01/06/2009 Take-home cars could be pivotal in budget Under the gun to finalize a budget, and in search of millions of dollars to cut from it, Mayor Nagin has reviewed the inspector general's report on the city's take-home vehicle policy.

Mayor 'not playing' about ending Quarter cleaning; tourism could suffer The city budget battle continues and now some fear the tourism industry could become the biggest casualty. A cut in sanitation services is now headed for the French Quarter.

Police find car used in fatal hit-and-run State Police investigators say a headlight fragment found in a car trunk at a Houma scrapyard has brought them closer to learning who struck and killed a man outside his Galliano home last month.

Recording devices recovered from helicopter crash site Terrebonne deputies searching the site of a helicopter crash that killed eight say search crews found flight data recorders Monday that may help reveal the mishap’s cause.

City offers location permits for Mardi Gras Those looking for a fixed location permit for the 2009 Mardi Gras season can register for the permit lottery starting Monday.

Kevin Davis won't seek 4th term Davis released a statement Tuesday morning saying, "I have asked the St. Tammany Parish Council to withdraw consideration of the proposition that would allow me to run for an additional term as parish president."

N.O. East rebuilding stymied by permit process People trying to build or rebuild in New Orleans East are having a tough time getting building permits, all because of two wildly-different interpretations about the requirements in a new state law.

Mayor orders end of 'Disney-like' Quarter cleaning; Council hopes for compromise The highly successful and much celebrated expanded sanitation services in the French Quarter may soon be coming to an end.

2 suspects arrested for West Bank robberies Police arrested two suspects who were at-large for a robbery in Jefferson Parish, according to a statement by JP police spokesman Col. John Fortunato.

St. John police look for murder suspect. St. John Sheriff’s Office are searching for a murder suspect wanted for a shooting that left one woman dead and a man injured, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office.

Pittman resigns from Brother Martin Jay Pittman stepped down Tuesday as head coach of Brother Martin’s football team, a sudden and unexpected move following the Crusaders’ most successful season in years. The school also named offensive coordinator Mark Bonis head coach.

JP police arrest two teens for string of armed robberies The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office arrested two males who they say were responsible for several armed robberies in Riverside Drive in Metairie.

Archdiocese responds to incidents at Good Counsel and St. Henry's
Around  10 am this morning, representatives of the Archdiocese of New Orleans entered the occupied buildings at both the former Our Lady of Good Counsel on Louisiana Ave. and the former St. Henry on General Pershing in Uptown New Orleans.

NAACP calls for investigation into fatal police shooting Nearly one week after his death, Adolph Grimes' family is still reeling from his death, their emotions apparent on Tuesday as they met with local civil right leaders.

New Orleans police sent in to remove protesting parishioners; arrests made There were tears, anger and arrests outside of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. Survey: Do you agree with sending in the police? Slideshow: Pictures from the scene Archdiocese issues statement about incident

Air and ground search underway for shooting suspects in Tangipahoa Parish Eyewitness News Northshore Bureau Chief Doug Mouton reports that apparently no one was injured in an early-morning shooting incident in Tangipahoa Parish that has led to a combined air and ground search for the suspects.

St. Tammany Parish president drops bid to eliminate term limits
St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis said that he won’t seek an exemption from term limits that would have allowed him to seek a fourth term in 2011.

Sanitation director asks SDT to cut services by end of month The N.O. city sanitation director sent a letter to the owner of SDT Monday, asking the company to discontinue several services inside the French Quarter and DDD by the end of the month.

Carnival season kicks off today with Twelth Night celebrations The 2009 Carnival season officially kicks off Monday as the Twelfth Night celebrations take place all across the city.

Landrieu meets with homeland security pick, discusses FEMA reforms U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu says she had a positive meeting with President-elect Barack Obama's pick to be homeland security secretary.

Cao to take oath of office today When asked what’s going through his head the morning of his swearing-in ceremony, Congressman-elect Joseph Cao said scheduling. Interview: Cao phones in

Jindal says no plans for a special session After a 2008 packed with three legislative sessions, 2009 is on track to see lawmakers at the state Capitol quite a bit less.

