KTBS.com

Posted 10 hours 54 minutes 33 seconds ago
Posted In: News - First News

    We were joined by a special guest this morning on KTBS 3 First News.  Clifford the Big Red Dog stopped by to tell us what's in store for the KTBS 3/KPXJ CW 21 Independence Day Festival presented by the Cities of Shreveport and Bossier, the Law Offices of Kirby Kelly and Eldorado Resort Casino Shreveport.  You can see Clifford, and maybe bring him a dog bone, at the festivities this weekend.

Tagged As: first, clifford

Posted 10 hours 58 minutes 56 seconds ago
Posted In: Homepage, News - First News

    Hundreds of runners will grather on the Clyde Fant Parkway this weekend for the annual Firecracker 5K.  The race is being run in honor of three longtime Shreveport runners.  Rick Rowe remembers them with a special tribute.

Tagged As: first, robin fell, firecracker 5k

Posted 11 hours 5 minutes 45 seconds ago
Posted In: News - First News

    Many of you are getting ready to pop firecrackers, but conditions are dry across the Arklatex. Sabine County is the only county in Texas under a burn ban, but the Texas Forest Service is still urging people to be extra careful this holiday weekend.  They say many areas still appear green, but they are already getting more grassfires than normal.   They are urging you to only use fireworks and grills away from grass and brush.  Most areas only received roughly an inch of rain during June, and conditions are continuing to worsen.  Fire prevention officials ask that you check with local authorities to find out if the outdoor activities you're planning are legal.  They also say keep a bucket of water or garden hose nearby, and discard used fireworks into a bucket of water.
    Officials in Shreveport are also urging you to be careful when using fireworks and grilling this holiday weekend.  Cpl. Bill Goodin with the Shreveport Police Department offers a few tips for your holiday celebrations.

Tagged As: first, fireworks safety, burn ban

Posted 11 hours 18 minutes 27 seconds ago
Posted In: News - First News

    Many of you are getting ready to fire up the grill as part of your holiday celebration this weekend. But, if you're looking for a new spin on the same old holiday menu, may be we can help!  Brian Alexander from El Dorado Casino Resort dropped in this morning to whip up some watermelon soup.

Tagged As: first, watermelon soup

Posted 11 hours 32 minutes 7 seconds ago
Posted In: News - First News

    There's a tradition in Shreveport.  Every 4th of July the Firecracker 5K takes off at Mall St. Vincent. Even though it's early in the morning, it's still going to be hot!  Justin Reneau from SportsSpectrum dropped by our studio to offer some tips on running in the heat.

Tagged As: first, firecracker 5 k, running tips

Posted 1 day 8 hours 8 minutes ago
Posted In: News - First News

There is a fascinating man in Mena, Arkansas. He likes to be called the bird man.
Rick Rowe headed to Mena for this week's 50 cities stop. it's all about high-flying friends.

Tagged As: 50 cities, Mena, Arkansas, Rick

Posted 2 days 10 hours 18 minutes ago
Posted In: News - First News

Mama Fontaine's Mustard Sauce

1 cup dry mustard
1 cup white vinegar

Mix and let sit overnight

2 eggs
Mustard mix
I cup sugar
I teaspoon salt

Mix and cook in double broiler until thickened.  Remove from heat and let cool.  Add 1 cup mayonnaise.

Jalapeno Honey Mustard

1 quart mayonnaise
1 cup honey
4 ounces creole mustard
1 cup jalapeno, minced

Mix thoroughly and refrigerate.  Always stir before using.  Makes 1 1/2 quarts.

Tagged As: first, mustard

Posted 3 days 10 hours 31 minutes ago
Posted In: News - First News

    Would you know what to do if you saw someone drowning?  We sent Rick Rowe to learn water safety ahead of the holiday weekend.

Tagged As: first news, rick rowe, water safety

Posted 3 days 10 hours 32 minutes ago
Posted In: Homepage, News - First News, News - Texarkana

This Maizy Waits, 2, from Lake Charles, Louisiana The Waits family likes to swim, eat and spend time with family.

What's your 4th of July tradition?  We want to see your fun family photos!  Send your photos to firstnews@ktbs.com and watch for them every morning this week starting at 5 a.m. on KTBS 3 First News.

Tagged As: first, July, fun, family , pix

Posted 4 days 10 hours 48 minutes ago
Posted In: News - First News

1 grilled pizza dough
1/4 cup basil pesto
1 cup wil baby arugula
5 oz. thin sliced prime rib
1/4 cup marinated tomato and onions
2 tbsp. parmesan cheese
Drizzle olive oil
Drizzle balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste

Spray pizza dough with olive oil and salt and pepper and grill both sides.  Spread pesto on pizza dough, then arugula on top of pesto.  Next, place beef and marinated tomato and onions.  Sprinkle with cheese, drizzle oil and vinegar and salt and pepper.  Cut and serve.

