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• Baton Rouge area homes sales increase in April

  May 16, 2012 9:05 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Baton Rouge area homes sales rose 21 percent in April, with real estate agents in the eight-parish region selling 616 homes compared with 510 that month a year ago. The dollar volume rose 16 percent to $116.1 million, compared with $100.4 million in April 2011.... more »

• Cottonport Bank to open Baton Rouge branch

  May 11, 2012 10:00 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - An Avoyelles Parish-based bank plans to open a branch in Baton Rouge. The Advocate reports The Cottonport Bank broke ground on Monday to build its 12th branch, its third in the Baton Rouge metro region. Cottonport Bank operates branches in Brusly and New Roads. A.J.... more »

• LAuberge Baton Rouge to Host Departmental Job Fairs

  May 10, 2012 10:31 AM

  L'Auberge Baton Rouge Human Resources Department will host two job fairs this week to recruit candidates for casino operations, cage and players club positions. Candidates may also apply online at LBatonRouge.com . The first job fair on Thursday, May 10th is for Casino Operations, and will be held... more »

• 4 accused of Medicare fraud in Baton Rouge

  April 20, 2012 9:45 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - U.S. Attorney Donald J. Cazayoux Jr. says four former employees at two Baton Rouge psychiatric clinics have been charged with mail-fraud conspiracy in connection with alleged Medicare losses that could exceed $37 million. Cazayoux tells The Advocate the investigation is continuing. Cazayoux says Teryl C.... more »

• Baton Rouge truancy center set to open

  April 11, 2012 8:26 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A center to help boost public school attendance and reduce juvenile crime in East Baton Rouge Parish is set to open its doors this fall. The Advocate reports the project recently cleared its final hurdle when Gov. Bobby Jindal signed off on a three-year, no-cost... more »

• Couple decline deal in Baton Rouge cruelty case

  April 4, 2012 10:51 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore says a man and woman accused of abusing their 20-month-old son in 2009 have rejected the state's offer to plead guilty in exchange for 25-year prison terms. The Advocate reports 29-year-old Steven Staggs, the boy's father, and... more »

• Baton Rouge council takes no position on bus tax

  March 29, 2012 10:31 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council as a whole took no position on whether to support a 10.6-mill property tax to revamp the parish bus system, voting instead to delete the item after a lengthy public hearing and debate. The Advocate reports Councilwoman Denise... more »

• Texas returns suspect in slaying to Baton Rouge

  March 28, 2012 10:23 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A 22-year-old Zachary man has been extradited to Baton Rouge after he was arrested in Houston on March 5 in the shooting death of a former Southern University football player. Cpl. L'Jean McKneely tells The Advocate Walter Jerome Fort was transported Tuesday evening and booked... more »

• Baton Rouge City Hall 40 percent empty

  March 19, 2012 10:41 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Three and a half floors and several other offices in the 12-story Baton Rouge City Hall are vacant since the 19th Judicial District courts moved to the new courthouse more than a year ago. Jim Frey, an architect with the Department of Public Works, tells... more »

• Baton Rouge area's AIDS rate tops in nation

  March 15, 2012 8:57 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Baton Rouge metro area ranks No. 1 in the nation in its rate of AIDS cases after ranking second the past two years. That's according to 2010 data released Wednesday by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Baton Rouge has a rate... more »

• Baton Rouge man gets life sentence

  March 14, 2012 10:38 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A 27-year-old Baton Rouge man has been sentenced to life in prison in the 2010 shooting death of a teenager. The Advocate reports Hennessy Richard Christof was convicted in December of second-degree murder in the May 2010 killing of 17-year-old Demarcus Woods. An East Baton... more »

• Bald eagles discovered nesting in Baton Rouge park

  March 12, 2012 9:54 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - BREC's Farr Park Equestrian Center and RV Campground along River Road has some relatively new residents: two bald eagles that may be parents. The nest and the birds were discovered about three weeks ago when a horseback riding instructor saw the nest and informed others... more »

