tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19345630732597797192024-03-13T22:24:41.010-07:00The Times Editor DeskNotes, views and thoughts from the editorUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-43006527105783008312008-01-31T07:27:00.000-08:002008-12-11T02:42:55.824-08:00The Times continues to change<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161703616248128946" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R6IOF1JRpbI/AAAAAAAAAns/EdQmtBnzF5s/s200/unionfront.jpg" border="0" />Many of you have noticed presidential election news, talk of a recession and State of the Union headlines blending back into the A-section of The Times. This is a refinement of the local news redesign launched April ’07. When we created room for more local news and elevated its day-to-day prominence, we moved Nation and World news too far back in the paper.<br />We are going to move the obituary listings in the A-section to the B-section, and bring Nation and World page back into the mix. The straightforward change will address some concerns about global headlines being given a backseat. <div><br /><div>This swap builds flexibility in the way we play stories, giving prominence to national news when warranted without diminishing local news. It is a compromise of sorts in our mission to be the single-best source of local news and information serving the third largest metro area in Louisiana.<br />Overflow of local news will continue to be packaged behind the Conversations and opinion content in the B-section. This "extra" local news will be housed near obituaries.<br /><br /><strong>Journalists in new roles</strong><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R6IL_VJRpaI/AAAAAAAAAnk/0Idte9FEGWo/s1600-h/BillBeane.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161701305555723682" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; width: 101px; height: 125px;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R6IL_VJRpaI/AAAAAAAAAnk/0Idte9FEGWo/s200/BillBeane.jpg" border="0" height="154" width="137" /></a><a href="mailto:bbeene@gannett.com">Bill Beene</a> has been promoted to Deputy News Editor from his role as an assistant local news editor. He will help oversee night operations on the Delivery Desk (our Information Center team dedicated to packaging the news for print and online). Beene will lead the charge on the aforementioned Nation and World page adjustment. He will help organize and plan business news coverage. Beene is a 25-year veteran in The Times Information Center. </div><div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R6HvxVJRpZI/AAAAAAAAAnc/6qNvE3MFxnQ/s1600-h/VeldaHunter.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161670278711977362" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; width: 100px; height: 145px;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R6HvxVJRpZI/AAAAAAAAAnc/6qNvE3MFxnQ/s200/VeldaHunter.jpg" border="0" height="176" width="104" /></a><a href="mailto:veldahunter@gannett.com">Velda Hunter</a> is now the assistant local news editor after working as the Shreveport City Hall reporter. Hunter joined The Times almost a year ago after moving from Clute, Texas, where she worked as city editor for The Facts. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. Hunter has covered city government, crime, education, business and environmental issues. Now, she’ll direct that coverage alongside Alisa Stingley, our local news editor. </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-75941282171714106952008-01-25T10:35:00.000-08:002008-12-11T02:42:55.966-08:00Remember Randy Lovely...<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R5owwFJRpWI/AAAAAAAAAnE/OmJrnciBvKU/s1600-h/lovelyrandy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159489925679261026" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R5owwFJRpWI/AAAAAAAAAnE/OmJrnciBvKU/s200/lovelyrandy.jpg" border="0" /></a>Former Times Managing Editor <a href="http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/neweditor.html">Randy Lovely was promoted to</a> Vice President News and Editor of The Arizona Republic. Lovely worked in Shreveport from 1997 to 2000. Lovely replaces <a href="http://poynter.org/forum/view_post.asp?id=13074">Ward Bushee who left </a>to become editor of The San Francisco Chronicle. Both are longtime Gannett employees. The Hearst Corporation owns The Chronicle.<br /><br />From the Randy Lovely files (<a href="http://www.gannett.com/go/newswatch/2002/february/nw0215-1.htm">1</a> & <a href="http://www.gannett.com/go/newswatch/2005/december/nw1202-4.htm">2</a>): <em>"Randy began his career as a reporter at the Sturgis (Mich.) Journal in 1986 and was named city editor in 1987. He moved to The News-Sentinel at Fort Wayne as a copy editor/page designer in 1988. He joined the Press-Telegram at Long Beach as a page designer in 1990. Randy joined The News-Press at Fort Myers in 1992 as assistant managing editor/photo and graphics. In 1996 he was named assistant managing editor/features and visuals at The News-Press. In 1997, he was named managing editor of The Times at Shreveport. He was named executive editor at Palm Springs in 2000." </em>In 2002, Lovely was named managing editor of The Arizona Republic. He was promoted to executive editor in 2005.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-89526352637659481092008-01-23T10:21:00.000-08:002008-12-11T02:42:56.367-08:00Region’s cyber future virtually set with Innovation Center ceremony<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R5eLgFJRpUI/AAAAAAAAAm0/EEEKhqBS6Hg/s1600-h/walkerleads.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R5eLgFJRpUI/AAAAAAAAAm0/EEEKhqBS6Hg/s200/walkerleads.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158745281429349698" border="0" /></a>Bossier City Mayor Lo Walker warmed a cold 200-plus crowd at the <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080122/NEWS01/801220334/1002/NEWS">Cyber Innovation Center groundbreaking</a> on Monday. The comedian inside the mayor introduced supporters on stage as he discarded the agenda. The late start and chilly weather inspired the welcomed editing. Only the headliners, <a href="http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=5337">Lt. Gen. Bob Elder</a>, commander of the <a href="http://www.8af.acc.af.mil/">8<sup>th</sup></a> Air Force and recently sworn-in Louisiana Governor <a href="http://www.gov.state.la.us/">Bobby Jindal</a>, <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/assets/wma/D997325121.MP3">spoke to the crowd</a> prior to the <span style="">requisite <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=D9&Dato=20080121&Kategori=NEWS&Lopenr=801210805&Ref=PH&Profile=1002&SectionCat=NEWS">shovel-and-dirt photos</a></span>. <p class="MsoNormal">The <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=D9&Dato=20080121&Kategori=NEWS&Lopenr=801210807&Ref=PH&Profile=1002&SectionCat=NEWS">c</a><a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=D9&Dato=20080121&Kategori=NEWS&Lopenr=801210807&Ref=PH&Profile=1002&SectionCat=NEWS">rowd consisted mainly</a> of business leaders, military brass, political dignitaries and media. Most <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=D9&Dato=20080121&Kategori=NEWS&Lopenr=801210806&Ref=PH&Profile=1002&SectionCat=NEWS">huddled inside</a> <a href="http://www.bpcc.edu/">Bossier Parish Community College</a> until the events started because many came unprepared for the chill sweeping through our southern climate.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R5eLn1JRpVI/AAAAAAAAAm8/x542d4dmBfg/s1600-h/grp.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R5eLn1JRpVI/AAAAAAAAAm8/x542d4dmBfg/s200/grp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158745414573335890" border="0" /></a>Gov. <a href="http://www.gov.state.la.us/">Jindal</a> <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/assets/wma/D997325121.MP3">underlined his position</a> that helping "stand up" <a href="http://www.afcyber.af.mil/">Cyber Command</a> at Barksdale Air Force Base is a “top priority” for his administration. He explained that Cyber Command was among the few things he relayed in his meeting with <span style="">President George W. Bush shortly after his election last year.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">General Elder described an inspiring vision for the future of the Air Force <span style="">built on</span> the wings of <span style="">the Cyber Command, now established provisionally at <a href="http://www.barksdale.af.mil/">Barksdale Air Force Base</a>. Elder is the architect and leader of the effort</span> to expand our country's military dominance of air and space to cyberspace, fighting <span style="">wars waged in the electromagnetic</span> spectrum. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080122/NEWS01/801220334/1002/NEWS">groundbreaking for the</a> <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080122/NEWS01/801220334/1002/NEWS">Cyber </a><span style=""><a href="http://www.cyberinnovationcenter.org/">Innovation Center in Bossier City</a><a href="http://www.cyberinnovationcenter.org/"> </a>forges another link between the private and public sector to develop new technology to fight wars in cyberspace. Microsoft and other technology corporations are touted as being interested in setting up offices here.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The next big community moment will come when the permanent site for Cyber Command is named. The hope of future generations are <span style="">betting that <a href="http://www.barksdale.af.mil/">Barksdale Air</a></span><a href="http://www.barksdale.af.mil/"> Force Base</a> is the inevitable choice. Listening to the general and the governor speak, the crescendo of all the hype and build-up is only months away.