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Indiana Concerned Over States' Rights

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State lawmakers in Indiana concerned over the rights of states are calling for a US Constitutional Convention. The state Senate this week approved legislation to 'place a check on federal government overreach'. Indiana Senate President Pro-Tem David Long says the measures include a joint resolution exercising Indiana's authority to call for a “convention for proposing amendments” to the Constitution, specifically confined to limiting Congress' power to tax and regulate commerce.
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VU Hosting Horizon League Mens BB Tourney

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Tickets are now on sale for the Horizon League Men's Basketball Championships, which are being hosted at Valparaiso University for the second year in a row. VU clinched the #1 seed on Tuesday night with their victory over Youngstown State, a victory which also clinched the hosting honors for the VU ARC. The Horizon League Tournament will begin Friday, March 8th. The top-seeded Crusaders first game will be Saturday night, March 9th, at 7pm, on national television with ESPNU. The Title game will...

Portage Yacht Club Demolition Nears

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The Portage Redevelopment Commission has opened bids from several companies to tear down the Portage Yacht Club. The building, now owned by the city, is just north of Interstate 94 off State Road 149 and according to the Times would need a lot of work done to bring it up to standards. It used to be a club for employees of the former Midwest Steel.
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/portage/bids-taken-to-demolish-portage-yacht-club/article_d5fd3f8f-8f2b-51e6-b760-7f133e2d80d3.html
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Indiana Says Benefits to Continue

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State officials say unemployment benefits will not be affected by the sequester, through the week ending March 9^th... and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development will continue with full payment of extended benefits until further notice. Hoosiers in their first 26 weeks of unemployment are paid out of state funds.
Statement:
Indiana Receives Requested Guidance, Unemployment Benefits to Continue
"In response to the State of Indiana's request for additional guidance, late this afternoon the...

Illinois Might Limit Tackling at HS FB Practice

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Illinois lawmakers are considering a measure to limit tackling at high school football practice to once a week due to concern over concussions and brain damage. Illinois State Representative Marcus Evans of Chicago supports the idea, but thinks it might also be helpful to make sure coaches are better trained in preventing head injuries. The bill sponsor says she may amend the bill to allow tackling twice a week instead. Opponents argue this is a matter for the Illinois High School Sssociation...

Prostitution Sting in Merrillville

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Seven women, ranging in age from 24 to 29, were arrested during an undercover prostitution sting in Merrillville earlier this month, authorities say. Lake Station Police say they received several complaints from citizens regarding people advertising prostitution at online classified ad sites, and that several of the subjects were from the Lake and Porter County area, including Lake Station. The sting was conducted by Lake Station Police together with the Porter County Drug Task Force .
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Four Arrested in MC for Allegedly Selling Drugs

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Michigan City Police today announced the arrest of four men for narcotics related charges. Police say the Street Crimes Unit had received information that drugs were being distributed out of the 21-hundred block of Elston Street and Pop's and GeeGee's Store, located in the four-hundred block of Willard Avenue. An investigation culminated with the arrest of 68 year old Willie Martin Sr., 30 year old Willie Martin Jr., 39 year old Robert Martin Sr., and 24 year old Duane Altman. Authorities...

Pelath: Tri-Partnership Doing Nothing for Middle Class this Session

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INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana House Democratic Leader Scott Pelath of Michigan City today issued the following statement on the first half of the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly:
“At the halfway point of this session, it would be good to report that the Legislature has taken significant strides to help the middle class in Indiana: creating good-paying jobs, taking the pressure off the middle class, and helping our public schools recover from the body blows of recent years.
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Indiana Hits Record High Export Level in 2012

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New data announced today by the International Trade Administration shows Indiana merchandise exports increased seven-percent in 2012 compared to the previous year, a record high. Mark Cooper, Director of the U-S Commercial Service in Indianapolis says, “many Indiana exporters continue to do very well in their global sales, but there's excellent potential to increase the numbers of exporting companies and the number of markets they are currently selling to.” Indiana's top exporting merchandise sa...

Nominations Now Accepted for Influential Women of NW IN

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(Photo Courtesy of Influential Women of Northwest Indiana)
Nominations are currently being accepted to recognize the abundance of talented and successful women we have in Northwest Indiana. The Influential Women of Northwest Indiana committee reports nominations can be submitted for the event, which takes May 23^rd, at Avalon Manor, in Merrillville, in a variety of categories, including Service and Tourism, Healthcare, Government, and Economic Development.
To submit a nomination,and for a full...

