WBRZ - Baton Rouge

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Updated: November 6, 2009 11:56 PM
By Dana Hackett
Source: WBRZ

The Sorrento Town Council held a special meeting Friday night to discuss the town's ongoing sewer problems and behavior issues during council meetings.

On Tuesday, a meeting was shut down early because of shouting between council members and people in the audience.  Police Chief Earl Theriot said there was cussing involved and things got so out of hand his officers had to escort people out of the meeting. 

Thursday night, an incident at town hall between Councilman Lionel Melancon and Councilman John Braud escalated to the point that both were considering pressing charges of public intimidation against each other.  Police Chief Theriot said all parties involved gave police statements and he is forwarding the information to the district attorney.

At Friday's special meeting, Theriot had six officers in place for security.  He said he also had Gonzales Police and the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office on standby in case things got out of hand.

However, the meeting ran smoothly.  Mayor Blake LeBlanc addressed behavior problems and emphasized that he would not tolerate outbursts.  He said anyone that broke the rules would be thrown out of the meeting.

The council also discussed how to fix a blockage in the sewer system that is forcing sewage into people's homes.  The town plans to hire a company to clean out the blocked line.  Town leaders are also working with Ascension Parish officials to get a $500,000 grant to eventually clean sludge out of the town's sewer ponds.

Tags Sorrento town council meeting behavior sewer

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Updated: November 6, 2009 11:46 PM
By Kristy Davis
Source: WBRZ

Four days after Alycia Owens died in a car crash near the town of Livingston, crooks started using her picture to steal money.

Her parents heard about the scam but thought it would go away.  Instead, it grew.  Friday afternoon when Alycia's father stopped at a gas station in West Baton Rouge Parish, the cashier recognized the pin he wears with his 13-year-old daughter's picture on it.  The cashier noticed it because, for three days, an unidentified couple stood in the gas station parking lot claiming to be Alycia's parents and attempting to raise money for her funeral.

While Alycia's real parents did raise money to bury thier daughter, they stopped taking donations two weeks ago.

They hope people will stop donating to the couple and call the authorities if they see anyone with Alycia's picture asking for money.

Tags Alycia Owens scam money car crash fatal theft crooks Livingston Parish

Updated: November 6, 2009 9:40 PM
By Sylvia Weatherspoon
Source: Associated Press

Michael Jackson's father, Joe Jackson,  wants an allowance from his son's estate, according to court papers filed today in Los Angeles.   But Michael Jackson's 2002 will,  only called for money to be paid to his mother, Katherine, his three young children, and various charities. A judge has approved more than $26,000 in payments to his mother each month, and a $60,000 monthly payment for the care of the children.

Tags Michael Jackson Joe Jackson stipend Jackson estate

Updated: November 6, 2009 9:24 PM
By Sylvia Weatherspoon
Source: Associated Press

A family doctor in Kosciusko, Mississippi will carry the Olympic torch for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Canada next February.  Selected by Coca-Cola, Dr. Tim Alford promoted wellness in Mississippi, which has the highest obesity rate in the U.S.  Alford and his fellow torchbearers will carry the Olympic Flame through Calgary, Alberta on January 18-19, as it makes its way to Vancouver, British Columbia for the February 12 opening ceremony.

Tags Olympic torchbearer Canada 2010 Winter Olympic Games Dr. Tim Alford Kosciusko Mississippi

Updated: November 6, 2009 9:14 PM
By Michael Marsh
Source: Associated Press

Authorities say one of the guns used in the mass shootings at Ft. Hood, Texas on Thursday was bought legally by Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan at a gun store in nearby Killeen.  Records indicate Hasan bought the FN 5.7 at a store called "Guns Galore" long before the attack.  Thirteen people were killed and 31 were wounded.  The pistol is dubbed a "cop Killer" by those who've tried to get it banned.  The most powerful ammunition for the gun can only be bought by law enforcement and the military.  The ammo is powerful enough to send a round through bullet proof vests.

Tags Ft. Hood Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan FN 5.7

Updated: November 6, 2009 9:00 PM
By Sylvia Weatherspoon
Source: Associated Press

The Internal Revenue Service has $2.39 million in refund money for Louisiana and Mississippi taxpayers, but the agency can't deliver the refund checks because of mailing address errors. IRS spokeswoman Dee Harris in New Orleans says all a taxpayer must do to receive a refund is update his or her address.  Harris says almost 1,500 Louisiana residents did not get refund checks totaling over $1.6 million.  The average undelivered refund for Louisiana is $1,080.  In Mississippi, 951 people did not receive refund checks, totaling over $781,000.  The average undelivered refund for Mississippi is $822.

Tags IRS refunds Louisiana taxpayer Mississippi taxpayer mailing address errors IRS Dee Harris refund checks

Updated: November 6, 2009 8:48 PM
By Michael Marsh
Source: Associated Press

A man in Vallejo, California is accused of stealing a car so he could get to court on another stolen car charge.  Samuel Botchvaroff of Oakland was arrested after he left his arraignment at the courthouse on the original charge. The Califonia Highway Patrol says Botchvaroff said his own car had been impounded and there was no other way to get to the courthouse.  Authorities are looking for the stolen car after its tracking system alerted them about the theft.

