Imagine being the parents of two happy, active and normal teenage daughters and then getting the news no parent ever wants to hear--one of your daughters is seriously ill.

About a year ago the parents of 17 year-old Amy Bullert of LaCrosse was worried that her daughter had pneumonia but it turned out to be much worse. Amy's mother Lisa, sensed it might be something more so both her and her husband, Austin took their daughter to ER for a second opinion and discovered that Amy was in congestive heart failure brought on by a virus that infected her kidneys.
The mother said, "we found out at Riley's last summer that the whole time we were told she had an upper respiratory infection that she was in congestive heart failure yet she went to school and worked hard." Amy was immediately flown to Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis where the family received an even "bigger blow," her kidneys had shut down.

Lisa said Amy was on a ventilator for 17 days and the entire family including her close sibling Kimmy, stayed at the hospital for two months. There the family was told that Amy needed a kidney transplant. Luckily, a suitable donor was found right away and close by, "My amazing husband is a perfect match, said Lisa."

That all happened almost a year ago and now Lisa said the family is concentrating on raising funds to help defray the cost of Amy's transplant, which will be scheduled as soon as their goal is reached. The family has set a 45 day time limit to reach their goal so their daughter can have the operation on the one year anniversary of her illness. That way Amy will be all healed up and ready for her senior year at school. And when asked what her daughter would like to do when she got own, her mom Lisa said that Amy wanted to be a surgical nurse, now she would like to be a kidney surgical nurse. Lisa said both her daughters are amazing and have a very bright future, "destined to do good things and help many."

If you would like to help contribute toward Amy's transplant the family has set up an online donation site at giveforward.com under "Amy's Answer":  https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/hz82/amysanswer
Or you can checkout Lisa's Facebook page by at Lisa Vaughan Bullert. Hear our interview with Amy's mom at News Audio On Demand: http://www.regionnewsteam.com.

Kimmy Bullert (L) with sister Amy (R)

(photo courtesy Lisa Bullert)

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Read more: Region Parents Raising Funds for Daughter's Operation

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Visclosky has re-introduced the American Steel First Act of 2013, a bill to require the Department of Transportation, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Homeland Security to exclusively use American-made iron and steel in infrastructure projects.
“We must reject unfairly-subsidized foreign steel and use American-made materials in taxpayer-financed projects,” Congressman Visclosky said. “I am re-introducing the American Steel First Act to send a clear message to American workers: I stand with you and will never stop fighting to give you the tools you need to strengthen our economy.”
Visclosky, Vice-Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus, was joined by Steel Caucus Chairman Congressman Tim Murphy (R-PA) in support of the measure. Murphy is an original cosponsor of the bill.
“Building projects financed with taxpayer dollars must use American-made materials, not foreign,” said Chairman Murphy. “With the nation facing trillions in needed infrastructure development, using domestic top-of-the-line iron and steel produced right here in the United States will not only ensure the highest quality materials are used in the next great American building boom but also will keep all the jobs here at home.”
Visclosky has long been a staunch supporter of American steel. He authored a successful Buy America provision that passed as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in 2009 and joined with leaders in both parties in a successful effort to require the Department of Defense to use American-made steel in armor plating.
The legislation will be referred to a relevant committee in the House.
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Read more: Visclosky Re-Introduces American Steel First Act

Fire crews from the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore will be taking advantage of what is suppose to be another beautiful day Wednesday with a scheduled prescribed fire. Officials say approximately 193 acres will be burned at the Tolleston Dune area of the park near Portage, on a parcel of land along County Line Road, south of U-S 12, to improve animal and plant habitats. Crews burned approximately 100 acres near West Beach on Tuesday.
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Read more: Prescribed Fire Wednesday at Tolleston Dunes Near Portage

