Tagged News

• Multiple attempts to pay late daughter's bill go unaddressed by furniture company, fees accrue Play Video

  March 19, 2024 5:37 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A mom is trying to settle the debt of her daughter who died last year. There's one bill from a furniture company that will not go away. After exhausting her options, she called 2 On Your Side. Barbara Narcisse's daughter, Sheena Daniels, died last August from... more »

• Continuance granted in legislator-councilman contempt hearing; case drags on

  May 9, 2023 4:19 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A lawyer-legislator backing a bill that would change the power of the legislative continuance has been granted just that - a continuance in a case that's been dragging on for nearly two years. Rep. Edmond Jordan represents Metro councilman Cleve Dunn who's involved in a property... more »

• Bill suggests changes to legislative continuance, some question constitutional validity Play Video

  April 17, 2023 4:33 PM

  BATON ROUGE - State Representative Edmond Jordan has filed a bill to change the power of a lawyer-legislator when it comes to submitting court continuances. One Baton Rouge attorney tells 2 On Your Side that House Bill 544 is not constitutional. Last year, a similar bill was filed (HB644)... more »

• Utility overcharge corrected, more lighting provided in bill fix Play Video

  March 29, 2023 3:00 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A business owner is in a much better position after reaching out to 2 On Your Side for help with her Entergy bill. Dorothy Holdon asked for help after she couldn't find a resolution on her own. "Within a couple of days they were out installing... more »

• Even with solar panels, electric bill still through the roof Play Video

  January 18, 2023 3:51 PM

  BATON ROUGE - One woman who has recently invested a lot into her home to make it more energy-efficient, says her electric bill is the highest it's ever been. Dayne Narretta says she's had her home tested for drafts, recently got new ductwork, new windows, and three years ago... more »

• Senate committee greenlights bill targeting transgender athletes

  April 7, 2022 5:29 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Senate Education Committee advanced a bill Thursday that would prohibit transgender athletes from competing in accordance with their gender identity. Senate Bill 44, sponsored by Sen. Beth Mizell, R-Franklinton, is dubbed the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.” The bill requires athletes from the elementary through... more »

• Woman pays wrong electric bill for whole year; DEMCO confirms mix-up Play Video

  February 25, 2022 3:43 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Crystal Taylor learned last week that she's been paying someone else's bill for the last year. The mix-up has her concerned, and she contacted 2 On Your Side for help. "I'm getting billed for someone else's usage," said Taylor. It all came to light last... more »

• Hospital bill sent to collections, resolved following call to 2 On Your Side Play Video

  February 24, 2022 2:58 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Two years ago, Anne Hibbard's son was bit by a black widow spider, and it set off a storm of events that finally came to a head last week. "It's a two-year nightmare," Hibbard said. Hibbard adopted her now 20-year-old son when he was 2.... more »

• Outrageous subdivision light bill adjusted following call to 2 On Your Side Play Video

  January 13, 2022 2:32 PM

  BATON ROUGE - An HOA president got a shocking bill in the mail a couple of months ago, and it took a call to 2 On Your Side to get it fixed. Tracey Kelleher has been the HOA president of the Woodland Ridge subdivision for the past six years.... more »

• Summer sizzle felt in the form of utility bills, DEMCO explains Play Video

  July 23, 2021 5:51 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Some people are fired up after their utility bills doubled compared to last month. DEMCO customers sounded off on Facebook about what's happening and called 2 On Your Side for help. This month, DEMCO customers received bills in the mail with a different look and different... more »

• Neighborhood overrun by mob of ducks Play Video

  June 28, 2021 7:18 PM

  UPDATE: Residents say the ducks will be relocated later this week. See the full, updated story here: https://www.wbrz.com/news/quackdown-neighborhood-invaded-by-ducks-will-have-them-relocated ------ BATON ROUGE – A neighborhood in Baton Rouge is dealing with a literal sitting duck problem. A pair of ducks turned into more than 60 that have taken over... more »

