Bossier Parish projected to lead the region in growth and employment over the next 25 years
Plus — Bossier might see its first freeze of the season Sunday night.
Friday, November 7, 2025
Bossier City weekend forecast
🌤️ Today 🌫️ Morning fog, then clearing skies 🌥️ Mostly cloudy → ☀️ sunny afternoon 🌡️ High: 78°F 💨 Wind: SW 5–10 mph
🌙 Tonight ⛅ Partly cloudy 🌡️ Low: 58°F 💨 Wind: N 5 mph → calm
☀️ Saturday 🌞 Mostly sunny 🌡️ High: 82°F 💨 Wind: E 5 mph → SW afternoon
🌌 Saturday Night 🌟 Mostly clear, less humid 🌡️ Low: 52°F 💨 Wind: NW 5–10 mph
🌬️ Sunday 🌞 Mostly sunny, breezy & cooler 🌡️ High: 62°F → falling to 58°F 💨 Wind: N 10–15 mph, gusts to 25 mph
❄️ Sunday Night 🌕 Clear and much colder 🌡️ Low: 32°F 💨 Wind: Light
Beyond Bossier
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Bossier Parish projected to lead the region in growth and employment over the next 25 years
A forecast for the growth of Bossier Parish was shared at Wednesday’s police jury meeting.
Bossier Parish Administrator Dr. Ken Ward recently attended a North Louisiana Council of Governments transportation planning meeting, where demographers projected that over the next 25 years, from 2025 to 2050, Bossier Parish is projected to grow by 20%. DeSoto Parish is expected to see 6% growth over the same period.
Dr. Ward said that was in contrast to -4% growth in Caddo and Webster parishes.
Employment growth over the next 25 years was forecast at 50% in Bossier Parish, 24% in Caddo Parish, 35% in DeSoto Parish, and 12% in Webster Parish.
“One of the other strange facts that they decided to share with us, which I think you’ll find all interesting based on what we’re seeing when it comes to our subdivisions, is that across Louisiana, 86% of the folks polled, citizens of Louisiana, choose to live in a single residence house with a big lot or an estate-style property. So we’re seeing exactly that in Bossier Parish,” Ward added.
Ward also noted that 64% of Louisiana citizens polled felt the state should spend money on existing infrastructure rather than building new infrastructure.
In other business, the jury passed a resolution to take on $6.5 million in debt for water-related capital projects through a 100% forgivable loan.
In property standards issues, the jury considered the condemnation of properties located at:
5212 Clover Lane, Bossier City, LA
5232 Clover Lane, Bossier City, LA
1014 Chase Way, Benton, LA
1001 Trey Avenue, Benton, LA
104 Pebble Beach Drive, Benton, LA
1084 Mack Drive, Haughton, LA
121 Cypress Lake Circle, Benton, LA
1065 Mack Drive, Haughton, LA
108 Deerwood Lane, Haughton, LA
5266 Linton Cutoff Road, Benton, LA
Kim Gaspard was honored for his service representing District 1 following the death of long-time juror Bob Brotherton.
Lynn Beaty, a lifelong resident of Haughton, was sworn in as the new juror for District 1. Beaty has decades of experience in the timber and construction industries, having founded Beaty Logging in 1977. He is also known for co-hosting the outdoor television series The Way It Was, which celebrated traditional values and Louisiana’s natural heritage.
District 1 includes the southernmost portions of Bossier Parish and extends north through Haughton.
As Police Juror, Beaty expressed his commitment to improving infrastructure, enhancing public safety, promoting responsible growth, and supporting law enforcement.
“I’m honored to serve the people of District 1 and continue the legacy of leadership and service that Bob Brotherton exemplified,” Beaty said. “I look forward to working with my fellow jurors to keep Bossier Parish strong and moving forward.”
Bossier might see its first freeze of the season Sunday night
The National Weather Service says the first freeze of the season is expected to move across portions of the region Sunday night through Monday morning.
Warmer weather will return by Tuesday.
Little to no precipitation is expected over the next seven days, as drought conditions continue to expand across the local area, the weather agency said.
“A surge of colder air by the end of the weekend, and into the start of the new week will introduce the chance for near to sub-freezing overnight lows. Temperature-wise, Friday and Saturday will be very similar as a spread of upper 70s and low to mid 80s is expected. It won’t be until a series of frontal passages introduces a robust airmass into the region that will sink daytime highs on Sunday and especially Monday,” the NWS said.
The difference between the high on Saturday and Monday will be about 30 degrees.
