Latest news with #LakeCountyCouncil
Chicago Tribune
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
Emissions testing in Lake, Porter counties could be phased out under new law
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed a bill Friday that reviews air quality standards and vehicle emission testing. Senate Enrolled Act 103, authored by Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, and Sen. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland, requires the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to evaluate the air quality within nonattainment areas, which includes Northwest Indiana. The bill also identifies air pollution reduction or regulatory relief strategies to align with federal Clean Air Act standards. Braun signed the bill at the Lake County Government Center, flanked by Lake County officials. The law aims for the 'eventual phase out of the inspection and maintenance program for light-duty vehicles.' The law also aims to withdraw Lake County and Porter County from the Metropolitan Chicago Interstate Air Quality Control Region. Under the law, which was sponsored by many Northwest legislators, IDEM has to submit a comprehensive report to the governor and state lawmakers by June 30, 2026, according to a statement from State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster. Braun signed the bill with Niemeyer, Dernulc, Andrade, Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago; Sen. Mark Spencer, D-Gary, State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point, standing around him. Before signing, Braun said when he was in the legislature in 2015, he recalled legislators talking about how to address vehicle emissions. He was able to sign the bill because the legislature was able to 'pick up the gauntlet,' Braun said. Some people may bring up environmental concerns with the law, Braun said. 'Mother Nature, the environment, and conservation have been dear, deep issues for me,' Braun said. 'If it's not making sense, you do something that makes it easier.' In 2021, the Lake County Council sued the state to eliminate emissions testing in Lake County, stating it's unfair that only Northwest Indiana counties require emissions testing. Dernulc referenced the lawsuit and how the county lost, so he said he looked forward to IDEM completing the study. Niemeyer said legislators have spent years fighting to change emission testing procedures. The emissions program 'was necessary at one time, but not necessary now.' Lake County has had to follow the emissions testing because of its proximity to Chicago, Randolph said, and state legislators have been fighting the measure for years. 'I'm very pleased to see this happen,' Randolph said. 'I'm very pleased, governor, that you're here, and I'm happy that you took the time to come here to sign this bill.' Andrade said in a statement that the law will allow state officials to review how Indiana regulates emissions and whether some policies can be improved. 'We know clean air is critical to our health and safety, especially in industrial regions like Northwest Indiana. But we also know some of our testing requirements may be outdated or overly burdensome. This study will help us find that balance,' Andrade said in the statement. The law allows for 'responsible deregulation,' Andrade said, by updating systems that might not benefit residents while prioritizing public and environmental health. 'This isn't about rolling back protections. It's about using real data to guide future decisions,' Andrade said in the statement. 'Northwest Indiana deserves clean air and smart policy. With this law, we're working toward both.'
Chicago Tribune
17-05-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Lake, Porter counties navigate Health First Indiana budget cuts
The Lake County Health Department will shift its plan for its Health First Indiana key performance indicator for maternal and child health as its program funding from 2025 to 2026 will drastically decrease. Health First Indiana was created by Senate Enrolled Act 4, which was legislation that passed in the 2023 legislative session, to address public health in Indiana. The program establishes a public health infrastructure through a state and local partnership where each county, after choosing to opt in, can determine which health services to invest in based on community needs. The state funded the program $75 million in fiscal year 2024 and $150 million in fiscal year 2025. For fiscal years 2026 and 2027, Health First Indiana will be funded $40 million per year, $80 million total, said Porter County Health Department Administrator Carrie Gschwind. Porter County received approximately $3.39 million in Health First Indiana funds in 2025, and has been notified it will receive approximately $906,000 in 2026, Gschwind said. 'We will have to cut some programming with the 73% reduction and are currently working with our team and partners to determine the most strategic course of action to make the most impact on the health outcomes of the residents of Porter County, keeping in mind those county-level key performance indicators, in light of the reduced funding,' Gschwind said. Lake County Health Department Administrator Sheila Paul told the Lake County Council Tuesday the department will take a 'big gut punch' after learning it would receive $2.5 million in Health First Indiana funding in 2026 compared to the $9 million received in 2025. 