• Juneteenth signed into Louisiana law as state holiday

  June 11, 2021 7:42 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Governor John Bel Edwards signed a bill Thursday declaring Juneteenth a state holiday. The bill passed unanimously in both the House and the Senate. Juneteenth is observed on June 19, but the bill does not go into effect until the beginning of August. Juneteenth is the... more »

• Major sticker shock for electric customer faced with $5,000 bill Play Video

  May 7, 2021 6:00 PM

  UPDATE: Entergy contacted Pope after the 2 On Your Side story aired and said it is correcting the billing error. The company told Pope it's looking into how the bill went out with the mistake and how it can better flag such errors. Read the original story below. ... more »

• Special auditor to review Entergy smart meters after Brittany Weiss On Your Side Investigation Play Video

  April 7, 2021 6:16 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Amid a series of WBRZ 2 On Your Side reports, state regulators said Wednesday, they will hire a special investigator to review Entergy smart meters. The Public Service Commission is spearheading the investigation and hopes to have the investigator hired soon. Complaints about the meters have... more »

• Large DEMCO bill received at uninhabited house, property owner shocked Play Video

  April 6, 2021 6:15 PM

  BAKER - A man has sticker shock after receiving a large electric bill in the mail. The homeowner is puzzled since he hasn't lived in the house since the 2016 flood. It's a mystery that Albert Rutherford can't seem to solve. "I don't have a hot water heater,... more »

• Bill would mandate La. colleges fire employees who fail to report sexual misconduct

  April 1, 2021 7:44 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Following LSU's Title IX scandal , a legislative proposal seeks to increase transparency and tighten sexual violence accountability in colleges statewide. The bill , filed by Rep. Aimee Freeman, says colleges must fire employees who fail to comply with reporting requirements for sexual misconduct involving students.... more »

• Winter storm Uri could affect your utility bill Play Video

  March 10, 2021 3:23 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The effects of winter storm Uri aren't over yet. Utility customers should be expecting higher than normal bills from February. The week of the record freeze, homes were working overtime to circulate heat. "Don't be surprised at larger kilowatt-hour usage," said David Latona with DEMCO. ... more »

• Oversight board wants independent investigation into Entergy's new meters, surging power bills Play Video

  February 26, 2021 1:11 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's Public Service Commission is asking for a third-party investigation into Entergy's new smart meters after customers reported pricey spikes in their electricity bills . The commission's call for an independent investigator comes as Entergy is still conducting its own investigation into the meters. Last month,... more »

• More Entergy customers complain about high bills following meter switch Play Video

  January 28, 2021 6:51 PM

  WALKER - Ever since Willie Mae Hall was laid off from her job in July, her routine at home has been the same. "It's nothing different than we have done in the last couple of months," Hall said. Thursday morning, Hall met 2 On Your Side's Brittany Weiss... more »

• House takes initial step in attempt to curb Governor Edwards' power amid pandemic

  October 2, 2020 12:15 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Republican lawmakers, outspokenly dissatisfied with Governor John Bel Edwards' handling of the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic, took the first step towards enacting a law that would limit the Governor's power during the pandemic on Friday. Associated Press reporter, Melinda Deslatte tweeted that during a... more »

• State Capitol visitors will be screened for COVID-19 before entering

  March 14, 2020 4:57 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Anyone with plans on entering the state capitol will be screened for the coroanvirus starting March 16th. According to an email sent from the Senate Office of Communication and House Communications Office, the Louisiana State Legislature is taking precautions to complete its business during the 2020... more »

• Bill cracking down on drunk driving pulled from house floor Play Video

  May 16, 2019 7:35 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A bill that would prevent drunk drivers from reoffending was pulled off the house floor Thursday afternoon. Marcella Charles lost her husband in a drunk driving crash. She hopes that the legislature will make changes to save lives through this bill. "On this journey, I'm doing... more »