Court date postponed for key figure in film probe Federal prosecutors say they need more time to work out a plea deal with a lawyer who was the alleged middleman for bribe money paid to Louisiana's former film commissioner.

Foster Campbell, among others, to be inducted into La. Political Hall of Fame Six people will be inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame in Winnfield on Feb. 7.

Marrero man dies in single-vehicle accident A man died in Marrero Monday night after veering off the roadway and striking a tree, according to Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand.

Man shot and killed in Bayou St. John area New Orleans police are investigating who shot a 46-year-old man, who was found dead on a porch Monday night in the Bayou St. John neighborhood.

01/05/2009 St. Charles Parish halts new building for six months Usually news of a construction surge in the housing market is good news, especially in today's economy. But in Montz, St. Charles Parish leaders say it is doing more harm than good for residents.

JP firefighters take battle over pay to the public Saying JP firefighters make over $70,000 per year, parish leaders want to scale back their contract. Union leaders say that number isn't accurate.

Homeowners could get check from state insurance dept.
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Louisiana homeowners could receive cash from the unused portion of an expired pot of government money used to lure insurance companies to the state, Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon said Monday.

Auto sales slowdown hitting local dealers hard
NEW ORLEANS, La. - The numbers are in and it doesn't look good the big three automakers.  Ford, General Motors and Chrysler all report sales are down by more than 20 percent for all of 2008. 

Two die in 2 car accident near Waveland
Two people are dead and one is seriously injured after a two-car accident on Highway 90 in Mississippi, according to Cpl. Johnny Poulos of the Mississippi Highway Patrol.

TPSO looking for two home invasion suspects The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office is looking for two men who they believe were involved in a home invasion last week.

New Chief Judge chosen for Orleans Parish Civil District Court Lloyd J. Medley Jr. has been chosen by his colleagues to be the new Chief Judge of Orleans Parish Civil District Court. He began the term on Jan. 1.

Jindal budget cut plans include hundreds of layoffs Gov. Bobby Jindal's plan to close a $341 million budget deficit will cost at least 335 state employees their jobs -- mainly in the state Department of Corrections.

PHI identifies dead victims in helicopter crash The company that owns the helicopter that crashed in Louisiana marsh land, killing eight people, has released the names of the dead an injured.

FBI to formally investigate police shooting that left man dead The FBI will formally investigate a police shooting that left a local man dead to see if there were any civil rights violations.

Teen dies in Bienville Parish crash
State police say an 18-year-old Louisiana Tech student was killed in a car accident in Bienville Parish.

Obama tax cuts for workers and businesses could total $300 billion Obama aides have said the package Obama has dubbed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan could cost as much as $775 billion. Obama to discuss economic plans with Congress

Firefighters control 2-alarm fire in 7th Ward The fire broke out around 2:30 a.m. in the 1300 block of St. Anthony Street and was quickly under control.

01/04/2009 Two dozen parishioners in church that Archdiocese thought was closed Parishioners may have been using a back door to get in and out of the church Saturday, but today was a much different story.

8 dead, 1 in critical condition in helicopter accident in Terrebonne Eight people are dead and a 28-year-old man is in critical condition after a helicopter crashed Sunday in the lower southwest portion of Terrebonne Parish. Slideshow: Family and friends mourn

Effort to recall Terrebonne Parish president hits midway point Some Terrebonne Parish residents have hit their midway point in their effort to remove parish president Michel Claudet from office.

Tax deadline coming up for Ike victims The Louisiana department of revenue had extended the Sept. 11 tax deadline to Jan. 5 for Hurricane Ike victims in Jefferson, Lafourche, Plaquemines and Terrebonne.

Former President Bush touts son Jeb for top job
Another President Bush? Perhaps so, says former President George H.W. Bush.

Mackie: 10 healthy New Years resolutions

After election, Louisiana is GOP's lonely victory state The Republican Party can look to Louisiana for a bit of comfort after taking a drubbing in national politics in 2008.

