WBRZ - Baton Rouge

Tagged News

• Revisiting Laplace after Isaac Play Video

  May 17, 2013 4:24 PM

  LAPLACE - Hurricane season just is days away. For some, the memory of Isaac is still fresh, since the cleanup hasn't stopped. St. John the Baptist is one of those parishes still picking up the pieces after Isaac devastated the town of Laplace. "We feel like we're coming... more »

• Deadline looms for Isaac flood insurance claims

  April 17, 2013 8:12 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A deadline is approaching for Louisiana policyholders to file flood insurance claims over damage from Hurricane Isaac last year. The Federal Emergency Management Agency says most policyholders with the National Flood Insurance Program have until April 22 to complete their proof-of-loss claims. FEMA says the... more »

• Former state fire marshal passes away

  March 12, 2013 4:26 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The state fire marshal's office announced Tuesday that the former fire marshal who oversaw response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita passed away last week. Henry Fry died Friday at his home in Covington, according to State Fire Marshal Butch Browning. Fry served as state fire... more »

• Audit outlines trouble with hurricane program

  February 25, 2013 8:58 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A new audit says Louisiana's "Katrina cottages" program paid significantly more per house than other similar initiatives. And in some instances, the audit says the homes were poorly constructed and families were forced to temporarily move out. The review of the problem-plagued $75 million program was released... more »

• Cassidy: FEMA should reinvestigate Livingston damage

  February 25, 2013 7:57 AM

  LIVINGSTON - U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy says the Federal Emergency Management Agency should reopen an appeal by Livingston Parish that asks the agency to pay for debris removal from Hurricane Gustav. In a letter to FEMA, Cassidy say evidence suggests the agency may have wrongly decided how much it would... more »

• Extension to file Hurricane Isaac claims

  February 22, 2013 11:07 AM

  BATON ROUGE- Property owners with flood insurance policies whose homes or other structures were damaged during Hurricane Isaac have an additional 60 days to file claims for their flood-related losses. Policy owners now have until April 22 to complete their proof of loss claims. The National Flood Insurance Program says... more »

• White House: Sandy to blame for lack of growth

  January 30, 2013 10:37 AM

  WASHINGTON - The White House says Superstorm Sandy is partially to blame for the unexpected contraction of the U.S. economy. Top White House economist Alan Krueger says the storm, which battered the East Coast, disrupted economic activity and destroyed $44 billion in fixed capital. Krueger also says federal defense spending... more »

• Congress passes $50.5B Superstorm Sandy aid bill

  January 28, 2013 5:46 PM

  WASHINGTON - Congress is sending a $50.5 billion emergency relief measure for Superstorm Sandy victims to President Barack Obama for his signature. The Senate on Monday cleared the bill, 62-36. Northeast lawmakers say the money is desperately needed to help recovery efforts from the one of the region's worst storms.... more »

• Katrina burned body trials March 11, March 18

  January 22, 2013 5:10 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A new trial will begin March 11 for a former New Orleans police lieutenant accused of covering up a police killing after Hurricane Katrina. The ex-officer accused of killing the man will be tried a week later. U.S. District Judge Lance Africk set the dates Tuesday. David... more »

• La. to get more Isaac recovery funds

  January 9, 2013 6:58 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The Federal Emergency Management Agency is sending $7.4 million to Louisiana in Hurricane Isaac recovery funds to help impacted families with additional household and education needs and more. The FEMA dollars are going to the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services for a Disaster Case... more »

• Deadline approaching for Isaac-delayed taxes

  January 7, 2013 10:25 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The IRS reminded people today that this Friday is the deadline for certain tax filings delayed by Hurricane Isaac. After Isaac passed through Louisiana on Sept. 5, the IRS postponed several tax filing and payment deadlines for taxpayers in Louisiana and Mississippi, giving them until Jan.... more »

