WBRZ - Baton Rouge

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• Reworked budget plan taking shape in La. House

  May 9, 2013 3:35 PM

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

• 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 »

• Black caucus drops tax plan, except cigarette tax

  April 16, 2013 2:15 PM

  BATON ROUGE- With the House tax committee dropping debate of Gov. Bobby Jindal's income tax repeal, the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus says it won't push its alternate tax plan to lower the tax rates. Rep. Katrina Jackson, who is the chair of the group, says the caucus wouldn't seek hearings... more »

• Lawmakers accuse Jindal of moving too fast on EKL closure

  April 10, 2013 10:42 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Lawmakers today approved the closure of Earl K. Long Medical Center and the reimbursement shift necessary to pay a private hospital to take on the poor and uninsured. Some lawmakers say the plan had to be approved because EKL shuts down in five days, and if... more »

• Jindal admin: Non-revenue neutral tax plans an option

  April 9, 2013 10:43 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal's leader on tax issues is indicating to lawmakers that the governor is no longer seeking a dollar-for-dollar swap in an income tax repeal. Tim Barfield, executive counsel for the Department of Revenue, told a Senate committee on Tuesday that now that Jindal is supporting... more »

• Sources: Jindal to scrap tax plan, propose 10-year rollout

  April 8, 2013 1:09 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Governor Bobby Jindal is expected to announce he's scrapping his plan to immediately eliminate personal and corporate income taxes, according to multiple sources at the Capitol. Those sources tell WBRZ News 2 the governor will instead propose rolling out the eliminations over the next decade, without... more »

• Jindal scraps tax reforms, 10-year rollout proposed Play Video

  April 8, 2013 1:02 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Governor Bobby Jindal announced today he was scrapping his plan to immediately eliminate personal and corporate income taxes, and instead try to phase the changes in over the next decade. Jindal made the announcement during his joint address before the state House and Senate at the... more »

• Jindal to speak on tax reform at session opening

  April 8, 2013 10:31 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal will open the 2013 legislative session this afternoon with remarks about his tax reform plans. Jindal is scheduled to speak around 1 p.m. before the joint House and Senate, just after the two-month session opens officially at noon. The governor has proposed... more »

• Consulting firm against part of Jindal tax plan

  April 5, 2013 11:25 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The consulting firm hired by Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration for economic analysis of the governor's tax plan says states should not enact a key plank of Jindal's proposal. In a report released nationally, Ernst & Young economists say sales taxes on services bought by businesses are bad... 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 »

• Lawmaker: Jindal tax plan faces hurdles to passage

  April 1, 2013 2:39 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The Lafayette lawmaker sponsoring Gov. Bobby Jindal's tax rewrite proposals says no one should consider the tax package dead on arrival, as some critics have claimed. Rep. Joel Robideaux, Republican chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, says opposition from a powerful business lobbying group and hundreds... more »

• Jindal tax plan includes rebates for poor, retired

  March 29, 2013 3:13 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal's tax package includes handing out rebate checks to the poor, military employees and certain retirees who otherwise could face hefty tax hikes under the restructuring. Those groups don't pay income taxes, so Jindal's proposal to eliminate income taxes in exchange for higher and more... more »

• La. Dems sound off against Jindal tax plan

  March 27, 2013 10:41 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Democrats critical of Gov. Bobby Jindal's tax swap plan sounded off at the state Capitol today. Representative James Armes (D-La. 30) said Jindal's plan to eliminate the state income tax and increase the state sales tax would take from the poor and give to the rich,... more »

• Jindal plan estimated to boost business tax costs

  March 26, 2013 1:56 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal's leader on his tax rewrite says the plan would shift $500 million in tax costs from individuals to businesses. Tim Barfield, executive counsel for the Department of Revenue, says companies will benefit from the simplicity and stability of the rewritten tax laws. Lawmakers questioned... more »

• Phase-In Recommended for Tax Plan

  March 25, 2013 11:23 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A government watchdog group says Gov. Bobby Jindal's tax plan should include a "margin of error" factor so the state doesn't end up facing new budget shortfalls. The Council for A Better Louisiana also suggests that if lawmakers agree to the tax system revamp, it should be... more »

