SHREVEPORT, La.-- Shreveport resident Danny Cochran is no one-hit wonder. 

SHREVEPORT, La. — The City of Shreveport is moving into the next phase of its Block by Block initiative, focusing on major improvements in the Highland and Mooretown neighborhoods. The program, launched more than a year ago by Mayor Tom Arceneaux, aims to address blight, improve infrastructure and revitalize neighborhoods one block at a time. During phase one, the city conducted cleanup sweeps, held community meetings and collected data to identify neighborhood priorities. City Attorney Marcus Edwards told the Shreveport City Council the effort removed more than 810 tons of litter, collected more than 5,000 discarded tires and included more than 300 volunteers. Now, the city is shifting its focus to targeted improvements in Highland and Mooretown. Arceneaux said the neighborhoods were selected as a pilot program to help the city learn what works before expanding the effort. "There are some tougher areas of the city. We didn't really want to start with areas where we might actually not succeed," Arceneaux said. "It's best to have a pilot program so that you have a place to make your mistakes and have your successes." The city plans to invest between $2.5 million and $3 million into projects in the two neighborhoods. In Mooretown, the city plans to renovate the former Mooretown Elementary School, turning the cafeteria into an event space and classrooms into affordable senior housing. Work is also underway to improve the Mooretown Community Faith Garden. Highland improvements include sidewalk repairs, additional crosswalks, new street signs and upgraded lighting. Arceneaux said resident input helped determine the projects, which will be funded through existing city resources. "The funding is kind of cobbled together from funds that were available in other places," Arceneaux said. "These are things that were already allocated in the budget, but they may be going in a slightly different place than they were allocated initially." While Highland and Mooretown are the first neighborhoods to receive larger investments, city leaders said the long-term goal is to expand Block by Block across Shreveport. Arceneaux said future cleanup sweeps will continue citywide, but property owners could now face citations for violations of city property standards.City leaders are encouraging residents to maintain their properties as the initiative continues.

SHREVEPORT, La. — Residents in Shreveport's Stoner Hill neighborhood are calling on city leaders to address persistent flooding they say has worsened with each heavy rain, leaving families stranded, damaging property and raising safety concerns. Stoner Hill Neighborhood Association President Rachel Jackson brought her concerns to the Shreveport City Council on Monday, urging the city to find long-term solutions to the neighborhood's drainage problems. Jackson said the June 22 flash flood left her grandson trapped as water surrounded their home. "I just fear for my life, really, because it's so much water," Jackson said. She told council members flooding occurs after only a short period of heavy rainfall, with water covering multiple properties and making roads impassable.Residents say the neighborhood's drainage system can no longer handle the amount of rain falling during recent storms. Cornell White, a lifelong Stoner Hill resident and the neighborhood association's public relations officer, said flooding has always been an issue but has intensified in recent years. "It's kind of a tornado-type rain," White said. The flooding extends beyond one section of the neighborhood. Elias Casas said runoff has damaged his backyard. "My backyard is very bad," Casas said. "The water gushes off the roofs, piles up coming down the hill and has partially deteriorated the backyard." Other residents have spent their own money to reduce flood damage. Teresa Ortiz said her family installed a drainage system after water repeatedly entered their home during heavy rains. "It used to come inside the house when it flooded," Ortiz said. "Now it goes through there and we don't get flooded." Jackson said she met with the city engineer after speaking to the council. According to Jackson, the city plans to begin by cleaning neighborhood drains more frequently to improve water flow during storms. Residents also say floodwaters are eroding streets and creating dangerous holes in roadways. "Most of the time we're doing the work that we should be calling the city to do," Jackson said. "But something of this magnitude, we can't fix." Chief Administrative Officer Tom Dark told council members the city has previously explored relocating residents who live in flood-prone areas. Jackson said she is not interested in relocation and hopes the city will instead address the underlying drainage issues so families can safely remain in their homes.

SHREVEPORT, La. — Illegal dumping continues to create a financial burden for Shreveport with annual disposal fees for tires cleared from illegal sites totaling about $12,000, according to city officials.

SHREVEPORT, La. — The Shreveport City Council granted final approval Tuesday for a rezoning request on Crockett Street, clearing a significant hurdle for the proposed expansion of the Providence House.

SHREVEPORT, La. — A proposed ordinance that would establish strict conduct and safety guidelines for SporTran passengers traveling within unincorporated areas of the parish was considered Monday during the Caddo Commission's work session.

SHREVEPORT, La. - A plan to expand homeless services in Shreveport could move forward at Providence House if the Shreveport City Council approves the nonprofit's rezoning request. 

SHREVEPORT, La. — The Shreveport Fire Department is set to receive a new specialized training tower following a vote by the Shreveport City Council Tuesday.

SHREVEPORT, La. — A local tow truck company owner has asked the Shreveport City Council to revise its parking regulations after one of his drivers was ticketed for parking a commercial vehicle in his own neighborhood.

SHREVEPORT, La. — The new Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office Domestic Violence Unit is taking a hands-on, victim-centered approach to addressing abuse cases across the parish, receiving more than 100 inquiries from victims in its first two months of operation.