Local News

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.

A federal judge is forcing Indiana to count all mail-in ballots that are postmarked by Election Day, Nov. 3, as long as they arrive to county clerks by Nov. 13.

EAST CHICAGO - Even though Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb has moved the state to stage five in its Back-On-Track plan, East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland and the East Chicago Health Department has decided to keep their city at stage four.

Steve Segura, spokesperson for the city East Chicago said in a news release, the decision is in the interest of keeping the community of East Chicago healthy and safe, based on present evidence.

ArcelorMittal announced it’s selling several northwest Indiana steel plants to an Ohio-based company in a deal worth nearly $1.5 billion. The sale was motivated by a need to please investors after a year of losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic. 

Hoosiers have one week left to register to vote for the 2020 general election.

Today:  "Times" business reporter Joseph Pete has written another book that looks into the Region in great detail.  This latest book, published by Reedy Press, is titled "100 Things to Do in Gary and Northwest Indiana Before You Die." There will be several opportunities in October to buy and have a signed copy from the author.  Reporter Michael Puente tells us about Latino voters who support President Donald Trump.  We have another conversation from the Welcome Project at Valparaiso University.  And Michelle Fajman, the director fo the Lake County Election and Voter Registration Office, has the latest on the process of preparing for the November 3rd general election.  Thousands of absentee ballots have already been cast and they are expecting thousands more to come in  -- ahead of the early voting period beginning next month.

NORTHWEST INDIANA - The Northwest Indiana Chapter of the American Red Cross is helping the people affected by the wildfires in the west.

The chapter's Executive Director, Kristin Marlow-Kellemen was sent to Oregon to help in the battle with the wildfires that have been destroying the west for weeks, according to the "Times."  

She landed in Portland and headed to Eugene, Oregon, to join other volunteers in that district to assist with the relief efforts.

Today:   Indiana Public Broadcasting's Brandon Smith has an update on the issues surrounding vote-by-mail in Indiana.  The Hoosier State is one of only four states without expanded vote-by-mail for the general election.   Side Effects Public Media reporter Natalie Krebs looks into the issue of data tracking on COVID-19, and how it is being done in some states without help from state of federal health resources.  This is Suicide Prevention Month, and Jesse Brown VA Medical Center's Michelle Langlois talks about the ways to help loved ones and family know warning signs that someone may be in danger of taking ones' life.  And Lakeshore Public Radio's Sharon Jackson talks with Valparaiso city redevelopment director Brandon Dickinson about the old White House Restaurant property.

VALPARAISO- The once-grand and still historic Valparaiso mansion, known most recently as the White House restaurant, is set for demolition on Monday.  Lakeshore Public Radio's Sharon Jackson spoke with Brandon Dickinson, the Director of Redevelopment for the city of Valparaiso, about the history of the building, why it's coming down and the future plans for the property

INDIANA- Northwest Indiana, along with the rest of the state, is set to enter reopening Stage 5, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even though life and business won't be exactly the same as it was before the pandemic, Stage 5 goes into effect at 11:01 p.m. Friday, per Governor Eric Holcomb, the "Times" reports.

Today:  We have an updated look at the upcoming school tax referendum for the Gary Community Schools, from the school district's manager Dr. Paige McNulty.  Voters in Gary will be asked in the November general election to approve a tax increase that would bring $8.9 million annually, over eight years, to the Gary Community Schools.  It is a move that district leaders are calling the quickest path toward improving education in the city and ending state intervention.   Purdue University distinguished professor Shelley MacDermid-Wadsworth is back to talk about their successful COVID-19-related Facebook group "Families Tackling Tough Times Together," and its next cycle to begin in October.  Home Instead Care Merrillville owner Sandi Haywood is with us to review the ways to care for loved ones with dementia or Alzheimers' disease during the pandemic or the flu season.  World Alzheimers' Month ends next week.  And Sam Gross with Slacker.com goes down the list to tell us which Indiana counties record the best and worst commutes  -- with a look at northwest Indiana.  

Hoosier voters will be able to go to court this fall to ask for polls to stay open longer if there are problems on Election Day.

VALPARAISO - The once-grand and still historic Valparaiso mansion, known most recently as the White House restaurant, is coming down.

The building will be demolished next week after falling into decades of disrepair.

Valparaiso Mayor Matt Murphy said in a city news release that while it’s sad to see the building go, it has been equally sad to see it so long neglected.

Murphy says as the city and its citizens fondly remember the Valparaiso landmark, we also look forward to seeing new energy at this important corner of Valparaiso’s downtown.

