Dec
2
Everyone Else Knew
Filed Under Lake County, Robert Pastrick, corruption, crime, political machines, politics, quality of life | Leave a Comment
Want to read something funny?
Robert Pastrick says he didn’t realize he was running a political machine all of those years.
Writes Joe Carlson in the Northwest Indiana Times:
Robert Pastrick, the 80-year-old man who sat at the helm of Lake County’s most potent political force for decades, says he never realized he was running a political machine.
Nov
28
We’re In The Top 90 Percent!
Filed Under quality of life | Leave a Comment
Self Magazine ranks Northwest Indiana 91 out of 100 in its list of the healthiest places in America for women.
Don’t tell the people in Indianapolis, but Indy scores worse than Northwest Indiana and Gary on Self Magazine’s list, coming in at 96 out of 100.
Despite the Self Magazine slam, there are some positives in the report about Gary and Northwest Indiana, including low rates of violence against women (”40 percent fewer rapes reported than in the average place”), low drinking rates (”lower than four fifths of other places on list”), and STD transmission rates that are 40 percent lower than other places.
While people in Northwest Indiana might eat unhealthy meals and smoke cigarettes, it is nice to know that Region residents are practicing safe sex, cutting back on the booze, and are treating women well.
Writes Amy Lavalley in the Post-Tribune:
The women’s magazine listed smoking and cancer rates among the region’s women, as well as rates of depression and pollution, as reasons for the poor showing.
Maybe we should pass out Wellbutrin to cure addiction to smoking while improving Region depression rates. And, maybe we can focus on economic development that brings in cleaner places of employment for Northwest Indiana’s workforce while encouraging our industries to focus on environmental quality issues.
Hat tip to Leo Morris at Opening Arguments for spotting the anti-Gary and Northwest Indiana hit piece.
Nov
25
Lake County Homicides Up 26%
Filed Under East Chicago, Gary, Northwest Indiana, crime, quality of life | 2 Comments
Bad news on the crime front in Lake County.
Homicides in Lake County have increased 26 percent over 2006.
Writes the Northwest Indiana Times’ Christine Kraly:
Lake County slayings that escalated in summer months have continued into the colder seasons, contributing to the bloodiest year the county has seen in five years, county records show.
Homicides in Lake County have jumped 26 percent over last year. Of the 110 countywide slayings, 14 have been in East Chicago. That’s one less than last year’s homicide totals in East Chicago — with more than a month to go in the year.
Gary and Hammond already have surpassed their 2006 homicide totals, jumping to 68 slayings so far in Gary and 13 in Hammond.