• Homeless man found dead in Baton Rouge

  March 12, 2012 7:46 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Baton Rouge police are investigating the shooting death of a homeless man. Cpl. Tommy Stubbs tells The Advocate they found the body Sunday inside an abandoned home. Stubbs said the 52-year-old man appeared to have been shot several days ago. He said the victim had... more »

• Baton Rouge 311 service hotline to improve

  March 12, 2012 7:43 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Officials say the East Baton Rouge 311 hotline to report complaints, like traffic signal outages, trash pickup and damaged sidewalks, is being upgraded to ensure faster, more efficient responses. Since 2005, the city-parish has operated the hotline, where people with the 225 area code can... more »

• 2 wanted in Baton Rouge shooting death

  March 7, 2012 7:55 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Baton Rouge police say two people are wanted in the death of a 25-year-old man who was shot during an apparent drug deal. Police tell The Advocate that arrest warrants have been issued for 23-year-old Lashonda Sanford and a 17-year-old. They face charges of first-degree... more »

• May 9 execution date set in Baton Rouge killings

  March 6, 2012 7:11 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A judge has set a May 9 execution date for Todd Wessinger, who was convicted in 1997 and sentenced to die in the 1995 slaying of two Baton Rouge restaurant employees. The Advocate reported the date was set Friday for Wessinger by state District Judge... more »

• Body left in car on Interstate 110 in Baton Rouge

  March 5, 2012 5:55 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Baton Rouge police say a 22-year-old Zachary man allegedly killed another man and left the body in a car on southbound Interstate 110. Police spokesman L'Jean McKneely says a warrant accuses Walter Jerome Fort of second-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon. Police sent... more »

• Baton Rouge board to form school safety panel

  March 2, 2012 8:24 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board is forming a school safety task force to identify and implement procedures to ensure schools are safe from violence. Board member Jerry Arbour requested the creation of the task force at this week's school board meeting, citing recent... more »

• Pixomondo bringing studio to Baton Rouge

  March 1, 2012 5:52 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Pixomondo LLC, which won an Academy Award this year, says it will spend $1.2 million to create a visual effects studio in Louisiana, creating 75 jobs in film, television and commercial production. Plans call for the company to use about 6,000 square feet at the... more »

• Escaped prisoner caught in Baton Rouge

  February 17, 2012 10:41 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A man wanted by Rayne authorities after he escaped and stole a city truck has been arrested in Baton Rouge. The Advertiser of Lafayette says 42-year-old John Jesse Smith escaped Feb. 4. He was a state trusty and was being allowed to perform public works... more »

• Baton Rouge considers cashless parking meters

  January 30, 2012 10:50 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Baton Rouge may replace its 450 parking meters with cashless meters. Public Works Director William Daniel tells The Advocate that a lot of people don't carry change, and the city wants to provide other choices. Cashless parking meters have been popping up in cities across... more »

• Missing Body of Baton Rouge Man found on Bogue Chitto River

  January 28, 2012 2:45 PM

  Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents found the body of a missing man on the Bogue Chitto River in St. Tammany Parish this morning, Jan. 28. Agents recovered the body of William Holloway, 63, at 8 a.m. from the river around a mile in a... more »

• Baton Rouge, France pursue partnership

  January 27, 2012 10:41 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Baton Rouge Mayor-President Melvin "Kip" Holden and Consul General of France Jean-Claude Brunet have begun the groundwork for a proposed partnership between the city and France that would extend a pact reached nearly four years ago. Holden said Thursday that he and Brunet are developing... more »

• BR board backs renovation project at Istrouma High

  January 20, 2012 10:35 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board has approved spending $586,000 to renovate classrooms on the second floor of Istrouma High School. Just two months ago, the board voted to delay the construction at the high school over the objections of Superintendent John Dilworth. The... more »

• DEQ: 5 parishes around Baton Rouge OK'd by EPA

  January 20, 2012 10:17 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality says the five-parish area around Baton Rouge is now officially within the federal government's ozone pollutant standards. DEQ said Thursday that the Environmental Protection Agency deems the area in attainment of ozone standards. Emission reductions, technological advances and other... more »

