NICTD, operator of the South Shore Line, has provided an update regarding its Double Track Northwest Indiana Project (DT-NWI). An environmental analysis was conducted in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and concluded in November 2018 with the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) issuance of a Finding of No Significant Impact. The FTA’s Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Program has three phases – 1) Project Development; 2) Engineering; and 3) Construction. Each phase of the project involves extensive requirements that must be completed and approved by the FTA in order to advance to the next phase. The project has completed the Project

U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) announced a $1 million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services to support efforts by Porter-Starke Services and the Starke Taskforce for Overdose Prevention (STOP) to combat the opioid epidemic in Starke County. Porter-Starke Services and Starke County were among 80 recipients nationwide of funding through the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), a multi-year initiative supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to address barriers to access in rural communities related to substance use disorder, including opioid use disorder. The funding, totaling $1,000,000 over three years, will support a plan

The Indiana Department of Education announced income eligibility guidelines, including household size, for the free and reduced-price school meals and milk programs. The National School Lunch, School Breakfast, and Special Milk programs were created to support students unable to pay the full price for meals or milk. The guidelines are effective until June 30, 2020. Children from households that meet federal guidelines are eligible for free or reduced-price meals and milk. To apply for free or reduced-price benefits, households must complete the application form provided to all homes. One application should be submitted for all students enrolled in the school

The right two lanes of eastbound I-94 are closed for installation of a new bridge joint. The bridge is located over U.S. 20 just east of the Indiana Toll Road and the Lake/Porter county line. Two lanes of traffic are being maintained in the left lane and shoulder, but motorists should expect backups and delays. Work is anticipated to be complete by August 25th. 

Late last week, Attorney General Curtis Hill expressed continued resolve to hold Purdue Pharma accountable for its alleged role in contributing to the state’s opioid crisis after a court rejected the company’s motion to dismiss Indiana’s pending lawsuit.In its motion to dismiss, Purdue Pharma argued among other things that Indiana’s Deceptive Consumer Sales Act does not apply to the company because it is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. On Aug. 12, a Marion Superior Court judge rejected entirely the company’s arguments for dismissal.Attorney General Hill filed the state’s lawsuit against Purdue Pharma on Nov. 14, 2018, alleging

Indiana’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.4 percent for July and remains lower than the national rate of 3.7 percent. The last time Indiana's unemployment rate was at 3.4 percent was April 2018. The monthly unemployment rate is a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicator that reflects the number of unemployed people seeking employment within the prior four weeks as a percentage of the labor force. Indiana’s labor force had a net decrease of 6,608 over the previous month. This was a result of a decrease of 1,274 unemployed residents and a decrease of 5,334 employed residents. Indiana's total labor

Educators from all across La Porte County got a high quality opportunity to learn how to integrate technology and computer science into their classroom. The Unity Foundation coordinated this first ever event so teachers could be close to home and attend for free.The Summer Teacher Tech Conference was held at Purdue University Northwest Westville campus on July 30 & 31 and featured knowledgeable, interactive sessions. Local educators, Nextech, Edge Factor, and La Porte County Public Library provided concurrent training sessions with hands - on materials, while representatives from Sullair, Arconic, and Ivy Tech shared the types of jobs that coding skills are valuable for.  Sullair’s

Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will host a Flood Map Information Open House on Aug. 29 from 5 to 7pm for Lake Michigan shoreline communities of Porter County. The open house will provide residents with an opportunity to review a recently completed preliminary Flood Insurance Study (FIS) and its accompanying preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs).The FIS and the FIRMs provide base flood (also known as the 1-percent-annual-chance event) information, designate areas that are subject to significant flood hazards within the shoreline areas of the county and offer information that public officials may use when permitting development

The La Porte City Police Department will be conducting School Bus Safety patrols now through September 13th. Officers will be working approximately 80 hours of extra patrols under the Stop Arm Violation Enforcement (SAVE) grant from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. Patrols will target those drivers who pass School Buses while the Stop Arm is activated.Police are reminding the public that school has begun and to pay attention to buses and the young children riding them. The La Porte Police Department asks the public to be vigilant of their driving habits to ensure not only the safety of themselves but

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced recently that Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and private nonprofit organizations in Indiana as a result of excessive moisture, flooding and flash flooding that began on Sept. 1, 2018. The loans are available in the following counties: Benton, Gibson, Knox, Lake, Newton, Posey, Sullivan, Vermillion, Vigo and Warren in Indiana. Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at Disasterloan.sba.gov. Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service

