WBRZ - Baton Rouge

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• Donaldsonville gets a new logo

  May 18, 2013 10:39 AM

  DONALDSONVILLE, La. - The new logo for the city of Donaldsonville features images that represent its past and hopes for its future. The Advocate reports the logo was developed under the auspices of the nonprofit Louisiana Development Ready Cities as part of a wider marketing effort for the Ascension Parish... more »

• Stocks edge higher in early trading on Wall Street

  May 17, 2013 8:50 AM

  NEW YORK- Stocks are slightly higher in early trading on Wall Street, even as several big retailers slumped after reporting disappointing earnings. Shortly after the opening bell Friday the Dow Jones industrial average was up 25 points at 15,259, an increase of 0.2 percent. The Standard & Poor's 500 index... more »

• Suspect faces 20 charges in Mother's Day shooting

  May 16, 2013 9:07 AM

  NEW ORLEANS- Jail records show that the suspect in a Mother's Day parade shooting that wounded 19 people faces 20 charges of attempted second-degree murder. Nineteen-year-old Akein Scott was arrested Wednesday night in the Little Woods section of New Orleans. He was already facing a gun and drug possession charge... more »

• Weak open on Wall Street; Wal-Mart disappoints

  May 16, 2013 9:04 AM

  NEW YORK- Stocks are opening slightly lower on Wall Street a day after the market hit its latest record high. Wal-Mart led the Dow Jones industrial average lower after the giant retailer blamed higher payroll taxes, bad weather and delayed tax refunds for a sales slump that disappointed investors. Cisco... more »

• Stock prices ease as manufacturing softens

  May 15, 2013 9:12 AM

  NEW YORK- A report of slowing manufacturing in the Northeastern U.S. is getting the stock market off to weak start. Traders were also disappointed by news that Europe's economic slump continued, dragging France into a recession. The Dow Jones industrial average was down 30 points at 15,186 shortly after the... more »

• Stocks open little changed after a record week

  May 6, 2013 8:54 AM

  NEW YORK- Stocks prices are little changed in early trading on Wall Street after a record-setting week for the market. The Dow Jones industrial average was down 14 points at 14,960 points shortly after the opening bell Monday, a decline of 0.1 percent. The Standard & Poor's 500 index was... more »

• NRA's new president has penchant for bold words

  May 4, 2013 10:41 AM

  HOUSTON - The incoming leader of the National Rifle Association has a penchant for bold statements that are sure to inflame an already explosive national debate over gun control. James Porter assumes the presidency on Monday after the group's national convention wraps up in Houston. The Alabama attorney is currently... more »

• Kobe Bryant battles mom, NJ business over auction

  May 3, 2013 9:11 AM

  CAMDEN, N.J.- Kobe Bryant is in a court battle to try to keep his mother from auctioning off mementos from his high school days in Pennsylvania and his early NBA career. A southern New Jersey auction house is suing for the right to sell the stuff after the NBA star's... more »

• Stocks open higher after GM, CBS earnings rise

  May 2, 2013 9:01 AM

  NEW YORK- Stocks are opening higher on Wall Street, a day after the market's biggest fall in two weeks, after General Motors and other big companies announced higher profits. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 48 points to 14,747 shortly after the opening bell, an increase of 0.3 percent. It... more »

• AP Source: College Football Playoff to replace BCS

  April 23, 2013 3:35 PM

  PASADENA, Calif. - The Bowl Championship Series will be replaced by the College Football Playoff. A person familiar with the decision tells The Associated Press that the new four-team playoff starting after the 2014 regular season will be called the College Football Playoff, and the conference commissioners will make it... more »

• Solid earnings drive stocks higher on Wall Street

  April 23, 2013 9:04 AM

  NEW YORK- Strong earnings from a range of U.S. companies are driving stock prices higher in the early going on Wall Street. Coach, Travelers and Lockheed Martin were among the winners shortly after the opening bell after the companies reported better results than analysts were expecting. The Dow Jones industrial... more »

