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Pilot Dental Program to Help Region Children

Written by Indiana 105

Tuesday, February 12, 2013 | 6:48 am

A one-point-three million federal grant will fund a pilot program where dental hygienists help prevent cavities in Region kids from low-income families. Dr. Angeles Martinez-Mier , Director of the IU School of Dentistry's Division of Community Dentistry. says the program marks the first use of a change to Indiana law governing dental hygienists. What makes it different is that in the past, Dr. Martinez-Mier said, the dentists had to be there when dental hygienists place the sealant. Now as...

Structure Fire in East Chicago

Written by Indiana 105

Tuesday, February 12, 2013 | 6:43 am

The Region News Team learned of a structure fire in East Chicago early this morning. The fire had Indianapolis Boulevard closed between 143rd and 144th Avenues. At latest word, Indianapolis Boulevard had reopened. We have no other information on the fire at this hour.
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Gas Prices Up in the Region and the US

Written by Indiana 105

Tuesday, February 12, 2013 | 6:41 am

Triple A's Fuel Gauge Report says Region drivers are paying on average about 3-dollars-80-cents a gallon for regular unleaded in the Gary Metropolitan Area... about 55-cents more compared to a month ago... and about forty-cents more than we were paying this time last year.
Drivers around the country are feeling a pinch at the pump, with the average price for a gallon of gas going up twenty-five cents in just two weeks. According to Oil analyst Tom Kloza with the Oil Price Information Service,...

More Reaction to Pope's Announcement

Written by Indiana 105

Tuesday, February 12, 2013 | 6:35 am

In Rome... and the Region... people are still coming to terms with the surprise announcement Monday hat Pope Benedict XVI is retiring at the end of the month. ABC's Tom Rivers in Rome says the Pope is the only story there, front-page news across all the papers. Milan Cardinal Angelo Scoli is considered a top candidate to succeed Benedict.

Bishop Dale Melczek of the Diocese of Gary issued a statement saying he last met with Pope Benedict last February in his study, and described the Pope as “one...

Anti-Meth Bill Heads to House

Written by Indiana 105

Tuesday, February 12, 2013 | 6:33 am

Legislation to further strengthen anti-methamphetamine laws across Indiana passed the full Senate Monday 44-to-4, and among things, it more strictly limits the amount of cold and allegy medicine you could buy without a prescription. Senate Bill 496 caps the amount of ephedrine/pseudoephedrine in a one-year period to 61-point two grams – described in the Indianapolis Star as enough for a daily dose for just over eight months. The bill now moves to the House.
Here's more info:
STATEHOUSE (Feb. 11,...

Anti-Meth Bill Passes Senate, Moves to House

Written by Indiana 105

Monday, February 11, 2013 | 6:12 pm

Legislation to further strengthen anti-methamphetamine laws across Indiana passed the full Senate Monday. Senate Bill 496 would allow ephedrine/pseudoephedrine to be sold only at retailers participating in the National Precursor Log Exchange database, prohibits anyone convicted of certain meth-related crimes from possessing ephedrine/pseudoephedrine without a prescription for seven-years, increases the criminal penalty of those who buy more than ten-grams of certain meth ingredients, with the...

East Chicago PD 2012 Crime Stats

Written by Indiana 105

Monday, February 11, 2013 | 5:31 pm

The East Chicago Police Department recently released their 2012 crime statistics, reporting a 13-percent reduction in violent crime from 2011 and a five-percent drop in property crimes from the previous year, for a six-percent decrease in total crimes overall from 2011 totals. Chief Mark Becker says he is pleased with the numbers because in 2011, East Chicago was designated as the most violent city in Northwest Indiana on a per capita basis, and now homicides, of which three were reported in...

I-80/94 I-65 Overnight Lane Restrictions Start Tuesday

Written by Indiana 105

Monday, February 11, 2013 | 3:37 pm

INDOT has announced overnight lane restrictions of I-80/94 and I-65 starting tomorrow night through Friday. INDOT reports crews will be out patching potholes and performing maintenance during overnight hours, and work will be rescheduled if weather becomes a factor. The work begins Tuesday at 10pm on I-80/94 eastbound lane restrictions, between the Illinois state line and the Indianapolis Blvd/U-S 41 exit.
I-80/94 Lane Restriction Schedule
Tuesday, February 12^th, 10 p.m. (until 6 a.m....

Bishop Dale Melczek's Statement on Pope Retiring

Written by Indiana 105

Monday, February 11, 2013 | 3:17 pm

2/11/13- The Diocese of Gary, Bishop Dale Melczek, issued a statement this afternoon saying,
“Pope Benedict XVI, as a priest, later bishop and cardinal, and for the last eight-years as pope, has given his life and all his strength in response to Jesus' call, “Come, follow me.”
He is a man fully committed to living his life in response to God's love. As he said in his very first encyclical, “God is love”: “We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.” His passion was always to...

Gary Airport Authority Pursuing Partnership for Airport

Written by Indiana 105

Monday, February 11, 2013 | 2:16 pm

The Mayor of Gary and the Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority's president today announced an intergovernmental agreement to pursue a public-private partnership to invest in Chicago's third aiport, and to grow the region's competitiveness in the global economy. A report recently compiled by the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority identified the economic impact of a revitalized third airport as 400-million in capital investment, 24-hundred direct and indirect jobs, and an...

