BATON ROUGE (AP) — A bid to ban abortions after 15 weeks has become law in Louisiana.
A spokesman for Gov. John Bel Edwards said Wednesday that the Democrat has signed the bill, which would only take effect if a federal court upholds a similar law in Mississippi.
The measure imposes a prison sentence of up to two years for someone who performs the procedure after 15 weeks. A woman who has an abortion could not be criminally charged under the bill.
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BATON ROUGE - Authorities say a man is dead after an early morning shooting.
The shooting was reported at 6:45 a.m. in the 1900 block of Mulberry Street. According to BRPD Chief Murphy Paul made the comment that "there are too many murders" in Baton Rouge.
Chief Murphy Paul telling me that the victim is “young”, in his early twenties.
When I asked the Chief if he was frustrated with Baton Rouge’s latest killing his response, “there are too many murders” @WBRZ
— Johnston vonSpringer (@johnstonvon) May 31, 2018
The victim has been identified as 25-year-old Brent Batiste. Authorities say he was shot multiple times and found dead inside his car.
Family members say Batiste was a teacher at Scotlandville Middle Magnet School. He taught 8th grade science.
The East Baton Rouge Parish School System released statement after the shooting.
"The East Baton Rouge Parish School System is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Scotlandville Pre-Engineering Magnet Academy teacher Brent Batiste. Batiste began working for SPEMA in August of 2017 and was loved by many. Our school system will provide counseling and support to the school throughout the summer and when students return next school year. Batiste impacted many students in his short time with SPEMA. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time."
The motive for the shooting is unknown at this time. The investigation is ongoing, according to a release from authorities.
Anyone with information on this incident is urged to contact the Violent Crimes Unit at 389-4869.
BATON ROUGE – A warrant was filed for the arrest of a woman who, authorities said, poisoned a man she claimed to be her husband three years ago.
Meshell Hale, of Slaughter, was wanted on second degree murder for the 2015 death of Damian Skipper.
Hale, authorities wrote in the warrant obtained Thursday afternoon by the WBRZ Investigative Unit, used barium acetate to kill Skipper.
Barium acetate is a powerful poison and has been used in high-profile murders in other areas.
Authorities said Hale researched the method and they found evidence in the search history of her electronic devices.
Skipper became ill with abdominal pain in June 2015 was hospitalized and discharged since doctors thought he had a virus. Skipper later died and was buried without an autopsy because his death was labeled as being caused by a heart attack by the hospital. His body was exhumed and autopsied and his death was labeled a homicide from poisoning.
Questions about Skipper's death were investigated after a man who appears to be Hale's real husband also became sick with similar symptoms and died in New Orleans.
Hale, authorities said, listed a Baton Rouge address.
WBRZ is working additional details to this bizarre story. Check back for updates.
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BATON ROUGE - State Senator Regina Barrow took the first steps Thursday to make sure more regulations are in place for people who run group homes. She submitted a resolution creating a task force which will impose those regulations on them.
Right now, group homes can pop up anywhere and don't have to be licensed. They serve the most fragile in our community.
Wednesday, the WBRZ Investigative Unit showed you a filthy facility called the Prosperity House off Greenwell Springs Road. Pictures obtained by WBRZ showed people sleeping on the floor, eating without utensils, and people appearing to be neglected. Two hours before our story aired, the State Fire Marshal, Office of Elderly Affairs and law enforcement raided the place.
"For anyone operating a home and not operating it in the proper manner, we are not going to tolerate this," Barrow said. "I'm asking for people to sound the alarm and let us know. We will not tolerate this type of behavior."
Thursday, a former worker hired by the Davenports, who run the home, said she filed complaints with the state. Hope Coleman said she was hired as a social worker and noticed at least one resident showed signs of abuse.
"I noticed her hand was swollen, so I asked her what was wrong with your hand," Coleman said. "She said someone from the group home hit her with a spoon. I filed a complaint with adult protection services... And followed up with the attorney general's office."
It's unclear what happened with those complaints. But, the WBRZ Investigative Unit learned the woman Coleman was talking about, Melanie Cummings, was found dead in the house in April. Her cause of death and toxicology report are still pending according to the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner's Office.
Barrow said she is passionate about making changes after seeing our story and said the abuse these people endure must stop.
"We don't allow our pets to live in those situations," Barrow said. "These individuals that can't properly communicate what the issues are, we are the ones who are given the protection over them and we have to make sure they are protected from people who try to take advantage of them."
Barrow expects the task force she created to begin meeting once the special session wraps up.
Enlarge / AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. (credit: Getty Images | Bloomberg)
AT&T's CEO predicted that T-Mobile USA and Sprint will have a difficult time getting their merger approved because the deal would eliminate a major competitor.
AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson was interviewed at a Recode conference on Wednesday, and he discussed the pending T-Mobile/Sprint deal as well as AT&T's pending acquisition of Time Warner Inc.
"I think [T-Mobile and Sprint] have a tough hill to climb, I mean, it's a classic horizontal merger where you're taking a competitor out of the marketplace," Stephenson said.
Five Louisiana Pilotage Fee Commission members representing some of the state’s major industry groups are calling on Gov. John Bel Edwards to remove his appointees, following a letter and news report that raised questions about the nominating process.
A pair of young girls swimming in a Michigan lake unearthed some unusual sunken treasure -- a World War I-era practice bomb.
Scientists have discovered dunes on Pluto's surface, which are likely to have been formed of methane ice grains released into its atmosphere.
