PITTSBURGH (AP) — A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction barring a southwestern Pennsylvania church which claims “jam band” concerts are its services from holding four more concerts this summer.
U.S. District Judge Donetta Ambrose stopped short Thursday of granting Fayette County’s request for a permanent injunction and will hear arguments on that issue at a later date.
Ambrose found that evidence of pervasive drug use at a concert on Aug. 1 violated a settlement between the Church of Universal Love and Music and the county.
The church sued in 2006 after the county prohibited the concerts under zoning rules. The parties reached a $75,000 settlement earlier this year that allowed the church to hold 12 concerts provided they ban drug use.
The county claimed that settlement was breached when drug agents raided a concert and arrested several people.
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August 13, 2009
