The Town of Munster Public Works Department says they will be closing Ridge Road beginning 9PM tonight [Tuesday, June 18 ] until 7AM Wednesday [ June 19] for water main replacement along Greenwood Avenue. The detour will use Columbia Avenue, 35th Street, and White Oak Avenue, and signs will be posted. Town officials also say tesidents will need to identify an alternate route to their homes, and anyone with questions should contact Munster Town Hall at 836-6971.
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Read more: Munster Traffic Advisory

[Photo/Indiana State Police]
In Lake County, an early morning crash claimed the life of a 64-year-old Valparaiso man and caused a car and semi fire that closed the eastbound side of the Borman Expressway for almost four hours. Indiana State Police say a preliminary investigation revealed that shortly after 3:30 am, a three-wheel motorcycle driven by John Arama was just east of Chase Street in Gary when for unknown reasons he came off and landed in the middle lane, and the vehicle continued for about a half-mile before coming to rest in the left lane. Troopers say a semi was unable to avoid striking the motorcyclist, who was pronounced dead at the scene. A car driven by an Arizona woman sideswiped the motorcycle, then crashed into the rear of another semi. She and her 18-year-old passenger were able to get out before the 2003 Ford Taurus became engulfed in flames, and theywere taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police say both were wearing seat belts. The drivers of the semi's were uninjured.
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Read more: Valparaiso Man Killed in Borman Crash

[Photo/Indiana State Police]
In Lake County, an early morning crash claimed the life of a motorcyclist and caused a car and semi fire that closed the eastbound side of the Borman Expressway for almost four hours. Indiana State Police say a preliminary investigation revealed that shortly after 3:30 am, a three-wheel motorcycle, 2002 Road Hawk trike, was just east of Chase Street in Gary when for unknown reasons the driver came off and landed in the middle lane, and the vehicle continued for about a half-mile before coming to rest in the left lane. Troopers say a semi was unable to avoid striking the motorcyclist, who was pronounced dead at the scene. As of the time of the news release, the motorcyclist's name had not been released, pending notification of family.  A car driven by a 28-year-old Arizona woman sideswiped the motorcycle, officials say, then crashed into the rear of another semi. Police say she and her 18-year-old passenger were able to get out before the 2003 Ford Taurus became engulfed in flames, and they were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police say both were wearing seat belts. The drivers of the semi's were uninjured.  
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Read more: Motorcyclist Killed in Borman Crash

Lake County Sheriffs Police say a 20-year-old Lowell man suffered life-threatening injuries in a single-vehicle crash shortly after 5 a-m Sunday near Lowell. Police say Cole Midgett was in the 28-hundred block of Belshaw Road when for unknown reasons the Chevrolet Equinox he was driving left the roadway and struck a tree. He was extricated by Lowell Fire and Tri-Creek EMS, and transported to St. Anthony Medical Center, later to be airlifted to a Chicago-area medical center. In a news release today, Lake County Sheriffs Police said they had no update on his condition, other than he remained hospitalized, and that alcohol was considered to a factor in this crash, but no blood-alcohol content was available.
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Read more: Life-Threatening Injuries in Lowell Crash

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana State Board of Animal Health and Indiana State Police are sending out basic safety information for Hoosiers visiting festivals and fairs this season... among them, monitor weather forecasts and know where to go in the event of an unexpected thunderstorm... wear sunscreen and closed-toe shoes, not flips-flops, to protect your feet... keep a watchful eye on children... and if you see something suspicious, say something. The department also says every ride should have a prominently displayed, current permit issued by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
More info from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security:
General Safety Tips
•Pay attention to weather forecasts and prepare appropriately.
•Be aware of your surroundings and know where you will go if you need to seek shelter from an unexpected thunderstorm.
•Be sure to use sunscreen and sunglasses to protect yourself from harmful UV rays. Remember, even on overcast days UV rays are still powerful enough to burn skin so use sunscreen.
•On hot days, make sure you drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
•Wear closed toe shoes like tennis shoes, not flip-flops or sandals, to protect your feet.
•Remember “If you see something, say something.” If you see people or activities that seem suspicious, report your observations to the Indiana Intelligence Fusion Center at 877-226-1026. If you believe danger is imminent, contact local security or call 911.
Safety tips for kids and caregivers
Teach kids to stay calm and stay put if they become separated from parents or other caregivers. Knowing what to do in this scary situation will help prevent a lost child from panicking, and help safety officials locate them faster.
•Keep a watchful eye on children. It’s easy for children and caregivers to become separated in large crowds.
•Have an established family meeting location where you will reconnect if separated.
•Check with county fair organizers and ask for ‘missing parent’ contact tags your children can wear with your name and cell phone number in case your child becomes separated.
•If you do become separated from your child, notify local security immediately.
Animal Safety Tips
•Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after touching animals, and don’t consume any food inside of the barns.
•Watch out for animal feces on barn floors and aisle ways when walking or using strollers.
•Animals at the fair are in a noisy, crowded and unfamiliar environment, and may easily become dangerous if they are spooked or scared.
•Avoid running, yelling, talking loudly or making loud noises while in the animal barns.
•Never attempt to pet any animal at the fair without receiving explicit permission from the animal’s owner.
Fire Safety Tips
•Make sure all fires are extinguished and dispose of cigarettes properly.
•Ensure all wires being used for fair exhibits are away from flammable materials such as cloth or hay.
•If parking on grass lots while attending the fair, avoid parking on tall dry grass. Park on mowed grass whenever possible.
•Use caution refilling generators. Exhaust can be very hot. Make sure the exhaust vent is pointing up in the air and not down at the ground, where it could catch dry grass or other flammables on fire.
Amusement Ride Safety Tips
•Don’t board a ride if you see broken parts, signs of improper maintenance, or an inattentive operator. Report your observations to the ride operator or call IDHS amusement ride hotline at 1-888-203-5020.
•Every ride should have a prominently displayed, current permit issued by IDHS. If the ride has no such permit, call the amusement ride hotline at 1-888-203-5020.
•Read all posted rules and listen to instructions given by ride operators.
•Watch the ride with your child before boarding. Point out the operator and the entrance and exit locations prior to riding. Make sure they understand the instructions and warnings fully.
•Obey minimum height, age, and weight restrictions. Never sneak children onto rides if they are too small or too young. A smaller/younger child may not be physically or developmentally able to stay safely seated.
•If you can’t count on your child to stay seated with hands and feet inside, don’t let them ride.
•Keep all body parts (hands, arms, legs, long hair, etc.) inside the ride at all times. If you have long hair, keep it pulled up with a hat or hair tie.
•Always use the safety equipment provided (seat belt, shoulder harness, lap bar, etc.).
•Remain in the ride until it comes to a complete stop at the unloading point. If a ride stops temporarily due to mechanical failure or other reasons, stay seated and wait for an operator to give you further instructions.
•Know your physical conditions and limitations. If you suspect that your health could be at risk for any reason, or that you could aggravate a preexisting condition of any kind, do not ride.
•Additional ride safety tips are available at GetPrepared.in.gov.
IDHS coordinates the certification of all emergency medical services personnel in Indiana, and oversees the regular inspection of emergency medical transports and the required medical equipment. The Indiana State Building Commissioner’s Office, charged with permitting and inspecting amusement rides in Indiana, is also a division of IDHS.
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Read more: State Safety Tips for Festival Season

