WBRZ - Baton Rouge

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• Another round for the House on 'Obamacare'

  May 16, 2013 5:43 PM

  WASHINGTON - One more time, with feeling! The Republican-led House has voted yet again to repeal President Barack Obama's health care law, knowing full well that won't stop it. Thursday's party-line vote marked the 37th time in a little over two years that the House has voted to eliminate, defund... more »

• Questions raised about House budget proposal

  May 16, 2013 3:07 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Senators are expressing skepticism about some assumptions House lawmakers used to balance next year's budget. The Senate Finance Committee have started to comb through the House's $25 billion bipartisan budget, trying to decide what senators might want to change. Sen. Greg Tarver, of Shreveport, questioned how the House... more »

• House lawmakers shelve Citizens rate review bill

  May 14, 2013 12:44 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Lawmakers in the House have rejected a proposal seeking legislative review of large rate hikes for customers of Louisiana's property insurer of last resort. The House Insurance Committee scrapped the idea Tuesday in a 9-4 vote against the bill by St. Mary Parish Sen. Bret Allain. The... more »

• Breakaway school district bill before committee

  May 14, 2013 10:45 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Supporters of a breakaway school district in southeast Baton Rouge gathered at the Capitol today for a committee hearing over the bills to create it. The House Education Committee scheduled a hearing for the two bills this morning. Both were approved in the Senate last week.... more »

• $25B budget debate shifts to Louisiana Senate

  May 13, 2013 6:02 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Action on crafting next year's nearly $25 billion budget has shifted to the Senate. Last week, the House sent senators a compromise proposal to fund state government in the fiscal year that begins July 1. Senators say they are combing through the details. But the leader of... more »

• House backs big budget compromise Play Video

  May 10, 2013 6:19 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana House voted overwhelmingly in favor of a $25 billion budget today which sways from spending plans recommended by Gov. Bobby Jindal. The House stripped $500 million from Jindal's plan which was either one-time money, or not guaranteed. They instead opted for cuts to state... more »

• House backs $25 billion budget compromise

  May 10, 2013 4:11 PM

  BATON ROUGE - After days of closed-door negotiations, the Louisiana House has backed a nearly $25 billion budget that deeply diverges from spending plans recommended by Gov. Bobby Jindal. Lawmakers objected to Jindal's proposal to use $500 million in uncertain financing from property sales, legal settlements, fund sweeps and other... more »

• Reworked budget plan taking shape in La. House

  May 9, 2013 3:35 PM

  BATON ROUGE - House Speaker Chuck Kleckley says he's confident the House has the two-thirds support needed to pass a bipartisan compromise budget plan Friday. The proposal - which has been tweaked several times - comes after lawmakers in the House refused to support budget sought by Gov. Bobby Jindal.... more »

• Reworked budget compromise taking shape in House

  May 9, 2013 10:38 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana House is considering substantial tweaks to an alternative proposal to Gov. Bobby Jindal's budget for next year. A bipartisan group of lawmakers is working to strip out $500 million in uncertain funding proposed by Jindal. In its place, lawmakers are proposing changes to tax break... more »

• House committee approves fee increase bill for LSU

  May 8, 2013 2:10 PM

  BATON ROUGE- LSU students could see a $60 a year fee increase this fall, thanks to an approval from the House Education Committee. That fee could top out at $300 a year by the fall of 2017. Baton Rouge Rep. Franklin Foil, sponsor of the fee bill, said the money... more »

• Republicans clash over House budget compromise

  May 7, 2013 10:22 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal is making a strong bid to kill a bipartisan budget compromise that contains $329 million in cuts to tax break programs that largely benefit businesses. Jindal assembled a group of industry lobbyists Tuesday to criticize the budget proposal, which was devised by conservative House... more »

• House speaker changes course on budget negotiation

  May 2, 2013 12:33 PM

  BATON ROUGE - House Speaker Chuck Kleckley has reversed course and thrown his support behind bipartisan budget negotiations in the House between Democratic leaders and a group of conservative Republicans. Kleckley, a Republican, previously was supporting a plan that involved maneuvering the budget through the House and working with the... more »

