WBRZ - Baton Rouge

Tagged News

• State health department hires inspector general

  May 15, 2013 5:01 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The state Department of Health and Hospitals has hired a new inspector general to review spending and fight fraud. The hiring of William Root, announced Wednesday, comes after Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration canceled a nearly $200 million Medicaid contract whose award is being investigated by state and... more »

• AG removed himself from decision to subpoena AP

  May 14, 2013 12:46 PM

  WASHINGTON - The Justice Department says Attorney General Eric Holder removed himself from a decision to subpoena phone records of The Associated Press. A Justice Department statement Tuesday says that Holder stepped aside - a procedure known as recusal. The statement says Holder stepped aside because he had been interviewed... more »

• Teacher accused of indecent behavior with student

  May 14, 2013 11:58 AM

  SLIDELL - Authorities arrested a junior high school teacher in Slidell for indecent behavior with a juvenile, according to Attorney General Buddy Caldwell. The AG's Office said 34-year-old Traci Beaucoudray is accused of having inappropriate contact with one of her former students. The arrest was a result of... more »

• Ohio AG: Tests confirm Castro is father

  May 10, 2013 10:31 AM

  CLEVELAND - The Ohio attorney general says tests have confirmed that alleged kidnapper Ariel Castro is the father of a 6-year-old girl rescued from his house with three women this week. Attorney General Mike DeWine's office confirmed Castro's paternity in a news release Friday. DeWine says a sample of Castro's... more »

• AG to announce results of child predator investigation

  April 24, 2013 10:53 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Attorney General's Office scheduled a press conference this afternoon to announce the results of an undercover operation targeting child predators in southern Louisiana. The investigation involved the Louisiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. AG Buddy Caldwell will be joined by Louisiana State Police... more »

• AG says approval not needed for LSU hospital deals

  April 11, 2013 2:06 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The Louisiana Attorney General's Office says Gov. Bobby Jindal's plans to privatize the LSU-run public hospitals doesn't require legislative approval under the law. The Jindal administration has said it didn't intend to seek a legislative vote for the individual privatization agreements because the law doesn't require approval. ... more »

• Man accused of child porn, unauthorized wireless access

  April 8, 2013 4:15 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Attorney General's Office said their high tech crime unit caught a Baton Rouge man highjacking a wireless router to look at child porn. Authorities arrested Richard Wells-Lightsey, 26, on Friday as part of a joint investigation with the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office, AG's High... more »

• US Army general facing sex charges heads to court

  February 21, 2013 8:06 AM

  FORT BRAGG, N.C. - A hearing is scheduled today at Fort Bragg for a U.S. Army general charged with sexual misconduct. Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair is expected in court for a hearing on pre-trial motions. Sinclair faces court martial on charges that include forcible sodomy, indecent acts, violating orders and... more »

• DHH to create inspector general office Play Video

  January 23, 2013 6:09 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Medicare and medicaid abuse nationally costs taxpayers tens of billions of dollars. To help prevent abuse here, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is hiring an inspector general. DHH Secretary Bruce Greenstein says recent state audits have shown a need for greater payment controls involving Medicaid.... more »

• La. AG's oil spill tab nears $24M

  January 14, 2013 2:48 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's attorney general has spent nearly $24 million building the state's legal case against BP over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. And records show much of the money has gone to outside law firms that have contributed to his campaigns. The $15.4 million that Attorney... more »

• AP source: Retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf dies

  December 27, 2012 6:47 PM

  WASHINGTON - A U.S. official says retired Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, who commanded the U.S.-led international coalition that drove Saddam Hussein's forces out of Kuwait in 1991, has died. He was 78. The official tells The Associated Press that Schwarzkopf died Thursday in Tampa, Fla. The official wasn't authorized to... more »

• Petraeus mistress won't face cyberstalking charge

  December 18, 2012 10:55 AM

  WASHINGTON - The Justice Department is dropping its investigation into whether David Petraeus' mistress, Paula Broadwell, stalked a romantic rival online. Broadwell's lawyer, Robert Muse, gave The Associated Press a letter from U.S. Attorney Robert O'Neill that says no federal charges will be brought in Florida related to "alleged acts... more »