A 20-year-old Lowell man reportedly suffered critical injuries in a single-vehicle crash shortly after 5 a-m Sunday in Lowell. Police say Cole Midgett was in the 28-hundred block of Belshaw Road when for unknown reasons the SUV he was driving left the roadway and struck a tree. He was taken to a local hospital then transferred to a Chicago-area medical center.
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Read more: Lowell Man Critically Injured

In Crown Point, police say an apparent domestic dispute over the weekend left one person dead and another person seriously hurt. The Lake County Coroners office says 26-year-old Brittany Peters suffered multiple wounds in an apartment in the 900 block of Heritage Court and was pronounced dead just after 7:30 Saturday night at an area hospital. A 32-year-old man, believed to be the woman's boyfriend, also suffered stab wounds in an apparent struggle between the two, authorities say, and his condition was not available.
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Read more: Domestic Dispute Turns Deadly

Indiana Conservation Officers say they are investigating the drowning of a Lake Station man in Deep River. Officers say 25-year-old Jeffery Sandefur was with friends along Deep River near the Waterfront Lounge in Lake Station at 11:47 pm Saturday night when he told friends he wanted to go swimming. Authorities say witnesses quickly dialed 911 after Sandefur did not resurface. Indiana Conservation Officers were assisted by many agencies on scene including Lake Station, New Chicago, Hobart, Lake Hills, Cedar Lake, Crown Point, and Lakes of the Four Seasons, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department and the Lake County Aquatics Team. Officials say Sandefur was recovered just at 3:37 am Sunday morning. The Lake County Coroners office says Sandefur sustained no visible trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 4:30 Sunday morning, and manner of death was listed as pending. 
In northeast Indiana, Indiana Conservation Officers say they are investigating the apparent drowning death of an 18-year-old Marion man Sunday afternoon at a state reservoir in Huntington County about thirty miles southwest of Fort Wayne. Officials say witnesses stated Jordan Laute swam out past the roped barrier into deep water, and that once it became evident he was in trouble, witnesses and bystanders attempted unsuccessfully to locate him. Indiana Conservation Officers utilized side scan sonar to locate Laute in 9’ of water at 6:15pm.
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Read more: Officers Investigate Two Drowning Deaths

Accident blocking all lanes eastbound Borman near 6 mile marker, just before Burr Street in Gary.  Involved a car that was on fire.  Crews on scene. May be a fatality investigation. 
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Read more: Serious Accident Closes EB Borman

43-year-old Paula Cooper is scheduled to be released from prison today. She was arrested at the age of 15 and convicted of murdering 78-year-old Bible teacher Ruth Pelke in Pelke's Glen Park home in 1985; the elderly woman, officials say, was stabbed more than thirty times.. Three other teenage girls from Gary were also convicted and went to prison in connection with the crime and have since been released. The four, authorities say, took ten dollars, and the victim's car. When Cooper was sentenced to death at the age of 16, she was the youngest person in the state to ever face the death penalty, and the youngest death row inmate in 1986. Following international outcry over the sentence, and an appeal from Pope John Paul II, the Indiana Supreme Court commuted her death sentence a few years later, sentencing her to sixty-years in prison.
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Read more: Paula Cooper to Be Released