WBRZ - Baton Rouge

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• Jindal won't seek legislative backing on LSU deals

  April 18, 2013 1:19 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal says he won't seek legislative approval of his administration's LSU hospital privatization agreements, though both the House and Senate have voted that they want such decision-making authority. Jindal said Thursday that he believes the legislative resolutions that have received support in the House and... more »

• Woman threatens Gov. Jindal by crashing car into mansion gate Play Video

  March 27, 2013 10:36 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana State Police arrested a woman accused of using her car as a battering ram and smashing it into security gates at the (new) Governor's Mansion in Baton Rouge. According to arrest records, on March 8th at 5:41 pm, Cheryl Aljuwani, 51, crashed her car into... more »

• Lawsuit against Jindal considered over reef money

  March 13, 2013 9:52 AM

  BATON ROUGE- Gov. Bobby Jindal's appointees on the state's wildlife and fisheries regulatory panel are threatening to sue the Jindal administration. At issue is Jindal's continuing diversions of millions of dollars donated by oil companies to turn old drilling rigs into artificial reefs to instead pay for other items across... more »

• Jindal not visiting sinkhole, will meet with officials

  March 8, 2013 11:27 AM

  BAYOU CORNE - Gov. Jindal will not visit the Bayou Corne sinkhole next week, according to his press secretary. Sean Lansing said Friday that Jindal is scheduled to meet with officials from Assumption Parish and state agency directors on Monday to see what more can be done for people... more »

• Gov. planning meeting on sinkhole

  March 7, 2013 9:43 PM

  BAYOU CORNE- Leaders in Assumption Parish are working on the final details to secure a meeting with Gov. Bobby Jindal. He has not visited the site of a giant sinkhole since it developed in August, and the people who live near it want him to see it. Leaders... more »

• Governor Jindal responds to Treasurer on budget Play Video

  March 4, 2013 10:20 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Governor Jindal used a statement to respond to Treasurer John Kennedy's rebuff of the state's budget. You can see the entire statement here: Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols said: "We appreciate the Treasurer's opinion, but given his long track record of half-baked gimmicks and his... more »

• Jindal seeks release for nonviolent drug offenders

  February 15, 2013 12:52 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal wants to let some nonviolent drug offenders out of prison early if they complete an intensive treatment program. The governor says he believes his proposal would reduce the likelihood prisoners would end up back in jail, and also cut prison operating costs. The measure... more »

• Governor talks tax plan, doesn't elaborate Play Video

  February 14, 2013 10:07 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Governor Bobby Jindal talked about his plan to cut state income taxes Thursday, but didn't elaborate on specific details. Jindal plans to have a proposal ready for the upcoming annual meeting of lawmakers in Louisiana. He said while there is no concrete plan yet, he has... more »

• Couple gets hitched in hospital on Valentine's Day Play Video

  February 14, 2013 5:40 PM

  BATON ROUGE - One couple literally tied the knot through sickness and health on this Valentine's Day. When Green Beardon fell ill yesterday, one day before he was to wed his fiance Javonda Gibson, they called justice of the peace Moses Evans, Jr. "Hey, I feel like 9-1-1,"... more »

• Health care budget cuts begin this week

  January 28, 2013 5:57 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The state's Medicaid hospice care received a last-minute reprieve from shutdown, but Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration is moving ahead with other health care cuts this week. Slated for elimination are programs that provide behavioral health intervention services for at-risk children and that pay for at-home visits by... more »

• GOP turns to governors in post-2012 review

  January 25, 2013 1:06 PM

  GOP turns to governors in post-2012 review Eds: APNewsNow. Will be updated. KEN THOMAS Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Looking for a new direction, many Republicans are turning to the states for ideas on how to come back from their 2012 election defeat. Republicans are promoting the tax and... more »

• Gov. Jindal announces new executive counsel

  January 18, 2013 4:36 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The top lawyer for Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration has resigned from the job after only three months. The governor's office gave no reason Friday for Gary Graphia's decision to leave the position of executive counsel that he took in October. Instead, Jindal simply announced his replacement while... more »

