Connect with us

News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Arceneaux concerned about funding allocations for Shreveport fire station | Louisiana

Published

on

www.thecentersquare.com – By Emilee Calametti | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-08 12:42:00

(The Center Square) — Mayor Tom Arceneaux urged the Shreveport City Council to reconsider funding allocations for the completion of Fire Station 20 in Monday’s administrative conference.

“I certainly support the funding and moving forward as quickly as possible for the reconstruction,” Arceneaux said. “My concern is the proposed source of the funding as written.” 

The ordinance proposes taking $733,000 from the operating reserve to fund the project. The station reconstruction is estimated to cost $1.6 million. According to Arceneaux, the lowest bid from those rejected previously was $1.4 million, which will now be the target when bids go out. 

The mayor asked the council to withdraw or defeat Ordinance 20, deeming it unnecessary. He also asked the council to amend Ordinance 21 to allocate funds from the unassigned premium funds instead of from the operating reserve. 

Arceneaux disagrees with taking funds from the operating reserve. The council and administration have maintained an operating reserve of 8% of the operating budget. Rating agencies and bond insurers told the city that if the reserve were to drop below the pledged 8%, it could significantly impact the city’s credit rating, increasing borrowing costs. 

If the ordinances, as worded, passed, it would drop the operating reserve below 8% having negative effects, according to Arceneaux. 

The city is reportedly about to be able to sell bonds as approved by voters in 2021. The city made $88 million from selling the 2024 Proposition bonds in November. They also received a $2.9 million premium in addition to the $88 million. The premium on hand is not pledged or allocated to projects that comprise projects pledged from the $88 million. 

“Using part of the $2.9 million to complete Fire Station 20, a capital project, not an operating budget project, is an appropriate and legal use of the premium funds for Proposition three of the 2024 bonds,” Arceneaux said. “It does not take away from any proposed project and it does not use operating reserve funds.”

Fire Station No. 20 has been out of commission since August 2023 when mildew and mold were found forcing firefighters to work from different stations in the city. After Fire Chief Clarence Reese updated the council on the cost in March, the council is now prepared to vote on the funding needed. 

An amendment was prepared for Arceneaux’s changes in hopes that one of the council members would sponsor it. The council is set to vote April 8 on the ordinances. 

Emilee Ruth Calametti serves as staff reporter for The Center Square covering the Northwestern Louisiana region. She holds her M.A. in English from Georgia State University and soon, an additional M.A. in Journalism from New York University. Emilee has bylines in DIG Magazine, Houstonia Magazine, Bookstr, inRegister, The Click News, and the Virginia Woolf Miscellany. She is a Louisiana native with over seven years of journalism experience.

The post Arceneaux concerned about funding allocations for Shreveport fire station | Louisiana appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com

News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

New Orleans City Council overrides Mayor Cantrell’s veto on French Quarter trash contract, Charity Hospital

Published

on

wgno.com – Ashley Hamilton – 2025-07-10 16:11:00

SUMMARY: The New Orleans City Council voted 5-1 to override Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s emergency declaration, allowing Henry Consulting to take over trash collection in the French Quarter. Council President JP Morrell criticized the mayor for overstepping by ending IV Waste’s contract early and awarding Henry Consulting the contract without proper process. Residents and businesses favor keeping IV Waste, and concerns were raised about the quick contractor change. The city defends the emergency contract and selection process, emphasizing Henry Consulting’s top ranking in a competitive RFP. Henry Consulting expects to begin service on July 31. The council also overrode Cantrell’s veto on funding for Charity Hospital redevelopment.

Read the full article

The post New Orleans City Council overrides Mayor Cantrell’s veto on French Quarter trash contract, Charity Hospital appeared first on wgno.com

Continue Reading

News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Kerrville native living in New Orleans reflects on heartbreak in his hometown

Published

on

www.youtube.com – WDSU News – 2025-07-10 10:26:51

SUMMARY: Parker Kennedy, a Kerrville native now living in New Orleans, reflects on the devastating flooding affecting his small hometown. Once a community of 20,000, Kerrville has been thrust into heartbreaking headlines due to the tragedy, including loss of life impacting people Parker personally knows. Though his family is safe, the pain is deep as he mourns friends lost, including a close friend’s daughter. Motivated to help, Parker is donating 10% of all sales from his Uptown New Orleans store in July to Kerrville relief foundations, supporting survivors and animals. He honors the memories of those lost and wants others to know Kerrville’s unique spirit beyond this tragedy.

Kerrville native living in New Orleans reflects on heartbreak in his hometown

Subscribe to WDSU on YouTube now for more: http://bit.ly/1n00vnY

Get more New Orleans news: http://www.wdsu.com
Like us: http://www.facebook.com/wdsutv
Follow us: http://twitter.com/wdsu
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wdsu6/

Source

Continue Reading

News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Marines to assist ICE at Louisiana detention centers

Published

on

thecurrentla.com – Alena Maschke – 2025-07-10 09:15:00

SUMMARY: Up to 200 Marines are deploying to Louisiana to support ICE by performing administrative, logistical, and clerical duties at detention facilities. They will not engage in law enforcement or have direct contact with detainees. This is part of a broader mobilization approved in May, involving up to 700 troops across several states, including Florida and Texas. Louisiana holds the second-largest immigrant detainee population after Texas, with facilities often operating over capacity. The Pine Prairie ICE Processing Center, near Lafayette, is nearly twice over capacity and has faced repeated complaints about human rights abuses and unsanitary conditions. ICE continues expanding its detention network amid rising detainee numbers.

Read the full article

The post Marines to assist ICE at Louisiana detention centers appeared first on thecurrentla.com

Continue Reading

Trending