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Shreveport has had a noise ordinance on the books for many years, but it is practically unenforceable for many reasons. Noise issues in the downtown area have become a major concern with recent downtown activities, including dancing on the streets (and vehicles) and violent incidents.

Wouldn’t you like to know? Luckily for you, I am going to start telling you exactly what I’m thinking. Starting this week, I am going to post some of the biggest questions in the world of sports. I have a lot of questions for the start of the football season. Here are a couple you can ponder on with me.

But what were the questions, Alex? The questions I had after two games were for Coach Brian Kelly directly. Coach, how will your team play in their first SEC game on the road in Starkville? The Tigers answered that question as if they were betting their entire winnings on answering that one question correctly. The defeat was a resounding one, one I think the program needed. It proved what they were capable in a raucous environment. It proved that against SEC talent, the better team prevailed.

Shreveport's public pools are outdated and in disrepair. The five pools, managed by Shreveport Public Assembly and Recreation, all are facing age-related problems, which range from mechanical issues to non-modern designs, issues which would require around $4.5 million in total to correct. Only four of the city's pools were open to the public this year. The pool at Bill Cockrell Metro Park and Community Center has been closed for several years because it is leaking and needs mechanical upgrades. SPAR late last year hired a consultant to analyze its pools and evaluate which issues should be fixed and how much it would cost to do so. The result was a determination those pools were all largely are overdue for major renovations or replacement. With the proper funding, Ragle said SPAR could afford to conduct the kind of renovations the pools need to be both in a good state of repair and better able to serve residents by way of things such as making shallow ends more shallow and adding lift chairs to meet the needs of disabled swimmers. 'He went through each of our pools and gave us a report on each one of them. Nothing pretty, I can just tell you that,' said SPAR Director Shelly Ragle. 'Our staff has done an incredible job of maintaining them and making them work, but it's past time for an overhaul.' Ragle said the city's newest public pool, located at Southern Hills Park and Community Center, was built in the 1970s. None of the five pools are of a modern design, Ragle said, and most lack features and appropriate shallowness for young swimmers.

The first round of campaign finance reports for candidates in the Oct. 14 election were due Thursday, Sept. 14. The report covers contributions and expenditures for each candidate through Sept. 4. The next report must be filed by Oct. 4 and should reflect donations and spending through Sept. 24.

What's on the Public Works Wish List for the Mayor's Bond Committee?

Shreveport Mayor Arceneaux remains firm in his changes to Centaur and Gemini Mardi Gras parades. His primary concern and reason for these changes is public safety. Each change is intended to address that concern and increase safety for parade participants and attendees. The following changes are essential: 1. Each parade must begin by 2:30 p.m. and conclude by 7 p.m. 2. The Krewe of Centaur Parade will not be held on Feb. 3, 2024, unless the krewe can confirm they have or someone else has retained an additional 60 security personnel to provide adequate security for both parades. The city of Shreveport is happy to compensate these additional personnel if they can be recruited. These security personnel are in addition to any law enforcement personnel recruited by the City from the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Department, Shreveport Police Department, Shreveport City Marshal's Office and the Louisiana State Police, all of which are already providing personnel, including personnel for the expanded route described below.

You and the kids will want to make plans to join the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for the 2023 National Hunting and Fishing Day Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., at the shooting range at Bayou Bodcau Dam and Reservoir, 1700 Bodcau Dam Road, Haughton, La.