Local News

Today:   Ed Feigenbaum, the editor of the "Indiana Gaming Insight" and "Indiana Legislative Insight" newsletters for Hannah News Service, joins us to talk about two measures in the 2019 General Assembly -- one, supporting changes toward economic development for the city of Gary and the other, that focuses on changes on Indiana gaming.  The first bill is sponsored by Gary state Senator Eddie Melton, and Ed talks about its complexity and the chances it has of becoming law.

Today:    On this "Reporters Roundtable,"  we hear from "Post-Tribune" reporters Meredith Colias-Pete and Carole Carlson about the stories they published in print and online.  Meredith talks about her stories detailing audit reports on local charter schools -- a General Assembly bill to include school safety costs in future public referendum questions, if approved -- and her feature about two sisters born in the Ukraine, separated at childhood, but recently reunited at O'Hare International Airport.  Carole's stories include Senator Eddie Melton's economic development proposal for Gary that

Today:   Purdue University Northwest joins Valparaiso University in planning celebrations of the life and work of civil rights icon Martin Luther King. Jr  next week.  We talk with the coordinator of the events on the Hammond and Westville campuses, Laura Odom, about the January 21st and 22nd events  and we bring back our conversation with Byron Martin and Heath Carter with Valparaiso University, about their January 21st program.

Today:   We asked Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor spokesman Anthony Swinger to talk about the appeal that the OUCC filed in response to approval by state utility regulators of the $20 million sale of the city of Lake Station's water system to Indiana-American Water Company.  The Court of Appeals has yet to rule on the OUCC request.  Anthony also gives us an update on the statewide water utility's proposed rate case.   The proposal before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission would raise rates in two phases, increasing its total annual operating revenues by $38.8 million.

Today:  The issue of homelessness in northwest Indiana is far from going away, so we bring back our conversation with Marcus Martin, an East Chicago resident with "Grace Beyond Borders Northwest Indiana,"  a non-profit organization with a mission of combating homelessness in the region.  Northwest Indiana financial advisor Greg Hammer helps us get ready for all of the changes that we'll face in preparing our income tax returns this year. 

Today:   On this Reporters' Roundtable Thursday, "Times" Statehouse reporter Dan Carden and "Times" business reporter Joseph Pete talk about the stories they're put out in print and online.  Greg Tejeda with the "Post-Tribune" also offers his stories on Gary city government and about the new candidates on the city's primary election ballot.  And Becca Costello with the Indiana Public Media digital team tells us about her ongoing series of website stories drawn from a Hoosier Civil War soldier's diary entries.  Peter J Matthews served in a regimental band and documented his daily experience

Today:    Steve Coxhead, the president of the Indiana Passenger Rail Alliance, is with us to talk about the advocacy organization's lobbying efforts with state legislators to make sure that the Indiana Department of Transportation continues to support the "Hoosier State" and other regional passenger rail services. Hoosier lawmakers are working on a new two-year state budget this session.

Today:   Sam Lacy and Nathan Sumner from "Imperfect Produce" tell us about the produce subscription service expanding into northwest Indiana, to offer consumers fresh "ugly" produce that might otherwise end up in the landfill.  The company is opening a local warehouse on Monday, and they offer new members a discount and will partner with the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana to support local food pantries.  Byron Martin and Heath Carter from Valparaiso University also tell us about January 21st's annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration convocation.

Today:   Porter County Commissioner Laura Blaney talks about the events on Election Day (and Night) last November that led to late-evening polls, uncounted absentee ballots and, in general, a three-day wait for election returns.  Blaney and her colleagues in county government created a 19-page document, complete with flow charts, that sets out in detail who is responsible for elections and lists contacts with local officials, where appropriate.  Crown Point resident Heather Zivkovich talks about the monumental task to fulfilling her late father Bob Morgan's wish -- to complete what he start

Today:    On this Reporters' Roundtable Thursday, we check in first with Indiana Public Broadcasting's Statehouse reporter Brandon Smith and his guests on Indiana Week in Review, prepared just ahead of this week's opening of the 2019 General Assembly.  It includes a look at Indiana politics in 2018 and other topics.  We bring back our conversation with CNHI community newspapers' reporter Scott Miley about his series on Indiana township governments, and Michael Puente offers his feature on East Chicago's historic Marktown neighborhood and the residents who are unhappy with offers that BP is

Today:   we wrap up our 2018 programs with conversations with three local authors:  first, we bring you former Cedar Lake teacher and now author of "Motion for Justice -- I Rest My Case," Brian Vukadinovich.  Then, Indiana University Northwest History professor emeritus James Lane talks about the third edition of "Gary -- A Pictorial History," just released in print.  And finally, Purdue University Northwest professor David Detmer and his book "Zinnophobia: The Battle of History in Politics and Scholarship." It's a book that looks at Howard Zinn and how former Governor Mitch Daniels reacted

Today:   Three newly-elected northwest Indiana state lawmakers are getting ready to attend their first General Assembly session next month.  We bring back our individual "Regionally Speaking" conversations with Lisa Beck (D-19), Chris Chyung (D-15) and Carolyn Jackson (D-1) after their November 6th general election victories. 

