South Bend Tribune
‘Salute to courage’
When Fort Wayne native Timothy Lake was in elementary school, he didn’t dream of becoming a musician or professional athlete. He wanted to be a philosopher. That dream didn’t disappear as he navigated his undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees,...
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Machado gains little in White House visit
WASHINGTON – Venezuelan opposition leader Marina Corina Machado got her courtesy luncheon with President Donald Trump on Jan. 15 but gained little else politically after the White House secured a $500 million deal for Venezuelan oil through ongoing...
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‘No, no, no debate’
In no uncertain terms, 5th District Common Council member Sherry Bolden-simpson made her thoughts clear on a state senate bill that would remove the elected South Bend school board: “No, no, no debate. Stop Bill 248.” Bolden-simpson joined several...
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Public, trustees rally against SB 248
SOUTH BEND — The public and South Bend school board trustees united in opposition to an Indiana State Senate bill targeting the district’s elected school board, a bill one community member described as “heinous (and) pernicious,” during a SBCSC board...
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South Bend schools, local officials on Senate Bill 248
SOUTH BEND — After four Republicans in the Indiana State Senate introduced a bill on Thursday, Jan. 8, that would remove the elected members of the South Bend school board, several South Bend-area officials released statements about the issue. Senate...
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Furor continues over ICE shootings
Tensions remained high Jan. 9 after shootings involving immigration agents in Minneapolis and in Portland, Oregon, drew protesters to the streets and deepened fractures between federal and state officials. In Portland, a U.S. Border Patrol officer...
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TIME TO CELEBRATE
To celebrate the 40th Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 19, local leaders are hosting a variety of events to honor King’s life and recognize community members who are carrying on his work in South Bend and beyond. Organizer Gladys Muhammad said the...
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Potawatomi Zoo’s baby fennec foxes’ names revealed
SOUTH BEND — The fennec fox kits born Sept. 26 at Potawatomi Zoo now have names: Lucy, Jewel and Sonny. J.R. Fox Jewelers named the two females and one male, the zoo said in a press release. Sonny and Lucy are named after Sonny and Lucy Fox, parents...
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Community gathers to celebrate Kwanzaa
SOUTH BEND — The South Bend Chapter Indiana Black Expo Inc. held its annual Kwanzaa Celebration on Tuesday, Dec. 30 at the St. Joseph County Public Library, 305 S. Michigan St. The event, which included entertainment and concluded with a community...
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EMBRACE YOUR INNER NERD
MISHAWAKA – For Jeff Parker and Lisa Weimer, it first hit them on their second day open when they saw a father and son playing a game together. For Dory Parker, it happened a few days later when she saw a couple invite someone sitting by themselves to...
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Mamdani promises new era for NYC
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Jan. 1 inauguration and block party reflected a diverse city looking to make good on the 34-year-old democratic socialist’s promises to address affordability. On a freezing New Year’s Day, the Democratic mayor...
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South Bend native, iconic character actor, dies at 71
Isiah Whitlock Jr., a South Bend native and iconic character actor known for his work as corrupt state Sen. Clay Davis on HBO’S “The Wire,” as well as appearing in “Veep” and seven Spike Lee films, has died. Whitlock, a 1972 Adams High School grad,...
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PICTURES WORTH THOUSANDS OF WORDS
ABOVE: LEFT: Attendees hold up competing signs for and against the St. Joseph County Council as it considers a proposal for another large data center between South Bend and New Carlisle at a meeting on Dec. 9. MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE MIDDLE:...
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Owner of Linden Grill passes torch to daughter
SOUTH BEND — Aniyah Mack spent a lot of her time as a kid hanging out at her dad’s restaurant on Linden Avenue. Linden Grill quickly became her home away from home and a place she could spend quality time with her family and friends. Now, she’s...
