Local News

News release, Purdue University Northwest: HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Financial aid professionals will be on site at Purdue University Northwest’s (PNW) Hammond and Westville campuses during the statewide College Goal Sunday programs on Feb. 23. The free event will take place from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. CST and will help college-bound students and their families apply for financial aid. College Goal Sunday programs provide assistance to students in filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA form is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, scholarships and federal loans at most colleges,

MICHIGAN CITY, IN —Unity Foundation of La Porte County is pleased to announce the addition of Katie Eaton and Dr. Sandra Wood to its Board of Directors. Katie Eaton is the Public Affairs & Economic Development Manager at NIPSCO. She currently serves as a board member for the Valparaiso Economic Development Corporation, the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Salvation Army Corps of Michigan City. She has also served on numerous Unity committees and on the Vibrant Communities of La Porte County Steering Committee. On joining the Unity Board, Eaton said, “I’m excited to continue giving back to

Press release, Michigan City Area Schools: The Michigan City High School (MCHS) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) conducted a presentation at Kreuger Middle School on February 5th to familiarize the 8th graders with the program prior to scheduling their courses for the 2025-2026 school year. The cadets demonstrated regulation and exhibition military drills, along with various Raider meet events. They will be doing the same presentation at Barker Middle School on February 12th. Senior Marine Instructor Major Tom McGrath stated that one of the objectives of the presentation was to clarify some misconceptions about the JROTC. “Since the Covid shut-downs,

MUNSTER, Ind. -- Registration is now open for the Franciscan Health Produce Prescription Program in Munster, which aims to assist with chronic disease management. Upon successful completion of the free, four-week program, participants will receive produce vouchers for fresh produce every month for six months. Participants must have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, heart disease or cancer; meet other criteria as determined by a screening process and complete a four-week Cooking Matters course. Attendees need not be patients within the Franciscan Health system to participate. The course is presented in part through a formal relationship between Franciscan Health and

The Portage Police Department have launched an investigation after the remains of a missing Hobart woman have been found. Portage Detectives began investigating the cold-case disappearance of Shannon Orton in the summer of 2023 after being contacted by the Hobart Police Department with new information. Orton disappeared from Cressmoor Mobile Home Park located in Hobart, IN in the summer of 2020. Recently, the remains of Shannon Orton were discovered in Portage, IN. Portage Police are asking for assistance with any information citizens may have regarding the disappearance and death of Orton. The investigation is ongoing with multiple suspects, the Portage

The City of Valparaiso invites the community to attend the first-ever Community Conference on April 17 at Valparaiso University.  “Whether you’re new in town or you’ve lived here for a while, it is our goal that every participant finds one or more meaningful ways to engage in our community, offering pathways to build connections and contribute to the community’s growth,” said Maggie Clifton, Community Engagement Director.  Visit the event brite link to register https://www.eventbrite.com/.../valparaiso-community...

The first gathering in Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch’s town hall series “Let’s Talk Solutions” will kick off on Thursday, Feb. 13 at City Hall, 100 E. Michigan Blvd, the City of Michigan City announced on its Facebook page. Doors will open at 5 p.m. with opening remarks and general updates set for 5:45 p.m. The open-house style event invites the public to interact with representatives from various city departments, including refuse, code enforcement, education and workforce development, police, fire and more. The event will be in the Emergency Operations Center and Council Chambers on the lower level at City Hall,

The City of La Porte has announced that due to office-wide illness, the Utility Billing Office will be open by drive-thru only this week. Their front window in City Hall will be closed. The Drive-Thru is located behind City Hall and can be accessed off of Michigan and Monroe. They can also be reached by phone at 219-362-3175 or by email at utilitybilling@cityoflaportein.gov.

The National Weather service of Northern Indiana and Chicago have issued Winter Weather Advisories which remain in effect through early Thursday. For portions of northern Indiana and northwest Ohio: ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EST /9 AM CST/ THURSDAY... * WHAT...Freezing rain expected. Total ice accumulations around one tenth of an inch. * WHERE...Portions of northern Indiana and northwest Ohio. * WHEN...From 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ this evening to 10 AM EST /9 AM CST/ Thursday. * IMPACTS...Difficult travel conditions are possible. The hazardous conditions

Here is the latest from the La Porte County Sheriff's Office regarding a motor vehicle pursuit whihc resulted in two arrests.  Yesterday at 9:50 AM, a Highway Interdiction Deputy was monitoring eastbound traffic on the Indiana Toll Road (I-80/90) at the 56-mile marker. A white Jaguar was found to be traveling in excess of the posted speed limit. The deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop in the area of the 62-mile marker. The driver failed to stop the vehicle resulting in a motor vehicle pursuit (MVP). The MVP continued to the 72-mile marker where it was terminated. Several minutes