One year after tax reforms, Louisiana rises in rankings
Louisiana’s tax system now ranks 31st in the country for competitiveness, up six spots from last year, according to the Tax Foundation’s new 2026 State Tax Competitiveness Index. The group said the state improved after lawmakers approved major changes late last year.
The state has also been performing better on economic metrics. Immediately after the tax reforms, the state’s economy shrank slightly, but since then has reversed course. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the state’s gross domestic product grew 4% and personal income grew 6.8% in the second quarter of 2025 — both higher than the national average.
Reforming the tax code was said to be crucial to bringing new economic growth to the state.
“We promised you that we would work on Louisiana’s economy. To do that, we knew that we have to overhaul our outdated and bloated tax code — giving people and businesses an incentive to come to Louisiana,” Republican Gov. Jeff Landry said after a 2024 special session. “We wanted to make our state more competitive, so we can attract more jobs and have higher wages.”
Over the span of 19 days, the legislature enacted a flat 3% individual income tax, cut the corporate income tax to 5.5% and set the state sales tax at 5% through 2029 (dropping to 4.75% in 2030). Lawmakers also voted to repeal the corporate franchise tax starting Jan. 1 and expanded sales taxes to some digital goods.
Those changes helped Louisiana jump in two key areas of the Index: The state now ranks No. 15 for individual income taxes and No. 10 for corporate taxes, according to the Tax Foundation.
But Louisiana remains last (No. 50) in sales taxes, reflecting both the rate and the structure, and sits No. 22 in property taxes and No. 9 in unemployment insurance taxes. Overall standing could rise again next year once the franchise tax repeal takes effect.
For households, the new law raises the standard deduction to $12,500 for single filers and $25,000 for married joint filers starting in 2025, which means more income is tax-free before the 3% rate applies.
The Tax Foundation grades states on how simply and neutrally taxes are structured across five areas — income, corporate, sales, property and unemployment taxes — giving more weight to areas where states differ the most.
The franchise tax repeal begins in 2026, and other clean-up items tied to the 2024 package continue to roll out. The Tax Foundation says those steps could further lift Louisiana’s ranking if lawmakers don’t add new carve-outs or complexity.
– By Nolan McKendry/The Center Square
Bossier Parish to honor veterans at centuries-old celebration today
A storied military tradition that dates back hundreds of years will unfold at 10 am on Friday, November 7, 2025, at the Bossier Parish Community College Billy Montgomery Gymnasium, when District 5 Louisiana State Representative Dennis Bamburg, Bossier Schools, and BPCC host a Veterans Tattoo Ceremony.
The event will include performances by students throughout Bossier Schools in the Talented Arts Program, Band, Drum Corps and Air Force Junior ROTC. There will also be a simulated enlistment ceremony, final roll call, Taps and more. The event is free and everyone is invited to attend.
VetFest ‘25 at the EBD Plaza Saturday
A Veteran’s Day celebration is planned for Saturday in the East Bank Plaza with VetFest 2025.
From 10 am to 5 pm, the East Bank Plaza will host a variety of veteran resources and vendors alongside food trucks, inspirational speakers, and live music from Jimmy Wooten, Seth Bradford Music, and Miranda Gonzales Boothe. The VetFest will also include a Kids’ Fun Zone with a bouncy house, petting zoo, face painting, and more, with raffle prizes for parents
Bossier City events calendar
Live music in Bossier City and other notable events in the area for your free time consideration. If you would like to add an event to the Bossier City free time calendar, send the details to email@bossiernow.com.
Tonight, Friday, November 7: James Burton International Guitar Festival at the Horseshoe Casino Riverdome. Featuring Emmylou Harris, along with American Idol finalist John Foster, Johnny Owens and Marty Haggard — sons of country legends Buck Owens and Merle Haggard — and Australia’s acclaimed country star Angus Gill. Tickets available here.
November 20: ZZ Top at Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
November 23: Joe Bonamassa at Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
November 29: Little River Band, Live! Event Center
December 12: Jiaoying Summers at the Live! Casino and Hotel. Get ready for a night of fearless, dark, and laugh-out-loud comedy from a global sensation with over 1 billion views online! You’ve seen her viral “Uber Karen” sketch and hilarious English name roasts — now catch her live on her “What Specie Are You?” tour!
February 20: Rascal Flatts at the BGA.
April 10: Cody Johnson brings his “Leather Deluxe Tour” to the Brookshire Grocery Arena. Tickets go on sale Friday, November 7, at 10 am.
Bossier news: Independent, conflict-of-interest-free news coverage
BossierNow’s mission is to provide independent, conflict-of-interest-free news coverage of Bossier City and Bossier Parish. We welcome your input, press releases, and news tips at email@bossiernow.com.
