Mandeville city and parish leaders gathered Monday to officially break ground on the Mandeville Harbor Gazebo Improvements Project. The $468,000 initiative, located at 139 Jackson Avenue, will restore and enhance a popular waterfront destination along Lake Pontchartrain. Planned upgrades include rehabilitating the Harbor Gazebo’s structure with railing and electrical enhancements, replacing lighting fixtures, repairing marine utility pedestals and the wooden bulkhead from Little Bayou Castine to Bayou Castine. The project also calls for a redesign of the Lakeshore Drive and Jackson Avenue intersection, adding improved sidewalks, crosswalks, paved parking, and landscaped areas. KVS Architecture is overseeing the design, while Scottmoore, LLC serves as the contractor.
— The St. Tammany Corporation is calling on early-stage entrepreneurs and founders to apply for STartUP Northshore’s newest pitch competition, THE LAUNCHPAD, before the fast-approaching deadline on July 31, 2025. Participants will have the chance to pitch their business ideas live to a panel of expert judges and compete for a share of a $5,000 prize pool. The winner will receive $3,000, while two runners-up will each take home $1,000. The competition is designed to spotlight innovation and support the region’s growing startup ecosystem. Aspiring entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply and take advantage of this opportunity to gain visibility, feedback, and funding for their ventures. For more information and to apply, visit: www.startupnorthshore.com.
–On July 25, agents from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol successfully rescued a 70-year-old man who had gone missing while crabbing near the East Pearl River. After receiving the report around 5 p.m., authorities launched a search but were unable to reach the man due to his dead cell phone. Around 8 p.m., he was located stranded in a marshy area near Lake Borgne following a vessel malfunction. He was safely transported and treated for heat-related issues by St. Tammany Fire District 1 and Acadian Ambulance EMS before being released. Special thanks were extended to LDWF Lt. Michael Garrity, Sgt. Brett Nabors, and the STPSO team for their swift and coordinated response.
–Agents with Attorney General Liz Murrill’s Louisiana Bureau of Investigation arrested 35-year-old Candace M. Taylor of Rousset Ridge in Slidell on July 28, 2025, for Government Benefits Fraud. According to arrest records, Taylor allegedly underreported her income and used false information, including an alias, to unlawfully obtain Medicaid benefits between 2020 and 2024. A criminal investigation revealed that Taylor owned six businesses generating over $9.5 million in revenue while she continued to receive public assistance by concealing her true income. Authorities documented substantial luxury purchases, including a Lamborghini, high-end jewelry, and property, despite her reported eligibility for Medicaid. Taylor was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison following the investigation, which began with a complaint from the Louisiana Department of Health.
–St. Tammany Parish Government announced that major upgrades to the parish’s water utility infrastructure are underway, with crews currently installing a wastewater force main along Brewster Road near Madisonville. The work is part of the $20.2 million West St. Tammany Wastewater Consolidation Project, which aims to eliminate multiple smaller wastewater treatment plants and redirect flow to a regional facility. The large-scale effort is expected to improve service and environmental efficiency for approximately 6,400 residents and families in the area.
— Following widespread backlash from meteorologists and government officials across the country, the federal government has reversed its decision to halt a key source of hurricane forecasting data. Erica Grow Cei, a spokesperson for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), confirmed Tuesday that data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) will continue to be distributed for the foreseeable future. The sudden move to suspend the DMSP program, announced in late June without explanation, sparked concern from weather experts who warned that losing the satellite data — particularly during hurricane season — would severely hamper storm tracking and forecasting. DMSP satellites, operated jointly by NOAA and the U.S. Air Force, provide vital environmental data, including the ability to monitor storms at night and detect signs of rapid intensification. The reversal comes just weeks after NOAA issued a service notice on June 26 indicating that the data stream would end on June 30, catching many forecasters off guard during the height of hurricane season, which runs through November 30. While NOAA emphasized that DMSP data is only one component of its broader suite of forecasting tools, experts say its unique capabilities remain essential for accurate, real-time hurricane monitoring.