• House committee rejects gay discrimination ban

  May 1, 2013 2:32 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A ban on discrimination against state employees because of their sexual orientation has been rejected in a House committee. The 6-3 vote shelves the proposal by New Orleans Rep. Austin Badon. Badon says people should be judged on their employment qualifications, rather than on whether they are gay.... more »

• Budget maneuvering continues in House

  April 30, 2013 4:00 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Lawmakers in the House have refused to accept a procedural move by their leaders that would have given most of the decision-making on next year's budget to the Senate. House Speaker Chuck Kleckley and Appropriations Chairman Jim Fannin sought to remove $490 million in patchwork funding from... more »

• Archaeology dig near casino to get public showing Play Video

  April 29, 2013 3:38 PM

  BATON ROUGE- An archaeological dig just yards away from L'Auberge Casino is unearthing a 19th century "sugar house" on the historic Chatsworth Plantation. The project, commissioned by Pinnacle Entertainment and foster by the LSU Rural Life Museum, has already found thousands of artifacts at the site, which was abandoned... more »

• Definition of family declared unconstitutional Play Video

  April 25, 2013 6:16 PM

  BATON ROUGE - District Court Judge Janice Clark declared the East Baton Rouge Parish's definition of family unconstitutional. Before today, three or more unrelated people could not live together in neighborhoods zoned for single-family housing. Since 1954, East Baton Rouge's Unified Development Code has defined family as "an individual... more »

• Kleckley says Medicaid expansion a no-go this year

  April 25, 2013 1:02 PM

  BATON ROUGE - House Speaker Chuck Kleckley says he doesn't believe any proposal to tap into the federal Medicaid expansion money will win passage in the Louisiana Legislature this year. Kleckley, a Republican from Lake Charles, says lawmakers are interested in differing models that could access money from the Affordable... more »

• La. House committee retains letter grade formula

  April 24, 2013 2:53 PM

  BATON ROUGE- House Education Committee members have approved a proposal requiring the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to delay using new methods for calculating school performance letter grades. The new grading formula would include ACT test scores at high schools. It is set to apply to school and... more »

• La. House backs ban on enforcing federal gun law

  April 23, 2013 5:40 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana House has voted to ban enforcement of any federal restrictions on owning semi-automatic weapons. The 67-25 vote Tuesday followed more than an hour of contentious debate. Supporters say the measure is a protection of individual and states' rights. Opponents argue that Louisiana can't choose which... more »

• Cigarette tax increase stalls

  April 22, 2013 12:07 PM

  BATON ROUGE - An attempt to raise cigarette taxes by $1.05 per pack has stalled in the House tax committee. Bogalusa Rep. Harold Ritchie pulled his proposal before a vote Monday, saying he knew he didn't have the support to advance the measure to the House floor. It would have... more »

• Shreveport fire victim dies of burns

  April 22, 2013 8:55 AM

  SHREVEPORT- Fire officials say a 65-year-old Shreveport man burned in a fire has died of his injuries. Assistant to the Chief Fred Sanders identified the victim as Jeremiah Dudley. Sanders tells The Times firefighter responding to a call at 1 a.m. Sunday and found Dudley in the living room of... more »

• 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 »

• LSU fraternity house mother found dead

  April 11, 2013 2:51 PM

  BATON ROUGE - LSU says a house mother at one of their fraternity homes passed away recently. The Office of Greek Life said Linda Williams died in her apartment at the Kappa Sigma house due to natural causes. The university said Williams was a "very special person" in... more »

• Multiple departments working large house fire

  March 25, 2013 7:36 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Multiple area fire departments are working to control a fire at a house north of the airport. Firefighters got the original call about the house fire on Foster Road about 6:45 p.m. Monday. The story house was engulfed in flames when crews arrived. They've been able... more »

• Fire sparks at home, woman escapes

  March 12, 2013 11:35 AM

  BAKER - A woman was able to escape as fire ripped through her home. It happened around 11 a.m. in the 1200 block of McHugh Road near Groom Road. Officials say a woman who was there at the time of the blaze was able to escape without injuries.... more »

• Ark. House overrides veto of 12-week abortion ban

  March 6, 2013 2:30 PM

  LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The Arkansas House has completed a veto override that gives the state the toughest anti-abortion law in the country. Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe had vetoed a ban on most abortions beginning in the 12th week of pregnancy. The GOP-dominated House voted 56-33 on Wednesday to override.... more »

