Local News

EAST CHICAGO -  Just over 100 East Chicago kids will be getting a job this year in the city's 2017 Summer Youth Employment Program. 

Malcolm Jones, Multi Media Associate for the city of East Chicago, says the program is conducted every year and the number of kids employed in it varies. "We have youth that works in various departments such as public works, the parks department, and just so many other departments where young people are able to get experience that they can definitely use in the future such as experience they can use in college" Jones said.

John Cain, host of Eye on the Arts, talks with Phil Potempa, Marketing Director for Theatre at the Center, about the upcoming performance of "Cabaret," from May 4th through June 4th. 

Four years after a giant sand dune swallowed a 6-year-old Illinois boy, the beach at Mount Baldy will be reopening on a date still to be determined.  Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Public Information Officer Bruce Rowe says three and a half years ago Mount Baldy started developing holes that scientists didn't know about.

Rowe says two research projects have been conducted at Mount Baldy.  The first was by Indiana University Northwest.  The study indicated the holes are being formed by trees that rot away under the dune.   

On this edition of "Regionally Speaking," Tom Maloney filled-in for Chris Nolte on the "Reporter's Round Table Wrap-up."

He spoke with Dan Carden, Statehouse Reporter for The Times, about statewide alcohol legislation, road funding, and the South Shore expansion through the Region. Lakeshore Public Radio Reporter Steven Lattimore spoke to Tom about the "People's Climate Rally" march from the past weekend.

He spoke with Carole Carlson, of the Post-Tribune, about the passing of Munster and Lake Station's school referendums and the failing of East Chicago's.

The Indiana Democratic Party says a Congressional vote to repeal and replace Obamacare takes health care away from millions just to fulfill a political promise.

The Republican health care bill includes a trillion dollar tax cut – mostly for wealthier Americans – and cuts billions in government spending. And U.S. Rep. Luke Messer (R-Shelbyville), speaking on the House floor, says, most importantly, it repeals Obamacare.

Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson will seek a second full term next year in the statewide office she’s held since 2012.

In a video statement, Lawson, a Republican, announced her decision to run for re-election in 2018 by talking about the work her office has done, particularly in what she calls “election integrity.”

Today:   An extended review of Tuesday's three public school referenda elections in Lake County -- East Chicago, Lake Station and Munster.  We have comments from School Town of Munster Superintendent Jeffery Hendrix, Lake Station Community Schools Superintendent Thomas Cripliver, a statement from School City of East Chicago Superintendent Paige McNulty and the director of the Lake County Board of Elections, Michelle Fajman, whose staff counted the votes from the three communities. 

LOWELL - Governor Eric Holcomb is looking toward what we, collectively as a state, want Indiana to be in five to 20 years.  He spoke of the accomplishments of the 2017 Indiana Legislative session with Lakeshore Public Radio's Sharon Jackson and what he thinks will help get the state to where it needs to be.  

The Governor said the state needs to address the drug epidemic that's sweeping across the entire country.  

Holcomb is also looking toward protecting some important recognition that Indiana had recently received the top ranking for state government effectiveness.

Today:   Tom Pappas of the city of Portage veterans committee joins us in the studio with the latest on what the committee will talk about on Wednesday night in Portage, along with how well Hoosier veterans' groups did in their negotiations with state legislators, and a big "scam alert" for veterans who call the wrong VA Choice toll-free phone number. (Hint: The official number is an 866, not 800 phone number).

This weekend 200,000 people converged on Washington DC to make a statement about the   environment, jobs and justice. There were roughly 50 Northwest Indiana residents who were there to advocate for keeping Environmental Protection Agency funding intact among other things.  Steven Lattimore was there...

Thousands turned out this weekend for the People's Climate Rally in Washington D.C. Among them were a bus-load of residents from East Chicago. Residents there are very concerned about the climate and the environment because they are dealing  with the effects of lead poisoning in the air, ground and water. Steven Lattimore has the story.

Help for East Chicago is pouring into the area by the truck load. The Rotarians have just delivered the largest bottled water donation to date over 40 thousand bottles of water. Steven Lattimore has the story

SCHERERVILLE--The Lake County Sheriff's Department are asking the public for information concerning the whereabouts of a 14-year-old girl who has been missing since Friday, April 28th.  Sheriff's office Spokesman Mark Back said, police responded to a call regarding a possible runaway juvenile on the 1100 block of E. Highway 330.  After speaking with her parents around 1 A.M. Friday, police initiated a search for Amelia May King.

One of Indiana's newest members of the General Assembly came into the Lakeshore Public Radio studios on Monday to talk about his first trip to Indianapolis to serve as a lawmaker and a bill he sponsored that started out his Indiana Legislature career. 

Today:  An extended conversation with Indiana State Senator Eddie Melton (D-Merrillville), on his first (and very busy) General Assembly session.  He talks at length about his Senate Enrolled Act 567, which creates the mechanism for a state-appointed emergency manager for the Gary Community School Corp., a financial management board and where the Mayor of Gary, the elected School Board and Superintendent Cheryl Pruitt fit into the efforts in helping resolve the academically- and financially-troubled school district's longtime problems.  A public forum with Melton and his north Lake County

John Cain, host of Eye on the Arts, talks with Linda Wilczynski, about her solo show "Vivian Leigh: The Last Press Conference," at the Towle Theater in Hammond, running May 5th through the 21st.

The I-65 Northwest Indiana Expansion Project is now officially underway.  It's part of the Major Moves 2020 Expansion Project.  Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, State Representative Ed Soliday and Indiana Department of Transportation Commissioner Joe McGuinness were all in attendance at a groundbreaking Friday at the I-65 southbound weigh station at mile marker 241.  At the event Holcomb said the I-65 expansion is important for the entire state.

Now that the Kankakee River is a designated Water Trail, the Northwest Indiana Paddling Association is looking to continue to offer educational opportunities and to further brand the Kankakee River as a National Water Trail.   Dan Plath is the Chief of Resource Management for the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and the former President of the Northwest Indiana Paddling Association.  He says the National Water Trail designation could offer great benefits to the Region.

Today:  It's another Reporters' Round Table discussion of the big news stories of the week here in northwest Indiana.

Times of Northwest Indiana health and healthcare business reporter Giles Bruce, Post-Tribune reporters Carole Carlson and Carrie Napoleon and Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations education reporter Claire Mcinerny join us to talk about the stories and issues.

Another day, another water drive in East Chicago. The crisis is moving people from all over Northwest Indiana to come to the aid of residents in the Calumet neighborhood of East Chicago. Lakeshore Public Radio's Steven Lattimore has the story.