Seven women, ranging in age from 24 to 29, were arrested during an undercover prostitution sting in Merrillville earlier this month, authorities say. Lake Station Police say they received several complaints from citizens regarding people advertising prostitution at online classified ad sites, and that several of the subjects were from the Lake and Porter County area, including Lake Station. The sting was conducted by Lake Station Police together with the Porter County Drug Task Force .
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Read more: Prostitution Sting in Merrillville

Michigan City Police today announced the arrest of four men for narcotics related charges. Police say the Street Crimes Unit had received information that drugs were being distributed out of the 21-hundred block of Elston Street and Pop's and GeeGee's Store, located in the four-hundred block of Willard Avenue. An investigation culminated with the arrest of 68 year old Willie Martin Sr., 30 year old Willie Martin Jr., 39 year old Robert Martin Sr., and 24 year old Duane Altman. Authorities...

Read more: Four Arrested in MC for Allegedly Selling Drugs

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana House Democratic Leader Scott Pelath of Michigan City today issued the following statement on the first half of the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly:
            “At the halfway point of this session, it would be good to report that the Legislature has taken significant strides to help the middle class in Indiana: creating good-paying jobs, taking the pressure off the middle class, and helping our public schools recover from the body blows of recent years.
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Read more: Pelath: Tri-Partnership Doing Nothing for Middle Class this Session

New data announced today by the International Trade Administration shows Indiana merchandise exports increased seven-percent in 2012 compared to the previous year, a record high. Mark Cooper, Director of the U-S Commercial Service in Indianapolis says, “many Indiana exporters continue to do very well in their global sales, but there's excellent potential to increase the numbers of exporting companies and the number of markets they are currently selling to.” Indiana's top exporting merchandise sa...

Read more: Indiana Hits Record High Export Level in 2012

(Photo Courtesy of Influential Women of Northwest Indiana)
Nominations are currently being accepted to recognize the abundance of talented and successful women we have in Northwest Indiana. The Influential Women of Northwest Indiana committee reports nominations can be submitted for the event, which takes May 23^rd, at Avalon Manor, in Merrillville, in a variety of categories, including Service and Tourism, Healthcare, Government, and Economic Development.
To submit a nomination,and for a full...

Read more: Nominations Now Accepted for Influential Women of NW IN

As the deadline for possible sequestration nears, so does the impending fate of the 14^th Annual South Shore Air Show, currently scheduled for July 12^th, 13^th, and 14^th on the beaches of the newly renovated Marquette Park in the Miller section of Gary. The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority reports the decision on whether to host the 2013 South Shore Air Show will be made sooner than later, and the show's organizing committee is currently contemplating the numerous factors affected by...

Read more: Sequestration Could Cancel South Shore Air Show

Washington, D.C. — Senator Joe Donnelly spoke today with Indiana media to discuss the impact of the indiscriminate spending cuts known as sequestration on Hoosiers.  Indiana will see deep cuts to military installations, public safety, education, and public health if these cuts are allowed to go into effect as scheduled.  Donnelly’s office released a fact sheet detailing some of the impact the cuts will have on Indiana.  It is available for download here. 
“It is past time for Democrats and R...

Read more: Donnelly on Sequester Cuts and its Impact on Hoosiers

Sandra and Bill Bach
The parents of Amanda Bach are expressing their gratitude to police, prosecutors and the public, after jurors found Dustin McCowan guilty last night of murdering their 19-year-old daughter Amanda in September of 2011.  At a news conference at the Porter County Sheriffs Department today, they also thanked the numerous people, many they didn't know, who came out to look for Amanda when she was still missing, before her body was found, and said they wanted to express special tha...

Read more: Parents, Police Talk About McCowan Verdict

The left two lanes of southbound I-65 are closed near Ridge Rd due to a traffic hazard. Motorists can expect delays as you travel southbound on I-65, near mile 258.4. Tipsters report a three-mile backup at that location, with only one-lane open at last check.
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Read more: Back Up on I-65 Near Ridge Road

Preventing a 57 million dollar tax increase of Hoosier farmers became the first piece of legislation for the 2013 session. Governor Mike Pence today signed into law Senate Enrolled Act 319, which delays for an additional year the implementation of new soil productivity factors, meaning soil productivity factors used for the March 1^st, 2011, assessment date will be used again for the March 1^st, 2013, assessment date.
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Read more: Soil Productivity Legislation Signed into Law