• Gov. Jindal names new press secretary

  January 11, 2013 5:42 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal has recruited his latest press secretary from Wisconsin. Jindal announced Friday that he's hired Sean Lansing for the $65,000-a-year position. The move comes as the Republican governor has started unveiling proposals to rewrite Louisiana's tax code and ramping up efforts to sell the ideas... more »

• Budget cuts hit domestic violence programs

  January 4, 2013 11:35 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La.- Gov. Bobby Jindal's latest round of budget cuts are falling on shelters that take in battered women and other domestic violence prevention providers. The reductions were made to help close a $166 million midyear budget deficit. The Advocate reports that funding for family violence prevention and intervention... more »

• Top Jindal aides use personal email to strategize

  December 10, 2012 9:30 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Top officials in Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration used personal email accounts to craft a media strategy for cutting Medicaid - a method of communication that can make it more difficult to track under public records laws. Jindal, now in his second term, has become a... more »

• AG refuses to enter debate over budget tactics

  December 5, 2012 10:22 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Attorney General Buddy Caldwell's office isn't lodging an opinion about whether Gov. Bobby Jindal's budgeting tactics are in line with the state constitution. A letter was sent this week to Republican Rep. Kirk Talbot declining to rule on his question of whether the state budget uses unconstitutional... more »

• Judge rules voucher law conflicts with deseg order

  November 26, 2012 3:14 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A New Orleans-based federal judge has halted Gov. Bobby Jindal's voucher program in Tangipahoa Parish, saying it conflicts with a decades-old desegregation case. U.S. District Judge Ivan Lemelle ruled Monday that a series of sweeping education changes pushed by Jindal clash with court orders in the 47-year-old... more »

• Governor continues to take party to task

  November 15, 2012 10:38 PM

  Baton Rouge - The governor has been all over national media outlets with his take on what the Republican Party has to do to regain the trust of the American people. In interview with Politco just this week Governor Bobby Jindal challenged standard tenants of the republican party with quotes... more »

• Jindal on the road for GOP events Play Video

  October 25, 2012 10:11 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal is expected to return to Louisiana on Thursday after hitting the road again for Republican candidates and groups. Jindal's office said the Louisiana governor traveled to Iowa on Wednesday for a Mitt Romney presidential campaign event, followed by a speech at a Republican Party... more »

• Jindal on the road in Iowa, Florida for GOP events

  October 24, 2012 5:05 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal is on the road again for Republican candidates and groups. Jindal's office said the Louisiana governor traveled to Iowa on Wednesday for a Mitt Romney presidential campaign event, followed by a speech to the Scott County Republican Party's Ronald Reagan Dinner. A day later,... more »

• Vote delayed on Jindal health privatization plan

  October 18, 2012 6:52 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Lawmakers have scrapped a planned Thursday vote on Gov. Bobby Jindal's plan to hire a private company to manage a state employee health insurance plan. The delay, announced a day before the scheduled hearing, has prompted claims the Jindal administration didn't have enough votes from the... more »

• Jindal to campaign for Romney in Virginia

  October 10, 2012 9:34 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal is spending Wednesday in Virginia, campaigning for Republican Mitt Romney's presidential bid. A schedule put out by the Romney campaign says Jindal will join Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell for three campaign stops throughout the day, to rally Romney supporters. The Louisiana governor's... more »

• Jindal, Christie tapped to lead GOP governors

  October 8, 2012 2:48 PM

  WASHINGTON - Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have been tapped to lead the Republican Governors Association. Both are Republican rising stars considered likely White House contenders in 2016 if Mitt Romney loses in November. Jindal will chair the group next year, with Wisconsin... more »

• Kennedy: Tax credit cost La. millions more Play Video

  September 25, 2012 5:52 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A controversial alternative fuel tax credit could cost Louisiana about $24 million dollars, according to State Treasurer John Kennedy. Earlier estimates from the 2,500 filed claims put the cost at around $7.5 million, but Kennedy says it could wind up being much higher. Former revenue secretary... more »

• Gov. Jindal on the road much of this week

  September 24, 2012 4:06 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal is traveling around the country much of this week for Republican causes. The governor's office says Jindal headed to Atlanta on Monday and Tuesday for Republican Governors Association events. On Wednesday, Jindal's office says the governor will be in Iowa for a campaign bus... more »

