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http://www.wbrz.com/news/calif-law-to-ban-violent-video-games-struck-down/

Calif. law to ban violent video games struck down

CALIFORNIA – The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a California law Monday that would ban the sale of “violent” video games to children.

The 7-to-2 vote made it a victory for video game makers and sellers, who said the ban would go too far.

If the law had been passed, the sale or rental of games like “Grand Theft Auto 4” wouldn’t be sold to anyone under 18.

The gaming industry said their voluntary rating system gives parents enough information to judge if the game is appropriate for their kid.

http://www.wbrz.com/news/body-found-in-lake-martin/

Body found in Lake Martin

BREAUX BRIDGE – A kayaker found a man’s body in Lake Martin, one of Acadiana’s most popular attractions.

St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office Maj. Ginny Higgins says the man has not been identified. She would not say how he was found, how he was clothed or whether there was any sign of trauma.

The parish usually sends bodies to Lafayette Parish for autopsy.

Wharf owner Bryan Champagne tells The Advertiser that a friend of his found the body while kayaking Friday morning. Champagne says he called 911 about 6 a.m. because his friend’s cellular service didn’t reach the lake.

The newspaper says Champagne’s friend declined an interview, saying police told him not to speak to reporters.

The lake near Breaux Bridge is a popular tourist spot for its scenery and large alligators.

http://www.wbrz.com/news/brpd-arrests-11-in-prostitution-sting/

BRPD arrests 11 in prostitution sting

BATON ROUGE – Police arrested 11 people during an undercover prostitution sting operation early this morning in Baton Rouge.

Cpl. L’Jean McKneely said BRPD Narcotics Officers posed as “johns” early Friday morning to make the arrests on the streets of north Baton Rouge.

In all, ten people were arrested in suspicion of prostitution:

• Kendrell Martin, 32
• Andrea Galmon, 36
• Raymond Dawson, 24
• Joseph K. Mars, 43
• Michelle Guidry, 29
• Tammy Sheppard, 43
• Deborah F. Lachney, 51
• Ethel Marie Wilson, 50
• Vincent Robinson, 45
• Ethel White, 43

Police also arrested Shaketa Young, 35, in suspicion of cocaine possession during the operation.

All were booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish jail.

http://www.wbrz.com/news/ebrso-arrests-additional-suspects-in-cherry-hill-shooting/?hie

EBRSO arrests additional suspects in Cherry Hill shooting

BATON ROUGE – EBRSO detectives have made two more arrests in connection with a shooting this week on Cherry Hill.

Tuesday evening detectives arrested Maikin Medina, 20, for attempted second degree murder and illegal discharge of a firearm. Detectives also arrested Jarin Joel Muenguia, 25, for principal to attempted second degree murder and principle to illegal discharge of a firearm.

According to investigators Medina and Muenguia used a vehicle driven by Arturo Cerno to get to the victim’s home, and after speaking to him Medina shot the victim multiple times. After the shooting deputies said Medina and Muenguia met up with Cerno and the three left the scene together.

Police said the two were arrested yesterday in a traffic stop in the 6000 block of Siegen Lane on their way to leave the country. Cerno had previously been arrested Tuesday.

Detectives said they later found out Medina and the victim had an argument earlier that day before the shooting.

Both Medina and Muenguia were booked into the parish prison.

Anyone with information about this shooting should call the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office at (225) 389-5000.

http://www.wbrz.com/news/ebrso-man-used-counterfeit-money-to-buy-liquor/

EBRSO: Man used counterfeit money to buy liquor

BATON ROUGE – Authorities are looking for a man who used counterfeit money to buy liquor at a Baton Rouge pharmacy.

Casey Hicks with the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office said the man bought two bottles of Hennessy Cognac at the store on 14455 Greenwell Springs Rd. on May 20. He used a fake one hundred dollar bill to for the alcohol, got more than $30 in change and left the store.

Anyone with information about this crime should call East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office at (225) 389-5000.

http://www.wbrz.com/news/livingston-parish-dog-owner-arrested-for-animal-cruelty/

UPDATE: Third dog found after animal cruelty arrest

SPRINGFIELD – Neighbors of a Livingston Parish man tell News 2 they found a third malnourished dog on his property, just days after he was arrested for animal cruelty.

Deputies arrested Vernon Hollingsworth, 32, on Tuesday after they were called out to his home near Springfield and found two dangerously-thin dogs. Today neighbors say they found a third dog on the property, also seriously underweight.

Deputies said the only water in the yard was about four feet beyond the dog’s reach, and there was no food at all in sight. Hollingsworth told them he didn’t have a job and was unable to care for the dogs, so he borrowed food from neighbors and family to feed them.