Today:  We revisit our conversation with Purdue University Northwest criminal justice professor Nicky Jackson about her October 6th presentation on "Race and Wrongful Convictions," part of the university's series of conversations called  “Race, Racism, Anti-racism” which began earlier this month and continue into November.  The programs are offered on Zoom and Facebook Live.  State Representative Chris Chyung (D-Dyer) was a contestant on a new social media democracy game show series "Internet Expert," produced and put out on YouTube and other media by GBH (Boston).  We talk with Chris and the program's host Malick Mercier, a student journalist.  You can watch it here.   

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says Hoosiers can celebrate National Public Lands Day next weekend by supporting their favorite state property with volunteer work or simply visiting. National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort involving public lands. State park properties will have programs for visitors to volunteer as individuals or as part of many events across Indiana, but they can also choose to visit and just enjoy their favorite areas.

Today:  We talk with Indiana Youth Institute president and CEO Tami Silverman about her latest column topic: keeping Hoosier children healthy by feeding as well as we can during the coronavirus pandemic, when schools aren't able to help as much as in the past. Lake Area United Way president-CEO Lisa Daugherty is also with us to bring us up-to-date on programs that help working families-in-need in Lake County during the COVID crisis.  We have another conversation from the Welcome Project at Valparaiso University and the second part of Indiana Public Broadcasting's Ella Abbott's two-part series on "Sundown Towns" in Indiana: how the past is affecting present day life in those communities.

A seven-county region of northwest Indiana was designated a “21st Century Talent Region” by the state. It’s the eighth region to be recognized for having local groups work together on a shared workforce development agenda. 

The Environmental Protection Agency is facing a lawsuit for not setting limits for certain hazardous air pollutants at steel mills — like mercury and the cancer-causing chemical benzene.

Indiana is withdrawing from purchasing land for a fourth port. This comes three years after an agreement to potentially purchase the land was first signed.

CHESTERTON - Indiana Dunes National Park has a new introduction video, and it's going to be showcased in a fundraising gala for the park.

Dustin Ritchea, Production Director for Indiana Dunes Tourism, says the movie night fundraiser will be at the 49er Drive-In on October 8th.  The doors open at 5:30 p.m. with the first film starting at 6:30 p.m.  The event will also include a snack box, popcorn, live music from Johnny V. and a cash bar.

"The 49er Drive-In actually donated the venue for us to be able to do this as kind of a community outreach," Ritchea says.

Today:  Legacy Foundation president Carolyn Saxton talks about the cooperative initiative between the Lake County community foundation, the Knight Foundation, Indiana Black Expo and the cities of Gary and East Chicago to set up the COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund.  It's been designed to provide one-time grants to applicants that are minority-owned and operated businesses in both cities. Applications are being accepted now, with grants to be issued in October.  Indiana Public Broadcasting's Ella Abbott has the first of a two-part report on what are called "Sundown Towns," and the curator of the Samara House in West Lafayette, Linda Eales, joins us to tell us more about the 64-year-old landmark home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and the recent $1 million grant from Indiana Landmarks to help restore it to its original condition.

Today:   "Reporters Roundtable" guests today are "Post-Tribune" reporters Hannah Reed and Carole Carlson.  They talk about the stories they put out in print and online, and all involve public school districts.  Hannah's stories are about local schools either returning to in-person classes and the number of COVID-19 cases found during the first month of in-person classes.   Carole will talk about Portage Township Schools students returning to in-person classes next month, and about the Gary Common Council endorsement of the upcoming Gary Community Schools referendum vote.  The Council heard Manager Paige McNulty explain, before their vote, the eight-year $71.2 million referendum that would support the school district's operating costs. 

VALPARAISO -
The City of Valparaiso is helping to launch a new nonprofit organization created to assist qualifying homeowners in maintaining their homes.

Valparaiso Mayor Matt Murphy says Home Team Valpo is a way for the city and others to come together to help families make their homes safer and more  comfortable.  In partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Porter County, Home Team Valpo will be city-inspired and volunteer-driven.  Home Team Valpo will be about lifting up individuals and neighborhoods, improving quality of life, one home at a time, according to Murphy.  

Chris Nolte speaks with Rober Johnson about his work with ZOOM 

Chris Nolte speaks with Nicky Jackson about criminal justice reform

Today:   Northwest Indiana financial advisor Greg Hammer is with us to outline what he calls the Five Ways to Stop the "Pandemic Panic" when working on planning for retirement in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.  Side Effects Public Media reporter Darian Benson talked with some Hoosiers about the topic of racism in medicine, and she has a report.  And U.S. Census Bureau spokesperson Virginia Hyer gives us an update on how the all-important count of Americans this year is going, here in the Hoosier State.  The official count will end soon.