• Romney arrives in Louisiana for storm visit

  August 31, 2012 12:31 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has arrived in Louisiana to survey damage from the storm Isaac. Friday's trip was his first stop after closing the Republican National Convention in Florida a night earlier. The former Massachusetts governor was expected to visit an emergency command center in Lafitte,... more »

• Jindal warns locals to leave even if dam no threat

  August 30, 2012 4:40 PM

  AMITE - Gov. Bobby Jindal says even if crews are successful in conducting an intentional breach of an endangered dam threatening a state park in southwest Mississippi, Louisiana locals near the structure should still heed warnings to evacuate. A lake bordering Tangipahoa Parish could burst through a locally operated dam.... more »

• Lawsuit filed against new state retirement plan

  August 16, 2012 11:34 AM

  BATON ROUGE- An organization representing Louisiana's retired state employees is challenging Gov. Bobby Jindal's new pension plan for future rank-and-file state workers. The Retired State Employees Association of Louisiana claims the law, passed earlier this year, is unconstitutional because it didn't get a two-thirds vote in the state House of... more »

• Former Jindal cabinet secretary running for PSC

  August 9, 2012 3:29 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal's former natural resources secretary, who resigned from his cabinet position this week, is running for the Public Service Commission, the state's utility regulatory board. Scott Angelle, a Republican from Breaux Bridge, announced his candidacy Thursday, a day after he left the Department of Natural... more »

• Evacuation shelter opens 8a.m. Saturday after sinkhole forces people out Play Video

  August 4, 2012 9:57 AM

  BAYOU CORNE- Saturday morning, a shelter was set to open for the people who were evacuated from this area of Assumption Parish after a sinkhole developed Friday. The sinkhole, a bubbling phenomenon, and tremors may be caused by a failure in an inactive salt dome, or salt mining operation,... more »

• People living near sinkhole ordered to evacuate

  August 3, 2012 6:09 PM

  BAYOU CORNE - The Assumption Parish president called for people in the Bayou Corne community to evacuate tonight after a sinkhole formed in the area. Emergency preparedness officials said the evacuation affects about 100 homes in the Bayou Corne community from Highway 70 south. President Martin Triche told News... more »

• Jindal heading to Florida for Romney event

  July 27, 2012 4:26 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal is campaigning for Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney in Florida this weekend. The Romney campaign says Jindal will be in Coral Springs on Saturday to meet Romney supporters at the candidate's campaign office. The Louisiana governor is often mentioned as a potential vice presidential... more »

• Edwin Edwards still loves politics, talks about Jindal as VP Play Video

  July 17, 2012 10:33 PM

  GONZALES- The talk here Tuesday night was about politics. Some people were talking about Gov. Bobby Jindal being on a short list of candidates for Vice President, others about former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards who was signing books at the local library. "The Lord sent me some groceries,... more »

• New lawsuit filed against Jindal voucher program

  June 22, 2012 8:36 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Association of Educators boarded buses this morning on their way to file a lawsuit against Gov. Bobby Jindal's voucher program. The organization's leaders lodged their challenge against the education changes Friday in Baton Rouge district court. They object to the use of the state's public... more »

• More teachers filing suit to stop education changes Play Video

  June 21, 2012 3:27 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Teachers say new education laws touted by Governor Bobby Jindal do not support them, despite what Jindal's administration may say, and they're filing a lawsuit to stop the laws from going into effect. The Louisiana Association of Educators plan to file the suit tomorrow morning in... more »

• Livingston residents still support Juban Crossing Play Video

  June 18, 2012 5:37 PM

  DENHAM SPRINGS - Juban Crossing stores will begin opening next year, according to developer Stephen Keller, despite the recent veto of a bill that would help fund construction of the retail location. Governor Bobby Jindal last week vetoed a measure creating a new tax district around the site. Developers... more »