(Photo Courtesy of the Recycling & Waste Reduction Dist of Porter County)
Porter County, Indiana – The Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County will help Porter County residents with their spring cleaning by providing a One Stop Drop collection event that will accept old and unwanted appliances, electronics, tires and household hazardous waste.
The event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at the Porter County Expo Center/Fair Grounds, 215 E. Division Road, Valparaiso.
Restrictions or fees may apply. For more information, call the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County, 465-3694, or visit www.ItMeansTheWorld.org to learn more.
The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission will be at the event to present new environmentally friendly 2.5-gallon gas cans to residents who bring their old gas cans in for disposal at the collection. Limit one new gas can per vehicle/family, while supplies last.
The One Stop Drop is an opportunity for residents to properly discard materials that are harmful to the environment. Appliances accepted include refrigerators, stoves, dish and clothes washers, dryers, water heaters, air conditioners, freezers, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, furnaces, and just about anything metal. Water softener holding tanks will not be accepted.
Not only do old appliances contain hazardous components, including used oil, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and mercury, they are much less energy-efficient. Additionally, the refrigerant used in refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, water coolers and air conditioners is extremely harmful to the environment and must be extracted safely.
Many companies certified to remove refrigerants from appliances often charge for the removal of this toxic substance, leaving residents to dispose of the remaining appliances. Once old appliances are brought to the One Stop Drop, the refrigerant is extracted and properly discarded. The appliances will ultimately be taken apart and recycled.
According to Indiana law, households can no longer mix unwanted computer monitors, computers, televisions, printers, computer peripherals (such as keyboards and mice), DVD players, video cassette recorders, or fax machines with trash that is intended for disposal at a landfill or intended for disposal by burning or incineration.
Electronics can contain lead and other toxic materials that pose serious threats to human health. Porter County residents can bring their old electronic devices to the May 18 event for safe disposal. Accepted items include anything with electrical cords or run by batteries.
Porter County residents also can drop off electronics at the Valparaiso and Boone Grove compost sites any time during their hours of operation. Additionally, Porter County residents can drop off their electronics at the following locations: Portage Street Department: 2302 Hamstrom Road, 762-4564; Valparaiso Public Works: 406 Don Hovey Drive, 462-4612; Porter Street Department: 550 Beam Street, 926-2771. Residents should call the departments to determine hours of operation. Visit www.ItMeansTheWorld.org for more information, or call 465-3694.
Leftover household products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable or reactive ingredients are considered to be “household hazardous waste” or “HHW,” and require special care when they are discarded.
Improper disposal of household hazardous wastes can include pouring them down the drain, on the ground, into storm sewers, or in some cases putting them out with the trash, which can pollute the environment and pose a threat to human health.
HHW items accepted at One Stop Drop include aerosols; anti-freeze; oil; batteries (household and automotive); corrosives; mercury containing products (fluorescent tubes, CFLs, thermometers, thermostats, etc.); oil-based paint, thinners and solvents; pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and other poisons; diesel fuel, gasoline, kerosene, other flammable liquids; ammunition and expired medications.
Explosives, commercial hazardous waste and radioactive materials (like smoke detectors) will not be accepted. Old smoke detectors should be sent back to the manufacturers for recycling. Though latex paint is not considered household hazardous waste, it will be accepted at the collection thanks to the district’s intergovernmental agreement with the City of Hobart for paint recycling.
Approximately 300 million used automobile and truck tires are discarded by Americans annually. At landfills, tires take up large amounts of space and have been known to damage landfill linings. Around town, discarded tires become prime breeding grounds for mosquitoes and rodents that carry diseases such as West Nile virus and encephalitis.
Tire storage piles pose fire hazards that are extremely difficult to extinguish.  Burning tires release toxic gases into the air and leave behind a hazardous oily residue that pollutes streams and ground water. Once recycled, the rubber in tires can be used for paving material, fuel, mulch, floor mats, drain pipes, and more!
Porter County residents can dispose of their first four tires up to 20 inches for free at the One Stop Drop. The disposal fee for each additional tire up to 20 inches is $3. Residents can dispose of tires from 20 to 25 inches for $5 each, and tires over 25 inches for $15 each.
The Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County is a government agency dedicated to improving the environment and quality of life for Porter County residents by providing convenient, voluntary waste reduction services. Visit www.ItMeansTheWorld.org for more information or call 465-3694.
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Read more: Unwanted Appliance, Electronics, Tires Drop Off on 5/18

(Sylvia Branch)

(Randy Martin)

(Melvin Walker Jr. Photos Courtesy of Lake Co Sheriff's Dept)
Three Gary men involved in drugs and gangs were each arrested today after search warrants were executed based on tips from the public. The Lake County Sheriff's Office reports warrants were issued in the 44-hundred block of Buchanan Street and in the 19-hundred block of West Ridge Road. Arrested were 43 year old Sylvia Branch and 48 year old Melvin Walker, both charged with dealing in narcotics, and 29 year old Randy Martin, charged with dealing a controlled substance and possession of marijuana. Sheriff John Buncich they will continue to conduct raids on a weekly basis, says thank you to those who called their anonymous hotline, 800-750-2746, and encourages others who desire to clean up our communities to do the same. ...

