Local News

Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. issued the following statement regarding fake tax debt payment letters allegedly being sent out by a third party. “I’d like to make the public aware of letters allegedly being sent to Lake County property or business owners demanding immediate payment of tax debt.  The letters feature the heading “Distraint Warrant”, which is a legal term related to a government agency’s power to ensure payment of delinquent taxes.  In the letters, the sender gives a phone number to call if debtors want to avoid collection action including “…garnishment of wages and bank accounts”.  The sender

Jasper County Sheriff Pat Williamson and Newton County Sheriff Shannon Cothran addressed the recent theft of GPS Globes from tractors. Sheriff’s offices are concerned about the recent incidents of GPS globe theft from tractors. “These thefts not only pose a significant financial burden to farmers but also disrupt their operations and hinder productivity, the Sheriffs of Jasper and Newton Counties in a joint statement. “GPS globes are crucial components of modern farming equipment, enabling precision agriculture techniques that optimize resource utilization, increase efficiency, and maximize crop yields,” the sheriffs said. “Unfortunately, the theft of these vital devices has become a

Press release by Michigan City Area Schools: MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA (June 22, 2023) – The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation Board of Trustees has awarded a grant to the Michigan City Area Schools Safe Harbor afterschool program to help fund its fall program, “STEM for Life: Kids Build Robots – Robots Build Adults.” “This grant will allow Safe Harbor to start robotics teams in the fall at each of the six elementary schools that we serve,” said MCAS Safe Harbor Program Coordinator Brenda Johnstone. “The generosity of community partners such as Cleveland-Cliffs is what gives us the resources to make a positive difference in

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has issued an Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) and is forecasting high ozone levels for Friday, June 23, 2023 in the following areas Northwest Indiana, including the cities of: Crown Point, Gary, Hammond, Kentland, LaPorte, Michigan City, Portage, Rensselaer, Valparaiso and all other cities within the area. A state map including regions and affected counties is available at SmogWatch.IN.gov.  Friday will have a steady northerly wind flow all day inland with decreased cloud cover, highs in the middle 80’s, relative humidity values will be less than 40% with mostly sunny skies and

BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. -- Michigan State Police have given an update to a death that occurred at the Berrien County Jail. According to the Berrien County Sheriff;s Office, on Tuesday, at approximately 12:45 p.m. a male inmate who was housed in the Receiving area of the Berrien County Jail was found unresponsive in his cell. Life saving measures were taken by jail staff and Medic 1 Ambulance but were unsuccessful. The Berrien County Sheriff's Office says the inmate had previous medical conditions and was lodged on June 18, for homicide and felony firearms. The Michigan State Police 5th District Special

A new rule has temporarily taken effect on Cedar Lake in Lake County restricting the speed of boats due to the ongoing dredge project on the waterway. Under the rule, an individual may not operate a boat at greater-than-idle speed within 200 feet of the dredge pipe, any dredge equipment, or in the narrowest section of the lake. Three designated crossings for navigating over the pipe at idle speed are marked with buoys and shown on the provided map, and the dredge equipment and pipe are also marked with buoys. The exact language of this rule, which remain in place

The City of La Porte has announced that TransPorte will be closed on Tuesday, June 27 for mandatory drivers' training. Dispatchers will still be on duty to schedule rides for the rest of that week, but no rides can be scheduled for any time on June 27. The City of La Porte says to plan accordingly.

Press release by Purdue University Northwest: HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Purdue University Northwest’s (PNW) American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) student surveying team made PNW history by winning the 2023 ASCE Utility Engineering and Surveying Institute (UESI) Surveying Society-wide Finals Competition, held June 10-12 at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. In addition to taking first place overall at nationals, the team also placed first in the field surveying competition. The PNW team finished ahead of 15 other teams from across the nation. PNW’s team advanced to nationals by taking first place at the Indiana-Kentucky Region 4 competition, where they also

Press release by Northern Indiana Public Service Company: Merrillville, Ind. – For the sixth year, NIPSCO is accepting applications for a grant to support local nonprofit organizations and first responders who provide public safety education and training across northern Indiana. Grants are available in amounts ranging from $500 to $5,000. Applications are being accepted now through August 4, 2023, with grant awards announced during the week of August 21. In 2022, award recipients have utilized the funds, for example, for the following projects: Cass County Emergency Management Agency conducted a public safety training program for volunteer instructors to increase capacity

Press release by Healthcare Foundation of La Porte: LA PORTE – On June 14, 2023, Healthcare Foundation of La Porte (HFL) joined the Indiana Department of Education, Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, and North Central Health Services, Inc., to bring together 300+ Indiana school leaders, education stakeholders, healthcare providers, funders, and state and community partners for the first Youth Emerging Stronger (YES!) Summit. The YES! Summit, held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Noblesville Conference Center, provided a framework for expanding evidence-based prevention and mental health support within K-12 schools.   HFL launched the three-year grant initiative Partners in Prevention (PiP) in 2019 to

