[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6225469,"mediaKeyId","3536975-513e7117291aaf687991dfbcc3fe7209","parentId",3536975,"title","Shreveport City Council honors bus operator Valerie Ross for evacuating riders after bus smoke","audioSeconds",3542,"startMs",535000,"endMs",4077000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3536975-513e7117291aaf687991dfbcc3fe7209&start=535&end=4077","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3536975-513e7117291aaf687991dfbcc3fe7209/thumbnail_535000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6225469/Shreveport-City/Caddo-Parish/Louisiana/Shreveport-City-Council-honors-bus-operator-Valerie-Ross-for-evacuating-riders-after-bus-smoke","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225469-c0167899afc89a65f8e661f2f09faaa5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183263&Signature=ZokI7f71B7xfXIxh-E0xIkNQxQKi1gWBouuBZbsmwiqrAYl9FWIQ9QJ8kHQgnvbmtE1mgzUpjPDXuZ-6u0GuLRxgpmGOy-rTi2FkAsOCWohnLIFF1VTj4pGu2A65AArOl1UaTAd9v4KopcpdtsPIo47RwbhptAARLR~8swEGOlEmDsZBR5tll6zNSyOoeAL68Q7VOYhfBWZUfC1He~wVIkEMrZ8rCTOyzk~uvkzGCROTgen2npxHjm~wpnoRp3Sp22RpKqoD0YtAnatMQb9HxX9fB7Qvu5HppexOvlUqH93mxy7~2vmZJDpQAUnw-14Wu5Obi7QGlc75H1aDYHwiFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Shreveport","date","2025-05-23T00:00:00Z","article","The Shreveport City Council adopted a resolution commending Valerie Ross, a Sport Tran bus operator, for her actions on April 16, 2025, when she responded to smoke on a bus, moved the vehicle out of traffic and evacuated passengers without reported injuries.

The council read Resolution 70 during the awards portion of the meeting and invited Ms. Ross and Sport Tran staff forward. The resolution states that Ross, who the resolution records as having served as a bus operator since Feb. 8, 2016, “responded to the emergency with composure and professionalism” by notifying dispatch, moving the bus to a safe location and beginning evacuation procedures, and that her actions “prevented injuries and made certain all passengers aboard remain safe.”

Mayor Orsonault and multiple council members thanked Ross during the presentation. Councilman Green said, “congratulations and God bless you,” and noted he had seen a video of the incident; the mayor said the event “could have been a situation that was much worse” and praised Ross’s “skills and training.” Sport Tran staff also offered remarks of appreciation on behalf of the agency.

Council moved and approved Resolution 70 during the regular agenda; the clerk recorded the resolution’s adoption. The council later invited Ross and staff for photos following the recognition.

No policy, financial award or disciplinary action followed from the recognition; the resolution is a formal commendation recorded in the council minutes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 23, 2025 Administrative Conference and City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The council adopted Resolution 70 recognizing Sport Tran bus operator Valerie Ross for actions on April 16, 2025, when she moved a bus from traffic, evacuated passengers after smoke was noticed, notified dispatch and prevented injuries, the resolution states.","taxTitle","Shreveport City, Caddo Parish, Louisiana","taxId",3917,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6225474,"Residents ask Shreveport council to rescind 2022 LGBTQ proclamation and declare June \"Family Month\"",743,3132000,3875000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3536975-513e7117291aaf687991dfbcc3fe7209&start=3132&end=3875","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3536975-513e7117291aaf687991dfbcc3fe7209/thumbnail_3132000.jpg","/articles/6225474/Shreveport-City/Caddo-Parish/Louisiana/Residents-ask-Shreveport-council-to-rescind-2022-LGBTQ-proclamation-and-declare-June-Family-Month","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225474-3d02ee2daf91fd1e799ee12a59d5c985/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183263&Signature=Td2IJN7I9GwVlKP2LL3HuPGeqbwYgR5g0eFrarb3AuoN9c2LFGNzmJ4-Nk3l3BOB08W1VHUvZ-3GPJzWmoUw2Xj8w0HotEO110Su~aBkMkwO~KmPjU-2MebsynafkvhHkkePH4Er~rBgyPSnyAlN0wKfq3UUJ-dVdYo1DxTbDtv5kxVnXDupiMKEQyAmMjwWUPnM8bnD9htjC-XUMIgk452DJsWYiZjjqoDCEgq2EmxpR6VrtTDKZukkOyqK4VgcMIR-GBcpfnW-gS3tChycybrFrqYxY7y-tvqmNHmiOhsix2qSWv81AGDB9EhC0ZwCfI3Ge-2yqFLY9fhhnSiMxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents used the City Council's public‑comment period to call on elected officials to rescind a 2022 council resolution that, the speakers said, declared June LGBTQ+ month, and to adopt a replacement proclamation declaring June 2025 as “Family Month.”

Speakers presented a petition they said is hosted on conservativechange.org and urged council members to reverse the prior resolution and to curtail LGBTQ‑themed public events in parks and other city venues. The speakers framed their request in religious terms and cited the U.S. founding documents and the Louisiana State Constitution in support of their position.

Karen Scott of 2164 Burgundy Ridge Drive addressed the council, saying the petition comes “as a mother of a LGBT plus community member” and asking officials to “declare a higher standard for our community.” Roddy Vasquez of (recorded address) 88, 48 Saint Claire said the petition seeks to “renounce the 02/2022 resolution that declared LGBTQ bridal month in Shreveport” and to “officially declare June family month in 2025.” Paige Rothpower, who gave an address as 1064 Gabriel’s Turn, said she opposed drag shows promoted in the city and linked current events to the earlier council resolution; she stated, “our resolutions…the perversion of God's natural order and identity of men and women should not be promoted, by our city council resolutions.” Another speaker, Jacqueline Miles of 1857 Cheatham Street, read a list of scriptures and urged council members to base decisions on the Bible.

