The Times (Shreveport)
Shreveport breaks ground on new affordable housing
On a warm summer morning Thursday, Aug. 27, Urban Housing of America broke ground on the second phase of Alston Place in the Allendale neighborhood in Shreveport. h This planned construction comes 14 years after the completion of phase one and will...
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Rocket launch site in future
ABBEVILLE — Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry announced Tuesday, Aug. 25, that SpaceX will build a massive new Starship rocket launch site in Vermilion Parish, calling the $100 billion project the largest capital investment in state history and a defining...
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Cup of care &ambition
In 1973, Dolly Parton wrote “I Will Always Love You” to soften the blow of leaving her business partner Porter Wagoner after years of producing hit country duets together. Parton was ready to pursue a solo career. So she played the song for Wagoner to...
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A TASTE OF THE BAYOU
Louisiana is famous for its unique delicacies harvested from swamps and bayous, from crawfish to frog legs to turtles and yes, alligators, which will be on more home menus this fall as the state’s first recreational gator hunting season approaches. h...
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LOVE, ALWAYS
Music legend and philanthropist Dolly Parton has died at 80, her family announced Tuesday, Aug. 25, on a video message on her social media page. “Dolly has lived in the light, and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by [her husband] Carl, her parents,...
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Inaugural SBC Pepper Fest draws huge crowd in city
It was a hot Saturday in downtown Shreveport, not just because the temperatures reached nearly 105 degrees, but because SBC Pepper Fest 2026 debuted at the Remington Garage. This one-day festival celebrated all things spicy — where pepper lovers,...
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LA art museum ranked one of the best in the South
When you step into an art museum, you’re often filled with wonder at the talent and style of artists both old and new. Art museums are also a great educational resource, where you can learn not only about art, but about history and regional...
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New port aims to reshape Gulf trade
The Gulf Coast is preparing for a new generation of container shipping as the Louisiana International Terminal nears construction, with a federal permit now in hand. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has authorized construction of the deepwater...
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Hunters look to win chance to bag a gator
A lottery to participate in Louisiana’s first recreational alligator hunting season opens Aug. 20 with a maximum 5,000 licenses available for state residents. Each winning hunter will be eligible to bag two alligators during the statewide season from...
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Midterms are key to Social Security’s fate
Odds for Social Security reform may have dimmed after Aug. 11, when one of the program’s biggest champions lost his primary. But advocates say this only highlights the importance of November’s midterm elections. Rep. John B. Larson, D-Connecticut,...
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U.S. debt crosses $40 trillion threshold
WASHINGTON – Total U.S. debt has topped $40 trillion for the first time, the Treasury Department said Aug. 19, drawing fresh warnings that a fiscal crisis is brewing as ballooning costs for social safety-net programs and interest payments far outstrip...
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Shreveport organizations celebrate 50 years
Three Shreveport organizations are celebrating 50 years of history, and to honor that legacy, Artspace will be featuring a historic exhibit starting Aug. 22. The Independence Bowl, Red River Revel and Shreveport Regional Arts Council (SRAC) are...
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Young wants Caddo Parish to pause new data centers
When the Caddo Parish commissioners approved a tax agreement tied to Amazon’s planned data center development, Commissioner John-Paul Young said the proposal came before them quickly and with limited opportunity for public or commissioner input. Since...
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Meet your Shreveport City Council representatives
Whether you are concerned about potholes, drainage, development or other city services, knowing who represents you on the Shreveport City Council can be the first step toward getting answers. Shreveport is divided into seven council districts, and...
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GOP anxiety builds over war with Iran
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is under increasing pressure from members of his party to find a way out of the Iran war, with the midterms on the horizon and Republican voters souring on a conflict that he once predicted would last just a handful...
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Downtown strategy takes shape in Shreveport
Shreveport stakeholders were invited to participate in a session featuring the city’s recent partner Downtown Strategies on Wednesday afternoon at the Shreveport Convention Center. During that session, stakeholders were introduced to Downtown...
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A looming federal ban threatens hemp
Cornbread Hemp’s cofounders spoke for more than 15 minutes about the future of their industry in early August, but their comments could be summed up in two words lit up next to them: “SAVE HEMP,” the jumbo LED sign said. Speaking to a receptive crowd...
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Firefighters return after three-year wait
After three years, Shreveport firefighters got to celebrate the official reopening of Fire Station 20 on Tuesday, Aug. 11. “Reopening Fire Station 20 strengthens our ability to protect the people, businesses and industries in this important part of...
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Caddo Commissioner clarifies data center voting record
Caddo Commissioner and Shreveport mayor hopeful John-Paul Young pushed back Monday on social media reports about his voting record on data centers, explaining his position after being named among Shreveport candidates who supported the projects. In a...
