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• Report: VA hospital in N.O. is $370M over budget

  May 19, 2013 4:08 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A government report says construction of a new Veterans Affairs hospital in New Orleans is $370 million over budget and 14 months behind schedule. The Advocate reports that the hospital was initially expected to cost $625 million and be completed by December 2014. But a new report... more »

• New Orleans says gunfire won't end 'second lines'

  May 18, 2013 10:43 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - New Orleans officials and cultural advocates say the Mother's Day parade shootings that left 20 people injured won't spell the end of second-line parades, the local tradition that celebrates the city and its people. Police this week arrested two brothers and charged them with 20 counts each... more »

• Ruling doesn't resolve family restaurant squabble

  May 17, 2013 2:30 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A federal judge's ruling hasn't resolved a family's power struggle for control of Brennan's, one of New Orleans' best-known restaurants. U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan ruled Friday that Owen "Pip" Brennan, a son of the restaurant's late founder, is a shareholder in Brennan's Inc. and retains his... more »

• Dalai Lama kicks off New Orleans visit

  May 17, 2013 9:50 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The Dalai Lama kicks off his visit to New Orleans with a series of speeches Friday at the city's convention center. The Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader arrived Thursday. On Saturday, he is scheduled to speak at the University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena and deliver Tulane University's... more »

• Police: Brother of parade shooting suspect arrested

  May 16, 2013 12:35 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Police say they have arrested a second suspect in the shooting that injured 20 people at a parade on Mother's Day. Police Chief Ronal Serpas identified the second suspect as 24-year-old Shawn Scott, brother of 19-year-old Akein Scott. Akein Scott was arrested Wednesday night. Serpas says Shawn... more »

• New license plates will commemorate Battle of New Orleans

  May 16, 2013 11:34 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The 200th anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans will be commemorated on Louisiana's license plates, starting next year. Legislation received final passage Thursday with a unanimous vote of the Seante. It requires that license plates issued for private passenger vehicles from 2014 through 2015 should honor... 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 »

• $10 million bond set in Mother's Day shooting

  May 16, 2013 8:39 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The suspect in a Mother's Day parade shooting in New Orleans has made his first court appearances. Nineteen-year-old Akein Scott faces 20 charges of attempted second-degree murder. He made two court appearances Thursday morning. First, Magistrate Judge Gerard Hansen set Scott's bond at $10 million - $500,000... more »

• LSU hosts UNO at Alex Box tonight

  May 14, 2013 10:31 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Second-ranked LSU will host the University of New Orleans tonight, the start of four home games this week at Alex Box Stadium. After the series against UNO, LSU (45-7) will end its regular-season schedule with a final conference series against Ole Miss starting Thursday. The... more »

• Police: Progress in Mother's Day shooting probe

  May 13, 2013 3:20 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - The head of the New Orleans Police Department says investigators have made significant progress in their investigation of a Mother's Day shooting that wounded 19 people. Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas said at a news conference on Monday that information began flowing into the police department after a... more »

• Police vow to solve shootings in New Orleans

  May 13, 2013 7:04 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A medical student who witnessed the shooting that wounded 19 people during a Mother's Day parade in New Orleans says it was hard to tell whether the gunman was picking targets randomly or was trying to hit specific people. Jarrat Pytell said the gunman he saw pointed... more »

• 19 people shot during New Orleans parade

  May 12, 2013 7:19 PM

  New Orleans, La.- The NOPD is investigating a shooting near the intersection of Frenchmen and North Villere Streets that left 19 people injured during a Mother's Day second line. Chief Serpas announced in a press conference that the youngest victim is believed to be a 10-year-old girl. Police say... more »

• NOPD: 19 people shot in New Orleans during second line parade

  May 12, 2013 3:27 PM

  NEW ORLEANS- The New Orleans Police Department is now on the scene of a shooting near the intersection of Frenchmen and North Villere Streets where 19 people were shot during a second line parade. Two of the victims were ten-year old children. Investigators believe three people could be... more »

• 14 charged in case of bizarre jail video

  May 10, 2013 2:00 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Indictments were filed Friday against 14 inmates in connection with videos showing prisoners brazenly using drugs, drinking beer and flashing a loaded gun in the New Orleans jail. The videos, made in June and July 2009, came to light in April during a federal court hearing on... more »

