WBRZ - Baton Rouge

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• Strip club talk tabled

  May 1, 2013 10:15 PM

  GREENSBURG- Leaders in St. Helena Parish tabled discussion about changing parish laws dealing with strip clubs. Wednesday night, the police jury was set to talk about outlawing alcohol at establishments where there is nudity or certain physical contact. But, jurors pushed the talk back another two weeks. Leaders... 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 »

• Nudity ordinance concerning strip clubs pushed back Play Video

  April 23, 2013 10:14 PM

  GREENSBURG - Strip clubs are turning up the heat in St. Helena, where some are calling for a ban on the adult business. Tuesday, the parish police jury was supposed to discuss an ordinance that would prohibit nudity and certain physical contact at establishments where alcohol is sold. The... more »

• Jefferson Parish fines Mardi Gras krewes

  March 27, 2013 8:49 AM

  GRETNA- Six Mardi Gras krewes have been fined from $100 to $2,500 for violating Jefferson Parish's parade ordinance during Carnival 2013. According to public records released Tuesday, The Times-Picayune reports most of the infractions involved unmasked riders and smoking on floats, although two krewes were cited for having too few... more »

• Saggy pants could be banned in Terrebonne Parish

  March 25, 2013 7:34 AM

  HOUMA - The Terrebonne Parish Council will consider an ordinance this week that would fine anyone with pants that sag below the waist. If approved today, the ordinance will prohibit people from wearing pants in public that hang low enough below the waistline to expose skin or underwear. Lafourche Parish... 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 law introduced

  February 27, 2013 8:48 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A law change was introduced at the city's Metro Council meeting Wednesday, to allow alcohol sales 24/7 at some establishments. The ordinance would allow riverboat casinos to get a special license to sell after other bars are required to close. The item will eventually be available... more »

• BR casinos could get okay to sell alcohol 24/7

  February 27, 2013 3:47 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A few months after changing city law and allowing more alcohol sales on Sunday, city leaders will discuss the possibility of allowing some Baton Rouge establishments to sell alcohol at all hours of the day. Discussions begin at Wednesday night's Metro Council on a special, 24/7 liquor... more »

• Grambling passes ordinance against saggy pants

  February 11, 2013 9:56 AM

  GRAMBLING - Saggy pants in the city of Grambling may become a costly fashion statement. The News-Star reports the Grambling City Council passed an ordinance last week making indecent exposure -- the showing of undergarments and underwear -- illegal. Failure to comply may result in fines of $150 to $500,... more »

• Zachary mayor explains overpayment error

  January 24, 2013 7:03 AM

  ZACHARY - Zachary Mayor David Amrhein said a discrepancy between an old city ordinance and the revised home-rule charter approved in 2010 has caused him to be overpaid by $3,200. The mayor says the ordinance specified that he and the police chief would be eligible for a 2 percent... more »

• Hammond toughens 'vicious' dog ordinances

  November 21, 2012 7:26 AM

  HAMMOND - The Hammond City Council has voted to strengthen city's ordinances on the control of dogs deemed to be dangerous and vicious. The move as prompted by an incident earlier this year in which a young girl was severely mauled by two dogs on the outskirts of the city.... 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 »

• Closing times could affect alcohol sales Play Video

  October 10, 2012 5:41 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A new ordinance introduced at Metro Council could allow bars and restaurants with a Class A License to stay open until 4 am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The ordinance would allow eligible establishments to apply for permits to stay open an extra two hours. Though,... more »

• New Livingston garbage service at center of debate Play Video

  October 9, 2012 5:51 PM

  DENHAM SPRINGS - Jack Fridge is owner of the Livingston Waste trash service. He also drives the only truck in his operation. Hundreds of homeowners, mostly in the Watson area, have signed up for his service which features twice-per-week collection and a free recycling program. Fridge's company has... more »

• Pastor sues to block N.O. street preaching limits

  September 20, 2012 1:10 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A street preacher is suing to block New Orleans city officials from enforcing an ordinance that restricts religious or political speech on Bourbon Street after dark. The federal lawsuit filed Thursday by New Orleans pastor Paul Gros claims the city's "aggressive solicitation" ordinance sets unconstitutional limits on... more »

