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Indiana State Police is joining law-enforcement agencies across Indiana this March to increase dangerous and impaired driving patrols for the NCAA Tournament and St. Patrick’s Day. Last year, the weekend beginning St. Patrick’s Day had the highest number crashes involving impaired drivers. With March 17th, falling on a Saturday, police are conducting random patrols, saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints intended to make our roads safer. But unlike alcohol, there is no quick field test for the legal and illegal drugs that can impair drivers. ICJI and NHTSA are issuing Android tablets and apps to assist 185 highly-trained police officers in

As millions of taxes are being filed this season, the Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) reminds customers of the two easy and convenient ways to check refund statuses. Taxpayers can go online to use the Refund Status interactive tool, which allows customers to check their status at any time. Taxpayers can simply visit the DOR website at www.in.gov/dor, and click “Get Started” under “Check the Status of Your Refund.” Taxpayers also have the option of calling the automated refund telephone line at 317-233-4018.

Berrien County officials have been in contact with Indiana Michigan Power officials regarding hydro-electric dams that they operate on the rivers in Berrien County. Heavy rain combined with snow melt brought the St. Joseph River in southwest Michigan and north-central Indiana to record levels, producing flooding that required some customers to be disconnected and affecting the six hydro-electric dams I&M operates on the river. I&M is working closely with local city officials and first responders, both to safely disconnect power to customers in flooded areas and to communicate the role of dams in connection with the river. Currently, all of

Hoosier homeowners, renters, businesses and private non-profit organizations that sustained uninsured damage caused by severe storms and flooding starting on or after February 15 can report damage online (at: https://bit.ly/2018rainfall). A link to the form is also available on the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) website at dhs.in.gov. In the middle of the page under "Featured Topics," click on " Heavy Rain and Flooding; February 15, 2018 and continuing.” Information gathered from citizens will assist county and state agencies in determining the scope of damage, as well whether state or federal assistance will be available for recovery efforts. his is

If you’ve ever wondered is it possible to predict when and where a vehicle crash may occur, the answer to that question is “Yes”. The Indiana State Police engaged the services of the Management Performance Hub, commonly referred to as the MPH, to create an interactive website for the public and media to help the public make informed road travel decisions. The result of the collaborative efforts of the Indiana State Police and the MPH was development of the Indiana Daily Crash Prediction map. This interactive map can be found on the Indiana State Police website at this location: https://www.in.gov/isp/3268.htm.

The Lady Blazers will compete for their first state title Saturday morning in Indianapolis. Tickets for Saturday's 10:30 am ET game will be available for purchase from 8:30 am until 4 pm beginning Tuesday until Thursday in the athletic office only. Fans can also buy their tickets at Tuesday evening's boys' basketball game, which also serves as their Senior Night. As opposed to previous rounds of the tournament, Saturday's Championship game is NOT general admission. Every seat in the facility is accounted for, so the ticket you buy corresponds to the seat on said ticket. Tickets are $15 each and

Nearly one in three women with disabilities on college campuses has experienced sexual assault. That's according to a new report from the National Council on Disability, an independent federal agency. The report, called "Not on the Radar," also found colleges aren't prepared to respond to cases of sexual assault against students with disabilities. Wendy Harbour, a member of the council, says campuses should be thinking of disability the way they think of discrimination. She wants people to imagine what it takes to survive this situation and deal with the long process of reporting assault. Harbour says although the report reveals

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security is reminding Hoosiers to practice safety as rainfall and flooding issues continue throughout the state. Many counties in the state are under a flood watch or warning, and motorists are encouraged to turn around and find an alternate route if a road is closed or covered with water. In areas where flooding is already underway: Do not walk or drive through flooded areas. Flood waters can hide a washed out road or walkway. A few inches of fast-moving water can knock over and carry away an adult. A foot of fast-moving water can carry away a

The Michigan City High School (MCHS) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) earned a second place in the Gold Tier in Indiana in Cyber Patriot. Cyber Patriot is the national competition for high school students who served as the information systems specialist for an organization. They defend and counterattack against a fictional cyber-attack. The MCHS cadets compete against cadets from JROTCs from all services. There are 44 JROTC schools in Indiana. Three of the schools qualified for the Platinum Tier. MCHS was therefore 5th overall in the state.

