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• White House threatens veto of House farm bill

  June 17, 2013 5:13 PM

  WASHINGTON - The White House is threatening to veto the House version of a massive, 5-year farm bill, saying food stamp cuts included in the legislation could leave some Americans hungry. The House is preparing to consider the bill this week. The legislation would cut $2 billion annually from food... more »

• Senators rework $25B budget, reverse House cuts

  May 29, 2013 5:05 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Senate's budget-writing committee has taken its turn at next year's $25 billion spending plan, adding $350 million in state dollars to reverse many cuts sought by the House. The 2013-14 budget proposal backed by the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday looks quite different from the House... more »

• Delgado, Nunez community colleges to lay off staff

  May 8, 2013 4:43 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Delgado Community College in New Orleans plans to lay off more than a hundred employees, including dozens of faculty members, while Nunez Community College in Chalmette also is letting go staff. Both moves were approved Wednesday by the schools' governing board and come as the campuses seek... more »

• House committee working on 2013-14 budget

  April 29, 2013 8:48 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Lawmakers are making their first changes to Gov. Bobby Jindal's $24.7 billion budget proposal for next year in the House Appropriations Committee. Among the largest points of contention for Monday's committee hearing is whether to use piecemeal financing from land sales, legal settlements and fund sweeps... more »

• Official: Obama proposes cuts to Social Security

  April 5, 2013 9:07 AM

  WASHINGTON - President Obama is proposing cuts to Social Security as an attempt to compromise with Republicans on the budget. A senior administration official says the budget Obama will offer to Congress next Wednesday would reduce the deficit by $1.8 trillion over 10 years. It includes a revised inflation... more »

• Following Obama, Kerry to donate part of salary

  April 4, 2013 1:12 PM

  WASHINGTON - The richest member of President Barack Obama's Cabinet is giving back some salary too, in the spirit of government-wide spending cuts. A day after Obama and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said they'd return 5 percent of their paycheck to the Treasury, Secretary of State John Kerry followed in... more »

• Interior Dept. cuts mineral payments to 35 states

  March 27, 2013 4:48 PM

  CHEYENNE, Wyo. - The U.S. Department of Interior is cutting federal mineral payments to Louisiana and 34 other states by a total of roughly $110 million this fiscal year. It's part of the automatic federal spending cuts that started this month. Louisiana stands to lose more than $347,000. Wyoming Gov.... more »

• Coca-Cola to cut 750 jobs in US

  March 21, 2013 9:28 AM

  NEW YORK - Coca-Cola says it's cutting 750 jobs in the U.S. as it continues to streamline its business. The world's biggest beverage maker says the jobs cuts will be across the board and that affected individuals will be notified in coming weeks. The cuts represent roughly 1 percent of... more »

• Obama: may take weeks, months to fix budget mess

  March 1, 2013 11:07 AM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says it may take a couple of weeks or a couple of months to reach a deal to end Washington's battle over spending cuts. The president spoke after meeting with congressional leaders at the White House on $85 billion in automatic spending cuts that go... more »

• Obama: We will get through cuts

  March 1, 2013 10:52 AM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says Americans will get through the automatic spending cuts kicking in Friday. Obama says the nation shouldn't be making "dumb and arbitrary" cuts. He says Republicans have allowed the cuts to happen. Obama stays he still believes the cuts can be replaced, but he wants... more »

• Expert testifies BP cuts led to Gulf oil disaster

  February 26, 2013 10:30 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The first testimony in the civil trial over the Gulf oil spill came from an expert who said he found evidence the company's penchant for cutting costs led to the disaster. Robert Bea, a University of California Berkeley engineering professor, said BP PLC did not put... more »

• Jindal budget calls for $424M in one-time cash

  February 22, 2013 10:57 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Lawmakers questioned Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration today about decisions in their proposed budget for next year. Jindal's $24.7 billion budget calls for the use of $424 million in one-time cash and college tuition increases to prevent deeper cuts to higher education. Commissioner of Administration Kristy... more »

