WBRZ - Baton Rouge

Tagged News

• ACLU sues over NSA phone records program

  June 11, 2013 3:24 PM

  NEW YORK - Two prominent civil rights groups have filed a lawsuit against the National Security Agency over its program that reportedly collects the telephone records of millions of American customers of Verizon. The American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union say in a lawsuit filed... more »

• Obama defends broad phone, Internet spy programs

  June 8, 2013 10:54 AM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama is urging Americans to "make some choices" in balancing privacy and security. Obama is defending once-secret surveillance programs that sweep up an estimated 3 billion phone calls a day and amass Internet data from U.S. providers in an attempt to thwart terror attacks. The president... more »

• Senate panel approves 2-cents tax on cell phones

  May 23, 2013 5:32 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A new 2-cents monthly tax on cell phones to help provide services for people with hearing impairment has been approved by the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee. The House-backed bill would change the current law by reducing the amount of tax levied per month from 5... 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 »

• An itsy bitsy spider was no match for a governor

  May 6, 2013 7:36 PM

  TRENTON, NEW JERSEY- Governor Chris Christie gave a spider a smack-down when he saw it near his desk phone as he spoke to a group of school kids. The New Jersey Governor told the kids one fun part about being governor is you're allowed to kill any bugs on your... more »

• LSU Police arrest three teens after armed robbery

  April 29, 2013 4:24 PM

  BATON ROUGE - LSU Police arrested three juveniles after an armed robbery this weekend. Sgt. Kevin Scott said police arrested two 15-year-olds and a 16-year-old after they found them with the stolen property shortly after the crime was reported Saturday night. Scott said LSU Police responded to Dalrymple... more »

• Criminal case dropped in White cell phone search Play Video

  April 4, 2013 3:36 PM

  BATON ROUGE - City police dropped a criminal theft investigation into a missing cell phone which supposedly belonged to former Baton Rouge Police Chief Dewayne White. This comes after a search warrant was issued to take the phone from a woman in Zachary. Investigators claim White and the woman... more »

• Fired police chief investigated for missing cell phone, theft Play Video

  March 27, 2013 7:08 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Police are investigating Former Baton Rouge Police Chief Dewayne White for theft of a city-issued cell phone, his attorney Jill Craft explained. Craft has had the phone for weeks and said police never contacted her about the device. "Why don't you just ask me for... more »

• Prison phone firms can seek exclusion from new ban

  March 20, 2013 11:54 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The Public Service Commission is giving companies that provide phone service to Louisiana's prisons and local jails the ability to argue their case for continuing pricy surcharges on the calls. The five-member regulatory panel, which oversees telecommunications companies, unanimously agreed in December to cut the rates charged... more »

• Some cell phones can't reach LSP emergency line Play Video

  February 25, 2013 4:18 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Verizon Wireless users statewide could be left out in the cold during an emergency on the road. A Verizon spokeswoman company told News 2 that a problem with their network does not allow customers to access *LSP or 577. She said the company was unaware of the... more »

• 'Jailbreaking' phones now illegal Play Video

  February 1, 2013 5:30 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Before last week, if you wanted a top-flight smart phone on a plan that didn't support it, "jailbreaking" your handset was the way to go. "It unleashed the full power of the technology. So it allows the user to use all the features that the cell... more »

• Man accused of threatening public officials

  December 20, 2012 12:30 PM

  NEWARK, N.J. - Federal prosecutors say a New Jersey man made threatening phone calls to public officials including Louisiana's governor and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachman. Authorities have charged 27-year-old Ronnie McMillian of Hawthorne, N.J., with two counts of transmitting threats to injure another through interstate commerce. Prosecutors allege McMillian regularly... more »

• ATC agents abuse state-issued cell phones Play Video

  December 19, 2012 6:45 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Several Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control agents are in trouble for allegedly abusing their state-issued cell phones. An audit by the ATC uncovered records of agents using their state-issued phones for personal business while on the clock. During October, one agent used the phone... more »

• Phone calls to get cheaper at La. prisons

  December 12, 2012 5:42 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The costs of many prison phone calls are set to drop over the next couple of years. The Louisiana Public Service Commission agreed Wednesday to a revamped proposal that will shrink the price tag for prisoners to call home, after complaints that current rates were too high... more »

