The full Indiana Senate has signed off on legislation requiring cursive writing be taught in Hoosier elementary schools. Senate Bill 120 passed by a 36-to-13 vote. Cursive writing became an option in 2011. Author Jean Leising of Oldenburg says studies have shown finger movement associated with handwriting activates regions in the brain linked to cognitive, language and motor processes, noting at least five other states – Alabama, California, Georgia, Kansas and Massachusetts – have passed cur...

Read more: Senate Says Yes to Cursive Writing Bill

A renewed effort by the town of Griffith to gain its independence from Calumet Township is making its way through the Indiana House. House Bill 15-85 … regarding the transfer of municipal territory... has gotten out of committee on an eleven-to-one vote, according to a report in the Times today. The measure allows voters in town to vote on leaving the township and joining another, if enough people sign a petition requesting a referendum. Then it would need at least two-thirds of voters to say y...

Read more: Griffith Separation Bill Advances

(Photo/Indiana State Police)
In Lake County, Indiana State Police Lowell Post say a semi driver who hit the interstate sign for the Crown Point exit on I-65 Tuesday afternoon reported he blacked out. The rig, loaded with 35-thousand pounds of general merchandise, rolled onto its side and slid for about two-hundred feet before coming to rest off the roadway around 4:45 pm, police say. No load was lost. Troopers say the driver said he was not hurt, but he was taken to a local hospital to be...

Read more: Semi Rollover Near Crown Point

On Monday, Cedar Lake has joined other Lake county communities in designating a portion of US-41 as a Purple Heart Corridor. Ian Nicolini, Town Administrator says the honor is a privilege and "really neat to be part of something that's so much bigger than a town, so much bigger than the Region."   Nicolini says it is a really neat project to be part of and that the council was fully behind it "especially Ward 6 council member, Patsy Casassa."    Nicolini says the Purple Heart Corridor is  "a gre...

Read more: US-41 Purple Heart Corridor Extends Southward

(Photo Courtesy of the Times)
The trial of a 47 year old Gary man is almost over as the Times reports the jury found Kevin Isom guilty on three-counts of murder in the deaths of his wife and two step children, and guilty of criminal recklessness, after two-hours of deliberation. The Times reports sentencing begins tomorrow morning, and Isom faces either the death penalty, life without the possibility of parole, or a sentence of a specific number of years.
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Read more: Isom Found Guilty of Murder by Jury

Two separate crashes in the region have caused some lane closures. The right lane of northbound I-65 is closed near U-S 231 due to a crash, causing stop and go traffic and up to 20 minute delays, as you travel northbound on I-65 near mile 246. Meanwhile, tipsters are reporting a bad crash on US-20, just west of Michigan City, that has both directions shut down. No further information is available at this time.
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Read more: Crashes on I-65 US 20 Causing Delays

(Photo Courtesy of the Times)
The trial of a 47 year old Gary man charged with three-counts of murder in the deaths of his wife and two step children is now in the hands jurors, after closing arguments were made today. The Times reports Kevin Isom is also accused of three-counts of attempted murder for allegedly shooting at officers responding to the incident. If found guilty, he faces either the death penalty, life without the possibility of parole, or a sentence of a specific number of years.
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Read more: Closing Arguments Made Today in Isom Murder Trial

State health officials today have announced a positive case of typhoid fever in a food handler at Purdue University. The Indiana State Department of Health is working with local health officials, and Purdue University, to investigate the case and assess the risk to the public. Health officials say anyone who ate the Boiler Bistro, John Purdue Room, or the coffee shop, and Lavazza, at Marriott Hall on the Purdue Campus, from January 23^rd through the 25^th, maybe at risk, and advise those...

Read more: Positive Case of Typhoid Fever at Purdue University

(Photo Courtesy of the Times)
Jury selection began Monday and testimony was scheduled to begin this afternoon, according to the Times, for a Wheeler area man accused of killing a 19-year-old Portage woman in September of 2011. 20 year old Dustin McCowan is charged with murder in the death of one-time girlfriend Amanda Bach, whose body was found the day after her vehicle was discovered along State Road 130 in Wheeler. Published reports say McCowan has maintained his innocence. The trial has been...

Read more: Testimony Scheduled Today in McCowan Trial

An event scheduled to highlight financial aid resources offered by the federal government will take place later this month in Gary. College Financial Aid and Opportunity Night will be held at the Gary Area Career Center, in the 18-hundred block of East 35^th Avenue, from 6 to 8pm, Thursday, February 21^st. Scheduled to attend the event are Congressman Pete Visclosky, Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson, Doctor Cheryl Pruitt, of the Gary School Corporation, and a presentation will be given by Richard...

Read more: College Financial Aid and Opportunity Night on 2/21