Local News

The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra announces the 20th Annual Hoosier Star Vocal Competition - Hoosier Star of Stars! The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce that the 20th Annual Hoosier Star vocal competition will take place on September 13, 2025 at the La Porte Civic Auditorium and will feature the adult winners from the nine prior Hoosier Star competitions who will compete for the prestigious title "Hoosier Star of Stars", as well as a cash prize. The finalists will sing their winning song accompanied by the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Music

NEST COMMUNITY SHELTER LAUNCHES TICKET SALES FOR FIRST  FUNDRAISING GALA IN THE ORGANIZATION’S HISTORY   Nest’s Emerald Gala will Feature a Plated Dinner, Dancing, and Fundraising Auctions to Raise Funds for Nest Community Shelter’s Operations.   MICHIGAN CITY, IN., Nest Community Shelter’s first ever charity gala tickets are on sale. The inaugural event, scheduled for May 3, 2025, at The Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City, promises an evening of entertainment and philanthropy in support of the shelter's mission to combat homelessness across La Porte County.   "This gala represents a milestone for our organization," said Harrison Holtkamp, Executive Director

Franciscan Health will be hosting a virtual diabetes prevention program online starting Tuesday, April 8 at 5 p.m. Central/6 p.m. Eastern. Franciscan Health’s Diabetes Prevention Program follows guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that have been proven to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. More than one in three adults have prediabetes, but most do not know it. Without lifestyle changes, prediabetes can lead to type 2 diabetes, which can be prevented or delayed with lifestyle changes, like those implemented through the Franciscan Health Diabetes Prevention Program. Groups meet weekly for a total of 16 sessions,

5 people found DEAD after a wellness check in Lake Station-see below for details from the Lake Station Police Department   On 2/21/25 at approximately 2:44pm, Officers of the Lake Station Police Department were dispatched to the 6700 Block of 9th Avenue in reference to a welfare check. Upon arrival, a search warrant was obtained for the residence in question, at which point 5 deceased individuals were located. The preliminary investigation has lead investigators to believe this is an isolated incident with no threat to the public. The Lake Station Police Department is asking for the public's patience while more

A 39-year-old man suspected in the fatal stabbing of a 33-year-old woman and the kidnapping of an 8-year-old boy in Chicago is in custody at an area hospital after leading police from several agencies on a pursuit Friday morning, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Department. An Amber Alert had been issued for 8-year-old Tristan Gaters overnight, saying he was last seen in a silver 2022 Ford Escape SUV driven by 39-year-old Marcus Bausley. At around 9:30 a.m., Lake County Sheriff’s Department police officers were alerted by the department's license plate reader system about the vehicle included in the Amber

Sixteen Indiana conservation officers are returning home after deploying to Kentucky last weekend to assist with widespread flooding. The group, consisting of two Type I swift water rescue teams, was requested by Kentucky through an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) to aid in search and rescue missions. The officers left Indiana on Sunday, Feb. 16 and initially staged in Richmond, Kentucky, before being reassigned to Frankfort, Kentucky, and then Leslie County in southeast Kentucky. The two teams were tasked with search and rescue missions, welfare checks and delivery of food, water, fuel and generators to the flooded areas that were

The City of Valparaiso is reminding the public that the March 1 deadline for Neighborhood Improvement Grant applications  is quickly approaching. To find grant materials and resources, including a 27-minute webinar that covers all the details on how to submit a successful application in 2025, visit the link provided on the Valpo Now Facebook page. You can also see it by clicking here.  

Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez is warning the public of a scam involving text messages claiming to be from the Indiana Toll Road. “Scammers are sending fraudulent text messages claiming to be from the Indiana Toll Road,” Martinez said on the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.  “These messages say the recipient owes money for unpaid tolls and include a link to make a payment.  The scammers often use an Indiana Toll Road logo and the phony link uses the name of the agency. Do not click on any links or provide personal or financial information.  You may even want

Homeward Bound Villages Celebrates Successful End-of-Year Giving Campaign and Completes Phase 1 Funding Goal Grants from ARPA, Unity Foundation, and Local Partnerships Drive Affordable Housing Initiative Forward LA PORTE, IN -Homeward Bound Villages, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing the urgent need for affordable housing in La Porte County, proudly announces the successful completion of funding for Phase 1 of its flagship project, Karwick Village, made possible through an overwhelmingly successful end-of-year fundraising and grant awards. This milestone represents a significant achievement for the organization, which surpassed its target thanks to the generous support of individual donors, local businesses, and key

On Friday morning La Porte County Sheriff’s deputies investigated a four vehicle personal injury crash on U.S. 20. and State Road 39. The crash was reported to the sheriff’s office Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. The crash involved three commercial motor vehicles and one passenger vehicle. The westbound U.S. 20 driving lane and northbound State Road 39 closed at the intersection. U.S. 20 reopened an hour later after the police reported the crash to social media. Police did not provide further details on the update.  

