(Photo Courtesy of the Times)
A Kansas man was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison today on charges of kidnapping and obstruction of justice. The Times reports Martin Jonassen, who represented himself, was convicted by a federal jury in July for kidnapping an adult-female relative in attempt to take her from Missouri to Michigan in September of 2011. Published reports the woman escaped a Portage hotel, and ran naked into a liquor store, where surveillance footage captured Jonassen dragging...

(Photo Courtesy of the Times)
47 year old Kimberly Kubina, who pleaded guilty in May to felony neglect of a dependent in the death of her stepson, was sentenced today to 35 years in prison. The Times reports Christian Choate's father, 40 year old Riley Choate, was sentenced last month to 80 years in prison, after pleading guilty to neglect of a dependent, altering the scene of a death, and habitual offender enhancement. Published reports says Christian Choate's body was discovered in Gary in...

Governor Mike Pence is scheduled to be in South Bend tomorrow afternoon. According to Governor's itinerary, he will be speaking at the Saint Joseph County Chamber lunch-in at noon, then join Hoosiers at the Chicory Cafe at 1:15pm, and conclude his visit by holding a meeting with the South Bend Latino Task Force on Education, at the Maycrest Community Building at 3:30pm.
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A gallon of regular unleaded has reportedly gone over the four-dollar mark in Merrillville today... with many gas stations in Lake County just pennies below that. Triple-A Director of Public Affairs, Beth Mosher, says lessened production, refineries going off-line due to maintenance issues, and refinery issues in Illinois and Ohio have all help contribute to cost increase. Mosher says it remains to be seen if the more expense to produce and make “summer blend switch-over”, will add to the alr...

A bill unanimously passed by the Indiana House of Representatives on Monday that would allow law enforcement to immediately detain gravely disabled individuals and take them to the nearest appropriate facility now heads to the Senate for additional consideration. House Bill 11-30's author, Representative Charlie Brown, of Gary, says the proposal aligns the current immediate detention statute with the emergency and temporary commitment statutes, thus making them uniform throughout and adding...

The on ramp to southbound 394 is closed due to a vehicle fire on southbound 394 at Thornton-Lansing Rd.  Traffic tipsters are reporting that the fire is blocking all three lanes of southbound 394 at this time and is backing up outbound Bishop Ford from 15th St./US-6 to I-80/394 interchange.  Drivers headed toward northwest Indiana could take Sibley Blvd. to Calumet Avenue/US-41 south to I-80/94.  Traffic wanting to continue south on the Bishop Ford could also take Sibley Blvd. to Torrence/SR-83...

(Photo Courtesy of the Times)
A man who holds numerous positions on a wide array of committees and councils can add another to that list, as the Times today reports Geof Benson has been named the executive director of the Dunes Learning Center, a non-profit environmental education facility. Published reports say Benson currently serves as chairman of the NIRPC Environmental Management Policy Committee, President of the Beverly Shores Town Council, vice-chairman of the Lake Michigan Marina and...

(Photos Courtesy of Community Hospital)
Community Hospital in Munster has once again been recognized as one of America's 50 best hospitals by Healthgrades, making it the only hospital in Indiana to achieve this distinction six-years in a row. Community Hospital Chief Executive Officer Don Flesko says, “this achievement is a testament to the systems we have in place, and the doctors and healthcare professionals who put quality and excellence in patient-first care...it demonstrates to the c...

A fraudulent text message scam is circulating in the region. DeMotte State Bank reports the text message asks that you call the listed phone number and enter your personal banking information, which again is a scam, because DeMotte State Bank reports they do not contact their customers in this manner. DeMotte State Bank implores you to not respond, but says if you already have responded, and entered your information, to please contact them immediately, at (219) 987-4141.
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Kellogg’s has announced a voluntary recall of three sizes of Kellogg’s Special K Red Berries cereal boxes because there might be glass fragments inside. Consumers are asked to check any packages you have in your home, and if it matches the recall info, to contact the company for a replacement coupon. They say they may also make arrangements to retrieve the food for evaluation. Kellogg's says there have been no reports of any injuries associated with the product.
For more info:  http://www.kellogg...