Bossier Parish Police Jury discusses — at length — Sunday liquor sales
Plus: Bill to bring abortion up for a Louisiana vote fails. The end of vehicle inspection stickers? Locally designed digital education for the Air Force.
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Bossier Parish Police Jury discusses — at length — Sunday liquor sales
A motion to approve the sale of liquor on Sunday at a business in Bossier Parish caused quite a bit of discussion — and some confusion — at the Wednesday, March 20, 2024, Bossier Parish Police Jury meeting.
Robin Dixon's request to sell beer and liquor at Countryside Exxon, located at 7980 Barksdale Boulevard in Bossier City, for a special Easter Sunday event from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. triggered the debate.
Parish attorney Patrick Jackson noted that exceptions have been made in the past.
"So as y'all know, our current blue laws do not allow for package sale of liquor on Sunday, and in the past, on special occasions like the Super Bowl, y'all have authorized special event permits to be sold for on-premises consumption, but what [Dixon's] asking for here would be a waiver of our current rules."
"My point is they're buying it on Sunday, whether we like it or not, and that tax dollar is going to Shreveport," District 12 juror Keith Sutton said, referring to the allowance of Sunday liquor sales across the river.
"That's fine. I just don't think it's a good thing to open it up," District 24 juror Glenn Benton said. "We need to go ahead and let the voters either open up the laws where [businesses] can sell it every Sunday and quit having people come up here every three months asking for waivers."
Attorney Jackson said a parish ordinance prohibits Sunday liquor sales and is "a growing policy issue."
"The city of Shreveport allows for package sales. Bossier City currently does not allow for package sales on Sunday," Jackson added. "I know there has been some requests within parts of the city to get a uniform rule across the parish because they see it as an opportunity lost."
We might as well go ahead and let Thrifty Liquor and everyone else open on Sunday rather than exempting one service station.
Jackson noted that many residents "go across the river" to buy liquor on Sunday.
"Right now, you can buy alcohol at sit-down restaurants on Sunday. You can buy beer, basically anywhere in the parish on Sunday, but you can't buy spirits," he added.
Jackson said Sunday liquor sales were "a larger issue" than the jurors' consideration of a one-time exception for a single business.
"My thing here is, we might as well go ahead and let Thrifty Liquor and everyone else open on Sunday rather than exempting one service station," Benton said.
District 7 juror Jimmy Cochran tried to narrow the focus of the discussion.
"I'm thinking he was wanting — like we normally get a request for a special event at a place — but just to allow him to sell hard liquor, I'll have to go along with Glenn. Either we open up the whole parish to start selling liquor on Sunday or whoever wants to vote for that, but I'm not gonna vote for a store just to be able to sell liquor on an Easter Sunday," Cochran said.
Then, District 3 juror and jury president Philip Rodgers sought clarification from the parish attorney.
"Okay, so Patrick, and just so I'm clear … are you saying that this body has the power to change that?"
"Yes, sir."
"Where everybody could sell alcohol on Sundays?" Rodgers pressed.
"Package means you go to the store, you buy it, and you take it out," the attorney replied.
"And so you mean to tell me you can go to Shreveport and buy liquor on Sunday, but you can't come to Bossier?"
"That's right."
District 11 juror Tom Salzer said, "It's a subject that could be discussed in the committee meeting. We ought to bring that up."
"We're losing a ton of tax dollars every Sunday, especially on special holidays to Shreveport," Sutton added.
The motion for the one-time exemption for Sunday liquor sales at Countryside Exxon failed.
However, it looks like a matter the Bossier parish government will be considering again.
Louisiana bill to put abortion ban up for public vote fails
By a 10-2 vote, a House committee rejected a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at overturning the state's abortion ban and safeguarding individual rights in pregnancy-related health decisions.
The House Civil Law and Procedure Committee voted Monday to kill House Bill 245, a proposed constitutional amendment by Rep. Aimee Adatto Freeman (D-New Orleans). Freeman conveyed to legislators the pressure doctors face in treating problem pregnancies and her apprehension regarding the diagnostic hurdles.
"I know this is a very sensitive and specific issue to so many individuals and constituents across the state," she said. "Doctors go to med school to save lives … When they are fearful of what may come next, they are less likely to act."
But critics of the bill — mainly GOP legislators — said the proposed amendment went too far by allowing abortions under pretty much any circumstance.
"There is a difference between a child not surviving in a womb," said Rep. Emily Chenevert (R-Baton Rouge), compared to "intentionally ending the life of a child in the womb."
Republican lawmakers noted that Louisiana voters had already approved anti-abortion ballot measures in recent years, most recently in 2020, when they voted to add restrictive language to the state constitution.
"If the language in the amendment would've been a problem, we would not have gotten 60+ percent" of the public vote, said Rep. Mark Wright (R- Covington).
Invoking Roe v. Wade, which allowed abortion for decades until the U.S. Supreme Court reversed it, Freeman pointed out that laws change: "I'm a different representative in this time," said Freeman. "I didn't have voter say; some of us are new."
Freeman referenced an LSU poll conducted last year, revealing that 52% of respondents in Louisiana supported legalizing abortion in all or most cases. Moreover, the poll indicated that 85% of respondents believed a woman should be able to obtain an abortion if her life is endangered due to pregnancy, while 77% supported access to abortion in cases of pregnancy resulting from rape.
Nancy Davis, who faced obstacles in accessing abortion care and had to travel out of state to obtain an abortion, echoed these sentiments.