Charges are pending against a Griffith man who was driving with a dog in his truck bed while the temperature was in the single digits, according to the Town of Porter Police. At approximately 1:45 AM on Feb. 20 a Town of Porter Police Officer on patrol in the area of U.S. Highway 20 and I-94 observed "a large canine riding in the exposed bed of a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck," according to a statement on the Town of Porter Facebook page. The German Shepherd mix, was unprotected in any way from the severe single digit temperatures. An officer initiated

The City of La Porte has announced that tree removals are expected to take place along Indiana Avenue as early as next week, and will continue for up to two weeks. New utilities are being installed along the street, requiring "significant" excavation. "Each and every tree was evaluated by the City Forester and the project engineers, before deciding whether or not to remove or retain the tree, keeping in mind the best long-term interests and safety of the surrounding community," the City of La Porte stated on its Facebook page. The City says the removals are necessary due to the

A Michigan City woman has been arrested and charged with two counts of Dealing Resulting in Death following an extensive investigation into the distribution of fentanyl in LaPorte County. The arrest is the result of "Operation Payday," a lengthy investigation led by the LaPorte County Drug Task Force (LCDTF), an Indiana HIDTA Initiative, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), aimed at targeting those responsible for distributing lethal narcotics in the community. During “Operation Payday”, detectives identified a drug trafficking organization operating within Michigan City. As the investigation developed, two fatal overdoses occurred on February 2nd and Feb. 9, prompting LCDTF

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – The medical staff at Franciscan Health Michigan City is once again accepting scholarship applications through March 17 from LaPorte County high school seniors interested in healthcare careers. The medical staff at Franciscan Health Michigan City voted unanimously in 2021 to establish and fund a scholarship honoring the memories and continuing legacies of physicians who served the community as members of the medical staff. The program has since awarded $20,000 in scholarships. The annual scholarship of up to $5,000 is funded by physicians on the Franciscan Health Michigan City medical staff in partnership with the Franciscan Health

A driver who allegedly struck a Chicago Police Department officer was arrested by Lake County Sheriff’s Officers Thursday night. According to Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez, sometime after 7 p.m. Thursday evening, police officers with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department responded to an alert about the driver of a stolen Volkswagen that fled a traffic stop conducted by Chicago police officers. The vehicle struck a Chicago police officer as the driver fled the scene. A helicopter from Illinois tracked the driver heading east toward Indiana, where several Lake County Sheriff’s Department officers positioned themselves to try to stop the vehicle.

The Porter Police Department is alerting the public to a significant increase in phishing scams targeting mobile devices. Police say in this attack, criminals use very convincing text and iMessage scams claiming to be from the Postal Service, toll road operators, or similar organizations. Once users provide their payment card details and a one-time code, criminals load those cards into digital wallets on phones they control. Below is a brief summary of the findings and some tips to help protect you: What’s Happening: Cybercriminals send fake “urgent” messages through Apple iMessage or Google RCS, bypassing typical text message filters. These

Unity Foundation and Regional Partners Receive $20 Million to Connect Communities to Natural and Cultural Assets Northwest Indiana community foundations, including Legacy Foundation, Unity Foundation of La Porte County, Crown Point Community Foundation, and Porter County Community Foundation, have received a grant of $20,000,000 from Lilly Endowment Inc. through the Community Leadership Implementation Grants component of the eighth phase of its Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT VIII) initiative. This is one of 30 implementation grants being awarded through GIFT VIII, a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative designed to support the efforts of community foundations and their partners to strengthen quality

BONFIRE Rocks "Double Anniversary" Bash SATURDAY, FEB. 22nd @ Hobart Art Theater Fresh from performing in Scotland last weekend, the Midwest's premier AC/DC Tribute band -- BONFIRE -- returns on Saturday, February 22 for a homecoming performance at Hobart Art Theater (230 Main St.) in Hobart, IN. Opening the all ages show will be NWI hard rock favorites GERHART. This particular show marks the 45th Anniversary of the death of original AC/DC vocalist Bon Scott, and also the 25th Anniversary of the debut performance by the BONFIRE tribute band, founded by front man/vocalist Jim "Bon" Hillegonds. Fan of all ages

There is a Winter Weather Advisory in effect for the counties of northern La Porte, St. Joseph (IN), Cass (MI), and Berrien. ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ THURSDAY... * WHAT...Lake effect snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 2 and 6 inches. * WHERE...Portions of northern Indiana and southwest Michigan. The heavier snow totals and greater impacts are expected across northern St Joseph County IN and Berrien County MI. * WHEN...Until 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ Thursday. Snow showers will be light and scattered late this afternoon into this evening. The heavier

The Indiana Toll Road has issued a Winter Weather Ban for Triple Tractor-trailers and Long-doubles (high-profile only). Where: LaPorte Co. mile marker 37.3, St. Joseph Co. (IN), and Western Elkhart Co. mile marker 96. When: Feb. 19 at 10:00 p.m. EST - Feb. 20 at 12:00 p.m. EST. The Indiana Toll Road says to stay alert, use caution, and remember to reduce speed in hazardous conditions.