• AG refuses to enter debate over budget tactics

  December 5, 2012 10:22 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Attorney General Buddy Caldwell's office isn't lodging an opinion about whether Gov. Bobby Jindal's budgeting tactics are in line with the state constitution. A letter was sent this week to Republican Rep. Kirk Talbot declining to rule on his question of whether the state budget uses unconstitutional... more »

• Former Delcambre officer found guilty of kidnapping

  December 4, 2012 10:24 AM

  ABBEVILLE - Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says a Vermilion Parish jury has found a former Delcambre police officer guilty of sexual battery and second-degree kidnapping. Caldwell said in a news release Tuesday that Friday's conviction of 53-year-old Ernest Billiot stemmed from a 2008 incident in which Billiot abused his... more »

• LSU board to redo vote on merger after criticism

  November 15, 2012 11:40 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The attorney general's office says it has "serious concerns" that LSU's governing board may have violated the open meetings law with its October vote to merge the positions of system president and chancellor of the flagship campus. The Board of Supervisors announced Thursday that it will revote... more »

• Inspector General report sparks change with State Fire Marshal Play Video

  November 13, 2012 6:11 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A report by the Inspector General's Office highlights some inefficiencies with the way the State Fire Marshal's Office handles carnival ride inspections and investigations. The report focuses on an accident at a Greensburg fair in 2011 where two teens were injured on the "Zipper" ride. The... more »

• Petraeus reportedly shocked by word of emails from Broadwell

  November 12, 2012 2:27 PM

  WASHINGTON - Ex-CIA director David Petraeus is telling friends he was shocked to find that his biographer, Paula Broadwell, was suspected of sending anonymous, threatening emails to a Petraeus friend she saw as a romantic rival. A close Petraeus associate says FBI investigators told Petraeus that Broadwell sent anonymous emails... more »

• Hearing airs sex crimes case against US general

  November 5, 2012 10:53 AM

  FORT BRAGG, N.C. - U.S. Army prosecutors are charging a general with sex crimes against five women, including four military subordinates and a civilian. The first details of the charges filed in September emerged at a military justice hearing Monday for Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair at Fort Bragg in North... more »

• AG: Price gouging laws in effect ahead of Isaac

  August 26, 2012 4:12 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Attorney General Buddy Caldwell said price gouging laws are now in effect, after Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency ahead of tropical storm Isaac. The state's price gouging statute locks commodity prices at pre-emergency levels unless there's a national or regional market shortage. Affected... more »

• La. National Guard promotes woman to general

  July 27, 2012 10:55 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana National Guard has its first female general. The Times-Picayune reports that Col. Joanne Sheridan is being promoted to brigadier general Friday, in a ceremony at Jackson Barracks. Sheridan, an assistant adjutant general for the Army, will have the star attached to her uniform during a... more »

• Holder says contempt vote politically motivated

  June 28, 2012 4:20 PM

  WASHINGTON - Attorney General Eric Holder says the vote finding him in contempt of Congress was a politically motivated act in an election year. Holder says that Rep. Darrell Issa, who leads the House committee investigating a flawed gun-smuggling investigation, and others have focused on politics over public safety. The... more »

• House votes to hold attorney general in contempt

  June 28, 2012 4:15 PM

  WASHINGTON - The House has approved a precedent-setting resolution to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in criminal contempt of Congress. It was the first time a sitting Cabinet member has been held in contempt. A number of Democrats boycotted Thursday's vote. Republicans pushed through the resolution because Holder did not... more »

• Former secretary pleads guilty to embezzling $1.9M

  June 25, 2012 12:34 PM

  AMITE - A former secretary and clek pleaded guilty today in Amite to embezzling nearly $1.9 million from a juvenile justice program. Brenda Bickford, 61, of Hammond pleaded guilty to theft and fraud charges in district court. She admitted she took the money from the Florida Parishes Juvenile Justice... more »

• Man accused of indecent behavior with juveniles

  June 20, 2012 1:33 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Authorities arrested a Baton Rouge man this week in suspicion of indecent behavior with juveniles, according to the Attorney General's Office. A spokesperson said Ory Sellers, 28, was arrested Tuesday as part of a joint investigation with the AG's Office, Homeland Security and the East Baton... more »

• BR General offering free skin cancer screenings Play Video

  June 6, 2012 9:37 AM

  Baton Rouge General's Pennington Cancer Center is sponsoring a free skin cancer screening tomorrow at the Bluebonnet campus. Doctors will be conducting skin screenings and information on sun safety will also be provided. Registration is required. Call 763-4281 to make an appointment or visit http://www.brgeneral.org for more... more »

