WBRZ - Baton Rouge

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• More people talking about 'outdated' car seat law Play Video

  May 20, 2013 10:17 PM

  GONZALES- More experts suggest a state law needs to be changed, so drivers have a clearer understanding of the proper way young children should be restrained in car seats. A WBRZ News 2 Investigation found the law is outdated. Doctors recommend babies remain rear facing until they are two-years-old.... more »

• La. hurricane sales tax holiday this weekend

  May 20, 2013 7:52 AM

  LAFAYETTE - Shoppers can prepare for the hurricane season while saving some pennies during the state's Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday. The 2013 sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. May 25 and ends at 11:59 p.m. May 26. Louisiana law spares those shopping for hurricane-related purchases from... more »

• 4 Louisiana men convicted of deer poaching in Iowa

  May 18, 2013 5:17 PM

  COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - Four men from Louisiana men have been found guilty of poaching deer in southwest Iowa. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports that Michael Fralick, of Ponchatoula, La., was recently convicted of 32 counts of deer hunting violations in four southwest Iowa counties. Fralick was ordered to... more »

• Powerball hits record $600M jackpot Play Video

  May 17, 2013 11:37 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Lottery spokespeople in Louisiana said the quickly-growing Powerball jackpot has hit a new record high. The Louisiana Lottery said the jackpot for the May 18 drawing is now $600 million, the highest Powerball jackpot on record. It would pay out $376.9 million for the cash option.... more »

• Louisiana unemployment rate rises

  May 17, 2013 11:25 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's unemployment rate rose in April for the fourth straight month, as fewer people reported having work. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics says the labor force was bascically flat, but the number of people who said they had a job fell by nearly 5,000. The jobless... more »

• State lawmakers kill law requiring equal pay for men, women

  May 15, 2013 8:52 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Lawmakers rejected a law that would prohibit some employers from paying women less than men doing the same job. Sen. Edwin Murray's "Equal Pay for Women Act" was killed by one vote. Nineteen senators voted for it and 18 against; 20 votes are needed to pass. ... more »

• Shelly Dick assumes federal judgeship in B.R.

  May 15, 2013 11:30 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Shelly Dick has been sworn is as U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana. She was first nominated on April 25, 2012, re-nominated on January 3, 2013 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 9. Dick is a 1988 graduate of the... more »

• Powerball jackpot rises with surge in sales

  May 15, 2013 7:49 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The Powerball jackpot for Wednesday's drawing has climbed to $360 million, the third largest jackpot of all time. Before the increase, the advertised jackpot was $350 million. The cash value of the May 15 jackpot is now $229.2 million. The jackpot was last hit March... more »

• Red carpet welcomes actors supporting state film tax credits

  May 14, 2013 10:50 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The stars were out in support of the state's lucrative film tax credits Tuesday night. Celtic Studios was transformed into a gala to support the credits, which have become the center of talk among some lawmakers at the State Capitol. There are discussions to possibly limit the... more »

• Lawmakers to look at conflicting law after News 2 report Play Video

  May 14, 2013 9:22 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana lawmakers plan to take a look at resolving the frontwards/backwards child seat requirements. State law tells parents to face kids a year and older forward in their car seats. But a American Academy of Pediatrics 2011 study showed children under two are 75 percent... more »

• Louisiana seafood gets special certification Play Video

  May 14, 2013 6:03 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana Seafood tagged its first package of "Certified Authentic Louisiana Wild Seafood" today. It's a brand that's intended to ensure consumers they're getting the best product available. The "Vermillion Bay Sweet White Shrimp" got the honor of being the first to be labeled authentic. "Our... more »

• State law not matching-up with doctors' orders Play Video

  May 13, 2013 10:24 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's youngest riders could be in jeopardy in a car crash if parents follow state law. Baton Rouge resident Angela Warren learned about the confusion during her daughter's one-year checkup at her pediatrician. "She said 'ohh you need to make sure that her car seat... more »

• Deadline to file La. taxes is Wednesday

  May 13, 2013 11:13 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The deadline for filing 2012 Louisiana individual income tax returns is Wednesday. The state Department of Revenue says filing can be made electronically and more information is available at the department's website, www.revenue.louisiana.gov/fileonline. Officials say the average refund processing time for electronic returns is 10 business days;... more »

• $1M Powerball ticket sold in La.