• Pelicans' Gordon has arthroscopic ankle surgery

  May 10, 2013 9:54 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Pelicans say guard Eric Gordon has undergone successful arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle. The club says the procedure, performed Thursday in Los Angeles, was aimed at alleviating pain caused by scar tissue. Gordon is expected to begin rehabilitation immediately and return... more »

• 15 indicted on N.O. charges linked to 15 killings

  May 9, 2013 2:39 PM

  NEW ORLEANS- Fifteen people linked to 15 killings have been indicted on state charges. The killings include the deadly shooting of a 5-year-old girl, in a case that New Orleans authorities tout as the broadest of its kind in the city's history. The 51-count indictment unveiled Thursday includes charges... more »

• Work continues on traffic plan for CCC toll plaza

  May 7, 2013 8:36 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - With the Crescent City Connection tolls eliminated, state transportation officials are continuing work on a traffic plan for the toll plaza. Voters rejected a 20-year extension of the tolls Saturday after the second vote on the issue. The Department of Transportation and Development tells The... more »

• Motorcyclist killed on I-10

  May 6, 2013 9:09 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - New Orleans Police are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash on Interstate 10. The accident happened early Monday morning near Carrollton Avenue. Police says the driver was thrown over a guard rail and landing on the ground near Poydras Street. The man was rushed to... more »

• Shooting on I-10 leaves 1 dead, 1 injured

  May 6, 2013 7:14 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - Police in New Orleans are investigating a shooting that left one man dead and another in stable condition. Police say the men were shot in a car on Interstate 10 westbound near the Metairie Road exit early Monday. Authorities closed the westbound lines for several... more »

• Man pleads guilty to slitting 2-year-old son's throat

  May 2, 2013 12:03 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A 26-year-old New Orleans man has pleaded guilty to capital murder, admitting that he slit his 2-year-old son's throat to avoid paying $4,000 in overdue child support. The Times-Picayune reports Danny Platt was sentenced to life in prison Thursday. The only promise prosecutor Robert Moore made him... more »

• One person dead in bus crash outside N.O.

  May 2, 2013 11:54 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - One person died in a wreck involving a charter bus and a car on Interstate 10 in a marshy area of eastern New Orleans, according to authorities. The Thursday morning accident prompted the closure of I-10's westbound lanes. Police have not released details on the accident or... more »

• New Orleans Bowl set for Dec. 21

  May 1, 2013 11:30 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - New Orleans Bowl officials say the date for the 2013 edition of the bowl game has been set for Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. local time. The bowl game currently has agreements to match bowl eligible teams from the Sun Belt Conference and Conference USA. The Louisiana-Lafayette... more »

• Federal judge postpones police reform meeting

  April 30, 2013 10:50 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A federal judge granted a request from city and Department of Justice officials to postpone a New Orleans Police Department consent decree monitor selection committee meeting. Tuesday's meeting was the deadline for the committee to indicate whether they had agreed on which firm should oversee the implementation... more »

• Man bleeds to death after accidentally shooting himself

  April 29, 2013 11:42 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - Authorities said a 26-year-old New Orleans man died over the weekend after he accidentally shot himself while trying to repair his gun. John Gagliano, chief investigator for the Orleans Parish coroner's office, tells The Times-Picayune Dejuan Antoine died around 1:30 a.m. Saturday. A woman who was with... more »

• Saints select OT Armstead with third-round pick

  April 26, 2013 9:03 PM

  METAIRIE- The New Orleans Saints have selected Terron Armstead, an offensive tackle out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, with their third-round pick in the NFL draft. The 6-foot-5, 306-pound lineman, picked 75th overall, represents New Orleans' lone pick on Friday night. The Saints were docked their second-round selection as part of their... more »

• Young musicians cling to Cajun, zydeco traditions

  April 26, 2013 12:27 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Members of the Cajun band T'Monde are young, but they like their music old. The band of 20-somethings opened the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on Friday with century-old, fiddle-heavy Cajun tunes. As music fans wielding folding chairs and umbrellas filed through the gates of the... more »

• APSO: Former Voodoo player caught with marijuana

  April 25, 2013 2:52 PM

  GONZALES - Authorities arrested a former arena league football player on suspicion of drug and weapons charges after they said he was caught with marijuana in Ascension Parish. Around 3:30 p.m., Ascension Parish Sheriffs narcotics detectives, DEA agents and Baton Rouge City narcotics detectives arrested Brian Coulter, 27, in the... more »

