Local News

The Valparaiso Police Department have officially welcomed therapy dog Ellie to their team. Last week, Ellie and her dedicated handlers completed their training. The department announced that her comforting services are now available to both their department members and the Valparaiso community. "Ellie’s arrival wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of our community, VPD stated on Facebook. "A heartfelt thank you goes out to our anonymous donor whose generosity brought this project to life, to Vale Park Animal Hospital, and to all of our amazing citizens who helped raise funds along the way. We also extend our sincere

Press Release by Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs: Indianapolis, IN – Indiana proudly announces an initiative to enhance support and services for its veteran community. A new standard in consistency and accountability, in the form of a statewide accreditation program, will be created by the Indiana Veterans Affairs Commission (IVAC). By January 1, 2026, the IVAC will roll out rigorous accreditation standards for the state's County Veteran Service Officers (CVSOs). Subsequently, by July 1, 2026, all CVSOs employed by counties or cities will be expected to meet these standards as directed in Senate Enrolled Act 433 . The responsibility to

One person died Friday after a crash involving two semis in Lowell, according to Lake County Sheriff, Oscar Martinez Jr. At about 9:30 a.m., police officers with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department responded to a crash involving two semis. The crash occurred at Route 2 and Union Street in Lowell. One of the semi drivers was pronounced deceased at the scene. As of Friday, the cause of the crash was still under investigation.

A New York man was arrested in connection with a home invasion that left a woman injured last weekend in Coolspring Township, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office announced. Matthew J. Mayer, 48, of Elmira, New York, was arrested outside the residence in connection with the home invasion. Late in the morning of Aug. 9, deputies were called to the residence located in the 6000 west block of County Road 400 North.  They were advised an individual had forced entry into the home and was attacking the homeowner.  Deputies arrived and encountered aman, later identified as Mayer, outside the residence. 

A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle on Friday according to the Michigan City Police Department. At about 9:15 p.m., MCPD responded to an accident at 6th Street and Pine Street involving a motor vehicle and a pedestrian. Officers located a man on the ground next to a bicycle, with a vehicle stopped in the intersection. The pedestrian was transported to Franciscan Health Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Streetcar service was briefly interrupted but has since resumed.  No further information was given by police.

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