House Enrolled Act 1008, authored by Speaker Todd Huston, would establish an Indiana-Illinois boundary adjustment commission to research the possibility of adjusting the boundaries between the two states.

Braun, who signed the bill into law May 1, will have to set the commission’s first meeting no later than Sept. 1.

Huston, R-Fishers, has stated he drafted the bill after learning that 33 Illinois counties have voted to secede from their state, including seven in November, since 2020.

“These people literally went and voted. They have spoken,” Huston previously said. “Whether Indiana is the right solution or not, they’ve expressed their displeasure. We’re just saying, if you’ve expressed your displeasure, we’d love to have you.”

Indiana would have six commissioners and Illinois would have five commissioners, and a quorum of the commission consists of at least six members, according to the bill.

The Indiana commissioners would be appointed by the governor, and the commissioners cannot be legislators. No more than four commissioners can be members of the same political party, according to the bill. Illinois legislators filed a companion bill, but it was never assigned to a committee. As a result, there would be no Illinois members of the commission.

The bill states the commission’s recommendation to adjust the boundary between Indiana and Illinois wouldn’t take effect until approved by the Indiana legislature, the Illinois legislature and the U.S. Congress.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker brushed off the proposal — and fired back at the neighboring state — when he was asked about it at an unrelated news conference in January.

“It’s a stunt. It’s not going to happen,” Pritzker said. “But I’ll just say that Indiana is a low-wage state that doesn’t protect workers, a state that does not provide health care for people in need, and so I don’t think it’s very attractive for anybody in Illinois.”

Property tax appeals

Braun also signed a bill April 16 requiring property tax assessment board of appeals members to live in Indiana.

Senate Enrolled Act 187, authored by State Sen. Dan Dernulc, states the term of anyone serving on county PTABOA who isn’t an Indiana resident will expire July 1. The fiscal body, which is the council in Lake County, would then be required to appoint a new member to finish out the member’s term.

The bill maintained Indiana’s current PTABOA law that states a member has to be at least 18 years old and be “knowledgeable in the valuation of property,” including holding the certification of a level two or level three assessor-appraiser.

Dernulc, R-Highland, said he drafted the bill after learning Cook County Board of Review commissioner and Lake County PTABOA member Samantha Steele was arrested for driving under the influence in Chicago late last year.

Steele wasn’t reappointed to her seat and left the PTABOA board in early January, said Lake County Assessor and PTABOA secretary LaTonya Spearman. The Board of Commissioners appointed Warren Reeder, a local realtor, she said.

ICE notification

Braun signed House Enrolled Act 1393, which addressed ICE notification after an arrest, April 30.

House Enrolled Act 1393, authored by State Rep. Garrett Bascom, R-Lawrenceburg, required jail and detention facility employees to tell county sheriffs when they have probable cause to believe an arrestee, who is facing misdemeanor or felony charges, is not in the county legally. The sheriff would then be required to contact ICE, under the bill.

Initially, the bill required police officers, who arrest someone for a misdemeanor or felony and have probable cause, to notify the sheriff.

Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, who sponsored the bill in the Senate, said he amended the bill in committee to shift the notification from police officers to jail and detention center employees.

“I amended the bill because I did not want to put law enforcement in the position of even being able to pull somebody over or to detain somebody just because somebody may not be here legally,” Freeman said.

Sophia Arshad, a Merrillville immigration attorney, said the law will open the way to racial profiling.

Immigrants don’t carry their immigration file around with them because it involves a lot of important paperwork, Arshad said. Permanent residents are supposed to carry their permanent resident cards with them, she said, but many times permanent residents don’t carry that card because they are scared to lose it.

But, even if immigrants carried their immigration case files with them, Arshad said local law enforcement aren’t trained on reading through immigration paperwork to understand someone’s status.

“I don’t think it’s going to pass constitutional muster,” Arshad said. “Local law enforcement has no authority to determine if someone is in or out of status or if there’s any reason to question someone about that.”

Expanding toll roads

Braun signed the toll road bill into law May 1. House Enrolled Act 1461, authored by state Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie, would allow the state to charge tolls on all Indiana interstate highways, including I-80/94 and I-65.

Specifically, the bill would allow the Indiana Department of Transportation to submit a request to the Federal Highway Administration for a waiver to toll lanes on interstate highways. If the waiver is granted, the legislature would not have to enact a statute for the Indiana finance authority to take action on tolling.

Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, offered two amendments to remove the toll road language – to remove INDOT’s ability to submit for the tollway waiver and to reinstate the 75-mile exemption for tolling from the nearest toll road – but both failed.

Along with tollways, House Bill 1461 allows for wheel tax, addresses bridge construction funding, allows excess distributions from the state’s Community Crossings matching grant program to be distributed to all communities based on lane miles instead of road miles, along with other elements.