• Proposed swimming pool ordinance in Livingston Parish Play Video

  July 26, 2012 5:51 PM

  LIVINGSTON PARISH - Livingston Parish officials say a proposed swimming pool ordinance could mean the difference between life or death for children in the area. If approved, the ordinance would require fences around pools, maintenance of pools and parish permits before new pools can be constructed. This all... more »

• Judge overturns Alexandria fortunetelling ban

  July 13, 2012 9:37 AM

  ALEXANDRIA - A federal judge has struck down an Alexandria ordinance banning fortunetelling, palm reading, astrology and similar activities in the city. U.S. District Judge Dee Drell's ruling Wednesday concurs with a magistrate's conclusion that the ordinance is unconstitutional. Rachel Adams, a fortune-teller who says she accepts donations but doesn't... more »

• Food truck operators concerned about ordinance regulating parking

  March 28, 2012 8:18 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Food truck operators are concerned about an attempt by a Metro Councilman to regulate where and how they park. Smokie Bourgeois is pushing for parking regulations for the area's food truck industry to keep patrons safe and protect properties from being abused. Bourgeois, who is also... more »

• Ordinance regulating food truck parking introduced at Metro Council

  March 28, 2012 6:12 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A Metro Councilman is pushing for parking regulations for the area's food truck industry to keep patrons safe and protect properties from being abused. Smokie Bourgeois introduced the ordinance to Metro Council Wednesday, following complaints from business owners about the trucks parking on their properties without permission... more »

• DeQuincy considers modifying alcohol ordinance

  March 12, 2012 7:25 AM

  DeQUINCY - DeQuincy City Council members may soon consider modifying a nearly 80-year-old ordinance limiting the sale of alcohol within the city limits. At the council meeting last week, The American Press reports the owner Comeaux's Cajun Gold, a local restaurant, asked the council to consider increasing the existing limit... more »

• New Orleans tackles noise issue

  February 29, 2012 3:46 PM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - An acoustics expert hired by some New Orleans residents says sound from music clubs in some neighborhoods - particularly the French Quarter - regularly exceeds legal noise limits. The report from Houston-based CSTI Acoustics shows excessive noise even in a mostly residential area of the quarter,... 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 »

• Sunday bar ordinance becomes law

  February 17, 2012 11:25 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The West Baton Rouge bar ordinance becomes law today, February 17th. The new law stipulates that businesses selling alcoholic beverages must close at 10pm on Sundays and cannot reopen until 6am Monday. There are some exceptions: Super Bowl Sunday, Sundays that are followed by holidays... more »

• Neighborhood using new BR ordinance to lower speed limit

  February 3, 2012 10:30 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The Inniswold Estates-Jefferson Terrace Civic Association is the first group of residents to take advantage of a new ordinance giving people more power to slow down their streets. The change was made in May to give city-parish engineers more room to approve requests from neighborhoods that have... 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 »

• Judges ban smoking near district courthouse Play Video

  December 6, 2011 6:14 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Judges at downtown Baton Rouge's district courthouse had enough of the "smoke tunnel" they describe in the entrance to the building. Now, they are enforcing an old city ordinance passed in 2005 that bans smoking within 25 feet of the entrance to a public building. Chief... 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 »

• New ordinance: Don't cuss while begging

  October 23, 2011 4:43 PM

  NEW ORLEANS- French Quarter beggars can't be cussers. At least, not intimidating ones. An ordinance passed last week by the New Orleans City Council bars aggressive solicitation in the city's oldest and most famous neighborhood. That includes "approaching or following pedestrians, repetitive soliciting despite refusals, the use of... more »

• Walker considers dangerous-dog rule

  June 15, 2011 7:06 AM

  WALKER- The Walker Board of Aldermen has agreed to put to a vote a newly proposed ordinance defining and setting up control laws for keeping "dangerous and vicious dogs." According to the proposal accepted Monday by the board and headed for a public hearing and final vote July 13, Mayor's... more »

• Judge upholds Fat City bar ordinance

  March 27, 2011 2:54 PM

  FAT CITY, La.- A second judge has refused to issue an injunction to block enforcement of the new Fat City zoning ordinance requiring earlier closing times for bars and lounges. The Times-Picayune reports a judge ruled in a suit filed by five bar owners or property owners who argued... 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 »

• Metro Council changing the past to pay for the future

  November 24, 2010 10:37 PM

  BATON ROUGE - From parking tickets to run-down property, the Metro Council has made some big changes to Baton Rouge's old habits. Council members say a better city-parish, coupled with the need for more revenue, are the motivations. Issues like litter, neglected properties, unpaid parking tickets and outstanding... 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 »

