Good morning, Shreveport.

Residents and first responders gathered during National Night Out in Shreveport and Bossier City, where neighborhood block parties featured food, games + community bonding among families and law enforcement.

Down Home Meats, a family business in Stonewall, celebrated nearly 40 years of old school smoking methods on Thursday's ArkLaTex Made segment as it produced roughly 80,000 pounds of hand crafted hickory smoked sausage weekly for local supermarkets.

Red River Revel marked its 50th anniversary with opening day events downtown featuring art, food, and music.

The festival runs through the weekend and returns for a second round next weekend, drawing vendors and visitors from near and far.

LSUS held its 2nd Annual Balloon Glow Festival on Oct.

8 on campus, inviting community members to experience the illuminated display.

BPCC & the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office launched an internship-to-employment program for criminal justice students at the Caddo Correctional Center on Oct.

7. Students who complete the program and meet hiring requirements are guaranteed deputy positions with a two-year service commitment.

Due to the LHSAA suspension of Carroll’s football team after a (Sept.

25) game, Loyola’s homecoming football game now has no opponent scheduled for (Oct. 16). Some local coaches have not rescheduled matchups, leaving Loyola with an empty date after a season of intensive preparation.

North DeSoto kicker Dakota Denney won the Shreveport Times Athlete of the Week poll on Oct.

8, earning 578 votes — 54% of the total — ahead of Northwood’s Mario Jones. He will receive a prize package from Raising Cane’s, the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission, and Silmon and Cosse Orthodontics.

Local high school football teams will play tonight, with Huntington + Byrd facing off at Lee Hedges Stadium after narrow road losses last week.

Additional games take place today at venues including Jerry Burton Stadium and St. Frederick Stadiums.

Local high school homecoming events are ongoing this week as coaches from Booker T.

Washington, Calvary, Loyola and Airline share memories and discuss challenges like postponements due to Carroll's suspension. The roundtable spotlights cherished traditions and fuels excitement for football season.