Notes: Flood Watch in Effect Today

Posted on October 30, 2009 by dave

Lake, Jasper, Newton, Porter and Benton counties remain under a flood watch until 7 p.m. tonight.

La Porte County will work to improve access county-wide for people with disabilities under an agreement with the Justice Department.

The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor wants to cut the Indiana-American Water Co.’s proposed rate hike in half.

Gasoline prices in Indiana have risen by $0.34 a gallon in the past month. Nationwide, gas prices are up $0.20.

Despite increased competition, profits at the Blue Chip casino were up in Q3.

St. Joseph County has administered the second-largest amount of H1N1 vaccines of any county in Indiana.

Indiana Leading Index Stays Flat

Posted on October 29, 2009 by dave

The Leading Index for Indiana (LII) for the month of September was unchanged from the August index. The August index, previously flat from July, was revised upward.

The LII is produced by the Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, in order to help Hoosier businesses and governments better understand market conditions in the state.

Three of the five components that make up the LII edged up in September, but the slight dip in the auto sector component resulted in the composite index remaining flat.
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Notes: Economy Grows in Q3

Posted on October 29, 2009 by dave

The U.S. economy grew 3.5 percent in the third quarter, signaling the end of the recession.

ArcelorMittal’s sales and profits rose in the third quarter, and the company expects capacity utilization to increase to 70 percent in Q4. Meanwhile, U.S. Steel reported a loss for the third straight quarter.

The Gary/Chicago Airport Authority has inked Airport Director Chris Curry to a contract extension that will keep him in his position through March of 2013.

The fundraising campaign for a Michael Jackson museum in Gary has begun.

Notes: Chesterton Looking to Fill Municipal Board Slots

Posted on October 28, 2009 by dave

Chesterton is looking to fill a bunch of seats on its municipal boards.

Merrillville will save about $5,500 a month by shutting off every other streetlight on the town’s main roads.

Demolition of the College View Apartments in Valparaiso should happen before the end of the year.

The Porter County Council is urging residents to vote “no” to the RTA.

The 2010 St. Joseph County budget has been approved.

The Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka will open December 14.

PUC Horse Business Seminar Set for Nov. 7

Posted on October 28, 2009 by dave

Purdue University Calumet’s innovative, award-winning equine business management academic program is hosting a Horse Business Seminar, Saturday, Nov. 7, for stable owners and others involved in equine-related business activities.

Seminar sponsors are the Indiana Horse Council, Kent Feeds and Purdue Calumet, whose equine business management program recently received the Academy of Educational Leadership’s Creative and Innovative Education Award.

Seminar topics include: Running a Smart and Profitable Equine Business, Business Plan Workshop, Preparing for and Surviving Tax Audits, Economics of Equine Health Care, Successful Boarding Stable Techniques and Experiences, Managing Your Hay & Pasture Program, and Feed Selection.
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Valparaiso OKs Two Tax Abatements to Fuel Growth

Posted on October 27, 2009 by dave

The Valparaiso City Council approved a pair of tax abatements Monday night for local businesses Urschel Laboratories and Boyer Properties.

Urschel Laboratories is getting a 10-year tax abatement for $11 million worth of investments the company is making. Matt Murphy, city economic development director, said the improvements, which include work on the building and investments in real property, will also bring 42 new jobs, with an average salary of $59,000.

Boyer received a five-year tax abatement for a pair of downtrodden properties along U.S. 30. They need about $200,000 worth of demolition and infrastructure work just to get them ready for construction; the abatements will save Boyer about $165,000.

Notes: Indiana Supreme Court to Decide Fate of Casino Revenues

Posted on October 27, 2009 by dave

The Indiana Supreme Court will consider arguments Thursday on whether East Chicago or a private foundation should get casino monies earmarked for economic development.

A Chesterton Tribune reporter will run for Porter County auditor next year.

St. Joseph County GOP officials are are ramping up opposition to next week’s RTA vote.

Notes: La Porte Plant May Resume Operations Next Month

Posted on October 26, 2009 by dave

The Indiana Melting and Manufacturing plant in La Porte may resume operations next month under new ownership.

Incidents of H1N1 have reached the pandemic stage in La Porte County.

Jasper County residents can get flu shots at the Jasper County fairgrounds this Wednesday and Thursday.

The Main Street Underpass in Mishawaka in finally complete.

The 2010 St. Joseph County budget would eliminate about 40 positions.

Indiana National Guard Dedicates New Facility

Posted on October 26, 2009 by dave

The Indiana National Guard dedicated its newest facility, the Gary Airport Armory, today.

“The new armory adds to the capability of the Indiana National Guard in our mission to support the our nation, state and citizens of northwest Indiana. I am extremely excited to see the opening and this next step in our future,” said Indiana’s Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger.

Maj. Gen. Umbarger is pleased to announce that joining him in the ribbon cutting ceremony will be Congressman Peter J. Visclosky, Ms. Emmy Huffman and Mayor Rudy Clay.

The new armory will be home to five Indiana National Guard units including 14 full time support personnel and 225 traditional Indiana Army National Guardsman.

Construction of the 44,000 SF building began in late 2007. The total cost of the center is $11.5 million. The new armory sits adjacent to the Gary Limited Army Aviation Support Facility which opened in October 2008.

The two facilities combine for a total of more than 100,000 square feet in size. The total cost for both is $31 million with a state portion of $4 million.

NIPSCO to Refund $4.1 Million in Excess Collections to Customers

Posted on October 23, 2009 by dave

Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO) natural gas customers will receive billing credits totaling nearly $4.1 million in early 2010. The credits were ordered by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) this week in concluding its annual review of NIPSCO’s gas cost adjustments.

The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor’s (OUCC’s) calculations showed that NIPSCO had over-collected $4.087 million for Unaccounted For Gas Costs (UAFG).
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Monthly Archives: October 2009