User:Thetimes

The Times (Shreveport-Bossier City, LA) - http://www.shreveporttimes.com  Publisher: Larry Whitaker Executive Editor: Alan English Founded: 1871 Joined Gannett: 1977 Employees: 402 Circulation: 63,487 morning; 77,594 Sunday  Milestones: The newspaper originally was known as The Caddo Gazette & Flag. It changed its name in 1871 to the Daily Shreveport Times. In 1877, it changed to Shreveport Daily Times, then in 1889 to The Shreveport Times. In 1928, The Times, in a historic rift, opposed Gov. Huey Long for tyrannical behavior and misuse of public funds. In 1939, a Times crusade prompted a federal investigation that resulted in former Gov. Richard Leche's conviction for mail fraud. In 1953, The Shreveport Times and The Shreveport Journal entered into a joint operating agreement which ended in 1999. To reflect its regional circulation, the name was changed to The Times in the 1970s.  The newspaper was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 1976 for an investigation of the Shreveport Department of Public Safety, and again in 1989 for an in-depth look at Louisiana's education system.  About Shreveport: Shreveport was founded in 1839 and named after Captain Henry Miller Shreve, who was responsible for clearing the Red River of a 165 mile long logjam, making the river navigable and open to commerce.  The Times serves the area known as the Ark-La-Tex, the geographic region formed by the junction of three states. Located in the northwest corner of Louisiana, Shreveport resides in the heart of the region, just 15 minutes from Texas and 30 minutes from Arkansas. Shreveport and Bossier City stretch along opposite banks of the Red River, and have grown through the years to become a joint metropolitan area of nearly 400,000 residents. A three-time All-America City winner, Shreveport is the national headquarters of the American Rose Society and hosts more than 40 events and festivals annually. The area is also one of the nation’s top ten casino markets with five casinos and one "racino" (combination of live thoroughbred racing and gaming). <P><BR> In the 1940s and '50s Shreveport’s Municipal Auditorium hosted the Louisiana Hayride, a Grand Ole Opry-style show and radio broadcast credited for launching the careers of Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, and Johnny Cash, among others. Known as "Sportsman's Paradise", excellent hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation abound, with the area playing host to the Independence Bowl and the Louisiana CITGO BASSMASTER Tour. The Shreveport-Bossier area is home to four NFL quarterbacks (Terry Bradshaw, David Woodley, Joe Ferguson, and Stan Humphries), plus golf pros David Toms and Hal Sutton. A few other notable residents include acclaimed children’s author/illustrator/movie producer William Joyce, country star Kix Brooks, blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee guitarist James Burton. <P><BR> Population: 395,008<BR> Median family household income: $37,353<BR> Median age: 35.2<BR> Largest employers: Barksdale Air Force Base, state of Louisiana, LSU Medical Center, General Motors, Schumpert Health System, Horseshoe Casino & Hotel, Willis-Knighton Health Systems<BR> Key colleges: Louisiana State University at Shreveport, Centenary College, Southern University at Shreveport, Louisiana Tech, Grambling State University.