• N.O. school system finances improved, but flawed

  April 25, 2013 11:22 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A New Orleans-based government watchdog group says the school system in New Orleans has significantly improved its financial operations in the years since Hurricane Katrina shut down the city's public education system for months. But the Bureau of Governmental Research report issued Thursday also found flaws in... more »

• RB Chris Ivory signs 1-year deal with Saints

  April 19, 2013 3:53 PM

  METAIRIE - New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis says restricted free agent running back Chris Ivory has signed his tender offer. The 6-foot, 222-pound Ivory joined the Saints as an undrafted free agent out of Tiffin (Ohio) in 2010 and has run the ball 256 times for 1,307 yards... more »

• New Orleans man sentenced in child porn case

  April 19, 2013 9:09 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A 48-year-old man will serve a nine-year prison sentence for downloading photos depicting the sexual abuse of children. U.S. District Judge Nannette Brown on Thursday also ordered Myles Fitzgerald Guidry to spend the rest of his life under federal supervision after he is released. Acting U.S. Attorney... more »

• For Guan, Big Easy PGA stop hard to pass up

  April 18, 2013 9:31 PM

  AVONDALE, La. - Guan Tianlang says the chance to extend his stay in the United States and play the PGA Tour stop in New Orleans was too good to pass up. The 14-year-old had planned to return to his native China - and to school - after his appearance at... more »

• Saints host Atlanta to kick off 2013 season

  April 18, 2013 9:01 PM

  METAIRIE - The New Orleans Saints will open the NFL regular season at home against Atlanta, and their schedule includes four night games. The schedule, released by the league on Thursday night, features a Monday night home game against Miami on Sept. 30 and a Sunday night home game against... more »

• Hornets see promise in Pelicans era

  April 18, 2013 5:40 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - The Hornets haven't waited even a full day after their season-ending loss at Dallas to announce their formal name-change to the Pelicans. After a 27-win 2012-13 campaign, the organization was understandably eager to adopt a new identity. How long it takes for the club to become a... more »

• New Orleans police officer booked with forcible rape

  April 18, 2013 10:50 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A New Orleans police officer has been arrested and booked with the alleged forcible rape of a 15 year-old girl. Police spokeswoman Remi Braden says 42-year-old Desmond Pratt was also booked on charges of sexual battery. Braden says Pratt was placed on emergency suspension without pay following... more »

• $650 million expansion planned at N.O. airport

  April 17, 2013 10:14 AM

  KENNER - New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says the city plans to build a new terminal at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in suburban Kenner. The terminal would be on the north side of the existing terminal structure. Landrieu says officials hope to have the $650 million building open... more »

• Homecoming begins for area runners in Boston Play Video

  April 16, 2013 10:31 PM

  NEW ORLEANS- Area athletes, who were in Boston when terrorists blew-up two backpacks Monday, are returning home. Tuesday evening, a number of people- including some from the Baton Rouge-area flew into the airport in New Orleans. "It was horrible," Felicia Guidry told WBRZ News 2 about the scene... more »

• Public forum held to discuss police reform in NO

  April 15, 2013 12:27 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A public hearing in New Orleans is being held to determine the firm that will oversee the city's compliance with requirements in an agreement to reform the long-troubled police department. Monday's hearing comes even as the city tries to get out of the reform agreement it made... more »

• Davis to sit rest of Hornets season

  April 11, 2013 9:29 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Hornets say they will sit overall top draft choice Anthony Davis for their final three games because of his left knee injury. The 6-foot-10 rookie forward was hurt when he collided with Marcus Thornton during the fourth quarter of Wednesday night's loss at Sacramento.... more »

• Saints agree to 1-year deal with OT Jason Smith

  April 11, 2013 8:12 PM

  METAIRIE - New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis says the Saints and free agent offensive tackle Jason Smith have agreed to a one-year contract. Smith, whose acquisition was announced by the Saints on Thursday, has spent four seasons in the NFL, playing in 45 games with 26 starts at both... more »

• Israel holds Palestinian-American teen from New Orleans

  April 11, 2013 11:43 AM

  JERUSALEM - The family of a 14-year-old Palestinian-American says the Israeli military has been holding the boy for nearly a week after bursting into their home and arresting him in an overnight raid for allegedly hurling rocks at Israeli motorists in the West Bank. The boy's father, Abdelwahab Khalek, said... more »

