A new police station could be in store for Highland. The Times reports the Highland Town Council Monday night approved authorizing two professional appraisals of a property on the 33-hundred block of Ridge Road, which could potentially clear the way for a new police station, since this acquisition would clear the land from the Town Hall west to Cottage Grove Avenue. Published reports say town officials will revisit a 2003 study which laid out plans for a new station, measuring about 26-thousand...

Read more: Highland Setting Stage for New PD Station?

(Photo Courtesy of Portage Police)

Officers responding to a burglary call over the weekend ended up uncovering an illicit drug sale operation. Portage Police report they were called out just before 7am Saturday, to the 57-hundred block of Brookview Avenue, in Portage, in reference to a burglary to a garage, where officers ultimately learned a 17 year old male was selling drugs, and 18 year old Seth White, of Valparaiso, had allegedly stolen drugs from the garage. White, and an 18 year old male who admitted to driving White to...

Read more: Portage Garage Burglary Uncovers Drug Sale Operation

(Photo Courtesy of the Lake County Coroner's Office)
The Lake County Coroner's Office needs your help in locating any possible friends or family of Michael Bleck. Coroner Merrilee Frey says they have exhausted all leads in locating any family members, after her office responded to the 52-hundred block of Hohman Avenue in Hammond, and found Bleck dead on January 4^th. The Coroner's Office describes Bleck as last seen wearing a black ski jacket, blue jeans, a light blue long sleeve shirt, with...

Read more: Lake Co Coroner Seeks Help in Finding Victim's Family

A fire in the hallway of a eight-unit apartment building in East Chicago is under investigation at last check. Chief Inspector Henry Ventura, of the East Chicago Fire Department, says they were dispatched at 2:46 this morning to the 44-hundred block of Indianapolis Blvd, and found flames on the third floor, in front of the stairwell. Chief Inspector Ventura says the fire was contained to the hallway, and while there were no injuries, there was smoke damage, and he says the Red Cross and the...

Read more: Fire in Hallway of E.C. Apt Complex Under Investigation

Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas is quoted in today's Times as saying it's “the most involved and interactive process any city has undertaken” referring to the development of a strategic plan for the city, one that will involve “extensive interaction” with residents to envision what Valpo would be a decade or two down the road. At last night's city council meeting, residents learned the city has opted for a consulting team headed by ACP Visioning and Planning out of Columbus, Ohio, to develop that plan, with their work be...

Read more: Valpo Looking Forward to Strategic Plan

The 15 minute talk show concentrates on public safety and informational topics with state wide interest.  The radio program was titled “Signal-10” in the early sixties when it was first started by two troopers in northern Indiana. The name was later changed to the “Indiana State Police Road Show” and is the longest continuously aired state police public service program in Indiana.  The public service program is sponsored by the Indiana State Police Alliance and Cops for Kids, a subsidiary of the...

Read more: Latest ISP 'Road Show' at Region News on Demand

In Valparaiso early this morning, two men were taken into custody in connection with a burglary at the BP Amoco station on Calumet Avenue. Valparaiso Police say officers responded just after midnight and within five hours made two arrests on charges of burglary, criminal mischief for the broken glass, and possession of stolen property.
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Read more: Two Arrested After Valparaiso Burglary

Near Dolton overnight, Illinois State Police say a 27-year-old Chicago woman apparently fell from a southbound SUV on the Bishop Ford Freeway before being struck and killed by a semi. Police tell www.nwi.com  the victim was ejected at 154^th Street. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the SUV, a 28-year-old Chicago man, was reportedly taken to an Oak Lawn hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and no charges have been filed at this time.
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Read more: Woman Killed on Bishop Ford Freeway Overnight

Indiana Governor Mike Pence today announced the distribution of the state's pay for performance raises that will appear on this week's paycheck. Former Governor Mitch Daniels authorized the increases last December to recognize the work of state employees throughout last year, and Governor Pence says he plans to continue to award pay raises based on employee performance. Raises granted range from three to eight percent, based on evaluations, which the overall average increase being...

Read more: Gov Pence Announces Pay Raises Take Effect

The Indiana State Department of Health says flu deaths have now increased to 52, five more than the weekly report issued last Wednesday; one individual was under 18 and one was over 65. Also, two counties now have five or more deaths – Marion County has had six deaths, Allen County has had five deaths.  The Indiana State Department of Health does not report the number of deaths in each county until five deaths have occurred in a specific county.
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Read more: Indiana Flu Deaths Increase to 52