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Photos By Douglas Collier/The Times: 1) Bossier City Mayor Lo Walker directs a group of dignitaries gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony for the Cyber Innovation Center held at the BPCC campus in Bossier City. 2) Senator Mary Landrieu, Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu and Gov. Bobby Jindal join other dignitaries on stage.</span></span><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-26575743051355253692008-01-20T04:15:00.000-08:002008-12-11T02:42:57.065-08:00Traffic ticket databases reveal disturbing racial trendFrom microwave ovens to iPods, technology is a wonderful thing for quality of life. It’s also been great for holding taxpayer-funded agencies accountable. Armed with a PC and some basic software, government records, previously too painstaking to collect let alone analyze, are now within the grasp of average citizens and, especially their <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080120/NEWS01/801200304/0/TICKETS">media watchdogs.</a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=TICKETS"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R5NyxOk534I/AAAAAAAAAmU/gQ2yYAdnmS8/s200/bilde.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157592188321390466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">In the spirit of greater government accountability, <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/">The Times</a> spent the fall collecting databases of <a href="http://php.shreveporttimes.com/shreveporttickets/tickets.php?sortOrd=TicketDate">Shreveport</a>-<a href="http://php.shreveporttimes.com/bossiertickets/tickets.php?sortOrd=IssueDate">Bossier City </a>traffic citations.<br />The issues we uncovered are troubling.<br />The databases show a disparity in the way citations were handed out to motorists. <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080120/NEWS01/801200301">Black drivers were cited twice as often as white drivers.</a> The common term for that is racial profiling.<br />Can the numbers be explained away by simple demographics, you reasonably might ask. But it isn’t the population but the number of licensed drivers that counts.<br /><a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080120/NEWS01/801200301">Bossier City Police Chief Mike Halphen contends </a>being a tourist destination skews analyses. Evidently, he thinks more than twice the number of tourists are black, or at least the ones he sees breaking the law.<br />At worst, the database <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080120/NEWS01/801200303">shows a disparity that demand</a><a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080120/NEWS01/801200303">s</a> more sophisticated departmental analyses and bears watching officer conduct, re-examining their training and policies.<br /><a href="http://www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/">Shreveport Police</a> seem to have the tools it needs to ferret out departmental issues using statistics. <a href="http://www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/">Bossier City’s </a>data system is more antiquated.<br />When we began seeking this information, Shreveport was able to produce it in a timely manner for a minimal fee. They get a "B" in timeliness and readiness to fill our public records request. They omitted race in the first query for the stats.<br />Bossier City police receive a "D," taking four months and a huge bill for extracting the information from their mainframe database, although the final bill was less than the six-figure number they first cited.<br />Access to documents related to crime fighting and prevention is <a href="http://www.georgiadatabase.com/vbgdbase/links/showlink.php?do=showdetails&l=524">growing throughout the nation</a>. These tools (<a href="http://www.gis.ci.portland.or.us/maps/police/detail.cfm?action=Explorer&ZoomLevel=2&x=7655000&y=680000">see Portland's crime map with crime selector at the bottom</a>) help police manage trends and police themselves. And they <a href="http://www.alleghenycourts.us/">help citizens get information </a>about these trends in real time, potentially helping police.<br />Without transparency in publicly funded agencies, all levels of government can wield power and make decisions unchecked. Officers hold a great deal of power as they enforce the law on the streets.<br />This can be intimidating i<a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080120/VIDEO/80120003">f you don’t feel you can trust them</a>. Transparency helps foster trust.<br />Think about crime-fighting issues. Police are sometimes dumbfounded when citizens won’t come forward with information when neighbors are victimized.<br />Well, if <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080120/NEWS01/801200302">you believe you are being targeted unfairly by the police</a> for any reason, are you going to trust them enough to tell them anything?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=TICKETS"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R5N1Gek536I/AAAAAAAAAmk/4GLncd2EizM/s200/racialdata_banner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157594752416866210" border="0" /></a><br />As former President Ronald Reagan said, "Trust, but verify."<br />In this age of openness and transparency declared by our new governor, reluctance to either produce data or discuss findings is unsettling. <span style="font-size:100%;">Both police chiefs would not be interviewed without having questions in advance. <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080120/VIDEO/80120002">See the interviews online</a> to give them your own grade in this area.<br />Once we had the information, we knew it needed to be <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=profiledata">accessible to citizens</a>. The numbers are what they are, and the facts are better than any anecdotes.<br />There will be a few citizens ruffled by their names being in the<a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=PROFILEDATA"> database</a>. Maybe they didn’t tell their spouse or parent about the ticket. Those issues are not issues for The Times.<br />In the face of statistics raising the kinds of issues we found, everyone can learn a lesson here.<br /><a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=TICKETS">Judge the statistics for yourself </a>and through your own analysis. And when you find the same disparities we highlighted, be concerned and vocal about solutions you see. <a href="http://forums.shreveporttimes.com/viewtopic.php?p=159062">Share them with us</a>, allowing us to amplify your voice.<br />Our mission is to free information from the hands of those who withhold what is rightfully yours, providing a tool for citizens to redress government and to live free, unencumbered by racial bias.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-23890258733436739952008-01-17T08:51:00.000-08:002008-12-11T02:42:57.582-08:00Stop and acknowledge the painA scrapbook of a child’s life that hopefully will end with the capture of a killer is a brutal reminder of the violence children face in some Shreveport neighborhoods.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R4-Hxuk533I/AAAAAAAAAmM/LMwUwDex1r8/s1600-h/clark.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156489386748665714" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R4-Hxuk533I/AAAAAAAAAmM/LMwUwDex1r8/s200/clark.jpg" border="0" /></a>Treveon Hunter’s killer roams while Katrina Clark, his mother, mourns. The pain she shares in <a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080117/NEWS03/801170311">today’s story</a> (part of a <a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080116/NEWS03/801160352/1002/NEWS">series</a> about unsolved homicides) should stop us all: <span style="font-size:130%;">"Every time I go to his grave, I show my child this book to let him know that I haven't forgotten about him.”</span><br />As police try to link evidence and solicit information that might lead to arrests in unsolved cases (see <a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/assets/pdf/D996793116.PDF">map</a>), our community waits for the larger question to be answered: What will it take to stem the cyclical tide of crime and violence confronting some of the same neighborhoods <a href="http://www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/district%20crime/frame.htm">month after month</a> in Shreveport?<br /><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Photo by Shane Bevel/The Times: Katrina Clark says she is having problems sleeping knowing the person who killed her son Treveon Hunter is still on the loose.</span><br /><br />Related articles:<br />• <a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080104/NEWS03/801040344/1002/NEWS">Charge upgraded against man accused of killing Shreveport teen</a>• <a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071222/NEWS03/712220341/1002/NEWS">Organization aids homicide victim's family</a>• <a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071129/NEWS03/711290326/1002/NEWS">Woman heard gunshots that killed her teen daughter</a>• <a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071128/NEWS03/711280323/1002/NEWS">15-year-old girl dies in drive-by shooting</a>• <a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071106/NEWS03/711060324/1002/NEWS">One man dead, one wounded in shooting</a>• <a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071026/NEWS03/710260325/1002/NEWS">Walkers hope police will catch 9-year-old's killer</a>• <a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071025/NEWS03/710250330/1002/NEWS">Blotter: Victim of shooting Tuesday dies</a>• <a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071023/NEWS03/710230317/1002/NEWS">Shooting victim was honor roll student</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">To help: Call Shreveport police at (318) 673-6955 or Crime Stoppers at (318) 673-7373.