The Bossier City property tax hike has been in the works since October

Plus — Sunday night closure: I-20 westbound at I-220

Aug 01, 2025

Bossier City weekend weather — Today: Partly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then showers and thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 90s. Northeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Heat index values up to 110. Tonight: Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. Northeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Saturday: Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs around 90. Northeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Saturday night: Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 60s. Northeast winds around 5 mph in the evening, becoming light and variable. Sunday: Mostly sunny. Highs around 90. Sunday night: Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 60s.

Beyond Bossier

The Bossier City property tax hike has been in the works since October, as reported exclusively by BossierNow

The Chandler administration has had a Bossier City property tax increase on its agenda since last October, as reported exclusively by BossierNow ten months ago.

Council President Chris Smith said that Mayor Tommy Chandler and CAO Amanda Nottingham have made their intentions for a tax roll forward clear.

"Last year, when we were going through the budget cycle, the administration didn't hide the fact that they were planning on proposing a roll forward. It was well known," Smith told BossierNow. A public notice regarding the tax roll forward was issued by the City Wednesday.

"I can speak for me. I'm going to be against it," Smith added. "I'm going to be a hard no vote on it. I haven't talked to any of the other council members, so I wouldn't want to speak for them. But I don't feel like there's going to be an appetite there. I would be shocked if it passes."

Smith mentioned the recent workshop regarding public works fees as an indicator of public sentiment on rising costs.

"We just came out of a pretty public debate over sanitation fees on a water bill. And we talked about how $12 to some people was a lot of money," Smith said. "I'm elected to do what I feel is in the best interest of the city. And I can tell you, rolling a property millage forward at this time is not in the best interest."

BossierNow context:
Local taxing authorities can either increase or decrease a millage due to the change in the tax-value base.
A "roll back" of a millage lowers the tax rate to compensate for the increased valuation — meaning property owners pay the same amount of taxes.
A "roll forward" of a millage allows the taxing authority to gain additional revenue from the reassessment — in effect, a tax hike.

Sunday night interstate closure: I-20 westbound at I-220 (I-20 major rehab)

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development says that beginning on the night of Sunday, August 3, 2025, I-20 westbound at the I-220 interchange in Bossier City will be closed.

This closure is scheduled to begin at approximately 7:00 pm, and is necessary to allow crews for the ongoing I-20 major rehabilitation project to perform emergency guardrail repair within the construction zone.

I-20 westbound is scheduled to be reopened by 5:00 am on Monday, August 4, 2025.

Traffic on I-20 westbound will be diverted to I-220 westbound. Additionally, the westbound on-ramp at LA 782-2 (Industrial Drive) will be closed, as well as the I-220 westbound ramp to I-20 westbound.

Motorists wishing to access I-20 westbound may do so at the LA 72 (Old Minden Road) interchange.

This work will be performed weather permitting.

I-20 project update

Overall, the $127 million I-20 major rehabilitation project is progressing well in its final phase (Phase 3), with Barksdale Blvd and Airline Drive prepped for concrete paving operations. A new roadway base has been installed on those ramps.

The Benton Rd. westbound on-ramp will also be paved in the coming weeks. Following the opening of the Barksdale Blvd. ramps, the Benton Road eastbound off-ramp will close for reconstruction (the final ramp to be rebuilt).

Concrete paving on the eastbound and westbound travel lanes is also continuing throughout the 3.5-mile project, in addition to the installation of new signage foundations and components.

The Old Minden Road and Industrial Drive interchanges have already been removed and fully reconstructed.

The entire project is expected to wrap up in late 2025/early 2026, weather permitting.

The Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office is requesting the public's assistance in locating Kevin Wayne Hardman III, who is currently wanted on multiple serious felony charges.

Hardman is an 18-year-old black male, standing 5' 10", and weighing around 150 pounds.

He is wanted for the following charges: Aggravated Kidnapping (Felony) Armed Robbery (Felony) Extortion (Felony) Contributing to the Delinquency of Juveniles (Felony).

If you have seen Hardman, or know anything about his location, please contact the Bossier Sheriff's Detectives at (318) 965-3418 or Bossier Sheriff's Dispatch at 318-965-2203.