• East Baton Rouge schools chief search to take time

  January 16, 2012 9:48 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The search for the next East Baton Rouge Parish school superintendent is taking longer than expected and could easily stretch into February. Six semifinalists are from Baton Rouge, Del Rio, Texas; Baltimore; Conyers, Ga.; the North Carolina education department, and Charleston County, S.C The Advocate... more »

• BR board delays selection of supt. semifinalists

  January 6, 2012 10:16 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board has postponed until next week selecting semifinalists from the pool of 43 candidates vying for the position of superintendent. School Board President Barbara Freiberg said at Thursday night's executive session that PROACT, the search firm hired by the... more »

• West Baton Rouge Cited for Storm Readiness

  October 16, 2011 12:02 PM

  PORT ALLEN, La. (AP) - West Baton Rouge Parish has joined 12 other parishes in achieving National Weather Service StormReady program certification. The Advocate reported (http://bit.ly/opVlhA ) Ken Graham, meteorologist-in-charge of the weather service office in Slidell, presented parish officials with a recognition letter and special StormReady signs during the... more »

• Biodiesel Plant May Locate in Baton Rouge

  October 16, 2011 11:42 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A company is studying the possibility of basing a $30 million biodiesel refinery capable of producing 30 million gallons of fuel per year at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge. Port executive director Jay Hardman told The Advocate (http://bit.ly/owDkkP) that Alabama Renewable Energy has asked... more »

• Move Costs 400 BR Jobs

  October 15, 2011 4:08 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Home Depot is closing its Baton Rouge call center by the end of next year. A phase out of 400 jobs will begin in the next few months. Stephen Holmes, spokesman for the chain of home improvement stores, tells the Advocate (http://bit.ly/olXgKV) the decision came... more »

• Companies Challenge LA Citizenship Check

  October 15, 2011 4:01 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A contractors group is warning a new Louisiana law requiring companies seeking public contracts to verify the citizenship of their employees could wreak havoc in public contracting. The Advocate reported (http://bit.ly/rrxEW5) Louisiana Associated General Contractors is challenging the law in a lawsuit filed against the... more »

• Court Asked to Seize Baton Rouge Development

  October 15, 2011 10:25 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A North Carolina bank has asked a state judge to seize the Lakes at Magnolia Trace and sell it to settle a $6.1 million debt. The Advocate reported (http://bit.ly/pqSLCv) construction work on the 81-lot Baton Rouge subdivision began in 2008. Roads and sidewalks were laid... more »

• Baton Rouge airport to get new scanners

  October 7, 2011 8:07 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Transportation Security Administration officials says the latest generation of full-body security scanner is headed for Baton Rouge's Metro Airport and will be used to screen airline passengers sometime within the next several weeks. Jon Allen, a TSA spokesman, tells The Advocate the new scanners employ... more »

• Baton Rouge 11th-grader arrested

  September 30, 2011 7:25 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Broadmoor High School student has been arrested after being caught with ammunition at school. Casey Rayborn Hicks, a spokeswoman for the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office, tells The Advocate a teacher found the ammunition inside the 11th-grader's backpack Thursday and alerted authorities. Hicks... more »

• Baton Rouge to restore Miss. River cruises

  September 28, 2011 5:54 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Steamboat cruises along the Mississippi River from Baton Rouge, long a staple of the city's scene, will be returning in April. The riverboat cruise business - once dominated by the American Queen, Mississippi Queen and Delta Queen - ended in 2008 when the boats' operator,... more »

• Baton Rouge gets air service grant

  September 28, 2011 5:50 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The federal Transportation Department has issued a $340,000 grant to Baton Rouge to improve its airline service. The agency said Tuesday that the grant will be used to provide a revenue guarantee to add service between Baton Rouge and Washington, D.C. Either public or private... more »

• Baton Rouge chief wants 3 new posts

  September 21, 2011 10:35 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - In an effort to make the Baton Rouge Police Department more accountable, Chief Dewayne White is asking the Metro Council to create three deputy chief positions. "I hope the Metro Council agrees that these positions are paramount to the success of this agency," White told... more »

