With the heavy construction season around the corner, NIPSCO will be continuing its work to upgrade the electric and gas infrastructure across northern Indiana with nearly $660 million in planned investments this year. This reinvestment is part of NIPSCO’s overall ongoing modernization plan to ensure long-term safety and reliability for customers. Vast portions of the nation’s infrastructure system – including NIPSCO’s – were built in the post-World War II era. After more than 60 years, those systems are nearing the limits of their original design, and NIPSCO’s plan proactively addresses these critical areas before they become problematic. Among the types

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) announced the 2017-2018 Four Star Schools. Created by IDOE, the Four Star Schools designation recognizes great schools in Indiana. The Four Star School Award has been in existence for over 30 years. To receive Four Star designation, a school must receive an “A” on the state’s A-F accountability system and have excellent ISTEP pass rates. A total of 234 schools received the award. For more information regarding the Four Star School Award, please visit: www.doe.in.gov/accountability/four-star-schools. To view acomplete list of recognized schools, please visit: www.doe.in.gov/sites/default/files/news/2017-2018-four-star-list.pdf. Local schools on the list: Saint Patrick School - Chesterton Saint

In order to accommodate an expected increase in ridership due to the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade and dyeing of the river, the South Shore Line will offer additional capacity and extra passenger trains on Saturday, March 16.  Westbound Train 502 and Train 606 will operate with additional capacity to accommodate passengers heading to Chicago in the morning.  In the afternoon, two eastbound passenger Extras will run after the parade and dyeing of the river: The first Extra will depart Millennium Station at 4:25 p.m. (Van Buren St. at 4:28 p.m.). The second Extra will depart Millennium Station at 6:15

For the second year in a row, the Indiana Tobacco Quitline is offering tobacco users free medication to help them quit tobacco use. The nicotine replacement therapy promotion is available now and ends when supplies run out. In the last year, nearly 7,500 Hoosiers received a free two-week supply of nicotine replacement therapy through the Quitline. To take advantage of the free offer, tobacco users must enroll in the Indiana Tobacco Quitline, which provides a trained coach who will work with them to make a personalized quit plan. Online counseling is also provided. Once enrolled, users will receive a two-week

The Michigan City Human Rights Commission will welcome Stacy Valdivia, a disability advocate who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in February of 2014 on Tuesday, March 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the Michigan City Area Schools Administration Building located at 408 South Carroll Avenue in Michigan City. Stacy will discuss her “invisible” disability, how she felt when she received her diagnosis, what therapies and medications she suggests and how she advocates at work to help educate the disability community about how clothing, fabrics and tags can impact kids with sensory processing issues. Stacy lives in Valparaiso and is a

La Porte Hospital has announced its April childbirth and family care classes. Super Siblings Class This class, for children ages 3 to 7 and their parents, helps brothers and sisters adjust to a new baby in the house. TheSuper Siblings class is a one-session class that helps prepare children for the new baby and teaches positive sibling skills. The class is one Saturday every other month from 2 – 4 p.m., in the La Porte Hospital Childbirth Education and Prenatal Classroom, 1007 Lincolnway, La Porte. The Next class is Apr. 6. The class is free, but pre-registration is required. Register

The LaPorte Police Department would like to make the community aware of an event that is scheduled to take place the morning of March 18th. The LaPorte Police Department along with the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan City Police Department, LaPorte City Fire Department, Michigan City Fire Department, LaPorte County EMS, LaPorte County EMA, LaPorte Community School Corporation and Michigan City School Corporation will be conducting a mock active shooter exercise at LaPorte High School. To help keep everyone safe and to prevent any confusion, I St., F St., and 6 th St. will be closed during the exercise from

Yesterday, 114 House members led by Reps. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.), Ron Kind (D-Wis.), Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), and Angie Craig (D-Minn.) sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer in support of keeping agricultural products as a key negotiating objective in any proposed trade agreement with the European Union (EU). The European Commission has specifically excluded agricultural products in draft negotiations and Commission officials continually state their unwillingness to include agriculture in the negotiation process.

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) presents its annual ShamROCK It Out Battle of the Bands, a spirited competition open not only to PNW students but to bands throughout Northwest Indiana, showcasing a diverse variety of artists and rhythmic styles at this musical showdown. ShamROCK It Out will take place starting a 6 p.m., Thursday, March 21, in Alumni Hall, Student Union & Library on the Hammond Campus. The event is free to participants and open to the community.