• Saints cut TE Thomas, CB Patrick

  February 19, 2013 5:25 PM

  METAIRIE - New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis says the club has cut veteran tight end David Thomas and third-year cornerback Johnny Patrick. Loomis says releasing Thomas on Tuesday was an "extremely difficult decision," given seven-year veteran's leadership and versatility, which allowed him to fill in at several... more »

• White House seeks 'balanced way' to budget fix

  February 17, 2013 10:15 AM

  WASHINGTON - The new White House chief of staff says President Barack Obama is concerned about the effect the automatic budget cuts scheduled for next month will have on America's middle class. Denis McDonough tells ABC's "This Week" that the economy has been getting stronger over the past few months.... more »

• Postal Service to cut Saturday mail to trim costs

  February 6, 2013 7:35 AM

  WASHINGTON - The financially struggling U.S. Postal Service says it plans to stop delivering mail on Saturdays, but continue delivering packages six days a week. In an announcement scheduled for later Wednesday, the service is expected to say the cut, beginning in August, would mean a cost saving of about... more »

• Vigil planned to protest Medicaid hospice cut

  January 23, 2013 5:21 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Families of the terminally ill and health care workers are holding a protest of Gov. Bobby Jindal's plan to shutter the state's Medicaid hospice program in February. Supporters of the program, which provides at-home, end-of-life care for people who can't afford private insurance coverage, scheduled a... more »

• Obama: Debt limit increase can't be tied to spending cuts

  January 14, 2013 12:50 PM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama is demanding that Congress quickly raise the nation's $16.4 trillion debt limit, telling reporters, "we are not a deadbeat nation." At a White House news conference less than a week before he takes the oath of office for a second term, Obama warned that if... more »

• Women's shelters hard-hit by state budget cuts Play Video

  January 4, 2013 6:04 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Last week Governor Jindal cut the Department of Children and Family Services by more than 20 percent. Now those cuts are trickling down to domestic violence shelters. "I felt like I had been kicked. It's such a devastating feeling," said Audrey Wascome, the interim director for... more »

• Jindal administration makes cuts across agencies Play Video

  December 14, 2012 12:46 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal is using a mix of cuts, one-time patches and hiring freeze savings to close a nearly $166 million budget gap. Cuts are planned to doctors and hospitals that care for Medicaid patients. Programs that provide hospice care for the poor and disabled and dental... more »

• White House asks agencies to plan for fiscal cliff

  December 5, 2012 4:06 PM

  WASHINGTON - The White House budget office has asked federal agencies to calculate more than $100 billion in spending cuts that would go into effect in January if Congress and the Obama administration fail to reach agreement to avert the looming fiscal cliff. White House press secretary Jay Carney said... more »

• Congress- nude protest

  November 27, 2012 7:36 PM

  Three women who took their clothes off in Congress to protest potential cuts in HIV programs were arrested. They said they wanted to highlight the "naked truth" and linked arms with four men who also stripped down as part of the protest. The women had the words "AIDS cuts kill"... more »

• Meals on wheels says budget crisis puts them in jeopardy Play Video

  November 15, 2012 6:21 PM

  Meals on wheels in Baton Rouge says the state budget crisis could put the program in jeopardy. Last week Governor Jindal denied a $140,000 grant for the agency. To help keep the service running employees are donating an hour-of pay from their paychecks. The program, which is a... more »

• Buffett says fiscal cliff won't trigger recession

  November 14, 2012 3:28 PM

  OMAHA, Neb. - Investor Warren Buffett says there won't be a recession if Congress can't resolve the so-called fiscal cliff before the automatic tax increases and spending cuts take effect in January. Buffett told CNN on Wednesday that the U.S. economy is very resilient, and it won't collapse if lawmakers... more »

• Labor heads say Obama backs them on 'fiscal cliff'

