Today: We talk to Sandra Albro, who was manager for "Vacant to Vibrant," a project that brought together greening experts with the city of Gary and residents of the Aetna neighborhood to re-purpose vacant lots -- some of them vacant for 20 years -- into green spaces that provide stormwater management, recreation and beauty to the community. Sandra's book "Vacant to Vibrant" is available from Island Press. During this Asian-Pacific Heritage Month, northwest Indiana state Representative Chris

Today: Scott Pelath with the Kankakee River Basin Commission talks about the history of the Kankakee and Yellow Rivers in northwest Indiana, including the flooding issues that climaxed in a bill that is now law that will re-make the multi-county government organization tasked with overseeing the rivers. A new commission, smaller in the number of members, will review a proposed long-range plan and will be able to assess property owners along the rivers in eight counties, to pay for studies and to

Today: We conitnue another conversation with a northwest Indiana state legislator, with Democratic state Senator Karen Tallian, who represents constituents in communities along Lake Michigan. She begins with the update on an effort by some lakefront residents to discourage visitors to the beaches in their area, and she spends time focusing on the difficulty in getting bills passed and enacted into law. Bill Durnell is the Democrat who beat a worthy opponent to win the party's nomination for the

Today: We continue our conversations with members of northwest Indiana's legislative delegation with state Representative Earl Harris Junior (D-East Chicago) and GOP Representative Michael Aylesworth (Hebron) about the bills they sponsored in the 2019 session -- what were passed and sent to Governor Eric Holcomb -- and what may come up in summer study session or be introduced next session. State Senator Eddie Melton (D-Gary) also talks about his bills he introduced, many of which deal with

Today: Lake County Assessor Jerome Prince has won the Democratic mayoral primary for city of Gary beating out a crowded field of eight other candidates. We talk to him about his victory as well as his plans for turning around crime, addressing blight in the city as well as other concerns that stifle Gary’s economic growth. We also talk to Karen Lauerman, the president and CEO of Lake County Economic Alliance, about the organization's work with the city of East Chicago to find commercial and

Today: We continue our conversations with northwest Indiana legislators with State Representative Chris Chyung (D) of Dyer. He is one of the lawmakers elected in the November 2018 election, filling the seat formerly held by Representative Hal Slager. He gives us his assessment of his first General Assembly session including insight into the next two-year budget. Celina Weatherwax with the MAAC Foundation in Valparaiso tells us about the ground breaking of the state-of-the-art Law Enforcement

Today: We continue our conversations with northwest Indiana legislators with state Representative Ed Soliday (R) of Valparaiso. He had several bills that he introduced not only get through the General Assembly this session, but were signed into law by Governor Eric Holcomb. We also have a conversation with a media giant: C-SPAN creator and native Hoosier Brian Lamb. He talks about growing up in Lafayette, attending Purdue, getting started in broadcasting in his hometown and coming up with the

Today: We have three perspectives of the 2019 Indiana General Assembly session that adjourned for the year last week. Ed Feigenbaum, the editor of the "Indiana Gaming Insight" and "Indiana Legislative Insight" newsletters published by Hanna News Service talks first and at-length about the gaming omnibus bill that awaits the Governor's review. It involves changes in gaming casino licenses that will affect the city of Gary and establishes new gambling avenues. Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch

Today: We continue our conversations with members of the northwest Indiana legislative delegation with state Representative Carolyn Jackson (D)(1) -- who represents Hammond and Whiting. She is one of the lawmakers elected in the November 2018 election, filling the seat held by long-time Representative Linda Lawson. She gives us her assessment of her first General Assembly session. Kim Ferraro of the Hoosier Environmental Council talks about the 60-day notice of lawsuit issued to the owners of a

Today: On this Reporters' Roundtable, we get education news updates from Meredith Colias-Pete with the "Post-Tribune," including the latest on the Lake Ridge New Tech Schools' financial problems and the just-completed General Assembly session. Carole Carlson of the "Post-Tribune" tells us about an unexplained personnel issue in town government in New Chicago and the Lake Station Democratic Party mayoral candidates' forum. And Dr Indira Frank of the Hoosier Environmental Council talks about a