District Attorney Collin Sims reports that on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, 62-year-old Robert Clyde Dickerson Jr. of Covington pleaded guilty to manslaughter before District Judge Richard Swartz in Division C and was sentenced to 30 years in the Louisiana Department of Corrections in connection with the 2020 shooting death of Everett W. Finley. The case stems from an August 12, 2020, incident on Wilson Road, where St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responding to a 911 call found Finley suffering from a fatal gunshot wound to the chest. Investigators used surveillance footage from the victim’s trailer to identify a masked gunman approaching the residence and fleeing moments after the shooting, later learning Dickerson had harbored resentment toward Finley over a prior workplace dispute. Dickerson ultimately confessed, provided unreleased details of the crime, and led detectives to the murder weapon, which was recovered in Mississippi, with additional charges stemming from possession of a stolen firearm and an unregistered weapon. Sims called the killing a calculated act driven by grievance and praised investigators and Assistant District Attorney Christina Fisher for their work in securing justice for the Finley family.
–St. Tammany Parish Government announced that security at the St. Tammany Parish Justice Center will continue uninterrupted as officials work to resolve a legal dispute over funding. In a joint agreement, Parish Government and Sheriff Randy Smith have agreed to extend the existing courthouse security contract, ensuring the Sheriff’s Office will continue providing security services at the Justice Center through January while discussions to settle the funding issue move forward.
–Hammond Waste Pro has announced changes to its garbage pickup schedule for the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holidays, advising residents to plan accordingly. For both holiday weeks, Thursday garbage service will be collected on Friday, while Friday service will be collected on Saturday. All other pickup days will remain on their regular schedules.
–Drivers commuting south across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway during weekday mornings will see a change aimed at easing congestion at the Mandeville toll plaza, as the Causeway begins operating a third dedicated toll tag lane starting at 4 a.m. Wednesday. Lane 4 will become tag-only between 4 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, joining lanes 2 and 5, in an effort to improve traffic flow for the nearly 75,000 toll tag holders and better manage peak volumes that can approach 20,000 vehicles on busy mornings. Causeway General Manager Carlton Dufrechou said the adjustment is expected to help drivers reach the southbound span more quickly while also encouraging more motorists to obtain toll tags, which allow non-stop entry and reduce the toll from $6 to $3.40. Tolls are collected only on the southbound span, with northbound tolls eliminated in 1999, and additional staff will be available this week at Causeway offices in Mandeville and Metairie to assist drivers interested in obtaining tags.
–A Dense Fog Advisory has been issued for all of southeast Louisiana, south Mississippi, and nearby coastal waters through 9 a.m. Thursday, with the National Weather Service in New Orleans warning that patchy fog could cause sudden drops in visibility and urging drivers to allow extra travel time and use low-beam headlights. Forecasters say temperatures have moderated since early Tuesday and will continue trending warmer, even as a cold front moves through the area tonight and Thursday, bringing a chance of showers and thunderstorms without expectations of heavy rain or severe weather. A brief cool-down is expected behind the front, but overnight temperatures will remain well above freezing, with highs climbing above normal—particularly over the weekend, when daytime temperatures are forecast to reach the 70s across much of the region.
–The St. Tammany Economic Development Corporation has released the latest edition of The AnalyST, its quarterly digital economic research publication, offering a data-driven snapshot of local economic conditions through the third quarter of 2025. Developed with research support from Economic Leadership, LLC, the report analyzes trends in the labor market, business activity, inflation, housing, and consumer behavior, finding unemployment fell to 3.9% in August, new business incorporations hit a seven-quarter high, and average weekly private-sector wages rose 5% year over year to $1,207. While inflation in the Southern region increased to 2.7% and new residential construction remained limited, existing home sales climbed more than 20% and retail sales tax collections rose 10.4% year over year, signaling continued consumer spending. St. Tammany EDC President and CEO Russell Richardson said the report underscores the importance of balancing rising wages with housing supply and affordability to support workforce growth and long-term economic stability.
–The Louisiana Public Service Commission on Wednesday deferred a proposal from Commissioner Davante Lewis to create a policy governing large-load customers, including data centers, and instead approved Commissioner Jean-Paul Coussan’s “lightning amendment,” which shortens the review process for such projects to eight months. The amendment allows certain capacity additions to bypass standard grid connection requirements if they meet criteria such as a signed long-term service agreement of at least 15 years and approval from Louisiana Economic Development. Coussan said the streamlined process aligns with Gov. Jeff Landry’s Louisiana Lighting Speed Initiative, aimed at accelerating economic development. However, groups like the Alliance for Affordable Energy and Louisiana Energy Users Group criticized the lack of a clear definition for large-load projects and limited stakeholder engagement, warning that rapid data center development can strain local infrastructure, reduce water pressure, impact power reliability, and raise utility bills for nearby residents.