• New Orleans teacher arrested in child porn case

  April 10, 2013 9:00 AM

  NEW ORLEANS- The FBI says a teacher at St. Mary's Academy in New Orleans has been arrested for allegedly enticing 14-year-old boy to produce sexually explicit images. The Times-Picayune reports 29-year-old Keith Joseph McGee was arrested Tuesday by the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force. St. Mary's Academy is a private... more »

• Woman accused of stabbing, killing boyfriend

  April 8, 2013 11:16 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - New Orleans police have arrested a woman who allegedly stabbed her boyfriend to death. The Times-Picayune reports 32-year-old Octavia Gary of New Orleans was booked Sunday with the second-degree murder of 40-year-old Anderson Soco. Police say the stabbing occurred during an argument. It was unclear whether Gary... more »

• BP to call 1st witness at trial over Gulf spill

  April 8, 2013 6:34 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - BP is scheduled to call its first witness Monday at a trial designed to determine causes of its April 2010 well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico and assign fault to the companies involved in the deadly disaster. Halliburton, BP PLC's cement contractor on the Deepwater Horizon... more »

• Louisville beats Cal in New Orleans Final 4 semifinal

  April 7, 2013 8:50 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Antonita Slaughter scored 18 points on six 3-pointers and Louisville clawed back from a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat California 64-57 on Sunday and advance to the NCAA championship game. Bria Smith scored 17 on 6 of 7 shooting for the Cardinals (29-8), who were a No.... more »

• Women's Final Four brings Big Easy more big games

  April 5, 2013 5:10 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - UConn coach Geno Auriemma is making his third trip to New Orleans for a women's Final Four and says he never gets tired of coming to the Big Easy for big games. The city has hosted a college football national title game, the men's Final Four and... more »

• Essence releases headliners for 2013 fest

  April 5, 2013 9:47 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - More details about the 2013 Essence Festival have been released, giving fans another look at the talent in store for the music and cultural celebration. Organizers say the festival opens Friday, July 5, with R&B powerhouses Jill Scott and Maxwell as well as rapper LL Cool J... more »

• Man admits to role in post-Katrina kickback scheme

  April 5, 2013 8:51 AM

  NEW ORLEANS- A New Orleans-area businessman has admitted to receiving at least $32,500 in kickbacks related to a debris pickup contract after Hurricane Katrina. The Times-Picayune reports 51-year-old Anthony Penn pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States as part of a plea deal. He will... more »

• Sheriff testifies in hearing on Orleans jail

  April 4, 2013 10:01 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - Testifying in a federal hearing, New Orleans Sheriff Marlin Gusman raised the possibility that a video depicting drug use and weapon possession in the jail he oversees may have been doctored. Gusman was imprecise on exactly when he first saw the videos made in 2009. And he... more »

• Why does New Orleans smell bad?

  April 3, 2013 4:12 PM

  NEW ORLEANS- Something smells around the Crescent City, and it's got the nose of two agencies. The Coast Guard and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality are investigating widespread reports of nasty odors. The reported smells include burning rubber, natural gas, and a petrochemical smell. DEQ spokesman... more »

• Inmates did drugs, drank beer in Orleans Parish prison

  April 2, 2013 11:38 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - Video showing inmates at the New Orleans jail apparently snorting drugs, drinking beer and in possession of at least one large handgun was shown Tuesday during a hearing in U.S. District Court. The recordings, believed made by inmates, were aired during the second day of hearings on... more »

• Fake cop gets 25 years

  April 2, 2013 11:11 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A 50-year-old New Orleans man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for robbing people while impersonating a police officer. The Times-Picayune reports Van Gabriel pleaded guilty in Jefferson Parish to 10 charges tied to four crimes in Kenner and Gretna in 2010. In his Jefferson... more »

• W French Quarter hotel sells for $25.5 million

  April 1, 2013 4:08 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - The W hotel in New Orleans' French Quarter has been sold but will keep its name. News releases say Chesapeake Lodging Trust bought the W New Orleans-French Quarter for $25.5 million from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. Both chains say Starwood has a longterm contract to... 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 »

• Cavs G Kyrie Irving cleared to return vs Hornets Sunday

  March 31, 2013 4:14 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Cavaliers All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving has been cleared to play after missing eight games with a strained left shoulder. Irving will be active and is expected to play Sunday night against the Hornets. The 21-year-old has been sidelined since March 15, when he hurt his left... more »