The two animals found by deputies were rescued by the Tangipahoa Humane Society. After an examination by a veterinarian the boxer had to be put to sleep, but the lab is expected to recover.

Hollingsworth was booked Tuesday for misdemeanor and felony cruelty to animals, as well as an outstanding warrant for failure to pay child support. He remains in jail on a $31,500 bond.

http://www.wbrz.com/news/drunk-driver-arrested-following-fatal-hit-and-run/

Driver arrested following fatal hit and run

BATON ROUGE – Deputies arrested a driver Wednesday night after a deadly crash in Baton Rouge. A pickup truck hit a bicycle.

Troopers said Floyd James, 60, was riding a bike west on LA 946 against traffic when he was hit by a pickup truck coming in the opposite direction.

EMS brought Jones to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital.

The pickup truck continued east even after the crash. A witness followed the truck back to a residence and gave the address and license plate to troopers.

Troopers arrived at the house later in the night and found evidence that Joe Dabney, 49, was the driver of the pickup.

Dabney is charged with DWI, felony hit and run, and vehicular negligent injuring.

Jones later died at the hospital from his injuries. Troopers then changed Dabney’s charge of vehicular negligent injuring to vehicular homicide.

Troopers also suspect Jones may have been impaired while riding the bicycle.

http://www.wbrz.com/news/operation-fire-works-results-in-the-arrest-of-23/

Operation Fire Works results in the arrest of 23

HAMMOND – An undercover investigation led to the arrest of 23 suspects in Tangipahoa and Livingston Parishes Thursday morning.

A total of 50 warrants were issued and out of those 23 people have been arrested.

Below are the suspects arrested by Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The department say more arrests are to come.

1. Regina Hapisreitinger, 45
2. Ericka Elam, 22
3. Dusty Elam, 25
4. Robert Turner, 66
5. Randall Charles Henry, 21
6. Ashley Rodriguez, 23
7. Monique Lewis, 30
8. Michelle Piediscalzo, 29
9. Jeremy Coleman, 30

http://www.wbrz.com/news/senators-concerned-by-photo-id-requirement-to-vote/

Senators concerned by photo ID requirement to vote

WASHINGTON – Sixteen Democratic senators want the Justice Department to look into whether voting rights are being jeopardized in states that require photo identification in order for people to vote.

The lawmakers wrote Attorney General Eric Holder on Wednesday to express concern that millions of voters do not have a government-issued ID – particularly older people, racial minorities, low-income voters and students.

Among the senators is Louisiana’s Mary Landrieu.

We contacted Senator Landrieu’s office and this is what she had to say:

“One of the most basic and direct ways Americans can participate in and affect our democracy is by voting. While we must vigilantly prevent voter fraud, voting is a fundamental right and should be protected. We have a responsibility to ensure that all eligible citizens are able to cast their ballot and have their vote counted.” Sen. Landrieu said. “With as many as 33 million American adults lacking government-issued identification – including a large amount of America’s seniors and students- my colleagues and I have asked the U.S. Attorney General to review newly enacted state photo identification laws. It is important to make sure these new laws do not violate federal voting rights statutes or prevent well-intentioned Americans from participating in the voting process.”

http://www.wbrz.com/news/former-louisiana-mayor-off-to-prison/

Former Louisiana mayor off to prison

ALEXANDRIA – Former Ball Mayor Roy Hebron was brought to the Federal Prison Camp in Pensacola this week, where he began a four-year sentence on Monday.

Hebron pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government after a federal investigation into the town of Ball activities following Hurricane Gustav in 2008.

AP reports Brenda Kimball, a co-conspirator with Hebron, is serving her nine-month sentence at the Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas. She started her sentence on June 6.

Kimball also pleaded guilty this year after an investigation into the town’s Hurricane Gustav cleanup work.

http://www.wbrz.com/news/red-flag-means-burn-ban-in-effect/

Red flag means burn ban in effect

BATON ROUGE- Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, said the new red flag that is flying in front of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry headquarters in Baton Rouge is another way to raise public awareness that a statewide burn ban is in effect.

The flag features the words “BURNING BAN” in white letters on a field of red.

The image of a flame threatening a tree and a structure are also featured on the flag.

The statewide burn ban that was put in place on June 1 is still in effect and will likely remain for some time.

“We are in a three-year drought that has made for extremely dry conditions across the state,” Strain said.

Strain said they are working on a way to provide burn ban flags for the rural volunteer fire departments that assist them in protecting the public and our forest resources.