• Religious leaders say Jindal tax data is wrong

  March 22, 2013 2:14 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A group of Louisiana religious leaders say Gov. Bobby Jindal used flawed data to claim nearly all families won't see increased costs under the governor's tax code rewrite. Jindal wants to get rid of state income taxes, in exchange for higher and more state sales taxes. The clergy... more »

• Citizens borrowing plan stalls in Bond Commission

  March 21, 2013 2:13 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A decision on whether the state's property insurer of last resort should borrow $100 million to help close an anticipated budget gap has stalled in the Bond Commission. The commission, which includes lawmakers and statewide elected officials, didn't take any action today on the request from the board... more »

• Jindal details tax reform plan at Capitol Play Video

  March 14, 2013 11:25 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Governor Bobby Jindal said the Louisiana's sales tax rate would increase from 4 percent to 5.88 percent under his plan to eliminate both the individual income tax and corporate income and franchise taxes. If approved, the tax reforms would also boost Louisiana's combined local and state... more »

• BESE approves K-12 funding plan Play Video

  March 7, 2013 6:14 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved Gov. Bobby Jindal's school funding formula for the 2013-2014 school year, which protects his school voucher program. Last year a judge ruled the funding formula unconstitutional. That case is on appeal with the state Supreme Court. ... more »

• CATS releases $15 million dollar improvement plan Play Video

  March 6, 2013 6:34 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The Capital Area Transit System will make $15 million dollars in improvements over the next three years, according to CEO Brian Marshall. The office has drawn criticism for not making the changes fast enough. Marshall says improvements have to deliberate to avoid other problems. Marshall says... more »

• CATS CEO to unveil transit revamp

  March 6, 2013 10:24 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The CEO for the Capital Area Transit System is set to reveal his plans to overhaul Baton Rouge's public transit system today. Brian Marshall will present the plans at the CATS board committee meeting Wednesday morning. It will include how he plans to spend the 10.6... more »

• Gov. Jindal to reveal budget plan today

  February 22, 2013 7:31 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal says his proposed $24.7 billion budget for next year relies heavily on privatization plans for LSU's charity hospitals to offset the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal Medicaid funding. Congress cut Louisiana's Medicaid payment rate last year. That's a significant factor... more »

• Judge refuses to modify desegregation decree

  February 7, 2013 6:43 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The federal judge overseeing Tangipahoa Parish's decades-old desegregation case has denied the school board's request for a status conference to discuss possible modifications to the court-ordered desegregation plan. U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle instead directed the attorneys to meet in an effort to reach a consensus... more »

• White House allies produce preschool-for-all plan

  February 7, 2013 6:38 AM

  WASHINGTON - A think tank with close ties to the White House is outlining a plan to provide preschool for all children within five years. The Center for American Progress released a road map Thursday for providing pre-kindergarten programs for all 3- and 4-year-olds. For families with younger children, federal... more »

• Jindal tax plan expected to include cigarette tax

  February 4, 2013 3:12 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Two years after strongly opposing a 4-cent cigarette tax renewal, Gov. Bobby Jindal is considering his own larger proposal to raise tobacco taxes. The Jindal administration has floated the idea to lawmakers for the upcoming legislative session that begins in April, as part of a proposed rewrite... more »

• Group shows support in Tangi desegregation plan

  January 23, 2013 6:58 AM

  AMITE - A Hammond group's show of unity and support for the Tangipahoa Parish school system exposed a deepening rift among school board members regarding possible modifications to the district's desegregation plan. About 30 parents and community leaders attended the board's Tuesday meeting wearing purple to show their unity... more »

• PAR raises concerns about Jindal tax swap plan

  January 18, 2013 2:52 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A nonpartisan government watchdog organization says Gov. Bobby Jindal's plan to get rid of state income taxes in favor of higher sales taxes could weaken the state's revenue base. The Public Affairs Research Council's tax advisory panel says a shift to a sales tax-focused system could fall more... more »

• Jindal tax plan would keep incentive programs

  January 15, 2013 4:03 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The leader on Gov. Bobby Jindal's proposed tax code rewrite, Tim Barfield, says the administration wants to keep most of the state's economic development incentive programs as part of the revamp. Many of the programs give credits or exemptions to income taxes. Though Jindal is proposing to... more »