• Texas builds 'hurricane domes' for double-duty

  December 28, 2012 1:57 PM

  EDNA, Texas- Texas is building specially designed "hurricane domes" along its Gulf Coast that will offer shelter during major storms and serve the rest of the time as gyms or community centers. The proposed 28 domes are part of the Texas Safe Shelter Initiative, created to protect sick and elderly... more »

• NO likely to cap emergency OT pay

  December 18, 2012 10:46 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Civil Service Commission is considering new rules that would limit extra pay for city officials during hurricanes and other emergencies. It's a move that comes after a dozen of Mayor Mitch Landrieu's top lieutenants accrued more than $10,000 apiece in emergency bonuses during... more »

• Senate Dems offer Sandy disaster aid package

  December 12, 2012 3:56 PM

  WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats have quickly cobbled together a $60.4 billion disaster aid package for New York, New Jersey and other states hit by Superstorm Sandy in late October. Working from the emergency spending request President Barack Obama made five days ago, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday released draft... more »

• FEMA to help elevate Terrebonne homes

  December 10, 2012 8:47 AM

  HOUMA - More structures in Terrebonne Parish will get a boost above future storm surges with another wave of federal grants. About $3 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency money will be used to elevate 11 homes and one commercial building in Terrebonne Parish. The money comes from... more »

• Jury clears NO supplier of faulty Chinese drywall

  December 5, 2012 10:40 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A federal jury has ruled in favor of a New Orleans drywall supplier that distributed the faulty Knauf-brand imported Chinese drywall in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Rick Duplantier, the lead trial lawyer for the firm, told The Times-Picayune that the trial which ended this week found... more »

• 2012 hurricane season another for the record books

  November 30, 2012 10:37 AM

  MIAMI - The 2012 hurricane season has come to an end and it's another one for the record books, above and beyond the destruction of Sandy. There were 19 named storms in what meteorologists consider an above-average year that tied as being the third most-active season since 1851. Even without... more »

• FEMA makes push to connect with storm victims in LA

  November 27, 2012 10:01 PM

  BATON ROUGE- People recovering from Hurricane Isaac can try to get more help from FEMA. The agency said Tuesday it has more assistance available. $530,000 has been added to the relief money for thousands of storm victims. FEMA also said it is making follow-up calls and some home visits.... more »

• 'Cane farmers want more storm protection

  November 26, 2012 9:47 PM

  THIBODAUX- Sugar Cane farmers want stronger protections from hurricanes since Isaac flooded farmland. 22 parishes in Louisiana produce more than 2.9 billion pounds of raw sugar on 408,000 acres. "We are asking the [Army Corps of Engineers] to take agricultural farmland into account as they plan future flood... more »

• DPW chief discusses lessons learned from Isaac Play Video

  November 26, 2012 6:13 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The interim director of Baton Rouge's Department of Public Works said today his agency's Hurricane Isaac preparation and response went smoothly. David Guillory said they had one overriding goal: get back to normal as quickly as possible. "We need to try to make us operate... more »

• Grand Isle still waiting for levee repairs

  November 26, 2012 10:57 AM

  GRAND ISLE - Three months after Hurricane Isaac, Grand Isle is still waiting for repairs to the island's levee system. But Grand Isle Mayor David Camardelle tells The Courier he's been told by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that the repairs won't begin until June when tourists typically flock... more »

• NJ storm victims finding lost mementos online

  November 23, 2012 6:47 PM

  NEWARK, N.J. - New Jersey residents devastated by Superstorm Sandy are being reunited with lost photographs and objects through social media. There are at least four Facebook pages targeted to New Jersey residents that help connect them with their possessions. People who find lost mementos can post photos of them... more »

• What does it take to get people to flee a storm?

  November 14, 2012 9:16 PM

  NEW YORK (AP) - In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, emergency officials are taking another look at a problem that has bedeviled them for a long time: how to get people to comply when they are ordered to evacuate their homes. Despite dire forecasts and explicit warnings, hundreds of thousands... more »

• What does it take to get people to flee a storm?

