WBRZ - Baton Rouge

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Updated: March 10, 2010 10:30 PM
By Kristy Davis
Source: WBRZ

Even if the mental hospital in Jackson stays open, hundreds of jobs might still be at stake.

The Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System is on Highway 10. People in town fear nearly 200 jobs could be in jeopardy this June if the Department of Health and Hospitals moves forward with a plan to downsize. Jackson residents say their small community can't handle that kind of loss.

Half of the people at Wednesday’s town hall meeting still had on their hospital scrubs. Most people in the audience focused on the immediate impact on the hospital's workers. DHH insists Jackson won't lose its hospital. Instead, the state agency says the hospital will lose about 100 beds and portions will be taken over by private entities. The state also maintains the most dangerous patients won't go anywhere.

The issue is set to go before the Legislative Appropriations Committee next week.

Tags Jackson Department of Health and Hospitals Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System Highway 10 mental health downsize WBRZ

Updated: March 10, 2010 9:50 PM
By Anna Brown
Source: Office of the Louisiana State Fire Marshal

Update: State Fire Marshal’s Office have determined the cause of a fire in Webster Parish that claimed one life.

Allen Parish died when flames destroyed his home around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday in Cotton Valley. Parish was confined to a wheelchair.

Investigators determined that the fire originated to the rear of the gas stove in the area of the gas line connection. The house suffered only moderate damage, and no foul play is suspected. The cause of death is to be determined by autopsy.

There were no smoke detectors in the home.

Tags fire Allen Parish Webster Parish Cotton Valley WBRZ

Updated: March 10, 2010 9:25 PM
By Sylvia Weatherspoon
Source: Associated Press

3-D was such a big hit at the movie box office, ticket sales hit a record $29.9 billion in 2009 according to the Motion Picture Association of America.  The 20 movies released in 3-D last year, accounted for 11 percent of the $10.6 billion in ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada, representing almost all of the increase a year ago.
 

Updated: March 10, 2010 8:37 PM
By Sylvia Weatherspoon
Source: Associated Press

Modest gains on Wall Street today.  The Dow increased 3 points, to 10,567.  The S&P was up 5 points, while the Nasdaq climbed more than 18 points.

Updated: March 10, 2010 10:49 PM
By Michael Marsh
Source: Associated Press

Prom night is off for Itawamba County Agricultural High School in Mississippi after 18-year-old Constance Miller asked if she could wear a tux and bring her girlfriend as a date.  The school board met on Wednesday and issued a statement saying the prom won't be held.  The district's statement never mentioned McMillen's request but said the change was due to recent distractions.  The American Civil Liberties Union had issued a demand letter on behalf of McMillen for the school district to fulfill her request. The district says it hopes someone holds a private prom for the kids.

Tags prom Itawamba County Agricultural High School Constance McMillen

Updated: March 10, 2010 8:22 PM
By Michael Marsh
Source: Associated Press

Someone's pulling the wool over West Cape May, New Jersey by knitting sweaters and covering tree branches and light poles with them.  Its done under the cover of darkness.  The mayor says police are looking into the guerrilla crocheting because its against the law to place things on public property without permission.  But residents and mayor agree its better than graffiti and they're captivated by the rainbow of color being splashed across town.

Tags sweaters tree branches light poles West Cape May New Jersey

Updated: March 10, 2010 8:16 PM
By Michael Marsh
Source: Associated Press

The price of the Tropicana brand orange juice is going up because of the deep freeze in January that hurt much of Florida's citrus crop.  And PepsiCo, the maker of the juice, is shrinking its most popular size by 8 percent.  The 64-ounce size goes to 59 ounces with the price remaining the same.  The gallon size is going up in price by 5 to 8 percent.

Tags Tropicana orange juice PepsiCo price size

Updated: March 10, 2010 10:49 PM
By Michael Marsh
Source: Associated Press

The head of college football's Bowl Championship Series, or BCS, says Congress needs to get on with work more important than how the BCS distributes money.  But Bill Hancock still has to respond to a question-filled letter sent by Senators Orrin Hatch of Utah and Max Baucus of Montana.  They want details on how the BCS calculates the conferences that get automatic bowl bids, how money is divvied up for a new TV deal and what sort of legal status the BCS has. 

Tags BCS money bowl bids senators

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Updated: March 10, 2010 6:45 PM
By Michael Cauble
Source: WBRZ Sports

With just one more weekend series remaining before the start of SEC play, Coach Paul Mainieri is making some last minute adjustments to his pitching rotation.  Concerned with a lack of depth in middle relief, Mainieri is moving his usual Friday night starter Austin Ross to Sunday with the hopes that if he is needed he can come in and pitch a little relief on Friday night.

Mainieri has success with this kind of double duty from pitchers in his past, using both Jared Bradford and Louis Coleman in two games of a weekend series.  Ross would take the Sunday role, with Joey Bourgeois moving to Friday night and Jordan Rittiner will fill in on Saturday. 

