In the News

U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, was joined by federal, state and local officials Monday to celebrate the end of a four-year project to expand the capacity of the Indiana Harbor Confined Disposal Facility.

Sediment regularly dredged from the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal is stored in the facility to ensure contaminants from the harbor bottom are safely kept out of Northwest Indiana's air and water.

Rep. Frank J. Mrvan released the following statement in response to the announcement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that includes the State of Indiana into the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Medicaid Demonstration Program.

According to HHS, the CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration Program provides reimbursement through Medicaid for the full cost of services, and this program was established under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congressman Mrvan supported in the 117th Congress.

The federal government has selected Indiana and nine other states, including Illinois, to participate in a demonstration program for a type of behavioral health clinic providing a comprehensive range of mental health and addiction services.

The Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Medicaid Demonstration Program will site eight pilot clinics across Indiana to provide critical access to quality behavioral health care that aligns with individual community needs in urban, suburban and rural settings.

Hundreds of people in Northwest Indiana gathered together at Founders Square for the City of Portage’s annual Memorial Day service on Monday, May 27.

Debbie Podgorski, secretary for Post 260 Auxiliary, describes how significant Memorial Day is to veterans and family members who lost their close ones who served our nation.

“It’s all about giving recognition to our local veterans,” Podgorski said. “They’ve allowed us to have the freedom to do this so it means a great deal to us all. It's a solemn day, but we celebrate it because we want people to not forget our military.”

The official dedication of the South Shore Line’s Double Track project Monday morning marked the realization of an objective desired in Northwest Indiana for decades.

It took the cooperative work of local, state and federal officials for the huge undertaking to become a reality.

Once years in the making, the South Shore Line’s Double Track NWI has officially opened for business.

“One hundred years later, this Double Track Project will continue to transform Northwest Indiana for generations to come,” said Gov. Eric Holcomb on Monday.

“This game-changing project is yet another example of how the state of Indiana continues to make targeted investments that attract talent and commercial investment that in turn helps our communities take it to their next level,” he added.

After years of putting the project together, residents of Northern Indiana can finally rejoice. The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) held a ribbon cutting for the opening of their Double Track service on Monday, May 13. 

Several state representatives arrived at the Michigan City train station before the train brought them to the Miller train station for the program honoring this celebration. Mike Noland, president and general manager of the South Shore Line, discusses how this has been a goal to fulfill within these communities for a very long time.

A major investment in commuter rail is now complete. Governor Eric Holcomb joined other state and federal officials Monday to cut the ribbon on the South Shore Line's Double Track project.

Starting Tuesday, riders will see seven more weekday trains each direction in and out of Chicago, along with reduced travel times — a decrease of almost 40 minutes for some trains.