Pressel previously testified in committee that the state has seen a decrease in road funding dollars, which comes from gas tax, BMV registration and excise tax, as cars become more fuel efficient and people purchase less gas.

By 2030, the state will have to fund $1.2 billion and local governments will have to fund between $900 million to $2.5 billion in road projects because of inflation costs and the reduction in drivers purchasing gas, Pressel said.

“When your road funding revenue is based on gallons sold … we are having the conversation: How do we fund roads into the future? Should it come out of the general fund? I don’t believe that to be true. I think we should have user fees. You pay for what you use,” Pressel previously said.

Transgender college sports ban

House Enrolled Act 1041, which would ban transgender women from collegiate sports statewide, was signed by Gov. Mike Braun April 16.

The act, authored by state Rep. Michelle Davis, R-Whiteland, prohibits a male, based on the student’s biological sex at birth, from participating on a women’s athletic team. The act also allows students or parents to file a grievance if a college isn’t following the law.

House Enrolled Act 1041 mirrors legislation passed in 2022 banning transgender athletes from girl sports at the K-12 level, according to Post-Tribune archives.

LGBTQ Outreach of Porter County was unable to provide a comment, but issued a February statement when the legislation passed the House. The organization said it was outraged with the legislation and the message it sends to transgender youth.

“Transgender kids, like other students, deserve the same chances to learn teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership and self-discipline, and to build a sense of belonging with their peers,” the statement said. “When we tell transgender girls that they can’t play girls’ sports — or transgender boys that they can’t play boys’ sports — they miss out on this important childhood experience and all the lessons it teaches.”

Task force expands into NWI

Braun signed House Enrolled Act 1095 into effect on April 1.

The bill was written by Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago, and will expand the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force to include Lake County. The task force was initially created in 2021 and included eight Central Indiana counties.

Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez said in a statement that he fully supports House Enrolled Act 1095.

“This enhanced partnership will strengthen our ability to combat illegal firearms, organized crime and violent offenders throughout the region and the state,” Martinez said. “We hope this new collaboration will allow to share critical resources, intelligence and technology to address gun-related violence in our communities.”

The Indiana Crime Guns Task Force brings together local and state police with federal partners to track and remove illegal guns, investigate gun crimes and improve coordination between agencies, according to Post-Tribune archives.

In 2024, the task force investigated more than 150 leads that led to arrests of 232 people, seizure of more than 270 illegal guns and more than 75,000 grams of drugs, according to Post-Tribune archives.

Harris previously said the plan is to take the task force statewide.

“It’s good when you talk about getting guns off the street and also it’s helpful in terms of getting illegal narcotics off the street,” Harris had said. “Wanting Lake County, where I live and represent, to be part of that as soon as possible is important to me.”

Attracting pro sports to NWI

A second of Harris’ bills was signed into law by Braun on April 30. House Enrolled Act 1292 establishes a Northwest Indiana professional development commission and professional sports development fund.

The commission will be tasked with exploring and implementing strategies to attract sports franchises to the region. The bill was amended in the legislature to give local control over the fund.

According to Post-Tribune archives, the commission would have 17 members, including mayors from East Chicago, Gary, Hammond, Michigan City, LaPorte, Portage and South Bend, while the remaining members would be appointed by various people, including the executive director of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, and Lake, Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph county leaders.

Once established, the commission would be able to enter agreements or contracts for grants or appropriations from federal, state, and local governments, individuals, foundations or other organizations. It would also be able to operate, own, manage or lease property.

The commission would spend money from the professional sports development fund, which would be funded through general assembly appropriations, grants, gifts and donations. The money from the fund can’t be reverted to another fund.

Harris’ goal with the legislation is to attract the Chicago Bears to Northwest Indiana. His late father proposed legislation to bring a sports stadium to the region, which was also aimed at drawing in the Bears.

“To be able to pick up the ball, as his son, I’m very proud and happy about that, and I’m sure he would be also,” Harris previously said.

Gary must repay funds to EC, MC

A Gary supplemental payment bill was signed by Braun on May 1. House Enrolled Act 1448 — authored by Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville — requires the city to pay more than $12 million to East Chicago and Michigan City.

The legislation addresses a state comptroller mistake with supplemental payments that were signed into law in 2019, following the move of Majestic Star casinos to Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana.

Money from supplemental payments will come from deducted state comptroller funds and money appropriated by the Indiana General Assembly, according to bill documents. Funds will be withheld for 10 years.

Gary Mayor Eddie Melton has repeatedly spoken about House Enrolled Act 1448, most recently during his State of the City address.

