WBRZ - Baton Rouge

Tagged News

• Councilman, citizen arrested after fisticuff

  May 7, 2013 10:19 PM

  AMITE- A town councilman faces charges after getting into a fight with a citizen after the town council meeting Tuesday night. Police said Jonathan Foster faces aggravated battery charges. A citizen was also charged in connection with the fight. Police Chief Jerry Trabona said both men were booked... more »

• Leaders talk about law dealing with chained dogs Play Video

  April 24, 2013 10:30 PM

  BATON ROUGE - For years, animal activists have called tethering dogs cruelty, and Wednesday East Baton Rouge council members introduced an ordinance that would make it illegal. "That dog is a natural social animal that wants to get out, and when you keep it on that tether, it doesn't... more »

• Baker to upgrade city's natural gas pipelines

  April 10, 2013 8:37 AM

  BAKER - The Baker City Council has approved a bid for a project in the works for more than 20 years to upgrade some of the city's natural gas pipelines. Mayor Harold Rideau says the city has been trying to secure funding since 1990 to upgrade some natural gas pipelines... more »

• Donaldsonville approves funding for riverfront

  March 28, 2013 7:50 AM

  DONALDSONVILLE - Council members have approved two line-item issues for next year's budget, both aimed at improving the city's image. One item will bring $780,000 in state funding to the city for use with its plan to renovate Donaldsonville's Mississippi riverfront. Mayor Leroy Sullivan Sr. said the funds were originally... more »

• Central divided over peddler ordinance Play Video

  March 12, 2013 10:22 PM

  CENTRAL - An ordinance proposed by city council would limit the amount of time peddlers, solicitors and canvassers can go from door-to-door in the City of Central. Things got heated at a council meeting Tuesday night, where the ordinance was deferred after a number of questions were raised regarding... more »

• 24/7 alcohol sales, elected chief up for discussion Wednesday

  March 12, 2013 9:42 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Wednesday, city leaders could make a historic change and allow 24-hour liquor sales. The sales would only be allowed on riverboat casinos, if Metro Council approves the change. Currently, city laws don't allow sales after 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday and midnight Sunday. Among other... more »

• Hammond council approves purchase of former bank

  February 6, 2013 6:48 AM

  HAMMOND - The Hammond City Council has agreed to buy and renovate the former Hancock Bank Building for use as the Police Department's new headquarters. Mayor Mayson Foster asked the council Tuesday to approve necessary fiscal moves to ensure state funding would be available for the project. The state awarded... more »

• New Orleans council approves new shopping center

  January 25, 2013 9:27 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans City Council has approved plans for a new shopping center. The Magnolia Marketplace will be a two-level mall where most of the stores will face an elevated, open-air parking deck. Councilwoman LaToya Cantrell urged the council on Thursday removed many of the... more »

• Council members to seek 2nd vote on sewer buyout

  December 26, 2012 6:38 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Two East Baton Rouge Metro Councilwomen said they intend to place back on the council's agenda the proposed $6 million buyout plan for Scotlandville residents living next to a foul-smelling sewage treatment plant. The proposed deal to relocate 44 Scotlandville families and build a buffer zone... more »

• UN Security Council condemns NKorea rocket launch

  December 12, 2012 1:32 PM

  UNITED NATIONS - The U.N. Security Council is condemning North Korea's successful rocket launch. The U.N.'s most powerful body said in a brief statement after closed consultations Wednesday that the launch violated a 2009 Security Council resolution banning "any launch using ballistic missile technology." The council said that after the... more »

• Livingston council approves budget

  December 7, 2012 2:57 PM

  LIVINGSTON- The Livingston Parish Council has approved a budget of more than $41 million for the coming year. The passage of the budget came Thursday night after the council approved a number of amendments to the administration's proposal at the beginning of the meeting. The general fund portion of the... more »

• Council approves letting EBR bars open on Sundays

  October 24, 2012 5:53 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Metro council members approved an ordinance tonight allowing bars to stay open from 11 a.m. until midnight on Sundays. The ordinance passed 8-3, with Council members Ronnie Edwards, Tara Wicker and Mike Walker voting against it. Council members Trae Welch, Ulysses Addison, Chandler Loupe, Scott Wilson,... more »

• Bar hours ordinance pulled at Metro Council

  October 24, 2012 5:06 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Tonight's Metro Council meeting in East Baton Rouge Parish opened with a council member pulling his ordinance to extend bar hours to 4 a.m. Ulysses "Bones" Addison said the parish attorney's office had asked him to delete the item, which had drawn a number of public... more »

