Local News

Debbie Martin spent 31 years taking care of others while working at Franciscan Health Michigan City, but when her own health issues became too overwhelming, she knew she had to stop working and care for herself. “I was very lonely,” the 66-year-old Michigan City woman said. “I can’t drive, so I’m pretty much confined to the house. The depression was horrible, just a downward spiral.” Martin was worried about what would happen to her dog, Cooper, if she had to go into a nursing home. Last summer, Martin’s home health physical therapist asked if she’d ever heard of Franciscan’s Program of

Two projects are set to begin on I-94 near U.S. 20/Exit 22. Overnight lane closures will be utilized to set up these work zones and new traffic configurations.The left and right shoulders closed on eastbound I-94 and the left shoulder of westbound I-94 closed at U.S. 20 on or after Thursday, March 20 through the beginning of June. Crews will be removing the current overhead box truss structure over the eastbound lanes in this location and installing a new one slightly to the west.The right lane and shoulder closed on I-94 westbound at the Norfolk Southern Railroad bridge on or

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces opportunities to learn more and provide comments regarding its draft 2026-2030 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The STIP is Indiana’s five-year planning and construction document that lists all transportation projects expected to be funded within the next five years using federal funding in addition to regionally significant state funded projects. The current STIP (2024-2028) and draft 2026-2030 STIP are available on INDOT’s STIP webpage. Learn more about the STIP with the STIP Public Primer, also available on INDOT’s STIP webpage. Open houses will take place at the following locations (all times EST): South Bend:

Registration is now open! Join us at the 2025 Living Health, Balance & Hope Symposium as we celebrate 50 years of meeting the health and wellness needs in Northwest Indiana! This year's symposium will be held on Thursday, May 8th at the Porter County Expo Center where presenter, Zach Brittle, LMHC, will explore the power of relationships and how we all can nurture and strengthen them! Registration options include the Keynote Lunch or the Full Day Symposium. Earn up to 4 CEUs! Sponsorship opportunities are also available! Learn more and register today! For more information visit www.porterstarke.org. #wims #nwi #localradio

CROWN POINT, Ind. – Franciscan Health is hosting a free, weekly smoking cessation walk and talk support group aimed at helping individuals live healthier, smoke-free lives. The sessions will begin with a 30-minute walk and casual conversation with other participants. A 30-minute focused, supportive discussion will follow, allowing participants to share their experiences, challenges and successes with others who are also working to quit smoking. Leaders will explore different topics each week tailored to the groups’ needs, including mindfulness exercises, stress management techniques and practical coping skills to help overcome cravings and triggers. The discussion topics will change weekly based

The City of Valparaiso's Human Relations Council invites the community to apply for its new 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬, designed to spark ideas and support efforts that advance inclusion and education.  𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟑𝟎.  Learn more and apply by visiting tinyurl.com/ValpoCulturalGrant

Jackson Township – Liberty Township Volunteer Fire Department responded to three separate brush/grass fires that were called in after the fires were unable to be controlled by the homeowners of residences in Jackson Township, Porter County. One early night fire in the dark was reported by a nearby neighbor that showed evidence of a fire that was left unattended at one property and then had spread through a ravine towards other residences through a forested area. The fires contributed to approximately 3-acres in total being burned between the incidents. The first fire occurred shortly before noon (March 14) that sent

TEAM WIMS celebrates another  "SOLD OUT” Event with the Duneland Chamber of Commerce on their 10th Anniversary of Corkscrew & Brew. Beautiful Weather, Wonderful Vendors, Incredible Sponsors, Awesome Community Support.  Thank you to our WIMS EVENT Sponsors including: The Duneland Chamber of Commerce, Chesterton's European Market, Arnett Construction & Roofing and NIPSCO. #wims #nwi #localradio #chesterton #duneland

TEAM WIMS having a blast on Saturday with Terry Greetham and Eric Williams with Michigan City Special Events at the 2025 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Michigan City. Beautiful weather, Awesome people, Community Fun and Family Fun. Thanks to everyone that came out. Thank you to our WIMS EVENT Sponsors including: Michigan City Special Events, NIPSCO, Arnett Construction & Roofing, General Insurance Services, and Arby's of Michigan City. #wims #nwi #localradio #duneland #chesterton

This past Wednesday, Troopers from the Indiana State Police Lowell Post, along with Troopers and Motor Carrier Inspectors assigned to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED), participated in a traffic enforcement blitz focusing on I-80/94 and I-65. The blitz resulted in the following statistics being compiled: 85 Traffic tickets 110 Warnings 66 Left lane violations (trucks over 10,000 lbs.) 39 Inspections 7 Criminal arrests 5 Crash reports taken 2 O.W.I. arrests Lt. Terrance Weems, Commander of the Indiana State Police Lowell Post, commented on the results, “The Lowell Post, along with our partners in CVED, remains committed to monitoring our