• Man accused in 'Breaking Bad' theft arrested again

  April 11, 2013 10:05 AM

  ALBUQUEQUE, N.M.- An Albuquerque man accused of breaking into "Breaking Bad" actor Bryan Cranston's car late last year and stealing a script has been arrested again. Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office records show that 29-year-old Xavier McAfee was arrested Wednesday on another count of auto burglary. Deputies arrested McAfee last month... more »

• ExxonMobil found liable in NH pollution trial

  April 9, 2013 11:47 AM

  CONCORD, N.H.- A jury in New Hampshire has found ExxonMobil liable in a long-running lawsuit over groundwater contamination by the gasoline additive MTBE. The oil giant could pay hundreds of millions of dollars to clean it up. The jury must now deliberate the cost of damages. Jurors sat through nearly... more »

• Trial date reset in fatal buttocks injection case

  April 8, 2013 8:52 AM

  JACKSON, Miss.- A suspect charged in Mississippi with the cosmetic buttocks injection blamed in the death of a Georgia woman has received a new trial date. The Hinds County Circuit Court administrator's office says the trial of Tracey Lynn Garner, also known as Morris Garner, is set now tentatively set... more »

• No new plan for dealing with Citizens' budget gap

  April 3, 2013 3:01 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The governing board for Louisiana's property insurer of last resort isn't revisiting a $100 million borrowing plan that has stalled at the state capitol. The board for the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. didn't choose an alternate approach to balance the company's books. Instead, Steve Cottrell, chief... more »

• Proposal: West Bank Connector from BR to NO

  April 1, 2013 10:40 AM

  PORT ALLEN - Opinions vary among local and state officials whether or not a proposed "West Bank Connector" can get off the ground this legislative session. Wilfred Barry, president of the SJB Group, a Baton Rouge design firm, is working with six parishes on a plan that would bring an... more »

• Stocks open higher following jump in goods orders

  March 26, 2013 9:05 AM

  NEW YORK- Stocks are opening higher on Wall Street after factory orders for February increased sharply, reflecting a rebound in the aircraft industry. The Commerce Department reported a 5.7 percent surge in overall orders durable goods, the biggest increase in five months. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 66 points,... more »

• Groundbreaking March 21 for new RPCC campus

  March 12, 2013 12:40 PM

  GONZALES - School officials announced plans to break ground on a new Gonzales campus for River Parishes Community College later this month. "This building represents so much more than a bigger facility," said Dr. Joe Ben Welch, chancellor for RPCC. "It's a symbol of the growth of the River... more »

• Baton Rouge airport hopes to land cargo carriers

  March 11, 2013 8:48 AM

  BATON ROUGE- Engineers are designing a new $11 million landing system for Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, one that officials hope will improve safety and help lure cargo carriers to the airport. Ralph Hennessy, the airport's assistant director of aviation, tells The Advocate the new system will enable planes to descend... more »

• New TSA rules on knives draw fire from 9/11 kin

  March 6, 2013 2:11 PM

  NEW YORK - Some family members of Sept. 11 terror victims are angry over new flight-safety rules that will permit small knives on planes. The head of the Transportation Security Administration said Tuesday that air passengers will now be allowed to carry folding knives with blades that are 2.36 inches... more »

• Ex-N.O. mayor pleads not guilty to bribery, fraud

  February 20, 2013 2:36 PM

  NEW ORLEANS- Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has pleaded not guilty to charges he accepted bribes, free trips and other gratuities in exchange for helping contractors secure millions of dollars in work for the city. A 21-count indictment last month accuses Nagin of accepting more than $200,000 in... more »

• Wrestlemania 30 coming to New Orleans in 2014

  February 18, 2013 2:00 PM

  NEW ORLEANS- Get ready wrestling fans, Wrestlemania is coming to New Orleans. Wrestlemania XXX will be held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on April 6, 2014. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says with the city hosting some of the greatest sports and entertainment events in the world over the... more »

• 3rd man booked in pre-Mardi Gras shooting

  February 17, 2013 3:11 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - New Orleans police say a third man has turned himself in to face charges from a shooting on Bourbon Street three days before Mardi Gras. Officer Hilal Williams says 19-year-old Malcolm Hall was booked Saturday with four counts of attempted first-degree murder. An online jail roster indicates... more »

• Ex-N.O. cop awaiting shooting retrial seeks bond

  February 15, 2013 3:18 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A former New Orleans police officer is asking to be freed on bond while he awaits a retrial. David Warren is charged with shooting and killing a man without justification outside a strip mall in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath. Another officer later burned Glover's body in a... more »

• Big parade weekend kicks off in N.O.

