Local News

News Release, Indiana Department of Natural Resources: Four Indiana Conservation Officer K-9 teams were recognized for completing the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Law Enforcement’s nine-week K-9 Resource Protection Program during a graduation ceremony held today on the south lawn of the Indiana Statehouse. Indiana’s K-9 program started in 1997 with a pilot program of two teams. Because of its effectiveness, the program has grown to 10 K-9 teams throughout the state, one in each of the Indiana DNR Law Enforcement districts. The Indiana K-9 program is well respected and consistently recognized as one of the nation’s best.

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Superior Construction will close the ramp from U.S. 12 to State Road 249 northbound/Port of Indiana on or after Tuesday, May 27. The ramp will be closed for approximately three weeks. Motorists should seek alternate routes. The official detours will utilize U.S. 20 and State Road 149. This closure is part of the State Road 249 bridge construction entering the Port of Indiana.

La Porte—The La Porte Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees has been recognized by the Indiana School Boards Association (ISBA) with an Exemplary Governance Award (EGA) for calendar year 2024 for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to student success and professional learning. The La Porte Community School Corporation School Board is one of only 124 school boards in Indiana to earn an award through the EGA program this year. This marks the first time in over a decade that La Porte has received this prestigious distinction. The EGAs are conferred annually across four levels of distinction based on the points

The Portage Police Department has announced that on Tuesday, May 27 through Friday, June 6 the streets listed below will experience intermittent lane restrictions for asphalt milling and road resurfacing. A flag person will be on-site directing traffic. Gina Street between Clem Road and the Cul-de-sac Carnation Avenue between Poinsettia Street and Lily Street Lily Street between Carnation Avenue and Gardenia Avenue Gardenia Avenue between Lily Avenue and Hibiscus Street Zinnia Street between Carnation Avenue and Gardenia Avenue Hibiscus Street between Blossom Avenue and the Cul-de-sac Iris Street between Blossom Avenue and the Cul-de-sac Daisy Street between Carnation Avenue and

On Thursday, members of the Michigan City Police Department, along with other City of Michigan City employees, participated in the graduation ceremony for the 41st class of Leadership LaPorte County. "We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Lieutenant Mike King, Corporal Kay Pliske, and Social Worker Jocelyn Colburn on this significant achievement, the Michigan City Police Department said on its Facebook page. "Your dedication to personal and professional growth is an inspiration to us all. A big congratulations as well to the entire 41st graduating class from your MCPD Family. We’re proud to stand with you as you continue to lead

The City of Valparaiso has announced on Friday that due to construction issues with a utility upgrades project, the Goodrich Road closure north of Ransom Road will be extended, tentatively for the next 14 days. City staff are reviewing potential remedies and are coordinating a fix with contractors. Through traffic should follow the posted detour route. Access for local traffic will be provided via Candlewood Drive and Lake Meadow Drive.

The Duneland Chamber of Commerce seeks nominations for their Annual Community Awards event, including the Duneland Distinguished Woman Award. Chesterton, IN, May 22, 2025 – The Duneland Chamber of Commerce is currently seeking community nominations for eight awards given during the Duneland Chamber Community Awards Luncheon, to be held on Wednesday, July 16. Nomination forms are available at www.dunelandchamber.org or can be emailed to you upon request. All nominations are due by Friday, June 26, 2025. Putting Duneland on the Map Award honors an individual or organization whose achievements have brought state and/or national recognition to the Duneland area. Business Renovation Award

Police officers with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department Highway Interdiction / Drug Task Force on Wednesday seized 8,000 – 10,000 suspected fentanyl pills during a traffic stop on I-65. Officers stopped 33-year-old Nigel Beach of Shelbyville, Kentucky, heading south near Lowell for windshield obstruction and a moving violation. While the driver was retrieving vehicle documents, officers observed suspected marijuana inside the vehicle. Officers later found several plastic bags packed with suspected fentanyl pills on the floor of the vehicle. The Drug Enforcement Administration seized the pills. Beach was taken into custody and is being held at the Jasper County Jail.

