Local News

 The Leadership Institute at Purdue Northwest (PNW) has opened applications for the 2025-2026 Leadership Northwest Indiana (LNI) program. This premium leadership program, facilitated by a team that includes faculty members from the PNW’s College of Business, as well as leadership practitioners, meets monthly from September 2025 to May 2026. A 360 assessment and custom coaching are program highlights. The facilitation team provides research-based leadership content and skill-building for effective leadership in the workplace and in life. Leadership Northwest Indiana is well-regarded as a great place for professionals to build their networks, as they learn from the real-world challenges other participants bring to

Late Night Structure Fire Started in Kitchen Liberty Township – Automatic aid from Chesterton, Porter, and Washington Township responded with Liberty Township to the 100 East block of 900 North late Thursday night, March 20th for a report of a structure fire with smoke and flames being reported by the caller on scene. A kitchen fire reportedly broke out in the residence late Thursday night when firefighters were called to respond at around 10:43 PM to extinguish the fire. Chesterton Fire arrived on scene of the fire and got a quick attack on the fire, containing it from spreading and

SOUTH BEND – Ezequiel Rosa-Hernandez, 47 years old, of Erie, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute cocaine, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay. Rosa-Hernandez was sentenced to 125 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, in April 2022, Rosa-Hernandez drove from his home in Pennsylvania to Chicago to obtain a kilogram of cocaine intended for distribution in Pennsylvania. On his way back home, he was stopped in Indiana by law enforcement and the kilogram of

Storm damage was significant in some areas serviced by NIPSCO territory and crews continued their work to assess the damage and make repairs as safely and quickly as possible customers who remain affected within our service area. For the latest check out www.nipsco.com. NIPSCO thanks everyone you for their patience and reminds you to always take the steps necessary to keep yourself and your family safe. Great job by the entire NIPSCO crews.

Last week, Jail Division Deputies S. Sullenger, H. Lindsay, T. Stephens, and G. Maesch attended and successfully completed an Indiana Law Enforcement Academy certified Basic Jail Officer Course. The state mandated web-based course consisted of 40-hours of instruction, a final exam, and was hosted by the Indiana Sheriffs' Association. The course was taught by instructors from throughout the State of Indiana. Approximately 160 students were enrolled in the course, making it one of the largest classes ever to date. Congratulations!

There's no place like YMCA Summer Day Camp—a home away from home where kids laugh, learn, explore, and grow, all while creating memories and friendships that last a lifetime! Campers participate in a variety of activities that excite their interests, engage their minds and bodies, and encourage making new friends. Get ready for summer where kids can be kids and enjoy the great outdoors, go swimming, play games, arts and crafts, group activities, field trips and more! Summer Camp is offered at both La Porte and Michigan City Elston locations Register your child today for THE BEST SUMMER EVER! https://lpymca.org/programs/summer-camp/

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Superior Construction Co Inc will begin a bridge deck overlay preventative maintenance project on I-65 over Norfolk Southern Railroad on or after Tuesday, March 25. Work will begin with overnight lane closures to set up new traffic configurations for northbound and southbound I-65. These overnight closures are currently scheduled for March 25 for northbound I-65 and March 26 for southbound I-65, but the schedule is weather dependent and subject to change. The ramp from Ridge Rd to southbound I-65 will close overnight during the southbound I-65 lane closures and remain closed through mid-August for the safety

The latest from NIPSCO on last night storms. Thank you to the crew that kept us going. We appreciate all of you. Check out www.nipsco.com. #wims #nwi #localradio Last night’s thunderstorms caused broken poles and cross arms and downed trees and power lines within our service area, resulting in electric outages. Approximately 2,900 customers currently remain without power, down from approximately 16,200. The most affected communities include Gary, Highland, Merrillville, Portage and Valparaiso. Due to the extent of the damage, an estimate of when power will be restored is not able to be determined at this time. Crews are working

New Prairie United Schools is excited to announce the hiring of Ryan O'Shea as the next Head Football Coach of the New Prairie Cougars. Coach O'Shea has spent the past 5 seasons as head football coach at Lakeland High School, where he has led the program to strong improvement by posting .500 or better records in each of the past two seasons while averaging over 30 points per game on offense. Coach O'Shea brings many skills and attributes NPUSC was looking for in the next leader for the football program. First, Coach O'Shea is a passionate leader of young men

