22-07-2025
Top 5 stories from the Shreveport Times this week: Friendliest small town, cotton in Louisiana
It has been a busy week in the news cycle for the Shreveport-Bossier area. If you need a refresher on what you missed, here are the top five stories from the Shreveport Times.
This small Louisiana town is the friendliest in the South, according to Travel + Leisure
Travel + Leisure has dubbed Minden, Louisiana, the "friendliest town in the South," with its beautiful "lakes, bayous and charming antique shops."
Minden is a northwest Louisiana town that's an outdoor lover's paradise, with lakes and bayous perfect for fishing, boating, kayaking and hiking. There are also unique antique shops and boutiques that make for good shopping opportunities. Minden has an interesting history, which can be explored at the Germantown Colony Museum and the Dorcheat Historical Museum.
King Cotton faces 'bleak' future in Louisiana after centuries as backbone crop
Cotton, once king in Louisiana, has become little more than an afterthought for farmers whose fertile fields once looked like snow-covered ground with fluffy white bolls during the late summer as harvest approached.
But this summer Louisiana producers will plant the fewest acres of cotton in the history of the state as the crop's decline accelerates.
Unclean utensils, food contamination | Top Caddo Parish restaurant inspections June 15-21
The Times obtained food safety inspection information for the week of June 15-21, 2025, from the Louisiana Department of Health.
The top six addresses with the most critical violations in Caddo Parish are listed, along with an explanation of the finding. All restaurants on the list had at least three critical violations.
Caddo Commission ratifies Bernie Sanders resolution
On Thursday, July 3, the Caddo Commission voted 7-5 to ratify the special resolution welcoming U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders.
The ratification of the resolution was passed on a 7-5 vote, with commissioners Gage-Watts, Thomas, Jones, Roy Burrell, Gregory Young, Ron Cothran and Ken Epperson Sr. voting in favor. Chris Kracman, John-Paul Young, Grace Anne Blake, John E. Atkins and Ed Lazarus voted against it.
New COVID-19 variant 'Nimbus' causes 'razor blade sore throat.' Here's what to know
A new COVID-19 strain, referred to as NB.1.8.1 or "Nimbus," first appeared in the United States sometime near the end of April and is currently the dominant variant in the U.S.
The new variant is said to be spreading rapidly throughout the U.S., with the strain making up about 37% of current COVID-19 cases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More: Top 5 stories from the Shreveport Times this week: Jimmy Swaggart dies, 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Top 5 stories from Shreveport Times: Friendliest small town, cotton in Louisiana
Solve the daily Crossword
