Post-Tribune

Revenues at Northwest Indiana's five casinos didn't fluctuate much last month compared to the same month a year ago, and that's a good sign, according to gaming analyst Ed Feigenbaum. "October is not a great month for revenues. If our casinos are continuing to hold their own in this economy, I take that as a positive," said Feigenbaum, editor of Indiana Gaming Insight. He said as long as ... Full Story »

The health care reform bill narrowly passed by the U.S. House of Representatives Saturday faces a rocky drive through the U.S. Senate and a bumpy negotiation by a joint House-Senate conference committee before it lands on President Obama's desk. In the meantime, local health care observers are stilling mulling how it will affect them. Some caution that without controls placed on drug costs and a ... Full Story »

GARY -- Miller residents expect to meet Tuesday with Gary Police Chief Reginald Harris about a plan to hire a private security firm that would supplement patrols in their neighborhoods. About 50 residents interested in the idea gathered Sunday at the Gary Aquatorium for a meeting led by Pat Lee of Lee Companies. They heard presentations from Kumorek Private Investigations and Kates Security ... Full Story »

Good weather is speeding up work for crews that are nearing the halfway point in the $2 million project to restore the lower reaches of Dunes Creek to a natural state. Doug Stukey, assistant property manager for the Department of Natural Resources, said the removal of an 80-foot-wide strip of concrete on the east side of the main parking lot at the Pavilion has been removed and hauled away ... Full Story »

U.S. Rep. Peter Visclosky of Merrillville, who supported the health care bill in the House, called it "a bill that will significantly improve our health care system." "I am proud to support the Affordable Health Care for America Act," he said Saturday night. Visclosky, a Democrat, said that "for too long, our health care system has allowed millions of Americans to go uninsured, tolerated ... Full Story »

CROWN POINT -- A discussion of how Northwest Indiana's newest planned university campus fits into Northwest Indiana's economic landscape is slated for Thursday. U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky will lead the talks, scheduled for 5 p.m. at University of St. Francis, Saint Anthony Medical Center. Visclosky will explain how a $200,000 grant he secured for the school's nursing program fits into the ... Full Story »

Jessycka French knows all about the squiggly lightbulbs and how they conserve energy, thanks to her mother, a NIPSCO employee. Going into Saturday's Energy Fair at the Calumet Township Trustee's Office multipurpose center with that knowledge did not preclude the 11-year-old and her brothers, Edward, 10, and Christopher, 7, from learning more about conservation and safety, however. Edward, for ... Full Story »

SOUTH HAVEN -- The word was out on the street weeks ago: This is going to be a really tough Christmas. "I had to stop taking applications two weeks ago. I had to turn down a soldier who just got back from Iraq. I wanted to cry," said Claudia Baldridge, coordinator of the Porter County Salvation Army's 2009 Red Kettle Campaign. Of the 70 people who signed up for 35 positions as ... Full Story »

Cedar Lake Veterans Day program, 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jane Ball Elementary School gym, 13313 Parrish Ave. Veterans are invited to participate, 374-3700. Crown Point Veterans Day Program, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday on the east steps of the Old Courthouse in downtown Crown Point. In case of inclement weather it will be at the American Legion Post, 1401 N. Main St.hebron Veterans Day Program, 8 a ... Full Story »

VALPARAISO -- While television crews from Indianapolis parked vans outside the Porter County Courthouse, people going in and out dodged spray from a high-pressure hose cleaning the building's upper reaches. Inside, the trial of Brian Reese, 37, for the attempted murder of an Indianapolis police officer was being held in Porter County due to excessive publicity in Marion County. And Northwest ... Full Story »

Two struggling high schools in Northwest Indiana are considering switching to a new learning format backed by Gov. Mitch Daniels and the state Department of Education. Calumet High School and Gary's Roosevelt Career and Technical Academy, which are in the fourth year of academic probation under the state's accountability law, could become New Tech Network schools in time for the 2010-11 school ... Full Story »

CHESTERTON -- Information technology professionals interested in taking advantage of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District's new fiber optic line along the South Shore tracks are invited to one of several free workshops beginning this week. The one-hour workshops, to be held in all three Northwest Indiana counties, are designed to acquaint executives and employees with IT ... Full Story »

A death sentence is the ultimate penalty, reserved for the worst defendants accused of the most heinous crimes. And it isn't cheap. The Lake County Public Defender's office has asked to add $200,000 to its budget this year for expert witnesses and attorneys to defend Kevin Isom, a Gary man who faces the death penalty in the murder of his wife and her two teenage children in 2008, as well as two ... Full Story »