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Where to ring in 2026 in the South Bend area
Ring in the New Year by attending one of these fun events from Dec. 30 – Jan. 1. There is much to do in the South Bend area, so put on your dancing shoes or your winter boots and bring in 2026 in your chosen style. DEC. 30 HOWLING IN THE NEW YEAR...
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Energized opposition
Three years ago, the St. Joseph County Council welcomed an Amazon hyperscale data center to Northern Indiana with open arms, capitalizing on a company that wanted to spend $11 billion and create high-paying jobs in Northern Indiana. But the welcome...
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U.S. strikes Islamic State in Nigeria
President Donald Trump said on Dec. 25 that the U.S. military had attacked Islamic State targets in Nigeria, claiming the group had been targeting Christians. In a post on Truth Social, the president said he directed the military to launch a “powerful...
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Most Amish now work off the farm
Andrew Troyer was teaching in his Amish settlement’s school in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1977 when his pupils began relaying orders for rope. Troyer had brought his handmade, hand-twisting machine to school so his students could make jump ropes. The...
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2 dead after PA nursing home blast
BUCKS COUNTY, PA – A “catastrophic” explosion at a nursing home near Philadelphia killed at least two people, injured 20 others and collapsed a portion of the facility on Dec. 23, authorities said. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a news...
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Braun on redistricting loss, 1st year as governor
Gov. Mike Braun is about to wrap his first year in office coming off a redistricting push that ultimately fell apart in the Senate and made Indiana the only Republican-led state to defy President Donald Trump's wishes. Redistricting is the issue that...
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Farmers concerned about new proposed data center
SOUTH BEND — After the St. Joseph County Council voted 7-2 to reject a zoning change to allow Western Hospitality Partners to build a data center outside New Carlisle, proposed plans have surfaced for the construction of a 300-acre data center within...
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WDHGAG-10100Q
COMING NEXT SUNDAY Get the latest news, sports and more See today’s top headlines, local breaking news, area scores, things to do and subscriber exclusives at southbendtribune.com. Data center boom is pitting Indiana residents against big tech The...
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Brown University shooting suspect found dead in NH
PROVIDENCE, RI – Though the suspect connected to the deadly Brown University attack and the fatal shooting of an MIT professor was found dead in New Hampshire, the questions and fallout have only begun.
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WNIT receives Bridge Fund grant to make up for cuts
SOUTH BEND — PBS Michiana WNIT-TV (34.1) President and General Manager Amanda Miller Kelley and her staff had an extra reason to celebrate Thanksgiving this year: The day before the holiday, the public television station learned it had received a...
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Ryan White never got to attend IU
For Indiana University sculpture professor Melanie Pennington, getting commissioned to create a sculpture of Ryan White – the Kokomo native son whose teenage battle with AIDS made him into a national poster child for the oft-maligned disease in the...
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LIGHT UP THE NIGHT
Downtown South Bend Inc. continued its “Downtown for the Holidays” celebration with its eighth annual Holiday Light Parade on Friday, Dec. 12 along Jefferson Boulevard in the East Bank Village. More than 30 lighted floats, vehicles and walking units...
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La Casa director continues advocacy for South Bend
SOUTH BEND — Dara Marquez Venegas is no stranger to advocating for South Bend’s Latino, Hispanic and immigrant community. From early advocacy work as a teenager in Elkhart to now working at La Casa de Amistad, Marquez Venegas strives to support...
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Data center talks could be ongoing
After a 7-2 vote in the early hours of Wednesday, Dec. 10, the St. Joseph County Council rejected a rezoning petition that would have allowed a third new data center to be built in the county. But Wednesday’s decision may or may not be the end of the...
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Abrego Garcia released from detention facility
In a whiplash series of events, a federal judge on Dec. 12 blocked an effort to have Kilmar Abrego Garcia returned to custody a day after his release from Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention. On Dec. 11, District Judge Paula Xinis ordered...
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SJ County Council rejects proposed 3rd data center
The St. Joseph County Council voted against a proposed data center on 1,057 acres near New Carlisle, a project that has garnered staunch support and opposition from officials and community members alike. The vote came after 4 a.m., more than 10 hours...