The city was originally set to begin payments this year, but Melton asked to have the timeline delayed due to financial constraints, according to Post-Tribune archives.

“This legislation fails to acknowledge that for 20 years, Gary had to compete while sandwiched between two other casino municipalities,” Melton said in a statement. “Throughout those two decades, Gary never received subsidiaries from neighboring cities, nor was any ‘hold harmless’ language established to protect our city’s economic viability.”

akukulka@chicagotribune.com

mwilkins@chicagotribune.com

The department made the announcement after reassuring the community Monday that it had increased patrols and was stationing unmarked units in strategic areas, according to its social media page. Police said they’d deemed the threat against a school resource officer, principal and security officer “lower level” after preliminary investigation.

“Our dedicated officers, in collaboration with the Merrillville Community School Corporation, have worked swiftly and diligently to investigate these threats and ensure the safety of our students, staff, and community,” the statement read. “For now, please rest assured that our schools are secure, and we look forward to finishing off the school year as we move towards summer.”

The investigation started seemingly after someone posted screenshots of the threat on another social media page dedicated to the town. The person said they’d contacted police after they were sent the messages, which threatened to included a threat to shoot up and bomb the school and listed names. The Post-Tribune isn’t naming them because they’re the victims.

Merrillville Community School Corporation for its part released on its social media page Sunday that the administration was aware of an “altered image circulating on social media, which references Pierce Middle School.”

“While this image originated from an unrelated incident in another state, it was modified to include specific threats against members of our staff,” the release said. “We have a very credible lead on the source of this altered image, and the matter is currently under active investigation.

“Please know that threats of any kind are taken very seriously and carry serious consequences — both within the school system and through law enforcement.”

School wasn’t canceled Monday for Merrillville students, the release said.

Corporation Spokeswoman Tina Davis-Powell said via email Monday that the schools had no further comment at this time.

Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.

The exact status of the artwork remains unclear.

“More information will be released to campus regarding some of the sale details in the coming days,” Michael Fenton said in a Monday email to the Post-Tribune. “As stated in our original plan, the sale of these paintings was to fund the renovations, which are scheduled to begin this summer and last until Fall, 2026.”

The three works in question are “Rust Red Hills” by Georgia O’Keeffe, Frederic E. Church’s “Mountain Landscape,” and “The Silver Vale and the Golden Gate” by Childe Hassam.

According to appraisals received by the university, the fair market value of the O’Keeffe is estimated at $10.5 million to $15 million; the Hassam, between $1 million and $3.5 million; and the Church at $1 million to $3 million.

Fenton has said that the projected cost of renovating Brandt Hall and Wehrenberg Hall for first-year students is approximately $8 million. The renovated dorms are slated to have a gallery displaying lesser-known works of art from the Sloan Trust, which provided directly or indirectly for the three paintings being sold off.

“I can confirm that we have made enough progress to move forward with the planned resident hall renovations,” Fenton said.

The update of sorts comes on the heels of a Thursday article in Bloomberg that Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. has downgraded Valparaiso University two notches to a junk rating, which could, per the article, raise the university’s borrowing costs.

In an April 30 report, Moody’s noted that “the highly competitive student market poses ongoing difficulties for enrollment management. Inability to boost net tuition revenue will further limit financial reserves and the university’s capacity to address operating deficits in the short term.”

The negative outlook, Moody’s said, “reflects the potential for continued enrollment challenges resulting in pressure to balance operations.”

Moody’s also said the university’s “substantial wealth, totaling nearly $350 million in cash and investments,” as well as strong donor support and its regional reputation, weighed in the university’s favor.

“Moreover, management’s efforts to restructure operations to cut costs and increase revenue are favorable for long-term prospects,” the report stated.

Fenton said via email that the university will continue to work with Moody’s to show everything the university is doing to further strengthen its financial foundation, implement its strategic plan, and address the challenges facing higher education.

“The University is undertaking innovative enrollment strategies, a comprehensive fundraising campaign, and reinvestment in campus operations,” Fenton said.

“As Moody’s points out in its statement, we are confident in our ability to continue to meet our mission as a Lutheran institution that prepares students not only for successful lives and careers, but also as servant leaders in church and society.”

Both the university’s Moody’s rating and its enrollment have struggled in recent years.

Moody’s downgraded the university’s bond rating two years ago as well. At its peak, in 2016, the university’s bond rating was A2 but it’s been slipping since then and is now Baa2. The fact that the drop coincided with the university’s decreasing enrollment was not a coincidence, a Moody’s official said then, and news about the sale of the artwork also was a factor that Moody’s took into consideration when doling out Valparaiso University’s rating in 2023.