• Fired GSA official said he was ready to pay

  April 17, 2012 10:37 AM

  WASHINGTON - A fired General Services Administration official says he didn't know taxpayers would be billed $1,960 for a party in his luxury suite at a Las Vegas resort. Robert Peck said he had paid for some food out of his own pocket and was surprised when additional food arrived... more »

• GSA spending scandal investigation

  April 16, 2012 3:53 PM

  WASHINGTON -The spending scandal at the General Services Administration could just be the tip of the iceberg. According to the agency's inspector general, he's investigating other potential wrongdoing including possible bribery and kickbacks. At a House hearing today, lawmakers hoped to hear from the GSA official who was largely responsible... more »

• EPA IG: Louisiana flunks enviro enforcement

  December 13, 2011 4:47 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Louisiana is among the worst states at enforcing federal clean air, clean water and hazardous waste laws, according to a report by the Environmental Protection Agency's inspector general. The Times-Picayune reports that the inspector general's report does not spotlight specific environmental problems caused by Louisiana's alleged lax... more »

• F. S. Williams Country Store catches fire Play Video

  November 21, 2011 4:06 PM

  ETHEL- The owners of a well-known local general store vow to re-open the business after a fire gutted the building that's been open in East Feliciana Parish for more than 80 years. The F. S. Williams Country Store located at 5949 Highway 19, suffocated in smoke for hours Monday... more »

• Inspector general looking into canceled seminar

  September 30, 2011 5:52 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's inspector general is looking into the cancellation of a training seminar involving one of Gov. Bobby Jindal's little-known opponents within two weeks of her entrance into the governor's race. Inspector General Stephen Street said Friday that his office was reviewing the matter at the request... more »

• Commander: More US trainers heading to Afghanistan

  September 26, 2011 12:01 PM

  WASHINGTON - The U.S. general in charge of training in Afghanistan says the number of American military trainers there will increase by 800 by next March, a nearly 45 percent jump. Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, commander of NATO's training mission in Afghanistan, told Pentagon reporters Monday that even as... more »

• Attorney General Caldwell files lawsuit against GlaxoSmithKline

  February 16, 2011 3:10 PM

  Baton Rouge- Attorney General Buddy Caldwell has filed a civil action lawsuit against GlaxoSmithKline, LLC. The suit claims GSK illegally marked, priced, sold and promoted the diabetes medication rosiglitazone maleate under the trade names Avandia, Avandamet and Avandaryl. The suit claims that Louisiana's Medicaid program paid GSK $36... more »

• AG: Man arrested for convincing NC girl to run away

  February 1, 2011 6:05 PM

  DENHAM SPRINGS – Authorities have found a 17-year-old North Carolina girl who’d been missing since last summer in Denham Springs, and arrested the man investigators said convinced her to run away. Authorities arrested 34-year-old William David Jones after they said they found Faith Manuel at his residence in Denham Springs.... more »

• Judge asked to intervene in BP claims process

  February 1, 2011 4:48 PM

  BATON ROUGE – Louisiana’s governor and attorney general want a judge to step in and oversee communications between people claiming a portion of BP’s oil spill compensation fund and the fund’s administrator, Ken Feinberg. Attorney General Buddy Caldwell filed the motion in federal court in New Orleans today. It asks... more »

• Judge defends spill decision that miffed AG Caldwell

  January 28, 2011 11:09 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A federal judge is defending his decision to appoint Alabama's newly elected attorney general to coordinate all states' interests in the litigation spawned by the Deepwater Horizon explosion that led to the Gulf oil spill. U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier said in court Friday that his appointment... more »

• Hammond man arrested in child porn investigation

  January 25, 2011 4:17 PM

  BATON ROUGE – Authorities have arrested a 19-year-old Hammond man as part of an undercover child porn investigation. Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s deputies arrested Sean Joseph Decelle during a joint investigation with the state Attorney General’s High Technology Crime Unit. Decelle was booked into the Tangipahoa Parish prison without incident. If... more »