• Teachers union challenging new education laws

  June 7, 2012 10:32 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Federation of Teachers will hold a news conference at 11am in front of the 19th Judicial District Court in Downtown Baton Rouge to discuss a lawsuit to be filed against the state and Governor Bobby Jindal. It targets the administration's recently signed laws changing... more »

• La. Gov. Jindal campaigns for Wis. Gov. Walker

  May 24, 2012 5:00 PM

  WAUKESHA, Wis. - Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal says Wisconsin's recall election is being watched around the nation, but it ultimately comes down to whether Wisconsinites choose to retain their strong conservative leader. Jindal was in the Milwaukee suburb of Waukesha (WAH'-keh-shaw) on Thursday with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a fellow... more »

• Jindal signs private school tuition tax break

  May 8, 2012 6:53 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed into law a bill that creates a new tax break program that will give rebates for donations to voucher programs that allow students to attend private schools. Jindal says it will give children in failing public schools more opportunities to get an... more »

• Retirement, education and Juban Crossing on Capitol agendas

  April 30, 2012 9:06 AM

  BATON ROUGE- Lawmakers are scheduled to vote on another part of Governor Bobby Jindal's pension reform. The bill would base retirement on a state worker's last five years of employment instead of the current three year window. The House Education Committee is set to vote on a number... more »

• Jindal to attend school summit in New Jersey

  April 24, 2012 7:24 AM

  BATON ROUGE- Gov. Bobby Jindal will travel to New Jersey next week to speak to a pro-voucher group, only two weeks after the Louisiana governor signed a bill that creates a statewide voucher program that will use tax dollars to send children to private schools. The American Federation for Children... more »

• Jindal to sign voucher bill

  April 18, 2012 7:22 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A Catholic elementary school in Baton Rouge is the setting for Gov. Bobby Jindal as he signs legislation reshaping numerous aspects of public education in Louisiana, including a bill allowing the state to fund private school tuition for some students. Wednesday's bill signing ceremony takes place at... more »

• Jindal heading to New Mexico later this month

  April 17, 2012 6:52 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Secure in his second term, Gov. Bobby Jindal is continuing to help other Republican candidates and organizations with their fundraising efforts. Jindal is scheduled to attend an April 27 luncheon to raise dollars for the Republican Party of New Mexico. An invitation obtained by The... more »

• Jindal backs Mitt Romney for president

  April 10, 2012 5:40 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - With Rick Santorum exiting the presidential race, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has announced his support for expected Republican nominee Mitt Romney. Jindal issued a statement Tuesday that congratulated Romney "on winning a hard-fought race." The Republican Louisiana governor said, "I look forward to supporting him... more »

• Parents frustrated with bus cancellation Play Video

  March 14, 2012 5:02 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Nearly 650 students at St. George Catholic School in Baton Rouge had to find a different way to get to school Wednesday. The East Baton Rouge Parish School System buses they normally ride to get to class never ran Wednesday morning. That's because school system... more »

• WBRZ following the 2012 Louisiana Legislative Session

  March 12, 2012 10:07 AM

  BATON ROUGE- The 2012 Louisiana Legislative Session begins today. Governor Bobby Jindal is scheduled to speak at 1:00 p.m. The governor backs sweeping change as part of his education reform package for public schools. He also wants to change the retirement benefits for thousands of state workers. Many of... more »

• Lawmakers open hearings on Jindal budget

  March 6, 2012 11:50 AM

  BATON ROUGE- Lawmakers delving into the details of Gov. Bobby Jindal's $25.5 billion budget proposal questioned his plans to privatize more health services and to merge an elderly affairs office into the health department. The House Appropriations Committee opened its budget hearings Tuesday. It is combing through Jindal's spending proposals... more »

• Jindal campaigning for Perry in Iowa this week

  December 20, 2011 3:22 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal is in Iowa this week to help Texas Gov. Rick Perry's presidential campaign in the last push before the first-in-the-nation Jan. 3 caucuses. Jindal spokesman Frank Collins says the Louisiana governor will be campaigning Tuesday and Wednesday in Iowa for Perry, who... more »

