WBRZ - Baton Rouge

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• US gas prices up 11 cents over past 2 weeks

  May 19, 2013 4:14 PM

  CAMARILLO, Calif. - The average U.S. price of a gallon of gasoline has jumped 11 cents over the past two weeks. The Lundberg Survey of fuel prices released Sunday says the price of a gallon of regular is $3.66. Midgrade costs an average of $3.84 a gallon, and premium is... more »

• Audit criticizes Folsom finances

  May 13, 2013 11:46 AM

  FOLSOM, La. - A state audit of the finances of the village of Folsom cites 19 findings of deficiencies, including undocumented fuel expenses for a vehicle driven by the mayor. The report from the state legislative auditor's office, prepared by the firm of Griffin and Co., also finds that more... more »

• Coast Guard: Spark from cleaning caused explosion

  April 25, 2013 11:43 AM

  MOBILE, Ala. - A crew that was cleaning fuel barges in Mobile Bay likely caused a spark the triggered an explosion and critically burned three workers. The explosion happened Wednesday night and it was extinguished Thursday morning. Coast Guard Lt. Mike Clausen says the investigation is continuing, but the spark... more »

• Ethanol industry turns to plant residue, scraps

  January 31, 2013 2:38 AM

  DES MOINES, Iowa - Ethanol producers have talked for decades about using plant residue, wood scraps and even garbage to produce the fuel additive, but now companies finally are building full-scale refineries. About 70 cellulosic ethanol projects are under way, reflecting billions of dollars of private investment. The breakthrough comes... more »

• FAA to launch comprehensive review of Boeing 787

  January 11, 2013 7:28 AM

  WASHINGTON - Federal regulators say they are ordering a comprehensive review of the critical systems of Boeing's 787s, the aircraft maker's newest and most technologically advanced plane, after a fire and a fuel leak earlier this week. The Federal Aviation Administration says the review will include the design, manufacture... more »

• Four DPW workers arrested in EBR for fuel theft

  October 2, 2012 5:21 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Police arrested four Department of Public Works employees in East Baton Rouge Parish in suspicion of stealing gas from city-parish fueling stations. According to the EBR Mayor-President's Office, police arrested Ensley Joseph, Rodney Maxwell, Joyce Gatlin, and Lawrence Smith this morning. Interim Public Works Director... more »

• Judge tosses BP fuel dealers' brand-name claims

  October 2, 2012 2:53 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A federal judge has dismissed claims by BP fuel dealers that the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico diminished the value of the oil giant's brand and cost them business. U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier's ruling Tuesday says the dealers' claims against BP PLC... more »

• RaceTrac apologizes, offers help after fuel switch

  September 27, 2012 3:04 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The RaceTrac chain of gas stations released a statement today apologizing for a mistake which caused some people to pump diesel fuel into their gas-burning vehicles. Company spokesperson Dayna Reed said early the morning of Sept. 22 their fuel carrier mistakenly pumped diesel into the regular... more »

• Gas station problem could lead to costly repairs Play Video

  September 26, 2012 5:28 PM

  DUTCHTOWN - Many drivers say they had diesel in their gas-burning cars after filling up over the weekend at a Dutchtown gas station. Drivers told News 2 today about problems at the RaceTrac on Highway 73. Service technicians at LeBlanc Nissan say at least four customers have brought vehicles... more »

• Revenue dept. issues proposed rule for tax break

  September 26, 2012 11:47 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The state Department of Revenue is proposing new regulations governing Louisiana's alternative fuel vehicle tax credit to limit estimated program costs to $10 million a year. That's far higher than initial estimates of the tax break's price tag. But the move to eliminate "flex-fuel vehicles" - which... 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 »

• Oil rises as consumer confidence hits 7-month high

  September 25, 2012 10:14 AM

  NEW YORK - The price of oil is rising on news that U.S. consumer confidence is at the highest level since February. Benchmark oil gained 92 cents to $92.85 per barrel Tuesday in New York. The Conference Board's latest survey shows Americans are more optimistic about the availability of jobs... more »