  November 13, 2012 12:47 PM

  WASHINGTON - Labor leaders say President Barack Obama remains committed to preserving tax cuts for middle class families and ensuring that the wealthiest Americans pay more in taxes. The leaders of labor unions met with Obama Tuesday to discuss ways of averting the so-called "fiscal cliff" and find consensus on... more »

• Congress faces agenda of unfinished business

  November 12, 2012 2:36 PM

  WASHINGTON - Congress returns Tuesday to a crowded agenda of unfinished business overshadowed by the urgent need for President Barack Obama and lawmakers to avert the economic double hit of tax increases and automatic spending cuts. One week after the elections, Republicans and Democrats face a daunting task in a... more »

• Iberia school board: Halt federal cuts

  November 8, 2012 8:01 AM

  NEW IBERIA - The Iberia Parish School Board has voted to support a resolution asking Congress to prevent $810,000 in cuts from impacting the school system's budget as it relates to funding for special education. Superintendent of Schools Dale Henderson says the 2011 federal Budget Control Act includes automatic... more »

• Fitch Ratings warns Obama must get deficit deal

  November 7, 2012 10:54 AM

  WASHINGTON - Fitch Ratings says President Barack Obama must pivot off his re-election victory and quickly forge an agreement with Congress to prevent a series of tax increases and spending cuts that kick in next year. The credit rating agency issued a news release Wednesday - hours after Obama won... more »

• Louisiana's doctors worry about LSU hospital cuts

  October 30, 2012 2:50 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's doctors are complaining about a lack of detail and preparation as LSU slashes spending in cuts that affect training programs for the state's future physicians. Andy Blalock, president of the Louisiana State Medical Society, told The Advocate the cuts mean the state's "best and brightest" medical... more »

• Pharmacists: Medicaid changes could shut them down

  October 30, 2012 10:35 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Community pharmacists say changes to Medicaid reimbursement rules don't address their complaints that the cuts could jeopardize their ability to remain open. The state's health secretary, Bruce Greenstein, said last week that revisions made in response to pharmacies' complaints should quell the backlash. But The Advocate reports... more »

• Special session push fails to gain Senate support

  October 26, 2012 4:03 PM

  BATON ROUGE (AP) - An attempt to get lawmakers into special session to consider reversing Gov. Bobby Jindal's recent cuts to health care programs and a state prison has failed to win enough support. State senators blocked the effort. Thibodaux Rep. Jerome "Dee" Richard needed 13 senators to sign onto... more »

• Southern to shed 2 programs

  October 25, 2012 7:16 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Board of Regents has given Southern University permission to drop its master of arts in mass communication degree in a budget-cutting move that provoked the ire of faculty when the idea was first floated months ago. Karen Denby, regents associate commissioner for academic affairs,... more »

• House agrees to vote on special session Play Video

  October 23, 2012 11:31 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A Thibodaux lawmaker has hit the first benchmark in his effort to revisit Gov. Bobby Jindal's recent budget cuts in a November special session. Thirty-nine House members, Republicans and Democrats, have signed onto supporting the idea by Rep. Jerome "Dee" Richard, an independent. That meets the threshold... more »

• Rival: New Baton Rouge casino cuts others' revenue

  October 21, 2012 10:46 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A new Baton Rouge casino is taking revenue away from casinos not only in Baton Rouge but in New Orleans and Mississippi, says the manager of a rival gambling hall. The L'Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge, which opened Sept. 1, reaped $13.3 million in revenue, The... more »

• LSU seeking agreements with private health firms

  October 11, 2012 4:05 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A week after $152 million in cuts were levied across the LSU public hospitals, Health and Hospitals Secretary Bruce Greenstein says no new formal arrangements have yet been reached with private hospitals to pick up the care. But he and LSU hospitals chief Frank Opelka said Thursday... more »