  February 7, 2013 3:00 PM

  NEW ORLEANS- The stars will be out for a number of parades in New Orleans this weekend. The Krewe of Endymion's "super float" rolls Saturday night, led by pop star Kelly Clarkson. Sunday's Bacchus parade will include more than two dozen child cancer patients, who will ride with Bacchus... more »

• New York about to pass tough gun law

  January 15, 2013 10:38 AM

  ALBANY, N.Y. - Legislation that would give New York state the toughest gun restrictions in the nation is expected to easily pass today in the state Assembly. It's already won approval in the state Senate, where the Republican leader says it is "well-balanced" and "protects the Second Amendment." It provides... more »

• Man sues N.O. prosecutors over withheld evidence

  January 10, 2013 2:27 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A man whose convictions on charges he killed five people at a 1995 party were overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court last year is suing the New Orleans district attorney's office. The federal lawsuit filed Wednesday on Juan Smith's behalf accuses prosecutors of concealing evidence from defense... more »

• Library branches closing for new floors

  January 4, 2013 4:36 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Two branches of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library announced they would close for a few weeks for maintenance. Both the Bluebonnet Regional Branch and Delmont Gardens Branch are getting new flooring installed throughout the library. The Bluebonnet Regional Branch closed Jan. 3 and should... more »

• Man loses hand from New Year's explosion Play Video

  January 2, 2013 6:22 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Three people were injured when a pipe loaded with gun powder exploded on New Year's Day around 1:20 a.m. It happened at 9283 Highland Rd. after a firework display during a New Years party. According to the police report, 27-year-old Jesse Jenkins and 34-year-old Mike... more »

• New year brings rush-hour tows to busy bridge

  January 1, 2013 10:07 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The new year is bringing free rush-hour tow trucks to help keep traffic flowing on one of the nation's busiest bridges. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development says a tow truck will be stationed on the Crescent City Connection Bridge for three hours in the morning... more »

• Music City, Sun, Liberty and Chick-fil-A today

  December 31, 2012 10:39 AM

  Four bowl games are whetting college football fans' appetite for the New Year's Day bowl extravaganza. First up is the Music City Bowl in Nashville where Vanderbilt is rated about a touchdown favorite over N.C. State. Vandy is trying for its first nine-victory season since 1915. The 8-4 Commodores... more »

• NY woman arrested in 1984 La. death

  December 21, 2012 11:58 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A 47-year-old woman arrested by New York authorities on Dec. 3 in the 1984 slaying of businessman has been extradited to Louisiana. Leila Mulla, of Astoria, N.Y., was transported to Baton Rouge Thursday after being arrested by New York police. Mulla was booked with criminal conspiracy, simple... more »

• New judge assigned to case against BP supervisors

  December 5, 2012 3:07 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A new judge has been assigned to the case against two BP supervisors charged in the deaths of 11 workers aboard the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in 2010. The case had been assigned to U.S. District Judge Ivan Lemelle, who disclosed last month that his wife owns... more »

• New patrol cars for Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office Play Video

  November 29, 2012 5:59 PM

  GONZALES - The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office is rolling out older units and making way for new ones. Due to mileage as well as wear and tear, 20 Ford Crown Victorias will be decommissioned and sold at auction. They will be replaced with 20 new Dodge Chargers, which cost... more »

• Wednesday unveiling set for new downtown apartments

  November 26, 2012 10:02 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Wednesday the ribbon will be cut on a new living space in the city's downtown area. The development, 438 Main Street, has been in the works for about two years. It has 22 units with one and two bedrooms. It's a mixed income property. The... more »

• Billy Crystal to walk red carpet in N.O.