Council members did not take action on the petition during the meeting. The mayor and chair acknowledged the comments and the council proceeded to business without scheduling an immediate vote on the petition or a motion to rescind the referenced 2022 resolution. The speakers asked the council to investigate and issue corrective orders to limit events they described as endorsing an “immoral lifestyle.”

The record shows the petitioners gave specific requests (rescind the 2022 resolution; proclaim June 2025 as Family Month) and a public petition URL; the council’s minutes recorded the public comments but recorded no formal response or policy change at this meeting.","Multiple public commenters urged the City Council to revoke a 2022 resolution the speakers said declared June as LGBTQ+ month in Shreveport, asked the council to renounce drag events and other LGBTQ‑themed gatherings, and to proclaim June 2025 \"Family Month.\" They presented a petition and cited religious and historical documents in support.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6225479,"Shreveport police report year-to-date drops in shootings and homicides; council questions speed‑enforcement capacity after camera removal",1387,1555000,2942000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3536975-513e7117291aaf687991dfbcc3fe7209&start=1555&end=2942","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3536975-513e7117291aaf687991dfbcc3fe7209/thumbnail_1555000.jpg","/articles/6225479/Shreveport-City/Caddo-Parish/Louisiana/Shreveport-police-report-year-to-date-drops-in-shootings-and-homicides-council-questions-speedenforcement-capacity-after-camera-removal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225479-723155d29261ecd03fb2a2557b234238/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183263&Signature=journeG8EAjTDMfc3hQbi52tS2vBw6UUFTJseAHTUPc1L9Nv3I~oBcjVtiiry6PjW7bg5sV5in8Imo1gmqtL1~VfSQz5NZO1CgIa705nRmnN1dubwBJdw3gbG6C-mbS~GWCxNoNhP6giyqSG5l2jl9pJYxfKzR8QVFWkM0LbeA7lvxgSNGAdLYMg0JIHPCm6jYZ0W9JcvyWs5wWvr~KGBF5ZeSd6zK0LMdM1bEd3RY78cAnJR9366dMkyOdPJvU621bBP77gVqm9z79XpWeCr5e5kg-VNUIPAfOGSEMpw1R69bNEgn-LNG1kRiaZFivlF3WaxPRHq4y5GgNrrg4ULA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Shreveport Police Department reported year‑to‑date decreases in several categories of violent crime and told the City Council the department’s new firing range and command vehicle are nearly complete, while council members raised questions about speed enforcement after state action removed automated camera technology.

The department’s presentation to the Shreveport City Council summarized comparative figures for the same period in 2024 and 2025: “shots fired” calls fell to 826 from 1,149 (a 28% drop); shootings resulting in injury declined to 86 from 125 (31%); and homicides dropped to 15 from 27 (44%), the chief told the council. The chief also reported reductions in vehicle thefts and armed robberies and said the department’s new firing range is “99% complete.”

Those statistics were delivered during the mayor’s communications segment, when Mayor Orsonault introduced the report and the chief spoke to council members. The chief said a command vehicle purchased under the 2021 bond package arrived recently and is being outfitted: “this new vehicle arrived to us yesterday morning about 09:00,” the chief said.

Context: council members welcomed the drops in violent crime but focused much of their discussion on traffic enforcement. Council members noted that the city recently lost automated speed‑camera capability after state action, which council members described as the removal of a technology line item. Councilman Green asked whether the department would need to certify more officers to cover speed enforcement without cameras; the chief said “there’s two things. There’s technology and there’s human resources,” and that reductions in technology “narrow that window” of proactive patrol time. Council members and the chief discussed how personnel and equipment decisions affect where officers can be deployed.

Clarifying technical and staffing details provided in the meeting: the traffic bureau was described as having 27 positions total (roughly 20 sworn officers around the clock, plus about five civilian positions); three investigators handle serious‑injury and fatal crashes; LiDAR (light‑based speed measurement) and radar were discussed as distinct technologies. The chief said certified LiDAR operators review each photo from automated systems and that speed cameras in the city previously had thresholds that required drivers to exceed the speed limit by about 11 mph in ordinary zones (lower in school zones).

Council members pressed for prevention programs as well as enforcement. One council member suggested exploring the RAD self‑defense program for assault prevention and asked staff to research sponsors and implementation options; the mayor said an intern will research prevention options this summer.

The presentation did not result in a formal vote or change in policy during the meeting. Several council members offered support for additional budget or staffing if needed; the chief said the department will seek balance between available technology and human resources.

The council praised the department’s equipment upgrades and the reported declines in serious crime, and members signaled interest in further discussion of traffic enforcement and prevention strategies at future public safety committee meetings.","The Shreveport Police Department reported reductions in shots‑fired calls, shootings with injuries and homicides compared with the same period last year, while council members pressed the department on traffic‑enforcement capacity after state action ended automated speed‑camera operations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Shreveport City Council honors bus operator Valerie Ross for evacuating riders after bus smoke

Residents ask Shreveport council to rescind 2022 LGBTQ proclamation and declare June "Family Month"

Shreveport police report year-to-date drops in shootings and homicides; council questions speed‑enforcement capacity after camera removal