The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office reports that a barricaded-suspect situation on Sunshine Avenue in Covington ended safely, with the individual taken into custody and no injuries to deputies. Authorities had closed Sunshine Avenue from Highway 190 to Harrison Avenue during the standoff and urged residents to avoid the area. After the peaceful resolution, the road was reopened and deputies cleared the scene.
–The City of Slidell will hold a mayoral election on Saturday, October 11, with early voting available from September 27 through October 4, excluding Sunday, September 28. To encourage strong voter turnout, the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce has joined with several local partners—the Northshore Business Council, the East St. Tammany Business Alliance, the Northshore Home Builders Association, and the United Way of Southeast Louisiana—to promote voter awareness and participation. These organizations are urging all eligible residents of Slidell to learn about the candidates and issues, reminding citizens that every vote helps shape the future of the city and strengthens the broader region. Their message underscores that stronger, more engaged communities begin at the ballot box.
–WBRZ reports that Federal officials have not released a full inventory of hazardous and radioactive materials stored at Smitty’s Supply Inc. in Roseland, where a petroleum products fire and explosion on Aug. 22 spewed oily residue across homes, farms and waterways and triggered a $39 million cleanup. The Environmental Protection Agency admits it has had the list since Aug. 27 but says it must first determine whether Smitty’s considers the information “confidential business” under federal law. Critics, including environmental chemists, accuse the agency of secrecy as air and water tests have shown elevated heavy metals, carcinogenic hydrocarbons and fine particulate levels far above normal standards. The blaze took two weeks to extinguish, and inspectors also spent days searching for what was thought to be a missing radioactive gauge before learning it was actually an industrial X-ray machine. EPA officials continue to insist the public faces no imminent danger, but they have offered no timeline for releasing the full chemical inventory.
–Early voting for the October 11 Primary Election in St. Tammany Parish will run from September 27 through October 4, excluding Sunday, September 28, with polls open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Voters can cast ballots at two locations: the St. Tammany Justice Center Parking Garage at 601 N. Jefferson Avenue in Covington and the Towers Building first floor at 520 Old Spanish Trail in Slidell. More information is available at www.geauxvote.org.
–The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office will host a parish-wide National Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday, October 7, offering free, family-friendly festivities from 5–8 p.m. at three district offices—740 Oak Harbor Blvd. in Slidell, 16189 E. Brewster Road in Covington, and 81651 Hwy. 21 in Bush. Residents near Mandeville are invited to meet STPSO’s 2nd District deputies at the Mandeville Police Department’s event at the Mandeville Trailhead. Activities include bounce houses, food, entertainment, and performances by local dance and cheer teams, while neighbors can set up tents or simply stop by to meet deputies, learn about crime-prevention services, and share community concerns. Sheriff Randy Smith said he is eager to see residents across the parish, noting the event strengthens neighborhood bonds and supports anti-crime efforts.
–Southeastern Louisiana University’s 40th Fanfare festival launches a packed week of arts and culture Sept. 30–Oct. 3, highlighted by dance, music, lectures, visual art, and a documentary premiere. The Dance Performance Project opens with LA STRONG: 14 Victims Sept. 30–Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. in Pottle Auditorium, honoring New Year’s Day shooting victims through movement, video, and music (tickets $10–$15, cash only). Oct. 1 also brings a free Day of Latino Culture with lectures from 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m. in the Student Union Theatre. On Oct. 2, the Contemporary Art Gallery hosts a 5 p.m. reception for To Make and Be Received, a multimedia exhibition running through Nov. 5, followed by the 7:30 p.m. Mosaic Concert: A Tapestry of Sound and Movement at Columbia Theatre ($20 adults, $15 non-SLU students/faculty, free for SLU students). The week concludes Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. with the world premiere of Southeastern 100, a free, RSVP-required documentary chronicling the university’s first century at Columbia Theatre.
–Tangipahoa Parish officials, working with local fire chiefs, have lifted the parish-wide burn ban effective immediately, ending several weeks of restrictions put in place because of dry weather.
