NIPSCO announced on Monday that its first two Indiana-based solar projects – Indiana Crossroads Solar and Dunns Bridge Solar I – have broken ground and are currently under construction.  Dunns Bridge Solar I is a 265 megawatt (MW) facility located in Jasper County, Ind. A subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, is constructing the project. Dunns Bridge Solar I will include an estimated 900,000 solar panels, is expected to be operational in 2022 and will be capable of producing enough energy to power 79,500 homes.  The second phase of the project, Dunns Bridge Solar II, which will also be constructed

The Food Bank of Northern Indiana will have several upcoming mobile food distributions in LaPorte and Starke counties.  There will be a distribution Friday, Nov. 12, from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. CT at HealthLinc, 104 E. Culver Rd., Suite 101, in Knox. This distribution will serve 250 households. There will be a distribution Tuesday, Nov. 16, from 10 a.m. – Noon CT at Marquette Mall (outside of J.C. Penney), 201 W. U.S. 20, in Michigan City. This distribution is provided by United Way of LaPorte County and will serve 300 households. Additionally, there will be a distribution Thursday, Nov.

Unity Foundation of La Porte County is pleased to announce the recipients for the 2021-2022 cycle of grants for Michigan City educators. These grants aim to support teachers as they find innovative ways to make learning possible for students – particularly during the pandemic. Since the mid-1990s, three grant programs, established by caring donors who believed in teachers as the critical factor for learning, have awarded grants to over 1,000 teachers for projects of their own design. This year’s group of recipients is receiving more than $10,000. Funding assistance for this year’s grants was also provided by the Christian J.

The South Shore Line has announced to show their gratitude, all active-duty military personnel and veterans are invited to ride the South Shore Line for free Nov. 8-10, and on Veterans Day (Nov. 11). As train personnel walk through the train, please let them know that you are active military personnel or a veteran, and they will provide you a ride at no charge. No identification will be required. On Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11, trains will follow the regular weekday train schedule. Up to three children 13 years of age and under may ride free with each military personnel/veteran

Friday afternoon, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office says it was blessed to receive a large gift basket that was delivered on behalf of the students from St. John’s Lutheran School.  The students recently began tithing with a goal to raise enough money to purchase treats and goodies for deputies. The LSCO said the thoughtfulness of the students will raise the spirit of the deputies and provide a boost of energy heading into the Halloween weekend.  

Join Lubeznik Center for the Arts in Michigan City, Friday, Nov. 5, at 5 p.m. for an opening reception for “Compelling Dunes Landscape Paintings” from 5 - 8 p.m.  See the works of Eugene Moldenhauer in the NIPSCO Art Education Studio at Lubeznik Center for the Arts.  The exhibition is organized by Gene’s daughter, Nancy Moldenhauer, and LCA’s Exhibition Director, Lora Fosberg. Funds generated through the sales of Gene’s paintings are being generously donated by Ms. Moldenhauer to be split by Lubeznik Center for the Arts and Save the Dunes. LCA is located at 101 W. 2nd Street, Michigan City.

The Indiana Toll Road will be conducting work on their bridge over U.S. 35, which will result in a full road closure of U.S. 35, beginning on or after Sunday, Oct. 31. This bridge was previously struck, and a temporary traffic light was installed on U.S. 35 to direct traffic. U.S. 35 will be closed for around three and a half weeks while the beam that was hit is replaced. The official detour will follow U.S. 20 and State Road 39.

Today is National First Responders Day where we honor the men and women who act quickly when an emergency is at hand. We recognize the INDOT Hoosier Helpers sponsored by GEICO who are often first on scene and ready to lend a helping hand at traffic incidents. Remember to slow down and move over for them.

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office announced all three non-compliant offenders were arrested in Operation Candy Corn.  On Oct. 14, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) led a multi-agency county-wide compliance check of all Sexually Violent Predators (SVP) and Offenders Against Children (OAC). The sex offender compliancy check, dubbed Operation Candy Corn, targeted 123 SVP and OAC offenders in preparation for upcoming trick-or-treat activities that will be taking place in communities throughout La Porte County. Three offenders, 47-year-old Rodney A. Wood, 38 year-old Charles D. Mercado and 27 year-old Zhavaun P. Savado, were all found to be non-compliant. Detective

The La Porte Civic Auditorium will host the 34th annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Thursday, November 11. The event features the La Porte Honor Guard, dignitaries, a special speaker and La Porte High School music students. All are welcome to attend the event. Donuts and coffee will be served from 9-10:15 a.m. with the ceremony beginning at 10:30. Lunch will be provided for all veterans and a guest at the VFW Post 1130 in La Porte, following the ceremony. The ceremony is sponsored by the Mayor’s Veterans Committee.