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has issued an Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) and is forecasting high ozone levels for Thursday, June 22, 2023 in the following areas: North Central Indiana, including the cities of: Elkhart, Goshen, Knox, Logansport, Plymouth, Peru, South Bend, Warsaw, Winamac and all other cities within the area. Northwest Indiana, including the cities of: Crown Point, Gary, Hammond, Kentland, LaPorte, Michigan City, Portage, Rensselaer, Valparaiso and all other cities within the area. A state map including regions and affected counties is available at SmogWatch.IN.gov.  Continued sunny skies with highs in the mid 80's as continued

Two teens were pulled from Lake Michigan at Porter Beach Tuesday and police later announced one of them had died. According to the Porter Police, emergency service personnel were dispatched to Porter Beach at around 6:50 p.m. Tuesday in reference to a 14-year-old female and an 18-year-old male in need of rescue while swimming. During the incident, a Good Samaritan pulled the 14-year-old female out of the water. However, the 18-year-old male remained lost for approximately 20 minutes before he was pulled to shore. Life saving measures were taken with the male, including CPR. Both victims were transported to a

The City of Portage has announced two roadwork alerts. The first alert states that through Saturday, June 24 the areas listed below will experience intermittent lane restrictions for road improvements involving new curbs, sidewalks and ADA accessible ramps: Central Avenue at Prairie Duneland Trail Central Avenue at Samuelson Road Samuelson Road at Prairie Duneland Trail Samuelson Road between US Hwy 20 / Melton Road and Portage Avenue Dates are weather dependent. A flag person will be on-site directing traffic. The second alert states that Prairie Duneland Trail will be closed to all traffic at Central Avenue and at Samuelson Road

Press release by: La Porte County Symphony Orchestra La Porte, IN- La Porte County Symphony Orchestra (LCSO) Principal Tuba Musician, Richard Watson, has had a chair named in his honor by an anonymous donor. With music degrees from the University of Michigan and Northwestern University, Watson will celebrate his 31st year with the LCSO's 2023-2024 season. He also has been an adjunct professor of tuba/euphonium at Valparaiso University’s Department of Music for 30 years. “What a wonderful honor for Rich Watson,” said Executive Director, Tim King. “Thanks to our anonymous donor who has recognized Rich’s contributions to the LCSO as well as

Press release by Franciscan Health: MUNSTER, Ind. – Franciscan Health Munster and Rush University System for Health (RUSH) are adding to their partnership by expanding vascular surgery options in Northwest Indiana. RUSH vascular surgeons will now see patients and perform procedures at the Franciscan Health Munster campus. Michele Richard, MD, will work with the team of Franciscan Physician Network interventional cardiologists treating vascular surgery patients including Michael Nicholas, MD, DO FACC, FACOI; Wisam Martini, MD and Tariq Hameed, MD, FACC. “We are thrilled to be able to expand our collaborative efforts with our partners at RUSH to provide more vascular

Press release by NiSource Inc.: Blackstone Infrastructure Partners affiliate agrees to acquire 19.9% non-controlling equity interest in NIPSCO for $2.150 Billion, with additional equity commitment of $250 million to fund ongoing capital requirements. Blackstone invests alongside NiSource in NIPSCO to fund the energy transition and accelerate the reindustrialization of the Midwest. NiSource reaffirms commitment to Indiana and to its consolidated credit, earnings and growth commitments through 2027. MERRILLVILLE, Ind., June 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with an affiliate of Blackstone Infrastructure Partners, Blackstone's (NYSE: BX) dedicated Infrastructure

State Road 39 will be closed between State Road 8 and County Road 50 South for around two weeks on or after Monday, June 26. The work taking place will be for a small structure replacement at Prettyman Ditch. The official detour will follow State Road 8, U.S. 35 and State Road 10.

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating after recovering the body of a female from Robinson Lake in Lake County on Sunday. Emergency personnel were dispatched to the beach area near the 5200 block of Liverpool Road in Hobart at 12:53 p.m. for a report of two swimmers struggling in the water. A male was rescued by a witness. A woman went missing in the water and did not resurface. A DNR Law Enforcement diver located and recovered the woman at 3:03 p.m. with assistance from the Merrillville Fire Department and Lake County Sheriff’s Department divers. The woman was pronounced dead on

Press release by Franciscan Health: DYER, Ind. – Crown Staffing recently conducted a food drive for the Franciscan Health Foundation’s Food Insecurity Program and Fresh Start Markets as part of the ribbon cutting ceremony for its new Dyer location. The Fresh Start Markets are healthy food pantries in Crown Point and Hammond where those in need can shop free of charge at designated times. The Franciscan Health Foundation partnered with the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana to create a program to help address food insecurity throughout Northwest Indiana, including the two markets. “The service we provide to the community with

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has issued an Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) and is forecasting high ozone levels for Tuesday, June 20, 2023 in the following areas: North Central Indiana, including the cities of: Elkhart, Goshen, Knox, Logansport, Plymouth, Peru, South Bend, Warsaw, and Winamac. Northeast Indiana, including the cities of: Angola, Auburn, Decatur, Fort Wayne, Hartford, Huntington City, LaGrange, Marion, Portland, and Wabash. Northwest Indiana, including the cities of: Crown Point, Gary, Hammond, Kentland, LaPorte, Michigan City, Portage, Rensselaer, and Valparaiso. A state map including regions and affected counties is available at SmogWatch.IN.gov.  Continued sunny skies with highs in