• $124M budget up for review in Ascension Parish

  October 23, 2012 10:21 AM

  GONZALES - Ascension Parish Council members will vote next month on a proposed $124 million budget for 2013. The estimated total is slightly lower than the original $125.8 million figure adopted last year for the 2012 fiscal year budget. The proposal includes total operating budget revenues of about... more »

• Hammond considers new alcohol permits

  October 17, 2012 7:06 AM

  HAMMOND - Police Chief Roddy Devall asked the Hammond City Council to consider rewriting its ordinances regarding the sale of liquor in businesses that are primarily designated as restaurants. Devall's comments came Tuesday as the council was considering its annual approval of High and Low Alcohol Permits for the... more »

• Donaldsonville approves employee raises

  September 28, 2012 10:10 AM

  DONALDSONVILLE - The Donaldsonville City Council has approved a plan that would give municipal employees a pay raise for the first time in five years. However, councilmen altered a proposed plan by the city administration to do so, choosing a merit-based system rather than an across-the-board increase. Finance... more »

• Council updates deal for chemical plant

  September 21, 2012 8:56 AM

  GONZALES - The Ascension Parish Council has approved revising an incentive proposal for a $300 million chemical facility set to locate in the parish. Canadian mineral development company Avalon Rare Metals Inc. announced last month its intention to build a 150-acre rare earth elements separation refinery in Geismar. Construction... more »

• Iberville council abolishes waterworks district

  September 19, 2012 7:08 AM

  PLAQUEMINE - The Iberville Parish Council has unanimously abolished Waterworks District No. 2, placing day-to-day water service operations for east Iberville residents under the jurisdiction of the parish Utility Department. Council Chairman Matt Jewell says the parish will have to absorb the water district's outstanding debt, now amounting to... more »

• Vote on Livingston-Ascension toll route scheduled tonight Play Video

  August 23, 2012 5:45 PM

  LIVINGSTON- The Livingston Parish Council is scheduled to vote tonight on creating a toll authority for the Livingston Ascension Throughway. The project would provide drivers with an alternate route between Airline Highway and Interstate 12. Livingston Parish President Layton Ricks is optimistic the council will back the plan.... more »

• Tangipahoa council awards coastal erosion contract

  August 14, 2012 10:12 AM

  AMITE - The Tangipahoa Parish Council voted unanimously to award a $4.8 million contract to Bertucci Contracting Co. of Metairie to construct a stone breakwater designed to halt coastal erosion in the extreme northwestern corner of Lake Pontchartrain. Parish engineer Maurice Jordan says a 10,000-linear-foot wall can be constructed... more »

• Port Allen council adjusts millage rates

  August 9, 2012 7:36 AM

  PORT ALLEN - The Port Allen City Council has approved slight adjustments to two of the city's millage rates in response to declining property values. The council unanimously adopted a resolution setting the millage rate for its general fund at 7.67 mills and 5.48 mills for tax revenue allocated... more »

• Leaders set to fight planned RxR closures

  July 23, 2012 9:52 PM

  AMITE- The Tangipahoa Parish Council plans to appeal a decision to close two railroad crossings. The state wants to shutdown Capace Lane and Reverend White Road. Because people have died in train collisions, the crossings are deemed dangerous. The state says closing the crossings will save lives, but... more »

• Council delays taxes on ballot

  July 6, 2012 6:31 AM

  DONALDSONVILLE - The Ascension Parish Council has postponed a vote to put proposed taxes and fees on the election ballot until later this month. The move likely ensures the items would not go before voters on Nov. 6 with a proposed parish half-cent sales tax for road improvements. ... more »

• Council set to "object" to dangerous railroad crossing closures

  June 11, 2012 4:57 PM

  AMITE- Tangipahoa Parish leaders will discuss a plan by the Department of Transportation and Development to close three railroad crossings in the parish. Some of the crossings have been the scene of train accidents were a number of people have died. Most recently, four juveniles and an unborn child... more »

• Deleted emails cause controversy in Livingston Parish Play Video

  May 25, 2012 5:43 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The Livingston Parish Council called for an investigation into e-mails deleted by a former council employee. Mary Kistler resigned from the council last year and took a job as an assistant to Livingston Parish President Layton Ricks. Kistler contacted a computer contractor to help erase files, and... more »