• Bill aims to crack down on drunk drivers Play Video

  May 5, 2019 10:37 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A bill that sailed through a house committee last week will make it harder for drunk drivers to re-offend if it becomes law. The law closes a loophole that would require all first-time offenders to have an ignition interlock device. Currently, not all first-time offenders have to get... more »

• Bill to further protect elderly from telemarketers passes House Play Video

  April 24, 2019 6:28 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A bill aimed at fining telemarketers or scammers using a phone, email, or text message to target potential victims passed unanimously at the legislative session Wednesday. It will add more protections for people 65-years and older and/or disabled. It's a story heard often, someone is... more »

• Senator Bill Cassidy announces FEMA will resume sales of flood insurance

  December 28, 2018 7:03 PM

  BATON ROUGE - U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy announced Friday that FEMA will resume sales of new flood insurance policies. Cassidy says the agency will reverse its decision to suspend sales of new flood insurance policies during the partial government shutdown. Officials say policies in effect on or before... more »

• Frustrated DEMCO customer pays entire utility bill in nickels Play Video

  September 27, 2018 7:19 PM

  DENHAM SPRINGS- A man so frustrated with the state's largest electric cooperative paid his $200 dollar utility bill in nickels Thursday. Matthew Leeth claims DEMCO threatened to turn off his power recently after he didn't pay his bill. Leeth said he provided DEMCO with a receipt from a third party... more »

• NEW: City-parish withholding payment to architect over downtown library issues Play Video

  July 10, 2018 12:40 PM

  BATON ROUGE – The city-parish is withholding as much as $345,000 from the architects leading the construction project of the new downtown library as a special team of engineers look into the cause of a perceived structural design failure earlier this year. The city said it is holding payment... more »

• Energy-saving program can save customers money too Play Video

  June 22, 2018 4:47 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A program offered to Entergy users is saving some customers a large chunk of change. The program, Entergy Solutions, is offered to Entergy customers at no additional charge. Pat Thomas lives off Millerville Road and participated in the program in 2016. Since she says she's saved... more »

• 'Max Gruver Act' to be signed into law this week Play Video

  May 28, 2018 4:44 AM

  BATON ROUGE - House Bill 78, better known as the 'Max Gruver Act', which toughens criminal penalties for hazing, is set to become law later this week. Representative Nancy Landry filed the bill in February after being approached by constituents as well as Gruver's parents. "We really need... more »

• Entergy addresses woman's electricity bill woes after 2 On Your Side report Play Video

  March 23, 2018 6:43 PM

  UPDATE: Entergy tells 2 On Your Side’s Brittany Weiss that there has been a resolution for Sybil Jordan. It thanks WBRZ for bringing her matter to Entergy’s attention. Jordan tells 2 On Your Side’s Brittany Weiss that Entergy called to apologize and took off the $2,200 charge transferred to... more »

• Underground leak causes enormous water bill Play Video

  January 9, 2018 6:40 PM

  PRAIRIEVILLE - A man says he was shocked when he opened his mail Monday. A bill that's normally just a few bucks grew by about 75 times what it normally is. "I can't pay a bill like that," said James McCasland. Being on a fixed income, McCasland has... more »

• Pesky dispute between customer and Terminix resolved Play Video

  December 7, 2017 5:53 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A woman who hired Terminix to take care of some pests is facing a large bill she says she shouldn't have to pay. Bernice Lodge has been disputing the bill since June. It's a $1,700 charge to her Discover card from Terminix. Lodge says she hired... more »

• Lawmaker delays vote on Louisiana gas tax hike

  May 24, 2017 10:23 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A Louisiana lawmaker pushing to increase Louisiana's gas tax is urging his House colleagues to consider the proposal, which so far doesn't have enough votes to win passage. Republican Rep. Steve Carter, of Baton Rouge, delayed a scheduled vote on the tax hike bill until next week.... more »

