Local News

On July 27, 2023, a jury took less than 30 minutes to convict Thessalonica Allen for the murder of her husband, Randy Allen.  Over the course of a 4 day trial, Deputy Prosecutors Julianne Havens and Atley Price presented evidence to a jury.  The jury quickly returned a Guilty verdict on all charges. Prosecuting Attorney Sean Fagan said: "Julianne and Atley have decades of experience working complex and challenging cases.  Their dedication to Laporte County and its people shows.  They spent a lot of time working the case.  Their hard work got results." Prosecutor Fagan continued, "Good police work is

The Food Bank of Northern Indiana announced it will have mobile food distributions at the following locations in the month of August:   Wednesday, August 2, 2023- Elkhart County 10 a.m. - Noon ET *While supplies last. WHERE: Jefferson Elementary School, 18565 Co Rd 20, Goshen, IN 46528 *This distribution is sponsored by Kroger with added USDA product and will serve 200 households.   Friday, August 4, 2023- St. Joseph County 1p.m. – 3p.m. ET *While supplies last. WHERE: Twin Branch Bible Church, 3807 Vistula Rd., Mishawaka, IN 46544 *This distribution is sponsored by United Way of St. Joseph County

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has extended the Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) forecast through Friday, July 28, for all of Indiana. Air quality is expected to reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (Orange) level. IDEM is forecasting high ozone levels due to a significant increase in temperatures across the state and a continued air mass from Canadian wildfires in the following regions: 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. North Central Indiana, including the cities of: Elkhart, Goshen, Knox,

The Valparaiso Police Department has named a new assistant chief. Detective Sergeant Mark LaMotte was named as the next Assistant Chief of Police for the Valparaiso Police Department. LaMotte will officially assume his new responsibilities on October 2, when current Assistant Chief Michael DeHaven retires. “We’re grateful to have someone with Mark LaMotte’s qualifications and commitment to serve our community. We are confident that he is an excellent choice for our next assistant chief,” said Mayor Matt Murphy. LaMotte's law enforcement career began as a certified police officer after having graduated from the Indiana University Police Academy while enrolled as

News release by Franciscan Health: MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – Franciscan Health Michigan City’s free FIT-Together program, a family-centered approach to health and wellness, is back and open for registration. The unique, 10-week fitness program is intended for households with children between the ages of 8 and 14. FIT-Together addresses the well-being of every participating family member, including children, siblings, parents and parental figures. Session topics focus on the importance of making healthy choices in activities, relationships and emotional health as well as with nutrition and exercise. Individual and family-centered physical activities to improve stress management, effective communication, problem solving and

On Wednesday July 26, 2023, at approximately 2200 Hours, the LaPorte County Regional Dispatch Center dispatched Michigan City Police Department units along with Michigan City Fire Department and LaPorte County EMS, to the area of Woodlawn Avenue and Hitchcock Street regarding a male subject that crashed his motorcycle and was unresponsive. Upon arrival of emergency services, a male subject was found deceased next to his motorcycle that was crashed. A preliminary investigation revealed that the operator of the motorcycle was traveling westbound on Woodlawn Avenue at a high rate of speed approaching the curve to the west of Hitchcock Street.

CROWN POINT, Ind. — A crash that pushed concrete barriers into traffic caused major delays for drivers on I-65 Wednesday afternoon. At around 12:20 p.m., troopers responded to a multi-vehicle crash on I-65 at the 248 mile-marker, which is one mile north of the Crown Point exit. A preliminary investigation shows that a tractor trailer was northbound when for unknown reasons the truck veered into the center divider wall. The impact pushed the concrete barriers into the southbound lanes of travel. A tanker semi traveling southbound then struck the concrete that was now in its lane. The impact resulted in

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has forecast an Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) for Thursday, July 27, for all of Indiana. Air quality is expected to reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (Orange) level. IDEM is forecasting high ozone levels due to a significant increase in temperatures across the state and a continued air mass from Canadian wildfires in the following regions: 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. North Central Indiana, including the cities of: Elkhart, Goshen, Knox, Logansport, Plymouth, Peru, South

The National Weather Service of Northern Indiana has issued a heat advisory along with a dense fog advisory for portions of northern Indiana, southwest Michigan and northwest Ohio. Additionally, the National Weather Service of Chicago has issued a heat advisory for parts of the Chicago area along with Lake and Porter counties in Indiana.   Heat Advisory URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Northern Indiana 326 AM EDT Thu Jul 27 2023 Elkhart-Lagrange-Steuben-Noble-De Kalb-Northern La Porte- Eastern St. Joseph IN-Southern La Porte-Western St. Joseph IN- Cass MI-St. Joseph MI-Branch-Hillsdale-Northern Berrien- Southern Berrien-Williams-Fulton OH- Including the cities of Elkhart, Goshen,

