Local News

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK: Celebrate the migration of birdlife through the Indiana Dunes region from May 16-19 at the 10th annual Indiana Dunes Birding Festiva, organized by Indiana Audubon in collaboration with the Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana Dunes State Park, and Indiana Dunes Tourism. The festival’s keynote dinner will be held on Saturday evening, May 18, featuring recently retired Indiana Dunes National Park superintendent Paul Labovitz. Labovitz will present "From City Kid to National Park Superintendent: An Accidental Birder Story,” sharing his journey through the park system to what some claim is the best national park for birding in the

The Center for Creative Solutions will feature five published poets on April 17 at the Michigan City Public Library at 100 East 4th Street. The special program is part of Northwest Indiana’s celebration of World Creativity & Innovation Week, April 15-21. Featured poets include Carnessa Carnes, Carmen Navarro, Kayla Vasilko, Jamie Wendt, and Valerie Wallace. The evening will begin with a light dinner at 5:30 p.m. The poets will then read their selected work, followed by a Q and A, and a meet and greet opportunity with each poet. Books and materials will be available, according to Judy Jacobi, program

According to the La Porte County Sheriff's Office there is a wicked accident. Avoid the area of  US 30 & CR 1350 South due to this crash. Both of the eastbound lanes of US 30 are closed due to a personal injury CMV crash. EB US 30, at US 421, will be closed for several hours for the crash investigation, cleanup and recovery of the CMVs at the scene. For the latest information and updates check the La Porte County Sheriff's FACEBOOK page.

This morning at 3:51 AM, deputies responded to CR 1000 North in the area of Frontage Road, reference a single vehicle crash. The initial on-scene investigation completed by Deputy Jeff Armstrong and assisting deputies determined the following had occurred. A black 2012 Range Rover was traveling eastbound on CR 1000 North. The vehicle left the south side of the roadway east of Frontage Road and traveled into a ditch. The vehicle continued traveling eastbound in the ditch, crashed into several trees, and overturned. The driver (lone occupant) was found inside the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Identification of

  A Saint Patrick’s Day motor vehicle pursuit (MVP) ended in the arrest of Qihui SUN (33), of Queens, New York.   At approximately 1:19 PM, Deputy Julian Sanchez began traveling behind an eastbound passenger vehicle on US 20 in the 4200 east block. He paced the vehicle for a distance and found it to be traveling in excess of the posted speed limit. Deputy Sanchez attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle in the 5300 east block, however the vehicle continued traveling eastbound resulting in a MVP.   The vehicle continued traveling east, underneath the Dogbone Interchange,

Needs-based scholarship applications being accepted to cover registration fees   CROWN POINT, Indiana – Franciscan Health Crown Point is hosting a doula certification workshop in April, with needs-based scholarship applications being accepted to cover the registration fees. Doulas are trained professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional and informational support to their clients before, during and shortly after childbirth. A doula may help communicate a woman's birth plan, create a comfortable environment during delivery or simply provide general support a family may seek during this pivotal time. A doula does not perform clinical tasks. The Franciscan Health Crown Point Family Birth

The Michigan City Department of Water Works will begin the semi-annual fire hydrant flushing on Monday, April 1. This is done to insure the hydrants are in proper working order for the spring and summer months, and also to find any hydrants that may have been damaged over the winter. The city expects the program to take about eight weeks to complete. The city says if anyone should experience any discoloration in their water, they should let the water run for a short time and the water will clear.

Press Release, La Porte County Public Library: La Porte County Public Library has been awarded a $60,000 grant from the Howmet Aerospace Foundation with $20,000 for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and $40,000 for new Makerspace equipment at the LPCPL Exchange. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is open to all children from birth until their fifth birthday. Through this remarkable early childhood literacy program, any child who lives in La Porte County can register to receive a free, new, age-appropriate book by mail once a month from birth until their fifth birthday. “We want to foster and support lifelong learning in our

The City of La Porte announced its Dumpster Program is now available on the first and third Saturdays of each month. The hours will remain 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The city asks residents to remember the following: No tires No piling trash on the ground If the fence is closed, the dumpster is full - please try again later. The city says to be prepared to show proof of residency in the City of La Porte. This program is for city residents only.

Representative Frank Mrvan announced the details of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition for high school students from Indiana’s First Congressional District. Each year, the Congressional Institute and Members of the U.S. House of Representatives sponsor the Congressional Art Competition as an opportunity to promote the artistic talent in each Congressional District. Congressman Mrvan stated, “I am proud to host the Congressional Art Competition in Indiana’s First Congressional District again this year to showcase the wonderful artistic talents of students across our region.  I encourage all interested high school students to participate in this unique opportunity to create a work of

The Porter County Sheriff’s Office is introducing their new therapy K9, Porter. He is an Australian Labradoodle and the department’s first certified therapy dog. His primary handler will be Patrol Commander Praschak. Also certified were backup handlers Case Manager Kerry Slaga and Chief Tim Mantueffel. Porter will be used to comfort those in crisis in a multitude of situations. He made a visit to the Jail Division on Friday. Porter was purchased using leftover money from a previous K9 fundraiser and from a donation from Ralph and Sue Neff.

