Traffic is being turned around both directions of State Road 49 south of Division Road due to a crash.  Rescue crews and police are on the scene with heavy traffic backups reported in both directions.    Traffic tipsters reporting traffic backing up both directions of Division Road at State Road 49.   Drivers are urged to avoid State Road 49 and E. Division Road toward the Porter County Fairgrounds.  Smoke Road or Sturdy Road could be used as an alternate to the west and County Road N 325 E to t...

Read more: Indiana-49 closed south of Porter Co. Fairgrounds

The number of confirmed fungal meningitis cases in Indiana is now at 69 according to the Indiana State Department of Health. Spokesman Ken Severson says, at last check, there have a total of seven deaths, four from Indiana, and three from out of state, linked to epidural steroid injections received in Indiana. According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention's website, the latest available data shows 620 confirmed cases in 19 states, with a total of 39 deaths attributed. The CDC, in...

Read more: IN Meningitis Cases at 69 with 7 deaths

Traffic heading northbound on I-65 toward Ridge Road and Interstate 80/94 is backing up to a crash reportedly blocking the right hand lane about a quarter-mile south of Ridge Road, according to a traffic tipster.  Expect slowing traffic just past 61st Avenue going northbound on I-65.  Southbound traffic was unaffected.

Traffic northbound on I-65 just south of RIdge Road exit is backing up due to earlier accident that happened in the right lane.  Hoosier Helper is on the scene.

(Photo from...

Read more: NB I-65 Backing Up

Winter is here and so is the flu season, and state health officials report while Indiana is having normal flu activity, an increase in flu cases is expected as the season continues. According to week 50 data, as of December 19^th, Indiana has one reported influenza death for the 2012/2013 season. The latest percentage of patients at sentinel provider clinics with symptoms relating to influenza-like illness was three-point-four-four percent, up from two-point-four-two the previous week. In week...

Read more: Latest Indiana Influenza Update

Some lake effect snow is falling over far northwest Northwest Indiana, in Whiting, East Chicago, and in general over far northwest Lake County (Indiana). Chicago is seeing some lake effect snow during the midday hours, too.  Here are some updates from the National Weather Service Chicago:

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL
1126 AM CST THU DEC 27 2012

ILZ014-INZ001-272030-
COOK-LAKE IN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CHICAGO...GARY
1126 AM CST THU DEC 27 2012

...LAKE EFFECT SNOW...

Read more: Lake Effect Affecting NW Ind, Chicago Today

More than 100 Indiana National Guard personnel responded to Blizzard 2012, which had a serious impact on much of the state outside of most of Northwest Indiana. Ten Indiana National Guard Highway Assistance Teams were deployed Wednesday morning -- two each in Evansville, Vincennes, Terre Haute, and Indianapolis, with one team in Muncie and one in Richmond, to help rescue stranded motorists and take them to shelters.  The National Guard also had two command and control units deployed to assist...

Read more: Indiana National Guard Assists Hoosiers in Blizzard

Officials say Lake County Sheriffs Police responded to a crash involving three passenger vehicles shortly after 6-o'clock this morning.  We're told two people were taken to the hospital; no details were available on the extent of their injuries at this time.  The crash occurred on Merrillville Road, which was closed for a time this morning between US 30 and 93rd Avenue. Lake County Sheriffs Police Spokesperson Patti Van Til says the crash is still under investigation.

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Read more: Two Transported After Crash in Lake County

Jacob Korba sitting in an Adirondack chair he made in front of the panels he installed as part of the Eagle Scout project he completed for Opportunity Enterprises (photo provided)

News Release:

Eagle Scout Completes Multi-Faceted Project for OE

Jacob Korba, a senior at Chesterton High School and member of Chesterton Boy Scout Troop 929, recently completed his final Eagle Scout project at Opportunity Enterprises’ Respite Home.  His overall project was multi-faceted and extensive, involving several s...

Read more: Eagle Scout Completes Project for OE

City of Crown Point News Release:
December 28th is Deadline to Submit Applications for Rental Housing

In June 2012, the City of Crown Point passed a Rental Housing Ordinance requiring all rental properties within the Crown Point City limits to be registered.

The City established the Annual Registration and Inspection Program and Minimum Standards for Rental Housing to ensure “public health, safety, and general welfare of the community.” The program will protect “the character and stability of resid...

Read more: Crown Point Reminder on Rental Ordinance

(Photo provided)

News Release: Porter County Community Foundation awards a Community Grant to Call-A-Ride

HEBRON - The Porter County Community Foundation recently presented a Community Grant to Call-A-Ride to help the nonprofit organization provide free transportation for the elderly, indigent and handicapped of Boone Township.  Family Express Corporation also supported the cause by donating gas cards to the all-volunteer organization to help with its fuel needs for the Call-A-Ride van.

Foundation...

Read more: Call-A-Ride Receives Community Grant