Hammond Academy of Science and Technology (HAST), an urban charter school in Hammond, Indiana, was recently awarded a $15,000 grant from NIPSCO to build a hands-on, smart-technology powered greenhouse for their students and Horticulture Club members. HAST serves an urban population from the surrounding area. This project will connect more urban communities to where their food comes from, and how it can be grown and prepared sustainably. Additionally, HAST students will use the smart technology in the greenhouse to learn about programming and electrical engineering. The Hammond Academy of Science and Technology was established in 2010 to provide the highest

Mayor Ron Meer is proud to announce the City of Michigan City’s recent inclusion in the State of Indiana’s Lead-based paint remediation program which is sponsored by Medicaid and administered through the Indiana State Department of Health. Home owners, Landlords, and Renters who live in a home, or own a home, built before 1978 can receive a free home inspection to determine if the residents are being exposed to lead-based paint hazards. Homes providing child care are also eligible for this service. If lead-based paint exists, this program will also pay for removal of the lead hazard. To be eligible

In order to accommodate an expected increase in ridership due to the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade and dyeing of the river, the South Shore Line will offer additional capacity and extra passenger trains on Saturday, March 16. Westbound Train 502 and Train 606 will operate with additional capacity to accommodate passengers heading to Chicago in the morning. In the afternoon, two eastbound passenger Extras will run after the parade and dyeing of the river: The first Extra will depart Millennium Station at 4:25 p.m. (Van Buren St. at 4:28 p.m.). The second Extra will depart Millennium Station at 6:15

The Barker Mansion archives house thousands of documents, photos, blueprints, articles of clothing, and other remnants of Gilded Age life in Michigan City. The job of the Barker Mansion's heritage interpreters is to connect these sources to the personal experience of each and every visitor who walks through the museum's 110-year-old doors. Each heritage interpreter takes an active role in researching and telling captivating, unique stories on the history of the Barker Family and Michigan City through the primary sources in the mansion archives. Join them every Wednesday evening this March to hear the exciting and intrepid adventures the staff

Three nurses at Franciscan Health Michigan City have been honored by The DAISY Foundation as extraordinary nurses. Palliative care nurse Pollyanna McNeil, behavioral health nurse Leeane Bolton and registered nurse Patty Marsicek received DAISY Awards, recognizing the work nurses do for patients and families every day. McNeil’s nomination recognized her generosity and kindness to help fulfill a hospice patient’s final wish for a quart of his favorite buttermilk. Bolton’s nomination by a patient with bipolar disorder praised her care, sense of humor and willingness to share her own life stories to help other patients. Marsicek’s nomination was from the wife

Youth hunters, i.e., those who will be younger than age 18 on the day of the hunt, may apply for reserved turkey hunts March 18-29. The youth wild turkey hunting season is April 20 and 21 on selected DNR properties. Youth hunters or an adult representing them must register in person or by phone during the normal office hours for the property they wish to hunt. Hunters are allowed to register for only one property.A limit will be placed on the number of youth hunters allowed to hunt a respective property each hunting day in an attempt to provide quality hunts

The City of Michigan City, Economic Development Corporation Michigan City, Michigan City Chamber of Commerce, Northwest Indiana Workforce Board, WorkOne, and the Blue Chip Casino are continuing their partnership to host the 4th Annual Michigan City Community Job Fair on Thursday, April 18, 2019 at Blue Chip Casino. Over the last four years, these organizations have come together to provide the community with a job fair that has employers, educators, training providers, skilled trades organizations, and community groups all under one roof. This annual event continues to provide jobseekers the opportunity to connect with a variety of employers that have

The identities of the two bodies located inside of a burned Honda Civic in rural Boone Grove on Saturday, March 2nd 2019, have been established. Based on DNA submitted by immediate family members of 18 year old Thomas Grill and 19 year old Molley Lanham and by DNA obtained from the deceased, authorities have confirmed the identities of the bodies to be a match for the missing teens. The immediate family for both of the deceased have been notified by Detectives. The cause of death for Thomas Grill is still pending further medical examination.

Michigan City Police officers took a 31-year-old man into custody shortly after an armed robbery occurred at the SAVE gas station located at 1811 Franklin. The suspect, Ian Ladwaune Rawls is believed to be involved in a current string of armed robberies in Michigan City and LaPorte County. As officers were dispatched to an Armed Robbery that had just occurred at the SAVE Station, a search of a possible vehicle and suspect was being conducted by assisting officers. Shortly after the search began, Officer Michael King and Officer Justin Frever, found a vehicle matching the description at the GOLO station

The Michigan City Parks & Recreation Department announces that beginning Mon, April 1, Washington Park 2019 parking stickers will be issued at the North Pointe Pavilion in Washington Park, 6 on the Lake, Michigan City, IN  46360. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 9 am-4 pm (excluding holidays), and on Saturdays from 9 am-12 noon beginning May 4th through July 27th.Stickers will be available at the Michigan City Senior Center FOR ONE DAY ONLY during their annual Trash & Treasure Sale to be held on Saturday, March 30th from 8am-12noon.  The Sale itself will continue until 1:00pm but

Yesterday, UnitedHealth announced they will pass prescription drug rebates onto consumers, which comes days after Senator Braun introduced his Drug Price Transparency Act.  Braun’s legislation aims to amplify a proposed rule by HHS, and shined a light on the negotiations between drug manufacturers, middleman negotiators and pharmacies to lower drug prices.