A Community meeting organized by Homeland Security Coordinator Shane Hubbard will feature Dr. Cynthia Ebinger. Friday afternoon at 5:00pm at First Methodist Church, Coushatta, Ebinger will discuss the recent seismic activity and allow time for questions and answers for all participants.  

As reported by Stacey Plaisance of Tulane, Ebinger, a Tulane University geoscientist, has installed seismic monitoring equipment in northwest Louisiana following an unusual series of earthquakes in the Coushatta area of Red River and DeSoto parishes, including the largest inland earthquake recorded in state history.

Since December, at least 14 earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 2.5 have been detected in north Louisiana, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The most significant occurred on March 5 near Coushatta and measured magnitude 4.9. Several additional earthquakes, including one measuring magnitude 4.4, were recorded March 9 within minutes of one another.

Smaller earthquakes were missed because of the distances between large detection instruments.

Cynthia Ebinger, the Marshall-Heape Chair in Geology in Tulane University’s School of Science and Engineering, traveled to the region to deploy instruments that will help scientists better understand the source of the seismic activity.

“Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey have used new data from instruments we recently installed to relocate the earthquakes,” Ebinger said. “They are occurring in crystalline rocks much deeper than any of the industrial activity and along an ancient fault line.”

Five additional earthquakes were recorded in the most recent sequence, and scientists expect the activity may continue.

The earthquake cluster has drawn attention in part because it aligns with the Haynesville–Bossier Shale formation, one of the largest natural gas production regions in the United States. Scientists have documented cases in other states where wastewater injection from oil and gas production can trigger earthquakes under certain geological conditions.

“Throughout the U.S. and elsewhere, we’ve learned that injecting wastewater produced during oil and gas extraction back into deep wells can cause earthquakes,” Ebinger said. “Over time, the added weight of the injected water can put pressure on ancient faults and cause them to reactivate.”

Still, researchers say determining the exact cause of the Louisiana earthquakes will require further analysis.

“The question of natural earthquakes versus human-induced earthquakes does not have a simple yes-or-no answer,” Ebinger said. “But the increase in the number and magnitude of earthquakes over the past 15 years since we’ve had local monitoring suggests something is changing.”

Ebinger leads Tulane’s Geophysics and Active Tectonics Research (GATR) Laboratory, which studies the forces that deform Earth’s crust and shape tectonic plate boundaries. Her research focuses on tectonic and volcanic processes in continental rifts and passive margins and their implications for earthquake hazards, energy resources and the evolution of Earth’s plates.

The monitoring effort builds on earlier work by Tulane and other researchers. Between 2019 and 2022, geoscientists installed seismometers across parts of Louisiana to monitor ground movements.

“Those instruments measure vertical and horizontal ground motions so small they can’t be detected at the surface,” Ebinger said. “Our goal was to establish a baseline for earthquake activity to inform state planners and to better understand Louisiana’s subsurface structure.”

That monitoring revealed clusters of small earthquakes and suggested activity in some areas was increasing over time. A Tulane array of instruments installed in October captured the recent earthquakes, providing researchers with detailed data about the sequence.

The instruments measure earthquake locations, depths, directions of fault movement and ground acceleration — the shaking people at the surface may feel.

The monitoring network is connected to the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Earthquake Information Center, which allows data from Louisiana to be analyzed alongside seismic information from across the country.

“Owing to the quick USGS response, Tulane data are now monitored remotely and automatically transmitted to a national automated system that collates and uses information from Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi and throughout the United States,” Ebinger said. “That allows scientists to quickly analyze earthquake locations and ground shaking and then combine those results with older data to visualize the subsurface faults.”

Research students are using aftershocks and other measurements to better understand the fault systems responsible for the earthquakes and to improve hazard assessments.

“We are using aftershocks to map out the fault plane or multiple fault planes,” Ebinger said. “We’re also measuring ground acceleration so engineers can use that information for hazard zoning and improved ground-shaking maps.”

For residents, the key factors that determine risk are the size of earthquakes and how strongly the ground shakes.

“Earthquakes happen all the time,” Ebinger said. “The important factors are the magnitude of the earthquake and the ground acceleration it produces. Fortunately, we now have instruments in place to collect that critical information.”

