A three-month joint law enforcement effort known as Operation Endless Summer has resulted in 165 arrests and the seizure of large quantities of drugs, cash, and firearms in Slidell and surrounding areas. Conducted from May through July 2025 by the Slidell Police Department’s Narcotics Division and the 22nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office Opioid Initiative, the operation brought together local, state, and federal agencies to target drug trafficking and violent crime. Authorities confiscated 702 grams of fentanyl, 1,207 grams of methamphetamine, 165 grams of cocaine, over a kilogram of marijuana, 152 tapentadol pills, five firearms, and nearly $36,000 in cash, while executing 13 search warrants. One major investigation dismantled a fentanyl trafficking network spanning three Louisiana parishes and parts of Mississippi, resulting in multiple federal arrests. District Attorney Collin Sims said the results show the power of removing barriers between agencies, allowing them to strike at the core of criminal networks and protect communities from deadly drugs. Police Chief Randy Fandal emphasized that the work reflects long hours, close teamwork, and a relentless commitment to keeping dangerous narcotics off the streets through intelligence-sharing, resource coordination, and decisive action against those who profit from harming the community.
–Downtown Hammond is set to come alive on Saturday, August 23, 2025, for the 28th Annual Hot August Stroll, offering a full day of shopping, dining, music, and family fun. More than 50 local businesses will feature specials and sales, while the Hammond Farmers & Artisans Market in Railroad Park will host over 40 vendors alongside live performances on the Listening Local Stage. Families can enjoy the Kid Zone at the Louisiana Children’s Discovery Center, and adults can sample wine and cheese at 20+ businesses during the evening Wine & Cheese Stroll. Charles Street will be packed with food and drink vendors, local art, a car show, and activities, while Cate Square Park will feature yoga in the morning, Southeastern Louisiana University’s Lionpawlooza, and live music from The Phaze Band and J & The Causeways. With entertainment and attractions spanning from morning to night, the event invites residents and visitors to eat, shop, and play all day in the heart of Hammond. More details are available at www.downtownhammond.org.
–The Bayou Lacombe Bridge along the Tammany Trace has reopened to all traffic ahead of schedule, completing repairs earlier than expected. Originally slated to be closed August 12–13 with a planned reopening on August 14, the work was finished early, allowing boaters and Trace users to once again enjoy one of the most scenic spots on the 31-mile trail.
–AN 17 reports that Tangipahoa Parish voters will again decide on a sales tax proposal to fund higher pay for sheriff’s office employees and add 60 deputies and corrections officers, this time in the Nov. 15 election. Sheriff Gerald Sticker announced he is seeking approval of a parishwide three-quarter cent sales tax that would take effect in April 2026 and replace an existing 10-mill property tax, which would be removed the same year. A similar measure failed in March by a 55–45% margin, partly due to its “in perpetuity” clause; the new proposal would expire after 10 years, subject to renewal. Sticker said discussions with residents and business owners shaped the revised plan, with many agreeing a sales tax would be fairer than a property tax hike. If passed, the measure would generate $24 million annually, with a net $16 million after the property tax rollback, and would help address staffing shortages and wage disparities with other agencies. He acknowledged lessons learned from the first campaign, pledging more outreach and visual tools to illustrate costs, pay gaps, and the impact on service levels if the measure fails. Sticker warned that without the funding, the sheriff’s office would continue struggling with attrition, long response times, and an officer-to-population ratio far below national recommendations, even as the parish experiences significant growth.
–Slidell Animal Control, in partnership with the Animal Assistance League of Slidell, has launched the city’s first microchip scanning stations to help reunite lost pets with their owners. The first two stations are now operational at Fritchie Dog Park and John Slidell Park (behind the gym near the walking trail), with more locations planned. The department is also offering “Good Samaritan Kits” containing supplies to safely care for a found pet while searching for its family. Officials say the initiative is made possible through community partnerships, with additional scanning station locations to be announced soon. More information is available at www.aalsl.org.
