Jeff Parrott

17 hours ago | wvpe.org | Jeff Parrott

Independence Day is Friday, a week from today, but fireworks fans can enjoy more than one show this year, as Michiana communities plan displays at different times. The city of Niles will celebrate first with fireworks starting tonight at dusk. They’ll happen at the Apple Festival Lot at 17th and Lake streets. Next will come the city of Mishawaka tomorrow night, with live music and food vendors starting at 6 p.m. and fireworks at 10 p.m. They’ll shoot them off downtown over the St. Joseph River.

17 hours ago | wvpe.org | Jeff Parrott

Some residents of a South Bend trailer park are sweating a deadline coming Tuesday when they’ll no longer be allowed to use window air-conditioning units. With their thinner walls and lack of insulation to keep the heat out, mobile homes can get hot in the summer, especially in this recent heat dome. At Countryside Village on Mayflower Road, units that the park owns have central air-conditioning.

1 day ago | wvpe.org | Jeff Parrott

The city of South Bend’s MLK Dream Center is up and running but they’re asking the public’s help with a final touch. In building the $27 million facility on Linden Avenue in the heart of the west side, the city included a pad outside the entrance for a piece of art. Tonight from 6:30 to 7:30, the city invites the public to come and share ideas on what they’d like to see there. Leading the effort will be Marvin Curtis, the city’s coordinator of arts, equity and public art.

1 day ago | wvpe.org | Jeff Parrott

Elkhart County Prosecutor Vicki Becker’s handling of the Jayco cats case is not sitting well with the county’s Humane Society. Humane Society of Elkhart County Executive Director Rob Laroy acknowledges that he’s no attorney and that Becker has more information about the case than he does. Still, he says he and his staff want her to refile animal cruelty charges against the three Jayco RV workers who admitted killing two cats in a trash compactor.

2 days ago | wvpe.org | Jeff Parrott

The city of South Bend is a finalist for a $1 million grant to use AI to address problems before residents complain about them. Bloomberg Philanthropies Wednesday announced South Bend is one of 50 cities around the world, and one of just seven in the U.S., selected as finalists in its 2025 Mayor’s Challenge. It’s a competition to spur local government innovation that bolsters essential city services and improves lives for residents.