–Louisiana is stepping up the fight against littering and illegal dumping with tougher enforcement and a new statewide cleanup push, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser announced this week ahead of the Keep Louisiana Beautiful State Conference. Backed by a new law granting State Park Rangers authority to enforce litter laws anywhere in the state, Nungesser outlined plans to revamp the 855-LA-LITTER hotline, increase citations, and launch a “Love Our Waterways” cleanup initiative in September 2026. Offenders face fines ranging from $175 for simple littering to $1,000 and potential criminal charges for gross dumping. Keep Louisiana Beautiful reports that litter costs the state more than $91 million annually and that 92% of residents see it as a serious problem, prompting training and grants to help enforcement agencies deploy surveillance cameras and crack down on violators.
–Slidell Mayor Bill Borchert has named Ron Usner as the new curator of the Slidell Museum, highlighting his deep local roots and academic background in sociology and history from Southeastern Louisiana University. A Slidell High graduate and retired banking and mortgage professional, Usner says he is eager to enhance the museum’s collections and share the city’s rich heritage. The museum, located at 2020 First Street in Olde Towne Slidell, is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with free admission.
–The Hammond Regional Arts Center will open two fall exhibitions on Friday, October 10, with a public reception from 5–8 p.m. The Main Gallery will feature the Hammond Art Guild’s 63rd Annual Judged Exhibition, showcasing a wide range of photography, ceramics, painting, and more, juried by Covington painter and teacher Robyn Kennedy. Upstairs in the Mezzanine Gallery, artist Marceo Brim presents Beauty in the Bayou, a vivid tribute to Louisiana’s wetlands and wildlife. Both shows, free to the public, will remain on view through November 6.
–The Tangipahoa Parish Library is inviting the community to celebrate reading and autumn fun at its annual Booktoberfest, happening Saturday, October 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hammond Branch. The free event promises complimentary books, food, and information booths, with support from Louisiana Seafood and other local partners. Library officials say the festival is designed to bring families together, promote literacy, and kick off the fall season with activities that highlight the library’s resources and programs.
–Nunez Community College’s free History Lecture Series returns Tuesday, Oct. 1, with “Role of the River,” an evening exploring the Mississippi River’s powerful influence on St. Bernard Parish. Parish historian William de Marigny Hyland will trace the river’s past, present, and future through the story of Jacques Esnould de Livaudais, the first Captain of the Port of New Orleans. Held in the Nunez Auditorium, the event begins with a wine-and-cheese reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by the lecture from 7 to 8 p.m., with additional talks planned later this fall.
–Downtown Ponchatoula is in the midst of a major facelift that city leaders say will make the area safer and more appealing, but the construction is testing everyone’s patience. Crews are tearing up sidewalks and parking spots to create a more walkable, tourist-friendly district with new planting systems and upgraded parking areas, a project announced by Mayor Wes Daniels in August. Business owners like Todd Chester of Next Level Nutrition say blocked lanes, limited parking, and constant traffic jams are deterring customers. “You’ve got one lane open, the lights, and then the train,” Chester said, adding that his clients face a daily challenge just getting in and out. While he welcomes the improvements, Chester—and many others—are eager for the city to finish the work, which so far has no firm completion date.
–Keep Hammond Beautiful is inviting residents to pitch in for its Fall Clean Ups, set for the fourth Saturday of September, October and November. The first cleanup will be Saturday, Sept. 27, starting at 8 a.m. at the new digital sign on the corner of SW Railroad Avenue and E. Coleman Street. Volunteers will receive litter sticks, garbage bags, gloves and safety vests to collect trash along downtown sidewalks and green spaces. KHB’s monthly Glass Recycling Program also continues this Saturday, Sept. 20, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Hammond Farmers and Artisans Market, where volunteers can help staff the table or drop off glass for recycling. Upcoming events include the KHB board meeting Oct. 16, another glass recycling day Oct. 18, and the next community cleanup Oct. 25. More information is available on the Keep Hammond Beautiful Facebook page.
