Local News

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced Friday that the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) will receive up to $500,000 to support the assessment and potential development of the Indianapolis - Chicago passenger rail corridor through the Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor ID) Program. "This is a first step toward expanding passenger rail in Indiana," said INDOT Commissioner Mike Smith. "Receiving this funding allows us to gather essential information to make more informed decisions going forward." INDOT put forth its application in the spring. The federal funds will go toward preliminary work in preparation for a Service Development Plan. The plan would

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue University Board of Trustees on Friday (Dec. 8) ratified the appointment of Kenneth C. “Chris” Holford as chancellor of Purdue University Northwest, effective Jan. 8, 2024. Holford has served since May 2020 as PNW’s provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs. As provost, he has prioritized the quality of the student experience, the importance of developing a highly trained workforce and the enrichment of the regional community. He has emphasized the importance of academic and research quality at PNW, leading to a tripling of sponsored research activity at the institution over the past three

Press release from Michigan City Area Schools: The Michigan City High School (MCHS) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) participated in many civic events in support of Michigan City Area Schools (MCAS) and the LaPorte County community.  Among those activities were supporting the Salvation Army with food donations, helping the Deserving Children’s Shopping Tour, and assisting with the set-up and clean-up of the One City One Sound MCAS Holiday Concert.  Cadets also led the Michigan City Festival of Lights Parade, along with providing Color Guards for the LaPorte County Veterans Court graduation and the MCHS home boys basketball

A North Judson man has been charged in connection with the theft of St. Jude’s donation jars from the front counters of two local gas stations, according to the Chesterton Police Department. The Chesterton Police Department said on its Facebook page the man has been identified as 43-year-old Joshua Todd. According to police, at 1:36 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, a male subject driving a silver Dodge Avenger—with a license plate whose number was indistinct on the video surveillance footage—entered the BP at 525 Indian Boundary Road and asked the clerk for a can of tobacco. When the clerk turned to

Update: The Newton County Sheriff's Office announced Friday that Christian Fritts has been located and is safe.   Original post: Silver alert declared overnight for Newton County man A Statewide Silver Alert has been declared. The Newton County Sheriff Department is investigating the disappearance of Christian William Fritts, an 18-year-old white male, 5 feet 5 inches tall, 108 pounds,  brown hair with brown eyes, last seen wearing a brown carpenter jacket, brown khakis, white/grey sketchers. Christian is missing from De Motte, Indiana which is 124 miles northwest of Indianapolis and was last seen on Thursday, December 07, 2023, at 1:00pm. 

Press release from The Salvation Army of Michigan City: La PORTE COUNTY, IN – The mayors of Michigan City and La Porte are ready for a friendly battle of their respective cities in support of The Salvation Army. A “Red Kettle Ring Off” is set for Wednesday, December 20 during which Mayor Duane Parry of Michigan City and Mayor Tom Dermody of La Porte will each man a red kettle in their cities, competing to see who can raise the most funds to support the Christmas campaigns in each city. In Michigan City, Mayor Parry will staff the red kettle

The Valparaiso Police department is proud to announce the hiring of two new Parking Enforcement Team Members.  Jessica Stacy and Madison Patrick have assumed the responsibilities as of Nov. 16, and have begun their training. Jessica is a 2014 graduate of Chesterton High School and earned her Bachelor of Science degree from St. Mary of the Woods College in 2020.  While in school, Jessica majored in Criminology and completed an internship with the Terre Haute, IN Code Enforcement.  Jessica will be working full-time in her new role with VPD. Madison is a 2022 graduate of Hebron High School and is

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources announced that the deadline for submitting Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) grant applications is Jan. 15, 2024. The LARE program strives to protect and enhance aquatic habitat for fish and wildlife while ensuring continued use of Indiana’s publicly accessible lakes, rivers, and streams. The program provides technical and financial assistance to qualifying projects that reduce nonpoint sediment and nutrient pollution. Qualifying projects include logjam removal, wetland creation, dam removal, and others. To view a full list of qualifying project types, along with additional information about the LARE program, see lare.dnr.IN.gov. Applicants are encouraged to

Press release from Mayor-elect Angie Nelson Deuitch's Office: Establishing her priorities for her approaching term, Mayor-elect Angie Nelson Deuitch is announcing another set of city department heads. “I want to make sure that this administration is really focused on monitoring our spending while managing our assets,” Nelson Deuitch said. “A key to that is making sure we identify revenue sources that support our community’s needs and priorities. “I’ve worked and built relationships over the past several years with Amber Lapaich, Mary Lynn Wall and Tamiko Smith, and I trust them to help guide that process.” Lapaich will retain her position