• Lebron scores 36, Heat roll in New Orleans

  March 29, 2013 10:08 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - LeBron James scored 36 points, hitting six consecutive 3-pointers in less than six minutes during the first half, and the Miami Heat rebounded from their first loss in nearly two months to beat the New Orleans Hornets 108-89 on Friday night. The Heat, whose 27-game winning streak... more »

• Escape closes Audubon Zoo in New Orleans

  March 29, 2013 11:31 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A monkey's escape from its enclosure at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans led to the zoo's brief closure. A statement from the zoo's vice president of marketing said a Colubus monkey escaped at t 10:17 a.m. Friday. Zoo workers were able to confine the animal to... more »

• Saints agree to terms with Victor Butler

  March 28, 2013 1:07 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Saints announced today that they have agreed to terms on a two-year contract with unrestricted free agent linebacker Victor Butler. The announcement was made by Saints' Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis. Butler, 6-2, 245, was originally drafted in the fourth-round (110th overall)... more »

• Mayor, council discuss NOPD consent decree

  March 28, 2013 10:22 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans City Council and Mayor Mitch Landrieu are meeting to discuss the financial burdens posed by separate agreements to reform aspects of the city's criminal justice system. One of those agreements is the much-heralded agreement the city reached with the U.S. Justice Department last July... more »

• Audit of hospital finds $67K in questioned costs

  March 26, 2013 9:01 AM

  NEW ORLEANS- An audit finds the Interim LSU Public Hospital in New Orleans did not confirm patients were eligible for a federally-funded HIV program for low-income individuals and families. While the hospital has since outsourced eligibility screenings to the Department of Health and Hospitals, no plan is yet in place... more »

• Alec Gifford, legendary journalist, dies

  March 22, 2013 10:33 PM

  NEW ORLEANS- Legendary South Louisiana journalist Alec Gifford died Friday night, according to WDSU TV , the station where he began his TV career in Louisiana. Gifford worked as a journalist in New Orleans for 51 years. He retired in 2006. Even in his 70s, Gifford still worked... more »

• Retrial postponed for ex-cop in Katrina case

  March 22, 2013 9:04 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A federal judge has postponed the retrial of a retired New Orleans police sergeant charged with helping cover up deadly shootings on a bridge after Hurricane Katrina. Gerard Dugue's retrial was scheduled to start May 13. U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt didn't immediately set a new date.... more »

• Payton says his return alone doesn't fix Saints

  March 20, 2013 10:40 PM

  PHOENIX - Sean Payton is trying to guard against anyone within the New Orleans Saints' organization subscribing to the notion that the team will return to its playoff form of recent seasons just because he's back. Payton, who took part in NFC coaches' media availability at the NFL owners meetings... more »

• Reports: Ed Reed to Texans

  March 20, 2013 10:38 PM

  HOUSTON - Free-agent safety Ed Reed is on the verge of becoming a Houston Texan, according to multiple reports. CBSSports.com reported Wednesday night that a deal was in place, and the NFL Network quoted Reed as saying he was headed to Houston "unless something changes." Neither Reed nor his agent,... more »

• Southern designers featured at Fashion Week Play Video

  March 20, 2013 5:25 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Two fashion designers, Abbey Vitrano and Mallory Domingue, stopped by News 2 at 4 p.m. to talk about Fashion Week New Orleans. During Fashion Week featured designers will show their collection on the runway, including designers from throughout the Southern region which stretches from Texas to... more »

• Pro Bowl returning to Hawaii in January

  March 20, 2013 2:35 PM

  PHOENIX - The Pro Bowl will return to Honolulu next January and again will be played the week before the Super Bowl. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says Wednesday at the owners meetings that the all-star game he once considered scrapping has been scheduled for Aloha Stadium on Jan. 26. He... more »

• New Orleans taxi company launches backseat vending

  March 19, 2013 2:18 PM

  NEW ORLEANS- When customers get into some New Orleans taxis, they'll now have the chance to buy a cold beverage during the drive to their destination. New Orleans Carriage Cab has launched backseat vending machines inside its 250-car fleet that also includes the Yellow-Checker Cab brands. Company owner Simon Garber... more »

• Goodell: New Orleans deserves another Super Bowl

  March 18, 2013 4:54 PM

  PHOENIX - NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says New Orleans "deserves" to host another Super Bowl despite the in-game blackout that stopped play for 32 minutes. Goodell says he mentioned to the owners how good a job the city did staging its first Super Bowl since 2001, and, of course, its... more »

