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• Ledet's Hometown Reaping Benefits of his Idol Visit Play Video

  May 16, 2012 7:05 PM

  Wednesday night, Calcasieu Parish native Joshua Ledet will hit the stage hoping his talent will carry him into the final week of American Idol. Now, his hometown is reaping the benefits. "He said I'm going to audition till I win the show, and he's doing it!!" Joshua Ledet's... more »

• Baton Rouge area homes sales increase in April

  May 16, 2012 9:05 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Baton Rouge area homes sales rose 21 percent in April, with real estate agents in the eight-parish region selling 616 homes compared with 510 that month a year ago. The dollar volume rose 16 percent to $116.1 million, compared with $100.4 million in April 2011.... more »

• Ouachita sales taxes collections up in March

  May 14, 2012 10:45 AM

  MONROE, La. (AP) - Consumer spending picked up steam in Ouachita Parish to close out the first quarter in March. The News-Star reports combined collections for all Ouachita Parish jurisdictions were up 7.8 percent in March compared to the same month in 2011. Bob Eisenstadt, director of the University of... more »

• Hurricane sales tax holiday set for May 26-27

  May 7, 2012 7:16 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Stocking up on flashlights, batteries and other items to get ready for hurricane season this summer? You might want to wait until May 26 and 27, when the state holds a sales tax holiday for hurricane preparedness items. That weekend, Louisiana residents won't have to... more »

• St. James man accused of illegal fish, game sales

  April 4, 2012 9:48 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has accused a 66-year-old St. James man of illegally buying nearly 1,900 fish and some venison, and illegally selling more than 1,000 fish and some of the venison. Enforcement spokesman Adam Einck says Roy Folse faces 55 counts alleging... more »

• Lincoln Chamber disapproves sales tax

  March 29, 2012 10:49 AM

  RUSTON, La. (AP) - A quarter-cent sales tax on the ballot in Lincoln Parish in late April will not have the support of the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. The business leaders say, while they understand the importance of good law enforcement, now is not the time for... more »

• Cotton Valley to decide on Sunday beer sales

  March 16, 2012 9:54 AM

  COTTON VALLEY, La. (AP) - Voters in the northwestern Louisiana town of Cotton Valley will decide March 24 on whether to allow Sunday beer sales. The Webster Parish town's current law ends sales at midnight Saturday. The new law would allow beer sales starting at noon Sunday. Sales would be... more »

• Lent Means Less Meat, Better Seafood Sales Play Video

  February 24, 2012 9:50 PM

  From fast food chains, to family run restaurants, special Lent menus are popping up across Acadiana. And with the first Friday of Lent here, that means meat is off the table for many Catholics. But Lent can mean higher sales and better business for many restaurants. Around here, it's... more »

• Acadiana Housing Market on the Upswing from 2010 to 2011

  January 23, 2012 10:36 PM

  Realtors report new numbers that show Acadiana's Housing market is on the upswing from 2010 to 2011. Susan "I think the bottom line there is that Acadiana as a whole is up, there were more sales residentially and the Multiple Listing Service as a whole," said Susan Simmons, a... more »

• Broussard prepares to collect sales tax

  January 11, 2012 10:38 AM

  BROUSSARD, La. (AP) - The Broussard City Council has approved the introduction of an ordinance to impose a half-cent sales tax dedicated to recreation. The measure was approved by city voters in the Nov. 19 election and the new tax is estimated to raise about $2.4 million annually. City bond... more »

• Feds taking public comment on future lease sales

  January 11, 2012 10:29 AM

  JEFFERSON, La. (AP) - The federal agency handling offshore drilling has invited the public to comment on proposed etroleum lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico over the next five years. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will hold Wednesday's hearing in Jefferson Parish. The government's first auction of offshore... more »

• Major Deals the Day After Christmas Play Video

  December 26, 2011 7:11 PM

  Christmas is over, but holiday shopping is still going on. In fact, analysts are predicting today will be the third busiest shopping day of the year. Shopper, Tosha Richard, said "it was raining today and there was really nothing else to do, so we figured why not come and... more »

• 'Coupon Queen' Can Save You Hundreds Play Video

  May 10, 2011 10:51 AM

  Chrissy LeBleu never thought about clipping coupons, until she found out a major expense was on the way. She explained, "knowing that you have to start thinking about buying formula and diapers. I started looking at easier ways of savings." LeBleu said the Sunday paper is a good... more »

