Stories from surrounding communities, closest first.
Picayune Item · Picayune, MS
Nearby: Picayune, MSChristmas on Canal, one of Picayune’s traditional holiday events, is returning on Friday, Dec. 4, to celebrate the season. Located in downtown Picayune, this highly anticipated event will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., following a sidewalk sale earlier that day from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Christmas on Canal will feature a variety of holiday festivities for the whole family, including a faux snow machine, bubbles, holiday lights, photos with Santa, live entertainment and themed snacks. In addition to Christmas on Canal, several other holiday events are happening on the same day. These include the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, which serves as a fundraiser for special needs, a Toys for Tots broadcast on WRJW Friday morning, and a local shopping raffle with a live drawing on the Picayune Main Street Facebook Page.
Picayune Item · Picayune, MS
Nearby: Picayune, MSThe Picayune City Council met at City Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 3, to recognize the 2026 Veteran of the Year and the Employee of the Quarter The meeting began with the recognition of Ronald “Ronnie” Stogner as the 2026 Veteran of the Year. Born on Dec. 24, 1948, Stogner is a local resident of Picayune who served in the United States Marine Corps from 1967 to 1971. He received multiple military honors, including a Purple Heart, awarded to veterans who are killed or injured in battle, during his service in Vietnam. Since 1972, Stogner has been involved with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, holding various leadership positions, including Commander. The city of Picayune commends Stogner for his service and ongoing dedication to the military, veterans, and the community. He was presented with a recognition plaque in appreciation of his contributions and sacrifices. Christmas on the Rails is scheduled for Nov. 28 at Crosby Commons and the Oaks.
Picayune Item · Picayune, MS
Nearby: Picayune, MSThe Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) and the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area (MGCNHA) have partnered to implement two downtown revitalization initiatives in Picayune and Moss Point, two designated Main Street communities in the Gulf Coast region, on Dec. 7-10. This initiative is made possible in part by a grant from the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area. On Dec. 7-8, Picayune Main Street will receive a Downtown Roadmap Refresh, a detailed downtown revitalization plan, that will serve to update the last downtown plan that Picayune Main Street received from MMSA in 2008. A comprehensive report will be developed outlining key recommendations, priority projects, and implementation strategies. MMSA staff and consultants will provide guidance on façade improvements, streetscape enhancements, and economic development incentives. On Dec.
Biz New Orleans · Hammond, LA
Nearby: Hammond, LAALEXANDRIA, La. — Gov. Jeff Landry and ConnectLA have announced approximately $18 million in ÉTOUFFÉE awards at the Louisiana Digital Skills and Technology Summit. Through a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Apple, 11 Louisiana organizations that provide adult education and workforce development will receive more than 25,000 Mac and iPad devices to make digital opportunities more accessible to Louisianians. Three Greater New Orleans-area organizations are among the recipients: Southern University at New Orleans, Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond and Bastion Veterans Wellness Center in New Orleans. Their participation will help expand access to digital technology and workforce training in the region. “We’re bringing high-speed internet to rural Louisiana and attracting new jobs across our state.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch · New Orleans, LA
Nearby: New Orleans, LAGregory Paul Ziegenfuss, a St. Louis native and longtime executive chef at Butler's Pantry, died on November 1, 2026, while vacationing in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was 67.
American Press · New Orleans, LA
Nearby: New Orleans, LAA tanker in New Orleans that apparently lost its steering slammed into a docked river cruise boat with 180 people aboard Friday, the mayor said. All aboard survived after the crash prompted a massive rescue operation for passengers and crew who plunged into the Mississippi River as the ship took on water and began to topple over. Video from the scene showed the much larger Atlantic Asphalt tanker hit the cruise boat while it was docked as metal and glass crashed and crunched. Tugboat operators, nearby workers, police and several other rescuers rushed to help. New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno called it “a miracle on the Mississippi.” The mayor said 32 people were taken to the hospital, but none of them had critical injuries. The boat started listing within minutes and flipped while emergency workers were still trying to get everyone off the ship.
WSJ.com: US Business · New Orleans, LA
Nearby: New Orleans, LAThe more than 100 people on board were rescued in a ‘miracle on the Mississippi,’ said the Louisiana governor.
