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• Senator calls colleagues racist, dodges questions Play Video

  May 29, 2013 10:38 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Republicans and Gov. Bobby Jindal called for a New Orleans state senator to apologize for her recent accusations that opposition to expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act was based in racism. Senator Karen Carter-Peterson said Monday her colleagues in the Senate opposed President Obama's reform... more »

• Harvick wins Coca-Cola 600 again

  May 27, 2013 9:07 AM

  CONCORD, N.C. - Kevin Harvick has won the Coca-Cola 600 for the second time in three years, pulling away from runner-up Kasey Kahne on a restart with 11 laps left. Kahne led 156 laps and appeared to have the strongest machine in NASCAR's longest race. But Harvick took the low... more »

• New challenger enters Senate race

  May 14, 2013 8:22 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A retired Air Force colonel from Madisonville says he plans to run for the U.S. Senate next year, seeking to oust Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu. Rob Maness, a Republican who said he works for Entergy Services Inc. and owns a family farm, announced his candidacy Monday.... more »

• Kenseth calls harsh penalties 'grossly unfair'

  April 26, 2013 10:06 AM

  RICHMOND - Matt Kenseth says NASCAR's penalties against his team are "grossly unfair" and "borderline shameful." Kenseth's team was hit with some of the harshest penalties NASCAR has handed out Wednesday after his race-winning engine at Kansas failed the post-race inspection. He says one of eight connecting rods on... more »

• Back from Boston, LSU trainer still dealing with aftermath

  April 24, 2013 6:09 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Trainer Ray Castle and three student trainers from LSU went to the Boston Marathon to aide with those running the race, but their work quickly went from a controlled situation to a scene of chaos when the two bombs exploded just seconds apart. Castle was about... more »

• Memories of safe Olympics assure London runners

  April 18, 2013 9:14 AM

  LONDON- Any anxiety marathon runners have about competing in London after the Boston bombings is being allayed by the successful security measures at last year's Olympics. The elite runners have arrived in London for Sunday's race and heard assurances from the British government that security is being stepped up after... more »

• Doctor: Metal in Boston bomb victim leg like BBs

  April 16, 2013 7:33 AM

  BOSTON - A doctor at a hospital where victims of the Boston Marathon explosions were taken says an X-ray of one victim showed what could be small ball bearings throughout the injury. Three people were killed and more than 140 injured by two explosions just seconds apart near the finish... more »

• Boston police: No one in custody in race blasts

  April 15, 2013 5:14 PM

  BOSTON - Boston police say no suspect has been taken into custody in connection with the explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Police Commissioner Edward Davis also says that the fire at a library a few miles away and more than an hour later doesn't appear to... more »

• Fleming won't run for U.S. Senate

  April 4, 2013 11:26 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Republican U.S. Rep. John Fleming says he won't enter the U.S. Senate race against Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu because he doesn't want to divide GOP support. Fleming's announcement Thursday comes after his fellow Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy officially announced his candidacy Wednesday. Fleming, a doctor from... more »

• Buser leads Iditarod, earns feast at Anvik stop

  March 8, 2013 10:54 AM

  ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Four-time champion Martin Buser of Big Lake, Alaska, kept his lead in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. At 2:08 a.m. Friday, he reached the village of Anvik, the first checkpoint on the Yukon River, which will be the trail for mushers for the next 238 miles... more »

• Daytona's preliminary rating up from last year

  February 25, 2013 8:55 AM

  DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - With Danica Patrick starting from the pole, the Daytona 500's preliminary television ratings are much higher than last year's. Sunday afternoon's race earned a 10.0 overnight rating and 22 share on Fox. That's up 30 percent from 2012, when rain pushed the event to a Monday... more »

• Fans get to vote on format of Sprint Unlimited

  January 21, 2013 12:49 PM

  CONCORD, N.C. - The format for the first NASCAR race of the year will be determined by race fans. Fans will be able to vote on the length of the race segments, pit stops and how many cars will be eliminated after the second segment of the exhibition Sprint Unlimited... more »