Small “sand volcanoes” formed in soft sediments near Coushatta, Louisiana, after recent earthquakes shook water-saturated ground, causing sand and water to bubble up to the surface. The formations were photographed by Tulane geoscientist Cynthia Ebinger during fieldwork in the area.

Matt Vines

COUSHATTA – When a team runs the table in district play, it’ll show on the all-district team.

That took place in District 3-2A boys basketball where eight players and head coach Dadrian Harris were recognized.

Six players were named to the first or second team with two players receiving honorable mention status.

Senior Demarche Newton was voted District Most Valuable Player after leading Red River to an undefeated district title and a 22-11 record.

Coach Dadrian Harris took Coach of the Year honors after Red River won its second straight district title.
Seniors Warren Bowman and Malique Smith earned first-team status.

Senior Collin Stafford accumulated two honors – second-team status and a spot on the all-defensive team.

Junior Damija Harris joined Stafford on the All-Defensive Team.

Junior Landon Wilson and sophomore Lathyn Lewis, who were honorably mentioned, will have the task of carrying the Red River basketball program forward.

The 2025-25 Bulldogs won all eight district games with the closest contest coming in a nine-point win against Many to start the district slate. Red River reasserted their dominance in the second meeting with Many, a 46-point win.

This year’s senior class appeared in consecutive Top 28s in 2024 and 2025 before falling in the second round this season as a No. 6 seed.

The National Weather Service in Shreveport issued a Special Weather Statement alerting the public to the potential for weather conditions favorable for wildfire growth until 7pm tonight. 

See the statement below:

ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED FOR ALL OF OUR
FOUR STATE REGION WHICH INCLUDES EXTREME SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA,
SOUTHWEST & SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS, EAST TEXAS, AND NORTHERN &
CENTRAL LOUISIANA...

Weather conditions will be favorable for wildfire growth.

* TIMING: Until 7 PM Friday evening.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY: Afternoon minimums will range from 30 to 45
  percent.

* WIND: 10 to 15 mph sustained with higher gusts possible.

* FUELS: Critically Dry.

These conditions will support the spread of wildfires. Outdoor
burning and activities that involve open sparks or flames are
discouraged. Please report all wildfires to local law enforcement
as soon as possible.

Churches, community groups, and local organizations are beginning to announce their annual events, giving families several opportunities to celebrate the season with candy-filled eggs, prizes, and outdoor fun. Below is a look at the local egg hunts already planned in and around the area.

Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days Easter Egg Hunt Mar 21 at noon.

First Baptist Church Coushatta Mar 28 at 10am.

Ashland Fire Department Mar 28 at 11am. This event is to raise money to purchase fireworks for the Christmas Open House. The community event, in partnership with Ashland Baptist Church, will also feature hamburger & hot dog plates, a fun jump, cake walk and obstacle course. Arm Bands are $10 (includes the jump house, obstacle course and one meal). Egg Hunt age groups: 0-5 and 6-11. 

Hall Summit Community Center & Park Mar 28 at 3:30pm. 

First Methodist Church Coushatta Apr 3 at 10:30am. Egg hunt open to babies through 12 years old. The Easter Bunny will be there for photos.

Fairview Baptist Church Apr 3 at 5pm. Birth – 4th grade will enjoy the egg hunt while 5th-6th grade will participate in the Escape Room. Fried fish will be served to all.

Gator Country in Natchitoches Apr 4 will host 2 hunts; 11am and 2pm. Age groups 1-3 years, 4-5 years and 7 years and up. Regular park admission applies.

Share you event details with the journal at redriverparishjournal@gmail.com

John Dillinger was one of the most notorious of the Depression Era criminals. His crime sprees included charges of desertion from the U.S. Navy, theft, auto theft, armed robbery, bank robbery, attempted murder, and murder. On January 25, 1934, Dillinger and his gang were captured in Tucson, Arizona. Dillinger was extradited to Crown Point, Indiana to stand trial on a host of charges including the murder of a police officer. Lake County officials claimed their jail where Dillinger was held was “escape proof.”

