Local News

Press Release, Franciscan Health:  Organizer reflects on her own suicide attempt in hopes of helping others know assistance is available DYER, Ind. – Hangie Hawkins was 19 when she took an overdose of prescription medications, hoping she wouldn’t wake up. She was living in Chicago’s Northwest suburbs and trying to manage 16-hour days that started with 4 a.m. workouts, carrying a full college course load, working 40 hours a week and a relationship when she lost her means of transportation to work and school after a car accident. “I hit rock bottom,” Hawkins said. “I was devastated. I couldn’t be

NEWTON COUNTY, Ind. - Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Milestone Contractors LP will move to the next phase of Median U-turn (MUT) construction on U.S. 41 at State Road 14 on or after Monday, August 18. The right outside driving lane and shoulder of U.S. 41 will be closed in each direction between C.R. 225 N and Division Rd. U.S. 41 traffic will not have access to turn onto State Road 14/C.R. 100. Detours will be in place for eastbound State Road 14 and westbound C.R. 100. Traffic coming from State Road 14/C.R. 100 will be able to turn right onto

Sheriff Heit presented Deputy Bailee Kessler with a Lifesaving Award at yesterday’s Berrien County Commission meeting. Citation from the Award Recommendation: On June 10, 2025, Deputy Kessler responded to an emergency call for assistance in the female receiving area inside the jail. A female inmate recently received a breathing treatment and shortly after her tracheostomy began plugged with mucus. This resulted in the inmate going into respiratory distress due to the fact she couldn’t breathe. Her oxygen levels fell to a dangerous level. Deputy Bailee responded and once on scene took charge even over some medical staff present. She tried

Press release, Michigan City Area Schools: Michigan City, IN –  Michigan City High School Athletics has officially launched a new online home at GoMCWolves.com, replacing the former site at michigancityathletics.com. The updated site, powered by Eventlink, is now live and offers a fresh look, improved features, and a more user-friendly experience. The new platform is mobile-friendly, easier to navigate, and designed to improve fans, families, and the community’s connection with Wolves athletics. Visitors will find streamlined team pages, consistently updated schedules, event results, photo galleries, and more, all in one place. “All of our links on the district website have

In Lake County there will be changing ramp closures at the U.S. 30 and 61st Ave interchanges on I-65 beginning on or after Monday, August 18. The current ramp closures from 61st Ave eastbound and westbound to I-65 northbound will reopen before additional ramp closures begin. Beginning on or around August 18, the ramps from U.S. 30 eastbound to I-65 northbound and I-65 northbound to 61st Ave will close. These two ramp closures will be in place for approximately one week and will reopen before the next ramp closure begins. The ramp from U.S. 30 westbound to I-65 northbound will

Press Release, La Porte County Sheriff’s Office: Three (3) students from La Porte County received scholarships this week in honor of fallen La Porte County Sheriff’s Deputy Neil Thompson.  The students were presented with scholarships at the La Porte County Sheriff’s Merit Board August meeting.   Savannah Swanson, daughter of Angie and Sergeant Brett Swanson, is a 2025 graduate of South Central High School.  Faith Spain, daughter of Laura Lanoue and stepdaughter of Sergeant Scott Lanoue, is a 2025 graduate of La Porte High School.  Michael Walker, son of Director of Treatment Services Tyra Robinson-Walker and retired Deputy Michael Walker, is

The Westville Police Department issued the following statement to their Facebook page regarding student safety walking home from school: "We are seeing a significant number of students attempting to cross Flynn Road at Valparaiso Street going to Dairy Queen after school. We are experiencing an increase in vehicular traffic this year, especially in the afternoon. It is extremely dangerous for students to attempt to cross at Valparaiso due to vehicles turning, and passing in the intersection. "The only location students will be allowed to cross Flynn Road when the Crossing Guard is present will be at Main Street. Any students

Press Release by Marquette Catholic High School: Marquette Catholic High School will welcome three new faces to its faculty and staff when it kicks off its 139th year of Catholic education in Michigan City. Leah McIntosh, Matthew Raney, and Benjamin Strole will open their tenures on Wednesday when Marquette raises the curtain on the 2025-2026 academic year. “We are thrilled to welcome three outstanding professionals to our Marquette community. Their expertise, wealth of experience, and genuine commitment to our mission will make an immediate and lasting impact on our students, staff, and families. We are blessed to have them join

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC ("NIPSCO") announces that 23 organizations across northern Indiana have been awarded grants from NIPSCO and the NiSource Charitable Foundation to further their public safety initiatives.   NIPSCO’s Public Safety Education and Training Action Grant program has funded a total of 132 projects geared toward community and youth public safety education projects since 2018, as well as training for first responders, police and fire departments. With grants ranging from $500 to $5,000, projects have included lithium-ion battery response training, carbon monoxide training and CPR and AED training for residents and first responders.

In Lake County there will be overnight lane closures on southbound I-65 between I-94 and Ridge Rd on Monday, August 18. Overnight lane closures will be in place during the hours of 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. for permanent pavement markings. There will also be a lane closed on the ramp from I-94 eastbound to I-65 southbound. Once complete, traffic will be back to its normal configuration through this area. The ramps from I-94 westbound to I-65 southbound, I-94 eastbound and I-65 southbound to Ridge Rd, and Ridge Rd to southbound I-65 are all scheduled to reopen Tuesday, August 19.