• 'Breakout Kings' to shoot second season in BR

  September 16, 2011 10:11 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The A&E cable television show "Breakout Kings" will begin shooting its second season in Baton Rouge next month. The 10-episode crime drama's producers said Thursday that filming is scheduled to start in October and continue through early 2012 at locations throughout Baton Rouge and at... more »

• Baton Rouge agency applies for tax credits

  September 12, 2011 9:35 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority has applied for $16.1 million in tax credits provided through the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency to help renovate or rebuild two housing complexes. The application for Ardenwood Village applied for $9.4 million to rehabilitate the 93-unit complex. The... more »

• Baton Rouge airport eyes strategic plan

  September 7, 2011 10:16 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport Commission has authorized appropriating up to $200,000 toward the cost of a strategic plan for the airport's future growth and development. Commission Chairman Jim Ellis tells The Advocate airport officials are seeking additional funds from the Baton Rouge Area Chamber... more »

• BR medical center plans $40 million addition

  September 1, 2011 7:42 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Baton Rouge General Medical Center plans to invest $40 million to build a five-story medical office building and add four large operating rooms at the Bluebonnet campus. In June, the state Bond Commission approved $30 million in low-interest, GO Zone bond financing for the 105,000-square-foot... more »

• Deadline nears for Baton Rouge council recall

  August 22, 2011 10:54 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Supporters of a campaign to remove Alison Gary from the East Baton Rouge Metro Council have one month left to collect the necessary 7,847 signatures needed to hold a recall election. Despite an aggressive and visible recall campaign across Gary's district, Gary tells The Advocate... more »

• Motorcycle Rider Killed in Baton Rouge Crash

  August 15, 2011 10:09 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Baton Rouge police have identified a man killed in a motorcycle crash. Police tell the Advocate (http://bit.ly/pZ3Fqd ) 31-year-old Jermaine Knox of Baton Rouge was fatally injured when he tried to avoid a collision with a car. The crash was reported to police at 8:28... more »

• Baton Rouge truancy center in works

  August 15, 2011 10:08 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - East Baton Rouge Parish is one step closer to opening a facility dedicated to combating truancy. The Advocate reports (http://bit.ly/reqfwK ) the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board recommended unanimously last week to enter into an agreement with the state to use the empty School... more »

• Former Lawmakers Seek Return to LA Legislature

  August 7, 2011 2:25 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Term limits cleared out much of Louisiana's Legislature within the last few years, and some of those lawmakers weren't ready to go when their time was up. Now, a few longtime legislators are trying to return, seeking to oust those who took their place. Others... more »

• BR waterpark fined for child labor violations

  August 4, 2011 10:14 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Federal labor regulators have assessed more than $25,000 in civil penalties against a Baton Rouge water and amusement park for violating child labor provisions. The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division's office in Baton Rouge reviewed attendance and payroll records for hundreds of... more »

• Baton Rouge group home wins ruling on eviction

  July 29, 2011 8:30 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Baton Rouge federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction that bars officials from evicting members of Oxford House group homes from neighborhoods zoned exclusively for single-family residences. Oxford House is a Maryland nonprofit organization that establishes self-governing group homes for recovering alcoholics and drug... more »

• Several Accidents on I-10

  July 24, 2011 3:19 PM

  Traffic is slow moving on I-10 outside of Baton Rouge due to several accidents over the past two hours. The Iberville Police Department is working an accident on the Grosse Tete overpass. According to the Louisiana State Police Troop A, they are clearing up an accident near mile-marker 145... more »

• State investigates Baton Rouge charter school

  July 21, 2011 9:14 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - State Department of Education officials say they will launch an investigation of Kenilworth Science and Technology Charter School. The Baton Rouge school is operated by the Pelican Educational Foundation. The foundation also runs Abramson Science and Technology Charter School in New Orleans, which was closed... more »

