Local News

Today:    "Indiana Gaming Insight" and "Indiana Legislative Insight" newsletter creator and editor Ed Feigenbaum is on "Regionally Speaking" to talk about the latest topics coming out of the state's gaming industry and the 2021 General Assembly session.  Purdue Northwest honors student Kayla Vasilko joins us to tell us about a silent movie actress who was born in Michigan City -- and later became famous as an auto racing driver -- is the subject of an exhibit that is coming to the LaPorte County Historical Museum later this month, along with a documentary film about her.  And Phil Bauman with the Northwest Indiana Sympohony Orchestra talks about the first two concerts of the spring 2021 season, to be held both in-person and virtually.  

CHESTERTON - Indiana Dunes National Park is looking for volunteers for it first-ever Indiana Dunes Trash Trekkers Earth Day Cleanup.

Registration is now open.  This year’s cleanup is Thursday, April 22, from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Supervisory Park Ranger and Public Information Officer Bruce Rowe
says volunteers and park employees will work together to collect a winter’s worth of trash and debris.

Today:  Northwest Indiana financial advisor Greg Hammer is on "Regionally Speaking" to talk about Financial Literacy Month, which is the month of April.  He has some tips and tools to help establish and maintain some healthy financial habits.  "Post-Tribune" freelance reporter Carole Carlson is with us to talk about her stories, including the news of a new mass vaccination site coming to the city of Gary.  "Times" business reporter Joseph Pete covers his recent stories in print and online from the Region business world. And we bring back our conversation about Meals On Wheels in northwest Indiana, with volunteer coordinator Charlie Misovye.

CROWN POINT — A Gary woman has agreed to plead guilty to battery charges for allegedly attacking an elementary school teacher and a principal after her son went missing from school in 2018. Thirty-two-year-old Latashay Bonner agreed Tuesday to plead guilty to felony battery resulting in moderate bodily injury and misdemeanor battery resulting in bodily injury. A Lake County judge must accept the plea agreement, which also calls for Bonner to undergo anger management.

Today:  Michigan City Chamber of Commerce president Katie Eaton is on "Regionally Speaking" to talk about the next community job fair hosted by the Chamber, along with city and LaPorte County organizations and agencies, on April 13th at Blue Chip Casino.   We revisit our conversation with NIRPC executive director Ty Warner about a recent report on "e-commerce" in northwest Indiana.   And we also have another in our Reflections" series of conversations with Midwesterners and how their lives have been changed by the pandemic.  This feature is about an Indianapolis nurse.  

Today:    Indiana political analyst Andy Downs is on "Regionally Speaking" to talk about what's happened or about to happen during the 2021 General Assembly session, including the review of bills for the next two-year state budget.  There are conversations on "Neighborhood Voice" from the Legacy Foundation and  from the Welcome Project at Valparaiso University ,   Indiana Public Broadcasting reporter Rebecca Thiele also has another "one year later" conversation during the COVID-19 pandemic -- this time she checks back with an Indianapolis supermarket butcher who contracted the virus since their first conversation.

GARY- A mass vaccination site is being placed in Gary by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the State of Indiana.  U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan and City of Gary Mayor Jerome Prince both commented on the initiative on Monday expressing their excitement.

Prince says the mass vaccination site will be a game-changer as we continue to fight this historic pandemic.  He thanked Congressman Mrvan, the State of Indiana, the city's federal partners and the Gary Community School Corporation for providing space at Roosevelt High School.

Valprasio Univ. assistant Intrem Provost for Inclusion and Retention Byron MArtin on celebrating the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and achievements.

Today:  Valparaiso University administrator Byron Martin is on "Regionally Speaking" to talk about the annual (held virtually this year) celebration of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (pictured here in Indiana) on April 7th.  This year's program is entitled "Lessons from the Movement."  Reporter/host Sharon Jackson speaks with a motivational speaker who is coming to Indiana University Northwest.  Ivy Tech Community College  Lake County drector of student life Iris Sanchez and board member Jena Belleza talk about the 8-week-long "Student Success" course for parents of middle schoolers at the Charter School of the Dunes.  It offers help for parents who may never have gone to college what the benefits of college education can be for their children. And Indiana Public Broadcasting reporter Rebecca Thiele checked back  with janitor Dennis Osborn (to whom she first spoke at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic), to see how he's doing, one year later.

GARY - A motivational speaker, who was homeless after dropping out of high school will be giving a virtual talk to help inspire students for IU Northwest.   Roy Juarez Jr. the CEO of ImpactTruth, a human development company, will impart to students the true importance of higher education. Juarez Jr. says he will use his personal story growing up as a homeless teenager to convey the message, which includes the day his life took a turn when he snuck into a hotel to eat.

GARY- Gary Mayor Jerome Prince Wednesday again encouraged city residents to get any of the three available COVID-19 vaccinations to help Gary make strides in the fight against the pandemic.

Prince said in a news release that he received the single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine during a mass vaccination event at Calumet New Tech High School Sunday and that it was important to demonstrate the safety of the vaccine and to set an example of leadership in Gary.  He also is calling on other city elected officials to get vaccinated.

Today:   Immigration attorney Alfredo Estrada is back on "Regionally Speaking" with the latest on immigration issues across the nation and in northwest Indiana.  Lakeshore Public Radio's Sharon Jackson reports on what the Governor had to say on Tuesday afternoon  about the path that the Hoosier State is taking out of the pandemic. And Side Effects Public Media reporter Natalie Krebs has another report in our "Reflections" series of conversations about people dealing with the pandemic. This report focuses on hospitals and healthcare workers.

Today:    Valparaiso University President Jose Padilla (shown here during his first official day's visit out on campus) is on "Regionally Speaking" to talk about himself, his new position as the university's president and his vision for the future of the university.  Indiana Public Broadcasting's Pria Mahadevan has a feature on the challenges that Hoosier childcare providers are facing during the pandemic.  We talk with Susan Ticen, the operations manager of Purdue University's Surplus Operation, to find out more about the facility on the West Lafayette campus and what items are brought in from campus buildings -- including Purdue Northwest -- for sale to the public.  What they sell may surprise you.  And we have more conversations from the Welcome Project at Valparaiso University.

Today:   PNC Financial Services Group economist Abbey Omodunbi is on "Regionally Speaking" with his monthly report on the local and national economies, and with news of what PNC economists learned from interviewing  small- and mid-sized businesses across the country on whether they will be permanently changed by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Indiana Public Broadcasting reporter Gemma DiCarlo has a feature on House Bill 1367, a measure that was supposed to focus on just a local education issue, but ended up bringing both controversy and confrontation between Black legislators and their Republican colleagues.  And Lakeshore PBS production chief Tony Santucci joins us to talk about the new season of "Eye On The Arts" and "In Studio," both programs beginning this week.  He says there are some changes in the "Eye On The Arts"  television program format.

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.