As of last night the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office was actively searching for 42-year-old Donald Ray Wilson, a work release inmate who walked off a job site Thursday afternoon in Tickfaw. At 1:30 this morning, TPSO officials announced that Wilson was in custody and that further details about his capture would be released today. Wilson, serving time for a parole violation as a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, disappeared near Highway 51 wearing gray sweatpants, Nike shoes, and a black and gray jacket. He is from the Tickfaw area and was participating in a Department of Corrections program allowing inmates to work off-site.
–Southeastern Louisiana University has awarded the inaugural Waddell Family Southeastern Channel Sports Media Scholarship to Alli Dominique of Slidell, a recent Salmen High School graduate. Dominique, who plans to major in sports communication, earned the $1,000 scholarship and a yearlong internship with the Southeastern Channel sports staff thanks to her previous experience in school sports coverage and photography showcased on social media. The new scholarship, created through a partnership between the Southeastern Channel and alumnus Allen Waddell of Gateway Ford in Ponchatoula, supports aspiring sports media professionals from the Northshore region.
–St. Tammany Parish residents filled Thursday night’s council meeting to voice frustration over ongoing water quality issues linked to Magnolia Water, citing months of dirty water, low pressure, and repeated boil advisories. In response to the growing number of complaints, Parish Councilman Arthur Laughlin announced plans to introduce a resolution at the July 11 meeting that would temporarily halt Magnolia Water from acquiring additional systems in the parish until current problems are addressed. Other council members proposed seeking help from the state legislature and called on Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta to push for action from Magnolia to resolve the concerns raised by affected customers.
–Louisiana State Police and the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) are warning residents about a new text message scam targeting personal information and charging fake fees. The scam involves fraudulent texts claiming recipients owe an “outstanding traffic ticket” and must pay or face consequences. Officials urge residents to ignore and delete such messages, emphasizing that the OMV does not send threatening texts or emails. To avoid scams, residents should avoid clicking on suspicious links, sharing personal information, or engaging with unverified sources, and should report incidents to reportfraud.ftc.gov. For secure transactions, residents should only use the official OMV website at www.expresslane.org.
–Northshore Technical Community College (NTCC) reached a significant milestone on May 14, 2025, by hosting its first-ever Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN-RN) Pinning Ceremony at the Fleur de Lis Event Center in Mandeville. The ceremony honored 18 students who became the first registered nurses to complete the program entirely based on the Northshore. College leaders emphasized that this class represented a major achievement for both NTCC and the surrounding region, highlighting the graduates’ resilience and commitment. The ASN-RN program was created to address the statewide nursing shortage and has since expanded to include four active cohorts, with plans for continued growth. During the ceremony, college officials noted that the event symbolized not just academic success but personal and professional development. NTCC also announced further expansion of its health sciences programs, including the launch of a Patient Navigator program and a Surgical Technology program funded by a nearly $500,000 H.E.R.O. Grant. The college expressed gratitude to all those who supported the program’s development and congratulated the inaugural graduating class for their pioneering role in shaping the future of healthcare in southeast Louisiana.
–The 85th annual session of the Louisiana Department of the American Legion’s Boys State program will take place June 22–28, 2025, on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond. The weeklong civic education experience brings together hundreds of rising high school seniors from across the state to engage in a hands-on simulation of the Louisiana political system, where they elect peers to positions from city council to governor and take on challenges faced by real-world government officials. Participants also interact with leaders from various sectors—including politics, business, media, and the military—while exploring leadership, civic responsibility, and public service. The program, which has run since 1940, aims to equip young men with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become engaged and informed citizens.
–The Tangipahoa Parish School System has announced the promotion of Gary Porter to Assistant Superintendent of Innovation, recognizing his nearly three decades of service in education and his dedication to student success. In this new role, Porter will focus on expanding college and career readiness, advancing innovation throughout the district, and promoting equitable access to quality education for all students. With a background that includes leadership roles as principal, assistant principal, and most recently Director of Student Services, Porter has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to student welfare and academic achievement, making him a key figure in shaping the district’s future.
–St. Tammany Fire District 4 in Mandeville celebrated the official opening of its newest fire station earlier this week, marking a significant step forward in enhancing emergency response capabilities for the community. The new facility provides upgraded space for both personnel and equipment, allowing the department to respond more quickly and efficiently to emergencies. Fire officials view the station as a vital investment in public safety and a proud new chapter in their ongoing commitment to serving residents with excellence.
–WWL TV reports that a grieving family in Livingston is speaking out after the death of 27-year-old Joella Joy Agard, one of four recent victims in Tangipahoa Parish linked to a dangerous new street drug known as Tusi, or pink cocaine. The synthetic cocktail, often laced with fentanyl, has prompted warnings from local authorities and the DEA due to its deadly potency. Joella, a mother of four who had maintained sobriety for four years, was remembered by her family as a loving and forgiving person who was rebuilding her life. As they mourn her sudden loss, her relatives are sharing her story in hopes of preventing similar tragedies and urging the public to help identify those responsible for distributing the drug.
–The Advocate reports that the future of the LIGO observatory in Livingston Parish is uncertain following the Trump administration’s proposed 2026 federal budget, which includes a 57% cut to the National Science Foundation’s funding. The NSF, which supports both the Livingston site and its counterpart in Washington state, would be forced to operate only one U.S. LIGO facility and scale back technology development. LIGO Livingston, which made global headlines in 2015 for detecting gravitational waves, faces a potential shutdown as its budget would drop from $48 million in 2024 to $29 million in 2026. While no decision has been made on which site could close, both observatories play a critical, collaborative role in groundbreaking astrophysical research.
–The Hammond Northshore Regional Airshow is set to return bigger and better than ever on October 11–12, 2025, bringing high-flying excitement to the skies over Tangipahoa Parish. Held at the Hammond Northshore Regional Airport, this thrilling event will feature breathtaking aerial performances, vintage aircraft displays, hands-on STEM activities, and fun for the whole family, making it a must-see celebration of aviation. For more details, visit www.hammondairshow.com.
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