South Bend

Indiana Michigan Power crews were forced into action on Memorial Day. Over 2,100 I&M customers in Michiana were without electricity on Monday. A number of businesses in the Erskine Village (old Scottsdale Mall area) had their power knocked out on South Bend's south side near the U.S. 20 Bypass and were forced to close their doors for the day. An I&M representative said the issue was a downed wire, which apparently caught on fire. Here were the estimated totals: St. Joseph County: 1,700 customers without power LaPorte County: 270 customers without power Berrien County: 150 customers without power Cass County: 300 customers without power Utility spokesman Jim Riggle told WSBT American Electric Power (I&M's parent company)

SOUTH BEND - The search for a new South Bend School Board member resumes Tuesday with interviews. The board of trustees will hold a special meeting at 4:30 p.m., interviewing those who applied to fill the vacancy when John Stancati died earlier this month. The meeting is open to the public, but you will not be allowed to ask questions or make comments. The candidates being interviewed will each make a presentation then be questioned by board members. A second set of interviews will happen next week with a new board member appointed on June 4 to serve through the end of next year.

The home of the former High Speed Auto Wash in South Bend is a sign of the past still standing today. Thursday morning, the future of the property was decided. St. Joseph Catholic Church in South Bend hopes to buy that lot which is across the street from the church. The lot has been vacant for years but now a real estate sign says "sale pending. " The director of marketing and communications for the parish says details are still being worked out and the parish is not able to comment on what it plans to do with the property if it does buy it.

Teen pregnancy rates are down, way down, about half what they were twenty years ago, according to a new government report. It's encouraging news for nurses and counselors who say more teens are showing up at their offices, asking about contraception, trying to figure out a way to not get pregnant. New CDC figures show Indiana's teen birth rate declined 19% from 2007 to 2011. Michigan went down 17% over the same period. The two states were actually among the smallest nationwide declines.

The new Pfeil Pfountain splash pad opened Wednesday, giving kids a chance to play in the water at Potawatomi Park. This new water playground is the result of a partnership among the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, the City of South Bend, the Dick Pfeil family, and other private donors. The park is an extension of the Community Foundation's ongoing work with Potawatomi Park, which begun in 2007, and has focused on universal design and accessibility. The work also includes Potawatomi's popular new playground, walking paths, exercise equipment, and the beautiful Chris Wilson Pavilion.

This video just posted on Facebook shows South Bend native Brett Banasiewicz riding at an outdoor park Wednesday night in Dallas, TX.   http://on.fb.me/14VQr6x The local BMX star suffered a serious injury last August, when he fell 8 feet during a practice session and landed on his head. Banasiewicz's mother, Lisa, tells WSBT that her son has been riding indoors a little since Christmas, but has only been riding outdoors for the last few weeks. Banasiewicz is thrilled to be able to ride again after the doctors said he would never walk, talk or ride.

The South Bend police department is working to keep your kids safe. The department held a free child ID kit session. Parents get a picture of their children and a paper with their fingerprints and vital information. “If something does happen, obviously they're going to be calling the police right away,” said Lt. Patrick Hechlinski. “We're going to be coming out. Whether it's a situation where they've walked away, we'll be searching the area for them. Or perhaps they were supposed to be going to a friend's house and they never arrived, in which case we're not sure what's going on. That might progress into an Amber Alert-type of situation.

SOUTH BEND - The gas leak at LaSalle between Michigan and Niles Ave in South Bend has been capped and LaSalle is now opened, according to dispatch. Emergency crews were called to downtown South Bend just after noon after the natural gas leak was reported. Police were forced to close LaSalle Ave. between Michigan St. and Niles Ave. There's no word what caused it.

SOUTH BEND - The number of detours is growing in South Bend as another busy road closed on Wednesday. Lincoln Way West between Diamond Avenue and North Walnut Street in South Bend is scheduled to be closed through Friday. Construction crews are putting in new storm sewers. The orange line on this map provided by the city is the detour. It takes you on Bendix, Olive, Western and Chapin.

Death is something few us like to think about, but we all know it's coming.  Just as we see advancements in every other aspect of life, the same is happening when it comes to the business of death.   From putting your loved one's ashes into space to putting cremated remains into a fireworks shell and setting it ablaze -  people are finding all kinds of new and different ways to honor people after they're gone. And from the skies to the seas, there is even an "eternal reef" in which ashes are mixed with concrete to make an artificial reef that is lowered to the ocean floor off the coast of Florida.  Loved ones can then dive to the site and see the remains.