BP and the locked-out United Steelworkers union are scheduled to return to the bargaining table Today, after six months of the ongoing contract dispute that has left 800 workers without jobs. After voting to reject BP’s proposal in March, USW Local 7-1 laborers were locked out of the Whiting Refinery and have remained without work or pay ever since. This will be the first time BP and Local 7-1 have met since both parties sat down with Governor Mike Braun at the end of July to discuss possible solutions to the ongoing lockout and the first time they’ll be meeting for formal bargaining since June. It’s of the opinion of the union that BP has not budged at all on proposals that USW Local 7-1 deems unacceptable, mostly having to do with the loss of union jobs and collective bargaining rights. BP is also asking for a six-year agreement and a 150-day strike notice, instead of a more lenient contract term and the current 24-hour strike notice.

Ed Soliday, State Representative from Valparaiso, has begun calling for an investigation into NIPSCO’s level of response following the derecho on August 11th. Soliday follows Governor Mike Braun and the Indiana Office of the Utility Consumer Counselor in asking for the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to investigate the utility company. Findings and recommendations should be submitted publicly so that state legislature can consider a next course of action, as an independent third party will bring unbiased clarity to a situation that has ignited debate across all avenues of NWI life. IURC Chariman Anthony Singer has already responded to say that his organization will be conducted an independent investigation into NIPSCO, seeking clarity on how 380,000 customers went without power for multiple days (some, for weeks) - calling doubt on NIPSCO’s preparedness for such events.

Albert’s Diamond Jewelers has donated $25,000 to local disaster relief organizations. Checks were distributed in person to organizations across NWI, like Our Neighbor’s Pantry, Humane Indiana Wildlife, Munster Lions Club, Erin’s Farm, East Chicago Church, Meals on Wheels, Feed the Region, Operation BBQ Relief, and The Crossing at NWI. Albert’s has been a mainstay of NWI for many years and we thank them for giving back to the community in such a big way!

1st Source Bank has donated $100,000 to local organizations providing disaster relief to NWI, specifically to those in Porter and LaPorte County. These funds will go to The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, Porter County Community Foundation, The Salvation Army of Porter County, The Salvation Army of LaPorte County, United Way of LaPorte County, United Way of Northwest Indiana and Unity Foundation of LaPorte County. Thank you, 1st Source Bank for you contribution to the continued recovery of our communities!

Merrillville Town Council’s ongoing legal scuffle with Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita over a proposed ICE detention facility near the Southlake Mall is not going away, and the Town Council is hoping to bring the lawsuit to the federal courts. They filed a motion to move the lawsuit, filed initially by Rokita, to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. The Town Council argues that it’s resolution opposing the placement of an ICE detention facility within Merrillville violated no state or federal laws and its opinions are protected with their First Amendment rights. Rokita accused the Town Council of aiding and abetting undocumented immigrants, claiming his lawsuit has nothing to do with free speech but everything to do with “veiled threats from elected officials”. This also comes after two failed lawsuits from Rokita’s office earlier this year, in which the AG attempted to investigate immigrant-advocacy organizations for ties to illegal immigration but those suits were thrown out for lack of sufficient cause.

Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana has donated $25,000 to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in support of the upcoming “Out of the Darkness Northwest Indiana” walk, taking place on October 3rd at Wicker Park in Highland. This walk is just one of hundreds that happen nationwide, all in effort of raising money to support suicide research, advocacy and education programs. Thank you to the Hard Rock Casino and to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for their great work!

A $2.2 million training facility, courtesy of statewide water utility Indiana American Water, will be coming to Gary in the near future. This new training center comes in conjunction with a workforce development initiative the utility company is calling Flow Forward - a concerted effort to connect students with opportunities in the utility industry with hands-on training and industry engagement.

School City of Hammond has enacted a ban on certain metal water bottles on the grounds of them holding potential to be dangerous weapons. Metal drinking containers like products from Yeti, Stanley and Owala are popular, but will not be allowed in any School City of Hammond schools out of caution.

Concert photographer Bobby Talamine will be debuting his first photography book, “Femmes at Full Volume”, at the Lubeznik Center for the Arts in Michigan City on September 25th. The reveal will be paired with a conversation with Ric Federighi of WIMS Radio. Talamine is known for his concert photography across many venues in Chicagoland over the past 40 years. His book “Femmes at Full Volume” highlights female artists that have shaped or are continuing to shape the music world - artists like Lady Gaga, Patti Smith, Sade, Madonna and more.

Hard Rock Cafe & Council Oak Bar Schedule (Free performances at Hard Rock Casino)

Hard Rock Casino Upcoming Performances

Horseshoe Casino Upcoming Performances

Hobart Art Theater Upcoming Performances

Gabis Arboretum Acorn Concert Series

Hometown Jams Presents: Niko Moon @ Bulldog Park (September 19th)

Stop.Drop.Rewind @ The PAV (September 19th)

Hometown Jams Presents Mitchell Tenpenny @ Bulldog Park(September 27th)

DJ Pauly D @ Bulldog Park (October 2nd)

Crown Point Farmer’s Market

Cedar Lake Farmer’s Market

Miller Beach Farmers Market

The Sunday Vibe Market

Coffee Creek Farmers Market

Griffith Central Market

Farmed and Forged Market

The Edge of Liberty Craft Fair

Chesterton European Market

Valparaiso Farmers Market

Market on the Square

Hobart Summer Market on the Lake

Summer Market on Main

The Market on the Plaza

Demotte Market in The Park

Tuesday is Trivia day at White Rhino in Dyer. Find out more about this weekly event at the link here. Wednesday at White Rhino is Bingo night, starting at 6:30pm.

