Local News

CROWN POINT, Indiana – Franciscan Health’s Prenatal Assistance Program recently received a donation of more than 400,000 Huggies diapers – enough to fill a semi -- from the National Diaper Bank Network. The National Diaper Bank Network works in partnership with its network of diaper banks – including those at Franciscan Health -- allied programs, donors, sponsors and elected officials to end diaper need and period poverty in the United States. “The Franciscan Health Prenatal Assistance Program strives to increase capacity in the communities we serve,” Franciscan Alliance Prenatal Assistance Program Director Tristan Kirby said. “This gift will allow the

Press Release Shirley Heinze Land Trust: HOBART, Ind. –  The public is invited to take part in a “Wellness Walk” through prairie habitat and have opportunities to chat with healthcare professionals while learning about the health benefits of nature with Shirley Heinze Land Trust, Purdue University Nutrition Education Program, and Powers Health. This free event will take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. CDT Saturday, August 10th at Cressmoor Prairie Nature Preserve. Visitors can park at the west entrance, located at 615 W 40th Ave Hobart, Indiana 46342. Wellness Walks will be held on the 10th of each month

DYER, Indiana - Family medicine physician Narayan Prabhakar, MD, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting new patients in Dyer. Dr. Prabhakar is board-certified and attended medical school at the American University of the Caribbean in St. Maarten and completed his residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago. In addition to family medicine, Dr. Prabhakar’s clinical interests include management of chronic medical conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, preventative healthcare, screenings, education and overall healthy living. Dr. Prabhakar is accepting new patients at Franciscan Physician Network Dyer Family Health Center, 840 Richard Road, Suite 2 in

INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Eric J. Holcomb returned to Indianapolis following an international economic development trip to Australia and Singapore focused on advancing Indo-Pacific relationships and identifying new opportunities to partner across economic development, innovation and talent development. Gov. Holcomb and the delegation met with representatives of government, academia and industry to advance mutually beneficial collaborations across economic development, innovation and talent development. In Sydney, Gov. Holcomb met with U.S. and New South Wales government officials to discuss how Indiana and Australia can work together to expand partnerships. The governor showcased Indiana’s nationally recognized READI program in a meeting with New

The Valparaiso Police Department announced that it has achieved its fifth accreditation award through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). “As one of only 14 municipal agencies with this accreditation in the State of Indiana, this prestigious recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence, transparency, and professionalism in serving our community, VPD said on its Facebook page. “It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team.” “Thank you, Valparaiso, for your continued support. We are proud to uphold the highest standards of policing and remain dedicated to keeping our community safe.”

Press Release, Shirley Heinze Land Trust: SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Shirley Heinze Land Trust (SHLT) has announced a 93.78-acre addition to Lydick Bog Nature Preserve in north St. Joseph County. The new acquisition brings the total protected acreage at the property to 271 acres. Planning is underway for new trail access for visitors and residents. “We are thrilled to expand Lydick Bog Nature Preserve," said Kristopher Krouse, Executive Director of the land trust. “This is a state-dedicated nature preserve which protects one of the few remaining bogs in Indiana. With over 630 plant species identified, it is one of our

There will be overnight lane closures on eastbound and westbound I-94 between Indy Boulevard/U.S. 41 and Kennedy Avenue the evening of Monday, August 5 through the morning of Friday, August 9. INDOT says to be prepared for changing traffic patterns during the overnight hours of approximately 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning. Crews will be installing prismatic reflectors.

Students at 57 Indiana schools will experience the outdoors during the 2024-25 school year thanks in part to a grant program that supports field trips to Indiana State Parks and other state park-managed properties. The Discover the Outdoors Field Trip Grant Program is for all K-12 schools and is administered through the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation (INRF), the supporting nonprofit of the DNR. Thanks to the ongoing generosity of donors, the individual grant limit for this school year was doubled from the previous school year. Grants of up to $500 are now awarded to fund transportation costs, program fees, and

Michigan City Area Schools teacher Susan Shell is among the Top 25 finalists for the Indiana Teacher of the Year. Shell is a kindergarten teacher at Marsh Elementary. She has taught at the kindergarten level for 17 years – 16 of them for MCAS. In order to create life-long learners, Shell believes that she must commit to being one, too. She earned her Master’s in Early Childhood Education in 2023, and completed a year-long training last spring in LETRS, a research-based program rooted in the science of reading. She participated in a Math Fellowship cohort last school year, piloting a

NEWTON COUNTY, Ind. - An Indiana Department of Transportation contractor will close U.S. 24 between County Road 50 East and County Road 150 East on or after Monday, August 5. U.S. 24 will be closed through late September for a bridge deck overlay preventative maintenance project at Montgomery Ditch. Motorists should seek alternate routes. The official detour will follow U.S. 41, State Road 16 and State Road 55.

