In the age of the Internet, more and more people are seeking news online and fewer and fewer newspapers are publishing daily — if at all.  Last spring, the Times-Picayune announced a reduction in its print publication schedule and the layoff of nearly two-thirds of its staff.  Yesterday, the St. Tammany News published its last edition, closed its doors, and 24 people lost their jobs.
Tomorrow, a new website will go live, providing a new source of information for those accustomed to the St. Tammany News’ style of community reporting and …

For Immediate Release
Thursday, February 7, 2013
PEARSON FILES LEGISLATION TO BAN 25-I
State Rep.Kevin Pearson (R-Slidell) yesterday pre-filed House Bill 10, which would ban hallucinogenic substances such as “25-I” in Louisiana.
In November, Pearson announced he would author legislation to prohibit the drugs after three people in New Orleans were hospitalized after taking the drug, 25-I; one of them died. After he drew attention to the issue, Secretary of Health and Hospitals Bruce Greenstein issued an executive order providing a temporary prohibition on the substance, but legislation is required to make the ban …

Mandeville City Councilman David Ellis (District I) said he agreed tonight to cover 100 percent of employee healthcare costs, but cautioned municipal workers to be prepared for increased insurance premium costs in coming years.
At tonight’s Council meeting, Ellis joined the other four members in asking the administration to cover a $44,000 increase in health insurance costs by utilizing funds made available by a decrease in Worker’s Comp premiums. But Ellis said the practice is unsustainable in the long term, and is also a risky proposition even now.
“As it …

The likelihood of Mandeville City employees having to pay increased costs for health insurance was averted tonight after the City Council asked Mayor Donald Villere to maintain benefits without raising costs.
A pending proposal presented to the Council at the Jan. 10 meeting would’ve increased employee costs by $11 per paycheck and dependent coverage by as much as $46 per month. City employees are paid twice monthly, and the City pays the entire cost of health insurance for its workers.
The shortfall in the budget for employee benefits would’ve been approximately …

By Debbie Glover St. Tammany News
The economic trends report tracking the third quarter of 2012 has been released by the St. Tammany Economic Development Foundation.
The housing market improved, with existing housing unit sales rising 4.3 percent in quarter-over-quarter comparisons for the third quarter of 2012 and 2011, and 14.5 percent year-to-date, with 779 homes sold in the third quarter of 2012, up from 747 in third quarter 2011.
Housing sales volume rose 2 percent in quarter-over-quarter comparisons and 11.9 percent year-to-date. Average sales price moved down 2.2 percent in the …