The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced that the $30 million US 190: US 190B to LA 437 Bridge and Widening Project in Covington is nearing completion. The project, which began in late 2022, includes a new bridge adjacent to the Bogue Falaya River Bridge, widening of US 190, new asphalt pavement, improved drainage, traffic signals, highway dividers, and J-turns to enhance safety and traffic flow. The existing bridge now carries two eastbound/southbound lanes, while the new bridge carries two westbound/northbound lanes, alleviating a previous bottleneck that extended over a mile. Final permanent striping is underway, with additional work on signage and signal configuration still pending, and all work remains weather-dependent. DOTD advises motorists to drive cautiously as the final construction phases are completed and will provide updates when traffic shifts to the permanent roadway configuration.
–(As of 4:30 AM) The Louisiana State Police has issued a Level II Endangered/Missing Child Advisory on behalf of the New Orleans Police Department for 13-year-old Helen Galvez, who was reported missing from her home on Old Gentilly Road in New Orleans. Galvez was discovered missing at approximately 6:50 a.m., and LSP received the request to issue the advisory at 1:02 a.m. She is described as a Hispanic female with brown eyes and black, curly hair, standing 5 feet tall and weighing about 120 pounds. Her clothing description is unknown, and she is believed to be traveling on foot in an unknown direction. Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts is urged to contact the New Orleans Police Department at (504) 658-6070 or dial 911.
–The Independence Area Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Steering Committee invites residents of Independence and surrounding areas to join the Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Monday, January 19, 2026, honoring what would have been Dr. King’s 97th birthday. The event will begin with a march at 9:15 a.m. from the Town of Independence Train Depot at 270 East Railroad, ending at Zion Travelers M.B.C., pastored by Dr. Bobby R. Showers Sr., at 86 Martin Luther King Jr. Street. The celebration program will start at 10:30 a.m., featuring a commemorative address by Rev. Daron Brumfield, Pastor of Mt. Teamer Baptist Church. Mr. Herman Lathers, Band Director of the Independence High Magnet School Marching Thundercats, will serve as this year’s Grand Marshal. For more information, contact Mrs. Jo Patton, Founder/Director, at 985-222-9314 or 225-242-7798.
–Congresswoman Julia Letlow has secured $2 million in Community Project Funding to support upgrades to Amite’s water and sewer infrastructure, providing federal assistance for a regional wastewater treatment facility. The funding, which passed as part of the FY 2026 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill approved by Congress on Thursday, will be administered by the Town of Amite and is aimed at improving wastewater management and public services for local residents in Tangipahoa Parish. Letlow said the investment reflects her commitment to delivering resources for small communities in the Florida Parishes and strengthening essential infrastructure.
–The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Division is investigating a domestic incident that occurred Friday morning in Goodbee, where deputies responded shortly before 8 a.m. to a residence in the 7000 block of Louisiana Highway 1077 after reports that a woman had fled to a neighbor’s home for help. Investigators learned the woman escaped through a window following an argument with her live-in boyfriend during which she was shot; she was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Deputies later entered the residence and found the male subject suffering from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound; he was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The investigation remains ongoing, and no further information has been released.
–Ampirical, a national provider of power system engineering and project delivery services, broke ground last week on a major expansion of its Covington headquarters near Ochsner Boulevard and Interstate 12, a project expected to create 175 new high-paying jobs in St. Tammany Parish. Founded in Mandeville in 2006, the company has grown to more than 600 employees nationwide and specializes in electrical substations, transmission and distribution infrastructure, and grid-focused solutions. The $46.4 million, five-story expansion will add nearly 91,000 square feet of office space and retain 300 existing jobs, generating an estimated $16 million in new annual payroll. State and local leaders praised the project as a significant economic investment that strengthens the region’s engineering workforce and reinforces Louisiana’s critical power infrastructure as Ampirical continues to expand its role in major energy and technology projects statewide.
–Children’s Advocacy Center–Hope House, an independent nonprofit focused on ending the cycle of child abuse on the Northshore, is accepting nominations for its fifth annual Champions for Children Awards, presented by A Gift Given In Jesus’ Name and Gulf Coast Bank & Trust. The organization will honor seven local “champions” who have made a meaningful impact on children and families in St. Tammany and/or Washington Parish, including one Youth Champion, a K–12 student recognized for outstanding advocacy, volunteering, or fundraising efforts. The award winners will be celebrated at a Champions for Children Awards Breakfast on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at The Greystone in Mandeville, with Northshore native and child advocate Katie Rose McConnell serving as keynote speaker. Nominations must be submitted online by February 28, 2026, and tickets for the breakfast are available for purchase through Hope House’s website.