• Family dogs die in space heater fire

  February 28, 2013 10:49 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Firefighters said a space heater burned a home down and killed two of the resident's dogs this morning in Baton Rouge. Curt Monte with the Baton Rouge Fired Department said the home on Erie Street was a total loss, and the residents weren't hurt in the... more »

• White House: 'Grave concern' on delayed nominees

  February 17, 2013 12:43 PM

  WASHINGTON - The new White House chief of staff says there's "a grave concern" about delays in assembling President Barack Obama's second-term national security team. Senate Republicans have stalled the nominations of Chuck Hagel to be defense secretary and John Brennan to be CIA director. GOP lawmakers want more answers... 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 »

• House moves to extend pay freeze for fed workers

  February 15, 2013 7:08 AM

  WASHINGTON - The House is voting on whether to extend the current pay freeze for the nation's 2 million civilian federal workers. They say that blocking a raise proposed by President Barack Obama for the last nine months of this year will save $11 billion and that well-compensated federal employees... more »

• School bus goes into bayou

  February 14, 2013 9:35 AM

  MARINGOUIN - A school bus went into a Maringouin bayou after hitting a house Thursday morning, according to law enforcement. It happened near LA 76 and Musson Lane around 7:15 a.m. Maringouin Police said there were 20 students on the bus when the wreck happened, and four were... more »

• Obama to promote his agenda to House Democrats

  February 7, 2013 2:50 AM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama is promoting his second-term agenda to House Democrats, eager to keep them unified as a bulwark against a Republican majority on issues ranging from the economy to immigration to guns. Obama is meeting with Democratic lawmakers Thursday during their retreat in Lansdowne, Va., one day... more »

• Father loses son in deadly house fire

  February 1, 2013 7:44 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A house fire killed one person overnight in Baton Rouge, according to firefighters. Crews arrived to the scene just before 10 p.m. Thursday in the 1600 block of 79th Ave. Investigators believe the fire started in the kitchen, before spreading to other areas of the... more »

• La. Black Caucus founder Richard Turnley Jr. dies

  January 23, 2013 3:01 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Richard Turnley Jr., one of the founding members of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, died recently after battling a long illness. Turnley and nine other African American legislators established the caucus in 1977 to bring together black legislators and champion causes of the "least among us."... more »

• Officials identify 2 children killed in fire

  January 23, 2013 8:51 AM

  WEST MONROE- Ouachita Parish fire investigators have identified the two children who died in a West Monroe house fire on Monday. Investigator Curt Meachum tells The News-Star the victims were 16-month-old Josephine McMurry and 3-year-old Gwendolyn McMurry. Meachum says the girls' father, Morgan McMurry, is in a burn unit at... more »

• GOP moves to delay debt-ceiling showdown 3 months

  January 22, 2013 4:08 PM

  WASHINGTON - Republicans controlling the House are moving quickly to try to defuse a potential debt crisis. They're offering legislation to prevent a first-ever default on U.S. obligations for three months or more. The Republicans are giving up for now on trying to extract spending cuts from Democrats in return... more »

• Conservative House group seeks changes to budget Play Video

  January 22, 2013 2:45 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Conservative lawmakers in the state House are devising a package of proposals that aim to expand the state budget areas that can be cut during shortfalls and to limit the use of patchwork funding for ongoing programs. Rep. Brett Geymann, a Republican leading the "Budget Reform Coalition,"... more »

• GOP official: House to vote on delaying debt limit

  January 18, 2013 12:04 PM

  WASHINGTON - A Republican official says the GOP-controlled House will vote next week to permit the government to borrow more money to meets its obligations. Full details aren't settled yet, but the move is aimed at giving the government about three more months of borrowing authority beyond a deadline expected... more »

• Gleason shows high-tech controls at ALS, MS home

  January 17, 2013 3:41 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Former New Orleans Saints special teams standout Steve Gleason says that until there's a cure for his paralyzing disease, technology is the cure. He showed off some of that technology Thursday at a residence he's creating for up to 18 people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or multiple... more »

• White House calls NRA video repugnant, cowardly

  January 16, 2013 10:56 AM

  WASHINGTON - The White House says a National Rifle Association video referencing President Barack Obama's daughters is "repugnant and cowardly." Obama spokesman Jay Carney says most Americans agree that a president's children should not be used as "pawns in a political fight." Carney was referring to an online video from... more »

