The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra is looking for contestants for the 15th annual Hoosier Star competition. Hoosier Star is open to amateur singers of all musical styles and age groups. Competitors in both the youth and adult categories can compete individually or as a duet. Auditions will be held at the La Porte Little Theatre , 218 A Street , on Saturday, March 21 from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (CDT) and Sunday, March 22 from Noon to 5:00 PM (CDT) . The ten Hoosier Star finalists will perform along with the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra on Saturday,

There are numerous boards and commissions in Michigan City to which the Mayor appoints members. These boards and commissions play a vital role providing advice and counsel to city government on a wide-range of issues, including public safety, education, housing, economic development, architecture and planning and other matters affecting the quality of life in our community. Membership consists of individuals from a variety of backgrounds, all who share a commitment to public service. Board functions and the appointment process vary from board to board. The size of the board, criteria for membership, and member terms are set forth in most

State Rep. Jim Pressel will host two public meetings this Saturday, to hear from members of the community and discuss important issues being considered during the current legislative session. The first meeting will take place 9-10 a.m. at the La Porte County Public Library. The second meeting will be from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the La Crosse Public Library. Pressel will discuss legislation he has introduced as well as top issues being discussed this session. LaPorte and Starke county residents can contact Pressel with questions by emailing h20@iga.in.gov or calling 317-232-9600. Lawmakers are currently in session and must conclude their

Mayor Duane Parry and the Barker Civic Center Commission is proud to announce the appointment of Sarah Berndt as the new Director of Barker Mansion and the appointment of five new Commissioners to the Board. The historic Barker Mansion lives as a monument of industry, charity, and turn-of-the-century life in Michigan City, highlighting the legacy of the Barker family through tours, special programs, and community event rentals, located at 631 Washington St. Sarah Berndt comes to the Barker Mansion with a background in museum leadership and decorative arts. She brings experience managing historic collections and expanding outreach as well as

A business incubator at the University of Notre Dame doubled in 2019 the number of startup businesses it helped launch in the previous two years combined. The IDEA Center says 32 young companies were put in motion last year, bringing the total number of startups to 64 since the IDEA Center began in 2017. Notre Dame says the 64 active startups have created 99 full-time jobs, with an average salary of $72,000. The companies have collectively raised $6.6 million in investment. The IDEA Center says last year’s startups represent several industries, including advertising, consumer products, fashion, food additives, health care

The South Shore Line will operate a regular weekday train schedule on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 20, 2020. All ticket offices will observe regular hours. In respect of Martin Luther King Jr Day, Monday, January 20th, the Michigan City Urban Enterprise Association has cancelled their January meeting. The monthly board meeting will resume in February. The Michigan City Refuse Department will be closed Monday, January 20, 2020 to observe the Martin Luther King Jr Holiday. Trash pickup will resume on Tuesday, January 21st, and delayed a day for the remainder of the week.

Anglers and other interested parties can participate in two DNR public meetings, Jan. 30 and Feb. 1, to discuss the interim Lake Michigan fish stocking plan and provide input on future stocking plans. Announced in October 2019, changes to the current plan included stocking more yearling coho salmon, fewer fall fingerling coho salmon, reductions in Skamania steelhead stocked in the Little Calumet River, and increases in Chinook salmon stocked. The first meeting will start at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30, at Red Mill County Park, 0185 South Holmesville Road in LaPorte. The second meeting will start at 10 a.m.

The Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) will start accepting tax filings for the 2020 individual income tax season on Monday, Jan. 27th. Customers will have until April 15, to file their tax returns and pay any taxes owed. Customers can file their individual taxes online through a certified vendor, with a tax professional or by mailing in paper forms and documentation. If individuals have questions, they are encouraged to call DOR Customer Service at 317-232-2240, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., EST or visit a district office location. DOR encourages customers not to file their individual taxes prior

Gov. Holcomb announced updated workforce figures during his annual Indiana State of the State address earlier this week. More than 10,000 Hoosiers have completed a high-demand certificate program through Indiana’s Next Level Jobs Workforce Ready Grant, which provides tuition-free certificates in five of the state’s most sought-after sectors, including health and life sciences; IT and business services; building and construction, transportation and logistics; and advanced manufacturing. Additionally, more than 900 employers have taken advantage of the state’s Employer Training Grant to train more than 9,000 employees.

