The St. Tammany Chamber PAC says it is investigating parish government finances after a failed tax rededication vote in March raised concerns about transparency and spending. A PAC task force found that officials overstated revenue from the District 3 two-cent sales tax by about $15 million a year and diverted nearly 70% of those funds to general government costs, including the parish president’s office, instead of roads and drainage projects promised to voters. The report also cites rising payroll and benefits and warns of underfunding for core services such as the district attorney’s office and parish jail. PAC chair Scott Delacroix called the findings “a troubling pattern of misleading statements, inconsistent accounting, and questionable use of dedicated funds,” and urged immediate audits, clearer budget data, and reviews of parish contracts. A full report will be released at www.sttammanychamberpac.org.
–Ponchatoula police arrested 32-year-old Anthony P. Conley after a three-vehicle crash on Highway 51 North near St. Patrick’s Boulevard around 6:30 p.m. Monday left eight people injured, including children ages 2, 5, and 7. Investigators say Conley, driving a 2015 Chevy Silverado, struck a 2014 GMC Terrain and a 2024 Hyundai Tucson, sending all nine occupants to area hospitals; one child was airlifted and several victims remain in critical condition. Conley allegedly fled the scene, later claiming he was only a passenger, but police determined he was the sole driver and arrested him Tuesday on felony hit-and-run, eight counts of negligent injuring, and driving with a suspended license. Detectives collected blood samples for state lab analysis, and officers are monitoring the victims’ conditions as the investigation continues.
–Southeastern Louisiana University’s Dance Performance Project will honor the 14 victims of the New Year’s Day New Orleans tragedy with its concert “LA STRONG: 14 Victims,” part of the Fanfare arts festival, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. in Pottle Auditorium. Directed by Keith “Skip” Costa, the one-hour performance blends dance, music, and video projections to promote healing and solidarity. Dancers include Cali Boudreaux of Lutcher; Trinity Brown, Giavonnia Cervini, and Holly Frisch of New Orleans; Carlie Dodd of Houston; Lauren Drouet of Hammond; Kalleigh Encardes of Covington; Erin Claire Fernandez and Angelina Neal of Baton Rouge; Gabriella Gregg of Lafitte; Lilianna Gregory of Slidell; Janae’ Martin and Natalie Orgeron of Kenner; Olivia Reeves of Laplace; Kairah Senegal of Lafayette; and Gabrielle Woodall of Denham Springs, with Stephen Gerhardt as video editor. Tickets, sold one hour before showtime, are $10 for students, seniors, children, and military, and $15 general admission.
–Two people were killed and three others injured in a head-on collision Sunday night near Slidell, according to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. Investigators say a Ford Focus crossed the centerline on Allen Road between Highway 190 and Voters Road shortly before 9 p.m., striking a Mercedes sedan traveling in the opposite direction. A passenger in the Ford died at the scene, while its driver and another passenger were hospitalized. The Mercedes driver and passenger were also taken to a hospital, where the driver later died. The Sheriff’s Traffic Division continues to investigate the cause of the crash.
–The “Katrina, Then and Now” exhibition—the final event in Slidell’s Hurricane Katrina 20th Commemorative series—closes Friday, Sept. 26, with free admission from 3–6 p.m. at the George Dunbar Gallery in City Hall. The show pairs haunting post-storm images with photos of the same sites after recovery and features artifacts of the city’s resilience, including Adam Sambola’s commissioned “Spirit of Louisiana Katrina 20th Anniversary” painting. Visitors can make last-minute submissions of photos or personal stories for a time capsule to be opened on the storm’s 100th anniversary. Presented by the Northshore Cultural Economy Coalition and hosted by the City of Slidell, the exhibit aims to share Katrina’s legacy with both longtime residents and a generation born after the disaster.