• NJ Gov. Christie announces re-election bid

  November 26, 2012 2:51 PM

  MIDDLETOWN, N.J. - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has announced he will seek re-election to a second term. Christie says he want New Jersey residents to know that he's "in this for the long haul" as he leads the state's recovery from Superstorm Sandy. The governor confirms he... more »

• 2 in face off for Port Allen mayor

  November 26, 2012 10:22 AM

  PORT ALLEN - Voters deciding who will serve as Port Allen mayor for the next four years have a choice on the Dec. 8 election ballot between the incumbent and one of his challengers in a previous mayoral election a year ago. Mayor Roger Bergeron, a Democrat, is once again... more »

• New sponsor, new route for Orleans 10K

  November 14, 2012 11:07 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A popular 10-kilometer race in New Orleans has a new sponsor and a new course. The Allstate Sugar Bowl will be the new chief sponsor of the Crescent City Classic race, which celebrates its 35th anniversary next year. The Sugar Bowl replaces The Times-Picayune as title sponsor.... more »

• Guidry, Hughes head to Supreme Court runoff

  November 6, 2012 11:14 PM

  BATON ROUGE - John Michael Guidry and Jeff Hughes have advanced to a Dec. 8 runoff in the race to fill Chief Justice Catherine "Kitty" Kimball's seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court. Guidry and Hughes were the leading vote-getters among eight candidates for the 5th Supreme Court District seat in... more »

• King wins in Maine, giving Senate 2 independents

  November 6, 2012 7:13 PM

  WASHINGTON - Former Gov. Angus King has won the Senate race in Maine, running as an independent. King will take over the seat held by retiring Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe. Another independent, Vermont's Sen. Bernie Sanders, also has been re-elected. Four Democrats senators have also won re-election: Bill Nelson in... more »

• Romney casts ballot, campaigns as people vote

  November 6, 2012 9:11 AM

  BELMONT, Mass. - Mitt Romney has cast his ballot in the presidential election. After all the flights, all the speeches, the debates, hand-shakes, nods, gestures and smiles, it was time for him to vote and then hold curtain-closing campaign rallies in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Then, he had to contemplate... more »

• Obama vs Romney on school funding

  October 3, 2012 10:22 PM

  DENVER (AP) - President Barack Obama says Republican rival Mitt Romney favors cutting a fifth of the Education Department's budget while Romney is countering that Obama directed $90 billion to so-called "green jobs" - a sum, he says, that would hire 2 million teachers. The two sparred Wednesday during their... more »

• Lolo Jones causes stir over Eric LeGrand tweets

  October 3, 2012 10:31 AM

  UNDATED - Hurdler Lolo Jones trash-talked about head injuries to former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand after he jokingly challenged her to a race on Twitter. Jones didn't know the defensive tackle was paralyzed in a game. After LeGrand tweeted to Jones "want to race me?" on Tuesday night,... more »

• Holden: Walker's actions "childish" in BRAVE announcement Play Video

  September 5, 2012 6:34 PM

  BATON ROUGE - With just two months until East Baton Rouge Parish voters head to the polls to decide who will be mayor-president for the next four years, the race to be the parish's top leader is heating up. Tuesday afternoon at 3:25, Mayor-President Kip Holden's office sent out... more »

• Prince Harry challenges USA's Lochte in swim race

  August 23, 2012 10:37 AM

  LAS VEGAS - The London games may be over, but Britain's Prince Harry isn't letting Team USA get away with the swimming gold that easily. The royal challenged Ryan Lochte during the American swimming champion's 28th birthday party Monday at a Las Vegas pool. Las Vegas Sun columnist Robin Leach... more »

• US Anti-Doping Agency charges Armstrong

  June 13, 2012 3:52 PM

  AUSTIN, Texas - The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency is bringing doping charges against seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, questioning his victories in those storied cycling races. Armstrong, who retired from cycling last year, could face a lifetime ban from the sport if he is found to have used performance-enhancing... more »

