Local News

HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Purdue University Northwest (PNW) invites community members to attend insightful and engaging lectures led by university faculty members during fall 2025 - without the pressure of tests or grades. PNW hosts Friday University from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 24 and Nov. 7 at the James B. Dworkin Student Services and Activities Complex, 1401 S. U.S. 421, Westville, Ind. Programs are open to the public and registration can be completed at pnw.edu/friday-university. Program schedules will include three sessions - morning, midmorning and afternoon. Registrants can choose between three different topics per timeslot, allowing them

The Ogden Dunes Police Department announced on Thursday that due to an accident at the County Line Road crossing, the railroad crossing at Hillcrest Road and U.S. 12 will remain closed throughout the weekend. The department says the railroad team is working diligently to reopen the crossing as quickly as possible. However, because of the accident, paving cannot be completed until next week. Additional signage is being installed to direct drivers through the detour. There is a detour sign at 249 and the US Steel Bridge that specifically states, "Detour to the Town of Ogden Dunes."

IT'S TIME TO RAISE YOUR GLASS BECAUSE OKTOBERFEST IS BACK! CHECK OUT TODAY'S SCHEDULE FOR DAY 1! EVENT HIGHLIGHTS: Enjoy Over 50 Live Acts Across Three Stages Multiple Beer Gardens A Wide Variety of Food Vendors Art, Craft, & Merchandise Vendors FREE ADMISSION Oktoberfest Event Sponsor Shoutout: •Michigan City Special Events • Arnett Construction and Roofing • Chesterton Physical Therapy • NIPSCO • Arby’s of Michigan City

Earlier this week the Chesterton Fire Department welcomed Probationary Firefighter Gavin Hofkamp. Gavin is a 21-year-old graduate of Highland High School and a resident of Lake County IN. Gavin has prior Fire and EMS experience. 

The City of Michigan City is aware of a video circulating online showing a traffic stop that occurred in February 2024. The interaction did not result in an arrest, only a written warning. No constitutional rights were violated and no complaints were filed; but outside groups are now circulating the video and misrepresenting the situation. I want to be clear: I fully support the men and women of the Michigan City Police Department, who work tirelessly each day to keep our community safe. At the same time, I recognize that moments such as this - regardless of how or when

The following is a statement posted to the Michigan City Police Department Facebook Page Wednesday night: STATEMENT REFERENCE YOUTUBE VIDEO The Michigan City Police Department is aware of a video currently circulating on YouTube and other social media platforms that depicts an interaction involving our officers during a traffic stop. We are currently looking into the matter and are committed to addressing the situation with transparency and professionalism. As this is a personnel matter, we are unable to provide any further comment until a thorough review has been completed. We appreciate your understanding.

Valparaiso City Services (VCS) is inviting the community to participate in one of five upcoming focus group sessions designed to gather input about recycling in Valparaiso. Both recyclers and non-recyclers are encouraged to attend and share their experiences, opinions and ideas. The focus group discussions will help the City of Valparaiso to better understand how residents view the current recycling program, identify community needs and determine the future direction of recycling in Valparaiso. Each session will last approximately 75 minutes and will be held at the Valparaiso City Services Business Office, 205 Billings St. (where water bills are paid). Focus

Please be advised the office of the Solid Waste District of La Porte County and the Compost Site, will be closed Monday, September 1, 2025 in observance of Labor Day. The Compost Site will be open Saturday, August 30, 2025. There will be a One Day Delay in the recycling pickup schedule during the week of September 1st through Saturday, September 6th. The office will reopen Tuesday, September 2nd at 8:00 a.m.

Brown Street between Central Avenue and Independence Avenue will be closed to all traffic today Aug. 28 and again on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 4 and 5 for asphalt crack sealing. See the Portage Police Department Facebook page for any updates.

Michigan City, IN – The City of Michigan City will host its First Annual Opioid Awareness Walk on Thursday, August 28, 2025, as part of its ongoing commitment to combating the opioid epidemic and supporting residents impacted by addiction. The event will begin at 5 p.m. with the Awareness Walk starting from City Hall, 100 E. Michigan Blvd. Immediately following, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., participants may visit the lower level of City Hall, where service providers will be available to share resources; and free Narcan training will be offered to equip community members with lifesaving overdose reversal tools. “Opioid addiction continues

The Michigan City Parks & Recreation Department says they are working on something special and they need the community's help. They're seeking contact info for all the active neighborhood associations and HOAs in town. They already have Elston Grove, Eastport, and Westside contacts on our list. The department said they know there are others out there, they just don't know who to contact. the department said if you know, please tag them in the comments of their post on Facebook or have them contact Kelley Smith in the Mayor's Office at kelley@emichigancity.com.

