Local News

The Indiana Department of Transportation provided the following update on concrete restoration work on I-94 in Lake County: UPDATE: the new traffic configuration on eastbound I-94 will be set up this week but may be delayed one or two evenings due to weather. Motorists should be prepared for overnight lane closures and for EB traffic to be split with the work zone in the middle and two lanes on either side by the end of the week.   The original information has been posted below: OVERNIGHT LANE CLOSURES/NEW TRAFFIC CONFIGURATIONS - I-94 in Lake County Concrete restoration work will move

The New Buffalo Police Depart is reporting a water rescue took place Monday afternoon at Lake Michigan. At about 2 p.m. multiple 911 calls were received reporting as many as four swimmers in danger in Lake Michigan at New Buffalo Beach near the breakwall. When rescuers arrived the found two people still in the water and one that had made it to the breakwall but needed medical attention. Officers from the New Buffalo Police Department, Pokagon Tribal Police and New Buffalo City Fire were able to throw life rings to the individuals that were still in the water, pulling them

Michigan City Police Officer Daniel Revoir was recognized as an Indiana Traffic Safety All Star through a program put together by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. The Traffic Safety All-Star awards program was created by ICJI as a way to recognize law enforcement officers who are going above and beyond to keep road users and their communities safe by working to combat impaired driving.  To qualify for the award, an officer must have made at least 20 operating while intoxicated arrests and participated in one of the state’s enhanced enforcement campaigns in the previous year. “Officer Revoir exceeded the expectations

At about 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Lake County Sheriff’s Department police officers were dispatched to an altercation between numerous people inside Trendsetters Bar & Grill, 4450 Cleveland St. in Gary. The disturbance turned into a physical altercation and spilled outside.  At that time, an unknown individual fired multiple shots striking a 25-year-old male who later died from his injuries. The investigation is being conducted by the Lake County Sheriff's Department. Anyone with information is asked to call the Lake County Detective Bureau at (219) 755-3346.

Press release by Franciscan Health: CROWN POINT, Ind. – Jeff Carpenter of Lowell won Monday’s 2023 apple peeling contest at the Lake County Fair’s Senior Day, sponsored by Franciscan Health. Carpenter, 69, beat out 10 competitors with the longest peel, measuring 48 1/8 inches. Senior Day featured free admission for seniors 62 and older with free health screenings and information on a variety of Franciscan Health programs and services for seniors. Snacks, entertainment and giveaways were included. The annual event aims to educate seniors and their caregivers on a variety of healthcare topics and services provided by Franciscan Health. This

Press release by NIPSCO: Merrillville, Ind. – August 7, 2023 – With August 11 quickly approaching, NIPSCO is acknowledging the 8/11 date as a natural reminder for anyone planning a digging project to contact 811 to have underground utility lines marked. Every few minutes an underground utility line is damaged because someone decided to dig without first contacting 811. A yard project can quickly turn into an emergency without advance planning and contacting 811. Underground lines are often “out of sight, out of mind” which can pose a risk to contractors and home owners. The depth of utility lines can

The Dirty Money Racing team had an unfortunate accident at the XInsurance Great Lakes Grand Prix, on Sunday, August 6th. Both of the racers aboard were unharmed, however, their boat was not. The accident was explained as follows via their Facebook page, "they hit a flyer and the boat stuffed then the stern came over the bow and broke it in half."

The La Porte County Election Board will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, August 9, at the La Porte County Complex in Meeting Room 3 at 3:00pm. The address is 809 State St. La Porte, IN 46350. The agenda of the meeting is posted below: Call to Order Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Approval of Minutes Public Comment Old Business Approval of finalized Vote Center Plan New Business Board Member Comments Adjournment

August 4, 2023 - Michigan City, Indiana – The Indiana Department of Corrections announced today the closure of the Indiana State Prison at Michigan City. This closure marks the beginning of a new chapter for Northwest Indiana, as it presents a tremendous opportunity for positive economic development and growth. The Northwest Indiana Forum, alongside many partners, released the Region’s first economic development plan, IGNITE the Region- Northwest Indiana’s Strategy for Economic Transformation, in 2018.  This plan included the redevelopment and reimagination of the Michigan City State Prison location and has been awarded READI funds to plan what could be next

The Chesterton Police Department posted the following on its social media about an upcoming enforcement blitz towards school-bus stop-arm scofflaws: As students head back to the classroom this month, the Porter County Traffic Safety Partnership (TSP) is reminding motorists to stop for school buses or face the consequences. Porter County TSP is now increasing patrols to prevent stop-arm violations, speeding, and other forms of reckless driving around school buses and in school zones. The overtime patrols are funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI). “When a school bus’s red

On the Indiana Toll Road, the Exit 10 eastbound exit ramp is open to traffic. The Exit 10 westbound entry and westbound exit ramps remain closed. The westbound exit ramp will reopen on Aug. 31 and the westbound entry ramp will reopen Sept. 23.