At about 9:30 on the morning of March 3, 1934, Dillinger and his cellmate, convicted murderer Herbert Youngblood, sat impatiently in their cell as a guard, Sam Cahoun, was making his rounds. As Sam peered into their cell, Dillinger aimed a pistol at him and ordered him under threat of death to open the cell door. Sam was unarmed and had no choice but to comply. Dillinger told Sam to remain quiet and to follow him. At Dillinger’s request, Sam called out for Deputy Earnest Blunk. As the deputy stepped out of the fingerprint office, Dillinger stuck the pistol against his side. Dillinger led Sam and Deputy Blunk back to the jail cell. After locking Sam in the cell, Dillinger had Deputy Blunk call out for Warden Lou Baker. As Warden Baker and three others stepped out of their offices, Dillinger aimed his pistol at them and forced them into the cell with Sam. Dillinger locked the cell door and headed for the warden’s office. Dillinger exchanged his pistol for one of the machine guns from the warden’s gun rack and told Youngblood, “Come on, quick. Get one of those guns there.” Youngblood took a machine gun from the same gun rack and followed Dillinger’s lead. Dillinger used Deputy Blunk in the same manner to disarm a total of six deputies and 16 guards, all of whom he locked in jail cells. Unable to find any car keys in the prison offices, Dillinger, Youngblood, and Deputy Blunk made their way out of the jail house where they met the warden’s wife. Dillinger told her, “Be a good little girl and we won’t kill you.” She let them pass. Dillinger, Youngblood, and their hostage made their way to the Main Street Garage where they located Edward Saagers, the garage mechanic. Dillinger ordered Saagers to give Deputy Blunk the keys to the fastest car in the garage, which happened to be a black police car. Then, Dillinger ordered Saagers to get in the car with them. At Dillinger’s order, Deputy Blunk slowly drove the escape car away from the prison as to not attract attention. Mrs. Baker alerted the sheriff, which set off a search for Dillinger by practically all of the law enforcement officers in Indiana and Northern Illinois. Two hours after their escape, Dillinger and Youngblood released Deputy Blunk and mechanic Saagers at Peotone, Illinois, 35 miles south of the Crown Point jail. Before driving off, Dillinger gave Deputy Blunk and Saagers a $4 tip and told them, “Good job!”

Newspapers reported that it was one of “the most spectacular breaks in the history of American crime,” partly because the pistol Dillinger used to set off the daring jailbreak was absolutely harmless. It was not loaded. It could not be loaded. You see, the pistol Dillinger used in that escape was one he had whittled out of a piece of wood.

Sources:

1. The Times-Picayune, March 4, 1934, p.10.

2. The Times (Hammond, Indiana), March 5, 1934, p.10.

             The Red River Parish Library has recently received an order of new books.  In this article, we are highlighting five new books by a Louisiana author with local ties.  Barbara P. Walsworth lives in northwest Louisiana.  She has family in the Coushatta area and in the Shreveport-Bossier area.  Barbara will tell those who ask that she does not have a college.  She just loves to write stories.  The five books she has written are The Red Dirt Road, Charlie’s Moment, Under the Pecan Tree, Uncommon Lands, and Jubal.  Each of these novels stands alone and can be read in any order.

            The Red Dirt Road is the first novel by Barbara P. Walsworth, who grew up in the backwoods and freshwater swamps of northwest Louisiana.  She draws from her experiences there to create intriguing characters and a suspenseful novel.  In the summer of 1962, fourteen-year-old Parthenay Preiste’s abusive, alcoholic father moved his family from southwest Texas to the backwoods of northwest Louisiana . . . and then, immediately abandons them.

            Charlie’s Moment is an intensely emotional story of a family held hostage by their love for a son caught in the agony of drug abuse and the tragedy that follows.  Stevie Thomas’ eighteen-year-old son, Charlie, is missing.  It isn’t uncommon for him to disappear for a day or two . . . hiding out with his drugs, but now he has been gone seven days.  Something is wrong.

            Under the Pecan Tree tells the story of Anna Belle Lee who had been wandering in the land of the lost, bored and lonely widowhood for two years . . . unable to sleep or focus.  She had not had a “cry-free” day since Mac’s death.  His clothes still hung in the closet.  She had begun to wonder if she needed professional help.  But then she returned home one morning to find Jesse Allen sitting in a rocker on her front porch, naked and homeless.

            Uncommon Lands is an emotionally gripping story of how quickly a life can turn dangerously wrong.  Mary Beth Ivy loses her husband Jack, but, just when she begins to find contentment and happiness in her life, new people enter her life and threaten everything she holds dear.