'Lake County deserves a public health infrastructure that is proactive, not reactive. Continued investment is key to making that vision a reality,' said Lake County Health Officer Dr. Chandana Vavilala. As part of the Health First Indiana program, Lake County established a goal to decrease the rate of mothers not receiving early prenatal care from 33.7% in 2022 to 28% in 2027. Another goal under the same umbrella is to decrease the count of congenital syphilis cases in Lake County from 4 in 2023 to zero in 2027. Initially, the Lake County Health Department had planned to hire six people to meet its key performance indicator for maternal and child health, Paul told the council. But with the decrease in funding, that program was scrapped, she said. Vavilala told the Post-Tribune the plan was to open two maternal health clinics – in the northern and southern portions of the county – staffed with a dedicated team of nurse practitioners, social workers and clerical staff. The clinics and staff would provide comprehensive support to expectant mothers, including prenatal care access, social support and child safety education, Vavilala said. 'Our vision was to take a holistic approach to maternal and infant health, targeting the systemic factors that contribute to poor outcomes,' Vavilala said. 'Disappointingly, with the potential reduction in Health First Indiana funding, we will not have the resources to staff or equip these clinics.' But Vavilala said Lake County is committed to improving prenatal care access. Department officials will continue to work closely with community partners and enhance internal education and outreach to support maternal and child health throughout the county, she said. 'Establishing two fully staffed clinics would require significant investment overall,' Vavilala said. 'While we continue to believe in the importance of these services, the financial realities make this model unsustainable under the revised funding.' Beyond this programming, Vavilala said the Lake County Health Department is still evaluating how else the reduced funds may impact programming. 'Our goal is to maximize impact with the resources we have and to minimize disruption to essential services. At this time, no final decisions have been made, and we are actively engaging with internal teams and local stakeholders to determine the best path forward,' Vavilala said. Health First Indiana was established to help local health departments address health challenges and make health care equitable to all, Vavilala said. So a reduction in the program will impact the county's ability to expand essential services that address pressing public health issues, she said. 'With fewer resources, we may have to scale back or delay programs that directly address health disparities, connect residents to care, and support long-term prevention. This not only limits the reach of our work but also slows progress toward measurable improvements in community health outcomes,' Vavilala said.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lake County Recorder Gina Pimentel announces run for auditor in 2026
Lake County Recorder Gina Pimentel will run for Lake County Auditor in 2026, she recently announced. Pimentel, 38, said she can't run for reelection as recorder because of term limits. As she thought about her career, Pimentel said running for auditor seemed like a strong next step because the auditor's office and the recorder's office work together, like during the property transfer process. 'I think this is a good next step,' Pimentel said. 'I am an in-person, hands-on elected official and office holder that has the county's best interest in mind.' In addition to Pimentel's candidacy, Lake County Democratic Chairman Mike Repay said current auditor Peggy Holinga Katona is seeking reelection. In the primary election, Repay said the party will remain neutral on candidates. Lake County Treasurer John Petalas, who has served as auditor in the past, said he is seeking reelection as treasurer. He declined to comment on the auditor's race. If elected, Pimentel said she would focus on retraining employees in the deductions department to ensure people qualifying for a homestead, over the age of 65, disabled and disabled veterans receive the proper deductions. Pimentel said she would take the training with the employees, if elected auditor. Given that deductions are the top reason residents visit the auditor's office, Pimentel said employee retraining on the matter would benefit the office. Further, Pimentel said she would also like to bring back an in-person tax sale process to prevent fraud and increase the collection rate. While doing the tax sale online was efficient during the COVID-19 pandemic, it's a good time to start an in-person process, she said. 'That's something that I would like to play more offense not defense,' Pimentel said. 