The Indiana Senate rejected a proposal Monday to expand health care coverage to low wage-earning Hoosier families from 2014 through 2016. Democrat Portage State Senator Karen Tallian of Portage says her amendment to Senate Bill 551 would have taken advantage of language in the federal health care law that fully funds the cost of expanding Medicaid for the first three years, making working families of four earning less than $33,000 eligible for care, and covering an estimated 400,000 more...

Read more: Indiana Senate Rejects Medicaid Expansion

Two big issues came before the Lake Ridge School Board last night, and nearly two-hundred people came out to the meeting as the board voted to close an elementary school... possibly Grissom or Hosford Park, according to the Times today. Board members also approved a motion to contract out janitorial and maintenance services starting in March... a couple months ago, the board voted not to contract out, but officials tell nwi-dot-com that the financial situation has become more bleak, and without...

Read more: Nearly 200 Attend Lake Ridge School Bd Mtg

Schererville Police report they are investigating an alleged fraud of a financial institutions in Lake County. Authorities report warrants have been issued for three individuals, Shaquille Jackson, Kourtney Smith, and Darnell Thompson, for their part in the alleged scam. According to the probable cause affidavit, the three are accused of opening accounts to be used for fraudulent activity.
# # #...

Read more: Three People Accused of Bank Fraud in Lake County

ABC News reports that while much of the country deals with increasing gas prices -- the U-S Energy Department says prices in Ohio have actually dropped 16 cents in the past week to 3.65 a gallon for regular unleaded. Drivers in Ohio are paying 14 cents less than they were a year ago. Compare that to California where drivers are now paying, on average, 4-21 a gallon and much more in LA and San Francisco.  As of today, Triple-A reported the current average for a gallon of regular unleaded in the...

Read more: Gas up 5 Cents from Last Week

A 26 year old Munster man has reportedly died as the result of a snowmobile crash in Wisconsin Sunday afternoon. The Times reports Justin Mulder allegedly failed to negotiate a corner while driving a snowmobile, left the roadway, and crashed into a wooded area. Published reports say alcohol and speed are believed to have played a factor in this crash, and an investigation continues....

Read more: Snowmobile Crash Claims Life of Munster Man

(Photo Courtesy of the Times)
Today's Times reports the jury is expected to begin deliberation tomorrow in the murder trial of 20 year old Dustin McCowan, who is accused of killing his former girlfriend, 19 year old Amanda Bach. Published reports say both the Defense and Prosecution will each be granted two hours a piece for closing arguments, before the jury is sent off to come up with a verdict, which must be a unanimous decision of guilty or innocent. For continuing coverage of the trial,...

Read more: McCowan Case Expected To Go To Jury Tomorrow

Legislation to spend funds on a program that would drug test some welfare recipients has passed the Indiana House, and now moves onto the Senate. Published reports say House Bill 1483 would require recipients of Temporary Aid for Needy Families benefits to take a written test that determines the propensity to use drugs with 90-percent accuracy. Recipients with a high propensity would then have a 50-50 chance of a forced drug test, and if a test comes back positive, recipients could continue...

Read more: Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Passes House

Now just days away from sweeping budget cuts known as sequestration, ABC News reports they'll hit every corner of government. The White House is circulating 50 lists of budget cuts in states where civilian jobs in the defense industry and some school money would be slashed. ABC's Ann Compton at the White House reports there are no active negotiations here as Congress returns to write a list of less painful cuts.
On the Indiana list, the White House says some examples this year are... the loss...

Read more: Sequester Impact on Indiana, March 1st

The town of Merrillville is working toward setting up a historic preservation commission... with the initial historic district along 73^rd Avenue, from Broadway to Madison Street. Along that stretch sits the Merrillville-Ross Township Historical Museum, a circa 1860s building that used to be a school. The Times today says the town council is expected to vote tomorrow (Tue 022613) on first reading of an ordinance to create the commission.
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/merrillville/commis...

Read more: Merrillville Looking at Historic District

Outdoor Indiana magazine’s March-April issue will have you thinking spring with a feature article on the upcoming massive bird migration at Indiana Dunes State Park.  Readers will learn how the park’s unique conditions allow for the sighting of 30,000 birds a day during March and April.
The 48-page full-color magazine also includes a removable eight-page insert on Tippecanoe River State Park. That article continues the magazine’s series in which one state park or reservoir property will be p...

Read more: Outdoor Indiana Says Think Spring