The United Way AmeriCorps program of Northwest Indiana is looking for residents to support community initiatives in Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Starke, and Marshall Counties.The program is in need of 24 team members to support area nonprofit and school programs. AmeriCorps members serve as high school and college career advisors, K-12 tutors in area schools and volunteer recruiters. The 2019-2020 AmeriCorps program season begins in September. The experience is ideal for individuals who are in college, just graduated, looking to fill a gap year, retired or between jobs.Full-time, part-time and minimum-time positions are available. Program placements run now through May 2020

A Multiple Sclerosis Self-Help Group providing emotional and social support to patients, families, and caregivers affected by MS, meets at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the Month.  The next meeting will be held on September 10th in the La Porte Hospital Auditorium, 1007 Lincolnway, La Porte. Call 219-874-2681 for more information or to ask questions.

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) held the first of a series of community road shows to discuss Indiana’s new OB Navigator Program, which is aimed at reducing the state’s infant mortality rate. Indiana currently ranks 7th in the nation for infant mortality, which is defined as the death of a baby before his or her first birthday.Governor Eric Holcomb has tasked ISDH, in partnership with the Family and Social Services Administration and Department of Child Services, to reduce Indiana’s infant mortality rate to the lowest in the Midwest by 2024. As part of that effort, he signed House

Franciscan Physician Network Heart Center Michigan City has welcomed two cardiologists, Dr. Eyad Alhaj, MD, and Dr. Abdullah Quddus, MD, to its staff. Also, urologist Dr. Robert K. Korsch, DO, has joined the Franciscan Medical Pavilion staff in Michigan City.Dr. Alhaj is board certified in cardiology fellowship-trained in cardiac electrophysiology. Dr. Alhaj’s clinical interests include cardiology, electrophysiology, heart failure and cardiac imaging.Dr. Quddus is board certified in echocardiography and nuclear cardiology. Dr. Quddus’ clinical interests include clinical cardiology, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, left/right catheterization and interventions, peripheral vascular disease and interventions, transesophageal echocardiography, intravascular ultrasound, transcatheter aortic valve implantations, balloon aortic

Franciscan Physician Network Health Centers in Schererville and Valparaiso have welcomed new family physicians to their respective staffs.Welcoming new patients in Schererville, Dr. Kenneth Polezoes, MD, is board certified in family medicine. Dr. Polezoes’ clinical interests include pediatrics and well child care, preventative medicine and public health, sleep medicine and sports medicine.Franciscan Physician Network Schererville Health Center is in Cherry Creek Center at 7310 West Lincoln Hwy. (U.S. 30) in Schererville. To make an appointment, go online at FranciscanDocs.org or call (219) 322-4673.In Valparaiso Dr. Janet Bilder, DO, is board certified in family medicine and provides expert pediatric, adult and

The East Chicago elevator is expected to be out of service for approximately one week due the ordering of replacement parts for repairs. As repairs to the Gary Metro Center elevator are currently in progress, the recommended alternative Accessible location is Hammond Station. Updates will be sent as they become available.

The Duneland Chamber of Commerce is assisting Chesterton High School in attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the largest field trip on Tuesday, September 17 at Indiana Dunes National Park from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. They are seeking 52 “Stewards” to meet the requirements for the record.Stewards will be required to go through a background check and attend the entire field trip. Each Steward will be assigned 50 field trip participants and will be required to provide a written statement to Guinness after the field trip. Stewards cannot be employees of the Duneland School Corporation or have

Sign-ups for put and take pheasant hunts begin on Sept. 7 at 6 a.m.On that date, hunters can begin purchasing a reservation for put and take pheasant hunts at on.IN.gov/INhuntfish. They do not need to log in or create an online account to purchase a reservation, but must have an online account to look up completed reservations at a later date. Hunters must register online for put and take hunts, as these hunts are no longer available on a first-come, first-served basis at Fish & Wildlife Areas (FWAs).The cost is $30 per reservation. Reservations are non-refundable; however, they can be

A total of 20 wildland firefighters comprising employees from the Indiana DNR, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Parks Service, and Hoosier National Forest recently traveled to Alaska for a 14-day assignment to assist with wildland fire operations in the Upper Yukon Zone.

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) is reminding parents that immunizations are an essential part of getting ready to go back to school.School immunization requirements have changed for the 2019-20 school year. Two doses of the hepatitis A vaccine are now required for grades K-7 and 12. Two doses are recommended for all other grades. In addition to these requirements, ISDH also encourages parents to make sure that their child is current with all recommended vaccines, including:An annual influenza vaccine.The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.Two doses of the meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) vaccine for students entering grade 12. Some Indiana