Life

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has announced the winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for Louisiana’s Fourth District, which he represents. This is the third year his office has taken part in the App Challenge. The idea is to challenge young people to explore STEM, coding and computer science. Four students from Caddo Magnet High School and Caddo Middle Magnet in Shreveport were selected by a panel of university professors. In the first place category, senior Maya Trutschl of Caddo Magnet High took top prize with an app called “Cal Capture.' it streamlines the process of converting dates on paper documents into calendar entities. Her app utilizes optical character recognition and machine learning to identify text and dates. Kevin Zhao of Caddo Magnet High was also a first-place winner with an app called “Smart Bus Finder.' In the runner-up category, Caddo Magnet High’s Steward Lokitz was recognized for his app titled “Kirby and the Rainbow Star,' while Aiden Zhao of Caddo Middle Magnet was also recognized for his app called “Piano Practice Journey.' The Caddo Parish Commission selected its 2025 leadership at a special meeting on Jan.14 after the Commission’s regularly scheduled meeting was cancelled due to inclement weather. Commissioner Stormy Gage-Watts, District 7 was selected as Commission President. Commissioner Ken Epperson, District 12 was elected Vice-President, and Commissioner Victor Thomas, District 3 was selected as Parliamentarian. The newly elected officers will serve in their leadership roles for one year.

BOSSIER BEAT

The North Louisiana Civil Rights Coalition is an organization dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of those who fought to bring an end to Jim Crow-era segregation in Shreveport and throughout Louisiana. The organization will host the second annual Bridge Builders Breakfast, honoring individuals and organizations who “embody the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” according to their website. The honorees make a difference across racial, social, civic, economic, and geographic barriers for the community’s betterment. The NCLRC Bridge Builders Breakfast is on Saturday, Jan.25, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Red River Room at the Shreveport Convention Center. Individual tickets start at $40.00, and tickets for businesses or groups are also available.

In response to the parish's ongoing growing commercial and residential development, the Bossier Parish Police Jury accepted a proposal from Gresham Smith Architecture, Engineering and Design Firm to address the Bossier Parish Transportation Plan and the needs of the community.

Name, Image and Likeness management is reality even at the NCAA Division III level, so Centenary Athletics has entered that space. Centenary has officially partnered with Opendorse to create an all-in-one NIL platform for the department. As part of the partnership, Centenary College will receive a branded marketplace. Centenary fans, brands, sponsors and donors will be able to browse, book, pitch and pay any Centenary student-athlete for NIL activities in one compliant platform, built specifically for the athletes’ needs. The marketplace promises to mobilize the fan base and local organizations to bestsupport its student-athletes.

Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office deputies will receive a 4 percent pay increase starting Jan. 10. The raise, approved by Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Sr. on Tuesday, applies to all operations and detention bureau deputies. Whitehorn said salary increases are made possible by An information session was held on Dec.3 for trade partners to register with Broadmoor LLC for phase 2 of the renovation of the former federal building on Fannin Street. Over 80 interested parties attended the meeting to learn more about the phase 2 which should begin on or about July of next year.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation has approved the construction project that has been ongoing for the past five months in the 5400 block of Barksdale Blvd.

Bossier Parish Libraries are teaming up with multiple organizations to help raise donations for those in need this holiday season. The library system partnered up with the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana, Porter’s Dry Cleaners, and Toys for Tots to collect donations for those who need them most this holiday season. The Bossier City Animal Center is encouraging residents to consider a holiday foster this season with their initiative “Home for the Howl-idays.”