</span><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-50405347463923260822008-01-16T12:25:00.000-08:002008-12-11T02:42:57.734-08:00DNA frees man to test system, again<span class="articlebody"><a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080115/NEWS03/801150315">Leesville's Rickey Johnson is a free man</a><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">, wrongly convicted of rape in 1983. Some conflicting evidence at the time might have raised issues, but it took DNA and more than 25 years for Johnson to find true freedom after a miscarriage of justice.</span><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R419Uuk532I/AAAAAAAAAmE/1IA9KIE6UgQ/s1600-h/rickey.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155914943462760290" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R419Uuk532I/AAAAAAAAAmE/1IA9KIE6UgQ/s200/rickey.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="articlebody"><a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080115/NEWS03/801150315">In a January 15 Times story</a><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">, Johnson said, "</span></span><span class="articlebody" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">I can never get back what I lost and I'm not going to try. I'm just going to focus on the future." Concerned about whether he could get a driver's license, he did that first. </span><br /><span class="articlebody" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><br />But he should get some compensation, a nest egg, thanks to legislation passed in 2005. When the euphoria of the moment passes, this is money he will need and should pursue.<br /><br />When Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover was a legislator, he stood before a large group gathered </span><span class="articlebody" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">at the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Group at the now-closed Pete Harris Cafe touting cases of other wrongly convicted people. His inspiring message alongside the testimony of people <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?URL=/misc/register_zago.pbs&Category=zago&Destination=http%3A//www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20080115/NEWS03/801150313">like Calvin Willis</a>, </span><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">wrongly convicted of rape and freed on DNA evidence after 21 years in jail, helped gain support for a bill that offers some compensation for the state's error.<br /><span class="articlebody"><br /><a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080115/NEWS03/801150313&GID=8C72uN7zq4S9vhxwNJbECRLoW0RdJxGQKDsy/ZUpfZs%3D">Willis still hasn't received any money</a> for his unjust incarceration. <span class="articlebody" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">Will Johnson get the $150K he is due given his now-clean slate? Will the system fail again?</span><span class="articlebody" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Photo by Vickie Welborn/The Times: </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial;" >Rickey Johnson wipes tears from his eyes while holding onto a sister after reading a judge's order that formally declares him free of the aggravated rape charge of which he was wrongly convicted in January 1983. Johnson, 52, of Leesville, was freed Monday after more than 25 years of wrongful incarceration. </span><br /></span><br /></span></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><span class="articlebody"></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-14148964712892426642008-01-08T09:11:00.000-08:002008-12-11T02:42:58.814-08:00Bayou Bliss; LSU triumphs, again<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R4Ov4uk53yI/AAAAAAAAAlk/pZovPGZ_Ct4/s1600-h/kiss.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153155787752333090" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; width: 186px; height: 126px;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R4Ov4uk53yI/AAAAAAAAAlk/pZovPGZ_Ct4/s200/kiss.jpg" border="0" height="133" width="196" /></a> <em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“From fake field goals to close calls to triple-overtime losses to coaching rumors to BCS shakeups, there’s never been a college football season like this one. From start to finish, each weekend felt like a no-one-could-have-scripted-it-this-way event. And at the forefront were our LSU Tigers. Sure, they started the season ranked at the top of the polls, but no one could predict how they <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080108/SPORTS0202/801080349/1001/SPORTS">would finish there</a>. “</span></em><br /><br /><div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.carville.info/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153155615953641234" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; width: 108px; height: 73px;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R4Ovuuk53xI/AAAAAAAAAlc/FAyzUHvtJL4/s200/james_carville_xm.jpg" border="0" height="73" width="115" />James Carville</a>, an LSU alum and political consultant, shares his passion for LSU football writing the Foreword for The Times’ new book, “Bayou Bliss”.</span><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The 176-page labor of love <a href="http://bayoubliss.com/">is available </a>thanks to some of Louisiana’s greatest sports journalists. <a href="http://bayoubliss.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153160228748517186" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R4Oz7Ok530I/AAAAAAAAAl0/ftJ8jHsTsqc/s200/cover.gif" border="0" /></a>Five newspapers came together to create this one-of-a-kind coffee-table <a href="http://bayoubliss.com/">book of photos, stories and stats </a>for each game. It is a document of an amazing football season for LSU. The 34-page championship chapter is complete.<br /></span><br /><em>“… And it sure feels good to win!”</em><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Carville is an author, actor, producer, speaker, and restaurateur. Currently, Carville is hosting XM Satellite Radio's "60/20 Sports". He became America's best-known political consultant after he helped William Jefferson Clinton win the Presidency in 1992. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R4O06ek531I/AAAAAAAAAl8/IsA7cMNhBdQ/s1600-h/celeb.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153161315375243090" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R4O06ek531I/AAAAAAAAAl8/IsA7cMNhBdQ/s200/celeb.jpg" border="0" /></a>LSU photos posted are by <a href="http://bigpictureshreveport.blogspot.com/">Greg Pearson</a>/The Times. These and more can be viewed in photo galleries posted at <a href="http://lsubeat.com/">LSUbeat.com </a>and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/shreveporttimes.com">shreveporttimes.com</a>. </span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-56014146811932028392008-01-07T08:56:00.000-08:002008-12-11T02:42:59.184-08:00Off "The Island" ... New Orleans still hurts<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080107/SPORTS0405/801070313/1001/SPORTS"><span class="articlebody">"This city remains in shambles," says Times columnist.</span></a></span><span class="articlebody"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R4JDPek53wI/AAAAAAAAAlU/UsMQvpn6sbU/s1600-h/bear.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R4JDPek53wI/AAAAAAAAAlU/UsMQvpn6sbU/s200/bear.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152754856850218754" border="0" /></a><span class="articlebody">Roy Lang III, assistant sports editor on assignment to the <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080107/SPORTS0202/801070314">BCS National Championship in New Orleans</a>, is struck by the contrast between the normalcy of life in the French Quarter and <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=D9&Dato=20080106&Kategori=NEWS&Lopenr=801060805&Ref=PH">what lies a short drive away</a>: "Many will assume New</span><span class="articlebody"> Orleans has recovered from the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall 28 months ago. New Orleanians wouldn't want it any other way — the people of this city need</span><span class="articlebody"> folks to believe such a recovery has been made."<br /></span><span class="articlebody">Journalists descending on New Orleans report inside and outside the Superdome. Lang's headline: "</span><a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080107/SPORTS0405/801070313/1001/SPORTS"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>'The Island' will shine tonight while rest of New Orleans cries for help"</a><span class="articlebody"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R4IzOek53vI/AAAAAAAAAlM/6pODnCai-jw/s1600-h/pink.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R4IzOek53vI/AAAAAAAAAlM/6pODnCai-jw/s200/pink.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152737247484305138" border="0" /></a><span class="articlebody"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Photos by </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Mike Silva/The Times</span><span class="articlebody" style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">: </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >1. After all this time a teddy bear still remains in a home that was flooded when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. </span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >2.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">A group of pink tents sit in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans. They are part of the Make it Right Project started by actor Brad Pitt in hopes of repopulating the ravaged area. </span><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">See the <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=D9&Dato=20080106&Kategori=NEWS&Lopenr=801060805&Ref=PH">gallery of Katrina Damage.