NEWTON COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announces the closure of State Road 55 to through traffic between State Road 16 and State Road 114 beginning Monday, April 1^st through the end of June 2013. Crews will be replacing a bridge. All traffic will be restricted at the work site, one mile north of State Road 16.
A detour will take northbound SR 55 drivers west on SR 16, north on U.S. 41, east on SR 114, and back to SR 55. Southbound SR 55 drivers will travel west on SR 114, south on U.S. 41, east on SR 16, and back to SR 55.
INDOT reminds drivers to use caution and consider worker safety when driving through a construction zone. For the latest road closures and project updates from INDOT, like us at www.Facebook.com/INDOTNorthwest and follow us at www.Twitter.com/INDOTNorthwest.
You can find traffic restriction information at www.trafficwise.IN.gov.  Contact the LaPorte District toll free at 1-855-GO-INDOT.
# # #
 ...

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announces I-65 will be restricted to one northbound lane and one southbound lane during evening and overnight hours between the U.S. 231 exit (mile marker 247) and just south of the State Road 2 exit (mile marker 240) beginning Monday, April 1^st through early December 2013. Lane restrictions will be in place no earlier than 6 p.m. and no later than 10 a.m. during a Monday night through Saturday morning work week. Two lanes of traffic in each direction will be open during daytime hours. Crews are resurfacing the roadway in addition to pipe and drain work.
In the event of back-ups or slowed traffic, message boards on I-65 will alert drivers to an alternative route to avoid the construction zone.
INDOT reminds drivers to use caution and consider worker safety when driving through a construction zone. For the latest road closures and project updates from INDOT, like us at www.Facebook.com/INDOTNorthwest and follow us at www.Twitter.com/INDOTNorthwest.
You can find traffic restriction information at www.trafficwise.IN.gov.  Contact the LaPorte District toll free at 1-855-GO-INDOT.
# # #
 ...

In Valparaiso, a stretch of Yellowstone Road is scheduled to be closed for most of April, starting Monday, for storm and sanitary sewer work, and water main construction. The restriction will be in effect 24-hours a day between Avondale Avenue and the north George Street entrance.
# # #...

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Visclosky announced his support for the Invest in American Jobs Act of 2013, a bill to close loopholes in existing Buy America provisions and ensure that all federal transportation and infrastructure investments support American jobs and domestic manufacturing. The bill, which was introduced by Congressman Nick Rahall (D-WV), heads to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for consideration.
“We have the best workers in the world, the smartest manufacturers in the world, and an economic infrastructure in dire need of repair,” Congressman Visclosky said. “Today, I am urging my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation, which will close Buy America loopholes, strengthen existing Buy America requirements, and ensure that all federal infrastructure projects receive the “Made-in-America” seal of approval.”
According to a report of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the legislation would:

• Strengthen existing Buy America requirements for investments in highway, bridge, public transit, rail, and aviation infrastructure and equipment to ensure that all of the steel, iron, and manufactured goods used in these projects is produced in the United States;

• Increase domestic content requirements for public transit rolling stock and Federally-procured aviation facilities and equipment, from 60 percent under current law to 100 percent by FY 2017;

• Apply Buy America requirements to other transportation and infrastructure investment where such requirements do not exist in current law, including rail infrastructure grants, loans, and loan guarantees, Clean Water State Revolving Fund grants, and Economic Development Administration (EDA) grants; and

• Require Federal agencies to justify any proposed waiver of the Buy America requirements and ensure that the American public has notice of and an opportunity to comment on any proposed waiver prior to it taking effect.

# # #...

All South Shore train service is temporarily suspended, as there has been a CN freight train derailment, at Broadway, in Gary, north of the South Shore tracks. Hazmat has directed NICTD to suspend service, until they determine it is safe to resume. More information soon as it becomes available.
# # #...

There has been a CN freight train derailment at Broadway in Gary. 
At this time hazmat is accessing the situation and NICTD train 600 will be delayed for an undetermined amount of time from Gary Metro Station to Chicago.
Train 502 will depart South Bend Airport on time passengers please be advised your train could be held up east of Gary Metro Station while this situation is being resolved. 
# # #...

A bill to expand eligibility for a disabled Hoosier veteran license plate now moves to Governor Mike Pence's desk, after passing the House of Representatives this week. Senate Bill 403 allows a person to receive a disabled veteran license plate if he or she has been rated by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs as being at least 50-percent disabled, with at least a 30-percent mobility rating, as opposed to the current law, in which veterans must be rated 100-percent disabled to qualify.
# # #...

