Today: "Post-Tribune" reporter Carole Carlson talks about the stories that she put out in print and online -- including the Gary Community Schools referendum vote results and the demolition of several vacant and blighted buildings on Broadway in downtown Gary. (See the photo of an abandoned bank with a wall that once housed a mural of the Jackson 5.) Burgess Peoples with the city of Gary Faith Leaders and Community Partnerships organization reviews the latest of the series of virtual panel

Today: The "Digital Crossroad" data center and tech incubator along Lake Michigan in Hammond is up and running, and its creator -- Tom Dakich -- is on the program today to talk about it. The $40 million project has plenty of room for expansion for any interested client, and Tom talks about the great economic development benefits of the "Crossroad" for the entire city of Hammond. We have another conversation from the Welcome Project at Valparaiso University, and we bring back our conversation

Today: Gary Redevelopment Department staff member Deb Backhus is on the program to talk about the work underway to create a comprehensive pedestrian and bicycle master plan for the city. City officials want to link neighborhoods to each other and offer some transportation options besides pubic transit. They also see some major improvements that can come about in recreation for residents and visitors to Gary. Purdue University civil engineering professor Pablo Zavattieri also talks about research

Today: Dan Carden, the chief political reporter for the "Times," is on this program with his stories from Tuesday's election which include his conversation with Democrat Frank Mrvan as he waited for the returns that will eventually lead to his victory and to his next assignment: going to Capitol Hill next year as First District Congressman. Gary Community Schools manager Dr. Paige McNulty is with us to talk about the school district's successful community-based referendum which will lead to more

Today: Officials with NEO New Vistas, a school in Portage, and Indianapolis-based SunFunded Ed will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 5, on a solar energy array that will save the school money on their electricity bills as well as support renewable energy and "green jobs" in northwest Indiana. One of the founders of SunFundedEd, Region native Kelly Hipskind, joins us to talk about his organization and its goals, how it has helped school districts across the state in reaching their

Today: Jena Bellezza, the COO of the Indiana Parenting Institute, is with us to talk about the two recent online public forums dealing with issues like implicit bias, racism, child abuse and neglect that were part of the series that took the place of an Indiana University Northwest Annual Forum -- that would have been presented in April, had it not been cancelled by the coronavirus pandemic. Side Effects Public Media's Jake Harper has a report on the staffing problems at the Miami Correctional

Today: We revisit our conversation of September 29th with Michelle Fajman, the director of the Lake County Election and Voter Registration office, about next Tuesday's general election. She goes into detail on how ballots, both ones cast on Election Day and absentee ballots mailed in to her office, will be tallied and she talks about the possibility that final, unofficial totals won't be available right away. We also talk with Walter Mueller, the northwest Indiana representative for "Voters For

Today: Franciscan Health Northwest Indiana spokesman Robert Blaszkiewicz tells us about the changes in visitor restrictions that had to be put in place at the healthcare provider's hospitals in Dyer, Hammond and Munster on Friday because of the surge in COVID-19 cases in northwest Indiana. We also bring back our conversation with Aaliyah Stewart, a young northwest Indiana resident who wants to establish a youth center in Gary and is raising funds toward its construction. Seema Verma, the

Today: Municipal government finances expert and Highland town clerk-treasurer Michael Giriffin is with us for an extensive conversation about the background and the issues surrounding the Lake County Council efforts to shift purchasing and IT expenses from the County Commissioners over to the Council. It's an issue dealing with "home rule" that dates back into the 1980s, and may have to worked out between the two government bodies. We also have Chuck Harris, the board president, and executive

Today: It's "Reporters Roundtable Thursday" and "Times" chief political reporter Dan Carden joins us to talk about his stories in print and posted online, including his coverage of the first Indiana gubernatorial debate from Indianapolis and his story on First Congressional District candidate Mark Leyva's comments posted on his Facebook page and reaction to them. "Post-Tribune" columnist Jerry Davich created what he called a "psychological experiment" and later wrote about it: he bought and wore