–Bogue Chitto State Park in Franklinton will host the 5th Annual Roller Coaster of Love Mountain Bike Festival Oct. 3–5, 2025, promising three days of racing, music, and family fun. Presented by NORBA, the festival features nine biking events—including Enduro, Cross-Country, Dual Slalom, Pump Track, and Jump Jam—plus live performances by Echo Forge and DJ Killahouse, food trucks, and vendors. Highlights include a kids’ balance bike race, Goofy Games, a night ride, and a high-energy show from Oakley- and GoPro-sponsored Trio Behind Bars. Registration is open at www.rollercoasterfest.com.
–The St. Tammany Parish Library Board of Control honored outgoing Director Kelly LaRocca this week for 20 years of service on her final day in the role. LaRocca, who began as a reference librarian and later became branch manager and assistant director, was named interim director in 2018 and selected as director in 2019 after a national search. She guided the system through the COVID lockdowns, introduced a juvenile tiered-card model adopted by other libraries statewide, and led a successful millage renewal campaign earlier this year. LaRocca will continue her library career with the State Library later this month.
–The Alzheimer’s Association will host the Northshore Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at Lakeview Hospital in Covington, inviting residents to raise awareness and funds for research, treatments, and support services. Participants will take part in the Promise Garden Ceremony, carrying flowers of different colors to honor loved ones affected by the disease. “This is a pivotal moment in the fight against Alzheimer’s. There are now treatments that can change the course of the disease,” said Kimberly N. Morrison, 2025 Walk Committee Chair. More than 92,000 Louisianans are living with Alzheimer’s, supported by nearly 199,000 caregivers. Registration and event details are available at www.alz.org/walk.
–Slidell Mayor Bill Borchert joined city officials and community leaders this week to break ground on the $5.1 million Dellwood Drainage Pump Station Improvements Project, aimed at reducing flooding in the area. Funded through the Louisiana Watershed Initiative’s CDBG-MIT grant, the project will add mechanical bar screens to catch debris before it enters the station’s intake basin, helping prevent clogs during heavy rains. It’s the city’s third major drainage upgrade in three weeks, following the Riecke Retention Pond and a new automatic flood gate near the Lee Street Water Basin. Meyer Engineering designed the project and RNGD is the contractor.
–The Leadership Tangipahoa Class of 2025–26 kicked off with an in-depth tour of parish government, giving participants a behind-the-scenes look at how local agencies serve residents. Starting in downtown Amite with Parish President Robby Miller and Council Chair Brigette Delatte Hyde, the group heard about challenges from disaster response to long-term growth planning. Members visited the fortified Emergency Operations Center, toured the busy parish landfill, and learned about mosquito control, property assessments, court record management, voter registration updates, and animal services—where one participant even adopted a puppy. The day ended with briefings from planning, permitting, and community development officials. Organizers say the session highlighted the teamwork and dedication that keep Tangipahoa Parish running smoothly, with thanks to sponsors OPTIONS, Gulf Coast Bank & Trust, and Hannis T. Bourgeois, LLC.
–Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois begins a statewide tour Tuesday in Monroe as part of Gov. Jeff Landry’s “Nine by Ninety” plan to spur investment and business growth. Over the next several weeks she will visit companies in all eight economic regions, aiming to meet with 800 key “driver companies” by the end of the fiscal year to learn their challenges and expansion plans. The tour promotes SourceLouisiana.com, a new directory linking local vendors with major projects. Stops include Louisiana Plastics and J&J Construction in Monroe, Metro Aviation and Sumitomo Forestry in Shreveport, and a Sept. 29 Baton Rouge panel with tech and startup leaders. Bourgeois said the meetings will give the governor and Legislature detailed data to guide future economic policy.
–Nunez Community College’s Culinary program and Workforce division will host a ServSafe One-Day Manager Training on Oct. 6 at the Culinary Café in the Kane Building. Chef Ruth Varisco will lead the class from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the online certification exam from 3 to 5 p.m. The $180 course—discounted for the college’s restaurant partners—offers kitchen workers and culinary students a chance to earn or update ServSafe certification, a key credential for food-service careers. Registration is available through a Course Inquiry Form at www.Nunez.edu/Workforce.
