WBRZ - Baton Rouge

Tagged News

• Insurance company blamed for sinkhole buyout holdup

  May 20, 2013 1:35 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The company which owns land a massive sinkhole appeared on blamed their insurance carrier today for the holdup in buyouts for nearby property. Texas Brine, LLC released a statement which said their carrier hasn't approved any money for buyouts just yet, and they're working with the... more »

• City tears down blighted property Play Video

  May 9, 2013 6:08 PM

  BATON ROUGE - City workers tore down a dilapidated Baton Rouge home today after getting a court order allowing them to remove the blighted structure. David Guillory with the Department of Public Works said it belonged to David Burke, who's been in jail a year awaiting trial for more... more »

• $420K in unclaimed property returned at drive

  April 29, 2013 3:26 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The state Department of Treasury has returned a record $420,000 in unclaimed money to hundreds of New Orleans area residents at an Unclaimed Property Awareness Day over the weekend. In an effort to increase awareness about the Unclaimed Property Program and help citizens claim their money, the Treasury... more »

• Committee backs phase-in of property tax payments

  April 29, 2013 12:55 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A House committee agreed that property owners whose tax assessments increase by 15 percent or more in one year should be able to spread the increase over three years. The bill is sponsored by House Speaker Chuck Kleckley as an attempt to give property owners an adjustment... more »

• Leaders plan to push tax increase again

  April 25, 2013 9:06 PM

  LIVINGSTON - Just one year later, leaders want to push a property tax increase to fund Livingston Parish mosquito control again. It was voted-down last year, but since about a third of residents still skip-out on paying the fee, Mosquito and Abatement believes the tax is necessary. Without... more »

• Committee approves state property sale

  March 18, 2013 1:43 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A joint legislative committee today approved the sale of a state property as proposed in Governor Jindal's executive budget. Wooddale Towers has been vacant since April 2011. State budget officials say some of the last tenants were state offices that have since been consolidated. A... more »

• Jindal: Buyout process for sinkhole starts this week

  March 13, 2013 3:24 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Governor Bobby Jindal said today Texas Brine will buy out property owners affected by a massive sinkhole which appeared in Assumption Parish last year. Jindal said the buyout process will begin this week, starting with property appraisals. People who volunteer to be bought out will be... more »

• Sale of state buildings are a part of Jindal's proposed budget Play Video

  February 27, 2013 6:25 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Governor Bobby Jindal plans on selling $47 million dollars in state property to help balance next year's budget. The properties on the market include Wooddale Towers, the state office building at the corner of Convention Street and 3rd Street, and the parking lot where the old state... more »

• Jindal proposes $47M in property sales in budget

  February 26, 2013 2:10 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Governor Bobby Jindal's budget is relying on selling six tracts of state property around south Louisiana to remain in balance. However, none of the land sales are done deals. Jindal's budget for next year assumes the state will receive $47 million from the property sales. Its... more »

• 2012 BR stats show drop in serious crimes

  February 25, 2013 3:37 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Despite an uptick in violent crimes, police in Baton Rouge said the number of major crimes dropped overall last year. Baton Rouge Police released the FBI's 2012 uniform crime report, which showed the city had a 3.65 percent decrease in total major crimes. The report... more »

• Citizens rates rising by average of 7.7 percent

  January 11, 2013 4:09 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The state's property insurer of last resort has proposed raising homeowner's rates an average of 7.7 percent statewide this year. The Advocate reports the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp.'s board said Thursday that the rate increase is being driven in part by higher reinsurance costs for coastal... more »

• Malnourished horse found dead at airport Play Video

  January 7, 2013 12:30 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Authorities found a dead horse tied to a concrete barrier near the Baton Rouge Metro Airport this morning, and are searching for its owner. Hilton Cole, the parish animal control director, said the malnourished horse was tied to the barrier with a tow strap. They believe... more »

• Planned location for downtown BR condos sold Play Video

  January 2, 2013 6:56 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The developer for a key piece of property in downtown Baton Rouge sold the land recently, after years of delays and obstacles to building condos in the location. Richard Preis sold the spot on Lafayette Street between Laurel and Main to Shaw Group CEO Jim Bernhard... more »