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. -- An investigation conducted by members of the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) resulted in the arrest of 32-year-old Michael Anthony Prestamer of Munster. Investigators received more than twenty Cyber Tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) related to a specific online account that had been used for child exploitation, police said.  After months of investigation, search warrants for a residence in Munster and a business in Hammond were requested and granted by a judge with the assistance of the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office. Prestamer was arrested without

An intoxicated man was almost struck while passed out in the roadway Wednesday, the Porter Police Department reported. During the late-night hours, police responded to a report of a man passed out in the roadway on Tremont Road. An off-duty Beverly Shores police officer advised he was traveling northbound on Tremont Road and had to swerve to avoid striking the male. Police said that while detaining the man, who appeared to be in a state of alcohol induced intoxication, a female driver arrived on scene and identified the man as her boyfriend. She reported to police that she kicked him

INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 4, 2023) — Forty hospitals in Indiana are among the 2,600 nationwide that participate in the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® initiative to improve outcomes for Americans who experience heart disease or stroke. Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the United States, respectively. These health crises require swift and proven treatment to ensure the best outcomes for patients. The American Heart Association, devoted to a world of healthier lives for all, sets the standards for high-quality, science-based care and access that all patients deserve. “Every 40 seconds,

Thursday, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture announced the winners of the 2023 Indiana Agriculture Photo Contest. The winning photographs will be displayed in the lieutenant governor’s Family of Business offices in Indianapolis throughout the next year. The winning photos were chosen from hundreds of entries in the following four categories: Agritourism, Conservation, Faces of Agriculture and On the Farm. Two winners were selected from each category, along with two winners overall. To be considered, the photo had to be taken in the state by an Indiana resident. The photos were evaluated by a panel

The South Shore Line is reminding the public about track safety. They gave the following information in a news release on their website: At South Shore Line, safety is our number one priority. The completion of the first phase of the Double Track Project presents an opportunity to refresh all pedestrians and drivers on safety around the railroad tracks. “We want to keep all drivers, pedestrians, and passengers safe on our trains and around our tracks,” said Nicole Barker, South Shore Line Director of Capital Investment and Implementation. “With the Double Track NWI project taking place from Gary to Michigan

The City of Portage announced that workers from Milestone Contractors have begun to mobilize for the Portage Avenue reconstruction projects. The City of Portage says you may have seen workers this week beginning to demolish concrete aprons and other areas. Work will continue ramp up over the next couple of weeks on the project which will repave Portage Avenue from McCool Road to Willowcreek Road. The city says the project, which is funded through the state Community Crossings Grant Program and city Wheel Tax revenue, will significantly disrupt residents living on the north side of Portage Avenue between Pennsylvania and

The City of New Buffalo is gearing up for a Special Election on Tuesday, August 8, 2023. This election pertains to the renewal of the current millage for Lake Michigan College, which is set to expire with the 2023 tax levy. Polling hours are 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. The polling location is New Buffalo City Hall, located at 224 W. Buffalo Street. Early Registration and Absentee Ballots: For your convenience, the City Clerk's Office will be open from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 6, 2023, to facilitate voter registrations and to receive absentee ballots.

A man has been charged after a stand-off with Porter Police on Monday. In the evening hours, an officer attempted to contact a motorist who was operating a vehicle with a broken tail-light and loud exhaust. The vehicle pulled into a driveway in the 200 block of Franklin Street. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Gary Bolcerek, became irate and appeared to be reaching for a weapon, police reported. The initial officer called for emergency assistance at which time the Chesterton and Burns Harbor Police Departments responded to the scene. Bolcerek retreated from his vehicle into his garage

A two-hour manhunt for a shooting suspect ended Wednesday afternoon with two arrests. Aaron Belcher, 35, of Griffith, and a female subject who was with him were both taken into custody in Merrillville Wednesday afternoon. The two were spotted arguing in the entryway of an apartment complex near Grant Street and 79th Place.  The witnesses called 9-1-1.  The two subjects fled into a nearby wooded area between Grant and Cleveland Streets where they were arrested. Earlier Wednesday, a 33-year-old man was transported to an area hospital with gunshot wounds after an assault at a home in the 1000 block of