• Coin toss decides Texas city council election

  May 18, 2012 3:08 PM

  LUBBOCK, Texas - A winner has been chosen by a coin toss in a Texas city council election. Bruce MacNair won Friday's flip that decided the race between him and Bryan Studer. The two had agreed to have a coin toss decide the contest for a seat on the Wolfforth... more »

• Metro Council likely to cut CATS funding in 2013 Play Video

  April 23, 2012 5:53 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The majority of the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council said it will pull funding from the Capital Area Transit System starting in 2013. CATS CEO Brian Marshall said the annual operating budget for the transit system is roughly $12 million, and $3 million of that... more »

• Ascension council proposes pay increase

  April 20, 2012 7:12 AM

  GONZALES - Ascension Parish Council members have taken the first step toward giving themselves a 33 percent pay increase, boosting their pre-tax salaries from $1,200 to $1,600 per month. The council introduced the increase on a 7-3 vote Thursday. The proposal will be set for a public hearing and possible... more »

• Council authorizes traffic camera negotiations

  April 18, 2012 7:28 AM

  LAFAYETTE - The Lafayette City-Parish Council has voted to give City-Parish President Joey Durel the approval to begin renegotiating the contract for the city's red-light camera enforcement program. Despite that vote on Tuesday, the future of the red-light cameras is uncertain, and the council is scheduled to decide next month... more »

• EBR Metro Council debates possibility of 24/7 jail Play Video

  April 11, 2012 6:24 PM

  BATON ROUGE - After success last year which generated around $191,000 in fines, city leaders want to keep the city jail running 24 hours a day. Councilman Mike Walker will ask the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council to grant $50,000 for another misdemeanor jail trial run to show... more »

• Council to consider another BR city jail trial run

  April 11, 2012 10:40 AM

  BATON ROUGE - After success last year which generated around $191,000 in fines, city leaders want to keep the city jail running 24 hours a day. Councilman Mike Walker will ask the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council to grant $50,000 for another misdemeanor jail trial run to show... more »

• Baton Rouge council takes no position on bus tax

  March 29, 2012 7:07 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council as a whole took no position on whether to support a 10.6-mill property tax to revamp the parish bus system, voting instead to delete the item after a lengthy public hearing and debate. Councilwoman Denise Marcelle had asked the council... more »

• Donaldsonville council to redraw districts

  March 1, 2012 7:11 AM

  DONALDSONVILLE - City council members have approved a proposal to redraw council district lines, setting the stage for a vote on the matter late this month. The council has worked during the last month to redraw district lines according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data, as required each decade.... more »

• Zachary Council tweaks Sunday alcohol ordinance

  February 29, 2012 6:39 AM

  ZACHARY - The Zachary City Council has approved an amendment to the city's alcohol ordinance that will allow wine and liquor sales on Sundays, beginning at noon. Under current law, beer sales begin at 12:30 p.m. for stores and restaurants. Wine and liquor cannot be sold on Sunday. The council... more »

• Baton Rouge council approves Superfest rebate

  February 24, 2012 7:38 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The East Baton Rouge Metro Council has unanimously approved a resolution to support the pursuit of legislation to create a sales tax rebate for tickets to Bayou Country Superfest and like events. If passed, ticket prices would not change for concert-goers, but a portion of the sales... more »

• Council urged to settle school worker suit

  February 16, 2012 7:42 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The East Baton Rouge Metro Council's Finance and Executive Committee has recommended that the full council settle with a former elementary school employee who sued the city-parish seven years ago over toxic-mold issues at the school. Richard Brown, a former custodian at LaBelle Aire Elementary School, said... more »

• Council on Aging groups concerned over budget Play Video

  February 9, 2012 12:31 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Seniors are concerned about Governor Bobby Jindal's new $25.5 billion budget. Jindal's commissioner of administration, Paul Rainwater, presented a proposal today that would move the Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs (which oversees the Councils on Aging and Area Agencies on Aging across the state) under the... more »

• Litter ordinance changes up for council debate Play Video

  January 31, 2012 10:37 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The Department of Public Works wants city leaders to sign off on big changes to the litter law. DPW is taking over operating the city-parish litter court and wants to strengthen the consequences for nuisances like over-grown lots, dump sites and illegal signs. If the proposed... more »