  September 21, 2012 2:25 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Billy Crystal will walk the red carpet for a screening of his latest film, "Parental Guidance," which opens in theaters later this year and co-stars Bette Midler and Marisa Tomei. Crystal starred in the hit films "City Slickers" and "When Harry Met Sally" and has hosted the... more »

• New Orleans to get $27.3M from FEMA

  September 12, 2012 2:40 PM

  NEW ORLEANS- New Orleans will receive $27.3 million in grants from the federal government to help cover some of the city's costs related to Hurricane Isaac. The grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency were announced Wednesday in a joint news release by Sen. Mary Landrieu, Rep. Cedric Richmond and... more »

• 24 new cases of West Nile announced

  August 17, 2012 2:03 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals reported 24 new cases of West Nile virus infections this week. No additional deaths from the virus have occurred, but six people have died so far this year. DHH has found a total of 92 cases of West... more »

• Kaspersky: We've found new virus linked to Stuxnet

  August 9, 2012 3:37 PM

  LONDON - Computer security firm Kaspersky says it has discovered a new batch of malicious software linked to the infrastructure-wrecking Stuxnet virus. In a statement Thursday the Moscow-based company said it had found a virus dubbed "Gauss" which it said was aimed at stealing financial information from its mainly Middle... more »

• George Zimmerman asks for new judge again

  July 13, 2012 3:06 PM

  ORLANDO, Fla.- The ex-neighborhood watch volunteer charged with killing Trayvon Martin is again asking for a new judge. George Zimmerman filed a motion Friday asking that Circuit Judge Ken Lester be disqualified from the case. Zimmerman says Lester's comments in a bond order led him to believe Lester is prejudiced... more »

• New head takes over FBI's New Orleans office

  July 9, 2012 2:10 PM

  NEW ORLEANS- An agent with extensive experience in public corruption cases has been named head of the FBI's New Orleans division. Monday marked Michael J. Anderson's debut as special agent in charge of the FBI office in New Orleans. The 45-year-old native of Alexandria, Minn., joined the FBI in 1995... more »

• Event planned "to teach women how to sit"

  July 3, 2012 4:32 PM

  NEW YORK- A New York state lawmaker has canceled an event for teaching women how to sit. Republican Sen. Marty Golden sent out a mailing advertising the July 24 business etiquette event on "posture, deportment and the feminine presence." His website said women would be taught to "sit,... more »

• Ex-BP engineer: Most deleted texts were routine

  July 2, 2012 4:57 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Lawyers for a former BP engineer are pressing federal prosecutors to explain how their client impeded a grand jury probe by deleting text messages about the company's response to the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In a court filing Monday, Kurt Mix's attorneys also... more »

• New oil spill claims administrator meets with lawmakers Play Video

  June 28, 2012 5:54 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The new court appointed claims administrator for the BP oil spill made a stop at the State Capitol today. Pat Juneau of Lafayette replaced Kenneth Feinberg earlier this year. Today, he highlighted the work being done at more than a dozen claims centers, including one in... more »

• Slate of new courses set for La. schools

  June 27, 2012 7:47 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana is about to become what officials call the first state to launch a huge expansion of how courses are offered to public school students, with private firms, colleges and even former teachers expected to enter a revamped education system. Education leaders are touting the expansion as... more »

• New lawsuit filed against Jindal voucher program

  June 22, 2012 8:36 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Association of Educators boarded buses this morning on their way to file a lawsuit against Gov. Bobby Jindal's voucher program. The organization's leaders lodged their challenge against the education changes Friday in Baton Rouge district court. They object to the use of the state's public... more »

• New allegations against Sandusky

  June 22, 2012 7:25 AM

  BELLEFONTE, Pa. - New accusations are being leveled against Jerry Sandusky as the jury deliberates in his child molestation trial. The jury is deciding whether the former Penn State assistant coach sexually assaulted 10 boys over a 15-year period. Now Sandusky's adopted son Matt claims that his father... more »

