New Routes at Armstrong International

–Flu activity remains widespread across the United States, with Louisiana now among five states reporting the highest level of influenza activity as of December 30, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 13-tier surveillance scale. The CDC map shows Louisiana at the top tier of flu activity, joined by Colorado, South Carolina, New York, and New Jersey, while much of the South and Midwest is experiencing high to very high levels. Health officials say emergency rooms and clinics are seeing a steady increase in flu-related visits, underscoring the importance of vaccination, good hygiene, and staying home when sick as the outbreak continues to intensify during the peak winter season.

–City and state officials said Monday that extensive security plans are in place for New Year’s Eve celebrations and the Sugar Bowl as New Orleans marks one year since the deadly Bourbon Street terrorist attack, with nearly 800 local, state, and federal law enforcement officers deployed downtown. An enhanced security zone will include closures along Bourbon Street with traffic redirections, bag searches, and support from the Louisiana National Guard, while Poydras Street will be closed to vehicles after the Sugar Bowl and portions of Canal Street may be shut down as needed. Crescent Park will close early at 6:30 p.m., and officials said they are prepared to adjust measures based on crowd conditions. Mayor LaToya Cantrell said the city has expanded protections since the 2025 attack, which killed 14 people, noting that the Bourbon Street security zone has become the standard for major events. While the Sugar Bowl is expected to draw tens of thousands of fans, officials acknowledged ongoing concerns about long-term safety solutions, including the lack of permanent barriers along Bourbon Street. Although a request for a higher federal threat designation was denied, city leaders said federal partners are still providing additional support, and approximately 350 National Guard members will remain in New Orleans through Mardi Gras as part of a state activation approved for federal funding.

–The Lt. Douglas Wade Sharp Memorial FOP Lodge 43 recently hosted the Covington Police Department’s Annual Holiday Gathering, an event held each year to recognize CPD personnel for exemplary service to the community. During the ceremony, several officers and employees were honored for going above and beyond the call of duty, including Officer Lance Toups as School Resource Officer of the Year, Officer Gabriel Peterson as Police Officer of the Year, Detective Brian Brown as Detective of the Year, Lieutenant Jessica Restel as Supervisor of the Year, Lieutenant Nicholas Greaver as Administrative Employee of the Year, and Lieutenant Lance Benjamin as the recipient of the Chief’s Award. Department leaders praised the recipients for their professionalism, dedication, and continued commitment to serving the citizens of Covington.

–The idea of a potential ICE “storage” facility in Tangipahoa Parish stems from a Washington Post report this week detailing plans by the Trump administration to build seven large-scale immigration detention centers, possibly by converting industrial warehouses near major cities into holding and processing sites for migrants arrested by federal authorities. According to the Post, internal ICE documents describe a system in which immigrants could be held for weeks at these processing hubs—each capable of housing up to 10,000 people—before being staged for deportation. Hammond and Tangipahoa Parish were mentioned as potential locations because of the region’s strategic proximity to New Orleans and its position at the intersection of Interstates 55 and 12, raising local speculation about whether one of the facilities could be sited there. However, Hammond Mayor Pete Panepinto said no one from ICE, the Department of Homeland Security, or related agencies has contacted him about such a project, and officials from the Hammond Police Department, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Hammond Northshore Regional Airport likewise confirmed they have not been approached with plans or proposals. DHS has not disclosed the full scope, timeline, or specific locations for the contemplated facilities.