  November 14, 2012 2:03 PM

  NEW YORK - In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, emergency officials are taking another look at a problem that has bedeviled them for a long time: how to get people to comply when they are ordered to evacuate their homes. Despite dire forecasts and explicit warnings, hundreds of thousands of... more »

• FEMA individual aid nears $116 million after Isaac

  November 14, 2012 7:25 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved nearly $116 million in individual aid for Louisiana homeowners and renters who experienced damage from Hurricane Isaac. Nearly 32,000 people have received housing assistance, which totals $95 million. Another $21 million has been provided for other types of individual... more »

• State deploys DCFS team to NJ to help with Sandy

  November 13, 2012 3:37 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A team of three emergency responders from the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services has traveled to New Jersey to help officials there with their sheltering mission following Hurricane Sandy. The team will remain in New Jersey to provide technical support and advice as long as... more »

• Corps: Isaac's path, slow speed caused flooding

  November 9, 2012 6:21 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A post-Hurricane Isaac study by the Army Corps of Engineers says Isaac's storm surge flooding of areas that were not inundated during Hurricanes Katrina and Gustav was not caused by post-Katrina improvements to New Orleans area levee system. Instead, the study says, surge flooding during Isaac was... more »

• "Spirit of Louisiana" fire truck headed to Long Island

  November 5, 2012 11:36 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A fire truck donated to New York in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks is headed to the northeast again to help with a different disaster. Fire Marshal Butch Browning said they were lending the "Spirit of Louisiana" truck to aid in cleanup around... more »

• La. troopers giving a hand in NJ

  November 5, 2012 10:28 AM

  TRENTON, N.J. - Eight states are lending law enforcement power to New Jersey in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Attorney General Jeff Chiesa swore in more than 200 out-of-state troopers Monday. The troopers, who are on loan from as far away as Mississippi, will handle security checkpoints and conduct patrols... more »

• Appalachian Trail hiker trapped by snow is rescued

  November 2, 2012 3:59 PM

  GATLINBURG, Tenn. - An Appalachian Trail hiker has been rescued from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park after calling 911 to say he didn't think he'd be able to make his way out because of snowdrifts up to 5 feet high left by Superstorm Sandy. Park service spokeswoman Molly Schroer... more »

• New York skyline to be lit up again tonight

  November 2, 2012 3:55 PM

  NEW YORK - For the first time since Superstorm Sandy struck at the start of the week, the Manhattan skyline is expected to be mostly lit up tonight. Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the utility Con Edison is hoping to have most of Manhattan's outages resolved by midnight. But the progress... more »

• Laplace flooding study to be finished soon Play Video

  November 1, 2012 6:16 PM

  LAPLACE - Two months after Hurricane Isaac brought two to four feet of storm surge into hundreds of homes, St. John Parish residents can soon expect answers as to why. Days after the storm, Sen. David Vitter asked the Corps of Engineers to investigate if the protection around New... more »

• Travel slowly creeps back to life in Northeast

  November 1, 2012 1:18 PM

  NEW YORK - Superstorm Sandy is gone, the sun is shining, but many folks in the Northeast are still stuck in a transit nightmare. Even though airports, rail lines, buses and even the New York City subway have reopened, most aren't at normal capacity, leaving gigantic lines and gridlocked traffic.... more »

• New York City Marathon is on for Sunday

  November 1, 2012 10:30 AM

  NEW YORK - Superstorm Sandy has caused the postponement of the Brooklyn Nets' first NBA regular-season game at Barclays Center, but it won't stop the New York City marathon. The NBA has agreed to reschedule tonight's game between the Nets and visiting New York Knicks. The Barclays Center sits above... more »

• New estimate for economic damage from storm: $50B

  November 1, 2012 10:23 AM

  NEW YORK - The total economic damage from Superstorm Sandy could run as high as $50 billion, according to new estimates from the forecasting firm Eqecat. The new numbers are more than double the firm's previous estimate. Eqecat said Thursday that its new estimate for economic losses is between... more »