Military Times · New Orleans, LA
Nearby: New Orleans, LAEditor’s Note: This is a developing story. U.S. Coast Guard personnel are responding to an allision between a cruise ship and a cargo ship in New Orleans that initially left numerous people missing. Rescue is underway in the Mississippi River near the busy ship channel between the French Quarter and Algiers. Coast Guard units responding to the emergency include Maritime Safety and Security Team New Orleans, Aids to Navigation New Orleans and Air Station New Orleans. The Coast Guard is working with Louisiana State Police, New Orleans Fire Department, Port NOLA Harbor Police, maritime salvage and other emergency responders in the search and rescue effort, according to a Coast Guard official. “The United States Coast Guard, in coordination with local response partners, is responding to a vessel collision involving a tanker and a cruise ship near Mile Marker 96 on the Mississippi River,” Coast Guard Chief of Public Affairs Capt. Timothy Balunis said Friday.
Navy Times · New Orleans, LA
Nearby: New Orleans, LAEditor’s Note: This is a developing story. U.S. Coast Guard personnel are responding to an allision between a cruise ship and a cargo ship in New Orleans that initially left numerous people missing and at least 40 injured. Rescue was underway in the Mississippi River near the busy ship channel between the French Quarter and Algiers. Coast Guard units responding to the emergency include Maritime Safety and Security Team New Orleans, Aids to Navigation New Orleans, Air Station New Orleans and the Coast Guard cutter Pamlico, a 160-foot inland construction tender. The Coast Guard is working with Louisiana State Police, New Orleans Fire Department, Port NOLA Harbor Police, maritime salvage and other emergency responders in the search and rescue effort, according to a Coast Guard official.
American Press · New Orleans, LA
Nearby: New Orleans, LABy Nolan Mckendry | The Center Square Louisiana has submitted a proposal to host the United States Space Academy at LSU New Orleans, offering campus facilities, state startup funding and city infrastructure improvements without disclosing the total public cost. The proposal, announced Thursday, would bring an inaugural class of 300 cadets to the lakefront campus in fall 2028, expand to 1,200 by fall 2031 and eventually accommodate at least 4,000. The university would continue serving civilian students alongside the proposed federal academy. Louisiana Economic Development said a dedicated Louisiana U.S. Space Academy Fund would cover startup needs and independent operating infrastructure. However, the announcement did not identify the fund’s proposed balance, funding sources or how much state and local governments would commit.
WDSU · New Orleans, LA
Nearby: New Orleans, LAFederal, state and local agencies responded to a boat collision on the Mississippi River in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Friday, Nov. 13. A tanker struck the American Cruise Lines’ American Heritage, prompting a massive search and rescue response. Latest updates: All passengers aboard the American Heritage have been accounted for, officials said. LCMC Health is treating 32 injured passengers The Atlantic Asphalt tanker struck the docked cruise ship on the Mississippi River in New Orleans at about 12:30 p.m. The cause has not been confirmed. Hotel rooms have been secured for any passengers impacted by the cruise line collision In what is being called "A miracle on the Mississippi," all passengers aboard the American Heritage cruise ship struck in New Orleans have been accounted for. VIDEO: New Orleans mayor says all accounted for after collision LCMC Health is treating 32 passengers who were injured during the collision.
NOLA.com · New Orleans, LA
Nearby: New Orleans, LANew Orleans and Jefferson Parish are aiming to standardize a set of proposed robotaxi regulations before companies like Waymo roll out driverless testing on area roads, officials said Thursday.During a pair of committee meetings where council members, transit advocates and drivers discussed the proposed plans, City Council President JP Morrell and city staff suggested that working across parish lines would help simplify rules and improve how they worked.Robotaxi companies like Waymo, which has been testing its fleet in New Orleans, have not launched autonomous vehicles here yet, but issues in other cities has prompted local officials to try and get rules in place before they arrive. "Since most traffic from taxicab-esque things is from the airport to everywhere else, having a unified framework across both parishes would be best suited for everyone," said Morrell, who introduced the draft ordinance last month.
NOLA.com · New Orleans, LA
Nearby: New Orleans, LANew Orleans area voters will head for the polls today to vote Louisiana's representatives in Congress, the state Public Service Commission, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and dozens of municipal races. There are also several statewide constitutional amendments. Below is a listing of all candidates, amendments and propositions in the New Orleans metro area. Party Affiliations D = Democratic R = Republican NP = No Party L = Libertarian O = Other U.S. Senator "Jamie" Davis, D Julia Letlow, R Constitutional Amendments Amendment 1 To allow the surviving spouse of a deceased disabled veteran to make a one-time transfer of their extra property tax exemption to another qualifying property. Amendment 2 To allow a local taxing authority to continue to levy a lower millage rate without losing its ability to adjust the maximum authorized millage rate from a prior year's reassessment.
