logo
Caddo Parish leaders unite in Baton Rouge for joint legislation

Caddo Parish leaders unite in Baton Rouge for joint legislation

Yahoo24-04-2025

CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – On Thursday, April 24th, more than 80 leaders from across Caddo Parish traveled together to Baton Rouge to engage directly with cabinet departments and members of the legislature on behalf of the citizens of Caddo Parish, according to a press release.
'We were delighted to be able to bring so many of our local leaders to Baton Rouge for this inaugural event,' said Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux. 'This is the first time in recent memory that we have brought the needs of Shreveport and Caddo Parish to Baton Rouge as a group.'
SPD hosts Gary, Indiana police officers as part of Public Safety Partnership
Organizations included Caddo Parish administrators and commissioners, Shreveport administration and council members, Shreveport Police and Fire Departments, District Attorney's Office, Caddo Schools administration and School Board members, Caddo Sheriff, Shreveport City Marshall, Port of Caddo-Bossier, LSUS, NLCOG, NLEP, Red River Waterway Commission, Caddo Levee District, Caddo Head Start, Town of Vivian, Village of Ida, and Shreveport-Bossier African American Chamber and the Greater Shreveport Chamber.
'Caddo Parish Day at the Capitol is all about collaboration,' said Caddo Parish Administrator/CEO Erica R. Bryant. 'When leaders from across our parish come together to engage our state agencies and legislators, the conversations and solutions that result allow us to align our priorities and work toward solutions that ultimately help us improve the quality of life for our residents.'
Louisianans honored for art, service at Community Awards Ceremony
The release added that participants met with Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, State Education Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley, LED Secretary Susan Bourgeois, Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson, and representatives from the Office of the Governor, Attorney General, Juvenile Justice, and Department of Transportation.
'Education is the foundation of a strong Louisiana, and it's important that our voices are heard at the Capitol,' said Keith Burton, Superintendent of Caddo Parish Schools. 'For us, Caddo Parish Day provided a critical opportunity to ensure our Board Members and school leaders are at the table with agency heads and lawmakers, sharing what our students need and how we can move faster to help them succeed.'
Leaders gather to celebrate business growth at annual chamber banquet in Marshall
Attendees also visited the Capitol, witnessed legislative activity, and met with members of the Northwest Louisiana Delegation to share specific requests.
'By aligning the outreach of our School Board, City Council, and Parish Commission with members of our business community, we are showcasing for the administration and the legislature the collaborative approach we are taking to improving our community,' said Dr. Timothy Magner, President of the Greater Shreveport Chamber. 'With the tremendous turnout and success of this inaugural effort, our goal is to make this an annual event that will grow in size and impact year after year.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Legislative town hall to keep Texarkana citizens engaged in state politics
Legislative town hall to keep Texarkana citizens engaged in state politics

Yahoo

time15 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Legislative town hall to keep Texarkana citizens engaged in state politics

TEXARKANA, Ark. (KTAL/KMSS) — A political advocacy group invited the community to a legislative town hall on Monday. Federal agencies come to Texarkana to provide in-person storm recovery aid 'We're doing town halls across the state to help educate people about the Arkansas Legislature, which just adjourned, about all the new laws that they passed and educating people about how their legislators voted on some of those key bills that came up,' said Bill Kopsky, Executive Director of the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, who organized the event along with Citizens First Congress. They are applauding legislation passed concerning maternal health and childhood nutrition. 'We're excited about students getting free breakfast, and now we're saying, how about lunch?' said April Reisma, President of the Arkansas Education Association. However, they feel other new pieces of legislation, such as DEI restrictions, are a step backward for the state. 'Our view is that if you're in a community that's 60% black and the school staff doesn't look like that, then that's an issue that the school district should be able to at least talk about,' said Kopsky. Changes coming to downtown Texarkana in the name of pedestrian safety Looking to the future, they hope to find support for securing access to ballot measures after several new laws were passed that make the process more difficult. 'I mean it's been in the Arkansas constitution for over 100 years. Arkansans have used it to do really important things that legislators just aren't capable of doing, so like passing ethics and term limit laws, for example, or campaign finance reform laws, or raising the state's minimum wage. Those are issues that politicians are never going to really take much action on, but they're not very controversial with the public,' said Kopsky. They say the main purpose of these town halls is to keep citizens engaged in the political process. Over 1 million meals served by Texarkana Resource Center during first year 'Legislators or politicians go up to Little Rock and they make decisions on a lot of laws that the public doesn't really have any idea about, and our whole view is that when the public knows more about what's happening at the Capitol and they can talk to the legislators about it, those legislators do a better job,' said Kopsky. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Students left scrambling as Shreveport Job Corps is disbanded
Students left scrambling as Shreveport Job Corps is disbanded