• Message to Gingrich: stay in the race

  April 11, 2012 10:54 AM

  NEWARK- Newt Gingrich says supporters are encouraging him to stay in the GOP presidential race after former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum dropped out. Gingrich campaigned at a senior center in Newark, Del., Wednesday, one day after Santorum's announcement and two weeks before the state's April 24 primary. Gingrich says he... more »

• Jindal backs Mitt Romney for president

  April 10, 2012 5:40 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - With Rick Santorum exiting the presidential race, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has announced his support for expected Republican nominee Mitt Romney. Jindal issued a statement Tuesday that congratulated Romney "on winning a hard-fought race." The Republican Louisiana governor said, "I look forward to supporting him... more »

• Romney faces tough race in Louisiana

  March 21, 2012 2:53 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Mitt Romney faces another possible Southern setback - this time in Louisiana. Rival Rick Santorum is pushing for a strong showing in Saturday's primary, driven largely by the conservative religious voters who have propelled him to victory elsewhere. Santorum says he thinks he'll do well in this... more »

• Romney pushes GOP presidential race toward a close

  March 21, 2012 8:12 AM

  WASHINGTON - Mitt Romney says he's "almost there" in his six-year pursuit of the Republican presidential nomination, having defeated Rick Santorum in the Illinois GOP primary. The GOP front-runner is urging Republicans in a campaign email sent after Tuesday's victory to fall in line behind his bid. Romney... more »

• Voting in Alabama, Mississippi could clarify race

  March 13, 2012 6:37 AM

  BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Mitt Romney is working to seal his status as the Republican presidential front-runner with a thus-far-elusive victory in the Deep South. Closely fought primaries in Alabama and Louisiana offer the former Massachusetts governor a key opportunity in a region that has been slow to embrace him. Tuesday's... more »

• Landrieu says she's definitely in for 2014 race

  March 5, 2012 3:17 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu says she "definitely" plans to run for a fourth term in two years. The Democrat from New Orleans tossed aside speculation that she was going to end her congressional career after 18 years in the Senate. Landrieu wouldn't comment specifically Monday... more »

• Holden and Walker at odds over state of the city-parish Play Video

  February 15, 2012 6:46 PM

  BATON ROUGE - As Mayor Kip Holden announced to the Rotary Club, "the state of the city and parish is strong," Mayor Pro Tem and mayoral candidate Mike Walker looked on as he waited to spell out the problems he said he'll fix as the next mayor. Walker officially... more »

• Officials: Huntsman to drop out of GOP race

  January 16, 2012 5:40 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Jon Huntsman will withdraw Monday from the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Campaign officials tell The Associated Press Huntsman will endorse Mitt Romney at an event in South Carolina on Monday morning. The former Utah governor placed third in last week's New Hampshire primary despite devoting... more »

• Romney adds to lead in race for GOP delegates

  January 11, 2012 6:32 AM

  (AP) - His victories in last night's New Hampshire primary and last week's Iowa caucuses mean Mitt Romney has a strong lead in the scramble for Republican presidential delegates. But with 1,144 needed for the nomination, there's still a long road ahead. Romney picked up seven delegates in New Hampshire... more »

• Paul: Iowa showing good enough to keep him in race

  January 4, 2012 9:46 AM

  WASHINGTON - Texas Congressman Ron Paul says he's happy with his "good showing" in Iowa, where he finished third in the Republican presidential caucuses. The Republican with a libertarian bent tells NBC's "Today" show he felt it was a sound performance, and "it's doing very well to be in the... more »

• Signs in East Feliciana sheriff's race vandalized Play Video

  November 18, 2011 5:52 PM

  CLINTON - People in East Feliciana Parish are talking about this weekend's runoff election for sheriff, but someone's doing more than just talking. Signs for both candidates have been torn up, slashed apart or cut down across the parish. "The middle is completely cut out of it," said... more »

• Jindal: Perry gaffe doesn't change his support

  November 10, 2011 3:36 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal said today that a flubbed debate answer by GOP presidential hopeful Rick Perry doesn't change Jindal's support for him. The Texas governor said during last night's debate that he would eliminate three federal agencies if elected, but could only name two of them,... more »

