CHICAGO

BP wastewater will be meeting topic

Researchers charged with exploring wastewater treatment technologies for BP will meet in a few weeks to begin their work.

Purdue Calumet's Water Institute and Illinois' Argonne National Laboratory officials will meet in the first week of September to set parameters and expectations of their work, according to Purdue's Wes Lukoshus.

The research groups chose the timeframe, although not an exact date, on the heels of the Lake Michigan Summit in Chicago Wednesday. In addition to its own ideas, the team is expected to sift through suggestions given at the summit, Lukoshus said.

The two groups are teaming up, by request of U.S. Representatives Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., and Judy Biggert, R-Ill., after public outcry over BP's new wastewater discharge permit, which allows increased dumping of ammonia and suspended solids into Lake Michigan.

MICHIGAN CITY

Van Air Corp. to host ground-breaking

Van Air Corp. will have a ground-breaking ceremony 9 a.m. today at County Road 300 North, Michigan City.

Van Air is constructing a new, larger manufacturing facility at this site.

For more information, call Kevin Kieft, business development manager, at (219) 873-1211.

CROWN POINT

Video informs motorists about emissions program

Envirotest Systems, a Crown Point environmental firm contracted by the state to oversee a vehicle emissions testing program, and Diversified Marketing Strategies Inc., a full-service advertising agency in Crown Point, have teamed up to produce a video that will inform motorists in Lake and Porter counties about the Clean Air Car Check program. For more information, visit www.cleanaircarcheckcom or call (219) 226-0300.

HAMMOND

Bank offers financial aid program

Melvyn Harding, director of Purdue University Calumet's Educational Talent Search Program, will discuss college preparation and financial aid during the next Chase Bank College Preparation Seminar at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Gary South Shore Railcats U.S. Steel Yard.

The seminar is part of a Back to School Rally for all students and parents. The rally is scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m. and includes a "Stop the Drop Campaign," aimed at encouraging students to stop dropping out of school. Admission is free. For more information contact Kimberly Trajkovski at (219) 989-2727 or 800/HI-PURDUE, ext. 2727.