• New Orleans businessman signs letter of intent to buy The Advocate

  March 16, 2013 10:19 AM

  New Orleans businessman John Georges has signed a letter of intent to buy The Advocate newspaper. The deal is expected to close by June 1, according to The Advocate. Terms were not disclosed. David Manship, publisher of The Advocate and Richard Manship, president and chief executive officer of... more »

• Wall has season-high 29; Wizards top Hornets by 9

  March 15, 2013 8:42 PM

  WASHINGTON - John Wall put on a rare shooting show Friday night, scoring a season-high 29 points and matching his career high with three 3-pointers as the Washington Wizards ran their home winning streak to four with a 96-87 victory over the New Orleans Hornets. Wall went 12 for 15... more »

• Pope's visit to Louisiana remembered during Conclave Play Video

  March 13, 2013 4:58 PM

  BATON ROUGE- When Pope John Paul II visited New Orleans in 1987, Betty Wright brought her entire family to a mass the pope held at UNO. She says as her family waited for the pope, the sky began to open up and it seemed destined rain would cloud her... more »

• Brook Lopez helps Nets beat Hornets, 108-98

  March 12, 2013 10:17 PM

  NEW YORK - Brook Lopez scored 26 points and had a big dunk over twin brother Robin, Deron Williams added 21 points and 13 assists, and the Brooklyn Nets beat the New Orleans Hornets 108-98 on Tuesday night. Brooklyn squandered a 10-point lead in the third quarter before pulling off... more »

• Bears, Bushrod agree to 5-year deal

  March 12, 2013 10:11 PM

  CHICAGO - The Chicago Bears have agreed to a five-year contract with New Orleans Saints Pro Bowl left tackle Jermon Bushrod, filling a major hole on the offensive line. The Bears announced the signing Tuesday. A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that the deal is potentially... more »

• AP sources: Smith, Vilma get new deals with Saints

  March 12, 2013 5:10 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - People familiar with the situation say defensive end Will Smith and linebacker Jonathan Vilma have agreed to restructure their contracts in order to remain with the New Orleans Saints. Meanwhile, one person says reserve linebacker Will Herring is being released. The people spoke to The Associated Press... more »

• 2012 tourism in N.O. 2nd-highest ever, more than 9M

  March 12, 2013 3:10 PM

  NEW ORLEANS- A new study says tourists and business travelers spent a record $6 billion in New Orleans last year, and the number of visitors was the highest since Hurricane Katrina and the second-highest ever. The UNO Hospitality Research Center says the city had just over 9 million visitors. That's... more »

• Hornets acquire F Lou Amundson, release Sims

  March 12, 2013 11:08 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Hornets have signed veteran forward Lou Amundson for the rest of the season and released Henry Sims. The Hornets are Amundson's third NBA team this season. The 6-foot-9 former UNLV standout opened the 2012-13 season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who waived him early last... more »

• Agent: Saints' LT Bushrod set to enter free agency

  March 11, 2013 6:27 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - The agent for Saints left tackle Jermon Bushrod says there's no indication his client will reach a late-hour deal to stay in New Orleans before free agency begins on Tuesday afternoon. Agent Richard Rosa says Bushrod has enjoyed his time in New Orleans and that all parties... more »

• BP: costs rising from spill settlement

  March 8, 2013 11:09 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - BP is warning investors that the price tag will be higher than initially estimated for its multibillion-dollar settlement with businesses and residents who claim the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico cost them money. The oil giant estimated last year it would spend roughly $7.8... more »

• Friends, colleagues and strangers search for missing NOLA teacher

  March 7, 2013 9:41 PM

  NEW ORLEANS- Volunteers are helping to search for a teacher who hasn't been seen since the weekend. Fellow teachers said Thursday, Terrilynn Monette is one of the best teachers, and it's not like her to vanish. They're hoping they can find something to lead them to her. For... more »

• Buku music fest back with bigger lineup

  March 7, 2013 8:58 AM

  NEW ORLEANS- Hip-hop singer Big Freedia and an entourage of booty-shaking "bounce" dancers are using a Mardi Gras float for a stage when the Buku music festival returns to New Orleans this weekend. The two-day Buku Music + Art Project, a hip-hop and electronic dance music festival launched last year,... more »

