Local News

Today:    Steve Coxhead of the Indiana Passenger Rail Alliance joins us to give an update on how passenger rail service is doing across the Region and the state -- a preview of the organization's short-term strategic plan -- and some concerns about the business model that Amtrak's new president is endorsing.  And Griffith Town Council president Rick Ryfa talks about Tuesday's special election in his community that will determine whether residents want to remain in Calumet Township -- or choose a different township.

GARY - Leading up to October’s National Bullying Prevention Month, American Licorice Company is partnering with Team U.S.A Track and Field athlete Norris Frederick and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Northwest Indiana to spread a message of self-love and inspiration.  

They have embarked on the grassroots community effort to address the alarming suicide rates among youth in Indiana.  

Today:   On this Reporters' Roundtable Thursday, we talk with Kelley Smith with the LaPorte "Herald Argus" and Michigan City "News-Dispatch" about her stories posted online and in the print editions of the newspapers.  They include her story of former FBI director James Comey's remarks as the first speaker of the 2018 Sinai Forum speakers' series at Purdue University Northwest.  Lakeshore Public Radio's Sharon Jackson has a report on an anti-bullying campaign.  And we also have Gerry Dick of "INside Indiana Business" with his guests with a discussion of Hoosier business news topics.

Today:   "Indiana Gaming Insight" and "Legislative Insight" editor Ed Feigenbaum joins us for an update on gaming issues, including expansion at Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City and the August casinos revenue report.  He'll also cover the latest in the "too-close-to-call" U.S.

Today:   It's Reporters' Roundtable Thursday.  We hear from Marc Chase of the "Times of Northwest Indiana' about a 20-page special section, coming this weekend, which takes a deep dive into details of 373 fatal traffic accidents that killed 404 people over the past five years in Lake, Porter and LaPorte Counties.   "Times" business reporter Joseph Pete brings us up-to-date on the United Steelworkers Union negotiations with major steelmakers U.S.

Today:    Tami Silverman, the presuident and CEO of the Indiana Youth Institute, joins us to talk about the new state Legislature-mandated training sessions for all Indiana teachers and educators in grades 5-12 on youth suicide awareness and prevention.  Hoosier youth are more likely to consider or attempt suicide than their peers nationally, according to IYI data.  Indiana also faces significant disparities in youth suicide among the vulnerable groups,. and among the different sizes of school districts in the state. 

Today:   a conversation with Hammond  Mayor Tom McDermott, Jr. about what's going on in Lake County's largest city these days -- in economic development (Oxbow Landing, the new Lear Corp. plant and the lakefront data center) , sports (the new Hammond Sports and Community Center in the former Woodmar Shopping Plaza)  and entertainment (why the Wolf Lake amphitheatre is attracting big-name performers these days).

Today:   Purdue University Northwest professor David Detmer joins us to talk about his latest book, "Zinnophobia: The Battle over History in Politics and Scholarship."  It focuses on the famous author Howard Zinn, his teachings and books that looked at bias and objectivity in history, and how then-Governor Mitch Daniels wanted to ban the teaching of one of Zinn's books in Hoosier schools.

Today:   On this Reporters' Roundtable program, we check in with "Times of Northwest Indiana " reporter Andrew Steele and "Northwest Indiana Gazette" citizen journalism publisher Ken Davidson about the material they posted online and (in Andrew's case) in print, as well.  Ken's focusing on his attendance at Wednesday night's public forum in Gary on the Fund 224 account, and we bring you exercpts from Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson made at the public forum.

HIGHLAND PARK, IL - The 2018 concert season at Ravinia is underway and attendees are making the most of it.  Lakeshore Public Radio so-far has attended a handful of shows at the venue including Alan Cumming's "Legal Immigrant" show on Friday, July 13th.  This season is Ravinia's comedy debut as the venue is hosting stand-up comedian shows for the first time.

More than 50 water fountains have been shut off in Hammond schools due to high lead levels. Teachers say fewer fountains and faulty air conditioning makes it difficult for kids to learn. 

Today:   an extended conversation with Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas.  The mayor talks about the status of the city's U.S. 30 corridor project, other improvements made to neighborhoods around downtown Valpo, the quest for affordable housing in his city and what he plans to work on in 2019, as he wraps up his term of office.  He covers a lot of ground in this interview.

Life is changing for the better for disabled veterans across the country.  There are two dedicated programs on the "fast track" of implementation by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help speed the appeals process along.  David McLenachen, the director of the VA's appeals manafement office, came on "Regionally Speaking" on Tuesday to explain the changes being made.  Here's the conversation.

Today:   a conversation with Dave McLenachen , the director of Department of Veterans Affairs' appeals management office in Washington, DC, about the "fast track" rollout of two dedicated programs to help disabled veterans in getting their appeals processed.  The VA is trying to deal with a growing number of appeals being filed.

Today:   On this Reporters' Roundtable Thursday we bring in Giles Bruce of the "Times" of Northwest Indiana" to talk about the stories he put out in print and online -- including his account of a heroin addict who overdosed and could have died on a South Shore Line train, had it not been by quick work by first-responders that included the commuter railroad's police chief.  Giles has the latest on "Stephanie."

Today:   Lorelei Weimer, the executive director of Indiana Dunes Tourism, joins us to talk about the concerted lobbying effort, both locally and in Washington, to get the Indiana  Dunes National Lakeshore elevated to National Park status.  She tells us the latest on that, as well as more about the new video series about the Indiana Dunes State Park and National Lakeshore that is now on the Indiana Dunes Tourism YouTube channel.  The series is entitled "Dunes 101."

Today:  Indiana economist-writer-speaker Morton Marcus joins us from "on the road" in central Indiana to review some of his "Eye on the Pie" columns on Hoosier economics, including ones that include northwest Indiana.

We offer another conversation from the Welcome Project at Valparaiso University.  The Welcome Project collects first-person stories and pairs therse with intentional conversation to help forge stronger ties within and across our communities.  Today's conversation is with a former homeless resident who's strengthened her own life.

Today:   a conversation with Lorelle Kilpatrick, one of the protestors who marched from downtown Michigan City last Saturday to the walls of the Indiana State Prison, to demand action on several issues that she says inmates in the maximum-security facility are facing these days.  She is a member of "Black Lives Matter Gary," one of the sponsors of the protest.

Today:  This Reporters' Roundtable program includes Doug Ross from the "Times of Northwest Indiana," Carole Carlson of the "Post-Tribune" and Andy Ober, Managing Editor of "Inside Indiana Business" to discuss stories they offered online and (in Doug's and Carole's instances) in print recently.  Doug covers his feature on how the loss of China as a market is affecting the local and national recycling industry.

Today:     We talk with Indiana's U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly (D) about some of the measures that he and his colleagues have worked on Capitol Hill to pass or move ahead -- including a way to make it easier to establish suicide hotlines.   We revisit our conversation with Andy Downs of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics at Purdue University Fort Wayne  about the Lake County precinct consolidation plan.

Today:   A conversation with Indiana University Northwest faculty members Crystal Shannon and Jonathyne Briggs about the new medical humanities minor program on the Gary campus.  The minor program offers courses in ethics, disability and anthropology -- among others that can offer new perspectives for students in the health professions.

Indiana Public Broadcasting's Barbara Brosher visited northwest Indiana to prepare a feature on how truancy courts help school districts deal -- in a positive way -- with student absenteeism.