• Westbank Expressway gets support from Ascension Parish

  January 23, 2012 10:23 PM

  GONZALES- The Ascension Parish Council is supporting an idea that would create an expressway on the Westbank of the Mississippi from I-10 in Port Allen to I-310 in Boutte. Highway 3127 currently starts at Highway 70 in Donaldsonville and runs south to Boutte. Parish leaders and lawmakers say the... more »

• NO City Council OKs change to French Quarter curfew

  January 5, 2012 3:02 PM

  NEW ORLEANS- The New Orleans City Council has approved an amendment to the city's curfew law. The change would ban those 16 years old or younger from the French Quarter and Marigny (MARE-ih-nee) after 8 p.m. on weekends. Councilwoman Kristen Palmer said Thursday she wants to keep youth off French... more »

• CATS may delay budget cuts

  December 7, 2011 3:13 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The CEO of the Capital Area Transit System says managers may suggest to metro council members that they allow the system to operate at full capacity until it runs out of funding in July. Brian Marshall and CATS board members are searching for ways to deal... more »

• Baton Rouge bus system needs financial help

  November 30, 2011 10:57 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The frequently cash-strapped bus system for East Baton Rouge Parish does not anticipate finding a revenue source to fill its projected $2.1 million budget gap next year. Capital Area Transit System board member Jared Loftus told the East Baton Rouge Metro Council Tuesday night they will... more »

• Closing ordinance opposed by club Play Video

  November 18, 2011 4:16 PM

  PORT ALLEN - A gentleman's club owner told West Baton Rouge Parish Council members that he would fight an ordinance requiring his business to close at 10 p.m. on Sundays. Last month, 53 percent of parish voters cast ballots in favor of a proposed law requiring businesses selling alcohol... more »

• EBR council approves 3 percent health care hike

  October 27, 2011 9:27 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La.- East Baton Rouge city-parish employees will pay an additional 3 percent in health insurance premiums next year after the Metro Council approved the increase. The council appeared deadlocked on the issue with about half of the members agreeing that the premium increases should pass, and the... more »

• Metro Council deciding on bars opening Sundays

  October 12, 2011 4:47 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Councilwoman C. Denise Marcelle wants to lower the food sales requirements of bars and restaurants in order to stay open on Sundays. Currently food sales must meet 60 percent of a restaurants total monthly sales. Marcelle wants to lower that number to 55 percent in the... more »

• Special council meeting to be held following abrupt end of Wednesday meeting

  September 28, 2011 10:59 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A special meeting of the Metro Council will be called to finish business leftover by a sudden end to Wednesday's council meeting because of a lack of a quorum. The council was just starting to address the million dollar Galvez Plaza project, and a deal discussed between... more »

• Council votes "no" on disgraced mayor's vacation pay

  September 14, 2011 6:24 PM

  PORT ALLEN - City council members voted tonight not to pay former Port Allen mayor Derek Lewis for back vacation time he claims he never took. The vote at tonight's council meeting was 3 to 2 not to pay Lewis around $19,000 he said he was owed for the... more »

• EBR fire chiefs prepare for district consolidation talk with council

  September 13, 2011 10:09 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Fire chiefs across East Baton Rouge Parish met Tuesday to talk about consolidating services. They say you'll get better protection and could save money if the deal works out. The concept has been considered in the past and studied as recently as four years ago, but... more »

• Former Port Allen mayor defends request for back-vacation pay

  September 7, 2011 11:00 PM

  PORT ALLEN- The former mayor of a West Baton Rouge city was combative Wednesday night as he talked with council members about paying him unused vacation time. Derek Lewis resigned as mayor of Port Allen in June, then pleaded guilty to corruption charges in federal court. He says... more »

• Council to consider bid for estimated $37 million Goodwood Library rebuild

  August 19, 2011 10:42 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Next week, the Metro Council considers bids for a new Main library. But some ask why it hasn't caught as much attention as the new Downtown library, even though it's twice the price. Controversy still swirls around the $19 million downtown Baton Rouge library. The debate... more »

• EBR bond vote latest battle in power struggle between mayor, council

  August 10, 2011 10:35 PM

  BATON ROUGE- For the second time in a month, the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council said no to sending Mayor Kip Holden's tax plan to voters, so it won't be on the November ballot. Council members aren't happy with the way it was laid out and angry about... more »

• Terrebonne Council deals with a neighborhood stink

  July 16, 2011 11:57 AM

  HOUMA, La.- Terrebonne Parish officials have decided to forego use of state money and use local tax revenue instead to remedy an odor problem plaguing a parish neighborhood. The Terrebonne Parish Council voted this week to approve a $350,000 project to deal with the odor invading the Summerfield area... more »