• Price tag for tax break expansion could top $7M

  September 24, 2012 4:01 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana paid as much as $7 million for a two-month expansion of a tax credit designed to encourage the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles. The Department of Revenue issued a little-noticed rule in April governing the state's alternative fuel tax credit, which enlarged the list of qualifying... more »

• Pump prices fall; oil prices up slightly

  September 21, 2012 11:25 AM

  NEW YORK - The average price for gas dropped about 4 cents since last Friday, the biggest weekly decline in about three months. Louisiana's average gas price remained stable at $3.637. Analysts say motorists should see further declines through autumn. But they warn that the decreases will happen... more »

• Louisiana lands $550M methanol plant, 130 jobs

  July 25, 2012 5:00 PM

  GEISMAR - Methanex Corp., a major producer of the alternative fuel methanol, is moving an idle plant in Chile to Louisiana. The Vancouver-based company announced Wednesday that it will spend $550 million to build on a 225-acre site in Ascension Parish, about 20 miles from Baton Rouge. The move will... more »

• Jindal budget office refuses to provide records

  July 17, 2012 12:55 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal's budget office won't provide most of its records tied to the state's alternative fuel vehicle tax credit program and a controversial ruling about qualifying vehicles that was rescinded by the governor. A lawyer for the Division of Administration said records requested by The Associated... more »

• Oil price down on China data, end of Norway strike

  July 10, 2012 10:39 AM

  NEW YORK - Oil prices is falling Tuesday after China released data indicating its economy continues to slow and Norway stepped in to end a strike that threatened its North Sea oil production. Benchmark U.S. crude fell by $1.02 to $84.98 in morning trading. Brent crude lost $1.77 to $98.55... more »

• How to get the most for your travel dollar

  March 8, 2012 10:24 AM

  BATON ROUGE-- With gas prices expected to soar, News 2 goes in search of answers on how to get the most for your travel dollar this summer. It will cost you more to fly to your vacation destination. Airlines increased ticket prices due to higher fuel costs. But you can... more »

• Keep your car fuel efficient

  February 29, 2012 10:57 AM

  BATON ROUGE - When it comes to fuel efficiency, how you drive your car matters. Not only how you drive, but what you use when you drive, and the condition of your car could end up costing you more in gas. We get answers from the experts on... more »

• Divers, crane in place for Italy ship fuel pumping

  January 24, 2012 6:29 AM

  ROME - Workers and equipment are moving into place to begin pumping out the half-million gallons of fuel from the toppled Costa Concordia before it spills into the pristine seas off Tuscany. A crew believed to be from the Dutch shipwreck salvage firm Smit was seen on the bow of... more »

• Airline passengers asked for extra cash for fuel

  November 17, 2011 12:04 PM

  LONDON - Airlines used to provide free refreshments. Now at least one wants passengers to cough up extra cash for fuel. That's what happened to angry passengers traveling from India to Britain who found themselves stranded in Vienna by a charter airline that wanted them to kick in... more »

• Trucks haul away fire fuel as WVU-LSU game looms

  September 22, 2011 1:24 PM

  MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Fire inspectors and workers are combing Morgantown, removing furniture and trash from the porches of hundreds of rental homes. Fire Capt. Ken Tennant says the cleanup has been under way since 9 a.m. Thursday. Many truckloads are being hauled away as the city tries to... more »

• Final space shuttle launch bittersweet for NASA employees

  July 8, 2011 6:28 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - As employees at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans watched and listened as the 135th space shuttle took off, there weren't cheers... At least for the first few minutes. For 30 years, NASA crews have built every external fuel tank right here in Louisiana. The... more »

• Gas prices falling around Baton Rouge

  June 24, 2011 5:27 PM

  BATON ROUGE - As world leaders attempt to combat the price of fuel, the cost of gas around the Capital City area is beginning to drop. One gas station in Central has seen a drop of more than 50 cents in the past five weeks. "It's making a difference... more »