Man dies in single-car accident in Braithwaite
An unidentified man is dead after an early morning, single-car accident Sunday in Braithwaite, according to Trooper Joe Piglia.

01/03/2009

Police: Man shot by cops shot 1st at unmarked car
New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley says a man killed by police early New Year's Day shot first when an unmarked car full of plainclothes officers pulled up next to his car.

Future is the past for Copeland's restaurant chain The restaurant, sporting a just-completed $6 million renovation, shows off New Orleans' ambiance -- wrought iron fleur-de-lis, exposed brick and a mural of the French Quarter. It's hard to believe the location is a suburban shopping mall.

Parishioners in Good Counsel and St. Henry's, despite attempt to secure buildings
At least six people were seen going inside Good Counsel Church, despite attempts to shutter and secure the church. 

Slain 2-year-old's throat was slashed, coroner says The Orleans Parish Coroner said Sunday that the two-year-old boy who was allegedly murdered by his father had his throat slashed. Father speaks about murder

Grambling officials call for mayor's resignation The Grambling City Council says the mayor should resign for firing a new accountant who had uncovered $47,000 missing from water and sanitation records.

01/02/2009 New Orleans' murders down in 2008 This city, branded the nation's most violent, saw 31 fewer murders in 2008 than the previous year -- a sign, to the police chief, of progress and reform. But some are not reassured. Three killings get 2009 off to violent start

Chicago group returns to Bogalusa once more to help rebuild A large group of volunteers from Chicago spent their New Year's week rebuilding Washington Parish.  The group called the Solid Rock Carpenters is organized by two brothers, Scott and Jeff Engle.

Coast Guard determines N.O. East marsh fire out After flying over the area that was the scene of a large marsh fire Tuesday, officials examined the scope of the fire and determined that it was extinguished, according to a statement from the New Orleans Fire Department.

Jindal cabinet gets more time for income reports Gov. Bobby Jindal's cabinet appointees will have more time to meet stringent income reporting requirements.

Local farmers struggle to make ends meet As state Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain rang the bell to open the weekly Mid-City Farmer’s Market, some of the farmers lined up to sell their produce were marking the end of a troublesome year, highlighted by the pounding their crops took from two hurricanes.

Sugar Bowl brings out Katrina volunteers For Larry Warner, the love of football, and the excitement of the Sugar Bowl brought him to New Orleans. But it is his devotion to mankind that has him contributing sweat equity to a Gentilly neighborhood.

Deadly stretch of Airline Hwy. claims 2 lives It's already been a dangerous New Year for one stretch of Airline Highway in Kenner, as two pedestrians were killed on the road in less than four hours.

Police say victim shot robbery suspect Police said a city man was shot and wounded Thursday night while trying to rob another at gunpoint near a Canal Boulevard convenience store.

Woman run over and killed after being pushed from truck; suspect in custody A 32-year-old Metairie woman was run over and killed after being pushed out of a truck following an argument with the vehicle’s driver, according to Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand.

01/01/2009 Mid-City bonfire judged a big success A day after the Mid-City bonfire celebration, cleanup crews worked to tidy up the neutral ground along Orleans Avenue trying to erase any evidence of the party's existence.

Man struck by falling bullet lucky to be alive Ricardo Perrault said he was separating some fireworks to light just before midnight on New Year’s Eve when he felt a searing sensation in his back. Photos: Bullet left large mark By Grace of God I'm Alive

01/02/2009

City of N.O. offering free flu shots
The New Orleans health department is offering free flu shots to city residents at several area clinics every Friday through February 13.

01/01/2009 Trailer fire in St. Bernard claims life A fire at a trailer in the Hopedale area of St. Bernard Parish caused the death of a person in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day, according to Thomas Stone, the St. Bernard fire chief.

12/31/2008 Despite being illegal, fireworks to be shot by many They are illegal in most neighborhoods, but fireworks are as popular as ever across the New Orleans area. Where fireworks are legal and illegal

Westwego woman pleads guilty to Katrina fraud A Westwego woman has pled guilty to theft of government funds in a Katrina fraud case, according to U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.