NIPSCO is accepting applications for its environmental action grant to support local non-profit organizations with environmental initiatives. In its third year, NIPSCO’s Environmental Action Grant aims to provide funding for restoration and education projects throughout northern Indiana. Non-profit organizations with an environmental restoration or education project are invited to submit a grant request through NIPSCO’s online request portal at NIPSCO.com/Community. When submitting an application online, select the “Environmental Action Grant” option in the Type of Support drop-down box on the application. Creating opportunities for volunteerism is an important part of the grant, in addition to providing monetary support to the

The Duneland Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the Corkscrew & Brew event on Saturday, March 17, from 12 pm to 4 pm. Set in Chesterton’s beautiful Thomas Centennial Park, the Third Annual Corkscrew & Brew will gather local wineries and breweries for this springtime, tasting. This event is a fundraiser for the Duneland Chamber of Commerce and Thomas Centennial Park. pic Limo Inc. will be there to safely transport people for free within the 46304 zip code. They will have a vehicle available for rides outside of the area for a fee. Ric Federighi of AM1420-WIMS will be at

Attorney General Curtis Hill is sending out a public safety advisory today to increase awareness of Indiana’s “Red Flag Law,” a statute enacted in 2005 allowing law enforcement officers to take possession of firearms from people they believe to be dangerous as defined in the statute. Indiana is one of five states in the nation to have such laws. Under Indiana’s law, a person is considered “dangerous” if the person presents an imminent risk of physical injury to himself or others. A person can also be considered dangerous if the person presents a potential risk of physical injury and has

The Indiana State Library (ISL) and the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) announced today that Joshua Fisher earned the honor of being named the 2018 Poetry Out Loud Indiana state champion. Fisher will compete against representatives from all 50 states, plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, for the national Poetry Out Loud title on April 23-25, 2018 in Washington, D.C. The event will be held at the Lisner Auditorium at The George Washington University. The semifinals and finals will be webcast live. The Midwest and South Central round, which includes Indiana, will be held on April 24, 2018, beginning at 1 p.m.

On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) convened a group of community leaders at the Shepherd Community Center in Indianapolis for a roundtable discussion regarding his Fair Shot Agenda, a new statewide initiative that aims to ensure every Hoosier has a fair shot at success. “Every Hoosier deserves a fair shot to succeed - regardless of their age, or where they go to school, or what challenges they face,” said Senator Young. “Today we discussed issues ranging from education and jobs and safe neighborhoods, to tackling the opioid crisis and making government more efficient. My Fair Shot Agenda aims to identify specific barriers to success

The Indiana Builders Association has launched a new online resource to connect homeowners or other industry professionals with builders, suppliers and contractors in the state. The Online Buyers’ Guide features updated and expanded company and product listings, in addition to other valuable information relating to the building industry. The guide provides Indiana Homeowners and other industry professionals with an efficient way to browse for goods and services through a vast network of industry suppliers. “Homeownership is a major keystone of the Hoosier economy.” said Rick Wajda, Chief Executive Officer of IBA. “As more homeowners enter the marketplace, it is important we provide online resources

The Valparaiso Police Department is searching for community members that would like to learn more about the police department. The department’s annual Citizens’ Police Academy is currently accepting applications. The Citizens’ Police Academy is designed for community members to meet officers, learn what officers do on a daily basis and become involved in their community. Topics featured in the academy include; investigations, Indiana law, daily traffic laws and enforcement, crash investigations and patrol division duties including many specialties within the patrol unit such as, K-9 presentations, bicycle team, taser usage and firearms scenarios. The academy class will meet on every Tuesday, beginning on March

Sheriff Martinez of the Lake County Sherriff’s Office would like to inform the public that they have a drug collection bin located in the Sheriff’s Department.  The bin is at the main entrance on the ground level in Building J2. You can anonymously drop off any medication or drugs to be destroyed safely. For more information, head to the Lake County Sherriff’s Facebook page.  

On the morning of February 12th, there was a fatal hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian on Hamstrom Road.  The suspect fled the scene of the accident in a Dark Blue GMC Yukon. On February 15th at approximately 2:30 p.m. Detective Captain Joe Reynolds and Detective Corporal Dave Czilli located the suspect vehicle at a motor vehicle body shop in Gary, Indiana. A search warrant was obtained with the assistance of the Porter County Prosecutor's office and the vehicle was brought back to the Portage Police Department. On February 16th at approximately 12:30 p.m. the suspect came to the Portage Police

Porter County Highway Department stated  that the Frost Law is currently in effect as of Monday. It will last for the shortest duration possible but is based on road and weather conditions. The ordinance enacts a 5-ton weight limit on nearly every county road (all-weather roads maintained by the Porter County Highway Department are not subject to the Frost Law). Porter County Sheriff’s Office Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED) as well as the Indiana State Police CVED will be out in full force. Permits issued by the Highway Dept are for emergencies only. School buses and curbside trash collectors

Financial aid professionals will be volunteering at 40 sites in Indiana to help college-bound students and their families open the door to financial aid during College Goal Sunday. The event is set for 2 p.m. (local time), February 25, 2018. The free program assists Indiana students in filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA form is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, scholarships and student loans at most colleges, universities and vocational/technical schools nationwide. The FAFSA MUST be filed by April 15 to be eligible for Indiana financial aid. College Goal