• Obama making up for lost time after storm hiatus

  November 1, 2012 10:21 AM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama dives back into campaigning after three days immersed in managing the federal response to the storm that battered the East Coast. The contours of the presidential race remain much the same, with Obama and Republican Mitt Romney locked in a tight contest and both campaigns... more »

• Obama, Christie view damage from Sandy

  October 31, 2012 1:23 PM

  ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - President Barack Obama and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have begun an hour-long aerial tour of New Jersey hurricane damage aboard Obama's Marine One helicopter. Obama flew to New Jersey today for a first-hand look at the devastation from the storm. He's officially away from the... more »

• Romney now is supportive of FEMA, despite earlier suggestion that it be scrapped

  October 31, 2012 12:24 PM

  WASHINGTON - Mitt Romney is making it clear that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has a role to play in dealing with events like Hurricane Sandy. In a statement released by his campaign today, he says FEMA "plays a key role in working with states and localities to prepare for... more »

• Northeast air travel resumes as JFK, Newark reopen

  October 31, 2012 11:25 AM

  NEW YORK - Air travelers stranded in the Northeast are a little closer to getting home. Two of New York City's three major airports are open. Flights are slowly resuming at John F. Kennedy International and Newark Liberty International. LaGuardia is still closed. Airlines say they are beginning limited... more »

• Professional leagues plan to play after superstorm

  October 30, 2012 4:20 PM

  NEW YORK - With much of the Northeast immersed in the recovery from superstorm Sandy's devastating blow, the NFL and NBA plan to carry on with their schedules. The New York City Marathon is still hoping that the course will be clear by Sunday and runners will be able... more »

• Hospital staff completes evacuation of patients during storm

  October 30, 2012 3:35 PM

  NEW YORK - An official at a New York City hospital says, "Everyone here is a hero." Dr. Bernard Birnbaum, senior vice president at Tisch Hospital, today thanked crews who had worked through the night, evacuating nearly 300 patients floor-by-floor from one of the city's top hospitals after it lost... more »

• Sandy's death toll climbs

  October 30, 2012 12:29 PM

  NEW YORK - The number of dead from the superstorm that struck the Northeast has climbed to 34 -- with many of the victims killed by falling trees. At least 7.4 million people are without power. Lower Manhattan was among the hardest-hit areas after the storm sent a nearly 14-foot... more »

• Obama cancels more events, Romney changes tone

  October 30, 2012 11:40 AM

  KETTERING, Ohio - For a third day tomorrow, President Barack Obama will be off the campaign trail. Instead of holding campaign events in Ohio, he'll be at the White House to monitor recovery efforts from the storm that practically shut down New York City and left more than 30 people... more »

• Wall Street still dark, exchanges test systems

  October 30, 2012 10:24 AM

  NEW YORK - With lower Manhattan still largely without power Tuesday, U.S. stock exchanges tested contingency plans to ensure trading resumes as soon as possible this week after Hurricane Sandy smashed into the East Coast and shut down operations. U.S. markets will be closed for a second day, but... more »

• Sandy moves inland after leaving 17 dead

  October 30, 2012 8:11 AM

  NEW YORK - Superstorm Sandy is winding down and inching its way inland, leaving at least 17 people in seven states dead and more than 7 million power outages in its wake. New York was one of the hardest hit areas when an unprecedented 13-foot surge of seawater - 3... more »

• Sandy slams NYC, other areas Play Video

  October 29, 2012 10:18 PM

  NEW YORK- What was Hurricane Sandy is now Superstorm Sandy and has knocked-out power to a hospital and some 1.5 million people along the East Coast. New York Mayor Mayor Michael Bloomberg asked residents to only call 911 if "it was a matter of life or death," and implored... more »