• Baton Rouge aging council cuts staff

  July 10, 2011 10:50 AM

  BATON ROUGE- The East Baton Rouge Council on Aging has terminated 20 workers because of its financial situation, the agency's new executive director said. Tasha Clark Amar said the terminations were part of a reorganization to help the council deal with an expected $200,000 budget shortfall. More layoffs... more »

• WBR bars allowed to stay open late on Sundays again

  June 30, 2011 10:26 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A ban on Sunday night alcohol sales is dead days after it started in West Baton Rouge Parish. Parish leaders pulled the ordinance because of legal questions. Last month, the West Baton Rouge council made it illegal for bars and clubs to be open past 10... more »

• Livingston delays action on mobile home ordinance

  June 10, 2011 1:24 PM

  LIVINGSTON - The Livingston Parish Council has put off a decision about mobile home regulations after hearing opposition to the measure in a public hearing. The proposed regulatory change would allow landowners to place mobile homes on their properties without meeting mobile home park requirements if the occupants of... more »

• Bond proposal to go before council within 30 days

  April 20, 2011 10:10 PM

  BATON ROUGE- East Baton Rouge Parish Chief Administrative Officer John Carpenter told a committee of the Metro Council Wednesday that Mayor Kip Holden hopes to bring his latest bond package to members for approval in the next month. Carpenter made the announcement when addressing an item by Councilman Chandler... more »

• Asst. chief named Acting Zachary Police Chief

  March 22, 2011 7:02 PM

  ZACHARY - The Zachary Council unanimously made the town's assistant police chief their acting chief tonight. David Courtney was named Acting Zachary Police Chief during Tuesday's council meeting. He replaces Chief John Herty, who passed away on March 12. Courtney is a 28-year veteran of the department. He... more »

• Efficiency of EBR gunshot detectors questioned

  March 10, 2011 5:43 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Metro council member Bones Addison wants more information shared between law enforcement agencies, especially when it comes to the parish's crime cameras and shot spotters. In Wednesday night's metro council meeting, Addison said local law enforcement is not as seamless as they say. He says Baton... more »

• BR Council says buses still roll, CATS budget still short

  January 26, 2011 10:23 PM

  BATON ROGUE- A fare hike and route cut-backs were denied Wednesday night by the Metro Council. That means the transit system has to come up with ways on its own to fill a budget gap. But riders were mostly ecstatic about the hold on services. "I am so... more »

• Metro Council votes down CATS rate, route changes

  January 26, 2011 7:27 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Metro Council members in Baton Rouge voted against proposed rate hikes and route changes meant to close a budget gap and keep the program funded for the rest of the year. The Council voted 7-to-5 to not approve the changes, which would have cut weekend bus... more »

• CATS bus riders counting on new proposal

  January 17, 2011 5:26 PM

  BATON ROUGE - People who normally take the bus may be left at the station if CATS doesn't come up with a new plan to fill a $1 million budget hole. The Capitol Area Transit Board meets Tuesday to discuss a new plan to give to Metro Council next... more »

• "Clean Hands" ordinance moves to full BR council

  January 5, 2011 10:10 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The full council will also decide next week whether people with outstanding parking tickets and warrants can be denied a city permit. The "Clean Hands" ordinance allows the city to run background checks on people trying to get a permit. If you owe the city, you don't get... more »

• Juban Crossing gets tax help from Livingston Parish

  December 20, 2010 10:26 PM

  LIVINGSTON - A collective "yes" among the Livingston Parish Council gave a shopping development the boost it needed to move into the building phase after a four-year stall due to the recession. Monday night, the council increased a sales tax for the Juban Crossing development, making it 10.5%. The... more »

• Debate over money shifted for juvenile services

  December 10, 2010 5:11 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden is accusing some metro council members of grandstanding. He says the council voted to shift $150,000 to the city parish juvenile detention center and juvenile services. He calls that, "chump change." He says more than $20 million dollars is needed for a... more »

• Superfest: Show will go on despite funding crisis

  December 9, 2010 1:59 PM

  BATON ROUGE – A day after the Baton Rouge Metro Council voted to withdraw parish funding for the 2011 Bayou Country Superfest, organizers said they’re still committed to putting the concert on with the community’s help. A statement from the concert’s organizers said they were disappointed in the Council’s vote,... more »