California Man Sentenced to 108 Months in Prison while traveling through Northern Indiana for Controlled Substance Offense SOUTH BEND – Antonio Curiel, 44 years old, of San Ysedro, California, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay. Curiel was sentenced to 108 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, in March 2024, Curiel was transporting more than 18 kilograms of cocaine from California to the East

Indy Airport Gears Up for the Indy 500, Summer Travel More than 111,000 travelers to fly out of IND this week INDIANAPOLIS The Indianapolis International Airport (IND) will be a huge hub of activity this week and through the weekend as race fans from around the world arrive to participate in the one-and-only Indy 500-mile race – and the official summer travel season kickoff as well. Below are facts and figures about summer travel out of IND this week, as well as photo, video and live-shot opportunities leading up to the Indy 500 weekend. PASSENGER TRAVEL NUMBERS* -- See video comment clips

Michigan City Special Events and Harbor Country Adventures present the MC Food and Music Fest this weekend on Saturday and Sunday. TEAM WIMS LIVE on Saturday starting at 11a. Family friendly, FREE Admission, Battle of the Bands and so much more. Thank you to our WIMS Event sponsors including: Visit Michigan City LaPorte Arnett Construction & Roofing NIPSCO and General Insurance Services   Saturday May 24th and Sunday May 25th from 11a-7p MC Food and Music Fest in Washington Park, Michigan City Over 20 of the Region's Best Food Trucks Battle of the Bands – Saturday Live Music – Sunday

Liberty Township – Whether you head out to enjoy the water of Lake Michigan, local lake, river, or backyard pool, safety must always come first. With Memorial Day weekend right around the corner, fire departments want to remind the community and visitors to take water safety seriously. Drawing from recent incidents recorded last year, there were 51 drownings in Lake Michigan reported. Children ranging between 1 to 4 are at the highest risk for pool deaths according to the Center for Disease Control for unintentional drownings in the United States. Key Water Safety Tips: • Always Wear a Life Jacket: U.S.

The annual Memorial Day ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Dennis F. Smith Amphitheater in Fox Park. The program will begin with a performance by the LaPorte City Band. In the event of poor weather, the ceremony will be moved the La Porte Civic Auditorium.

The Recycling and Waste District of Porter County announces its upcoming Fix-It Fair, a community- driven event focused on sustainability and skill-sharing. This free event will take place on Saturday, June 14th, 2025 from 10am to 1pm at the Porter County Public Library System: Valparaiso Branch located at 103 Jefferson St, Valparaiso. The Fix-It Fair is designed to help community members breathe new life into their beloved but broken items, rather than discarding them. Expert volunteers will be on hand to offer free repair services and guidance for a wide variety of items, including, but not limited to: -Sewing: Clothing

La Porte County, IN, May 2025 Farmed & Forged Producers Market is officially back for the season, with Opening Weekend celebrations taking place Saturday, May 24 in Michigan City and Sunday, May 25 in La Porte. As a producer-only market run by The Collective Events, Inc., Farmed & Forged is proud to feature a wide array of locally grown produce, handmade goods, fresh foods, and live entertainment, all with a strong mission-driven purpose. This year’s market season launches with a spotlight on Curious Chefs, a new youth program created by The Collective to encourage food confidence, nutrition education, and hands-on learning.

Westville, IN  The Westville Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the 7th Annual Market on Main that is scheduled in downtown Westville on Saturday, June 7th from 10 am until 3pm. The Market on Main is a walk down Main Street in Westville, where you can enjoy 20+artisan and vintage vendors along with local food. Admission is free, and the Market is open to all ages! Westville Cruise In Car Club will be here to welcome you and Burn 'Em Brewing will be sponsoring a beer tent featuring their local craft beer.Also, Ric Federghi from WIMS Radio will be

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - An INDOT contractor is moving to phase three of the bridge deck overlay preventative maintenance project on I-65 over Norfolk Southern Railroad between Ridge Rd. and 61st Ave. Overnight lane closures will be conducted on I-65 northbound in this location from 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 22 to 5 a.m. on Friday, May 23 to move northbound I-65 into a new traffic configuration. This is weather dependent and subject to change. Starting the following morning, the work zone will be on the left on the northbound side of the roadway. The northbound travel lanes will be

In an update Michigan City Area Schools announced they will not make up the instructional day missed on Friday, May 16, due to widespread power outages following severe weather.  The last day of school for students remains Thursday, May 29.

Starting today in Chesterton, the intersection of Augusta Boulevard and Veterans Avenue will be closed for curb and sidewalk reconstruction. The Town of Chesterton is asking the public to use alternate routes. An end date/time for the closure was not given.

News Release, Franciscan Health: MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – Franciscan Health Breast Care Center Michigan City breast cancer patients will have additional support thanks to a generous donation from the Michigan City United States Bowling Congress Bowling Association. The organization raised $17,251, a record for the event, at its February Bowl for the Cure fundraiser at Olympia Lanes II in Michigan City to support local breast cancer patients through the Franciscan Health Foundation’s Michigan City Mammography Department/Breast Cancer Fund. The organization has raised more than $134,500 for Franciscan Health Michigan City since 2008. Olympia Lanes II owner Nick Loxas donated the