When it comes to quality of life, region residents are less healthier than they were 12-years ago and aren't as healthy as other Hoosiers right now--that according to a One Region study just completed. The report also says people in Northwest Indiana eat more, drink more and die younger than in the past, but they also smoke less and have better access to new medical centers--even though the report shows there's an overall need to improve access to regional health services. On the plus side, our proximity to Lake Michigan serves both as an engine for economic development and a catalyst for greater recreation and tourism opportunities, according to the report which can be found at: http://www.oneregionnwi.org/

              (map from pnc.edu)