• Superstorm Sandy loses hurricane status

  October 29, 2012 6:59 PM

  ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Forecasters say Sandy is no longer a hurricane but is still a dangerous system taking dead aim at New Jersey and Delaware. The National Hurricane Center said Monday evening that Sandy is a post-tropical storm and losing strength but still has sustained winds at 85 mph.... more »

• Coast Guard finds 1 missing crew member of ship

  October 29, 2012 5:23 PM

  ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. - The Coast Guard says it has found one of the missing crew members of a tall ship that went down off the North Carolina coast, but she is unresponsive. Lt. Mike Patterson said crews are taking 42-year-old Claudene Christian to the hospital. The Coast Guard is... more »

• Social media abuzz with hurricane chatter

  October 29, 2012 4:34 PM

  NEW YORK - Whether you call it Frankenstorm, Stormpocalypse or simply Hurricane Sandy, the giant weather system barreling into the East Coast is a favorite topic of conversation on social media from Facebook to Twitter. As people post updates to friends and family, relay emergency information and lighten the... more »

• Sandy expected ashore by evening

  October 29, 2012 2:42 PM

  ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Hurricane Sandy is now expected to blow ashore in New jersey or Delaware by this evening -- hours sooner than previously expected. The storm has picked up some forward speed. It's already washed away a part of the Atlantic City Boardwalk. And it's threatening to cripple... more »

• La. crews heading to northeast for Sandy

  October 29, 2012 2:40 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Volunteers, emergency responders and others from Louisiana are heading to the northeast to put their experience with hurricanes to use as Hurricane Sandy nears landfall. Both Entergy and DEMCO utility companies have hundreds of line workers either on their way or prepared to join crews from... more »

• NYC Fire Dept. at scene of dangling crane

  October 29, 2012 2:29 PM

  NEW YORK - Emergency workers are at the scene of a crane that's dangling off a 65-story building in New York City. Television images show part of the crane hanging off the luxury building on West 57th Street. No injuries are reported. However, streets have been cleared as a precaution.... more »

• Analysts say Sandy unlikely to damage US economy

  October 29, 2012 2:27 PM

  WASHINGTON - Hurricane Sandy has already caused the cancellation of thousands of flights, stranding travelers. Insurers are expecting to have to pay up to $5 billion. Retailers are expecting smaller sales. But for the overall economy, damage from the storm is expected to be limited, and analysts say any economic... more »

• Hurricane Sandy could delay October jobs report

  October 29, 2012 1:47 PM

  WASHINGTON - Hurricane Sandy could complicate Friday's release of the October jobs report, the final snapshot of employment before the presidential election. U.S. Labor Department officials are still hopeful that they can release the report as scheduled. But they acknowledged that the storm could cause a delay. "Our intention is... more »

• 14 rescued, 2 missing from tall ship off NC

  October 29, 2012 10:30 AM

  PORTSMOUTH, Va. - The Coast Guard has rescued 14 members of the crew forced to abandon the tall ship HMS Bounty caught in Hurricane Sandy off the North Carolina Outer Banks. The Coast Guard is searching for two other crew members. It corrected the total number of crew to 16... more »

• Sandy gains power and aims for Northeast

  October 29, 2012 10:27 AM

  NEW YORK - Hurricane Sandy is gaining strength and has taken a left turn toward the East Coast and its date with two other weather systems. An official with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is calling it "the worst-case scenario." The storm, with tropical storm-force winds extending almost 500... more »

• "Super Sandy or Frakenstorm"

  October 25, 2012 6:05 PM

  Northeasterners experienced days of power outages last October due to a snowstorm. This weekend and into Election Day and Halloween a worse storm is expected. Hurricane Sandy may be called "Super Sandy" and "Frankenstorm" as it reaches the coast of New Jersey and may surpass the "Perfect Storm" that also... more »

• Hybrid of Sandy, winter storm threatens East Coast

  October 25, 2012 1:20 PM

  WASHINGTON - Government forecasters say a big storm that they're calling "Frankenstorm" is likely to blast most of the U.S. East Coast next week. The storm is an unusual mix of a hurricane and a winter storm. The worst of it could be focused around New York City and New... more »