</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-49603883597716666662008-01-06T16:08:00.000-08:002008-12-11T02:42:59.285-08:00Troop deployment photos iconic<a href="http://bigpictureshreveport.blogspot.com/">Times photographer Douglas Collier</a> captured memorable and classic images from the <a href="http://www.la.ngb.army.mil/">Louisiana Army National Guard</a>’s 165th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion deployment. Many of the moments shared in his <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=D9&Dato=20080106&Kategori=NEWS&Lopenr=801060801&Ref=PH">photo gallery </a>speak volumes about the <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080106/NEWS01/801060319">sacrifice and commitment of our neighbors and friends</a> beginning their <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080106/NEWS01/801060311">mission in Iraq</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R4Fu7ek53sI/AAAAAAAAAk0/SAWtTBmYgzA/s1600-h/off2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R4Fu7ek53sI/AAAAAAAAAk0/SAWtTBmYgzA/s320/off2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152521416787746498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://bigpictureshreveport.blogspot.com/">Photo by Douglas Collier</a>/The Times: Major James Allen of Bossier City, La. kisses his son goodbye while he and his fellow members of the </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.la.ngb.army.mil/">Louisiana Army National Guard</a><span style="font-family:arial;">'s 165th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion were deployed January 6, 2007 from the Combat Support Sustainment Battalion HQ in Bossier City to Mississippi for training.<br /><br />This image is iconic like many we've seen in Life, Time or other news magazines' wartime coverage.<br /></span><br />See the photo gallery of <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=D9&Dato=20080105&Kategori=NEWS&Lopenr=801050803&Ref=PH">Saturday's farewell event</a> in Bossier City.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-77267671344647044462008-01-01T04:00:00.000-08:002008-12-11T02:42:59.963-08:00Joy Fund exceeds expectations<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R3l4fOk53mI/AAAAAAAAAkE/sidMIQ7wZI4/s1600-h/emma.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150280126759034466" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R3l4fOk53mI/AAAAAAAAAkE/sidMIQ7wZI4/s200/emma.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Smiles galore, food for families and much warmth was provided through The Times </span><a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=JOYFUND"><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Joy Fund</span></a><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >. This is due to Times readers who shared their good fortune with those less fortunate. The </span><a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=JOYFUND"><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >lists of donations published daily </span></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">in the newspaper and online are inspiring. The honorariums and memorials are touching.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Thank you. Thank you. Thank you </span></span><a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071123/OPINION03/711230320/-1/JOYFUND"><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >for contributing</span></a><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >.<br /><br />The Times Joy Fund donations totaled $108,310.30, exceeding the $100K goal for 2007. A few additional donations are still trickling in to start next year’s fund. Of the 26 nonprofit projects proposed, 18 were funded. The Salvation Army received $40K for their ongoing campaign to assure homeless and needy children are cared for during the toughest time of the year.<br /><br />Here is how the outpouring of generosity made a difference:<br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R3l3Huk53lI/AAAAAAAAAj8/3gufkpcNYxo/s1600-h/joyfund_banner.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150278623520480850" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R3l3Huk53lI/AAAAAAAAAj8/3gufkpcNYxo/s200/joyfund_banner.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >1. </span><a href="http://www.caddocouncilonaging.org/"><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Caddo Council on Aging</span></a><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" > prepared meals for 1,000 homebound seniors and goody bags for seniors at 11 sites, $2,800.<br />2. Joy Home for Boys provided shoes for 22 boys and provided a Christmas event, $2,000.<br />3. </span><a href="http://www.bocs.org/page6.html"><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Johnny Gray Jones Regional Shelter</span></a><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" > </span><a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071217/NEWS01/712170312/-1/JOYFUND"><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >purchased Christmas gifts </span></a><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >for the youth housed at the shelter who ordinarily would not have a Christmas at all, $1,500.<br />4. Bossier Council on Aging delivered Christmas stockings to 500 homebound clients, $2,500.<br />5. Biedenharn Center for Women’s Issues made Christmas better for 12 women and 16 children, $2,000.<br />6. Community Support Programs provided toys and gifts for abused and neglected children and teenagers, $2,000.<br />7. Interfaith Pharmacy provided free diabetic supplies – $150 offers a one month’s supply, $3,000.<br />8. </span><a href="http://www.sbcr.us/"><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Community Renewal International </span></a><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >assisted 10 coordinators with events at their Friendship Houses in at-risk and low income neighborhoods, $5,000.<br />9. Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana distributed food to 2,000 senior citizens living in poverty and over 500 children, $5,000.<br />10. </span><a href="http://www.voanorthla.org/"><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Volunteers of America</span></a><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" > provided gifts and basic assistance to 1,200 </span><a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071202/NEWS01/712020308/-1/JOYFUND"><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >children and parents, senior citizens and people with disabilities</span></a><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >, $16,000<br />11. </span><a href="http://www.theprovidencehouse.com/about-us.cfm"><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Providence House</span></a><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" > provided assistance to 65 homeless families and children, $16,000.<br />12. Martin Luther King Health Center provided laboratory testing for a patient base of 400, $1,500.<br />13. </span><a href="http://www.hilmanhouse.org/About.htm"><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Hilman House</span></a><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" > purchased age-specific gifts for children with cystic fibrosis and will purchase food for families in need, $1,700.<br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R3l4k-k53nI/AAAAAAAAAkM/uaN3u5gvmJQ/s1600-h/angel.jpg"><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150280225543282290" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R3l4k-k53nI/AAAAAAAAAkM/uaN3u5gvmJQ/s200/angel.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >14. Unity in Prayer Outreach Ministries provided help for at-risk children and needy families, $1,480.<br />15. </span><a href="http://www.hopeyouthranch.com/"><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Hope Youth Ranch Inc.</span></a><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" > provided residential services for 69 boys ages 8-17, $1,530.<br />16. The </span><a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071125/NEWS01/711250337/-1/JOYFUND"><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Salvation Army provided </span></a><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >angel tree gifts for children and helped the homeless and senior citizens with clothing and food, $40,000.30.<br />17. </span><a href="http://www.sbrescuemission.com/"><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission</span></a><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" > provided emergency food, clothing and shelter to homeless men in need, $1,800.<br />18. </span><a href="http://www.philadelphiacenter.org/"><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Philadelphia Center</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> served food and bought gifts for children infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, $2,500.<br /></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Next year, our goal will be $120K, an amount reached in 2006. The additional monies in the 2008 goal may allow more families in area neighborhoods to receive food and toys. We hope to give more to the VOA and Providence House for their large holiday projects too. For those proposals unfunded this year, we are maintaining a file of the requests as we review the agencies closer and work to receive more funding next year.<br /><br />It is a joy to live in a community filled with so many caring and giving members. Thank you again for blessing those in need.