• Edwin Edwards book tour starts this weekend in BR

  July 15, 2011 10:58 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Two Baton Rouge bookstores are readying for a surge of visitors this weekend, when former Gov. Edwin Edwards begins a statewide tour to support his biography. The Barnes & Noble locations are expecting hundreds of people to show up on Saturday and Sunday for the... more »

• Baton Rouge mayor asks voters to pass tax package

  July 11, 2011 10:51 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden will ask voters to approve a $748 million capital improvements bond proposal this fall, marking his third attempt to pass tax package. The proposal is about $150 million less than the one voters rejected in fall 2009. This November, pending... more »

• Baton Rouge lawmaker heads back to Democrats

  July 6, 2011 6:16 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - State Rep. Michael Jackson of Baton Rouge has returned to the Democratic Party, after becoming an independent three years ago in a failed bid for Congress. Jackson switched back to the Democrats on May 31, according to records filed with the Louisiana Secretary of State's... more »

• New police chief confident BR can be made safer

  June 27, 2011 9:13 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Newly appointed Baton Rouge Police Chief Dewayne White is confident he can make Baton Rouge safer. White tells The Advocate that failure is not an option. With a little more than a month on the job, the 51-year-old White hasn't wasted any time moving toward... more »

• Baton Rouge man indicted in slaying

  June 23, 2011 9:18 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A 27-year-old Baton Rouge man has been indicted in the Feb. 28 shooting death of his former girlfriend in her home. An East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury charged Johnny Ray Blakes with second-degree murder Wednesday in the death of 25-year-old Rochel Christal. Police have... more »

• LA Senate Debates $25B Budget on Sunday

  June 19, 2011 12:09 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana senators are taking their turn at crafting a $25 billion budget for next year, with fewer cuts than the House sought. The full Senate is scheduled to debate the spending plan Sunday afternoon. Senate leaders are hoping they can sway the House on their... more »

• Baton Rouge bus system seeks to plug deficit

  June 13, 2011 9:55 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The CEO of the East Baton Rouge Parish bus system says he's "very confident" that enough money will be found to ensure the Capital Area Transit System gets through the remainder of the year without having to shut down. Brian Marshall said money provided by... more »

• Baton Rouge bus system seeks to plug deficit

  June 13, 2011 9:35 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The CEO of the East Baton Rouge Parish bus system says he's "very confident" that enough money will be found to ensure the Capital Area Transit System gets through the remainder of the year without having to shut down. Brian Marshall tells The Advocate money... more »

• Baton Rouge man killed by truck

  June 6, 2011 10:08 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Police say a 45-year-old Baton Rouge man was killed when he was struck by a truck. In a news release, police say Andre Patin was hit by a box truck Sunday afternoon while he was standing at the intersection of North Street and North Beck.... more »

• Major Crime Drops In Baton Rouge

  June 2, 2011 10:13 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The number of major crimes committed in Baton Rouge last year dropped 9 percent from 2009. That's according to statistics the police department released Wednesday. The statistics show crimes against people - murder, rape, robbery and assault - fell more than 10 percent. Crimes against... more »

• Jindal Budget Criticism Comes from GOP

  May 29, 2011 12:51 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The opposition party isn't the only one giving Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal fits these days. It's his own GOP. Conventional wisdom would have suggested Republican takeovers of both the House and Senate would have given Jindal an easier path for passage of his legislative agenda... more »

• Second Annual Bayou Country Superfest Kicks Off Play Video

  May 28, 2011 11:54 PM

  In Baton Rouge this weekend, it is one big party over at Tiger Stadium. The Bayou Country Superfest kicked off Saturday and KATC'S Chris Welty was there and met up with some die hard country fans. "Good music and let the good times roll cher," said Dylan Ainsworth... more »

• Baton Rouge Port Suspends Some Operations

  May 13, 2011 9:10 AM

  PORT ALLEN, La. (AP) - Liquid bulk cargo operations at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge have shut down because of the rising Mississippi River. Port Director Jay Hardman said water has submerged electrical equipment and pipes used to bring in molasses, petroleum and specialty chemicals. Westwary Terminal Group and... more »

