Local News

A Portage resident has died after being struck by multiple vehicles at the intersection of US 20 and Samuelson Road, according to the Portage Police Department. On Wednesday Nov. 13, at around 5:37 p.m., officers of the Portage Police Department responded to the intersection of U.S. Highway 20 and Samuelson Road in reference to a report that a pedestrian was struck by a motor vehicle. The initial investigation shows that a pedestrian was walking northbound just west of the intersection when he was struck by a westbound sports utility vehicle. Police say the initial impact threw the victim into the

The Michigan City Parks and Recreation Department is personally responding to Santa Mail this year. If you drop them in Santa's Mailbox, located at the entrance to Washington Park, between now and midnight on Saturday, Dec. 7, you’ll receive a personal response from one of Santa's Helpers before Christmas. No postage necessary. Just be sure to include a return address if you'd like a response. Contact the Michigan City Parks & Recreation Department for more information at 219-873-1506 or parkandrec@emichigancity.com.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness announced results of the 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, which show a record low in Veteran homelessness since measurement began in 2009 and a 13% decrease in Indiana since 2023. Nationwide, the data shows a 11.7% reduction in Veterans experiencing homelessness since 2020 and a 55.6% reduction since 2010. The PIT Count is an annual count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January. In Indiana, the data show were 422 Veterans experiencing homelessness in January

Michigan City police are investigating a shooting that left one person injured on Thursday. At around 9:30 p.m. Thursday officers responded to the 700 block of East 10th Street for shots that were fired in the area. Officers arrived and learned multiple people fled the area on foot and in vehicles. No victim was found at the scene. Shortly after the call, a victim drove their vehicle to Michigan City Police Department and met with officers. Officers discovered that the vehicle was shot numerous times, and the victim had a gunshot wound to the leg. The victim was transported to

News Release, City of Valparaiso: The City of Valparaiso is encouraging citizens to participate in local government by applying to serve on the newly established Environmental Advisory Board, which is seeking four new members; and the Ethics Commission, which is seeking one new member. Environmental Advisory Board The Environmental Advisory Board was established by Ordinance 26, 2024 in October 2024 to provide guidance and recommendations to the City, staff, boards, commissions and community members on environmental sustainability policies and practices. The Board will promote sustainability, enhance environmental quality and ensure the responsible stewardship of natural resources for the benefit of current and

Press Release, City of Michigan City: With an eye on the future, Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch has invested significant time during her first year in office connecting with community and economic development experts from around the country. With the knowledge, tools and other resources she has gathered, Michigan City continues to grow and succeed, attracting attention on a national scale. As a result, Mayor Angie was one of seven U.S. mayors invited to attend the Mayors’ Institute on City Design, hosted at the University of Florida School of Architecture in October. Joining the mayors were seven design leaders

As people begin to plan for Thanksgiving holiday travel, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) is preparing to increase patrol visibility as part of the annual Safe Family Travel campaign. The campaign, which starts November 16, focuses on impaired driving, aggressive driving, and proper use of seat belts.  During the campaign, deputies will conduct saturation patrols designed to discourage impaired driving and promote seat belt usage.  The high-visibility enforcement campaign is funded with grants provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and administered through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI). “We’re anticipating another busy travel season this

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. -- An Indianapolis man who was wanted in an armed robbery that occurred in 2023 was arrested after a traffic stop on I-80. On Monday, an Indiana State Police Trooper out of the Lowell District made a traffic stop on I-80 in Lake County.  During the stop, it was determined that the driver, identified as 28-year-old David Kenneth Lee of Indianapolis, had an outstanding level (3) felony warrant for armed robbery in Spencer County, Indiana.  Lee was arrested and lodged in the Lake County Jail before being extradited to the Spencer County Security Center where he is

The Michigan City Street Department will lay asphalt at the intersection of Tilden Avenue and Gardena Street today, Nov. 15. The city is asking the public to please be cautious of the workers and adjust your travel plans accordingly.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred in Gary on Wednesday, Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr reported. According to Martinez, Gary police officers were conducting an ongoing undercover investigation in the 3400 block of Maryland Street. Sometime around noon, they encountered a suspect who attacked an officer. A press release from the Gary Police Department stated the suspect had a machete. The suspect was shot and was transported to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The Lake County Sheriff’s Department Detective Bureau is investigating the officer-involved shooting. A press release from the Gary

Several members of the Porter County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday graduated from the National Command and Staff College - West Point Leadership Program. The ceremony was hosted by Indiana Sheriffs' Association in Plainfield, IN. The most recent graduates are: Jail Commander Steve Lawrence Jail Assistant Commander Ryan Taylor Jail Captain Ryan Williams Major Gary Gear Investigations Commander Eric Jones PCMEG Captain Matt Edwards Patrol Corporal Nick Brown PIO Sergeant Ben McFalls In total, the Porter County Sheriff’s Office now has 11 officers that have graduated from this Leadership program across the agency.

