Funeral services are Wednesday for former LaPorte Mayor Carl Krentz. Krentz served as mayor of LaPorte from 1996 to 2000, and was Chairman of the Board of LaPorte-based Thanhardt-Burger Corporation. Krentz had served as a member of a number of local boards, and his obituary notice also says he was an actor/director for the LaPorte Little Theatre Club. Krentz passed away Friday at Settlers House in LaPorte the age of 84.
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Read more: Funeral Services Set for Former Mayor Krentz

Indiana Governor-elect Mike Pence today announced information regarding the 2013 State of the State address. Additional details will follow in the coming weeks.  Pence will deliver the speech January 22, 7:00 p.m. EST, at the Indiana Statehouse, House Chamber.  Inaugural events begin this Saturday (January 12) and continue through Monday. The Inauguration Ceremony is this Monday morning, January 14
For more information on Inaugural Events: www.indianaworks.eventbrite.com
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Read more: Indiana 2013 State of the State: Jan 22

Trial began Monday in Lake County for a Gary man charged with murder and facing the death penalty in the shooting deaths of his wife and two teenage stepchildren more than five years ago. The Times reports 47-year-old Kevin Isom is also accused of the attempted murder of four of the police officers who responded to the standoff at the family's apartment in the Miller section of Gary in August of 2007.
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Read more: Death Penalty Trial Begins in Lake County

The city council in this far north Lake County community is downsizing, as the number of council members will drop by two by the time the next municipal election comes around in about two years. The Whiting City Council recently voted to cut their membership from seven to five. Whiting City Council President Chris Sarvanidis says the move will save the city money, and put them more in line with other similarly-sized communities.  "I looked at as many of the less than ten-thousand population...

Read more: Whiting Downsizing City Council Membership

South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority says the estimated local economic impact of sports, conventions and other events last year was about 29-percent higher compared to 2011. They say the nationally televised Leon’s Triathlon and the National Softball Association’s Girls Fast Pitch ‘B’ World Series attracted visitors to Lake, Porter and La Porte County from all over the country. Lake County tourism officials today announced sporting-event-related visitor spending on restaurants, hotels,...

Read more: Sports, Conventions Bring Tourism Dollars in 2012

Indiana lawmakers will again take up the topic of teaching cursive writing this session. Senate Bill 120, penned by Oldenburg State Senator Jean Leising, would require each school corporation and accredited nonpublic elementary school to include cursive writing in its curriculum. The measure's been referred to the Committee on Education and Career Development.  The issue became an issue last year when the state said schools didn't have to teach it... though they could if they wanted to. Leising...

Read more: Lawmaker Files Cursive Writing Bill

House Democratic Leader Scott Pelath of Michigan City spoke before House members as they reconvened for the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly Monday, calling for a two-year moratorium on certain issues.  "On behalf of my caucus, " Pelath said," I am calling for a two-year moratorium on social issues. And you know what they are: they involve the deeply sensitive matters of who loves who, of human reproduction, and women's health."   Pelath briefly outlined areas he and the Democratic c...

Read more: Caucus Seeks 2-Yr Moratorium on 'Social Issues'

Influenza is hitting early and hitting hard in the Hoosier state. According to the most recent weekly flu report from the Indiana State Department of Health, seven deaths have been reported since November. No influenza-related deaths had been reported at this time last year.
State Health Commissioner Dr. Gregory Larkin says it's not too late to get vaccinated. And, he says anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms should contact their health care provider, even if they did have a flu shot.
Health...

Read more: Flu Season Hits Indiana Hard

Charges are expected to be filed Tuesday against a man police allege stole a vehicle from a business parking lot, flipped the vehicle, and escaped on foot only to be captured a short time later. The Times reports charges of resisting arrest and car theft are expected against 58 year old Larry Hunter, of Hammond. Published reports say police received a report, just after 10am Monday morning, of a man acting suspicious and looking into vehicles, in the 13-hundred block of 141^st Street in Hammond,...

Read more: Man Steals Car, Leads Hammond PD on Chase

In response to the horrific attack of a realtor by two men posing as prospective clients, the Greater Northwest Indiana Association of Realtors will be presenting the “Realtor Safety Program” on Thursday for their their affiliate and realtor members. Chief Operating Officer Pat Pullara says those in attendance will be learning about client screening techniques, realistic steps and new insight into work safety, how to implement and execute a safety plan, dealing with showings and open houses, vac...

Read more: Realtor Safety Program this Thursday