Central City News

Early in the pandemic last spring, Gov. John Bel Edwards used a provision of Louisiana’s emergency powers law to have Central pastor Tony Spell arrested for holding worship services at Life Tabernacle Church on Hooper Road. Now, in a surprise move, the Louisiana Legislature has suspended the power of the governor to levy criminal penalties […]

It is almost impossible for the ordinary citizen to keep up with how his representative and senator votes in the legislature.  There are simply too many bills and too many votes. Things move fast at the legislature, and even if you were there full-time, you probably couldn’t keep up. However, now the Central City News […]

My friend, the late Rep. Shady Wall (D-Monroe), was committed several times, and fellow House members often thought that perhaps he was released a bit early. His dear wife was rather wealthy — as he often told us from the well of the Louisiana House Chamber.   Rep. Shady Wall was known as a dandy […]

During the course of the recently-completed 2021 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, the battle for the heart and soul of the state often got little attention. It was often fought in sparsely-attended committee meetings, unnoticed by the liberal media, or during floor debate on bills that never made the 6 p.m. news. The Louisiana […]

Sen. Bodi White’s legislation to allow the City of Central and the City of Zachary to retain taxes currently paid to BREC and use them for parks in their respective cities is moving steadily through the legislative process. SB 205 was heard in the Senate Committee on Municipal and Parochial Affairs, which passed it out […]

A bridge across the Amite River linking Hooper Road in Central to the Watson community in Livingston Parish has been a dream of both communities for at least 70 years. In fact, leaders of Central and Watson met with Gov. Robert  Kennon in the early 1950’s to propose the project. Since then, Central leaders have […]

 Many people believe BREC, or the Baton Rouge Recreation and Parks Commission, is a unit of local government. Oddly enough, it is not.  BREC was created in 1948 by an act of the Louisiana Legislature.  It was and is an autonomous state agency. Its decisions are not subject to review or disapproval by the governor […]

Sen. Bodi White (R-Central) has introduced legislation to allow the City of Central to have its own recreation and parks system. Taxes currently collected by BREC, the Baton Rouge Recreation and Parks Commission, would go to the new park system for use exclusively in Central.  According to BREC, Central taxpayers currently pay BREC $2.5 million […]

The Central Fire District issued the following statement on two tax renewals on the ballot this Saturday, April 24: “Central Fire Protection District #4 respectfully asks for your consideration and support of the two renewals on the April 24 ballot.  These two renewals account for approximately one-third of the budget of the Central Fire Department […]

The Louisiana Legislature began meeting in regular session on April 12 and will continue until 6 p.m. on June 10. As bards say, only half-joking, “No man’s life, liberty or property is secure while the legislature is in session.” Despite that axiom, a handful of conservative lawmakers are working to protect liberty and make government […]