Mutliple departments are responding to a fire on Belmont Place in south Lake County.  The area is just west of Cedar Lake and Lake Dalecarlia, between those communities and the Indiana/Illinois state line off 151st Avenue. No other details available at this hour.  Reportedly fire crews from Lake and Porter Counties are assisting at the scene.  More information as it becomes available.
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Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller launched the fifth annual statewide March Against Hunger food drive competition Friday in Gary.

Gary’s bank is one of 11 regional food banks in Indiana that partner with Feeding Indiana’s Hungry or FIsH – an organization which helps link Indiana’s resources to feed those in need. For the fifth consecutive year, the Indiana Attorney General’s Office has joined FIsH and the Indiana State Bar Association to help challenge law firms to donate goods and raise money for these banks.

"March Against Hunger is an opportunity to spread awareness about a growing problem and spotlight attorneys who go above and beyond to help their clients and their communities,” Zoeller said. "Hunger is preventable and that’s why we are calling on those in the profession to lend their support." 

Food Bank of Northwest Indiana Director Angie Williams said the group provides nutritional support to those in need of hunger relief through its network of 100 community agencies across Lake and Porter counties.

“We are very happy to be working with the Attorney General and the legal community once again on March Against Hunger,” Williams said. “The drive is a great way for people to get involved in the fight against hunger while having fun and fostering the competitive spirit. March Against Hunger not only helps us feed our neighbors, but it also helps us raise awareness of the problem throughout the state and gets people talking about what can be done to combat hunger. We are extremely grateful to Attorney General Zoeller for holding the drive again this year."

“We are again thankful for Attorney General Zoeller’s commitment to helping Hoosiers in need, and Hoosier attorneys for rising to the challenge,” said Emily Weikert Bryant, executive director of FIsH. “One in six Hoosiers is at risk of hunger, and for children just one in four.  We’ve not seen a decrease in demand and appreciate the support of the March Against Hunger drive to bring more meals to our member food banks to distribute across all 92 counties.”

To sign up to participate in this year's statewide competition visit www.marchagainsthunger.org or www.in.gov/attorneygeneral. Totals and winners will be announced shortly after the deadline to donate which is March 31.

In 2012, 51 law firms participated in the March Against Hunger and donated more than 11,400 pounds of food and raised $51,822. Since 2009, food drive participants have donated more than 34,100 pounds of food and raised $127,167 total.

This year the “Attorney General’s Cup” will be presented to the firm in each of the six categories that collects the most donations:

• Sole Proprietor
  
• Small firm (2-11 persons)
  
• Medium firm (12-21 persons)
  
• Large firm (22-49 persons)
  
• X-Large firm (50+ persons)
  
• Public/non-profit firm
  

 "As a fellow lawyer, I can't say enough about Attorney General Zoeller's commitment to serving Hoosiers in need," said ISBA President Daniel B. Vinovich. "It is opportunities like this annual food drive that allow us to serve beyond our clients and I am so proud of the overwhelming contributions that pour in each year."

Those not employed by a law firm can contribute nonperishable foods at a participating firm listed at www.in.gov/attorneygeneral or a FIsH food bank listed at www.feedingindianashungry.org.
The attorney general's speech at the Gary food bank is available at:  http://regionnewsteam.com
(article provided by the Office of the Indiana Attorney General)


Indiana Attorney General, Greg Zoeller kicking off the March Against Hunger food drive event at the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana in Gary on Friday.
(photo provided by Jay Stevens)
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The left lane of westbound I-80/94 is closed near I-65 due to a crash. Expect delays as you travel westbound on I-80/94 near mile marker 11.2.  The crash is backing up onto northbound I-65 traffic.   A number of traffic tipsters are reporting that all northbound lanes of I-65 are backing up from before 61st Avenue all the way to the Borman.

Northbound I-65 backed up from 61st Avenue to I-80/94 due to a crash that has the left lane closed westbound Borman just west of I-65.
(photo from INDOT traffic cams)
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