• Plan for NYC Ferris wheel rolls on, despite Sandy

  January 1, 2013 12:31 PM

  NEW YORK - While New York City grapples with rebuilding after Superstorm Sandy, developers are pressing ahead with plans to build the world's largest Ferris wheel on the shoreline of storm-torn Staten Island. Sandy's flooding spurred some changes to the nearly $500 million project, which includes an outlet mall and... more »

• Obama tax plan no small deal to small businesses

  December 10, 2012 2:47 PM

  WASHINGTON - Congressional budget experts say President Barack Obama's plan to raise taxes on top earners will have only a small impact on the economy. Don't tell that to the 940,000 small business owners who will pay more. All together, they will account for more than half the $1.3 trillion... more »

• Dredging and drawdown planned for False River Play Video

  December 3, 2012 5:21 PM

  NEW ROADS - A dredging and drawdown on False River could begin within the next two years. State Representative Major Thibaut, D-Oscar, updated the Baton Rouge Press Club about a comprehensive plan involving the oxbow lake. Thibaut says it utilizes local, state and federal resources. One of the... more »

• Obama to paint Republicans as obstacles to a deal

  November 30, 2012 7:47 AM

  WASHINGTON - During his visit to the Philadelphia area today, President Barack Obama is planning on insisting on higher taxes for the top two percent of earners. That's according to White House officials, who say Obama will cast Republicans as an obstacle to a deal that would avoid the "fiscal... more »

• Neighborhood buyout set to be discussed Wednesday

  November 27, 2012 9:49 PM

  BATON ROUGE- City leaders are set to talk about buying out a neighborhood near a sewerage plant in the northern part of town. On Wednesday's Metro Council agenda is a discussion about the $6,000,000 plan to solve on-going issues with people who live in University Heights. For years,... more »

• Controversial Southdowns issue pulled from consideration Play Video

  November 20, 2012 5:36 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A controversial plan to rezone a property at the corner of Perkins Road and Stuart Avenue is dead. Opponents say it was part of a purchase agreement which would have allowed two psychiatrists to open an office on the site. Homeowners in the Southdowns neighborhood say... more »

• NYC man sentenced to life in subway terror plot

  November 16, 2012 2:51 PM

  NEW YORK - A Bosnia-born U.S. citizen has been sentenced to life behind bars for his role in a foiled suicide-bomb plot on New York City subways in 2008. Adis Medunjanin received the sentence Friday in federal court in Brooklyn. Prosecutors had accused Medunjanin and two high school classmates of... more »

• Mississippi sent insurance plan to feds

  November 14, 2012 7:47 PM

  Despite being discouraged not to, Mississippi insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney sent the state's plan for an insurance exchange to the federal government as required by the Affordable Health Care Act, or Obamacare. Chaney has steadily worked to create the plan of an online marketplace for people to buy insurance despite... more »

• Vote shelved on Jindal health outsourcing plan Play Video

  November 1, 2012 4:55 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal's top budget adviser scrapped a planned legislative vote on the governor's proposal to hire a private company to manage a state employee health insurance plan. Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols pulled the proposed contract between the Office of Group Benefits and Blue Cross/Blue Shield... more »

• NATO: Afghanistan drawdown plans unchanged

  October 18, 2012 6:55 AM

  KABUL, Afghanistan - NATO says its drawdown plans for Afghanistan remain unchanged and that the coalition will stay on in the country until 2014, despite calls for a quicker withdrawal. Thursday's remarks by visiting Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen come amid speculation that the U.S.-led alliance could accelerate its departure... more »

• Obama: Romney's economic plan a 'sketchy deal'

  October 17, 2012 3:17 PM

  MOUNT VERNON, Iowa - President Barack Obama is ridiculing rival Mitt Romney's five-point plan for the economy as a "sketchy deal" that boils down to helping the wealthy at the expense of the middle class. Obama told a political rally at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, that Romney won't... more »

• Mental hospital closing could affect BR region Play Video

  October 3, 2012 5:09 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A controversial plan to close Southeast Louisiana Hospital could affect drug and alcohol treatment available to people in several parishes, including Livingston. The privately-operated Florida Parishes Human Services Authority operates a 64-bed treatment center on the mental hospital grounds. FPHSA directors say they will not be... more »