• Tropical Storm Sandy forms south of Jamaica

  October 22, 2012 5:19 PM

  MIAMI - Tropical Storm Sandy has formed south of Jamaica and forecasters say the storm is expected to strengthen. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Sandy was about 395 miles (636 kilometers) south of Kingston, Jamaica, and had winds of 40 mph (64 kph). It is expected to head... more »

• Tropical depression forms south of Jamaica

  October 22, 2012 10:32 AM

  MIAMI - A tropical depression has formed south of Jamaica and forecasters say it will likely strengthen into a named storm. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Monday the depression was about 320 miles (515 kilometers) south of Kingston, Jamaica, and had winds of 30 mph (48 kph). It... more »

• FEMA center opens in Pointe Coupee Parish

  October 22, 2012 10:27 AM

  NEW ROADS - FEMA workers opened a Disaster Recovery Center in Pointe Coupee Parish this morning to help people there file for help dealing with damage caused by Hurricane Isaac. The center opens at 11 a.m. today at the Scott Civic Center in New Roads, with regular hours of... more »

• La. to pay up to $90M to end Superdome bond deal Play Video

  October 18, 2012 2:52 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana will pay as much as $90 million to get out of a troubled borrowing deal that helped upgrade the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. The State Bond Commission gave preliminary approval Thursday to a debt refinancing for the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District that will include the... more »

• Disaster recovery centers for Isaac shutting down

  October 17, 2012 7:10 AM

  LIVINGSTON - The disaster recovery centers opened in Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes in the wake of Hurricane Isaac will all close this week. The Federal Emergency Management Agency says the number of people applying for aid has slowed to a trickle in the two parishes. Officials in both... more »

• Paul becomes major hurricane in Pacific off Mexico

  October 15, 2012 4:14 PM

  MIAMI - Forecasters say Paul has become a major Category 3 hurricane in the Pacific off Mexico and a hurricane warning has been issued for a swath of Baja California's western coastline. The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Paul's maximum sustained winds have increased to 120 mph (195 kph) as... more »

• Citizens has settled 85 percent of Isaac claims

  October 15, 2012 2:39 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's state-run property insurer of last resort says it's settled 85 percent of the more than 17,000 claims it received about damage from Hurricane Isaac. The company - Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation - said Monday that it expects Isaac to cost between $75 million and $100... more »

• Orleans schools get insurance money for Katrina damage

  October 12, 2012 7:08 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - Lawyers for the Orleans Parish School Board have garnered another $17 million in insurance proceeds to help cover damage done by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. District officials say the money is slated to go toward $2 billion worth of citywide school construction and renovation already... more »

• FEMA individual assistance for Isaac tops $101M

  October 10, 2012 9:30 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Homeowners and renters have received $101 million in individual aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency since Hurricane Isaac. More than 29,000 people have received housing assistance, which totals $83 million. Another $18 million has been provided for other types of individual assistance, according to FEMA.... more »

• LDWF approves shorter deer season due to Isaac

  October 8, 2012 10:39 AM

  BATON ROUGE - State wildlife officials approved cutting hunting seasons in parts of Louisiana short because of Hurricane Isaac's effects on the deer population. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said flooding in Lake Maurepas Basin caused some adult deer to die, but wiped out an estimated 90... more »

• Flooded St. John schools may not reopen this year

  October 5, 2012 2:32 PM

  LAPLACE - It may be a full school year before students from East St. John High School and Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School can return to their campuses. St. John the Baptist Parish school officials had hoped to have the two campuses, which were flooded during Hurricane Isaac, ready for... more »

• Disaster center in Maurepas to stay open longer

  October 1, 2012 3:49 PM

  MAUREPAS - Livingston Parish leaders said a Disaster Recovery Center in Maurepas which was scheduled to close today will instead stay open through Wednesday. The center is located at the American Legion Hall on Highway 22, and is open from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. to help people in... more »

• Isaac damaged 59,000 homes in La.

