The City of Valparaiso has announced 20 Neighborhood Improvement Grants for 2022. The City of Valparaiso says that since the grant program was introduced in 2018, it has resulted in a positive impact of more than $1 million citywide. Neighborhoods are invited to submit projects that enhance their shared spaces and build community, such as tree plantings, gathering spaces like pavilions and shelters, enhancements to playgrounds and more. To learn who received grants this year and how to apply go to the City of Valparaiso’s website.

A Michigan City resident has been arrested for a robbery that occurred on March 3. Dispatch Center received a 911 call on March 3, at 9:54 a.m. of a robbery in progress at the Smoke and Vape Shop located at 3309 Franklin Street. Responding officers were informed by a Communication Specialist that an employee was struck on the head and possibly injured. Officers learned that an undetermined amount of money was taken by the suspect in the robbery. Officers and detectives from the Investigative Division collected numerous items of evidence during this investigation which aided with identifying the suspect as

South Shore Line passengers are advised that the Transportation Security Administration mask order is extended until April 18, 2022. The order mandates the use of masks or face coverings for all SSL passengers and employees, regardless of vaccination status. In addition to the TSA security directive, SSL employees continue to follow the Federal Railroad Administration’s “Emergency Order Requiring Face Mask Use in Railroad Operations,” effective until further notice. The directives require the use of masks in all SSL stations and trains throughout Indiana and Illinois. The SSL says employees will continue to strictly enforce the mandate, and passengers who do

Thursday, Governor Holcomb signed legislation into law HEA 1222 that would continue a grant program that has expanded access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment services across the state of Indiana. The program is known as the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (or CCBHC) program. CCBHCs are designed to provide a comprehensive range of mental health and substance use disorder services to vulnerable individuals; with an emphasis on the provision of 24-hour crisis care, utilization of evidence-based practices, care coordination and integration with physical health care. In Indiana, there are currently 18 CCBHC grantees throughout the state that

Franciscan Health’s Mobile Markets in partnership with the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana will be offered this month at both Hammond and Crown Point hospitals. The Mobile Markets are provided by the Franciscan Health Foundation as a key component of its Franciscan Food Insecurity Program.  Upcoming Mobile Markets locations and dates are: -Franciscan Health Crown Point, 1201 S. Main St., 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, in the hospital parking lot near the helicopter pad. -Franciscan Health Hammond, 5454 Hohman Ave., 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, in the parking lot across the street next to Centier Bank. -Franciscan Health Crown Point,

Horizon Bank Announces James Kent as Vice President, Retirement Services Officer Michigan City, IN — Kathleen Snyder, Horizon Bank’s Vice President, Investment Sales and Compliance Manager, is pleased to announce the addition of James Kent as Vice President, Retirement Services Officer. He is located at 515 Franklin, Michigan City. Kent will be leading the bank’s efforts for retirement services to clients and prospects throughout Horizon’s footprint. He specifically provides professional institutional Investment Advisory services, qualified plan consulting, employee/participant education & financial wellness, employer fiduciary risk mitigation, plan design & compliance. Kent has 32 years of experience with retirement services, relationship management and investment advising. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from

Bridge work in the Michigan City area will begin on I-94 between Exit 34 and Exit 40 (U.S. 421 and U.S. 20/35) on or after Monday, March 14.  The right lane and shoulder in both the eastbound and westbound directions will be closed between W 400 N and Bleck Road. Two 11-foot lanes with two-foot shoulders will remain open in both directions.  These lane closures are for phase one of a bridge replacement project just east of Johnson Road and will be in place through late June. 

An effort to combat infant mortality in LaPorte County that began last year will now expand thanks to a new Safety PIN (Protecting Indiana’s Newborns) grant from the Indiana Department of Health. Franciscan Health Community Health Improvement Manager Danielle Crowder said the new grant will complement the existing Prenatal Assistance Program, which launched in 2021 at Franciscan Health Michigan City’s Homer Street campus. The program benefited from a separate Safety PIN grant to a Northern Indiana collaborative led by Franciscan Health partner Beacon Health. The grant of $500,000 over two years, which was awarded to the Franciscan Health Foundation, will

A person who was trapped in a grain bin was rescued Wednesday afternoon in southern Porter County, according to Indiana DNR Law Enforcement.  District 10’s Sergeant Wendorf, Corporal Shurr, and Officer Brock grabbed shovels and joined rescuers from the seven fire departments in the grain bin rescue. Police say that the person who was trapped was safely removed from the grain bin after a “very technical rescue.”  The Kouts Fire Department, Morgan Township Fire Department, LaCrosse Fire Department, Crown Point Fire Department, Hobart Fire Department, Lowell Fire Department, and Merrillville Fire Department all helped in the effort.  

