Caddo Parish
13-Year-Old Charged with Murder of 14-Year-Old Stepsister in North Shreveport
A 13-year-old boy has been charged with second-degree murder in the Sunday, Aug. 2 shooting death of his 14-year-old stepsister, Makayla Pennywell, at a home in the 2400 block of LeGardy Street in North Shreveport.
Police say the boy took a gun belonging to Pennywell’s mother and shot her while she was on the couch. The gun was in a bag and out of sight; the mother will not face charges. Pennywell was a student at Donnie Bickham Middle School.
The boy has been transported to a juvenile detention center. Under Louisiana law, the minimum age to be tried as an adult is 15.
Shreveport Moves to Capture $175 Million in Federal Transit Funds
The Shreveport City Council approved a resolution authorizing SporTran and City Engineering to pursue a $175 million Federal Transit Administration grant. The funds would cover replacement of the Linwood Avenue Bridge and Phase 2 of the Medical Corridor Bus Rapid Transit Project.
City officials say the local match requirement — 20% of the project cost — has already been met through existing city assets and ongoing SporTran projects. No new local funding would be required.
Caddo Residents Press Commission on Amazon Data Center Water Concerns
Residents packed Government Plaza Monday to challenge the Caddo Parish Natural Resources Committee over the environmental impact of an Amazon Web Services data center under construction near Blanchard.
Citizen group No Data Centers 318 called for a moratorium, independent environmental studies, and greater transparency. Two resolutions — one requiring an environmental study, one requiring water filtration upgrades — are expected before the full commission at its next meeting.
Amazon’s $12 billion, three-campus project was announced in February by Governor Jeff Landry in partnership with STACK Infrastructure.
Bossier Parish
Bossier School Board Votes Tomorrow on 2026-27 Pupil Progression Plan
The Bossier Parish School Board votes Thursday, Aug. 6 — the first day of school — on its 2026-27 Pupil Progression Plan. Key updates include revised credit recovery policies, third-grade reading screener rules, and mid-term graduation procedures. The plan is available for review at bossierschools.org.