• Jindal picks St. Tammany chief as emergency leader

  November 30, 2011 4:56 PM

  BATON ROUGE - St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis has been chosen by the governor to be in charge of Louisiana's emergency preparedness office. He will start as director of the Governor's Office on Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness on Dec. 9. Gov. Bobby Jindal's office announced the appointment... more »

• Jindal hires relatives of former chief of staff

  November 28, 2011 2:22 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal has hired the brother and brother-in-law of his former chief of staff, Timmy Teepell. Jindal tapped Matt Parker to become his intergovernmental affairs director and Taylor Teepell to be his deputy legislative affairs director. Parker, from Virginia, is brother-in-law to Timmy Teepell.... more »

• Jindal: Perry gaffe doesn't change his support

  November 10, 2011 3:36 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal said today that a flubbed debate answer by GOP presidential hopeful Rick Perry doesn't change Jindal's support for him. The Texas governor said during last night's debate that he would eliminate three federal agencies if elected, but could only name two of them,... more »

• Jindal casts ballot for Nov. 19 runoffs

  November 8, 2011 1:25 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's governor and his wife cast their ballots for the Nov. 19 runoff elections this morning. Bobby and Surpiya Jindal voted early at the East Baton Rouge Parish clerk's office. Statewide runoffs on the ballot include three Board of Elementary and Secondary Education positions, a... more »

• Scientists urge La. to protect netted sea turtles

  November 2, 2011 4:00 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Dozens of scientists are asking Gov. Bobby Jindal to scrap a 1987 law that bars state marine agents from enforcing federal rules requiring shrimpers to have special devices on their nets that allow ensnared sea turtles to swim to safety. On Wednesday, more than 60 scientists... more »

• Jindal has $6M in campaign account for final days

  October 12, 2011 1:02 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal spent more than $1.3 million on advertising over the last month, even as he faces no major competition to his re-election bid. In his latest campaign finance reports, Jindal shows more than $6 million remaining in his campaign account leading into the Oct.... more »

• Gov. orders flags to half-staff for archbishop

  October 4, 2011 1:55 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal has ordered flags at state buildings to be flown at half-staff Thursday, the day of the funeral of Archbishop Philip Hannan. Hannan died last week at age 98 and will be buried in religious ceremonies at St. Louis Cathedral on Thursday. Jindal... more »

• New Jersey governor fundraising for La. GOP

  September 29, 2011 10:31 AM

  BATON ROUGE - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a rising national GOP star, is helping Louisiana's Republican Party fundraise for the fall elections. Christie and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal will hold a rally Thursday afternoon before heading to the private cash-generating event for the state GOP, where tickets range... more »

• Gov. Jindal endorsement comes with financial help

  September 21, 2011 10:21 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal is backing up his campaign endorsements with cash. Sitting on a hefty campaign account nearing $8 million and with little chance of losing his re-election bid, Jindal has spread his campaign dollars to a list of lawmakers and state education board members for... more »

• Highway 61 widening project complete

  September 19, 2011 5:42 PM

  ST. FRANCISVILLE- Governor Bobby Jindal helped officially open Highway 61 after major improvements through St. Francisville. Nearly five miles of highway between Thompson Creek and Bains have been widened. That means drivers now have four lanes of traffic from Baton Rouge into Mississippi. Some business owners say they... more »

• Jindal announces endorsements for state office

  September 13, 2011 4:31 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Governor Bobby Jindal's re-election campaign released the list of candidates he supported for state offices today. Absent from the list were any picks for lieutenant governor and secretary of state. Jindal did endorse all four incumbents for state insurance commissioner, attorney general, commissioner of agriculture and... more »

• Jindal and challengers qualify

  September 6, 2011 5:44 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Governor Bobby Jindal qualified to run for re-election this fall. Two other candidates are also officially in the race. Independent candidates Ron Ceasar of Opelousas and Bob Lang qualified this morning. Lang is a retired postmaster from Natchitoches. Ceasar is an accountant and leader... more »

• Jindal: Be prepared for rain, wind through Tuesday

  September 2, 2011 10:25 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Governor Bobby Jindal said today that southeast Louisiana needed to prepare for heavy wind and rain possibly through Tuesday as a tropical depression moves in on the Gulf coast. Last night Jindal issued an emergency declaration for the storm that formed in the Gulf. That allows... more »

