News

Highland Park, located at Olive Street and Gilbert Drive in Shreveport’s Historic Highland neighborhood, has for decades been one of our most barren and neglected-looking parks. This desolate, blighted state was due to the steepness of the terrain, combined with mowing, causing miniature mudslides as stormwater rushed downhill.

A week after the shocking news of Neil Johnson’s passing on Saturday, Dec. 23, the loss of a friend, teacher, inspirer and prolific artist in Northwest Louisiana weighs heavily. Many have praised Neil’s commitment to friends, family and faith. Reflecting on Neil’s devotion to art — not just for beauty, inspiration and documentation but as a catalyst for community growth and unity — is essential. Henry David Thoreau shared, “If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” Neil's success lay in advancing confidently in his vision to make art happen, defining our city and emphasizing that artists are the heartbeat of our community. Neil documented, promoted and branded arts organizations and artists in Northwest Louisiana, equally capturing the grandeur of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra and the athleticism of dancer/choreographer Luther Cox Jr. His lens celebrated Louisiana’s architectural artistry and earned national acclaim for works like the “Neon Bridge” and “Once in a Millennium Moon” Mural. We joyfully witnessed Neil’s “Purple Armadillo” on Lamar Advertising Billboards from East Texas to Ruston. Neil's artistic legacy soared with his black-and-white portraits of the people of Shreveport-Bossier, curating an exhibition of 100 portraits hung from the ceiling at eye level so that we would come face to face with both friends and strangers we would hope to meet. His public art contributions include collaborations on commemorative tile artwork for the Mooretown Library and installations at the Port of Caddo-Bossier Regional Conference Center. Neil's decorative works grace 45 regional establishments, and his book, “Glimpses of Shreveport,” adorns many coffee tables.

Robinson Film Center began renovating its restaurant, Abby Singer’s Bistro on Jan. 2. The project is scheduled to run for several weeks, with a planned reopening in February. While the restaurant is undergoing its renovation, the bistro will still provide its regular lunch and dinner service, along with takeout options in its Event Space on the second floor of RFC. The renovation, which will include updated lighting, furniture, painting, and décor, will give the restaurant its first full facelift since it opened fifteen years ago. “We are very excited about this project. We have been planning it for quite some time, and we could not have begun this work without the generous support of many local organizations,” said Wendell Riley, RFC’s Executive Director. “The Downtown Development Authority, The Beaird Family Foundation, Mike McSwain Architect, Fusiform Design Workshop, our board, and our generous supporters during Give for Good all made this possible.”

Friday, Jan. 5

During the last school board meeting, Caddo teachers and school employees carried signs stating, 'It Is Not a Benefit If You Cannot Afford It.' This emphasizes the importance of affordable health insurance as a standard employee benefit. Affordable health insurance not only shows an employer's commitment to their employees' well-being but also prioritizes the health of their loved ones. It provides for a stable and healthy workforce.

King cake is a staple Mardi Gras tradition that honors the three kings in the Biblical story of Jesus.

A fire left heavily damaged a two-story home last week. On Dec. 30 at 5:03 p.m., the Shreveport Fire Department (SFD) responded to a reported house fire in the 11000 block of Belle Rose Circle in the Southern Trace neighrborhood. Upon arrival, firefighters reported smoke and flames visible from a two-story house.

Accident causes road closure