            Jubal is the main character in the book bearing his name.  Living alone on a mountainous hill top deep in the forest of Big Sandy is just the way Jubal Holley likes his life, but life and people threaten to pull him away from it.  Will he survive the events that encounters along the way?

            Author Barbara P. Walsworth has become a favorite of many of our local library patrons.  There are many other books that have been purchased as we try to update our collection.  In addition, if there is an author or a book title that our patrons would like to see added to the collection, they should contact the library.  Also, patrons should be sure to check the library calendar on the Red River Parish Library website for upcoming events.

Friday:  

Mainly sunny skies. Very warm. High 84F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

A mostly clear sky overnight. Low 59F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday:

Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. Near record high temps. High 87F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Clear overnight. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday:

Mainly sunny. Hot. High 86F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.

Clear skies. Low near 60F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Life has so many variables out of our control that makes navigating our daily situations difficult. But in some instances, there are a few things we can control and it’s up to each of us to make it happen.

One thing we have zero control over is who our parents are. We as individuals have zero say on the DNA we are blessed with, nor the people it came from. Even though we are who we are, we do have the ability to become the person we truly want to be. In most cases, we can pave our own path to success or failure with the skills we have been blessed with.

Even with bad DNA flowing through our bodies, we still have the task of shaping our lives into whatever we want to be. But only if we as individuals take control and ownership of who we are will our direction in life be confirmed.

I learned at a very early age that the good Lord above had blessed me with good athletic abilities. I figured out before the age of 10 that it would be through sports, with hard work and determination, that I could possibly have some success. Sports gave me a purpose!

That’s what we’re all looking for … a purpose! Even if it goes against the beliefs of the people who raised us, we have to take control of our own destiny at some point.

Even when the odds are against us, there are also times when we have to accept the consequences of our actions. We have to make decisions that not only affect ourselves, but those around us.

Sometimes this means hurting the ones we love the most because the direction they want us to go may not be the same as the destination we had in mind.

By the time we reach 17 or 18 years old, most people know who they are and possibly what direction or path they might want to take. They start to see things in a different light than, say, their parents. But as parents, we must recognize that even though we think we know what’s best for our children, that may not always be the case. We must allow them to spread their wings and continue to grow even if they make a few mistakes along the way. It’s called growing up!

I’ve always heard the excuse that he or she was a product of the environment in which they were raised. Sometimes this can be true, but it doesn’t always have to be that way.

For example, my stepdad was a wife beater and treated women like they were worthless. Even though I witnessed many of these incidents first-hand at a young age, I always knew in my heart that this was wrong, and I made a conscious decision to never be that kind of person.

I always felt that God instills in each of us the ability to know right from wrong when we are born. He gave all of us a brain and the ability to reason when we see things that are not right.

Just because you grow up in a house with little to no guidance doesn’t give you the excuse to ignore what is right. Subconsciously we still know right from wrong and it’s up to each of us to make good decisions and do the right thing.

We all need direction in our lives, which was lacking early in my childhood. Hopefully, we have those we can turn to for advice like a parent or maybe a grandparent, aunt, uncle, preacher, teacher or maybe a coach. No matter who it is, it should be someone we trust. A person who has our best interest at heart.

Bottom line is this — at some point in our lives we must take control over our destiny no matter what our background is. But when we make a decision, we must accept the consequences for our actions. This is what we call accountability!

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com.

LSU Women’s Basketball start March Madness play this evening at 5pm vs Jacksonville on ESPN.

Abundant Life Worship Center is hosting ALL-IN-5th Sunday service Mar 29 at 2pm. Guest speaker is Mandy Holloway. There will be no 10:30am service that day.

Clara Springs Baptist Camp is holding their Annual Campers on Mission work week Mar 30-Apr 3. Work begins everyday at 8am. Meals provided daily. Volunteers are needed for a day, afternoon or the full week. Contact Bro Bubba 318-796-3875 for more information.

Huey P. Long Assassination Papers to be displayed in the Research Library at the Louisiana State Archives until the end of April. Jack B. McGuire who recently launched his new book “Killing the Kingfish” is donating his collection of never-before-seen documents from the 1935 LA Bureau of Criminal Identification investigation into the assassination, some of the main source materials for the book. The documents offer a unique firsthand glimpse into the aftermath of Long’s death.