• FCC plans to make 911 texts available by May 2014

  December 7, 2012 12:31 PM

  WASHINGTON - The Federal Communications Commission says the nation's four largest wireless carriers have agreed to make emergency 911 texts available nationwide by May 2014. Major rollouts of the texting system are expected next year. The agency said Thursday that under the agreement with AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile, more... more »

• Obama, Boehner speak by phone on fiscal cliff

  December 5, 2012 4:37 PM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner discussed the fiscal cliff Wednesday in a telephone call. It followed several days of political sparring over steps to prevent a year-end series of tax increases and spending cuts. The call raises the possibility that negotiations will soon resume between... more »

• High prison call costs, burden to families

  November 15, 2012 6:09 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Offenders in prison, no matter what the crime, are allowed to make phone calls. Most of those calls are made to family. The outgoing cost is expensive, and some families are struggling to pay the bills. "The burden, really isn't on the prisoner," said Geraldine... more »

• Apple: iPhone 5 in stores Sept. 21

  September 12, 2012 1:16 PM

  SAN FRANCISCO - Apple says the new iPhone 5 will be in stores in the U.S. and several other countries on Sept. 21. The other launch countries are Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the UK. A week later, the phone will be available in 22 more... more »

• Former EBRSO employee arrested for stalking ex-girlfriend

  September 7, 2012 2:50 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A former employee with the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office has been arrested for Stalking, Defamation and Improper Telephone Communications. According to reports, Ronald Gautreaux of Plaquemine, allegedly called his ex-girlfriend, wrote to her, and showed up at her home despite her telling him to stop.... more »

• EBRSO looking for Craig's List cell phone thief

  August 10, 2012 2:42 PM

  Baton Rouge- East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's detectives are looking for a man wanted for stealing cell phones from various victims solicited on Craig's List. Detectives say 21 year-old David Mattox arranged to meet the victims in public, and asks to inspect the phones before purchasing them. Then... more »

• Phone line open for school bus questions

  August 2, 2012 10:28 AM

  BATON ROUGE- School buses will be rolling out Wednesday, for the first day of school in East Baton Rouge Parish. To find out what bus your student will ride, parents can call a bus hotline starting this week to get student bus route information, times of pick ups and... more »

• WSJ: New iPhone to have thinner screen

  July 17, 2012 10:58 AM

  NEW YORK- A published report says the new iPhone will have a thinner screen. That could leave more room for a larger battery. The Wall Street Journal is citing unnamed people familiar with the matter in reporting that the new iPhone will have a screen that can sense touches without... more »

• Officer accused of stealing phone from DWI suspect

  July 12, 2012 10:23 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Police in Baton Rouge arrested one of their own after investigators said he stole an arrested man's cell phone. A Baton Rouge Police spokesperson said Officer Jake Chutsz, 27, was arrested last night for felony theft and malfeasance in office. Investigators said Chutsz took the... more »

• Police: Shunick tips slowing down

  June 1, 2012 1:33 PM

  LAFAYETTE - Investigators searching for a missing college student in Lafayette say the number of tips they're receiving are slowing down enough that they're going to make some changes. Starting tonight, the tip line at the Lafayette Police Department won't be staffed at all hours by investigators. Instead, an... more »

• Cell phone texting scam could cost you Play Video

  May 31, 2012 6:00 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A new texting scam could be costing you big bucks and you may not even know it. The texting scam works by auto-dialing random numbers and sending them things like trivia or ringtones, without asking permission and then charging your cell phone bill. Cell carriers are... more »

• Siri storing your information?

  May 24, 2012 11:18 AM

  Apple iPhone's interactive voice, Siri, may be storing your information. Wired magazine reports Siri and other data collecting apps are putting information at risk. The software license agreement for Apple iPhone says that when you use Siri or Dictation, the things you say will be recorded and sent to Apple... more »

• Ban on hand-held cell phones by drivers rejected

  May 17, 2012 2:45 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A proposal to ban the use of hand-held cell phones while driving has failed to win support in the Louisiana Senate. The Senate Transportation Committee voted 2-1 Thursday against the House-backed proposal. New Orleans Rep. Austin Badon, a Democrat, says he proposed the bill as a safety... more »

