WBRZ - Baton Rouge

Tagged News

• Israel holds Palestinian-American teen from New Orleans

  April 11, 2013 11:43 AM

  JERUSALEM - The family of a 14-year-old Palestinian-American says the Israeli military has been holding the boy for nearly a week after bursting into their home and arresting him in an overnight raid for allegedly hurling rocks at Israeli motorists in the West Bank. The boy's father, Abdelwahab Khalek, said... more »

• American Airlines, US Airways to merge

  February 13, 2013 7:30 PM

  DALLAS - American Airlines and US Airways will merge and create the world's biggest airline. The boards of both companies approved the merger late Wednesday, according to three people close to the situation. The carrier keeps the American Airlines name but will be run by US Airways CEO Doug Parker.... more »

• 1 American dead in Algerian standoff

  January 18, 2013 3:04 PM

  WASHINGTON- U.S. officials say one American has died in the hostage standoff at an Algerian gas complex. The officials say the deceased American is a Texas resident, Frederick Buttaccio. It is unclear how he died. The officials say Buttaccio's remains have been recovered and his family has been notified. The... more »

• Woman dies in Baton Rouge accident

  January 18, 2013 12:47 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Baton Rouge police say an elderly woman involved in an accident Thursday on Coursey Boulevard has died. Cpl. L'Jean McKneely said in an email that 90-year-old Gladys Sonntag died Thursday evening at a local hospital. McKneely said Sonntag was attempting to make a left turn from Coursey... more »

• Obama, Karzai agree to speed military transition

  January 11, 2013 4:08 PM

  WASHINGTON - Within a few months, U.S. troops in Afghanistan will be shifting to a support role, letting Afghanistan's own troops take the lead in providing for the security of their country. The accelerated timetable was announced today by President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai after a meeting... more »

• Pilots approve new contract with American Airlines

  December 7, 2012 1:34 PM

  DALLAS - Pilots at American Airlines are approving a new labor contract, which could clear the way for consideration of a merger with US Airways. The pilots' union announced the results Friday. Pilots rejected a similar offer in August, but union leaders lobbied hard for passage the second time around.... more »

• Obama: No fiscal cliff deal without higher rates

  December 4, 2012 12:35 PM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says there will be no deal to avert the "fiscal cliff" unless Republicans drop their opposition to raising tax rates on the wealthiest Americans. However, Obama is signaling flexibility on where the rates eventually wind up. Obama says he knows he won't get everything that... more »

• Ibanez homers twice, Yanks sting O's in 12th

  October 11, 2012 10:27 AM

  NEW YORK - Raul Ibanez lined a ninth-inning home run while pinch hitting for slumping Alex Rodriguez, then hit a leadoff homer in the 12th, giving the New York Yankees a stunning 3-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night for a 2-1 lead in their AL division series.... more »

• AA says it knows why seats came loose on planes

  October 4, 2012 5:42 PM

  FORT WORTH, Texas - American Airlines has canceled dozens of flights as it scrambles to fix seats that could pop loose during flight. The airline said Thursday that it has come up with a fix, and it began pulling planes out of service to make repairs. Airline officials say the... more »

• American says installation job caused seat snafu

  October 2, 2012 4:11 PM

  DALLAS - American Airlines says improperly installed clamps caused seats to come loose on some planes, and it's expanding an inspection to cover dozens of jets. In the past week, rows of seats have come loose on three separate flights, two of which made emergency landings. American said Tuesday the... more »

• Poll shows Americans' pessimism on economy growing

  May 10, 2012 4:25 PM

  WASHINGTON - A gloomy outlook on the economy extends across party lines, a new Associated Press-GfK poll has found, and handling the nation's economy remains President Barack Obama's biggest challenge in his bid for a second term. Almost two-thirds of Americans disapprove of the president's handling of gas prices, a... more »

• Baseball hits "American Idol" star in throat

  April 23, 2012 3:34 PM

  GARNER, N.C. - "American Idol" champion Scotty McCreery didn't get the win while pitching for Garner High School in his latest outing, but he apparently came away unscathed after a scary moment on the mound. The country music sensation was pitching in the third inning against East Wake High School... more »

• Dick Clark dead at 82; Pat Shingleton recalls meeting TV legend Play Video

  April 18, 2012 2:49 PM

  LOS ANGELES - A man who became known as the nation's "oldest teenager" during a television career of more than 60 years has died. Dick Clark was 82. A spokesman says he had a heart attack this morning at a hospital in Santa Monica, Calif., where he had gone yesterday... more »

• Roemer goes Independent

  February 22, 2012 10:43 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer is giving up his attempt to win the Republican nomination for president. But he's no giving up his bid for the White House. Roemer announced today that he is leaving the GOP after his dismal performances in the states that... more »

• American Airlines seeks 20 percent cut in labor costs

  February 1, 2012 2:35 PM

  DALLAS - American Airlines wants to cut labor costs by 20 percent, a move likely to include the loss of thousands of jobs at the nation's third-biggest airline. American is expected to say later Wednesday how many jobs it wants to eliminate, but a 20 percent cut in labor costs... more »

• Iran sentences American man to death in CIA case

  January 9, 2012 7:00 AM

  TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran's state radio says a court has convicted an American man of working for the CIA and sentenced him to death. Monday's report said Amir Mirzaei Hekmati was also convicted of trying to accuse Iran of involvement in terrorism. The report did not say when the... more »

• Report says LSU violated academic freedom

  August 1, 2011 11:35 AM

  BATON ROUGE - It carries no penalty, but a report from the American Association of University Professors still takes a hard swipe at Louisiana State University. The organization says LSU violated the academic freedom of coastal researcher Ivor van Heerden, according to a report issued Monday by the organization... more »

• Toyota to return to full North American production in Sept.