The City of Valparaiso is inviting artists to submit designs for the expanding utility box art program before the end of the year. Artist Maria Overlay’s utility design can be found at the corner of Valparaiso Street and Vale Park Road. The utility box art program is funded by the City’s Redevelopment Commission. For more information and how to submit designs, visit https://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/1571/Public-Art. See more of Overlay's art at: https://www.mariaoverlayfineart.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariaoverlayfineart and Instagram: @mariaoverlay_art  

The Porter County Community Foundation (PCCF), Porter County Public Library System and Westchester Public Library System have brought Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) to Porter County. Registered children ages zero to five will be mailed a free book monthly. “The Porter County Community Foundation, along with First Things First Porter County, is pleased to partner with our library systems to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to our community.” said Bill Higbie, PCCF's President and CEO. “The earlier we get books into the hands of kids, the better off we all will be.” Families can now register eligible children, Porter County

The Michigan City Police Department has announced the recent passing of retired Master Patrolman Anthony Pishkur.  Officer Pishkur served the community for 28 years as an officer with Michigan City Police Department. “We want to thank the Pishkur family for his dedicated service to the Michigan City Police Department. We would also like to send our deepest condolences to the Pishkur family during this difficult time. Rest in peace, you will be missed…,” MCPD said in a Facebook post. Memorial services will be held at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, in the Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel, 418 Washington St., in Michigan

One person was airlifted and two others were transported to the hospital late Monday afternoon, following a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of U.S. Highway 20 and Ardendale Avenue in Pine Township, the Porter County Sheriff’s Police is reporting. The Town of Chesterton said on a Facebook post that according to the PCSP, at 5:45 p.m. the driver of a 2017 Nissan SUV was northbound on Ardendale Avenue when he pulled in front of a 2009 Dodge Ram westbound on U.S. 20. “The impact of the collision caused both vehicles to go off the roadway into a ditch on the

Crown Point, Ind. -- Gastroenterologist Rida Aslam, DO, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting new patients in Crown Point. Dr. Aslam completed her training at the New York Institute of Technology – College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, N.Y. Her residency in internal medicine and fellowship in gastroenterology were both completed at what is now Franciscan Health Olympia Fields in Olympia Fields, Ill. Her clinical interests include chronic liver disease, colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. Dr. Aslam is accepting new patients at 1205 S. Main St., Suite 201 in Crown Point. To make

The Michigan City Chamber of Commerce announced that in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the third annual National Civics Bee is officially underway. This school year, the Michigan City Chamber is partnering in Northwest Indiana. Top local winners will advance to a state competition, and state champions will compete in the national round in Washington, D.C., for a chance to win the national title and more than $50,000 in prizes. This contest is open to any 6th, 7th, and 8th grade student in Indiana. The application closes on January 8, 2024. Learn more at: https://mcachamber.com/community/national-civics-bee/.

Tuesday, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) presented statewide data showing that thousands of Indiana students are advancing to fourth grade each year "without foundational reading skills." The data is the focus of a new data visualization tool, which was previewed to the State Board of Education (SBOE) on Tuesday and will soon be available to the public. “First students learn to read, and then they read to learn,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “Today data show that one in five Indiana students have not mastered foundational reading skills by the end of third grade, and most

LA PORTE, IN — Megan Lambert and Stephanie Leon are recipients of the 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for La Porte County. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership. Both recipients are seniors at La Porte High School. Lambert has demonstrated outstanding leadership in several volunteer, extracurricular and athletic activities. She has participated in mission trips, Leadership La Porte County, newspaper, cross country, track and field, National Honor Society and more. She has excelled academically, including in advanced placement, dual credit and honors courses, and is ranked at the top of her

City of La Porte firefighters will once again be teaching a free courses on CPR. The classes, instructed by the department's very own firefighters at Fire Station #1, are approximately four hours long and offered on December 17 @ 8 a.m. and noon. The program is made possible in part by the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte. Those interested can learn more and sign up by contacting lpfdcpr@gmail.com or 219-362-3456.

News release by Indiana DNR: Registration is open until March 1 for the return of the Happy Little (Virtual) 5K, which the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation (INRF) welcome back after last year’s Indiana debut. Race participation is open to everyone, and registrants can complete their 5K anywhere outdoors – on foot, or by bike, skate, paddle or using a mobility device – anytime between Earth Day and Arbor Day, April 22 and 26, respectively. For $36 per person, each participant will receive a keepsake Happy Little T-shirt, a commemorative bib number and