In the News

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…

Take Five: Mike Johnson

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Freshman Rep. Mike Johnson, 45, a Louisiana Republican, talks about civility in his class, graphic design, and his children’s musical talents. Q: What has surprised you about Congress so far? A: I guess the most surprising thing is the level of collegiality that we’ve seen certainly in the Republican conference, but even in our freshman class. We had our retreat the…

Rep. Johnson, Sen. Cassidy meet with Guatemalan ambassador

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Two Louisiana politicians met with an ambassador of the Republic of Guatemala to hopefully send a Shreveport man home. Representative Mike Johnson and Senator Bill Cassidy met with Manuel Alfredo Espina Pinto to discuss the case of Zachary Wilson on Tuesday, according to Rep. Johnson's office. Wilson traveled to Guatemala in March on a mission trip for the Word of God Church. When…

Baker's Supreme Court Case 'Seismic' for Religious Liberty in US

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A Colorado baker's upcoming case before the Supreme Court over his decision to turn away a same-sex couple seeking a wedding cake "could be a landmark, seismic kind of case" for religious liberty in this country, Crux reports. When bakery owner Jack Phillips turned away two men in 2012 seeking a wedding cake for their same-sex marriage, years of legal wrangling ensued as…

La. Rep. Mike Johnson, Sen. Cassidy meet with Guatemalan Ambassador on detained Shreveport resident

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Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson and Senator Bill Cassidy met with Manuel Alfredo Espina Pinto, Ambassador of the Republic of Guatemala, to discuss the case of Zachary Wilson of Shreveport, La. Wilson is currently being detained by Guatemalan authorities after he traveled to the country in March for a mission trip with the Word of God Church. Authorities say they discovered…

Louisiana 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…

Louisiana leaders working to free Shreveport man detained in Guatemala after church mission

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Two of Louisiana's members of Congress met with the Guatemalan ambassador over the case of a Shreveport man detained in the country while trying to return from a church mission trip in March. Zack Wilson, of Shreveport, was arrested at a Guatemalan airport at the end of the mission trip when authorities discovered hunting ammunition in his bag, according to information about the case…

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,…