Gemma DiCarlo

In the midst of a redistricting process they say has been “closed off and restrictive,” Indiana Senate Democrats are holding a series of public input sessions across the state. 

Brandon Williams was killed in the Kelly’s Pub mass shooting two years ago. Now, his life is being commemorated on Sept. 25 — the South Bend Common Council passed a special resolution Sept. 13 in honor of Williams to establish a day of remembrance for murder victims.

Currently, anyone living in Indiana’s 574 and 219 area codes can dial local calls with seven digits instead of 10 –  but that’s set to change next month.

Starting Oct. 24, residents will have to dial those area codes – which cover most of WVPE’s Indiana listening area – if they want to complete a local call.

Purdue University President Mitch Daniels paid a visit to South Bend’s Purdue Polytechnic High School Thursday. 

More than a decade ago, a Goshen man opened a lockbox that was found in the basement of his grandparents’ former store. 

“My mom called me and she said, ‘Hey, the people who bought Plaut’s Store called me about a lockbox. What do you think that is?’” Steve Gruber said. “I said, ‘I don’t know. I hope it’s money!’”

Goshen officials unveiled a new trail project Tuesday that’s meant to engage people with physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

The city partnered with local nonprofit ADEC to turn four miles of existing public trails into an interactive experience. 

Over the last year, naturalists and programmers have cataloged plants, animals and fungi along sections of the Pumpkinvine and Maple Heart trails and built an app around the sensory experience they provide.

The Elkhart Common Council approved American Rescue Plan funding for a new small business program Monday. 

The city’s department of development services requested $400,000 in federal COVID-19 relief funding to set up the Small Business Continuity Program.

The program is designed to counter the effect of shutdowns, worker shortages, supply chain disruptions and other pandemic-related obstacles on small businesses. 

The Indiana Historical Bureau dedicated a new marker in downtown South Bend this weekend, the second in the city commemorating Black history.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas gave the 2021 Tocqueville Lecture at the University of Notre Dame Thursday. Thomas is only the second Black justice appointed to the court and is currently its longest-serving justice.

The St. Joseph County Council approved a new funding plan Tuesday night for the county's 911 dispatch center. The center will now be funded by county income tax revenue, which means big cuts for other public entities.

All WVPE listener counties have maintained their color status from last week on Indiana’s COVID-19 tracking map, except for one. 

The Elkhart Common Council dedicated $6.6 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding to two city infrastructure projects at its meeting Sept. 13. 

The first project, estimated to cost $3.6 million, will install new water and storm sewer mains in the area of Lasalle Street, McKinley Avenue and Benham Avenue. 

Though many businesses start with a lifelong dream, Crossroads Solar is not that company. Co-founder Patrick Regan said he never thought he’d be making solar panels.

South Bend officials discussed affordable housing at their most recent budget meeting Friday, including $6 million dollars in American Rescue Plan proposals.

The city proposed dedicating $2.5 million dollars in ARP funds to home repair assistance, another $2.5 million to housing financing and the remaining $1 million to home buying assistance.

According to the city’s presentation, housing financing and home buying assistance haven’t previously been funded in the city budget. 

After months of controversy, Joshua Reynolds has officially resigned as director of South Bend’s Community Police Review Board. 

Nearly all WVPE listener counties are now in the “orange” category on the state’s COVID-19 tracking map, and one has returned to the most serious “red” category.

St. Joseph, Elkhart, LaPorte and Starke counties all moved to the “orange” category this week, which indicates high spread of the virus. They join Pulaski, Marshall and Kosciusko counties, which all maintained their orange status from last week.

The Supreme Court struck down the CDC’s nationwide eviction moratorium last week, but emergency rental assistance is still available. 

St. Joseph County ERA Administrator Corey Szczypka said Tuesday the county is currently processing 343 rental assistance applications and has another 630 waiting in the online portal.