Natchitoches Jazz R&B Festival is May 15-16 on the Riverbank in Downtown Natchitoches.

Terri Trichell Adams
November 26, 1956 – February 13, 2026
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 11am at Open Door Fellowship in Coushatta.

Katherine Guy
01/17/1935 – 03/17/2026
Services pending

Matt Vines

Riverdale alumni Colton Caskey is making waves in his first collegiate season at LSU Shreveport, but this past weekend, Caskey was lifting a Phoenix Bass Fishing League trophy.

Caskey won Sunday’s BFL event on Sam Rayburn Reservoir by bagging 23 pounds, 15 pounces, on five fish – despite losing multiple lunkers due to net issues at the boat.

BFL tournaments are known for helping anglers get their foot in the tournament fishing door, and Caskey is competing in the 7 Brew Cowboy Division Angler of the Year race.

His event win Sunday qualifies him for the BFL Regional Tournament on Grand Lake in Grove, Okla in late October.

Caskey’s win pulls him into No. 55 in the standings, and his event win bagged him more than $4,000 between his winnings and securing the largest fish of the tournament, an 8-pound, 14-ounce bass.

Caskey, who was the only angler to bring in more than 20 pounds Sunday, said he pulled away from the bank and started fishing shallow timber without a scope.

“I decided to pull off the bank and fish a couple of hard spots,” Caskey told majorleaguefishing.com. “I pulled up on one in 15 feet of water I hadn’t fishing in a long time, and I cast up there with a jig and had one about six pounds that came off at the boat.

“Then I had another about five pounds that came off at the boat. I lost two big ones at that spot. So I decided to turn on my scope and see what was there. And there was a good many of them. I caught my first big one at 8-14.”

Caskey added that he was having problems with the net, and he figured it would cost him an event win, especially since he finishing 46th place in Saturday’s event.

“I was very surprised because Rayburn is typically a 30-pounds-to-win type of lake,” Caskey said. “They were biting really well (Sunday), and I lost a lot of fish right at the boat.

“But I was grateful to have what I had.”

The LSUS Fishing team is looking to climb from its No. 7 national ranking in the final spring months, and Caskey has been an important piece to that success in his first year.

Caskey and partner Mason McCormick finished in the top half of the field on Lake Dardanelle (11th), Kissimmee Chain (81st), Lake Seminole (86th) Kentucky Lake (171st).

In February the fourth-grade students in Red River Parish were back to gardening!

They prepared for spring planting with indoor seed starter kits.

Our new NCH Agent, Mrs. Elizabeth, also brought food samples to review MyPlate.

Thank you so much to our adult and teen volunteers, Virginia Webb, David Giddens, Alvester Barfield, and Viktor Novosad for your wonderful help!

Shared by Red River Parish 4-H

I return to this topic because of the recent U.S. 5th Circuit of Appeal decision in the Louisiana case involving the Ten Commandments. In short, the ruling lifts a lower court injunction and allows Louisiana to mandate that all public schools display the Ten Commandments in every classroom.

Without any specific understanding of what such displays might look like, these appellate judges stated they were not willing to rule based on speculation. “It would oblige us to hypothesize an open-ended range of possible classroom displays (of the Commandments) and then assess each under a context-sensitive standard that depends on facts not yet developed and, indeed, not yet knowable. That exercise exceeds the judicial function. Guessing.”

And, while the ruling stops short of declaring Louisiana’s law constitutional, it is nevertheless encouraging and hopeful. Louisiana Attorney General, Liz Murrill, has stated that “don’t kill or steal shouldn’t be controversial.”

The Ten Commandments provide the general foundation for American civil and criminal law and possess value and merit completely aside from any religious connotation. Our young people are trying to survive the cultural cesspool that modern American society has become and can only benefit from being reminded of America’s history and founding principles of public morality, faith, civic virtue, respect for lawful and moral authority, and the guidance and leadership of parents.

Further, all that our Framers intended by the Establishment Clause was that there be no official federal, national religion of the kind the Pilgrims fled when they settled in America. That is all. The Framers never intended for there to exist this outright hostility to all notions of religion and faith in public life. However, that’s what we have.

Thomas Jefferson absolutely favored free exercise of religion and cited as one of his proudest accomplishments the religious freedom law he wrote for his native state of Virginia. Jefferson opposed a mandated state religion. Beyond that, he supported the broadest definition of religious liberty possible.