</span><br /></span><br /><div><div><div><div><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Photos (top to bottom):</span></div><div><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >1. Twins Emma and Gracie Ryan, 2, play at the Highland Center Child Development Center. Their mother, Amy Ryan, is a student who works as a teacher's aide and doesn't have money left for Christmas after paying the bills. (Mike Silva/The Times) </span></div><div><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >2. Curala Dyer, The Salvation Army's local Angel Tree coordinator, shows off one of the "ornaments" from the tree in Pierre Bossier Mall in Bossier City. (Jim Hudelson/The Times)</span> </div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-30191766453170160162007-12-31T14:28:00.000-08:002008-12-11T02:43:00.538-08:00Independence Bowl shines bright<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R3l9xek53rI/AAAAAAAAAks/7BBDBm4Cu4M/s1600-h/bama2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150285937849786034" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R3l9xek53rI/AAAAAAAAAks/7BBDBm4Cu4M/s200/bama2.jpg" border="0" /></a> The glow of Independence Stadium in Shreveport filled with bowl game fans was a great sight Sunday night. All gathered to see Alabama and Colorado fight for bragging rights following their 6-6 seasons.<br /><a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071231/SPORTS02/712310325/-1/IBOWL">'Bama never gave up their early lead</a>. They won 30-24.<br />What started out as a 'Bama blowout though turned into a game. Colorado's offense finally showed up in the <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071231/SPORTS/712310321/-1/IBOWL">second half and started a run</a> that kept fans worried and hopeful until 2 minutes remained.<br />Relive the game and review The Times coverage at the <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=IBOWL">Independence Bowl site</a> (located at <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/">shreveporttimes.com</a>).<br /><br />Notes for attending next year:<br />1. Use the parking shuttles available at area shopping malls. Save yourself the hassle of parking and traffic. The shuttle remained efficient and easy-to-use.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R3l9q-k53qI/AAAAAAAAAkk/oWu7UUjqFZY/s1600-h/bama1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150285826180636322" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R3l9q-k53qI/AAAAAAAAAkk/oWu7UUjqFZY/s200/bama1.jpg" border="0" /></a>2. If you have bleacher tickets, be prepared to move from assigned seating. People standing and rabble rousers make it hard to watch the game, and shifting to open seats with an open view really isn't a problem after the first quarter.<br />3. Review the weather carefully. As the temperature dropped Sunday, gloves, jackets and blankets were a godsend watching sweatshirt-clad fans shiver.<br />4. Consider the crowd. Children will be exposed to cursing and drinking. This is not a major problem until profanity is directed back at the crowd. Some college-aged folks act untamed, and talking reason to them will yield little good. Move again to keep the experience fun. <div><div><div> </div><div><a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=PHOTO"><span style="font-family:arial;">Multiple photo galleries</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> of fans and action are </span><a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=PHOTO"><span style="font-family:arial;">ready for viewing</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> (sampling of images above right).</span></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-8987018069678891062007-12-31T09:33:00.000-08:002008-12-11T02:43:00.692-08:00No more computer bugs in 2008As each of us compile our New Year’s resolutions, consider Times reporter <a href="http://louisianamovies.blogspot.com/">Alexandyr Kent</a>’s <a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071231/LIVING/712310303/1004/LIVING">collection of technology resolutions</a>. Computer guru <a href="http://maccentricsolutions.com/">Thomas Avallone</a> offers compelling testimony to motivate better computer habits, "I've had bugs crawl out of laptops.” <div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R3kpLOk53jI/AAAAAAAAAjs/GE23bUJipeM/s1600-h/restech.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150192921743056434" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R3kpLOk53jI/AAAAAAAAAjs/GE23bUJipeM/s200/restech.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071231/LIVING/712310303/1004/LIVING">Listed today:</a><br />1. De-clutter the desktop<br />2. Organize your Inbox<br />3. Audit bookmarks, pictures, music files and buddy lists<br />4. Smoking is bad for computers, too<br />5. Keep crumbs and critters at bay<br />6. Reduce the wire count<br />7. Secure Wi-Fi home network<br />8. Update virus software regularly<br />9. Back up files regularly<br />10. Consolidate address books </div><div><br />We should note that spraying a can of Raid into a computer to debug is not recommended.</div><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-15586351891965089582007-12-24T19:48:00.000-08:002008-12-11T02:43:00.910-08:00Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and all that jazz<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="on down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"></span></span><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R3BTrek53iI/AAAAAAAAAjk/iFGzVZrsbyU/s320/wash.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147706380491808290" border="0" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-84298876670344417712007-12-17T15:28:00.000-08:002008-12-11T02:43:01.162-08:00Joy Fund beginning to make a difference<span style="color:#000000;">Thanks to the progress made collecting <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=JOYFUND">Joy Fund </a>donations (totaling $72,762.30 at the hour of this post), holiday giving projects are starting to <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071123/OPINION03/711230320/-1/JOYFUND">receive the support </a>they need.<br /><br />1. <a href="http://www.caddocouncilonaging.org/">Caddo Council on Aging</a> is preparing meals for 1000 homebound seniors and goody bags for seniors at eleven sites.<br />2. Joy Home for Boys will <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071217/NEWS01/712170312/-1/JOYFUND">buy shoes </a>for 22 boys and provide a Christmas event.<br /><a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=JOYFUND"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145057287613308386" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 255px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 75px" height="80" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R2bqV-k53eI/AAAAAAAAAjE/aq2Bjxd504E/s320/joyfund_banner.jpg" width="294" border="0" /></a>3. <a href="http://www.bocs.org/page6.html">Johnny Gray Jones Regional Shelter</a> will <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071217/NEWS01/712170312/-1/JOYFUND">purchase Christmas gifts </a>for the youth housed at the shelter who ordinarily would not have a Christmas at all.<br />4. Bossier Council on Aging is delivering Christmas stockings to 500 homebound clients.<br />5. Biedenharn Center for Women’s Issues will help make Christmas better for 12 women and 16 children.<br />6. Community Support Programs will provide toys and gifts for abused and neglected children and teenagers.<br /><br />Other <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=JOYFUND">Joy Fund </a>projects include efforts by the Salvation Army; <a href="http://www.theprovidencehouse.com/about-us.cfm">Providence House</a>; Northwest Louisiana Interfaith Pharmacy; <a href="http://www.voanorthla.org/index.php?PHPSESSID=eed2acdf3d3a2a30bd2989114e6edf46">Volunteers of America of North Louisiana</a>; <a href="http://www.sbcr.us/">Shreveport-Bossier Community Renewal</a>; MLK Health Center and <a href="http://www.philadelphiacenter.org/">The Philadelphia Center</a>.<br /><br />As annual <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071123/OPINION03/711230320/-1/JOYFUND">givers understand</a>, we give a major portion of the fund to the Salvation Army every year ($52K in 2006), buying clothes, blankets, food and gifts for the homeless and underprivileged they serve. This year they will provide gifts for 2,000 families. The Providence House and Volunteers of America have received as much as $20K in good years, bringing Christmas toys and gifts to families and children in their care programs (The after-school <a href="http://www.voanorthla.org/index.php?submenu=Programs&src=gendocs&link=The%20Lighthouse&category=Programs">LightHouse program</a> is one example). The Philadelphia Center will provide a special event/toys for children touched by AIDS.<br /><br />Reaching our goal ($100K) will serve the holiday projects mentioned. Exceeding the goal allows some additional projects to receive help just <a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/NEWS/61122030/-1/JOYFUND">like last year</a>. </span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">More requests keep coming. I have a folder of not-yet-funded events and toy projects for underprivileged children served by churches and agencies in our coverage area. </span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">Please <a href="https://ssl1.gmti.com/shreveport/about/secureforms/joyfund.html">continue to give</a>. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-29492707737151205152007-12-13T05:02:00.000-08:002008-12-11T02:43:01.307-08:00The Times to build $15M press facility; offset European press (WIFAG) expected to roll in 2010When your company (<a href="http://www.gannett.com/">Gannett</a>) invests in a <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071213/NEWS01/712130326">$15M printing press project</a> against negative prognostications for print newspapers, you say THANK YOU.