The Indiana Senate today approved an expansion of the state's school voucher program, but differences between what the House and Senate are seeking still need to be ironed out before the measure heads to the governor's desk. House Bill 1003 includes a number of changes, including lifting the cap of 15-thousand vouchers statewide and allowing siblings of children already receiving Choice scholarships to be eligible.
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Read more: Voucher Expansion Okayed

Officials with the Gary South Shore RailCats today announced two scheduled High School Challenge contests—West Side vs. Gavit and Hales Franciscan vs. St. Patrick—have been postponed due to inclement weather. Makeup dates have not yet been announced.
Additionally, the postponed Calumet vs. Hebron game has been cancelled and will not be made up due to scheduling conflicts.
The High School Challenge will continue on Friday, as TF North faces TF South at 4:30 followed by Westville against Hammond Academy at 7:30.
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Read more: Some HS Challenge Games Postponed

A man fixing a flat tire this morning ended up suffering a broken arm. Indiana State Police report the incident occurred just before 9am, on eastbound I-94, near the Portage exit. The man was injured when the jack slipped and the vehicle fell on his arm. Authorities report the man ended up taking himself to the emergency room for his injury. No further information is available.
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Read more: Man Fixing Flat Injured on Interstate

Washington, D.C.— Today, Senator Joe Donnelly announced that due to the Army’s decision to off-ramp four Indiana National Guard Units, he is here to help. In late March, the Army reversed its decision to immediately off-ramp four Indiana National Guard units, instead delaying this action, which would have significantly impacted more than 1,000 Guard members and their families, cutting off healthcare and employment. 
After hearing the Army’s plans to address sequestration cuts by replacing four Indiana National Guard units with active duty units for their deployments to the Horn of Africa and Sinai peninsula, Senator Donnelly sent a letterto the Secretary and the Chief of Staff of the Army asking him to reconsider his decision.  In late March, it was announced that the Army will be delaying the off-ramps, giving Guard members and their families additional time on payroll and with health benefits, allowing them the transition time they have earned.
“Indiana National Guard members and their families take many steps and make many sacrifices in order to prepare for their deployment,” Donnelly said.  “These men and women have delayed their educations, asked their employers to find replacement workers, and canceled or changed their leases on cars and homes.   The Army must make tough decisions when it comes to cutting spending under sequestration, but spending cuts should be done in common sense ways that do not abruptly disrupt the lives of Hoosier warfighters and their families.  I’m pleased that the Army has taken this first step and reconsidered the timing of its off-ramping orders after I asked that they reverse this short-fuse decision.  My office is here to help all of these families with any assistance they may need.”
In Senator Donnelly’s letter to Secretary of the Army John McHugh and Chief of Staff of the Army Raymond Odierno, he wrote that by choosing to send Active Component units instead of Indiana Guard units, it appeared to undermine the commitment the Army made to Indiana soldiers and their families with its October 2012 mobilization order.  Further, Senator Donnelly noted that his office had received three different cost-saving estimates from the Army, pointing to the possibility that the Army had not fully considered the impact of this decision.
Senator Donnelly will continue working to address specific concerns of families, such as healthcare, education, and housing.  His Indianapolis office can be reached at 317-226-5555 or any of the affected Guard members or their family members can learn about how Senator Donnelly’s office can help with casework here.   Read Senator Donnelly’s full letter to Secretary McHugh and Chief of Staff Odierno here. 
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Read more: Donnelly: I'm Here to Help Off-Ramped Guard Members

A 32 year old Gary man died this morning at an East Chicago hospital as the result of car accident. The Lake County Coroner's Office reports Robert Patterson died due to blunt force trauma, after a crash at occurred at 3am, at the intersection of Chicago Avenue and Grasselli Street, where his vehicle struck the railroad tracks, went airborne, and hit several trees.
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Read more: Gary Man Killled in East Chicago Crash this Morning

The Valparaiso Police Department is scheduled for an on-site assessment to achieve accreditation on next week and members of the community are invited to offer their comments at a public information session. The assessment will be administered by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., which requires agencies to comply with state-of-the-art standards in four basic areas: policy and procedures, administration, operation, and support services, and while this will take place between April 14^th through the 17^th, the public is invited out at 6pm, on April 16^th, at the Valparaiso Police Department, or by calling (219) 476-7955, between the hours of 1pm-3pm.  Telephone comments will be limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency's ability to comply with CALEA's standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Valparaiso
Police Department by contacting Sergeant Michael McLinn.
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Read more: Public Meeting 4/16 for Valpo PD CALEA Accreditation