(Porter County, IN) – In celebration of the American Cancer Society’s 48th Great American Smokeout on Nov. 21st, Hoosiers across Indiana are encouraged to “make the commitment and quit smoking today”. “With the holidays just around the corner, it’s a great time for people to give the ‘gift’ of a better life to themselves and to their family and friends by quitting. With fewer places to smoke in Indiana, now is the perfect time to quit,” said Carrie Higgins, Program Director of The Tobacco Education and Prevention Coalition for Porter County. Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of

Michigan City, IN – In order to meet a growing demand for high-quality early learning experiences in the Michigan City community, Michigan City Area Schools’ Little Wolves Early Learning Center has announced that it will now serve students who are age 3 at the time of enrollment. “We are so excited to add 3-year-olds to our program,” said Holly Martinez, Little Wolves Director. “Providing children with high-quality PreK at a young age is a way that parents can ensure their future kindergarteners are prepared and on track for greatness.” Research shows that children who experience high-quality PreK are more likely

Franciscan Health Michigan City is presenting a free suicide prevention course in December aimed at saving lives. The entry level question, persuade and refer or QPR Suicide Prevention Course is based on curriculum developed by the QPR Institute. The course aims to save lives and reduce suicidal behaviors by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, with one suicide taking place every 11 minutes. According to the QPR Institute, just as people trained in CPR and the

Press Release, Indiana Department of Education: A new student learning opportunity designed to increase access to high-quality summer programming for more Hoosier students is showing a return on investment. Data show that after just five weeks of intentional, high-quality instruction during the summer, students who attended the Summer Learning Labs in 2024 achieved double-digit percentage point proficiency gains in both reading and math. “In Indiana, we are laser-focused on finding innovative ways to maximize our support for students and doubling down on those solutions that yield the greatest return on investment,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “The

Press Release, The Pax Center: La Porte, IN—The Pax Center is thrilled to announce a generous $20,000 grant awarded by the Health Foundation of La Porte. This funding will not only help sustain the continued distribution of fresh produce at the Pax Center’s Food Pantry in the upcoming year but also inspire hope in the community. This support is critical in advancing our mission to keep La Porte County well-fed and well-loved, ensuring that fresh, nutritious food remains accessible to those in need. Access to fresh produce has a profound impact on health and well-being. According to the Centers for

No one was injured after a structure fire Monday night in Westville. At 11:39 p.m., the LaPorte County E911 Center dispatched emergency services to a residence in New Durham Estates - West for an active residential structure fire. Deputy Marshal Albanese was on scene within 3 minutes of the initial dispatch, finding that the only resident was outside of the house and began efforts to evacuate the residents from a neighboring residence with assistance from other responding agencies. There were no injuries resulting from the fire, but the structure was a complete loss. Crews from Westville Vol. Fire Department and

The Rotary Club of Michigan City will honor six individuals from the community with the annual Service Above Self Award on Thursday, November 14. This year’s recipients include: Corporal Mark Galetti, MCPD Police Officer of the Year; Cadet Corporal Mercedes White, JROTC Cadet of the Year; Sergeant Braxton Bradbury, Correctional Officer of the Year; Tyler Kreighbaum, MCFD Firefighter of the Year; Daisy Lee, MCAS Teacher of the Year; and Dexter Watkins, La Porte County EMT/Paramedic of the Year. Awards will be presented during an event that is open to the public at The Salvation Army of Michigan City, 1201 S.

The Indiana Department of Transportation will host seven public information meetings as it continues its Planning and Environment Linkage (PEL) studies along the US 30 and US 31 corridors in northern Indiana. The purpose of the meetings is to share potential improvement packages at primary and secondary intersections, which are detailed in each study’s Draft Level 3 Screening Report. Draft reports are now available for viewing on the ProPEL US 30 and ProPEL US 31 study websites. The studies span 180 miles across 12 counties and include US 30 from Valparaiso to the Indiana/Ohio state line (excluding I-69 and I-469

Michigan City High School (MCHS) honored veterans with a ceremony held at MCHS, conducted by the school band, choir and Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC). The guest speaker was State Senator Rodney Pol. The ceremony was a modified military parade, to include the march on of troops, a demonstration of armed exhibition drill modeled after the U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, and Pass In Review by the MCHS Color Guard and Drill team. The band, under the direction of Mr. Frank Gast, performed military music, including the Armed Forces Medley. Ms. Michelle Howisen, the Choir Director,