Valparaiso University’s fall and new student headcount both dropped in the past two years after numbers began to climb slightly in 2022, as the direct impact of the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic began to wane. Still, according to enrollment figures on the university’s website for August, both numbers are below where they were in the fall of 2019 before the pandemic began.

The university had 852 new students in August, compared to 1,004 five years ago. Likewise, this year’s total fall headcount was 2,598 students, compared to 3,521 in fall 2019. Only 16 students from the latter count were in the university’s law school, its last cohort before it closed.

The university filed a petition almost a year ago to move forward with the auction of the art from the Brauer Museum to fund freshman dorm renovations, noting a $9 million deficit and declining student enrollment.

A Porter Superior Court judge ultimately granted the petition, which required modifying the trust that provided the artwork to allow for the sale.

Valparaiso University President José Padilla first announced the plans in February 2023, garnering stiff criticism from the campus community, including faculty and students, as well as the art world.

The faculty senate issued a vote of no confidence for Padilla in the fall. He has announced he’s retiring at the end of the year.

alavalley@chicagotribune.com

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump issued an executive order last week ordering the defunding of PBS and National Public Radio, calling their programming slanted and “woke propaganda disguised as ‘news.’”

Trump’s order is being challenged by supporters and called unlawful since funding is the duty of Congress, not the president.

Chuck Roberts, president and CEO of Lakeshore Public Media, said its TV and radio stations are bracing for challenges. Lakeshore is one of 17 public radio and TV stations in Indiana.

“We are trying to take steps to make sure public media continues in Northwest Indiana,” he said.

“Everything is on the table… to say we’re stressed around here is an understatement,” Roberts said Monday.

The GOP-led legislature opted to cut public broadcasting’s $7.4 million two-year line item after it received a revenue forecast predicting a $2.4 billion budget shortfall in the final weeks of the session, which ended April 25.

In a statement, Mark Newman, executive director of Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations Inc., said 17 public broadcasting stations that serve 95% of Hoosiers deliver reliable journalism, lifelong learning programs, and vital public safety information, free of charge to Indiana residents.

“This funding rollback jeopardizes the ability of these stations to continue delivering these services at the scale and quality Hoosiers expect and rely on.

“This is not just a line item cut,” said Newman, “This decision has real consequences for our ability to provide timely local news, life-saving emergency alerts, and proven educational content that supports children, families, and seniors across Indiana.”

Roberts said if Congress heeds Trump’s executive order, it would wipe out 50% of Lakeshore’s budget, jeopardizing programming and jobs.

“It’s a very tenuous time, not only for Lakeshore Media, but all public media. It means the public and community members are the most important source of revenue.”

Asking the community for more money is difficult, Roberts said, with budgets tightening over the country’s economic uncertainty.

“Anyone with a job… they don’t know how far their dollar will go. Everyone is afraid to spend or donate money,” he said.

Roberts, who’s led Lakeshore Public Media for two years, said the 17 public media outlets across the state are having talks about how to weather the funding crisis. There could be program collaborations or mergers.

Rural areas with fewer viewers and less resources could be hit the hardest. Many in those communities don’t have broadband access.

The cuts come as public media finds itself in the culture crosshairs, fending off claims they’re leftist organizations foisting their political agendas on viewers and listeners.

Roberts defended his profession.

“A journalist never says ‘I think and I feel.’”

He said journalists give facts on issues and viewers can make their own decisions.

Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.

“The rigorous environmental review process is complete,” Mayor Tom McDermott said in a Friday news release. “We have mitigated for all environmental aspects of the project including tree replacement, wetland mitigation, identification and protection of endangered species, among others. I’m happy to finally move forward with improving safety (responses) for our residents and solving the decades old problem of stopped trains in Hessville.”

NEPA established a national policy for the environment and provided for the establishment of the Council on Environmental Quality, according to the act’s website. The act requires federal agencies to assess environmental effects of proposed major federal actions before making decisions.

Governors Parkway is a multimillion-dollar project that’s an overpass linking 173rd Street and 169th Street between Parrish and Grand avenues.

The project first had its public hearing two years ago, according to the city’s news release.

Hammond was the subject of a 2023 ProPublica article that found children would climb over or under stopped trains to get to school. According to Post-Tribune archives, McDermott said in May 2023 that Governors Parkway “solves about 80% of the problem.”

The overpass is about a mile away from where pedestrians were regularly crossing trains. In May 2023, McDermott was looking into the possibility of building an additional pedestrian bridge, which some residents said would cost more than $7 million.

Governors Parkway was awarded more than $7 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration through the Railroad Crossing Elimination grant program.

In 2018, the project received $5.45 million from Indiana’s Local Trax Program, providing state matching funds for rail crossing safety improvements.

Terry Steagall, a member of opposition group Save Briar East Woods, reached out to the Indiana Department of Transportation with concerns about the project.

