Regionally Speaking, Monday, October 5, 2020

Today:  Claire Fiddian-Green, the president and CEO of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, is with us with details of the report of a study, commissioned by the foundation, that takes a comprehensive look at Indiana's school funding since the 2008 property tax reforms.  It warns of school funding inequities that affect low-income communities, racial groups and types of schools -- and that those inequities will likely continue through the COVID-19 crisis.  Vanetta Keefe with the Indiana Department of Transportation talks about the review of the Indiana Rail Plan, a plan that guides improvement of freight and passenger rail service in the state.  Federal law requires an update every four years, and this is the year for the update.  Vanetta is seeking public input and it can be made online very soon.  And from the Lake County Public Library -- branch services coordinator Carol Daumer Gutjahr says library branches will reopen with regular hours beginning October 15th at the Central Library in Merrillville and the other eight branches on October 19th.  She tells us why it is finally time to reopen.