–North Oaks Health System is hosting its Employee & Community Blood Drive on Dec. 29 and 30 to help save lives this holiday season. The drive will take place at the North Oaks Diagnostic Center’s E. Brent Dufreche Conference Center on Dec. 29 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and at the North Oaks Rehabilitation Hospital on Dec. 30 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with walk-ins welcome. Donors will receive a meal ticket, swag, a T-shirt, and more, while North Oaks employees also have the chance to win a paid day off. Appointments can be scheduled online.
–The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating Antonio “Raemone” Lewis Jr., a Black male born March 10, 1989, wanted by the Allen County, Indiana Sheriff’s Office on felony warrants for Rape by Force with a Firearm and Promotion of Child Sexual Trafficking. Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and has shared updated photos showing Lewis with multiple hairstyles. Lewis is known to have ties to Tangipahoa and St. Tammany parishes. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or submit tips through the Sheriff’s Office social media channels.
–The Tangipahoa Parish Library is inviting the public to an arts and crafts supplies swap this Saturday, Dec. 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its Ponchatoula Branch, hosted in partnership with Free Range Hippie. The all-ages, free event encourages community members to bring unused art supplies to trade for new materials, though donations are not required to participate, offering a creative and accessible opportunity for families and artists of all skill levels to refresh their supplies.
–Young performers ages 7 to 17 are invited to sharpen their sleuthing skills this summer at the “Crack the Case: How to Get Away with a Murder Mystery!” theatre camp, a fast-paced, comedy-focused program that spoofs classic whodunit tropes with over-the-top characters, outrageous alibis, and plenty of dramatic flair. The camp runs May 25–29, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., giving participants a full week to rehearse the vignette-style production while developing skills in timing, character work, and ensemble performance, with no prior theatre experience required. The program culminates in two fully staged performances on May 30 at 10 a.m. and noon. Tuition is $300 and includes a camp T-shirt and two complimentary tickets to one performance.
–The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office continues its participation in Operation Boo Dat 2025, which began in October and runs through Jan. 17, targeting sex offenders with felony warrants for Failure to Register and conducting compliance checks to verify registered addresses. The initiative is carried out in partnership with Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans and the U.S. Marshals Service, with Crimestoppers highlighting fugitives through local news outlets and social media and offering rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest. Residents who have information about the whereabouts of these offenders are encouraged to contact Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 to remain anonymous and potentially claim the cash reward.
–With an estimated one in three American adults living with prediabetes, St. Tammany Health System’s Diabetes Education Department has launched a new initiative aimed at reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes through early intervention and lifestyle change. The PreventT2 program is a yearlong, CDC-approved curriculum designed for adults diagnosed with prediabetes or those at increased risk, focusing on gradual weight loss, increased physical activity, stress reduction, and peer support under the guidance of a trained lifestyle coach. The first session will be held Jan. 19 from 10 to 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Covington, with participants meeting weekly for the first six months and then monthly or twice monthly thereafter. Community members are encouraged to complete a prediabetes risk assessment at StTammany.health/DiabetesED, and additional information or enrollment is available by calling the STHS Diabetes Education Department at (985) 871-5983.
–Two weeks into Operation Catahoula Crunch, local Hispanic and Latino communities are reporting labor shortages and economic disruptions across Louisiana, particularly in the hospitality and construction sectors. The immigration enforcement effort, which began Dec. 3 and has detained roughly 350 people, is aimed at targeting criminal illegal immigrants, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. However, business leaders, including the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans, say the operation is making it difficult to fill jobs, while experts warn that removing hundreds of workers and consumers from circulation could drive up costs and reduce revenue for affected industries. Some officials, including DHS representatives and a spokesperson for New Orleans & Company, maintain that the operation has not caused major business disruptions and deny broader economic harm.
–Swyft Fiber announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Fastwyre’s fiber broadband operations in Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama, a move that will significantly expand Swyft’s network and accelerate its efforts to bring ultra-fast, reliable internet service to underserved and rural communities. The transaction, which remains subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, will not result in immediate changes to pricing or service for current Fastwyre customers within the acquired footprint. Swyft Fiber CEO Jason Hunt said the acquisition advances the company’s mission to expand high-speed connectivity across multiple states and noted appreciation for the support of Macquarie Asset Management, Swyft’s lead investor. Bank Street Group LLC served as exclusive financial advisor and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP acted as legal advisor to Swyft Fiber on the deal.