PREPARING BASIL PESTO:
4 cups fresh basil leaves (tightly packed)
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
5 garlic cloves
3 cups olive oil
1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
3 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine basil, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, cheese and puree.  Then add balsamic and salt and pepper.

Tagged As: first, pesto flatbread

Posted 4 days 11 hours 12 minutes ago
Posted In: News - First News

    Summer is here and the heat is on across the Arklatex.  If you're thinking of heading outside, be careful in the dangerously hot temperatures.  In this week's Griffin's Arklatex, Bob tells us how to recognize the symptoms of and avoid heat exhaustion ... all while still have a great time!

Tagged As: first, griffin's arklatex, heat exhaustion

Posted 1 week 10 hours 46 minutes ago
Posted In: News - First News

MALAWI: Marie Da Silva was born in Malawi, a small nation in southeast Africa.  The majority of the 13 million Malawian people reside in rural areas that produce tobacco, tea, maize and sugar cane. For the past 16 years, Da Silva has worked in the United States as a nanny.  In 2002, during a visit to her home village, she met with the teachers and students of a small school residing in a church.  A year later, she discovered the school had to move out of the church and had nowhere to go.  Marie's late mother offered her home as the new facility.

In 1994, the Malawian government introduced the "Free Primary Education Program," but despite their efforts, only 40 percent of children complete their primary education and 90 percent of teenagers can't afford to go to secondary school. More than half of the children -- 1.4 million -- are
orphans because of AIDS.  Malawi is among the 10 countries the most hardest hit by the pandemic. Fourteen percent of Malawian adults are infected with HIV.  Da Silva herself knows first hand the devastating effects it can have.  Fourteen members of her immediate family have died of AIDS, including her father, brothers and nieces and nephews.

JACARANDA FOUNDATION: For the past five years, Da Silva has sent $1,000 of what she earns from her nanny salary every month to Malawi to pay the teachers' wages.  The school has grown from 60 children in 2003 to 230 current students, ages 6 to 20.  The bedrooms and living room serve as study rooms while the kitchen is the headmaster's office and the garage is a classroom.

In late 2005, Da Silva founded the Jacaranda Foundation to raise awareness of the orphans' plight. The goal of the non-profit is to build and manage schools for AIDS orphans in Malawi.  Their first project -- to construct a facility for the original Jacaranda school that has operated out of
Da Silva's family home.  This past summer, the foundation was able to build a secondary school to accommodate 120 more students, bringing the total to 350.  The inaugural class entered the school in January 2009. Marie's family house will remain as the primary school.

Tagged As: first

Posted 1 week 11 hours 2 minutes ago
Posted In: News - First News

    Rick Rowe's having fun in the sun ... flowers this morning.  He's gearing up for the Sunflower Festival this weekend in Gilliam, Louisiana.

Tagged As: first, sunflowers, rick, rowe, Gilliam

Posted 1 week 1 day 9 hours ago by Rex Allison, KTBS News Now
Posted In: Homepage, News - Local, News - First News, News - Texarkana

After having blazed the trail to Emerson, Arkansas' Purplehull Pea Festival last year, First News Anchor Sonja Bailes lay the challenge at Rick's feet: Keep up with the tiller, if you can!

Rick accepted the risky assignment and took Earthlink 3 north to the doorstep of one Shane Waller.  With his young son Drew at his side, the 5-time Purplehull Pea Festival Rototiller Races Champion tried in vein to explain to Rick Rowe the ins and outs of how to race a rototiller.

Watch this video and see for yourself if an old dog really can learn new tricks.  Go get 'em Rick!

Posted 1 week 2 days 2 hours ago by Amanda McCarter
Posted In: News - First News

This weekend is the 20th Annual Purple Hull Pea Festival in Emerson.
So, what do Purple Hull Peas and tillers have in common? Rick Rowe headed to Emerson, Arkansas for his latest 50 cities stop to find the answer.

Tagged As: Purple, Hull, Pea, Festival, first, 50 cities

Posted 1 week 2 days 7 hours ago by Rex Allison, KTBS News Now
Posted In: Homepage, News - First News

Rick Rowe visited Lincoln Parish's pride, Mitcham Farms in Ruston, LA.  If you have never taken the time to travel the short distance to this Northwest Louisiana landmark, do it soon because there may not be many seasons left for Mitcham Farms.

