The Three Rivers Art Festival will return to Covington’s Cultural Arts District for its 29th year on November 15–16, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., bringing more than 200 juried artists, live music, food, demonstrations, and family activities to downtown Covington. One of the Southeast’s premier juried art festivals, Three Rivers annually attracts over 50,000 visitors to Columbia Street, where art lovers can shop everything from paintings to metalwork while enjoying local food vendors, a children’s area, and live entertainment. This year’s poster artist is Covington native Rachael Lagarde Walker, a surrealist watercolorist and art educator, while featured guest Jodi “Shen” Goldman-Hallford, a pioneering graffiti artist from Nashville, will give live demonstrations. The weekend also includes a free public concert by Tyler Kinchen & The Right Pieces at the Covington Trailhead on Saturday evening. Admission is free, and full details are available at www.covingtonthreeriversartfestival.com.
–The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reports that a body was recovered Wednesday in Lake Pontchartrain near Manchac, three days after a man fell overboard when a sailboat struck the bridge near mile marker 14 in St. Tammany Parish. Authorities say the body has not yet been identified, and an autopsy is scheduled for today. According to officials, the incident occurred around 3 a.m. on August 31 when a man and woman were thrown into the water after their vessel hit the bridge; the woman was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard after calling 911, but the man remained missing.
–Southeastern Louisiana University Theatre is marking a milestone year with the first graduating class of its Bachelor of Arts in Theatre program and a long-awaited return to its home in the newly renovated D Vickers Hall. Along with a new studio performance space opening this fall, the 2025–2026 Mainstage Season will include four productions: Katrina’s Path by Rob Florence (Oct. 22–25), commemorating the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina; Winds of Change (Nov. 19–22), a curated evening of classic modern drama; Little Shop of Horrors (March 13–14, 20–21) in collaboration with the Columbia Theatre; and The Appliance Department by Bella Poynton (April 29–May 2), winner of SLU’s Inkslinger Playwriting Contest. Faculty say the season reflects both the department’s “homecoming” after Hurricane Ida renovations and its continued dedication to presenting new and diverse voices in theatre.
–The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a suspect vehicle and its occupants linked to a drive-by shooting in Natalbany on August 26. Deputies say that around 7 p.m., as two men pulled into a driveway on Dead End Street off LA 1064, dozens of shots were fired at them, striking their vehicle and the home but causing no injuries. Investigators identified the suspect vehicle as a blue four-door Volvo with Mississippi license plate PRH 1763, which was also captured on surveillance video at a nearby gas station just before the shooting. Anyone with information is urged to contact the TPSO Criminal Investigations Office at 985-902-2088.
–The Ponchatoula Police Department reports that a 25-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an early morning house fire on Eight Street Drive that investigators determined was deliberately set. No one was inside the residence at the time, but a family pet died in the blaze. Detectives, working with the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal and Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s deputies, took Bryce Travis Martin of Hammond into custody around 2 p.m. on September 3 after learning he was traveling on Rufus Bankston Road. Martin later confessed to multiple crimes, including starting the fire, and was booked into the Tangipahoa Parish Jail on charges of stalking, violating protective orders, and nonconsensual disclosure of a private image, with additional arson-related charges pending. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact Detectives Collin Lee or Jimmy McGovern at (985) 386-6548.
–Tangipahoa Parish Government is directing residents to Tangipahoa.org for daily updates on the Roseland Incident Response, where a green banner on the homepage provides quick access to three dedicated links: official TPG updates, comprehensive information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the EPA Hub Site featuring testing results, data, and additional resources related to the incident.
–Nearly two weeks after an explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland, cleanup efforts are ongoing as the EPA reports that about 2.5 million gallons of oil, water, and grease have been collected from the site, including roughly 79,674 gallons removed from the Tangipahoa River and 40,530 gallons from Neal’s Pond. Crews are using containment booms, skimmers, and vacuum trucks to recover materials from the river, ditches, and ponds, and officials report no flareups or air quality changes. The river does not supply drinking water, and local water treatment facilities have been confirmed safe.
