Today: Leslie Plesac, the executive director of the Sinai Forum at Purdue University Northwest, is with us to introduce to you the speakers for the two "virtual" sessions coming this fall for the celebrated speaker series, as well as a look at three speakers of the five who are planned for the 2021 season. The speakers planned for earlier this year were all postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The "virtual" speakers will be a delight for sports fans, as well as those concerned about

Today: This "Regionally Speaking" focuses on business. The Indiana director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), Barbara Quandt, is with us from Indianapolis to tell the latest about how Hoosier small businesses are coping with the effects of the pandemic. We bring back our conversation with Indiana University (Bloomington) Kelley School of Business professor Bipin Prabhakar on Project HOPE, a program that helps small businesses create a digital presence if they do not

Today: Sherri Ziller, the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority's chief development officer, is with us to talk about "transit development districts," what they are -- how they fit into the overall plans for the South Shore Line's expansion -- and how the public can comment about them. We also revisit our conversation about the series of online lectures and discussions beginning next month with Purdue University Northwest professors and speakers. It's entitled "Race, Racism, Anti

Today: We talk with Gary activist Sam Love, who is the editor of "The Gary Anthology," a series of stories and poems from Gary residents that cover topics like steel, violence, race and urban blight -- but also tell stories of hope. It's available from Belt Publishing. We have another conversation from the Welcome Project at Valparaiso University, with a Gary resident who remembers his years in the public schools. Celina Weatherwax with the MacMillan Foundation also tells us about last weekend's

Today: We welcome back into the studio Indiana economist-writer-speaker Morton Marcus, to talk about his recent "Eye on the Pie" columns that find a way to explain and to comment on sometimes complex economic issues in the Hoosier State in an entertaining way. We also bring back our recent "welcome to northwest Indiana" conversation with the new Chancellor of Indiana University Northwest, Ken Iwama.

Today: On this "Reporters' Roundtable" program we have "Times" reporters Lauren Cross and Mary Freda and "Post-Tribune" reporter Carrie Napoleon talking about the stories they put out in print and online. Lauren's stories on Gary city government included one on the federal fraud charges against former city official Mary Cossey and of more grand jury subopoenas served at Gary City Hall for information in undisclosed investigations. Mary talks about stories that include one on a new hospital

Today: Northwest Indiana financial advisor Greg Hammer is with us to talk about an important deadline coming up, for anyone who withdrew funds from retirement accounts under the terms of the CARES Act during this pandemic -- and now wants to return that money to the retirement accounts. Porter County veterinarian Dr. Larry McAfee and Porter County Parks and Recreation superintendent Walter Lenckos join us from Sunset Hill Farm, outside Valparaiso, to talk about a donation of antique veterinary

Today: Purdue University Northwest is holding a series of interdisciplinary lectures and discussions beginning Sept. 3rd entitled "Race, Racism and Anti-Racism" that focuses on race relations and racism in America. We have one of those presenters on the program: associate professor of criminal justice Nicky Jackson who, along with exoneree Roosevelt Glenn, will speak on "Race and Wrongful Convictions" on October 6th. All of the lectures will be free, open to the public and viewable via Zoom and

Today: Hobart Mayor Brian Snedecor joins us to talk about how his city is coping with the coronavirus pandemic, and he explains in detail his reasons for switching political affiliations from Democrat to Republican. Indiana Youth Institute president and CEO Tami Silverman's produced another public column about helping Hoosier youth during the COVID-19 pandemic and the important role that teachers play in the process. She talks about the column, as school systems attempt to reopen during the

Today: On this "Reporters' Roundtable," we talk to "Times" chief political reporter Dan Carden and to business reporter Joseph Pete about the stories they put out in print and online. Dan Carden's stories include updates on financial assistance to arts and tourism groups hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and the state schools superintendent's support for vote-by-mail in November because of the pandemic. Joseph Pete's stories focus on assistance from the CARES Act to NIRPC, the pandemic's