• Library in, Bayou Country money out of EBR budget

  December 8, 2010 8:17 PM

  BATON ROUGE - An action to remove the downtown library from the 2011 budget for East Baton Rouge Parish has failed, but moving money that was intended to help the Bayou Country Superfest has been approved by the Metro Council. Council members voted 7 to 5 in favor of... more »

• "Clean hands" ordinance seeks to clear unpaid tickets

  November 23, 2010 7:53 PM

  BATON ROUGE – A member of the Baton Rouge Metro Council thinks they have a new solution for collecting thousands in unpaid parking fines. Mike Walker, who represents District 8, is introducing what he calls a “clean hands” ordinance. It requires anyone who wants to get a permit in the... more »

• Council gets answers on crime cameras

  November 18, 2010 10:44 PM

  Baton Rouge- A clearer picture of the crime-surveillance system in Baton Rouge emerged from Thursday's budget hearings at City Hall. Metro Council members got answers from city administrators about the system monitoring crime. It comes after two-and-a-half months of asking. Council members now know how many cameras are out... more »

• "Boot and Tow" enforcement on the rise in Baton Rouge

  November 17, 2010 9:23 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Changes to the way the City of Baton Rouge comes to collect for past-due parking tickets is in motion. A committee of the Metro Council okayed bringing the "boot and tow" method back, as a way to get people to pay parking tickets. The new law... more »

• Library supporters, opposers voice opinons at council meeting

  November 16, 2010 4:49 PM

  BATON ROUGE - About a dozen Baton Rouge residents attended the budget meeting held by the metro council to discuss what the fate of the downtown library. Davis Rhorer and a library board member have spoken in support of the 19 mill downtown library project. Those opposed have suggested... more »

• Jefferson Parish: spill boom anchors dangerous

  November 13, 2010 10:53 AM

  GRETNA - The Jefferson Parish Council says hundreds of 80-pound anchors that once kept oil containment boom in place are now navigation hazards. It wants BP to remove them. Councilman Chris Roberts tells The Times-Picayune of New Orleans that some BP contractors removed boom by cutting it away from the... more »

• EBR budget proposal making some do more with less

  November 5, 2010 10:18 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The budget outlook for Baton Rouge in 2011 is making some departments do more with less. Mayor-President Kip Holden delivered next year's budget to Metro Council this morning. With it, he delivered news that jobs and services will stay intact, despite operating costs coming in 2.5%... more »

• Baton Rouge budget released today

  November 5, 2010 11:04 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The Metro Council will get their first look at Baton Rouge's proposed budget for 2011 this morning. The Council is holding a special meeting to receive copies of the budget for review before approving it. Ashley Rodrigue is also getting an advance copy of the... more »

• Money may stay on downtown streets, not go to police

  October 20, 2010 10:32 PM

  Half of the East Baton Rouge Metro Council wants to leave almost a million dollars dedicated to changing the direction of two downtown streets in the project's budget. A committee of the council talked about removing $900,000 from a construction plan turning St. Louis and St. Ferdinad Streets into... more »

• Community reacts after Sorrento mayor resigns

  October 20, 2010 7:12 PM

  The mayor of Sorrento resigned during a town council meeting last night. Blake LeBlanc said he’s done because of stress and friction within the council. As News 2’s Michael Shingleton found out, many in Sorrento are shocked after LeBlanc resigned. Tuesday night, LeBlanc refused to go into detail about his... more »

• Sorrento mayor resigns

  October 19, 2010 9:42 PM

  The mayor of Sorrento has resigned. Blake LeBlanc told the city council he’s resigning because of stress and friction with the council. LeBlanc refused to go into detail and wouldn’t give a statement. Instead, he hung up the phone when News 2 tried to get a comment from him. Mayor... more »

• Ascension Parish battles over bingo

  October 14, 2010 6:33 PM

  Video bingo is on the chopping block in Ascension Parish. The game is legal, but some parish council leaders want to rid their home of what they call a "vice." After a Popeyes in Livingston Parish asked the owners of an attached video bingo hall to leave, they... more »

• EBR Metro Council wants to keep city jail open longer

  October 8, 2010 6:41 PM

  The East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council wants to keep the city jail in downtown Baton Rouge open longer. The current capacity is at 150 prisoners, and 48 hours is the maximum amount of time people can be held. It could be converted for long term use, according to... more »

