U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has approved a proposal from Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor to establish the first international sea cargo container terminal on Lake Michigan.

This is slated to create the only all-water container route for ocean vessels to serve the greater Chicago metropolitan area via the Great Lakes.

The Burns Harbor terminal is located in northwest Indiana, inside the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area and within sight of the Chicago skyline. It is part of the 25th largest US port, which handles 25 million tonnes of cargo annually and generates $16.6 billion in annual economic impact.

The Chicago metropolitan area is the third largest in the US with a population of 9.6 million people and is home to the largest intermodal container market in North America. Currently, all containers moving through the Chicago market travel by rail or truck.

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Ports of Indiana received approval from CBP for a staffed container cargo examination facility at Burns Harbor port. They will be responsible for constructing the facility, expected to be completed in 2025.

The Ports of Indiana Commission recently approved a resolution establishing “The Indiana Container Initiative” formalising the organisation’s commitment to vigorously pursue the development of container shipping facilities at its ports and other locations in Indiana.

Among US Great Lakes ports, Cleveland and Duluth currently handle container vessels, while Monroe, Mich., is also pursuing CBP approval. Adding Burns Harbor to the list of Great Lakes container ports would allow shippers to utilise a network of container terminals which now includes the largest metropolitan area on the Lakes.

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In support of this effort, Ports of Indiana has already garnered Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) from potential partners as well as letters of support from other Great Lakes ports and more than 35 government officials, businesses and trade associations.

As facility planning commences, Ports of Indiana officials are seeking potential partners and customers to advance the project and will be engaging in a few select partnerships to formalise the initial development plans, quantify volumes and develop a scalable terminal that is appropriately sized to meet current and future demands.

“This is a critical step in a long process to establish a container terminal at Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor and a new supply chain for international container shipments,” said Ports of Indiana CEO Jody Peacock.

“Having an all-water container route into the Midwest could create transformational opportunities, but it will take time to develop. Our port has the capabilities to handle containers today, but we won’t be able to schedule regular container shipments until the Customs’ facilities are fully operational, potentially in 2026.”

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“This new venture comes with major challenges and major opportunities, but our Ports of Indiana team has made this a top priority because we believe it is critical to providing Indiana with a modern port system,” said Ryan McCoy, Port Director at Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor.

“Great Lakes shipping is limited by a shorter shipping season and the use of smaller vessels, but the potential upside for handling containers is tremendous. Allowing ocean carriers to start serving this market could diversify supply chains, avoid bottlenecks and reduce the overall carbon footprint for shipping to and from the Midwest.”

Last month, the Alabama Port Authority announced its application for a federal grant to launch a major emissions reduction effort at port facilities.

LAS VEGAS (WISH) — The Indiana Fever is getting ready to play inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse for first time since June 19.

The Fever (8-13) hosts the New York Liberty (17-3) on Saturday at 1 p.m. EDT.

Indiana is coming off a 19-point loss in Las Vegas Tuesday night against the Aces (11-6).

Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell scored a team-high 23 points in the loss. She was 9-of-20 from the field, which includes 5-of-10 from three-point range.

Her performance from behind-the-arc helped her become the 19th player in WNBA history to have 500 career made three-point field goals.

Mitchell has scored in double-digits in each of her last eight games. She leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.6 points per game.

Prior to the Tuesday’s game, Mitchell was announced as a WNBA All-Star, along with Fever teammates Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston.

“It’s a really, really big thing for our franchise, but I think, more importantly, kind of just shows where we are as players and where we aspire to be individually,” Mitchell said after Tuesday’s game. “I think any great player and great competitor has an “all-star” somewhere down their list.”

It’s the second season in Fever history that the team is sending three players to a WNBA All-Star Game. The only other time that’s happened was in 2007, when Tamika Catchings, Anna DeForge and Tammy Sutton-Brown went to the All-Star Game.

“To have three All-Stars for the Indiana Fever this year, I’m so proud for them,” Fever head coach Christie Sides said. “So proud for our organization. These guys deserve it. They’ve been working hard, keep getting better. Just shows the future and what that looks like for the Indiana Fever.”

The 2024 WNBA All-Star Game is set for July 20 in Phoenix, Ariz. The game will be played inside Footprint Center.

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Fever star rookie Caitlin Clark is officially a WNBA All-Star. Clark, 22, was named an All-Star on Tuesday night. She is one of the 12 players that will make up Team WNBA in Phoenix later this month.

She is averaging 16.1 points and 7.0 assists per game. After a slow start, the Fever are 8-13 and sit in ninth place in the standings. Clark’s growth has been an important part of Indiana’s turnaround, including their four-game winning streak in the middle of June.

Clark’s skill and popularity continue to draw big crowds. Over 20,000 fans attended the Fever’s game against the Las Vegas Aces Tuesday night, and every Indiana home game has drawn at least 15,000 fans this season according to Across The Timeline. Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton has been among those crowds more than once.

The number of people who show up to watch Clark alone puts pressure on her to play well, as does her own perfectionist personality. She wants to be the best, and some fans expected the Fever to be great this season.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James commented on Clark’s reality and how she can best manage it this season on the Mind The Game podcast. “My advice to Caitlin… Be a horse, Kentucky Derby. Put your blinders on. Go to work. Show up to work,” James began. “Punch your clock in. Prepare yourself. Work on your game, work on your craft. Keep your mouth shut and learn from the vets.”

James went on to celebrate that the WNBA is now using charter flights to get teams around and said that Clark will do a lot for the league. He is rooting for the Indiana rookie guard.

“I hope she (Caitlin) kills. I hope Aliyah Boston does amazing,” James said. Boston was the Fever’s first overall pick in 2023. “She’s a great talent. She seems like a great gal,” James added of Clark.

Clark, who is still just a rookie, is 17th in the WNBA in points per game. The All-Star guard ranks third in assists per night. She has been terrific and led the league in fan voting for the All-Star teams — Boston finished second.

James isn’t the only NBA star who has recently shared his opinions on Clark’s performance and stature. Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant commented on the Iowa product and her popularity in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.

“Caitlin’s just got to continue to show up every day. The WNBA is doing a great job of showcasing her. I see her games on ESPN every other day,” Durant said after noting that Clark will be on Team USA for the Olympics at some point in her career despite being left off of the 2024 squad.

“If she continues to keep getting better as a player, her production on the court gets better, then the league will grow,” Durant added.

Indiana started the season 1-8 and had a brutally challenging schedule. Since then, Clark, Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell have guided the team to a 7-5 mark. All three of those players will be All-Stars this season.

“I think it’s great when NBA players come [to games]. I think it’s great that they’re showing their support because I think Women’s Basketball is on the rise,” Boston said last week. “They want to see great basketball, and I think coming and watching us is a great example of that. It’s great.”

Clark, Boston, and the Fever next play on June 6 when they host the New York Liberty.