• Lawmakers call special session request waste of money

  October 8, 2012 3:59 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Top state lawmakers called the request for a special legislative session over healthcare cuts "unnecessary" and "an irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars" today. State House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles, and Senate President John Alario, R-Westwego, made the comments in a a joint statement released today,... more »

• Deeper cuts coming to LSU hospitals Play Video

  October 4, 2012 11:32 AM

  BATON ROUGE- The LSU governing board has agreed to deepen cuts to the university-run public hospitals by another $152 million. The cuts will fall across seven south Louisiana hospitals, eliminating dozens of inpatient beds and 1,500 jobs. Hospital system leader Frank Opelka outlined the budget cuts Thursday, and the LSU... more »

• Romney decries impending defense spending cuts

  September 27, 2012 3:17 PM

  SPRINGFIELD, Va. - Mitt Romney is calling the across-the-board defense spending cuts scheduled to take effect in January "a gun-to-your-head kind of approach." He says the deal President Barack Obama made with Congress "was a strange proposal in the first place," and he says "it's even stranger that we're seeing... more »

• 13 defense executives bemoan uncertainty of cuts

  September 10, 2012 1:12 PM

  WASHINGTON - Thirteen defense executives are complaining that the threat of automatic, across-the-board cuts to military spending is creating uncertainty that's already affected their industry. Seven senators released copies of the executives' letters on Monday. The six Republicans and independent Joe Lieberman are trying to ratchet up the political pressure... more »

• UL System board approves budget

  August 22, 2012 9:47 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors has approved a $762 million budget that represents a $38 million cut from last year's sum. The nine-campus UL System is Louisiana's biggest state-run network of higher education. The budget for the fiscal year that started July... more »

• UNO's $12M budget cut includes 53 faculty, staff

  August 15, 2012 8:56 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The University of New Orleans is cutting $12 million from its budget through a combination of early retirements and the elimination of vacant positions to offset reductions by the state. UNO said Tuesday that about 25 faculty members and 28 staff members will be offered "incentivized... more »

• Bipartisan warnings that U. S. budget sequester is coming

  August 7, 2012 2:59 PM

  WASHINGTON - Republicans and Democrats are sounding the alarm: The budget sequester is coming and we have to do everything to stop it. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says it will be devastating to the military. Manufacturers say it will mean the loss of tens of thousands of jobs. The White... more »

• LSU comes up with temporary fix to limit cuts

  July 27, 2012 4:25 PM

  BATON ROUGE - LSU health care leaders say they will use patchwork funding to keep their safety net hospitals open and lessen the blow of budget cuts that threatened to shutter facilities. Plans outlined to the university governing board Friday will cut about $50 million from public hospitals and clinics,... more »

• Senate OKs Dem tax-cut bill in showdown with GOP

  July 25, 2012 4:18 PM

  WASHINGTON - The Senate has voted to approve a Democratic bill renewing tax cuts next year for all but the highest-earning Americans. The partisan 51-48 vote was a victory for Democrats and averted what would have been a campaign-season embarrassment for them and the White House. The bill closely follows... more »

• Jindal hoping for more revenue to fill budget gap

  July 17, 2012 5:42 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Even with $523 million in announced health care cuts, Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration has slashed only two-thirds of the spending needed to close the entire gap in Louisiana's Medicaid budget. The administration is banking on better-than-expected revenue projections to close the remaining budget hole. If that doesn't... more »

• Lawmakers seize on report detailing impact of cuts

  July 17, 2012 4:53 PM

  WASHINGTON - Republicans and Democrats alike are pointing to a new report estimating that automatic budget cuts will cost the economy 2 million jobs. With five months to go before the across-the-board cuts kick in, the Aerospace Industries Association unveiled a report today that warned of job losses, billions of... more »