• Engineer to unveil Gonzales roads plan draft

  September 25, 2012 10:14 AM

  GONZALES - Gonzales officials are a few weeks away from unveiling a comprehensive transportation improvement plan that includes upgrades to many of city's major roads. Glenn Shaheen, a consultant and engineer working on the transportation plan, called The Go Program, presented a preliminary report to the city council on... more »

• Tangipahoa board delays altering deseg plans

  September 19, 2012 7:14 AM

  AMITE - The Tangipahoa Parish School Board has effectively killed a proposed timetable for considering revisions to the district's desegregation plan by voting to delay the discussion until the next meeting. Board member Brett Duncan has questioned the need to build $54.5 million worth of new schools, as specified... more »

• Meetings set to review East Feliciana plan

  September 10, 2012 10:36 AM

  CLINTON - Meetings are scheduled this week for the public to review a draft plan for economic development, land use and transportation in East Feliciana Parish. The Advocate reports the first meeting will at J.D.'s Restaurant in Clinton Monday night. The second meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday... more »

• Lawsuit filed against new state retirement plan

  August 16, 2012 11:34 AM

  BATON ROUGE- An organization representing Louisiana's retired state employees is challenging Gov. Bobby Jindal's new pension plan for future rank-and-file state workers. The Retired State Employees Association of Louisiana claims the law, passed earlier this year, is unconstitutional because it didn't get a two-thirds vote in the state House of... more »

• BESE approves accountability plan for vouchers

  July 24, 2012 2:34 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Louisiana's top education board has backed accountability standards suggested by Superintendent of Education John White for the private schools that will get taxpayer-subsidized students through the voucher program. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted 9-2 Tuesday for the criteria. Schools in the voucher program that hit... more »

• BREC's tax millage plan may have opposition

  June 25, 2012 10:34 AM

  BATON ROUGE- East Baton Rouge Parish Recreation and Park Commission leaders say rolling a tax millage forward will help the office meet the public's needs. The millage covering BREC's operations would roll back by .4 mills this year, unless two-thirds of commissioners vote to roll it forward. They're scheduled... more »

• Plan your Louisiana coastal vacation with WBRZ

  June 20, 2012 10:45 AM

  BATON ROUGE - If you're still thinking about where to go on your summer vacation, let WBRZ and the Louisiana Tourism Coastal Coalition help with a free getaway guide. Visit WBRZ.com or area McDonald's stores to get your free copy of LTCC's new "Getaway Guide", packed with information and... more »

• Tax plan would improve Ascension Parish Roads

  June 14, 2012 5:37 PM

  GONZALES - A proposed half cent sales tax increase could pave the way for infrastructure improvements in Ascension Parish. The proposal first has to be approved by the parish council before a final decision by voters in November. The plan would widen Airline Highway to six lanes from... more »

• $3.4B school funding plan gets final passage

  June 4, 2012 3:16 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana House has given final legislative passage to a $3.4 elementary and secondary school spending plan, without reaching the vote threshold needed to pass a bill in the chamber. House Speaker Chuck Kleckley decided that since the multibillion dollar spending plans were contained in a legislative... more »

• Judge outlines new plan for Gulf oil spill trial

  May 31, 2012 10:16 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A federal judge has outlined a new structure for a trial of Gulf oil spill claims that wouldn't be resolved by a proposed class-action settlement between BP PLC and a team of plaintiffs' attorneys. In an order Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier said the trial scheduled... more »

• Legislature passes coastal master plan

  May 23, 2012 7:57 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A $50 billion, 50-year proposal aimed at stopping coastal land loss in Louisiana has passed the state Legislature. The Senate voted 94-0 Tuesday in favor of the 2012 coastal master plan. By law, the state has to update it every five years. Funding for the plan remains... more »

• Master plan notes concerns in Walker growth

  May 21, 2012 7:46 AM

  WALKER - Walker's new master plan suggests there are needs for creating new thoroughfares, updating development codes, improving drainage and considering major annexations. The plan states the city is in the early stages of a significant development expansion. With Walker projected to grow 89 percent to a population of 11,600... more »

• $325M borrowing plan for rural roads near complete

  May 9, 2012 8:01 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A $325 million borrowing plan to repair and upgrade rural roads across Louisiana is near final legislative passage. The proposal by Jonesboro Rep. Jim Fannin is up for a House vote Wednesday. If approved there, it heads to Gov. Bobby Jindal, who supports it. Every parish but... more »