Today:  The Mascot Hall of Fame officially opened to the public in Whiting and we have two conversations -- first, with the Executive Director of the mascot-themed interactive childrens' museum, Orestes Hernandez and then, with Whiting Mayor Joe Stahura on the important economic development benefits that the Hall of Fame bring to his city.  We also have another edition of "Green Fleet Radio," from South Shore Clean Cities.  Host Carl Lisek talks with an executive with ChargePoint, which supports electric vehicles.

Today:   On this "Reporters' Roundtable Thunrday," we check in with Sarah Reese and Lauren Cross of the "Times," to talk about the stories they worked and posted online and in print this week.  They include updates on where toxic contamination dredged from the Grand Calumet River and Indiana Harbor Ship Canal is to be disposed of, the "case of the dead swans" found in a Hammond lake, and if the city of Gary is still considering about asking for state permission to build its own construction-demolition waste landfill.

NORTHWEST INDIANA/CHICAGO - Christmas 2018, that means family time, traditions, and movies.

There's those set of standard Christmas movies that everyone watches year after year, the legendary movies.  Lakeshore Public Radio wanted to bring you a list of must-see Christmas movies.  Patrick McDonald is the Editor and film critic at HollywoodChicago.com.  He is also the chief tour guide of the Chicago film tour at Chicagofilmtour.com. and he has a yearly holiday film review with his partner called "Pat and Ken at the holidays" on YouTube.  

Earlier this week the New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood announced that the Trump Foundation agreed to dissolve under judicial supervision . Lakeshore Public Radio’s Dee Dotson recently spoke with Dr. Leslie Lenkowsky is professor of practice in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University and a member of the philanthropic studies faculty of the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy about what this all means and what Hoosiers should do before making a charitable donation.

Today:   Lake Area United Way is focusing its 2019 effort to help working-poor families find affordable child care and livable-wage jobs.  These households are also known by the term ALICE, and we revisit our conversations with Lisa Daugherty, President and CEO of Lake Area United Way, to review the nonprofit's strategies next year.    We also have another edition of "Green Fleet Radio," supported by South Shore Clean Cities.  And Celina Weatherwax with the MAAC Foundation in Valparaiso joins us to talk about the organization's training efforts for emergency personnel that includes a new p

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:   North Township Trustee Frank J. Mrvan Jr joins us to talk about the issues, facts and discussion surrounding the town of Griffith's request to join North Township, following the community vote for secession from Calumet Township.  The Board of Trustees had to review a lot of information and chose not to make a decision last week... but may decide as soon as tonight.  A decision must be made by December 31st.  St. John Township officials already chose not to accept Griffith into its township government.

A northwest Indiana birdwatcher found 18 dead swans in George Lake in Hammond, and six of their bodies had high levels of lead. 

Today:   We talk to Ball State University economist Michael Hicks, the executive director of the Center for Business and Economic Research, about the recent Indiana economic outlook report into 2019 that he presented last week in Muncie.  He begins with a statewide and national look, followed by the breakdown by region, including northwest Indiana.  By the way, he thinks our region has a positive outook going into the new year.

Today:   On this Reporters' Roundtable Thursday, we call on "Post-Tribune" education reporter Meredith Colias-Pete and "Times" Lake County government reporter Bill Dolan to tell us about the stories they offered to readers (in print and online) -- and we hear from Side Effects Public Media's Lauren Bavis and, from Lakeshore Public Radio, Sharon Jackson and Tommy Williams.

Today:   We have a conversation with Marc Magill, the medical director of the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago, about his recent Town Hall Meeting with northwest Indiana veterans, their families and caregivers held at the Adam Benjamin Outpatient Clinic in Crown Point.  Magill says topics like the VA REACH program, an update on the ongoing concerns about veteran suicides and local veterans' concerns about the future of VA health care services came up at the meeting.

Today:   Northwest Indiana activist Ruth Needleman joins us in the studio to talk about --among other topics -- a look at some of the issues that could come up in the next General Assembly session, including Indiana teachers' pay, as well as the latest on the "Can We Talk" series of discussions leading toward the creation of a trauma center in Gary and "NWI Resistance's" proposed billboard against illegal immigration flights out of Gary-Chicago International Airport.  We have another conversation from the Welcome Project at Valparaiso University -- and Hoosier Environmental Council attorney