WBRZ - Baton Rouge

Updated: March 11, 2010 5:25 PM
By Kristen Eargle
Source: WBRZ Sports

LSU season comes to an end with a 59-49 loss to #13 Tennessee in the SEC Tournament.

The Tigers kept it close until the an 8-0 Vol run midway through the second half.  Tasmin Mitchell finished with 10 points, just 11 points shy of the 2000 point mark for his career. He could have been one of only three Tigers in the history of LSU basketball to reach that mark, Pete Maravich and Rudy Maclin both had over 2000 points in their careers.

Storm Warren led the Tigers in scoring with 18 points. Tennessee advances to play Ole Miss in Friday's quarterfinals at 2:15.  LSU finishes the season 11-20, 2-14 in the SEC.  

Tags LSU Tiger Basketball

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Updated: March 11, 2010 5:59 PM
By Rob Krieger
Source: WBRZ

The city of Central is anxiously waiting the census count.  The city, formed only five years ago, has never been counted in a census before.

To ensure that Central gets its fair share a committee was formed to educate citizens the proper way to fill out the forms.

"Five years is very, very young," said Joan Lansing, organizer of Central's Complete Count Committee.  "We've worked hard to bring the city this far and we want to make sure that we're able to get everything that we need so that we can keep functioning."

The committee wants citizens to be sure to fill out the city portion of the forms with "City of Central" to ensure tax dollars are distributed to the city.

Tags Census Central City of Central

Updated: March 11, 2010 5:15 PM
By Lori Steele
Source: WBRZ

All of the undocumented workers removed from a construction site yesterday in Livingston Parish are illegals. Border Patrol Agents say none of them checked out in the system.

But the sub-contractors who did the hiring said they got documents from the workers that say otherwise.

A total of 18 workers from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras were charged under the Immigration and Nationality Act for being here illegally.  Ron Lafosse with Border Patrol said in most cases, "it's a non-criminal matter.  It's administration, where they admit that they're here illegally and that they agree to go back voluntarily."  But others will be brought before an immigration judge.  The end result could be deportation. 

Other workers continued building the North Oaks Medical Complex in Satsuma. The sub-contractors who hired some of the men in custody said the men provided them with documents including driver's licenses and social security cards.

The border agent told us, "If they have documents, could be that was false...but we understand employers aren't trained in determining fradulent documents."

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents go after employers who knowingly hire illegal workers. If an employer is suspected of knowingly hiring illegals, an investigation could take years.

Tags Undocumented workers Illegals subcontractors North Oaks Satsuma documents driver's license social security cards WBRZ

Updated: March 11, 2010 4:36 PM
By Kelly Spell

Starting Friday, southbound Siegen Lane at the I-10 overpass in Baton Rouge will be reduced to two travel lanes and one left-turn lane onto the interstate.

The closure will last three months so construction crews can work on the bridge as they widen I-10.

In addition, both directions of Siegen Lane will be reduced to one lane under the overpass Sunday and Monday night between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., weather permitting.

Westbound I-10 will be also reduced to one lane between Bluebonnet Boulevard and the 10/12 split between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday and Monday.

Tags Siegen Lane I-10 interstate bridge overpass lane Bluebonnet Baton Rouge WBRZ

Updated: March 11, 2010 3:58 PM
By Associated Press

State recovery leaders and lawmakers are trying to decide how to spend the federal aid dollars remaining to cope with the destruction of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. But first, they have to agree on how much money remains.

The state received $13.4 billion in federal block grant aid after the 2005 hurricanes, with the large portion earmarked by the Louisiana Recovery Authority for housing assistance and rebuilding programs. More than $3 billion remains unspent.

Lawmakers on the LRA's governing board said Thursday they want to send remaining money to local governments to spend on their own.

But LRA Executive Director Robin Keegan says most of that money is under contract or tied to specific projects.

The LRA board asked Keegan for more details in April on what money can be reallocated.

