Authorities say a 74-year-old Griffith man was pronounced dead early today after fire broke out at his home in the 400 block of Arbogast. Griffith Fire crews got the call shortly after 2:30 this morning.  The Lake County Coroners office says Maurice Campbell was pronounced dead at his home shortly after 5 am, and Griffith Police, Fire and the State Fire Marshal are investigating.  Griffith Police say there appears to be no indication of foul play.  There is no word on a possible cause at this ti...

Read more: Griffith Man Pronounced Dead After House Fire

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller today announced more than four-point-one million dollars in Unclaimed Property was returned to Region residents or former residents of Northwest Indiana last year. Statewide, over 44-million dollars in unclaimed property was reunited with Hoosiers in 2012.... and still, 400-million dollars worth of unclaimed assets remain ... more than 43-million dollars of it in the Region.
Unclaimed property includes investment earnings, insurance proceeds and benefits,...

Read more: $4. 1M in Unclaimed Property to Region Residents

STATEHOUSE (Jan. 17, 2013) – State Sen. Tom Wyss (R- Fort Wayne) today announced his legislation to protect students while in school moved out of the Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law. Senate Bill 160 passed the committee Tuesday by a vote of 9-0.
Currently, school corporations can request either a national criminal history background check or a background check that searches state records. SB 160 would remove the second option and mandate any prospective school employee to undergo a...

Read more: Bill Requires Natl Backgd Checks for School Workers

News Release: INDIANAPOLIS— During a press conference Wednesday morning, State Senator Karen Tallian (D-Ogden Dunes) presented her proposal for the implementation of guidelines within the federal Affordable Care Act. Flanked by democrats from both the Indiana Senate and House of Representatives, Sen. Tallian outlined her plan for a state health exchange and expansion of health care to as many as 400,000 more of the state’s residents.
Senate Bill (540) makes provisions for a state-based...

Read more: Sen Tallian Proposes 'Health Care Expansion' Bill

News Release: CLAYTON, Ind. (Jan. 17, 2013) - Gordmans, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMAN), a national apparel and home décor retailer, announced plans today to locate a distribution center here, creating up to 250 new jobs by 2017.
The Omaha, Neb.-headquartered company plans to construct and equip a 545,000 square-foot facility in Hendricks County to support Gordmans' continued growth. The facility will be the company's second distribution center in the Midwest and, including construction and equipment costs,...

Read more: Natl Retail Co Opening Distribution Ctr in Ind

Despite a windy day Tuesday, the ribbon has been cut on the rooftop of Porter County Career and Technical Center completing the latest phase of a student built solar panel collection project.  Along with top management from NIPSCO, including the utility company's president, Kathleen O'Leary, their were faculty members, current and former students at Tuesday's ceremony.  Valparaiso Councilwoman, Jan Dick represented the Valparaiso Redevelopment Corp., which according to the school's principal and...

Read more: Solar Panels Unveiled atop Region Tech School

The Hobart Police Department wants to let you know they are holding a prescription drug take-back program to so you can get rid of expired, unused, or unwanted prescriptions or over-the-counter medication. Police report residents just need to remove all labels and other identifying information from containers before dropping the items off in the drop box installed in their department's lobby, located on the seven-hundred block of East 4^th Street. Police also remind you that syringes and lancets...

Read more: Hobart PD Now Holding P2D2 Program

Everyone is invited to a special presentation this Monday in Valparaiso focusing on the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Junior talent as a bridge builder. Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas will host a presentation entitled, “ Embracing Inclusion”, which will take place at 9am Monday, at City Hall, in conjunction with Valparaiso University. The presentation is part of a week of events celebrating Doctor King, entitled “Building Bridges: Dream, Dialogue, Service. For a complete list of events and tim...

Read more: Valpo Events for MLK Day

The Humane Society of the United States today released its 2012 "Humane State Ranking," rating all fifty states and Washington DC on a wide range of laws ranging from animal fighting to farm animals to wildlife to companion animals. Though Indiana's score went up from last year, the state came in fifth from the bottom, the report saying Indiana has weak laws protecting wildlife from abuse and prohibiting the possession of dangerous exotic animals as pets. Illinois, however, was ranked near the...

Read more: IN Near Bottom of 2012 Humane State Ranking

The Salvation Army of Lake County reports they are just under 90-thousand dollars, or seven-point-eight percent, short of meeting the goal of their annual Christmas campaign. At last check, they report the campaign has raised one-million-50-thousand-564 dollars toward their goal of one-million-140-thousand dollars, which translates into 27-thousand-400 people through Lake County not receiving services. The Salvation Army of Lake County reports they are asking friends, family, and you for help,...

Read more: Salvation Army Making Last Push for Campaign Goal