WASHINGTON -- President Obama’s Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2014 includes an increase for low-income home weatherization services, including $4.5 million to help needy families in the state of Indiana.  The proposal represents a continued commitment by the President and his Administration to help low-income Americans address their energy needs through raising the energy efficiency of their homes while reducing their monthly energy costs.
The Weatherization Program is operated through the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. The state office combines funding from the Energy Department and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to provide these services through a network of 24 community action agencies located throughout the state. 
To be eligible to receive these free energy improvements, the typical family of four in the state must earn less than $47,000, or less than 200 percent of the U.S. Poverty Guidelines. These families will save from $250 to $450 per year in their energy bills depending on the housing type and fuel source. These dollars can now be used for medicine, food, clothing and other expenses. 
Indiana’s Weatherization Program also provides comprehensive consumer education to each participating family on both improving health and safety in the home and the best use of the energy efficiency measures being installed. Nationally, the Department’s weatherization program has helped more than seven million families save money on their energy bills while creating jobs for American workers, supporting small businesses and reducing pollution.
To help families save additional money on their energy bills, energy efficiency and renewable energy experts from the Energy Department will answer questions about reducing energy use and improving home comfort during a Google+ Hangout on April 22 at 3 pm ET.
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Read more: $4.5 Million Proposed to Help Low Income Hoosiers with Energy Costs

(Photo Courtesy of the LaPorte County Sheriff's Office)
The LaPorte County Sheriff's Office says they are seeking the public's help to locate a missing sex offender. The Sheriff's Office reports 20 year old Darell Eckwood is being sought for a sex offender registry violation, after it was learned earlier this month that he was not living at his registered address in the 56-hundred north block of County Road 400 West in Springfield Township. Eckwood was convicted in 2011 for felony child molesting, and is described as standing five-feet six inches, weighing 139 pounds, with short-cropped black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the LaPorte County Sheriff's Department.
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Read more: LaPorte Co Authorities Seeking Info on Missing Sex Offender

The body of man found Monday night in a ditch in the area of County Road 500 West and County Road 1000 South, in Boone Township, has been identified. The Porter County Sheriff's Office reports the deceased is that of 32 year old Ruben Paredes (pair-dez), of Akron, Indiana. Authorities say the Akron man was reported as a missing person by his wife in early February, and a joint homicide investigation is underway. On Tuesday, Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris performed an autopsy on the victim, whose death was cause by an apparent gunshot wound. Anyone with information is asked to please contact the Porter County Sheriff's Department.
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Read more: Body Found in Boone Twp Ditch Is Missing Akron, IN Man

ABC News reports the FBI has has identified two suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing. This afternoon officials released photos of the suspects and asked for the public's help in identifying the two men. Rick DesLauriers is the FBI special agent in Boston says suspect one is wearing a dark hat, suspect two is wearing a white hat. Suspect two set down a backpack at the site of the second explosion just in front of the Forum restaurant.
The FBI considers them to be armed and extremely dangerous. No one should approach them, and no should should attempted to apprehend them except law enforcement.
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Read more: FBI Releases Description of Suspects in Boston Bombing

ABC News reports the governor of Illinois has declared a state of emergency after heavy rains brought flooding to the Chicago area. North of Chicago, the Fox and Des Plaines rivers are swollen, with the rate with which the river is rising on the Des Plaines is very rapid, nearly three feet since last night. Officials in Lake County, Illinois have been dispatching sandbags. The public works department has processed nearly 200-thousand sandbags out to local municipalities and townships. Meanwhile in Chicago some locks were opened along Lake Michigan reversing the flow of the Chicago River back to the lake.
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Read more: Illinois Governor Declares State of Emergency

GARY, Ind. — Wednesday’s postponed High School Challenge contest between North Newton and South Newton has been canceled and will not be made up. Here is the remainder of the High School Challenge schedule. All games for this weekend are on as of right now.
 
Friday, April 19^th
4:30 p.m. - *Lew Wallace vs. Roosevelt
7:30 p.m. - *East Chicago vs. MC Marquette
 
Saturday, April 20^th
1:00 p.m. - *Michigan City vs. Boone Grove
4:00 p.m. - *Chesterton vs. Griffith
7:00 p.m. - *Victory Christian vs. Calumet Christian
 
Tuesday, April 23^rd 
7:30 p.m. - *Hales Franciscan vs. St. Patrick
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Read more: WX Cancels Wednesday's HSC Game, No Makeup

In the wake of Monday's bombing at the Boston Marathon, Scambook, the Internet’s leading complaint resolution platform, cautions the public to watch out for fake charities run by criminals who exploit national tragedy via the Internet. Over a dozen charity domains were registered in regards to Boston with names like "bostonmarathondonations.com", "bostonmarathonvictimfund.com" and "bostonmarathonattack.com".   
To avoid giving money to a fake charity, Scambook recommends donating to well-established organizations like the Red Cross, Boston Children's Hospital or One Fund Boston. If an individual is considering donating to a different organization, Scambook advises the following 5 tips to avoid a charity scam:
1. Check the organization online. Contact the State Attorney General or the National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO) to find out if the organization is officially registered. Watchdog sites guidestar.org and charitynavigator.org are also recommended.
2. Don't trust viral stories from supposed victims. In the wake of a national tragedy, dozens of heart-breaking stories circulate through social media and email. Don’t make any donations to individuals with whom there stands no personal relationship or verification of the claims.
3. Don't give in to pressure to donate. Even in times of need, a legitimate charity will never pressure anyone to donate. If an individual soliciting donations is rude, threatening, or refuses to answer questions, it's unlikely that they're representing a real charity. Call the organization they claim to represent.
4. Stop and remember past donations. Charity scammers often try to build trust with their victims by thanking them for past donations.  If contacted, pause and think about your history of donations. A legitimate charity will be able to provide the date of the donation or other verifying information.
5. Watch out for unsolicited text messages. Be wary of any text messages asking for donations. Although legitimate charities can receive donations via text message, it is highly improbable that they will send out unsolicited text messages for help.
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Read more: Tips for Evading Fake Online Boston Charities

Gary police are asking kids who walk to school, to try and do so in a group if possible, after an incident Wednesday morning. Gary Police Public Information Corporal Gabrielle King says a 14 year old was grabbed from behind while walking southbound on Washington Street to school, at 8:43am. Corporal King says the suspect, a black male, took the girl in an abandoned building in the 41-hundred block of Washington, fondled her, and left the scene. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Gary Police Department.
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Read more: Gary PD Asks Those Walking to School to Do So in Numbers

Hammond Police are asking for the public's help regarding an armed robbery that occurred at the Super Gas, in the 75-hundred block of Columbia Avenue, around 2am, on March 31^st. Authorities say the suspect a male, described as being in his late teens to early twenties, approximately five-foot-nine inches tall, weighing around 140 pounds, wearing a dark colored jacket, red hooded sweatshirt, dark colored pants, gloves, and black shoes with a white mask. Police says the weapon used in the robbery was described as a black automatic handgun.


(Photos Courtesy of the Hammond PD)
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Read more: Hammond PD Seek Public's Help in Armed Robbery

Tipsters report power has been restored to the area along US 30 in Valparaiso. Power reportedly went out sometime after 1:30 this afternoon, affecting over 11-hundred customers for about a half-hour or so.
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Read more: Power Restored Along US 30 in Valpo