Free Republic

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Northern Indiana lawmakers are calling into question Gov. Eric Holcomb’s decision against imposing new tolls on the state’s interstate highways, while allowing the Indiana Toll Road’s private operator to significantly boost rates for large trucks using that highway. Democratic Sen. Karen Tallian of Portage tells the South Bend Tribune that the situation is unfair because only the communities in northern Indiana along the Toll Road will have the burden of higher tolls, while all parts of the state will benefit from the toll money. The Republican governor announced in September that the operator of the Toll...

LAPORTE — Law enforcement in LaPorte County is preparing for the possibility of an already-congested and dangerous U.S. 20 being overrun with more semi-trucks as drivers avoid the 35 percent cost increase of traveling the Indiana Toll Road. Much of that stretch of highway being down to one lane in each direction for resurfacing adds to the concerns. LaPorte County Sheriff John Boyd said he’s reached out to Indiana State Police to help patrol U.S. 20 if an increase in truck traffic becomes too much for his staff to handle alone. “We’re going to prepare for it,” Boyd said. “We’re...

(Update, Muskegon County, February 13, 2006, 12:08 p.m.) Police say they will likely not issue any tickets in this weekend's 86-vehicle pile-up. The massive pile-up on US-31 in Muskegon County shut down a two-mile stretch of the expressway for several hours. Police say it happened just after 1 p.m. Sunday when the highway was covered with black ice and conditions were white-out from lake effect snow. Drivers say the sun was shining as far south as Sherman Boulevard. But when northbound motorists approached Laketon Avenue, the white-out began. Vehicles at the front of the pile-up began slowing down, but the...