A one-vehicle crash that had both I-80/94 ramps to Ripley Street closed for a time Monday morning is under investigation. Authorities say a 52 year old Michigan City woman had to be airlifted for multiple injuries after striking a concrete barrier, between the north and southbound lanes of Ripley Street, just before 10am.
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Read more: Woman Airlifted for Injuries After Crash on I-80/94

(Photo Courtesy of the Times)
It has been over a year since the shooting death of a cashier at the Lucky Mart Foods in Merrillville, and now a second individual has been charged in connection in that incident in March of 2012.  Published reports say 22 year old Donvell Edwards, of Merrillville, has been charged with murder, murder in the perpetration of a robbery, and robbery. The Times reports the charges against Edwards follow those against Jeremy Blue, who is awaiting trial.
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Read more: Merrillville Man Charged in Fatal 2012 Robbery

The fate of the 2013 South Shore Air Show is scheduled to be announced this morning at a press conference. The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority will discuss its fate at 10:30 this morning, in the theater, at the Indiana Welcome Center. A number of air shows across the nation have been canceled due to the sequester cuts.
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Read more: Fate of South Shore Air Shore Announced this Morning

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE: The National Park Service is planning six prescribed fires this spring at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Approximately 600 acres will be burned.  Fire is used as a tool for the park’s long term restoration efforts.
Two fires are planned near the city of Portage.  One prescribed burn is planned for 196 acres in the Tolleston Dunes area just south of U.S. Highway 12 between County Line Road and Stagecoach Road.  Additionally, a 100 acre prescribed burn is planned for West Beach, east of County Line Road between Oak Street and the entrance road leading to the West Beach parking lot. These fires will reduce the non-native plant species and provide suitable habitat for native plants.
Near Gary, three fires are planned for the Miller Woods area. Fires here will be used to reduce an over accumulation of dead and downed vegetation, and help improve habitat for the federally endangered Karner Blue Butterfly. A 66 acre burn is planned for the area north of U.S. Highway 20/12 starting at Virginia Street going east to the railroad tracks. A second burn is planned for 32 acres north of U.S. Highway 20/12 and east of Interstate 65/90. A small ten acre burn is planned around the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education as well.
Near Porter, Indiana, the Mnoké Prairie is set for a prescribed fire. This 193 acre areanorth of US 20 and Beam Street is being burned to help restore the prairie to its natural state. A second burn is planned for 190 acres south of U.S. Highway 12 between Teale Rd. and Hadenfeldt Rd.
Near Beverly Shores, one 169 acre prescribed burn unit between East State Park Rd. and Derby Avenue, North of Beverly Drive and south of Lake Front Drive is planned.
The prescribed fire program at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is conducted by trained and experienced National Park Service fire personnel. Smoke dispersal is a primary concern and park staff will do everything possible to limit smoke in the area by monitoring wind and atmospheric conditions prior to ignitions.  However, smoke drifting in and around park lands and roadways is possible.
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Clear management goals and objectives have been established for each burn unit. Before burning, a designated set of conditions must exist including ideal air temperature, wind speed and direction, and relative humidity. Weather conditions will be monitored throughout the duration of the burn to ensure the fire is completed safely.
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Read more: Prescribed Fires Planning for IN Dunes Nat Lakeshore

Investigators suspect two vacant house fires in Hammond, with no working utilities in either home, were started intentionally early Monday, not connected. The Times reports the first fire took place in the 57-hundred block of Erie Street, just before midnight, and a second house fire took place around 3am, in the 700 block of Sibley Street, less than a mile away.
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Read more: House Fires in Hammond Intentionally Started

Michigan City mayor, Ron Meer has proclaimed April "The Month of the Military Child" in the city.  Mayor Meer says, "each day when we wake up, we should think about and give thanks to all of our military men and women who are serving to protect our lives and our freedoms" and to also, "think about the sacrifices and the lives they have to leave behind, mainly their children."

The mayor says that children of our brave men and women serving in the United States military face challenges and stress presented by frequent moves, parental deployments, and other life traditions and adds, "in a way, military children serve our country right alongside their parents."