Members of the Save Briar East Woods group are against the Governors Parkway project because it would go through the forest. Briar East Woods is a 4,000-year-old forest in Hammond’s Hessville neighborhood and one of the last surviving remnants of the High Tolleston Dunes, according to Just Transition Indiana’s website.

Residents have argued the forest is a resource for all Northwest Indiana community members, and the city will struggle environmentally without it. Advocates also feel the city hasn’t been transparent with residents about the project.

On March 13, the city announced it would install a boundary fence around Briar East Woods, a city-owned, 18-acre parcel, according to Hammond’s website. The fence was complete by March 18.

“The city needs to begin preparations for the Governors Parkway project. By fencing this area off, we are making sure that the trespassing, illegal motorized vehicle use, illegal drug and alcohol use, and illegal dumping that has been occurring in this area is minimized,” McDermott said in a March announcement.

Lyndsay Quist, commissioner for the Indiana Department of Transportation, said in a message to Steagall that “many alternatives were considered,” but Governors Parkway was determined to be the best option by the city of Hammond and INDOT. Steagall provided the Post-Tribune with Quist’s May 1 message.

“Regarding environmental impacts, INDOT works hard to minimize environmental impacts from its projects and often provides mitigation when impacts are unavoidable,” Quist said. “In this case, exhaustive studies of the soil were performed, and an in-depth analysis was conducted to determine if the wetlands are being affected. Trees are being removed as part of this project, but to mitigate those removals, more than $200,000 worth of trees are being added in other areas of the city.”

McDermott had previously told the Post-Tribune that the city will replant two trees for each that is torn down in Briar East Woods. Residents have expressed concerns for that strategy because new trees won’t help flooding concerns, as they aren’t as large as Briar East Woods’ oak trees and won’t be in the same location.

Quist told Steagall in her message that the project’s environmental document was recently approved and is expected to be released in a few weeks.

“While we respect your concerns about the environmental impact of this project, as stated above, much has been done to mitigate those impacts while the public has had many chances to further influence the impacts from this project,” the message said. “In addition, once constructed, this project will have a positive impact on the community and keep everyone safe.”

The Governors Parkway project is expected to start construction in summer 2026 and be completed by the end of 2027, according to Hammond’s news release.

Beginning Monday, INDOT is seeking public comment on the approved environmental assessment, according to the news release. Comments can be made by email to GovernorsParkwayProject@cmtengr.com and cannot be received prior to publication of the legal notice.

mwilkins@chicagotribune.com

Valentine Torrez initially told police he was a victim, too, on Nov. 13, 2021, when a masked man entered his relative’s unlocked door in Hammond, blindfolded, then sexually assaulted her and the woman’s 12-year-old daughter.

Later, he was charged when his DNA came back, including on the relative’s lower back and the child’s neck and underwear. Torrez, 50, got 33 years in May 2024 after he was convicted of rape, a Level 3 felony; child molesting, and criminal confinement — about half his charges.

Prosecutors Arturo Balcazar and Lindsey Lanham alleged Torrez helped plan the home invasion with co-defendant Garrett Whittenburg to assault the female relative and take her credit cards.

In a 3-0 decision, Appeals Judge Mary DeBoer rejected Torrez’s argument that there wasn’t enough evidence for his conviction. Prosecutors needed to show “concerted action” with the child’s assault.

“His course of conduct during and after the offense also supports that Torrez was an accomplice,” she wrote, later adding, “Torrez left the home rather than assisting or seeking help for them.”

“Clearly, the jury found (the witness’s) testimony credible and could reasonably infer Torrez’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt from the evidence presented at trial,” DeBoer wrote.

At trial, defense lawyer Kerry Connor argued some parts of the woman’s story were inconsistent over time. Torrez can appeal to the Indiana Supreme Court.

His earlier release date is in January 2047. Whittenburg’s trial is scheduled May 12.

Misdemeanor overturned after Gary man shot police dog

The Appeals Court overturned a misdemeanor conviction for Spencer Patterson — after he shot a police dog when an officer was trying to arrest him — saying it violated double jeopardy.

Patterson, 31, got eight years and has to repay $11,000 to Gary Police. Jurors acquitted him of attempted murder in the case of the officer, but they convicted him of battery by means of a deadly weapon, one count each of felony and misdemeanor resisting law enforcement, and one count of striking a law enforcement animal.

Gary Police Sgt. Angel Lozano and his K-9 Falco were chasing Patterson in July 2023 on the 1000 block of E. 35th Place when Patterson shot the dog.

In a 3-0 decision, DeBoer ordered Judge Salvador Vasquez to vacate — or cancel the lesser misdemeanor conviction, saying what happened was too close in time to be convicted twice. His earlier release date is in October 2030.