• LA Regular Legislative Session Begins Monday

  April 24, 2011 2:04 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Weary lawmakers still smarting from angry battles over the drawing of their political districts return to the Louisiana Capitol on Monday to take up the difficult task of balancing next year's budget. The two-month regular session will be jam-packed with tough decisions on whether to... more »

• Man Pleads Guilty in Restaurant Killing

  March 27, 2011 11:32 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - In the midst of jury selection, a Baton Rouge man has pleaded guilty in a 2006 shooting death of a server at a restaurant. Tracy Young, 33, admitted Friday to fatally shooting Aaron Arnold, an Oliver Garden restaurant server. In exchange for pleading guilty, Young... more »

• Jindal campaign, book travel costs taxpayers

  March 16, 2011 9:20 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - As Gov. Bobby Jindal crisscrossed the country this fall to promote his book, stump for out-of-state candidates and raise campaign cash, part of the cost was being picked by Louisiana's taxpayers. While the Republican governor's campaign account or those hosting events cover his expenses for... more »

• Troopers Searching for Two Trustees

  March 6, 2011 9:10 PM

  Baton Rouge - Department of Public Safety Police are currently searching for two trustees who escaped from the Louisiana State Police Headquarters compound Saturday afternoon. At 4:15 pm, during a scheduled periodic trustee check, DPS Officers learned that the two trustees, 36 year old Ricky Wedgeworth of Tennessee, and 33... more »

• La. man pleads guilty to bribery plot

  February 18, 2011 9:25 PM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A Baton Rouge man has pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe a former New Orleans city official in a kickback scheme involving contracts for the city's crime surveillance program. Prosecutors say 51-year-old Dwaine Hodges helped a businessman, Mark St. Pierre, funnel payoffs to Anthony Jones, who... more »

• Baton Rouge port holds off on grain contract

  February 10, 2011 9:32 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Port of Greater Baton Rouge says it will honor a request by the Jindal administration to hold off on deciding who will operate the port's grain elevator until the state and the LSU AgCenter complete an economic analysis of the proposed leases. Port Director... more »

• Contractor finds human remains at BR work site

  February 7, 2011 9:51 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Baton Rouge police say a contractor excavating a site found human remains that are possibly from the 1800s. Police spokesman LJean McKneely says there were only a few bones recovered Monday at the site near the corner of Main and Fourth streets at about 11... more »

• Former Baton Rouge Worker Sentenced for Theft

  February 1, 2011 8:23 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A former Baton Rouge City Constable's Office employee has admitted to stealing nearly $30,000 that was paid to the office's garnishment department. 37-year-old Catina Hayman of Zachary pleaded guilty Monday to one count each of felony theft and malfeasance. State District Judge Lou Daniel gave... more »

• Hammond man accused of child porn

  January 25, 2011 8:15 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says a 19-year-old Hammond man has been booked with possessing pornography involving juveniles. He said in a statement Tuesday that Sean Joseph Decelle was arrested after an investigation by the Louisiana Attorney General's High Technology Crime Unit and the Tangipahoa Parish... more »

• New Trial Date for Former Police Cpl.

  January 19, 2011 12:30 PM

  A former Baton Rouge police corporal accused of soliciting and accepting cash from an inmate has received a new trial date. Donald Bailey was scheduled to stand trial Tuesday on charges of bribery, corrupt influencing and malfeasance. Michael Walsh, who represents Bailey, requested a new trial date of May... more »

• Feds clear BR police of post-Katrina misconduct

  January 4, 2011 9:27 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The U.S. Justice Department has cleared Baton Rouge police officers who were accused of harassing African-Americans, using unnecessary violence and conducting illegal searches after Hurricane Katrina. The move, reported by WAFB-TV on Tuesday, was confirmed by the current and former Baton Rouge police chiefs. "After... more »

• Latest Medicaid shortfall won't prompt cuts

  January 3, 2011 8:10 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The state health department will reshuffle dollars within its budget to fill a $19 million shortfall that has emerged in the state's Medicaid program, without making new budget cuts, Gov. Bobby Jindal said Monday. Also, the Department of Health and Hospitals plans to reverse cuts... more »