• Property owners shell out hundreds more for CATS Play Video

  December 6, 2012 5:12 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Property tax assessments are going out in East Baton Rouge Parish, and owners living in the city limits of Baker and Baton Rouge can expect much larger overall contributions compared to years past. To see what you owe, click here . In the Riverbend neighborhood... more »

• Teen, mother and sister arrested for thefts

  December 6, 2012 3:53 PM

  BAKER - Police arrested a mother and her two teenage children in connection with a series of burglaries which happened recently around Baker, then said they had to re-arrest one of the kids after they posted threatening messages on the internet. Police Chief Mike Knaps said on Monday detectives... more »

• Man accused of attacking gas pump

  December 4, 2012 11:49 AM

  HOUMA - Sheriff's deputies say a Houma man accused of attacking an uncooperative gasoline pump has been booked with criminal property damage. Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's deputies tell The Courier 27-year-old Sean Charles Oshea told officers he pulled up to the gas station at Sam's Club in Houma Sunday night and... more »

• Property values increase 2 percent in Ascension Parish Play Video

  August 20, 2012 6:18 PM

  ASCENSION - Some homeowners in Prairieville and Dutchtown can expect to pay higher property taxes since home values have increased since 2008. The Ascension Parish Assessors Office valued 3,400 homes this year, which is down from 2008. Property values went up by 2 percent, compared to 8 percent the... more »

• LSPO Burglary Division recovers stolen property from 3 states

  August 13, 2012 3:10 PM

  Denham Springs- Three people accused of stealing numerous items in three states, are now behind bars in Livingston Parish. Detectives with the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Burglary Division were led to 23140 Highway 16 in Denham Springs, where they recovered the items, including tires, rims, tools, farm equipment and a... more »

• Teachers return to West Feliciana classrooms thanks to new tax Play Video

  August 10, 2012 5:18 PM

  ST FRANCISVILLE - In West Feliciana Parish, students are returning, and thanks to a new tax many students are too. A half-cent sales-tax went into effect months ago. And administrators say it's already saved dozens of teachers jobs, and helped lift a salary freeze. Baines Elementary School Principle... more »

• No property taxes this year in Pollock

  July 19, 2012 10:47 AM

  POLLOCK - Officials in the central Louisiana town of Pollock have agreed not to collect property taxes this year. The Town Talk of Alexandria reports that Mayor Jerome Scott asked the town council not to impose the town's 7.52- mill tax this year. Scott notes that the town is nearly... more »

• New property search site launched for EBR

  July 11, 2012 10:46 AM

  BATON ROUGE - City-parish officials in East Baton Rouge launched a new website intended to make it easier for people to find information about their property. The revamped property locator, called eBRmap, search for property by street address, subdivision and several other criteria. The information will be refreshed every... more »

• Land dispute in Livingston heads to court

  June 15, 2012 10:47 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A land dispute dating back decades is finally headed to court in Livingston Parish. The school board wants a judge to decide if it still owns land near French Settlement or if the 30 people who live there do. School leaders are gearing up by contending... more »

• EBR school district property in question

  May 11, 2012 10:20 PM

  BATON ROUGE- An effort to lessen the blow of budget cuts in East Baton Rouge Parish Schools is causing confusion. The district is trying to sell excess land to make money, but there's a big question of what still belongs to the district to sell. The land is... more »

• Rent could go up because of CATS property tax Play Video

  April 26, 2012 6:04 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Due to rising property taxes, landlords that own property in the city limits may pass those costs onto renters. On a $100,000 property, owners will pay an additional $106 a year in property taxes which could send rent up just as high. Property owners we... more »

• Landlords: Rent could go up because of CATS tax

  April 26, 2012 10:18 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Due to rising property taxes, landlords that own property in the city limits may pass those costs onto renters. On a $100,000 property, owners will pay an additional $106 a year in property taxes which could send rent up just as high. Tonight on News... more »

• Family says they were attacked by mother accused of killing 2-month-old

  April 10, 2012 9:50 PM

  ZACHARY- Events leading up to the discovery of a dead 2-month-old boy are still developing. Sabrina Maiden was arrested Tuesday afternoon accused of murdering her child, Prince Javeion Brown. He was found dead in a puddle of water, in a ditch, Tuesday morning. Authorities say she left him there... more »

