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• La. hurricane sales tax holiday this weekend

  May 20, 2013 7:52 AM

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

• Metro Council approves Costco Wholesale plans Play Video

  May 8, 2013 5:53 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Mega-store Costco Wholesale could open in Baton Rouge a year from now, after the East Baton Rouge Metro Council approved an economic development plan to pay for infrastructure and road improvements in the area. The retailer is investing $38 million into its 144,000-square-foot warehouse at the... more »

• Internet sales tax bill faces tough sell in House

  May 7, 2013 7:13 AM

  WASHINGTON - Traditional retailers and cash-strapped states face a tough sell in the House as they lobby Congress to limit tax-free shopping on the Internet. The Senate voted 69 to 27 Monday to pass a bill that empowers states to collect sales taxes from Internet purchases. Under the... more »

• Are you a tax cheat if you shop online tax-free?

  May 5, 2013 10:40 AM

  WASHINGTON - Buy anything on the Internet lately without paying sales tax? In all but a few states, you're probably a tax cheat. That's right, even if Internet retailers don't collect sales tax at the time of purchase, you're required by law to pay it in 45 states and the... more »

• Bill would force online retailers to charge you tax Play Video

  February 20, 2013 5:51 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The Marketplace Fairness Act, which is co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), would allow states to force online retailers to collect sales taxes on Internet purchases. The bill is intended to help small businesses that often lose out to online retailers who don't have to charge... more »

• Details about Juban Crossing stores expected soon

  February 7, 2013 10:34 PM

  LIVINGSTON- Developers of the planned mixed-use project Juban Crossing plan to announce details about stores in the next few weeks. Livingston Parish President Layton Ricks said he expects the news in two or three weeks. Following the announcement, construction should begin. State bonds have been sold to pay... more »

• New Orleans council approves new shopping center

  January 25, 2013 9:27 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans City Council has approved plans for a new shopping center. The Magnolia Marketplace will be a two-level mall where most of the stores will face an elevated, open-air parking deck. Councilwoman LaToya Cantrell urged the council on Thursday removed many of the... more »

• Week after Christmas slow for retailers Play Video

  December 26, 2012 5:45 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The 2012 shopping season is quickly drawing to a close, and many shoppers say they didn't spend as much as years past. Retailers typically make 40 percent of their yearly sales in November and December. The week after Christmas is still considered a big shopping week,... more »

• Shoppers disappoint retailers this holiday season

  December 26, 2012 6:15 AM

  WASHINGTON - U.S. shoppers spent cautiously this holiday season, a disappointment for retailers who slashed prices to lure people into stores and now must hope for a post-Christmas burst of spending. Sales of electronics, clothing, jewelry and home goods in the two months before Christmas increased 0.7 percent compared... more »

• Shoppers not in the spending mood

  December 24, 2012 8:09 AM

  ATLANTA - Some analysts are saying that shoppers seem to be spending less leading up to Christmas Day. The market research NPD Inc., says consumer traffic over the weekend was in line with the same time a year ago, but shoppers seemed to be holding onto their wallets a... more »

• Christmas shoppers still spend despite looming Fiscal Cliff deadline Play Video

  December 22, 2012 5:36 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Holiday shoppers were out today despite current talks from Washington on potential tax increases. Kelli Bagwell said she is aware of how close the nation is to teetering to the fiscal cliff, but she is not going to let it ruin her holiday season. "I'm getting... more »

• Small businesses cash in on last minute shoppers

  December 21, 2012 5:02 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Small, locally owned stores are getting their piece of the pie when it comes to last minute shoppers. "It's the last minute people rushing it, it's our second black Friday," says Lindsay Schaefer. Schaefer, a sales associate at FeBe, says her store is cashing in on... more »

• Cyber shopping not tax-free Play Video

  November 29, 2012 5:57 PM

  BATON ROUGE - You may not be charged tax when online shopping, but that doesn't mean your purchases are tax-free. Web retailers like Amazon.com aren't required to collect sales tax in states like Louisiana because there's no 'brick-and-mortar' store in the state, but Louisiana still requires consumers to pay... more »

