Local News

A Michigan City man has been charged with murder in the death of a 5-year-old boy, according to the Michigan City Police Department. On the morning of March 2, the LaPorte County Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call in reference to five-year-old, Augustus Williams, being unresponsive inside a residence in the 2200 block of Normandy Drive. Residing in the residence with Augustus were his mother, 23-year-old Halie Lewis, and her boyfriend, 32-year-old Brice Bainum. Officers responded to the scene as did the Michigan City Fire Department and LaPorte County EMS. Augustus was transported from the residence to Franciscan Hospital

On Thursday the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announced the recipients of the Spring 2025 Community Crossings Matching Grant Program. More than $200 million was awarded through the program and will go towards improving roads and bridges throughout the state. Several communities in House District 9 represented by State Rep. Pat Boy  (D-Michigan City) received grants for Spring 2025. The matching grant winners and amounts include: Porter County - $1,500,000.00 Michigan City - $1,500,000.00 Trail Creek - $751,278.06 Porter - $541,331.25 Town of Pines - $159,817.50 Michiana Shores - $324,985.01   Boy released the following statement celebrating the funding: “I’m

The following is a statement from Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. regarding a press release on immigration law enforcement: The Lake County Sheriff’s Department has routinely cooperated with our federal law enforcement partners. There was no “course reversal” as mentioned in Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita’s statement today. Contrary to the representations Rokita made in his press release, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department has: Always cooperated with other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in taking all action to ensure the safety and security of the residents and business in Lake County. Never requested, condoned or participated in

Doug Samuelson knows a thing or two about the healing power of dogs. Samuelson retired from the Michigan City Police Department after serving for 14 years as a K9 handler and saw firsthand the positive benefits the dogs had on the department and the community. Now a security officer at Franciscan Health Michigan City, Samuelson thought for years that the hospital could use a dog as well. “With the traumas we have and the effects on people, including the staff, it just made sense,” Samuelson said. “You can just see people’s eyes light up when they see a dog.” Samuelson’s

CROWN POINT, Ind. -- Board-certified gastroenterologist Eric Steinberg, MD, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting new patients in Crown Point. Dr. Steinberg attended medical school at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, N.Y. He completed his residency at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. and completed his gastroenterology fellowship at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. Dr. Steinberg’s clinical interests include biliary pancreatic diseases, colon cancer screening, fatty liver disease, GERD and irritable bowel disease. He is accepting new patients at Franciscan Physician Network Specialty Center, 12750 Saint Francis Drive, Suite 410, in

In Valparaiso, both lanes Morgan Boulevard are closed between Institute and Oak streets for an emergency sanitary sewer repair. A signed detour will direct traffic. For updates check the Valparaiso Now Facebook page.

The Michigan City St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held Saturday, March 15 at 1:00 pm, and will travel the traditional parade route north on Franklin St., beginning at 9th Street and ending at 4th Street. Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch will be at the parade celebrating with the community. “I’m excited to wear my green and come out to enjoy the crowd, interact with families, support what our Special Events team is doing, and thank the parade participants,” she said. “We are so excited for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade,” said Terry Greetham, Director of Special Events. “This is

In an update the Indiana State Police says that on Feb. 28, a body was discovered along I-65 on the ramp from U.S. 231 in Crown Point, IN. Foul play was quickly suspected, and an investigation was initiated by the Indiana State Police Criminal Investigations Division Lowell Post. As a result, two individuals that had been recently taken into custody by the F.B.I. and the King County Sheriff’s Office in Seattle, WA were quickly identified as the suspects in this homicide. Charges are pending here in Indiana. The victim has been identified as Nelson Daniel Ramos-Rivas, a 23-year-old Venezuelan National.

Michigan City —Instrumental music students from several Michigan City Area Schools participated in the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) Solo and Ensemble contest on February 1 at Kankakee Valley Middle School. Nearly forty students earned gold and silver ratings for their performances. Thirteen eighth graders from Barker Middle School received a gold rating during the event on February 1: Angel Bahena (trombone), Anne Bellamy (alto saxophone), Katie Branch (trombone), Molly Chavis (trumpet), Aubree Edmond (flute), Payton Gambill (trumpet), Luke Hamilton (percussion), Levi Kelly (clarinet), Avery Kenney (percussion), Railynn Malwin (alto saxophone), Nevaeh Morris (baritone), Ava Rios (clarinet), and Samuel

A shooting that injured one person in Portage lead to a standoff in Lowell, resulting in the arrest of a Chicago man, according to the Portage Police Department. On Monday March 3 just after 4:20 pm, Portage P.D. patrol officers responded to the 200 block of Greta Court in reference to a report of a man being shot.  It was later learned that the shooting actually occurred nearby in the 300 block of Jacobs Place, but the victim had been moved to this second location by associates.  Upon arrival, officers located a twenty-eight-year-old Hobart man suffering from gunshot wounds to

Press Release, Porter County Superior Court IV: INDIANAPOLIS—Porter Superior Court 4 Judge Christopher Buckley is the 2025 National Alliance on Mental Illness (“NAMI”), Indiana Advocates for Mental Health Justice Award recipient of the Executive Advocate for Mental Health Justice Award. NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. The NAMI Indiana Advocates for Mental Health Justice Awards honor exceptional leadership, collaboration, and dedication to advancing mental health justice. Judge Buckley was elected to serve as Judge of the Porter

Check out what's happening this month at 219 Taproom in Chesterton!