In fact, Jefferson’s own belief in the vital principle of religion and morality was much further developed and advocated for by George Washington and John Adams, who were both true believers. Washington stated that: “reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.” He believed that religion and morality are “indispensable supports” for political prosperity and the duties of citizens. Adams believed that “our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Back to the Louisiana law.

It should be unnecessary but perhaps the best way to avoid having the law struck down is by including along with the Commandments, other historical displays such as the Declaration of Independence, the Mayflower Compact, and the Northwest Ordinance. By surrounding the Ten Commandments display with other historical displays, it would be imbued with academic, educational, and historical value outside of any religious context.

I note that the current U.S. Supreme Court has been more accommodating of free exercise of religion, including the case of Kennedy v. Bremerton, the “praying football coach” who was fired from his job at a public high school after he briefly knelt after games to offer a prayer of thanks. The Court ruled in his favor, finding that the coach had never attempted to force his players to join him, or based playing time upon player participation in the prayer. Rather, in firing the coach the school district had unconstitutionally punished him “for engaging in a brief, quiet, personal religious observance.”

The Supreme Court has adopted a new legal standard and held that the Establishment Clause “must be interpreted by ‘reference to historical practices and understandings.’ I much prefer the new standard because America has many historical practices involving faith and religion in the public square as well as the understanding that such practices are based not only on faith and religion but on our nation’s culture, history, and tradition.

Even if this Louisiana law is ultimately struck down by the Supreme Court—and I don’t think it will be—it nonetheless has great symbolic value in having existed in the first place. Essentially, the law—however long it may last—sends an unmistakable message about the values of Louisiana and what we think is important to emphasize in public education.

America’s Founders knew that freedom of religion is essential to self-government. This ruling is merely a reflection of that.

Royal Alexander

Wednesday: 

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. High 72F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

A mostly clear sky overnight. Low 48F. Winds light and variable.

Thursday:

Sunny. Cool. High around 80F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.

Clear overnight. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable.

SHREVEPORT – Are you a current student or a graduate from a local college who’s looking for a job or a career change?

Make the trek to the Regional Career Fair on Thursday at the Centenary Gold Dome for a chance to meet with nearly 100 employers from across the region.

The event lasts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will have groupings of employers by industry.

Students and alumni from LSUS, Centenary, Southern in Shreveport, Bossier Parish Community College, Northwest Technical Community College and Northwestern State University College of Nursing are invited to wind their way through employer booths on the Gold Dome floor.

Industries most represented include K-12 education, healthcare, defense and law enforcement, financial services, manufacturing, hospitality and casino, government and graduate college programs.

Employers from along the Interstate 20 corridor and East Texas represent the bulk of the employers who will be present, but representatives from different parts of Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi are expected to attend.

“Our advice to students is to have a resume ready to go and to practice your elevator pitch so you can describe yourself to employers,” said Michael Doughty, assistant director of LSUS Career Services.

“Develop a plan about the kinds of industries you’d like to talk to.

“One issue we find is that every year some students dress too casually. Business casual attire is appropriate, but if you’re a graduating senior, a suit or dressier clothes won’t be out of place either.”
LSUS Career Services put together a series of resume workshops and other Career Fair preparation sessions to ensure LSUS students were ready. A Career Fair preparation session will occur today with resume sessions Wednesday and Thursday in the Student Success Center.

The event also benefits younger college students who may not be entering the workforce full-time this spring.

“Attending a career fair helps younger students become more comfortable in a professional setting,” Doughty said. “You’ll be talking to established professionals who are well into their careers, and you can get a feel for what kinds of questions a recruiter may ask and the kinds of questions you’ll want to ask employers.

“The experience will make you more comfortable when it comes time to look for actual roles.”
Career fair attendees may also unearth internships or make connections for future employment opportunities.

In a national job market that’s shed jobs in five of the past 12 months with unemployment climbing to 4.4 percent, which is still below average but higher than recent years, Doughty said students should be looking for any advantage in landing a job.

“We are seeing a retraction in jobs, and it makes an already competitive market even more competitive,” Doughty said. “Especially for students looking to stay local, it’s a great opportunity to see what’s available to them.

“Making those contacts is important because presumably there will be a bigger pool of competitors for any given role.”