• Postal workers accused of tampering with mail

  December 6, 2010 4:00 PM

  BATON ROUGE – Four postal workers have been indicted by a federal grand jury, accused of tampering with the mail in their care. All four are accused of opening, delaying or detaining mail that was intended to be delivered. If convicted they could face a five-year prison sentence, a $250,000... more »

• New Orleans man indicted on charges of fraud

  November 29, 2010 5:46 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A grand jury has indicted a New Orleans man accused of fraudulently claiming to be in charge of a nonprofit organization to solicit donations for what he said would be a war veterans home. Attorney General Buddy Caldwell announced Monday that the Baton Rouge grand jury charged... more »

• Tow truck driver accused of soliciting bribes

  November 23, 2010 4:55 PM

  NEW ORLEANS – A tow truck driver in New Orleans has been accused of asking for bribes in exchange for not towing people’s vehicles. Dennis Firstley, a city employee, was arrested by NOPD after the alleged bribes were noticed in an investigation by the New Orleans Inspector General. The OIG... more »

• Local offices, issues decided in general election

  November 3, 2010 12:10 AM

  Several local issues and offices were decided in the general election tonight. All local issues passed, including a 1.25 millage increase for East Baton Rouge St. George Fire Department and a crime prevention fee for residents of Shenandoah Estates in East Baton Rouge. Here's a list of local... more »

• Louisiana AG files suit against drug companies

  November 1, 2010 2:38 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana’s attorney general has filed a lawsuit in Baton Rouge claiming drug companies milked millions of dollars from the state’s Medicaid program by lying about drug prices. 18 companies are named in the lawsuit filed by Attorney General Buddy Caldwell in district court Thursday. Caldwell alleges in... more »

• Man indicted in Baton Rouge hospital shooting

  October 15, 2010 11:35 AM

  A 36-year-old man accused of shooting and wounding his estranged wife and her boyfriend at Baton Rouge General Medical Center-Mid City last month was indicted Thursday on attempted murder charges. An East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury charged Darrell F. Garner with two counts of attempted first-degree murder in the... more »

• UNO faces tough budget future without federal cash

  September 27, 2010 8:44 AM

  The University of New Orleans is receiving $26 million less in state general funding this year than 2008, though $17 million in federal stimulus money offset some state cuts on a one-time basis. That's according to the LSU Board of Regents. State lawmakers and Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration have warned... more »

• GM auto sales drop 7 percent in August

  September 1, 2010 9:56 AM

  General Motors says its August sales dropped 7 percent compared with July, as the shaky economy discouraged customers from buying new cars and trucks. U.S. auto sales in July were a strong point for the economy, helping to boost consumer spending. But high unemployment and a declining stock market have... more »

• Hornets' GM Bower stays in New Orleans

  July 6, 2010 4:38 PM

  New Orleans Hornets general manager Jeff Bower has pulled himself from consideration for the opening at general manager for the New Jersey Nets. Bower said he appreciated the opportunity, but he does not feel that it was the right fit for New Jersey or himself. The Nets recently... more »

• Scammers hit top Iraq general's Facebook page

  June 6, 2010 9:20 AM

  The top American general in Iraq says scammers have been making use of his Facebook page. Looking at General Ray Odierno's Facebook page, you find out he's an Aerosmith fan -- and that Animal House is one of his favorite movies. If you see a plea for money, though,... more »

• State AGs ask feds for help on oil spill damages

  May 6, 2010 2:01 PM

  The attorneys general of five states threatened by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico are asking President Obama for federal help in preparing assessments of the damage from the oil spill. Under federal law, responsible parties also have unlimited liability for clean-up costs. more »

• Vehicle sales figures released

  October 1, 2009 1:31 PM

  Ford, Lincoln and Mercury third quarter sales showed a 10.5 percent increase in the Southeast area (including Baton Rouge) when compared to the same period a year ago. Auto manufacturers released their sales numbers for September today. For Ford go to: http://www.ford.com/about-ford/news-announcements/press-releases/press-releases-detail/pr-ford26rsquos-strong-new-products-31055 General Motors' third quarter numbers and September... more »

• Baton Rouge General signs letter of intent with Tulane

  September 14, 2009 2:30 PM

  The Baton Rouge General Medical Center and Tulane University have signed a non-binding letter of intent, exploring how the two together would provide greater educational opportunities. Officials say adding classes at Tulane's school of medicine could increase the number of physicians in the state. The discussion is expected... more »