  May 13, 2013 10:14 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Lottery Corp. reports that nobody won the top jackpots in the multistate Powerball and Louisiana Lotto drawings on Saturday night but one Powerball ticket sold in St. Francisville matched 5 numbers to take a $1 million prize. Louisiana Lotto players matching all six numbers drawn... more »

• Weather drowns the city but some benefit Play Video

  May 10, 2013 10:39 PM

  BATON ROUGE - There was no hiding from the downpour Friday in South Louisiana. "Moving in the weather in the rain is awful. I don't wish anybody to that," Lisa Hargrove said. She drove from Shreveport to move her daughter out of the LSU dorms. Dad was MIA. ... more »

• La. unemployment claims decrease

  May 10, 2013 11:45 AM

  BATON ROUGE - First-time claims for unemployment insurance in Louisiana for the week ending May 4 decreased from the previous week's total. The state labor department figures released Friday show the initial claims decreased to 2,466 from the previous week's total of 2,541. For the comparable week a year earlier,... more »

• House to take up budget compromise Friday

  May 10, 2013 8:54 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Building blocks for a $24.7 billion budget compromise have easily cleared the House, paving the way for debate on the spending plans for next year. Lawmakers overwhelmingly Friday supported proposals to trim tax breaks for big box retailers, the film industry and the oil and gas industry.... more »

• Gay LSU students celebrating graduation with public funds Play Video

  May 9, 2013 10:34 PM

  BATON ROUGE - It's called the Lavender Graduation Ceremony and who gets the bill is rubbing some the wrong way. This year, LSU's Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Questioning community is flashing pride with lavender stoles and a ceremony. But there's push back because their ceremony is separate and... more »

• Woman in anti-smoking PSA says her daughter helped her kick the habit Play Video

  May 8, 2013 5:45 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Pictures are all that Tiffany Roberson has left of her mother, who died from lung cancer when Tiffany was just 16. "She missed out on, of course, senior prom, my high school and college. She missed out on the birth of my daughter," she told News... more »

• Future of historic golf course debated in BR

  May 8, 2013 8:51 AM

  BATON ROUGE- More than 700 people have signed an online petition urging recreation officials in Baton Rouge to convert an aging 9-hole golf course into a park. At issue is the future of the historic City-Brooks Community Park Golf Course. The Advocate reports that the East Baton Rouge Parish Recreation... more »

• Voucher controversy and uncertainty leaves parents in limbo Play Video

  May 7, 2013 10:21 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Private schools and Governor Bobby Jindal tell benefactors not to worry, but parents are the ones left in a state of uncertainty when it comes to vouchers. Tuesday, the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled funding of the state's voucher program was unconstitutional. Lawmakers used money set aside... more »

• Violence hidden behind "Christian values" in La. swamp plot of new TV show

  May 6, 2013 7:56 PM

  NEW ORLEANS- TV shows about Louisiana's culture aren't enough for television producers who are rolling out new features, this time about the mos "salacious stories from south of the Mason-Dixon Line." Southern Fried Homicide and Swamp Murders join the summer line-up on Investigation Discovery, a cable network connected with... more »

• New technology to guard against youth concussions

  May 6, 2013 10:29 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's contact sports leave little room for error and often that can lead to injuries on the field. Many times high school athletes experience concussions after big hits, but trainers, coaches, and officials are getting better at recognizing the symptoms. News 2 will look into... more »

• Louisiana levee plan concerns Mississippi leaders

  May 5, 2013 11:07 AM

  GULFPORT, Miss. - Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann says he's worried a proposed levee in Louisiana could place low-lying areas of south Mississippi in danger of flooding. Hosemann told The Sun Herald that he's concerned about a proposal being considered to build a 24-foot barrier levee near Lake Pontchartrain... more »

• BRPD: BR murder suspect arrested in Michigan

  May 4, 2013 10:26 AM

  IRONWOOD, Mich. - Authorities in Michigan's Upper Peninsula have arrested a 19-year-old man wanted on a first-degree murder charge in Louisiana. Michigan State police say the Upper Peninsula native was arrested Friday at a home in Ironwood Township, near the Michigan-Wisconsin border. Baton Rouge Police say his name is Mason... more »

• Bill could allow guns in restaurants Play Video

  May 2, 2013 5:41 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A bill making headway in the legislature could allow people to bring weapons into restaurants. The proposed law, authored by Rep. Henry Burns (R-Haughton), has already been approved by the House and is pending a Senate Judiciary hearing. Burns told News 2, the law was originally... more »

