Central City News

Russell Lane Stringer of Central passed away Nov. 6, 2025, after a fully lived 89 years of life. A native of Franklinton, Russell was born to Frank Lane Stringer and Maudine Magee Stringer in 1936 and was raised alongside his beloved siblings, Larry and Cornell. Many of his best days were spent in a fishing […]

Willie D. Lewis, affectionately known as “W.D.,” was born November 7, 1938, and peacefully passed away of natural causes on November 4, 2025, in Baton Rouge at the age of 86.  Willie leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife, Tharis Ennis Lewis, and devoted daughter, Chenese Lewis. He is also survived by his brother, Edward […]

Family and friends of the late Col. Gordon Jenkins, USAF (retired) gathered to honor him Sunday, December 14, 2025, at the home of his first cousin, Woody and Diane Jenkins. Gordon was a 1960 graduate of Baton Rouge High where he played football and participated in track and field. He went on to LSU where […]

Former Baton Rouge Metro Councilman Darrell Glasper, Sr. sued the new LSU Economic Development District, contending that the district violated the Louisiana Constitution when the district board imposed a sales  tax on local businesses near LSU without a vote of the people.  According to some estimates, the tax will take approximately $160 million from roughly […]

Central City News editor Woody Jenkins, one of the authors of the Louisiana Constitution, cited another flaw in the sales tax being imposed in the LSU district. Jenkins said, “Art. 6, Section 29 of the Constitution requires that a sales tax in excess of 3 percent must be levied by the Metro Council, not a […]

The Tony Spell Trio released its first album Wednesday. It reached No. 12 on the chart of Christian music worldwide after only 16 hours. After 24 hours, it was at No. 10 and rising. The trio includes Rev. Tony Spell, his wife Sister Shaye Spell, and Tony’s father, Rev. Timothy Spell. The album includes eight […]

Life Tabernacle will host the National Christmas Celebration Gospel Concert at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 at Revolution Square, 9500 Blackwater Road in Central.   Everyone is invited. Admission is free.  Reservations are not necessary. It will be the first Christmas concert at the church since before the shutdown in 2020.   Rev. Tony Spell said, […]

Embattled Family Court Judge Pam Baker, who kept a Baton Rouge mother from seeing her children for more than two years on a false accusation of child abuse and imprisoned the mom when she was unable to pay her husband’s attorney bill of $72,086, has resigned. The resignation is effective on Dec. 31, 2025. Katherine […]

Family Court Judge Pam Baker had the case of Ragland vs. Ragland for seven years.  Nearly four years ago, the judge examined a video from 2018 and decided it proved child abuse by the mother, Katherine Diamond.  There were several problems with that.  First, the video has now been viewed by tens of thousands of […]

By Woody Jenkins, Editor Central City News Three and a half years ago, the life of mother of twins Katherine Diamond turned to hell, and the torment has continued ever since. She has faced the East Baton Rouge Family Court system, which has all but destroyed her family, her home, her job, and her life. […]