Press Release, Health Foundation of La Porte: Following a comprehensive national search, the Board of Directors of Health Foundation of La Porte is pleased to announce the appointment of Eric DeWald as the organization’s next President & CEO. DeWald brings over two decades of exemplary leadership experience within foundations committed to community health and well-being. DeWald has been President of HealthPath Foundation of Ohio for the past eight years, based in Cincinnati. Previously, he served for 15 years as CEO of Central Susquehanna Community Foundation (now Community Giving Foundation), in Berwick, PA. DeWald succeeds Maria Fruth, HFL’s founding CEO, whose

Press Release, City of Michigan City: “Connecting Youth to Opportunities” is the theme of Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch’s inaugural charitable gala, which is set for April 19 at the Stardust Event Center at Blue Chip Casino, 777 Blue Chip Drive. Open to the public, the Mayor’s Charitable Gala is black tie optional, and seeks to provide attendees with a night to remember while raising funds for various youth-serving organizations in Michigan City. “This year we’re doing things a little differently,” the mayor said. “Our goal is to push out grants to youth-serving organizations. In years past, they only went to

Three men have died after a shooting at a home in unincorporated Griffith, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Department. Shortly before 2 p.m. Friday afternoon, police officers were dispatched to a home in the 600 block of Colfax. They found two men who were deceased and a third in critical condition; all suffered apparent gunshot wounds. The third man was taken to an area hospital where he died. Lake County Sheriff’s Department detectives are investigating several factors including whether the incident may have been a murder/suicide. No further information will be released at this time.

ITR Concession Company LLC (ITRCC) announced that work will resume in the area of Exit 10 in Gary as part of the Northwest Indiana Bridge Rehabilitation Project. The final item in this area to be completed, is the upgrade to the lighting infrastructure, the ITRCC said. There will be single-lane closures and shoulder closures on the mainline in addition to short-term closures of the Exit 10 ramps. The closures will be taking place periodically over the next several months. There will also be toll plaza aesthetic and safety enhancements projects taking place during the same time. For specific details about

News Release, National Park Service: Indiana Dunes National Park has received approximately $22 million from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund to stabilize and restore three nationally significant historic buildings. This spring, restoration efforts will begin on the Bailly Homestead, the Good Fellow Camp Lodge, and the Century of Progress District’s House of Tomorrow. “Through the restoration of these iconic buildings, we are preserving key elements of the park's cultural heritage and creating opportunities for current and future visitors to experience the beauty and history of the park,” said Deputy Superintendent Chris Pergiel. The Bailly Homestead, a national historic landmark,

A groundbreaking ceremony took place on Thursday for The Franklin at 11th Street Station in Michigan City. The Franklin at 11th Street Station is the upgraded South Shore Train Station with apartments, a parking garage, more than 5,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. The Double Track project will reduce total travel time between Michigan City and Chicago to about 65 minutes. “The project was originally envisioned as only a parking garage but is now another plat- form for housing and amenities to our residents, guests and South Shore riders,” EDCMC Executive Director Clarence Hulse said. The apartments will

News Release, Indiana DNR: Much of Indiana will be in the zone of totality for the total solar eclipse on April 8, including 54 properties managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that will provide an excellent vantage point for viewing the once-in-a-lifetime event. “We look forward to welcoming thousands of Hoosiers and guests to see and feel the effects of this amazing astronomical event with the wonderful backdrop our public lands provide,” said DNR director Dan Bortner. “We have guests coming in from across Indiana, the country, and the globe to camp, stay at our inns, or

Franciscan Health hospitals across Northwest Indiana and Chicago’s south suburbs have been rated among the top 10% in their states, and in some cases, the top 10% in the nation, for 2024 by CareChex® Awards, an information service of Quantros, Inc. Franciscan Health hospitals ranked among the top 10% in the nation include Franciscan Health Dyer for heart attack treatment; Franciscan Health Michigan City for cardiac care and Franciscan Health Munster for interventional carotid care. “It is exciting to see that CareChex recognized our Franciscan Health hospitals for being in the top 10 percent in the nation for these services,”

The Washington Park Zoo will open daily for the 2024 season starting on April 1. However, this year they will be hosting a special Wild Spring Preview on March 30 and 31 with the gates open from 10:00 am to 3 p.m. This season, the zoo will host a range of special events and camps for eager learners. Regular admission is $10 for adults, $8 for kids ages 2 to 11 years, $9 for seniors ages 62 and older, and free for kids ages two and under. Washington Park Zoo members get in for free on regular admission dates. For