Sentence upheld in rape case

The court rejected a former Gary man’s argument that his prison sentence was too harsh for a woman’s assault.

Tyron Smith, 32, got 16 years in December after he pleaded guilty to aggravated battery. He was originally charged with rape.

In a 3-0 decision, Appeals Judge Elizabeth Tavitas said his sentence was appropriate.

The woman told police she let him stay at her place in February 2024, then woke up overnight as Smith was having sex with her. She was “very upset” and told him to stop. Smith then forced the woman to perform a sex act, then forcefully raped her, according to court records. He forced her to “consume cocaine” between assaults, the affidavit alleges. The woman said he was abusive to her when drunk or high in the past, court records show.

“Given the brutal nature of Smith’s offense and his poor character, we cannot say that his sixteen-year sentence is inappropriate,” Tavitas wrote.

He can appeal to the Indiana Supreme Court. His earliest release date is in February 2036.

Antonio “Tony” Cerros, 46, of Merrillville, is charged with two counts of rape, one count of sexual battery and one misdemeanor count of domestic battery.

He is in custody, held on a $4,500 cash bond. Cerros had a court appearance Friday where he asked for a speedy trial. His next court date is May 9.

Merrillville Police wrote the woman flagged them down on April 23 outside the motel. They took her to the hospital.

She said she was outside the hotel on April 18, when Cerros came up to her, said he had been in “her position” and claimed he would “help” her by giving her a place to stay.

On the way to his house, he said she had to have sex with him in exchange. The woman agreed because she had nowhere else to go, the affidavit states.

Once at his Merrillville home, she performed a sex act. When sex was painful, he refused when she asked him to stop, charges allege. The woman estimated it happened 6-7 times between April 18 and 23.

Days later, he punched her when she told him she wanted to leave and he took her back to the motel without her belongings. Police later found her stuff when they executed a search warrant.

He was arrested April 29 in a traffic stop, asking if it was about “hookers” at his house, or the “(expletive) from the hotel,” records show. He otherwise refused to talk to police.

mcolias@post-trib.com

Chesterton High School will host its 52nd Annual All That Jazz, an annual jazz festival at 7 p.m. Saturday in the CHS Auditorium, 2125 S. 11th Street in Chesterton. Enjoy an evening of music performed by Chesterton High School’s Jazz Ensemble, with special guests Bonzo Squad. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at Chestertonbands.org.

Friends of Indiana Dunes Native Plant Sale is Saturday

The Friends of Indiana Dunes 29th Annual Native Plant Sale takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Friends’ office, at 1000 West Oak Hill Road in Porter. The sale is just north of Indiana Dunes National Park’s Chellberg Farm. There is ample parking in the adjacent lot or immediately to the north at Indiana Dunes National Park’s headquarters complex. Admission is free, and more than 80 native plant species will be for sale.

Porter County seeks applicants for library board

The Porter County Council is seeking citizen applicants for position(s) on the Library Board of Trustees, a four-year appointment. Individuals interested in being considered can obtain an application at the Porter County Council office, 155 Indiana Ave., Suite 207, Valparaiso, or online at https://www.portercountyin.gov/111/County-Council under the Citizen Board Appointments tab. Depending on the vacancy, certain requirements, such as residency, and/or certain political party affiliation, must be met to qualify for a particular appointment. Applications must be received via post, email at council@portercountyin.gov or in person no later than 4:30 p.m. June 16. The Council will make the appointments at the June 24 Council meeting at 5:30 p.m.

Valparaiso announces Compost Awareness Week

The city of Valparaiso has proclaimed the first full week of May as International Compost Awareness Week. Valpo Parks has partnered with Porter County Recycling & Waste Reduction for a pilot program to promote composting. Through the program, residents may bring their compostable food and garden waste to the Farmers Market (beginning June 3 for the 2025 season) at Central Park Plaza, 63 Lafayette St. on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. The materials are collected and composted at a Valpo Parks site. Last year the program collected more than 8,000 pounds of organic waste, diverting it from the landfill.

Call for teen summer reading volunteers

Several branches of the Lake County Public Library need teen Summer Reading volunteers to help throughout the programs. Teens will earn volunteer hours toward their silver card. Those interested will need their parents’ permission and must attend an orientation session to participate. Register for the Dyer-Schererville orientation on May 14 at https://www.lcplin.org/event/12911387, or on May 17 at https://www.lcplin.org/event/12973750. The following branches will host one-on-one orientations. Call or visit your branch to register: Griffith-Calumet Twp., 219-838-2825; Hobart, 219-942-2243; Lake Station-New Chicago, 219-962-2409; or Merrillville, 219-769-3541. Register for the Munster orientation on May 13 at   https://www.lcplin.org/event/13411079, on May 21 at https://www.lcplin.org/event/13411080, or May 29 at https://www.lcplin.org/event/13411081. Register for the St. John orientation on May 19 at https://www.lcplin.org/event/13236221 or on May 28 at https://www.lcplin.org/event/13236228. Cedar Lake and Highland branches will not need teen volunteers this year; teens from those branches are welcome to sign up at other branches.