• Birds feasting on newly planted rice

  May 1, 2013 11:21 AM

  BATON ROUGE - South Louisiana farmers have been struggling this year to fight off birds feasting on newly planted rice seed. LSU AgCenter rice specialist Johnny Saichuk tells The Advocate blackbirds and ducks love rice, and it seems the spring weather here has not been hot enough to nudge the... more »

• Nevada mental health patients given one-way tickets to Baton Rouge Play Video

  April 30, 2013 9:35 PM

  BATON ROUGE - As many as 17 patients from the Rawson Neal Psychiatric Hospital in Las Vegas were put on buses and sent to Louisiana. An investigation by the Sacramento Bee found the group was part of more than 1400 given one-way tickets out of town, often fending for... more »

• La. crops break records, hit $11 billion

  April 29, 2013 10:37 PM

  BATON ROUGE- It was a record year for crops in the state. The LSU AgCenter said Louisiana's agricultural economy hit a high of $11.4 billion last year. That's about 6.5 percent more than the 2011 amount of $10.7 billion. Record yields for corn and soybeans fueled the increase... more »

• Justices dismiss La. case over trial delays

  April 29, 2013 10:16 AM

  WASHINGTON - A sharply divided Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal from a Louisiana man who claimed that most of a seven-year delay between his arrest and murder trial was the result of a breakdown in the state's system for paying defense lawyers in death penalty cases. The court's conservative... more »

• La. Tech Park opening video game incubator

  April 25, 2013 11:08 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Tech Park announced today they were opening a new studio for rising video game developers in Baton Rouge to get access to the tools and exposure they need to succeed. They said the "Level Up Lab" would be the first video game incubator in... more »

• Chicken chase: 4 birds busted for highway trot

  April 22, 2013 3:20 PM

  NEW ORLEANS- Police had to deal with an unusual crime on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Monday morning. A group of chickens were loose, running around on the bridge. Eventually, four were snatched and detained by officers. They were locked-up in the back of a Causeway Police cruiser, just... more »

• Louisiana jobless rate rises along with payrolls

  April 19, 2013 2:23 PM

  Louisiana's unemployment rate rose in March for the third straight month, as fewer people reported having work. The increase contrasts with a separate survey showing employer payrolls rose in Louisiana. The jobless rate rose to 6.2 from 6 percent in February, though it remained below the 6.8 percent rate of... more »

• Proposed law about eyes gets close look Play Video

  April 17, 2013 9:14 PM

  BATON ROUGE - There's a debate at the Louisiana State Capitol that has optometrists and ophthalmologists pleading their cases. House Bill 527 would allow optometrists to perform certain procedures that are currently only allowed to be performed by ophthalmologists. Optometrists say it's about performing simple procedures in a... more »

• German Pellets: Construction starting soon in La.

  April 17, 2013 4:21 PM

  URANIA - A German company says construction will begin soon on a wood pellet plant in central Louisiana. An announcement posted Wednesday on the German Pellets GmbH website says the plant will be able to produce about 1.1 million tons of pellets a year in U.S. measurements. The pellets are... more »

• Wednesday discussion could change popular solar program Play Video

  April 16, 2013 10:30 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The savings homeowners have been enjoying from solar panels are under fire. Under the current rules, utility companies credit homeowners the retail rate for the excess electricity generated with solar. But, that could change. Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Clyde Holloway is proposing smaller credits for homeowners,... more »

• Third person dies after terrorist attack in Boston Play Video

  April 15, 2013 8:36 PM

  BOSTON- A third person has died after two bombs exploded on the Boston Marathon's route Monday. Police commissioner Ed Davis confirmed the three deaths but provided no details. The explosions also left more than 130 people injured. Some of the victims lost arms and legs. Other injuries... more »

• La. marathon runner: "People without limbs" after explosions Play Video

  April 15, 2013 3:03 PM

  BOSTON - At least one group of runners competing in the Boston Marathon when two explosions occurred said they are all right. Varsity Sports sporting goods in Baton Rouge had two teams competing in the marathon, and put out on social media that they were okay after the explosions... more »

• Gun measures put moderate Senate Dems in bind

  April 12, 2013 4:15 PM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's push for tougher gun measures and expanded background checks is putting several moderate Senate Democrats in a bind, forcing them to take sides on a deeply personal issue for rural voters. The Senate is scheduled to begin weeks of discussion over gun control legislation pushed... more »

• Reality TV show pitched in Pointe Coupee

  April 10, 2013 1:00 AM

  NEW ROADS- Reality TV producers are looking for the next group of people to be featured living life in Louisiana. TV producers are planning a show about the Jarreau family. Tourism leaders said it will be similar to Duck Dynasty and Swamp People , shows that have become... more »

