Louisiana State Police have issued a Level II Endangered/Missing Child Advisory at the request of the Gretna Police Department for 17-year-old Jamil Wright, who was last seen around 3:15 p.m. at Young Audiences school on Burmaster Street in Gretna, with the advisory issued at 10:02 p.m. Wright is a Black male, 5 feet 10 inches tall, about 170 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, last seen wearing a black Young Audiences school shirt, black jacket, black pants, black shoes with white soles, and carrying a clear backpack. Authorities say Wright suffers from a medical condition that may impair his judgment and is not usually left unsupervised; he is believed to be traveling on foot in an unknown direction and is not familiar with the area. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact the Gretna Police Department at 504-366-4374 or dial 911.
–The Parish Council will vote Thursday to try to override a partial veto by St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper of the 2026 budget, which removed funding cuts affecting the Safe Haven Campus and cost-of-living wage adjustments. Cooper vetoed the reductions, citing concerns about the impact on services for people with mental illness or substance abuse disorders, future revenue tied to the Safe Haven Campus, and the parish’s ability to recruit and retain employees amid rising living costs, noting the wage cut would save just $21,000 in the general fund. Parish Councilman Joe Impastato said the council would need 10 votes to override the veto, adding that the budget cuts, including those to public safety, were difficult but necessary as the parish faces a financial crisis, while emphasizing that the council is working toward a long-term plan for Safe Haven.
–Additional details have been released in the investigation of an inmate who escaped from the Tangipahoa Parish courthouse Monday morning, revealing that 18-year-old Donnie Stevenson fled after a jail transport vehicle arrived shortly before 9 a.m. and inmates were escorted inside in small groups over the next hour. Deputies were alerted around 10 a.m. to a suspicious person in a gray sweatsuit and orange flip-flops behind the courthouse, prompting a pursuit and an inmate headcount, with the chase leading into a nearby neighborhood where residents helped direct deputies. K-9 Thor located Stevenson around 10:45 a.m. hiding near a mobile home, still partially restrained by a waist chain and handcuffs; he was returned to jail after medical treatment and booked on additional charges of simple escape and resisting an officer, while authorities continue to investigate how he obtained a black sweatsuit and review transport policies and procedures.
–Northshore Technical Community College has announced it received a $100,000 grant from the Louisiana Blue Foundation to launch its Patient Navigator program, described as Louisiana’s first healthcare education pathway of its kind, set to begin in Fall 2026. The hybrid program will combine experiential learning with two national certifications to prepare students for non-bedside healthcare roles focused on guiding patients through the care continuum, addressing social determinants of health, improving access and outcomes, and supporting the healthcare system without pulling licensed nurses away from clinical care. College officials said the initiative is part of NTCC’s broader effort to strengthen workforce training and expand future career opportunities in healthcare.
–District Attorney Collin Sims announced that Winston Bradford Patterson, 40, of Covington, was sentenced Thursday, December 12, 2025, to two 20-year prison terms to run concurrently, without the benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, following his conviction for Oral Sexual Battery of a Victim Under 15 and Molestation of a Juvenile. Patterson was found guilty by a St. Tammany Parish jury on October 16, 2025, for sexual crimes committed in 2022 against his then-fiancée’s teenage daughter, after the victim disclosed the abuse to a trusted adult, prompting an investigation by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office and a forensic interview at the Children’s Advocacy Center’s Hope House. Judge Scott Gardner, who presided over the four-day trial prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Taylor Nicholson and Gary Tromblay, cited the egregious abuse of trust and Patterson’s prior drug-related convictions in imposing the maximum sentence, while Sims said the punishment reflects the seriousness of the crimes and the office’s commitment to accountability in cases involving the exploitation of children.
–Tangipahoa Parish public schools are set for their final day before the Christmas break, with students and staff enjoying a half-day schedule tomorrow, Wednesday, December 17. Loranger schools, including Loranger Elementary, will reopen as scheduled for a half day after maintenance work on the heating system, which is expected to be fully operational by morning. Officials noted that forecasted temperatures will be significantly warmer than earlier this week. School leaders and staff extended holiday greetings, wishing students, families, and school employees a happy, safe, and restful Christmas break.
–The Mandeville Artists Guild has announced its Holiday Art Market has been rescheduled and will now take place Sunday, Dec. 21, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mandeville Trailhead. The market will feature a variety of local artists and small businesses offering items such as jewelry, paintings, photography, woodworking, mixed media, mosaics and clay, cutting boards, laser-engraved art, and more, with food available from Mi-Bop’s Specialties and coffee drinks from Sweet Rose Café. Organizers say the event is designed to encourage holiday shoppers to support local artists while giving the gift of art, with live music also planned during the afternoon.