The following is a statement from the La Porte County Sheriff's Office: As students prepare to return to their classrooms, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is reminding motorists to be on the lookout for school buses throughout La Porte County. Although school buses are one of the safest modes of transportation, injuries and fatalities do occur outside of, or near the buses. Most often, these tragedies occur because a motorist has failed to slow down and obey the bus’s stop sign arm, or to follow local traffic laws. Drivers should slow down and prepare to stop when the overhead

It's RACE TIME this weekend with the XINSURANCE.com Great Lakes Grand Prix -check below for Events happening today and the rest of this weekend. Stay updated by checking www.greatlakesgrandprix.com. FREE PARKING AND SHUTTLE RACE WEEKEND at Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa as well. Friday, August 2 Noon-10pm - Food Court Open 5-8pm – First Friday on Franklin @ Downtown Michigan City Hosted by Lake Life Social Events 7-11pm - The Bones playing classic rock @ Washington Park Beach Saturday, August 3 8am-3pm - Four A’s Vintage Car Show 9am -10:30pm - Free Parking/Shuttle Service @ Blue Chip Casino, Hotel &

LAKE COUNTY, IND. - An Illinois man died Thursday morning following a crash on the Indiana Toll Road. Indiana State Police Dispatch began receiving calls of a serious crash between two vehicles on the Indiana Toll Road near the 8.3 mile marker in the westbound lanes. Troopers from the Indiana State Police Lowell Post and the Indiana State Police Toll Road Post responded. The Indiana Toll Road notified the public of the crash at 5:30 a.m. on social media. A preliminary investigation indicates that a passenger car traveling westbound is believed to have crashed into the center concrete barrier wall

Conservation officers in Lake County located a stolen vehicle Wednesday using drones. Conservation Officers Neel and Meiss were working in Northern Lake County Wednesday evening when Officer Neel located a suspicious vehicle in the woods using a UAV (Drone). Officer Neel then guided Officer Meiss to the vehicle, as he was patrolling on an ATV. Officer Meiss confirmed the vehicle was unoccupied, and was stolen from a neighboring community. Efforts are underway to return the truck to its owner.

The Rotary Club of Michigan City invites the community to participate in its newest service project – a Monday morning beach clean-up. Rotarians will gather at Washington Park Beach on Monday, August 5 from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. to help clean up the beach after the busiest beach weekend of the year in Michigan City, the Great Lakes Grand Prix races. “The boat races certainly have a big economic impact in our city,” said Rotary Club President Matt Kubik. “Thousands visit our beaches to watch the event. But the races also have a huge impact on our beautiful beaches.

Franciscan Health Dyer is collaborating with The Milk Bank to become both a donation site and pick-up location for outpatient families. These programs increase access to safe human milk for fragile infants both in and out of the hospital. The Milk Bank, a non-profit milk bank headquartered in Indianapolis, receives donations of extra human milk from carefully screened donors. In their milk lab, donations are nutritionally analyzed, bottled and pasteurized before being dispensed to hospitals and outpatients. The new Milk Depot at the Franciscan Health Family Birth Center Dyer makes milk donation convenient for The Milk Bank’s approved donors. Franciscan

Press Release, NIPSCO: Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO) received a decision from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) to adjust its gas rates, effective August 2024. Beginning in August, the newly approved rates will be phased in over two steps to spread out the changes to customers, with the remaining changes applied in 2025. Just as investments are made in bridges, roads and other infrastructure in our cities, towns and communities, we must also make investments to put safeguards and checks in place that provide high levels of safety. These additional safeguards and checks come with an increase

HELLO RACE WEEK! IT'S OUR FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR! Here is your schedule of events for Today, Thursday, August 1st: 5:30 PM Ribbon Cutting @ Sunset Grille 6:00 PM-8:00 PM VIP Party @ Sunset Grille 6:00 PM-9:00 PM RockDogs @ Sunset Grille/Pavilion Stage 7:00 PM -11:00 PM AFTERMATH playing classic rock & country @ Washington Park Beach A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR WIMS BROADCAST SPONSORS: NIPSCO Arnett Construction & Roofing Derrick Wayne Arnett Visit Michigan City LaPorte Reprographic Arts Inc Michigan City Special Events General Insurance Services Purdue Northwest Franciscan Health Arby's Michigan City, Chesterton Physical Therapy, Inc.

La Porte Police are asking the public’s help in locating 26-year-old Randy Heider who is currently wanted by the LPPD for battery with bodily injury, criminal mischief and violation of probation. Police say if you know the whereabouts of Heider, you are encouraged to provide tips(s) to the La Porte Police Department. Contact Cpl. Adam Jaskowiak at (219-362-9446 ext: 2134) or ajaskowiak@lpcitypd.com. Police say you may remain anonymous.

New data shows enrollment in the state adult education program administered by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) topped 25,000 learners from July 2023 through July 2024, representing a 25% increase over a two-year period. The Adult Education program helps Hoosiers increase skills, earn high school credentials and achieve industry-recognized certification. Preliminary numbers for the most recent year show that adult education enrollment topped 25,000 students with in-person and online classes, career training, and workforce programming offered by a network of school districts, postsecondary education providers, employers, community-based agencies, and the Department of Correction. In Indiana, nearly 4,200 Hight