As summer winds down, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) to prevent impaired driving and save lives.  From August 16 through August 30, deputies will increase patrols as part of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over national enforcement campaign, led by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “One of our top priorities is keeping our roads and our communities safe,” said Administrative Captain Derek J. Allen.  “The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is an awareness effort to get the message out that operating a motor vehicle while impaired

Press Release by Indiana Department of Education:  INDIANAPOLIS – Results from the 2024-2025 Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination (IREAD) assessment show an unprecedented increase in third grade literacy rates. With this nearly five percentage point jump, Indiana’s third grade literacy rates have now increased for four consecutive years, indicating that Indiana’s strategic, intentional investments in early literacy are working. “As we work to make Indiana a beacon of freedom and opportunity, helping every Hoosier to live out their American dream starts with the ability to read,” said Governor Mike Braun. “From 2024 to 2025, Indiana’s literacy rate jumped by nearly five

Michigan City Area Schools welcomed many new teachers and other certified staff this school year. We asked them to share a bit about their background and to answer the question, “Why did you become an educator?” Their responses are below. Jean Barron Knapp Elementary School, Physical Education Teacher Tommie Billups Springfield Elementary School, Music Teacher Experience: 4 years as MCAS Instructional Assistant from 2011-2015, STEAM & Music Instructor in South Bend from 2018-2025 Education: Indiana University Northwest, Grace of Loris “I became an educator because I found purpose. I love teaching. I love the moments when a student’s eyes light

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - An Indiana Department of Transportation contractor will conduct overnight closures for demolition of the southbound U.S. 6/State Road 51 bridge over I-94. Overnight lane closures continue on I-94 between Central Ave and State Road 249 through August 14 for setting barrier wall and parapet demolition. These closures will occur during the hours of 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Demolition of the southbound bridge of U.S. 6/State Road 51 over I-94 is scheduled to occur overnight Monday, August 18 through Thursday, August 28. Be prepared for the following restrictions from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. nightly during this

Press Release, Purdue University Northwest: HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Registration is open for the Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest 2025 Innovators Awards Luncheon. Winners will be inducted into the Society during the formal program starting at 11:30 a.m. CST on Oct. 29 at Avalon Manor Banquet Center, 3550 E. Lincoln Highway, Merrillville, Ind. Now celebrating its 20th year, the Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest’s annual awards focus on the spirit of creativity and ingenuity by discovering, honoring and celebrating innovators from across the seven-county region of Northwest Indiana. Dedicated to the idea that anyone can be an

The Porter County Health Department on Tuesday issued a public notice of a petroleum release, spill or overfill with the following information: • Local health departments are required by statute (IC 13-23-16) to inform the public of the discovery of released regulated substances at an underground storage tank site or aboveground storage tank, in the surrounding area or a spill or overfill. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) was notified on August 6, 2025, of such an incident from the owner or operator of the GE Marshalls, Inc. facility located at 1351 Joliet Road in or near Valparaiso, Indiana

Check out the Franciscan Health S.H.E. Event Saturday October 4th from 8am-5pm at PURDUE UNIVERSITY NORTHWEST GREAT HALL 1401 U.S. 421, Westville, IN SAT, OCT 4 | 8AM – 5PM Strong Healthy Empowered W O M E N ’ S H E A LT H S.H.E.CONFERENCE Franciscan Health presents the inaugural S.H.E. Women’s Health Conference, dedicated to uplifting and empowering women in Northwest Indiana. For more information:  S.H.E. Women's Health Conference | Franciscan Health Foundation

The Porter County determines that Chesterton Police Department officers acted justifiably and in self defense in a shooting that occurred in June. The Town of Chesterton released the following information on Monday: Porter County Prosecutor Gary Germann determines that CPD officers acted justifiably and in self defense in shooting outside Hilton Garden Inn Porter County Prosecuting Attorney Gary Germann released a statement today, Monday, Aug. 11, in which he confirms the results of an Indiana State Police investigation, that Officer Nolan Mancera and Lt. David Virijevich acted in self-defense in the shooting outside the Hilton Garden Inn on June 18.

Press Release, City of Valparaiso: The City of Valparaiso has kicked off a major sewer and stormwater separation project, supported by a $960,000 grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency with support from Congressman Frank Mrvan. This $1.5 million infrastructure improvement aims to reduce flooding, protect Salt Creek, increase stormwater capacity and enhance overall stormwater management in the city’s downtown area. The project is estimated to remove an estimated 13 million gallons of stormwater from the combined sewer system annually. The project was spearheaded by Engineering Director Max Rehlander and is currently in the design phase. The City anticipates

A mobile food pantry is visiting Chesterton Methodist Church today, Aug 12, according to the Town of Chesterton social media. Operated by Catholic Charities, Diocese of Gary, the food pantry will visit Chesterton United Methodist Church, 434 S. Second St., Chesterton, at 1 p.m. today. Food distribution will begin at 1 p.m. and continue until all the food is gone. This is first-come/first served. Please bring identification. The Catholic Charities Mobile Food Pantry visits Chesterton United Methodist Church at 1 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month.