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Exclusion from the CFP has Irish AD ‘perplexed’
SOUTH BEND — Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua continued his media tour on Monday, Dec. 8, in the wake of the football program’s surprising omission from this year’s 12-team College Football Playoff field. As it turns out, “Team B” wasn’t...
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Here comes Santa Claus …
Downtown South Bend Inc. celebrated the season with its “Downtown for the Holidays”themed First Fridays event Dec. 5. The city held its annual tree-lighting ceremony, and Santa Claus arrived via a South Bend fire truck and opened his cottage on...
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‘It’s not a political issue, it’s an economic issue’
Days after five local officials released a letter they signed to encourage support for proposed data center projects around St. Joseph County, area charter school leader Larry Garatoni confirmed he hired the political strategy firm behind the...
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Neighborhood entry way leads to traffic issues
SOUTH BEND — Cold and snowy weather wasn’t enough to stop more than 15 Lafayette Falls residents from attending a meeting held by Common Council members Sherry Bolden-simpson (D-5th), whose district includes the subdivision, and Oliver Davis...
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Oliver Mansion all decked out for Christmas at Copshaholm
SOUTH BEND — The History Museum has decked the halls of Copshaholm for its annual yuletide celebration in the former home of the Oliver family on West Washington Street. Christmas trees can be found on all three floors while fireplace mantels and...
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AI could worsen school inequalities
Today’s teachers find themselves thrust into a difficult position with generative AI. New tools are coming online at a blistering pace and being adopted just as quickly, whether they’re personalized tutors and study buddies for students or lesson plan...
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A glimpse into Cyber Monday at Elkhart’s Amazon Delivery station
ELKHART — The local Amazon Delivery Station (or DII5) is expected to deliver more than a million packages this holiday season, starting with recently placed Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. The 171,000-square-foot facility, which opened on Aug....
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Notre Dame professor and Vietnamese refugee
SOUTH BEND — To the Rev. Martin Lam Nguyen, art is not simply a creative outlet — it’s a form of self-expression and a physical record of the unique experiences that make him who he is. His artwork is composed of what he describes as “fragments put...
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PESKY PORCH PIRATES
Your phone buzzes and you glance at an incoming alert: The mailman just delivered a much-awaited package — a gift for a loved one — depositing it, unguarded, on your front porch. But by the time you arrive home from work, the package has vanished. You...
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How to make Christmas bright for those in need
The holidays are a perfect time to give back and help make the season bright for those in need, and there are ample opportunities to get involved in and around South Bend. Here are some options for those looking to make a difference or receive help...
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Trump vows further migrant crackdown
President Donald Trump said Nov. 27 that U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, of the West Virginia National Guard, died after being shot the previous day in an ambush near the White House, a shooting that drew claims from his administration of Biden-era...
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Inflation weighing on income growth
WASHINGTON – Inflation has helped set back income growth to levels comparable to the slow recovery from the Great Recession more than a decade ago, potentially constraining the spending power of consumers ahead of the critical holiday retail season,...
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Get a real Christmas tree this season
Begin a new holiday tradition — cut down a tree that is hand-picked by you and your family. The following farms offer a variety of trees for you to cut yourself or choose from a pre-cut tree and just enjoy a walk around the beauty of these tree farms....
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‘It’s something I always wanted to do’
SOUTH BEND — David Njoroge walks through a house under construction on Dale Avenue. His slender frame doesn’t seem to fit that of a home builder who is trying to take empty lots throughout the city and create homes for South Bend residents. “I always...
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Photos show Vietnam as ‘a country on the move’
Rich colors, a great amount of movement and life are captured in 50 photos on the walls of the fifth floor of the Schurz Library at Indiana University South Bend. They are images of motor scooters, people and various items on the streets of...
