Local News

DYER - Dairy Belle is coming to Dyer.  It's opening next to Pop's on U.S. 30, about three miles west of its existing location on U.S. 30 in Schererville.

The new ice cream parlor in Dyer will be around 1,800-square-feet with indoor seating, an outdoor patio and a drive-thru.  It will be the first Dairy Belle to occupy a newly constructed location, and it will be open year-round.  The Dyer location is projected to be open by mid-summer.

Today:   On this "Reporters Roundtable" Thursday,  NIPSCO communications manager Joshauna Nash is on "Regionally Speaking" to talk about several programs available through the Merrillville-based utility for customers to pay their bills if they've fallen behind, now that the statewide moritorium on disconnecting utility services during winter months has ended.  State Senator Eddie Melton (D-Gary) talks about the passage of House Enrolled Act 1006 -- one of the most important bills to pass the Legislature this session and is headed for the Governor's office.  The police reform measure includes de-escalation training for officers and a proper use-of-force training program.  "Indianapolis Star" Statehouse reporter Kaitlyn Lange comes on from the capital to talk about her stories in print and onlne this week.  They address concerns about courts charging people over age 21 for child molestation acts committed as teenagers.  One story focuses on the Senate committee hearing this week reviewing the measure.  

Today:  Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana president Matt Schuffert is on "Regionally Speaking" to talk about the new casino complex going up on I-80-94 and Burr Street in Gary.  Grand opening is coming soon.  "Post-Tribune" colummnist-writer Phil Potempa talks about the new film in production about the life of Belle Gunness. "The Farm" is being supported locally, directed by indy film director Tom Logan and stars Tracy Lords as the infamous LaPorte murderess.  And Indiana Public Broadcasting reporter Justin Hicks offers a feature about a Valparaiso woman who works during the pandemic as both a school bus driver and an Instacart personal shopper... and confronted her personal fears to help keep schools and businesses open.

Today:  Tim Winders, vice-chancellor at Purdue University Northwest, is on "Regionally Speaking" to talk about the virtual discussion program he's moderating on March 22nd. It's another in the virtual series of “On The Other Side” on cybersecurity, and it features local businesspeople as well as on-campus speakers.  Before that conversation, we talk with Indiana University Northwest associate vice-chancellor Cynthia O’Dell, who is coordinating “A Celebration of Faculty Research” this Friday morning.  Ten faculty members will present a series of eight-minute TEDx-style talks to enlighten the campus and community about the important work and impact of faculty scholarship.  We also feature another conversation in our "Reflections" series on Midwesterners whose lives were changed by COVID-19, and  with Indiana Youth Institute president-CEO Tami Silverman on the difficult issues facing Hoosier youth during the pandemic.

HAMMOND-Two brothers who owned a trucking company and received $13,000 from former Portage Mayor James Snyder can now testify without the worry of prosecution.

The "Times" reports U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly on Monday granted immunity to Robert and Stephen Buha.

The immunity is good as long as the Buhas don't commit perjury, give false statements or fail otherwise to comply with the order.  It is not known when the Buhas will be called to testify.

GARY -  Gary Mayor Jerome Prince may use federal COVID-19 relief money to improve infrastructure in the city.  On Friday Prince said he will form a planning team to potentially use the $83 million relief package funds to improve infrastructure throughout Gary, set up a reserve fund, and to generate new sources of revenue for the City.

Prince said the planning team will develop a comprehensive spending plan to get the most out of the relief funds and will study the legislation to ensure each step is in line with legislators’ intent.

MERRILLVILLE - Frank Mrvan, First District Member of Congress, had a conversation with Lakeshore Public Radio Show Host/Reporter Sharon Jackson about his new role as congressman, his top concerns and what he's working on currently.  The talk took place just before the American Rescue Plan (the COVID-19 relief package) was passed.  Mrvan also discussed his desire to help union members, steel workers, teachers and veterans. Here is that conversation.

Today:   Northwest Indiana "Times" prep sports reporter James Boyd is on "Regionally Speaking" to talk about his nomination for the Associated Press Sports Editors' contest for a long-form feature and a "Times" project last year.   He goes into detail for us about his nominated stories.   Final placements for the top 10 nominations will be announced soon.  Carrie Napoleon with the "Post-Tribune" is also on this Reporters' Roundtable Thursday to talk about her recent stories in print and online.  They include a feature on a northwest Indiana woman who survived COVID-19, but is still having problems.  And "Off Mic" host Michael Puente talks with the lady who is behind the "Gary For Life" project. 