<br /><br />The Times has purchased an offset press and <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071213/NEWS01/712130326">will build</a> a facility on our existing property in downtown Shreveport. <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R2CNMRx0cCI/AAAAAAAAAi8/rtzVhezfJuk/s1600-h/Picture1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143266016527413282" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R2CNMRx0cCI/AAAAAAAAAi8/rtzVhezfJuk/s320/Picture1.jpg" border="0" /></a>What does this mean to local newspaper readers?</p><p class="MsoListParagraph">· In color and sharpness, think USA Today.</p><p class="MsoListParagraph">· Crisp, sophisticated graphics.</p><p class="MsoListParagraph">· Photographs with depth and detail.</p><p class="MsoListParagraph">· Refined and easier-to-read text.</p><p class="MsoListParagraph">· A uniquely modern product.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“We believe print is here to stay, even though the Internet is a bigger part of what we do,” Times Publisher Pete Zanmiller says <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071213/NEWS01/712130326">in today’s announcement story</a>. “This press will allow us to give a modern-day paper to the city.” </p><p class="MsoNormal">When The Times puts its 1960s letterpress to rest in 2010, our European press replacement will position your newspaper for the future. Vivid offset color will be available on every page for news and information and for advertisers. The new format will be the more portable and easier-to-handle Berliner format, an 18.5-by-11-inch page size. (The press was developed and manufactured by <a href="https://webmail.east.gannett.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.wifag.ch/cmse/index.php?id=1,0,0,1,0,0" target="_blank">WIFAG</a>.)</p><p class="MsoPlainText">This press will make us the third North American paper to commit to the Berliner format, following the successful <a href="https://webmail.east.gannett.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.newsandtech.com/issues/2007/07-07/nt/07-07_berliner-progress.htm" target="_blank">2006 conversion of another Gannett newspaper, Lafayette, Ind.,</a> and the expected <a href="http://www.newsandtech.com/issues/2007/05-07/nt/05-07_press-sales.htm">2009 conversion</a> of the <a href="http://readingeagle.com/Article.aspx?id=66570">Reading (Pa) Eagle</a>. </p><p class="MsoPlainText">Producing a higher-quality product on a modern press means we’ll be delivering news to doorsteps for years to come. While more and more people go online, the masses still enjoy their morning newspaper. We are in the hands of more than 130K readers every day (200K on Sundays). Many of those same readers are online too, tracking news updates.<br /></p><p class="MsoPlainText">Along with online-only readers, <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/">shreveporttimes.com</a> visitors (Over 400K per month) are viewing more than 6M pages of news, photos and videos each month. News consumption isn’t wavering; it’s just changing. And we are changing with it.</p><p class="MsoPlainText">If you want to be involved in helping mold The Times of the future, <a href="mailto:english,%20alan" target="_blank">send me a line</a> and a little bit about yourself. I’m building a list of dedicated readers who want to help build the next incarnation of The Times. We’ll have a few informal meetings in 2008 as a prelude to the hands-on work we’ll do in 2009. </p><p class="MsoPlainText">With all that is happening in our community (<a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071213/NEWS01/712130325/1002/NEWS"> I-49</a> to <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071213/NEWS01/712130326">Cyber Command</a> to the burgeoning <a href="http://search.shreveporttimes.com/sp?eId=100&gcId=8261524&rNum=8&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shreveporttimes.com%2Fapps%2Fpbcs.dll%2Farticle%3FAID%3D2007712070336&siteIdType=2">movie industry</a> (<a href="http://search.shreveporttimes.com/sp?eId=100&gcId=8261538&rNum=8&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shreveporttimes.com%2Fapps%2Fpbcs.dll%2Farticle%3FAID%3D2007712070336&siteIdType=2">movies coming</a>, <a href="http://search.shreveporttimes.com/sp?eId=100&gcId=8261524&rNum=4&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shreveporttimes.com%2Fapps%2Fpbcs.dll%2Farticle%3FAID%3D2007712090337&siteIdType=2">extras</a>, <a href="http://search.shreveporttimes.com/sp?eId=100&gcId=8261505&rNum=4&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shreveporttimes.com%2Fapps%2Fpbcs.dll%2Farticle%3FAID%3D2007712120375&siteIdType=2">Denzel Washington</a>), it’s about time for a face-lift. An offset press producing bright color, crisp text and graphics will showcase many of the great moments yet to come.</p><br /><p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Times photo: The Times purchased this four-story, <a href="http://www.newsandtech.com/dateline/12-13-07_date.htm">1991 WIFAG Press from a company in Switzerland</a>. The press is a WIFAG OF 790, <a href="http://www.wifag.ch/cmse/download.php?id=47013,242,1">currently in operation</a> in Ringier, Switzerland.<br /></span></span><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-33857836117393031802007-12-07T08:17:00.000-08:002008-12-11T02:43:01.431-08:00Emerging from the dark placeIn the past few weeks, I've been to places I hope to never revisit.<br />My month-long bout with mononucleosis started with garden-variety symptoms that turned inexplicable and harsh: 3 days of non-stop hiccups, a "can't swallow" sore throat, 12 days of not being able to keep food down and daily nausea.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R1lZB3dOYfI/AAAAAAAAAis/0HiuopWydn8/s1600-h/New+Image.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141238338221400562" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/R1lZB3dOYfI/AAAAAAAAAis/0HiuopWydn8/s200/New+Image.JPG" border="0" /></a>A virus beat me into the fetal position.<br />Emerging from the darkened bedroom, I long for work and a return to my routine. Fantasies of eating fried chicken or a hamburger are doused by a prescription of bland foods for recovery. Water crackers have been a staple. Interestingly, Raisin Bran has eased my upset stomach along with that diet.<br />I expect to get back to the December grind next week.<br />This is a particularly challenging month at many newspapers. The Christmas rush coverage coincides with a flurry of vacations. We are closing a few major 2007 projects alongside preparations for 2008. Independence Bowl coverage and LSU's national championship bid loom. We have a few special news projects to fit into the paper before the end of the year.<br />It is work we love, but it is daunting piled against the tug and pull of the holidays. My desk has mounds of unanswered mail among other things. Take much of that away, and December still seems a bear.<br />It happens to many of us every year, rushing to get a month's worth of work completed in only a few weeks. Any vacation plans loom like a cloud of pressure against an intense timeline. We try to squeeze a day off here and there for shopping, too.<br />Before you know it, HOLIDAY STRESS hits hard (nerves frayed, loved ones shortchanged and loss of sleep). That can be a place you don't want to go, yet we somehow end up there too often.<br />Resolving not to return to the darkness of my ill retreat and resolving not to end up a holiday mess requires the same focus.<br />We have to pace ourselves.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-18004991267006341872007-11-17T19:46:00.000-08:002007-11-17T18:36:29.105-08:00A bit under the weatherI haven't been posting lately due to a fight I'm having with a pretty nasty bug (infection). A few rounds of antibiotics these past weeks haven't done the trick. I keep feeling I've got this bug on the ropes, but, alas... I do hope to be back at work and posting on this blog within a week.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Your Sunday Times</span><br />Our news team is all set for election coverage tonight. Also, I'm looking forward to our report on the state of the YWCA. Of course, it will be a joy to relive the LSU(41) - Ole Miss(24) game in the Sports section. The game in Oxford did not disappoint this couch-bound editor. The blogs on the <a href="http://bayoubengalsblog.blogspot.com/">LSU game</a> and the <a href="http://teddyallen.blogspot.com/">Louisiana Tech game</a> are a treat you should review.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Looking ahead to your Thanksgiving Day paper</span><br />The Nov. 22 edition is produced as a Sunday-size paper. It is one of the biggest newspapers of the year. In addition to all the news stuffed in the turkey edition, it will be jammed with the holiday sales inserts every shopper will devour. We have to start the presses a few hours early on Wednesday to get out the door for early sales at Wal-Mart and other stores.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-72778750078540766862007-11-12T08:20:00.000-08:002008-12-11T02:43:01.655-08:00Bring a chair to the Fourth Annual Highland Jazz & Blues Festival<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/Rzh_xKksTUI/AAAAAAAAAic/mpkpzARkX4c/s1600-h/bluebirds.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131992258017250626" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/Rzh_xKksTUI/AAAAAAAAAic/mpkpzARkX4c/s320/bluebirds.jpg" border="0" /></a>Grassroots neighborhood organizations like the Highland Area Partnership know how to throw a party in Shreveport. Their fourth <a href="http://shreveport.blogspot.com/2007/11/highland-jazz-and-blues-fest-food.html">jazz and blues festival begins</a> at noon this Saturday in Columbia Park.