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Responders Program Registration Deadline on 3/1

Written by Indiana 105

Tuesday, February 26, 2013 | 5:20 pm

A program to learn from natural disasters like the one that ravaged Joplin, Missouri, in May of 2011, is scheduled to take place next month at Valparaiso University. Russell Shirley, Porter County Director of Emergency Management , says the program will be a discussion-based exercise on the different functions responders, whether civilian or emergency, will have in the event of a serious disaster. Shirley says when a disaster strikes it will effect everyone, not just first responders, which is...

Semi in Ditch Backing up EB 80/94 Lake Station Area

Written by Indiana 105

Tuesday, February 26, 2013 | 4:18 pm

Reportedly, a crash between a semi and an SUV caused the semi to end up in the right hand ditch on eastbound I-80/94 in the Lake Station corridor near Central Avenue.
EMS and fire crews responded and a heavy duty wrecker was on scene to pull the semi out of the ditch but as of 4 p.m. this afternoon, all lanes of eastbound I-80/94 were
backed up to a little before Grant Street in the Gary Corridor.
Snow flurries moving through the region and temperatures below freezing are causing roads to become...

A Good Showing for the Housing Market

Written by Indiana 105

Tuesday, February 26, 2013 | 4:14 pm

Another sign the housing market may be in recovery, a new report from the Case-Shiller Index finds prices in major cities rose across the country. Craig Lazzara Senior Director at Dow Jones Indices tells ABC News the report is promising, "as I look at the numbers, I think, this is the picture of a broadly distributed advance it's not excessive and it certainly comes at the end of several very bad years, but that said this is a picture of a recovering market."
The Indiana Association of Realtors...

Morning Fire at Cargill in Hammond

Written by Indiana 105

Tuesday, February 26, 2013 | 2:30 pm

No injuries were reported after a fire this morning at the Cargill food processing plant in Hammond. Hammond Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Margraf says they were dispatched around 7:15 this morning, and that it took a couple of hours to extinguish the fire. The fire reportedly began in a gluten dryer, and did not spread.
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WB Borman Backed Up Due to Crash Near Cline Ave.

Written by Indiana 105

Tuesday, February 26, 2013 | 2:21 pm

Two separate crashes near Cline Avenue, that happened within minutes of one another, is backing up both westbound and eastbound traffic on the Borman (I-80/94). The westbound crash closed the two left lanes backing up westbound traffic from Cline Avenue back to I-65 this afternoon. Another crash eastbound on the Borman (I-80/94) near Cline Avenue had earlier closed the left lane eastbound. Traffic was backing up to near Calumet Avenue. Drivers should seek alternates like the Indiana Toll Roa...

Region Could Miss Major Impact of Snowstorm

Written by Indiana 105

Tuesday, February 26, 2013 |10:23 am

They're digging out from about twenty inches of snow in the Texas panhandle.... but here in the Region, it looks like rain... mostly rain, anyway, because we are expecting snow and freezing rain, too. Much of northwest Indiana isn't even under an advisory, though Chicago and northern Indiana are. We asked Valparaiso University Meteorology Professor Dr. Bart Wolf about the outlook from the Chicago National Weather Service, and Dr. Wolf said from his understanding, meteorologists believe it will...

Crowd Gathers Inside, Outside of Courthouse

Written by Indiana 105

Tuesday, February 26, 2013 |10:10 am

People gathered outside the Porter County Courthouse this morning, holding signs like “Justice for Amanda” as jurors today are expected to begin deliberations in the Dustin McCowan murder trial. 20-year-old McCowan is accused of fatally shooting one-time girlfriend 19-year-old Amanda Bach of Portage in September of 2011. The trial started about three-and-a-half weeks ago. Published reports say both the defense and prosecution will be allowed two-hours each for closing arguments, before the jury...

House Okays Budget Without Income Tax Cut

Written by Indiana 105

Tuesday, February 26, 2013 | 8:57 am

[Rep. Tim Brown speaking on HB 1001/Photo provided]
The Indiana House passed a new two-year spending plan by a 68-28 vote Monday... a thirty-billion dollar blueprint Republicans say will grow the private sector, bridge the skills gap and strengthen education... however, it does not include the income-tax cut sought by Republican Governor Mike Pence... a proposal that Democrats have wanted to advance.
STATEHOUSE — Authored by the Chairman of Ways and Means, State Representative Tim Brown (...

Winter Driving Tips from Indiana State Police

Written by Indiana 105

Tuesday, February 26, 2013 | 7:39 am

Most counties in north central Indiana are under a winter weather advisory issued by the National Weather Service. Throughout the day, periods of snow fall and possible ice accumulation up to a quarter inch are being forecasted. This combination can cause visibility to be reduced and road conditions to change quickly. To help Hoosiers prepare for this winter storm the Indiana State Police offers the following tips.
Be prepared:
• Before traveling, check the forecast and let someone know your t...

Rept: Sequester Could Close Gary Control Tower

Written by Indiana 105

Tuesday, February 26, 2013 | 7:37 am

Among the many expected or possible effects of the federal sequester on the Region... closure of the control tower at Gary/Chicago International Airport Friday... the same day the across-the-board budget cuts approved by Congress kick in. Today's Times says the airport would still be open to airplanes, but they would have to follow FAA guidelines for landing without a control tower.
http://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/sequester-may-shut-gary-control-tower-airport-to-remain-open/article_81bf209...

