Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Today:   We have Michael Puente's conversation aired on "Off Mic" last week with northwest Indiana political activist Ruth Needleman about the demonstrations outside Gary-Chicago International Airport over the ICE flights out of the area with planeloads of undocumented immigrants.  Indiana Public Broadcasting's Brandon Smith has another pre-Election Day feature on the Governor's race. And Carol Williams, the assistant director of the Hammond Public Library, explains how the library prepared for re-opening after the coronavirus shutdown and is dealing of the changes in programs and the reaction by patrons to what's been done so far.  The library closed for about two months in the spring but re-opened on May 26th.

Today:   Northwest Indiana activist Ruth Needleman is with us to talk about issues involving city government in Gary, including decisions about the city's community benefits agreement ordinance and the purchase and redevelopment of the city's North Gleason Golf Course. She also asks the question: what are they hiding at the Gary-Chicago International Airport, when it comes to issues surrounding immigration flights?  Purdue University assistant professor of physics and astronomy Dan Milisavjevic talks about his groundbreaking research into supernovas and supernova remnants and what is being done in the laboratories on the West Lafayette campus.  Some of the work involves cutting-edge virtual reality technology that may someday be available to the general public.

Today:   Tony Rodriguez, the director of the LaPorte County Office of Community and Economic Development, talks about the efforts to attract new businesses into his county and to get existing firms to expand and bring in more jobs.

Today:   Northwest Indiana political activist Ruth Needleman is in the studio to bring us updates on several projects and topics.  She tells us about an upcoming board meeting in an Illinois village reviewing a proposal from another privately-owned corrections company to establish an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center.  Ruth also talks about the March 11th IURC field hearing in Hammond on NIPSCO's electric rate case.  "Green Fleet Radio" from South Shore Clean Cities is back -- we'll bring back our conversation with Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr -- and Eric Zosso

Today:   Hoosier economist/writer/speaker Morton Marcus talks about his latest "Eye on the Pie" columns, which include what he thinks should be priorities for 2019 and issues that legislators are taking up as well as other topics he wants to address -- including annoying phone calls and billboards that distract motorists.   We bring you two conversations from the Welcome Project at Valparaiso University.  Northwest Indiana political activist Ruth Needleman also tells us about another immigration-related protest on Friday outside the Gary-Chicago International Airport and next week's public

PORTAGE - Members of the Northwest Indiana community will rally in solidarity in Portage on Tuesday to protest three separate Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids that recently took place in the Region.

Indiana University Northwest Professor Emerita and local activist Ruth Needleman says the rally is set for 5:30 p.m. at Mexico Lindo restaurant, at 5908 US Highway 6.   

Today:   "Northwest Indiana Gazette" editor and publisher Ken Davidson joins us to talk about the issues surrounding the School City of Hammond's multi-million dollar improvement projects which includes a new high school -- projects which he says aren't being publicly discussed by the School Board.  He has put out posts on his website about a strategic planning committee and bids approved on "consent agenda."

Today:   This is Reporters' Roundtable Thursday and we talk to local reporters about their stories posted online and in print.  Doug Ross of the "Times" covers the 2020 end of exemptions for property tax caps for Lake County taxpayers and the impact on local goverments, and Griffith town officials courting two neighboring townships.  Greg Tejeda of the "Post-Tribune" has news on the Gary Common Council meeting on the 2019 budget, Gary-Chicago International Airport and ICE and bedbugs -- and "Times" business reporter Joseph Pete talks about his stories on the U.S.

Today:   Dr. Maria Carrillo and Dr. Heather Snyder join us from the 2018 Alzheimer's Association International Conference, to tell us about new research revealed at the event in Chicago that offers more hope for those suffering from Alzheimers' and related dementia -- and their families.

Indiana Muslim and refugee organization leaders say they’re disappointed the Supreme Court upheld President Donald Trump’s ban on travel from several predominantly Muslim nations.

The groups say despite what the court ruled, the ban is a "racist and discriminatory policy.”

Today:  Ivy Tech Community College just unveiled its new five-year strategic plan, and we asked statewide President Sue Ellspermann to review it and talk about the impact it will have on northwest Indiana.  The plan aligns with Indiana's goal to give 60-percent of the Indiana workforce a high-value post-secondary degree or credential by 2025.

 
The private company CoreCivic today announced it will formally withdraw plans to build a multimillion dollar detention center just south of Elkhart.
 

Elkhart County Commissioner Mike Yoder said company representatives called to let him know about the change in plans late this morning.
 

Update: According to Elkhart County Commissioner Mike Yoder's Facebook page, the plan hearing for CoreCivic's proposed detention facility will be postponed for 30 days. The Plan Commission will now hear the proposal in February, and County Commissioners will approve or deny the plans in March. 

Today:  Northwest Indiana activist Ruth Needleman is back in the studio for an update on events that include the debate around immigration issues such as the proposal to obtain land in Elkhart County for an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center and the Gary-Chicago International Airport's plan for a Homeland Security and Customs center.  Ruth also talks about this week's workshop in Gary sponsored by State Senator Eddie Melton and the Urban League of Northwest Indiana.

Today:   On this Reporters Roundtable, a look at the major local news stories of the week from the reporters who covered them for their respective media.  Our public radio colleague Michael Puente is with us, along with Javonte Anderson of the Post-Tribune and, from the Times of northwest Indiana, Bob Kasarda and Ed Bierschenk.

Today:  It's Reporters Roundtable on "Regionally Speaking," when we ask reporters in northwest Indiana media to talk about their stories they researched and wrote for their online and print publications.  This edition features "Times of Northwest Indiana" reporters Giles Bruce and Sarah Reese, Greg Tejeda from the "Post-Tribune" and Jon Gard of the LaPorte "Herald-Argus" and Michigan City "News-Dispatch."

Today:  Our monthly conversation with Tom Pappas, Jr. of the city of Portage Veterans Committee about next week's meeting and about a special Veterans Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, June 7th at the Adam Benjamin Outpatient Clinic in Crown Point.  The new Jesse Brown VA Medical Center Director, Marc Magill, will be at both meetings to talk to veterans about new programs planned in the Chicago area.

Today:  excerpts from Friday's vigil and rally outside the Gary-Chicago International Airport of citizens protesting the Immigration and Customs Enforcement flights of deported undocumented immigrants out of the Midwest.  About 50 people stood in the chilly winds along Airport Road outside the Airport, listening to speakers and chanting in protest when two unmarked buses filled with deportees passed by.

Indiana Public Broadcasting's Peter Balanon-Rosen has a report on "sanctuary campuses" and where Hoosier colleges and universities stand on the controversial issue.

Northwest Indiana activist Ruth Needleman came back into the "Regionally Speaking" studio on Tuesday to talk about a Friday mid-morning vigil planned for the parking lot of the Gary-Chicago International Airport to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement flights of undocumented immigrants out of the region. 

Today:  Northwest Indiana activist Ruth Needleman is back in the studio to talk about a Friday mid-morning vigil at the parking lot of the Gary-Chicago International Airport to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement flights of undocumented immigrants out of the region.  ICE brings them into the Airport from Kankakee, under a compact with the city signed years ago by two former mayors.    Needleman also talks about plans by the Gary Common Council to support those affected by ICE's efforts to lead detainees toward deportation.