• Report: 2M jobs lost if automatic cuts kick in

  July 17, 2012 9:00 AM

  WASHINGTON - A new report on the government's looming automatic spending cuts estimates they will cost the economy more than 2 million defense and domestic jobs. The study was done by Dr. Stephen Fuller of George Mason University and Chmura Economics and Analytics. It was conducted for the Aerospace... more »

• La. health secretary says cuts expected by Friday

  July 11, 2012 7:33 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Health and Hospitals Secretary Bruce Greenstein says he expects to announce by Friday how he'll divvy up $859 million in cuts to Louisiana's Medicaid program. The cut is tied to a congressional reduction in Louisiana's federal Medicaid financing rate. Greenstein didn't offer details Tuesday about... more »

• La. health secretary says cuts expected by Friday

  July 10, 2012 6:29 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Health and Hospitals Secretary Bruce Greenstein says he expects to announce by Friday how he'll divvy up $859 million in cuts to Louisiana's Medicaid program. The cut is tied to a congressional reduction in Louisiana's federal Medicaid financing rate. Greenstein didn't offer details Tuesday about what will... more »

• Tone changes in Jindal administration over cuts

  July 3, 2012 3:07 PM

  BATON ROUGE - When a bloc of conservative state lawmakers pushed to strip money from the health department, the Jindal administration outcry was loud, suggesting the cuts could devastate health care services. A month later, the $859 million in budget cuts hitting the Medicaid program from new congressional action are... more »

• College cuts becoming clearer Play Video

  June 6, 2012 10:47 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The budget crisis is emerging at state colleges for next year. While the numbers alone don't seem damaging, it's the fourth year in a row higher education is taking a financial hit. Next year's budget burden is actually on the back-burner right now because universities are... more »

• A look at La. college cuts by university system

  June 6, 2012 6:59 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The final version of the budget bills adjusting spending plans for this year and next year contained cuts for Louisiana colleges. Reductions are 2.6 percent across the board this year. They will be divided based on the higher education funding formula next year. The Board... more »

• Universities planning for more cuts, despite lawmakers easing the blow Play Video

  June 4, 2012 10:27 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The close of the legislative session also means another year of damage to higher education. Universities face a $70 million cut for next year, on top of slashing $25 million by the end of the month. One-time money and rainy day funds helped lessen the blow to... more »

• Budget cut criticisms don't scare temporary LSU system leader Play Video

  May 18, 2012 5:48 PM

  BATON ROUGE- $100 million in budget cuts to the LSU system may not happen. State senators say they don't like the financial hit on higher education and health care planned in next year's state budget. LSU System Interim President William Jenkins says that's good news for the Baton Rouge... more »

• Community and technical colleges could feel pinch Play Video

  May 17, 2012 5:36 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Louisiana Community and Technical College System President Joe May says his schools are facing historic cuts. Louisiana House members reduced the budget by an additional $268 million dollars in an attempt to get rid of one-time dollars. Dr. May says that could result in $42 million... more »

• Colleges, health care face cuts in House budget

  May 15, 2012 7:41 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal's top budget adviser says the $25 billion budget proposal passed by the House could force steep cuts in public colleges and health care, damaging services. Commissioner of Administration Paul Rainwater outlined his concerns Monday to the Senate Finance Committee. GOP lawmakers in the House... more »

• Steep budget cuts possible for education and health care

  May 14, 2012 11:56 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal's top budget adviser says the $25 billion budget proposal passed by the House could force steep cuts in public colleges and health care, damaging services. Commissioner of Administration Paul Rainwater outlined his concerns Monday to the Senate Finance Committee. GOP lawmakers in the House... more »

• La. colleges face deep cuts in House budget

  May 14, 2012 7:41 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's public colleges say they will be forced to make steep cuts next year if state senators agree to the version of the $25 billion budget passed by the House. The governor's budget office says higher education would take cuts topping $200 million in the new fiscal... more »