–Louisiana residents will see several new laws take effect in 2026 affecting civil liability, insurance, health care, taxes, and consumer protections. Act 15 changes civil liability rules by barring recovery for people found mostly at fault for their injuries and reducing awards based on shared responsibility, while Act 466 limits recoverable medical expenses to amounts actually paid. Insurance-related laws include Act 19, which requires discounts for commercial vehicles with dashboard cameras and telematics; Act 476, preventing auto insurers from raising rates or denying coverage after a first liability lapse of 90 days or less; Act 85, barring insurers from passing advertising costs to customers; and Act 501, updating insurance commissioner fees. In health care, Act 77 establishes uniform hospital classifications and staffing standards, and Act 227 mandates coverage for certain integrative cancer treatments. Tax measures revise bank stock and property tax rules, allow deductions for retirement hardship withdrawals due to terminal illness, update cigar taxes, and expand tax credits for education, apprenticeships, and child care. Other laws require live-streamed Ethics Board meetings, clearer fee disclosures for New Orleans short-term rentals, and expanded tax deductions for fortified home construction.

–State transportation officials announced an updated schedule for a bridge replacement project in Washington Parish that will require a full closure of LA 424 between W.O. Turnage Road and Reverend Bennett Road. The closure, which affects both eastbound and westbound traffic, is now set to begin Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, with work expected to continue through Wednesday, July 15, 2026. Detour routes will be marked for motorists at the intersections of LA 424 and LA 438, LA 438 and LA 62, and LA 62 and LA 424. Officials said the closure is necessary for roadwork associated with the bridge replacement and noted that emergency vehicles will not have access through the work zone during the closure.

–Federal investigators have released new details about a small aircraft crash in Lake Pontchartrain last month that killed a flight instructor and a student from South Mississippi. The single-engine Cessna 172, operated by Apollo Flight Training and Aircraft Management, plunged into the lake during a nighttime training flight on Nov. 24, killing instructor Taylor Dickey and private pilot Michael Jahn, both 30. Jahn was receiving instruction in instrument flying, which relies on cockpit instruments rather than visual cues. According to the NTSB, the aircraft was approaching New Orleans Lakefront Airport when it began descending about six nautical miles from the runway in dark, cloudy conditions with a ceiling around 800 feet. The plane then entered a tight left-hand turn lasting roughly 27 seconds before flight tracking data ceased, with the wreckage found about 500 feet from the last recorded position. The pilots had been in contact with air traffic control and cleared to land, and investigators have found no evidence of mechanical issues. Most of the aircraft has been recovered, but the bodies of the instructor and student have not yet been located.

–Slidell police officials announced that for the first time in more than a decade, the Slidell Police Department will enter the new year fully staffed with no vacant police officer positions. Department leaders said several newly hired officers are still in training as a new police academy class begins Jan. 5, marking a major milestone after years of operating with staffing shortages that at times reached double digits. Officials credited the achievement to sustained support from city residents, the Slidell City Council, the mayor’s office, and leadership within the department, calling the milestone a positive step for public safety and community policing in the city.

–Tangipahoa Parish Government announced that parish offices will be closed from Dec. 31 through Jan. 2 in observance of the New Year’s holiday. Officials said the Tangipahoa Parish Landfill will remain open on New Year’s Eve from 6:30 a.m. until noon but will be closed on New Year’s Day before resuming regular operating hours on Friday and Saturday. Parish leaders extended New Year’s greetings to residents and thanked the community for its continued support.

–Seeing Past My Block will host its 6th Annual Community Dinner on New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 31, continuing a tradition of serving residents in Hammond as the year comes to a close. The free event will take place at 700 Martin Luther King Avenue, with the first meals served at noon and food available until the last plate is distributed. Organizers say the dinner is focused on bringing people together, sharing a meal, and starting the new year with a spirit of community and care. The event is open to everyone, and attendees are encouraged to arrive early and be patient. For more information or to offer support, organizers ask that people contact Kyle at 985-507-0556.

–A 15-year-old was killed in a single-vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 30, in East Feliciana Parish, according to Louisiana State Police. Troopers said the crash occurred on LA 19 at Thompson Creek Road when a Ford tow truck traveling south veered off the right side of the roadway, swerved back across both lanes of travel, and ran off the left side of the road, where it struck a tree and overturned. The 15-year-old passenger was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver was ejected from the vehicle and sustained serious injuries. The victim’s name has not been released, and the crash remains under investigation.