(Photo Courtesy of the City of Gary)
A groundbreaking ceremony was held this morning in Gary for South Shore Commons, a 60-unit, two-story permanent supportive housing development for the homeless going up on vacant property on 20^th Avenue east of Grant Street, between Lincoln and Pierce Streets.
J. Forest Hayes, Director of the Gary Department of Commerce and Gary Economic Development Corporation, says the project is an example of collaborative efforts underway in the city.
The units are to be placed in service by the end of this year. Edgewater Systems for Balanced Living is partnering with U-P Development, Broadway Area Community Development Corporation, and N-S-P Consultants on the 12-million dollar project.
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Read more: Groundbreaking in Gary for South Shore Commons

NEWTON COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announces the closure of State Road 55 to through traffic between State Road 16 and State Road 114 beginning Monday, April 1^st through the end of June 2013. Crews will be replacing a bridge. All traffic will be restricted at the work site, one mile north of State Road 16.

A detour will take northbound SR 55 drivers west on SR 16, north on U.S. 41, east on SR 114, and back to SR 55. Southbound SR 55 drivers will travel west on SR 114, south on U.S. 41, east on SR 16, and back to SR 55.
INDOT reminds drivers to use caution and consider worker safety when driving through a construction zone. For the latest road closures and project updates from INDOT, like us at www.Facebook.com/INDOTNorthwest and follow us at www.Twitter.com/INDOTNorthwest.
You can find traffic restriction information at www.trafficwise.IN.gov.  Contact the LaPorte District toll free at 1-855-GO-INDOT.
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Read more: SR 55 Closure in Newton County Begins April 1st

(Photo Courtesy of the Times)
Sentencing is scheduled for April 26^th after a judge accepted a plea agreement in which a 24 year old Cedar Lake man pleaded guilty to arson and murder. Published reports say Anthony LaPorta could serve 62 years in prison for murdering a 32 year old neighbor,18 years for setting the victim's house on fire, and a two-year sentence after pleaded guilty to a separate incident of sexual battery of a minor, which would reportedly be served concurrently to murder and arson charges.
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Read more: Cedar Lake Man Pleds Guilty to Murder and Arson

East Chicago State Representative Earl Harris has been appointed to the Indiana House Midwest-Canada Relations Committee. The committee established in 1991 is a forum between eleven states and their counterparts from the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan to share and discuss ideas and mutual concerns, including law enforcement, border security and Great Lakes ports.
More recently, the committee has focused on trade-related issues, North American relations, and efforts to build an international bridge between Detroit and Windsor. “I’m honored to be appointed to this committee,” said Harris. “I look forward to working with my counterparts from other states and Canadian provinces to learn best practices and to discuss the issues that affect our communities. This is a great opportunity to share ideas with our neighbors.”  Harris also will serve on the committee with Reps. Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso) and Dennis Zent (R-Angola).
For more information go to www.indianahousedemocrats.org. You also can contact Harris at his Statehouse office at 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46204. His office can be contacted toll free at 1-800-382-9842, or via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Read more: EC Lawmaker on Canada Relations Cmte

Listen for tornado sirens in Lowell and other Indiana communities today. It's not because of approaching severe weather -- it's because today is the statewide tornado drill that's part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Indiana. 
The National Weather Service, in conjunction with Indiana State Police, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Iindiana Department of Education, and the Indiana Broadcasters
Association, will conduct a statewide test of emergency communications systems Wednesday March 27 between 900 am and 930 am Central Daylight Time and again between 630 pm and 700 pm Central Daylight Time.
A test Tornado Warning will be issued for all Indiana counties, and will be disseminated like an actual warning and broadcast on NOAA weather radio transmitters serving Indiana
with same/eas codes and the tone alert.
Meteorologists say it's be a good time for Indiana residents to review severe weather procedures and participate in a tornado drill whether at home. at work or at school.
To hear our interviews with Jim Allsopp, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service Chicago, and Valparaiso  University Meteorology Professor Dr. Bart Wolf on severe weather preparedness and safety, visit On Demand here at our website.
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Read more: Statewide Tornado Drill Today

The City of Gary is hosting groundbreaking today for South Shore Commons, a 60-unit, two-story permanent supportive housing development going up on a piece of vacant property on 20^th Avenue east of Grant Street, between Lincoln and Pierce Streets. Edgewater Systems for Balanced Living is partnering with UP Development, Broadway Area Community Development Corporation, and NSP Consultants on the 12-million dollar project
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Read more: South Shore Commons Groundbreaking

Legislation on Griffith's attempt to leave Calumet Township has changed again. The measure, House Bill 1585, was approved by the Indiana House 66-to-32 last month. A Senate panel has now restored the opportunity for residents to vote on the issue, but only under certain conditions. The referendum option, which was in the House version, was removed altogether earlier this month by a different Senate committee. The town says they send significantly more in tax dollars to the township than they get back.
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Read more: Griffith 'Secession' Bill Changes Again

The state's highest court has unanimously upheld Indiana's school vouchers law. The 5-0 decision in the case of Meredith et al v. Pence et al, affirmed a lower court and ruled that House Enrolled Act 1003 of 2011 (Public Law 92) does not violate the Indiana Constitution. As lawyer for state government, Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller's office defended the statute -- he says the Indiana Supreme Court found that the Legislature, in creating a voluntary program to broaden educational alternatives for Hoosier children followed the Indiana Constitution by leaving the decision whether and where to use a scholarship to qualifying students and their families.
The Choice program was being challenged in court by the Indiana State Teachers Association. Governor Mike Pence issued a statement following the decision, saying he has “long believed that parents should be able to choose where their children go to school, regardless of their income.” The Indiana Choice Scholarship Program was enacted in May of 2011. Pence also said the state must continue to find ways to expand educational opportunities for all Indiana families.
Rep. Vernon G. Smith (D-Gary), ranking Democratic member on the House Education Committee.Smith, also an education professor at Indiana University Northwest, reacted to the decision saying he thought it was "unfortunate that the Supreme Court made the decision that it made," and that he is hoping that those "who believe that it is unconstitutional" will "continue to pursue other avenues to stop the decimation of public education".
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Read more: Indiana Voucher Law Upheld 5-0

Police in Portage are trying to sort out what happened to prompt a dispute that led to an apparent stabbing incident between two men in which both were injured. Sgt. Keith Hughes says it happened in the 61-hundred block of McCasland Avenue. The SWAT team was callled out and yesterday morning's search for a suspect eventually led to the second individual being taken into custody outside an apartment complex on Canden Avenue, and he and the other man were both taken to an area hospital. Their injuries are NOT believed to be life-threatening, according to police.  Sgt Hughes says at this point they are still gathering information.
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Read more: Two Injured in Portage Stabbing

Valparaiso City Council and Center Township have approved the creation of a fire territory, pending approval by Indiana's Department of Local Government Finance. Published reports say the territory encompasses the city and unincorporated areas of the township, and will take effect July 1^st if approval is granted. A five-member board will reportedly oversee the operation. The total rate is about 28-cents per one-hundred dollars of assessed value, so the owner of a one-hundred-thousand dollar home in the city will reportedly see an annual increase of about three-dollars-36-cents, while an owner of a similar home in the township will see an annual increase of about 42-dollars.
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Read more: Fire Territory Approved Pending Approval