Central City News

By Woody Jenkins, editor, Central City News • BATON ROUGE — Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards has vetoed 28 bills passed by the Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, including 12 conservative bills authored by Republican legislators who oppose much of Edwards’ agenda.  Edwards raised eyebrows by vetoing these bills: •To allow the Republican and […]

The Central City News has been named Louisiana’s Newspaper of the Year for 2021 by the Louisiana Press Association, which represents 110 member newspapers in Louisiana. Altogether, Community Press, LLC, which owns the Central City News, the Istrouma Journal in North Baton Rouge, and the St. George Leader in the new City of St. George, […]

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 […]

The Central City News has been named Newspaper of the Year for 2021 by the Louisiana Press Association. The award was based on the newspaper’s news coverage, investigative reporting, photography, advertising, graphic design, and online news coverage. The Central City News is published by Community Press, LLC, owned by Woody and Diane Jenkins.  Woody Jenkins […]

 In April 2020, Rev. Tony Spell was arrested by Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran for holding worship services despite orders from liberal Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards. At the time, Rev. Spell received some sage advice from one of his lawyers. Baton Rouge attorney Joe Long urged the pastor to go slow on pursuing his […]

Young people and adults from across the United States are expected to converge at the Brush Arbor Freedom Center at Revolution Square June 30-July 4 at Hooper and Blackwater in Central. The conference, sponsored by Life Tabernacle Church, drew 3,000 participants last year during Covid and is expected to draw more this year, especially with […]

Matt Talbert moved to Sterlington, Louisiana, 15 miles northeast of Monroe, in 2005. He and his wife loved the small town Christian atmosphere where everyone knew each other and where schools were outstanding.  It was perfect for their son and daughter.  Matt became general manager of a family-owned chain of quick oil change stores and […]

For the past year, Rev. Tony Spell and the congregation at Life Tabernacle have been fought by Gov. John Bel Edwards and Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome. In fact, the governor had him arrested for holding church in violation of the governor’s decrees.  However, the pastor has a new and powerful ally — Louisiana Attorney General […]

The Central Community School Board voted 5-2 to raise property taxes in Central by $750,000 a year.  It was the first time since the Central school system was created that a tax has been imposed or raised without a vote of the people. Supt. Jason Fountain said he was not asking the board for the […]

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 […]