In the News

Ivy Tech Community College in Valparaiso welcomed First Lady Jill Biden and other federal officials Monday in a visit highlighting the “affordable pathways to good-paying jobs” at the institutions for higher learning.

Biden greeted students and faculty, specifically those involved in renewable energy and technology programs. Both high school and college students had the opportunity to meet the First Lady, who works at a Virginia community college herself.

First Lady Jill Biden was in Valparaiso Monday, touting the Biden Administration's career training efforts. She met with students and faculty in Ivy Tech Community College's renewable energy program, who demonstrated what they've learned in the fields of electric line technology, wind energy and solar energy.

The first lady, herself a community college professor, said those schools are a big part of her husband's efforts to rebuild the middle class. “This program is giving them good-paying jobs and protecting the planet for the next generation,” Biden said.

Ivy Tech Community College in Valparaiso welcomed First Lady Jill Biden and other federal officials Monday in a visit highlighting the “affordable pathways to good-paying jobs” at the institutions for higher learning.

Biden greeted students and faculty, specifically those involved in renewable energy and technology programs. Both high school and college students had the opportunity to meet the First Lady, who works at a Virginia community college herself.

First lady Jill Biden visited the Valparaiso campus of Ivy Tech Community College Monday to help highlight the school’s Energy Technology Program that is currently training 80 students as early as their sophomore year in high school for high-paying union jobs in the energy sector.

During a visit to Ivy Tech Community College in Valparaiso, first lady Jill Biden made a case for the value of community colleges, boasted of her husband's achievements in investing in the nation's infrastructure and spoke about how students at institutions like Ivy Tech can fill the jobs created by that infrastructure.

"Two years ago, my husband President (Joe) Biden made a promise to rebuild the middle class," Biden said. "Who does that is community colleges. And as Joe has said, they provide the best career training in America."

The Congressional Steel Caucus is calling for tariffs to be maintained to protect American steel jobs, including at the steel mills along the lakeshore in Northwest Indiana.

Congressional Steel Caucus Chairman Rick Crawford and Vice Chairman Frank J. Mrvan wrote a letter asking the administration to keep the Section 232 tariffs and subsequent quotas in place.

U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan joined Opportunity Enterprises officials in standing at the edge of the mud where OE’s new Lakeside Respite Center is being built.

Concrete for the foundation and basement for the building have been poured for the project. Millions of dollars also have been poured into the project, including $310,000 from the federal government, part of the $1.7 trillion appropriations act President Joe Biden signed into law at the end of 2022.

The federal money is to be used for technology and equipment at the new center.

Almost a year after Opportunity Enterprises broke ground on its new $6.7 million Lakeside Respite Center, officials returned to share the progress and tout recently received federal funding.

Congressman Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, toured the Lakeside property with the staff and board Thursday, greeting the facility’s clients, who smiled, shook hands and even shared a couple hugs with the legislator.