Columns & Opinions

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) and James Construction Group, LLC (James) executed the Design-Build Agreement for the Jimmie Davis Bridge in May.

Why do fireworks cause anxiety for my pets?

Old friends are like old shirts. And, no, I’m not bonkers. Behold the photo above of a shirt that’s garnished my torso for so long I can’t recall when I got it. Twelve years ago, at least. The shirt is comfortable and colorful – and nice enough for semi-special events, yet sufficiently casual for cookouts. I’ve mowed in it, shoveled snow, dined at semi-swanky restaurants.

Orlando Chapman's spirit was heavily present and had to have been extremely elated with the turn out of this year's 21st Annual Gentlemen's Cooking Classic! Over 300 attendees from Shreveport and surrounding areas filled the Shreveport Convention Center to partake in some of the finest southern cuisine the city has to offer including seafood, pork, beef and desserts! 6 p.m., last Staurday night, spice filled the air, and the competition was on! Everyone who participated brought their 'A' game and was prepared to battle as some booths challenged others with their baked goods, sizzling dishes or BBQ. Cookies, cupcakes, fruit platters, sweet tea and a cash bar complemented the rows and rows of down-home goodness. If you were able to catch this event, it's safe to say you enjoyed a plethora of exquisite meals ranging from simmering soul food to mouth-watering cajun dishes. The Gentlemen's Cooking Classic did not disappoint in its 21st year and has kept the Shreveport-Bossier area in a salivating chokehold since 2002. A fundraising event to benefit the Southern University Shreveport Foundation Scholarship Fund, competitors include community leaders, politicians, Shreveport citizens, as well as children who come out to show their flick of the wrist and proclaim the title 'Best Cook'! This year, over 40 booths lined the Shreveport Convention Center in a Tetris-styled fashion honoring Chapman's son, Damien, as well as the restaraunt Orlandeaux's Cafe. Upbeat and outgoing, Damien worked the room and thanked everyone for coming out shortly after the winners were announced; even Mayor Arceneaux participated! Among other politicians who joined in on the fun were CPSB District 12 Representative Dottie Bell, District 12 State Representative Sam Jenkins, District 3 Commissioner Steven Jackson and Caddo sheriff candidates Henry Whitehorn and Steve Prator. Whitehorn stunned with his to-die-for brisket, and Sheriff Prator came to fight with his five-star chicken and sausage wild rice also!

United Way of Northwest Louisiana (UWNWLA) is searching for volunteers to inventory items and encourage Walmart Supercenter shoppers to purchase and donate school supplies for students attending Bossier Parish Schools and Caddo Parish Public Schools.

The Supreme Court ruled on June 8 that the recently redistricted Alabama congressional map likely violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) by diluting the votes of Black residents. Although the ruling was for Alabama, the ruling applies to Mississippi, Louisiana and South Carolina as well, and even Arkansas is investigating the ruling.

Seven days before Stormageddon, which left much of Shreveport without power for over a week, I helped push through funding for two emergency response sites with backup power and water systems to allow us to cope with our recurring weather disasters. Recent events have made the wisdom of this investment painfully obvious.

The major disaster that struck northwest Louisiana last week was unprecedented.