An Indiana Department of Transportation contractor will resume bridge work on I-65 between State Road 2 and State Road 10 on or after Monday, March 17. Overnight lane closures will be utilized during the hours of around 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for approximately ten days to set up the traffic configuration for phase three of this project. Overnight lane closures will begin on the northbound side first and then continue southbound. The phase three traffic configuration will have northbound traffic shifted to the right. Southbound traffic will be split, with the left lane as a counterflow lane on the

Rep. Frank J. Mrvan on Friday announced the details of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition for high school students from Indiana’s First Congressional District. Each year, the Congressional Institute and Members of the U.S. House of Representatives sponsor the Congressional Art Competition as an opportunity to promote the artistic talent in each Congressional District. Congressman Mrvan stated, “I look forward to hosting the Congressional Art Competition in Indiana’s First Congressional District again this spring.  This competition is an opportunity for high school students to showcase their artistic skills, creativity, and passion for our region with a work of art to

Press release, Indiana State Comptroller: STATEHOUSE — State Comptroller Elise Nieshalla recently voted to further ensure investment options for the State’s deferred compensation retirement plan, Hoosier START, are chosen and monitored for the prioritization of objective financial factors over non-financial environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors. “By focusing solely on financial factors, we not only prioritize the best possible retirement investment options for State of Indiana employees and retirees, but also uphold our fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of plan participants,” said Comptroller Nieshalla. “This policy amendment adds an additional safeguard for participant’s retirement funds.” The Indiana

The Chesterton-Porter Rotary Club is announcing up to $10,000 in scholarships for 2025 CHS graduates. Five scholarships will be offered at up to $2,000 each: *DIRK BAER SCHOLARSHIP: For a student seeking a degree in liberal arts with demonstrated financial need. *GEORGE KRIVISKEY SCHOLARSHIP: For a student seeking a degree in the sciences. *WARREN H. CANRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP: For a student seeking a degree in a vocational or trade field. *WARREN CARMICHAEL SCHOLARSHIP: For a student seeking a degree in a public service field. *ALFRED P. NELSON SCHOLARSHIP: For a student seeking a degree in education. “Chesterton-Porter Rotary is pleased to

A man was arrested after allegedly setting a hotel room on fire in Michigan City, according to the La Porte County Sheriff's Office. Thursday night at 11:24 p.m., a deputy responded to the Microtel Inn (9834 West 400 North) just beofre regarding an unknown problem in Room 214. From the second-floor hallway, the deputy attempted to make contact with the room occupant, 50-year-old Calvin Kinney. The attempts to check the status of Kinney were unsuccessful and gray smoke began to emanate from underneath the room door and out into the hallway. The fire alarm was activated for the safety of

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - The Indiana Department of Transportation announced lane closures will be taking place on U.S. 6/State Road 51 at I-94 beginning on or after Monday, March 17. Alternating lane closures will occur between Old Hobart Road and 22nd Avenue for approximately two weeks for traffic signal work. There will also be lane closures on the ramp from westbound I-94 and eastbound and westbound I-90 (Indiana Toll Road) to northbound State Road 51. This is pre-work ahead of the U.S. 6/State Road 51 bridge replacement over I-94. This extensive bridge project will be ongoing through 2026.

La Porte, IN – Health Foundation of La Porte (HFL), La Porte County Family YMCA (the Y), and City of La Porte are thrilled to announce the beginning of an exciting new chapter: the development of a new community recreation center, managed by the Y, in the city of La Porte. This initiative marks a significant step forward in HFL and the Y’s commitment to be a driving force and a major influencer for a healthier La Porte County. The new community recreation center will be the Y’s La Porte center of operations. The Y team looks forward to providing

HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Purdue University Northwest (PNW) announced following a national search that José R. Sánchez will join the university as dean of the College of Engineering and Sciences, effective May 1, 2025. Sánchez most recently served at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts, where he held positions as dean and professor of the School of Science and Engineering and founding dean of the School of Engineering and Computational Sciences. His accomplishments included securing transformative gifts to establish endowed professorships and research initiatives, significant expansion of sponsored research, the addition of several market-responsive undergraduate and master’s programs, and

The Lake County Sheriff’s Department and several other agencies are investigating a house explosion in unincorporated Hebron, Indiana. Police say three men were seriously injured. It happened at about 6:15 p.m. Friday at a home in the 4200 block of West 181st Avenue. Investigators are still trying to determine a cause for the explosion. Two men, ages 49 and 39 are hospitalized with serious burns. A third man, 64 years old, is hospitalized with burns and other injuries from the blast. Preliminary information indicates the men had been working to clean out the home at the time. The house was

The La Porte Water Department's spring water system flushing is set to begin this weekend, according to La Porte Water Superintendent Tim Werner. Beginning Sunday, March 16 and continuing for four to five weeks, crews will be out to flush fire hydrants throughout the community Sunday through Thursday between the hours of 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. Werner reminds residents that this process is a critical part of maintaining the city’s water quality and infrastructure. "Hydrant flushing is nothing new to our residents, as it happens every year," Werner said. "Still, we like to take the opportunity each time to