LSUS students and alumni needing transportation to the career fair can catch a SporTran bus for free atthe Pioneer Heritage Center.

For questions, visit LSUS Career Services or reach out to Doughty via email at michael.doughty@lsus.edu

Matt Vines
Communications Specialist, LSUS Public Relations
Louisiana State University Shreveport
matt.vines@lsus.edu
http://www.lsus.edu

It really does take less square footage to be a kid now than it did back in the olden days—by which I mean the 60s, 70s, and 80s, when dinosaurs did not roam the earth, but teenagers with giant stereos certainly did.

Back then, if you were a teenager, your bedroom looked like the back room of a Radio Shack. You had a stereo system that took up half the wall. Not a cute little Bluetooth speaker—no, no. This thing had a turntable, an amplifier, and speakers the size of end tables. If you turned the volume up, the windows rattled, the dog hid under the porch, and your mother yelled your full name from three counties away.

And the music collection? Albums were thin, yes, but they were the size of pizza boxes. And every album had a jacket, and the jacket slid into a cover, and some artists released double albums, which meant you needed a forklift to move your collection. Then came eight-tracks (which lasted about as long as a snowball in July), then cassettes, which required their own storage system—usually a shoebox with the lid missing.

If you were lucky, you had a phone in your room. It was attached to the wall by a cord, and the receiver was attached to the base by another cord. If you were really lucky, you had the long cord, the one that let you walk around the room, change albums, and still talk to your best friend about absolutely nothing for two hours.

You also had an alarm clock—or a clock radio—because you needed something to wake you up so you could enjoy that magical sleep between the alarm going off and your parent entering the room to announce, “I said GET UP.” Today we call that the snooze button. Back then we called it “living dangerously.”

Some studious kids had a desk with a typewriter on it. If you had a Pica typewriter, your term papers looked longer, which felt like cheating but wasn’t. And there was almost never a TV in the bedroom. The TV lived in the den, a 25-inch RCA color set that weighed more than a small car. The whole family gathered around it, and since there was no remote, the youngest child served as the official channel changer. It built character.

Fast-forward to 2026. Kids don’t need a whole room anymore. They need a pocket. Their music, alarm, computer, TV, telephone, camera, calculator, flashlight, and speakers are all in one device. Pull out your phone and look at everything it does. It’s a miracle of modern engineering.

There’s a tool that lets us do things we never dreamed possible.

 iPhone.

But here’s the thing: for all the problems life throws at us—grief, illness, broken relationships, guilt, confusion, decisions that keep us up at night—there is no app for that. There’s no setting to toggle, no update to install, no notification that says, “Your peace has arrived.”

               When you don’t know what to do…
               When you’ve lost something or someone…
               When the doctor is puzzled…
               When your child or parent won’t listen…
               When you’ve messed up and don’t know how to make it right…
               When you need direction and can’t find the map…

               There is one place to go.

               Jesus.

               He doesn’t fit in your pocket.
               He doesn’t need charging.
               He doesn’t go out of date when the next model comes out.
               And He’s the only One who can hold everything your phone can’t—your fears, your hopes, your                 grief, your sin, your future.

Kids today may need less space to grow up. But all of us—no matter our age—need the same Savior to grow into the people God calls us to be.

At the March 4, 2026, meeting of the Bossier City Council, the council voted to withhold city funding for the United Way of Northwest Louisiana until the 2024 audit reports were completed.

During the meeting, city officials reported that United Way of Northwest Louisiana was found noncompliant by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor for failing to file 2024 reports.

Previously, the Bossier City Council directed city officials to check the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s compliance before any future funding of non-governmental organizations.
In response to the city’s actions, Shekinah Robberson, Director of Marketing and Events for the United Way of Northwest Louisiana, released a statement.

Our organization takes financial transparency and accountability seriously. We are actively working to complete and submit our required audit to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor and remain committed to full compliance with all reporting requirements. UWNWLA expects to complete and file the required audit no later than June 2026, which is the only issue at hand.

For decades, United Way has partnered with communities across Northwest Louisiana to connect residents with critical services. Support from Bossier City helps sustain 211, a vital resource that connects thousands of residents each year with help for housing, food assistance, healthcare, and other essential needs.

We value our partnership with Bossier City and remain committed to serving residents across the region.