The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for most of southeast Louisiana and south Mississippi from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 19, warning of dangerous heat conditions with index values between 106 and 109 degrees, especially near the Atchafalaya and Mississippi rivers. Forecasters are confident that heat index readings will reach 108 degrees or higher for two to three hours in some areas, creating a risk of heat-related illnesses for those without access to shade or air conditioning. Meanwhile, meteorologists are closely tracking a tropical wave in the eastern Atlantic that now has a 60% chance of developing into a tropical cyclone within seven days, though they stress that no tropical impacts are expected locally for at least the next 10 days.
–The St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce presented recommendations to the Parish Home Rule Charter Committee on Thursday, August 14, urging reforms aimed at making parish government more efficient and supportive of business growth. Chamber leaders, representing more than 1,000 businesses and 37,000 employees, stressed that streamlined processes and greater accountability could strengthen the economy and improve quality of life. Their proposals included adopting a “Parish Manager” model, creating an Office of Inspector General, using referendums to increase citizen engagement, and reconsidering the size of the Parish Council to encourage cooperation. While the Chamber emphasized the potential benefits of these changes, it noted that final support would depend on the costs associated with implementing any amendments.
–The Columbia Theatre in Hammond has a packed lineup of performances this September, starting with Pop Up Video Storytellers: A Tribute to Song on September 13, featuring Will Vance & the Kinfolk with the Lilli Lewis Project in a multimedia evening of original music and classic hits enhanced by Milk Man Liquid Light Show. On September 20, hometown BMX legend Terry Adams will premiere The Road Home, a documentary highlighting his groundbreaking career and the culture of BMX Flatland. The month wraps up with the Jefferson Performing Arts Society’s production of the hit Broadway musical Waitress on September 25, kicking off Fanfare 2025 with Sara Bareilles’ acclaimed score. More information and tickets are available at www.columbiatheatre.org.
–A press conference will be held Tuesday, August 19, at 10 a.m. at the Children’s Advocacy Center – Hope House in Covington to announce the creation of the 22nd Judicial District Special Victims Unit Task Force, aimed at tackling internet crimes against children. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill will be joined by District Attorney Collin Sims, Sheriff Randy Smith, Col. Hodges of Louisiana State Police, and other leaders from St. Tammany and Washington parishes, along with representatives from the U.S. Secret Service and Homeland Security Investigations. Officials say the task force is a significant step in combating online child exploitation, which often escalates into hands-on offenses.
— The Covington Business Association is gearing up for the return of the highly anticipated “Nightmare on Columbia” stroll on Saturday, October 18, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., with check-in beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Tammany Trace Trailhead on Columbia Street in Covington, Louisiana. Attendees can enjoy a leisurely walk featuring specialty cocktails, mocktails, craft beer, and tasty bites served by local vendors, while live entertainment animates each block along the route. Tickets are priced at $45, with sponsorship packages—including presenting, block, and “Friends of CBA” tiers—still available, offering promotional exposure and event tickets. The event promises a spooky, community-driven Halloween experience.
–Southeastern Louisiana University was the only university in the state selected to meet with U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon in Baton Rouge this week, where officials highlighted the success of its teacher induction and apprenticeship programs. McMahon’s visit launched her “Returning Education to the States” Tour, part of President Trump’s agenda to spotlight innovative, state-led education strategies across the country. Joined by Louisiana education leaders, McMahon praised Louisiana’s recent gains in K-12 achievement, while Southeastern faculty and students showcased how the university’s College of Education is preparing and retaining teachers through hands-on, practice-based training. University leaders said the recognition underscores Southeastern’s national reputation for innovation in teacher preparation and its commitment to student success.
–The City of Mandeville has announced the lineup for its Mandeville Live! Free Friday Fall Concert Series, which will bring five free shows to the Mandeville Trailhead beginning September 19. The series will feature performances by Flow Tribe on September 19, Chase Tyler Band on September 26, Bottoms Up on October 3, Little Freddie King on October 10, and Jourdan Blue on October 17. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs, and dancing shoes, while food and drinks will be available for purchase from local food trucks. To help keep the concerts free, the city asks that attendees support vendor partners, as outside food, drinks, and coolers are not permitted. More information is available at www.ExperienceMandeville.org.
— Adolesco Preparatory Academy will celebrate the opening of its new Hammond campus with an official ribbon cutting hosted by the Tangipahoa Chamber on Thursday, August 21 at 8:00 a.m. at 1909 J.W. Davis Drive. As Louisiana’s first University-Model® school, Adolesco Prep offers families a distinctly Christian, classical education that combines on-campus instruction with home-based reinforcement, allowing parents to remain the primary influence while students receive strong academics through a Biblical worldview. School leaders say the approach fosters both academic excellence and faith-based character development as they “cultivate the extraordinary together.”
–30 by Ninety Theatre will present Tuesdays with Morrie, the acclaimed autobiographical story by Mitch Albom, for two weekends only September 12–14 and 19–21 in Mandeville. The play follows Albom, a career-driven journalist, who reconnects with his former college professor Morrie Schwartz after learning Morrie is battling Lou Gehrig’s Disease. What begins as a casual visit becomes a series of weekly meetings that evolve into a final, life-changing lesson on love, loss, and the meaning of life. Evening performances are scheduled for 8 p.m. on September 12, 13, 19, and 20, with matinees at 2:30 p.m. on September 14 and 21.
— The St. Tammany Economic Development Corporation is conducting a Housing Needs and Market Assessment Study and is inviting business and industry leaders to share input at a one-hour engagement session on Thursday, August 21 at 8:30 a.m. at the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce in Covington. The discussion will focus on housing availability, affordability, and accessibility for the parish’s workforce, including working families, young professionals, middle-income earners, and retirees, while also exploring challenges, opportunities, and potential solutions. Chamber members and community stakeholders are encouraged to participate in shaping strategies to meet the parish’s current and future housing needs.
— Amtrak’s new Mardi Gras Service officially launched Monday morning, restoring passenger rail along the Gulf Coast for the first time in 20 years with twice-daily trips between Mobile and New Orleans. The Mobile-based train departs at 6:30 a.m. with stops in Pascagoula, Biloxi, Gulfport and Bay St. Louis before arriving in New Orleans at 10:30 a.m., then returns in the evening. A second train, based in New Orleans, makes the opposite run, leaving at 7:35 a.m. for Mobile and returning at 4:30 p.m. Both trains operate daily, offering passengers in both cities convenient round-trip service.
— Hut 8 has broken ground on a $2.5 billion artificial intelligence data center in West Feliciana Parish, a project expected to bring thousands of construction jobs and more than 50 permanent technician and maintenance positions. The Miami-based company is partnering with Entergy to prepare infrastructure at its 611-acre River Bend site, where the first two 450,000-square-foot buildings are slated for completion by 2026. An undisclosed tenant is set to install $10 billion worth of computing equipment, and parish leaders say the development will boost tax revenue, fund public services, and enhance quality of life through investments in green spaces. The project aligns with the parish’s 10-year Rural Development Plan to encourage private investment while preserving its rural character.
