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2 days ago | 
nwitimes.com | Analisa Trofimuk |Alex Dalton
More than 28 abandoned and boarded up schools in Gary, Indiana, contribute to urban blight — and in some cases have served as scenes of the worst possible crimes. Local leaders say they are hopeful to turn the tide on a growing list of dilapidated school buildings, some of which were considered significant historic landmarks but now are in a state of ruin. When The Times of Northwest Indiana first investigated this issue six years ago, there were 21 vacant school structures.
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6 days ago | 
pantagraph.com | Olivia Jacobs |Analisa Trofimuk
NORMAL — Central Illinois health care providers are working to improve mental health treatment and accessibility to keep up with the growing demand of resources throughout the region. Local doctors and health experts say while there is comprehensive mental health care available within the Bloomington-Normal community and neighboring areas, there is evidence of an ongoing need for behavioral health services throughout the region.
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2 months ago | 
nwitimes.com | Lizzie Kaboski |Analisa Trofimuk |Michael Howie |Alex Dalton
James Allen, left, stands with his mother, Dawn Boudah. She said he was a "mama's boy" and frequently called her daily, which is why she was a… James Allen Jr. was a "mama's boy." Even when his mother moved more than 1,000 miles away from Hammond to Palm Harbor, Florida in 2021, their connection remained strong. "He'd call me from anywhere," Dawn Boudah said. "He was that son that would text me 10 to 20 times a day.
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Jan 23, 2025 | 
nwitimes.com | Lizzie Kaboski |Analisa Trofimuk |Alex Dalton
President Donald Trump signed an executive order following the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20 pardoning over 1,500 people who were charged with crimes related to the violent riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
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Jan 10, 2025 | 
nwitimes.com | Analisa Trofimuk
GARY — Law enforcement officials on Friday afternoon released an updated list of missing persons cases. The Gary Police Department is actively investigating seven cases from 2024 including four juveniles and three missing adults, according to the press release. "Last week, Gary Police Department was made aware of a list of missing people circulating on social media," Police Chief Derrick Cannon wrote. "The information on this list was inaccurate, due to outdated information.
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Jan 8, 2025 | 
nwitimes.com | Lizzie Kaboski |Analisa Trofimuk |Alex Dalton
CROWN POINT — “These people are still deserving of our love and care. These people still deserve to be found.”Kara Barnett’s words were echoed Monday morning by the families of missing persons Ja’Niyah McMichael, Lisa Wright, Diamond Bynum and her nephew King Walker, Emma Baum and James Allen who have been missing for months from their homes in Northwest Indiana.
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Nov 5, 2024 | 
jg-tc.com | Analisa Trofimuk
DECATUR — U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, will retain his seat in Illinois’ 12th Congressional District. The race was called at 8:19 p.m. Tuesday by The Associated Press after 22% of the votes had been counted. Results are considered unofficial until ratified by the Illinois State Board of Elections. Bost, with 72,137 votes, was ahead of Democrat Brian Roberts, who had 21,421 votes, according to the early results around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
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Oct 17, 2024 | 
nwitimes.com | Michael Howie |Analisa Trofimuk
VALPARAISO — Bathed in sunshine on a cool but comfortable October day in Valparaiso’s town square, Kathy DeWitt shared snapshots with a crowd of more than 25 people — all there for the same cause — of what she’s fighting to help prevent. By the end of the stories, her emotions barely allowed her to speak.
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Feb 13, 2024 | 
qctimes.com | Olivia Allen |Analisa Trofimuk
Editor's note: This is the third in a three-part series about how Quad-Cities schools address safety. This story focuses on the role of law enforcement and communication in responding to a crisis. In Quad-City metro school districts, mutual aid and coordination between local law enforcement and timely — but accurate — family notification protocols are crucial during emergencies. Particularly since school resource officers (SROs) can’t be everywhere at once.
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Feb 12, 2024 | 
qctimes.com | Olivia Allen |Analisa Trofimuk
Editor's note: This is the second in a three part series about how Quad-Cities schools address safety. This story focuses on the role of mental health resources in preventing crises. Quad-Cities schools are seeing national trends play out, as an increase in mental health needs nationwide have made preventing crises more challenging. There is a nationwide mental health crisis, particularly among teenage populations, North Scott SRO Jack Schwertman said.
