StartUp Northshore has announced !nService as the winner of the 2026 NSpire Startup Slam, earning one of the largest pitch competition prize packages in the Gulf South, valued at more than $100,000 in non-dilutive cash and in-kind services. The third annual competition took place January 8 at the historic Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts in Downtown Hammond, where a packed audience gathered to celebrate entrepreneurship before three Louisiana-based finalists—BRUH. Skincare, WSPER, and !nService—pitched their companies live to a panel of judges representing industry, finance, and economic development. Following a competitive pitch and question-and-answer session, !nService, an assistive intelligence cloud platform designed to modernize public safety operations by replacing outdated CAD and RMS systems with real-time, CJIS-compliant solutions, emerged as the top-scoring company. Founder and CEO Gene Billingsley said the award will help accelerate job creation and go-to-market efforts, crediting the Tri-Parish Northshore community for its strong support of entrepreneurs. !nService received $40,000 in cash along with mentorship, professional services, and network access valued at more than $50,000, while runners-up BRUH. Skincare and WSPER each received $5,000 grants to support their ventures.
–FBI New Orleans, in partnership with the Tulane University Police Department and the Louisiana Chapter of the FBI National Academy, has announced the fourth annual Future Law Enforcement Youth Academy (FLEYA), a free, weeklong overnight program designed to introduce Louisiana high school students to careers in law enforcement. Scheduled for May 31 through June 5, 2026, the academy will bring together selected students ages 15 to 17 for hands-on training and instruction in federal, state, and local law enforcement practices, taught by subject matter experts and agency instructors. Tulane University’s Uptown campus will serve as the program’s home base, providing an academic setting intended to encourage both higher education and public service career paths. Eligible applicants must be Louisiana residents, U.S. citizens, currently enrolled in high school with a minimum 2.7 GPA, and able to attend all days of the program, with applications and additional information available through the FBI New Orleans Community Outreach webpage.
–The National Weather Service in New Orleans is warning of ongoing and rising river flooding across parts of southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi, with the Bogue Chitto and Tangipahoa rivers causing impacts to roads, homes, and low-lying areas. Near Tylertown, the Bogue Chitto River has crested near 27 feet, with flooding reported at Hidden Springs Resort, nearby residences, secondary roads, and farmland, while at Franklinton the river is expected to crest near 16 feet Monday, potentially affecting roads and adjacent neighborhoods. Meanwhile, the Tangipahoa River continues to rise, with a projected crest near 15 feet at Kentwood leading to flooding of low-lying farmland and roads, and levels near Robert expected to reach 18 feet Tuesday, bringing road flooding and impacts to camps, low spots along Highway 22, and surrounding communities.
–The Harbor Center marked 2025 as a record-setting year, hosting 151 events and welcoming more than 77,000 guests—an attendance figure that surpasses the combined populations of several St. Tammany Parish communities. The venue accommodated a wide range of events, including Mardi Gras balls, weddings, conferences, concerts, and large-scale productions, with staff setting up nearly 30,000 chairs, more than 4,000 tables, and over 8,000 square feet of dance floor space throughout the year. The milestone year also brought multiple honors, including Best Live Music Venue for The Lobby Lounge from Edge of the Lake, Best Event Venue in The Times-Picayune’s Best of St. Tammany awards, and a Readers Choice Award from ConventionSouth, further solidifying The Harbor Center’s reputation as a premier event destination on the Northshore.
–The city of New Orleans will welcome its new leadership on Monday, Jan. 12, with the inauguration of Mayor-elect Helena Moreno and several newly elected and returning city council members. The ceremony, themed “All In For New Orleans,” will take place at 9 a.m. at the Saenger Theatre and will formally mark the start of their terms. The New Orleans Police Department will manage traffic, conduct area patrols, and maintain regular operations throughout the city during the event to ensure public safety.
–Tangipahoa Parish 911 has announced a full roadway closure on LA 1054 at the Tyner Creek Bridge to allow for bridge replacement work. The closure will begin at 6 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 12, and is scheduled to remain in place through 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30, weather permitting. The bridge is located approximately 2.1 miles south of LA 16 or 4.4 miles north of LA 40. Detours will be posted, with eastbound motorists on LA 1054 directed to take LA 40 east to U.S. 51 north, then LA 16 east to reconnect with LA 1054, while westbound traffic will be routed along LA 16 west to U.S. 51 south and LA 40 east before rejoining the highway.