Sequestration Could Cancel South Shore Air Show

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As the deadline for possible sequestration nears, so does the impending fate of the 14^th Annual South Shore Air Show, currently scheduled for July 12^th, 13^th, and 14^th on the beaches of the newly renovated Marquette Park in the Miller section of Gary. The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority reports the decision on whether to host the 2013 South Shore Air Show will be made sooner than later, and the show's organizing committee is currently contemplating the numerous factors affected by...

Donnelly on Sequester Cuts and its Impact on Hoosiers

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Washington, D.C. — Senator Joe Donnelly spoke today with Indiana media to discuss the impact of the indiscriminate spending cuts known as sequestration on Hoosiers. Indiana will see deep cuts to military installations, public safety, education, and public health if these cuts are allowed to go into effect as scheduled. Donnelly’s office released a fact sheet detailing some of the impact the cuts will have on Indiana. It is available for download here.
“It is past time for Democrats and R...

Parents, Police Talk About McCowan Verdict

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Sandra and Bill Bach
The parents of Amanda Bach are expressing their gratitude to police, prosecutors and the public, after jurors found Dustin McCowan guilty last night of murdering their 19-year-old daughter Amanda in September of 2011. At a news conference at the Porter County Sheriffs Department today, they also thanked the numerous people, many they didn't know, who came out to look for Amanda when she was still missing, before her body was found, and said they wanted to express special tha...

Back Up on I-65 Near Ridge Road

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The left two lanes of southbound I-65 are closed near Ridge Rd due to a traffic hazard. Motorists can expect delays as you travel southbound on I-65, near mile 258.4. Tipsters report a three-mile backup at that location, with only one-lane open at last check.
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Soil Productivity Legislation Signed into Law

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Preventing a 57 million dollar tax increase of Hoosier farmers became the first piece of legislation for the 2013 session. Governor Mike Pence today signed into law Senate Enrolled Act 319, which delays for an additional year the implementation of new soil productivity factors, meaning soil productivity factors used for the March 1^st, 2011, assessment date will be used again for the March 1^st, 2013, assessment date.
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Proposal to Reward High Performing Schools

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A proposal to reward Indiana's highest performing schools with additional state funding has passed the state senate. Senate Bill 493 by State Senator Brandt Hershman would allow public school corporations to qualify for state tuition support grants if ISTEP-Plus and high school end-of-course assessment results meet an overall passing rate of at least 85 percent or an overall improvement rate of at least 6 percent from the previous year. The grant amount would be determined by a General Assembly...

IN Senate Approves New Abortion Regulations

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The Indiana Senate has approved new abortion regulations that include requiring an ultrasound examination for women seeking to end pregnancies through the use of the abortion pill. Senate Bill 371 also establishes stricter rules for clinics that distribute abortion pills.
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'Ag-Gag' Bill Advances in Indiana

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A Region lawmaker says a measure approved by the state senate Tuesday jeopardizes free speech and freedom of the press. Senate Bill 373 -- some call it “Ag Gag” – makes it illegal to take photos or video of agricultural or industrial operations without permission from the owner. Portage State Senator Karen Tallian says the measure "puts a criminal penalty on the truth" and would have a major impact on First Amendment rights by punishing people who report, whether or not they're members of the me...

App Helps Link Hoosiers to Elected Officials

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Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson today unveiled a new app to help Hoosiers identify – and contact – their elected officials. The app is based on the popular Who Are Your Elected Officials website, and uses GPS from your smartphone or tablet to provide information on over 12-thousand elected officials at all levels of government from president to school board.
More info:
INDIANAPOLIS (February 27, 2013) – Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson unveiled today the WAYEO app based on the p...

Gary State of the City Address

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[Photo provided]
The mayor of Gary says gun violence, job creation and economic development are among the city's top concerns. In her State of the City address Tuesday at the Genesis Convention Center, Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson also encouraged attendees to write to President Obama and request that he name Gary a “Promise Zone”. The President has announced a proposal to seek tax breaks for employers who hire unemployed residents and for those who make capital investments in these designated zon...

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