• Hundreds Pack Mall for Christmas Returns and Deals Play Video

  December 26, 2010 11:34 PM

  The day after Christmas is the busiest return day for shoppers... and many Acadiana shoppers were doing just that, returning, exchanging,and searching for deals! KATC'S Chris Welty caught up with bargain hunters at the Mall of Acadiana. "Came in for the clearances." "Mainly to get the sales and the... more »

• Retailers Gearing Up for Black Friday Play Video

  November 24, 2010 7:32 PM

  It's the super bowl of shopping for most retailers...Black Friday. Now some stores are taking it up a notch and starting a new holiday tradition by opening up doors on Thanksgiving Day. Sears Electronic and Appliance Manager, Robert Elliot, said "it was actually based on customer feedback, customers were wanting... more »

• CVS Pays $75 Million in Fines for Repeated Sales of Meth Ingredients

  October 14, 2010 2:02 PM

  LOS ANGELES (AP) - CVS Pharmacy Inc. has agreed to pay $75 million in fines for allowing repeated purchases of a key methamphetamine ingredient that led to a spike in Southern California drug trafficking, federal prosecutors said Thursday. It was the largest civil penalty under the Controlled Substances Act.... more »

• Ford says its U.S. sales rose 46 percent

  October 1, 2010 12:48 PM

  DETROIT (AP) - Ford says its U.S. sales rose 46 percent in September as it saw strong sales of redesigned cars and trucks. Ford had expected sales to rise significantly from September of 2009, when sales dropped as last summer's Cash for Clunkers program came to an end But Ford... more »

• Businesses Seeing Spike in Sales For Saints Opener Play Video

  September 10, 2010 1:10 PM

  Anything sporting the saints logo from cups to T-shirts to caps can't stay on store shelves. Academy Manager, Scott Guidry, said he expects to be busy "until game time and once game time starts, I'm sure we'll slow down." Fans out shopping definitely have their favorite saints player... more »

• St. Landry Sales Taxes Drop

  September 7, 2010 9:13 AM

  OPELOUSAS, La. (AP) - Sales tax collections, which have been in trouble all year St. Landry Parish, fell a staggering 36.7 percent in August compared to last year. Ronnie Richard, sales tax officer with the St. Landry School Board that tracks the numbers for the parish, said the drop is... more »

• 2010 Second Amendment Weekend Sales Tax Holiday is September 3rd, 4th, & 5th

  August 31, 2010 5:31 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Hunters and campers can save money this weekend on a wide range of supplies including firearms, ammunition, hunting knives and certain clothing items. The 2010 Second Amendment Weekend Sales Tax Holiday takes place Friday, September 3, through Sunday, September 5. During these three days, eligible items... more »

• The Plunge in Home Sales

  August 24, 2010 11:16 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Sales of previously occupied homes plunged last month to the lowest level in 15 years, despite the lowest mortgage rates in decades and bargain prices in many areas. July's sales fell by more than 27 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.83 million, the National... more »

• Global Vaccine Sales Rose by 16 Percent Last Year

  August 13, 2010 12:06 PM

  NEW YORK (AP) - A healthcare market research publisher says global vaccine sales rose by a healthy 16 percent last year. Kalorama Information reports that sales shot up to $22.1 billion, from $19 billion in 2008. The firm's researchers are forecasting vaccine sales will rise at a compound annual rate... more »

• Biography of Edwin Edwards Hits 35,000 Sales

  August 13, 2010 6:24 AM

  ABBEVILLE, La. (AP) - Author Leo Honeycutt says he's happily surprised that sales of his biography of former Gov. Edwin Edwards have hit 35,000. He says that 10,000 copies of "Edwin Edwards, the Authorized Biography" sold in the first two weeks after publication in December. Abbeville Library Director Charlotte Trosclair... more »

• July video game retail sales inch 1 percent lower

  August 12, 2010 9:45 PM

  NEW YORK (AP) - U.S. retail sales of video game systems, software and accessories slipped 1 percent in July according to market researcher NPD Group. A lackluster summer game launch schedule partly offset strong sales of the Xbox 360. Total industry sales slid to $846.5 million last month from $850.6... more »

• Kaplan Underage Alcohol Sales Sting Operation

  August 4, 2010 5:42 PM

  Press Release- Kaplan Police Department has received several complaints and concerns from the citizens of Kaplan about the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors within the city limits of Kaplan. Chief Adams assigned Sgt. Bruce Ashley and Capt. Scott LeMaire to conduct an Alcohol Sting Operation. An undercover agent... more »

