South Bend

The United States Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the City of South Bend on Friday alleging that the department's hiring practices for entry-level police officers violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

The lawsuit claims specifically that SBPD uses a written exam that discriminates against Black applicants and a physical fitness test that discriminates against female applicants.

Over the first 12 weeks the Indiana Dinosaur Museum has attracted more than 26,000 visitors to St. Joseph County.

It is on track to become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the region, and the early success has the City of South Bend forgiving the $2.7 million dollar loan to help build the facility.

The city of South Bend is aiming to plant 100,000 trees by 2050, roughly one tree per resident, in an effort to combat urban heat island effects and improve environmental sustainability.

During a Coffee and Donuts with the Forest Service event, the city introduced plans to plant approximately 5,000 trees per year. The initiative has received a significant boost with a $1.87 million grant from the U.S. Forest Service.

The grant is part of a larger $30 million allocation for urban forestry projects in the state of Indiana, which was made possible by an increased program budget of $1.5 billion for the Forest Service.

A step forward toward a multi-million-dollar development on Douglas Road. The St. Joseph County Planning Commission approved the project at a special meeting Monday. The proposed project would bring hundreds of home and commercial spaces to the area.

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The site is on the corner of State Road 933 and Douglas Road right off the Indiana Toll Road, and on the Northeast side of Notre Dame's campus. Buckingham Properties Group, an Indianapolis-based property group, is responsible for the project. They are the same property group that developed the Foundry Apartments.

It’s years behind schedule and some $3 million over budget, but the reconstruction of South Bend’s Seitz Park is nearing the end.

Seitz Park closed in August of 2019 as Notre Dame spent a little over a year to build a hydroelectric power plant underneath the park.

The city’s efforts to rebuild the park itself are a work in progress. The South Bend Board of Public Works will be asked to approve a 10th contract change order next week. The revised contract amount is now $10.2 million, some 43% higher than the original bid award.

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners with local fire departments announced a burn ban for all of St. Joseph County as of Friday at 8:51 a.m. after recommendations from the St. Joseph County Emergency Management Agency.

Beginning in November, passengers will be able to fly directly from South Bend to Washington D.C.

Today, the national Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund awarded the City of South Bend a $150,000 grant to support the launch of its Financial Empowerment Center. The South Bend Financial Empowerment Center (SBFEC) will offer no-cost, one-on-one financial counseling for South Bend residents and is the first of its kind in Indiana. At the SBFEC, professionally trained FEC counselors will help individuals and families with low and moderate incomes manage their finances, pay down debt, increase savings, establish, and build credit, and access safe and affordable mainstream banking products.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Downtown South Bend announced the theme for September's First Fridays event will be "Dog Days of Summer" on Friday, Sept. 6 from 5 to 9 p.m.

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There will be booths with animal rescue groups and organizations who provide goods and services for animals, and the opportunity to dine with your dog at one of the 22 downtown pet-friendly patios.

The famous ice cream shop, Oink's Dutch Treat, wouldn't be what it is today without its namesake.

Roger Vink purchased the shop in 1986. He was a teacher in New Buffalo for 25 years when he decided to invest in this ice cream shop.

He named it Oink's Dutch Treat and added windmills and pigs as the décor of choice.

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People from all over send the ice cream shop pig themed items to add to its walls. Schimanski often receives purchase offers for some items, but he keeps the pigs right where they are.

Except for the pig-packed store in the back of the shop. Those pigs, and there are many of them, are for sale.

A BIG high-pressure dome of heat has arrived in the Midwest. Our hottest index of the summer will arrive Tuesday afternoon. If you are out in the direct sunlight it will feel like 105 to 115F. Make sure the pets are off the pavement by late morning into the early evening hours. This is also a reminder to NEVER leave the pets and children alone in a vehicle.

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Our greatest chance for showers and storms will arrive late Thursday into Friday as a cold front finally moves through. Expect dewpoints to fall late Friday and into Labor Day Weekend. Behind this front, highs will average out to around 80F for the holiday weekend with no chance of rain.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — A new fine dining restaurant, Cascade, opened its doors this month on the Saint Joseph River.

While the entire renovation of Seitz Park has not finished construction, Cascade’s opening is one of the first steps in South Bend’s riverfront revitalization.

