A Gary man and a Crown Point woman are in custody at last check and charged with felony robbery regarding Friday's bank robbery of the First Midwest Bank in Winfield. The Lake County Sheriff's Office reports an intensive 72-hour investigation lead to today's arrest of the suspects, 24 year old Michael D. Anderson and 21 year old Rachel Mauger. Authorities report a majority of the money taken in the robbery has been recovered, along with the vehicle used in the crime. The Sheriff's office...

Read more: Winfield Bank Robbery Suspects in Custody

A 36 year old Kingsford Heights woman died Saturday morning after being injured Friday evening when a tree fell on top of the vehicle she was a passenger in. The Times reports Sarah Swisher was in the backseat of the vehicle that was heading north along a heavily wooded area of Indiana 39, south of the LaPorte Municipal Airport, near Luhr County Park, around 6pm, when a tree fell on top of the driver's side roof. Published reports say the other three occupants in the vehicle were later freed...

Read more: Woman Dies After Tree Falls on Vehicle

Construction on a new 36-inch diameter pipeline from Enbridge Engery LP designed to increase flow capacity between Griffith and Stockbridge, Michigan, along with a new 30-inch diameter pipleline from Stockbridge to eastern Michigan probably will not occur until late spring/early summer. The Times reports permits regarding water quality impacts from the almost two-billion dollar project first need to be approved, which could happen this spring. Published reports say recent Enbridge spills, like...

Read more: New Enbridge Pipline Construction Delayed

Westbound South Shore Train 18 scheduled to arrive in Chicago at 2:24 PM is running 15-20 minutes late due to temporary track conditions.

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Read more: S Shore Train 18 to Chicago @ 2:24pm 15 min Delay

As the new year begins, it will cost more for cars heading from the Region into Illinois via the Chicago Skyway. The Chicago Skyway website says the toll goes up to four-dollars as of January first, from 3-dollars-50-cents now. The seven-point-eight mile privately-operated bridge links the Indiana Toll Road to the Dan Ryan Expressway.

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Read more: Chicago Skyway Toll Increase Starts 1/1/13

One of the world's oldest fund raising campaigns is the Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign. While the Salvation Army's Porter County Campaign is behind this years goal, Major Jon Welch thanks all those who have given so far but also asks if those who didn't give this year consider to do so. Major Welch says the Salvation Army's 132-thousand dollar Red Kettle Goal combined with 113-thousand from their mail appeal drive, will aid needy families, seniors and the homeless in communities...

Read more: Salvation Army Needs Help to Meet Goal

Region fire departments have been sending their condolences via Facebook this midday after word that two firefighters were shot and killed in Webster, New York, this morning while responding to a fire. Here is more information from ABC:

[Photo courtesy ABC News]

Two firefighters have been killed in action in Western New York. ABC's Aaron Katersky tells us they were shot while responding to a house fire.  Firefighters were responding to a call near the Lake Ontario shore in Webster, New York, ABC...

Read more: Region Fire Depts Offer Condolences

In East Chicago, authorities say an eight-year-old boy suffered blunt force trauma and died after being struck by a train Saturday afternoon. The Times reports police believe the child, identified by the Lake County Coroners office as Jaylin J.J. Harris, was waiting with other children for an eastbound train to go by at Magoun Avenue and Lewis when he was struck by a train traveling westbound. There were no reports of injuries to anyone else.

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Read more: EC Boy Dies After Being Hit by Train

In Dyer, a news release from Dyer Police says an off-duty Illinois police officer alerts local authorities to a bank robbery suspect near the TCF Bank counter inside the Jewel/Osco on US 30 shortly before 10-o'clock Sunday morning. The suspect was dressed in a blue Chicago Transit Authority uniform, officials say, and police say the officer recognized him from a previous TCF Bank robbery a week ago. Police say as the suspect fled, he pulled out a revolver and pointed it at a delivery person,...

Read more: Bank Robbery Suspect Arrested in Dyer

Indiana Department of Homeland Security News Release:

HOOSIERS SHOULD USE CAUTION WHEN USING HEATING EQUIPMENT
Half of all home heating fires occur in December, January and February

Cold weather is here, and many Hoosiers turn to alternative heating methods to keep warm. The Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office wants to remind Hoosiers are to take extra care when using alternative heating methods to stay warm in their homes.  

Alternative heating methods include fireplaces, gas or electric space...

Read more: Caution When Using Heating Equipment