The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office is searching for 14-year-old Landon Rahaim, who was dropped off at St. Paul’s School in Covington on the morning of Nov. 18 and was later seen on camera leaving campus shortly afterward. His family has not heard from him since, and detectives have been working closely with them as efforts to locate the teen continue. Rahaim is described as a white male, 5’5″ and 130 pounds, with short dark-blonde hair. He was last seen wearing a grey St. Paul’s hoodie, khaki pants, white shoes, and carrying a blue backpack. Authorities urge anyone who has seen or had contact with Landon to call the STPSO at 985-898-2338.
–The Hammond Rotary Club announced that its annual Christmas Parade will return to downtown Hammond on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m., featuring Tangipahoa Parish Councilman and longtime community advocate Louis Joseph as the 2025 Grand Marshal. Sponsored by Oasis Point Rehabilitation Hospital and themed “Cajun Christmas,” the parade will highlight Louisiana flair with festive floats, marching bands, dance groups, and a visit from Santa, beginning in the Strawberry Stadium parking lot before winding through downtown. Organizers thanked key supporters, including the Ciolino family of Star Equipment and Donna and Robby Miller of PJ’s Coffee, with parade commentary to be provided by Amber Narro and Joe Burns from Magnolia and Thomas Streets. The Rotary Club, which partners with local businesses and volunteers to present the free, family-friendly tradition, encourages participants to register at www.hammondrotary.com.
–AAA projects a record 81.8 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles between November 25 and December 1, a 1.6 million increase from last year, reinforcing Thanksgiving as the nation’s busiest travel holiday. Road travel dominates, with an estimated 73.3 million drivers, and Wednesday identified as the busiest rental car pick-up day, particularly in Orlando, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Miami, and Newark. Traffic is expected to peak Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, with delays also likely Sunday, while travelers are advised to depart in the morning and yield to emergency responders. Air travel is forecasted to reach 6 million passengers, up 2% from 2024, though cancellations could affect that total, with average domestic fares near $700 and Thanksgiving Day the cheapest to fly. Bus, train, and cruise travel is also rising, projected at nearly 2.5 million travelers, with cruise growth continuing, and Florida remains the top U.S. destination, while Europe, the Caribbean, and Australia lead international bookings.
–A former Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy has been arrested after an investigation into allegations of indecent behavior involving juveniles. Mike Johnson, 61, who had served with the agency for nearly four years, was booked on four counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile and one count of malfeasance in office. The sheriff’s office says it received information earlier this week that Johnson showed inappropriate images to juveniles while working a recent security detail; he was immediately placed on administrative leave, fired following the investigation, and then taken into custody. The case remains under investigation.
–Slidell’s first Safe Haven Baby Box is operating at Fire Station 11 in Olde Towne, offering a secure, anonymous way for parents in crisis to safely surrender a newborn. Fire Chief Brian Kaufmann, Councilman Trey Brownfield, and Captain Chris Frazier say the device allows a baby to be placed directly into the care of firefighters with no questions asked; once the door closes, crews are alerted immediately and medical care begins, all in accordance with Louisiana’s Safe Haven Law. Located at 322 Bouscaren Street and available 24/7, the box is the first of its kind in Louisiana and one of only two statewide, with the second located in Covington. Officials urge the community to share the information, noting that the service can save lives when every second counts.
–A multi-vehicle crash on I-55 north near the Manchac Bridge in St. John the Baptist Parish Saturday night left two dead, including 88-year-old Lula Kinchen of Hammond, Louisiana State Police reported. Troopers said an Infiniti SUV rear-ended a Honda CR-V before being struck on its left side by a Nissan Maxima, causing both the Infiniti and Nissan to catch fire. Kinchen, a passenger in the Nissan, died at a local hospital, while the Infiniti driver died at the scene. The Honda driver, who was wearing a seatbelt, was uninjured. Authorities are still investigating whether the Infiniti and Nissan occupants were restrained and are awaiting toxicology results.