• Possible cuts to higher education could be devastating Play Video

  May 12, 2012 9:01 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Sweeping cuts could be made to higher education if Senators don't take action this week. State education leaders spent the weekend crunching numbers after the House passed HB One Friday and sent it to the Senate. The budget that the Senate will now take up shaves $225... more »

• House OKs social programs cuts to aid Pentagon

  May 10, 2012 1:42 PM

  WASHINGTON - The GOP-controlled House has passed legislation to replace a looming 10 percent cut to the military budget with cuts to domestic programs like food stamps and health care. The partisan 218-199 vote sends the measure to the Senate, where it's a dead letter with Democratic leaders, who insist... more »

• Budget proposes $71M in cuts to Louisiana colleges

  May 8, 2012 6:50 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's public colleges are facing cuts of at least $71 million in next year's budget proposal, as it awaits debate on the House floor this week. Commissioner of Higher Education Jim Purcell said Monday that college leaders will be pushing a bill to allow the schools to... more »

• Lafayette agencies told to look for cuts

  May 8, 2012 6:43 AM

  LAFAYETTE - Lafayette city-parish department heads are being asked to comb their budgets for cuts as the administration prepares to trim at least $5 million from next year's budget. City-Parish Chief Administrative Officer Dee Stanley says the administration is just beginning to prepare the proposed budget, but under a best-case... more »

• School cuts approved by Tangipahoa board

  April 18, 2012 7:38 AM

  AMITE - The Tangipahoa Parish School Board has approved the continuation of a package of one-year cuts that should save the system $2 million during 2012-13. The cuts include suspending professional leaves, most medical leaves and not awarding annual pay increases known as step raises. Bret Schnadelbach, the system's financial... more »

• State workforce cuts "devastating", union rep says

  February 10, 2012 3:18 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A representative from the state employee's union said today that job cuts in Gov. Bobby Jindal's proposed budget could have "devastating" effects on the Baton Rouge and state economy. Leonal Hardman from the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees spoke to News 2 today... more »

• Latest LSU health cuts to affect hundreds of jobs

  February 4, 2012 10:30 AM

  BATON ROUGE- The chief executive of LSU's hospital system says hundreds of system employees could lose their jobs as LSU moves to close a $29 million budget hole. LSU Health Care Services Division chief Roxane Townsend said 645 jobs will be affected with the planned closure of clinics and reductions... more »

• Tax cut talks focus on budget cuts, new fees

  January 16, 2012 6:48 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Familiar arguments could again echo through the halls of Congress as lawmakers return from a three-week holiday break to consider extending a tax cut with one eye on the November election. There are opposing ideas for extending an average $20-a-week Social Security payroll tax cut through the... more »

• CATS to run out of money by July Play Video

  December 21, 2011 8:22 AM

  BATON ROUGE - East Baton Rouge Parish's public transit board says that if it doesn't find more financing, buses will stop rolling next summer. The Advocate reports that the CATS 2012 operating budget of $9.5 million only covers half the year. Board members pledged to try to find more... more »

• Medicare Cuts to Doctors Loom in January

  December 20, 2011 7:23 PM

  Medicare sent an alert to some 650,000 doctors telling them it will hold claims for the first ten business days of 2012 unless Congress acts on the payroll tax legislation, which contains a provision waving a scheduled 27.4 percent cut in physician reimbursement. On Tuesday, the House adjourned without reaching... more »

• Jeanerette planning to lay off city employees

  December 19, 2011 5:36 AM

  JEANERETTE - The city will have to lay off some of its employees, though it's not known yet how many will be terminated. Jeanerette officials have been cutting back on expenses, including trimming the number of hours each week that City Hall is open. Mayor Tim de'Clouet told the Board... more »

• CATS may delay budget cuts

  December 7, 2011 3:13 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The CEO of the Capital Area Transit System says managers may suggest to metro council members that they allow the system to operate at full capacity until it runs out of funding in July. Brian Marshall and CATS board members are searching for ways to deal... more »