• New Obama policy will spare some from deportation

  June 15, 2012 1:46 PM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says his plan to stop deporting younger illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children will make the system "more fair, more efficient and more just." The president says it "makes no sense to expel talented young people" who are essentially Americans. He says... more »

• N.O. police investigate Algiers double shooting

  June 14, 2012 2:23 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - New Orleans police are investigating a shooting in Algiers that has left one man dead and another in critical condition. It happened about 11:15 a.m. Thursday. Police say the two people were shot while inside a car. Police say the shooter was sitting in the back... more »

• Iberville School board approves 4 new jobs

  June 13, 2012 6:57 AM

  PLAQUEMINE - The Iberville Parish School Board decided to create four new positions that will give the district a supervisor of technology and three new program directors at its two Math, Science and Arts academies. The board was divided during Monday's meeting on whether or not to approve the proposal.... more »

• Saints Wrap up OTAs

  June 13, 2012 2:21 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Saints will wrap up Organized Team Activities this week before breaking for six weeks. Sports 2 will catch up with Interim Coach Joe Vitt and the team to gauge its off-season progress, and what to expect from the franchise before the long hiatus leading... more »

• Film designer dies of stroke in New Orleans

  June 12, 2012 2:08 PM

  NEW ORLEANS- Oscar-nominated production designer J. Michael Riva, whose film credits include "The Amazing Spider-Man," ''A Few Good Men" and "The Pursuit of Happyness," has died after suffering a stroke in New Orleans. He was 63. In a statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday, Sony Pictures spokesman Steve Elzer... more »

• Prosecutors: No need for new trial in Katrina case

  June 6, 2012 6:24 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - Prosecutors are urging a judge to reject defense attorneys' claims that a "secret public relations campaign" by federal authorities deprived five former police officers of a fair trial on charges stemming from deadly shootings on a New Orleans bridge following Hurricane Katrina. In a court filing Tuesday,... more »

• Prosecutors: No need for new trial in Katrina case

  June 5, 2012 4:25 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Prosecutors are urging a judge to reject defense attorneys' claims that a "secret public relations campaign" by federal authorities deprived five former police officers of a fair trial on charges stemming from deadly shootings on a New Orleans bridge following Hurricane Katrina. In a court filing Tuesday,... more »

• New magnet school announced in Ascension Parish

  June 4, 2012 10:31 AM

  DONALDSONVILLE - School administrators in Ascension Parish announced plans to build a new magnet school to provide more challenge to high-achieving students. The Westside Magnet Program will be available starting this fall. Admission will be selective, according to a press release from the school system. Rob Krieger will... more »

• 2 adults, 1 child killed in New Orleans shootings

  May 30, 2012 3:03 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A day of sporadic gun violence in New Orleans, including an evening rush-hour shooting near a major thoroughfare, has left two adults and one child dead. The latest police report indicated the child, a girl, was 5 years old. She was among those hit in the rush... more »

• Hornets future rides on ping pong balls

  May 30, 2012 2:22 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Hornets could end up with the top overall pick in this summer's draft if the ping pong polls fall their way tonight. The annual NBA draft lottery gets underway from New York this evening around 6:55. Entering the Lottery, New Orleans holds a 14.8%... more »

• New details released in search for student Play Video

  May 29, 2012 4:09 PM

  LAFAYETTE - Investigators in Lafayette released new details this afternoon in their search for missing college student Michaela "Mickey" Shunick. Cpl. Paul Mouton with the Lafayette Police Department said detectives sent Shunick's bike to the State Police Crime Lab for further testing. It was found Sunday submerged in water... more »

• Gov't taking new steps to combat food stamp fraud

  May 24, 2012 7:30 AM

  WASHINGTON - The government is trying to crack down on food stamp recipients who are ripping off taxpayers by illegally selling their benefit cards for cash. The Agriculture Department wants to curb the practice by giving states more power to investigate people who repeatedly claim to lose their benefit cards... more »

• New exit to be built Interstate 12 westbound at Essen Ln Play Video

  May 23, 2012 10:16 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Department of Transportation and Development announced plans to add an exit on Interstate 12 at Essen Lane. State engineers call it a flyover ramp that will feed southbound Essen Lane. Traffic will exit a ramp that would be built above the existing Essen overpass. It... more »