Ivy Tech Lake County to celebrate graduation

Ivy Tech Community College’s Lake County campus will celebrate Commencement ceremonies at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Dean and Barbara White Community Center, 6600 Broadway, Merrillville. Ivy Tech Lake County’s Class of 2025 includes approximately 1,200 graduates earning more than 1,600 degrees and certificates during the 2024-2025 academic year. The event will be live-streamed on the campus Facebook page, which can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/IvyTechLakeCounty  or @IvyTechLakeCounty.

Gary Community School Corporation to host Kindergarten Round-Up

Gary Community School Corporation will host their Annual Kindergarten Round-Up from 1 to 3 p.m. May 14 at the Bethune Early Childhood Development Center, 2367 E. 21st Ave., Gary. Registration for kindergarten is now open to all children who will turn 5 years old on or before Aug. 1, 2025. In addition, those who will be age 3 or 4 will have the opportunity to register for Bethune Early Childhood Development for the 2025-2026 school year. Highlights will include: meeting principals, teachers and staff from elementary schools across the city; information sessions about programs and resources; on-site registration for kindergarten; and family-friendly activities and refreshments. The F.A.C.E. (Family and Community Engagement) team will be onsite to help with registration for all grades Pre-K through 12th for the 2025-2026 school year as well. Be sure to bring the following documents: parent/guardian ID; birth certificate; proof of residency (Gary residency not required); and updated immunization record. For more information about the Kindergarten round-up, contact the Bethune Early Childhood Development Center at 219-886-6542. To enroll your child in any of the Gary Schools, visit www.garyschools.org.

Gary Mizpah Health Ministries to host health fair

Gary Mizpah Health Ministries will host a health fair from noon to 4 p.m. May 18 at the Hudson and Campbell Sports and Fitness Center, 455 Massachusetts, Gary. The event will include free blood pressure checks, home health information, blood sugar checks and refreshments. Be sure to bring your insurance information for on-site diagnostic testing, interpretation and free faxing. For more information, call 219-301-9722.

New Beginnings Clubhouse hosts 5K Color Run fundraiser

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, New Beginnings Clubhouse will host “Stomp Out the Stigma,” a 5K Color Run Fundraiser, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 24 at the Lake County Fairgrounds, Shelter No. 4 Pavilion East, 889 S. Court St., Crown Point. The 5K is open to all ages. Register at nbclubhouse.org. Proceeds from the event will benefit New Beginnings Clubhouse in Merrillville. New Beginnings offers people living with mental illness opportunities for community, employment, housing, education and access to medical psychiatric services. More information can be found at nbclubhouse.org or call 219-794-1004.

The Town Council last month approved James Marino to serve as its new town manager. He takes over for Patricia Abbott, who’s juggled the town manager and comptroller roles for the town since former Town Manager Dustin Anderson resigned in February 2024.

Marino, who grew up in Calumet City, Illinois, has 35 years of experience in municipal government, including a start in his hometown, where he got his first job after earning a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh, he said in an email. Along with his time in Calumet City, he’s served as Village Manager for the Villages of Dolton, Illinois; Thornton, Illinois; Homewood, Illinois and Crest Hill, Illinois, he said.

As Homewood’s village manager, Marino’s experiences hew closely to projects on which Munster is currently embarking. He initiated an $11 million renovation to Homewood’s Metra commuter train station, he said, as well as led a $1.2 million streetscape project and negotiated development agreements to attract and retain national and local businesses, he said.

“My areas of expertise include economic development, finance and budgeting, infrastructure projects, and project management,” Marino said. “I’m excited to use my experience to help the Town of Munster continue to be a premier community for years to come.”

Marino’s contract runs through 2027 at a salary of $150,000 per year, according to Munster Clerk-Treasurer Wendy Mis.

Anderson who had worked for the Town of Munster since 2014, resigned as Town Manager February 2, 2024 over a fundamental difference in the vision for the town. Anderson was instrumental in helping the town receive a $17.1 million Federal Highway Administration RAISE grant to reconfigure into three lanes from five Munster’s portion of Ridge Road from the Illinois border to the Highland border; the current Town Council has petitioned the agency to keep the road at five lanes.