–Northshore Young Professionals will host Speed Connection on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kent Design Build in Mandeville, offering a fast-paced networking opportunity where emerging business leaders can connect with local nonprofits. The free event, which includes lunch, is designed to introduce participants to volunteer opportunities, board service roles, and sponsorships through a speed-dating-style format. More than 20 nonprofit organizations are participating, including the Children’s Museum of St. Tammany, Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West, Northshore Food Bank, and United Way of Southeast Louisiana. Registration is required and can be completed through the St. Tammany Chamber’s online events calendar at www.sttammanychamber.org.
–Slidell Police are asking for the public’s help in locating 18-year-old Justin Lebouef, who fled from officers during a vehicle pursuit on Saturday night after driving recklessly in a crowded parking lot and nearly causing several crashes. Police say Lebouef led officers on a chase through the city and onto the Southshore before crashing his vehicle, which had lost a tire, into the woods along I-10 near Irish Bayou. He then ran into the woods and has not been seen since, and investigators believe he may have been picked up by another person. Lebouef faces multiple active warrants tied to the incident, and anyone with information is urged to contact Slidell Police at 985-643-3131 or their local law enforcement; tips may remain anonymous.
–Northshore Technical Community College is inviting the community to lace up for the 7th Annual Gator Tail 5K Trail Run, presented by Tamanend, on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at 7:30 a.m. at 65556 Centerpoint Blvd. in Lacombe. The family-friendly event will feature a 5K Trail Run, a half-mile “Gator Gallop” for children, and a 1-Mile Fun Run, with medals awarded to the top three male and female finishers.
–Northshore Humane Society has a full calendar of fun and furry events this September, offering the community plenty of opportunities to meet adoptable pets and support animals in need. On Saturday, Sept. 13, NHS will host two adoption events — one at Tractor Supply and another in partnership with Abita Brewing Co. in New Orleans. The following weekend, Sept. 20, the popular “Adopt-oberfest” returns with Abita Brewing Co. in Covington, combining craft beer and pet adoptions. Rounding out the month, “Puppies & Pilates” on Sept. 27 invites participants to enjoy a workout with a side of puppy cuddles. Organizers encourage the public to mark their calendars, bring friends, and join in making a difference.
— The City of Slidell Planning Department is conducting a Repetitive Loss Area Analysis (RLAA) as part of its participation in the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System, focusing on neighborhoods that have experienced repeated flood damage. The review will include past flood data and studies, and city staff may drive by and take photos of homes and drainage systems—without entering private residences. Residents are encouraged to share information about local flooding by scanning the provided QR code or completing the online survey at https://survey123.arcgis.com.
–The Youth Service Bureau’s Chef Soirée 2026 is giving supporters a chance to win a brand-new 2026 Banner Ford Mustang or Bronco Sport through its annual raffle, proudly sponsored by Banner Ford Chevrolet. Only 1,500 tickets will be sold at $50 each, with the drawing set for Sunday, March 15, 2026. Proceeds from the raffle benefit the nonprofit’s programs serving at-risk youth across the Northshore. Tickets can be purchased at www.ysbworks.com.
–The Southeastern Louisiana University Foundation has announced its 2025–26 Board of Directors, led by Chair Jonathan Wong of Hammond, co-founder of Cate Street Seafood Station and The Boston Restaurant. Joining him are Thomas “Tom” Akers of Mount Juliet, Tenn.; Marcia Barr, Hart Bordelon, Stephanie Kropog, Barry “Beezie” Landry (vice chair/chair-elect), and Wallace Lewis, all of Hammond; Dawn Cantrell and Gary Clark of Baton Rouge; Toby Cortez of Ponchatoula, past chair; Steve Cory of Mandeville, board treasurer; Beth Ebberman of Metairie, board secretary; Marcia Galatas of Houston; Dennis E. James of Ponchatoula; Shelby P. LaSalle, Jr. of Mandeville; Mike Sharp of Springfield; Cindy Visot of Tampa, Fla.; and Robert Watkins of Robert. Vice President for University Advancement Wendy Lauderdale praised the group as dedicated professionals who help the Foundation fulfill its mission of transforming lives through generosity and vision.
–The Children’s Museum of St. Tammany has unveiled its new Butterfly Migration Exhibit, a collaborative art installation created with parish public school teachers and students, the Talented Arts Program, and Slidell artist Josh Wichterich. During the 2025 spring semester, students designed hundreds of individual butterflies, which Wichterich assembled into a stunning migration roost now displayed above the ARTworks Gallery inside the museum. The project was supported by grants from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, the St. Tammany Parish Commission on Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
