Good morning, Slidell.

Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain said crawfish growers are increasing acreage and that the season may start early if adequate rainfall comes—possibly leading to a bumper harvest of crawfish.

He advised diners to ask local restaurants if the seafood is sourced locally while expecting plentiful shrimp and oysters from the mild weather.

A report from Climate Central reveals that Louisiana summers now last longer, with Baton Rouge seeing 21 extra summer days, Lafayette 17 extra days and New Orleans 11 extra days since 1970—experts warn that rising temperatures will boost health risks and energy bills if greenhouse gas emissions stay high.

After heavy rains earlier this week, the EPA—working with the Coast Guard—will investigate reports of an oil sheen at the mouth of the Tangipahoa River and on Lake Pontchartrain.

Officials will resume checks once river conditions improve.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office recommend that whole home generators be placed at least 25 feet from houses after reports of carbon monoxide seeping into 105 homes following Hurricane Ida.

Officials also urge homeowners to use carbon monoxide detectors—this step aims to reduce the risk of serious illness.

A federal report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission advises homeowners to keep stationary generators 25 feet from their homes after a study linked the setup to dangerous carbon monoxide leaks in Southeast Louisiana following Hurricane Ida.

State fire marshal officials say current five-foot guidelines may soon change—prompting local reviews for safer generator placements.

Voters in Slidell will vote tomorrow as Interim Mayor Bill Borchert and Police Chief Randy Fandal face a special election to serve until June 30—both candidates focused on mall redevelopment at Northshore Square Mall and addressing drainage issues on Gause Boulevard.

Borchert noted over $10 million in recent drainage improvements, while Fandal said he will seek further funding to fix long-standing problems.

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper announced a $1 million project that will remove 16 abandoned boats from the Tchefuncte River, Pearl River, Bayou Liberty, and Bayou Lacombe starting Jan.

1, with help from NOAA and Coastal Environments, Inc. The project will eliminate over 193 tons of marine debris—10% of which will be recycled—and include an environmental education program for 20,000 K–5 students.

Today, the Louisiana Department of Public Health warned residents to get Botox injections only from reputable sources after two people were hospitalized from unlicensed products.

The agency advised verifying that providers are licensed and that products are FDA-approved — key steps to prevent severe botulism-like symptoms.

On October 8, Slidell won the District 6-I volleyball opener against Northshore as the team rallied to win a crucial third set 25 to 23 and secure the home victory.

Senior middle hitter Ava Barduca led with 28 kills + additional players made key contributions while coaches noted Northshore's strong comeback efforts in the annual Pink Game.