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Silicon Valley ‘warlord’ gets Pentagon’s attention
NEW YORK – “I’m a warlord now, (expletive)!” Steven Simoni, wearing a $4,000 Celine track suit unzipped to reveal a bare chest and a silver chain, was holding court at a recent film premiere in the East Village of Manhattan, joking with a reporter...
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SOUTH BEND GETS FIRST SNOWFALL OF THE SEASON
Above: Paul Rumbach rides his grandfather’s 100-year-old sled down a hill in Howard Park with his daughter Julia Rumbach, 7, during the first snowfall of the season on Nov. 10 in South Bend. Josephine Borders, 4, is excited on her sled. Zia Dukes,...
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STRIKE UP THE BAND!
Saturday was literally a banner day, as six local marching bands competed at the Indiana State School Music Association State Finals at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium. h Northwood High School, competing in Class C, just missed a championship,...
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Bids due Nov. 13 for parcels near downtown South Bend
SOUTH BEND — The city’s Redevelopment Commission put seven parcels of land on Carroll and Monroe streets up for bid at its Oct. 23 meeting. “It’s been undeveloped for quite a while,” Community Investment Executive Director Caleb Bauer said in a phone...
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South Bend gives to food charities
A PRINT-ONLY SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL SECTION SOUTH BEND – Mayor James Mueller signed an executive order on Wednesday, Nov. 5 declaring a local disaster emergency in connection to food assistance affected by the federal shutdown. For the next...
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SNAP disruptions could hurt grocers
Like the millions of Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, retailers are bracing for the effects of reduced or delayed funding to a program that typically injects billions of dollars into the U.S. economy each...
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NOTRE DAME VS. NAVY
Richard “Oris” Aldrich of Mishawaka didn’t hesitate when asked if he’ll root for Notre Dame or Navy on Nov. 8. h “Navy,” the 98-year-old resident of Tanglewood Trace Senior Living Home said. h His answer may surprise some at first, especially...
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Children account for 38% of SNAP participation
Major uncertainty continues to surround the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, leaving millions of families across the United States scrambling for alternative sources of healthy, affordable food. SNAP reached more than 41 million...
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Marching bands from Elkhart, St. Joseph going to state finals
Six high school marching bands from the South Bend region punched their tickets to the 2025 Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) state marching band finals that will take place on Saturday, Nov. 8, at Lucas Oil Stadium. Twelve area bands...
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Getting things done
SOUTH BEND — The fifth Civic Leadership Academy session on Oct. 30 covered what director of the American Democracy Project at IUSB Elizabeth Bennion called the least well-known topic of the entire seven-week course — understanding local policymaking...
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How to help, receive aid during SNAP disruption
Starting Nov. 1, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits were expected to be suspended because of the ongoing federal government shutdown, affecting the roughly 20,000 South Bend residents who rely on SNAP. SNAP, also known as food...
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Project Rainier revving up
For the first time, part of the massive data center project Amazon Web Services (AWS) and its partners are building near New Carlisle is operational. Working in some of the buildings that have completed construction, the complex has begun building,...
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Trump a big factor in off-year vote
The Democratic candidates for governor in New Jersey and Virginia are making opposition to Donald Trump central to their pitches. In California, an ad urges voters to “stick it to Trump,” while New York City’s front-runner for mayor says he’ll “stand...
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Aldi set to open on old Shelton Farm Market site
NILES — Construction is complete and the Aldi on the site of the former Shelton's Farm Market is set for its grand opening Thursday, Nov. 6. Niles Township Supervisor Marge Durm-hiatt expressed excitement about the upcoming opening. “We’re hoping it...
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Drewrys redevelopment plan is moving on track
SOUTH BEND — The Redevelopment Commission received no bids at its Oct. 23 meeting for the three pieces of land that will be part of the long-awaited redevelopment of the site of the former Drewrys Brewery. But the city expected that when it advertised...