• Bill increasing penalty for copper theft approved Play Video

  March 28, 2012 2:19 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A bill aimed at cutting down on copper theft was approved by the Louisiana House Criminal Justice committee. Someone convicted of stealing copper could be fined based on the value of the metal, the cost of replacement and the cost of repairing or replacing damaged property. more »

• Livingston Parish closes waterways south of I-12 to recreational vehicles

  March 22, 2012 12:38 PM

  LIVINGSTON PARISH - The Livingston Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness has closed all waterways to recreational vehicles south of Interstate 12 because of flooding after the heavy rains experienced Wednesday. The closure will last from March 22nd at noon to March 26th at noon. Officials... more »

• Habitat for Humanity working on blighted properties

  August 30, 2011 6:41 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A partnership between Habitat for Humanity and two parish offices could be the beginning of the end to blighted property in Baton Rouge. A week ago, the East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority approved the transfer of ownership of 13 empty lots to Habitat for Humanity. Prior... more »

• State turning over $400,000 in unclaimed money

  July 26, 2011 3:10 AM

  BATON ROUGE- Just over $400,000 in lost money has been returned to New Orleans-area residents from the state treasury. The agency held an unclaimed property day Saturday in Metairie. State Treasurer John Kennedy says over 5,000 people attended. Kennedy says one person claimed $98,000, while another claimed $36,000. Unclaimed... more »

• Neighbors want lot cleaned up in North Baton Rouge

  June 21, 2011 5:55 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A group of people in North Baton Rouge call the overgrown property in their neighborhood an eyesore and they want it cleaned up. The house, on Oswego Street near Plank Road, has tall weeds and vines growing all around it. People who live near the house worry... more »

• Drought driving alligators onto private property

  June 3, 2011 10:50 PM

  ZACHARY- Wildlife and Fisheries agents say calls are way up reporting alligators in places they don't belong. They say that's because of the drought and high temperatures. And for people making the calls, it's an adventure they hope happens only once. "I look out the window and I'm... more »

• Homeowners preparing for high water in Gibson

  May 17, 2011 3:24 PM

  GIBSON - Prisoners helped fill truckloads of sandbags this morning for residents in Gibson, east of Morgan City, as residents tried to protect their homes from expected flooding. Property owners picked up dozens of sandbags at a station where inmates from the parish jail filled them 50 at a... more »

• Livingston Parish School Board: "We want our land back!"

  February 10, 2011 10:28 PM

  LIVINGSTON PARISH- A 100-year-old mistake could be corrected in Livingston Parish. It involves land that was leased and the parish school board wants it back. In each township, property is set aside for the school system. It stays government property unless it's sold. And even if it's leased, there's... more »

• Louisiana policyholders lose $133 million

  January 8, 2011 12:28 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Property insurance policyholders in Louisiana have lost almost $133 million in rebates that had been available before the end of 2010. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the money is part of the assessments paid by private home and commercial policyholders for the Louisiana's property insurer of last... more »

• State leaders weigh-in on new ideas for budget

  December 10, 2010 9:48 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The state treasurer equates some of the governor's new ideas to a drug addict selling valuables to get a quick fix. Governor Bobby Jindal tossed around some ideas with top legislators Thursday, that included selling state property, prisons, health care plans, lottery proceeds and state buildings, in... more »

• Prairieville firefighters want new tax for more stations

  November 9, 2010 11:01 AM

  GONZALES – Firefighters in Ascension Parish say they need another property tax increase to pay for more firefighters, trucks and stations in the Prairieville area. Chief Mark Stewart is asking for a 10-mill increase to be put on the April ballot to fund expansion for Fire District No. 3. ... more »

• Construction bonds on ballot for Zachary Schools

  October 28, 2010 6:31 PM

  There are big plans in Zachary to improve schools, but it's up to residents to decide if they want to keep their current tax load to pay for it. The current rate of 36 mills includes a former bond issue passed in 2003 and set to expire soon. School officials... more »

• La. agency: missing items found

  October 20, 2010 8:06 AM

  A recent state audit accuses the state Department of Public Safety and Corrections of losing track of $1.5 million in property. Officials agreed with the audit's findings at first but said that they have located most of what was missing after looking around a little bit. Louisiana State Police Superintendent... more »