• Early-morning fire determined to be arson

  January 16, 2013 10:28 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Firefighters said an arsonist set fire to a vacant home overnight in Baton Rouge. Members of the Baton Rouge Fire Department were called to 2475 Huron around 1:30 a.m. today. When they arrived, they said flames were already coming out of the building's roof. It... more »

• Newtown families invited to Obama gun control event

  January 16, 2013 10:20 AM

  WASHINGTON - Families of the victims of last month's shooting attack at a Connecticut elementary school have been invited to the White House today to see President Barack Obama outline an effort aimed at reducing gun violence. Obama's ideas include bans on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines --... more »

• House approves $50.7B for Sandy aid

  January 15, 2013 6:35 PM

  WASHINGTON - The House has approved a $50.7 billion measure for Superstorm Sandy victims. The 241-180 vote sends the measure to the Senate which is expected to take it up next Tuesday. Northeast lawmakers from both parties have been pressing for the aid for more than two months. The Oct.... more »

• Boehner: GOP will pass 'responsible' debt bill

  January 14, 2013 1:05 PM

  WASHINGTON - Speaker John Boehner says the GOP-controlled House will "do its job" and pass legislation to lift the nation's borrowing cap and keep the government running, but will insist that Democrats accept new spending controls. Boehner acknowledged Monday that failing to lift the so-called debt ceiling would have bad... more »

• House arrest prisoner convicted of simple escape

  January 10, 2013 7:24 AM

  ALEXANDRIA - An Alexandria man who had been serving a sentence under a house arrest program has been convicted of simple escape. The Rapides Parish District Attorney's Office says 55-year-old Kenneth Bell Sr. was serving the sentence for a prior conviction, but Rapides Parish sheriff's deputies found that he... more »

• Congress ushering in new members, with old divide

  January 3, 2013 8:03 AM

  WASHINGTON - The Senate and House have ushered in a new Congress. The 113th Congress convened at noon on Thursday, the constitutionally mandated time. Pomp and pageantry began simultaneously on either side of the Capitol. In the Senate, Vice President Joe Biden joined his former colleagues. He was swearing in... more »

• Open house held for Sandy Hook students

  January 2, 2013 8:40 AM

  MONROE, Conn. - The children who escaped last month's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., have been welcomed with their parents at a school in a neighboring town that was overhauled specially for them. And their new school is being renamed for their old one. Newtown Schools... more »

• Dems want House vote on Senate-passed 'cliff' deal

  January 1, 2013 2:42 PM

  WASHINGTON - House Democratic leaders are pressing Speaker John Boehner to let the House vote on the Senate-approved bipartisan compromise that would avert much of the impact of the so-called fiscal cliff. Following a nearly three-hour private meeting Tuesday between Vice President Joe Biden and House Democratic lawmakers, Minority Leader... more »

• Dog dies in kitchen fire

  December 28, 2012 2:32 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Heavy smoke from a kitchen fire killed a family dog, according to the St. George Fire Department. They said the two-story dwelling, on Lakes Boulevard, was covered in smoke. The residents were not injured. The cause of the fire is under investigation. more »

• House to return to session Sunday evening

  December 27, 2012 2:37 PM

  WASHINGTON- The House will be back in session Sunday evening as the "fiscal cliff" looms, threatening across-the-board tax increases and spending cuts with the new year. Officials said the Republican leadership informed the GOP rank and file of the plan to meet during a conference call Thursday. It is unclear... more »

• Zachary damage not from tornado Play Video

  December 26, 2012 5:37 PM

  ZACHARY- The National Weather Service says damage in the Zachary area is consistent with straight line winds, not a tornado. Meteorologist Mike Efferson says a tree that snapped in half, damaging a home and vehicle, fell from west to east, the same direction as the Christmas Day storm. Efferson... more »

• 'Fiscal cliff' leaves Boehner a wounded speaker

  December 22, 2012 10:14 AM

  WASHINGTON - John Boehner is a bloodied House speaker following the startling setback his own Republican troops dealt him in their "fiscal cliff" struggle with President Barack Obama. There's plenty of internal grumbling about the Ohio Republican, especially among conservatives, and lots of buzzing about whether his leadership post is... more »

