The nation's economic downturn is prompting officials to revamp the city's foray into international contemporary art shows.By: Janet McConnaughey|Date: Nov 12, 2009

As conspicuous consumption loses some of its cachet during the recession, the swamp's most conspicuous consumers have less to fear from humans.By: Janet McConnaughey|Date: Aug 14, 2009

NEW ORLEANS - The first archeological dig at one of the nation's oldest cathedrals has turned up a mix of new finds in the heart of the French Quarter. Discoveries behind St. Louis Cathedral include a small silver crucifix from the 1770s or 1780s and traces of previously unknown buildings dating to around the city's founding in 1718.By: Janet McConnaughey|Date: Jul 17, 2008

NEW ORLEANS -- The baby album for Rebekah Markham's soon-to-be-born child could include something extra special: photos of officers using flat-bottomed boats to rescue the youngster's frozen embryo from a sweltering hospital in the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.By: Janet McConnaughey|Date: Jan 4, 2007

NEW ORLEANS -- A state judge has approved a settlement that will give $1,000 certificates to 5.8 million General Motors Corp. truck owners with allegedly dangerous side-mounted gas tanks.

But General Motors may appeal the $28 million in fees and expenses awarded to plaintiffs' attorneys and "former objectors," the maximum possible amount the judge could order, spokesman Ed Lechtzin said.

By: Janet McConnaughey, Associated Press|Date: Dec 29, 1996

NEW ORLEANS -- Some days, trombonist Mark McGrain was so far down he could hardly crawl out of bed, let alone make his gigs. Then he injured his ankle and feared that it might be broken.

It had been several years since he left the faculty of Berklee College of Music in Boston and, with it, his health insurance."You're very lucky if you can even eke out a hand-to-mouth existence in music these days," said McGrain, 43.

By: Janet McConnaughey, Associated Press|Date: May 2, 1998