• White House non-committal on paying for tax cut

  November 29, 2011 3:46 PM

  WASHINGTON - The White House is refusing to say whether President Barack Obama would sign into law an extension of payroll tax cuts that is not paid for. Spokesman Jay Carney says Obama would prefer that lawmakers find a way to pay for the cuts and not add to... more »

• Obama urges debt panel to reach for deal

  November 11, 2011 3:12 PM

  ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE - President Barack Obama has urged leaders of Congress' supercommittee to press hard for a deal on slashing the deficit - and not look for an end run around a key enforcement mechanism. Obama spoke to Democratic Sen. Patty Murray and Republican Rep. Jeb Hensarling... more »

• La. social service programs cut by $17M

  November 4, 2011 5:25 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The state's social services department is cutting $17 million from its programs, including the elimination of an employment assistance program, because Congress didn't renew a block grant Louisiana has received for 15 years. Seventeen states had gotten the supplemental grant money as part of the 1996... more »

• House GOP seeks to cut job training, heating aid

  September 29, 2011 5:27 PM

  WASHINGTON - House Republicans are setting the stage for another spending battle with Democrats -- one that could drag out for months. They've unveiled plans to cut federal money for job training, heating subsidies and grants to better-performing schools. The Republican draft measure for labor, health and education... more »

• Pre-kindergarten programs under microscope

  August 21, 2011 4:22 PM

  BATON ROUGE- State officials say Louisiana's pre-kindergarten programs have become a confusing array of efforts with varying standards, costs and successes. Board of Elementary and Secondary Education member Walter Lee says they need better organization, structure, and services. He spoke during a special forum last week. The Advocate... more »

• Small spending cuts to have little economic impact

  August 1, 2011 10:17 AM

  WASHINGTON - The first phase of a deal to raise the government's borrowing limit would pose little threat to the economy in the short term because almost none of the spending cuts would occur before 2014. Discretionary spending, which excludes Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, would be cut by... more »

• Livingston Parish Pre-Kindergarten cuts

  July 21, 2011 6:19 PM

  LIVINGSTON - It's a problem Livingston Parish deals with every summer: how and where to educate the skyrocketing number of students. Since Hurricane Katrina the Livingston Parish school system has averaged 300 to 500 additional students each year. With that growth, there's always a need for more classrooms. ... more »

• Baton Rouge aging council cuts staff

  July 10, 2011 10:50 AM

  BATON ROUGE- The East Baton Rouge Council on Aging has terminated 20 workers because of its financial situation, the agency's new executive director said. Tasha Clark Amar said the terminations were part of a reorganization to help the council deal with an expected $200,000 budget shortfall. More layoffs... more »

• State park hours changed amid budget cuts

  July 9, 2011 10:24 AM

  BATON ROUGE- Budget cuts and reduced staffing have forced a change in operating hours at Louisiana state parks. The Office of State Parks says entrance station hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday - and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Gates... more »

• Budget cuts hurt state museums

  June 29, 2011 5:29 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Some state museums are at risk of closing because of cuts in the new state budget. More than $800,000 were cut from the money state museums get from the state's general fund. There are 17 state museums. The biggest chunk of money goes to the Old State... more »

• Final legislative budget passed without cuts

  June 20, 2011 2:46 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Despite talk of possible cuts, the House and Senate have passed a budget for themselves that doesn't trim annual spending in legislative agencies next year. The $89 million legislative budget given final passage Monday with a unanimous vote of the Senate is a standstill spending plan,... 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 »

• EBR School Board votes to keep Lab Academy open

  April 21, 2011 5:37 PM

  UPDATE 6:40 p.m. - The school board has voted to keep EBR Lab Academy at Istrouma High open. We'll have more details live at 10 p.m. BATON ROUGE - Many items, including an entire school, are on the chopping block at tonight's East Baton Rouge Parish School Board meeting.... more »

