Southeastern Louisiana University’s Lion Up Recovery program will launch the holiday season with Roomie’s Merry Market, a two-day shopping event scheduled at the Pennington Center on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 2, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., featuring more than 80 local vendors offering boutiques, gourmet foods, art, and seasonal décor. Guests can enjoy photos with Santa, music from a KSLU DJ, and a Saturday concert by the Southeastern Community Music School, while lunch will be sold both days by the Lab School Dads and admission is set at $5. On Sunday, children ages 5 to 13 can participate in a Holiday Dance Workshop hosted by the Lionettes Dance Team for a $40 fee, which includes a performance at 3:45 p.m. and free market admission for parents. The first 500 shoppers will receive complimentary shopping bags, and proceeds will fund scholarships and programming that benefit students in recovery.
–Travelers at Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport are experiencing unusually long lines and crowded terminals as the government shutdown enters its third week, with air traffic controllers and TSA agents working 26 consecutive days without pay. Airport officials warn that security checkpoints may take longer than usual and advise passengers to arrive two to three hours before departure, though some are arriving even earlier amid concerns about missing flights. Despite the strain, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy praised the airport workforce for maintaining critical operations, calling them “great American patriots,” while TSA urges travelers to remain patient and plan for potential delays.
–The Port of New Orleans has received approval from the U.S. Department of Commerce to expand its Federal Trade Zone (FTZ No. 2) into St. Tammany Parish, a move local economic leaders say will strengthen the region’s global competitiveness and drive new business investment. Previously limited to Orleans, Jefferson, and St. Bernard parishes, the expanded FTZ will allow St. Tammany companies to defer, reduce, or eliminate duties on imported goods while improving supply chain efficiency under U.S. Customs supervision. Port NOLA President and CEO Beth Branch and St. Tammany Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Russell Richardson framed the approval as a milestone that enhances the Northshore’s role as a strategic logistics and commerce hub, supports regional job creation, and increases cargo flowing through the port. The FTZ program, established in 1934, now includes more than 30 usage-driven sites across Greater New Orleans and remains a vital tool for Louisiana businesses competing in international markets.
–The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested three individuals in connection with a shots fired incident reported early Oct. 15 on Rose Drive in the Ponchatoula area, where a man leaving an argument was shot at but unharmed. Investigators identified the suspect vehicle with help from the victim and located it on Booker Road II in the Hammond area, taking 18-year-old David Coleman, 20-year-old Jamario Terrell, and 20-year-old Amyra Selders into custody. Coleman faces charges of aggravated assault with a firearm and obstruction of justice, Terrell and Selders face charges as accessories after the fact to aggravated assault by drive-by shooting, and Selders is additionally charged with violating a protective order, while Coleman and Terrell admitted to discarding firearms in nearby woods.
–Tangipahoa Parish officials reopened the final two roadways impacted by the August 22 fire and oil spill at Smitty’s Supply on Friday, Oct. 24, allowing traffic to resume through the area for the first time since the incident. Parish President Robby Miller called the reopening an important step in ongoing recovery efforts and urged drivers to remain cautious, noting that Highway 10 could periodically be reduced to one lane as cleanup and remediation continue. Motorists are encouraged to monitor Tangipahoa.org and parish social media channels for any future closure updates.
–The National Weather Service in New Orleans is asking residents across Southeast Louisiana to report any storm damage following a series of rotating storms Sunday morning that triggered multiple tornado warnings in the region. Officials are particularly interested in information from areas highlighted in red on the agency’s storm activity map, where potential tornadoes may have occurred and trees or structures could be damaged. The Weather Service urged anyone who observed or learned of impacts such as downed trees or property damage to share details to support ongoing storm assessment efforts.
–Southeastern Louisiana University’s Southeastern Channel has welcomed the Northshore Community Foundation as a new underwriting sponsor for the 2025 to 2026 academic year, strengthening support for student-driven media that highlights regional stories. The foundation, established in 2007 to promote philanthropic investment across the Northshore, said the partnership aligns with its mission to foster community impact, with President and CEO Leslie Landry noting that the channel equips students with practical experience while elevating local narratives. Sponsorship funds will enhance production resources and help students participate in professional development opportunities, including external conferences such as the Southeast Journalism Conference. Viewers can access the Southeastern Channel on Spectrum channel 199, multiple streaming platforms, and social media.
–The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission held its second annual “1 Million Steps 2 Safety” 5K run and walk on Oct. 25 at Louisiana State Police Headquarters in Baton Rouge, drawing more than 200 participants to promote Pedestrian Safety Month and raise awareness about the dangers pedestrians face on state roadways. Featured guests included State Police Superintendent Col. Robert P. Hodges, five-time Olympian Danielle Scott-Arruda, and Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Glenn Ledet, while attendees also enjoyed a jambalaya cook-off and resource fair. Officials emphasized the critical need for pedestrian safety advocacy, citing data from the LSU Center for Analytics & Research in Transportation Safety showing more than 800 pedestrian fatalities statewide from 2020 to 2024, and LHSC leaders praised the event’s role in uniting communities to help prevent future tragedies.
–The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office has joined Operation Boo Dat 2025, a multi-agency effort supported by Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans and the U.S. Marshals Service to locate and arrest non-compliant sex offenders with felony warrants for failing to register. Running through Jan. 17, the initiative includes compliance checks and public outreach to identify fugitives, with Crimestoppers offering rewards of up to $1,000 for anonymous tips that lead to apprehensions. Authorities are currently seeking Shawndrell Antonio Harrell and James Murle Sumrall Jr., both wanted for failure to register as sex offenders, and encourage anyone with information to contact STPSO or Crimestoppers directly.
–The Livingston Parish Council unanimously approved a resolution Thursday opposing the permitting and establishment of “Class VI” carbon dioxide injection wells and associated pipelines in the parish, citing potential risks to public safety, property values, and long-term economic development. The resolution, to be shared with the governor, the Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy, the EPA, and relevant legislators, follows community concerns sparked by a proposed carbon capture project from 1PointFive and Enbridge Inc., which would develop the Pelican Sequestration Hub and related pipelines. Parish officials and residents, including District 8 Councilman Dean Coates and Parish President Randy Delatte, emphasized the hazards of seismic activity and storage uncertainty, with more than 75 residents attending the meeting to voice opposition, calling for stronger local protections beyond the resolution to ensure the safety and welfare of the community.
–Livingston Parish officials are inviting residents to participate in the first round of public meetings for the new Drainage Master Plan, a parishwide initiative aimed at improving drainage infrastructure, reducing flood hazards, and bolstering long-term community resilience. The comprehensive effort will analyze existing drainage systems, update floodplain mapping, and guide strategic investments to lessen flood impacts across the parish. Three open house sessions are scheduled from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., with the West Livingston region meeting Oct. 28, the East Livingston region meeting Oct. 29, and the South Livingston region meeting Oct. 30, and residents are encouraged to attend the session most convenient for their community.