• Jindal ends Governor's race with more than $4M

  November 9, 2011 2:44 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La.- Gov. Bobby Jindal wrapped up his campaign with an historic win - and $4.6 million remaining in his campaign account. And Jindal's top campaign strategist says the governor may just hang on to some of the money to make a bid for a third term as... more »

• Inspector general looking into canceled seminar

  September 30, 2011 5:52 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's inspector general is looking into the cancellation of a training seminar involving one of Gov. Bobby Jindal's little-known opponents within two weeks of her entrance into the governor's race. Inspector General Stephen Street said Friday that his office was reviewing the matter at the request... more »

• Democrats don't endorse in governor's race

  September 17, 2011 4:27 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Little-known Democratic candidates for governor made their pitches to the party's top leadership, hoping to get a bump for their candidacies against Republican incumbent Bobby Jindal. The Democratic State Central Committee didn't endorse any of the four Democrats in the race, after being unable to woo... more »

• Texas Gov. Perry jumps into 2012 Republican race

  August 13, 2011 5:29 PM

  CHARLESTON, S.C.- Texas Gov. Rick Perry says that if he's elected president, he will work to make Washington as "inconsequential" to Americans' lives as possible. Perry jumped into the Republican race on Saturday and outlined his principles in a speech at a conservative conference in Charleston, S.C. Perry... more »

• Democratic senator considering La. Governor's race

  July 21, 2011 2:48 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. - A Democratic state senator from Iberville Parish says he'll decide within a few weeks whether to enter the governor's race and challenge Republican incumbent Bobby Jindal. Sen. Rob Marionneaux, of Grosse Tete, would be the first major Democratic contender to get into the race. ... more »

• Mayor race in St. Gabriel a challenge for candidates

  March 31, 2011 10:21 PM

  ST. GABRIEL- Two candidates are feuding over campaign rallies and who can be the best mayor for St. Gabriel. Current Mayor George Grace is running for re-election against Lionel Johnson, Jr. Grace says he wants to keep turning cow pastures into progress like the community center. Johnson says... more »

• Former BR councilman cannot be criminally charged for mayoral race flier

  March 28, 2011 9:23 PM

  District Attorney Hillar Moore says no charges can be filed against a former Baton Rouge Metro Councilman who paid for a flier attacking Mayor Kip Holden during the 2008 mayor's race. The ad was mailed to thousands and showed the mayor beaten up and also accused him of having... more »

• Governor's race mostly a "one-man" show with eight months to go

  February 15, 2011 10:38 PM

  With eight months to go, no big names have emerged to take on Governor Bobby Jindal for his job. Jindal has raised almost $10 million in-state and during campaign trips across the country. He's been fundraising since he was elected more than three years ago and got more than... more »

• Illinois court throws Emanuel off Chiago ballot

  January 24, 2011 1:10 PM

  CHICAGO - An Illinois appellate court on Monday threw former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel off the ballot for Chicago mayor because he didn't live in the city in the year before the election. The decision put Emanuel's candidacy into doubt a month before the election. He had... more »

• David Vitter projected to win Senate re-election

  November 2, 2010 8:41 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Update 9:35: Melancon concedes. News 2 is projecting David Vitter will win re-election to the U. S. Senate for a second term. Vitter, a Republican, was opposed by Democratic nominee Charlie Melancon, who had served in the U. S. House of Representatives since 2005, as... more »

• Lt. Gov. race expected to be close

  November 2, 2010 6:42 PM

  BATON ROUGE - One race that is expected to be close is the Lieutenant Governor's race. Republican Jay Dardenne and Democrat Caroline Fayard want to fill the remaining 14 months of Mitch Landrieu’s term. Landrieu left office after being elected Mayor of New Orleans. News 2’s Mike Steele is live... more »