The La Port Police Department, in partnership with the Girl’s Coalition of Indiana, is hosting a FREE 2-Day Bike Safety Course- and every girl who participates gets a FREE bike, gear, and equipment! Date: May 3rd and 4th Time: 9AM - 2PM CST Location: La Porte Police Department, 1206 Michigan Ave. La Porte, IN 46350 Registration closes on April 12th or when spots are filled! Use this link or scan the QR code to register: https://forms.gle/eT39ErbdWFgLinE46

On Tuesday, March 18th, 2025, the Lake County Sheriff’s Drug Task Force - Regional Enforcement Team conducted an operation that led to the arrest of a convicted felon. Multiple guns and several types of illegal narcotics were seized. The Regional Enforcement Team, a HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) initiative, is comprised of police officers from multiple law enforcement agencies. The enforcement was the result of an investigation over several months into the illegal activities of 65-year-old Michael Hunter, who was suspected of dealing heroin and fentanyl. A search warrant was executed Tuesday at Hunter’s home in the 4600 block

The Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest has announced winners of the 2025 Northwest Indiana High School Pitch Competition – Westville. Five winners were selected from 17 student teams that presented their startup pitches at Purdue University Northwest’s Westville campus on Friday, March 14. Student teams each had four minutes to share their pitch, followed by questions from the judges. “The students that presented really impressed me with their ideas,” said Karaline Cartagena Edwards, economic development manager for Economic Development Corporation Michigan City, who served as a judge for the competition. “While it was clear that some ideas would be

The Indiana Region of the American Red Cross is issuing a call to help ensure no one faces a disaster alone by donating on Red Cross Giving Day, March 26.   During the first 50 days of 2025, Red Cross volunteers responded to more big disasters in the U.S. than days — including a winter storm in the Indiana Region in January and recent severe weather this month. And that’s on top of everyday crises like home fires that have upended lives here in the Indiana Region. Meanwhile, more Red Cross blood donations have gone uncollected so far this year

Please submit your interest to Captain E.J. Hall via email at info@valpopd.com, including full legal name, date of birth, address, phone number, and t-shirt size. To be considered for this year’s class, you must be at least 18 years of age and have your interest submitted no later than March 21, 2025.

Homeward Bound Villages Breaks Ground at Karwick Village, La Porte’s First Cooperative Housing Development   City and County Elected Officials Joined Community Stakeholders last weekend for this Historic Event. Turning shovels before site development began.   LAPORTE, INDIANA- This past Saturday, history was made in La Porte County as elected officials, community stakeholders, and supporters of Homeward Bound Villages gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony. This event took the organization nine years to accomplish as they raised funds, sought out the right location, worked with city officials for zoning, and more.   Elected officials, including Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch,

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK, Ind.-- Construction is underway at Indiana Dunes National Park on a segment of the Marquette Greenway Trail. This segment is located between the national park’s Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education in Gary and the entrance to the park’s West Beach in Portage. This nearly three-mile-long section of paved trail is part of the greater Marquette Greenway project stretching from Chicago, Illinois to New Buffalo, Michigan. Construction is expected to last through the end of this calendar year. The trailheads at Grand Boulevard, Montgomery Street, and County Line Road will be closed during construction for

Here is the latest from the Ott Haverstock Funeral Chapel in Michigan City regarding Jeremy James Phillip Jeremy James Phillips, 38, passed away on March 9, 2025, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, March 21, 2025 at Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel, 418 Washington St., Michigan City, IN with Pastor Robert Fleming officiating. Burial will follow in Swan Lake Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 10:00 am - 11:00 am, Friday at the funeral chapel. To sign a guest book and leave condolences online visit our web site at www.otthaverstock.com. #wims #localradio #nwi #michigancity

Local health departments are required by statute (IC 13-23-16) to inform the public of the discovery of released regulated substances at an underground storage tank site or in the surrounding area under 329 IAC 9-4-1 (1) or a spill or overfill under 329 IAC 9-4-4 (a). The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) was notified on March 12, 2025, of such an incident from the owner or operator of Family Express #12 located at 5822 South Franklin Street in or near Michigan City, Indiana in LaPorte County. For further information on the Leaking Underground Storage Tank program, please go to

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