Throughout the month of April, Mayor Meer is asking the residents of Michigan City to "purple up" and wear something purple as a small way of recognizing and supporting "our military children."
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Read more: Region City Mayor Asks Residents to Purple Up

The Michigan City Police Department introduced new K-9 Officer Greg Radiger and the department's newest K-9, a German Shepard named Apollo, during a press conference Monday afternoon. Sergeant Chris Yagelski says Radiger has been with the force for the last five-years, in the patrol division, but says a very generous donation of almost 12-thousand dollars by Mrs. Pat Parry, in honor of her deceased husband, Dave Parry, a former NFL official, helped make today's introduction possible. For information, visit “News Audio On Demand”, at regionnewsteam-dot-com.
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Read more: New K-9 Apollo Donated to Michigan City Police Dept.

A large portion of the country's blood supply has been impacted by a harsh winter. The American Red Cross says since the beginning of February, winter weather has forced the cancellation of over 425 Red Cross blood drives, leading to a shortfall of more than 16-thousand blood donations through the Red Cross, potentially affecting nearly 50-thousand hospital patients. The Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood to offset the current shortage. All blood types are needed, but especially O negative, B negative and A negative.   Rh-negative blood types can be transfused to both Rh-positive and Rh-negative patients. Type O negative blood is universal and can potentially be transfused to patients with any blood type.
 
Here are just a few examples of patients who received blood products donated through the American Red Cross:
·         A new mother received 32 units of red blood cells, 15 units of cryoprecipitate, 10 units of platelets and 10 units of plasma after complications from childbirth.
·      A patient undergoing a cyst removal received 60 units of red blood cells and 9 units of platelets.
·      A kidney transplant patient received 30 units of red blood cells and 40 units of plasma.
 
It is the blood on the shelves today that are available for patients tomorrow. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or go to redcrossblood.org to find a blood drive opportunity near you.
 
UPCOMING AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES IN YOUR AREA:

• Thursday, April 4, from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the American Reformed Church in the Fellowship Hall, located at 1021 S. Halleck St. in Demotte.
• Friday, April 5, from 1:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Portage in the Fellowship Hall, located at 2637 McCool Road in Portage.
• Saturday, April 6, from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the Lowell Public Library in the program room, located at 1505 East Commercial Avenue in Lowell.

 
How to Donate Blood
To schedule an appointment to donate please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org for more information. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in Indiana and Ohio), meet weight and height requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. Please bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when you come to donate.
 
About the American Red Cross
American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

 ( https://www.facebook.com/redcross )
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Read more: Harsh Winter Impacts Region and Nation's Blood Supply

On March 28, the Board of the Directors for the Gary Housing Authority (GHA) Board named Mary Cossey as Interim Director. Cossey, who heads the Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services, arrives at GHA with a mission of working with the Board to identify a permanent Executive Director, address the needs of current and potential residents and assist the authority in the implementation of a plan designed to guide the GHA out of its troubled status.”
For the last ten years, the GHA has been listed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s as a troubled agency. Board Chair Michael Brown indicated that the Board has renewed its efforts to focus on the needs of residents while tightening the fiscal reins of the organization. “Mary Cossey comes to GHA at a critical time. She is a proven human resources professional, problem-solver, with experience in real estate and property preservation,” said Brown. “She also comes to GHA with the ability to meet the needs of the most vulnerable with limited resources.” Cossey joins the Authority after Interim Director Delvert Cole advised the Board of his decision to pursue other professional endeavors.
Cossey was recommended to the Board on an interim basis by Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson. “We are grateful to Delvert Cole for his willingness to lead GHA during a very difficult period. With his departure, there was a void,” said Freeman-Wilson. “I knew GHA residents needed a person who would put their needs first while working to address the organizational challenges identified by HUD and a myriad of technical assistance providers. Mary does a great job coordinating the city’s response to a wide range of constituents’ needs, and she will bring the same tenacity to GHA.” In addition to holding a Master’s in Business Administration and real estate license, Cossey’s work history includes serving in a management capacity at community-based organizations and a youth residential facility, property preservation contracting, grant writing and grant management.
Mayor Freeman-Wilson also commended the Board’s development of a plan contemplated to move GHA forward and off the troubled agency list. “This Board is working diligently to provide clean, safe and secure housing for GHA residents and they have developed a plan to reduce vacancies and the wait list while improving the quality of life for citizens. They have been steadfast in their efforts, and I am very appreciative for their dedication.” Existing staff will work together to ensure that current projects and tasks move forward in the Mayor’s Office of Constituent services are done during Cossey’s absence. Cossey begins the role of Interim Director today.
(Article provided by City of Gary Department of Communications)