–SOAR is hosting a free, informative workshop aimed at empowering parents and caregivers to better support children with disabilities through the Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) process. “Unlock Your Child’s Potential: Understanding IEPs” will take place on Thursday, July 31, from Noon to 1:00 PM at 31 Industrial Parkway in Ponchatoula, LA. The session will cover important topics including parent and student rights, advocacy tips, and available support services for the 2025–2026 school year. The workshop is free and open to parents, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities. A light lunch will be provided. To register, call 985-875-0511.
–NOLA.com wrote recently that as part of a new pilot program to address flooding, the St. Tammany Parish Council has budgeted $1.77 million to purchase 168 undeveloped, flood-prone acres outside Mandeville, bordered by La. 59, I-12, and Sharp Road, with plans to set the land aside for drainage improvements. The initiative, backed by Parish President Mike Cooper and Council Member Pat Phillips, who represents the area, aims to remove the land from development to reduce flood risks in a region increasingly impacted by population growth and construction. Longtime resident Joycelyn Lowe, whose property has flooded repeatedly, welcomed the move as a relief. Of the total funding, $980,000 comes from the parish’s 1.56-mil drainage tax, which the council opted to keep in place despite debate, while $790,000 is sourced from development impact fees. The property, bisected by a Bayou Chinchuba tributary, may eventually include a drainage pond or infrastructure like a Judge Tanner Boulevard extension, but for now, the parish plans to assess its best use under newly formalized criteria.
–Reimers Memorial Auditorium will host a free WWII history presentation on Saturday, August 2 at 3 p.m., featuring naval historian Dr. Samantha Cavell. Titled “On Eternal Patrol: USS Kete and the Submarine War in the Pacific,” the talk honors Lt. Frederick Fay Reimers, who was lost at sea aboard the USS Kete near Midway Island. The event is part of First Christian Church’s 75th Anniversary celebration of the Reimers Memorial Building, which was gifted to the church by the Reimers-Schneider Families in Lt. Reimers’ memory. The auditorium, located at 305 E. Charles St. in Hammond, faces N. Cherry St. between E. Charles and E. Robert streets.
–Almost 300 new laws signed by Governor Jeff Landry following the 2025 legislative session will officially take effect this Friday, ushering in changes across a wide range of issues from public safety to education and consumer protection. Among the most notable new laws is a statewide ban on kratom (Act 41), a controversial herbal supplement, and a law (Act 106) that sharply increases penalties for the illegal sale of nitrous oxide. Drivers will also see changes, including the criminalization of cellphone use while driving and new allowances for darker window tints on front side windows (Act 37). Other laws authorize law enforcement to shoot down “nefarious” drones (Act 170), criminalize interference with federal immigration agents (Act 399), and create a felony offense for child grooming (Act 97). Schools are now permitted to offer mental health screenings to students (Act 469), must use mapping data to improve emergency response (Act 425), and can now host political advertising at athletic facilities (Act 89). Additional measures include expanded vocational training in high schools (Act 449), a ban on election-related betting (Act 4), increased penalties for left-lane driving violations (Act 24), and new protections for military service members in housing, education, and employment (Act 100). A full list of laws taking effect is available on the Louisiana State Legislature’s website.
–Chemekette Road in Tangipahoa Parish reopened Tuesday, July 29, after being closed overnight due to heavy rainfall, but motorists are advised to expect intermittent delays as contractors from Barriere Construction begin soil cement work on the roadway. Parish President Robby Miller encouraged drivers to use alternate routes while the work is underway and noted that the construction may temporarily impact traffic flow. Residents can stay updated on road closures and conditions by visiting Tangipahoa.org or checking the parish government’s social media channels.
–Nunez Community College is offering new scholarship opportunities for students enrolling in its Cybersecurity and Wind Energy Technology programs, with $1,000-per-semester awards available to 15 Cybersecurity students over the next four semesters and full tuition and fees covered for Wind Energy Technology associate degree students for the 2025-2026 academic year. The Cybersecurity program offers hands-on training in areas like ethical hacking and cryptography, preparing graduates to safeguard data in industries such as healthcare, finance, and government. Meanwhile, the Wind Energy Technology program—the first of its kind in Louisiana—prepares students for global careers working on wind turbines through a GWO-approved curriculum. Fall classes begin Aug. 19, and prospective students can learn more or apply at Nunez.edu.