• Plan shelved to convert power plant to coal

  April 12, 2012 7:54 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Low natural gas prices and plentiful gas supplies have put aside plans to convert a gas-fired power plant to New Roads to coal power. NRG Energy Inc. spokesman Dave Knox says the company has allowed a state permit to convert the Big Cajun I plant to coal... more »

• Residents get say in Livingston Parish growth

  April 9, 2012 10:21 AM

  DENHAM SPRINGS-- Monday night will be the first in a series of meetings to determine the future of Livingston Parish. Leaders there are working on a comprehensive master plan for the area, and they want input from people who live there. Monday night at 6:00, people will be able... more »

• Google unveils augmented reality glasses project

  April 5, 2012 11:33 AM

  MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - Adding to their reputation as technology pioneers, Google unveiled their "Project Glass" Wednesday; a technology that has been compared to a smartphone for your eyes. The glasses, as demonstrated in a YouTube video posted by Google, are planned to superimpose calendar events, weather forecasts, directions,... more »

• House approves Republican deficit-cutting plan

  March 29, 2012 2:43 PM

  WASHINGTON - Republicans have pushed an election-year $3.5 trillion budget through a divided House that showcases their plans for trimming federal deficits and contrasts sharply with how President Barack Obama and Democrats would tackle the nation's fiscal problems. The GOP package would revamp Medicare, slice everything from food stamps to... more »

• $295M tax credit plan to aid low-income areas

  February 24, 2012 4:50 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - Low-income communities in Louisiana are expected to benefit soon from $295 million in tax credits. Five Louisiana entities that finance business and economic development will take part in the "New Market Tax Credit" program awards announced Thursday by Sen. Mary Landrieu and Rep. Cedric Richmond. The... more »

• Panetta defends military budget plan

  February 14, 2012 7:01 AM

  WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is defending his department's slimmed-down, $614 billion budget plan, telling senators it's time they show they are serious about reducing the deficit. Panetta says budget cuts will hit all 50 states, and he says the reductions were carefully planned so there is little room... more »

• Agencies plan DWI crackdown over Mardi Gras

  February 8, 2012 8:00 AM

  LAFAYETTE - Law enforcement agencies across the state are gearing up for a DWI crackdown over the Mardi Gras season. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director John LeBlanc says Mardi Gras is one of the deadliest seasons in Louisiana. LeBlanc says the LHSC has provided grants to about 45 police... more »

• Civil service commission rejects DHH layoff plan Play Video

  February 1, 2012 5:40 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A plan that involves laying off dozens of IT workers in the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals has been defeated. Members of the Civil Service Commission complained about a lack of information from DHH to make a decision. The move included privatizing most of the information... more »

• MLK day of service planned for Belaire High Play Video

  January 13, 2012 5:37 PM

  BATON ROUGE- In Honor of Martin Luther King Jr. some young people in Baton Rouge plan to pitch in instead of sleeping in over the holiday. Delicia Van Gurp came all the way from New York to work with kids here in Baton Rouge. She says, "Beyond the... more »

• EBR fire district merger plan closer to reality Play Video

  January 11, 2012 10:30 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The Baton Rouge Fire Chiefs' Association got the thumbs up from Metro Council today for a plan to consolidate nine unincorporated fire districts in the parish. Council asked for the report in September. It outlines closing some stations, building new ones, adding equipment and personnel. The... more »

• State to unveil new coastal master plan

  January 11, 2012 6:39 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A new blueprint for saving coastal Louisiana from sea level rise, hurricanes and erosion will be unveiled Thursday. The document will lay out strategies and challenges facing Louisiana as the state struggles to deal with a host of problems along the coast. The new plan... more »

• Japan releases 40-year nuke plant cleanup plan

  December 21, 2011 5:26 AM

  TOKYO (AP) - Japan has released a new long-term cleanup plan for its tsunami-hit nuclear plant that would take as many as 40 years to fully decommission while keeping the still vulnerable facility safely under control. Trade Minister Yukio Edano said Wednesday that the government plans to move through the... more »