• Iberville school chief suggests new starting times

  May 15, 2012 7:39 AM

  PLAQUEMINE - Iberville Parish School Superintendent Ed Cancienne has proposed a plan to reverse start times of the district's elementary and high school students in the upcoming school year. The plan got a lukewarm reception from school board members Monday night. Cancienne told the board he wants to bump up... more »

• Iberville opens new learning center

  May 14, 2012 11:17 AM

  PLAQUEMINE - The Iberville Parish School System has opened its new $2.4 million Science, Technology, Engineering and Math learning center. Project manager Patrick Norris said the new 11,000-square-foot center took a little more than a year to construct. Five classrooms were added to the Math, Science and Arts Academy-West... more »

• Four teens shot in New Orleans

  May 3, 2012 6:01 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Four New Orleans teenagers, not old enough to drink or drive, have been shot. All four teenagers under 15-years old were shot in the last 5 days. The latest victim was a 13-year-old boy who was shot after getting off a school bus. Police... more »

• How to nab a seat in the Tiger Stadium Expansion

  May 1, 2012 10:15 AM

  BATON ROUGE- Applications for new seats in Death Valley are being accepted now. The LSU board of supervisors approved the expansion on the south end-zone of Tiger Stadium Friday. Now fans who want to nab a prime spot in the expansion may have to put up at most... more »

• St. James authorizes traffic study for new school

  April 30, 2012 6:58 AM

  LUTCHER - The St. James Parish School Board has voted to authorize a traffic study on the 54-acre tract designated as the future site of St. James High School. The board also authorized the central office staff to apply for necessary permits from the St. James Parish Council. The district... more »

• New information released in Mari Ann Fowler's disappearance

  April 26, 2012 12:35 PM

  WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH - New details are emerging surrounding one of the area's most infamous abductions. To date, it remains unsolved and stumped even the most seasoned investigators. Mari Ann Fowler was last seen on December 24, 2002 in Port Allen after leaving a fast food restaurant. Search teams... more »

• Jazz Fest set to begin Friday

  April 26, 2012 6:50 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - Jazz horns, Cajun fiddles, zydeco washboards and rock guitars - they'll all be heard at the same place when the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival kicks off Friday. Performances by soul singer Irma Thomas, the Beach Boys, the rock band Zebra, jazz clarinetist Tim Laughlin, Buckwheat... more »

• Feds find 'alarming conditions' at N.O. jail

  April 24, 2012 7:36 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The Justice Department says its recent inspection of the New Orleans jail found "alarming conditions" and uncovered persistently high rates of prisoner-on-prisoner violence and staff misconduct. In a letter Monday to Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman, the Justice Department's civil rights division accused jail officials of failing... more »

• NO airport wants renovations done by Super Bowl

  April 23, 2012 7:03 AM

  KENNER - Louisiana's major airport is trying to finish several renovation projects before the 2013 Super Bowl in New Orleans. Louis Armstrong International Airport is planning for 42,000 visitors leaving the city the day after the game. Airport spokeswoman Michelle Wilcut says a new parking garage is about 65 percent... more »

• Livingston Parish lands new jobs Play Video

  April 19, 2012 5:56 PM

  ALBANY- Livingston Parish lands at least 40 new jobs with the introduction of Quality Iron of Louisiana, a company that manufactures and sells iron products. The company chose Livingston because of its location and people. "It's a great location, but it's on the far side of Livingston Parish,... more »

• New travel rules delayed in East Baton Rouge

  April 19, 2012 7:42 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board has delayed a vote on a proposal to change its travel rules so all employees get a flat daily per diem for meals rather than having to submit original receipts. A couple of board members did not like a... more »

• Jindal heading to New Mexico later this month

  April 17, 2012 6:52 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Secure in his second term, Gov. Bobby Jindal is continuing to help other Republican candidates and organizations with their fundraising efforts. Jindal is scheduled to attend an April 27 luncheon to raise dollars for the Republican Party of New Mexico. An invitation obtained by The... more »

