President Mike Cooper has proclaimed today, July 5th as “Brayden Jobert Day” in St. Tammany Parish to honor the Slidell native and 2023 College World Series Champion for his dedication, passion and hard work, both on and off the baseball field.

“It was an honor to witness the integrity, perseverance, and outstanding sportsmanship that Brayden Jobert has exemplified throughout his career, culminating with a National Championship in Omaha,” said President Cooper. “He has brought great pride to our community and will serve as a role model to future generations of athletes for years to come.”

From a young age, Brayden nurtured his love of baseball on the recreational fields of Slidell, where he grew up playing at Slidell Bantam Baseball Association (SBBA) before going on to play for Northshore High School. After graduating, Brayden played for both Nicholls State and Delgado Community College, where he earned JUCO All-America honors.

Brayden then joined the Louisiana State University (LSU) baseball team, playing 59 games in the 2022 season and receiving numerous honors and recognitions for his spectacular plays both at bat and in the field. During the 2023 season, Brayden batted .301, while hitting 14 home runs and driving in 49 runs, playing an important role during LSU’s dominant season.

Most recently, Brayden’s lifelong dream of competing for LSU in the Men’s College World Series was fulfilled with the LSU Tigers defeating the Florida Gators 18-4. Brayden led the team with four hits, including a home run in the 9th inning, and three RBIs to win the National Championship.

“Brayden’s fortitude, athleticism and passion has made us all so proud. He is a Champion on and off the field. We know his talents and determination will carry him far in life, but St. Tammany will always be his home.”

President Mike Cooper announces St. Tammany Parish Government has been named a Top Workplace by The Times-Picayune and the New Orleans Advocate for the first time.

“This award is a direct testament to the hard work, passion, commitment and desire of our employees to make St. Tammany Parish a better place to live and work,” said President Cooper. “Most of our employees live in the same communities in which they work. This provides them with a great source of pride. Congratulations to each of our employees, Team Tammany, for this incredible honor!”

Out of hundreds of submissions, St. Tammany Parish Government was one of 80 organizations in the New Orleans metropolitan area that received the award and was one of 8 organizations honored in the “Large Business” category. Earlier this year, employees participated in a survey regarding working for St. Tammany Parish Government, and the answers were measured in 15 different categories.

“Our employees’ responses are what earned this incredible recognition. Under my administration, we have prioritized a work-life balance and supported our employees and teammates as people – not just their title or position. We believe that St. Tammany Parish Government is a great place to work, and this recognition validates that as fact."

The confidential survey was conducted by Energage, a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces.

President Mike Cooper opposes the use of tax dollars to fund the Parish Council’s “investigation” into his administration.

“To date, the Parish Council cannot provide one law, ordinance or regulation that I or any of our 500 employees may have violated, yet they want to use our citizens’ tax dollars to foot the bill for their political aspirations,” said Cooper. “In fact, less than two weeks ago at a public meeting, many of the councilmembers admitted that they do not think anything was done improperly by the employees or the administration. So, what exactly are they investigating?”

The Parish Council voted unanimously 13-0 (with one absent) at its Special Meeting on Monday, June 12 at 5 p.m., to hire outside counsel regarding the review and processing of a proposed development’s plans.

In 2018, the Louisiana Supreme Court decided that the District Attorney’s Office is obligated to represent St. Tammany Parish Government. “The District Attorney’s Office has provided St. Tammany Parish Government with excellent representation, and they have offered a solid plan to the Council to conduct this investigation without a conflict of interest.”

“The Parish Council may use their designated Assistant District Attorney or pay for outside counsel, but I will not participate in the use of public funds for an unfounded investigation that is merely being conducted for political show. There are better ways to use our time and the taxpayers’ money.”

“Since taking office in January 2020, I have worked tirelessly every day with my administration to improve our community, but the Parish Council continues to stand in our way by defunding major infrastructure investments, demoralizing our employees and now, by questioning our integrity. The citizens of St. Tammany Parish deserve better.”

The Louisiana Project Grant Program (LGP) is offering grants for art projects in St. Bernard and St. Tammany parishes, and is accepting applications through June 30, 2023.

The Louisiana Region 9 Arts Council, which administers the program for St. Bernard and St. Tammany parishes, will conduct an informational workshop explaining the program guidelines and how to complete application forms.

The St. Tammany Parish workshop will be held at 6 pm on Thursday, June 8, in the St. Tammany Parish Government conference room Building B, 21410 Koop Drive, Mandeville LA 70471.

The St. Bernard Parish workshop will be held at11:30 am on Thursday, June 8, in the St. Bernard Parish Government Complex, Council Chambers Conference Room, 8201 W. Judge Perez Drive Chalmette, LA 70043 (east side of complex, enter through side door entrance).  

Reservations can be made by calling (985) 809-6418 or sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Questions about the workshops may be directed to the Region 9 Arts Council at (985) 809-6418.

The 2023-24 Louisiana Project Grants Arts Funding program provides grants to artists, nonprofit organizations, community groups and local government agencies to assist with art projects that meet local needs. All projects must occur between Oct. 1, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2024 and applicants may apply for only one grant.

To learn more about grant guidelines and eligibility, visit www.stpgov.org/residents/arts-grants.