Today:  We revisit our conversation with Jim Ventura of Maya Energy LLC, the company that is building a municipal solid waste and recycling processing facility on Gary's far west side.  Andy Campbell and Tara MacElmurry with NIPSCO talk about the "Your Energy, Your Future" renewable energy initiative,  beginning with two new wind turbine farms which are now online in northwest Indiana.  And we have another conversation in our series of conversations called "Reflections," on peoples' key moments in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.  This one is with the woman who was the first COVID-related  double lung-transplant recipient. 

Today:   Northwest Indiana immigration attorney Alfredo Estrada is on "Regionally Speaking" with the latest on local and national immigration issues, with his views on the potential changes coming from a change in presidential adminstrations.   We also have the first conversation in a series of conversations called "Reflections," on peoples' key moments in dealing with COVID-19.  And South Shore Clean Cities executive director Carl Lisek comes on the program to talk about the statewide expansion for the clean transportation organization, to take place this year.  It's being endorsed by the U.S. Department of Energy through its expansion of Clean Cities outreach activities.

GARY- Gary Police Officers responded at about 10:25 Monday morning to the 5100 block of Georgia Street for a death investigation. When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered an unresponsive infant male.

Officers immediately began trying to resuscitate the child. Gary Medics arrived and took over the care of the child while transporting him to the hospital.

Gary P.D. Public Information Officer, Lieutenant Dawn Westerfield said in a news release that all efforts were exhausted, but the child was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Today:   Beth Shrader, the city of Valparaiso's planning and transit director, is on "Regionally Speaking" to talk about the just-released comprehensive housing market study.  We have a "Facebook scam alert" from the Indiana State Police, and northwest Indiana financial advisor Greg Hammer joins us to talk about a special anniversary observance. March 16th marks one year since the Dow Jones Industrial Average had its largest drop in history.  And NIRPC chief transportation planner Mitch Barloga tells us about the northwest Indiana recipients of the state’s second round of Next Level grants to trail projects, including the Veterans Memorial Trail and Marquette Greenway. 

NORTHWEST INDIANA - Indiana Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch is set to share her perspectives on complex professional issues at the upcoming "Breaking the Glass Ceiling" webinar, being held Wednesday, March 10th.  It is hosted by the Northwest Indiana Influential Women Association.  

Association & Event Manager, Stephanie Vandiver says the web series is intended to help professionals empower their careers.  Each event features an accomplished guest presentation and a candid question-and-answer session.

NORTHWEST INDIANA - Congressman Frank Mrvan, of the 1st District of Indiana says passing the American Recovery Act is the most important aspect of his job currently.   He says making sure that congress has money going back to the cities, towns and states and making sure that schools have the funding to reopen is of key importance.

Today:   "Times" business reporter Joseph Pete is on "Regionally Speaking" to talk about the stories he's put out in print and online, including one about Southlake Mall in Hobart and another on the growing number of "dollar stores" in the Region.   Meals On Wheels NWI volunteer director Charlie Misovye talks about the organization and how you can get involved as a volunteer. It serves residents in Lake and Porter Counties, with the most urgent needs these days in Hammond, Gary, Miller, Hobart, Lake Station, Merrillville, Portage, and Lowell.

MERRILLVILLE - First graders from Fieler Elementary School in Merrillville are having their own March Madness through reading.

The experience is courtesy of their teacher, Miss Talian.  She set up a bracket with 16 books, and each student gets to choose the winning book in each bracket.

A virtual bracket posted in their Google Classroom has a read aloud for each book linked to the document, so students can listen to stories before they cast their votes on Fridays.

Today:   Bill Hanna, the chief executive officer for the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation, is on "Regionally Speaking" to talk about his role with the Foundation and its support of Lake and Porter County community projects and programs that promote health, wellness and offer economic development support.  Indiana University Northwest vice chancellor for university advancement and external affairs Jeri Pat Gabbert has an update on the just-completed I.U. Bicentennial campaign that's raised $10 million for the Gary campus.  She talks about the campaign's impact on the northwest Indiana community. And we bring back our conversation with Maya Energy LLC executive Jim Ventura about the solid waste and recyclables processing plant that will be built on Gary's west side.  Construction work on the site will begin soon.