• Central plans "show of force" to combat holiday tomfoolery

  November 27, 2012 9:41 PM

  CENTRAL- People can expect to see an extra show-of-force this holiday season. Tuesday night, Police Chief Doug Browning update city leaders on his annual plan to hire off duty officers from area departments to police the streets during the busy holiday shopping season. A mix of paid on-duty... more »

• Holiday shoppers head online in droves to pick up Cyber Monday deals

  November 26, 2012 2:17 PM

  NEW YORK - Cyber Monday appears on track to becoming the biggest online shopping day ever, and web traffic isn't expected to peak for another several hours. IBM Benchmark says, as of noon Eastern time, sales were up more than 24 percent compared with last year. And ComScore says nearly... more »

• Some shoppers skip "Black Friday" for "Small Business Saturday" Play Video

  November 24, 2012 4:54 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The days following Thanksgiving are major shopping days across the country, and usually pay off for the big chain stores. However, going to locally owned stores and small boutiques on Saturday is becoming popular with shoppers who are looking for deals, but want to skip Black Friday... more »

• Cops: Mass. bargain hunter took home TV, left tot

  November 23, 2012 10:42 AM

  SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Police say a Massachusetts man left his girlfriend's 2-year-old son in a car while he went shopping for Black Friday bargains, then went home with his new 51-inch flat screen television and left the toddler behind. Police, alerted by store security, found the boy asleep in the... more »

• Fewer holiday catalogs but still plenty in mail

  November 22, 2012 8:35 PM

  PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Despite the flood around the holidays, annual catalog circulation by retailers has actually dipped substantially because of a postage increase, a weak economy and more shoppers making purchases online. Marketers say nearly a third fewer catalogs are mailed than four years ago. L.L. Bean is among... more »

• Tips to survive 'Black Friday'

  November 22, 2012 8:32 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Planning to brave the crowds Friday to get the big deals? Remember to stay calm, and be nice. Other advice from experts: - Plan your route based on what you need to buy, and stores' opening hours. - Do your research. - Check websites. You might be... more »

• Hunt for deals begins with first line at area store

  November 21, 2012 9:56 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Still more than 24 hours before sales were available, a small group of people gathered outside an electronics store to be the first to get the deals. A few were outside the Best Buy near the Mall of Louisiana. The store doesn't open until midnight Friday morning.... more »

• Families spending hundreds for Thanksgiving meal Play Video

  November 21, 2012 4:08 PM

  BATON ROUGE - According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, to feed a family of 10 this Thanksgiving, all you will need is a $50 bill. That only includes the necessities: a 16 lb. turkey, carrots, rolls, whipping cream, stuffing, whole milk, sweet potatoes, canned pumpkin, pie crusts, fresh... more »

• Hurricane supplies tax-free this weekend in La. Play Video

  May 24, 2012 2:06 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's tax-free holiday for people to get ready for hurricane season is this weekend. The Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday runs this Saturday and Sunday, May 26 and 27. During the annual two-day holiday, the state sales tax is waived on the first $1,500 of... more »

• Juban Crossing development still a year away Play Video

  April 16, 2012 6:14 PM

  LIVINGSTON - Residents in Livingston Parish will have to wait at least another year before the Juban Crossing shopping center is complete. More than half-a-million cubic yards of dirt have been moved since ground was first broken on the site nearly two years ago. Now nearly 95 percent of... more »

• How to avoid holiday shopping debt Play Video

  December 14, 2011 5:04 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A recent consumer report says two out of three shoppers will end up in debt because of holiday spending. But experts say making a plan and sticking to it can keep you out of that statistic. Certified financial planner, Chad Olivier, says shoppers need to set... more »

• Zachary robber strikes during busy weekend Play Video

  November 28, 2011 5:53 PM

  ZACHARY- Zachary Police are looking for a man who robbed the Payless Shoe Store on Main Street Saturday. The crime was caught by a surveillance camera. Witnesses say the suspect held up his jacket and showed the employee a gun in his waistband. The say he left the store... more »

• Scattered outbreaks of violence mar early shopping

  November 25, 2011 1:23 PM

  UNDATED - Authorities say there's more than pushing and shoving going on as the holiday shopping gets under way. Los Angeles police are looking for a woman who used pepper spray to keep rival shoppers away from merchandise she wanted last night. Twenty people suffered minor injuries after being... more »