• House votes to increase TOPS GPA requirement

  May 23, 2017 7:44 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Lousiana House of Representatives has voted in favor of a bill that would raise the required grade point average for students looking to earn the TOPS scholarship. The house voted 53-32 in favor of the Bill 117, which would increase the GPA required for students... more »

• Home owner burned on solar panel investment Play Video

  May 22, 2017 6:33 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A promise of big savings on his electric bill convinced a man to make an investment into solar power, only to be burned when tax rebates never materialized. Frank Masanz purchased solar panels for his home in 2015 when a salesman with Global Efficient Energy knocked... more »

• House passes bill to protect Confederate monuments

  May 15, 2017 7:25 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana House of Representatives has passed a bill that aims to protect the state's confederate monuments. The house voted on Bill No. 71 Monday afternoon. The bill, which "provides for the conservation of public military memorials," was passed with a 65-31 vote. Shreveport Representative... more »

• Lt. Governor denies accusations from former museum manager Play Video

  April 11, 2017 9:10 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser denied allegations Tuesday that he misused his power. The accusations came from Nungesser's former museum manager, Timothy Chester. Chester shot off a scathing accusation letter this week, one he says he's never had to write in decades of museum work. "Everything... more »

• What are locals saying about the failed health care bill? Play Video

  March 24, 2017 7:07 PM

  BATON ROUGE – The debate over the future of health care is not over across the country and in Louisiana following the abrupt pull of the GOP health care bill. Some in Louisiana now have health care because of the Obamacare, however on the other hand, many small businesses... more »

• Zachary residents receiving late notices for water bills but no bill Play Video

  January 30, 2017 6:15 PM

  ZACHARY – Some Zachary residents are receiving yellow notices on their mailboxes claiming that their water bill is late, however no bill shows up. For resident Rolando Williams, the amount for his bill fluctuates from $130 to $180 or even $250. However Williams says that sometimes he doesn't even... more »

• Post-flood water bill flooding woman with debt Play Video

  January 17, 2017 6:40 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A flood victim owes hundreds of dollars to the Baton Rouge Water Company. Cotrina Burton's home flooded in August. It wasn't until she planned to move into her new home did she notice a problem with her bills. She owes the water company about $800.... more »

• Sheriff warns Assumption residents about Entergy bill scam

  December 30, 2016 12:40 PM

  ASSUMPTION – The Assumption Parish Sheriff's Office is warning residents about a scam that is targeting Entergy customers. The sheriff's office has received complaints about residents being directed to particular businesses to buy "Green Dot" money cards to pay delinquent Entergy bills. Residents are then told to scratch the... more »

• Property bills in EBR available soon, due January 31st Play Video

  December 8, 2016 6:37 PM

  BATON ROUGE - If you live in East Baton Rouge Parish, you might have noticed your property bills are late. Assessor Brian Wilson assures the bills are on their way, but they're late because about 41,000 homes had to be reassessed following the flood "We had to go... more »

• Nov. 18 last day for flood victims to receive tax reduction in Livingston Parish Play Video

  November 18, 2016 7:09 PM

  LIVINGSTON – Friday was the last day for owners of flood damaged property to get a tax break on their Livingston Parish tax bill. If flood victims showed their proof of damage, they could get a 20 percent property tax reduction. One property owner, Sonya Beadle, said that... more »

• AT&T customer billed for flooded equipment Play Video

  November 16, 2016 6:14 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Some AT&T customers say they have received bills in the mail for their flooded equipment. Becky Nissen's AT&T equipment was submerged in August. She got a bill in the mail Monday for $633. "They should have some compassion, my son has had to start over... more »

• Large cable bill broken down, adjusted for Cox customer Play Video

  November 10, 2016 6:16 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A Baton Rouge man says he's learned a lesson and he'll double check his bills from now on. Doug Haynesworth says he discovered he was billed $713.29 from Cox Communications for the month of September, but didn't notice it until he checked his bank statement. ... more »

