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2 days ago | 
hammondstar.com | Connor Raborn
Tangipahoa Parish School Board at Tuesday’s meeting unanimously gave final approval to the Finance and Audit Committee’s salary schedule for next school year, including several stipends and new upward mobility for some salary brackets. The stipends and increases are funded by the school district’s half-cent sales tax. New next year are a principal performance stipend based on school performance scores and a $500 stipend per semester for bus drivers who drive safely.
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4 days ago | 
hammondstar.com | Connor Raborn
Hammond City Councilman Kip Andrews at last week's meeting floated the idea to change the law regarding alcohol in city parks, prompting questions from fellow city officials. The council eventually unanimously introduced the matter, meaning it will be up for public hearing and further discussion at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, at city council chambers.
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4 days ago | 
hammondstar.com | Connor Raborn
Debates over handling of property populated Hammond City Council’s agenda at last week’s meeting, including maintenance of a historic building and a street name change. The council upheld maintenance violation fines which Hammond Historic District Commission issued to Darryl Smith, owner of the old Guy’s Grocery building downtown.
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5 days ago | 
hammondstar.com | Connor Raborn
After previously delaying their vote, Hammond City Council ultimately decided to renew a contract ordering upgrades for the police department's body cameras. At last week's meeting, council members were unanimous in renewing the five-year state contract with Axon Enterprise Inc. for about $445,500, which they'd tabled at a meeting earlier in May. The contract includes servicing of the camera database as well as hardware warranties that let the department upgrade the cameras every two years.
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5 days ago | 
ktbs.com | Connor Raborn
After previously delaying their vote, Hammond City Council ultimately decided to renew a contract ordering upgrades for the police department’s body cameras. At last week’s meeting, council members were unanimous in renewing the five-year state contract with Axon Enterprise Inc. for about $445,500, which they’d tabled at a meeting earlier in May. The contract includes servicing of the camera database as well as hardware warranties that let the department upgrade the cameras every two years.
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6 days ago | 
hammondstar.com | Connor Raborn
It’s good to feel seen – not merely viewed, or perceived – truly seen. To know that you’re noticed and understood, and you’ll be included in the conversation when there’s something that impacts your world or when you impact your world. That’s the importance of a local newspaper – it lets readers know what’s going on in their community and the things that most directly affect them.
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2 weeks ago | 
hammondstar.com | Connor Raborn
Brett Morris, A.P.E. teacher at Amite Elementary, pictured center, received the Enos “Jake” Bailey Jr. Above and Beyond Award at the Tangipahoa Parish School Board meeting Tuesday. He was nominated by Parish Homeland Security Director Dawson Primes, left, after Primes witnessed Morris stop to render aid to a driver involved in an accident. Pictured at right is Superintendent Melissa Stilley. Amite teacher honored for helping crash victim
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2 weeks ago | 
hammondstar.com | Connor Raborn
More chances for extra cash may be on the way for faculty and staff of Tangipahoa Parish School System after the Finance and Audit Committee of the school board approved several stipend increases. Stipends based on school performance scores, teachers' effectiveness, safe bus driving and taking on extra duties were added to the 2025-26 salary schedule, as were new opportunities for higher base pay for many faculty. The increases are funded by the school district's half-cent sales tax.
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2 weeks ago | 
hammondstar.com | Connor Raborn
Emergency funds to fix electrical equipment at Lucille Nesom Memorial School in Tickfaw and electrical inspections of the rest of Tangipahoa Parish's public schools received approval across the board Tuesday. Nesom experienced what school district Chief Financial Officer Jeff McKneely called "a catastrophic electrical failure" last Thursday that forced the school to close the following day. A generator allowed Nesom this week to finish the school year with the lights on.
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2 weeks ago | 
hammondstar.com | Connor Raborn
Students sang their school pride and adults sang the praises of a project to improve another campus at Tuesday's parish school board meeting. Hammond Westside Montessori School choir filed into the library at Greenville Park Leadership Academy, the location of this week's meeting, to perform a song about their school, written by their music teacher Michael Jackson. "I sat in the classroom and the words and the melody came to me," Jackson told the board.