Tagged As: Mitcham Farms, Ruston, peaches, Rick Rowe

Posted 1 week 3 days 3 hours ago
Posted In: News - First News

Officials say this month's Louisiana Squire Creek Peach Festival will generate between $3 million and $5 million in revenue for the City of Ruston.  Scott Terry, president of the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, says last year's festival generated about $3 million but bad weather hurt turnout as did higher than usual gas prices.  The festival, most of which takes place outdoors, is scheduled June 26-28.

Posted 1 week 3 days 11 hours ago
Posted In: News - First News

    Rick Rowe's eating healthy this morning by picking his own produce!  He's checking out the veggie crop at Ryan Farms in Dixie, Louisiana.

Tagged As: first

Posted 1 week 4 days 4 hours ago
Posted In: News - First News

Sleeping Beauty
Marjorie Lyons Playhouse at Centenary College
Box Office open 10am - 4pm M-F, 318-869-5242

Tickets
$20.00 ......... Adults
$15.00 ........ Children, Students with ID, Sr Citizens (60 and up)

Showtimes
June 25 (TH) .......... 7pm July 2 (TH) .......... 7pm
June 26 (FR) .......... 7pm July 3 (FR) .......... 7pm
June 27 (SA) .......... 2pm, 7pm July 4 (SA) .......... 2pm, 7pm
June 28 (SU) .......... 2pm July 5 (SU) .......... 2pm

Tea Parties
$25.00 per person
June 27 & July 4 .......... 12:30pm

Tagged As: Sleeping, Beauty, Peter Pan Players

Posted 1 week 4 days 10 hours ago
Posted In: News - First News

Ingredients:
- 3 ¾ cups cooked brown basmati rice (about 2 cups uncooked rice) or TJ's frozen cooked organic brown rice (look for it in the frozen veggies isle)
- 40 oz. steamed or grilled boneless/skinless chicken breasts cubed (buy 3.25 lbs) or 40 oz medium frozen cooked/deveined shrimp (buy 2.5 lbs)
- 10 oz. roma tomatoes, washed, seeded and cubed
- 6 oz. crumbled feta cheese
- 6 oz. sliced black olives, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups finely chopped parsley
- 12 oz. bottle Caesar dressing (in the cold section, no egg or anchovie)
- 1 lemon (juice only)
- Black pepper to taste

Directions:
Prepare rice according to package directions. Wash and trim chicken.  Bake chicken in glass Pyrex dish for 30 minutes in a 400 degree oven (cover with foil).  Refrigerate until chicken is cool.  Cut chicken into 1" cubes.  If using shrimp, defrost shrimp in original package in refrigerator
overnight.  Rinse in a colander with cold water. Wrap shrimp in paper towels to dry.  In a large, glass bowel, combine all ingredients and mix well.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to package.

Packaging:
16 oz. clear plastic containers with lids. Affix label to side.

Tagged As: first

Posted 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago
Posted In: News - First News

    Wish you could compete with the finely manicured yards down the street?  You don't have to spend a lot of money to get your landscaping in tip-top summer-shape.  Here are some ways to spruce up your lawn without putting money down the drain.

Tagged As: first, law, green

Posted 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago
Posted In: News - First News

    Bob's getting a history lesson this morning.   He's learning about agriculture and more in Louisiana at the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum.  He headed to the State Fairgrounds in Shreveport for this week's Griffin's Arklatex.

Tagged As: first, griffin's arklatex, fairgrounds

Posted 2 weeks 10 hours 46 minutes ago
Posted In: News - First News

When there's a fire, crews have to get in gear fast!  So, how fast is fast?  We decided to put Sonja and Jennifer to the test.  The winner?  Jennifer says she'll put her application in with SFD on Monday!

Tagged As: first, firefighter, challenge

Posted 2 weeks 10 hours 55 minutes ago
Posted In: News - First News

    The 23rd annual Let the Good Times Roll Festival starts at noon today in downtown Shreveport and lasts all weekend.  Every stage will be jamming with various musical artists.  One of the performers, Till, stopped by our studio this morning to sing his newest single.

Tagged As: first, good time festival

Posted 2 weeks 11 hours 51 minutes ago
Posted In: News - First News

    A new Miss Louisiana will be crowned tomorrow night in Monroe!  KTBS 3's Ed Walsh is emceeing the pageant for the 9th year in a row! He's giving us a behind-the-scenes look at the primaries.
    Remember, you can see Miss Louisiana 2009 crowned live on our sister station KPXJ/CW 21.  The pageant airs tomorrow night at 8:00.

Tagged As: miss louisiana 2009, first