baffroom

That's pretty cool. Texas schools are doing very well. This is one area I think Louisiana needs to work on, but I'm not sure if the population demographics can support more than what's there. Are there any other state universities in Texarkana? Wow, I just checked out Texas A&M - Texarkana's page and it's got some interesting demographics -- 75% female! That's a huge disparity. I thought LSUA was bad at 70% or so. I guess it's good for the young single guys that go those schools

You know what, i think the Toyota plant is done. I think the news article was about its opening, and I got it confused. I don't think satellite campus status would really hurt it. We have a satellite campus of UT - UTSA and it's growing quite rapidly, could pass LSU BR in student population here soon.

Yep, San Antonio's got overpasses going up all over the place. It's pretty impressive -- I really like the design of them too, oddly enough. They're kinda futuristic looking. Sorry I don't have a picture. Oh yes, we're getting a new college campus here too -- Texas A&M is going to build a 400 acre campus here. They've also got a Toyota plant coming, which is also impressive. I hope Louisiana can see great things like this happen, especially in SBC! I know LSUS and Tech had plans of some kind of merger. Hopefully that'll happen. That can really help a community

I imagine with I-69 coming, along with the continued growth of the Port of Shreveport Bossier, the area's future looks decent. If immigration to the region can grow substantially, the area can really take off. Job opportunities will need to grow, with better paying jobs for college grads being more prevalent (the reason why I left the area). I predict the region's growth will be steady, as it has been for the past 15 years or so. I imagine retail and health care will continue to be big

That's good to hear. I've been wondering how the Port of SBC has been doing -- sounds like it's moving along nicely. Is there a steel plant located at the port? Once I-69 comes along, I think the SBC area could really take off. Hopefully the port and I-49 will continue to develop

I haven't been out there in a good while, mainly due to that area's distance from where I resided. It's a nice part of town. If they do incorporate, it's only a matter of time before they're engulfed by Shreveport, if it's where I think it is. Hopefully they won't be bought up by investors and rented out too, like they are here in the San Antonio suburbs

I like that a lot. Kinda has a european feel to it. Neat architecture and the fancy speed limit post is a nice touch. I wouldn't mind living in a place like that.

Yeah, UNO used to be LSU NO and is part of the LSU system. I think LSUS mainly has an image problem. People barely know it exists -- it needs to market itself more. LSU BR has gained huge name recognition due to its sports programs. LSUS needs to do something. It's ridiculous that people go all the way to Ruston and Natchitoches to get business and general studies degrees when they could do it and still live in SBC. About the gaming restrictions -- its ridiculous they restrict it so much. They already allow gambling, and are reaping the rewards of it. I'm not saying we need casinos on every corner, but maybe allow them to operate in certain areas with less restrictions. Maybe create districts where they can operate

LSUS lack of population comes from the lack of dorms (which I believe was done on purpose so it wouldn't hurt the smaller college towns nearby -- poor planning imo). Probably a dwindling younger population from wealthier families plays a part too. LSUS also could use more degree programs, but obviously is hard to justify with a small student population. A lot of kids want to move away from home when they go to college, and LSUS doesn't offer dorms for that. They have those apartments, but not all kids are ready to move to an apartment right out of high school. I believe LSUS can do well, that "LSU" part of its name gives it credibility. When I tell people I got my degree from LSU Shreveport, they immediately recognize the LSU portion of it. LSUS is a very important part of SBC, and more people should utilize that great resource. Louisiana seems like its being left behind. Other southern states are gaining new population from the north, and the southwest has strong immigration from Latin America to sustain them (though many don't seem to like it much). The economies of places like Texas and Alabama seem to be a lot healthier as a result

I live in San Antonio currently. The numbers seem to show a shift, not necessarily growth. Louisiana's population has possibly leveled off. It was in decline for a long time according to what I've read. I'm curious how much of that population growth is actually from out of the local area (and not shifts from nearby rural areas, or barksdale) Yeah, Ive read about the LSUS/La Tech deal. To me it seems like a possibility that might not be justifiable. LSUS's student population has hovered around 4000 for a very long time with no signs of growth. Also, a large LSUS campus with dorms might hurt the economies of Ruston and Natchitoches as well, and those towns would have a tough time diversifying. Building univerisites in those small towns instead of Shreveport was probably a bad idea, but one made long ago. I went to school at NSU for a year, and lemme tell ya, it's boring down there. Next to nothing to do. Shreveport as a college town would be a lot more interesting, but I have my doubts it'd work

I'm glad you guys are optimistic about it. You probably know more about it since you guys still live there. To me it seems to be following the typical decline. That area could use some real population growth and some better paying jobs. A real university in the city would be nice too. Most people there don't even know about LSUS and pay more to get an education at NSU or La Tech, which isn't really any better than LSUS.

I think you're right, it seems to be shifting around -- not really growing at all really in the big picture. People are just buying nicer homes on the outskirts and leaving a lifeless and crime ridden inner city, a la Detroit. I really hope that doesn't happen. I've felt that Shreveport and Louisiana as a whole really needs some immigration to increase its population. Places like Texas and California have experienced some growing pains as a result of immigration, but seem to have much less poverty and better economic growth than LA. The problem is finding a way to get people to move there...

That's cool. I'm glad they tore down the old Dillard's building. It was in bad shape (had cracks in the masonry) and nobody leased it ever since Dillard's left (and probably would never had a lease on that huge building). That's a good improvement for that shopping center. Hopefully some better stores will start rolling in that corridor soon. The old Quail Creek cineplex/shopping center definitely could use some revitilization/renovation soon. It was bad the last time I saw it

The following is Flag Lake at Barksdale AFB: http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1459/5643...5/162111425.jpg Historic Downtown Natchitoches late 2005: http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1459/5643...5/162111422.jpg

They did a great job on that remodel. I remember watching Jurassic Park at the theater that used to be there, years ago. I'm glad the center is back again. Hopefully Shreve City will rebound well when the Wal-Mart is done.

That house is awesome! I wish there were more of that Bavarian/German style of architecture here. The mural is very nice. I was stationed in Germany and it looks very much like something you'd see in Bavaria. Another interesting example of Bavarian architecture is the old firestation on Line Avenue in the Highland (South Highlands?) neighborhood. Very nice structure.