A WINTER STORM WARNING IS STILL IN EFFECT, UNTIL THURSDAY AFTERNOON, AS SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW CONTINUE TO FALL ACROSS NORTHWEST INDIANA. 9 TO 14 INCHES OF TOTAL DAYTIME SNOW ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, THROUGH THE DURATION OF THIS STORM. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL RATES OF UP TO 1 AND A HALF INCHES WILL CONTINUE TO FALL NOW THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON.
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A WATER MAIN BREAK IN PORTAGE THAT'S CAUSED A SINKHOLE HAS ROADS CLOSED, ACCORDING TO THE PORTAGE POLICE DEPARTMENT. A SINKHOLE DEVELOPED IN THE SOUTHBOUND LANES OF WILLOWCREEK ROAD, JUST SOUTH OF LUTE ROAD, DUE TO A WATER MAIN BREAK. THE SOUTHBOUND LANES OF WILLOWCREEK ROAD WILL BE CLOSED WHILE INDIANA AMERICAN WATER MAKES REPAIRS.
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COVID-19 CASES ARE UP IN INDIANA, FROM THIS TIME LAST WEEK, BUT THE DAILY AVERAGE IS DOWN. 6,878 NEW CORONAVIRUS CASES WERE REPORTED IN THE PAST WEEK. THE 7 DAY POSITIVITY RATE IS AT 27 POINT 3 PERCENT, THE LOWEST SINCE JANUARY 11TH. Total COVID-19 hospitalizations dropped to 2,705, down 87 from yesterday. BUT, DUE TO STAFFING SHORTAGES, OPEN I-C-U BEDS ARE DOWN TO 254 ACROSS THE STATE. THERE WERE 12 NEWLY REPORTED DEATHS FROM COVID-19, YESTERDAY.
ALL COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST INDIANA HAVE SEEN A DOWNTICK IN POSITIVITY RATES.
THE ENTIRE HOOSIER STATE REMAINS IN THE STATE'S HIGHEST LEVEL AT 3.
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No real progress has been made between American, Russian, and other European diplomats as the Russian troops are still sitting on the Ukrainian border. Indiana Senator Todd Young told CNN Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been sewing division among European countries through the Norm Stream 2 pipeline, which provides Russian oil to Germany. Young wants to see extreme economic sanctions on the pipeline if Russia ends up invading Ukraine.
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Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita took a state-paid trip to the U.S-Mexican border last week and attended a Donald Trump rally along the way. The (Fort Wayne) Journal-Gazette reports Rokita’s office confirmed the trip was being paid for with official funds, but didn’t immediately release cost details. The Republican attorney general’s trip was announced Thursday on his office’s Facebook page, which said he was traveling to investigate the impact of illegal immigration. Rokita joined several other Republican state attorneys general for a “border security briefing.” Rokita then attended Trump’s rally Saturday in Texas. The Indiana Democratic Party criticized Rokita as wasting taxpayer money for political purposes.
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The convention business in Indianapolis is almost what it was pre-pandemic, say leaders of Visit Indy. In a State of Tourism this week -- Visit Indy CEO Leonard Hoops tells Inside Indiana Business that between the NCAA Tournament, GenCon, The PRI trade show, and the National FFA Convention -- Indianapolis saw a huge comeback in convention and tourism business in 2021 from the 2020 pandemic shutdowns. It also led to new opportunities, he said. With the National Confectioners Association moving its Sweets & Snacks Expo to Indianapolis from Chicago -- Hoops says Indy could get it back again soon.
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IN SPORTS:
IN THE NHL:
THE BLACKHAWKS HOST THE MINNESOTA WILD TONIGHT AT 8:30.
IN THE NBA:
THE BULLS ARE OFF TONIGHT. THEY'LL BE IN TORONTO TOMORROW NIGHT.
THE PACERS HOST THE ORLANDO TONIGHT AT 6 PM.
IN THE NFL:
THE CHICAGO BEARS HAVE HIRED THEIR NEXT DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR. ALAN WILLIAMS, THE FORMER SAFTIES COACH FOR THE INDIANAPOLIS COLTS FOR THE LAST FOUR SEASONS, JOINS MATT EBERFLUS IN CHICAGO. EBERFLUS, CHICAGO'S NEW HEAD COACH, WAS INDIANAPOLIS' DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR FOR THE LAST FOUR SEASONS.
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LOOKING AT YOUR LAKESHORE WEATHER FORECAST...
TODAY: CONTINUED SNOWFALL OF UP TO 6 TO 10 INCHES IS POSSIBLE, WITH A DAYTIME HIGH NEAR 26, WITH WIND GUSTS UP TO 30 MILES PER HOUR.
TONIGHT: ABOUT A HALF AN INCH OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE, WITH AN OVERNIGHT LOW NEAR 19, AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 30 MILES PER HOUR.
THURSDAY: A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW BEFORE NOON, WITH A HIGH NEAR 22, AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 30 MILES PER HOUR.
FRIDAY: SUNNY SKIES AND A HIGH NEAR 18.
