St. Tammany Court Conviction: A New Orleans man, Brandon Justin Lee Williams, 38, was convicted on Sept. 23 of second-degree rape, domestic abuse battery (serious injury and child endangerment), and cruelty to juveniles after a Slidell investigation tied severe abuse to coerced sexual acts and threats. Local Public Safety: Baton Rouge police arrested Makayla Pitts, 22, on charges including stalking, harassment, and communicating false information about planned arson, alleging she posted victims’ addresses and threatened to burn a home. Insurance Relief Watch: Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple told a St. Tammany Chamber meeting that homeowners rate hikes have nearly stalled in 2026 (about 0.1%), while auto/truck rates fell about 5.8% in 2025 and are trending down this year. Food Safety Recalls: Frozen berry recalls tied to E. coli expanded again, pulling additional Walmart and Trader Joe’s products that were sold in Louisiana and dozens of other states. Politics & Voting Rights: The U.S. Supreme Court vacated a discrimination finding tied to Washington’s redistricting after its Louisiana v. Callais decision gutted key Voting Rights Act protections. Midterms & AI: Louisiana candidates for Congress largely agree AI needs federal regulation, but many stay vague on specifics.