The first phase of a pavement improvement project on the Indiana Toll Road will begin next Monday, Sept. 9, and continue until Sept. 25, (dates are subject to change due to weather). Roadwork will take place between Mile Marker 10 and Mile Marker 15.6 westbound, including the closure of the westbound Gary West Exit 14A. Only one lane will be operational during construction. The full tentative schedule for the mainline milling and filling and Gary West exit 14A closure is as follows. Please note: The roadwork will occur Monday-Saturday during the daytime, which will require intermittent lane and shoulder closures.

Press release, Indiana Department of Education: INDIANAPOLIS – During the third annual Indiana Educational Excellence Awards Gala, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) awarded nearly $5 million to schools and educators across the state. This black-tie event is focused on celebrating and elevating the work of Indiana’s educators as they support student learning. "The Educational Excellence Awards Gala is a celebration of the extraordinary impact our educators have on students and communities across Indiana," said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. "We know that continuous improvement is part of our journey, yet tonight is about pausing to shine a

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration announces continued progress in building a comprehensive statewide crisis response system that encompasses all three pillars of the crisis continuum — Someone to Contact, Someone to Respond and A Safe Place for Help. During National Suicide Prevention and National Recovery Month, and to mark the nation’s first 988 Day on Sunday, Sept. 8, FSSA is calling on communities across Indiana to help spread awareness about 988 and make sure that all Hoosiers know that help is just a call, text or chat away. To learn more about what to expect when

On Friday, the La Porte Police Department Emergency Response Team (ERT) Members along with the United States Marshals Service executed an arrest warrant in the 200 Block of Belden Street. The adult male subject inside the residence was wanted by the United States District Court for violation of federal probation. Police say multiple attempts were made by police negotiators and ERT to have the subject exit the residence. After negotiation efforts were unsuccessful, ERT deployed tactical measures inside the residence. After several hours, the wanted subject exited the residence, and was transported to an area hospital for self-inflicted, non-life-threatening injuries

The La Porte County Sheriff's Office has made two arrests in connection to the recent thefts of bronze veteran markers from headstones across the county. Personnel from several divisions executed an operation dubbed, “Justice, Peace and Salute” Friday morning at a residence in the 400 block of Andrew Avenue in La Porte. Arrested were 53-year-old Terry L. Wood and 25-year-old Breanna C. Puentez Last month a series of bronze veteran marker thefts were reported to the agency. Detective Jake Koch, a veteran himself, was assigned as the lead investigator. On Aug. 28, the agency publicly announced the investigation and encouraged

On Monday, Sept. 9, milling will be done on Walker St from Vail Street to Grace Street. All road construction is weather permitting.  Updates will be provided as they become available.   This is in addition to paving that will take place at the following locations on Monday and Tuesday: -- Lindenwood Drive from Northbrook Drive to Duneland Beach Drive -- Northbrook Drive from Duneland Beach Drive to the East Dead End -- Elmwood Drive from Northbrook Drive to Duneland Beach Drive

Michigan City Area Schools' new superintendent, Dr. Wendel McCollum, will discuss MCAS with the Michigan City Commission on the Social Status of African American Males (MCCSSAAM) in Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 E. Michigan Blvd., at 11 a.m. next Wednesday, Sept. 11. The community is encouraged and invited to attend. McCollum earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in secondary education and an administrative certification from Indiana University Northwest; his superintendent’s license through the educational specialist program at Indiana Wesleyan University; and doctorate in education (EdD) in K-12 district leadership from Oakland City University. “I am a proud product of

With the start of a new school year, The Salvation Army of Michigan City kicked off its annual Weekend Backpack Feeding Program to help students in Michigan City. This program provides six meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) for students in need, ensuring they have food to eat over the weekend throughout the school year. On average, about 450 children in Michigan City Area Schools and Head Start receive food every week through the Weekend Backpack Feeding Program, serving students during the 35-week school year. Major Becky Simmons, corps officer/administrator at The Salvation Army of Michigan City, said this program is

Press release, Michigan City Police Department: The Michigan City Police Department is looking for members of the community who would like to experience the inner workings of what it is like to be a police officer. Beginning Thursday, October 10th, through November 21st, 2024, from 6pm-9pm, we will be sponsoring an opportunity for members of the community to become closely acquainted with the roles and responsibilities of the Police Department. The Michigan City Police Department Citizen's Police Academy (MCCPA) brings the police and the community together in a setting that offers a sample of police training to each participant. Academy

CROWN POINT, Indiana -- Franciscan Health Crown Point is hosting a doula certification workshop over two weekends in October, with a limited number of needs-based scholarship applications being accepted to cover the registration fees. Doulas are trained professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional and informational support to their clients before, during and shortly after childbirth. A doula may help communicate a woman's birth plan, create a comfortable environment during delivery or simply provide the general support a family may seek during this pivotal time. A doula does not perform clinical tasks. The Franciscan Health Crown Point Family Birth Center offers