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) has earned national recognition for its efforts to support first-generation college students in attaining a degree. The Center for First-generation Student Success, an initiative of National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and The Suder Foundation, recently announced PNW will be included in its 2022-23 First-gen Forward cohort. The First-gen Forward designation recognizes institutions of higher education that have demonstrated a commitment to improving experiences and advancing outcomes of first-generation college students.  In the application process, PNW had to demonstrate that the university has current practices and a campus

A man who was wanted in 3 states was arrested following a vehicle pursuit early Tuesday, according to the La Porte County Sheriff's office.  Police say that shortly after 2 a.m., a deputy encountered a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of Speedway, located at 5905 North US 35.  A traffic stop near the fuel pump islands was attempted by the deputy, however, the vehicle exited the parking lot of the business and began to travel northbound on US 35.   The vehicle turned and began to travel east on US 20.  The deputy learned the vehicle, a 2002 Mercury, had

The Porter County Health Department announced on its Facebook earlier this week that it is no longer offering COVID testing. It is now offering “free test kits”. This is 2 boxes per person from both the Valparaiso and Portage clinics Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. More information can be found on the Porter County Health Department or on the above flyer.   

The DNR says that Indiana’s spring coho salmon fishery is so good that Michigan City is dubbed the “Coho Capital” of Lake Michigan. From ice-out until mid-May, hundreds of thousands of coho salmon from all over Lake Michigan congregate in Indiana to take advantage of warmer, shallow waters found at the southern end of the lake. Salmon are typically found in 15-50 feet of water during this time of year and are accessible to small boaters and shore anglers from any Indiana port. During the spring, anglers also catch chinook salmon and lake trout, along with the occasional brown trout

The following is information on the South Shore Line service for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday March 12. 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 12. Extra westbound capacity to Millennium Station: Westbound Train 502 and Train 504 will operate with additional capacity to accommodate passengers heading to Chicago in the morning. Extra eastbound departures from Millennium Station: In the afternoon, two eastbound passenger Extras will run following

Ogden Dunes Chief of Police Jeremy Ogden, provided an update Monday on the town being clocked by a train.  Chief Ogden says he was in contact with the officers working during the three times the town had been blocked by Norfolk Southern Railway on Friday and Saturday. I have had multiple conversations with Norfolk Southern about the issue. Ogden says that Monday he again spoke with management of Norfolk Southern. They again advised they will be sending out additional correspondence to their staff to avoid blocking Hillcrest. On Saturday, Ogden spoke with the engineer from US Steel, who advised that

The South Shore Line has announced that in order to accommodate a scheduled rail delivery in relation to the Double Track NWI project, the South Shore Line will bus midday passengers between Carroll Avenue and Gary/Chicago Airport (Clark Road) stations, now through Thursday, March 10. The Gary busing is in addition to ongoing busing between Carroll Avenue and Dune Park stations. The following trains will be bused between Carroll Avenue and Gary/Chicago Airport (Clark Road) now through March 10:  Weekday WB Trains 14, 116, 18, 118, 20 Weekday EB Trains 7, 107, 9, 109, 11, 111 Buses will arrive and

Franciscan Health hospitals and clinics, working with the Illinois Division of the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA), will send 100,000 pounds of medical supplies for the injured people of Ukraine.  The effort began a week ago at Franciscan Health Dyer, where obstetrician/gynecologist Roman Puliaev, MD, sought to gather surgical equipment that had been in a room with a steam pipe leak. While the material could no longer be used at the hospital, it could still be useful in a warzone like Ukraine. He connected with UMANA, which was organizing a charter flight to take supplies to Poland for

Ivy Tech Community College and Purdue University Northwest (PNW) have launched a dual admissions partnership to offer students a guaranteed path to a four-year bachelor’s degree. Students who enroll at Ivy Tech in the dual admissions program and complete their associate’s degree will have a seamless and guaranteed transition to a PNW bachelor’s degree by following one curriculum plan for earning both degrees. Through the program, which begins with the Spring 2022 semester, students can benefit from access to Purdue Northwest advisors, facilities, student activities and resources throughout their full four years of college. “We are excited to offer this