• People report trouble with complaint line Play Video

  April 8, 2013 10:31 PM

  WALKER - A smelly situation has a community in Livingston Parish complaining. But, it's the inability to get through on the Department of Environmental Quality complaint line that worsened the situation. "It went straight to voice-mail," said resident Wayne Breaud. "And after the voice-mail it said that the voice-mail... more »

• Resolution would support Livingston technical college

  April 8, 2013 9:34 PM

  LIVINGSTON- More support for a technical college here could come Tuesday, when lawmakers are scheduled to discuss a resolution backing a study on the matter. Many people, including parish leaders and business groups, want a facility in the parish. They said the growth is fueling the demand. The... more »

• Voters in BR renew school taxes Play Video

  April 6, 2013 11:01 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Voters approved two tax renewals for the public school system. One raises a little more than $20 million for school system operations. Almost 72% of voters approved the tax. Another raises $23 million for employee salaries and benefits. It also passed with about 72% support. ... more »

• Tax election results Play Video

  April 6, 2013 10:45 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Voters decided on a series of taxes Saturday. Most were approved, but one was denied. Here are the results: East Baton Rouge Cons. Sch. Dist. No. 1 Prop 1 -- 6.50 Mills - SB - 10 Yrs. Funds school system operations YES 71.86% NO 28.14%... more »

• Saturday night election results

  April 6, 2013 9:17 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Votes are being tallied on elections across the area. Five parishes in the area had elections Saturday night. Some were taxes others were for city government positions. CLICK HERE for results as they are tabulated from the Louisiana Secretary of State. ******* Follow the publisher... more »

• Trina Edwards hospitalized

  April 5, 2013 10:13 PM

  GONZALES- Trina Edwards, the wife of infamous former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards, was recently in the hospital. She's pregnant, and posted on her Facebook page the baby is doing okay. "The baby is fine and completely healthy," she wrote. She was having kidney problems, according to a post... more »

• E. Feliciana split over proposed tax to fund schools Play Video

  April 5, 2013 5:42 PM

  CLINTON - A tax proposal East Feliciana Parish residents will vote on Saturday has leaders torn down the middle. School Board Superintendent Henderson Lewis Jr. wants a $4 million proposed tax to raise money for the parish's struggling school system, which isn't meeting state requirements. "Even though we're... more »

• Urgent care to fill void left by EKL closure Play Video

  April 4, 2013 6:07 PM

  BATON ROUGE - It won't be long until Earl K. Long Memorial is just a memory. Due to changes in the LSU Health System and budget cuts, the hospital is closing on April 15th. To fill that void, Our Lady of the Lake will run an urgent care center... more »

• Federal aid unaccounted for, La. could foot half-billion dollar tab

  April 3, 2013 10:23 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Trouble with federal hurricane relief money could mean Louisiana's budget woes are even worse. An audit found Road Home money, handed out after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, may have been misspent. According to reports, the money was required to be spent on things like... more »

• Proposed bill would allow lifetime concealed carry permits Play Video

  April 3, 2013 5:32 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Representative Barry Ivey from Central wants to allow your concealed carry permit to last for a lifetime. He authored a bill that would do just that, if it becomes law. Currently, a concealed carry permit must be renewed every five years. If this law passes, it would... more »

• Petition: Parents want Prescott Middle returned Play Video

  April 2, 2013 10:36 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A group of East Baton Rouge Parish parents is asking the Recovery School District to return the Prescott Middle School building to the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. They are circulating an on-line petition that outlines their request, and said when RSD took over seven... more »

• Lawmaker supports technical college plans

  April 1, 2013 9:43 PM

  LIVINGSTON- A state lawmaker is backing plans for a technical college in one of the state's fastest growing parishes. Sen. Dale Erdey proposes establishing a newly formed campus on the current grounds of the Literacy and Technology Center on Florida Blvd. in Walker. The school system owns the... more »

• Lawmaker wants to ban social media while driving

  March 29, 2013 6:01 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Posting to Facebook or Twitter while driving could soon be illegal. Senator Dale Erdey pre filed Senate Bill 147 which would make it illegal to "access, read or post to a social networking site" while driving. The bill keeps the current texting while driving laws... more »

