Joe Svetanoff

St. John's new town council members wasted little time overhauling the town government. During a pair of meetings Monday and Tuesday, the council replaced the town manager, town attorney and fire chief, along with a large number of board and commission members.

The town of Merrillville is working to make sure its needs are met with the money it'll have available next year. The town council adopted the 2024 budget Tuesday. It totals just over $45.4 million, having been cut by almost $2 million from the initial proposal.

The town of Merrillville is looking to beef up its code enforcement efforts. The town council Tuesday passed a series of seven ordinances, covering a range of issues.

Merrillville Police are investigating, after customers at a business on Broadway had their vehicles booted. Police Chief Wiley Luther Cuttino says a business hired a towing firm to watch its parking lot during a construction project, but apparently failed to consult Indiana Code or the town's ordinances.

The town of Merrillville says it has a trash problem. Town Council President Rick Bella says 644 homes are delinquent in paying their garbage bill, owing a collective $89,000 dollars to Waste Management.

The city of Portage may get a 240-home subdivision in the coming years. Representatives from RCJJ Development presented initial plans to the city council last week. The 58-acre subdivision would be located in the 600 block of Porter County Road 700 North, between Willowcreek and Swanson.