<br />Nov. 17 is an election day too, so cast your votes in the morning and go enjoy classic local performers like the Bluebirds (at right) or Dorothy Prime and the Bluesjumpers. Hear any of the 11 bands slated to play for free. Get <a href="http://shreveport.blogspot.com/2007/11/highland-jazz-and-blues-fest-food.html">more info </a>about the event on a couple blogs: <a href="http://highlandareapartnership.blogspot.com/">HAP</a> and <a href="http://shreveport.blogspot.com/2007/11/highland-jazz-and-blues-fest-food.html">shreveport.blogspot.com</a>. Read more in Preview Friday.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-68218301089405380782007-11-07T09:52:00.000-08:002008-12-11T02:43:01.807-08:00Mountain view for Louisiana TechTwo words: Appalachian State.<br /><br />Ribbing the Michigan football fan, our publisher Pete Zanmiller, about <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/southern/2007-09-03-Upset_N.htm">Appalachian State robbing Michigan</a> of their season in an early upset win is still a career risk. Some here have walked that road.<br /><br />When Louisiana Tech lines up against <a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071105/SPORTS0402/711050302/1001/SPORTS">penalty-prone LSU</a> in Death Valley this weekend, they can draw inspiration from that game. Goliath can be taken down.<br /><br />Louisiana Tech head coach <a href="http://louisianatech.rivals.com/viewcoach.asp?Coach=1927">Derek Dooley</a> has it right when he says he doesn’t need to talk about <a href="http://www.lsubeat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage">how good LSU</a> is and explain that to his team. His kids and my kids know. But every game offers a chance to win and a chance to lose.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/RzH8WKK4WeI/AAAAAAAAAiU/0HCAClc_Hy0/s1600-h/mountainappl.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130158908169017826" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/RzH8WKK4WeI/AAAAAAAAAiU/0HCAClc_Hy0/s200/mountainappl.jpg" border="0" /></a>Tech can mount a true challenge if they bring inspiration and a belief they can win. They have to push aside the <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/preview?gameId=273140099&confId=8">mound of prewritten</a>, <a href="http://bayoubengalsblog.blogspot.com/2007_11_01_archive.html">preconceived headlines</a>. A “nothing to lose” mentality can work for you when you have everything to win.<br /><br />If Dooley is looking for headlines to show his team, just remember what the scoreboard in Ann Arbor said on Sept. 1, 2007:<br /><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=2026">Appalachian State</a> 34<br /><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=130">Michigan</a> 32<br /><br />Louisiana Tech may be an under-underdog in comparison to 1-AA defending champ Appalachian State, but we love the message movies like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudy_(film)">Rudy</a> offer: heart, hard work and perseverance can create miracles.<br /><br />The Zanmillers know this too well.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Photo: (AP/Duane Burleson) Appalachian State Mountaineers head coach Jerry Moore is carried off the field after defeating Michigan Wolverines 34-32 in September. Michigan was ranked 5th at the time. Moore led one of college football's greatest upsets.</span><br /><br /><br />Note: LSU (2) vs. Louisiana Tech , 7 p.m., Nov. 10Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-10790344062211801612007-11-03T21:03:00.000-07:002008-12-11T02:43:02.371-08:00Big LSU win in bright lights<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/Ry025aK4WbI/AAAAAAAAAh8/pCYJhRJQGuw/s1600-h/signlight.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/Ry025aK4WbI/AAAAAAAAAh8/pCYJhRJQGuw/s200/signlight.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128815910550264242" border="0" /></a>The Times immediately beamed the big news of today's LSU win over Alabama onto digital billboards located in Bossier City and Shreveport after the game.<br />This is the first time the newspaper used this media format to share breaking news. The "LSU beats 'Bama" banner will rotate on four billboards tonight and through Sunday morning.<h4 style="font-weight: normal;"><div class="headline"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/Ry02waK4WaI/AAAAAAAAAh0/76OPwc5KBz8/s1600-h/distsign.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/Ry02waK4WaI/AAAAAAAAAh0/76OPwc5KBz8/s200/distsign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128815755931441570" border="0" /></a>Sign locations:<br /><ul><li>Youree Drive and East Kings Highway</li><li>Barksdale Boulevard near Jimmie Davis</li><li>East 70th and Fern Avenue</li><li>Benton Road @ Benton Spur<br /></li></ul></div> <div class="subheadline"><h4 style="font-weight: normal;"> </h4><h4 style="font-weight: normal;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/Ry1KS6K4WdI/AAAAAAAAAiM/WQi11eKq6kE/s1600-h/les.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 100px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/Ry1KS6K4WdI/AAAAAAAAAiM/WQi11eKq6kE/s200/les.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128837239357856210" border="0" /></a></h4> Relive the Tigers 41-34 victory over the Crimson Tide on the <a href="http://bayoubengalsblog.blogspot.com/">Bayou Bengals Blog</a>. LSU pulled ahead in the final minutes when <span class="articlebody">Shreveport's Jacob Hester scored (<a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=D9&Dato=20071103&Kategori=SPORTS&Lopenr=711030805&Ref=PH">photo gallery</a>).</span><h4 style="font-weight: normal;"> </h4><h4 style="font-weight: normal;"> </h4> <h4 style="font-weight: normal;"> </h4><br /><h4 style="font-weight: normal;"> </h4> </div> </h4>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-3676999992644342482007-11-02T14:25:00.000-07:002008-12-11T02:43:02.538-08:00Helping one animal at a time<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/Ryt68qK4WXI/AAAAAAAAAhc/xbXmkTrGdyw/s1600-h/dog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128327783222106482" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/Ryt68qK4WXI/AAAAAAAAAhc/xbXmkTrGdyw/s200/dog.jpg" border="0" /></a>The problems our community faces <a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071102/NEWS01/711020350">dealing with abandoned or unwanted dogs and cats</a> are daunting. In Caddo and Bossier alone, we euthanize about 24 animals per day. We’ve observed <a href="http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/caddo-parish-animal-shelter-dogs-abused-and-neglected">Caddo’s troubles</a> managing the <a href="http://www.caddopets.com/">parish animal shelter</a>. In some ways, <a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071102/NEWS01/711020340">it can only get better</a>. "These changes can't happen overnight. It will take time," said Caddo Parish Administrator Woody Wilson, wishing his magic wand could fix the ills and would move things along. <a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071102/NEWS01/711020341">Bossier</a> is working to improve its operations too.<br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><strong></strong></span><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><strong>Caddo Animal Shelter photo and info provided (top right): This mix is still a pup and is neutered. He, and his big ears, wait for a new home. His photo runs Monday in the Living section. letting folks know he is available for adoption.</strong></span><br /><br />Many volunteers and animal lovers save animals in danger, hoping to help them avoid fates awaiting them at animal shelters. Consider local fencing champ Andy Shaw of <a href="http://fencingonfairfield.com/site/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1">Fairfield Avenue School of Fencing</a> in Shreveport. With his 2-inch-thick scrapbook of animals he saved from the streets, Shaw shares a passion for making a difference one animal at a time. He’ll interrupt his life often to help hurting dogs on the street. A truly abandoned dog is easy to identify, he says. He cleans them up, starts any needed medical treatment and finds them homes.<br /><br />Thanks to Andy, we have Sadie the newshound in our house (photo in right-hand rail). We didn’t know we would be so ready to have a dog again after our pound-found mutt Max left this world. If you are wondering how to help one animal at a time, there are many in need. <a href="mailto:andy@museumofamericanfencing.com">Write Andy</a>, or just go visit the shelters to find your next family member.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-21231470045516972842007-10-30T08:09:00.000-07:002008-12-11T02:43:03.152-08:00Wired city: Plug Shreveport into the worldAnxiety over last-minute decisions at the office weighed on me during a family trek to <a href="http://www.nps.gov/moru/">Mt. Rushmore</a>. When we pulled into a <a href="http://www.radioiowa.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=3EC69789-6461-4283-8E66BB8EE1303104">highway rest stop in Iowa</a>, a sign declaring <a href="http://www.radioiowa.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=3EC69789-6461-4283-8E66BB8EE1303104">free Internet access</a> was a godsend.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/RyftlKK4WWI/AAAAAAAAAhU/yqo0pDgnbYM/s1600-h/conversations%2Billustration.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 177px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/RyftlKK4WWI/AAAAAAAAAhU/yqo0pDgnbYM/s320/conversations%2Billustration.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127327923425532258" border="0" /></a>Disappointing my wife who declared the trip a mostly-electronic-free vacation, I popped open my laptop and logged into e-mail. After a short exchange with the office, my mind was clear.<br />"Can we turn it off now?" she said. We returned to the license plate alphabet game and <a href="http://psc.disney.go.com/disneychannel/originalmovies/highschoolmusical/">High School Musical</a> sing-a-longs.