18th Street Brewery has its weekly Music Trivia and Karaoke night every Wednesday. Doors open at 4pm, with trivia starting at 6pm. Find out more here. On Thursday nights, they also host a weekly Line Dancing night with host Mizz Coco. Find out more here.

Shady Creek Winery hosts a weekly live music event each and every Sunday. Find a schedule of upcoming artists at the link here.

Anderson’s Winery in Valpo hosts weekly live music each and every weekend. Find a schedule of upcoming performances at the link right here.

Find out info about the classes and everything the Chesterton Art Center has going on here. The Center constantly has events for beginners, young artists, and apprentices alike, so anyone looking to build their skills and learn new ones should keep tabs on what the Chesterton Art Center has going on.

Off Square Brewing in Crown Point hosts a weekly Bingo Night on Thursdays, running from 7-9 pm each and every week. One lucky number can make you the big winner of the night! Find further info here. They also host a weekly Trivia Night on Wednesdays from 7pm.

Up Your Alley in Schererville has regular specials all week, perfect for families and groups of friends. Monday is a bowling special, Tuesday is Laser Tag, Wednesday is Dark Rides, and Thursday is the Arcade. Find more info and the specific deals available each week right here.

Every Monday, from 7-9 pm, Journeyman Distillery in Valpo hosts a Trivia Night. Three rounds of trivia keep the night alive, with teams of up to six people fight to win the grand prize every week. Find more info right here.

The Golden Leaf in Chesterton hosts a recurrent, one-of-a-kind experience that shows you the art of cigar making from start to finish. “The Cigar Maker Experience at The Golden Leaf” is a walk through cigar history that puts you into the tradition and culture of a long-standing trade. They host this event often, but dates tend to sell out ahead of time!

Lighthouse Restaurant in Cedar Lake has a weekly wine special running through dinner service. Happy hour specials and heavily discounted bottles every single Wednesday!

Every second Saturday each month, Beale Pottery in Westville hosts a “Make Cool Stuff Club”. This is a group that meets to, well, make cool stuff in the form of pottery! Find more info about the spot and their events right here.

On the last Tuesday of every month, Downtown Highland hosts a restaurant crawl. This community event always features a bunch of the local spots offering specials and deals, so its a great way to spend an evening hopping from meal to meal. Find more info right here.

Tiny’s Coffee Bar in Miller Beach has recurrent events every single week. Check out their page to find the full slate of events.

Marina Shores Yacht Club in Portage has Live Music Thursdays every 3rd Thursday of the Month! Find more info right here about lineups and performances.

Sip Coffee House in Highland has a Wednesday Game Night every single week from 6-9pm. In partnership with the Northwest Indiana Board Game Association.

Valparaiso Pathways Committee holds Free community rides once a month during the warmer months. Click here to look at their schedule of group rides across the city.

Conway Observatory in Lowell hosts open houses once a month for all ages to come in and take a look into the deep stretches of space. Totally free and with different focuses at each open house, you can learn about a host of cool space topics across the year. Find their schedule at the link right here.

Getting into photography or a seasoned vet looking to get out there and shoot more? Lake County Parks Photo Club has regular meetings every 2nd Wednesday at Turkey Creek Golf Course, with regular field trips out in the NWI expanse. Find more info and the full schedule at the link right here.

Gibson Woods Nature Preserve in Hammond holds a weekly Hike through nature every Wednesday. Find their full schedule right here. Pre-registration is required.

Miller Beach Arts and Creative District holds a free community yoga session every Sunday, beginning at 10am at the District building. Find info and other event listings here.

For all the fellow writers out there, Tiny’s Coffee Bar in Miller Beach holds a weekly writing group each and every Saturday, starting at 10:15am. Sometimes all it takes to spark inspiration is being around fellow creatives. Find more info about the group right here

The Dig the Dunes Beer Run & Wine Walk will be starting up on April 23rd, running once a month through the summer and early fall. A new spot in the Dunes area will be selected each month, with a 2-3 mile walk/run taking place before the group kicks back to enjoy a drink along the lakeshore. Find full information at the link right here and find the schedule right below.

Starting on April 25th, and running every Saturday through August, Indiana Dunes National Park’s 1966 Hiking Challenge begins! 19 hikes that cover 66 miles of the Dunes Park trails, celebrating the foundation of the park in 1966. Every Saturday at 8:00 am, hokes will take place in different areas of the park ranging from 1-7 miles. Complete them all and you earn a free 1966 Hiking Challenge sticker to show off to the world. For more details and specifics, click here.

Whiting Cruise Night runs every month on the 3rd Wednesday, starting on May 20th and running through the summer. Find more information about the event right here.