• Jindal orders flags at half-staff

  August 8, 2011 5:58 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal has ordered the flags on all state buildings to be flown at half-staff through sunset Friday in remembrance of two Louisiana Navy Seals killed in Afghanistan over the weekend. Lt. Com. Jonas Kelsall and Chief Petty Officer Robert James Reeves, both of Shreveport,... more »

• Letters go out to La. lawmakers about veto session

  July 15, 2011 3:55 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Letters have gone out to lawmakers, advising them about the Aug. 2 veto session that was automatically set when Gov. Bobby Jindal rejected bills from the recent legislative session. A majority written vote of either the House or Senate can scrap the veto session. Most years,... more »

• Jindal continues state's partial hiring freeze

  July 7, 2011 10:41 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal has started the new budget year by ordering a partial hiring freeze that will require most state agencies to get approval from Jindal's budget chief before adding new workers. The executive order announced Thursday, covers the 2011-12 fiscal year, which ends June 30.... more »

• La. lawmakers wrap up the 2011 session

  June 23, 2011 6:26 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The two-month regular legislative session has ended, marked by lawmakers showing news signs of independence in defeating many of Gov. Bobby Jindal's key initiatives. Lawmakers facing elections this fall shelved or stalled many of the Republican governor's ideas including selling prisons, increasing employee retirement and his... more »

• Vote to override cigarette tax veto not likely today

  June 14, 2011 3:29 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Lawmakers and Capitol personnel tell News 2 that a vote to overturn Gov. Bobby Jindal's veto of a cigarette tax renewal isn't likely to happen today. Jindal issued the veto to the 4-cent tax extension late Monday. It was set to expire in 2012 but a... more »

• Jindal's office keeps privatization report secret

  June 9, 2011 5:43 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration has handed over to senators a report involving efforts to hire a private company to run a state worker health insurance program. But that doesn't mean the public will get to see it. Jindal's Division of Administration refused to provide the report... more »

• Corrections department sends out layoff notice

  June 3, 2011 3:52 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's corrections secretary sent a memo to wardens at five state prisons, ordering them to ready for layoffs to shut down the jails, in case the Senate agrees to budget cuts proposed by the House. Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc sent the layoff timeline to wardens this... more »

• House delays consideration of $25M retirement hike

  June 2, 2011 4:30 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal's proposal to raise state employee retirement costs to fill budget gaps has stalled in the House amid questions about whether the bill should be considered a payroll tax hike on workers. Republican Rep. Kirk Talbot, the sponsor of the measure, scrapped a House... more »

• House panel backs single college management board

  May 24, 2011 2:12 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal's push to do away with the state's five college management boards and create one higher education board to oversee campuses has crossed its first hurdle. The House Education Committee backed the bill in a 10-4 vote Tuesday. But first, lawmakers stripped out... more »

• Jindal: Flood chasing animals out of swamps

  May 17, 2011 3:29 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal said Tuesday that officials are warning residents to be on the lookout for wildlife fleeing floodwaters. The governor said four bears have been seen in areas around the rising water, and that state officials anticipate an increase in snake bites as animals move... more »

• Jindal: Threat of back water flooding lessened

  May 17, 2011 10:45 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Estimated water levels from the opening of the Morganza Spillway are being scaled back, according to Gov. Bobby Jindal. During his daily briefing on flood-fighting efforts in the state, Jindal said water from the Spillway was moving much more slowly than anticipated. As a result, back... more »

• Four barges sunk to protect Morgan City from flooding

  May 16, 2011 3:39 PM

  AMELIA - Gov. Bobby Jindal watched this afternoon as workers sank a barge into the Atchafalaya River at Bayou Chene to help prevent back flooding in that area. Jindal was touring flood preparation measures around the Morgan City area, one of the bigger towns in the path of floodwaters... more »

• Jindal "confident" Morganza will open this weekend

  May 13, 2011 12:15 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Today, Governor Bobby Jindal said he was "extremely confident" the Morganza Spillway would be opened either Saturday night or early Sunday morning. Jindal moved up his scheduled press conference after talking to the commander in charge of opening the Morganza, and said they could get to... more »