Hoosiers needing answers to legal questions are invited to a free legal consultation during the Indiana State Bar Association’s annual “Talk to a Lawyer Today” on Jan. 20, 2020. Consultations are provided in-person at numerous statewide locations or via the statewide hotline from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST at 800.266.2581. See a list of residential phone numbers and walk-in locations for each Indiana county at www.inbar.org/talktolawyer

Indiana’s infant mortality rate fell at the highest rate in six years, with the black infant mortality rate declining nearly 16 percent and the rate for Hispanic infants declining nearly 20 percent in 2018. Data from the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) show 559 Indiana babies died before the age of 1 in 2018, down from 602 in 2017. The overall infant mortality rate stood at 6.8 per 1,000 babies in 2018, down from 7.3 in 2017. The 2018 infant mortality rates for non-Hispanic white infants met the Healthy People 2020 goal of 6.0 per 1,000, while the rate

Patients who once had to drive two counties away for bariatric surgery and services can now find weight loss assistance closer to home in LaPorte County. Franciscan Health Michigan City has opened a bariatric services office at Woodland Health Center, 8865 West 400 N. Suite 125 in Michigan City. The office will provide treatment and support for patients before and after their weight loss surgery, which can be done at Franciscan Health Michigan City. The staff includes bariatric surgeons Dr. Thomas Shin, MD, FACS, who is bariatric program medical director, and Dr. Sandra Wischmeyer, DO. Both are independent physicians who

Last year, January was proclaimed as National Mentoring Month in La Porte and Michigan City by each of the respective acting Mayors, inviting our community to celebrate the benefits of mentoring and the impact it has on young people. The Collaborative is hosting a special luncheon “Celebrating Our Youth” on January 30th at the Silver Palace from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Tickets are available from any of the agencies involved in Mentoring Collaborative or RSVP to info@unitedwaylpc.org by 1/22/2020. Community members are invited to enjoy luncheon event to learn about how local organizations are changing lives and impacting our community through

The Indiana State Board of Education (Board) met yesterday for its January business meeting and considered approval of two teacher preparation programs. The Board also ended interventions in two school districts.The Board unanimously approved teacher preparation programs at Manchester University and Vincennes University.Board members voted 10-0 to return Theodore Roosevelt College and Career Academy to Gary Community School Corporation, ending the Board’s intervention.Following a presentation from Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), the Board voted 6-2 to return control of Emma Donnan, Emmerich Manual, and Thomas Carr Howe to IPS, ending the Board’s intervention. The Board will next meet on February 5,

REFUSE DEPARTMENT The Refuse Department will be closed Monday, January 20, 2020 to observe the Martin Luther King Jr Holiday. Trash pickup will resume on Tuesday, January 21st, and delayed a day for the remainder of the week. 

INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Eric J. Holcomb on Tuesday delivered his 2020 State of the State address to a joint convention of the Indiana General Assembly. The governor focused on his commitment to bold ideas that will improve the health, safety and well-being of Hoosiers. Full text of Governor Eric J. Holcomb’s 2020 State of the State address is attached. “Thanks to the energy, ingenuity and hard work of Hoosiers across our state – and the work we’re doing with them – the state of our state has never been stronger,” Gov. Holcomb said. As a part of the Governor’s ongoing

Bachelor’s and master’s degree programs recognized in U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs rankings HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. —Purdue University Northwest (PNW) College of Nursing programs have been recognized among the best in the country in the U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs rankings, released today. PNW ranks 39th nationally among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs. Purdue Northwest’s online RN-to-BSN program, now in its 11th year, is one of the undergraduate degree programs offered by the PNW College of Nursing, a National League for Nursing Center of Excellence. PNW also is ranked 77th nationally of Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs. A

The South Shore Line will operate a regular weekday train schedule on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 20, 2020. All ticket offices will observe regular hours.

South Shore Line officials announced that construction has been completed on a second tunnel entrance/exit to the East Chicago Station platform. The new portion of the station is set to open to commuters on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020. The project was designed to improve ingress and egress from the station, and includes a covered walkway on the east side of the station accessing a new head house, stairwell and tunnel leading to the eastern portion of the parking lot.

On Sunday, January 12, at approximately 9:00 p.m., Trooper Brian Runyon responded to a single vehicle crash in Newton County.  Preliminary investigation by Trooper Runyon revealed that a black, 2012 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Andrew Kepchar, 29, from Crown Point, IN, was traveling north on County Road 400 West near Morocco, IN.  The Silverado left the roadway and struck a utility pole.  The vehicle then rolled onto its passenger side and caught fire.  As a result of the initial impact, the power lines were knocked down at the scene which hindered first responders being able to access the vehicle.  A