Local Government Bill Clears the Indiana House

Written by Indiana 105

Tuesday, February 26, 2013 | 6:41 am

The Indiana House has passed a bill authored by Munster Representative Mara Candelaria Reardon she says will help local governments run more effectively and efficiently.
Candelaria-Reardon says the measure addresses issues brought forth the the Indiana League of Municipal Clerk Treasurers. House Bill 1145 passed through the House 68-26 and will now advance to the Senate for further consideration.
“This proposal allows a political subdivision to transfer any unused, unencumbered funds from any fi...

Indiana Senate Rejects Medicaid Expansion

Written by Indiana 105

Tuesday, February 26, 2013 | 6:38 am

The Indiana Senate rejected a proposal Monday to expand health care coverage to low wage-earning Hoosier families from 2014 through 2016. Democrat Portage State Senator Karen Tallian of Portage says her amendment to Senate Bill 551 would have taken advantage of language in the federal health care law that fully funds the cost of expanding Medicaid for the first three years, making working families of four earning less than $33,000 eligible for care, and covering an estimated 400,000 more...

Nearly 200 Attend Lake Ridge School Bd Mtg

Written by Indiana 105

Tuesday, February 26, 2013 | 6:37 am

Two big issues came before the Lake Ridge School Board last night, and nearly two-hundred people came out to the meeting as the board voted to close an elementary school... possibly Grissom or Hosford Park, according to the Times today. Board members also approved a motion to contract out janitorial and maintenance services starting in March... a couple months ago, the board voted not to contract out, but officials tell nwi-dot-com that the financial situation has become more bleak, and without...

Three People Accused of Bank Fraud in Lake County

Written by Indiana 105

Monday, February 25, 2013 | 6:33 pm

Schererville Police report they are investigating an alleged fraud of a financial institutions in Lake County. Authorities report warrants have been issued for three individuals, Shaquille Jackson, Kourtney Smith, and Darnell Thompson, for their part in the alleged scam. According to the probable cause affidavit, the three are accused of opening accounts to be used for fraudulent activity.
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Gas up 5 Cents from Last Week

Written by Indiana 105

Monday, February 25, 2013 | 6:21 pm

ABC News reports that while much of the country deals with increasing gas prices -- the U-S Energy Department says prices in Ohio have actually dropped 16 cents in the past week to 3.65 a gallon for regular unleaded. Drivers in Ohio are paying 14 cents less than they were a year ago. Compare that to California where drivers are now paying, on average, 4-21 a gallon and much more in LA and San Francisco. As of today, Triple-A reported the current average for a gallon of regular unleaded in the...

Snowmobile Crash Claims Life of Munster Man

Written by Indiana 105

Monday, February 25, 2013 | 5:34 pm

A 26 year old Munster man has reportedly died as the result of a snowmobile crash in Wisconsin Sunday afternoon. The Times reports Justin Mulder allegedly failed to negotiate a corner while driving a snowmobile, left the roadway, and crashed into a wooded area. Published reports say alcohol and speed are believed to have played a factor in this crash, and an investigation continues....

McCowan Case Expected To Go To Jury Tomorrow

Written by Indiana 105

Monday, February 25, 2013 | 3:38 pm

(Photo Courtesy of the Times)
Today's Times reports the jury is expected to begin deliberation tomorrow in the murder trial of 20 year old Dustin McCowan, who is accused of killing his former girlfriend, 19 year old Amanda Bach. Published reports say both the Defense and Prosecution will each be granted two hours a piece for closing arguments, before the jury is sent off to come up with a verdict, which must be a unanimous decision of guilty or innocent. For continuing coverage of the trial,...

Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Passes House

Written by Indiana 105

Monday, February 25, 2013 | 3:31 pm

Legislation to spend funds on a program that would drug test some welfare recipients has passed the Indiana House, and now moves onto the Senate. Published reports say House Bill 1483 would require recipients of Temporary Aid for Needy Families benefits to take a written test that determines the propensity to use drugs with 90-percent accuracy. Recipients with a high propensity would then have a 50-50 chance of a forced drug test, and if a test comes back positive, recipients could continue...

Sequester Impact on Indiana, March 1st

Written by Indiana 105

Monday, February 25, 2013 |12:54 pm

Now just days away from sweeping budget cuts known as sequestration, ABC News reports they'll hit every corner of government. The White House is circulating 50 lists of budget cuts in states where civilian jobs in the defense industry and some school money would be slashed. ABC's Ann Compton at the White House reports there are no active negotiations here as Congress returns to write a list of less painful cuts.
On the Indiana list, the White House says some examples this year are... the loss...

Merrillville Looking at Historic District

Written by Indiana 105

Monday, February 25, 2013 |12:46 pm

The town of Merrillville is working toward setting up a historic preservation commission... with the initial historic district along 73^rd Avenue, from Broadway to Madison Street. Along that stretch sits the Merrillville-Ross Township Historical Museum, a circa 1860s building that used to be a school. The Times today says the town council is expected to vote tomorrow (Tue 022613) on first reading of an ordinance to create the commission.
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/merrillville/commis...

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