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Jewell House Shelter requests emergency funding from the Caddo Commission | Louisiana

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Emilee Calametti | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-02 12:18:00

(The Center Square) — Pittre Walker, a longtime community advocate for youth, stood before the Caddo Commission asking for emergency funding to continue to run the Jewell House Shelter in this week’s work session.

Jewel House opened in 2008, and since has helped young girls and women ages 14-24 in the city have somewhere to go. The youth center is in need of funding to continue to operate. Jewell House Shelter can house up to six girls at any time, and it takes eight employees to run the 24-hour shelter.

“We’ve had a young lady just recently graduated from LSU, went to med school, and she was actually living in a car when she came to us, but she was determined. She was valedictorian of her high school,” said Walker at Monday’s meeting. “She was determined to make a great life for herself.”

Ordinance No. 6526 on new business in the commission looks to amend the budget for the Oil and Gas fund and Riverboat fund to provide $30,000 for youth outreach services doing business as Jewell House.

This ordinance, introduced by Commissioner Stormy Gage-Watts, also notes the funds will be used to provide temporary housing for juvenile girls on probation as an alternative to detention. 

Many grants and funding usually provided to the shelter have not come in yet, pushing Walker to ask the commission for emergency money to operate for the next 90 days.

According to Walker, they work closely with schools, juvenile courts, hospital counselors and other places in the community to help young women who can’t go back home. Unlike other shelters, the Jewell House does not cap the stays at 30 or 45 days.

The Jewell House has a very high success rate of taking in young women and working with them to go off to college and become taxpaying citizens in the community, claimed Walker. 

Walker shared that one girl arrived when she was 14 years old. She remained there until she was 18 and graduated high school. The young girl is now working towards going to college. 

In the future, she has plans to open a “Willy’s Home for Boys” to take in younger men within the city as the Jewell House does for young women. Apart from the OJJ or OCS, Walker said there is nowhere for young boys to go in the community who need help. 

The council voted to advance the motion with nine in support and one opposed. Commissioner John Atkins was the lone vote against the ordinance.

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 Jewell House Shelter requests emergency funding from the Caddo Commission | Louisiana appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com

News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Sedrick Van Pran Talks Giving Back at Bayou Boys Camp in New Orleans

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www.youtube.com – WWLTV – 2025-07-06 16:00:02

SUMMARY: Sedrick Van Pran, former Warren Eastern star and Georgia Bulldogs center on their 2021 and 2022 championship teams, recently discussed giving back at the Bayou Boys football camp in New Orleans. Now with the Buffalo Bills, Van Pran finds joy in mentoring young athletes, appreciating the opportunity to inspire kids to chase their dreams. Reflecting on his rookie NFL season, he emphasized learning patience during the challenging transition from college to pro football. With guidance from veteran teammates like Dion Dawkins and Connor McGovern, he’s embracing growth and preparing for future success, while remaining grateful to God for the journey.

WWL’s Seth Lewis caught up Van Pran to talk about multiple topics, starting with his chance to give back with the Bayou Boys …

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Chris Paul announces final season in the NBA

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wgno.com – Jared Paul Joseph – 2025-07-06 15:26:00

SUMMARY: Chris Paul, former New Orleans point guard, announced the 2025-26 NBA season will be his final. Drafted fourth overall in 2005 by the New Orleans Hornets, Paul quickly excelled, earning Rookie of the Year and All-NBA honors. He spent six years with the Hornets, highlighted by a franchise-best 56-26 record in 2008. After a vetoed trade attempt to the Lakers, Paul was traded to the Clippers, then played for Houston, Oklahoma City, Phoenix (reaching the NBA Finals), Golden State, and San Antonio. Over 20 seasons, he accumulated 23,011 points, 12,499 assists, nine All-Defensive selections, and solidified a Hall of Fame career.

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The post Chris Paul announces final season in the NBA appeared first on wgno.com

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News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Danger of fireworks & How to avoid injury

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www.youtube.com – WWLTV – 2025-07-04 18:50:55

SUMMARY: Doctors warn of the dangers fireworks pose to the eyes, with 15% of fireworks injuries affecting vision. Lisa Dickerson lost sight in one eye after a bottle rocket malfunctioned during a family celebration. Despite multiple surgeries, she now has significant scarring and disfigurement. Dr. Aaron Shriver and others note a spike in firework-related eye injuries following legalization in Iowa, overwhelming emergency rooms. Safety tips include keeping a bucket of water and fire extinguisher nearby, waiting 20 minutes before handling duds, soaking faulty fireworks in water, and wearing protective goggles. Lisa urges caution to prevent similar life-changing injuries.

If you plan on setting off fireworks, doctors are warning you to protect your eyes.

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