–The Northshore Humane Society is encouraging the community to embrace the spirit of Giving Tuesday on December 2, reminding supporters that after the shopping rush of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, the day offers a chance to give back in a meaningful way. As an independent, no-kill rescue that receives no government or tax funding, the organization relies entirely on community donations to continue caring for homeless pets and supporting local families. Officials say every contribution—large or small—directly impacts the lifesaving work they perform each day.
–The Tangipahoa Parish Library is inviting families to its Hammond Branch on Saturday, Nov. 29, for a “Farewell to Fall” mini festival from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring games, snacks, drinks, and a pumpkin-painting contest that requires advance registration. Organizers say the free celebration is designed to offer a fun seasonal send-off for all ages, and attendees can sign up for the pumpkin activity through the library’s online events calendar.
–Southeastern made the FCS playoffs after earning the No. 16 national seed, with kickoff set for noon Saturday at Strawberry Stadium. The Lions (9-3), making their sixth postseason appearance and fourth under head coach Frank Scelfo, dominated FCS opponents this season—going 9-1 in subdivision play and winning eight games by double digits—while finishing second in the Southland Conference for the second straight year. The winner of Saturday’s matchup with the Redbirds (8-4) will advance to face top-seeded North Dakota State on Dec. 6 in Fargo, while two other Southland teams, Lamar and Abilene Christian, join the playoff field. Tickets are available at LionSports.net/tickets, with season ticket holders able to reserve their seats through Tuesday at 4 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and the Southeastern Sports Radio Network.
–The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a surge in scam attempts, urging the public to be cautious as criminals increasingly target victims through gift-card schemes, fake package notifications, and fraudulent messages claiming owed payments to companies like Amazon. Deputies say scammers are pressuring people to load money onto gift cards, deposit cash into Bitcoin machines, or respond to texts and emails about held packages—tactics that are all designed to steal money. Officials stress that no legitimate agency or business will demand payment through these methods and advise anyone who receives such communication to ignore it, hang up, and report it to the Criminal Investigations Division at 985-902-2088.
–Washington Parish officials say Holmesville Road is undergoing a major upgrade, with nearly five miles of roadway being paved as part of a three-segment improvement plan. Segment 1, from Highway 1055 to Benny Morris Road, was recently completed by Barriere Construction under the parish’s 2025 Road Improvement Project, while Segment 2, extending to Highway 438, is now nearing completion by the parish’s own road crew. The final segment will be paved in 2026. Parish President Ryan Seal said the ability to handle much of the work in-house helps stretch taxpayer dollars and deliver better infrastructure, underscoring the parish’s ongoing commitment to improving roads parishwide.
–Nunez Community College has launched a new Environmental Services Technician workforce training program aimed at preparing individuals with exceptionalities for careers in environmental health services, infection control, and sanitation. Developed in partnership with the International Sanitary Supply Association, the two-semester program provides ISSA-endorsed Basic and Advanced Certified Cleaning Technician credentials and is supported by a $54,000 donation from Port NOLA, HDR, Evans-Graves Engineers, and the Advocacy Partners to fund curriculum development and facility enhancements. The initiative, which addresses persistently high unemployment among people with disabilities, debuts with dual-enrolled special education students from Chalmette High School who will gain hands-on experience and internships with regional employers including the Royal Sonesta Hotel, the Louisiana Children’s Museum, and the St. Bernard Parish Government Complex. Nunez leaders and partners say the program will expand access to meaningful careers while strengthening the local workforce and offering students a pathway to employment, independence, and long-term success.
–The Harbor Center will welcome back the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Band for its annual Holiday Concert on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, a festive tradition that supports the Marine Toys for Tots program. Sponsored by Friends of the Harbor Center, the event invites families to visit with Santa starting at 6 p.m. before the concert begins at 7 p.m., with admission consisting of a new, unwrapped toy or monetary donation to benefit children in the Slidell area. “We are thrilled to once again host the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Band at The Harbor Center,” said Joseph Montelepre, chairman of Friends of the Harbor Center, who noted the community’s enthusiasm for the band’s renowned performances and the joy the event brings to local families. For more information, visit www.harborcenter.org or call 985-781-3650.