Hoosiers 55 and older can now register for appointments to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The Indiana Department of Health announced the expansion Tuesday.

Today:   Anthony Swinger with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor  is on "Regionally Speaking" to talk about the impending changes to Hoosier phone service here in the area, beginning with a six-month transition period in late-April.  Everyone in the 219 or 574 area codes (landline, VOIP or cell) is being encouraged to use ten digits, rather than seven, when making local phone calls.  It's in preparation for the mandatory ten-digit call changes that will occur nationally this fall.  Anthony has all the information that callers need to know.  Gary's GIVE executive director Burgess Peoples also is on the program with details of a survey going out to seek qualified low-income residents, for a lottery to choose 125 recipients for monthly guaranteed income for one year in a pilot program. Mayor Jerome Prince announced the city's participation in the national GIVE program last week.

Today:    Jesse Kharbanda, executive director of the Hoosier Environmental Council, is on "Regionally Speaking" to bring us up-to-date on the bills dealing with the Indiana environment that are moving through the 2021 General Assembly session.  Donna Catalano, community development director of the Legacy Foundation, is also on the program with the latest on several programs she is involved in, including "NWI Biz Hub.com" and "Lake County Eats Local."  And Indiana Public Broadcasting's Lauren Chapman has a feature report on the effort by legislators to attempt to criminalize protestors.

Today:   "Times" chief political reporter Dan Carden is on "Regionally Speaking" to talk about the stories from the 2021 Indiana Legislature that he's put out in print and online.  Melina Rivera with Healthy Communities Of LaPorte County will talk about smoking cessation programs in her county and about a special Town Hall meeting to be conducted in Spanish tonight on Facebook Live.  It focuses on smoking and vaping and the impact they can have on dealing with the coronavirus.  

Today:  PNC Financial Services economist Abbey Omodunbi is on "Regionally Speaking" for an update on the northwest Indiana and Midwest economic views and outlooks.  We also bring back our recent conversation with northwest Indiana financial advisor Greg Hammer, and his recommendations on how to be able to plan for a comfortable retirement in 2021.  Side Effects Public Media reporter Darian Benson also has more on how healthcare professionals are encouraging adults to talk to children about mental health issues since they, too, are being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today:     Retired public school superintendents Tony Lux and Michael Berta and Merrillville Community Schools administrator Danny Lackey are on "Regionally Speaking" to talk about Thursday's first of a two-webcast series co-hosted by Purdue University Northwest and the Northwest Indiana Coalition for Public Education that will focus on education and race, as barriers to learning.  The virtual panel discussion is free and available to the public on the Purdue Northwest  YouTube channel.  We also have another conversation from the Welcome Project at Valparaiso University, a conversation with Griffith Town Council president Rick Ryfa on events and issues involving the town, and Indiana Youth Institute president and CEO Tami Silverman joins us for the latest on the 2021 "Kids Count Data Book" just released.

Today:    Northwest Indiana political activist Ruth Needleman is on "Regionally Speaking" to talk about the ongoing issue of immigration in the Region. She also suggests some interesting Black-themed movies to "binge watch." Purdue University Northwest professor Richard Rupp is also on the program to talk about the first of a series of Zoom conversations over the next few months that center around an exploration of the post-COVID world from differing viewpoints. The conversations are with PNW scholars and community experts, on the opportunity for re-invention. Indiana Humanities fellow and independent researcher Nicole Poletika also talks about her research project that centers around the 1972 National Black Political Convention held in Gary.  

Today:   "Post-Tribune" reporter Carrie Napoleon is on "Regionally Speaking" to talk about the stories about the city of Gary that she's posted online and print.  They include stories about the cleanup effort after the recent winter storms.  "Inside Indiana Business" host Gerry Dick spoke recently on his program with Gary Mayor Jerome Prince about his city's economic development successes and we have that conversation.  It includes the recent  announcements about Ackyumen Industries and the Hard Rock casino along I-80-94.  And Veterans Health Administration executive Dr. Patricia Hastings talks about the new Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pits Registry that Hoosier veterans -- especially Gulf War veterans -- should sign up to be included. It could offer them some medical assistance, if they show any symptoms of any health problems associated with their overseas duty.