Press Release, Indiana Department of Education: The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) presented to the State Board of Education a new system of measuring and supporting kindergarten readiness. These new tools will help provide educators with actionable data in order to differentiate instruction and provide targeted support in the early childhood setting, as well as inform families about their child’s strengths and abilities. Through a request for proposal process, Johns Hopkins University was identified as the vendor for a system of early learning tools and assessment, which will include: ISPROUT For children ages two and under: Educator observations aligned to

Governor Eric Holcomb announced plans to award $500 million to 15 regions representing all 92 counties to support quality of place and quality of life initiatives statewide. The funding, made available through the expansion of the Indiana Regional Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI), was approved Thursday by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) board of directors at a special session hosted by the governor and Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg. “READI 2.0 will grow the state’s overall program commitment to $1 billion, marking an unprecedented state-led investment in cultivating vibrant, modern and sustainable communities that attract and retain top talent,”

As Indiana’s planting season approaches, the Indiana State Police is emphasizing the importance of cautious driving and having heightened awareness when encountering farm equipment on the roads. With farmers preparing to work their fields, large agricultural machinery will soon become a common sight along roadways. These machines are often large, slow-moving, and may obstruct visibility. Police say it is imperative for all road users to remain vigilant and patient. To ensure the safety of everyone on the road, the Indiana State Police offer the following tips: Stay Alert: Keep a lookout for slow-moving farm equipment, especially on rural roads. Be

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office shared the following statement to its Facebook page on Wednesday regarding Commercial Motor Vehicles disregarding state detour signage: “As expected, the US 6 / US 421 South Junction closure for the roundabout project has created additional traffic on nearby county roadways in Clinton and New Durham Townships. "Motorists of passenger vehicles are understandably utilizing nearby roadways to navigate around the temporary inconvenience of the state closure. These drivers are reminded to abide by the posted speed limits as many of the roadways have young children residing in homes throughout the area. “Much more problematic

An Indiana Department of Transportation contractor will have lane closures on U.S. 41 between 77th Avenue and 82nd Lane beginning on or after Monday, April 15. U.S. 41 will be reduced to one lane in each direction through mid-June for a pipe replacement project. Lane closures will alternate so motorists should be prepared for changing traffic patterns. INDOT encourages drivers to allow extra time when driving through this area and follow traffic directions carefully. Motorists should slow down, exercise caution and drive distraction-free through all work zones.

Attorney General Todd Rokita Wednesday announced a lawsuit against 22 companies that, contrary to law, continued manufacturing substances known as “forever chemicals”, also known as PFAS. “We’re taking action today to hold these companies accountable for their clear violation of laws designed to protect human health,” Attorney General Todd Rokita said. “For decades, they sought to hide research showing that their products were extremely dangerous to people everywhere, including Hoosiers. And they did it so they could make million-dollar profits at the cost of our health and well-being.” According to a press release from Rokita’s office, the companies manufactured a

A Michigan City man has been charged in the fatal shooting that took place on April 8 in Michigan City. On April 8, at 12:53 p.m. the LaPorte County E-911 Regional Dispatch Center received multiple 911 calls of a person shot in the parking lot of Advance Auto Parts in the 100 block of East U.S. Highway 20. Officers responded to the scene and located 27-year-old La Porte resident Dylan Andersen suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Officers provided life saving measures to Andersen before he was transported to Franciscan Health Michigan City Hospital for emergency medical treatment. Andersen eventually died

Chesterton, IN - 8th Grade Reality Check is set for May 10, 2024, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at Chesterton Middle School, located at 651 W Morgan Ave. For more than 20 years, this event has been preparing 8th grade students from the Duneland area on how to be successful in life after graduation. Students are given a predetermined salary that they would earn in their chosen profession at age 28.  During 8th Grade Reality Check, they visit tables where they pay such expenses as taxes, housing, childcare, etc. Some do end up in bankruptcy, while others may have

The South Shore Line’s Buy One Get One Free monthly ticket promotion is extended through June 2024 due to ongoing busing and construction related to the Double Track NWI Project. All monthly tickets purchased for the month of May 2024 will remain valid for June 2024. Passengers purchasing a paper May monthly ticket should plan to keep that ticket and use it through June, and passengers purchasing a digital May monthly ticket via the mobile app will see a June ticket uploaded to their accounts prior to June 1. For passengers who receive tickets through an employer benefit program such

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - An INDOT contractor will have lane closures on U.S. 30 between the Illinois State Line and U.S. 41 beginning on or after Monday, April 15. This is a concrete restoration project, with full depth patching and joint repairs. There will also be a preventative maintenance bridge deck overlay done on the Plum Creek bridge between Hart St and Moeller St. Work will be ongoing through mid-May, with alternating lane closures and changing traffic patterns. During phase one, the left passing lane and left turn lanes will be closed in both directions. INDOT encourages drivers to allow

