Good morning, Slidell.

Hispanic Heritage Month has begun in Slidell and some local Latinos are hesitant to celebrate—citing increased ICE activity as a reason for caution.

Five Louisiana organizations were named finalists in a $50 million contest to fund projects that boost energy security and protect Gulf Coast communities — each finalist receives a $300,000 grant while the contest will choose two winners to get $20 million to build clean energy and flood protection plans. The proposals include plans for solar community centers, resilient flood barriers, and the repurposing of wind turbines for coastal safety.

At a District C candidate forum, local leaders discussed plans to fix street repair delays and improve public communication, proposing changes to speed up project work.

They also called for better funding for homelessness services—measures that include tougher actions against negligent owners.

Early voting for the Oct.

11 municipal parochial primary will begin Sept. 27 and run until Oct. 4 at offices in Covington and Slidell, and a mayoral forum is set for Sept. 26 at 10 a.m. in the John Wesley Center at Aldersgate United Methodist Church—while the city starts the Riecke Retention Pond project this fall with completion planned by 2026 and nearly $175,000 has been awarded in Keep Louisiana Beautiful grants.

Senator Cassidy urged RFK Jr. to endorse the whooping cough vaccine amid a deadly outbreak in Louisiana that has claimed two infant lives & affected over 360 people, while doctors warn that misinformation is causing vaccine hesitancy.

At the 2025 International Powerlifting Federation World Championships in San Jose, Costa Rica from Aug.

26-Sept. 5, St. Tammany Parish lifters won Equipped Sub-Junior titles and the U.S. team won the men's and women's awards—local coach John Burford led the team for a third year. Standout athletes like Brett Falco and Northshore’s Jackson Bice set new records in lifts including a 634-pound squat and achieved personal bests.

Elvis: On Fire Featuring Nick Perkins

2-4:30 p.m. — Cutting Edge Theater — Tickets from $37.15 — Experience the electrifying years of Elvis Presley with World Champ Nick Perkins.