A man was arrested on gun charges Sunday after allegedly firing shots, according to the Michigan City Police Department. On March 2, at around 4:24 p.m., the FLOCK RAVEN gunshot detection system alerted to shots being fired near the 500 block of East 11th Street. Soon after, the LaPorte County 911 Regional Dispatch Center received information indicating that Michigan City resident, Michael Johnson, was the person who fired the shots. Johnson was reported to still be in the 11th Street area. Several officers responded to the scene, including a Long Beach Police Department officer. Police say the initial investigation revealed

Michigan City  – Choral students from several Michigan City Area Schools showcased their talents at the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) Solo and Ensemble Contest, earning top ratings for their performances. The competition was held on Saturday, February 8, at Valparaiso High School, with many receiving gold and silver ratings. A total of 28 students from the Michigan City High School choral department participated, and 10 of them advanced to the ISSMA State Solo and Ensemble Competition at Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis on Saturday, February 22. The students who qualified for state competition were Emma Abraham, Katelyn

The Food Bank of Northern Indiana announced mobile food distributions for the month of March: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 – Elkhart County 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET *While supplies last. Where: Excel Center, 154 E. Hively Ave., Elkhart, IN 46517 (Northside of building) *This distribution is sponsored by CVS and will serve 200 households. Thursday, March 6, 2025 – Kosciusko County 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET *While supplies last. Where: Kosciusko County Fairgrounds, 1400 E. Smith St., Warsaw, IN 46580 *This distribution is sponsored by Kroger and will serve 200 households. Wednesday, March 12, 2025 – LaPorte County

La PORTE, IN – City of La Porte Police Chief Dick Buell Tuesday announced his resignation from the department, according to La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody. Buell, who was sworn in in February of 2024, will step down effective immediately, stating in his resignation letter that he feels “it is now time for new leadership.” Dermody said Buell’s direction helped to guide the department following the retirement of former Chief Paul Brettin. "Dick was a fantastic leader and my kind of guy,” Dermody said. “His old school mentality and no-nonsense approach earned him the respect of the officers as well

Michigan City Police are investigating the death of a 5 year-old child, the department announced Monday night. On Sunday, March 2, at approximately 7:16 a.m., the LaPorte County Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call reference an unresponsive five year old male child inside a residence in the 2200 block of Normandy Drive. Two officers responded to the scene as did the Michigan City Fire Department and LaPorte County EMS. The child was transported from the residence to Franciscan Hospital and from there, flown to the University of Chicago Children’s Comer Hospital for advanced medical treatment. Despite all efforts, the

News Release, Indiana Department of Natural Resources: The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) continues to detect highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in wild birds throughout Indiana and has currently detected the H5NI virus in 30 counties. HPAI is also suspected in an additional 32 counties based on reports involving the deaths of raptors, cranes, and waterfowl. Counties where avian influenza has been detected in wild birds currently are Adams, Allen, Bartholomew, Benton, Boone, Clinton, Decatur, Gibson, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Henry, Huntington, Jackson, Jasper, Lake, LaPorte, Marion, Newton, Pike, Porter, Randolph, Ripley, Shelby, Starke, Tippecanoe, Union, Vanderburgh, and Vermillion.

The Portage Police Department introduced the four newest members of the Portage Police Department to be sworn in this year on Friday. Officer John Patston comes to the department from a neighboring jurisdiction with seventeen years of full-time law enforcement experience.  Thanks to this, Officer Patston was able to quickly complete his field training program, and he has been released for solo-patrol. Officer Anthony Mako is a 2019 graduate of Highland High School.  Prior to joining PPD Officer Mako served in the U.S. Navy and has a sales background. Officer Tiaan Coetzee is originally from South Africa but immigrated to

News Release, Franciscan Health: Board-certified family medicine physician Ted George Ody Achufusi, DO, MD, is now part of Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting patients in Michigan City. Dr. Ted Achufusi attended medical school at the Medical University of Lublin in Lublin, Poland and New York Institute of Technology’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, N.Y. Dr. Ted Achufusi’s clinical interests include alternative medicine; minor procedures such as joint injections and skin tag removal; osteopathic manipulative medicine; preventative health and women’s health. In addition to English, Dr. Ted Achufusi is fluent in Polish and Igbo. He is accepting new