• Millions of dollars at stake for Ascension Parish schools

  September 28, 2010 6:38 PM

  Millions of dollars are at stake for one of the state's top ranking school districts. Voters in Ascension Parish will decide on renewing the tax on Saturday. The property tax generates more than $6 million for Ascension Parish schools each year. The district uses the money on general operations,... more »

• Couple wanted in car burglary

  September 8, 2010 3:51 PM

  Detectives are looking for a couple wanted in a car burglary. Police said on June 29, a few weeks after getting married, 33-year-old Michael Jermaine Wilson and 31-year-old Lesley Reed Wilson went to the victim’s home to pick up their photos from the victim’s brother, who photographed their wedding. The... more »

• Property insurance assessments sitting unclaimed

  August 28, 2010 12:55 PM

  More than $275 million in special assessments for Louisiana property insurance policyholders have not been reclaimed. And if they don't act before the year is over, more than half that total will disappear. The assessments were imposed on private polices over the past four years to help keep Louisiana Citizens... more »

• St. James council votes to lower millage rates

  August 20, 2010 6:52 AM

  St. James Parish Council has voted to lower parish millage rates for 2010, providing average savings of $100 for property owners. The 2009 total property taxes of 40.94 mills will be lowered to 40.85 mills. Property taxes are expected to generate an estimated $48 million this year, about $35,000 less... more »

• Sabine Parish school tax vote set Nov. 2

  August 20, 2010 5:57 AM

  Voters in Sabine Parish's South Sabine Consolidated School District No. 20 will decide Nov. 2 whether they want to pay property taxes to construct a new school. The proposal calls for selling $2.3 million in bonds to be paid out over 15 years to be used to construct and equip... more »

• Property-tax values up in Livingston Parish

  August 9, 2010 6:16 AM

  The Livingston Parish Assessor's Office says the value of Livingston Parish property on the parish tax rolls rose about 5 percent since last year. The value of commercial property rose 6.6 percent. The value of business property rose 8.7 percent. Assessor Jeff Taylor says the increase mainly represents new construction.... more »

• New Orleans' first park proposed in 20 years

  June 9, 2010 5:25 AM

  Property once owned by a film production company that went bankrupt will become the first new public park in New Orleans in 20 years. The Trust, a national conservation group, told New Orleans CityBusiness that the $3.8 million project will be built on an 18-acre parcel along the Lafitte Corridor... more »

• Hammond residents wrongly taxed

  June 7, 2010 5:43 AM

  About 175 property owners in some areas of Hammond have been paying Hammond school taxes for up to two decades even though their property is not within the official Hammond School District tax boundaries. Tangipahoa Parish Tax Assessor Joaquin Matheu says the error was discovered in February. Since then, the... more »

• Shreveport may charge more for parade viewing

  April 29, 2010 9:04 AM

  Higher rentals on viewing spots for Mardi Gras parades may help Shreveport shore up the city budget. The Shreveport City Council's public safety committee passed a proposal that would increase the price of rented viewing locations along a parade route. Currently, the city charges $10 to $20 each, but if... more »

• Judge hears arguments in Hopper divorce

  April 5, 2010 8:26 PM

  A judge in California admonished actor Dennis Hopper and his wife to try to work together to ease the impact of Hopper's likely death and their divorce on the couple's 7-year-old daughter. Hopper's lawyer argued Victoria Duffy Hopper should not be allowed to stay on Hopper's property because of the... more »

• Ordinance hearing set on addressing junkyards

  March 16, 2010 6:29 AM

  There will be a public hearing on April 12 to get public comment on a proposed ordinance to begin regulating junkyards in Evangeline Parish. Residents who live near the sites have complained to the police jury. The jury instructed its attorney to include a nuisance provision that would address residences... more »

• New Central schools could include tax break

  January 21, 2010 4:15 PM

  The costs for two new schools in Central may be lower than expected. That could mean a break for taxpayers. Plans call for a new intermediate and elementary school to be built on Sullivan Road north of Hooper Road. Voters in Central approved a 20 year property and sales... more »