• Sales Tax Holiday Approaching

  July 26, 2010 2:28 PM

  Press Release- The Louisiana Sales Tax Holiday takes place Friday, August 6, and Saturday, August 7. On these two days, most retail purchases are exempt from the four-percent state sales tax. The sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 6, and continues through 12:00 midnight... more »

• Lafayette Buffalo Wild Wings Donating to National Wildlife Federation Relief Effort

  July 26, 2010 12:26 PM

  To support the National Wildlife Federation's Oil Spill Relief Effort Buffalo Wild Wings will be donating 10 percent of net sales to National Wildlife Federation 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday, July 26th, 2010. As organizations from around the world band together to support the wildlife and people of the... more »

• Hurricane Sales Tax Weekend

  May 28, 2010 10:34 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The 2010 Louisiana Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday takes place Saturday and Sunday. Louisianians can get a tax break when buying emergency supplies, including self-powered light sources like flashlights and candles; portable self-powered radios; two-way radios and weather-band radios; tarpaulins or other flexible waterproof sheeting.... more »

• Sales Tax Holiday for Hurricane Supplies May 29-30

  May 12, 2010 10:04 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Hurricane season is fast approaching and the state wants to help residents prepare. On May 29 and 30, Louisianians can get a tax break when buying emergency supplies, including self-powered light sources like flashlights and candles; portable self-powered radios; two-way radios and weather-band radios; tarpaulins... more »

• Sales Of New Homes Fell Unexpectedly

  March 24, 2010 1:10 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Sales of new homes fell unexpectedly to the lowest level on record in February as stormy winter weather kept buyers on the sidelines. The weak results make clear the difficulties facing the housing industry as it tries to recover from the worst slump in decades. The Commerce... more »

• Crawfish suit now in federal court

  March 14, 2010 6:57 PM

  LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - A lawsuit claiming that pipeline dredging has hurt Atchafalaya Basin crawfish trappers is now in federal court. The suit alleges that ridges left along dredged areas, called spoil banks, have created stagnant, dead areas of water in the area known as Buffalo Cove. The... more »

• State approves cultural districts

  February 22, 2010 7:45 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The state has approved midcity Baton Rouge and downtown Lafayette for cultural products districts. It's a designation that seeks to promote arts development by waiving sales taxes on original works sold within the districts and providing tax credits for rehabilitating the districts' historic buildings. Kerry... more »

• Arrests Made In Baton Rouge Illegal Deer Sales Ring

  January 21, 2010 12:34 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A yearlong investigation of illegal deer sales in West Baton Rouge and Iberville parishes has brought two arrests but the alleged ringleader remains at large, a state wildlife agent says. Henry Rineheart, 34, of Plaquemine and Aaron Comeaux, 35, of Gueydan were arrested last week,... more »

• Cajundome tax plan approved by school board

  December 3, 2009 2:06 PM

  LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - The Lafayette Parish School Board has tentatively approved a settlement that ends a dispute with the Cajundome. The school board spent about an hour in a closed meeting Wednesday discussing a proposal that would settle a lawsuit the Cajundome Commission filed against the school system... more »

• Iberia school staff to see supplemental pay cut

  November 5, 2009 8:05 AM

  NEW IBERIA, La. (AP) - Employees of Iberia Parish schools will have to endure a slight cut in this year's supplemental pay and deferred payment. Director of Business Carl LeBlanc says a poor return on sales taxes has forced a $200 cut in certified teachers' deferred payment, and $133 for... more »

• Cajundome's alcohol sales at risk

  October 30, 2009 9:49 AM

  LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - Beer and liquor sales at the Cajundome could be halted unless a dispute surrounding $1.4 million in overdue sales taxes is resolved. The alcohol permit for the Cajundome and Convention Center is due for renewal Saturday. As part of the renewal, the Cajundome must obtain state... more »

• Sales Tax Vote in Grand Coteau Raises Concern Play Video

  October 16, 2009 6:07 PM

  Grand Coteau residents take to the polls Saturday to decide whether to increase local sales tax. Tom Colley and his wife co-own Days Gone By, a home decor shop in Grand Coteau. Colley says he wouldn't mind if people in town voted yes to raise local sales tax by... more »