The Reguladores LEMC Northshore Chapter will host the 2nd Annual Gator Crawl Poker Run on Saturday, September 20, 2025, starting and ending at Chafunkta Brewing Company in Mandeville to benefit Sgt. David Eckhardt in his battle against cancer. Riders can travel to additional stops at The Gym in Pearl River, Jandy Imports in Slidell, and Spoke & Barrel in Mandeville, with registration opening at 9 a.m., the first card drawn at 10 a.m., and the last hand turned in by 5 p.m. Cash prizes include $500 for first place, $250 for second, $100 for third, and $50 for the worst hand, with raffle items and live auctions beginning at 5:30 p.m. The family-friendly event will also feature live music, food trucks, craft beer, and a pet adoption opportunity through the St. Tammany Animal Shelter.
–Louisiana State Police are investigating a fatal crash that occurred shortly after midnight on September 7, 2024, on LA Hwy 1081 near Smith Road in St. Tammany Parish, claiming the life of 33-year-old Covington resident James W. Bowie. According to investigators, Bowie was riding a bicycle in the northbound lane when he was struck by a 2019 Chevrolet Blazer; he was not wearing a helmet, was dressed in dark clothing, and his bike lacked rear lights or reflectors. Bowie sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver of the Chevrolet, who showed no signs of impairment and tested below the legal alcohol limit, was uninjured. The crash remains under investigation, and State Police are reminding cyclists to follow traffic laws, use proper lighting, and wear visible clothing to help prevent tragedies on Louisiana roadways.
–Southeastern Louisiana University will mark its Centennial Giving Day on Sept. 17 with a 24-hour online campaign inviting alumni, students, faculty, and community members to support the university’s mission. Vice President for University Advancement Wendy Lauderdale said the initiative, which has previously funded classroom technology, student research, programming, and scholarships, aims to unite the Southeastern family in celebration of 100 years of Lion pride while investing in the next century. Organizers stress that every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference, and encourage supporters to spread the word through social media and personal networks. Donations, which are tax deductible, can be made throughout the day at www.southeasterngivingday.org.
–Slidell Mayor Bill Borchert, joined by several City Council members, broke ground Friday, September 5, 2025, on the Riecke Retention Pond, a new stormwater management project aimed at protecting the Pontchartrain Drive corridor from flooding. The one-acre pond, located at the site of the former Tammany Mall, will provide about 26,500 gallons of stormwater storage and is being designed by Hartman Engineering, Inc., which is conducting a hydraulic analysis of the area’s drainage system. Construction is set to begin this fall with completion expected by spring 2026. City officials say the project is part of broader efforts to strengthen Slidell’s drainage infrastructure and reduce localized flooding during heavy rainfall events.
–The U.S. National Weather Service in New Orleans reports that no tropical activity is expected in the Atlantic over the next seven days, marking the latest into September without a named storm since 1992, when Hurricane Bonnie formed on September 18. Historically, only two Septembers—1879 and 1890—have recorded no storm formations since recordkeeping began in 1851, highlighting the unusually quiet start to the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season. Meanwhile cooler nights and warm afternoons can be expected through Tuesday in the wake of a weak cold front. A few showers and storms could form near the coast along sea and lake breezes on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon.
–The Tangipahoa Chamber and Tangipahoa Economic Development Foundation will host an Economic Outlook Breakfast featuring renowned economist Dr. Loren C. Scott on October 7, 2025, at the Shell Robert Training and Conference Center, open exclusively to Chamber members. Known nationally for his expertise in energy and economic forecasting, Dr. Scott has been featured on CNBC, MSNBC, and Bloomberg TV, with his analysis cited by major publications including the Wall Street Journal and USA Today. Organizers say the program will provide local business leaders with valuable insights into economic trends and opportunities impacting both Tangipahoa Parish and Louisiana. Seating is limited, and tickets must be purchased in advance at www.tangipahoachamber.org.
–The Livingston Parish Fair Grounds will host the JKS Jambalaya and Pastalaya Cook-Off & Craft Show on Saturday, September 13, 2025, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. to benefit Kyle Stewart. The event will feature live music, vendor booths, and unlimited jambalaya and pastalaya samples for a $15 entry fee. Cooking teams can compete for $100 per team with a 5-gallon pot, while vendor booth spaces are available for $35. Proceeds will go toward the cost of a sit-to-stand wheelchair for Stewart.
–Covington Police announced that beginning Monday, September 8, 2025, St. Scholastica Academy’s afternoon carline will officially begin at 3:00 p.m. due to increased traffic in the area. Drivers who line up before that time may be cited. Authorities thanked parents and guardians for their patience and cooperation as the new process is implemented to maintain safe and efficient traffic flow.
–Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office reports that a man previously sought in connection with an August 26 shooting on Dead End Street has been located and cleared as a suspect, though the investigation remains active as deputies search for the suspect vehicle. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. when dozens of shots were fired at two men pulling into a driveway, striking both their vehicle and the home, though no injuries were reported. Investigators say the shots came from a blue four-door Volvo with Mississippi plate “PRH 1763,” and Sheriff Gerald Sticker urges anyone with information about the suspects or the vehicle to contact detectives or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers, where eligible tips could earn a cash reward.
–Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller announced that Phase 2025 overlay work will continue next week with shoulder dressing and paving operations scheduled across several parish roads. From September 8, crews plan to conduct shoulder dressing on South Lewiston, Lark, and New Genessee, while paving operations are slated for North Peckerwood, Baytown Hills, Company Town, Brown Road in the Village of Tangipahoa, and Johnson Holton Road. All work is weather-dependent, and drivers are advised to expect intermittent delays in active construction areas. Updates will be available on Tangipahoa.org and through the parish’s social media channels.
–The body of 58-year-old Philippe Lannelongue, a Kenner resident and local professor, was recovered Wednesday in Lake Pontchartrain by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents and identified by the St. Tammany Parish Coroner on Friday. Lannelongue, who taught full-time at the University of Holy Cross and as an adjunct at Loyola University New Orleans and the University of New Orleans, went missing after a single-boat crash in the lake on August 31. A female passenger reported the boat struck a bridge, throwing Lannelongue overboard; she was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard. LDWF’s Enforcement Division is leading the investigation, assisted by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Coast Guard.
–Southeastern Louisiana University’s undergraduate nursing program has been named Nursing School of the Year for the second consecutive year by the Louisiana Nurses Foundation’s Nightingale Awards. This marks the seventh time the program has received the prestigious recognition, which honors quality, service, and excellence among Louisiana nursing programs. The award evaluates factors such as accreditation, innovations in education, exam passage rates, and feedback from graduates, faculty, and employers. College of Nursing leaders credited the program’s dedicated faculty, advanced instructional facilities, and simulation labs for the continued success of its students and graduates.
–A St. Tammany Parish jury found 35-year-old Lesean Renard Jones of Covington guilty of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and simple assault, District Attorney Collin Sims reported. The charges stem from a May 4, 2024, incident in which Jones, the ex-boyfriend of a resident, reportedly arrived at a Covington home armed with a semi-automatic handgun, accused his ex of having a new boyfriend, and threatened a teenage girl while searching the house. Jones fled after police were notified and was arrested three days later at his residence. Judge Scott Gardner presided over the trial, with Assistant District Attorneys Taylor Nicholson and Luke Lancaster prosecuting, and sentencing is set for September 11, 2025. Jones faces up to 20 years in prison for the felony firearm charge and up to 90 days for simple assault and has prior convictions for aggravated battery and illegal carrying of a concealed weapon.
–The St. Bernard Chamber, in partnership with the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans, will host its Building Smarter Luncheon on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at Nunez Community College in Chalmette, offering members key updates on changes impacting the construction, real estate, and insurance industries. Featured speaker Ashley Van Der Muelen, owner of Compass Inspection Service, will discuss how new roofing laws and inspection codes can strengthen homes and help reduce insurance costs, including the benefits of Wind Mitigation Surveys and FORTIFIED roofs. Attendees will also hear parish updates from Council Member at Large West Gillis McCloskey, while enjoying lunch from Old Arabi Food Store and networking with fellow business and community leaders.
–Rachel Watts Sanders, 39, of Loranger was sentenced on August 28, 2025, to five years of probation for wire fraud and mail theft, Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced. Sanders, a former Postal Highway Contract Route contractor in Franklinton, pleaded guilty to stealing over 40 checks from the mail, forging endorsements, and depositing them into her account, totaling $22,717.66 in losses. Restitution will be determined at a later date. The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Calogero.
–Louisiana State Police Troop A are investigating a fatal two-vehicle crash on US 61 near Pond Road in Ascension Parish that claimed the life of 59-year-old Jeffery Luquette of St. Amant on Saturday, September 6, 2025. Troopers said Luquette was driving a 2022 Chevrolet Corvette at a high rate of speed when it struck the rear of a 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe, leaving the Corvette to leave the roadway and hit a tree. Luquette, who was properly restrained, died at the scene; the Tahoe driver sustained minor injuries. Impairment is not suspected, and toxicology results are pending. Luquette, a longtime petrochemical worker, had worked at Shell Norco for over 20 years and at other facilities since 2019.