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BACK TO SCHOOL
Caddo Parish Schools welcomed approximately 33,000 students into campuses across the district Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. “The first day of school is always a reminder of why we do this work,” Caddo Parish Schools Superintendent Keith Burton said. “Seeing...
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Is SpaceX planning to build a launch site in Louisiana?
SpaceX plans to acquire around 130,000 acres within coastal Louisiana for a spaceport that will launch rockets. The rocket launch site would encompass an 18-mile stretch of marshland in Vermillion Parish, which would be bigger than SpaceX’s largest...
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Caddo Commission recognizes poll workers for election service
The Caddo Commission recognized parish poll commissioners and election workers Thursday for their service in helping conduct local elections. The commission unanimously adopted a special resolution Thursday’s regular session honoring those who serve...
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Trump’s approval rating has fallen in Louisiana
As the U.S. continues military involvement in Iran and the cost of living seems to be rising instead of falling, many Americans are questioning President Trump’s leadership. As of right now in the U.S., 35% of Americans approve of Trump, while 60%...
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Reports: U.S. missile supply badly depleted
The war on Iran has severely depleted key U.S. missile stockpiles and left the nation and its allies in a vulnerable position for potentially years to come, several experts and reports say. U.S. missile stockpiles were low before President Donald...
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INSIDE
Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Shreveport qualified for reelection Aug. 5 against a Democrat who described him as the “Antichrist.” Johnson qualified by proxy as he travels across the country campaigning and raising money for...
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LSU Health, Louisiana Tech expand partnership
Two prominent research enterprises signed a formal agreement Tuesday morning in Bossier City. LSU Health Shreveport and Louisiana Tech signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Aug. 4 at the Louisiana Tech Research Institute in Bossier City. This...
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Voter sticker created by New Orleans artist
Louisiana’s 2026 “I Voted” sticker features the artwork of acclaimed New Orleans artist Terrance Osborne, who said the inspiration for his design was the imagery of what his home state would like like if you could visualize its sound. Osborne joined...
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Whooping cranes making comeback in state
Whooping cranes are making a comeback in Louisiana, where a record 10 chicks fledged this spring at the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area in Vermilion Parish as part of the state’s experimental reintroduction project that began in 2011. Those...
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‘Wildest Show in South’
Angola’s world-famous prison rodeo returns in October for its 60th anniversary in Louisiana as what’s known as “The Wildest Show in the South.” Rodeo days are set for each Sunday in October at the infamous Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola’s...
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Shreveport favorite named one of USA TODAY’s best bars
Fatty Arbuckle’s in Shreveport, Louisiana, made USA TODAY’s list of best bars in the country. The USA TODAY Bars of the Year 2026 list was released July 29 and features 38 bars from dives to high-end cocktail bars. “When I bought it in 2005, I hired...
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Attack sparks fears wars could merge
WASHINGTON – Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States insisted that leaders in Kyiv are not playing “a game of chess” with their recent drone strike on an Iranian ship and have no interest in leveraging their conflict with Russia into a wider, global...
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What are the best swamp tours in Louisiana?
Louisiana has more freshwater swamps than any other state in the U.S., with a total of three million acres of wetlands. More than just a unique and scenic landscape, Louisiana’s swamps are deeply tied to the state’s history, as the swamps were first...
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‘Hey guys, you created this’
The parking garage at the Louisiana Boardwalk was bustling as people ushered into the Regal Thursday evening to see a Shreveport native’s work on the big screen. On July 23, recording artist Lance Thompson hosted an exclusive premiere of his new music...
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Sen. John Kennedy supports ongoing war
Sen. John Kennedy appeared on CBS News’ “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on July 26 to discuss ongoing U.S. military involvement in Iran among other topics. The U.S. and Iran reached an initial two-week ceasefire agreement back in April, later...
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Historic Wiener home opens for rare estate sale
As you walk into a piece of history hidden within the trees of South Highland’s neighborhood, you are greeted by modernist architecture and grand pieces from all over the world. In August, lovers of Shreveport modern architecture will get a once in a...
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Caddo Lake among most beautiful places in U.S.
The U.S. is one of the most diverse countries in the world when it comes to nature and geographical landscape. From towering mountains and dense forests to grassy plains and arid deserts, the U.S. has it all. Since there's so many wonders to be seen,...
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Man who filmed police sees growing backlash
Five years ago, Gabriel Bassford saw an online video that changed his life. h It was 2021, and the aftershocks of George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers continued to linger. h He was on YouTube and stumbled upon an online...
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U.S. quarantining citizens at NY base
WASHINGTON – U.S. health officials quarantined 14 American citizens at a New York military base for four days after a recent return from Congo, where an Ebola outbreak is underway, according to records seen by Reuters and two people familiar with the...