  September 28, 2012 3:45 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Hurricane Isaac damaged nearly 59,000 homes across southeast Louisiana. That is more than four times the number officials estimated a week after the storm made landfall on Aug. 28. The Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says the most severe damage hit houses and rental... more »

• After Isaac, oyster harvest struggles

  September 28, 2012 9:00 AM

  HOUMA - Hurricane Isaac wiped out many adult oysters in Louisiana waters, another blow to an industry that has been struggling in the wake of BP PLC's 2010 massive oil spill. But in a twist, the storm's raging waters also may have helped set the stage for better crops in... more »

• Lil Wayne opens skate park in hometown N.O.

  September 26, 2012 4:26 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Lil Wayne is returning to New Orleans, his hometown, for the opening of the Trukstop skate park in the Lower 9th Ward - one of the most devastated sections of the city after levees failed during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The Grammy-winning rapper, who recently launched a... more »

• Disaster declaration extended for Livingston Parish

  September 26, 2012 10:37 AM

  LIVINGSTON - The parish president said a disaster declaration for Livingston Parish has been extended for another month. Residents in the lower portion of the parish saw extensive flooding after Hurricane Isaac passed through southern Louisiana. Parish President Layton Ricks said FEMA is working with parish officials to... more »

• Central schools approve makeup plan

  September 26, 2012 7:45 AM

  CENTRAL - The school days for most Central students will be extended by several minutes, and other adjustments are planned to make up for the four days of school lost when Hurricane Isaac blew through Louisiana in late August. The Central Community School Board on Monday agreed on how... more »

• EBR DSNAP locations only open five days

  September 24, 2012 2:20 PM

  BATON ROUGE - People applying for disaster food aid in East Baton Rouge Parish have fewer days to do so than other parishes. According to the Department of Children and Family Services, DSNAP locations in the parish will only be open for five days this week. Other parishes have... more »

• Mosquito problem in Livingston Parish

  September 21, 2012 10:10 AM

  LIVINGSTON - Residents in Livingston Parish may be dealing with an issue bigger than they can handle. Recent rain and Hurricane Isaac left behind a lot of standing water, which could bring a lot of mosquitoes. The Livingston Parish Mosquito Abatement also doesn't have adequate funding to cover... more »

• Disaster food aid sites open in Felicianas

  September 20, 2012 1:06 PM

  CLINTON - Sites opened today for people in East and West Feliciana parishes who were affected by Hurricane Isaac to apply for or receive disaster food aid. The sites will be open for the next seven days, and will help people get Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, formerly disaster food... more »

• Litter a problem on Hwy 42, Amite River

  September 20, 2012 10:23 AM

  PORT VINCENT- Trash lurking in the Amite River is becoming more visible following flooding from Hurricane Isaac. Residents in the area say the high waters floated trash into areas along the banks of the river. Those residents also say more people are littering along Hwy 42. News... more »

• Disaster food aid sites to open in Felicianas

  September 20, 2012 8:36 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Residents in East Feliciana and West Feliciana parishes who were affected by Hurricane Isaac have seven days, beginning Thursday, to apply for disaster food benefits. State officials say they're opening sites at the East Feliciana Early Learning Center in Clinton and the Independence Community Center in... more »

• DEQ fines company over leaks after Isaac

  September 18, 2012 5:25 PM

  BATON ROUGE - State regulators say they are issuing a $12,189 fine against a chemical terminal flooded during Hurricane Isaac because it did not notify authorities fast enough about chemical releases. On Tuesday, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality said it issued the fine against Stolthaven New Orleans LLC, a... more »

• Hurricane Isaac rescuers nominated for award

  September 17, 2012 10:19 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - Sen. Mary Landrieu has nominated a father and son credited with rescuing dozens of neighbors from Hurricane Isaac's floodwaters for an award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The Louisiana Democrat said Friday that she nominated 53-year-old Jesse Shaffer III and his 25-year-old son, Jesse,... more »