Tags car theft Vallejo California

Updated: November 6, 2009 8:42 PM
By Michael Marsh
Source: Associated Press

PepsiCo will get its day in court afterall and won't have to pay a billion dollar judgement.  A judge tossed out the judgement after the soft drink company didn't respond to a lawsuit by two men who claimed PepsiCo stole their idea to sell bottled water.  The suit was filed in Wisconsin by Charles Joyce and James Voigt who claim their idea eventually became PepsiCo's Aquafina brand of bottled water.  PepsiCo orginally lost when it did not show up in court for trial.  The company claimed there was a paperwork mixup after it was served with the suit in the wrong location and a clerk mishandled it.  No new trial date is set.

Tags PepsiCo Wisconsin

Updated: November 6, 2009 8:32 PM
By Michael Marsh
Source: Associated Press

A 22-year-old man in Yuma, Arizona who posed as a student at two high schools, wanted to play basketball and hoped to get a college scholarship.  Anthony Avalos was arrested for forgery and sexual conduct with a minor.  Police say he enrolled at Kofa High School and Vista Alternative School and attended intermittenlty since September of last year.  He was a center on Kofa's basketball team.  He was confronted by school leaders when a school clerk saw his Facebook page where he said he graduated from a high school in Florida in 2005.  Avalos also admitted he had a sex with a girl under the age of 18 on at least three occassions.  He told police he created a fake birth certificate on his laptop computer so he could enroll in the schools.

Tags imposter Kofa High School Anthony Avalos

Updated: November 6, 2009 5:39 PM
By Anna Brown
Source: Associated Press, GSU Media & Public Relations Office

Several students are injured after at least two of Grambling State University's band buses crashed in southern Arkansas today.

Dallas County sheriff's dispatcher Rory Tucker said the buses were headed north this afternoon on U.S. 167. Several members of the renowned Grambling State University marching band were said to be injured. Director of Public Relations, Vanessa Littleton, said a few students and the driver of one of the buses suffered minor injuries but were released.

Arkansas State Police spokesman Bill Sadler said six people were hurt and none of the injuries were not believed to be deadly. Tucker said a dozen people were taken to a hospital in Fordyce, just south of where the crash occurred.

Grambling is scheduled to play Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 1 p.m. Saturday in Little Rock.

Updated: November 6, 2009 4:57 PM
By Dana Hackett
Source: WBRZ

The Sorrento town council is holding a special meeting tonight after this week's original meeting ended in a shouting match.

There are only two items on tonight's agenda and one of them deals with council member behavior. The other item has to do with the town's ongoing sewer problem.

There was similar shouting match at council meeting a few months ago when things got out of hand between council members. News 2 was told it was a similar scene this week during Tuesday's meeting. It got so bad the mayor ended it early, with four items still left agenda.

News 2 has a crew at tonight's meeting which is set to begin at 6 p.m. We will have more on the meeting tonight at 10 p.m.

Tags Sorrento town council meeting council member behavior

Updated: November 6, 2009 4:42 PM
By Kristen Eargle
Source: WBRZ Sports 2

It could be a dramatic night. While some district crowns have been handed out, others are coming down to the final game.

The 8 and 1 Central Wildcats can clinch district 5-5A with a win over Live Oak. Central is a perfect 5-0 in district.

In 7-4A it's a three-way war between St. Michael, Glen Oaks and Woodlawn, all sitting at 5 and 1. Woodlawn has to defeat Istrouma for a piece of the pie. Glen Oaks and St. Michael will go at it for at least a share but a win and Woodlawn loss would give them an outright title.

In 7-2A Capitol can clinch the outright title with a victory over U-high. Terrence Broadway and company could finish the year undefeated in district.

It will be a showdown for the 8-1a title. St. John Plaquemine is the number one ranked team in 1A and will travel to number 8th ranked West St. Joh. Both are undefeated in district and could clinch the crown it with a victory tonight.

A night of dramatics could be in store and playoff seedings are on the line.

Here's a rundown of tonight's action:

Catholic (5-5A) at Zachary (5-5A)
St. Michael (7-4A) vs. Glen Oaks (7-4A) at Memorial
Central (5-5A) at Live Oak (5-5A)
Scotlandville (5-5A) at Denham Springs (5-5A)
Destrehan (6-5A) at St. Amant (6-5A)
Dutchtown (6-5A) at East Ascension (6-5A)
Istrouma (7-4A) at Woodlawn (7-4A)
Tara (7-4A) vs. McKinley (7-4A) at Olympia Stadium
Episcopal (7-2A) at Clinton (7-2A)
Baker (7-3A) at West Feliciana (7-3A)
Port Allen (7-3A) at Brusly (8-3A)
Livonia (8-3A)at Plaquemine (8-3A)
Belaire (7-4A) at Broadmoor (7-4A)
Capitol High Academy (7-2A) at University (7-2A)
Dunham (7-2A) at Donaldsonville (7-2A)
Albany (9-3A) at Independence (9-3A)
Karr (10-4A) at St. James (8-3A)
Walker (5-5A) at Franklinton (9-4A)
Pointe Coupee Central (7-2A) at Ascension Christian (8-1A)
Springfield (8-2A) at Northlake Christian (8-2A)
Catholic-PC (5-1A) at False River (5-1A)
Jackson (6-1A) at Varnado (6-1A)
Southern Lab (6-1A) at Kentwood (6-1A)
Christian Life (8-1A) at Ascension Catholic (8-1A)
White Castle (8-1A) at East Iberville (8-1A)
St. John-Plaquemine (8-1A) at West St. John (8-1A)
East St. John (6-5A) at Hahnville (6-5A)
Covington (7-5A) at Mandeville (7-5A)
St. Paul's (7-5A) at Fontainebleau (7-5A)
Hammond (7-5A) at Ponchatoula (7-5A)
Northshore (7-5A) at Slidell (7-5A)
South Terrebonne (8-5A) at Assumption (8-5A)
Terrebonne (8-5A) at H.L. Bourgeois (8-5A)
S. Lafourche (8-5A) at Cen. Lafourche (8-5A)
St. Augustine (10-5A) at Thibodaux (10-5A)
Belle Chasse (8-4A) at Ellender (8-4A)
Vandebilt (8-4A) at Cox (8-4A)
Morgan City (8-4A) at Lutcher (8-4A)
Riverside (9-2A) at Newman (9-2A)
St. Charles (9-2A) at Douglass (9-2A)
Berwick (6-3A) at Patterson (6-3A)
E.D. White Catholic (6-3A) at Catholic-New Iberia (6-3A)
Loranger (9-3A) at Amite (9-3A)
Bogalusa (9-3A) at Jewel Sumner (9-3A)
St. Helena (8-2A) at Pine (8-2A)
Pope John Paul II (8-2A) at St. Thomas Aquinas (8-2A)
Vermilion Catholic (7-1A) at Hanson (7-1A)

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Updated: November 6, 2009 10:12 PM
By Chris Nakamoto
Source: WBRZ

Family members of 40-year-old James Rachal lashed out against two St. Gabriel Police officers accused of stealing $2,000 in cash from him after he died during a crash in August.

Investigators say Officer Keith Snowten took $2,000 in cash and gave half of it to Officer Rodrick Wesley as "hush" money.

Family members of Rachal are outraged.

"Anyone that could stoop so low to steal from someone as they lay there dead, what kind of world are we living in," Michelle Mansur said.

Mansur is Rachal's ex-wife.  The two have an 11-year-old son together.

"My child asked me last night, why were they taking from my dad instead of trying to save his life?" Mansur said. "Aren't they supposed to serve and protect?"

St. Gabriel Police Chief Kevin Ambeau told News 2 the officers disgraced his department.  He personally apologized for their behavior and immediately asked Louisiana State Police to investigate when he began receiving tips of possible theft. Ironically, it was the ex-girlfriend of one of the officers who tipped off police.

Ambeau fired the officers yesterday.  However, a special city council meeting will be held Monday to make it official.

The officers are charged with malfeasance in office and felony theft.

Tags St. Gabriel Police Officers Theft Malfeasance in Office

Updated: November 6, 2009 2:52 PM
By Brett Troxler
Source: Associated Press

Update: Police in Orlando say a gunman has been apprehended after killing one person and injuring five others at a downtown office building where he was let go two years ago.

Police Chief Val Demings said 40-year-old Jason Rodriguez surrendered to police at his mother's home after officers saw him through a window and asked him to come out.

Asked by a reporter outside the police station why he did it, he replied: "Because they left me to rot."

Demings confirmed that one person was killed in the shooting at the Legion Place office building downtown. Five others were hurt.

Gerry Gilgo, who works on the floor where the shooting occurred, told The Associated Press she was meeting a co-worker at the elevators for lunch.

"She yelled there are gun shots! There are gun shots! Get back in your office," Gilgo said.

Witnesses told police the shooting started at Reynolds Smith & Hill, a transportation engineering consulting firm in the building.

Company spokesman Mike Bernof told CNN all the people shot were in the firm's office. He could not say if any died.

Rodriguez, an engineer, was released in June 2007 for performance issues, Bernof said. He could not say why.

The firm performs transportation engineering work with the Florida Department of Transportation.

Updated: November 6, 2009 1:27 PM
By Kelly Spell
Source: Associated Press

State investigators are searching the New Orleans offices of the activist group ACORN in connection with embezzlement and tax fraud allegations.

Assistant Attorney General David Caldwell said a warrant was obtained to seize computers, hard drives and other documents after ACORN attorneys said two unidentified former employees took computers and other items when they left the organization.

Caldwell said investigators will copy records and hard drives then return them to ACORN.

He said the original allegations of embezzlement were made last year by ACORN board members who were fired after they asked for a forensic examination of the group's books.

ACORN fired the longtime director of its Louisiana chapter last month, citing a lack of accountability.

Tags ACORN New Orleans investigation computers records attorney general