Coach Mainieri plans to use this rotation starting with this weekend series against Kansas.  Mainieri hopes to get staff ace Anthony Ranaudo back in time for the start of SEC play when Arkansas opens up conference play in Alex Box Stadium on March 19.

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Updated: March 10, 2010 7:04 PM
By Luke Margolis
Source: WBRZ

The cost of clean energy could drive up your electric bill.

Louisiana's Public Service Commission is looking at asking power companies to get a percentage of their fuel from renewable sources.

News 2's Luke Margolis gets answers on what it could mean for your bill.

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Updated: March 10, 2010 5:42 PM
By Kelly Spell

Sports injuries among children, the link between health and better sex, and how chewing gum may give you wrinkles are all discussed in this 2 Your Health report.

Tags sports injuries children kids sex gum wrinkles health WBRZ

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Updated: March 10, 2010 5:10 PM
By Jessica Dunne
Source: WBRZ

A church in Baton Rouge is sending thousands of dollars in supplies to victims of the earthquake in Haiti.  The Greater King David Baptist Church collected food, water, and toiletries.

More than 230,000 people died in the quake, which rattled the country in January.  Today, President Obama renewed America's commitment to the recovery of the country.  He told Haitian President Rene Preval that the U.S. will continue to be a partner in the rebuilding efforts.

Tags church Haiti supplies Greater King David Baptist Church earthquake

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Updated: March 10, 2010 7:00 PM
By Mike Steele
Source: WBRZ

State lawmakers plan on cutting pay to dozens of people serving on state boards and commissions.

Louisiana Pardon Board salaries were part of Wednesday's budget talks. The board meets two days each month. 

The chairman of the board makes $42,000 a year.  Four other board members make $36,000.  They all qualify for insurance and retirement. They also receive travel and meal pay.  It's all part of state law.

State Rep. Simone Champagne, (D) Jeanerette, is calling for change.  She wants to eliminate the salaries for the pardon board and four other state bodies.  State Rep. John Schroder joked about wanting a job on the board after the salary details were discussed.

Louisiana Pardon Board Chairman Larry Clark says board members review each case before the hearing dates.  He says the work can take several hours each week.  Clark tells News 2 he would quit if the salaries are eliminated because the job is too time consuming.

Champagne says her bill would allow board and commission members per diem pay for meetings and possibly gas reimbursement.

Tags state lawmakers Louisiana Pardon Board salaries Simone Champagne

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Updated: March 10, 2010 5:48 PM
By Lori Steele
Source: WBRZ

Eighteen undocumented workers were taken into custody Wednesday at the building site for North Oaks Livingston Parish Medical Complex off I-12 at the Satsuma Exit.  

Workers without the proper paperwork were restrained and searched.  It took Livingston Parish deputies about an hour to clear the job site. 

Chief Deputy Jason Ard told News 2 most hid.  He says five or more hid in air condition duct work and deputies had to pull them out.

Ten of those taken into custody are being held at the jail until Thursday morning, when Border Patrol Agents will pick them up.  Most don't speak English.  Another eight are already in Border Patrol custody.  Of those, News 2 has learned two were previously deported and another has a criminal background. 

If the men have no criminal history, they could be allowed to voluntarily return to their country of origin. Others may have to appear before an immigration judge. 

A North Oaks Health System spokeswoman said "North Oaks has just been made aware of the situation.  At this point, the job site belongs to MD Descant, our general contractor."

News 2 spoke to Chuck Descant by phone.  He's been in business almost 50 years.  He says he hired sub-contractors to get the job done and they hired the men taken into custody.  He believes most could be on the job again soon.

Even if they don't return, Descant said the complex will be completed ahead of schedule.  His deadline is the first of next year.

Tags Undocumented workers illegal aliens Livingston Parish Satsuma North Oaks Medical Complex North Oaks Health System Livingston Parish Sheriff's Deputies Border Patrol MD Descant WBRZ

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Updated: March 10, 2010 7:03 PM
By Chris Nakamoto
Source: WBRZ

A church in Kansas known for stirring up controversy is planning a trip to Ascension Parish to protest a play at Dutchtown High School.

The drama department at Dutchtown High will play, "The Laramie Project."  It centers around a gay man who was brutally beaten and killed almost 12 years ago.

The Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas isn't happy with the play.  Its outspoken members have vigorously protested against homosexual behavior.

"Its got one function -- to teach rebellion to the people and mostly the children," Church member Sarah Phelps-Roper said.

The possible protest has the Ascension Parish School Board and Sheriff's Office on high alert.

"We are meeting with the sheriff's office to determine if extra deputies are needed the night of the play," Ascension School spokesman Johnnie Balfantz said.

Church members say they plan on sending about 10 people to protest.

Tags Westboro Baptist Church Kansas Laramie Project Ascension Parish Dutchtown High School WBRZ