• Boehner plans vote on backup proposal

  December 19, 2012 1:28 PM

  WASHINGTON - As the country continues to creep closer to the so-called "fiscal cliff," House Speaker John Boehner is planning a vote on his backup proposal tomorrow. "Plan B," as it's called, would block tax increases from being triggered Jan. 1 on everyone but those whose incomes exceed $1 million.... more »

• Special election set in House District 79

  December 18, 2012 10:49 AM

  BATON ROUGE - State House Speaker Chuck Kleckley has set a March 2 special election to fill the expected vacancy in the House District 79 seat held by state Rep. Anthony Ligi. An April 6 runoff will be held, if necessary. The Advocate reports qualifying for the election will run... more »

• Pelosi says time running out for fiscal cliff deal

  December 13, 2012 10:45 AM

  WASHINGTON - House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi says a deal must be reached "in the next couple of days or the very beginning of next week" to avoid the fiscal cliff of automatic tax hikes and spending cuts. The California Democrat criticized Republican House leaders for sending lawmakers home on... more »

• GOP proposes new 'fiscal cliff' offer to Obama

  December 3, 2012 2:16 PM

  WASHINGTON - House Republicans negotiating with President Barack Obama on avoiding the so-called fiscal cliff are proposing to increase the eligibility age for Medicare and to lower cost-of-living hikes in Social Security benefits. The proposal is a response to Obama's offer last week to hike taxes by $1.6 trillion over... more »

• WH: Syrian use chem weapons would cross 'red line'

  December 3, 2012 2:15 PM

  WASHINGTON - The White House says it is increasingly concerned that the beleaguered regime in Syria might be considering use of chemical weapons against its own people and warned that doing so would "cross a red line." White House press secretary Jay Carney said Monday that U.S. officials are closely... more »

• Fire destroys home in E. Baton Rouge

  November 30, 2012 3:40 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A fire destroyed a home in East Baton Rouge Parish this afternoon. It happened at 6898 Lacey Drive in northern Baton Rouge around 2:40 p.m. Firefighters said a woman was inside the home when the fire started, but made it out without injury. The... more »

• Jesse Jackson Jr. submits letter of resignation

  November 21, 2012 1:51 PM

  WASHINGTON - A spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner says he has received letter of resignation from Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. Boehner's spokesman Michael Steel said Wednesday the Speaker's office received a letter of resignation from Jackson. Boehner's office did not immediately comment beyond acknowledging they'd received the letter. Jackson... more »

• Liberal group outlines substantial Medicare cuts

  November 14, 2012 12:11 PM

  WASHINGTON - A think-tank with ties to the White House is looking to prevent a raid on health care programs during upcoming budget talks. It's released a plan today for some significant savings -- mostly from Medicare. The blueprint from the Center for American Progress spares Medicaid and the new... more »

• Boehner says debt limit should be part of talks

  November 9, 2012 10:54 AM

  WASHINGTON - House Speaker John Boehner says any deal to avert the so-called fiscal cliff should include lower tax rates, eliminating special interest loopholes and revising the tax code. Speaking to reporters Friday, the Ohio Republican insisted that changing the tax code and making it more efficient would lead to... more »

• SUV careens into house; driver arrested

  November 8, 2012 8:49 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A man is in custody after deputies said he drove his vehicle into a house. East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's deputies responded to Tracy Avenue around 7:30 p.m. Thursday. WBRZ News2 crews on the scene reported seeing an SUV smashed into the side of a house.... more »

• Lawmakers issue subpoena for pharmacy director

  November 6, 2012 3:30 PM

  WASHINGTON - House lawmakers have issued a subpoena for the director of the pharmacy linked to the deadly meningitis outbreak, after he reportedly declined to appear before Congress next week. The Energy and Commerce Committee says that Barry Cadden, co-founder of New England Compounding Center, indicated through his lawyer that... more »

• Hours later, firefighters still battling luxury house fire

  November 5, 2012 8:45 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Firefighters haven't been able to pinpoint the cause of a fire in the Country Club of Louisiana. A house in this luxury golf course neighborhood caught on fire around 4 o'clock Monday afternoon. It took crews hours to get it under control. As late as 8:00... more »

• Large fire being fought near Country Club of La.