Yahoo

timea day ago

  • Yahoo

Students left scrambling as Shreveport Job Corps is disbanded

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)—The U.S. Department of Labor is disbanding Job Corps Center operations nationwide, including the one in Shreveport, which has been serving youth for over 40 years. The Shreveport Job Corps provided housing, basic medical care, meals, books and supplies, a living allowance, and a supportive community. The program's goal was to teach students a trade by teaching skills and providing apprenticeships. Louisiana House acts after Senate fails on Jim Crow reform The Shreveport center served around three hundred students, some of whom had no home to go to. Those who had no home are being placed in shelters and group homes. Some of them were in the middle of training and did not complete their programs. 'Job Corps being closed has definitely disrupted my life, definitely made it a lot harder for me,' said student Rheannan Hall. 'I was planning to leave in July. I was out the door anyway, but then suddenly, I have no money, no home. I don't know what to do.' The Caddo Parish Commission is concerned about the closure, pointing out the center has trained many Caddo workers. 'It has been a direct pipeline for the workforce here in Caddo Parish,' said District 7 Commissioner Stormy Gage Watts. 'We are very concerned about the placement of the students who have lost some temporary to permanent housing while they were here. My biggest concern is making sure that we can keep those kids off of the street and find them safe and habitable dwellings.' Volunteer Louisiana director receives national recognition The Department of Labor cited the following reasons for ending the program as we know it. Average Graduation Rate (WIOA Definition): 38.6% Average Cost Per Student Per Year: $80,284.65 Average Total Cost Per Graduate (WIOA Definition): $155,600.74 Post separation, participants earn $16,695 annually on average. The total number of Serious Incident Reports for program year 2023: 14,913 infractions. Inappropriate Sexual Behavior and Sexual Assaults Reported: 372 Acts of Violence Reported: 1,764 Breaches of Safety or Security: 1,167 Reported Drug Use: 2,702 Total Hospital Visits: 1,808 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

"Don't Criminalize Me" Rally at Louisiana Capitol Asks Governor Landry to Veto Senate Bill 154
"Don't Criminalize Me" Rally at Louisiana Capitol Asks Governor Landry to Veto Senate Bill 154

Associated Press

timea day ago

  • Associated Press

"Don't Criminalize Me" Rally at Louisiana Capitol Asks Governor Landry to Veto Senate Bill 154

Help give voice to over 325K Louisianans who will be criminalized by SB154 On June 3, 2025, the 'Don't Criminalize Me' rally gathers at the Louisiana State Capitol to ask Governor Landry to veto Senate Bill 154. What: Louisiana kratom advocates, veterans, small business owners, and concerned citizens will gather on the Capitol steps for the 'Don't Criminalize Me' Rally to urge Governor Jeff Landry to veto Senate Bill 154, which would criminalize the possession and use of kratom by over 325,000 Louisianans. Louisiana and national media is strongly encouraged to attend and contact for details. When: Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM Central Time Where: Louisiana State Capitol, located at 900 North 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Why: Senate Bill 154 threatens to unjustly criminalize law-abiding citizens—including many veterans—who responsibly use kratom as part of their health and wellness routines. The rally will call on the Governor to veto SB154 and instead establish a Louisiana Kratom Commission to: Advocates will share personal stories and expert perspectives supporting appropriate regulations and age restriction evidence-based policy—not fear-driven bans. Visuals: Signs, banners, personal testimonials, and a peaceful crowd demanding consumer protection—not criminalization. Media Inquiries: Contact Mac Haddow, Senior Fellow on Public Policy for the American Kratom Association, at 571-294-5978 or [email protected]. About American Kratom Association (AKA) American Kratom Association (AKA) is a consumer-based, nonprofit organization, focused on furthering the latest science as guidance for kratom public policy. AKA works to give a voice to millions of Americans by fighting to protect their rights to access safe and natural kratom. For more information, visit and learn more at Media Contact Mac Haddow [email protected] ### SOURCE: American Kratom Association (AKA) Copyright 2025 EZ Newswire

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store