The Council on October 7 sent the FHWA a letter outlining the changes it wants to make to its grant application, declaring that present and future traffic volumes don’t allow for a three-lane roadway, the Post-Tribune previously reported. But in a report dated October 25 that the Post-Tribune obtained, Abell Gelaye, a design policy/geometrics program manager with the FHWA’s Indiana division, reminded the Town that the project’s purpose is “to enhance safety for both vehicles and pedestrians by transforming the corridor into a walkable downtown destination.”

“… the recommendation in the PE Assessment report for a five-lane section does not address the grant application award,” Gelaye wrote, adding that further justification of the safety benefits may be needed. “We believe the project satisfies the purpose and needs as agreed to by a full range of stakeholders. …

“Given the high competitiveness of this grant, it is essential that all terms and conditions are strictly followed.”

Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.

The Porter County Chapter of We Make Indiana nearly filled the pews at Christ Lutheran Church. Attendees listened to local statistics and testimonials and then heard from Valparaiso City Administrator Bill Oeding, as well as remarks from Valparaiso City Council President Ellen Kapitan, D-At-large, and Council Members Robert Cotton, D-2nd, and Emilie Hunt, D-At-large.

It was the second public event held by We Make Indiana, which aims to bring people of faith and conscience together with public officials to make communities safe, healthy, and whole. A variety of pastors set the tone with opening remarks and Greg Arthur of Duneland Community Church in Chesterton did so with excerpts from Jeremiah 29 which tells the faithful to “build houses and settle down.”

With historically low housing inventory, high interest rates and skyrocketing inflation, that’s no easy order at any economic strata but the shelter landscape for the working class is particularly hostile in Valparaiso, participants reported. Sonia Fabbri, of Duneland Community Church, said the average two-bedroom apartment rents for $1200 per month in the state of Indiana.

To afford that within standard budgeting guidelines she said a person would need to earn $22 per hour, but the average Indiana renter earns $18 per hour. “Quite a gap,” she said, before adding that the average renter in Valparaiso pays up to $900 more per month than that state average.

Social worker Serena Fugate shared her own housing struggles as an example. The single mother said she’s lived in Valparaiso for 30 years, some of which were spent homeless when her son was a toddler. “Yes, we had a place to sleep, but it varied by the day,” she said. “I carried so much shame around with me.”

She said they lived in hotels for years while she struggled to save enough for the first and last months’ rent plus a security deposit. When she finally got them into housing she struggled to keep them there and often went to bed hungry.

“Throughout my son’s life I always worked two jobs, but I still could not provide for our needs,” Fugate said. She said a 700-square-foot apartment that was $635 in the 2010s now rents for $1100 per month.

“I still struggle,” she said of her current rent of $1400 per month. “I did everything that I was told would get me out of poverty – went to school, worked two jobs always, got a master’s – and still can’t afford housing in Valpo.”

Grandmother Mary Michna, a 78-year-old member of Christ Lutheran Church, said that come August, she’ll have been on a waiting list for affordable senior housing for three years. “Aging in place is a great thing if you can afford it,” she said, “but some will need to downsize.”

She spoke of a fellow senior who sleeps in the living room of his two-story home because he can’t get to the second-level bedrooms and can’t afford to move.

Their stories are all too familiar to Center Township Trustee Jesse Harper who said, “Above and beyond, more of what we provide is assistance with housing.” On Wednesday he said he had a chronically unhoused person in one room of his office and a couple being evicted after a conglomerate bought out their apartment complex and raised the rents in another.

“Oftentimes, we will see 10 people in our office in a day, 15 people in our office in a day, and we might make one win,” Harper said, stressing that if the systemic problem isn’t fixed trustees like him will just “continue triaging.”

To that end, “Things are starting to change,” said Valparaiso City Administrator Bill Oeding, who said he himself struggled to get a mortgage when he moved here in 1980. “I can tell you, dollar for dollar, what it costs to build a house and it’s not cheap. Some of it is government-related.”

Several speakers mentioned House Bill 1005 which can provide municipalities funding to support housing infrastructure, such as utility extensions. Municipalities can fast-track their place in the application process when adopting certain zoning requirements. Valparaiso City Council Vice President Emilie Hunt read a statement from Council President Ellen Kapitan in which she invited the public to the Your Home, Your City Symposium at City Hall from 5 to 8 p.m. on May 29.

For her own part, like Oeding, Hunt pledged to take actionable steps to solve the housing affordability issue in Valparaiso and meet with We Make Indiana within the next 30 days to help “those who can’t afford a $400,000 starter home. I’m grateful to be on a council that takes actionable steps.”

Councilman Robert Cotton also made the pledge. “If we allow the market to take care of housing we are on the trajectory to become a gated community without the need for gates,” he said.

Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.