Tags hurricane Katrina Rita federal aid LRA Louisiana Recovery Authority 2005 storms grant

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Updated: March 11, 2010 5:40 PM
By Chris Nakamoto
Source: WBRZ

A New Roads police officer who witnessed a crash in Pointe Coupee Parish testified on tape Thursday morning about what he saw unfold.  He will deploy for Iraq in the next few days.

Officer Brandon Spillman told a packed courtroom 23-year-old Victoria Gosserand was extremely combative and uncooperative after the crash.

Gosserand is accused of killing 23-year-old Terri Parker and badly injuring the driver of the car Parker was riding in, Kyle Riviere.  The crash happened moments before Christmas Eve last year.

"After impact, I saw a body flying in the air," officer Brandon Spillman said. "I didn't know where it came from."

Gosserand didn't say a word as she walked into the Pointe Coupee Parish Courthouse.  However, she fought back tears as the officer testified about what happened.

"It was very emotional, obviously being there and seeing it was an experience in itself," Spillman said. "Just having to come in courtroom and see both families and their emotions, it's very tough to deal with."

Terri Parker's family echoed those feelings.  Parker's aunt said listening to everything in court was extremely hard.

"It hurt," Rose Marie Parker said. "I feel for her family.  I feel for her becuase I believe accidents happen sometimes.  When you make a mistake you have to pay for it for the rest of your life."

Before testimony could get taped, Judge Alvin Batiste had to address a motion filed by defense attorneys to have the Pointe Coupee Parish District Attorney's Office recused.

In court, the defense attorneys came to an agreement to stall the recusal motion because they don't believe there will be a conflict when the trial begins.  The motion was filed because one of the defense attorneys represents the chief prosecutor in another case.

Before the day was over, Judge Alvin Batiste issued a gag order on the attorneys preventing them from talking about the case.

Tags Victoria Gosserand Pointe Coupee Parish New Roads Brandon Spillman Taped Testimony Terri Parker Crash Drunk Driving

Updated: March 11, 2010 2:34 PM
By Brian Waldrep
Source: Associated Press

A satirical Web site forced to take down a fictional story about a giraffe attack posted after a killer whale trainer died in Florida, is now getting support from  the American Civil Liberties Union.

In a brief filed Thursday in state court in Amite, the ACLU says the U.S. Supreme Court has said clearly that satire is protected speech.

The Global Wildlife Center near Folsom, La., got a temporary order forcing the Web site - Hammond Action News - to take down the story.

Official say the park received calls asking whether the Feb. 25 story was true. The center claims the story, under Louisiana law, hurt its reputation.

Another court hearing is set for Monday.

Tags ACLU Hammond Web Site Giraffe

Updated: March 11, 2010 1:12 PM
By Jessica Dunne
Source: Associated Press

Former New Orleans school board member Ellenese Brooks-Simms has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for her role in a bribery scheme involving the brother of former U.S. Rep. William Jefferson.  In 2007, Brooks-Simms pleaded guilty to taking more than $100,000 from Mose Jefferson  for supporting the school board's purchase of a classroom software program that he sold.

U.S Attorney Jim Letten  said Brooks-Simms cooperated  with investigators, even wearing recording equipment to secretly tape conversations.  He says she would have likely faced a five year sentence, but a U.S. District Court Judge agreed with the prosecution's request for a lighter sentence.

Mose Jefferson was sentenced to ten years in the case.  Mose's brother William Jefferson was convicted on bribery and racketeering charges in a separate case.

Tags bribery New Orleans school board Ellenese Brooks-Simms trial sentencing

Updated: March 11, 2010 12:46 PM
By Associated Press

About a half-year after it closed a youth mental hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana's health department has opened two outpatient mental health clinics for children, adolescents and their families in the city.

At a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, State Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine said the openings mark a major milestone in moving away from hospital to outpatient care.

He said the midtown and west bank clinics will provide mental health care for 1,200 children and adolescents a year.

Willie Zanders sued the state last year in an unsuccessful attempt to keep the New Orleans Adolescent Hospital open. He could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.