(http://www.garyhousing.org)
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Read more: Gary Housing Authority Names Interim Housing Director

The Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that Dominion Energy has agreed to pay a $3.4 million civil penalty and spend approximately $9.8 million on environmental mitigation projects to resolve Clean Air Act (CAA) violations. 
The settlement will result in reductions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter by more than 70,000 tons per year, across three of the utility’s coal-fired power plants, located in Kincaid, Ill., State Line, Ind., and Somerset, Mass.
“This settlement limits power plant emissions in northwest Indiana and central Illinois – and requires Dominion to fund environmental mitigation work, including projects that will improve air quality near Chicago rail yards and protect lands around the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore,” said Susan Hedman, EPA Region 5 Administrator.
“This settlement will improve air quality in states in the Midwest and Northeast by eliminating tens of thousands of tons of harmful air pollution each year,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.  “These reductions mark the latest step in our continuing efforts, along with EPA, to protect public health and the environment through rigorous enforcement of the Clean Air Act.”
Under the settlement, Dominion must install or upgrade pollution control technology on two plants, and permanently retire the State Line plant in Hammond, which the energy company permanently shut down one year ago.  Dominion will be required to continuously operate the new and existing pollution controls, and will be required to comply with stringent emission rates and annual tonnage limitations. The actions taken by Dominion to comply with this settlement will result in annual reductions at the Brayon Point and Kincaid plants of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x) emissions by 52,000 tons from 2010 levels. The retirement of the State Line plant will result in an additional reduction of 18,000 tons of SO₂ and NO_x.
The settlement also requires Dominion to spend $9.75 million on projects that will benefit the environment and human health in communities located near the Dominion facilities.  A total of $9 million will be spent on such projects as ; 1) wood stove changeouts, including $2 million for changeouts in southeastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and eastern Connecticut;  2) switcher locomotive idle reduction for Chicago rail yards, 3) land acquisition and restoration adjacent to, or near, the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, 4) energy efficiency and geothermal/solar projects for local schools and food banks, and 5) clean diesel engine retrofits for municipalities and school districts.  Dominion must also pay a total of $750,000 to the United States Forest Service and the National Park Service, to be used on projects to address the damage done from Dominion’s alleged excess emissions.   
Reducing air pollution from the largest sources of emissions, including coal-fired power plants, is one of EPA’s National Enforcement Initiatives for 2011-2013. SO₂and NO_x, two key pollutants emitted from power plants, have numerous adverse effects on human health and are significant contributors to acid rain, smog, and haze. These pollutants are converted in the air to fine particles of particulate matter that can cause severe respiratory and cardiovascular impacts, and premature death. Reducing these harmful air pollutants will benefit the communities located near Dominion facilities, particularly communities disproportionately impacted by environmental risks and vulnerable populations, including children. Because air pollution from power plants can travel significant distances downwind, this settlement will also reduce air pollution outside the immediate region. The total combined sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emission reductions secured from all power plant settlements to date will exceed nearly 2 million tons each year once all the required pollution controls have been installed and implemented.
The settlement was lodged today in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval.

(http://www.epa.gov)
More information about the settlement: www.epa.gov/enforcement/air/cases/dominionenergy.html
More information about EPA’s national enforcement initiative: www.epa.gov/compliance/data/planning/initiatives/2011airpollution.html
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Read more: Today's Settlement to Reduce Harmful Pollution in NWI