond liquor store clerk in June.Detectives were called to a liquor store in the 14000 block of Old Baton Rouge Highway in Hammond on Saturday, June 22. The clerk told deputies that a Black man who was shopping at the store was arguing with him over a purchase before pointing a gun at him.The man was last seen wearing a red baseball hat, faded black jeans and a black shirt. He left t
  
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• Carter stands behind Biden amid calls for new Democratic candidate after poor performance

  09-07-2024 14:04 via wbrz.com
  
  WASHINGTON — Rep. Troy Carter said he stands with President Joe Biden as Democrats across the nation question whether he should remain as his party's presidential nominee following last month's lackluster debate performance against former President Donald Trump.Carter spoke confidently about the president after a closed-door meeting Biden had with House Democrats on Monday. "The president was clear, was energized, was motivated and it's clear that he's up for the job," Carter
  
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• CATS begins work on new North Transit Center

  09-07-2024 14:00 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE— CATS officials broke ground on a new North Transit Center outside the Our Lady of the Lake North Emergency Room along Airline Highway.The new center is part of a larger project to create a nine mile corridor connecting north and south Baton Rouge.Current interim CEO Theo Richards believes the center's completion will mark a new era of public transportation in Baton Rouge."This new facility will play a crucial role in improving connectivity, reducing wait times, and provid
  
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• Man with multiple warrants wanted in Terrebonne Parish

  09-07-2024 13:36 via wbrz.com
  
  HOUMA— The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's office is asking for the public's help in locating a Houma man wanted for multiple charges.Deputies are looking for 45-year-old Gilbert Moses, who is also known as "Muckus." Officials warn Moses should be considered armed and dangerous.He's described by the Sheriff's office as a black male with black hair and brown eyes. Deputies say he also has a tattoo of "Marwan" on his forearm.Moses faces several charges including multiple counts of possessio
  
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• Deputies recover child's body from water behind Vinton Welcome Center

  09-07-2024 13:12 via wbrz.com
  
  VINTON— Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's deputies recovered the body of a young boy in the water behind a welcome center on I-10 near the Texas border.Deputies say someone found the body floating in the water behind the Vinton Welcome Center around 3:00 p.m. Monday afternoon. CPSO's Marine Division was able to recover the body. He has not been identified. Officials are unsure how he died. Investigators say there were no signs of injuries on the child. Sheriff Stitch Guillo
  
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• Deputies recover 4-year-old's body from water behind Vinton Welcome Center; mother arrested

  09-07-2024 13:12 via wbrz.com
  
  VINTON — Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's deputies recovered the body of a 4-year-old in the water behind a welcome center on I-10 near the Texas border and arrested the boy's mother for failing to report the missing child, KATC reports.Deputies say someone found the body floating in the water behind the Vinton Welcome Center around 3:00 p.m. on Monday. CPSO's Marine Division was able to recover the body. After this, his body was brought to Beaumont for an autopsy, Sheriff Stitch Guillory s
  
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• Longtime WFMF radio host 'Jim Nasium' passes away Tuesday morning

  09-07-2024 13:09 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - Longtime radio host Danny Simar, also known as "Jim Nasium," passed away Tuesday morning. He was 69.Nasium and his co-host Randy Rice were on WFMF together from 1979 to 1990. Nasium ended his radio career in 1994 after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Rice said Nasium was nice to everyone and always kept a positive attitude. "We were all about shaking hands, kissing babies, really intimately involved with our audience in a way that no one has ever come cl
  
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• DOTD installs speed feedback signage, changes speed limits along Atchafalaya Basin Bridge

  09-07-2024 12:55 via wbrz.com
  
  RAMAH — Drivers in St. Martin and Iberville parishes will begin to notice "your speed" feedback signs warning them to slow down when driving too fast on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge, the Department of Transportation and Development announced Tuesday.LaDOTD said that the speed limit has also changed for all motorists to 60 mph, a change from the previous speed limit of 55 for trucks and 60 for cars. Trucks driving on the stretch of Interstate 10 between Baton Rouge and Lafayette will b
  