• Louisiana unemployment rate at 6 percent

  March 29, 2013 11:14 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - Federal unemployment statistics show Louisiana's unemployment rate edged up to 6 percent in February. It had been 5.9 percent in January. The Bureau of Labor Statistics report shows that the seasonally adjusted jobless rate went up despite an increase in total jobs of 9,100. Friday's preliminary figures... more »

• Technology upgrades proposed for Jefferson schools

  March 29, 2013 9:04 AM

  HARVEY- As school districts struggle to find ways to pay for technology upgrades to administer a new slate of standardized tests, the Jefferson Parish superintendent says it could cost up to $40 million to fully equip the district. James Meza admits the estimate is high and that it would provide... more »

• SLU reports 137 ineligible players Play Video

  March 28, 2013 3:27 PM

  HAMMOND- Southeastern Louisiana University self-reported 137 ineligible players participated in university athletics from 2005 through 2010. Most of the violations occurred in the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons the university said in a news release Thursday. The infractions have been reported to the NCAA. "This was a case... 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 »

• DHH report: La. could save on Medicaid expansion

  March 27, 2013 2:38 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Department of Health and Hospitals has quietly released a new financial analysis that estimates the state could save as much as $368 million over 10 years by expanding Louisiana's Medicaid program under the federal health law. The analysis was posted on DHH's website this week with... more »

• Police: MAP employee hit, killed by his vehicle

  March 25, 2013 5:16 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Police released the details about a crash that killed a Motorist Assistance Patrol worker Monday. Jim Gilmer, 68, was killed when his specialized state vehicle ran over him after it was rear-ended by a semi. The crash happened Monday morning in a westbound lane on I-10... more »

• MAP worker killed in Monday crash

  March 25, 2013 3:13 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A man killed on the I-10 Mississippi River Bridge Monday worked for the state Motorist Assistance Patrol, known as MAP. State transportation leaders said the employee was called to the westbound lanes of the bridge to remove debris. He was killed in a two-vehicle crash. Details of... more »

• School exams undergo sweeping changes

  March 25, 2013 10:51 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A test that fourth- and eighth-graders have to pass for promotion is on the way out. It's part of a series of changes unfolding in how Louisiana measures what public students know. Students in grades 4 and 8 took the first part of LEAP, which is... more »

• Federal lawmakers support Internet sales taxes

  March 22, 2013 8:33 PM

  WASHINGTON- Senators supported a law, giving states the power to collect taxes on purchases you make on the Internet. The Nonbinding vote could pave the way for a proposal later this year. Nationally, states miss out on an estimated $20 billion in sales taxes. Louisiana loses about $800... more »

• Report: Louisiana rated C- for infrastructure

  March 19, 2013 9:44 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Louisiana's roads and other infrastructure elements were rated a C- by a group of engineers. The American Society of Civil Engineers 2013 Report Card suggests roads, bridges, and levees aren't up to par. Researchers said more than half of roadways are in poor or mediocre condition.... more »

• Trooper arrested on drug charges

  March 19, 2013 9:35 PM

  MONROE- A State Trooper was arrested, charged with distributing drugs across North Louisiana. Ronald Thomas, 42, was an 18-year veteran of the department and also worked as a member of the Grambling State University football detail, joining the school's head football coach on the field during games. "We... more »

• Coast Guard: emergency ends where tug hit pipeline

  March 19, 2013 4:31 PM

  LAFITTE- An emergency situation near the Gulf of Mexico has ended, according to the Coast Guard. Last Tuesday, a tugboat and barge collided with a pipeline causing an explosion and a fire that burned for days. The four crew onboard the tug escaped, but the captain sustained second... more »

• SFA tops Southeastern by 11 in Southland semis

  March 15, 2013 8:48 PM

  KATY, Tx - Antonio Bostic and Desmond Haymon scored 16 points each and Stephen F. Austin defeated Southeastern Louisiana 68-57 on Friday in the Southland Conference tournament semifinals. The Lumberjacks (27-3), who with the victory passed their previous high for wins in a season set in 2007-08, will play the... more »

• 3 dead in Louisiana helicopter crash

  March 15, 2013 2:09 PM

  CAMERON, La. - Three people died in a helicopter crash Friday in a remote area of southwestern Louisiana's Cameron Parish. Sheriff Ron Johnson said the crash was reported at 11:45 a.m. Friday. A pilot and two passengers were aboard the helicopter and all three died. The helicopter was owned by... more »