INDIANAPOLIS—Nearly 20 million new sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) occur in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), costing Americans $16 billion. April is National STD Awareness Month and the Indiana State Department of Health encourages Hoosiers to discuss prevention and know the risks.
STD Awareness Month provides an opportunity for individuals, doctors, and community-based organizations to discuss prevention and testing for STDs, especially when it comes to Indiana’s youth. Half of all new sexually transmitted infections that occur each year are among youths.
“Education and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases is a high priority for Indiana,” said State Health Commissioner William VanNess, M.D. “STDs are responsible for several health problems like infertility and low birth weight. Testing and treatment are key, but prevention is best. I encourage parents and health care providers to have the conversation about prevalence and prevention now.”
Sexually transmitted diseases can be spread through vaginal, anal and oral sex. Having an STD can make you more likely to get HIV. Sexually-transmitted diseases can be passed to the baby before, during or after birth. An STD like syphilis can cross the placenta and infect the baby. Pregnant women with an STD could experience:
·         premature labor or rupture of the membranes
·         Stillbirth
·         Low birth weight
·         Preterm birth
 
Consistent and correct use of male latex condoms can reduce the risk of STD transmission.
In Indiana, Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are of particular concern. Chlamydia is the most frequently reported bacterial STD in Indiana and the United States. It is most often found in the 15-24 year old population, with 1-in-50 Indiana residents ages 15-19 infected. Most people affected with Chlamydia do not have symptoms. In 2011, there were 27,801 cases of Chlamydia reported in Indiana.
Gonorrhea is the second most commonly reported bacterial STD in Indiana and the United States, and is most often found in 15-24 year old population. In 2011, there were 6,569 cases of gonorrhea reported in Indiana and 1-in-250 Indiana residents ages 15-19 were infected. The complications of untreated Chlamydia and gonorrhea include pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility and ectopic pregnancy.
Syphilis can cause long term complications if not adequately treated and often symptoms may not been seen in the primary stage. Syphilis must be diagnosed through a blood test. In 2011, there were 173 cases of primary and secondary syphilis reported in Indiana, and 9-in-100,000 Indiana residents ages 20-24 have syphilis.
Most STDs can be treated however there are a variety of methods to prevent STDs. Effective ways to protect yourself and your partner from STD risk include abstinence, mutual monogamy with an uninfected partner, using latex condoms and vaccination, especially against hepatitis B and Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
Knowing your STD status is a critical step to stopping STD transmission. If you know you are infected you can take steps to protect yourself and your partners.
To learn more about STD Awareness Month, visit the Indiana State Department of Health at www.StateHealth.in.gov or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/std/sam/default.htm.
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Read more: April is National STD Awareness Month

Region residents may have to start shelling out more money if they want northwest Indiana road conditions to improve. The measure is part of the 2014-2015 budget, and according to published reports Jasper, Lake, LaPorte, Newton, and Porter Counties do not assess either the vehicle excise or wheel tax, which would be required as part of House Bill 1001. Proponents of the bill say it is only fair that local governments get as much revenue as possible from local sources before asking for additional funding. The Times reports State Representative Chuck Moseley, of Portage, says it seems the state is holding tax payers money hostage until they agree to pay even more. The legislation now heads to a House-Senate conference committee.
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Read more: New Budget May Cost Region More for Road Improvements

The Lake County Council on Tuesday voted four to three to approve a one-point-five percent assessment on the personal income of all county residents. Published reports say the more than 90-million dollars expected to be raised would be shared around the county to primarily benefit suburban property owners, and build local government budgets. A public forum is expected to be held before a second vote on the matter, which could happen at Council's next scheduled meeting on May 14^th.
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Read more: First Reading of Lake County Income Tax Passes 4-3

Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma is scheduled to return to the State House today after contracting an infection in his knee that he had replaced last summer. According to the House Communication Director, the Speaker will preside over the session, in part, and rest his knee in his office as need be. The infection required him to have surgery last week on Tuesday.
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Read more: Bosma Scheduled to Return to State House Today