• Isaac causes spike in initial jobless claims

  September 14, 2012 4:30 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Hurricane Isaac caused a spike in initial claims for unemployment insurance in Louisiana for the week ending Sept. 8. Figures released Friday show initial claims increased to 9,023 from 2,345. That's the most initial claims filed in one week since Hurricanes Gustav and Ike impacted Louisiana in... more »

• Report: Isaac damaged 2 tanks, chemicals leaked

  September 14, 2012 10:13 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A chemical storage facility southeast of New Orleans that flooded during Hurricane Isaac reported to state officials that no more than about 38,700 gallons of chemicals leaked from two tanks damaged by storm surge and that an underdetermined amount of chemicals flowed off the facility's grounds. The... more »

• DEQ probes chemical leaks at Isaac-hit facility

  September 13, 2012 4:58 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - State officials are investigating how many chemicals leaked from storage tanks at a facility flooded by Hurricane Isaac with about 7 feet of water. Isaac's surge damaged the Stolthaven Braithwaite LLC chemical storage and transfer facility next to the Mississippi River in Braithwaite, a Plaquemines Parish community... more »

• Angry over denial for disaster aid, man pulls gun

  September 13, 2012 3:55 PM

  LAPLACE - A man who allegedly got a fully loaded AR-15 assault rifle from his pickup truck after being turned down for disaster food stamps is jailed in St. John the Baptist Parish. Louisiana State Police say a claims processor in LaPlace told officers that a man had become irate... more »

• Rough start to alligator season in Livingston Parish Play Video

  September 12, 2012 4:10 PM

  HEAD OF ISLAND- Alligator hunters say Hurricane Isaac caused several problems as the season gets underway. Livingston waterways were closed until this week, high water levels have pushed alligators into uncommon areas, and recent cool weather means the reptiles move around less. Gator hunter Kenny Watts said there... more »

• Katrina floodwall case heads to trial

  September 11, 2012 3:08 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - The Army Corps of Engineers is back on trial, seven years after Hurricane Katrina's storm surge shredded New Orleans' flood protection system. Starting Wednesday, a federal judge will hear testimony in a lawsuit by several homeowners who claim negligence by the corps and a contractor caused... more »

• Early Isaac damage estimate to La. crops: $100M

  September 11, 2012 11:09 AM

  NEW ORLEANS- LSU AgCenter economist Kurt Guidry says good weather over the next several weeks could do a lot to reduce a preliminary estimate of $100 million in crop damage from Hurricane Isaac. He says the preliminary figure is less than damage from last year's drought. Some farmers lost all... more »

• Insurance Commissioner discusses claims after Isaac Play Video

  September 11, 2012 9:04 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Many residents in south Louisiana continue to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon stopped by 2une In with information on what to if you have hurricane damage such as flooding and how to file a claim. For more information contact... more »

• Isaac debris collection ongoing in Tangipahoa

  September 11, 2012 8:58 AM

  AMITE - Tangipahoa Parish crews are cleaning up debris from Hurricane Isaac in the southern end of the parish. Parish President Gordon Burgess says the task of eliminating all the waste should be completed in several weeks. Burgess says some home and camp owners decided to throw damaged... more »

• Maurepas Swamp WMA reopens after Isaac cleanup

  September 10, 2012 3:06 PM

  MAUREPAS - The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has reopened the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area, which closed before Hurricane Isaac's landfall. The area in Ascension, Livingston, St. James and St. John the Baptist parishes reopened Monday. The Hope Canal boat launch access road remains flooded and... more »

• Waterways reopening in Ascension, Livingston

  September 10, 2012 1:03 PM

  LIVINGSTON - Parish leaders announced today waterways in Livingston and Ascension parishes closed for Hurricane Isaac will reopen tomorrow. Livingston Parish President Layton Ricks said river levels had lowered enough that it was safe to let boats back on the water. "Please remember to watch your wakes where... more »