SB 319 Gets Fast Tracked to General Assembly

Written by Indiana 105

Monday, February 11, 2013 | 2:02 pm

A bill to prevent an estimated 57 million dollar property tax increase on Indiana farmers may reportedly be the first piece of legislation approved by the General Assembly during the 2013 session. The House Committee on Ways and Means today unanimously approved Senate Bill 319, which would delay, for an additional year, the implementation of new soil productivity factors by the Department of Local Government Finance, or DLGF. The bill would also require the DLGF, with the Purdue University...

Purdue Calumet Hosting Career Intership Fair Friday

Written by Indiana 105

Monday, February 11, 2013 | 1:13 pm

Individuals with at least a four year college degree or students who are on track for a baccalaureate degree are wanted for a wide range of positions. Purdue University Calumet is hosting their annual All Majors Career and Internship Fair this Friday. Shelly Robinson, Director of Career Services says nearly 100 employers will be seeking to hire full and part-time employees and student interns. Robinson says job fairs are still “one of the best ways to get in front of employees,” so attendees sho...

Indiana Toll Road Wind Ban Effective Until 8pm CST

Written by Indiana 105

Monday, February 11, 2013 | 1:03 pm

The Indiana Toll Road this morning issued a wind ban effective til 8-o'clock tonight Central Time. The Indiana Toll Road Wind Ban is on all Triple and Long Double Combinations excluding low profile steel haulers. The toll road will re-evaluate the wind ban this afternoon to determine if it needs to be extended tonight.
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Cook Co Sheriff Plans Gun Summit in Lake Co, IN

Written by Indiana 105

Monday, February 11, 2013 | 6:48 am

The Sheriff of Cook County is planning to host a gun summit in Gary this week, and Gary Police Chief Wade Ingram and Lake County Sheriff John Buncich are among those expected to attend. One of the topics is expected to be the flow of firearms from one state to the other. The event follows a report by the University of Chicago Crime Lab showing twenty-percent of all guns recovered by Chicago police in the last four years were purchased in Indiana.
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Zoeller: Foreclosure-Rescue Fraud Victims Repaid

Written by Indiana 105

Monday, February 11, 2013 | 5:52 am

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller says 26 Indiana victims of foreclosure-rescue fraud, including one in Lake County, will receive payments from a special state fund to cover their losses in full. Zoeller says companies claim to be able to save homes from foreclosure through a home-loan modification process., and consumers often make a sizeable upfront payment but later realize little to no work was done on their loan. Payments here ranged from $500 to $3,000, totaling more than $44,000....

Persons of Interest in Chicago Teen Shooting

Written by Indiana 105

Monday, February 11, 2013 | 5:46 am

There's word in Chicago today that two men were taken into custody as persons of interest in connection with the shooting death of a 15-year-old girl who performed as a drum majorette with her high school band at an inaugural event for President Obama days before her killing. News of the arrests comes just after funeral services for the teenage honors student were held in Chicago over the weekend. First Lady Michelle Obama represented the administration at the funeral, and met with Hadiya's...

ABC News: Pope Benedict Resigning Feb 28

Written by Indiana 105

Monday, February 11, 2013 | 5:32 am

ABC News getting word today that Pope Benedict is resigning at the end of the month, the announcement made today in Rome, in Latin. Pope Benedict, who is 85 years old, says he is resigning February 28^th. There was no immediate reason given by the Vatican. The announcement came as somewhat of a surprise. Elected Pope, Benedict was, following the death of John Paul II in 2005. Again, news this morning that Pope Benedict the 16^th is resigning at the end of the month.
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Phone Scam being Reported in Hobart

Written by Indiana 105

Saturday, February 09, 2013 |10:54 am

Medicare and social security scams are very common and have been the topics of discussion at various times but this time Hobart police are reporting is hitting closer to home. Police say they have received several tips from Hobart residents receiving calls from "Medicare" or "Social Security." The callers perpetrating the scam may sound believable, and ask residents to confirm their address and other personal information for a new card or to update billing information, according to police. Me...

Governor's 2nd Visit to the Region, Speaks in Gary

Written by Indiana 105

Friday, February 08, 2013 | 7:03 pm

Two weeks to the day of his first visit to Northwest Indiana, Governor Mike Pence returns for a second visit as Indiana's new governor. The Gary Chamber of Commerce hosted Governor Pence today at the Genesis Convention Center in Gary.
Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson says that she hopes that it will not be his last visit and that the governor would be making regular visits as he develops his vocational education and agricultural programs and as he develops his, "investment in Hoosiers relative to...

S Shore CVA Pres to Speak at Hammond CC Meeting

Written by Indiana 105

Friday, February 08, 2013 | 5:43 pm

The President and CEO of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority is scheduled to make a presentation at the next meeting of the Hammond City Council, this Monday at 6pm, at Hammond City Hall. The South Shore CVA reports Speros Batistatos will update the council on current projects they are working on that affect the South Shore region including hospitality, legislative initiatives, sporting events, and tourism.
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