–A proactive enforcement operation conducted Tuesday, Jan. 6, by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit and Proactive Enforcement Unit resulted in multiple arrests and the seizure of illegal firearms, cash, and large quantities of narcotics in Slidell. The operation led to six arrests overall, including the apprehension of Slidell residents William Inman, 35, and Sorrell Jackson, 47, after detectives targeted a local motel room linked to drug activity, recovering marijuana, cocaine, drug paraphernalia, more than a quarter pound of methamphetamine, over $1,500 in cash, and three illegal firearms—one reported stolen out of Nashville, Tennessee. Jackson, a convicted felon on parole and wanted by Slidell Police, was booked on multiple firearm and drug distribution charges, while Inman was hospitalized after attempting to destroy evidence and will face several charges upon release. Additional traffic stops throughout the evening resulted in further arrests for narcotics, firearm possession by convicted felons, and outstanding warrants, prompting Sheriff Randy Smith to credit the operation with proactively removing dangerous drugs and weapons from the community and helping prevent future violent crime.
–The Tulane University Freeman School of Business will partner with Palette Northshore to host a business leadership discussion titled “Your Numbers Tell the Story” on Friday, February 6, 2026, in Covington. The breakfast and networking event will feature insights from Marty Mayer, former CEO of Stirling; Adam Acquistapace, leader of Acquistapace’s; and Chris Pinto, president of Anvil Innovations. The panel will focus on real-world lessons from running businesses, including success, failure, and how data-driven decision-making shapes outcomes. The event runs from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at Palette Northshore, with limited seating available. Registration is open at www.palettenorthshore.com.
–The Tangipahoa Parish Library will host its next Paint & Sip event, “Canvas & Conversation,” at the Hammond Branch on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Attendees can enjoy painting while sipping tea or hot cocoa and sampling provided snacks. Space is limited, and participants are encouraged to register in advance through the library’s online registration portal.
–Northshore Technical Community College has received unanimous approval from the Louisiana State Board of Nursing to launch a new Practical Nurse to Associate of Science in Nursing Bridge Program, clearing the way for the college to admit its first cohort in Summer 2026. The approval marks a major milestone for NTCC, expanding access to registered nursing education and strengthening the healthcare workforce pipeline across the Northshore by providing licensed practical nurses with a streamlined pathway to advance their careers. College leaders said the program builds on NTCC’s long-standing success in practical nursing education and the recent launch of its ASN program, reflecting a collaborative effort across faculty and administrative teams to meet regional healthcare needs, with additional details on admissions and application timelines to be released ahead of the Summer 2026 start.
–The Town of Kentwood will commemorate the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, with a community celebration beginning with a walk and drive westward along Highway 38 at 10 a.m. The observance will continue with a planned program at Oak Grove AME Church, starting at 10:45 a.m., hosted by Rev. Jerry James and the church family. Oak Grove AME Church, recognized as the oldest Black church in Kentwood, is one of the town’s long-standing spiritual sanctuaries and a place of worship open to all. Town officials invite residents and visitors to attend and take part in honoring Dr. King’s legacy through fellowship, reflection, and community celebration.
–A Folsom-area man, 42-year-old Christopher Miguel Orlando, has been arrested for embezzling more than $500,000 from his employer, following a five-month investigation by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. The investigation began in August 2025 when the owner of a local logistics business reported suspected internal embezzlement totaling around $300,000. Detectives from the Financial Crimes and Major Crimes Units uncovered multiple fraudulent schemes orchestrated by Orlando, ultimately revealing he had unlawfully obtained $539,202.35. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and Orlando surrendered to the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on Tuesday, Jan. 6, where he was booked on multiple felony charges.
–The state has purchased more than 1,700 acres in rural Ascension Parish for $91 million to support the proposed $5.8 billion Hyundai Steel mill, marking another major step toward construction of the facility, which is expected to be completed in 2030 and was recently named one of the nation’s top industrial projects. The Dec. 31 land acquisition includes the former Germania Plantation along the Mississippi River near Donaldsonville and the community of Modeste and will serve as the site for Hyundai Motor Group’s first U.S. steel mill, supplying steel sheets to its auto plants in Alabama and Georgia that collectively produce more than 600,000 vehicles annually. Construction is expected to begin this year, with the project projected to create more than 1,300 direct jobs, while state and local officials plan to invest about $600 million in public funds for related infrastructure, including roads, rail upgrades, and a River Parishes Community College workforce training facility.
