SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) – South Bend is more than two-thirds of the way toward addressing 1,000 vacant and abandoned houses in 1,000 days with nearly a year left to go.

The northern Indiana city's Board of Public Works agreed last week to pay four separate contractors a combined $1.68 million for the demolition of 90 houses.

The South Bend Tribune reports a total of 717 vacant and abandoned houses have now been repaired, demolished or contracted for demolition since Mayor Pete Buttigieg (BOO'-tah-juhj) announced the program in February 2013.   ___