Nearly one-thousand teddy bears headed to comfort victims in Newtown Connecticut have been reassigned to stay put and serve children who may face frightening events here in the Region.  the Times reports that just when the bears were about to be shipped word came from Newtown officials to stop sending donations due to the overwhelming response of donations received so far.  The article says Gretchen Pishkur, the fourth-grade elementary teacher who came up with the idea to collect teddy bears f...

King’s Delight, a Gainesville, Ga. establishment, is recalling approximately 1,572 pounds of frozen chicken nuggets labeled as gluten-free because they contain wheat, a known allergen that is not declared on the label, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
The following product is subject to recall:
 *  8-oz. cartons of “APPLEGATE® Naturals Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets.”
The establishment number “P-2617” can be found printed on the side of e...

Purdue University North Central, in Westville, will be the site of the 18^th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration Breakfast this Monday morning. Doors for the event open Monday morning at 7:15am, and reservations are not required. Guest speakers and a panel discussion are scheduled, relating to Dr. King's legacy, and attendees are asked only to bring with them a non-perishable food item to be donated to local food pantries. Also, P-N-C students, staff, and community members are...

Police in Lansing, Illinois, are asking for the public's help after a series of burglaries in the 36-hundred block of 186^th Street. Lansing Police report the burglaries have occurred in the early morning hours, while residents of the condominiums were at home, and that in each instance, forced entry was made. Authorities say an investigation continues, and ask that anyone with information contact them, at any hour of the day or night. For information on steps to reduce the chances of being a...

Motorists using I-80/94 and I-65 will have to deal with overnight lane restrictions next week. INDOT reports starting Monday through Friday, crews will be out patching potholes, smoothing rough pavement, and that work will be rescheduled if the weather becomes a factor. On Monday, from 10pm until 5am Tuesday, lane restrictions are scheduled to take place on I-80/94 eastbound and westbound, between the I-65 exit and the State Road 249 exit. Here is a complete lane restriction schedule for the...

All four-lanes of U-S 30, just west of Valparaiso, near Joliet Road are being shut down again to get those power lines back up after a car struck a utility pole around 10-o'clock this morning. NIPSCO Spokesman Nick Myers say crews were expected to begin stretching the lines over the roadway at 3:45 this afternoon, and anticipate finishing up by 4:15pm today. Assistant Chief Tim Beach with Union Fire Rescue says the westbound vehicle, for an unknown reason left the roadway, and knocked the pole...

LOCAL BAR ASSOCIATIONS offering free legal consults
on Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, Jan. 21


Fifty-five attorneys from various NWI bar associations will answer legal questions and provide general legal information to members of the general public at no cost at eight Northwest Indiana locations on the Martin Luther King Holiday, Monday January 21, 2013.
Talk to a Lawyer Today, is a annual public service program of the Indiana State Bar Association in collaboration with our regional pro bono...

The Lowell Public Library is hosting Staley Da Bear, official mascot of the Chicago Bears on Monday, January 21, at 1 PM.
Staley Da Bear will be at the library to jump start kids’ desire to pick up a book, with comedy and fun during his 45-minute high-energy show, while introducing  “Tackle Reading”.
Staley's "Tackle Reading" program, which targets students in 1st through 5th grades, is designed to foster young students' interest in reading both fiction and non-fiction books. The program is...

Governor Mike Pence helps to clean up the neighborhood near Watkins Park Family Center in Indianapolis as part of the Martin Luther King Day of Service. [Photo provided]
Indianapolis - Governor Mike Pence offered remarks this morning at Watkins Park Family Center to help to kick off the Martin Luther King Day of Service in Indianapolis.
Pence was joined at the kickoff by local community leaders including Deputy Mayor of the City of Indianapolis Olgen Williams, Indiana Black Expo President and CEO...

11:45am -- US 30 has reopened just west of Valparaiso, but motorists are advised to keep using caution as Comcast bucket trucks are in the area and NIPSCO crews remain on scene for repairs. Union Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Tim Beach says a car struck a utility pole on the north side of US 30, near Joliet Road, around 10-o'clock this morning, knocking the pole completely down, and sending power lines across the highway. Beach says there were two people in the car; no injuries, both refused...