• Gambling board gets presentations on casino

  December 16, 2010 8:24 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Three companies applying for the state's last available riverboat casino license are proposing projects in Jefferson Parish and Lake Charles. The applicants made their presentations to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board on Thursday. Penn National Gaming Inc. is proposing a second casino in the New... more »

• Former BR student arrested for Facebook threat

  December 1, 2010 9:56 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A 20-year-old former Woodlawn High School student has been arrested for making a threat on Facebook. East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff's deputies arrested William David Moulder on Wednesday, acting on reports that Moulder made threats on Facebook on Nov. 23. According to a news release... more »

• Sarah Palin Stops in Baton Rouge Play Video

  November 30, 2010 7:27 PM

  Sarah Palin spent a few hours in Baton Rouge today promoting her new book. Supporter Darlene Knight said, "there are a lot of Americans interested in getting our country back where it needs to be." More than 700 fans showed up at Books-A-Million to meet Palin in person. Fan Jenny... more »

• Palin Signs Copies of New Book Today in Baton Rouge

  November 30, 2010 11:32 AM

  RANT: What do you think of Sarah Palin possibly running against President Barack Obama in the next presidential election? What are her chances if she chooses to run? Email Hoyt at hoyt.harris@katctv.com. We could air your opinion at 10:00! Former Alaska governor and TV reality star Sarah Palin is... more »

• Baton Rouge Boy Found Fatally Shot

  November 30, 2010 8:56 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Authorities say a 16-year-old boy was shot and killed inside a Baton Rouge park building. Casey Rayborn Hicks, a spokesman for the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office, says that deputies received an anonymous call from someone at 5:45 p.m. Monday saying they found a... more »

• Weird Serial Killer Connection in BR

  November 20, 2010 4:38 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Baton Rouge police detective says a woman allegedly strangled by one alleged serial killer had reportedly associated with another. Sgt. Chris Johnson testified during cross-examination that he had been told that 46-year-old Renee Newman often associated with Sean Vincent Gillis, who is serving life... more »

• 4 Indicted in Death of Baton Rouge Teen

  November 11, 2010 7:58 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Three men and a 16-year-old boy have been indicted in the July 18 shooting death of a Baton Rouge teenager outside his home. An East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury charged 24-year-old Warren Jackson, stepbrothers Derrick Hughes and Christopher Phillip Armstead, both 19, and a... more »

• Baton Rouge Police Officer Arrest on Drug Charges

  November 11, 2010 7:17 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Baton Rouge police have arrested one of their own officers on drug charges. An arrest warrant says Cpl. John Conrad Dauthier, a nine-year veteran of the police department, allegedly used prescriptions he obtained online to illegally receive a painkiller from five separate out-of-state pharmacies. Sgt.... more »

• Students Rally Against Higher Ed Cuts

  November 10, 2010 1:58 PM

  Hundreds rallied on the Louisiana Capitol steps today against higher education cuts. The rally was organized by students and faculty from the University of New Orleans. It attracted interest from students and university staff around the state. Students from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette were at the rally, as... more »

• Hundreds will Rally Today at the Capitol Building in Baton Rouge

  November 10, 2010 7:03 AM

  State police are ramping up security at the Capitol Building in Baton Rouge, where hundreds of people are expected to rally today in protest of cuts to higher education. Troopers say they are investigating several threats posted online. The rally is being spearheaded by students and faculty from the University... more »

• Judge Orders Sale of Medical Center

  November 6, 2010 4:51 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Federal bankruptcy court Judge Douglas Dodd has given Stanocola Medical Center until Jan. 31 to complete a sale of its assets to People's Health, a Metairie-based, doctor-owned Medicare Advantage plan. Stanocola, which filed for bankruptcy protection in September, had sought to convert its bankruptcy to... more »

• Pedestrian Killed in Baton Rouge by Pickup

  November 3, 2010 11:44 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A 54-year-old man was killed when he tried to cross Airline Highway in Baton Rouge and was hit by a truck. Baton Rouge police say the accident occurred around 7:20 p.m. Tuesday. Police say the driver of the pickup, 35-year-old Shawn Sterling of Baton Rouge,... more »

