The city of Monroe remains without a visible police chief after Mayor Jamie Mayo demoted Chief Ron Schleuter and a judge signed a temporary restraining order to halt the disciplinary action until the chief has his day in court to appeal the demotion.  The police chief and Mayor have been at odds since it was revealed that the chief had secretly recorded conversations with the Mayor and City Council members.  Read the latest in that battle at the link. 

Contract negotiations with celebrity garbage company owner Sidney Torres, the charismatic trash man who had his own reality TV show, broke down with Torres warning that the lemony scent and power washed streets of the French Quarter end today.  The city says Torres was overpaid for his contract.  Torres, fuming at that allegation, says the city actually owes him millions for picking up trash from almost double the number of addresses he was originally contracted to do.  Regardless of who's right, it could get smelly. 

Louisiana's Congressional delegation was divided along party lines over Congressman Charlie Melancon's amendment to end the moratorium on deepwater drilling, but he was able to get the amendment added to a sweeping offshore drilling regulatory bill. Another amendment by Melancon to impose a new fine on the oil spill could generate $1.2 billion for coastal restoration efforts in Louisiana.  Louisiana's Republican Congressmen sparked the most heated debate over the measures.