  November 5, 2012 5:34 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Firefighters continued to battle a house fire this evening in an East Baton Rouge gated community. Eldon Ledoux with St. George Fire Protection District said the fire at 18614 Amen Corner Court still wasn't under control at 4:30 p.m. Ledoux said there were no known... more »

• Jindal critics ousted from House budget committee

  November 2, 2012 1:02 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Two Republican lawmakers have been kicked off the House budget committee after repeated clashes with Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration over its budget decisions. Jefferson Parish Rep. Cameron Henry, the vice-chairman of the panel, and Assumption Parish Rep. Joe Harrison say they were told Friday of their ouster... more »

• House speaker presses Obama for answers on Libya

  October 25, 2012 1:34 PM

  WASHINGTON - House Speaking John Boehner is pressing President Barack Obama for answers about the deadly Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. mission in Libya that killed four Americans. Boehner sent a letter to Obama on Thursday asking whether he or senior administration officials had been personally briefed about security... more »

• House leader says Jindal surplus plan violates law

  October 19, 2012 2:56 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The leader of the House budget committee says Gov. Bobby Jindal's proposal for using a $143 million surplus violates the law and an agreement reached with the House earlier this year to end a budget stalemate. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim Fannin made his comments Friday as... more »

• 5 people killed in northeast Baltimore house fire

  October 11, 2012 9:04 AM

  BALTIMORE - Authorities say a fire ripped through a northeast Baltimore home, killing one adult and four children. Fire department spokesman Chief Kevin Cartwright says firefighters were called around 2 a.m. Thursday and arrived to find heavy fire and smoke coming from the first floor of the home. Cartwright... more »

• House fire claims life in Jennings

  October 2, 2012 7:06 AM

  JENNINGS - A handicapped man has died after a house fire in Jefferson Davis Parish. It happened Monday night in the 200 block of E. Willis St. According to the State Fire Marshal's Office, two other people escaped the fire. Investigators believe it started in a bedroom... more »

• Court seems unclear on house versus boat question

  October 1, 2012 12:31 PM

  WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court seems torn on when the law should treat some floating homes as houseboats and when it should treat them as houses. The question came up Monday as the court was trying to figure out whether Riviera Beach, Florida should have used maritime law to seize... more »

• Mortgage rates hit all-time low Play Video

  September 27, 2012 6:24 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Mortgage rates are at a national all time low at 3.4% on a 30-year fixed rate. The low rates come as the Federal Reserve continue to stimulate the housing sector. "The rates have stayed historically low, which has allowed quite a few people to refinance, cutting their... more »

• Cat rescued from burning Central home

  September 18, 2012 2:17 PM

  CENTRAL - Firefighters in Central saved one cat from a burning home in Central this morning, but said four other cats died in the fire. Deputy Fire Chief Charles Mondrick said they were called to a kitchen fire at the home on Daytona Drive just after 6 a.m. When... more »

• Policeman charged with manslaughter of unarmed man

  August 16, 2012 6:08 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A New Orleans policeman has been charged with manslaughter of an unarmed man killed by an officer who was searching his mother's house for marijuana. An email from Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro's office says a grand jury indicted Joshua Colclough on Thursday with manslaughter of... more »

• Flames damage home on Missouri St.

  August 15, 2012 7:43 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Officials say a fire from a shed spread to the rear of a home on Missouri St., causing serious damage overnight. The flames caused damage to the attic, as well as smoke and heat damage to the main house. Fire investigators believe the shed was... more »

• "Rebuild Rosie Project" makes progress Play Video

  August 13, 2012 6:38 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A family is finally getting a roof over their head after a News 2 story brought in thousands of dollars in cash and donations to rebuild her home. Rosie Antoine lost her home earlier this summer and planned to move into her son's old house. That home... more »

• Builders start on wounded Army vet's home Play Video

  August 2, 2012 5:02 PM

  PRARIEVILLE- Builders started work today on a house for an army veteran wounded in Afghanistan. The Prarieville home won't cost him a penny. Corporal Jeffery Argrave says he needs a pinch to make sure this is real. "This isn't me, this is like a paranormal dimension," Argrave said.... more »