'There are ways for improvement and there are ways to avoid certain things that do happen in the tax sale.' Pimentel was elected recorder in 2020 after serving 5 years as chief deputy recorder under previous Lake County Recorder Michael Brown, who left office after he and some of his staff were subpoenaed in front of the Lake County Council to answer questions about his absenteeism for 18 months. As recorder, Pimentel said she's most proud of how efficient the office has become. The office has focused on digitizing, imaging and scanning various records and documents, she said. 'We've really utilized the money that my office makes without using taxpayer money to further enhance the office in every which way,' Pimentel said. While she's enjoyed being recorder, Pimentel said she looks forward to running for auditor to continue to serve Lake County residents. 'I love what I do. I'm happy to be at the county. I'm proud to be an elected official, and it's something that I want to continue because I'm just starting out,' Pimentel said. akukulka@
Chicago Tribune
12-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Lake County Recorder Gina Pimentel announces run for auditor in 2026
Lake County Recorder Gina Pimentel will run for Lake County Auditor in 2026, she recently announced. Pimentel, 38, said she can't run for reelection as recorder because of term limits. As she thought about her career, Pimentel said running for auditor seemed like a strong next step because the auditor's office and the recorder's office work together, like during the property transfer process. 'I think this is a good next step,' Pimentel said. 'I am an in-person, hands-on elected official and office holder that has the county's best interest in mind.' In addition to Pimentel's candidacy, Lake County Democratic Chairman Mike Repay said current auditor Peggy Holinga Katona is seeking reelection. In the primary election, Repay said the party will remain neutral on candidates. Lake County Treasurer John Petalas, who has served as auditor in the past, said he is seeking reelection as treasurer. He declined to comment on the auditor's race. If elected, Pimentel said she would focus on retraining employees in the deductions department to ensure people qualifying for a homestead, over the age of 65, disabled and disabled veterans receive the proper deductions. Pimentel said she would take the training with the employees, if elected auditor. Given that deductions are the top reason residents visit the auditor's office, Pimentel said employee retraining on the matter would benefit the office. Further, Pimentel said she would also like to bring back an in-person tax sale process to prevent fraud and increase the collection rate. While doing the tax sale online was efficient during the COVID-19 pandemic, it's a good time to start an in-person process, she said. 'That's something that I would like to play more offense not defense,' Pimentel said. 'There are ways for improvement and there are ways to avoid certain things that do happen in the tax sale.' Pimentel was elected recorder in 2020 after serving 5 years as chief deputy recorder under previous Lake County Recorder Michael Brown, who left office after he and some of his staff were subpoenaed in front of the Lake County Council to answer questions about his absenteeism for 18 months. As recorder, Pimentel said she's most proud of how efficient the office has become. The office has focused on digitizing, imaging and scanning various records and documents, she said. 'We've really utilized the money that my office makes without using taxpayer money to further enhance the office in every which way,' Pimentel said. While she's enjoyed being recorder, Pimentel said she looks forward to running for auditor to continue to serve Lake County residents. 'I love what I do. I'm happy to be at the county. I'm proud to be an elected official, and it's something that I want to continue because I'm just starting out,' Pimentel said.
Chicago Tribune
08-05-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Lake County Council plans law enforcement recognition for May 13
The Lake County Council will recognize the outstanding efforts of several members of law enforcement at its May 13 meeting as part of National Police Week, May 15-21. The School City of East Chicago and the Lake County Veterans Treatment Court will also be acknowledged for their recent honors. Those issued commendations and special recognition from the Lake County Sheriff's Department include patrol officers Matt Anderson, John Garreffa and Morgan Kral. Other honorees include Detective Shane Ratkovich, Detective Sergeant Cody Mansfield and Officers James Madere and Eric Smith Jr., for outstanding felony case support. Detective Sergeants Michael Hinch and Joseph Molina will be recognized for their sustained superior performance and Reserve Police Officers Michael Tabor and Ashley Coniglio for their outstanding law enforcement support. Also recognized will be the School City of East Chicago which earned honors in the 2025 Magna Awards Program for Innovation and the Lake County Veterans Treatment Court for being named one of the five National Mentor Courts by All Rise's Justice for Vets division and the U.S. Department of Justice. The council is expected to make several appointments including four-year terms to Gary resident Robert Farag and Hammond resident Tom Novak to Lake County Library boards and a three-year term to Randy Palmateer to the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority.
