Sentencing is scheduled today for 20-year-old Dustin McCowan. A month ago McCowan was found guilty of murdering former girlfriend, 19-year-old Amanda Bach [bahk] of Portage, by fatally shooting her in September 2011. Police say Bach's body was found the day after her car was discovered along State Road 130 in Wheeler. McCowan faces a possible 65 years in prison. The jury deliberated for about six-and-a-half hours before the verdict was read.
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In East Chicago, the city council this week approved a 150-thousand dollar transfer of funds to cover police overtime costs for a new “Stop Team”. East Chicago Police Chief Mark Becker says he instituted a similar program when he was chief in Portage previously, where it freed up officers to do that which patrol officers didn't have time to do... police could respond to community concerns, like speeding in a community, and 'stop' it. You can hear more from Chief Becker online, at Region Newsmakers at regionnewsteam-dot-com.
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With students on Spring break, a different kind of class was being held at Munster High School. Wednesday, police in full gear filled the halls for an active shooter drill, hosted by Munster Police for Region police agencies and area universities and businesses. Nearly three-dozen representatives of law enforcement took part in live drills at the high school. The federally-sponsored exercise was actually scheduled in Munster before the school massacre in Connecticut in December; since that tragedy, the program is now reportedly booked for years.
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An Indiana House panel has approved a measure that more strictly regulates clinics that distribute abortion pills. A facility that provides abortion-inducing drugs would have to meet the same building standards as a surgical unit — like size requirements for halls, rooms and doors, and many other criteria – under Senate Bill 371, approved 8-5 Wednesday by the House Public Policy Committee.
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The Indiana House has approved a bill of special interest to officials wanting to expand tourism opportunities along the Region's lakeshore. Senate Bill 173 allows the alcohol and tobacco commission to issue up to six new permits to sell alcoholic beverages in the city of Whiting to restaurants located within three blocks of Lake Michigan. The bill needs to go back to the House before it can go to the Governor, because the Senate version limits the number of permits and limits them just to Whiting. The measure was introduced by State Senator Ed Charbonneau.
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[Photo provided]
Braving the early Spring snow that hit Indianapolis, hundreds of Hoosiers from all parts of the state rallied at the Statehouse to show support for seniors and people with disabilities getting caring in their homes, and be able to live independently. A-A-R-P Indiana State Director June Lyle says they sponsored Tuesday's Rally for Independence to bring a human message to legislators. In recent months, Indiana's Division of Aging has been working diligently to get more people off waitlists for home and community-based services.
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There's been no comment at this time from Hammond School officials after a 27-year-old Morton High School math teacher was reportedly arrested Wednesday, accused in federal court of asking underage female students to text sexually explicit pictures of themselves to him by cellphone. Published reports say the investigation began when the mother of a 17-year-old girl suspected her daughter was sexually active with the man, who told officials he had been a teacher Morton until very recently. Reports also say he denied having sexual contact with the girl.
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What's next for a long-proposed trash-to-ethanol plant in south Lake County? The Times reports a second potential financier of the project has pulled out after being unable to secure the necessary funding. It's unclear what action the Lake County Solid Waste Management Board may take at their meeting coming up April 18. The idea has been to turn municipal solid waste into the biofuel at a plant that would be built in Schneider.
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INDIANAPOLIS – Today the Indiana Senate increased efforts in the fight against drugs in Indiana by passing a bill authored by Rep. Vernon Smith (D-Gary) that improves the Commission for a Drug-Free Indiana (DFI).
            House Bill 1575 changes the current status of legislator members of the commission to allow them to be voting members. According to Smith, this proposal allows for more input from the members of the General Assembly who have experience dealing with law enforcement and youth-related issues. The members also may have experience in family relations, education, civic or private affairs, medicine, local government, judiciary or self-help, among others.
            “The goal is to give voting rights to members of the commission who have valuable insight to the issues DFI tries to solve,” he said. “This is a way of improving the commission so we can reach our ultimate objective, which is to create a healthy, safe, drug-free home for Hoosiers.”
            DFI was established in 1989 by the General Assembly to help Indiana combat substance abuse. The commission works in collaboration with 92 local coordinating councils representing all of Indiana's counties.
            The Senate passed the bill on a unanimous 47-0 vote.
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(Photo Courtesy of the Times)
Sentencing is scheduled for tomorrow for 20-year-old Dustin McCowan, who last month was found guilty of murdering former girlfriend, 19-year-old Amanda Bach, of Portage, by fatally shooting her in September 2011. McCowan faces anywhere from 45 to 65 years in prison.
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