SUMMARY: Rain is tapering off Saturday evening, but storm chances increase Sunday, especially with scattered showers and thunderstorms likely throughout the day. Currently, conditions are calming, though a flood advisory remains in effect in western Jefferson Parish due to earlier heavy rain. Temperatures today hit 90°F, above the average of 87°F, with nighttime lows in the 70s under partly cloudy, humid skies and south winds around five mph. Monday continues with scattered storms, mainly north of the area, and highs near 92°F through Tuesday. Rain chances lessen later next week, with temperatures returning closer to normal by week’s end.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Emilee Calametti | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-05-23 15:41:00
Shreveport Police Department reports a 44% decrease in homicides this year, with 15 homicides so far compared to 27 last year. Overall crime is declining, including shots fired calls down from 1,149 to 828, and shootings causing injury reduced by 31%. Vehicle thefts fell 10%, armed robberies 52%, burglaries 17%, vehicle burglaries 23%, and carjackings 67%. However, sex crimes increased by 6%, with 200 reported this year versus 188 last year. Police Chief Wayne Smith and Councilman Grayson Boucher credit these improvements to the police department’s efforts in reducing crime across the city.
(The Center Square) — Updated reports from the Shreveport Police Department show crime is continuing to trend down in the city, with homicides decreasing by 44%.
Shreveport is still seeing a significant decrease in crimes, especially homicides. This year, the city reported 15 homicides year-to-date, a 44% decline from 2024. Last year, the department had 27 reported homicides for the same period.Â
Homicides are not the only crime decreasing throughout the city.
Year-to-date shots fired calls number 828 so far this year, which is significantly lower than the same time last year when the department reported 1,149. In 2021, the department had 2,230 by this point in time.Â
According to the report, shootings are also down year-to-date. These stats are incidents where someone is injured from a gunshot. This year, there have been 86 compared to 125 last year, showing a 31% reduction. The city saw the most in 2021, with 207 shootings that injured someone.Â
Police Chief Wayne Smith noted that sex crimes are still reporting higher than previous year-to-date. There have been 200 reported sex crimes so far this year compared to 188 last year at this time — an increase of 6%.
Vehicle thefts are down 10%, armed robberies are down 52%, burglaries are down 17%, vehicle burglaries are down 23% and carjacking is down 67% compared to last year.
“It is very refreshing to be sitting here listening to these crime stats go down,” said Councilman Grayson Boucher. “It’s because of the work that the police department is doing. I can’t say enough for what you’ve done as chief.”
Emilee Ruth Calametti currently 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 an additional M.A. in Journalism from New York University. Her articles have been featured in DIG Magazine, Houstonia Magazine, Bookstr, inRegister, EntertainmentNOW, AOL, MSN, and more. She is a Louisiana native with over seven years of journalism experience.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The article presents a straightforward report on crime statistics in Shreveport without endorsing or criticizing any political ideology. It reports changes in crime rates, quotes a police chief and a city councilman, and provides factual data, all of which contribute to a neutral tone. The language is factual and unembellished, focusing on quantitative changes rather than framing the information to support a particular political viewpoint. Therefore, the content maintains a neutral stance and serves as objective reporting on the issue of crime trends.
SUMMARY: Spring flooding in Lafayette has renewed focus on drainage, especially after April’s flash flood overwhelmed recent improvements at Lee Avenue, affecting downtown businesses like Pop’s Poboys. Mayor-President Monique Boulet and stakeholders see potential in adding subsurface drainage under Johnston Street, which currently lacks it and drains directly downtown during heavy rains. Past efforts spent over \$100 million on drainage with limited success. Boulet’s administration is shifting toward integrating drainage into modernization projects, with engineering analysis ongoing. Downtown needs about 73 acre-feet of water storage to prevent floods, with underground storage under Johnston Street and Lee Avenue potentially providing 20 acre-feet, helping reduce flooding by 20-30%.
SUMMARY: As summer approaches, swim safety is essential for families spending time near water. Rowdy Gaines, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, emphasizes the importance of swim lessons, which reduce drowning risks by 88%, especially for children aged 1 to 4, the highest risk group. He advises parents never to take their eyes off children near water, always keeping them within arm’s reach, and learning CPR. Safety measures like pool barriers are vital. Swim lessons can start as early as a child’s walking age, tailored individually. Resources like stepintoswim.org offer lesson locators and safety tips to ensure a safe, joyful swim season for all.
