Local News

The City of Valparaiso will offer free rides on the V-Line intracity bus on election days to encourage voter turnout and community engagement. “Transportation should not be an obstacle to participating in elections,” said Mayor Jon Costas at the Board of Public Works and Safety where the decision was made. “We want to encourage our community to participate in government at the local level and beyond,” he said. The idea of offering free transit was introduced by City Council Member Barbara Domer (District 3) who advanced the idea for general elections. When the idea was introduced, the board chose to

The City of La Porte is looking for volunteer groups to spread safety surface on playgrounds. Other volunteer opportunities available as well. Visit www.laporteparkandrec.com/volunteer or contact Emily Archambault at 219-326-9600 or by e-mail at earchambault@cityoflaportein.gov for more information.  

The Valparaiso Police Department is again participating in National Night Out, which is scheduled for Tuesday, August 6, 2024. National Night Out is a nationwide event, bringing communities and police together under positive conditions, creating an exchange of ideas, and developing a partnership with citizens.  The festivities will begin at 6:00 p.m. as they will once again be making stops within subdivisions and organized groups throughout the night.  Start planning your activities and events today, as prior years have included games, ice cream socials, cook outs, and small block parties. The Valparaiso Police Department is inviting community members and neighborhood

The St. Joseph County Police Department has given an update to a fatal rollover crash that occurred Thursday night. At about 11:45 p.m., St. Joseph County Police were dispatched to State Road 2 and Pine Road for a verbal altercation between two drivers involved in a traffic accident. Upon arrival, a county officer found only one of the drivers remaining on scene. Rene Hernandez-Ramirez informed the officer that the other driver left the scene in a gray SUV heading north on Pine. As the officer was still talking with Hernandez-Ramirez, a police radio dispatch went out for a single vehicle

In Portage, starting Monday, June 24 through Friday, June 28 Airport Road will be closed to through traffic between Central Avenue and Lute Road. The Prairie Duneland Trail parking lot off Airport Road will also be closed. This closure is for the purposes of concrete removal in preparation for a paving project. Dates are weather dependent. Detour routes will be posted.

The Michigan City Parks & Recreation Department announces that there will be a special events parking fee on Thursday, July 4, 2024. View the full release on WIMS' FACEBOOK page as well as here. #wims #michigancity Michigan City Parks & Recreation Department

The Michiana Humane Society will be giving pets microchips for $10 on June 29 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register your pet, then bring them to Michiana Humane Society to get chipped. Visit https://michianapets.org/resources/microchipping/ for more information.

The City of Valparaiso has equipped City Council Chambers with hearing assistance devices to aid people in hearing meetings held at Valparaiso City Hall. “We want to make city government accessible and helping people to hear better at our meetings is just one more way to assist,” said Mayor Jon Costas. The newly added technology is a wireless hearing aid device that connects to the City’s audio system and provides amplified sound during public meetings. To access a hearing assistance device, simply ask an official at the meeting for a headset and a portable receiver. Valparaiso’s public meetings may also

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – Lubeznik Center for the Arts (LCA) has received a grant for $20,000 from the Health Foundation of La Porte to enhance the La Porte, Ind. community by facilitating a mural. Through the collaborative process, the goal of the project is to foster a sense of shared ownership and pride in the community. There is much evidence that murals with public input contribute to the economic and the physical health of a community. These compelling reasons are why LCA is spearheading this project. The mural will be located on the south wall of the La Porte County Library (LPCPL) Exchange building

Valparaiso Police are investigating a vehicle crash involving a pedestrian. On Wednesday at about 5:40 p.m., police responded to the intersection of Valparaiso Street and Monroe Street. Upon arrival, police learned a juvenile had been struck by a motor vehicle and sustained serious injuries. The Valparaiso Fire Department arrived on scene with police and began immediate treatment. The juvenile was transported from the scene to a nearby landing zone, then onto Comer Children’s Hospital by medical helicopter. The crash investigation remains open; however, charges related to the crash are not expected at this time. Police said there was no indication

Press Release, Purdue University Northwest: The Leadership Institute at Purdue Northwest (PNW) has opened applications for the 2024-2025 Leadership Northwest Indiana (LNI) program. This premium leadership program, facilitated by a team that includes faculty members from the PNW College of Business, as well as leadership practitioners, meets once a month for eight months. 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

