Qualifying opens today for a May 1 special election to fill the vacant 93rd House District seat from New Orleans that was vacated recently by Karen Carter Peterson, who won another special race for a spot in the state Senate.

The St. Tammany Economic Development Foundation this afternoon released its Trends Report, showing 2009 economic trends data for St. Tammany Parish. At a luncheon attended by more than 150 guests and with featured speaker Michael Oliver, CEO of the Committee of 100, STEDF Executive Director Brenda Reine-Bertus announced data showing St. Tammany Parish is faring well through the national recession.

This is the fifth in a series of candidate question and answer features St. Tammany News will run before the upcoming elections. Each candidate was asked a series of the same five questions.

A resident of Slidell from 18 years, Richard Readon has more than 20 years of experience in finance management. He knows the ins and outs of a budget and how to make tax dollars work most effectively for you and your family.

State Rep. Kevin Pearson, R-Slidell, will conduct a town hall meeting for constituents today from 10 a.m. to noon at Boyet Junior High School near Slidell.

Pearson will release details of his legislation pending in the 2010 legislative session and hear input from residents on areas of concern to them. He is in the third year of his first term representing the Slidell area in the state House.

New Orleans’ Fox 8 interview with the candidates for Slidell police chief.