There will be a COVID testing and vaccination clinic at the La Porte Al’s Supermarket parking lot, located at 702 E. Lincolnway, now through Oct. 30, daily, noon - 8 p.m. Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be available. The Pfizer vaccine is the only vaccine available to kids ages 12 to 17. Vaccines are free.

Family Advocates annual gala, FriendsGIVING will be held at the Civic Center on November 5th.  The CEO and founder of Family Advocates, Karen Biernacki, will be retiring at the end of 2021 and the new CEO will be announced at the Gala at 7:30 pm.  The new CEO is a lifetime resident of La Porte and is very involved in the community.    The event includes a tasting of food and drinks provided by Café Trilogy, NeMa’s Famous Mac & Cheese, Shady Creek Winery, Shoreline Brewery, Journeyman Distillery, and Indiana Beverages.   Sponsors include:  Table sponsor, NIPSCO; Cornucopia Sponsors, Quibit, PNC Bank,

Facebook Inc. Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg said the company would change its name to Meta to reflect growth opportunities beyond its namesake social-media platform in online digital realms known as the metaverse. Thank you The Wall Street Journal and CBS News for the update. Keep listening at the top of every hour for more updates on WIMS! https://www.wsj.com/articles/mark-zuckerberg-to-sketch-out-facebooks-metaverse-vision-11635413402?mod=hp_lead_pos3&fbclid=IwAR1Rpz-ulpKthAEW8PXpzecnI8oPpP_JR8deCiBVc0gEd5kw8Hr3X955dEk

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is calling for nominations of impactful alumni to be honored in its first induction of a new PNW Alumni Hall of Fame. The callout, a component of PNW’s ongoing 5-75 Roaring Ahead anniversary celebration, will honor distinguished graduates from PNW and its legacy institutions, Purdue Calumet and Purdue North Central. PNW is establishing the Alumni Hall of Fame as part of the yearlong celebration of the fifth year of Purdue Northwest, and the 75th year of both legacy campuses. The inaugural class will be honored at a gala event in June 2022 celebrating the many ways PNW

The Indiana State Department of health updated their weekly COVID county advisory level map on Wednesday. La Porte, Porter, Lake and St. Joseph counties remain at a score of 1.5, yellow level. Starke County moved from a score of 3, red level to a score of 2.5, orange level. Jasper County remains at a score of 2.5, orange level. Newton County remains at a score of 2, orange level. 

The South Shore Line says with the continued increase in travelers and commuters returning to activities and work in Chicago, an extension of its current Weekday Eastbound Free Ride promotion. With this extension, weekday (Monday through Friday) eastbound trips will continue to be free throughout the months of November and December 2021. The eastbound free rides initially began Sept. 1, excluding weekends, and will now last through Dec. 31, 2021. Passengers should simply board applicable weekday eastbound trains with no ticket purchase necessary. Please do not activate mobile tickets for weekday eastbound trips. Passengers are responsible for paying all applicable

In the final week leading up to the third annual Bolt for the Heart Family Run/Walk, dubbed “Hallowrun,” organizers are focused on providing as many automatic external defibrillators for local law enforcement vehicles as possible. Bolt for the Heart President Pierre Twer said the event is seeing “phenomenal growth,” and more than 25 individuals and companies have donated AEDs through the group’s Hometown Heroes donation program. Through other fundraising and sponsorships through the event, Twer anticipates at least 50 AEDs will be provided. This year’s race is set for 9AM, Saturday, Oct. 30, at Washington Park in Michigan City. One

In Lake County, the left lanes and shoulders of eastbound and westbound I-80/94 will be closed at Calumet Ave/U.S. 41 overnight Wednesday, Oct. 27 to early Thursday, Oct. 28. The closures are for bridge work at the interchange.