<br /><br />In the middle of the country, <a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071028/NEWS01/710280323/1002/NEWS">business was enabled</a>, encouraged. Traveling around, you begin to see some advantages for <a href="http://www.ci.shreveport.la.us/">Shreveport</a> to set up public-supported free Internet access. <span style="font-size:85%;">(</span><a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071028/NEWS01/710280317/1002/NEWS"><span style="font-size:85%;">This is being considered by the City Council</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">).</span><br /><br />Just like food and water, Internet connectivity is seen by the next generations as a basic need. As the global economy evolves and breathes online, <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071021/OPINION03/710200308/1058/OPINION03">we can help put our city </a>on the fast track now. The time is nigh for us to wrap our arms around the future by investing in it.<br /><br />If you want young professionals to remain and thrive, <a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071028/NEWS01/710280317/1002/NEWS">provide the kind of services they seek</a> -- and <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071021/OPINION03/710200308/1058/OPINION03">make it easy</a>.<br /><br />It isn't necessary to blanket the <a href="http://www.muniwireless.com/">city with WiFi</a>. We could implement a phased plan. The <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Texas+Ave,+Shreveport,+LA,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=title">Texas Avenue corridor</a>, the area around courthouses and government buildings and <a href="http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu.wMOSdH7IMBLyxXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE5NTVlM3ZnBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMTEEY29sbwNhYzIEdnRpZANIMDI5Xzk1BGwDV1Mx/SIG=131p75037/EXP=1193839244/**http%3a//inshreveport.blogspot.com/2007/08/live-music-returns-to-red-river.html">Red River District </a>are good places to start.<br /><br />Spotlight our new services with signs announcing, "Entering a public access WiFi zone."<br />Imagine a passerby on I-20 looking at a billboard that says, "Free Internet access in 5 miles; Connect in Shreveport's downtown."<br /><br />When conventioneers and tourists visit, they can explore and make business deals at downtown eateries or meet partners to review presentations. They'll feel unencumbered.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/RyYyI6K4WVI/AAAAAAAAAhM/OOdH9Zv63gU/s1600-h/cityscape.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126840354443123026" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/RyYyI6K4WVI/AAAAAAAAAhM/OOdH9Zv63gU/s320/cityscape.jpg" border="0" /></a>Make Internet access free at <a href="http://www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/airport/">the local airport </a>as a business calling card. That service will be like a mint on the pillow to high-powered executives traveling to and from Shreveport.<br /><br /><a href="http://phoenix.gov/skyharborairport/customer_service/press-announcements.html#internet">Phoenix offers this</a>. Why shouldn't we? (<a href="http://www.wififreespot.com/airport.html">Check others</a>.)<br /><br />An introductory step into a <a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071028/NEWS01/710280323/1002/NEWS">city-supported wireless venture </a>would do much:<br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g</span> <a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071028/NEWS01/710280324/1002/NEWS">Locals may be drawn </a>downtown for lunch or stay downtown to work outside their cubicle.<br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g</span> Internet access would serve as an incentive for small businesses to locate downtown.<br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">g</span> Build-it-and-they-will-come infrastructure philosophy might attract wired young professionals and some technology companies that will serve <a href="http://timeseditordesk.blogspot.com/2007/09/cyber-command-moment-excites.html">Cyber Command</a>.<br /><br />Imagine overhearing college students: "Hey, let's go over to the <a href="http://www.ci.shreveport.la.us/DEPT/cd/bfsupport_files/RedRiverDistrict.htm">District</a> and meet. We can hook up for free while we eat." If you want young professionals going downtown, <a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071028/NEWS01/710280324/1002/NEWS">give them what they seek.<br /></a><br />Once we expand WiFi access, imagine real estate agents, city workers and sales people becoming faster and more efficient in a city supporting new ways of working. Ah, this is a quality-of-life feature we can celebrate.<br /><br />As we build more roads and highways, <a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071021/OPINION03/710200308/1058/OPINION03">we should build an on-ramp</a> to the new economic and information superhighway.<br /><br />While sitting on the bank of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_River_%28Mississippi_watershed%29">Red River</a>, a young woman opens her laptop to make a business decision that adds another Shreveport business to the global economy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-20665771447604468472007-10-29T12:14:00.000-07:002008-12-11T02:43:03.430-08:00Bobby Jindal is on the line ...Governor-elect Bobby Jindal called this morning thanking The Times editorial and community boards for endorsing him, for discussions of the issues and for even-handed coverage.<br /><br />We talked briefly about Cyber Command and the list of good things going on in Northwest Louisiana. Jindal praised Governor Kathleen Blanco for visiting Northwest Louisiana more often than previous governors and pledged to do likewise. He explains he’ll be up here again soon.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/RyYiyKK4WSI/AAAAAAAAAgs/1RvP4JNtl2g/s1600-h/jindalsmile.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126823470926682402" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/RyYiyKK4WSI/AAAAAAAAAgs/1RvP4JNtl2g/s200/jindalsmile.jpg" border="0" /></a>Jindal sees the value in building up high-tech infrastructure -- as an opportunity to get ahead of other states. Jindal offered observations that some countries with rudimentary phone systems years ago leapfrogged us in technology. How did that happen?<br /><br />The state with the best technology may be set to lead in an emerging global economy.<br /><br />We appreciate his vision for a brighter and better Louisiana. To that end, The Times will continue to challenge and review the actions of government.<br /><br />We are sending him links to our ongoing ethics series. We find it hard to accept that politicians who owe ethics fines can still run for office. Jindal agrees.<br /><br />Lastly, he likens the transition process from Blanco's administration to his as “drinking water from a fire hydrant.” There is so much information and so much to do, so fast.<br /><br />Jindal is expected to take the oath of office to become Governor of Louisiana on Jan. 12, 2008.<br /><strong>Up tomorrow:</strong> Blanco visits our community and stops by our offices.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-44817058053737695182007-10-29T11:22:00.000-07:002007-10-29T11:27:21.788-07:00Bobby Jindal is on the line...Correct version: <a href="http://timeseditordesk.blogspot.com/2007/10/bobby-jindal-is-on-line.html">http://timeseditordesk.blogspot.com/2007/10/bobby-jindal-is-on-line.html</a><br />Blog homepage: <a href="http://www.timeseditordesk.blogspot.com/">www.timeseditordesk.blogspot.com</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1934563073259779719.post-58223948739937894552007-10-26T13:26:00.000-07:002008-12-11T02:43:03.807-08:00Bob Odom sees the S-Train coming<div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125729190569072882" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 175px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 118px" height="123" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/RyI_iqK4WPI/AAAAAAAAAgU/GOt3JNlAAnI/s200/odom.jpg" width="186" border="0" />Why did Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry <a href="http://shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071026/NEWS01/710260343/1002/NEWS">Bob Odom drop out of the runoff and</a> “retire”? Simple to reason.<br />Odom (top right) maxed out getting the number of votes he could against the Republican field in the Oct. 20th race with <a href="http://www400.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcms2&rqsdta=102007">41 percent</a>. </div><div>He can't win. </div><div>He doesn’t have the support, resources, momentum or will to beat <a href="http://www.mikestrain.org/">Republican Mike Strain</a> in the Nov. 17 election. Even though Strain (bottom right) peaked at <a href="http://www400.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcms2&rqsdta=102007">40 percent</a>, he likely would pick up the anti-Odom and Republican votes cast to the other challengers in the runoff. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/RyI_06K4WQI/AAAAAAAAAgc/1zVL-Zsk_U8/s1600-h/strainsplash.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125729504101685506" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 115px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 137px" height="137" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8W31d7P6DHA/RyI_06K4WQI/AAAAAAAAAgc/1zVL-Zsk_U8/s200/strainsplash.jpg" width="122" border="0" /></a><br />When pressed about why he was “retiring” from the office, Odom acknowledged "the runoff definitely was a part of it."<br />Odom’s tenure has a history of corruption accusations and harsh criticism of his push to build a couple of mills in South Louisiana.<br />Odom did us a favor by keeping his engine off the track in a sure-to-happen campaign train wreck. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0