By KELLY P. KISSEL A new set of possible development rules for East Baton Rouge was five years in the making. Since shortly after the 2016 flood, the parish has been looking at flooding risks across the parish. Tonight, the Metro Council will consider imposing construction requirements that are tougher than the previous guidelines. According to the head of the transporation and drainage department, a yearslong study was intended to reduce the flood risk. More of the parish is under development, and the use of more-detailed maps and higher rainfall estimates is expected to warn builders, and potential homeowners, of possible danger. There are more questions today about the effectiveness of ankle monitors. A man who is under separate protective orders in Baton Rouge and New Orleans was arrested during the weekend. He's accused of setting fire to his ex-partner's home on Southmoor Drive. Police used GPS data to track the man and arrest him, but the GPS data also tracked him violating the protective order before the fire was even set, according to a police report. A man accused of killing his girlfriend is in hot water with a judge, and he hasn't even had his trial yet. The accused made an obscene hand gesture to the judge, repeatedly talked over him, cursed at deputies and had to be handcuffed during a hearing. Before even going to trial on the homicide-related charge, Jordan Mader of Bossier City is doing time for contempt of court. And there's another new candidate for governor this morning. State Rep. Richard Nelson of Mandeville said this morning he wants to replace Gov. John Bel Edwards, who cannot seek another four years in office because of term limits. In an announcement video, the first term Republican lawmaker targeted politicians "who are stuck in the past." There are now four GOP candidates in the race to take over from Edwards, a Democrat. |