Metairie

Burlington is set to open a new store in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, by renovating the former Big Lots space in Gonzales Plaza Shopping Center. Big Lots closed its Gonzales location after a national sale of leases and subsequent Chapter 11 bankruptcy led to 500 store closures, including in Louisiana. Burlington currently operates 12 stores in Louisiana and has expanded from its origins as Burlington Coat Factory to a nationwide off-price retailer with over 1,000 locations.

A long-vacant restaurant property on Bennington Avenue near College Drive and Interstate 10 has been sold, with Q & Z Real Estate purchasing the site. The sale paves the way for a new Japanese eatery to replace the vacant restaurant.

Immigration arrests have increased in Louisiana, with advocates and lawyers reporting more detentions in recent weeks. Cases include detentions during immigration check-ins and while driving in areas like New Orleans and Metairie, with similar reports from Tennessee. Increased ICE activity nationwide, including 10,000 detentions in late June, is noted.

Representative Julia Letlow, a Senate candidate, won the Louisiana Senate primary runoff. She is backed by Trump and held a news conference in Metairie, Louisiana.

The National Weather Service confirmed three EF1 tornadoes with peak winds of 90-95 mph touched down in Southeast Louisiana on Thursday, causing damage in Houma, Jefferson Parish (West and East Banks), and Orleans Parish. The storms were linked to remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur, which had weakened to a post-tropical system before impacting the region.