VALPARAISO, Indiana —August 2025 —The Indiana Department of Health detected a pool of mosquitoes that tested positive for West Nile Virus in Porter County. Residents should take precautions when going outside. Taking precautions such as: practicing bite prevention using an EPA-registered insect repellant, wearing long sleeves, eliminating standing water around the home, and avoid going outside during peak feeding at dusk and dawn. Container as small as a bottle cap can become a mosquito breeding site, so residents should take the following steps: • Discard old tires, tin cans, ceramic pots or other containers that can hold stagnant water; •

As part of an initiative to earn Porter County a Heart Safe Community designation, the Porter County Health Department has purchased and installed an automated external defibrillator (AED) outside the Duneland Chamber of Commerce’s building, at 220 Broadway on the far west end of Thomas Centennial Park, the Town of Chesterton is reporting. Heart Safe is a designation awarded by Project ADAM (Automated Defibrillators in Adam’s Memory), named in honor of Adam Lemel, a high school student who tragically lost his life to Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Project ADAM is dedicated to raising awareness and providing communities with the necessary tools

In Portage, Lute Road between Willowcreek Road and Airport Road will be closed to traffic on Thursday and Friday, Aug. 28 and 29 (weather permitting) for road milling and asphalt patching, according to the Portage Police Department. Police are asking drivers to use alternate routes. See the Portage Police Department Facebook page for any updates.  

The City of La Porte Park and Recreation Department says it has rescheduled the fireworks show, postponed during LakeFest in July, for this Thursday in Fox Park following a performance by local favorites, Middle of the Road. The band begins at 7 p.m., with the fireworks set for approximately 8:30. On their Facebook page the City of La Porte Park and Recreation Department thanked the LakeFest sponsors for funding the fireworks show, along with the other events at this year's festival. They also thanked the Arts in the Park staff, committee and volunteers for a wonderful summer of music, arts

Press Release by Michigan City Area Schools: MICHIGAN CITY, IN – August 25, 2025 – On July 16, 2025,  Andrea “Andie” Renner-Miller, a paraprofessional at Pine Elementary School, was honored with the Indiana State Teachers’ Association (ISTA) Community Service Award at the organization’s summer conference for her exemplary efforts around Michigan City, both in and outside the classroom. Renner-Miller was nominated by colleague Summer Ray, who teaches Special Education at Pine. “Andie Renner-Miller is exceptional when it comes to someone who gives their life to their community,” said Ray. “She always gives in any way she can without needing anything

Michigan City, IN – The City of Michigan City will host its First Annual Opioid Awareness Walk on Thursday, August 28, 2025, as part of its ongoing commitment to combating the opioid epidemic and supporting residents impacted by addiction.The event will begin at 5 p.m. with the Awareness Walk starting from City Hall, 100 E. Michigan Blvd. Immediately following, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., participants may visit the lower level of City Hall, where service providers will be available to share resources; and free Narcan training will be offered to equip community members with lifesaving overdose reversal tools.“Opioid addiction continues to affect

Press Release by MAAC Foundation: Valparaiso, IN – The MAAC Foundation First Responding Training Campus is proud to announce the 6th Annual First Responder Appreciation & Demonstration Day (FRADD), scheduled for Saturday, September 13th. This highly anticipated event will take place from 9 AM to 1 PM Central at the MAAC campus. FRADD is a free community event and the MAAC Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser. The day honors and supports first responders while giving the public a chance to connect with them, see their training in action, and learn more about the vital work they do. This year's event will feature

In Portage, now through Sept. 2 (excluding weekend and holiday) Portage Avenue will be closed to thru traffic from 8am-2pm for NIPSCO pole replacement. The detour route can be found on the photo / map for this project. See the Portage Indiana Government Facebook Page for any updates.

News Release, Center for Creative Solutions, Inc.:  Architecture is about beautiful buildings plus. Within each structure lies fascinating stories of creatives - the designers, builders and users. La Porte’s historic downtown is no exception. On Saturday, September 20, La Porte County Historian and educator, Bruce Johnson, will tell those stories at this year’s Fall Innovation Forum. Starting at 11 a.m., he will lead a walking tour of significant buildings in the 700 block of Lincolnway in La Porte. For the 17th year, the Center for Creative Solutions is inviting the public to the free event. The tour will begin and