KTBS.com

Posted 17 minutes 24 seconds ago by Associated Press
Posted In: Homepage

People who waited to book holiday air fares last year saved money.

This year, holding off could cost you.

Christmas fares are now running 4 percent below a year ago -- and the gap is likely to disappear soon.

Most carriers pushed through a $10 fare increase at the end of October.

For the holidays, the big airlines added a $20 surcharge each way on popular travel days closest to Christmas and New Year's.

Tom Parsons of BestFares.com compared holiday fares purchased on July 1 with the same itinerary booked on Nov 2. Several had risen 50 percent or more.

Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., had more than doubled to $528.

Airlines have been shrinking to match a decrease in travel.

With the supply of seats more in line with demand, carriers have been able to raise fares close to where they were last holiday season.

Posted 24 minutes 24 seconds ago by Meteorologist Marcy Novak, Image Courtesy of NOAA
Posted In: Homepage

The weather is great for the last weekend of the State Fair of Louisiana.  Temperatures are in the mid 70s this afternoon and will cool to the 60s by this evening under partly cloudy skies.

Tropical Storm Ida is gaining strength as it moves into the north Caribbean. The latest forecast has the storm strengthening into a hurricane as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico, between the Yucatan Peninsula and Cuba. Beyond that, it will continue on a north/northeasterly path towards the Gulf coast of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.  We will see an increase in cloud cover around the ArkLaTex beginning tonight, due to the storm, and we'll see a slight chance for rain beginning late Sunday lasting through Monday.  As of now, it looks like the heavy rain will stay well to the south of our area.

Posted 1 hour 21 minutes 53 seconds ago by Darras Lattier, NewsNow
Posted In: Homepage

A Shreveport man has pleaded guilty to defrauding a charitable foundation out of more than $1.8 million in mineral rights.

Kirby Cole, 58, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison after pleading guilty yesterday to a mail fraud charge. Cole was the sole remaining trustee of the 45 year old trust, The Philips Foundation. Prosecutors say Cole sold himself the mineral interests in about 140 acres of foundation-owned land in Caddo Parish, but never paid the stated price.

Reports also say he later leased these minerals for $25,000 per acre and a 25 percent royalty and deposited the lease bonus of more than $1.8 million in his bank account. Cole's sentencing is scheduled next year in February.

Tagged As: fraud, Shreveport, charity, The Phillips Foundation

Posted 3 hours 44 minutes 46 seconds ago by Nick Caloway, KTBS 3 News
Posted In: Homepage

Crews are battling a house fire in Shreveport this afternoon.

The blaze is at a home near the corner of Alabama and Greenwood Road.

KTBS has a crew at the scene and will bring you the latest as more information becomes available.

Posted 4 hours 31 minutes 46 seconds ago by Sharon Fullilove, News Now
Posted In: Homepage, News - Local

The Veterans Day Parade at Bossier Parish Community College went off without a hitch this morning. 

Retired Air Force Colonel and BOssier City Mayor Lo Walker was there to show his support, as well as Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Command Sergeant Major Gary Littrell. 

Tune in tonight for KTBS 3 News at 6pm for the full story.

Tagged As: veterans day parade, bossier parish community college

Posted 4 hours 36 minutes 26 seconds ago by Associated Press reports
Posted In: Homepage

President Barack Obama has made a last-minute personal appeal to Democrats to pass landmark health care legislation.  

His appeal came during a visit to Capitol Hill on Saturday as the House began debating a bill to expand coverage to millions who lack it.  

Obama made his trip to the Capitol complex as abortion rights lawmakers voiced anger at a last-minute concession granted to foes of the procedure.

Tagged As: President Barack Obama, health care reform

Posted 5 hours 31 minutes 34 seconds ago by Associated Press reports
Posted In: Homepage

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has warned against putting the brakes on economic stimulus measures too quickly, saying that would weaken the economy.
  
In prepared remarks ahead of a Saturday news conference, Geithner says that "unemployment will rise, more businesses will fail, budget deficits will rise, and the ultimate cost of the crisis will be greater" if expansionary measures are stopped too soon.
  
Geithner says that U.S. job numbers out Friday showed it is still "a very tough economic environment."
  
He says that a statement from finance officials from the Group of 20 rich and emerging countries "reflects a very broad consensus that growth remains the dominant policy imperative across our economies."

Posted 6 hours 29 minutes 38 seconds ago by Associated Press reports
Posted In: Homepage

Former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, visited wounded soldiers and their families near the site of the worst mass shooting on an Army post in the United States.

The Bushes made their private visit to Fort Hood's Darnall Army Medical Center on Friday night. Bush spokesman David Sherzer said in an e-mail that the couple thanked Fort Hood's military leaders and hospital staff for the "amazing care they are providing."

An Army psychiatrist, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, is accused of killing 13 people and wounding 30 in a shooting rampage Thursday at a Soldier Readiness Processing Center on the post.

Hasan was wounded by a civilian police officer and was taken into custody.

Tagged As: Fort Hood shooting, Former President Bush visits

Posted 6 hours 56 minutes 20 seconds ago by Sharon Fullilove, News Now
Posted In: Homepage

KTBS crews are heading to Bossier Parish Community College for the Veterans Day Parade that starts at 10am.

Watch tonight for the full story on KTBS 3 News at 6.

Posted 7 hours 3 minutes 44 seconds ago by Nick Caloway, KTBS 3 News
Posted In: Homepage, News - Local

Veterans Day is still a few days away but that's not stopping local bikers from honoring those who serve, and have served.

The Veterans for Veterans biker event is being held today from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center on East Stoner Avenue in Shreveport.

The family-friendly motorcycle ride is free to the public, and has activities like a bike show, a silent auction, music by Marty Haggard, food and much more. There will also be a blood drive and flu shots available to veterans.

All of the money raised at the event goes toward the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center.

Several bikers also took time this morning to sit down with KTBS 3's Bob Griffin and discuss the event. O.B. Obryan says that veterans fought for the freedom Americans have today, and it's important to thank them whenever possible.

Tagged As: Veterans for Veterans biker event, Overton Brooks VA Medical Center, Veterans Day