• News 2 crews with Melancon, Vitter campaigns

  November 2, 2010 6:13 PM

  BATON ROUGE - News 2 crews are watching Louisiana's U. S. Senate race with crews at Democrat Charlie Melancon’s campaign in Baton Rouge and at incumbent Republican David Vitter's camp in New Orleans. News 2’s Ashley Rodrigue is at Melancon's watch party at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Baton... more »

• Vitter, Melancon campaign ads raising eyebrows

  October 8, 2010 9:27 PM

  Campaign ads are already raising eyebrows weeks away from election day. The spots in the senator race are causing the most chatter. Political experts said the attack ads were expected in these campaigns. Even though the jabs have reached a personal level early, experts told News 2's Ashley Rodrigue... more »

• Tommy Nelson says indictment isn't a factor in mayoral race

  October 5, 2010 9:55 PM

  New Roads Mayor Tommy Nelson said his legal trouble didn't make a difference in last weekend’s election. He made it to the runoff, despite being under federal indictment, and came in second out of six candidates. Nelson had more people vote against him than for him. Even with the... more »

• Mayor's race in New Roads results in runoff

  October 4, 2010 9:49 PM

  The mayor’s race in New Roads was a few votes from going to a newcomer on Saturday. One candidate is facing federal indictment, and the other is relatively new to New Roads. With 46 percent of the vote in Saturday’s election and four percentage points shy of winning outright, Robert... more »

• Obama makes pitch for Louisiana candidate

  October 4, 2010 10:30 AM

  President Barack Obama is telling New Orleans voters he needs them to vote for the Democrat running for Congress from their city. Obama tells voters in the ad that "New Orleans needs Cedric Richmond in Congress, and so do I." The state representative is running against Rep. Joseph Cao, a... more »

• LA not among latest "Race to the Top" grant winners

  August 24, 2010 10:17 AM

  The U.S. Education Department says nine states and the District of Columbia will receive money in the second round of the $4.35 billion "Race to the Top" school reform grant competition. Department spokesman Justin Hamilton says the winners are: Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island... more »

• SC police: Black man shot to death, body dragged

  June 3, 2010 9:40 AM

  State police say a white man has been arrested in the shooting death of a black man whose body was then dragged several miles down a road in central South Carolina. State law enforcement say Anthony Hill's body was found Wednesday, and the killing is being investigated as a possible... more »

• Lafayette businessman running for Senate

  April 19, 2010 3:23 PM

  A Lafayette businessman and Gulf War veteran announced he is running for U.S. Senate. Mike Spears, who is co-founder of Firefly Digital Inc., a website design and development company, describes himself as an independent conservative. Spears will be running against incumbent Republican David Vitter and Democratic challenger Charles... more »

• Lawyer: other defendants unaffected by guilty plea

  March 23, 2010 8:37 AM

  Bogalusa City Councilman Danny Stogner has pleaded guilty to charges that he convinced a candidate for city marshal to drop out of a two-man race. The lawyer for Mayor Mack McGehee, says that should have little effect on the mayor and other defendants - Marshal Wayne Adams and former councilman... more »

• Man arrested for allegedly sending racially charged e-mail

  March 4, 2010 9:26 AM

  Ascension Parish deputies arrested a man for allegedly sending a threatening and racially derogatory e-mail to the African American Museum in Donaldsonville. Detectives were able to to identify the home address in Kenner where the e-mail sent from and questioned George Kostulsky and deputies say he admitted to sending the... more »

• FBI says civil rights initiative ending

  March 3, 2010 5:17 AM

  The Civil Rights Cold Case Initiative focusing on racially motivated killings from the civil rights era is coming to an end by the FBI. About half of the 108 cases the FBI began investigating in 2006 involved deceased victims, while 30 percent involved subjects who had already been prosecuted at... more »

• Thousands walk for Alzheimer's awareness

  September 26, 2009 3:15 PM

  Van Chancellor, coach of the LSU Lady Tigers basketball team, chaired a 5k walk-a-thon and race on Saturday to benefit Alzheimer's Services of the Capital Area.The organization provides educational and support services to families dealing with Alzheimer's. Thousands of people showed up to raise awareness about the impact of... more »