• Dinged by Katrina, Endeavour fuel tank has scars

  April 27, 2011 2:17 PM

  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The fuel tank that will help propel the space shuttle Endeavour into orbit is already battle-scarred from some rough shaking thanks to Hurricane Katrina. The 10-year-old tank has 103 patches. The tank was in a building in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005.... more »

• Drivers start to cut back on gas as prices rise

  April 11, 2011 12:42 PM

  NEW YORK - With the price of gas above $3.50 a gallon in nearly the entire country, there are signs that Americans are cutting back on driving. It marks a turnaround from a steady increase in demand for fuel as the economy improved. According to MasterCard SpendingPulse,... more »

• Cracks found in shuttle fuel tank

  November 10, 2010 2:39 PM

  NASA has found cracks in space shuttle Discovery's fuel tank. Discovery is grounded until at least the end of the month by a hydrogen gas leak. The leak forced NASA to call off last Friday's launch attempt. Later, a 20-inch crack in the foam insulation of the fuel... more »

• Oil hits year high, retail gas prices on the rise

  November 8, 2010 3:50 PM

  NEW YORK - Oil prices have reached a new high for the year and pump prices could be soon to follow as Americans map out their plans for Thanksgiving. Demand isn't driving the increase like it did in the spring when gasoline rose to $2.92 per gallon just ahead of... more »

• Gov't calling for better gas mileage for trucks

  October 25, 2010 11:17 AM

  New medium- and heavy-duty trucks will have to cut fuel consumption and emissions by 10 to 20 percent under first-ever standards announced by the Obama administration. For the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Transportation Department say that work trucks, school buses, longhaul trucks and more will... more »

• Government to propose truck fuel efficiency rules

  October 24, 2010 9:58 AM

  Tractor-trailers, school buses, delivery vans and other large vehicles will need to be more fuel efficient under first-ever standards coming from the Obama administration. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Transportation department plant to release a proposal Monday for medium- and heavy-duty- trucks beginning with those sold in the... more »

• EPA approves more ethanol in gas

  October 13, 2010 12:46 PM

  The Environmental Protection Agency has approved blending higher concentrations of ethanol into gasoline for newer vehicles, allowing mixtures with up to 15 percent of the corn-based fuel at the pump. The current maximum blend is 10 percent. The EPA announced Wednesday that the higher blend will be approved... more »

• Anti-BP signs posted in front of gas station

  June 18, 2010 5:09 PM

  The words, "We no longer sell BP, We do not have BP fuel" are written on a sign in front of a Central gas station. The gas station, Central Automotive and Tire, is located on the corner of Hooper Road and Sullivan Road. Gas station owner Randy Kikendall said he... more »

• New company will create bio fuel in BR area

  April 21, 2010 10:12 AM

  A new company is coming to the Baton Rouge area and will create wood pellets used for bio fuel. The move is expected to create 100 jobs and more than $100 million in capital investments. The company, called Point Bio Energy, will start construction by the end of this... more »

• Last space shuttle tank built in N.O. reaches milestone

  March 3, 2010 5:24 AM

  Engineers and technicians at the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility reached a major milestone when they spliced together the tank's liquid oxygen intertank to the liquid hydrogen tank to create a whole tank. The last tank now goes to the final assembly area and is scheduled to be finished on June... more »

• School bus driver trainee arrested

  February 11, 2010 8:15 AM

  Police say a 23-year-old man training to become a Lafayette Parish School Board bus driver has been arrested for allegedly using a school board charge card to buy more than $1,000 worth of unleaded gasoline. Calvin James Savoy was arrested Feb. 3 on 25 counts of "unauthorized use of an... more »

• Part of I-10 closed in Baton Rouge

  December 8, 2009 10:35 AM

  I-10 eastbound is closed near the 10/12 split in Baton Rouge because of a stalled 18-wheeler. Police say the 18-wheeler is leaking diesel fuel and crews hope to have it cleaned up by 11:30 a.m. Traffic is being diverted to I-12. more »