• DOTD: No bridge tolls mean layoffs for workers

  March 7, 2013 7:49 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - State transportation officials say a suspension of bridge tolls at the Crescent City Connection in New Orleans means pink slips for 31 temporary workers hired pending the outcome of a contested November referendum. The Department of Transportation and Development, which runs the bridge, said Wednesday the layoffs... more »

• Bryant, Lakers road back against Hornets, 108-102

  March 6, 2013 9:58 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Kobe Bryant scored 13 of his 42 points during a 20-0 run in the last 6:22 of the fourth quarter, and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame a 25-point deficit to fend off the New Orleans Hornets, 108-102 on Wednesday night. The Hornets were still ahead by 21... more »

• Ravens donate 2 motorcycles to New Orleans police

  March 6, 2013 3:04 PM

  BALTIMORE - The Baltimore Ravens have donated two motorcycles to the New Orleans Police Department Traffic Division as a show of appreciation for the treatment the team received during the week of the Super Bowl. While in New Orleans, the Ravens received police escorts to and from their destinations, as... more »

• Students return to schools after threats

  March 6, 2013 11:02 AM

  LAFITTE- Students were evacuated from two Jefferson Parish schools Wednesday after administrators said the campuses received threats. Students were permitted to return late Wednesday morning to Marrero Academy for Advanced Studies in Marrero and Fisher Middle-High School in Lafitte. Authorities say no threatening devices were found at the schools. Sherriff's... more »

• 2 New Orleans officers face suspension

  March 6, 2013 7:53 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - Two New Orleans police officers will be placed on emergency suspension after each was charged with battery and malfeasance in office in two separate incidents that occurred last year. Department spokeswoman Remi Braden says Lt. Mike Field and Officer Jamal Kendrick will be suspended without pay. Field... more »

• New Orleans awaits word on water quality

  March 4, 2013 11:46 AM

  NEW ORLEANS- Residents and businesses in much of New Orleans awaited word on when they would no longer have to boil tap water to ensure it was safe to consume. The mayor's office said Monday that test results to determine whether the water is contaminated were expected by mid-afternoon. Water... more »

• Hornets' Smith out for season with shoulder injury

  March 1, 2013 3:59 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - New Orleans Hornets general manager Dell Demps says 7-foot reserve forward and center Jason Smith will miss the rest of the season because of a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Meanwhile, the Hornets also say rookie forward Anthony Davis will be out for Friday night's game... more »

• Man convicted for pouring hot grits on wife

  March 1, 2013 8:58 AM

  NEW ORLEANS- A 42-year-old New Orleans man has been convicted of battery for pouring boiling grits on his wife, then hitting her in the head with the pot. The Times-Picayune reports Arthur Porter was found guilty of aggravated second-degree battery, for the grits, and simple battery, for the beating with... more »

• Teen arrested after accidentally shooting brother

  March 1, 2013 8:54 AM

  NEW ORLEANS- New Orleans police have arrested a 15-year-old boy accused of accidentally shooting his 11-year-old brother in the leg. Officer Frank Robertson says the 15-year-old faces a charge of negligent injury. Robertson said the two brothers were playing with a loaded pistol around 7 p.m. Thursday. He says the... more »

• Carnival to keep sailing out of Orleans port

  February 28, 2013 11:16 AM

  NEW ORLEANS- The Port of New Orleans says Carnival Cruise Lines has signed a three-year extension of its current berthing agreement with the port. Port officials say there will be two Carnival cruise ships sailing year round from New Orleans through at least Feb. 12, 2016. Carnival has two ships... more »

• Superdome officials to meet today

  February 27, 2013 8:00 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The panel that oversees the Superdome will hold its first regular meeting since the now infamous power outage that delayed the Super Bowl earlier this month. The Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District board will meet this afternoon at the facility. Entergy Corp. has said it believes the... more »

• 1 killed, 1 injured in New Orleans shooting

  February 26, 2013 9:02 AM

  NEW ORLEANS- New Orleans police are investigating a double shooting that left one man dead and another injured. The shooting happened around 8:40 Monday night. Officer Garry Flot says detectives determined the shooting took place inside a house. Flot says a 46-year-old man died at the scene from multiple gunshot... more »

• Trial set to open for Gulf oil spill litigation

  February 25, 2013 7:17 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The high-stakes Gulf oil spill trial has started with a lawyer criticizing BP by saying company executives put enormous pressure on drilling managers to cut costs and rush the job. Jim Roy is an attorney for individuals and businesses affected by the spill. He says BP repeatedly... more »