–Early Bird registration is now open for sponsorships of the 2026 Chancellor’s Scholarship events, with a 15% discount available on sponsor packages purchased by January 31, 2026. The scholarship breakfasts provide sponsors an opportunity to connect with scholarship recipients, community leaders, fellow supporters, and Northshore Technical Community College faculty, with doors opening at 7:30 a.m. for coffee and networking and programs running from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Events are scheduled for Thursday, March 19, 2026, at Bogalusa Country Club for Sullivan (Bogalusa) Campus recipients; Friday, March 20, 2026, at Benedict’s in Mandeville for Lacombe and Sullivan (Bogalusa) Campus recipients; and Friday, March 27, 2026, at LynHaven in Hammond for Hammond, Florida Parishes (Greensburg), and Livingston (Walker) Campus recipients.
–New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson, joined by members of the Saints Cheer Krewe, visited Slidell Memorial Hospital East yesterday to bring holiday cheer to pediatric patients. The visit included festive interactions, gift-giving, and photo opportunities, creating a joyful atmosphere for children and families receiving care. This appearance is part of Benson’s ongoing engagement with the Ochsner Health network, following previous visits to Ochsner Children’s Hospital and her role in the groundbreaking of the Gayle and Tom Benson Ochsner Children’s Hospital, underscoring her continued commitment to supporting local healthcare and uplifting young patients across the Gulf South.
–Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives have arrested Austin Levalley and Carli Marr, fugitives wanted on active felony organized retail theft charges, following an investigation in coordination with St. Tammany law enforcement. Sheriff Jason Ard reported that detectives uncovered a cache of stolen merchandise from multiple jurisdictions, including a firearm, stolen purses, marine GPS units valued over $10,000, Christmas ornaments, business aprons, a large bag of new Birkenstock sandals, a stolen rug, drug paraphernalia, steroids, ammunition, and a ledger detailing prior and planned thefts. Both suspects are currently held at the Livingston Parish Detention Center facing multiple charges related to burglary and theft.
–As part of its centennial celebration, Southeastern Louisiana University marked another milestone by announcing it is now accepting cryptocurrency donations through its annual Giving Day, making it one of the few universities to expand fundraising into digital currency channels. Through partnerships with payment specialist Bead and Louisiana-based technology firm Envoc, the university launched support for Bitcoin, Lightning and USDC, an initiative President William S. Wainwright said reflects Southeastern’s focus on innovation as it enters its second century. University leaders said the new option allows donors to direct gifts to specific programs or areas of greatest need, while partners emphasized Louisiana’s growing leadership in education and payment technology. The move comes as Giving Day raised more than $500,000 in 24 hours for the Southeastern Foundation, a 26% increase from the previous year, with cryptocurrency donations now available at www.givecrypto.southeastern.edu.
–The Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office is seeking donations of cat and dog food to help care for the growing number of strays and animals in need throughout the parish. Sheriff Jason Smith noted that deputies regularly transport donated feed to animals living with families in need and to strays, helping prevent starvation and reduce overcrowding at shelters. Residents and local businesses are encouraged to drop off dry, wet, canned, bagged, or even recently expired food at the WPSO offices in Bogalusa (302 Mississippi Ave.) or Franklinton (1002 Main St.), with all donations gratefully accepted to support the health and well-being of parish animals.
–As the first anniversary of the deadly New Year’s attack on Bourbon Street approaches, city officials have announced plans to install 18 permanent, crash-rated swing gates along the popular tourist corridor from Canal to St. Ann streets, replacing the temporary bollards, barricades, and police vehicles currently in place. The $1.3 million project, unveiled by NOPD 8th District Commander Capt. Samuel Palumbo, is designed to stop vehicles traveling up to 50 mph and simplify security operations by reducing the number of barriers. While officials, including French Quarter Management District Commissioner Christian Pendleton, welcomed the move, questions remain about security measures on streets leading to Bourbon, Royal, and Dauphine. Council President J.P. Morrell emphasized that the proposal requires further review before final implementation.
–The Deepwater Horizon Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group (LA TIG) has posted the 2025 Annual Update video, which serves as the Trustees’ official annual meeting and includes details on current funding levels and progress in planning and implementing restoration projects tied to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The update provides stakeholders and the public with a comprehensive look at how settlement funds are being allocated and how restoration efforts — including coastal habitat restoration and other environmental initiatives — are advancing over the past year. Members of the public can submit comments on the 2025 Annual Update via email at latig@la.gov through January 31, 2026. The LA TIG is part of the Gulf Restoration process established under the Deepwater Horizon oil spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA), which coordinates restoration planning, public comment periods, and posting of informational materials such as annual updates, restoration plans, and project assessments.
