NORTHWEST INDIANA

$130,000 grant to help NWI minority business

U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., today announced the Northwest Indiana Minority Business Opportunity Center has been awarded a grant of $130,000 by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency.

"In Northwest Indiana, we need to create new jobs," he said in a written statement. "This funding, which supports high-growth potential businesses, will help build a new economy for Northwest Indiana with many new employment opportunities for the area's residents."

The grant is part of the Minority Business Development Agency's Minority Business Opportunity Center program. The funds will be used to facilitate business opportunities and coordinate local business resources to benefit minority entrepreneurs.

INDIANAPOLIS

State legislators seek illegal immigration study

Indiana Senate President David Long, R-Fort Wayne, wants a legislative study committee to spend the summer exploring what the state could do to stem illegal immigration.

Both chambers of the General Assembly voted this year to crack down on companies that knowingly hire illegal immigrants. But efforts to reach a House-Senate compromise collapsed short before lawmakers adjourned March 14.

Even an attempt to move the highly charged issue to an interim study committee fizzled. But Long pledged Friday to ask the Legislative Council, a bipartisan House-Senate panel, to create a summer study commission to tackle illegal immigration.

"Unfortunately, we cannot count upon Congress to stop playing politics with this issue and to honestly deal with what has become a national crisis," Long said in a statement.

INDIANAPOLIS

Schellinger campaign hires spokeswoman

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Schellinger has a new campaign spokeswoman.

Jennifer Wagner is leaving her post as communications director for the Indiana Democratic Party and on Monday will join the Schellinger campaign in the same capacity, his campaign reported Friday.

"I'm delighted to welcome Jennifer to a team that's committed to picking up Indiana and advocating for working Hoosiers," Schellinger said in a statement.

Schellinger, an Indianapolis architect making his first run at public office, faces Jill Long Thompson, a former congresswoman from northeast Indiana, in the May 6 Democratic primary. The winner will take on Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels in November.

Last month, the Long Thompson campaign hired communications director Jeff Harris, who previously held the same position with the Indiana Senate Democratic Caucus.

INDIANAPOLIS

Gaming panel to meet, discuss track parlors

The Indiana Gaming Commission is scheduled to meet Monday in Indianapolis to take action on licensing issues regarding new gambling parlors set to open at Hoosier Park in Anderson and Indiana Downs in Shelbyville.

The horse racing tracks received legislative permission to install 2,000 slot machines each last year in a deal that brought the state $500 million in licensing fees.

Lawmakers used the upfront cash to bankroll $300 million in property tax rebates to homeowners. The checks, which statewide are expected to average more than $200, are expected to be mailed to Porter County homeowners in April and to Lake County homeowners in May.