• Go-cups debate returns to Lafayette council

  October 4, 2010 6:36 AM

  The Lafayette City-Parish Council will once again take up a proposal to ban go-cups and other open alcoholic containers, two weeks after defeating the measure in a 5-4 vote. No major changes have been made to the ordinance, which would prohibit such containers in downtown Lafayette and two other entertainment... more »

• Mayor of St. Gabriel indicted in federal corruption case

  September 29, 2010 3:28 PM

  Federal authorities have indicted the mayor of St. Gabriel in a wide-ranging racketeering and corruption investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Baton Rouge today unsealed an indictment against George Grace for 11 counts of racketeering, bribery, and mail fraud among other charges. The indictment alleges that Mayor Grace took bribes... more »

• Lafayette council strikes down go-cup ban

  September 22, 2010 7:43 AM

  After nearly two hours of discussion, the Lafayette City-Parish Council has defeated a proposal to ban go-cups and other open alcoholic containers from downtown Lafayette and two other entertainment areas. Another ordinance, which would have banned cruising vehicles from those same areas, was pulled by city-parish officials from the council's... more »

• Saggy pants resolution to be introduced

  September 8, 2010 4:59 PM

  "Low Pants, No Chance" is the name of a new public awareness campaign by a Metro councilwoman. C. Denise Marcelle is introducing a resolution tonight asking the entire council to back a plan designed to convince young people to stop wearing baggy pants resulting in their underwear being shown.... more »

• "Low pants, no chance" ordinance proposed in Baton Rouge

  September 6, 2010 2:02 PM

  A Baton Rouge Metro Council member wants the parish to boost a public awareness campaign against men who wear their pants so low that their boxer shorts show. Councilwoman C. Denise Marcelle is introducing a slogan for the campaign: "Low pants, no chance". Councilman Rodney "Smokie" Bourgeois and... more »

• EBR committee unhappy with crime camera report

  September 1, 2010 10:12 PM

  Equipment meant to keep you safe is at the center of a dispute between the mayor and Metro Council in Baton Rouge. Police want another half million dollars to maintain the system, so the council wanted contracts, costs and capability of the cameras in two years of use. What a... more »

• Council approves traffic cameras for Port Allen

  August 12, 2010 7:35 AM

  The Port Allen City Council is moving ahead with plans to install traffic cameras along La. Highway 1 to discourage drivers from running red lights and speeding. Council members unanimously approved the ordinance permitting the city to install the cameras, but they are still working on finalizing a contract... more »

• Cops, fire: work 2 years or pay back training cost

  June 15, 2010 6:20 AM

  New Kenner police officers and firefighters will have to repay training costs if they quit for another government job within two years of being hired. New contracts would require them to repay the city for their training salaries. The longer a new hire worked, the less they'd have to repay.... more »

• Bossier City proposes raising sewer rates

  June 9, 2010 7:14 AM

  Bossier City Council plans to raise city sewer rates by $8 per month, regardless of usage, and issue up to $82 million in sewer-related bonds. The fee would be $12 per month for a few subdivisions outside the city limits but to whom the city still supplies sewer. The city... more »

• Gonzales council cuts pay raises

  May 25, 2010 6:23 AM

  The Gonzales City Council has approved a measure to reduce the rate at which annual merit raises are given to city employees. The ordinance brings city regulations governing pay raises in line with changes laid out in the 2011 budget. The change reduced the annual merit raise from 5 percent... more »

• Couple seeks changes in golf cart laws

  May 20, 2010 8:36 AM

  A Welsh couple wants to drive their golf cart on the street, but a state law could be a roadblock. Arnold and Ruth Onken want the Welsh council to consider their request to allow them to ride their golf cart on local streets. The Onkens recently bought insurance to cover... more »

• Tangi council sets hearing on liquor sales

  March 11, 2010 6:52 AM

  The Tangipahoa Parish Council plans a public hearing on proposals to change its regulations on early morning sales of alcoholic beverages. One proposal would keep the ban on sale of alcohol from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. daily, with some wording changes. The other would allow alcohol sales to continue... more »

• Lafayette council set vote on security fee

  February 16, 2010 7:22 AM

  The Lafayette City-Parish Council will vote this week on whether to scrap a security fee for downtown bars implemented last year. Councilman Brandon Shelvin is seeking to rescind a security fee the council imposed on downtown bars to help pay for a stronger police presence to handle weekend crowds. Shelvin,... more »