• Committee approves cell phone driving ban Play Video

  April 24, 2012 5:41 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A bill making cell phone use illegal while driving has advanced at the State Capitol. The only exception in the bill by Representative Austin Badon, D- New Orleans, is with the use of a hands-free device. Badon has offered and supported several bills over the years... more »

• Sketchy text messages likely just that Play Video

  April 9, 2012 10:14 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Recent text messages sent to your phone claim to be offering some sort of prize. But, that's not necessarily the case. "It might be phishing which is trying to get personal information from you" said Sue Sperry with AT&T. It's a type of spam targeting... more »

• LSU on lookout for tech thieves Play Video

  March 28, 2012 6:03 PM

  BATON ROUGE - LSU Police are warning students to watch out for tech thieves during peak study times. Thieves have stolen nearly a dozen cell phones and ten laptops since the beginning of the year, but Police say it's easier to fall victim during midterms and finals. "I... more »

• Woman falls down trash chute reaching for phone

  March 12, 2012 5:37 PM

  ATLANTA - Amanda Still couldn't let her cell phone slip through her fingers. She tried to retrieve her phone from her apartment building trash chute. Instead she fell down head first into the chute. Still said she accidentally tossed her cell phone away with the garbage. Once she realized what... more »

• Kenner PD warns about pre-recorded phone scam

  February 3, 2012 4:15 AM

  KENNER - Some Kenner residents received pre-recorded telephone calls this week indicating that a family member was arrested or involved in a serious accident. It was a scam, according to the Kenner Police Department. A spokesman for the department said Thursday the calls are apparently an attempt to "hijack" phones... more »

• Phone trouble leaves North BR neighborhood on edge

  December 26, 2011 9:30 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A North Baton Rouge neighborhood has been sitting in silence for more than a week. That's because many in East Fairlane subdivision have been without phone service, despite paying for service from different companies. Neighbors say without the connection, fire and police alarms don't function, and... more »

• Thieves targeting smartphones Play Video

  December 9, 2011 6:10 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Since Thanksgiving the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office has investigated at least four instances where a smart phone was swiped. Three happened on December 2nd at both malls in Baton Rouge. Victims gave the same description of the getaway car. In another separate incident... more »

• Apple unveils new iPhone, calls it "4S"

  October 4, 2011 4:36 PM

  CUPERTINO, Calif. - Apple unveiled their new iPhone today. The iPhone 4S will run faster and has new mobile software that can sync content wirelessly, without having to plug an iPhone to a Mac or Windows machine. Apple Inc. made the announcement at its first major product event in... more »

• Phone thief suspect sends victim a friend request

  September 17, 2011 2:21 PM

  GREELEY, Colo.- A Colorado man is accused of stealing a woman's cell phone and then sending her a friend request on Facebook. The victim awoke early one morning in her Greeley home to see a man standing over her bed. When she screamed, the man grabbed her cell phone... more »

• EBR Metro Council delays vote on EATEL

  September 14, 2011 6:06 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Metro Council members chose tonight to delay a vote on allowing a new cable provider in East Baton Rouge Parish. EATEL wants to expand their fiber-optic network into the capitol area. They're currently the leading cable, phone and internet service provider in Ascension Parish. EATEL... more »

• Legislature to consider cell phone limits for drivers

  April 21, 2011 5:18 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Cell phone use while driving would be banned under a bill proposed in the Legislature unless the driver is using a hands-free device. The bill by State Rep. Austin Badon would make phone use a secondary offense, meaning police could not pull you over for it, but... more »

• Cell phone gives away burglar

  April 4, 2011 2:30 PM

  LIVINGSTON - A suspected burglar in Livingston Parish is now behind bars, after investigators say his cell phone gave him away. While responding to a burglar alarm, deputies noticed a large hole in the roof of the Best Stop convenience store on Arnold Road. Deputies say they then... more »

• Phones, internet out on LSU campus after construction accident

  February 18, 2011 3:50 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Phone, internet and email on the LSU campus could be out through the weekend after contractors accidentally cut through a series of fiber-optic lines, according to a school spokesperson. Ernie Ballard said the outage covers much of the eastern side of the Baton Rouge campus, including... more »

