Good morning, Slidell.

Events honoring veterans are planned on and around Nov.

11 across St. Tammany, starting today with a Veteran Appreciation Luncheon, 1-3 p.m., at Slidell Municipal Auditorium (2056 Second St.), and will be followed by a Mandeville parade and jambalaya cook-off on Nov. 7, a veterans concert on Nov. 8, and county commemorations on Nov. 11.

Tiny plastic bits are washing into the Gulf and volunteers at Elmer's Island have collected more than 1,124 bags of debris so far this year, and researchers have found microplastics in Gulf oysters and shrimp (studies warn the health impacts are still unclear and more research is needed).

Saddiq Bey scored 25 off the bench and Jeremiah Fears added 20 as the Pelicans beat the Hawks 121-99 on Saturday night in New Orleans, giving New Orleans its second straight win (Pelicans at Memphis; Hawks at Indiana on Monday night).

Week 9 wrapped up Friday with Lakeshore beating Hannan 37-35 on a late Brody Loudermilk TD, Covington topping Ponchatoula 42-21, PJP II holding off Bogalusa 35-32 to push its win streak, and other local results reshaping district standings.

Former Salmen basketball standout Byron Williams will be inducted into the Xavier University of Louisiana Athletic Hall of Fame on Nov.

5, honoring his school-record 1,036 career rebounds and his 36-year career as a coach, teacher, and administrator in St. Tammany Parish.