Local News

Today:   Franciscan Health Northwest Indiana spokesman Robert Blaszkiewicz tells us about the changes in visitor  restrictions that had to be put in place at the healthcare provider's hospitals in Dyer, Hammond and Munster on Friday because of the surge in COVID-19 cases in northwest Indiana.  We also bring back our conversation with Aaliyah Stewart, a young northwest Indiana resident who wants to establish a youth center in Gary and is raising funds toward its construction.   Seema Verma, the Adminstrator for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services in Washington, D.C. (and a former Hoosier healthcare consultant) talks about the open enrollment period for Medicare for 2021 that is currently underway through December 7th.  This is the only time of year when more than 60 million Americans on Medicare -- 1,280,707 in Indiana -- can review their health coverage to find new health and drug plans and new benefits and, in the process, save money.  And we have another conversation from the Welcome Project at Valparaiso University.

Today:   Municipal government finances expert and Highland town clerk-treasurer Michael Giriffin is with us for an extensive conversation about the background and the issues surrounding the Lake County Council efforts to shift purchasing and IT expenses from the County Commissioners over to the Council.  It's an issue dealing with "home rule" that dates back into the 1980s, and may have to worked out between the two government bodies.  We also have Chuck Harris, the board president, and executive director Dawn Pelc, with the Porter County Substance Abuse Council about the organization's efforts to reduce the number of former jail inmates coming back behind bars because of drug-related crimes.  Many of those who return to jail don't have the education and skills to find meaningful jobs in the community, and the PCSAC works with other groups to resolve the issues with things like education, jobs and family assistance.  

On this edition of the podcast you’ll hear the latest on plans to nominate U.S. Attorney Thomas Kirsch, II to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals if Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed to the U. S. Supreme Court, Adam Pinsker report the ACLU is suing the federal Bureau of Prisons and Chris Nolte has a conversation with Jerry Davich of the Post-Tribune about his latest column featuring an interesting experiment he conducted at local political campaign rallies in the Region. All of that, and more, on this edition of “Lakeshore Update”… 

Today:  It's "Reporters Roundtable Thursday" and "Times" chief political reporter Dan Carden joins us to talk about his stories in print and posted online, including his coverage of the first Indiana gubernatorial debate from Indianapolis and his story on First Congressional District candidate Mark Leyva's comments posted on his Facebook page and reaction to them.  "Post-Tribune" columnist Jerry Davich created what he called a "psychological experiment" and later wrote about it:  he bought and wore Trump and Biden-Harris campaign T-shirts in public for one month.  Jerry talks about the reaction he got from residents at the time and of comments that were posted later to his Facebook pages.  And we complete our four-part series on young Indiana activists from the  "America Amplified: Election 2020" initiative, using community engagement to inform and strengthen local, regional and national journalism. "America Amplified" is a public media initiative funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 

Today:  We continue a look at the candidates running in the November 3rd general election, with the Indiana House District 19 race.  Incumbent Democrat Lisa Beck is seeking another term of office and former Representative Julie Olthoff, a Republican, is seeking a return to the position she held for two terms.  They talk about the issues, what they each want to achieve in the next General Assembly session and how they can campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have the third of the four-part series of conversations with young Indiana activists with an IUPUI student who wants to protect a street that has historic significance for Indianapolis' Black community.  And we have an "Art On The Air" Spotlight that focuses on the LaPorte County music community.

The YWCA of Northwest Indiana, which was founded in 1920, will celebrate its 100th Anniversary with a virtual Mask-Querade Gala on Saturday, October 31, 2020. “Regionally Speaking” host Chris Nolte recently spoke with Caren Jones, the executive director of the organization about the history of the organization as well as all of the festivities planned for the free event including a silent auction to support fundraising efforts for programming support live music, dancing, and building improvements and more.

Today:   We revisit our conversation with Ron Taylor with the Porter County Recycling and Waste Reduction District and Valparaiso University professor Julie Peller on plastics pollution in the county, as found during a recent study, and add to it a recent "Morning Edition" segment about the history of how America got so deeply involved in plastics recycling.  Caren Jones with the YWCA of Northwest Indiana tells us the history of the organization that is now 100 years old.  A virtual gala celebrating the YW's 100th anniversary is coming up on Halloween.  We bring you another in our series of conversations with young Indiana activists, and more local conversations from the Welcome Project at Valparaiso University.

Today:  Republicans and Democrats can't seem to agree on anything these days -- but it wasn't always that way.   Forty years ago, then-U.S. Senators Birch Bayh of Indiana and Bob Dole of Kansas agreed that the country's public research and development system was inefficient and they worked "across the aisle" to fix it.  On today's program, Birch Bayh's son Chris and Joe Allen, one of Bayh's former staffers, talk about the 40th anniversary of the Bayh-Dole Act and its major importance to the U.S. economy.  We bring you the first of a series of Darian Benson's conversations on young women who are pushing for change in their Indiana communities.  And Indiana Public Broadcasting's Justin Hicks spoke with an activist who has turned one block of Main Street in Goshen into a lightning rod for political tension, and perhaps, even conversation.