Bribery trial looms as Jefferson loses delay bid The Louisiana Democrat, in his final days in office, lost a longshot bid Monday to delay his trial on bribery charges.

Where fireworks are legal and illegal, parish-by-parish Put down a few hundred bucks worth of fireworks for tonight? Not so fast. Here are the locations where you can – and can’t – launch your fireworks.

Your Christmas tree could help save the coast With the presents unwrapped and Christmas out the door, it’s time to employ the last of your holiday cheer for another cause — saving Louisiana’s coast

Marsh fire is out, but firefighters still wonder how it started New Orleans firefighters hope to find out just how much damage a marsh fire caused in New Orleans East when the Coast Guard is expected to fly over the area later this morning.

Property tax bills should arrive in mailboxes on New Years Eve
All New Orleans property owners should receive their property tax bills by Wednesday.

La. leads nation in population decline, bureau says New numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that Louisiana leads the nation in population decline.

'09 brings tax filling scheduling changes If you need more time to file your state tax return, you'll need to request that before the filing deadline.

Biloxi: Katrina cottages may stay as homes The Biloxi City Council has voted to let 176 Katrina cottages be converted into permanent homes.

Bringing in the New Year at Jackson Square with music and fireworks Jackson Square will see a D.J., the Soul Rebels and fireworks -- as well as plenty of traffic restrictions on New Years Eve. Where fireworks are legal and illegal

LSU to face tricky triple-option offense in Chick-Fil-A Bowl Wednesday It's no secret what LSU's number one concern is as they head into Wednesday night's Chick-Fil-A Bowl match-up with Georgia Tech: the triple-option offense. LSU QB recruit dubbed Mr. Everything.

01/02/2009

Red Fish Courtbouillon recipe
Dale Curry shares her recipe for Red Fish Courtbouillon on the Morning News.

12/26/2008 2 Fair Grounds barns quarantined NEW ORLEANS -- A pair of connected barns at the New Orleans Race Course is quarantined because a 3-year-old filly tested positive for equine herpes.

Local man delivers gifts to Forgotten Angels Clarence Adams always said if he had enough money, he'd do what he could do help out children. For 10 years now, he has done just that, giving gifts and joy to children at Christmas time.

3-year-old grazed by gunfire Uptown; New Orleans East man shot at his home A 3-year-old was grazed in the arm and chest by bullets late Thursday night as he was sitting in a car his grandmother was driving Uptown. In an unrelated incident, a New Orleans East man also was shot Thursday night.

3 killed in Christmas Day wreck; 3 rescued by state trooper and Texas fireman A three-car crash in Laplace left three people dead just minutes into Christmas Day, and three were rescued from the fiery crash by a state trooper and Texas fireman who happened upon the crash.

12/25/2008 Children's Hospital giving some a reason to smile The hospital is the last place any baby should spend her first Christmas. But Jordyn Doucet is turning 4-months-old and that’s a Christmas gift like no other.

12/26/2008 La. universities owe back taxes on meal plans At a time when Louisiana universities already are having to make budget cuts, some of them may have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in back sales taxes on student meal plans.

12/25/2008 Man emerges from trailer home as local Santa More than 1,800 families still live in FEMA travel trailers across New Orleans, on this third Christmas Day since Hurricane Katrina. The storm destroyed Willie Bailey’s home in Esplanade Ridge and the road to rebuild it continues.

Louisiana roads turn deadly on Christmas Four people died in separate accidents on Louisiana highways Wednesday and Thursday, including two children - one 3-years-old and the other 6-years-old.

Reopening eastern N.O. hospital could cost $170M A new report says it could cost $170 million to reopen a New Orleans hospital that has been closed since Hurricane Katrina.

Prosecutors to court: Get on with Jefferson trial WASHINGTON -- Federal prosecutors are urging an appeals court to get on with Rep. William Jefferson's corruption trial, saying his appeal to the Supreme Court does not have enough chance of success to justify further delays.

3 killed in Laplace