• Entergy reminds customers of utility bill scam

  November 9, 2016 2:20 PM

  BATON ROUGE – Entergy is reminding its customers to watch out for a utility bill scam. According to Entergy officials, the scam occurs when someone calls and says that a customer's electric bill payment is past due and that service will be disconnected if a payment is not made.... more »

• Error increased man's power bill; DEMCO inspecting meters Play Video

  October 11, 2016 6:48 PM

  ZACHARY - While many have noticed higher utility bills in September and October since usage was estimated when meter readers could not access properties during the flood in August, one man in Zachary said an error caused his to increase by 30%. Ty Meloncon told 2 On Your Side... more »

• Family moves out of flooded apartment complex, management says they owe Play Video

  October 4, 2016 6:07 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A family is at odds with their landlord since they don't feel it's safe to live in their second floor apartment after the ones below flooded. Right now, the Ole London Town Apartments off O'Neal near I-12 is holding the family to the lease agreement, which... more »

• New law will crack down on puppy mill sales

  June 23, 2016 11:13 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. John Bel Edwards has signed a bill into law that will crack down on pet stores that acquire dogs from puppy mills. The new law will prohibit pet stores in Louisiana from acquiring dogs and cats from breeders with documented Animal Welfare Act violations within... more »

• Bill to ease gun permit process for abuse victims Play Video

  May 24, 2016 7:58 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Receiving a concealed gun permit could get easier for domestic violence abuse victims. Ascension Parish Sheriff Jeff Wiley recommended that domestic abuse victims should get a concealed gun permit for protection. "Go get a concealed weapon permit, get a gun learn how to use it. Find a safe... more »

• House passes bill expanding use of cannabis oil, heads back to Senate

  May 11, 2016 8:49 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The State House of Representatives approved a bill that would expand the legal use of cannabis oil. The bill now heads back to the Senate. Lawmakers made cannabis oil legal in 2015 but only for certain diseases. There has been a push this session to expand... more »

• Edwards reaches education compromise after series of failures Play Video

  May 5, 2016 7:28 PM

  BATON ROUGE- School reform advocates, business groups and teacher unions all came to compromise Thursday at the state Capitol over teacher evaluations. The Senate Education Committee passed a bill that will slightly reduce the effect of student test scores on a teacher’s performance. Currently high test scores can earn teachers... more »

• Parking the 'wrong' way could soon be allowed Play Video

  March 31, 2016 9:51 PM

  BATON ROUGE - It's illegal to parallel park facing on-coming traffic, but a bill making its way through the state legislature would change that. Current law requires vehicles to park within 18 inches of the curb with the right side of the vehicle, parallel to the curb. The bill... more »

• Budget, taxes and baseball: This week at the Capitol Play Video

  February 23, 2016 12:55 AM

  BATON ROUGE - While most bills filed this session deal with raising taxes, cutting incentives or trimming departmental budgets, the State House of Representatives is expected to take up a bill that would sweeten Louisiana's bid to host the SEC Baseball Tournament in New Orleans. The bill would ammend an... more »

• Officers thank waitress for paying their ticket Play Video

  September 4, 2015 5:53 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Three police officers who were gifted a free lunch got to publicly thank the waitress who paid their bill Friday. Cpls. Brandon Blust, Fredrick Thorton and Dustin Conde reunited with Crystal Gordon on WBRZ News 2 at 4 p.m. Gordon paid the three Baton Rouge... more »

• Taxpayer dollars paying for free rides out of town for homeless Play Video

  August 2, 2013 10:46 PM

  BATON ROUGE - One city is footing the bill for its homeless to take one way trips to places like Los Angeles and Tulsa. The Way Home program started through private funding and gave 75 vagrants tickets out of town. But recently, Baton Rouge Metro Council gave the... more »