In 2025, NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis marked a year of significant progress, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of the Artemis campaign while celebrating major historical milestones and expanding its support for commercial spaceflight. As NASA prepares for the Artemis II crewed mission to the Moon, Stennis continued its frontline work by testing every RS-25 engine used on the Space Launch System, including successful 500-second firings of two new production engines at the Fred Haise Test Stand. The center also strengthened its position as a trusted propulsion test partner for a growing commercial aerospace sector, supporting companies such as Blue Origin, Boeing, Relativity Space, Rocket Lab, and Evolution Space, while advancing infrastructure upgrades for future projects. Alongside this forward-looking work, Stennis commemorated the 55th anniversary of its federal city model and the 50th anniversary of space shuttle main engine testing, milestones that underscore decades of propulsion excellence. Innovation extended into unmanned systems testing, digital tools, and community outreach, including STEM education initiatives and new interactive exhibits at the INFINITY Science Center. Center leaders said the year closed with teams focused on what lies ahead as NASA prepares to return astronauts to the Moon and lay the groundwork for future human missions to Mars.
–A warm and foggy pattern is expected to dominate the Christmas week across southeast Louisiana and coastal Mississippi, according to the National Weather Service in New Orleans. Forecasts show daytime highs running 10 to 15 degrees above normal, with temperatures reaching the mid to upper 70s in Baton Rouge and New Orleans and the low 70s along the Mississippi Gulf Coast through the end of the week. Overnight lows are expected to remain mild, generally in the mid to upper 50s. While rain chances are forecast to remain near zero, forecasters warn of daily chances for widespread dense fog during the morning hours, followed by partly cloudy conditions each afternoon. Motorists are urged to use caution during early travel, particularly during the busy holiday period.
–AN17’s Richard Meek writes that attendance dipped slightly from two weeks earlier, but the sense of urgency remained strong Thursday night as community members gathered at the African American Heritage Museum in Hammond for the second town hall meeting of All the KING’s Men, an initiative focused on reaching Black youth and breaking cycles of violence. Founder and organizer Tasha Robinson said the group’s mission is to intervene before young people enter the legal system by connecting them with mentors and community support, a message echoed by speakers and residents who stressed the need for guidance from those with lived experience. Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Gerald Sticker pledged partnership and resources, noting that many behavioral issues seen by law enforcement stem from problems at home, while Florida Parishes Juvenile Detention Center Director Joey Dominick emphasized parental involvement and shared responsibility. The meeting also advanced plans for new programs, including street team mentorship and rapid response, school intervention, anger management and conflict resolution, mental health support, workforce pathways, and parent accountability, with Robinson underscoring that meaningful change requires full commitment, training, and addressing the trauma many youth face.
–A London‑based energy company, Harbour Energy, has agreed to acquire Covington, Louisiana‑based LLOG Exploration Company LLC for $3.2 billion, marking a strategic entry into the deepwater U.S. Gulf of America oil and gas market while keeping LLOG’s Louisiana headquarters and leadership team in place. The transaction, announced December 22, comprises $2.7 billion in cash and $500 million in Harbour voting shares and is expected to close in late first quarter 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals, including U.S. antitrust clearance. Harbour said the deal will significantly expand its global offshore portfolio, adding long‑life, oil‐weighted deepwater assets in the Mississippi Canyon and Keathley Canyon and potentially doubling LLOG’s current production by 2028, while retaining the LLOG name and executive leadership to run the new Gulf business unit.
–Governor Jeff Landry has signed an executive order directing flags across Louisiana to be flown at half-staff from January 1 through 4 to honor those affected by the New Orleans terrorist attack. Each day of remembrance carries a specific focus: January 1 for the 14 victims who lost their lives, January 2 for survivors, January 3 for first responders, and January 4 for the broader community. In addition, Landry is asking churches to ring their bells 14 times at 3:15 p.m. on January 4 as a tribute. “We will never forget,” the governor said, emphasizing the state’s commitment to remembering the tragedy.
–Northshore Humane Society is hosting a Christmas Vacation Foster Event on December 22 and 23, inviting the community to help place shelter pets into temporary homes for the holidays. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, with the goal of providing animals a warm, loving environment through the New Year. Organizers say even short-term fostering offers a meaningful break from the shelter and can be life-changing for pets in need. All food, supplies, medical care, and support are provided, with fosters asked only to offer a safe space and care. Those unable to foster are encouraged to support the effort through the organization’s Christmas donation drive or holiday wish list, helping ensure animals receive comfort and care throughout the season.
