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S T TA M M A N Y FA R M E R.N E T
ELECTION 2026
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W e d n e s d ay, A p r i l 8, 2026
50¢N
152 YEAR, NO. 26
ALS in black and white
May’s closed primary brings challenges Commissioners, voters prepare for new election rules BY SUZIE HUNT
Contributing writer
Voters and election commissioners will experience a new way of voting during the closed primary election to be held Saturday, May 16, according to St. Tammany Parish Clerk of Court Jessica Brewster. “It is very important that voters understand the changes that were made when the Louisiana Legislature implemented the ClosedParty Primaries Act in 2024, especially for voters who were registered as independents,” Brewster said. “We used to have a jungle party primary with every man for themselves, and people could vote across party lines. You cannot do that in a closed primary.” In the new closed primary system for statewide races, people registered as Democrats or Republicans will only be able to vote for candidates of their own party, according to Gavin Billiot, chief deputy for the St. Tammany Parish Registrar of Voters. “If you are a registered Democrat, you will only be able to vote for Democrat candidates down the ticket. The same for voters registered as Republicans,” Billiot said. This is for statewide elections. The same rule does not apply for local elections or constitutional amendments. In May, the races affected by the change include the contests for U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, the Board for Elementary and
PHOTO BY TED JACKSON
After his ALS diagnosis, photojournalist Rusty Costanza traded his heavy cameras for a lighter fixed-lens model that is physically less demanding.. But his photographer’s eye for the decisive moment remains as sharp as ever.
Photographer expresses gratitude with his art BY TED JACKSON Contributing writer
The medical test felt routine. The mood, casual. Then-60-year-old photojournalist Rusty Costanza — known for his ethical introspection, particularly when documenting human suffering — lay relaxed on an examination bed. The neurologist rolled his stool closer to Costanza’s feet and pierced a thin needle probe into the muscle of his leg. A technician watched close by as the computer’s audio sounded a faint background hiss. Normal. Routine. Exactly what the neurologist had hoped to hear from the electromyography
test that measures the electrical activity of muscles and nerves. Next, he moved the needle to Costanza’s right foot. This time, an abrasive static tone caught Costanza off guard. Weird, he thought. The neurologist abruptly shifted his posture and asked Costanza to push his foot as hard as possible against the examiner’s hand. Again, a crackling static, sort of like really heavy rain on a tin roof. Odd. Costanza suddenly felt tension in the room. In the retelling, his voice cracked and his eyes teared.
PHOTO BY AMY COSTANZA SMITH
The Costanza family poses for a beach portrait on Nov. 25 as they adapt to the new reality. Standing from left are family friend Dana Moore; son Kyle Costanza; son Chris Costanza; with Rusty and ä See ALS, page 2A Ann in front.
ä See ELECTION, page 3A
ON THE HUNT
Study: St. Tammany needs up to 17K new homes, mostly rentals, by 2030 BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer
If it hopes to keep pace with population and job growth, St. Tammany Parish should add up to 17,300 new homes in the next four years, a significant increase over the current pace of home construction, according to a new parish housing study. The study, commissioned by parish government, comes as new Census data shows that while New Orleans lost population for the fourth time in five years in 2025, St. Tammany gained 1,400 people last year. The housing study says that
11,500-17,300 new homes should be built by 2030, most of them rentals. At the same time, the study recommended stricter regulations in flood-prone areas, similar to the coastal resilience zoning that the parish implemented south of U.S. 190 between Mandeville and Slidell last year. The housing study, compiled by consultants and presented to the Parish Council last month, found that the number of new homes built in St. Tammany had failed to keep up with growing demand since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the COVID-19 pandemic nearly 15 years later.
New rental units for senior citizens and those making less than $50,000 annually are especially needed, according to the study, noting that renters make up 23% of occupied homes in the parish, compared with 39.6% in Jefferson Parish and the state average of 34.3%. The lack of cheap rentals in the parish is impacting retention and recruiting in the parish’s largest industry, the health care and social assistance sector, which the study said employed 15,537 people in 2025.
ä See STUDY, page 3A
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PHOTO BY MATTHEW PAYZANT
A young, determined hunter sneaks up on the next colored eggs he has spotted during the March 28 Easter Eggstravaganza in the village of Folsom.. ä More on Page 3A
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