• Jindal: State still waiting on Morganza decision

  May 12, 2011 4:56 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal said today the state was still waiting for notification that the decision to open the Morganza Spillway had been made to relieve the rapidly-swelling Mississippi River. At his daily press update on river levels, Jindal said he had told the Mississippi River Commission... more »

• Jindal: Triggers will "likely" be hit to open Morganza

  May 10, 2011 4:01 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Governor Bobby Jindal reiterated his call today for people who could be affected by the Morganza Spillway to make evacuation plans now. Jindal said according to Corps of Engineers estimates, the Mississippi River would probably reach the point where it "triggers" the opening of the Morganza... more »

• Jindal orders partial spending freeze for agencies

  May 9, 2011 4:20 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal has ordered a partial freeze on state spending for travel, supplies, contracts and other operating services in most state government agencies for the remaining two months of the fiscal year. Jindal's executive order was issued Monday, to help free up some money in... more »

• Morganza flooding inevitable, similar to 1973

  May 6, 2011 2:34 PM

  BATON ROUGE - State officials say areas near the Morganza Spillway will get floods comparable to those of 1973, whether or not the spillway is opened to relieve pressure on levees. Gov. Bobby Jindal said Friday that the spillway could be opened as soon as Thursday, but a decision... more »

• Gov. Jindal gives update on river levels

  May 5, 2011 11:34 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Goverrnor Bobby Jindal is warning people that could be affected by spillways on the Mississippi River being opened to start making their evacuation plans now. The governor gave an update on river levels this morning after a meeting with the Unified Command Group in Baton Rouge.... more »

• Governor warns about backwater flooding

  May 4, 2011 4:19 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal says the state is preparing for backwater flooding in areas along Louisiana's Mississippi River tributaries, in addition to record water levels on the river itself. Morgan City is one area vulnerable to backwater flooding. Jindal says water is already overtopping the outer... more »

• Jindal: News about river "has gotten worse"

  May 3, 2011 5:38 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal says news about the Mississippi River has "gotten worse" for Louisiana in the last 24 hours, prompting them to begin evacuating the Angola prison and possibly opening more spillways. At a press conference today the governor said the latest forecasts predict the river... more »

• Jindal: Morganza Spillway not expected to be used

  May 2, 2011 6:39 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Governor Bobby Jindal said today he doesn't expect the Morganza Spillway will need to be opened to help relieve the rising Mississippi River. Jindal made the statement today during his weekly legislative press conference. He said the Morganza spillway, which hasn't been opened since the early... more »

• Jindal offers congratulations for Bin Laden death

  May 2, 2011 11:13 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal congratulated President Barack Obama, his national security team and the military for the death of Osama bin Laden, calling it a "great day for America, a great day for justice around the world." Jindal made his comments Monday. He thanked the... more »

• Budget is focus as La. legislative session begins

  April 25, 2011 4:19 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal offered few details about his budget recommendations and didn't weigh in on the most controversial proposals facing lawmakers as he spoke to them on the opening day of their regular session. Instead Monday, Jindal gave a vigorous defense of his opposition to tax... more »

• Gov. Jindal fundraises Thursday in San Antonio

  April 7, 2011 1:08 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. - Gov. Bobby Jindal has headed back to Texas to raise money for his re-election bid. The governor's office announced Thursday that Jindal traveled to San Antonio for two fundraisers for the governor's race. Jindal has reported $9 million in his campaign account for the... more »

• Jindal budget assumes college tuition increase

  March 14, 2011 2:32 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal's budget would be costly to Louisiana's college students. Tucked in the pages of the $24.9 billion spending plan are provisions for spending more than $98 million that Jindal hopes the state's colleges will get through tuition hikes on students. Separate legislation would need... more »

• Jindal budget to be unveiled Friday to lawmakers

  March 10, 2011 5:17 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal is proposing a $24.9 billion budget next year - down $1 billion from this year. It assumes the sale of three state prisons and increased state employee retirement payments. Jindal outlined his recommendations Thursday for closing a $1.6 billion budget gap for the... more »