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State Theatre has new redevelopment plan
SOUTH BEND — After years of neglect and vacancy, the State Theatre’s revival appears poised to begin again. After purchasing the State earlier this year, the South Bend Redevelopment Commission approved putting the building at 212 and 216 S. Michigan...
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Braun calls special session City food pantries gear up for SNAP halt
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun has officially called lawmakers back to the Statehouse for a special session to redraw the Hoosier State’s congressional maps mid-decade, as requested by President Donald Trump’s administration. But the votes to redistrict...
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The Bucket Shack reopens in South Bend
SOUTH BEND — After a lengthy closure and an extended renovation, a beloved South Bend restaurant is now reopening but with new ownership and a slightly different name. Known for many years as Hensell’s Oaken Bucket, the restaurant at 1212 S. Ironwood...
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‘We’ve been looking forward to this’
Andrew Strasser and his fiancée, Summer Yeats, were one of the first residents to step into their new SB Thrive apartment at the apartment complex’s ribbon cutting Tuesday morning. h During their first glance, the couple’s faces lit up. They couldn’t...
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Persistent inflation up again in Sept.
Inflation rose again in September, revealing the persistence of rising prices as the job market showed signs of cooling and consumers begin to think about the holiday season. Consumer prices increased 3% from a year earlier, slightly up from 2.9% in...
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Birds bounce back
When I started bird-watching as a teenager, a few years after the first Earth Day in 1970, several species that once thrived in my region were nowhere to be found. Some, like the passenger pigeon, were extinct. Others had retreated to more remote, wild...
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Tucker Carlson speaks to sold-out crowd at IU
BLOOMINGTON — Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson debated attendees on a variety of hot-button issues for hours at a sold-out Turning Point USA event at Indiana University on Oct. 21. But first, he opened his speech by commending the late Charlie...
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United Way to turn Old Marquette School into neighborhood center
SOUTH BEND — The South Bend Community School Corp. board of trustees approved a resolution to sell the Old Marquette School building to the City of South Bend, to be repurposed as a neighborhood center by United Way of St. Joseph County. According to...
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Several thousand attend ‘No Kings 2’ protest in South Bend
SOUTH BEND — Mishawaka resident Juan Flores said he’d never been to a protest before Saturday, Oct. 18, when he attended the “No Kings 2” protest. When asked what had changed for him and why he was out protesting on Saturday, Flores said, “How could...
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Demolition of apartments ready if fed money is OK’D
SOUTH BEND — The federal shutdown could delay the start of a housing project worth more than $60 million that the city has been planning for several years. The city and the Housing Authority of South Bend plan to replace the former Rabbi Shulman Plaza...
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Automation in Indiana
As cars whiz by on the Indiana Toll Road, the large gray and blue warehouse next to the road contains a highway system of its own. h Inside, hundreds of small robots speed along labyrinthine pathways, while over 10 miles of interconnected conveyor...
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‘CHEMICAL OF CONCERN’
Microplastics seem to be everywhere – in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat. They have turned up in human organs, blood, testicles, placentas and even brains. While the full health consequences of that exposure are not yet known,...
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Airport not playing Kristi Noem video
SOUTH BEND — Travelers at South Bend International Airport will not watch a controversial video in which Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blames the current government shutdown on Democrats. The video began playing last week at...
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Spark ignites 10-hour fire in grain dryer
NEW TROY, MI — About 4,000 bushels of freshly harvested corn were ruined Monday, Oct. 15, when a grain dryer about the height of a 10-story building caught fire in Berrien County. It was about 4 a.m. when firefighters from multiple departments...
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South Bend city offices move in to new digs
South Bend city leaders officially opened the new city hall Monday, Oct. 13 in the former South Bend Community School Corp. headquarters downtown. City officials touted easier access to parking for residents and city employees, as well as the ability...
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Final beam placed in new patient tower
SOUTH BEND — Memorial Hospital’s new patient tower is a step closer to completion, as crews installed the final beam in the 10-story expansion, which Beacon Health System officials say will bring in more jobs and space for patient care to the South...
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