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New restaurant Brine to bring life to Boardwalk
A new restaurant is coming to the Louisiana Boardwalk. “We would like for the Boardwalk to become a destination, to be a part of someone’s everyday life,” Chef Gabriel Balderas said. Balderas, who owns two other restaurants in Shreveport — Zuzul...
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Cyclosporiasis cases rise; Cassidy questions response
Republican Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy said he doesn’t trust Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s assessment that the national outbreak of cyclosporiasis is “under control” and that he is requesting a briefing on the parasitic infection that has...
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Will Trump weigh in on LA Congress race?
The National Republican Congressional Committee is officially targeting a former majority-Black Louisiana congressional district to flip from blue to red in the Nov. 3 mid-term elections, the committee’s spokesman told USA Today Network. Committee...
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Suspect arrested in deadly shooting spree
A hot summer afternoon in Shreveport turned into a nightmare after a man unleashes gunfire following a chase. Shreveport Police Department has provided an update on the shooting incident that happened in west Shreveport Thursday, July 16. According...
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Willis Knighton Bossier marks 30 years of growth
As storms rolled in across the Shreveport-Bossier, area dignitaries cheerfully talked about the impact of Willis Knighton Bossier as it celebrated its 30th anniversary. During the celebration Wednesday, July 15, Bossier City Mayor Tommy Chandler and...
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Louisiana man proves he can go the distance
Most riders chasing an Iron Butt Association SaddleSore 1,000 choose large touring motorcycles equipped with plush seats, oversized fuel tanks and every modern convenience imaginable. Lafayette resident Spencer Anderson chose a 229cc Janus Halcyon...
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A SECOND CHANCE FOR CHESTNUTS
The American chestnut tree was once the giant of the forest in the eastern United States – taking root in early American life and lore before being nearly wiped out by a blight. Now, scientists say they’ve found a way to resurrect the storied species....
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Lafayette chef to represent state in national cook-off
Lafayette chef Kris Allen will represent Louisiana at the 22nd annual Great American Seafood Cook-Off on July 25 in New Orleans after winning the title of 2026 King of Louisiana Seafood. Allen, executive chef of Pamplona Tapas Bar and Restaurant and...
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50 Cent makes cryptic post about Shreveport projects
What is the future of downtown Shreveport? On Monday, July 13, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson posted on Instagram a picture of downtown Shreveport with the caption, “I only make deals that make sense I’m gonna have to pull back on The Red River.” This post...
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Data names five best college campuses in LA
When deciding on where to go for college, it’s important to consider campus quality, as students spend much of their time on-campus during their education. In order to help potential students find the college with the best campus, Niche releases...
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Buc-ee’s construction is booming on first Louisiana travel center
Construction is booming on Bucee’s first Louisiana travel center in Ruston with walls up, a roof on, fuel tanks buried and interior streets being poured. “It’s incredible,” Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker said this week in an interview with USA Today...
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Pink feathered Floridian refugees still around
Flamingos have become a constant sighting at Raccoon Island. Have they made a permanent residence? Biologists say the flamboyance of Floridian refugees were blown in by Hurricane Idalia in August of 2023. The storm displaced many flamingos,...
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NEW HEIGHTS
A Lafayette man has made Louisiana mountaineering history by becoming the first known resident of the state to stand atop the highest natural point in all 50 U.S. states. Dr. Linus Wilson, a professor of finance at the University of Louisiana at...
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TN student expelled after reporting threat
She heard the gunshots first, then saw people running. In the chaos, she caught a glimpse of the shooter dead on the floor of the school cafeteria. In shock, Lilith Pipkin got onto the bus with the rest of her eighth-grade class that was wrapping up a...
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Drone show to highlight Red River Balloon Rally
The Delta Utilities Red River Balloon Rally is returning to Bossier City this weekend. “For that past decade, the balloon rally has brought families together, welcomed visitors from across the region and showcased the very best of our community,”...
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Program gives struggling artists $1,000 a month
Though artificial intelligence is making it easier than ever to produce images, music and text, the technology is also making it harder for the people who have traditionally produced this work to earn a living. A photographer who once was commissioned...
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How music built a Thibodaux Fire Station
When a Thibodaux fire department had to raise money in a hurry to build a fire station, they turned to the legendary pianist Fats Domino. The Thibodaux Fire Protection Station 2 had a problem in 1974. It had bought a new fire truck, but as it was...
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Louisiana-made ‘Pointe Noire’ is now streaming
After a successful run at film festivals and theaters in Louisiana and Canada this past January, award-winning Louisiana filmmaker Pat Mire’s latest feature film, “Pointe Noire,” is now available to audiences across the U.S. and Canada on multiple...
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‘It’s more than branding’
Big news came out out of Bossier City on Wednesday, July 1. Bossier City shared its new rebranding with the public during an unveiling celebration Wednesday, July 1, at the Louisiana Boardwalk. “It’s more than branding,” Mayor Tommy Chandler said....
