Police in Griffith are investigating what's been described as the largest incident of graffiti the town has seen in recent memory as far as the number of buildings covered in one act. Griffith Police Chief Greg Mance says more than a dozen structures, including garages and fences, in the alleyway along Indiana Street were defaced with blue spray paint.  Chief Mance says the graffiti was found during the morning hours of Tuesday April 16 between the 200 and 400 blocks of Indiana Street in the alleyway. "The graffiti did have some resemblance of gang graffiti, and we are investigating it very vigorously with two officers working directly on that case," the Chief said. Chief Mance also says the town can assist with cleanup. "We take all graffiti, especially anything that might have gang affiliation to it, very seriously," asking that the public report it immediately. "There is a policy in place that the town parks department is able to take that graffiti off with equipment, at no charge to the public, with their permission."   Chief Mance says residents should contact the police department first, at their non-emergency number, 219-924-3141.
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Read more: Griffith Graffiti Investigated

From the INDOT Cams this morning, overhead electronic sign along I65 near 101st Avenue in Lake County, IN, warns of flooding in Illinois
Hammond Police report:
-Northcote Ave bridge from Hammond to Munster closed
-Columbia Ave bridge from Hammond to Munster closed
-In North Hammond US 41/Calumet Avenue is closed at 141st through 129th
INDOT reports:
-Cline Avenue is closed between Riley Road and Calumet Avenue (East Chicago)
Also -- the westbound ramp rom the Borman Expressway to Calumet Avenue was closed earlier (Hammond), and there was concern about the water level at the Kennedy Avenue ramp off the Borman (Hammond)
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Read more: Update: Region Road Closures

A Tornado Watch remains in effect for 39 counties in Indiana, but counties around the Region are no longer included in that watch area. Other weather alerts remain in effect.
http://forecast.weather.gov/hazards/lot
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Read more: Tornado Watch Cancelled for the Region

Multiple watches and warnings are in effect for the Region today related to the heavy rains moving across Northwest Indiana and the Midwest. 
A Tornado Watch for our entire listening area has been posted til 4 pm CDT. A Flash Flood Warning that includes Lake County and southwestern Porter County is in effect until 2 pm CDT. There's also a Wind Advisory from this morning through tonight.  A Flood Watch continues for Northwest Indiana.  A Flood Warning for the Little Calumet River at Munster is in effect where observed flooding has changed from minor to moderate severity. A Flood Warning is also in effect for the Kankakee River at Shelby, affecting Lake and Newton Counties.
For updates from the National Weather Service: 
http://forecast.weather.gov/hazards/lot
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Read more: Tornado Watch, Other Alerts in Effect

Heavy rains have led to road closures in parts of Hammond. Kennedy Avenue is still passable.  Hammond Police Lt. Pat Vicari gave us an update::
-Northcote Ave bridge from Hammond to Munster closed
-Columbia Ave bridge from Hammond to Munster closed
-In North Hammond US 41/Calumet Avenue is closed at 141st through 129th
Heavy rains have caused major flooding in and around Chicago. ABC reports cars are underwater... "I have an underground parking garage and the water in the parking garage is up to the tires, " was one description. And expressways are underwater making it difficult to get to work... "Probably about eight inches of water just submerging the roads."
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Read more: Road Closures in Hammond

Click here for updates:
http://forecast.weather.gov/hazards/lot
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL 809 AM CDT THU APR 18 2013 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHICAGO HAS ISSUED A * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... IROQUOIS COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS... SOUTHEASTERN KANKAKEE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ILLINOIS... BENTON COUNTY IN NORTHWEST INDIANA... JASPER COUNTY IN NORTHWEST INDIANA... SOUTHERN LAKE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST INDIANA... NEWTON COUNTY IN NORTHWEST INDIANA... SOUTHERN PORTER COUNTY IN NORTHWEST INDIANA... * UNTIL 945 AM CDT * AT 806 AM CDT...A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM CHEBANSE TO RANKIN...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. HAZARD...70 MPH WIND GUSTS. SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED. IMPACT...EXPECT CONSIDERABLE TREE DAMAGE. DAMAGE IS POSSIBLE TO MOBILE HOMES...ROOFS AND OUTBUILDINGS. * SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR... AROMA PARK AND CLAYTONVILLE AROUND 815 AM CDT. ST. ANNE AROUND 820 AM CDT. WATSEKA AND MILFORD AROUND 825 AM CDT. MOMENCE AND HOPKINS PARK AROUND 830 AM CDT. STOCKLAND AND SHELDON AROUND 835 AM CDT. TALBOT AROUND 940 AM EDT. OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE MARTINTON...SUN RIVER TERRACE...WOODLAND...PAPINEAU...WELLINGTON...DONOVAN...BEAVERVILLE... IROQUOIS...AMBIA AND SCHNEIDER. OTHER LOCATIONS AFFECTED... KANKAKEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE...KANKAKEE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS... SPEEDWAY...US 41 DRAGWAY... PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A BUILDING....

