Louisiana

HEART OF LOUISIANA: Ford Assembly Plant

Published

1 year ago

November 4, 2024

ARABI, La. (WAFB) – The building is massive, a quarter-of-a-million square feet under roof, tucked away on 25 acres of land along the Mississippi river in Arabi, Louisiana. From the second floor of the century-old building, you get a stunning view of the New Orleans skyline upriver. History was being manufactured here in the 1920s. Model T Fords that revolutionized America were being built at this facility. The assembly lines were mass producing cars that people could afford.

“Automobiles were being driven from town to town. They had to build roadways. They needed motels for those who were going on longer trips. There were places for people to eat,” said Sidney Torres III.

Torres, a Saint Bernard Parish attorney, owns the old Ford building. It’s one of the regional production plants that Henry Ford built across America. He figured it was easier to ship parts than finished Model T’s. So car production moved out of Detroit to assembly plants like this one in Arabi. I wonder as you walk through here, if you ever imagine what it was like back in the 1920s when they were building thousands of Model T’s right here.

“I do,” Torres said, “and it’s fascinating because it’s a trip back in history. Henry Ford probably was standing right here at some point in time. There may have been 400 people who were actually working, assembling the vehicles. There’s just this feeling that the energy is still there.”

The Arabi location was strategic. It was located near a major city. It had access to the Mississippi River and port for shipping cars to South America. And it was located alongside rail lines. The massive building was designed by famed industrial architect Albert Kahn, who helped shape the skyline of Detroit. You can still see signs of the state-of-the-art car production facility. Torres couldn’t resist finding one of the old Model T Fords that still runs after more than 100 years.

“And it’s a little bit complicated. There’s three pedals down there and none of them do what you think they will do,” said Torres.

Do you have any idea if this was actually built here in Arabi?

“I could not trace it back to this actual facility, but it very well could have been,” Torres said.

Torres is planning a future for this old assembly plant that will feature 21st century businesses from film and interactive media to esports and a multi-purpose event center.

“There‘s just something about this space that brings you back in time and it also causes you to have the visions for the future to say, wow, this could really be something special,” said Torres.

This massive building was clearly something special when it opened here in 1923 and now it has a chance at a new type of production in its future.

More information on the old Arabi Ford plant and other local features can be found on Heart of Louisiana’s website.

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Related Topics:dave mcnamara Featured ford model t heart of louisiana

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Louisiana

Louisiana leaders in Washington release statements on vote to end government shutdown

Published

13 hours ago

November 12, 2025

Press Room

Louisiana leaders in Washington release statements on vote to end government shutdown

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Washington has officially voted to reopen the government after the longest shutdown in history.

TALLY

Yea: 222, including 6 Democrats
Nay: 209, including 2 Republicans

Speaker Mike Johnson, Leader Steve Scalise, Whip Tom Emmer, and Chairwoman Lisa McClain released a joint statement after the vote:

“The Democrat Shutdown is finally over, thanks to House and Senate Republicans. There is absolutely no question now that Democrats are responsible for millions of American families going hungry, millions of travelers left stranded in airports, and our troops left wondering if they would receive their next paycheck. It was the Democratic Party that voted 15 times to keep the government closed and force the longest shutdown in U.S. history.

“All of it was pointless and utterly foolish. Democrats admitted they used the American people as ‘leverage’ and hurt their constituents on purpose — but they got nothing for their selfish political stunt. Voters will remember which party played political games in an attempt to ‘look tough’ to their base, while real people suffered.

“Now that Republicans have succeeded in ending the Democrat Shutdown, we look forward to continuing our important legislative work, delivering results for the American people.”

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), released the following statement:

“After weeks of pain for working American families, Democrats finally agreed to end their unnecessary shutdown,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Now that the government is open, it’s time to work together to address the health care affordability crisis.”

The Senate has already passed the measure.

This legislation will reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) retroactive to October 1^st, fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), pay our federal workers and troops, and get our airport operations back to normal.

The measure now heads to President Donald Trump for his signature.

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Louisiana

Louisiana Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for Nov. 11, 2025

Published

1 day ago

November 12, 2025

Press Room

The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Nov. 11, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Nov. 11 drawing

10-13-40-42-46, Mega Ball: 01

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Nov. 11 drawing

4-6-5

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Nov. 11 drawing

6-4-7-9

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from Nov. 11 drawing

2-3-8-7-8

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Louisiana Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Louisiana Lottery offices. Prizes of over $5,000 must be claimed at Lottery office.

By mail, follow these instructions:

Sign and complete the information on the back of your winning ticket, ensuring all barcodes are clearly visible (remove all scratch-off material from scratch-off tickets).
Photocopy the front and back of the ticket (except for Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, as photocopies are not accepted for these games).
Complete the Louisiana Lottery Prize Claim Form, including your telephone number and mailing address for prize check processing.
Photocopy your valid driver’s license or current picture identification.

Mail all of the above in a single envelope to:

Louisiana Lottery Headquarters

555 Laurel Street

Baton Rouge, LA 70801

To submit in person, visit Louisiana Lottery headquarters:

555 Laurel Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, (225) 297-2000.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Louisiana Lottery.

When are the Louisiana Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5: Daily at 9:59 p.m. CT.
Easy 5: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
Lotto: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Louisiana editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Louisiana

Sunpie Barnes and his Hot Spots will play in Covington

Published

2 days ago

November 11, 2025

Press Room

Sunpie Barnes and his Hot Spots will play in Covington

Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes and his Louisiana Sunspots band will fill Christ Episcopal Church with their distinctive fusion of zydeco, blues, gospel, jazz, Afro-Caribbean and African music on Nov. 16 as the Third Sunday Concert series continues in Covington.

Barnes’ powerful voice and the group’s distinctive sound are part of the rich soundtrack that defines New Orleans. It’s also a sound heard yearly at the city’s most significant music venues, including Jazz & Heritage Festival, as well as Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival and other major music events inside and outside of Louisiana.

But Barnes (born Bruce Barnes) and his band will curate and present a special hour of music for their 5 p.m. concert audience in Covington, and there’s plenty to choose from, having released six albums and played in more than 50 countries across Africa, Europe, Central America and South America.

Selections at Christ Episcopal are expected to include “Bunny Bread,” “Irene,” “Trouble In Mind” and “Island Man,” with Barnes on his accordion and harmonica; Matt Hampsey on guitar; Leroy Etienne on drums; and Kerry Lewis on bass.

In addition to the music, Barnes (who plays more than a half-dozen instruments) was a college All-American and NFL player; a book author and photographer who currently leads an iconic Mardi Gras Indian tribe in New Orleans and continues his longtime National Park Service employment as a ranger.

Come to the show for the music — this concert is just the latest concert in the church’s decades-long music ministry — and then meet Barnes and his band members in a reception immediately following the show.

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