Sara Pagones
Baton Rouge Advocate
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Past articles by Sara:
New signs, new directions for small congregations leaving the United Methodist Church
When Hurricane Ida's ferocious winds shattered the top of Sun United Methodist Church's sign last year, church leaders decided to hold off on replacing it — bigger winds of change → Read More
Mourners crowd St. Peter Church as slain priest, Otis Young, is laid to rest; watch live
A large crowd of mourners gathered Monday in Covington to grieve the death and mark the life of a popular north shore priest, the Rev. Otis Young, one of two → Read More
As Covington mourns, details emerge in double homicide. Routine call ended with burned bodies.
It began with a call to Covington police about a hit-and-run on East Boston Street near the Bogue Falaya Towers condominiums Sunday evening. Signs had been damaged by a Honda → Read More
ID of second victim, details of shocking Covington slayings revealed by authorities
Authorities on Thursday formally identified the second victim of a shocking double homicide in Covington in which both bodies were discovered burned beyond recognition early Monday. → Read More
These are the 58 Louisiana congregations that will say goodbye to United Methodists
The full list of churches across Louisiana that are leaving the United Methodist Church has been released. → Read More
Culture war clash at St. Tammany Parish Library as book complaints mount
St. Tammany Parish Board of Control meetings are usually sedate affairs that draw a handful of people. But in recent months, complaints about books — mainly those that address LGBTQ → Read More
Changes coming for downtown Covington, from Southern Hotel expansion to boutique bowling
For decades, North New Hampshire Street was the place to go in downtown Covington, with the Southern Hotel offering a swanky respite to heat-weary visitors and multiple movie houses showing → Read More
Women's shelters brace for increase in domestic violence during coronavirus
Women's shelters and programs that help domestic violence victims haven't yet seen a rise in calls for help in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, but they are bracing for → Read More
'XXX-rated' throws and racist behavior anger spectators at Olympia parade in Covington
Maisha Harrell-Bijou had taken her young nephews, ages 2 and 4, to the Krewe of Olympia parade that rolled through downtown Covington Saturday night, hoping the youngsters would have fun → Read More
Former St. Tammany sheriff booked on aggravated rape, incest counts
Former St. Tammany Sheriff Jack Strain was arrested Tuesday on counts on aggravated rape and incest counts. The ex-Louisiana sheriff faces life in prison if convicted. → Read More
Mandeville man gets 35 years for shooting at officer in standoff after attacking woman
A Mandeville man pleaded guilty Friday to attempted first degree murder, among other charges connected to a standoff with St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's deputies in 2018. → Read More
Walter Reed attempt to delay reporting date to prison fails, ordered to turn himself in Friday
Walter Reed, who in March that said his bag was packed to go to prison, will finally report to federal prison Friday to begin his four year sentence. → Read More
Man killed in crash after veering off road into tree on Louisiana 437 in St. Tammany Parish, police say
A 66-year-old man was killed Thursday night in a two-vehicle crash on Louisiana 437 near Playmakers Road, according to State Police. → Read More
St. Tammany to take step forward in creating comprehensive mental health care campus
St. Tammany Parish will soon open bids to renovate part of the former Southeast Louisiana Hospital in Mandeville into a 24-bed facility for people in the midst of mental health → Read More
Commuters, businesses along U.S. 11 frustrated as 'unexpected issues' extend bridge closure
The U.S. 11 bridge over Lake Pontchartrain, which closed to traffic in January as part of a $28.6 million overhaul, will remain closed six months longer than anticipated, according to → Read More
St. Tammany to step up war on mosquitoes with new helicopter assaults
St. Tammany Parish is enlisting a new aerial weapon in the war against West Nile virus-carrying mosquitoes: helicopter flights that will treat areas of standing water that can't be easily → Read More
St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith hit with ethics complaint by opponent in fall election
Nick Tranchina, who is running for St. Tammany Parish sheriff, has lodged a complaint with the state Ethics Board alleging that his opponent, Sheriff Randy Smith, used public resources to → Read More
St. Tammany Parish schools seek tax for school security, right to issue new construction bonds
St. Tammany Parish voters will decide May 4 whether to provide a permanent source of funding for new school security measures that went into effect in the parish last fall → Read More
Willie Paretti, north shore philanthropist and civic leader, dies at 69
Willamena Adams Paretti, the longtime chairwoman of Lakeview Regional Medical Center's board of trustees, died Tuesday in New Orleans after a lengthy illness. She was 69. → Read More
Slidell Memorial Hospital warns residents about insurance scam phone calls
Slidell Memorial Hospital residents are warning local residents about a telephone scam in which a caller claims to be a hospital employee and offers an insurance product. → Read More