On this edition of the podcast you’ll hear the latest on City of East Chicago firefighters testing positive for COVID-19, the president of the American Federation of Teachers brought muscle and money in support of a referendum to raise taxes in the Gary Community School Corp., Indiana mail-in ballots must be returned to the county election administrator’s office by noon on Election Day, November 3, if they’re going to count and Chris Nolte has a conversation with Carol Williams assistant director for the Hammond Public Library...  

What do you want to know about the candidates running for Indiana House of Representatives, District 15? Chris Chyung (D) and Hal Slager (R) will be answering your questions, on Thursday, October 15th at 6 PM. In partnership with the League of Women Voters of the Calumet Area, Lakeshore Public Radio will host an hour long debate covering the topics you want to know more about.

Today:    Julian Marsh, the executive director of the Gary Housing Authority, and his Director of Resident Services Jose Ibarra are with us to talk about the new partnership with ConnectHomeUSA with its effort to bridge the digital divide for residents in its HUD-assisted housing units around the city.  The initiative will mean residents will have access to services like digital literacy training.  "Post-Tribune" reporter Carole Carlson joins us to talk about her story of the visit by the national president of the largest teachers' union, Randi Weingarten, to Gary on Wednesday.  She praised the Gary Community Schools' $72 million tax referendum, which is on the November 3rd general election ballot.  And Craig Miller with Franciscan Health has details about the healthcare system's 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week Virtual Urgent Care service available for minor illnesses and injuries.  

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.

What do you want to know about the candidates running for Porter County Commissioner? Southern District candidates Laura Shurr Blaney (D) and Fred Martin (R), and the Northern candidates Becky Mateja Lombardini (D) and Jim Biggs (R) will debate on October 14th at 7 PM, and they will be answering your questions. In partnership with the League of Women Voters of Porter County, Lakeshore Public Radio will host an hour long debate covering the topics you want to know more about.

Today:   Indiana University Northwest economics professor Micah Pollak is with us to talk about the recent study commissioned by I.U. with EMSI, a worldwide provider of economic impact studies to colleges and universities, that explains the economic value that IUN adds to the students and alumni of the university and to the northwest Indiana community at large.  For example: the impact of increased earnings of IUN alumni and the businesses they work for is equal to an economic boost that is similar to hosting the World Series 37 times.  We have another conversation from the Welcome Project at Valparaiso University, and Side Effects Public Media reporter Carter Barrett looks into the struggle that rural hospitals face in trying to bring in enough revenue from a pandemic-stunted economy to stay open -- and serve their communities.  Indiana Youth Institute president-CEO Tami Silverman also reviews her latest monthly column entitled "Talking Politics With Our Kids."  It's an appropriate topic in this "election season." The entire column can be found on the IYI website.

Today:  Ed Feigenbaum, the creator and editor of the "Indiana Gaming Insight" and "Indiana Legislative Insight" newsletters from Hannah News Service is on the program for an update on how Indiana casinos are doing financially these days of the coronavirus pandemic.  He also talks about some of the changes in the focuses on games in two local casinos.  Northwest Indiana financial advisor Greg Hammer talks about some of the end-of-year financial moves that investors and retirees need to make because of special money considerations they had in 2020 as a result of the pandemic.  And PNC Financial Services Group chief economist Gus Faucher explains what he brought up with attendees of two recent virtual financial sessions with local business owners.

The Whitney Reynolds show is dedicated to provoking positive change through tough topics. The mission should really be considered a personal mantra... The show… which began as an online talk show …within its first year quickly earned a slot on a major broadcast network. Since 2012 it has called PBS its home. Whitney Reynolds is the executive producer, host and owner of the show. The Whitney Reynolds show will debut the 11th Season opener Monday, October 12th at 6:00 pm on Lakeshore PBS.

Today:  "Post-Tribune" reporter Carrie Napoleon joins us to talk about her stories in print and online this week, including one about the team of Gary city employees fighting the problem of illegal dumping. The city of Gary is one of the state's biggest cities, area-wise, and has many places where trash and junk can be easily dumped without being detected... until now.   "Inside Indiana Business" host Gerry Dick talks with the president and CEO of the Indiana Restaurant and Lodging Association, Patrick Tamm, about the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on an industry that pumps nearly $15 million into the Hoosier economy every year.  We also bring you Indiana Public Broadcasting's Brandon Smith's interviews with the two candidates for Indiana Attorney General in the Nov. 3rd election -- Todd Rokita and Jonathan Weinzapfel.

