Kokomo Tribune

WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue University’s trustees on Friday approved a range of room-and-board rate increases, with the largest hikes for rooms in the most popular locations. Full Story »

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels says the state will cut $150 million in funding for state colleges and universities because of a continuing decline in tax revenues. Full Story »

WASHINGTON — The unemployment rate fell to 10% in November as employers cut the smallest number of jobs since the recession began. Full Story »

INDIANAPOLIS — Ivy Tech Community College is offering at-risk students a chance to earn an associate degree in just 10 months instead of two years. school. After earning an associate degree, they can transfer to a four-year college or get a job. Full Story »

ROCKPORT — The developers of a planned southern Indiana coal gasification plant are trying to gain public support for the $2.2 billion project. Full Story »

A Kokomo man charged with attempted rape in the attack of a woman last year has been committed to a state mental hospital. Full Story »

Clearing out the old Continental Steel dam was supposed to be a one-day job, but contractors turned to other work Thursday as environmental concerns stalled the dam demolition. Full Story »

Kokomo area shoppers can buy Christmas gifts and support local charities all in one place today at Maple Crest Middle School. Seventh-graders will have products and services for sale in the school gym as part of the annual economic fair. Full Story »

If a themed Christmas tree seems edgy, visit Darrell and Bruce Blasius’ house in Kokomo. For 13 years, the two have opened their Sycamore Street home, beginning the Saturday after Thanksgiving, for people to tour their 141 themed Christmas trees and 55,000 decorative lights. Full Story »

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana’s State Board of Education is considering a proposal that could change the way the state ranks schools by giving them letter grades instead of putting them into categories. Full Story »

WASHINGTON - The tally of newly laid-off workers seeking unemployment benefits fell unexpectedly for the fifth straight week, a hopeful sign that the job market is slowly improving. Full Story »

WEST LAFAYETTE — A military family expert says there are more ways for Indiana residents to help overseas troops this holiday season than simply sending cards or care packages. Full Story »

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana State Museum will close its galleries and public spaces on most Mondays beginning in January. Full Story »

Every phase of the Continental Steel cleanup has been more difficult than originally envisioned. So it didn’t come as a huge shock when contractors uncovered more pollution Wednesday. Full Story »

Plans to change the Kokomo traffic ordinance to include speeding and other moving violations hit a stop sign Wednesday. Instead of moving ahead on the ordinance at their next meeting, Kokomo Common Council members will likely give the issue further study. Full Story »

Michael Yates, one of the four men charged in the April 5, 2008, shootings of Abby Rethlake and Morgan Vetter, was sentenced Wednesday in Howard Superior Court 1 to the maximum 20 years in prison for an attempted armed robbery that occurred prior to the shooting. Full Story »

PERU — Riverside Travel Trailer Inc., a Peru manufacturer of towable recreational vehicles, announced Wednesday it is expanding its operations and plans to create 100 new jobs by 2011. Full Story »

After 10 months of fighting Delphi Corp. for turning over its hourly and salaried pensions to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. to escape a four-year bankruptcy, the 15,000-member Delphi Salaried Retirees Association heard good news Wednesday. Full Story »

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana’s secretary of state has filed a civil complaint against the state’s largest teachers union, saying the group violated the Indiana Securities Act when it offered certain health care plans for school districts. Full Story »

PERU — A company that makes towable recreational vehicles has announced plans to expand its operations in northern Indiana and potentially add 100 jobs. Full Story »

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indiana House committee has set Dec. 16 as the day it will take up a bill to tighten lobbying and ethics rules. The bill by Democratic House Speaker Patrick Bauer of South Bend will be heard by the House Rules Committee days before the full Legislature convenes on Jan. 5. Full Story »

As a single mother of four, Jennifer DeLaney is finding it difficult to get by financially. Like many others, she struggles sometimes just to pay her bills and put food on the table. Full Story »

The last time a Kokomo man saw his sister, Christine R. Craig, was for Thanksgiving dinner. A day later, the 40-year-old Tippecanoe County woman was shot and killed, allegedly by her boyfriend, Steven Farrell, who remains on the loose. Full Story »

Former workers want auto supplier to reassume pensions. A slow, steady stream of water created the Grand Canyon. And Den Black is a slow, steady stream for the Delphi Salaried Retirees Association. Full Story »

Old fashioned Christmas coming to Kokomo Saturday. Santa Claus is coming to town Saturday. The jolly old elf will arrive by train on the west side of the courthouse square at about 5 p.m., ushering in an old-fashioned Christmas celebration. Full Story »