Senate sends several region-sponsored proposals to governor

INDIANAPOLIS | The Senate passed several House-approved legislative proposals sponsored by Northwest Indiana lawmakers Tuesday that are now headed to Gov. Mike Pence for his signature or veto. They include:

As Great Lakes plummet, towns try to save harbors

ONEKAMA, Mich. (AP) — For more than a century, easy access to Lake Michigan has made Onekama a popular place for summer visitors and a refuge for boaters fleeing dangerous storms. Now the community itself needs a rescue, from slumping lake levels that threaten its precious link to open water.

Northwest Indiana marinas gearing up for boating season

Hammond Port Authority employee Phillip Schillaci paints railings May 18 at the Hammond Marina. Most marinas are reporting the same or slightly higher slip occupancy rates compared to previous years.

Northwest Indiana marinas gearing up for boating season

Tim Chrzanowski helps guide his family's boat into the water May 18 at the Hammond Marina. It was the Chrzanowski family's first day out on the water for the season.

Northwest Indiana marinas gearing up for boating season

Several slips remain empty May 18 at the Hammond Marina. The marina, with 916 slips available for rent, expects half of those to be occupied this season, which is on target to raise the $1.2 million in income the marina budgeted for this year.

Northwest Indiana marinas gearing up for boating season

Monica Rachanski and her dog Max enjoy the weather May 18 at the Hammond Marina.

Northwest Indiana marinas gearing up for boating season

Don Pitrowski, from left, his wife, Mar Pitrowski, and Bob Schuenemann start their weekend May 18 at the Hammond Marina. Both families rent a slip there. The marina, with 916 slips available for rent, expects half of those to be occupied this season, which is on target to raise the $1.2 mill…

Authorities seek help in identifying body found at Portage marina

PORTAGE | Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris is seeking help identifying a man whose decomposed body was found in a boat at a Portage marina Friday.

Northwest Indiana marinas gearing up for boating season

Bob Mehok, of Munster, prepares to dock a boat May 18 at the Portage Public Marina.

Northwest Indiana marinas gearing up for boating season

Portage resident Les Karafta washes his boat May 18 at the Portage Public Marina. The 200-slip Portage Public Marina has 194 of its 200 slips occupied with the rest left for transient boaters, Harbormaster Allen Ekdahl said. Ekdahl said he expects the marina is popular because of its proximi…

Northwest Indiana marinas gearing up for boating season

Bob Mehok, of Munster, secures a boat to a trailer May 18 at the Portage Public Marina.

Northwest Indiana marinas gearing up for boating season

A man cleans a boat May 18 at the Portage Public Marina.

Northwest Indiana marinas gearing up for boating season

The Portage Public Marina is already at full capacity this boating season.

Northwest Indiana marinas gearing up for boating season

Les Karafta, of Portage, scrubs his boat May 18 at the Portage Public Marina.

Boaters: Gas prices could tie down trips

Matey the dog looks across the Portage Public Marina on its owner Norman Fawley's boat May 18. Gas prices at local marinas ranged from $4.37 to $4.56 for regular and $4 to $4.20 for diesel before the Memorial Day weekend, and boaters at Hammond and Portage Public marinas expect the cost stil…

Northwest Indiana marinas gearing up for boating season

Boats sit docked May 18 at the Portage Public Marina.

$120111GRIPEXCHANGE Gary Region Investment Project\u002c Gary Urban Exchange series$

120111GRIPEXCHANGE Gary Region Investment Project\u002c Gary Urban Exchange series

Linda Woloshansky, CEO Center of Workforce Innovations, speaks at a recent meeting on the importance of Work Readiness Skills in the workplace.

One Region, One Vision approach has many facets

Audrey Russo, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Technology Council, speaks Dec. 1 at the East Chicago Marina as part of the Gary and Region Investment Project Urban Exchange series.