Today:   It's Indiana politics day on "Regionally Speaking."  Andy Downs, the director of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics at Purdue University Ft Wayne, is with us with a pre-Election Day update which includes his thoughts on the latest vote-by-mail decisions, early voting opportunities, the Attorney General candidates on the ballot and concerns about voting equipment security issues.  That is also the subject that Indiana University Public Policy Institute analyst Joti Martin talks about.  The Institute just issued a new analysis that finds that Indiana's reliance on older paperless voting machines could pose security risks in the upcoming election.  And Indiana Public Broadcasting's Brandon Smith has a feature on the 2020 Governor's race and of the three candidates on the ballot. 

Frank Mrvan (D), Mark Leyva (R), and Michael Strauss (L) will debate on Tuesday, October 6th at 6 PM, for the Indiana 1st District Congressional race. In partnership with the League of Women Voters of the Calumet Area, Porter County, and LaPorte County, Lakeshore PBS and Lakeshore Public Radio - 89.1 FM will host an hour long debate covering the topics you want to know more about.

VALPARAISO - It will likely be the end of October when the city of Valparaiso will know what will be done with the property on which the old W hite House Restaurant once stood.

Brandon Dickinson, Director of Redevelopment for the city of Valparaiso, says it's likely that multi family units, Brownstones, similar to what one would see in the Wrigleyville neighborhood of Chicago will built.

Today:   We revisit our conversation with Carolyn Saxton of the Legacy Foundation about the initiative that  the Lake County community foundation established with the Knight Foundation, Indiana Black Expo, and the cities of Gary and East Chicago to help small businesses in both cities stay open during the coronavirus pandemic.  The application deadline for the COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund ends during the month of October,  We have another conversation from the Welcome Project at Valparaiso University, and Habitat for Humanity Northwest Indiana executive director Dawn Michaels tells us the latest house under construction in Gary's "Field of Dreams" neighborhood, in the 1700 and 1800 blocks of Adams and Washington Streets, which will give another family an affordable place to live sometime early next year. The owner of Majestic Star Casino, Spectacle Entertainment, is partnering with HFH on this project.  Reporter Michael Puente also spoke to several Latin-x supporters of President Donald Trump, and he offers us that conversation.

Today:  Claire Fiddian-Green, the president and CEO of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, is with us with details of the report of a study, commissioned by the foundation, that takes a comprehensive look at Indiana's school funding since the 2008 property tax reforms.  It warns of school funding inequities that affect low-income communities, racial groups and types of schools -- and that those inequities will likely continue through the COVID-19 crisis.  Vanetta Keefe with the Indiana Department of Transportation talks about the review of the Indiana Rail Plan, a plan that guides improvement of freight and passenger rail service in the state.  Federal law requires an update every four years, and this is the year for the update.  Vanetta is seeking public input and it can be made online very soon.  And from the Lake County Public Library -- branch services coordinator Carol Daumer Gutjahr says library branches will reopen with regular hours beginning October 15th at the Central Library in Merrillville and the other eight branches on October 19th.  She tells us why it is finally time to reopen.

Today:  "Times of Northwest Indiana" reporters Andrew Steele and Joseph Pete talk about the stories they wrote for print and online, including updates on the South Shore Line expansion projects, the impending sale of ArcelorMittal USA to Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. for $1.4 billion, and a way to deal with a food desert in Gary with creation of a food truck park.  Indiana Public Broadcasting Statehouse reporter Brandon Smith interviewed the three candidates for Governor in the November 3rd general election -- incumbent Republican Eric Holcomb, Democrat Woody Myers and Liberterian Donald Rainwater.  We bring you all three conversations. 

More than 3 million Americans lost access to employer-sponsored health insurance during the summer months of the pandemic, according to a recent study by the nonprofit Urban Institute. But researchers say the numbers could have been much worse.

EUGENE, OREGON/NORTHWEST INDIANA - The Executive Director of the American Red Cross in Northwest Indiana has been sent to help wildfire victims out west.  Kristin Marlow-Kellemen is currently serving in Salem and Eugene, Oregon, in helping with the response to what is locally being called the "beachy creek fire and the holiday farms fires."

Today:  Bill Wozniak, the vice president of marketing with INvestEd, Indiana's non-profit financial aid literacy and student loan organization, is with us to talk about the next opportunity for students, families and individuals seeking a change of career through postsecondary education to file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form.  He explains the form, why it is so important and how the coronavirus pandemic's changed the way they help Hoosiers find grants and other financial sources.   From Ivy Tech Community College Lake County: vice chancellor for academic affairs Margaret Semmer, vice chancellor for enrollment Keisha White and workforce consultant Dee Dee White talk about the next series of eight-week-long courses for IVTC students.  And Valparaiso University psychology professor Amanda Zelechoski explains her newest project -- a website fueled by COVID-19 titled "Pandemic Parenting."

The 2020 campaign for Indiana governor – like so much of people’s lives – has been overtaken by concerns about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide protests over racial injustice and police violence. Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Brandon Smith sat down with each candidate to discuss the race's big issues.

The 2020 campaign for Indiana governor – like so much of people’s lives – has been overtaken by concerns about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide protests over racial injustice and police violence. Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Brandon Smith sat down with each candidate to discuss the race's big issues.