Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch

Gov. Eric Holcomb and Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch were sworn in for their second terms Monday at a ceremony that – because of COVID-19 – lacked the crowd and much of the pomp and circumstance from four years ago.

A last-minute change to a bill at the Statehouse in the days before the 2020 legislative session came to an end opens the door for charter schools to receive property tax funding through referendum measures. Lawmakers approved the multi-purpose bill on the last day of session after more than an hour debating the language.

Today:   Lake County Coronor Merilee Frey spoke to a local group about the area's opioid crisis and we bring you the conversation we had with her after the meeting. A little later in the program, we have another new Indiana state legislator from northwest Indiana -- State Rep. Carolyn Jackson (D-1), who defeated Libertarian Party candidate Donna Dunn in the Nov. 6 general election to represent residents of sections of Hammond and Whiting.  She talks about the issues she raised during the campaign that got her elected, many of which she says came from residents she spoke with.

Today:    On this Reporters' Roundtable Thursday, we talk with Lauren Cross of the "Times of Northwest Indiana" about the stories she's posted online and in print in the newspaper, inckuding her exclusive conversaton with former FBI director James Comey -- the first speaker in this year's Purdue University Northwest Sinai Forum series.   He comes into northwest Indiana on Sept. 9th. By the way, the tickets for the entire season of speeches are already sold-out.  We also spoke with Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and "Northwest Indiana Gazette" publisher Ken Davidson.