–Southeastern Louisiana University Athletics will kick off the 2025–26 season with two annual August traditions—Strawberry Jam and LionPawlooza. Strawberry Jam, set for Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium, is a student-only pep rally featuring the Spirit of the Southland band, national champion cheerleaders, the Lionnette dance team, and appearances from SLU’s soccer, football, and Southland Conference champion indoor volleyball teams. The first 1,000 students will receive a free “2025 Gameday in Hammond, America” t-shirt, and free food and games will be available. On Aug. 23 at 3 p.m., the community is invited to LionPawlooza in Cate Square Park, held in partnership with the Hammond Downtown Development District’s Hot August Stroll, with live performances, team introductions, and opportunities to meet student-athletes. SLU’s first competition of the season will be Aug. 14, when women’s soccer travels to ULM for a nonconference match.
–The Albany Police Department has arrested Audie Glascock of Livingston in connection with a July 2 bomb threat targeting John’s Pharmacy. Glascock was taken into custody at his Florida Boulevard residence around 11:24 a.m. by Albany police, with assistance from the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office. He faces charges of terrorizing, false communication with intent to cause emergency response, and communicating false information of planned arson. The threat, reported at 9:41 a.m. on July 2, led to the evacuation of John’s Pharmacy, Cains, and nearby businesses, prompting a large-scale emergency response before being confirmed as a hoax. Authorities said the incident caused significant fear and disruption in the community, and emphasized that such threats will be pursued and prosecuted with the utmost seriousness.
–St. Tammany community members are invited to take part in a Community Input Session for the Northshore Square Mall Redevelopment Study on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium, 2056 Second Street. This open forum offers residents the opportunity to share ideas, concerns, and questions directly with the future developers of the property, helping shape the vision for this key area of Slidell. For more information, email kespadron@sttammanyedc.org.
–Tangipahoa Parish officials announced that a portion of Floyd Lavigne Road will be closed Monday, Aug. 18, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a cross drain project about 500 feet from the intersection of South Thibodeaux Road. No traffic will be allowed through the work zone during the closure, which is weather-permitting, and detours will be posted. Parish President Robby Miller encouraged residents to check Tangipahoa.org and TPG social media channels for updates.
–The US National Weather Service in New Orleans is monitoring three areas of interest in the tropics: Tropical Storm Erin, currently moving westward and still several days from any landfall; a system in the Northwest Atlantic with a low 10% chance of development over the next week; and a disturbance in the western Caribbean that has a 20% chance of strengthening as it moves into the southwest Gulf of Mexico.
–Louisiana health officials report three additional cases of vibrio vulnificus infection in the past month, bringing the state’s 2025 total to 20 hospitalizations and four deaths. The flesh-eating bacteria, found in salt and brackish waters, can cause severe illness, particularly in people with open wounds or weakened immune systems, and can also be contracted by eating raw or undercooked seafood, especially oysters. The Louisiana Department of Health says some recent exposures occurred in state waters, while others happened elsewhere along the Gulf Coast, but pinpointing exact locations is difficult. Medical experts urge residents and visitors to take precautions, including avoiding salt or brackish water with open cuts, washing any wounds immediately after water exposure, and steering clear of raw seafood, and to seek medical attention promptly if symptoms develop.
–Basil Kennedy, 77, of Bay St. Louis, died July 21 from a Vibrio vulnificus infection, commonly known as flesh-eating bacteria, after scraping his leg on a boat trailer, his family said. Kennedy initially cleaned and bandaged the wound, but three days later his health declined rapidly, leading to septic shock, kidney failure, and eventual hospice care. His family says he never entered the water after the injury, underscoring that Vibrio can still pose a risk in warm coastal areas. They hope sharing his story will raise awareness about recognizing symptoms and seeking prompt treatment. Kennedy, a New Orleans native and De La Salle High School graduate, retired from banking a decade ago and enjoyed traveling in his retirement.
–The St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation will host the 11th annual Startup St. Bernard on August 21, 2025, at Nunez Community College in Chalmette, a free “Shark Tank”-style competition where three entrepreneurs—Limpiar, Salubata, and The Levee Shack—will pitch their businesses for a share of what has previously been a ~$100,000 prize package in cash and in-kind services. The finalists were selected through a rigorous review by the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program at Delgado Community College and must base their operations in St. Bernard Parish. Each will receive at least $5,000, with the grand prize winner taking home the largest share of funding and resources aimed at boosting local economic growth.
