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Baton Rouge City Court could cost taxpayers millions

Submitted by WAFB_Web_Staff
Friday, May 17th, 2013, 11:05am

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB)- The make-up of the Baton Rouge City Court may likely change in the coming months. Currently, three white judges sit on the court with two black judges. That's about to change with Judge Susan Ponder retiring, according to some. 

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 states judicial districts will reflect the make-up of the community. The racial make-up in Baton Rouge after the 2010 census is 55 percent black and 34 percent white. A lawsuit has been filed in federal court, but the judge wanted the Louisiana Legislature to fix it.

Rep. Alfred Williams, D-Baton Rouge, is the author of the bill that failed on the House floor Tuesday by a vote of 44-40. Rep. Pat Smith, D-Baton Rouge is disappointed in the bill's failure.

"I can't speak for those folks," said Smith. "All I can say is somebody evidently told them that this wasn't the right thing to do."

So now, rather than a legislative mandate to change the make-up of the court, a lawsuit will determine who's right.

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Two alarm fire erupts at College Drive apartment complex

Submitted by WAFB_Web_Staff
Thursday, May 16th, 2013, 9:23pm

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB)- Fire fighters were called to a fire in Bienville Towers on College drive Thursday evening.

Upon their arrival, they found a bottom floor unit in flames. Fire fighters were worried about the potential for the fire to spread so a second alarm was called, but they managed to contain the flames to two units.

Two families have been displaced by the fire and are now being assissted by Red Cross.

No one was injured and the cause of the fire is now under investigation, though foul play is not suspected.

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Louisiana receives more than 100 charter school proposals in 2013

Submitted by WAFB_Web_Staff
Thursday, May 16th, 2013, 2:50pm

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB)-  

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Health department hires inspector general

Submitted by WAFB_Web_Staff
Wednesday, May 15th, 2013, 7:26pm

BATON ROUGE, LA (AP)-  

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 federal officials.
Root will not be involved in those investigations, according to DHH.
Root will work as both inspector general and chief compliance officer at DHH, overseeing audit efforts, tracking the appropriateness of Medicaid spending and identifying potential fraud and abuse. He will be paid $93,000 a year.
He has worked in a similar role for the federal government. Most recently, he was the assistant special agent in charge of the Office of Investigations for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

 

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DHH to crack down on nursing home evacuation plans

Submitted by WAFB_Web_Staff
Wednesday, May 15th, 2013, 6:34pm

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB)- The state Department of Health and Hospitals is putting nursing homes on notice -  if they have to evacuate a nursing home because the facility couldn't execute an emergency action plan, that home will be billed.  

"Sometimes we have to help," says DHH State Medical Doctor Jimmy Guidry. "The State and Federal governments bring in resources into help them to achieve moving their residents. Afterward we go in and see if the plan was feasible. They may get cited they may get a penalty for not having a feasible plan."

Joseph Donchess is with the Louisiana Nursing Home Association. He was part of sweeping legislation in 2006, aimed at avoiding a repeat of the St. Rita disaster in St. Bernard parish during Hurricane Katrina - where 35 people drowned.

"We interpreted that to mean if for some reason there is a problem that the state would do that at no additional charge to the nursing facilities," says Donchess. "I would ask them are they going to charge for everyone who shows up for medical evacuation facilities such as LSU?  Are they going to charge people who go to the shelters?"

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Senate committee approves bill to create national ID

Submitted by WAFB_Web_Staff
Wednesday, May 15th, 2013, 5:34pm

By Littice Bacon-Blood-  

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New mobile farmers market holds kick-off celebration

Submitted by WAFB_Web_Staff
Wednesday, May 15th, 2013, 4:00pm

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB)- A new mobile farmers market will try to bring more fresh fruits and vegetables to the inner city.

The Red Stick Mobile Farmers Market held a kick-off celebration Wednesday afternoon that included food sampling, free recipe and nutrition cards and tips on purchasing and storing fresh produce.

The new Red Stick Mobile Farmers Market will provide a consistent retail source of locally grown, farm fresh produce in North Baton Rouge.

After Wednesday's grand opening, it will operate every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Scotlandville Branch Library, 7373 Scenic Highway, and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Star Hill, 1400 North Foster Drive.

Plans call for the new mobile market to expand to six to eight locations later this year.

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