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The Talk Shows February 23rd, 2014 Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows: FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H.; Govs. Scott Walker, R-Wis., and Peter Shumlin, D-Vt.MEET THE PRESS (NBC): National Security Adviser Susan Rice.FACE THE NATION (CBS): Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Govs. Bobby Jindal, R-La., and Martin O'Malley, D-Md.THIS WEEK (ABC): Former President George W. Bush.STATE OF THE UNION (CNN): Govs. Rick Perry, R-Texas, Mike Pence, R-Ind., Dannel Malloy, D-Conn., Jay Nixon D-Mo.

NEW ORLEANS —An Orleans Parish grand jury didn't return anything Thursday in the case against a Marigny homeowner who shot a teen intruder in the head in July 2013.Merritt Landry, 33, was arrested and accused of second-degree attempted murder in the shooting of 14-year-old Marshall Coulter. Police said the teen climbed a fence into Landry's yard in the 700 block of Mandeville Street at 2 a.m. on July 26. Landry fired once at Coulter, striking him in the head. The grand jury didn't take any action in the case as it convened on Thursday. The grand jury meets in six-month...

MADISONVILLE, LA - The Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) has unanimously endorsed Col. Rob Maness (ret.) in the Louisiana race for United States Senate. "We're pleased that Colonel Maness is willing to continue his service to our country with his candidacy for the U.S. Senate," said RLC National Chair Matt Nye. "The Colonel is dedicated to restoring the individual rights of Americans. This is no small task with the unprecedented overreach we’re seeing by a federal government that infringes on our rights and interferes in our lives in ways that would shock the founders of this country."

WASHINGTON — On July 31, 2012, a little-known state attorney in black ostrich-skin boots named Ted Cruz shocked the Lone Star State’s political establishment when, facing incredible odds, he defeated popular Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in the Republican primary race for Senate.Within a year, Cruz would be a household name across the country and considered a possible candidate for the presidency. With another congressional election season approaching in November, Cruz’s story has inspired a new crop of little-known candidates who want to replicate his success. While Cruz may be the least popular man in the Senate, his popularity soars...

Two Louisiana teenagers have been charged with second-degree murder in an attack motivated by a competition between the two to see who could hit harder, according to local police. Windall Herring, 19, and an unnamed 15-year-old were arrested in Baton Rouge on Tuesday for the murder of 55-year-old John Bannon. The attack occurred near Bannon’s home around 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 1. Bannon was rushed to a hospital trauma unit, but succumbed last Friday to his injuries which included a fractured skull and brain hemorrhaging, according to The (Baton Rouge) Advocate. “During our investigation we learned that the suspects were...

According to New Orleans Police Department reports, on Friday morning at around 2:26 a.m., a 32-year-old male was riding his bicycle down Esplanade Avenue when a man stepped in front of his path, at N. Robertson Street. When the cyclist slowed to avoid a collision, a second man, wielding a baseball bat, jumped out from behind a parked car and began beating the biker, fracturing his jaw. Police officers responding to that attack encountered a near-identical scenario that unfolded 22 minutes after the first, just a few blocks away on Esplanade toward Rampart Street. The second victim, 25, suffered serious...

Baton Rouge police arrested two teens Tuesday accused in the fatal Feb. 1 attack of a 55-year-old Indiana native, a crime that might have been committed simply because the teens wanted to see who hit harder. John Bannon, 1654 Clear Lake Lane, Baton Rouge, died Friday of injuries sustained when he fell onto the concrete sidewalk during the attack, fractured his skull and suffered a brain hemorrhage, according to the arrest warrant for Windall Lavel Herring. Bannon’s death leaves his family wondering why a man they described as a compassionate and caring individual was targeted. “You just want to know...

What is an 86-year-old, former four-term governor who served eight years in federal prison on corruption charges and then had his own reality show to do with his spare time? Louisiana’s Edwin Edwards may be running for Congress. The Democrat reportedly told Bloomberg’s Al Hunt that he is in the process of putting together a run for the Baton Rouge-area seat being vacated by Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy, who is challenging Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu this year. So far, no serious Democrats have announced plans for the seat in the heavily Republican district. …

New Orleans police on Wednesday (Feb. 19) released descriptions of two teenagers wanted in connection with one of the two reported baseball bat attacks against bicycle riders early last Friday. A composite sketch was provided for one of the suspects, whom police described as a man around 18 years old, approximately 6 feet tall and weighing 170 pounds, with an athletic build and dark complexion. He was last seen wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt and grey sweatpants.