• Rep. Boustany introduces welfare drug testing bill Play Video

  March 13, 2013 6:46 PM

  WASHINGTON, D.C. - A Louisiana congressman introduced a bill recently which would require welfare recipients to be tested for drugs. Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA) of Lafayette introduced the measure, likening it today to requirements by private employers to test their workers for controlled substances. Rachel Fontenot, a nurse... more »

• $1.1 million in grant funding for Isaac recovery efforts

  March 11, 2013 11:55 AM

  WASHINGTON - Louisiana received a federal grant to help continue cleanup and recovery efforts across the state in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac. The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,119,339 National Emergency Grant increment was to be released. "Louisiana continues to need assistance to recover from... more »

• Gov. Jindal to make economic announcement

  March 6, 2013 10:29 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Governor Bobby Jindal scheduled an announcement today that could mean more jobs in the Baton Rouge area. Jindal's office said he plans to make an economic development announcement at a 1 p.m. press conference at the governor's mansion. News Two's Ryan Naquin will be there... more »

• Boustany won't challenge Landrieu in '14 Senate race

  March 5, 2013 2:57 PM

  LAFAYETTE- Count at least one person out of the race for Senate next year. Republican U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, who represents a large section of South and Southwestern Louisiana, said he would not challenge Democratic U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu. Landrieu will run for re-election. A spokesperson for Boustany... more »

• Tax break study panel releases recommendations

  March 5, 2013 10:37 AM

  BATON ROUGE- Lawmakers who spent months reviewing Louisiana's lengthy list of tax breaks are recommending more regular oversight and study of the credits, exemptions and rebates. In its final report released Tuesday, the Revenue Study Commission didn't recommend getting rid of any specific tax breaks. Instead, the 14-member panel provided... more »

• Governor Jindal responds to Treasurer on budget Play Video

  March 4, 2013 10:20 PM

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

• Policy group urges caution concerning tax reform Play Video

  March 4, 2013 6:35 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says Louisiana's tax structure needs to be improved. He told the Baton Rouge Press Club that any plans to elminiate state income tax will likely be permanent. Erwin says Louisiana's tax structure is complicated. That makes Louisiana's business climate... more »

• Independence Bowl to become Advocare V100 Bowl

  February 28, 2013 8:45 PM

  SHREVEPORT - The Independence Bowl is changing its name to the AdvoCare V100 Bowl as part of a new sponsorship deal. The Independence Bowl Foundation and AdvoCare, who announced the deal jointly on Thursday, say the agreement is aimed at rebranding the bowl and helping it grow into one of... more »

• Louisiana can't find anyone to take explosives

  February 28, 2013 2:25 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The head of the Louisiana State Police's explosives unit says the state is having a hard time finding a way to unload 10 million pounds of improperly stored material at an explosives recycling company in northwest Louisiana. The state appears to be stuck with the military propellant,... more »

• Man arrested in cookie cake attack

  February 28, 2013 2:22 PM

  HAUGHTON - A 44-year-old man was arrested after he attacked his father with a cookie cake just East of Shreveport. Kenneth Fulmer is charged with simple battery of the infirmed and disturbing the peace. Deputies in Bossier Parish said he and his father got into a fight and... more »

• Court rejects $1B in 'phony tax deductions' by Dow

  February 27, 2013 6:06 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A federal court in Louisiana is rejecting transactions by The Dow Chemical Co. that created $1 billion in what the U.S. Justice Department calls "phony tax deductions." Justice said Wednesday that the tax-reduction scheme was created by Goldman Sachs and the law firm of King & Spalding.... more »

• Where's my Louisiana income tax refund? Play Video

  February 27, 2013 5:33 PM

  BATON ROUGE - If you haven't received your Louisiana state tax refund, you're not alone. "I got my federal return pretty quickly," resident Elizabeth Crain said. "I've been wondering where my state return is." Crain isn't the only one wondering where her refund is. According to the state... more »

• Landrieu: Jindal an obstructionist on Medicaid

  February 26, 2013 11:53 AM

  BATON ROUGE- U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu says Gov. Bobby Jindal's refusal to expand Louisiana's Medicaid program is tied to his presidential ambitions at the expense of benefits for Louisiana. The Democratic senator accused the Republican governor of obstructionism. Landrieu said Jindal seems adamant about putting his political future ahead of... more »

• Ex-parish president Broussard gets jail time, fine

  February 25, 2013 11:20 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - Former Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard must serve 46 months in prison and pay up to $280,000 for his role in separate payroll fraud and bribery schemes. U.S. District Judge Hayden Head said Monday that $214,000 will repay Jefferson Parish for fraudulently paid salaries and benefits to... more »