–St. Tammany Fire District #8 in Abita announced that, due to the forecasted freezing temperatures this week, a warming shelter is available at the Giving Hope Retreat Campus for anyone needing a safe, warm place to stay overnight. The shelter is separate from the campus’s recovery program, and all are welcome. The campus is located at 31294 US-190, 2nd Building, Lacombe, LA 70445, and can be reached at (985) 218-9485. Residents with unsheltered pets can contact St. Tammany Animal Services at (985) 809-0183, and emergencies should be reported by calling 911. Fire officials also reminded the public to ensure working smoke detectors and to practice safe heating methods.
–The Krewe of Omega will roll through downtown Hammond on Friday, February 6 at 6:30 p.m., marking its 40th annual Mardi Gras parade, with Nashville-based country music recording artist and Louisiana native Thomas Cain serving as this year’s Grand Marshal. The family-friendly event, presented by the Rotary Club of Hammond and featuring traditional floats and throws, promises lively celebration and community spirit as part of the Gulf Coast Mardi Gras season.
–St. Tammany Parish Government announced that work on the Lacombe Nature Park is continuing, with the next stage of construction requiring a temporary closure of the area surrounding the Bayou Lacombe Drawbridge and Trailhead, from S. 1st Street to S. Oaklawn Drive, on January 20, 2026. Officials noted that no detour will be available during the closure and thanked the public for their patience and understanding as the project progresses.
–Louisiana taxpayers will ultimately be responsible for more than $52 million spent by the state to boost security and temporarily shelter homeless residents in New Orleans during Super Bowl LIX and Mardi Gras 2025 after federal officials declined to reimburse the costs, according to public records obtained by The Times-Picayune. The state had sought FEMA reimbursement for overtime pay, equipment, and services following heightened security needs after a Jan. 1, 2025, vehicle-ramming attack, but a Department of Homeland Security official said no federal funding was available and that existing FEMA grants were already fully committed. The denial means the expenses, which included enhanced law enforcement presence and a temporary homeless shelter that drew criticism from local officials, will remain the responsibility of the state despite officials previously expressing optimism that federal funds would cover the costs.
–Rural Franklinton Water officials announced that a new pump installation has been completed, but a system-wide boil water advisory remains in effect as a precaution until water samples are cleared by the Health Department. Customers are advised to boil their water until further notice to ensure safety. Officials apologized for the inconvenience and thanked residents for their patience and understanding as they work to ensure the water supply is safe.
–Ever want to send your name to the moon and back? NASA is giving the public that chance through its Artemis II mission, allowing anyone to sign up online for a virtual boarding pass that adds their name to an SD card flying aboard the spacecraft. More than 1.5 million names have already been submitted for the mission, which will carry four astronauts—Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—on a 10-day test flight around the Moon and back, marking the first human lunar mission since Apollo 17 in 1972. NASA says Artemis II is a critical step toward returning humans to the Moon and eventually reaching Mars, while also inspiring global participation in space exploration. The mission is currently expected to launch no later than April 2026, pending completion of key rocket fueling tests, with the final launch date to be announced later.
–Gov. Jeff Landry has appointed Angele Davis as Louisiana’s new inspector general, naming her to lead the office responsible for investigating public corruption and white-collar crime while signaling plans to expand its role to include government efficiency efforts. The announcement came during a news conference highlighting results of Landry’s yearlong Fiscal Responsibility Program, which his office claims could save hundreds of millions of dollars, though detailed breakdowns were not provided. Landry said lawmakers will be involved in shaping reforms to the Office of State Inspector General, with potential focus areas including boards, commissions and higher education. Davis, a former commissioner of administration under Gov. Bobby Jindal and a longtime state budget leader, succeeds Stephen B. Street Jr., who served three terms over 18 years. The inspector general’s office operates as a law enforcement agency within the Governor’s Office, investigating inefficiency, mismanagement, fraud and corruption and working with state and federal prosecutors.
