Spirit of Louisiana Katrina Commemorations

–As of last night the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office was seeking the public’s assistance in locating two runaway juveniles who were last seen leaving a group home on Patti Road in Hammond on Saturday, August 16. The first, 15-year-old Na’kelia Richard, is described as a Black female, 5’2″ tall, weighing 124 pounds, with black braided hair accented with blue in the back and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing pink shorts, a pink shirt, and blue-and-white tennis shoes. The second, 14-year-old Greighanah Johnson, is described as a Black female, 5’2″ tall, weighing 235 pounds, with black-and-blonde braided hair, brown eyes, and a tattoo on her upper right arm that reads “Ty’reonna.” She was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt, mint green biker tights, and pink Croc shoes. Sheriff Gerald Sticker urges anyone with information to call the Sheriff’s Juvenile Division at 985-902-2031 or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa at 1-800-554-5245 or www.tangicrimestoppers.com.

–On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) visited Tangipahoa Parish to promote President Donald Trump’s proposed One, Big, Beautiful Bill, highlighting how the legislation would support small businesses by making permanent tax relief from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, eliminating taxes on tips and overtime for most workers, and relieving many seniors from paying Social Security taxes. Cassidy first addressed the Tangipahoa Chamber of Commerce, where business leaders welcomed the chance to hear federal updates directly, before touring S&W Wholesale in Hammond, a major food supplier that has expanded into a new facility and directly benefits from provisions in the bill, such as the 20% small business income deduction. Cassidy also pointed to federal investments he has secured locally through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and appropriations process, including $84,000 to rehabilitate taxiways at Hammond Northshore Regional Airport and $5 million in proposed funding for the Airport Road and Highway 3158 roundabout project.

–NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center honored Zachary Pohto, Rusty Spiers, and Chris Songy with the prestigious Silver Snoopy Award on August 19, recognizing their exceptional contributions to quality and safety in support of human spaceflight. Presented by astronaut Stan Love, the award is personally given by astronauts and is awarded to less than 1 percent of the NASA workforce each year. All three recipients have played key roles in NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and lay the groundwork for future missions to Mars.

–The Slidell Police Department is recruiting motivated, community-minded individuals to join its Criminal Patrol Division, offering a career that combines daily challenges with the opportunity to protect lives and serve the public. Starting hourly pay ranges from $28.08 to $31.94, with an annual salary of $58,400 to $66,427, including state POST pay and uniform allowance. Applicants must be at least 20 years old, U.S. citizens, possess a high school diploma or GED, hold or complete Louisiana POST certification, have a valid driver’s license with no felony convictions, and meet physical fitness and training standards. The deadline to apply is September 5, 2025, with the civil service test scheduled for September 9, 2025.

–Louisiana policyholders may see relief as twenty major auto insurers, including Geico, State Farm, Progressive, and Allstate, have filed for rate reductions, reflecting a decline in accident rates in 2024, according to Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple. State Senator Dr. Bill Wheat noted that recent legislative efforts aimed at improving the legal climate are helping create a more competitive insurance market, and while individual rates will vary by location, these filings signal a positive trend toward more affordable coverage for residents.

— The National Weather Service reports that August 20 marked the start of peak hurricane season, with the National Hurricane Center currently monitoring three areas of activity, though no storms are expected in the Gulf over the next week. Hurricane season runs through November 30, and past storms such as Zeta in October 2020 and Ida in November 2009 show the potential for late-season impacts. Officials urge residents to use this time to review emergency plans and stock up on supplies as the most active months of the season continue. The National Weather Service also reminds residents that the Atlantic hurricane season is climbing toward its peak, with historical data showing the highest likelihood for tropical storm and hurricane activity between August 20 and October 10, and the climatological peak falling on September 10. Tracking patterns during this period often bring storms through the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and the western North Atlantic, underscoring the importance of preparedness as the season reaches its most active stretch.

–Secretary of State Nancy Landry announced that newly redesigned absentee ballot envelopes will debut in Louisiana’s October 11 elections, featuring larger print and clearer instructions to make voting by mail easier to understand while maintaining strict security standards. Voters who requested absentee ballots should begin receiving the new envelopes in the coming days, and the Secretary of State’s Office has released an instructional video to guide voters through the process. Anyone with questions is encouraged to contact the Elections Division at 800-883-2805 or their parish Registrar of Voters Office.

–Livingston Parish school officials say a Southside Junior High student was taken into custody Wednesday morning after administrators received a tip the student had a handgun in a backpack. The weapon, which was not loaded and had no ammunition, was quickly secured after a search, and authorities confirmed the student did not threaten anyone on campus. The School Resource Officer and Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office responded immediately, and officials praised those who reported the situation for helping to ensure the safety of students and staff.

— The St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce, through Class 12 of Leadership St. Bernard, is hosting a parish-wide food drive through August 29 to support local families in need. The community is encouraged to donate non-perishable food, bottled water, and canned goods at drop-off sites across the parish, including restaurants, businesses, and the Student Success Center at Nunez Community College. Organizers say the effort is meant to bring residents together to help neighbors during a time of growing need.

–U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy toured the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain Project on Wednesday, viewing progress on the massive flood protection system being built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to safeguard St. Charles, St. John, and St. James Parishes. Funded through $450 million from the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022 and $760 million from the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, the $1.2 billion project will provide 100-year-level storm surge protection with 18.5 miles of levees, 11 flood walls, seven drainage structures, five gates, two pump stations, and one bridge, extending from the Bonnet Carré Spillway to Garyville. The system aims to prevent the kind of devastation seen during Hurricane Isaac in 2012, when more than 7,000 homes were flooded and Interstate 10 was submerged. Cassidy inspected Contract 102, which includes the Montz Canal Drainage Structure and the I-10 East Floodwall, now nearly halfway complete and scheduled for completion in fall 2027.

–WDSU has named Devon Lucie as Chief Meteorologist for Southeast Louisiana, succeeding longtime forecaster Margaret Orr, who retired in 2024 after 45 years at the station. Lucie, who joined WDSU’s First Warning Weather team in 2021, brings more than 20 years of experience covering severe weather across the country, including historic storms and record-breaking conditions in Washington, D.C., Kansas, Las Vegas, and Tulsa. A University of Oklahoma graduate and Certified Broadcast Meteorologist through the American Meteorological Society, Lucie now leads what WeatheRate has recognized as the region’s most accurate weather team.

–For the second year in a row, Cox Communications has donated $10,000 to support the Fiber Optics program at Nunez Community College, with the latest contribution presented on August 13 during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Cox’s new Chalmette store on Judge Perez Drive. The funds will once again provide scholarships for students pursuing fiber optics training, a growing field in Louisiana’s workforce. Nunez officials praised the continued partnership, noting the impact on local job readiness, while Cox leaders highlighted the college’s decades-long role in strengthening the Chalmette community. The next round of certification courses begins September 22, with registration available at Nunez.edu/STEAM.