Read more: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued

Indiana State Police say the threat of heavy rain makes flooding a real threat in north central Indiana. Floods occur as streams and rivers overflow their banks. This can occur from deep snow run off or during heavy rainfall. Flash floods can come rapidly and unexpectedly. Flash flooding can occur after a few minutes of heavy rain fall or after hours of significant precipitation. Hoosiers who live in flood prone areas should always be conscious of the threat of flash floods when receiving significant rainfall. The Indiana State Police offers a few flood safety tips.
• Don’t travel unless absolutely necessary. If you have to travel carry a cell phone with a car charger.
• Purchase a weather scanner and heed all flood and flash flood warnings issued by the National Weather Service.
• Do not drive around barricades at water crossings.
• Be especially vigilant at night. Many drowning deaths occur at night when it is difficult to see water crossings.
• Do not cross or enter flowing water. Driving fast through high water on the road is not a solution. Faster speeds create less tire contact with the road surface and increase your chance of crashing.
• Driving through standing water may affect your brakes. Test your brakes at low speeds as soon as you exit the water.
• If you choose to abandon your vehicle, respect the force of the water flow, you may be swept off your feet. After you exit the vehicle seek higher ground.
• Be aware that road erosion may occur when there is running or standing water.
• Remember that six inches of water will reach the bottoms of most car doors. One foot of water will float many vehicles, and two feet of moving water can carry away most vehicles.
If you find yourself stranded in flood waters remain calm and call 911. If you can do so safely move to higher ground.
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Read more: Flood Safety Tips from Ind St Police

Gary Police and the Lake County Crime Lab are investigating a shooting death overnight. The Lake County Coroners office says 22-year-old Bryan David Taylor of Gary suffered multiple gunshot wounds at the More 4 Less Corner Store in the 700 block of West 45^th Avenue in Gary and was pronounced dead at the scene at midnight this morning.
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Read more: Shooting Death in Lake County

The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued a Flash Flood Warning that now includes Lake County, Indiana, and southwestern Porter County.  A Flash Flood Warning is issued when flash flooding is in progress, imminent, or highly likely. National Weather Service officials say a flash flood is a rapid and extreme flow of high water into a normally dry area, or a rapid water level rise in a stream or creek above a predetermined flood level, beginning within six hours of the causative event, like intense rainfall, dam failure, ice jam. Here is a link to watches and warnings from the National Weather Service::
http://forecast.weather.gov/hazards/lot
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Read more: Flash Flood Warning Includes Lake, Porter Co

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced the March Against Hunger food drive competition generated $55,455 and 10,065 pounds of food for local food banks.
The fifth annual food drive competition was between 44 participating law groups from Indiana and Kentucky. To help coordinate the donations, Zoeller teamed up with the Indiana State Bar Association (ISBA) and the nonprofit group, Feeding Indiana's Hungry (FIsH), which is the umbrella organization for 11 regional food banks.
"All food drive participants deserve recognition for their efforts to serve their local communities by selflessly giving their time and money to a worthy cause," Zoeller said. "Too many Hoosiers, including children, face hunger on daily basis and it’s heart-warming to see the members of my profession step up in such a big way.”
Zoeller said this year’s monetary and food donations combined is the equivalent to 143 tons of food.
"As a fellow lawyer, I am particularly proud of the fact that lawyers from all corners of the state rose to the occasion to serve Hoosiers in need," said ISBA President Daniel B. Vinovich. “It’s opportunities like this annual food drive that allow us to serve beyond our clients."
Winners from all six divisions will receive a trophy known as the Attorney General’s Cup for collecting the most donations:
Extra Large Division – Barnes & Thornburg LLP (Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, South Bend, Elkhart) – 784 pounds of food and $16,190 in monetary donations
Large Division – Burke Costanza & Carberry LLP (Merrillville) – 1,675 pounds of food and $7,153 in monetary donations
Medium Division – Wilkinson Goeller Modesitt Wilkinson & Drummy LLP (Terre Haute) – $2,510 in monetary donations
Small Division – Tuesley Hall Konopa LLP (South Bend) – 29 pounds of food and $1,570 in monetary donations
Sole Proprietor – Steven Douglas Law Office (Elletsville) – $1,685 in monetary donations
Public/Non-Profit – Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office (Evansville) – 2,295 pounds of food and $5,000 in monetary donations.
“We are grateful for the participation and generosity of so many Hoosier lawyers, as well as for the leadership of our state's attorney general to raise awareness of hunger,” said Emily Weikert Bryant, FIsH Executive Director.  “One in six Hoosiers is at risk of hunger, and for Hoosier children just one in four. The pounds contributed through the food drive this year will provide the equivalent of nearly 240,000 meals to Hoosiers in need, with nearly 1 million pounds donated since the program was created in 2009.”
The 11 regional food banks that serve Indiana and are members of FIsH include: Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana Inc., Food Finders Food Banks, Gleaners Food Bank, Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana, Food Bank of Northern Indiana, Terre Haute Catholic Charities Food Bank and Tri-State Food Bank Inc. Also, Freestore Foodbank of Cincinnati and Dare to Care Food Bank of Louisville also participated and serve some Indiana counties.
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Read more: March For Hunger Generates Equivalent of 143 Tons of Food