GARY – Fitch Ratings, one of the three major credit rating agencies, has upgraded Methodist Hospitals bond issues to BBB from BBB-. The upgrade is the second such move by the ratings agency in the past 12 months. The ratings agency cited Methodist’s sustained operating performance in making this latest upgrade, including strong profit margin, […]
Much cleaner now, but still work to do. by Rick A. Richards For longtime Northwest Indiana environmentalists, years of hard work are paying off with cleaner air and water. Thanks to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1972, the grit that used to be a constant in the air is mostly gone,
SOUTH BEND – Mayor Pete Buttigieg has announced that South Bend has been selected as one of nine communities in the United States to participate in the Code for America Fellowship Program in 2013. The others are: Kansas City, Las Vegas, Louisville, Oakland, San Francisco, San Mateo County, Calif., Summit County, Ohio (Akron), and New
GARY – The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority has awarded a $30 million grant to the Gary-Chicago International Airport and its plan to lengthen its main runway. The 7,000-foot runway will be lengthened to 8,900 feet, but in order for the project to move ahead, railroad lines need to be relocated. The total cost of
MERRILLVILLE – The Society of Innovators of Northwest Indiana has recognized Debora A. Owen of NIPSCO for its streetlight outage reporting effort. NIPSCO is the first utility in Indiana to offer online reporting of streetlight outages. It allows customers, emergency personnel and other community members to report streetlight outages as a way for a speedier
LAPORTE – The LaPorte County Parks and Recreation Department is the first to receive a $1.8 million grant utilizing the Great Lakes Fisheries and Ecosystem Restoration Project Funds to restore Red Mill County Park. As a result, Superintendent Tim Morgan and his team have been recognized by the Society of Innovators of Northwest Indiana. The
SOUTH BEND – More than 400 newly purchased Teddy bears have been delivered by South Bend Airport through its first Bears in the Air program to the pediatric departments at Memorial Children’s Hospital and St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. The bears offer companionship and smiles during a child’s stay in the hospital. “The response to
KNOX – Indiana University Health Starke Hospital, along with area partners, will hold a community program to end drug abuse in Starke County. President David Hyatt said the effort will focus on crystal meth usage. Currently, Starke County is the ninth largest producer of the drug in Indiana, with heroin and prescription pill abuse increasing
HAMMOND – The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority and the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza received the 2012 Supplier STAR Award for their Bring It Home Campaign reception. The Supplier Awards are Awards of Excellence Under $750,000 Annual Budget. Bring It Home was held to inform groups of the economic impact of hosting conferences
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Continued demand for iron ore, coal and general cargo for the industrial and manufacturing sectors lifted the tonnage numbers along the Great Lakes-Seaway System to 34.6 million metric tons, up 2.67 percent over 2011. “The nearly 3 percent rise in overall tonnage handled through the Seaway in 2012 is due in part