About a half-acre burned in a small brush fire today, southwest of Westville. Liberty Fire Chief Brian Duncan says they were called to assist the Westville Fire Department, at 3:40 this afternoon, in the area of County Road 700 North and 550 East. Chief Duncan says residents were cleaning the yard and burning debris when the fire got away from them. He also reminds Porter County residents that you cannot burn any yard waste that should be composted, as the county is in a non-attainment zone, which makes open burning illegal.
# # #...

INDIANAPOLIS—State health officials have confirmed a case of measles in a student at Indiana University Bloomington. This student did not attend classes while infectious and does not live on campus. The Indiana State Department of Health, the Monroe County Health Department and Indiana University are working to identify potential additional cases and to prevent further transmission of the disease.
The individual visited the IU Health Bloomington Hospital emergency department and a CVS pharmacy while infectious on March 24. IU Health Bloomington Hospital is contacting individuals directly who may have been exposed to measles.
Visitors to the CVS Pharmacy at 1000 N. College Ave, Bloomington, IN, 47404, from 4:30-7:30 p.m. on March 24 may have been exposed to the measles virus. Individuals who cannot verify two doses of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine or who were born in 1957 or later should contact their health care provider. In addition, individuals who develop symptoms of measles should stay home and call their health care provider as well as the Monroe County Health Department at (812) 349-2543.
On March 25, the individual visited the IU Student Health Center at 600 N. Jordan Ave., Bloomington, IN, 47405, while infectious. Risk of exposure at this location is very low because the individual wore a mask during the time spent in the clinic. A very small number of patients may have been exposed. The Student Health Center is contacting these individuals directly.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus. It is rare in the United States due to the widespread availability of the MMR vaccine; however, visitors from other countries or U.S. citizens traveling abroad can become infected before or during travel. 
More than 95 percent of people who receive a single dose of MMR will develop immunity to measles, and more than 99 percent will be protected after receiving a second dose. Two doses of the vaccine are needed to be fully protected. Individuals are encouraged to check with their health care providers to ensure vaccinations are up-to-date. 
Children are routinely vaccinated for measles at 1 year of age, and again at 4-6 years of age before going to kindergarten, but children as young as 6 months old can receive the measles vaccine if they are at risk. Individuals born before 1957 are presumed to be immune to measles. Individuals who are unsure about vaccination history should contact their health care providers. Hoosiers can also access immunization records directly through the secure online tool MyVaxIndiana by requesting a PIN from their health care provider. Go to www.MyVaxIndiana.in.gov to learn more.
Symptoms
Measles begins with a fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes about 7-10 days after exposure.  The fever increases and can get as high as 105 degrees. Two to four days later, a rash starts on the face and upper neck. It spreads down the back and trunk, and then extends to the arms and hands, as well as the legs and feet. After about five days, the rash fades the same order in which it appeared.
Measles is highly contagious. When infected persons sneeze or cough, droplets spray into the air.  Those droplets remain active and contagious on infected surfaces for up to two hours. 
What you can do
If you are experiencing the symptoms of measles, stay home and call your doctor. Be prepared to describe your symptoms and alert your doctor if you think you have been in contact with an infected person.  If you are ill with measles, remain home and away from others, especially unvaccinated infants, people with diseases affecting their immune systems, and pregnant women.
For more information about measles, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/measles/.
To visit the Indiana State Department of Health, go to www.StateHealth.in.gov.
# # #...

(Photo Courtesy of Dolton Police)
Police, 20 community volunteers, and the family of 19 year old Austin Battle will be canvassing the Village of Dolton, Illinois on Monday, in a search for the teen who was last seen on March 19^th. Dolton Police report Battle, who was known for having bouts of depression, had asked his father to pick him up, during a phone call that Tuesday night, at the intersection of Sibley Blvd and Burnham Avenue, in Calumet City, but when his father arrived Battle was no where to be found. Police say phone records indicate there has been no activity since that call, and the Cook County Morgue reports no possible matches. Austin Battle is described as standing five-foot-eleven inches tall, and was last seen wearing a grey hoodie, blue jeans and black boots. If you would like to volunteer in the search effort, stop by the Dolton Police Department, 14014 Park Avenue, at noon. Anyone with any information is asked to please contact the Dolton Police Department, at (708) 201-3375.
# # #...