The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office says they’ve been alerted to an old scam making the rounds in their area. This one involves fake arrest warrants, and was brought to police’s attention by a local Public Defender. The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office gave details on the scam: “Here’s how it works: Someone pretending to be "Sergeant Davis" is calling folks, using the phone number (219) 271-2160. They claim there’s an arrest warrant out for you and say you need to pay up to avoid getting in trouble. It’s all fake! Sheriff Pat Williamson wants everyone to know: "Law enforcement doesn’t call

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) associate professor of Nursing Janet H. Davis received a U.S. Fulbright Faculty Scholar award to develop and strengthen Nursing leadership and teaching in Sri Lanka during the 2024-25 academic year. Davis will be hosted by the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Colombo. Her Fulbright engagement objectives center on using evidence-based practices that will augment nursing leadership and practice, both in higher education and applied settings. Davis will contribute to international scholarly perspectives in nursing education, as well as partner with the Sri Lanka Nurses Association to provide continuing education for nurses in the country.

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has extended the agency's Air Quality Action Day forecast through Friday, June 21, 2024, in five regions. Ozone levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range (Orange) in the following areas: Central/East Central Indiana, including the cities of: Bloomington, Brookville, Columbus, Frankfort, Indianapolis, Greensburg, Kokomo, Lebanon, Martinsville, Muncie, Richmond and all other cities within the area. Northwest Indiana, including the cities of: Crown Point, Gary, Hammond, Kentland, LaPorte, Michigan City, Portage, Rensselaer, Valparaiso and all other cities within the area. Southeast Indiana, including the cities of: Brownstown, Corydon, Jeffersonville, Madison, New Albany, Salem, Versailles and all other cities

The South Sh0re Line gave the following update just before 9:15 p.m. on Thursday regarding a gas leak that occurred earlier in the day causing trains to be stopped: UPDATE: SSL trains are now on the move. We thank passengers for their patience throughout today's NIPSCO gas leak in Gary. Due to safety concerns, trains were held in their locations longer than initial NIPSCO estimates to ensure safe train movements could be completed. All impacted passengers may contact South Shore Line for ticket refunds or complimentary one-way tickets due to the delays and inconvenience. Follow the South Shore Social Media

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has added Northwest Indiana to the agency's Air Quality Action Day forecast for today Thursday, June 20. Ozone levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range (Orange) in Northwest Indiana, including the cities of: Crown Point, Gary, Hammond, Kentland, LaPorte, Michigan City, Portage, Rensselaer, Valparaiso and all other cities within the area. High temperatures are expected to reach the 90-degree mark again on Thursday at inland areas south of Lake Michigan which, when combined with slightly lower humidity in the afternoon, light and variable winds and a chance for

The Porter County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) has been requested to investigate an officer involved shooting, according to a statement from the PCSO. Police say at approximately 1:08 a.m. on Wednesday, the Portage Police Department requested the Porter County Sheriff’s to investigate the officer involved shooting. Preliminary investigation shows that on Tuesday at approximately 11:21 a.m. officers were dispatched to the 1200 block of Marine View Drive for a well-being check. A man was located in the area with a firearm, according to police. The man was transported to an area hospital with a single gunshot wound. Police say there is

The Michigan City Police Department announced the passing of retired Corporal Kenneth Waltz. Corporal Waltz served on the Michigan City Police Department for 20 years and completed assignments in the Uniformed Patrol Division and Investigations Division. “He served this community with dedication, integrity and professionalism,” MCPD said on Facebook. “The MCPD Family is thankful for the service of Corporal Waltz and mourn his loss as we keep his family in our prayers.  Rest in peace Corporal Kenneth Waltz!!”

Lake County- This morning just after 1:00 a.m., troopers were dispatched to I-80/94, westbound near the 1.0 mile-marker for a crash involving a passenger vehicle and a semi. This location is near Calumet Ave., approximately one mile east of the Illinois/Indiana state line. Preliminary investigation by Trooper Kevin Council shows that a white Jeep Grand Cherokee had been traveling westbound on I-80/94 near the 1.1 mile-marker when it struck an attenuator in the gore area for the exit ramp to Calumet Ave. The Jeep came to a rest in the right lane of the interstate, facing eastbound in the westbound lanes.

INDIANAPOLIS- (June 19, 2024) –Brian Simms, of Lebanon, Indiana, was sentenced in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana on one count of felony wire fraud. Simms pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and six counts of wire fraud were dismissed as part of the plea agreement entered into with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. During the course of the investigation by the Indiana Securities Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, investigators found that Simms was offering investment opportunities though his company, Brendanwood Financial Brokerage LLC. Simms was not licensed to sell securities nor registered