• Accused terrorist goes on trial

  April 16, 2012 11:49 AM

  NEW YORK - Prosecutors say a New York City man accused of becoming an al-Qaida operative discussed bombing movie theaters, Grand Central Terminal, Times Square and the New York Stock Exchange before settling on the city's subways. Adis Madunjanin went on trial Monday in Brooklyn in connection with the alleged... more »

• Woman's Hospital delays move into new facility

  April 13, 2012 7:01 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Woman's Hospital says it will delay the opening of its new Baton Rouge hospital and moving its patients because the building is not complete. Woman's had scheduled the patient move for June 3. Woman's President and Chief Executive Officer Teri Fontenot said Thursday staff training was set... more »

• E. Feliciana picks new school chief

  April 13, 2012 6:54 AM

  CLINTON - The East Feliciana Parish School Board has voted to name Henderson Lewis as the next superintendent of schools. Thursday's 10-1 vote came after the public had a chance to meet Lewis and the other finalist, Edna Lusk Thomas. The board also questioned the two separately behind closed doors.... more »

• N.O. cop gets 20 months for lying about shooting

  April 11, 2012 2:44 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A New Orleans police officer has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for lying about the aftermath of a deadly shooting outside the city's convention center following Hurricane Katrina. U.S. District Judge Sarah Vance sentenced Ronald Mitchell on Wednesday. Mitchell's attorney, Kerry Cuccia, had said federal... more »

• New theories about what sank the Titanic

  April 11, 2012 1:13 PM

  WASHINGTON - After an entire century that included two high-profile government investigations and countless books and movies, we're still debating what really caused the Titanic to hit an iceberg and sink on that crystal-clear chilly night. Now come two new theories that suggest freak atmospheric conditions could have caused a... more »

• N.O. cop's sentencing postponed in Katrina case

  April 2, 2012 3:19 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A federal judge has postponed a sentencing hearing for a New Orleans police officer convicted of lying about the aftermath of a deadly shooting outside the city's convention center following Hurricane Katrina. Acting at the request of the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S District Judge Sarah Vance moved... more »

• New Bay St. Louis seawall to open Wednesday

  April 2, 2012 7:40 AM

  BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. - A ceremony Wednesday will mark the opening of Bay St. Louis' new $19 million seawall, which should give much better protection from storms than the one that was there before Hurricane Katrina's surge flooded into the city in 2005. The completion of the work, which... more »

• St. Helena hires legal expert to craft new sex law

  April 2, 2012 7:12 AM

  GREENSBURG - The St. Helena Parish Police Jury has hired Scott Bergthold, a Chattanooga, Tenn.-based lawyer whose practice specializes in helping local governments draft laws that regulate adult businesses. Police Jury Vice President Thomas Wicker says Bergthold was recommended to the police jury by the Moral Alliance of St. Helena,... more »

• New flood maps affect thousands in Livingston

  April 2, 2012 6:46 AM

  LIVINGSTON - New federal flood insurance rate maps will go into effect Tuesday, affecting thousands of Livingston Parish homeowners. Many people whose homes have never flooded will be required by their mortgage companies to buy insurance that could cost more than $1,000 a year. Meanwhile, others who have long been... more »

• New Orleans quality of life survey

  March 27, 2012 10:49 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A new survey shows crime concerns are up in New Orleans and Mayor Mitch Landrieu's approval ratings have declined a bit. But, overall, the University of New Orleans poll shows more New Orleans residents say the city has improved over the last five years. Landrieu's approval rating... more »

• New Orleans tourists up by 462,000 in 2011

  March 26, 2012 2:58 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A study released Monday says 8.75 million tourists visited the New Orleans area last year. The University of New Orleans Hospitality Research Center says that's an increase of about 462,000 from 2010. The study estimates the visitors spent a record $5.47 billion, up $180 million from... more »

• Livingston plans April hearings on new districts

  March 23, 2012 6:54 AM

  LIVINGSTON - Attorney C. Tom Jones told the Livingston Parish School Board that he hopes to be ready in April to hold public hearings on board reapportionment. Jones said Thursday the hearings must be held before the new districts can be submitted to the U.S. Justice Department for final approval.... more »