–Slidell Mayor Randy Fandal is inviting the public to attend the 14th Annual Mayors’ Community Prayer Breakfast, set for Friday, January 23, 2026, at 7:30 a.m. at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium. Hosted by Community Christian Concern, the event is described as an inspirational morning of faith and fellowship focused on prayer for local leaders, the city, and its future. Tickets will be $20 and include breakfast, with sales opening soon. This year’s featured guest speaker will be Tony Perkins, host of “Washington Watch with Tony Perkins” and president of the Family Research Council. Event sponsorships are also available for $200, which include a reserved table for eight guests, breakfast, and recognition during the program.
–Mandeville’s Sunset Point Pier demolition is officially underway as city leaders move forward with removing the aging structure ahead of planned reconstruction, Mayor Clay Madden announced on social media. The City Council in October awarded a $170,000 demolition contract to Curranco, LLC, authorizing the mayor to execute the agreement after a competitive bid process, and public works records show the pier demolition is now in progress as part of broader lakefront infrastructure improvements. The demolition clears the way for future pier construction and related upgrades, addressing structural concerns and positioning the project for its next phase, though detailed timelines for the reconstruction have not yet been released.
–Thousands of Louisiana students are set to receive additional reading support through a $15 million federal grant aimed at expanding intensive tutoring and studying its impact on struggling readers. The five-year grant will fund online tutoring for about 4,500 first- and second-grade students who are behind in reading, using Air Reading, a program that connects students with live tutors via video. The Louisiana Department of Education will oversee the effort and collect student data, while researchers at Johns Hopkins University will evaluate whether gains seen in places like Jefferson Parish—where a recent study showed significant improvements in reading scores—can be replicated statewide across rural and urban districts and in both traditional and charter schools. State leaders say the initiative builds on Louisiana’s national reputation for high-dosage tutoring, which has continued beyond the pandemic with legislative support and funding, and could serve as a model for other states if the large-scale virtual approach proves effective.
–The U.S. Department of Homeland Security reports that approximately 370 people have been arrested in Operation Catahoula Crunch, its ongoing criminal immigration sweep, though only about 30 arrestees have been publicly identified. DHS describes those detained as “some of the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens,” including drug dealers, hit-and-run offenders, and an arson convict. However, officials have signaled that a full list of arrests may not be released, with U.S. Border Patrol spokesperson Rusty Payne telling reporters, “I would not expect that to be made available.” The lack of transparency has drawn criticism from immigration attorneys, watchdog groups, and local lawmakers, including Congressman Troy Carter, who noted constituents are struggling to access information and said a Congressional hearing on the sweep is planned in New Orleans. While ICE provides a detainee search portal, families face difficulties obtaining details, and Metropolitan Crime Commission President Rafael Goyeneche expects more disclosure only after the sweep concludes.
–U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) praised the U.S. Senate’s passage of his Veterans Health Administration Policy Advisory Commission (VetPAC) Act, legislation that would establish an independent commission to conduct a transparent, expert-driven review of the Veterans Health Administration’s operations. The bill creates a panel of medical experts and veterans charged with evaluating VHA performance, identifying areas for improvement, and providing regular reports to Congress to strengthen accountability and oversight of the VA health care system. Cassidy said the measure is aimed at ensuring veterans receive health care that reflects their service and sacrifice. The bipartisan legislation, introduced with U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.
–A 52-year-old Denham Springs man was killed in a two-vehicle crash Saturday afternoon in West Baton Rouge Parish, according to Louisiana State Police. Troopers with LSP Troop A said the crash occurred shortly after 4 p.m. on December 21 on LA 413 south of LA 3091, when a 2015 Indian motorcycle traveling north failed to negotiate a right-hand curve, crossed into the southbound lane, and collided head-on with a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado. The motorcyclist, identified as Martin Laster, suffered serious injuries and was taken to a local hospital, where he later died. State police said Laster was wearing a DOT-approved helmet at the time of the crash, while the driver of the Chevrolet was properly restrained and not injured. Impairment is unknown, though routine toxicology samples were collected, and the crash remains under investigation as troopers urged motorists to avoid impaired, distracted, or fatigued driving and to follow all traffic safety laws.
