
Business news: High School pitch winners announced and Franciscan welcomes comfort dog
Dr. Eric Steinberg, a gastroenterologist, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting new patients in Crown Point, a release said.
Steinberg attended medical school at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, New York. He completed his residency at Emory University in Atlanta and completed his gastroenterology fellowship at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.
He is accepting new patients at Franciscan Physician Network Specialty Center, 12750 St. Francis Drive, Suite 410, in Crown Point. Call 219-769-8340.
The Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest has announced the five winners of the 2025 Northwest Indiana High School Pitch Competition – Hammond, a release said.
The five winners were selected from 16 student teams that presented their startup pitches at Purdue University Northwest's Hammond campus Feb. 26.
Each winner was awarded $200 to invest in their business idea. Winners include:
Flip-E, Munster High School, an automatic page turner that is paired with a facial recognition app; team members include Brandon Walker and Omar Aftab. Septo, Munster High School, Septo is the simple solution to noninvasive infection tracking and prevention; team members include Alexis Karahalios, Abby Mena and Jocelyn Aguirre.
Filet Twist, Hobart High School, Filet Twist is a filet knife attachment that connects to a fishing pole; presented by Cameron Hutson.
LeafAway, an automatic robot that acts like a vacuum for leaves; team members include Miranda Gutierrez and Mi'Shawn Dawson.
SafetyGlow, an attachable hazard light that is powered by LED that goes on the back of vehicles and trailers that are disabled on the sides of roadways; presented by Ashton Verbish.
Franciscan Health Family Birth Centers across Northwest Indiana were recognized recently by the Indiana Hospital Association, in partnership with State Health Commissioner Dr. Lindsay Weaver, for its commitment to infant and maternal health at the fifth annual INspire Hospital of Distinction recognition program, a release said.
INspire, funded by the Indiana Department of Health's Safety PIN grant, was developed to implement the delivery of best practice care for Hoosier moms and babies and recognize hospitals for excellence in addressing key drivers of infant and maternal health.
The Family Birth Centers at Franciscan Health Dyer, Franciscan Health Crown Point and Franciscan Health Michigan City earned an INspire Hospitals of Distinction recognition based on implementing best practices in key areas, including infant safe sleep, breastfeeding, perinatal substance use, social drivers of health, obstetric hemorrhage and maternal hypertension, the release said.
Indiana Hospital Association serves as the professional trade association for more than 170 acute care, critical access, behavioral health and other specialized hospitals in Indiana.
The Board of Directors of Shirley Heinze Land Trust recently elected two new board members to three-year terms, a release said.
Andrew Moats, of Valparaiso, is a health care building markets leader for Shive-Hattery with more than 35 years of experience, the release said. Zack Wellsand, of Chesterton, is the founder and Vice President of Wellsand Landscaping and Hardscapes.
Since 1981, Shirley Heinze Land Trust has preserved and restored natural lands and waters in northwestern Indiana, including some of the rarest landscapes in the state, the release said.
For more information, visit www.heinzetrust.org, call 219-242-8558, or access its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/heinzetrust.
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E-2 Hawkeye Replaces USAF E-3 Sentry, E-7 Cancelled In New Budget
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Again, the E-3 fleet [is] barely operational now, and I understand the intent to shift towards the space-based – you call it the 'air moving target indicators' – but my concern is that you've got a situation where you're not going to be able to use more duct tape to hold things together until you put this system in place. And, so, how we maintain that level of operational readiness and coverage, I'm not sure how you make it.' 'You know, the E-3 and the E-3 community have been really important to us for a long, long time, and I'll defer to the Comptroller, but I you know the Department has a bridging strategy through investing in some additional airborne platforms in order to gap fill while the space-based capabilities come online,' Kane replied in response to the senator's question. This is where the E-2D comes in. 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'The program stated that the Air Force definitized the MTA rapid prototyping effort contract in August 2024 to deliver two operationally capable E-7A prototype aircraft in fiscal year 2028,' GAO's new assessment further notes. 'The program added that the total acquisition cost increase of 33 percent resulted from updated methodologies to include additional scope related to non-recurring engineering, with the primary drivers being software and air vehicle subsystems.' Last year, the Air Force had been very open about the difficulties it was having finalizing a contract with Boeing for the RP jets. The two parties ended up agreeing on a deal valued at nearly $2.6 billion. A contracting notice the service put out earlier this year also pointed to significant expected differences between the RP aircraft and the full production examples, including the possibility of a new radar. 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However, the aircraft uses the Navy-preferred probe-and-drogue refueling method, not the boom and receptacle one favored by the USAF. The USAF's KC-46 tankers do have a hose and drogue system and some of the service's KC-135Rs have podded hose and drogue systems. Otherwise, they require a basket attachment to their boom, often called the 'Iron Maiden' or 'Wrecking Ball,' due to its rigid metal frame and potential to smack into and damage airframes. This system makes the KC-135R useless for refueling receptacle-equipped aircraft when it is fitted. The E-2D also refuels lower-and-slower than jet aircraft. All these issues are not 'show-stoppers,' but they are ones that will impact operational planning and flexibility. The E-2D, being already a highly upgraded and a much smaller airframe, also lacks the same capacity for future expansion compared to the E-7. 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A @USNavy E-2D refuels inflight from an @usairforce HC-130 over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) August 6, 2024 While the USAF's move away from the E-7 is certainly surprising, and it will result in shortfalls in some areas, it also unlocks new capabilities, some of which are arguably more applicable to tomorrow's wars. It also buys down additional risk, which is looming very large as it isn't clear at this time, at least publicly, how far along the Pentagon's persistent space-based aircraft sensing constellation development actually is. All of this still has to make it through congressional approval, which could be a challenge considering the special interests involved. But as it sits now, the flying service is pivoting big once again when it comes to its increasingly dire AEW&C needs. Contact the author: Tyler@


The Verge
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Apple Home is expanding its energy management features
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