Columns & Opinions

Yes, times have changed, but affirmative action has undeniably played a significant role in promoting inclusivity and diversity in this country. It was designed to address historical disadvantages faced by marginalized groups, and it has brought about positive changes in education, employment and various sectors of society.

Local sales tax receipts in Caddo and Bossier remain higher than in 2022. The major jurisdictions all report an increase.

“For some reason, the most vocal Christians among us never mention the Beatitudes (Matthew 5). But often with tears in their eyes, they demand that the Ten Commandments be posted in public buildings. And of course, that’s Moses, not Jesus. I haven’t heard one of them demand that the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, be posted anywhere. ‘Blessed are the merciful’ in a courtroom? ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ in the Pentagon? Give me a break.” - Kurt Vonnegut, “A Man Without a Country”. United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced this week the indictment of 24 defendants on fraud charges related to the CARES Act. The defendants are all members or associates of a Shreveport street gang known as Step or Die (SOD). The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) was designed to provide relief for Americans suffering from the effects of the COVID Pandemic through low interest loans to small businesses. Not to finance street gangs holding our city hostage with shootings and murders. Growing up in Shreveport, the city’s unofficial tagline was “A city of churches.” There was almost a church on every corner. The buildings sometimes took up entire city blocks and were more common than Pak-A-Sak convenience stores. For some, membership in the right church wasn’t just good for the soul, it was good for business, too. Local churches provided community connectivity that is missing now. Our blue laws that encouraged honoring the Sabbath by halting liquor sales and closing some stores completely on Sundays ruled the city. It was almost impossible to find anything open late at night. As a volunteer tutor for Communities in Schools (communitiesinschools.org), a national program administered by local Volunteers for America (voanorthla. org), I meet one hour a week in a local elementary classroom to tutor one student in reading and math. It’s the best hour of my week.

Things are happening in Baton Rouge on the new State Building in downtown Shreveport. Bids for the Phase I Demolition and Abatement project were opened earlier this week. Billy Wilson, the Assistant Director of Facility Planning and Control for the state, tells us only two bids were received. He says the apparent low bid was from Gill Industries, a General Contractor with offices in Belle Chasse and an address at 1325 Fullerton Street in Shreveport, and Hand Construction, a Shreveport-based GC. Wilson says if Gill’s bid is approved/accepted, they will be awarded the project.

At dusk on Friday, July 14, the inimitable Irene Cara’s theme song from the movie “Flashdance” reverberated over the airways along the racetrack at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City. When the announcer for the Red River Balloon Rally called for the “all illume,” flares whooshed from under the balloons in unison and lit the sky for a spectacular “candlelight” glow show. The nearly 100-degree heat was all but forgotten as the balloon pilots made their passion happen and enjoyed the response of the roaring crowd, which included Bossier City Mayor Tommy Chandler and other dignitaries, as both young and elderly alike swayed to rhythm of the music. Even the Puddy Cat and Tweety Bird balloons caught the spirit and bobbed with the audience in their own dance of sorts.

Settle Talk

Why isn’t anyone doing an article about the background of the victims? I tried to look it up on Truthfinder. The 17-year-old of course is not on there. One was not found. The other two, one had an illegal firearm charge and the other had a resisting a police officer. This was likely a targeted crime by people with criminal backgrounds and/or practices. The 'root causes' of these incidents across the country are mostly these kinds of incidents. Until we start calling it out and doing something about it at a local level, it will continue to get worse. My 2 cents.

The retail investment industry has spent decades reeducating and redirecting the masses – away from stock and bond trading to asset allocation-based asset management. One reason is self-preservation. Trading is transactional and commoditized. The emergence of discount brokerages initiated a race to the bottom for trading commissions. The other reason, the one I will address, is the application of modern portfolio theory.