Porter County Commissioner Laura Blaney

Porter County officials are among those speaking out against political violence.

The Porter County Commissioners have found a tenant for the former sheriff's residence, after a year of searching. The commissioners voted two-to-one Tuesday to lease out the main level for up to $25,000 a year.

Laura Blaney told the rest of the commissioners Tuesday that she would't run again, when candidate filing opened Wednesday. "The advice I received as I was deciding whether or not to run tomorrow from one of the people I respect most in government was to ask myself if I could still make a difference here, and if not, where? Well, 'where' is to be determined, but it's time," Blaney said.

The Porter County Board of Health has another new member.

The Memorial Opera House's new director is quickly getting to work. The hiring of Megan Stoner was announced during Monday's Porter County Commissioners meeting. She replaces Scot MacDonald, who resigned earlier this summer.

How much of a say the Porter County Board of Health should get in filling board vacancies was the topic of an ongoing debate during Monday's county commissioners meeting. State law currently requires county health boards to come up with a list of five candidates — but doesn't require the board of commissioners to choose from that list.

A pair of Porter County officials are out of their positions, following Tuesday's county commissioners meeting.

Porter County has rejected the Malden Solar Project's application for zoning approval.

Plans to renovate the Memorial Opera House continue to move forward. Barb Regnitz told the rest of the Porter County Commissioners on Tuesday that bids are being sought for the first phase, which will involve exterior masonry repairs.

The proposed renovation of the Memorial Opera House is further in doubt, with the Porter County Commissioners' plans to lease out the former sheriff's residence.