News release by Indiana Department of Natural Resources: According to a recent conservation survey, Indiana farmers have set a conservation record this year by planting an estimated 1.6 million acres of overwinter living covers. “Protecting our most vital natural resources is top of mind for our Indiana farmers and this year’s record breaking cover crop acreage is a testament to that,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana's Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “Through the implementation of cover crops and other conservation efforts, farmers are ensuring our land and water resources remain healthy and productive.” Overwintering living covers (i.e. - cover

In Porter, 23rd Street between West Porter Avenue and Union Avenue will be closed all day Thursday, July 27—beginning at 7 a.m.—for the removal of a hazard tree damaged in a recent storm, according to the Town of Chesterton Facebook page. The tree is located on the west side of 23rd Street, just south of the Prairie Duneland Trail, in the Town of Porter’s jurisdiction, according to the Town of Chesterton. The Town of Chesterton stated, “Motorists should be able to avoid the area easily enough, by shooting south on 20th, 21st, or 22nd streets to Union Ave.”

The Valparaiso Police Department, in conjunction with the Valparaiso Community Schools and the Valparaiso Fire Department, are informing the public of training that will be taking place at Flint Lake Elementary School (4106 Calumet Avenue) on July 26, 27, and 28. The safety drills will be conducted on each of these days from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  There will be an abundance of police vehicles and fire apparatus in the area throughout the day, with police and fire training activities occurring within the school. “Please do not be alarmed, as emergency services are aware of the drills taking place,”

A Michigan City woman has been sentenced for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Carissa McCoy, 42, was sentenced to 63 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, according to the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Indiana. According to documents in the case, from June through mid-August 2021, McCoy conspired with others to distribute fentanyl in the Michigan City area. Her home, which she shared with one of her co-defendants, housed currency, firearms and ammunition related to the conspiracy. In August 2021, McCoy and one of her

Law enforcement warns drivers to slow down and be aware of surroundings. It’s almost that time of year when kids will be heading back to school, and Prosecutor Sean Fagan is urging drivers to take precautions as school buses return to the roads. In Indiana, it’s against the law for motorists to pass a bus that’s stopped and has its red lights flashing and stop-arm extended. This applies to all roads with one exception: motorists who are on a highway that is divided by a barrier – such as a cable barrier, concrete wall or grassy median. Motorists are then

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - The Indiana Department of Transportation announces upcoming changes to the concrete restoration work on I-65 between U.S. 231 and the I-80/94 interchange resulting in new lane and ramp closures. Section 1: Between 61st Ave and the I-80/94 interchange (mile marker 256 to 260) The ramp from northbound I-65 to westbound I-80/94 will temporarily close from approximately 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the evenings of Tuesday, July 25 and Wednesday, July 26 to shift a barrier wall and place pavement markings. Concrete restoration work will begin on the ramp from eastbound I-80/94 to southbound I-65 on or

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has forecasted an Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) for Tuesday, July 25 in parts of northern Indiana. Air quality is expected to reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (Orange) level as indicated below. IDEM is forecasting high levels of fine particles (PM2.5) due to smoke from Canadian wildfires in the following regions: North Central Indiana, including the cities of: Elkhart, Goshen, Knox, Logansport, Plymouth, Peru, South Bend, Warsaw, Winamac and all other cities within the area. Northeast Indiana, including the cities of: Angola, Auburn, Decatur, Fort Wayne, Hartford, Huntington City, LaGrange, Marion, Portland, Wabash and all other

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - The Indiana Department of Transportation has announced short-term road closures on U.S. 41 and State Road 152/Indianapolis Blvd. for next week while Norfolk Southern rebuilds two at-grade crossings. U.S. 41 will close first, with Indianapolis Boulevard closing when U.S. 41 reopens. U.S. 41 will be closed on or after Monday, July 31 for approximately three days between Fayette Street and Kane Street. The official detour for this closure will follow I-94, U.S. 20/Indianapolis Boulevard, and State Road 312. Indianapolis Boulevard will be closed on or after Wednesday, August 2 for approximately two days between 165th Street

The Salvation Army will continue to “light the path” for local families with an annual dinner and auction to support its case management program. The Light the Path Dinner & Auction, which supports The Salvation Army’s Pathway of Hope program, will take place on Thursday, August 10 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Uptown Social, 907 Franklin Street. This event benefits an intense case management program that helps break the cycle of generational poverty. “We work closely, one-on-one with families who are ready to make a change within the family unit, and are ready to become more self-sufficient,” said

The City of La Porte announced today the next rock show coming to The Civic, according to Civic Auditorium & Events Director Brett Binversie. Scheduled to play the historic venue on Friday, Sept. 22, is popular Canadian rock band Loverboy. With their trademark red leather pants, bandannas, big rock sound and high-energy live shows, Loverboy has sold more than 10 million albums and released the classic ‘80s anthems, “Turn Me Loose” and “Working for the Weekend.” Having delighted audiences around the world for the last 40 years, Binversie said it is quite a feat to have La Porte be one