  June 16, 2011 2:31 PM

  ERLANGER, Ky. - Toyota says it expects to return to full North American production in September. The Japanese automaker says production is recovering faster than expected after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Eight of Toyota's 12 North American-built models returned to full production June 6.... more »

• Officials: 5 US troops killed by rocket

  June 6, 2011 5:26 AM

  BAGHDAD- Iraqi security officials say that a rocket attack has killed five American troops in Iraq. Two Iraqi security officials say a barrage of at least three rockets hit an Iraqi base in eastern Baghdad on Monday morning and killed the five American troops. Earlier, the U.S. military said in... more »

• Protest over flag burning stopped by LSU Police, crowds

  May 11, 2011 2:26 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A planned protest at LSU where an American flag was reportedly going to be burned was stopped by LSU Police after large crowds grew combative with the demonstrator. Benjamin Haas was escorted away by police after crowds on the LSU Parade Ground threw water balloons and... more »

• LSU PD: Student accused in flag burning surrenders

  May 5, 2011 3:15 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The LSU student accused of burning the school's American flag and damaging the campus War Memorial has surrendered to theft and arson charges, according to university police. Sgt. Blake Tabor with LSU Police said Isaac Eslava, 23, turned himself in earlier today at the suggestion of... more »

• American flag found burned on LSU campus

  May 2, 2011 10:55 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Police at LSU are investigating the burning of the school's American flag that flew over the parade ground early this morning. LSU spokesperson Ernie Ballard said police were called to the parade ground around 5:15 a.m., and found the American flag had been cut down and... more »

• Fireman sets up American flag service fundraiser

  April 26, 2011 5:44 PM

  GONZALES, La.- A firefighter hopes to do more for his community than battle flames. Gonzales firefighter Nathan Joos wants American flags in front yards on several holidays. It's a tradition Joos enjoyed when he was growing up in Utah. "It was beautiful, when the holidays would hit, seeing flags... more »

• Oil Drives Airfares Up

  February 24, 2011 7:19 PM

  Airfares are taking off again and passengers should brace for more price increases due to the rising cost of jet fuel. The price of fuel is surging because of the spike in oil prices due to unrest in Libya and the Middle East. United and Continental started the latest price... more »

• Annual powwow begins at Lamar-Dixon Expo Center

  November 27, 2010 2:01 PM

  GONZALES – Members of Native American tribes across the state gathered to kick off their annual celebration of traditional arts and culture today in Gonzales. The Louisiana Indian Heritage Association is putting on its 44th Fall Powwow at the center this weekend. The event includes traditional dancing, crafts and demonstrations,... more »

• Senate approves $4.6B for black farmers, Indians

  November 19, 2010 3:44 PM

  WASHINGTON - The Senate has approved almost $4.6 billion to settle longstanding claims brought by American Indians and black farmers against the government. The money has been held up for months in the Senate as Democrats and Republicans squabbled over how to pay for it. Both of the class action... more »

• Justice Department sues three major credit card companies

  October 4, 2010 2:33 PM

  The Justice Department is suing credit card companies American Express, Visa and MasterCard for anticompetitive practices. The lawsuit says the card companies are impeding merchants from promoting the use of competing credit or charge cards with lower acceptance fees. In papers filed in federal court in Brooklyn, the department and... more »

• American woman held in Iran for year arrives in US

  September 19, 2010 9:55 AM

  An American woman who was held in Iran for more than 13 months and accused of spying returned Sunday to the United States. Sarah Shourd arrived at around 6:30 a.m. at Dulles International Airport near Washington, accompanied by her mother and an uncle, according to a statement released by her... more »

• Iran state TV says US woman freed from prison

  September 14, 2010 7:14 AM

  Iran's English language state television has reported that American Sarah Shourd has been released after more than a year in prison. "Iran has released US national Sarah Shourd," flashed the red colored urgent banner on Press TV Tuesday. Shourd, 32, together with two other Americans were apprehended by Iranian security... more »

• US commander says burning Qur'an may endanger troops

  September 7, 2010 1:16 PM

  The leader of a small evangelical Christian church in Florida says he's taking seriously the warning from the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, who says the church's planned burning of a Qur'an on the anniversary of 9/11 could endanger Americans worldwide. But Terry Jones also defended the... more »

• Bin Laden hunter arrives back in Colorado

  June 24, 2010 8:50 AM

  An American who traveled to Pakistan to track down Osama Bin Laden but wound up getting detained by authorities is back home in Colorado. Gary Faulkner arrived at the Denver airport and told reporters that he was feeling good but was looking forward to taking a nap. Faulkner had been... more »

• USA goalkeeper Tim Howard injured

  June 13, 2010 5:51 PM

  USA goalkeeper Tim Howard suffered several broken ribs Saturday afternoon during his World Cup debut. The 31 year-old's ribs were evaluated again Sunday, but he is expected to play in USA's next match set for Friday against Slovenia. Howard is highly regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in... more »

• American held in Iran says loneliness hardest part

  May 20, 2010 9:14 AM

  One of three Americans jailed in Iran says the loneliness of captivity is the hardest part in the first public comments from the trio since their arrest in July. Sarah Shourd told reporters today that their treatment has been "decent," but "it's really difficult being alone." She said Shane Bauer... more »

• Nagin to testify before House committee

  March 4, 2010 4:52 AM

  New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin is in Washington D.C. to testify before Congress about the effect of disasters on American cities. Nagin will be one of several people testifying at a House subcommittee hearing that deals with emergency management. Nagin is the chairman of a U.S. Conference of Mayors task... more »