"These decisions are personal and should be protected from government interference," she said. "Laws banning abortion do not stop it. It makes it more dangerous."
Both of the yes votes for the bill came from Democrats.
Although House Bill 245 was defeated, Rep. Freeman is also sponsoring House Bill 293, which is awaiting a hearing in the House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice. This bill attempts to clarify the law governing specific abortion procedures.
In other action at the Capitol Monday
The House Transportation Committee voted 6-5 to advance Rep. Larry Bagley's (R-Stonewall) bill to eliminate the requirement for car inspection stickers in Louisiana. If the bill becomes law, the only remaining requirement would be for auto owners in East Baton Rouge Parish and four nearby parishes to get annual emissions tests.
The House Civil Law Committee advanced Rep. Joseph Orgeron's (R-Cut Off) bill to create a constitutional amendment dedicating funds from alternative energy projects on state coastal lands to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund.
The full House voted 86-13 to approve Rep. Beau Beaullieu's (R-New Iberia) bill to lower the severance tax rate on various oil wells over eight years from 12.5% to $8.5%. Once fully implemented, the change would cost the state $79 million a year in tax revenues.
– By Jordyn Wilson/LSU Manship School News Service
Inside Barksdale AFB: New digital education curriculum being developed by BPCC, Tech and Cyber Innovation Center
A new curriculum developed locally will serve as the model for digital education across the Air Force and Department of Defense.
Bossier Parish Community College, the Cyber Innovation Center, and Louisiana Tech University are collaborating on the coursework design.
The Digital Education Training for Enhanced Readiness (DETER) will increase "digital fluency" among Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen while instilling a culture of data proficiency among action officers for informed and fact-based decisions.
Administered by the CIC through a partnership intermediary agreement with Global Strike Command, DETER will consist of BPCC instructors leading 4-day, in-person, small group boot camps for enhanced comprehension and Louisiana Tech Research Institute providing further curriculum and training to grow skills, including industry-based certifications.
"This type of collaboration among regional higher education institutions showcases the commitment of northwest Louisiana to our military and national defense," said Kevin Nolten, CIC president. "I am honored to play a small part with our partners at Louisiana Tech and BPCC in leveraging our resources and talent to serve the Airmen of Barksdale Air Force Base."
Modular courses will be offered to all AOs when joining Global Strike Command Headquarters at Barksdale Air Force Base to supplement the current AO curriculum and cover applications and job functions that a typical AO would need to perform typical daily tasks.
The modules at the introductory, beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert levels will range from basic digital fluency skills to data analysis and advanced PowerBI functionalities.
"Digital fluency is an essential skill for anyone living and working in the modern era especially our military," Louisiana Tech President Jim Henderson said. "This is yet another opportunity to build on our longstanding partnership with Air Force Global Strike Command and Bossier Parish Community College. DETER's overall goal is to essentially shorten the learning curve for Airmen entering AFGSC so they are fully equipped to start their career path."
"We are thrilled to partner with the CIC, LTRI, and AFGSC on this groundbreaking endeavor," said Dr. Rick Bateman, chancellor of BPCC. "By harnessing the power of digital education, we can empower our nation's defense personnel with the skills needed to excel in an increasingly complex digital landscape."
Once launched later this year, the program's future will be to iterate its curriculum and scale across the entire Global Strike command.
Bossier City free time calendar
Live music and notable events for your consideration.
March 28: LIVE REVUE: A Radio Broadcast Experience. On the Louisiana Grandstand stage, enjoy a night of paying homage to our deep musical roots, from the famous Hayride nights to the worldwide successes of artists from our region. Experience a live radio broadcast show with top-notch artists: Nick Brumley, Buddy Flett, Presley Haile, Mus Gillum, Braydon Watts, Jesse Rawlinson, and Austin Robison.
March 29: Couples Therapy: A relationship-themed comedy show at the Louisiana Grandstand.
April 2: MANIA -The ABBA Tribute at the Strand Theater, celebrating the iconic Swedish pop group's 50th anniversary.
April 6: Gary Allan in the Paradise Theater at Margaritaville Casino.
April 6: Experience a Nashville-style songswap at the Louisiana Grandstand, headlined by John Baumann (The Panhandlers) and Mike McClure (The Great Divide).
April 12: Shreveport Blues Festival: Tucka, King George & Pokey Bear at the BGA.
April 12: Country music sensations The Castellos at the Louisiana Grandstand.
April 15: The Harlem Globetrotters at the BGA.
April 18: Brent Cobb brings his "Livin' The Dream" Tour to the Louisiana Grandstand.
April 20: Hank Williams Jr. at the BGA.
April 20: Bryan Martin at the Louisiana Grandstand.
May 3: The Cox Family brings Grammy award-winning bluegrass to the Louisiana Grandstand.
May 4: Dylan Leblanc returns to his hometown of Shreveport with his band to promote his newest album release, "Coyote," at the Louisiana Grandstand.
May 17: Marc Broussard and his father, Ted, return to the Louisiana Grandstand. Last year, they packed the house and had an unforgettable show. This year, they'll bring another instrumentalist or two for an even bigger show.
May 25: Better Than Ezra in the Paradise Theater at Margaritaville Casino.
May 31: Jacob Stelly is a Texas sensation with a world-class band as he comes home to family and friends in Bossier City and performs at the Louisiana Grandstand.
June 1: Rick Springfield and Richard Marx in the Paradise Theater at Margaritaville Casino.
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