Here is how area members of Congress -- Reps. Joe Donnelly and Peter Visclosky and Sens. Evan Bayh and Richard Lugar -- voted from Oct. 30 to Nov. 5:House VETERAN JOB RETRAINING ASSISTANCE: The House passed the Veterans Retraining Act (H.R. 1168) to provide veterans with employment training assistance. The vote, on Nov. 2, was unanimous with 356 yeas. VETERANS' PROTECTIONS ... Full Story »

GARY -- A two-year plan to revitalize Marquette Park will increase property values, create new tax revenue and improve the overall quality of life in the Miller area, a consultant promised residents Friday.Joel Baldin of Illinois-based Hitchcock Design Group outlined the 12 highlights of the project during a kick-off celebration at the Marquette Park Pavilion. Baldin said his company wants to ... Full Story »

The 88-year-old Hobart woman broke into tears when she read Wednesday's Post-Tribune about the arrest of the alleged killer of two Gary women last week. She didn't know the two Gary women, Doressa Miller, 52, and her mother, Lillie Miller, 79, who were found dead the night of Friday, Oct. 30, in their home. No, she knew the alleged killer's previous murder victim, Vivian Jurincic, who was ... Full Story »

The Lake County Prosecutor's office charged convicted killer Willie Steele, 42, with murder and confinement Friday in connection with the strangulation deaths of Lillie Miller, 79, and her daughter, Doressa Miller, 52, on Oct. 30. Gary Mayor Rudy Clay and police officials announced the charges at a press conference Friday morning attended by relatives from the Miller family. Authorities have ... Full Story »

It wasn't the Lincoln-Douglas debates. But the issue of the public option health-insurance plan being weighed now by Congress is controversial and ranks high on the national agenda. Physicians Alexander Stemer of Munster and Bharat Pithadia of Valparaiso tallied points and counted coup, but neither drew blood and both remained gentlemen at the end of the 90-minute discussion at Indiana ... Full Story »

The Gary Public Transportation Corp. began pitching a new, federally funded route that officials claim will increase access to jobs, shopping and educational centers while improving efficiency of its operations. GPTC board members got their first look at the Jobs Access/Reverse Commute, or JARC, plan at their monthly board meeting Thursday night. The JARC plan has been uploaded to the ... Full Story »

Shocking statistics from a new Department of Defense report reflect military leaders' fear that the next generation of America's armed forces may not be fit to defend this country. The report reveals that 75 percent of U.S. citizens ages 17 to 24 are unable to enlist in the military because they fail to graduate high school, have a criminal record or are physically unfit. The news in ... Full Story »

With a blood-alcohol level almost four times the legal limit, a driver told police, "Dude, I do this every night; I'm straight up and not drunk!" After a 911 call about a 1995 Chevrolet S-10 being driving erratically, a Porter County Sheriff's deputy pulled the pickup over at 2:20 a.m. Thursday on Indiana 149 at County Road 1000N. State Trooper Glen Fifield arrived soon after. The ... Full Story »

* A Wednesday story about the Merrillville Town Ball should have said to contact the Merrillville Chamber of Commerce at 769-8180 to reserve a seat, which costs $85. To be listed in the event program, Silent Auction donations and sponsorships are due Friday. Sue Medved is the contact for the Silent Auction; she can be reached at 648-3169. * A Wednesday story about Lake County sheriff ... Full Story »

GARY -- A Gary police official said Wednesday there are no plans to discipline operators who found themselves trapped in the radio room at the public safety building this week, and adjustments are being made to keep such an incident from happening again. "By no means do we want to put anybody in harm's way," Cmdr. Richard Allen said. The Gary Fire Department eventually broke down the door to ... Full Story »

Porter county Burglaries, breakins reported * Someone kicked in a walk-in garage door to steal a $2,000 flat screen LCD television. Nothing else was touched in the rented house, in the 800 N. block of County Road 200E. Police noted the television, with a 32-inch to 37-inch screen and ambient lighting, had been visible through the window to anyone driving on the road in front of the house ... Full Story »

Belcher, Thomas, 40 ... Lake Station Bidanset, Mary, 69 .......... Chicago Hamilton, Norma, 96 . New Carlisle Hardy, Tommie Jr., 50 ........... Gary Klug, Elmer, 75 ......... Crown Point Miller, Doressa, 52 ................ Gary Miller, Lillie, 79 ..................... Gary Nelson, Kamya, 2 .................. Gary Phelps, Donald Jr., 38 . New Chicago Polomchak, Sue, 95 ... Full Story »