Valpo Parks announced that in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, they will be restoring vital habitat at Rogers Lakewood Park by controlling and managing invasive woody plants that threaten the park’s ecosystem. For safety, the park will be closed Feb. 9-12 as crews remove invasive brush from approximately 30 acres of woodland. This project will enhance forest structure, diversity, and overall park health. The restoration of Rogers Lakewood Park aligns with the City of Valparaiso's commitment to environmental stewardship. The city is also a designated "Tree City" by the Arbor Day Foundation and a "Monarch City" by

Lake County Sheriff’s Department police officers launched a rescue Tuesday to save a dog that made its way to the roof of a three-story house. Sheriff Oscar Martinez says that someone in the area flagged Officer Vicari down after spotting the dog on top of a home near 18th and Malcolm X Drive in Gary sometime around 1 p.m. “The Gary Fire Department was contacted but refused to respond citing that they did not want to risk the safety of their fire personnel,” Martinez stated on the Lake County Sheriff’s Department Facebook page. “As a result, Lake County Sheriff’s Department

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from noon CST Wednesday to 6 AM CST Thursday: * WHAT...Mixed precipitation, including freezing rain expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations up to one inch and ice accumulations up to one tenth to locally two tenths of an inch are expected. * WHERE...Portions of central, east central, north central, and northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana. * WHEN...From noon CST /1 PM EST/ Wednesday to 6 AM CST /7 AM EST/ Thursday. * IMPACTS...Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Plan on slippery road conditions, including during the Wednesday

The newly created Chesterton Sustainability Board, will meet at 12 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, at the town hall, 726 Broadway. Anyone interested in serving on the Sustainability Board or in otherwise volunteering to help make the Town of Chesterton a greener and cleaner place to live is cordially invited to attend the meeting. Information will be gathered, a board will be organized, and the process of drafting an ordinance to establish the body officially will begin.

The La Porte Civic Auditorium is pleased to introduce Gregory Pietsch as our Civic & Events Director. The central Indiana native brings experience from the baseball diamond, from playing college ball to interning with a minor league team, as well as a background in event planning and hospitality. Upon graduation in 2021 from Indiana University South Bend with a double major in Marketing and Advertising, Gregory began his career in finance before taking an internship with the Kalamazoo Growlers and Battle Creek Battle Jacks in the Northwoods League. That experience opened up an opportunity as the Hospitality Manager for The

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. -- Two drivers were hospitalized after a head-on collision Saturday in Lake County, according to Sheriff Oscar Martinez. On Saturday, at around 4:35 p.m., Lake County Sheriff’s Department patrol units were dispatched to the area of 2100 W. 169th Avenue in unincorporated Lowell for a two-vehicle crash with injuries. A preliminary investigation indicates a Ford Escape SUV was traveling eastbound on 169th Avenue and a Kia Soul SUV was traveling in the opposite direction when the vehicles were involved in a head-on collision. Both drivers were transported to an area hospital for treatment. The driver of the

HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Purdue University Northwest (PNW) will honor five exceptional university alumni through its expanded 2025 PNW Alumni Hall of Fame awards that recognize accomplished graduates across different stages of their careers. Included in the fourth annual PNW Alumni Hall of Fame class are Nicole Kupchik, CEO of Nicole Kupchik Consulting, Inc., and Mason Macenski, vice president of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs at Miromatrix Medical Inc. In addition, the first recipient of the Pride of PNW Alumni Award is Rick Calinski, director of Public Affairs and Economic Development for Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO). Calinski is

Press release, Michigan City High School MCJROTC: The Michigan City High School (MCHS) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) competed in a military drill meet at Indianapolis Ben Davis High School on Saturday, Feb. 1st. Many of the top MCJROTC programs participated, some of which have qualified for the national drill championship in the past. Mr. Luke Wright, the MCJROTC Director for MCHS’s Region, was in attendance. Purdue University ROTC midshipmen judged the meet. “We represented MCHS well at this meet,” said Major Tom McGrath, the Senior Marine Instructor. “We do not have the depth that the larger

Chesterton, IN – The Duneland Exchange Club is proud to recognize Chesterton High School senior, Kolvin Dade, as our Youth of the Month. Kolvin is an AP Scholar, a member of the Principals’ Honor Roll (2021-2023) and the CHS High Honor Roll (2022-2023). Beyond his academic achievements, Kolvin is a talented speaker and an integral member of the CHS Speech and Debate Team, where he primarily competes in the Lincoln-Douglas Debate event. His leadership extends into his roles as a National Honor Society member, AP Mentor, and Student Aide. Looking ahead, Kolvin aspires to attend the University of Michigan to

SOUTH BEND – Raymond Calvin Smith, 27 years old, and Bruce Milik Smith, 25 years old, brothers from LaPorte, Indiana, were sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to federal felony charges, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay. Raymond Smith was sentenced to 70 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release. Bruce Smith was sentenced to 39 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release. The two brothers were ordered to pay $723,832.64 in restitution to the victims of their offense. Raymond Smith was also ordered to pay $162,928.62 in