• Bossier works on oil-and-gas noise law

  November 18, 2010 8:38 AM

  BENTON - Bossier Parish authorities are working to develop a new ordinance to deal with noise from oil and gas operations in their area. The parish hopes to have an ordinance in place by the end of the year. A public hearing on a proposed ordinance is set for Dec.... 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 »

• LPSO: People can't be punished for trick-or-treating

  October 25, 2010 3:31 PM

  Officials with the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office said today there’s nothing outlawing residents of the parish from trick-or-treating on Halloween this Sunday. However, if they want to take advantage of increased patrols to keep them and their children safe, they’ll have to go out the night before. This comes during... more »

• Parish considers revamping animal control

  October 25, 2010 7:05 AM

  Eighteen months after three dogs killed a Morganza toddler, the Pointe Coupee Parish Police Jury is set to overhaul the parish's animal control ordinance. On Tuesday, police jurors are expected to begin debating whether to assign fees to owners of potentially dangerous dogs, levy fines to owners of loose dogs... more »

• DPW to repair sidewalks damaged by city trees

  October 13, 2010 7:01 PM

  The Department of Public Works in Baton Rouge is ready to repair blocks of sidewalks destroyed by Mother Nature. Giant live Oaks are tearing up concrete in the Garden District and beyond. A parish-wide ordinance states residence are responsible for maintaining sidewalks in front of their homes, but several... more »

• Acadia Parish juvenile curfew proposed

  September 16, 2010 7:54 AM

  The Acadia Parish Police Jury has unanimously delayed action on the introduction of a proposed ordinance to establish a parishwide juvenile curfew. The Advocate reports a legislative committee will discuss the matter during an October meeting to determine whether it merits discussion by the entire jury. Authorities say the parish... more »

• Evangeline Parish to clean up abandoned home

  July 13, 2010 6:28 AM

  The Evangeline Parish Police Jury will enforce its nuisance ordinance to clean up an abandoned home near Crooked Creek Recreational Park. Secretary-Treasurer Doug DeVille said the property is full of refuse, the house is in dilapidated condition and it is a home for rodents and snakes. The police jury is... more »

• 8-year-old boy drowns in Assumption Parish

  May 25, 2010 6:15 PM

  Eight-year-old Klyund Jones drowned in an abandoned pool yesterday evening in Assumption Parish. The parish has an ordinance about property owners repairing or tearing down dangerous structures. Sheriff Michael Waguespack thinks the ordinance needs include a regulation for pools and bodies of water. "If the land owner is... 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 »

• WBR strengthens animal control ordinance

  April 9, 2010 5:41 PM

  West Baton Rouge Parish Council voted 7-2 Thursday to strengthen its animal control ordinance. The new ordinance does not specifically list dog breeds, instead it focuses on dog behavior. "We had an instance here in Brusly where a young girl was attacked by some animals and what really... more »

• St. Mary parish passes pit bull ordinance

  March 26, 2010 12:51 PM

  St. Mary Parish passed an ordinance regulating the ownership of pit bulls in unincorporated areas of the parish earlier this week. The ordinance, which goes into effect July 1, has specific restrictions for pit bull owners. They must live at the same physical address at which the dogs... more »

• Pit bull ordinance passes in St. Mary

  March 25, 2010 6:30 AM

  The St. Mary Parish Council has unanimously adopted an ordinance regulating the ownership of pit bulls in unincorporated areas of the parish. The strict measures, which go into effect July 1, levy several restrictions on owners of the dogs, including living at the same physical address at which the dogs... more »

• Pig ring ordinance likely to go from St. Landry

  February 17, 2010 5:10 AM

  How many rings does a pig's nose need? At least three, and they have to be big, according to a St. Landry Parish ordinance dating from the 1800s. St. Landry Parish is working to clean up local laws and eliminate outdated ordinances that help swell the total to more than... more »

• Inmates to pay for health care

  January 11, 2010 6:14 AM

  Inmates in the Livingston Parish Detention Center would have to pay full price for their own doctor and dental services under a proposal by Parish President Mike Grimmer. Last year, the parish incurred $370,000 in medical expenses for prisoners. Blayne Honeycutt, attorney for the Livingston Parish Council, says the proposal... more »