• BR mortgage expert says housing plan could work

  October 24, 2011 5:33 PM

  BATON ROUGE- President Barack Obama announced a plan that could make it easier for some people to refinance their mortgages. The plan applies to people with federally guaranteed mortgages who are current on their payments. it eases restrictions for people who have little or no equity in their home.... more »

• Metro Council members plan to change new downtown library plan to renovation

  September 15, 2011 10:29 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Metro Council members are telling the Library Board to change its plans for the River Center Branch Library. The board recently began backing off talking about building a new library because of heat from city leaders. The $19 million project was approved in December. It got a lot... more »

• EBR crafting buyout plan for neighborhood near sewage plant

  September 14, 2011 10:31 PM

  BATON ROUGE- There's a plan in the works to buyout people who live near a sewer treatment plant in north Baton Rouge. It involves almost 50 homes in University Place, near Southern University, but there's no price tag yet. People in the neighborhood say the treatment plant stinks... more »

• Bond Commission to take up neighborhood crime fighting tax

  September 14, 2011 4:28 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The Louisiana State Bond Commission will send a crime fighting tax proposal to voters for the November ballot tomorrow. The Broadmoor Crime Prevention and Improvement District would cost $100 per year for each household if approved. The plan would provide an increase of law enforcement and security... more »

• Mayor's tax plan goes back to Metro Council

  August 9, 2011 5:27 PM

  BATON ROUGE- People in East Baton Rouge Parish may never get the chance to vote on Mayor-President Kip Holden's $748 million tax plan. Tomorrow night Metro Council could vote to keep it off the ballot in November. The Metro Council voted 9-3 to keep the proposal off the agenda... more »

• School shooting plot: bond $500,000 each

  August 8, 2011 2:34 PM

  COVINGTON - A family court judge has set a cash bond of $500,000 each for three 15-year-old boys accused of plotting to shoot two specific people and anyone else in their way on the first day of class at their suburban New Orleans school. Rick Wood, spokesman for the St.... more »

• DEQ rejects company's plan to fix the stink in Port Allen

  July 26, 2011 5:35 PM

  PORT ALLEN- The Department of Environmental Quality denied a plan to eliminate a foul odor coming from a storage tank in Port Allen. The plan was submitted today, about a week after people complained about a cloud of stinky vapor coming from a tank at the Center Point Terminal.... more »

• Specific focus for new Baton Rouge Police

  July 15, 2011 5:39 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The new police chief in Baton Rouge hopes the latest additions to the city's law enforcement will help them make an impact on crime in the area. Baton Rouge Police Chief Dewayne White says most of the 25 cadets going through the police academy right now... more »

• Mayor presents Future EBR plan

  June 22, 2011 5:32 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Mayor Kip Holden and planning consultant John Fregonese presented the draft for the Future EBR plan today at the Old State Capitol. Community members helped mold the plan for development in East Baton Rouge Parish over the next 20 to 30 years. For most people, the number... more »

• Mississippi River Commission member defends delayed decision on Morganza Spillway

  May 13, 2011 9:48 PM

  HOUMA- The word to open the Morganza Flood Control Structure came Friday afternoon. A team of people, known as the Mississippi River Commission, collaborate on the decision. The seven-member board has had it's finger on the trigger of the Morganza Spillway, and one member tells News 2 it... more »

• Senate rejects Jindal-backed congressional plan

  April 5, 2011 2:24 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La.- Senators have rejected a congressional redesign plan backed by Gov. Bobby Jindal that would maintain two north Louisiana-based seats. The Senate was considering three different proposals Tuesday to divvy up the state's six congressional districts. It must shrink the delegation from seven members and merge two... more »

• Senate remapping plan approved by divided Senate

  March 29, 2011 2:29 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La.- A plan to reshape the Louisiana Senate's 39 districts - and boost its minority districts from 10 to 11 - has won approval from the Senate with a vote of 27-12. Opposition came from black lawmakers who disagreed with the redesign of the minority districts, from... more »

• Future plans for EBR unveiled

  February 16, 2011 6:06 PM

  BATON ROUGE - As East Baton Rouge becomes the largest parish in the state, Mayor Kip Holden is optimistic that the new parish-wide "vision" of the future will become a reality if the public gets behind it. The plan identifies six key areas where growth and development will enhance... more »