• Authorities prep for holiday shopping rush

  November 15, 2011 5:58 PM

  BATON ROUGE- With Black Friday just around the corner, law enforcement agencies are planning to increase security at shopping centers. Baton Rouge Police plan to use mounted police, bicycle patrols and police cars to monitor parking lots at Cortana Mall. At the Mall of Louisiana, East Baton Rouge Sheriff's... more »

• Grocery stores benefit from cold weather

  February 3, 2011 5:50 PM

  BATON ROUGE- As the temperatures drop, hundreds of shoppers are filling area grocery stores in search of the cold weather essentials. The most popular items at Bet-R grocery store ranged from milk and bread to stew meats. "They're buying a lot of soup shank, a lot of stew meat,... more »

• That Santa feeling hasn't quite left shoppers yet

  December 27, 2010 4:10 PM

  NEW YORK - Forget the returns line: Americans hit the stores after Christmas to buy stuff, indulging the rediscovered retail appetite that may have made 2010's holiday shopping season the biggest ever. Revenue for the holiday season is on track to grow at its strongest rate since 2006. Total spending... more »

• Day-after-Christmas shoppers head to the mall

  December 26, 2010 6:48 PM

  Crowds of people shuffled through the mall, some looking for a good deal, others making returns. For Charlene Dean, day-after-Christmas shopping is a family tradition. "It's been a family event but only for the girls to spend their Christmas money," Dean said. Shoppers who got to the... more »

• Vintage toys making a comeback for Christmas

  December 24, 2010 6:24 PM

  BATON ROUGE - They're toys that bring back memories of childhood, and this year they're flying off of local shelves. Legos, Lincoln Logs and Easy Bake Ovens are only a few of the vintage toys shoppers are picking up this Christmas. "People really appreciate being able to give... more »

• Juban Crossing gets tax help from Livingston Parish

  December 20, 2010 10:26 PM

  LIVINGSTON - A collective "yes" among the Livingston Parish Council gave a shopping development the boost it needed to move into the building phase after a four-year stall due to the recession. Monday night, the council increased a sales tax for the Juban Crossing development, making it 10.5%. The... more »

• Holiday Shopping Blitz

  December 19, 2010 3:46 PM

  BATON ROUGE- As the Christmas shopping deadline fast approaches the area malls are filling quickly. So holiday shoppers have to be strategic to make sure they get the presents they want while avoiding the crowds. "You don't want to come too late because we had to drop my sister... more »

• Law enforcement attacking holiday crime from the sky

  December 16, 2010 5:22 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Law enforcement in the Capitol City has new airborne weapons to fight holiday crimes. The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office rolls out a surveillance tower to different popular holiday shopping areas across the parish every night. The Baton Rouge Police Department has been putting its... more »

• Law enforcement using new tools to curb holiday crimes

  December 16, 2010 10:45 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The Baton Rouge Police Department and the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office are bringing in new tools in the fight against holiday crimes. Surveillance stands, dummy cars, extra patrols and even the police helicopter are being used. News 2's Ashley Rodrigue will explain what crimes... more »

• Mall security: Use caution shopping this holiday

  November 28, 2010 7:17 PM

  BATON ROUGE- As the busy shopping season gets underway, more people are hitting the malls to pick up presents for Christmas, which means more criminals are looking to take advantage of unsuspecting shoppers. The folks at Cortana Mall beefed up security patrols and offered tips to customers to keep them... more »

• Shoppers buying for themselves as well as for others

  November 27, 2010 1:33 PM

  NEW YORK - Retailers are calling it an encouraging sign for the holiday shopping season. They say many customers are not just buying gifts for family and friends, they're buying things for themselves too. While there aren't many sales figures yet for Black Friday, crowds were large. Meanwhile, shoppers who... more »

• Shoppers seek relaxing experience on Black Friday

  November 26, 2010 4:24 PM

  BATON ROUGE- While hundreds of people lined up in the cold to grab deals at some of the bigger stores in the city, a select few waited to begin their shopping trips. The folks who wanted to skip the lines looked to local mom and pop shops to make their... more »