• House Democrats lose bid to hike taxes on wealthy

  August 1, 2012 4:50 PM

  WASHINGTON - Democrats have lost a bid in the Republican-controlled House to increase taxes on high-income earners and on people who inherit million dollar-plus estates. The Democratic plan, which was backed by President Barack Obama, fell to Republicans who insisted that a full package of Bush-era tax cuts be renewed... more »

• Two dead, same home, a week apart

  July 13, 2012 7:28 PM

  Four people are in custody in Arkansas after two 18-year-olds were found dead at the same house within a week. A minor was arrested Friday and charged with capital murder for killing Nicholas Zurosky. Three others, including another juvenile, were arrested for hindering the investigation. But authorities won't say if... more »

• GOP-controlled House votes to repeal health law

  July 11, 2012 3:02 PM

  WASHINGTON - The Republican-led House has voted to repeal President Barack Obama's health care law. But the election-year move stands no chance in the Democratic-controlled Senate. The vote Wednesday was 244-185. By the Republican count, it was the 33rd time in 18 months that the tea party-infused GOP majority has... more »

• Four departments respond to house fire

  July 9, 2012 10:33 AM

  ZACHARY - A house fire in Zachary this morning took four fire departments to get under control. Members of Baker and Zachary fire departments responded to the fire at 23006 Jacock Road, then called for assitance from other fire departments near the area. Crews do have the fire... more »

• Obama to celebrate July Fourth at White House

  July 4, 2012 7:13 AM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama will be celebrating the nation's 236th birthday today at the White House. The president returns from Camp David this morning. Then he'll deliver remarks at a naturalization ceremony for active-duty service members in the East Room. In the evening, the president and the... more »

• BRFD: Lightning hit tree, set home on fire

  July 2, 2012 5:26 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Lightning struck a tree during this afternoon's storms and traveled into a nearby home, igniting a fire according to the Baton Rouge Fire Department. Spokesperson Robert Combs said the home on 3021 Margebrook Drive had quite a bit of damage, but no one was home at... more »

• House votes to hold attorney general in contempt

  June 28, 2012 4:15 PM

  WASHINGTON - The House has approved a precedent-setting resolution to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in criminal contempt of Congress. It was the first time a sitting Cabinet member has been held in contempt. A number of Democrats boycotted Thursday's vote. Republicans pushed through the resolution because Holder did not... more »

• Tentative Hill deal on student loans

  June 27, 2012 1:17 PM

  WASHINGTON - A congressional Republican says the House and Senate have tentatively agreed to prevent interest rates on new college loans from doubling to 6.8 percent this Sunday. The one-year extension of the existing 3.4 percent rate on subsidized Stafford loans is the same package that Senate Majority Leader Harry... more »

• Some seized animals adopted Play Video

  June 14, 2012 5:46 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A Central woman is facing charges animal cruelty charges after she's accused of keeping dozens of animals in her house in central. Animal-control is still finding animals, a week after seizing dogs, cats and a bird from Cindy Browning's home. But things are starting to look... more »

• House approves GOP bill repealing medical tax

  June 7, 2012 4:49 PM

  WASHINGTON - The House has shrugged off a veto threat and passed legislation repealing a tax on companies that produce many medical devices sold in the United States. Lawmakers approved the measure 270-146. Majority Republicans won support from three-dozen Democrats representing states where medical equipment makers have a heavy presence... more »

• White House confirms death of al-Qaida No. 2

  June 5, 2012 2:35 PM

  WASHINGTON - The White House is confirming the death of al-Qaida's second-in-command, calling it a "major blow" to the terror network. White House spokesman Jay Carney would not confirm how Abu Yahya al-Libi was killed. An American official says he was killed in a U.S. drone strike. Carney described... more »

• White House pushes for college cost transparency

  June 5, 2012 9:38 AM

  WASHINGTON - The White House is partnering with dozens of colleges to provide new students with easier-to-understand information on costs and financial aid. Vice President Joe Biden is announcing the partnership Tuesday along with representatives from several schools, including Syracuse University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.... more »

• A glance at 2012 At The Capitol

  June 4, 2012 3:20 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's lawmakers spent three months combing through bills in the regular legislative session. Nearly 2,000 bills were filed for consideration. Here's a look at what happened to some of the issues, with the session ending Monday: BUDGET: A $25.6 billion budget proposal for 2012-13 will finance... more »