Baton Rouge police on Tuesday arrested two teens accused of beating up a 55-year-old man on Feb. 1, causing him to fall, hit his head and suffer brain hemorrhaging. The victim, John Bannon, 1654 Clear Lake Lane, Baton Rouge, died from his injuries Friday, according to the arrest warrant for Windal Lavel Herring. Police booked Herring, 17, 8211 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, into Parish Prison on counts of second-degree murder and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer has threatened to launch a political assault on Republicans as well as Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu, a Democrat friendly to the oil and gas industry who is gearing up for a tough re-election campaign. Steyer, a Democrat worth about $1.5 billion, leads a political organization called NextGen Climate Action. With Steyer’s funding, the group has launched a media campaign against the Keystone XL pipeline. Soon, that campaign may narrow its focus on Landrieu to criticize her for supporting the pipeline. Steyer’s super PAC, in its own words online, is dedicated to “supporting candidates … that will...

"This week, ABC News asked me if I would vote for Mitch McConnell for Republican Leader of the Senate. My answer was easy - no."

WASHINGTON -- Long-shot Republican Senatorial candidate Rob Maness says he would not vote to re-elect Mitch McConnell as Senate Republican leader if he wins and McConnell survives a tough re-election challenge. "Sen. McConnell is a failed leader and it's time for a new perspective and for new leadership," Maness said Monday. "The time has come to stop routinely returning senators to leadership positions. We need a leader in the Senate who will stand up to President (Barack) Obama and Sen. (Mary) Landrieu and their harmful policies." If Democrats continue as the majority party in the Senate after the 2014 elections,...

Companies developing multibillion-dollar Gulf Coast plants to export cheap domestic natural gas or make things with it are encountering a harsh reality: There aren’t enough skilled hands to do all that building. “It causes a big concern about what’s going to actually happen when it comes to fulfilling these jobs,” says Michael Bergen, executive vice president of Industrial Info Resources, a Sugar Land-based market research firm. It projects that companies ?will invest more than $64 billion to build at least seven liquefied natural gas facilities along the Gulf Coast in the coming years. And if demand for labor drives up...

LOS ANGELES — Prosecutors charged former NFL safety Darren Sharper on Friday with raping and drugging two women in California and disclosed he is under investigation in connection with five more drug-related rapes in three other states. Sharper briefly appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court, where his arraignment was postponed until Feb. 20 at the request of his lawyers. They issued a statement saying he would be exonerated. Prosecutors then filed a motion to increase Sharper's bail to $10 million and outlined details of investigations involving him in Las Vegas, Tempe, Ariz., and New Orleans. Sharper has not been charged...

Hopes that "Duck Dynasty" fans may have had in seeing the show head to Washington have been dashed after Alan Robertson said that his father Phil Robertson had no interest in running for Senate. After a poll released earlier this week suggested that the Duck Commander founder could be a formidable competitor against current Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), his son quickly shot down any speculation that his father, 67, would be willing to run. "While Phil is humbled and honored that so many fellow Louisianans have confidence in him, he has no interest in running for public office," Alan told...

<p>Nagin skates on count 7 but nailed on 20 counts.</p>

Closing arguments in the Ray Nagin corruption trial on Monday centered on whether the former New Orleans mayor was a predator focused on helping himself or prey for an assortment of shady operators. The prosecution portrayed Nagin as an opportunist who pursued businessmen under pressure to win city business, targeting them to line his own pockets. The defense characterized those contractors -- some of whom suffer from their own legal and financial problems -- as scheming to use Nagin without his knowledge, and now eager to testify to help their own situations. After the lawyers made their final pitches, the...

BATON ROUGE, La. – At Frank's Restaurant, a popular diner outside Baton Rouge, the motto is "It's All Good." But if the regulars here are any indication, for Louisiana Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu -- it's turning very bad. "I am a registered Republican, but I voted for Mary Landrieu," said Karen Parson. "I voted for her every year. But I won't be voting for her this year."

Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office have arrested the suspect wanted in connection with the murder of Joseph Anderson, a U.S. Army sergeant and father of three who was gunned down while visiting with family in Marrero for the holidays. Darwin Bethune, 24, of 4468 Rosemont Drive, New Orleans, surrendered to authorities in New Orleans Thursday (Feb. 6), said Col. John Fortunato, spokesman for the Sheriff's Office. He will be transported to the Sheriff's Office investigations bureau in Harvey and then booked with second-degree murder. Bethune is accused of shooting Anderson, 31, in the driveway of a home in the 6100 block...