In the News

Shreveport man held in Guatemala over bullets in luggage

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Members of Congress say a Louisiana man has been detained in Guatemala since March after bullets were found in his luggage during an airport scan. Sen. Bill Cassidy and Rep. Mike Johnson say Zachary Wilson of Shreveport was arrested following a church mission trip. Johnson's office released a copy of a July letter to Gladys Marithza Ruiz de Vielman, then the Guatemalan ambassador to the…

Gulf Coast groups urge Congress to reauthorize national flood insurance program

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In the wake of hurricanes Harvey and Irma, Gulf Coast supporters of reforming the national flood insurance program are ramping up efforts to get Congress to act. “It’s going to put more attention on" concerns about the flood insurance program, said Windell Curole, general manager for the South Lafourche Levee District Board of Commissioners. Curole and dozens of others,…

Louisianians in Congress target street gangs and, critics say, the Constitution

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Louisiana representatives in the U.S. House split 4-1 along party lines on a bill to expand the federal government's authority to deport or detain immigrants who are suspected of gang activity and, according to critics, to promote racial profiling and erode due process. The bill passed the House 233-175 on Thursday (Sept. 14) and heads to the Senate, where it is given…

Let the Dogs Out

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Deer season is quickly approaching and many deer hunters enjoy the sport while providing food for their families. But hunters have been prevented from hunting deer with dogs in national forests in our area. On Wednesday, the House Natural Resources Committee adopted Rep. Mike Johnson’s (LA-04) amendment to H.R. 3668, the SHARE Act, to allow deer hunters to hunt with their dogs in…

Keithville man fights for life, freedom in Guatemala

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Zack Wilson traveled to Guatemala to build a church kitchen and give Hot Wheels cars to children while spreading the word of God for his Shreveport church. That was in March. Now, the Keithville resident is being held in a mission house under house arrest, apparently because he mistakenly traveled to the Central American country with ammunition from his hunting rifles in his…

U.S. Sen. John Kennedy shaping up to be key swing vote in issue gaining attention after Equifax breach

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In a Capitol Hill battle over the financial industry's use of arbitration clauses in contracts to limit class-action lawsuits, a key undecided Republican has attracted the attention of bank lobbyists and consumer advocates. That person is U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, Louisiana's recent arrival in D.C. with a seat on the Senate's banking committee. So far, as the debate has started to…

La. senator at center of congressional debate over class-action lawsuit rules

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In a Capitol Hill battle over the financial industry’s use of arbitration clauses in contracts to limit class-action lawsuits, a key undecided Republican has attracted the attention of bank lobbyists and consumer advocates. That person is U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, Louisiana’s recent arrival in D.C. with a seat on the Senate’s banking committee. So far, as the debate has…

Will Trump sign Congressman Johnson's civility pledge?

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U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana has secured more than 120 of his House colleagues' signatures on the "Commitment to Civility" pledge, but he'd like land President Trump. "I would love for him to sign it," Johnson, R-Benton, said in an interview with The Times Editorial Board Tuesday. Johnson wouldn't say he believes Trump could use a dose of civility. No, Johnson was…

Property taxes going down in Webster Parish

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For the third time since 2013 property taxes are going down in Webster Parish. Tax Assessor Morris Guin announced Tuesday he’s returning $500,000 to taxpayers through reduced property assessments. That brings to $1.5 million the total amount of tax savings in the past four years. So instead of collecting a 7-mill property tax, Guin’s office will only collect 5 mills, which…

Leesville Airport to get nearly $1 million for runway improvement

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The U.S. Department of Transportation announced the airports in Leesville and Minden will receive federal grants totaling $4,355,800 that will go to airport improvements. The Leesville Airport will receive a $955,800 grant for runway improvements. The Minden Airport will receive a $3,400,000 grant to construct a 3,979-foot parallel taxiway, eliminating the need for aircrafts to back-taxi…