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BPCC student-athletes earn 2024-2025 All-Academic Team Honors

The Athletics Department at Bossier Parish Community College says that 29 of its student-athletes have been named to the National Junior College Athletic Association All-Academic Teams for the 2024-2025 academic year.

This prestigious recognition highlights the exceptional academic achievements of student-athletes who excel both on the field and in the classroom.

Additionally, the NJCAA honors teams in each sport for their academic excellence through the NJCAA Academic Teams of the Year list. BPCC’s baseball and softball teams earned national recognition for their overall team grade point average (GPA) – baseball with a 3.60 and softball with a 3.48.

Receiving First Team All-Academic honors are:

Brody Bower - Baseball
Morgan Faunce - Softball
Yasmin Gallarzo - Softball
Mackenzie Gaspard - Softball
Christina Gegg - Softball
Parker Gwyn - Baseball
Gianluca Montanaro - Baseball
Isabella Rodriguez - Softball
Mason Sanders - Baseball

Receiving Second Team All-Academic honors are:

Dylan Biddick - Baseball
Garett Blanchard - Baseball
Collin Harris - Baseball
Brandon Levy - Baseball
Daniel Pinkerton - Baseball
Hayden Stringfellow - Baseball

Receiving Third Team All-Academic honors are:

Isabelle Arguello - Softball
Jaden Bahl - Baseball
Tyrus Hall - Baseball
Jack Holbrook - Baseball
Samantha Land - Softball
Isabel Martin - Softball
Benjamin McKinnon - Baseball
Bryson Menard - Baseball
Simeon Powell - Men’s Basketball
Andy Roman III - Baseball
Jacob Skelly - Baseball
Ajang Tong - Men’s Basketball
Farvens Ulysse - Men’s Basketball
Morgan Womack - Softball

Student-athletes are eligible to earn academic honors by achieving an overall GPA of 3.60 or higher for the 2024-2025 academic year. The criteria for the three All-Academic teams are:

NJCAA All-Academic First Team: 4.00 GPA
NJCAA All-Academic Second Team: 3.80-3.99 GPA
NJCAA All-Academic Third Team: 3.60-3.79 GPA

Nationally, a total of 13,915 student-athletes have been honored by the NJCAA for their academic excellence, underscoring the importance of balancing athletic commitments with academic pursuits.

“We’re incredibly proud of our student-athletes for the way they represent BPCC—both academically and athletically,” said Amanda Nordberg, Athletics Director and Head Softball Coach. “Their commitment to excellence in the classroom, while competing at a high level in their sports, speaks volumes about their character, work ethic, and determination. They are a true reflection of the values we uphold at BPCC, and we celebrate their achievements with great pride.”

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.

August 2: Ironfish Kids Triathlon at Cypress Black Bayou Park

August 2: Ambush reunion at Hurricane Alley, 7pm.

August 3: River Cities Triathlon at Cypress Black Bayou Park

August 3: The Lovers at Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana

August 9: Sheila and the Caddo Kats at Louisiana Downs Casino & Racetrack

August 16: Anxious at the Louisiana Downs Casino

August 15: KC and the Sunshine Band will bring their classic funk and disco sound to the Riverdome at Horseshoe Casino & Hotel. 8 pm.

August 22: The Marshall Tucker Band at Margaritaville Resort Casino

August 31: The 14th Annual Shreveport Blues & Southern Soul Pre-Labor Day Fest at Festival Plaza

September 12: Hudson Westbrook and the Texas Forever Fall Tour. Shreveport Municipal Auditorium.

September 13: Lainey Wilson at the Brookshire Grocery Arena

October 3: Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters at Margaritaville

October 17: Zach Top and his Cold Beer and Country Music tour at the Brookshire Grocery Arena.

October 18: Wanda Sykes and her Please and Thank You tour at the Horseshoe Bossier City.

October 24: Styx at the Live Casino & Hotel Louisiana. 8:00 pm. Tickets start at $59.99. Must be 21+

November 20: ZZ Top at Shreveport Municipal Auditorium

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!

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