• Early morning Black Friday shopping

  November 26, 2010 12:01 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La.- Hundreds of people flooded the mall Friday morning to take advantage of reduced prices and great deals despite the rain. This Black Friday was different than most as many stores opened well before the traditional 5 a.m. Nearly every department store at the Mall of Louisiana... more »

• Thanksgiving sales bring shoppers, grumbles

  November 25, 2010 4:22 PM

  NEW YORK - Not all Americans tucked into turkey with their families on Thanksgiving. Some were out shopping, hitting sales ahead of the crowds expected Friday. After a year of cautious spending and worry over an uncertain economy and high unemployment, more stores this year extended hours into Thanksgiving Day,... more »

• Deals bring out die-hard shoppers

  November 25, 2010 2:03 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A handful of die-hard shoppers lined up early in front of Best Buy near the Mall of Louisiana. The shoppers have made it a tradition to spend their Thanksgiving in front of the store waiting on Black Friday deals. The first shopper, Jared Boudreaux, said he's made... more »

• Last-minute Thanksgiving grocery shopping

  November 25, 2010 1:16 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Many local grocery stores opened their doors for those last-minute grocery shoppers. Dozens of people made the mad dash to Matherne's on Bluebonnet Boulevard to grab everything from eggs to an entire Thanksgiving feast. Pie crust seemed to be a hot commodity; seven out of... more »

• Holiday money mistakes to avoid

  November 25, 2010 12:27 PM

  CHICAGO - Experts say Black Friday shoppers should remember their budgets before they head out the door with their credit cards and holiday lists. Consumers Reports say shoppers can end up taking a year to pay for all the spending. It says more than 13 million people are still paying... more »

• Survey says-Black Friday shoppers would rather click and save

  November 17, 2010 9:29 AM

  MONROVIA, Ca. - Black Friday's just around the corner, but a new survey by CouponMountain.com suggested many Americans would rather click and save than fight the crowds at the malls. CouponMountain.com's Online Holiday Shopping Survey found 69% of online shoppers disliked the crowds, their number one complaint of Black... more »

• Juban Crossing project coming to Denham Springs

  October 21, 2010 6:21 PM

  New shopping options are on the way for Livingston Parish as the Juban Crossing project gets set to break ground in Denham Springs. The project, which is expected to feature retail shops as well as residential options, will be built near the intersection of Interstate 12 and Juban Road.... more »

• State audits LHSAA, finds $400,000 in questionable expenses

  September 27, 2010 10:34 PM

  Questionable expenses were found after an audit of the group that regulates high school sports. The Louisiana High School Athletic Association's former Commissioner Tommy Henry said the organization's Board of Directors approved every purchase, making those purchases legitimate buys in his eyes. Now, the organization said it's no longer business... more »

• Holiday shopping extended

  December 26, 2009 7:22 PM

  Thousands flocked to the malls Saturday to take advantage of some major post holiday sales. Some stores offered discounts as deep as 75 percent off. "Retailers are wanting to get rid of the excess merchandise," said shopper Nicole Baker, "and after a day with family you want to go... more »

• Smart phone shopping dangers

  December 2, 2009 4:29 PM

  With holiday shopping in full swing, experts are warning consumers not to purchase items using their smart phones. Most of them aren't equipped with virus protection. It could potentially make you an easy target for thieves. "Smart phones really are small hand held computers," Trae Russell with Eatel... more »

• Black Friday shopping on a budget

  November 27, 2009 10:12 PM

  Black Friday shoppers may have flocked to the malls, but not all of them rushed into making a buy. Many shoppers told News 2 this year the purchases are carefully calculated. They blame the economy for causing them to scale back this year's shopping. Some shoppers said they... more »

• State Sales Tax Holiday Begins

  August 7, 2009 5:22 AM

  The state sales tax holiday is underway and will end at midnight Saturday night. The exemption applies to the first $2500 you spend in each location. So, for every dollar you spend, you save four cents. Vehicles, meals, and taxable services such as hotel occupancy; amusement, recreational, and athletic... more »