• Albany man arrested on drug, gun charges

  March 22, 2012 12:09 PM

  LIVINGSTON - Deputies arrested an Albany man with a long rap sheet Tuesday for possessing approximately six pounds of marijuana with several "assault type" weapons. Chad Lefevre, 32, of 30306 Jericho Dr. was arrested for multiple possession charges including ones for controlled dangerous substances (CDS), firearms with a CDS,... more »

• Jimmy Buffet, Kiss and Black Keys free concert in NO

  March 20, 2012 10:25 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - Jimmy Buffet, Kiss and the Black Keys are scheduled to give free concerts in New Orleans the weekend of the NCAA Men's Final Four. They're appearing in the league's annual "The Big Dance Concert" series which will be held this year in Woldenberg Park. Kiss... more »

• New Orleans gets new reality show

  March 20, 2012 6:58 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A bounty hunter who tracks New Orleans criminals will be the subject of a new reality TV show being launched next month by Spike TV. "Big Easy Justice" will center on the gritty criminal underworld of New Orleans and a bounty hunter known as Tat-2, who hunts... more »

• Developer pleads guilty to bank fraud conspiracy

  March 16, 2012 8:35 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - Federal prosecutors say a Covington developer has admitted conspiring to get mortgages for bad loan risks. They say the plot was uncovered during investigation of the federal bank bailout program. U.S. Attorney Jim Letten says 43-year-old Troy Fouquet pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of conspiracy to... more »

• New Orleans hospital to teach for U of Tabuk

  March 16, 2012 8:33 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A New Orleans-area health care system has signed a long-term partnership with a university system in Saudi Arabia. Ochsner Health System says faculty, staff and students from the medical school and other health-related schools at the University of Tabuk will come to Louisiana for education and training.... more »

• 7 years post-Katrina, NO opening 4 libraries

  March 16, 2012 5:08 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - More than 6 1/2 years after Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans, the city is opening four replacement libraries. The first is opening Friday, two more next week and the fourth in April. A news release says they cost a total of $25 million, with most of the... more »

• Arrest warrant issued for actor Brand in N.O.

  March 15, 2012 2:48 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - New Orleans police have issued an arrest warrant for actor Russell Brand. Brand, who is in New Orleans to film an untitled movie, faces a charge of simple criminal damage to property valued at $700. Police spokesman Remi Braden could not immediately release details of the incident,... more »

• New anti-smoking ads coming soon

  March 15, 2012 7:07 AM

  ATLANTA - The government has revamped its strategy for getting people to kick the smoking habit, and the new campaign is about to hit TV and radio air waves and billboards, magazines and newspapers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will run ads containing graphic, eye-catching images of health... more »

• New Central school positions under review

  March 13, 2012 6:45 AM

  CENTRAL - The Central School Board has decided to spend more time looking into whether it can afford new positions Superintendent Michael Faulk is seeking after several residents raised concerns about the costs. The board voted unanimously Monday to add a guidance counselor and a "journey to career" teacher at... more »

• N.O. woman pleads guilty in gun smuggling probe

  March 9, 2012 7:08 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A New Orleans woman has pleaded guilty to making false statements to firearms dealers in purchasing six guns. 28-year-old Irna Lacayo faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the four counts to which she pleaded guilty on... more »

• Man killed by police while serving search warrant

  March 8, 2012 7:10 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - Police say a 20-year-old man was shot in the chest and killed by an officer who arrived at a New Orleans home with a narcotics search warrant. New Orleans Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas said the house where the shooting occurred Wednesday night had been under surveillance... more »

• Sheriff not ruling out charges in suicide Play Video

  March 6, 2012 5:10 PM

  NEW ROADS - The sheriff of Pointe Coupee Parish said he's not ruling out criminal charges yet in the death of a 17-year-old girl. "Anyone that would take the law and go beyond the scope and actually break the law could be charged," Sheriff Bud Torres said. Now,... more »