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• Louisiana's early elementary students improve reading scores by significant margin from start of year

  09-07-2024 12:23 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — Louisiana's kindergarten through third-grade students have improved their reading scores by 10 percentage points, the state's Department of Education said Tuesday.The percentage of students reading on grade level during the 2023-2024 school year jumped from 44.6% on the beginning-of-year screener to 54.6% on the end-of-year screener. State education officials said that the new data establishes a baseline that can be used to measure progress in future years.Around 27% mor
  
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• LSU AI researchers teaming with other universities, Department of Energy to develop nuclear safety models

  09-07-2024 12:05 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE — LSU artificial intelligence researchers will collaborate with other universities to develop AI models to protect the United States from nuclear threats as part of a $25 million national defense and energy project, the university announced Tuesday.The consortium of 15 universities and eight national labs is being funded by the National Nuclear Security Administration to support nuclear safety and nonproliferation, as well as train a new generation of data science, cyber a
  
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• BRCC Chancellor elected to role at the American Association of Community Colleges

  09-07-2024 12:01 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE— Baton Rouge Community College Chancellor Dr. Willie E. Smith Sr. has been elected to serve a three year term as an institutional representative for the Board of Directors of the American Association of Community Colleges.32 members are elected to the AACC Board. The organization advocates for community colleges, aiming to uphold educational standards and advance the mission of their schools. The AACC represents nearly 12 million students across 1,000 community colleges in
  
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• Houma man arrested after deputies find a small bag of Methamphetamines outside of home

  09-07-2024 09:37 via wbrz.com
  
  HOUMA— A Houma man now faces multiple drug charges after Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's deputies found a small bag of drugs outside his home while responding to reports of gunshots.Deputies were called to 27-year-old Jeffery Josph Bourgeois Jr.'s home off Nassau Court just after 11:00 p.m. Saturday night. Neighbors said they heard yelling and gunshots coming from the home and suspected it was connected to illegal drug activity.Once deputies arrived at Bourgeois's home, they found a small
  
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• Jayden Daniels named SEC Male Athlete of the Year, making two consecutive years a Tiger claims the title

  09-07-2024 09:36 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE - For the second year in a row, an LSU Tiger has claimed the title of the SEC's Male Athlete of the Year. Heisman Trophy-winner Jayden Daniels, who played as the Tigers' quarterback during the 2023-2024 season, has been chosen as the SEC Male Athlete of the Year. Daniels follows Dylan Crews, who led the Tigers' baseball team to a national title last year. "The SEC is pleased to honor Parker and Jayden as this year’s Roy F. Kramer Athletes of the
  
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• West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office looking for suspect in vehicle burglary

  09-07-2024 09:18 via wbrz.com
  
  PORT ALLEN— West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Deputies are looking for a man caught on camera stealing a car on July Fourth.Deputies released pictures of an unidentified Black male exiting a casino in Port Allen and then entering a car that was not his.Anyone who recognizes this man is urged to call the Sheriff's Office at (225)382-5200.  Permalink| Comments
  
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• 2une In Previews: "Boogie on the Bayou" to raise money to fight kidney disease

  09-07-2024 08:51 via wbrz.com
  
  BATON ROUGE— This Saturday, the fifth annual "Boogie on the Bayou" will take place at Gros' Marina in Morgan City. All proceeds from the event will go towards NephCure to help with their fight against rare kidney disease.Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and Nephcure Board member Joshua Roy interviewed 2une In's John Pastorek and Brandi B. Harris for a preview of the event this weekend.Permalink| Comments
  
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• PHOTOS: Suspected tornado tears through Mansfield area in north Louisiana

  09-07-2024 08:48 via wbrz.com
  
  MANSFIELD - The Desoto Parish Sheriff's Office shared aerial photos showing the aftermath of a possible tornado that tore through the Mansfield area Monday. The photos showed the path the alleged tornado took through a stretch of land and multiple structures. The path could be clearly seen through nearby trees and homes. The National Weather Service was conducting surveys Tuesday to confirm whether the incident was an actual tornado.Permalink| Comments
  
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