Tangipahoa Parish voters on Saturday rejected a 10-year sales tax proposal that would have raised nearly $25 million for the sheriff’s office, with unofficial results showing 57-43 against. A similar measure was turned down in March. Sheriff Gerald Sticker had campaigned at local markets, outlining how the funds could be used to support operations and staffing. Voters also rejected a 4-mill property tax renewal for parish health units, 52-48, while approving a 2-mill tax to fund public works projects in Hammond and road lighting districts across the parish, 61-39. The sheriff’s office said it will continue operating with its current staffing and resources.
–Causeway Police and the Greater New Orleans Expressway Commission advise that construction on the northbound span of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, near the 16-mile marker at the drawbridge, will take place Monday, November 17 through Friday, November 21, 2025, requiring a right-lane closure from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day. Drivers are urged to use caution and reduce speed while traveling through the work zone.
–St. Tammany Parish Mosquito Abatement will host a public meeting on Tuesday, November 18, at 6 p.m. at its headquarters at 62436 Airport Road in Slidell, where the agency’s Government Efficiency Committee will deliver a detailed rebuttal presentation addressing recent scrutiny of the district’s operations. According to the announcement, the meeting will cover the history leading to the current review, the district’s mission and day-to-day operations, key components of the rebuttal document, Integrated Mosquito Management best practices, and potential solutions to improve efficiency and transparency. The presentation will also outline what the agency says is at stake for public health and mosquito control in the parish. A Q&A session with attendees will follow, along with guided tours of the facility to show equipment, processes, and operational workflow. A QR code provided on the flyer links to the full written rebuttal as well as a livestream of the meeting for those unable to attend in person.
–The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality released its Nov. 14 weekly update on the Smitty’s Supply fire response, reporting that the National Pollution Funds Center has approved an additional $20 million in Pollution Removal Funding Authorization, raising the ceiling to more than $40.9 million. LDEQ said river boom removal and decontamination are underway, oil recovery continues at three impacted ponds, and the Tangipahoa River has been fully open since Nov. 7. Crews are also removing sorbent material and oiled vegetation, and some equipment has begun demobilizing. At the facility, Smitty’s continued recycling metal scrap, processing modular tank liquids for storage, transporting ash and excavated soil for disposal, and segregating totes and drums, with hazard classification expected next week. Subsurface drains on Steptoe Road still contain oil but have been blocked from reaching the U.S. 51 ditch, and contractors are continuing cleanup of remaining oil and residues.
–St. Tammany Parish Government and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) are proposing a single-lane roundabout at the intersection of LA 1077 and Brewster Road. A public meeting will be held Tuesday, Nov. 18, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the St. Tammany Parish Council Building in Mandeville to provide project information and gather feedback. Representatives from both agencies will be available to answer questions, and attendees can submit verbal or written comments at the meeting or by mail, postmarked by Dec. 2, 2025.
–Two students from the Southeastern Louisiana University Laboratory School have been named Tangipahoa Parish School System District Students of the Year, with fifth grader Lani Traylor selected at the elementary level and eighth grader Noah Lindsey chosen for the middle school honor. College of Education Dean Paula Summers Calderon praised the students and the Lab School faculty for their support and encouragement, while Lab School Director Stephen Labbe said the pair were recognized for their strong academics, leadership, and community involvement. Labbe added that the students exemplify the qualities the school values most and are deserving of the distinction. More information about the Lab School is available at southeastern.edu/labschool.
–Louisiana State Police Troop L is investigating a three-vehicle crash that occurred shortly after 3 p.m. on November 15, 2025, on LA Hwy 22 near N. Thibodeaux Road in Tangipahoa Parish and resulted in the death of 28-year-old Caleb Milton of Ponchatoula. According to preliminary findings, a westbound 2020 Jeep Wrangler attempted a left turn into a private driveway and entered the path of an eastbound 2015 Harley-Davidson motorcycle operated by Milton, who struck the Jeep before crossing the centerline and colliding head-on with a westbound 2015 Nissan Murano. Milton, who was wearing a DOT-approved helmet, was taken to a hospital where he later died, while the Jeep driver was uninjured and the Nissan driver sustained minor injuries. Impairment has not yet been determined, and routine toxicology samples were collected as the investigation continues.
–The Tangipahoa Parish School System is calling for new school bus drivers to help ensure students have a safe start and end to their school day. Training courses will be held at the TPSS Technology Center in Hammond, with a day session Nov. 17-21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and evening sessions Dec. 1-4 and Dec. 8-11 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Participants must attend all scheduled dates. Those interested can contact the TPSS Transportation Department at 985-748-2423, email bus@tangischools.org or visit www.tangischools.org/departments/transportation for details.
–Middendorf’s will host a holiday blood drive this Thursday, Nov. 20, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at its Manchac and Slidell locations. Donors will receive a free thin fried catfish dinner and a Blood Donor T-shirt. Middendorf’s owner Karen Pfeifer said the July drive drew 112 donors and expressed hope for another strong turnout. Walk-ins are welcome, though appointments are prioritized. Donors can speed up the process by completing the FastLane medical questionnaire in advance. For more information, visit TheBloodCenter.org or call 800-86-BLOOD.
–The Hammond Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect linked to two burglaries at Supreme Toyota, 1415 South Morrison Boulevard, and an auto theft at Nick Arnone Auto Title Services, 1445 South Morrison Boulevard. Investigators say the suspect entered Supreme Toyota through an unlocked exterior door, accessed a vehicle inside, and stole its battery before walking to Nick Arnone Auto Title Services, where he allegedly used the battery to start and steal a silver 2010 Dodge Charger. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Randall Baudier at 985-277-5740 or baudier_rf@hammond.org or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa at 1-800-554-5245 for a possible cash reward.
–The Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s Greaux Healthy initiative will launch an outreach tour across the Northshore from November 17–22, 2025, aiming to unite local education, healthcare, business, and government leaders in efforts to address Louisiana’s high childhood obesity rates. Program Director Melissa Martin emphasized the urgency of early intervention and noted that a recent Greaux Healthy survey found residents view childhood obesity as the top health concern for kids. Developed in partnership with the State of Louisiana, the initiative provides evidence-based tools and programs for expectant families, young children, school-aged youth, and teens, and the tour will highlight resources for schools, healthcare providers, and families, along with the Pennington Generation research study, which seeks to enroll 1,500 Louisiana families to better understand how lifestyle factors influence long-term health. As part of the tour, the Healthy Moves bus will visit the Amite Library’s Baby and Me event on November 20 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
–St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 1 responded to a U.S. Postal Service mail truck fire on Old Spanish Trail over the weekend, with Engine 11 firefighters Chase Elsworth and Jon Miller quickly extinguishing the blaze. Officials reported no injuries, but noted that some mail deliveries in the area may be delayed as a result of the incident.
–A Livingston Parish jury found 35-year-old Welner Osmanis Sura, originally from El Salvador, guilty of first-degree rape of a victim under 13, according to 21st Judicial District Attorney Scott Perrilloux. Prosecutors said the abuse occurred between late 2015 and 2018, and that after the victim returned to the home about a year and a half later, Sura made sexually explicit comments referencing the prior abuse; the victim recorded several of the statements, which were presented at trial. Jurors deliberated for just over 30 minutes before returning a unanimous verdict. Perrilloux credited the victim’s actions in documenting the remarks, and noted the case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brett Sommer. Sura is scheduled for sentencing on January 20, 2026, before Judge Charlotte Foster, and faces a mandatory life sentence.