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Davis hopes to pull off an upset
Democrat Jamie Davis knows few people give him a chance to beat Republican Julia Letlow in Louisiana’s Nov. 3 U.S. Senate election, but he gives himself a puncher’s chance, channeling perhaps the greatest boxing upset of all time. “Was Mike Tyson the...
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Some drugmakers balk at Medicaid pilot
NEW YORK – President Donald Trump has promised to make U.S. prescription drug prices the cheapest in the world, but a closely watched Medicaid pilot program could expose the limits of the buy-in among midsized and smaller pharmaceutical companies. The...
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Planned Parenthood to open clinic in New Orleans
Planned Parenthood Great Plains, a network of regional Planned Parenthood clinics, has announced plans to restart care and service in Louisiana. Statewide telehealth services for Planned Parenthood will be accessible later this summer and a clinic...
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A cut above
There are lots of reasons why Haynesville’s David Franklin is a cut above the average guy, but the fact that he doesn’t tolerate profanity on the football field sets him apart from many of his fellow professionals. There are some coaches who give lip...
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LA’s America 250 concert features fair
Louisiana’s chairman of the America 250 Commission said he expects a crowd of more than 10,000 people to celebrate the Fourth of July on Saturday during the state’s free signature event in the capital city of Baton Rouge. “We began to conceptualize...
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Opelousas killing opened civil rights law debate
This is the second of a two-part series. OPELOUSAS – In October 1951, John Lester Mitchell, a World War II veteran and a founder of the local NAACP chapter, went with two other men to sign up to vote. No African American had succeeded in registering...
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New visitor center opens at Shreveport Regional Airport
As airplanes touched down 100 yards away, dignitaries from the Shreveport-Bossier area gathered around the newly installed interactive visitor center in front of the Shreveport Regional Airport baggage claim. “This is a reminder that every visitor...
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‘This is an absolute dream come true’
Newly crowned Miss Louisiana 2026, Shelby Bordelon says she plans to use her crown to promote impaired driving prevention as her community service initiative across the state, turning a personal tragedy into action. h Bordelon lost her lifelong friend...
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End of TPS to leave immigrant families in limbo
COLUMBUS, OH – Haitian community leaders and immigrant advocates in Springfield, Ohio, say they fear families will be left in limbo after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 25 that the Trump administration can move forward with ending Temporary...
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Cattle rancher builds audience on TikTok
Macy Rushing remembers her brother encouraging her to create social media posts about her daily life as a cattle rancher in Louisiana’s East Feliciana Parish. “I told him, ‘There is nothing interesting about my day,’” said Rushing, who works with her...
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Drop in oil, gas leases impacts parish budgets across state
Louisiana revenues from oil and gas leases on locally administered public lands fell sharply in the latest fiscal year, reducing funding available for public schools, infrastructure projects and levee districts from Mooringsport to Port Sulphur. Total...
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‘I’m doing what I love’
Laura Hebert said no matter how many challenges she faces on her Vermilion Parish farm, she can’t imagine a better life for herself, her wife, Amber, and the couple’s young son. “I think that we do what we do — it’s not for the money,” Hebert said....
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Miss Louisiana Port City wins Miss Louisiana 2026
A new Miss Louisiana was crowned Saturday night, earning a chance to represent the state at the Miss America competition this August in Florida. Miss Louisiana Port City Shelby Bordelon was crowned Miss Louisiana 2026 and will represent the state at...
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Soldier killed in dispute over bus seat in Alexandria in 1944
This is the first of a two-part series. ALEXANDRIA — “Don’t kill me, I’ll get off,” exclaimed Private Edward Green, a U.S. Army soldier, to bus driver Odell Lachney on March 13, 1944. It was the third public bus that Green, who had lived in New York...
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‘When is it going to be here?’
As doors opened, more than 100 people filed into the Shreveport Convention Center on Wednesday, June 17. This excitement in downtown Shreveport was because of an evening with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson — “All Roads Lead to Shreveport.” Doors opened at...
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Scenic trips to celebrate AMERICA’S BIRTHDAY
America is turning 250, but some of its greatest treasures don’t sit behind museum glass. h The awe-inspiring scenes that take your breath away and remind you of the beauty of our nation are hidden along winding roads, tucked into mountain valleys,...
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New Orleans has the most Miss Louisiana winners
New Orleans has produced more Miss Louisiana winners than any other city in the state, even though the city’s last titleholder was more than 50 years ago. The pageant began as Miss New Orleans in 1922, when Maude Allison Price became Louisiana’s first...
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World Atlas ranks LA’s best downtowns
Louisiana downtowns are full of historic charm, as old storefronts with iron balconies line brick main streets. Modernity is present, too, with many downtowns hosting contemporary restaurants and trendy boutiques. These places make for a relaxing...
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