Shawanda Jones

2 weeks ago | wdsu.com | Shawanda Jones

Two new water towers are now under construction in Slidell, marking a major milestone in what parish leaders call the largest water investment project in St. Tammany history.The $23 million upgrade is designed to bring safer, more reliable drinking water to more than 8,000 homes across the Crossgates and Ozone Pines subdivisions.“These water towers are symbols of the progress that we’re making—something people can see from a long ways away,” said Jeff Corbin, a St. Tammany Councilman.

2 weeks ago | wdsu.com | Shawanda Jones

BRITTANY VERNER, WDSU NEWS. ALL RIGHT, SO IF YOUR PHONE STOPPED WORKING LIKE MINE DID, IT STARTED FLASHING S.O.S. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. THIS WAS YESTERDAY. WELL, THOUSANDS OF VERIZON CUSTOMERS ACROSS THE NORTH SHORE LOST SERVICE FOR HOURS. WDSU’S NORTH SHORE BUREAU REPORTER SHAUNDA JONES BREAKS DOWN. WHAT CAUSED THE OUTAGE AND HOW LONG IT LASTED. IF YOU’RE A VERIZON CUSTOMER AND YOU WERE LEFT WONDERING WHY YOU DIDN’T HAVE SERVICE YESTERDAY. WELL, HERE’S WHY.

2 weeks ago | wdsu.com | Shawanda Jones

This year’s Mandeville Pride Parade is marching under a bold new theme: Protesting with Pride. But it’s not just rainbow flags waving this time. Organizers plan to carry ten flags they call “colors of resistance”, including the Palestinian flag, which has stirred concern and divided opinions within the community. “We never would’ve gotten this far if we’d caved in to fear,” said Jeremy JF Thompson, co-founder of Queer Northshore, the group behind the parade.

3 weeks ago | wdsu.com | Shawanda Jones

A two-day undercover sting in Mandeville led to the arrests of five men accused of trying to meet children for sex—only to discover the “children” were undercover officers with a Northshore task force cracking down on online predators. Each suspect allegedly initiated contact with what they believed were minors online and attempted to arrange in-person meetings. The arrests are part of a growing regional push to combat child exploitation on the Northshore.

3 weeks ago | wdsu.com | Shawanda Jones

A Northshore inmate attempted a movie-style jailbreak. His attempt was short-lived. James Lorio, 50, was just 12 days into his stay at the Washington Parish Jail when he hatched his plan: stack an ice chest on a bunk, climb into the ceiling, and disappear. “There’s no real exit besides going through the door,” said Washington Parish Sheriff Deputy Chief Kyle Vanardo.