• LSU closing 3 AgCenter research stations

  April 2, 2011 12:47 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Louisiana State University is closing three of its Agricultural Center research stations in the face of state budget cuts. The AgCenter is permanently shutting down its Calhoun Research Center near Monroe, the Rosepine Research Center in Vernon Parish and the Coastal Area Research Station in Plaquemines Parish,... more »

• Feds suggest using other grant money to cover meth lab clean-up money cuts

  March 29, 2011 10:18 PM

  LIVINGSTON- The feds are suggesting a solution to a cut in methamphetamine lab clean-up money that News 2 told you about a month ago. But authorities here say it won't work. Federal budget cuts left the Drug Enforcement Agency without millions to pay professionals to pick up meth... more »

• Livingston Parish School Board: teacher layoffs imminent

  February 15, 2011 6:12 PM

  LIVINGSTON - The Livingston Parish School System is under a financial emergency, Superintendent Bill Spear said. The system faces a $10 million shortfall, and over 70 jobs could be lost. The past few years, school systems have been able to avoid layoffs through attrition, but the lack of state... more »

• State pay raises could be cut again

  January 28, 2011 5:58 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The Jindal Administration will request a move to cut pay raises for state employees. The plan has to be approved by the civil service commission. Commissioner of Administration Paul Rainwater says it will save the state $55 million dollars, and is necessary to help cope with a... more »

• Cuts on their way to university programs

  January 26, 2011 6:22 PM

  BATON ROUGE-- The Board of Regents put more than 450 programs at universities all over the state on the chopping block. They may not have enough graduates to be viable, according to the Board. Now, they must prove they are efficient and productive. The programs under review fall into... more »

• LSU Provost to speak at Press Club

  January 24, 2011 10:13 AM

  BATON ROUGE- LSU Provost John Maxwell Hamilton will be the guest speaker at today's Press Club of Baton Rouge Luncheon. We will be there to update information he gives concerning things like state budget cuts and the impact to the BR campus and athletics. Some LSU leaders have recently talked... more »

• Jindal proposes consitutional protection for TOPS

  January 19, 2011 11:51 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal is proposing a constitutional protection for the state's popular free college tuition program, known as TOPS. Jindal's proposal, announced Wednesday, comes even as complaints have risen that such funding dedications make budget cutting decisions more difficult because it limits the dollars available to cut.... more »

• CATS cuts could affect BR businesses

  January 18, 2011 10:23 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Users of Baton Rouge's transit system say if major changes are made to routes and services, they could get fired. And business owners argue, the city can't run without a bus service. Employers and employees say you may not ride the bus, but many people who work... more »

• Revenue estimating panel adjusts forecast Thursday

  January 13, 2011 3:09 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The state's revenue forecasting panel has decided against revising its income projections for now, leaving Gov. Bobby Jindal without additional money to plug into his budget proposal. Two members of the four-member Revenue Estimating Conference, including House Speaker Jim Tucker, say they are hesitant to raise revenue... more »

• CATS board approves plan to cut routes, raise rates

  January 5, 2011 9:46 PM

  Route changes and fare increases were approved Wednesday night by the Baton Rouge transit system. It'll cost more to ride and CATS buses won't roll on weekends or holidays. Regular fares will go up a quarter to $2-a-ride, and a number of routes will be cut. The system is... more »

• Latest Medicaid shortfall won't prompt cuts

  January 3, 2011 6:04 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The state health department will reshuffle dollars within its budget to fill a new $19 million shortfall that has emerged in the state's Medicaid program, without making new budget cuts. The department also plans to reverse cuts to the Medicaid rates paid to hospitals for taking care... more »

• Plaquemine Lock SHS to reopen next week

  December 28, 2010 12:16 PM

  PLAQUEMINE - The Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site will re-open to visitors early in the new year. In July the lock was placed on “caretaker status” because of state budget cuts, making it available to visit by appointment only. The Lock will re-open on Jan. 5, with operating hours... more »