The Vice President of Navarre Hospitality Group, Matt Soutra, says he believes the riverfront in South Bend can be a space for everyone to gather once construction wraps up.

“We see this is kind of the first phase in a larger development or part of the first phase in a larger development, and you know again we think that the water should be greatly utilized. It’s a beautiful river. It’s something that unique to this area,” said Soutra.

Here are just a few of the events and activities going on in the Michiana area this weekend.

Mishawaka Parks and Recreation announced they've partnered with Big Bear Cook Offs/Northern Indiana Backyard Barbecue Series to host its first BBQ cook off, "Bags and BBQ," on Saturday at Ironworks Plaza from 1 to 4 p.m.

The 12th Annual Michiana Renaissance Festival will take place Aug. 24-25 at the St. Joseph County 4H Fairgrounds in South Bend.

The Cass County Historical Society is hosting its 'Back to School and Back in Time' event on Saturday in Cass County from 1 to 3:30 p.m.

Taken via drone by Zephan Enciso.

September 8 is National Hug Your Hound Day!

Come hike our trails with your canine companion! Take a picture of you and your pooch on the trail and tag us on Facebook! A treat and poopbag will be provided at the gate. Dogs must remain on a 6-foot leash. This program in sponsored in part by Pet Supplies Plus South Bend.

In a decision dated July 26, the Indiana Department of Education determined that Clay shall be made available for lease or purchase by a charter school system for $1.

The SBCSC claimed to be exempt from the dollar law because it had formed a partnership and agreed to share funds from its 2020 referendum with a different charter school — Purdue Polytechnic. While there was a time when such a move would have made a difference, that time has passed. The law changed to read that no resolutions, referendums, or distributed revenue prior to May 10, 2023, are effective to provide exemption.

The state concludes the SBCSC shall make Clay available for lease or purchase.

The SBCSC plans to appeal the determination to the State Board of Education.

Amazon’s planned $11 billion data center west of South Bend would create at least 400 jobs that pay an average $30 an hour. In return for property tax breaks, Amazon also pledges money for a host of community needs.

Over the roughly 900-acre site, the company plans to build up to 22 buildings, called shells, each estimated at 216,000 square feet. To generate money for fire service, “student success,” and parks and green space, Amazon would pay the county one-time fees, equal to 10 cents per square foot, each time they finish a building.

More marijuana dispensaries could be coming to Michigan, specifically Niles Township.

In November residents can vote on whether to opt for state funding which will allow marijuana establishments within township borders.

If voters approve the ballot question, the current ban on marijuana businesses in the township will be repealed, allowing multiple establishments along Eleventh Street south of Fulkerson Road.

A "summer spike" of cases of COVID is now hitting our area. At Goshen Health, a small spike can be reported, but it is also believed some people are not getting tested.

The reason for this specific uptick in cases is not yet known, but Dr.Nafziger say COVID-19 could be easily transmitted as the summer heat has brought us inside and using the air conditioning during the summer months.

Mishawaka High School celebrated a major milestone on Wednesday— 100 years of school!

Students, staff and alumni gathered at the clock tower on campus for a ribbon cutting ceremony that honored 100 years of tradition and legacy that school officials say will be carried on in the future.

Dave Matthews says he will open grocery store in first floor of apartment, seven years after taking money from city's redevelopment commission.

An investigation is underway after a large group of people tried to outsmart a local restaurant’s tipping policy on Monday night. Which resulted in two employees getting pepper sprayed.

It’s normal for restaurants to add a gratuity to the check for larger parties.

A group of 10 tried to outsmart the system at the Wild Crab by sitting in groups of 5 pretending to not know one another.

It’s all over the restaurant from the door to the register to menu reading, automatic 18% gratuity added to parties of six or more.

Clay High School is set for permanent closure this spring but those hoping to save it, or at least some version of it, have new hope.

A South Bend charter school operator wants to buy the former Clay High School once the South Bend Community Schools close it for good at the end of this school year.

Garatoni said they’ve told the corporation of their interest in the property but have heard no response. He said he expects the corporation to draw out the process but they can’t refuse to sell to a charter school under state law.

Commissioners voted to reappoint Alan Feldbaum to a third term despite saying last week they would entertain other candidates in an apparently political move.