Local News

CROWN POINT, Ind. (AP) — A former northwestern Indiana teacher who was accused of using cocaine in her classroom and pleaded guilty to drug possession apologized at her sentencing and says she now wants to help others.

The Post-Tribune reports 24-year-old Samantha Cox was sentenced Friday to one year of probation and ordered to provide documents showing continued participation in a drug treatment program.

The Indiana Debate Commission, in partnership with Purdue University Northwest, presents the first of two U.S. Senate Debates. Moderating the debate between Senator Joe Donnelly (D), Mike Braun (R), and Lucy Brenton (L), is Anne Ryder.

The debate takes place at PNW's Westville Campus's James B. Dworkin Student Services and Activities Complex, on Monday, October 8th at 6:00 PM. You must have a ticket to attend; if you are not able to attend, the debate is streaming below:

HOBART, Ind. (AP) — Police say the shooting of a man and his son outside a northwestern Indiana Walmart is being investigating as gang-related.

Hobart Police Capt. Garrett Ciszewski says the shooting Sunday evening left the 9-year-old boy in critical condition Monday and his father, a 25-year-old Gary man, in stable condition.

He says the father was wounded in a shooting about six weeks ago in nearby Gary.

HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) — Some Purdue University Northwest students are angry that the school's diplomas are being changed to specify that they graduated from a Purdue satellite campus.

The Hammond campus' diplomas have historically included a bold header in black and gold letters reading "Purdue University."

But school officials announced Friday that starting in May 2019 the diplomas will read "Purdue University Northwest."

HOBART, Ind. (AP) — Authorities say a person fired shots in a northwestern Indiana store parking lot, injuring two people.

The shooting happened Sunday night outside a Walmart in Hobart near a shopping mall. Some people took shelter inside the store afterward.

Commander Don Foley of the Northwest Indiana Major Crimes Task Force says one person shot at several people. Authorities were investigating the circumstances, but Foley says it's believed to be an "isolated incident." He says surveillance footage shows a person of interest in the shooting.

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (AP) — A northwestern Indiana philanthropic foundation has won a more than $226,000 federal grant to address food deserts in Gary and East Chicago, in part by expanding access to locally-grown produce.

The Merrillville-based Legacy Foundation will use the funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to add food markets and mobile markets by next summer in the two Lake County cities.

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago State University is receiving a $1.3 million federal grant to increase minority participation in science, technology, engineering and math.

U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush said the National Science Foundation is providing the funding to the Louis Stokes Midwest Regional Center of Excellence. The center is a partnership between Chicago State University and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) — An indicted northwestern Indiana mayor is maintaining that prosecutors used a confidential informant to improperly know they had more time to investigate the case.

Attorneys for Republican Portage Mayor James Snyder argue in federal court filings that prosecutors found out Snyder's previous lawyer wouldn't be ready for a January 2017 trial on corruption charges. Snyder's attorneys argue that action was "tantamount to cheating" and want a judge to limit prosecutors' ability to use information they obtained after that time.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The board of the Indiana Finance Authority unanimously approved a new deal Thursday with the vendor operating the Indiana Toll Road, allowing 35-percent fee increases for large trucks as part of Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb's plan to pump an additional $1 billion into infrastructure projects around the state.

The rate hike takes effect Oct. 5 and the state would receive $400 million that same day from the Indiana Toll Road Concession Co. The rate increase applies to vehicles with three or more axles.

CHICAGO (AP) — A 46-year-old Indiana man has pleaded guilty in Chicago federal court to an alleged scheme that involved his recycling firms reselling hazardous electronic waste.

A statement from prosecutors says Brian Brundage of Dyer pleaded guilty this week to wire fraud and tax evasion.

CROWN POINT, Ind. (AP) — A federal judge sternly lectured a former Lake County Sheriff's Department official for dishonesty before sentencing him to two years of probation for lying to the FBI.

U.S. District Court Judge James Moody berated Dan Murchek on Wednesday and told him he'd "be remembered as a crook."

Moody then sentenced the 57-year-old former Lake County deputy chief to two years of probation and fined him $3,500. Murchek had pleaded guilty in May to lying to the FBI for denying that he'd received an illegal $500 campaign donation.

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Higher natural gas rates for Northern Indiana Public Service Co. will take effect Oct. 1 and cost the average residential customer about $8 more per month when fully phased in.

NIPSCO said Thursday the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission approved the new rates this this week after the company reached an agreement with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor and industrial customers.