Tags state Louisiana mental health New Orleans children clinic youth midtown west bank

Updated: March 11, 2010 11:50 AM
By Associated Press

UPDATE: Opening statements are under way in the first-degree murder trial of a man accused of fatally beating his girlfriend's 2-year-old son in Baton Rouge.

Dacarius Holliday is accused of killing Darian Coon in 2007 while trying to toilet train the toddler.

If convicted, prosecutors will ask the jury to recommend the death penalty.

Tags Dacarius Holliday Darian Coon potty training murder trial Baton Rouge WBRZ

Updated: March 11, 2010 11:06 AM
By Associated Press

The New Orleans coroner called a news conference to "announce new developments" in the deaths of patients at the Memorial Medical Center after Hurricane Katrina.

A spokesman for Dr. Frank Minyard's office said on Thursday that Minyard would talk about his study of cases at the hospital.

At least 34 people died at Memorial after the 2005 storm.  Dr. Anna Pou and two nurses were arrested in connection with the deaths but a grand jury declined to indict them.

District attorney Leon Cannizzaro had asked in January for an autopsy report for 79-year-old Jannie Burgess, who was in the care of Dr. Ewing Cook.

Cannizzaro was trying to decide if the death should be classified as a homicide.

Tags Memorial hospital Anna Pou deaths nurses Katrina hurricane New Orleans WBRZ

Updated: March 11, 2010 10:46 AM
By Associated Press

The Department of Social Services is proposing a reorganization that would consolidate offices, eliminate nearly 200 positions and create more ways for people to apply for services.

If approved, the changes would eliminate layers of mid-level management that were targeted by a government streamlining panel as inefficient and unnecessary in the department that oversees foster care services, food stamps and welfare payments across Louisiana.

The move would cut 197 positions, most vacant, though DSS Secretary Kristy Nichols says up to 40 layoffs might be needed.

The DSS overhaul is recommended in Gov. Bobby Jindal's budget for the upcoming fiscal year, and it also would require changes in law.

The House Appropriations Committee discussed the recommendations Thursday.

Tags DSS social services cuts jobs WBRZ

Updated: March 11, 2010 9:11 AM
Source: Associated Press

Two strongly felt earthquakes have rocked central Chile as dignitaries arrive for the inauguration of
President-elect Sebastian Pinera.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the first quake had a preliminary magnitude of 5.1 and the second registered at 7.2. Both rocked buildings in the capital, shook windows and provoked nervous smiles among dignitaries arriving for Thursday's ceremony at the congressional building in coastal Valparaiso.

Bolivian President Evo Morales seemed briefly disoriented.

Peru's Alan Garcia joked that it gave them "a moment to dance."

Tags earthquake Chile inauguration President-elect Sebastian Pinera

Updated: March 11, 2010 8:50 AM
Source: Associated Press

A second former New Orleans officer charged in an alleged conspiracy to cover up a deadly police shooting of unarmed residents after Hurricane Katrina has pleaded guilty.

Jeffrey Lehrmann pleaded guilty to charges of misprision of a felony, which means he had knowledge of a crime and didn't report it.

The shootings on the Danziger Bridge killed two people and wounded four others less than a week after Hurricane Katrina and led to an investigation by the Justice Department.

Lehrmann left the New Orleans Police Department in 2006 and is a special agent at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Phoenix.

Sentencing has been set for June 10.

Tags New Orleans police officer guilty Danziger Bridge Jeffrey Lehrmann New Orleans Police Department

Updated: March 11, 2010 8:33 AM
Source: Associated Press

A 45-year-old woman has pleaded guilty in connection with a 2008 wreck on the Interstate 210 bridge in Lake Charles that killed a 5-year-old boy.

Angela Lee Osipuk was accused of being under the influence of drugs and alcohol when she caused the wreck.

Sentencing is set for June 9 on one count of vehicular homicide, one count of first-degree vehicular negligent injury, six counts of vehicular negligent injury and one count of first-offense drunken
driving.

The accident on Dec. 26, 2008, involved four vehicles and resulted in the death of Garrett Vice of Vinton.

Tags Lake Charles vehicular homicide Garrett Vice Angela Lee Osipuk Interstate 210 bridge