Read more: Tips Lead to Arrest of 3 Gary Residents for Dealing Drugs

A man, his girlfriend, and two children suffered bruises and declined medical treatment after an alleged home invasion early this morning. The Porter County Sheriff's Office reports the incident occurred just before 4:20am, in the 15-hundred block of North County Road 375 East, in Pine Township, where two men reportedly forced their way into the residence and attacked those inside using a crowbar. The Sheriff's Office says the suspects fled the scene empty handed, and an investigation continues.
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Read more: Family Attacked in Porter County Home Invasion

For the second consecutive day system errors have prevented students in the region and across the state from taking their I-STEP Plus testing. Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction, Glenda Ritz, says they monitored the situation this morning, and while 150-thousand test session were completed, a spike in test interruptions occurred at approximately 11:15 this morning, causing the suspension of testing for the rest of today. Ritz says the test suspension was done to minimize further disruptions for schools, and at last check CTB McGraw-Hill believes testing will be able to continue tomorrow. Ritz called the testing interruptions "frustrating and unacceptable" and says they will conduct a thorough review to determine the exact cause of this issue.
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Read more: ISTEP Testing Suspened Again Today, Maybe Tomorrow

NIPSCO crews were on the scene early this afternoon repairing a gas line break under the 400 block of Weston Street in Valparaiso,  NIPSCO said the break apparently occurred when an earlier crew from the city's water department was digging in the area to repair a broken water line.   As a precaution to the gas leak, Ben Franklin Middle School located directly across the street from the gas line break, evacuated their students earlier today.  The gas line leak has since been secured and students have returned to their classes.

NIPSCO repair crews at work on a gas line break in the 400 block of Weston Street in Valparaiso

The gas line break is located in the area city's water department crews were excavating earlier in order to repair a leaking water line

The gas line that broke under the 400 block of Weston Street in Valparaiso

Looking south from Park Avenue where Weston Street is closed to Chestnut Street while repairs are being made to a broken gas line
(photos provided by Jay Stevens)
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Read more: Repairs Being Made to Broken Gas Line in Valpo

Valparaiso Police and Fire responded to a gas line break this morning that led to a precautionary evacuation at Ben Franklin Middle School.  Police say crews were dispatched at 9:45 to a strong smell of natural gas in the 500 block of Weston Street, directly behind the school.  Valparaiso City Utilities Director Steve Poulos says a city utility crew working on a water main leak in the 400 block of Weston struck a gas line during trenching operations.  Police say due to a strong smell of natural gas inside the school the students were evacuated and eventually bused to the Valparaiso High School fieldhouse as a precaution.   NIPSCO arrived on scene and stopped the leak. As of 11:15 a.m. the gas line had been repaired. School and fire department officials will be determining when the students will return to the school.  No injuries were reported.
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Read more: Valpo School Evacuated as a Precaution

Construction is expected to begin next year on a new student services and activities complex at Purdue North Central in Westville. University officials say the new budget approved by the Indiana General Assembly includes a key provision that will allow for the issuance in 23-point-7 million dollars in bonds to help finance construction of the proposed 34-point-7-million-dollar facility. The remaining funding will be generated through student fees and gift donations to PNC. Along with meetings, conferences, and exhibits, P-N-C says commencement will also be held there. The May 2013 graduation ceremonies for PNC, for instance. will be at the Valparaiso University ARC. Athletic teams that now must hold practices and games off-campus will be housed in the new complex.
"We are thrilled the general assembly has allowed us to move forward," said PNC Chancellor Dr. James B. Dworkin. "This is a significant step for PNC as we continue our mission to serve the educational, athletic and social needs of the residents of Northwest Indiana. This is a game changer which will enable us to continue to improve our retention and graduation rates."
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Read more: New Student Center for PNC