• School Board to vote on Iberville Parish High School redesign

  December 13, 2010 5:49 PM

  WHITE CASTLE - A proposal to redesign high schools in Iberville Parish is taking heat from people in White Castle. Many don't support the planned vote by the school board at tonight's meeting. Superintendent Ed Cancienne said the redesign will give students the opportunity to take courses at other... more »

• Jindal proposes five new fixes for budget

  December 9, 2010 9:46 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The governor says the state could find hundreds of millions of dollars for next year's budget in the sale of property, prisons, insurance and lottery proceeds. He says the extra money could take cutting-pressure off of higher education and health care. Bobby Jindal pitched those ideas to... more »

• State lawmakers reject administration budget plan

  November 19, 2010 1:54 PM

  BATON ROUGE - State lawmakers have rejected a Jindal Administration plan to use 147 million in federal education money to help shore up next year's budget. Instead, the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget overwhelmingly Friday voted to give much of the money to local school districts to use on... more »

• Jindal adviser calls treasurer's plan unrealistic

  November 17, 2010 5:23 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal's top financial adviser says a 16-point plan touted by Treasurer John Kennedy as a way to eliminate the state's budget shortfall is unrealistic and based on faulty figures. Kennedy has been traveling the state touting the ideas, which include cutting 5,000 vacant state jobs... more »

• Metro Council approves increased health care plan

  October 27, 2010 10:28 PM

  The East Baton Rouge Metro Council approved increasing the cost of health insurance for city-parish workers on Wednesday night. A $5 million deficit in the health care budget for the city-parish forced the decision. Had members left 2010's plan in place, the city-parish would instead face a $9 million... more »

• Pinnacle receives approval to change plan for BR casino

  October 21, 2010 6:04 PM

  Pinnacle Entertainment received approval from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board to change the design plan for its Baton Rouge casino. As News 2’s Michael Shingleton found out, crews have been working non-stop at the Pinnacle site on River Road for the past two months, making sure they meet their deadline.... more »

• Money may stay on downtown streets, not go to police

  October 20, 2010 10:32 PM

  Half of the East Baton Rouge Metro Council wants to leave almost a million dollars dedicated to changing the direction of two downtown streets in the project's budget. A committee of the council talked about removing $900,000 from a construction plan turning St. Louis and St. Ferdinad Streets into... more »

• LSU mid-year cuts increased to spare AgCenter, Pennington

  October 20, 2010 1:23 PM

  LSU has submitted a new plan to meet mid-year budget cuts, after finding out this week that the amount they would have to cut had more than doubled. In a press release, school officials said the Division of Administration had notified them Monday that their mid-year budget reduction had been... more »

• Community lashes out at EBR school construction plan

  October 18, 2010 9:38 PM

  The community in Scotlandville told East Baton Rouge school officials it feels cheated, among other reactions, to the district's proposal for new school construction. About 200 parents, teachers and community members attended the budget town hall meeting on how the district is suggesting adjusting to falling sales taxes that... more »

• LSU submits $2.2 million mid-year budget reduction plan

  October 15, 2010 6:13 PM

  LSU has submitted its plan to meet a $2.2 million mid-year budget reduction after a $108 million deficit in last year’s state budget. Officials said the University will accommodate the reduction with tuition and fee revenue coming from a higher-than-expected enrollment this fall. “Had there been no reduction in state... more »

• EBR re-evaluates school construction plans

  October 12, 2010 10:20 PM

  Thousands of students could shift across the East Baton Rouge Parish school system as the district re-evaluates the school construction phase of a 10-year tax plan that's short about $50 million. Four schools could close, while almost two dozen others could expand. News 2's Ashley Rodrigue found out how... more »

• Ascension Parish plan for growth voted down by officials

  September 21, 2010 6:46 PM

  A master plan for Ascension Parish was scrapped even though hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent on it. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted down a plan to outline parish growth over the next few decades. News 2’s Michael Shingleton got answers on what happens next. more »

• Tea Party could back bond issue in BR

  September 10, 2010 10:07 PM

  Some opposition fades against the mayor’s tax plan to improve Baton Rouge. One group that almost single-handedly torpedoed the tax plan last November won’t stand in the way. Now that the “Alive” project is out, News 2’s Kristy Davis got answers on if that will get more votes. more »