GARY

Cops: Man threatens to kill girlfriend, her family

A Gary man was charged Wednesday with threatening to kill his girlfriend and her family over $40, court records state.

Levelle Clifton Bassingame, 22, was charged with two counts of criminal confinement, one count of domestic battery and one count of interference with the reporting of a crime for the March 17 incident, court records state.

NORTHWEST INDIANA

Road closings begin in Hammond and Hebron

Construction will restrict and close sections of major roads in Hammond and Hebron starting today, the Indiana Department of Transportation announced Thursday.

Beginning today through July, INDOT will shut down the northbound lanes of U.S. 41 at Michigan Street, and the southbound lanes will become one northbound and one southbound lane. A half of a block of Michigan Street to the east of U.S. 41 also will close, with a detour directing traffic around the closing.

Planned improvements to the intersection, expected to be done this summer, include new drainage pipes, pavement, curbs and modernized traffic signals.

Starting Wednesday In Hebron, INDOT will close Ind. 2 between Casey and Alyea streets and U.S. 231 north to Washington Street. About 250 feet of Bates Street east of Ind. 2 also will be shut down.

Posted detours will reroute Ind. 2 and U.S. 231 users to Interstate 65 and back to the roads under construction.

Hebron construction is scheduled for completion in May 2009.

JASPER COUNTY

Cops seek two men in several armed robberies

Two robbers have evaded police for weeks after armed robberies in Jasper County.

The pair robbed Fisher's Store on U.S. 231 about 3 p.m. Feb. 29, according to a news release from Chief Deputy Terry Risner of the Jasper County Sheriff's Department. One male suspect held up the clerk with a small handgun and stole all the money in the cash register while the other man sat in the car, according to the release.

The gunman is described as a white male, 5 feet 9 or 10 inches tall with a fair complexion and "blondish" hair, according to the release. He wore a "Carhartt-type" jacket with a hood and blue jeans, and he partially covered his face with a stocking cap, the release said. The white man who stayed in the blue or green Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera is described as having glasses and wearing a light blue shirt or jacket, officials said.

Police suspect the robbers in other hold-ups in North Judson and Westville.