News Release, Purdue Northwest: Prospective college students and their families are invited to join Purdue University Northwest’s (PNW) Preview PNW campus information session on April 27 to learn more about attending the region’s premier metropolitan university. Located just 30 miles from Chicago, PNW is where academic excellence meets real-world experience. Preview PNW allows prospective students to explore campus and discover how a PNW experience will help build hands-on skills, create connections with professors who care and Power Onward to their career goals. PNW offers more than 70 areas of study, nearly 60 student organizations and 21 athletic teams on two

The City of La Porte Water Department's spring water system flushing is set to begin this weekend, according to La Porte Water Superintendent Tim Werner. Beginning Sunday, Apr. 14 and continuing for four to five weeks, crews will be out to flush fire hydrants throughout the community Sunday through Thursday between the hours of 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. Werner reminds residents that this process is a critical part of maintaining the city’s water quality and infrastructure. “While we know this process can present an inconvenience to our citizens, it is a very necessary and important part of maintaining our

The City of La Porte is receiving Indiana’s 119th Safe Haven Baby Box. La Porte Fire Station #2 is inviting the community to attend the blessing of their Safe Haven Baby Box on April 11. The event will occur at 115 E. Shore Court, in La Porte at noon. La Porte Fire Chief, Andy Snyder stated, “Installing a Safe Haven Baby Box has been a goal of our department for quite some time now, and we are so glad to finally have this incredible resource in our community. We are very grateful to the family of Congresswoman Jackie Walorski for

News Release, La Porte County Sheriff's Office: The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is launching a national high-visibility enforcement effort this month to deter distracted driving. "Distractions behind the wheel can have devastating consequences,” said Devon McDonald, Indiana Criminal Justice Institute Executive Director. “We urge all motorists to focus on the road and avoid any activity that takes their attention away from driving safely." Law enforcement officers nationwide will work together to enforce texting and distracted-driving laws and remind people to put away distractions while on the road. This effort comes during National Distracted Driving

Press Release, Health Foundation of La Porte: La Porte, Indiana — Years of committed work have culminated in a milestone achievement: La Porte is the first city in Indiana to achieve HEARTSafe Community designation. Earning this designation makes La Porte an official part of the HEARTSafe Community initiative, a national preparedness program dedicated to improving outcomes of sudden cardiac arrest led by the Citizen CPR Foundation. La Porte joins other cities and communities — most recently Johnson County, Iowa; Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; and La Crosse, Wisc. — in achieving HEARTSafe Community status. The La Porte HEARTSafe Community team decided

An INDOT contractor  will have overnight lane closures on I-94 between State Road 912/Cline Avenue and State Road 53/Broadway starting on or after Monday, April 15. Overnight lane closures will be in place from approximately 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly through the end of April. Crews will be installing ITS equipment at several locations on eastbound and westbound I-94. This work is weather dependent so the schedule is subject to change. INDOT says to be alert for overnight lane closures through this area.

The Indiana Sheriffs’ Association (ISA) announced information for their 44th Annual Youth Leadership Camps this year. The first session, serving the northern part of the state, will be held June 17 - 20, at Pine Creek Camp in Pine Village, Indiana (Warren County). The second session, serving the southern part of the state, will be held July 1 - 3, at Waycross Episcopal Camp in Morgantown, Indiana (Brown County). The ISA Youth Leadership Camps are a program for boys and girls who are currently in the 7th or 8th grade of school and are interested in learning more about a

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - An INDOT contractor will begin bridge deck overlay preventative maintenance projects on I-94 near U.S. 41/Indianapolis Boulevard and Kennedy Avenue on or after Monday, April 15. Work will begin at the I-94 bridges over U.S. 41/Indianapolis Boulevard and over Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad just west of Kennedy Avenue. There will also be future work at the eastbound I-94 to northbound State Road 912/Cline Avenue ramp bridge. This work will be conducted in phases and will be ongoing through late August. During phase one, the right lane of I-94 eastbound will be closed between U.S. 41/Calumet Avenue

The Singing Singing Sands Sand Sculpting Festival made the top 10 on ‘2024’s Must See Events in Indiana’s Cool North'. Singing Sands came in at #10 on the list. The three day event, taking place June 7-9, is a professional sand sculpting competition and exhibition, drawing some of the world’s most talented and well-known sand sculptors who will create incredible works of art in the City’s famous “Singing Sands.” Join TEAM WIMS at the event all weekend long for the fun. See more under the ‘Events’ tab at wimsradio.com.

On April 8th, 2024 at 12:53 P.M. is when the LaPorte County E-911 Regional Dispatch Center received multiple 911 calls of a person shot in the parking lot of Advance Auto Parts (151 East US Highway 20). Multiple officers from the Uniform Patrol Division responded to the scene and located 27-year-old LaPorte, Indiana resident Dylan Andersen suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Officers provided life saving measures to Andersen before he was transported to Franciscan Health Michigan City Hospital for emergency medical treatment. Andersen eventually succumbed to his injuries after arriving at the hospital. Responding officers quickly identified and located the