• Supporters send well-wishes to Edwards

  January 28, 2011 4:21 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The phone calls and incoming mail have picked up at Ecumenical House in the two weeks since the federal halfway house added a famous prisoner to its watch list: former Gov. Edwin Edwards. Though Edwards was allowed to serve the final six months of his prison term... more »

• Holden man accused of soliciting minor

  November 5, 2010 3:23 PM

  LIVINGSTON – A Holden man was arrested after police said he sent a 13-year-old girl sexual messages from his cell phone and computer. Police arrested 44-year-old Franklin Church Monday night in suspicion of computer aided solicitation of a minor. Chief Randy Dufrene said Church had parked at the Livingston Ballfield... more »

• Man pleads guilty to sex chat with teens

  September 28, 2010 6:49 AM

  Prosecutors say 21-year-old Daniel James Broussard has pleaded guilty in federal court to having used the Internet and his cell phone to have sexual chats with four teenage girls from the Lafayette area. As part of a plea deal, Broussard pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to coerce a... more »

• School mourning four students who died in weekend wreck

  September 27, 2010 1:25 PM

  A Vandebilt Catholic High School official says Monday began with a Mass for four students who died in a pickup truck that overturned in a bayou next to La. Highway 182 near Houma. School president David Keife says students were then given time to talk and grieve with each other... more »

• 2 Winn Parish inmates escape

  August 12, 2010 6:11 AM

  Two Winn Parish Jail inmates escaped from the Winn Parish Sheriff's Office. Deputies say Thomas Ray May and Jamie D. Malone used a phone call about a false wreck Wednesday morning to distract officers while they made their escape. Officials do not suspect they are armed and dangerous. Deputies say... more »

• Scammers using old payday loans to cash in

  June 23, 2010 9:46 PM

  A new scam hitting Baton Rouge can make victims think it's legit. The scam has been reported across half the country. It uses personal information, including addresses and social security numbers, from old online payday loans to hook victims into thinking they still owe money. Scammers then threaten the... more »

• Sheriff: Random cell phones got nude pictures

  June 17, 2010 8:03 AM

  A 23-year-old Shreveport man has been accused of sending naked pictures of himself to random cell phone numbers. Marcus Miles of Shreveport was given a summons on a charge of telephone communications harassment. Deputies say Miles allegedly used a relative's phone to make 57 calls over three hours. Deputies got... more »

• Acorn foe: Phone scheme was to investigate senator

  January 29, 2010 1:17 PM

  A conservative activist accused of trying to tamper with a Louisiana senator's phones says he wanted to investigate criticisms that constituents calling her office couldn't get through. James O'Keefe posted a statement Friday on the Web site biggovernment.com. He says he learned about problems with calls to Democratic... more »

• Lawyer: Phone scam meant to embarrass Senator

  January 28, 2010 2:31 PM

  A lawyer for one of four conservative activists accused of tampering with phones in U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu's New Orleans office, says they hoped to embarrass her over claims her staff ignored calls critical of her stance on health care reform. J. Garrison Jordan is an attorney for suspect... more »

• Men accused of Landrieu phone scam in court

  January 27, 2010 10:20 AM

  Three of the four men charged with infiltrating the New Orleans office of U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, returned to court today. James O'Keefe, Joseph Basel and Stan Dai were there for private appointments in the pretrial services department. The fourth suspect is Robert Flanigan. Authorities say two... more »

• Four charged in Landrieu phone scheme

  January 26, 2010 1:53 PM

  Four people have been arrested and accused by the FBI of trying to interfere with the telephone system in the New Orleans office of U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, federal authorities said. An FBI affidavit says the incident happened Monday. At least two of the suspects were dressed in work clothes... more »

• Phone system alerts residents to runaway boy again

  October 30, 2009 12:51 PM

  A Baton Rouge boy who ran away from home twice in the span of 24 hours last month, ran away from home again on Thursday. Despite 12-year-old Sharkmen Cox's runaway history, the sheriff's office implemented the Smart Ring Call Alert System to find him. Cox went missing Thursday... more »

• Deputies offer chance to opt out of emergency call system

  September 24, 2009 10:05 AM

  Thousands of people in East Baton Rouge Parish received a phone call overnight to alert them about a missing boy. Deputies requested the calls after searching for the 12 year old for more than eight hours. Casey Rayborn Hicks, a spokeswoman for the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's office,... more »