• Inspections Complete on Xtreme Roller Coaster

  October 29, 2010 11:32 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The state Fire Marshal's Office spent two days completing a final inspection of the Xtreme roller coaster in Baton Rouge, which was closed July 11 following the death of a Lafayette woman. The Advocate reports state Fire Marshal Butch Browning said in an e-mail Thursday... more »

• Advocacy Group Pushing Gasoline Tax Hike

  October 25, 2010 5:14 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A highway advocacy group is pushing to raise Louisiana's 20-cent gasoline tax by another 10 cents per gallon, to pay for new roadwork and repairs. Driving Louisiana Forward, a coalition of highway contractors, consulting engineers and material suppliers, also wants lawmakers to back a $3... more »

• Lt. Governor Debate today in Baton Rouge - Sold Out

  October 22, 2010 6:29 AM

  Election Day is right around the corner and today the League of Women Voters of Baton Rouge will host a debate between Lt. Governor Candidates Jay Dardenne and Caroline Fayard. The event will take place at Drusilla Place. Doors open at 11:00 with registration and networking until Noon when... more »

• More Cuts Looming for LSU

  October 21, 2010 10:52 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - More cuts are coming at LSU. The university announced Wednesday it plans to cut dollars from the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and transfer funding of the Cox Academic Center for Student Athletes from the university to the athletic department. The budget axing is in... more »

• BR Escaped Inmate Caught Hiding in Vacant House

  October 20, 2010 11:41 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Deputies and members of the U.S. Marshal's Task Force on Tuesday found a 34-year-old man who escaped from the East Baton Rouge Parish Courthouse inside a vacant house. Demond Fitzgerald Cook, 34, was being transported around 7:45 a.m. to the court by deputies from the... more »

• Livingston Parish prisoner who escaped has been caught

  October 19, 2010 3:02 PM

  LIVINGSTON, La. (AP) - A prisoner who fled the Livingston Parish Courthouse Tuesday after being sentenced to five years on drug charges has been captured, the sheriff's office said. Deputies captured Dennis Ray Caruso Jr., 23, about two hours after he fled the courthouse, said Perry Rushing, chief of... more »

• Schools on Lockdown After Inmate Breaks Free in EBR

  October 19, 2010 1:07 PM

  Deputies in East Baton Rouge Parish continue to search for 34-year-old Demond Cook who escaped while headed to court today. He was being transported by deputies from the Catahoula Parish Sheriff's Office to be sentenced for for two counts of armed robbery and one count of second-degree kidnapping, when he... more »

• Inmate escapes from Baton Rouge courthouse

  October 19, 2010 10:31 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Deputies are searching for a 34-year-old man who escaped from the East Baton Rouge Parish Courthouse. Casey Rayborn Hicks, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's office,said Demond Cook was being transported to the court Tuesday by deputies from the Catahoula Parish Sheriff's Office for sentencing when... more »

• Two More Human Cases of West Nile in Louisiana

  October 15, 2010 11:59 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals has confirmed two new human cases of West Nile Virus, bringing this year's total to 29. The two new cases come from East Baton Rouge and West Baton Rouge parishes. These cases are reported in DHH's weekly Louisiana Arbovirus Surveillance... more »

• Movie Casting in Louisiana

  October 12, 2010 10:36 AM

  An open casting call is scheduled for Thursday for the new film "Zombie Hamlet." The feature film stars: Jason Mewes, Travis Wester, June Lockhart and John Amos When: Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010 Where: Radisson Hotel Baton Rouge 2445 South Acadain Thruway Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808 Time: 3:30pm to 8pm Bring:... more »

• Baton Rouge school board scales back construction

  October 12, 2010 7:49 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A sharp falloff in sales tax revenue in 2009 is forcing the East Baton Rouge Parish school system to scale down hundreds of millions of dollars worth of planned construction between now and 2019. Superintendent John Dilworth released some initial proposals Monday calling, among other... more »