WHEN CAN PUBLIC BODIES HAVE ZOOM MEETINGS?

Like it or not, Zoom meetings of public bodies may again become more frequent. At 2021 regular session the Louisiana legislature amended the statute providing for exceptions to the open meeting law during gubernatorially declared disaster or emergency.

FEATURES IN FRIDAY'S NEW EDITION OF FOCUS SB/THE INQUISITOR

Cover Profile: Verni Howard, Executive Director of The Providence HouseMaggie Martin and Krewe of Atlas CoronationBossier City now the "Big No"Update on Jimmie Davis Bridge, 3132 and I-49Details on new roadway and toll bridge for Caddo, BossierMall St. Vincent saleAnd much much more....

Season Preview: Women’s Soccer Ready to Begin 2021 Season

LSUS Athletic CommunicationsFor Immediate Release – Wednesday, August 18, 2021 Season Preview: Women’s Soccer Ready to Begin 2021 Season SHREVEPORT, LA. - The day is here. Student-athletes are back on campus and are back to living the life they know best; two-a-days, meetings, and workouts.

AGENCIES BENEFIT FROM DONATIONS FROM MURALIST, CASINO

KERRY M. KIRSPELSeveral agencies benefited from the generosity of a local casino and a muralist this week.On Monday afternoon, the Bossier City Fire Department, the Bossier Arts Council and the American Cancer Society each received donations of $500 from artist Chris Opp and Margaritaville Casino.

BOSSIER CITY TEEN BECOMES NORTHWEST LOUISIANA’S FIRST FEMALE EAGLE SCOUT

Bossier City teen Haley Henderson received her Eagle Scout rank on Aug. 8 at a Court of Honor at Asbury United Methodist Church, becoming the first female Eagle Scout in northwest Louisiana, a prestigious achievement attained by some of the country’s most noteworthy figures.

PUBLIC HEARING FOR LA 3132 (INNER LOOP) EXTENSION SCHEDULED

The Northwest Louisiana Council of Governments (NLCOG) and the LA 3132 Stage 1 Environmental Study Project Team will hold an open house-style public hearing to discuss the results of the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the LA 3132 (Inner Loop) Extension project in Caddo Parish.

THIS WEEK'S FOCUS SB/The Inquisitor

Here's what you will miss unless you get this issue:Chris Giordano--president of The State Fair of Louisiana3 pages of Maggie Martin covering Krewe of Justinian and Krew of Gemini coronations--last week Krewe of Gemini (yes we have plenty of those issues if you missed!

10 LARGEST CITIES IN LOUISIANA--2020 CENSUS

Try to navigate the U.S. Census sight (Census.com) is a nightmare, so say the least.A website Word Population Review reports the following information on Louisiana cities and change in growth from 2010 to 2021.

2020 CENSUS SHOWS GROWTH BOSSIER AND DESOTO, DECLINES IN CADDO AND WEBSTER PARISHES

The Baton Rouge Advocate reports that only 19 Louisiana parishes grew in population between 2010 and 2020. The other 45 parishes had declines in population.The state had an overall growth of 2.7% in the last decade.The 2020 census shows 10.1% growth in Bossier Parish and 0.

WHAT WILL KING DAVID DO TO SHOW HIS REAR NEXT TUESDAY?

It’s like a bad comedy show, a really bad comedy show.Bossier Councilman David Montgomery is on a mission to give Bossier Mayor Tommy Chandler a hard time -- as in obstructionist -- at each Bossier council meeting.

NO EASY SOLUTION FOR TRUCK PARKING IN NEIGHBORHOODS, VACANT STOREFRONTS, AND EMPTY LOTS

If looking at big trucks and trailers is your hobby, then you have plenty of viewing opportunities in Shreveport! Just drive the main arteries and look for vacant lots and empty storefronts, and voila! And on weekends, many residential neighborhoods provide big-truck sightings.

SHREVEPORT CITY COUNCIL ZOOM MEETING A BIG BUST AND ILL ADVISED

Tuesday’s Shreveport City Council meeting evidenced all the wrong things about ZOOM governmental meetings for many obvious reasons.Initially, there were no valid reasons for the ZOOM meeting from the perspective of COVID health concerns.

TIFS ARE ON THE WAY FOR NORTH CADDO ALONG VACANT I-49 INTERCHANGES

JOHN E. SETTLE Jr. Editor Focus SB News Tax incentive financing (TIF) is a public financing method that is used as a subsidy for redevelopment, infrastructure and other community-improvement projects.

LOCAL TAX RECEIPTS HIT AN ALL-TIME HIGH

KEN KREFFTContributing ColumnistShreveport has a 2.75% sales tax. For July 2021 those receipts hit an all-time high for a month -- $13,810,977.61. The previous record was April this year -- $13,756,900.02. Through seven months of 2021, the $84,702,756.06 total is 17.

OUR DOG ATE OUR HOMEWORK?

JOHN PERKINSContributing ColumnistShreveport City Councilman Grayson Boucher withdrew his plan to convert the second oldest Sears building in Shreveport into a new police station for SPD.