The U-S Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois today announced a 19-year East Chicago police officer has been indicted on federal fraud charges for allegedly taking part in a ghost-payroll scheme for nearly three years while working three different part-time security jobs in addition to his full-time law enforcement duties. Federal authorities say 42-year-old Robert Aponte has been charged with six counts of mail fraud and six counts of wire fraud in an indictment returned by a federal...

Read more: Longtime East Chicago Police Officer Indicted

The Wednesday, February 6th Powerball jackpot grew to an estimated 217-point-two million-dollars, and Powerball officials say there was one grand prize winning ticket sold in the state of Virginia. The jackpot will reset to forty-million dollars for the next draw.
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Read more: Powerball $217M Jackpot Ticket in Virginia

An eleven-year veteran of the Indiana State Police who started his career at the Lowell Post, where he worked in Lake, Starke, and Pulaski Counties, is now the squad leader for troopers who work in Elkhart County, out of the Bremen Post. Officials say Sgt. Jason Ginder earned the promotion through written testing and a competitive interview process. Ginder, originally from Whitehall, Pennsylvania, moved to Indiana in 2001 when he was hired by the state police.
Indiana State Police say during his...

Read more: Elkhart County Squad Sgt Named for Bremen Post

The Challenger Learning Center of Northwest Indiana is hosting Valentine's Day themed events this Saturday, February 9th.  The center will feature a planetarium show, laser light show and a Valentine's themed couple's mission.

The planetarium show, Winter Sky Show and Perseus and Andromeda, will show participants what to look for on clear winter nights before the tale of the star-crossed lovers, Perseus and Andromeda, and their quest to be together.  Planetarium shows begin at 2p.m. and 3:15p.m.
T...

Read more: Valentine Events that are Out of This World

[Graphic/ShakeOut.org]
Today is the third Great Central United States ShakeOut. The Indiana Department of Homeland Security is encouraging all Hoosiers to register and participate in the annual earthquake drill on February 7.  For info, visit www.ShakeOut.org/centralus l. Registered participants will receive information on how to plan their drill and how to create a dialogue with others about earthquake preparedness. All organizers ask is that participants register (so they can be counted and...

Read more: Indiana, Midwest Earthquake Drill Today

Gary city officials have a new way of letting residents stay informed on legislative action that affects their city and the Region. City Hall has announced that starting today [Thursday February 7, 2013] from 5 to 6 p.m. Central Time and each Thursday from 5-to 6 p.m. until April 25^th of this year Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson wants to you call in to hear legislative updates and ask questions. The Mayor's Office says Gary state lawmakers Representatives Charlie Brown and Vernon Smith and...

Read more: Gary Mayor Starts Call-In for Legislative Updates

Indiana Department of Environmental Management Commissioner Tom Easterly is scheduled to visit northwest Indiana this morning. He'll be making a presentation before Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission Environmental Management and Policy Committee at 9 am. Kathy Luther, Director of Environmental Management at NIRPC, says Easterly’s visit is a great chance for the Region to share its concerns with IDEM and see how the area fits into the statewide environmental picture.
More info from...

Read more: IDEM Commissioner to Visit the Region

Today [ Thursday, Feb. 7] – NASA Astronaut and current commander of the International Space Station, Kevin Ford will have a conversation live from space with members of the Indiana Senate this afternoon. The conversation will be streamed live over the Internet, and schools around the state are being invited to watch the exchange. Ford is from Montpelier, Indiana, and his older brother David Ford, was a state senator before passing away at the age of 59 from complications related to pancreatic c...

Read more: Conversation From Space with Indiana Senate

INDIANAPOLIS – Today the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee approved a bill authored by Rep. Shelli VanDenburgh (D-Crown Point) that toughens penalties on those who kill law enforcement animals.
            House Bill 1093, coauthored by Rep. Linda Lawson (D-Hammond), passed with a 12-0 vote and will now be presented to the full House for consideration.
            VanDenburgh’s legislation requires courts to order those convicted to pay restitution for police animals that are killed or pe...

Read more: Bill to Protect Law Enforcement Animals Goes to House

It was announced today that the East Chicago Fire Department will be receiving a grant for just over 72-thousand dollars, which will be used to replace a number their radios. Chief Emiliano Perez says the grant money comes at a critical time for their department, as they are facing financial restraints that impact the manner in which they operate. Along with East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland, Chief Perez thanked Congressman Pete Visclosky for looking out for their interests.
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Read more: East Chicago Fire Department Gets $72,450 Grant