An Indianapolis man who was wanted in Colorado was recently arrested and transported to the Porter County Jail on charges of child solicitation, vicarious sexual gratification and possession child pornography. On Aug. 30, Portage Police Detective N. Heuberger obtained an arrest warrant for Daniel Roberts, a thirty-one-year-old male. Detective Heuberger had been investigating accusations that Roberts had been engaged in sexually oriented communications with a twelve-year-old juvenile female in the city of Portage via the Snapchat app.  This relationship came to light after the child spoke with a school counselor and her phone had been provided to police for examination

A Statewide Silver Alert has been declared for a missing man from La Porte. The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the disappearance of Ronald Bowling, a 66-year-old white male, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 160 pounds, gray hair with blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a cowboy hat with polka dots, white shirt, and black shorts. Ronald is missing from La Porte and was last seen on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at 3:30 p.m.. He is believed to be in extreme danger and may require medical assistance. If you have any information on BOWLING, contact the LCSO

HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — The Sinai Forum at Purdue Northwest’s 71st season begins Sept. 15 with former U.S. Representative Liz Cheney. A limited number of single program tickets remain for Cheney’s program, “Defending Democracy: A Conversation with Liz Cheney.” Cheney served as the U.S. representative for Wyoming’s at-large congressional district from 2017 to 2023. She chaired the House Republican Conference from 2019 to 2021 and served as the Vice Chair of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. Mary Ann Ahern, political reporter with NBC 5 Chicago, will join Cheney on stage

Press release, Indiana State Police: Northwest Indiana- This past Friday, Troopers stationed at the Indiana State Police Lowell Post and Troopers assigned to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, conducted a 24-hour blitz focusing on traffic and criminal activity along I-80/94 and I-65. The focused patrol culminated in over 300 traffic stops which resulted in traffic citations, warnings, and arrests. Here are the results posted by the Indiana State Police. Traffic Stops:          327 Citations:                 237 Moving Violations:  147 Warnings:                231 Police Services:     47 Crashes:                  13 Defendants Incarcerated:  12 Criminal Charges:  36 Felony Charges:    5 Drug Arrests:          6 O.W.I. Defendants:  9 Driving

The City of Michigan City announced the following locations will be milled (surface removed) on Friday, Sept. 6: -- Lindenwood Drive from Northbrook Drive to Duneland Beach Drive -- Northbrook Drive from Duneland Beach Drive to the East Dead End -- Elmwood Drive from Northbrook Drive to Duneland Beach Drive Paving will begin at those same locations on Monday, Sept. 9, and continue on Tuesday, Sept. 10. All road construction is weather permitting. The city says updates will be provided as they become available.

News release, Indiana Department of Natural Resources: The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Forestry has awarded $2 million in grants to 16 communities to support tree planting and maintenance, workforce development, education, and tree inventory projects. The projects were selected by the DNR’s Community and Urban Forestry (CUF) program and are funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry program. Communities and organizations receiving the USDA funds, which are set aside for underserved or disadvantaged areas, include: City of Mount Vernon-$212,800 Unity Gardens-$200,00 City of Hammond/Delta Institute-$198,587 Save Maumee-$177,823 City of

CHESTERTON, Ind. - To show appreciation and to say thank you for their service to the community, the South Shore Line (SSL) is inviting all doctors, nurses, EMTs, paramedics, firefighters, other medical personnel, and law enforcement to ride the train free of charge Saturday, September 7, through Wednesday, September 11, 2024, on all Westbound and Eastbound weekday and weekend trains. To ride free, medical and law enforcement personnel must only present a valid work ID to SSL train personnel that shows they are employed at a hospital, doctor’s office, medical facility, fire department, police station, prison, or aforementioned related agency.

Residents looking to discard of large unwanted items will be able to do so in the coming weeks, according to La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody. Running Monday, Oct. 7 through Friday, Oct. 11, city residents will be able to place large and heavy trash on the curb for pick-up on their regular trash day. Different from the city’s previous Fall and Spring Clean Ups, Dermody reminds residents that WM’s Large/Heavy Trash Pick Ups will take place once annually and include some different guidelines that residents should be aware of. “Thanks to the expansion and accessibility of the Dumpster Program throughout

Valparaiso Police Department, IN, K9 Camo will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Camo’s vest will be embroidered with the sentiment “Gifted by Charley Coleman”. Delivery is expected within ten weeks. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. This potentially lifesaving body armor for four-legged K9 officers is U.S. made, custom fitted, and NIJ certified.

Press release, Office of Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales: LA PORTE COUNTY – Secretary of State Diego Morales is continuing to visit several counties hand delivering local Election Improvement Grants.  Today, Secretary Morales made stops in Elkhart County and La Porte County. More visits are planned. Since the start of the year, Secretary Morales has delivered grant checks to more than 85 Indiana counties for local election security, safety, and voter outreach projects. The counties are receiving grant dollars from the Federal Help America Vote Act to go towards local election improvement and security efforts. This new round of