Local News

The annual Boo Bash Halloween Event returns to Hawthorne Park on Friday, Oct. 20 from 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. This family-friendly event features a Trunk-or-Treat, games, a donut decorating table sponsored by Family Express Corp. and a costume contest. Costume contest prizes will be awarded to the top costumes in the following divisions: ages 0-5, ages 6-10, ages 11-15, and 16+. Costume contest will be judged at 5:30 p.m. The Westchester Public Library will also be hosting an outdoor presentation of Disney-Pixar’s “Monsters, Inc.”, which will begin at 6:30pm the same night at Hawthorne Park. In the event of

Press release by Northern Indiana Public Service Company (Oct. 11, 2023): MERRILLVILLE, Ind. – NIPSCO announced today that natural gas residential customers can expect a decline in their winter heating bills this season compared to previous years. Based on current market projections and assuming normal winter weather, bills for natural gas residential customers are estimated to be 24 percent lower in contrast to cost at this same period in 2022, and 11 percent lower compared to the same period in 2021. Each year, NIPSCO and other Indiana energy companies provide a forecast for home heating bills during the upcoming winter

Franciscan Health is offering prediabetic patients the opportunity to help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes with its year-long Diabetes Prevention Program. Franciscan Health’s 12-month virtual Diabetes Prevention Program follows guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that have proven to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is one of the top 10 leading causes of death in the U.S., impacting more than 37 million American adults. Few realize type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with lifestyle changes, like those implemented through the Franciscan Health Diabetes Prevention Program. Throughout the course of the program,

The South Shore Line announces the continuation of its “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” promotion, applicable for November monthly tickets. All monthly tickets purchased for the month of November 2023 will remain valid for December 2023. Passengers purchasing a paper November monthly ticket should plan to keep that ticket and use it through December, and passengers purchasing a digital November monthly ticket via the mobile app will see a December ticket uploaded to their accounts prior to Dec. 1. For passengers who receive tickets through an employer benefit program such as Wage Works or Commuter Benefit Solutions, these passengers should

Press release by City of Valparaiso: As the City of Valparaiso adds housing and parking in The Linc and Lincoln Highway Garage projects, city leaders are also working to preserve history. “We’ve been very careful to ensure the new facilities match the historic charm of our downtown and we’re preserving each bit of history we can, down to the bricks on the street,” said Mayor Matt Murphy. Bricks from historic Valparaiso Street are being painstakingly removed so they can be restored and reinstalled at the conclusion to the project. “The community will benefit from better drainage and better environmental stewardship

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. — An Illinois man died on Monday after he rear-ended a semi on I-80/94 westbound lanes at the 12.8 mile marker, according to Indiana State Police. The crash occurred at 1:45 p.m. and police say it happened minutes after a trooper had performed a traffic stop on the same vehicle, a 2012 Kia Optima, just east of the Lake Station exit ramp. The vehicle fled the scene of the traffic stop as the trooper was walking up to speak with the driver.  The trooper returned to his police car and was going to initiate a pursuit. However,

News release by Purdue University Northwest: Purdue University Northwest (PNW) will host influential clinician, researcher and scholar Dr. Bruce Perry for a two-day visit to share his insights on trauma and resilience with campus and public audiences. For over 30 years, Perry has conducted research and provided training and consultation on children’s mental health and the neuroscience of trauma. His career has focused on the impact of abuse, neglect and adverse childhood experiences on the developing brain which, in turn, has greatly influenced clinical practice, programs and policy across the world. His work has been instrumental in describing how childhood

JASPER COUNTY - CSX Transportation plans to close U.S. 231 at their railroad crossing between Walnut Street and Vine Street beginning on or after Monday, Oct. 16, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation. U.S. 231 will be closed for approximately six days in this location while CSX repairs their at-grade crossing surface. INDOT says motorists should seek an alternate route. The official detour will follow State Road 14, U.S. 421 and State Road 114.  

Press release by Purdue University Northwest: The Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest has announced winners of the 2023 Innovators Awards. Winners will be inducted into the Society during the group’s annual luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 19 at the Purdue Northwest campus in Westville, IN from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. CST. “This year will mark the 19th annual class of innovators inducted into the Society,” said Jason Williams, assistant director of the Society of Innovators. “We believe that anyone can be an innovator and that innovation can come from anywhere. The Class of 2023 once again exemplifies this diversity

Women in need of mammograms in Northwest Indiana may be able to receive them free of charge thanks to a grant to Franciscan Health from the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust. The grant supports mammograms at the Franciscan Health Women’s Center in Chesterton, Franciscan Health Breast Care Center Crown Point, Franciscan Health Breast Center Dyer, Franciscan Health Breast Care Center Michigan City and Franciscan Health Breast Center Munster. The grant funds are awarded by the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust, Inc. (IBCAT), the mission of which is to increase awareness and improve access to breast cancer screenings, diagnoses and support

Lubeznik Center for the Arts (LCA) is hosting a free Family Day on Saturday, October 14 from 1 to 3 p.m., and all area families are invited to attend. Families will create their own scrap book photo albums and embark on a scavenger hunt throughout the galleries. This free drop-in event allows children and adults to enjoy art making and view artwork in LCA’s three galleries in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Family Days are particularly engaging for school-age children and their parents or caregivers. However, all ages are welcome to attend. Free snacks will be provided, and no advance registration

News release by Office of Attorney General Todd Rokita: During Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Attorney General Todd Rokita is alerting small businesses to rising cyber threats and providing tips for them to protect themselves and their customers.  “Cybercriminals view small businesses as easy targets and look for any weaknesses they may have in their security systems,” Attorney General Rokita said. “It’s critical for small business owners to have safeguards in place to protect their data and customers’ personal information.”  Making sure any Hoosier business has the appropriate cybersecurity controls has become a necessary step in today’s economy. The average cost incurred by

Governor Eric Holcomb has ordered that the flags of the United States of America and Indiana be flown at half-mast to honor the lives lost in Israel. Holcomb issued the following statement: "In accordance with the authority vested in me as Governor, I hereby order that the flags of the United States of America and Indiana be flown at half-mast to honor the lives lost this past weekend to the hands of terrorists.  Flags are to be lowered to half-staff on all state properties from Monday, October 9, 2023 through Sunday, October 15, 2023. "Governor Holcomb asks all businesses and

A group of Hardee’s employees, along with others, have been charged after police uncovered a scheme in which money taken from customers' credit/debit card numbers were used bail out jail inmates. The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office says last month, La Porte County Jail Commander, Captain Andrew Hahn, along with other members of the jail administration, noticed “suspicious irregularities” of funds on some inmate’s accounts.  Police say large sums of money were being placed onto the inmates’ communication system — called Securus — accounts from a source outside the jail.  Police say the same inmates were bonding out of the jail

Press release by Northern Indiana Public Service Company: October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and NIPSCO is encouraging customers to take steps to keep personal information safe from cyber criminals. The potential dangers can present themselves in many forms, including phony calls, emails and text messages. “Maintaining the confidentiality of customer information is critically important to all of us at NIPSCO,” said Mike Hooper, NIPSCO President. “Some of the measures we have implemented include extensive and continuous training of our employees on how to safeguard customer data, amplifying our data encryption and bolstering our incident response capabilities.” “We also want to

Concrete restoration work on I-94 EB between S.R. 912/Cline Ave and I-65 are changing ramp closures this week. INDOT provided the following information: - Ramps from NB & SB S.R. 912 to EB I-94 expected to reopen on/around Mon, Oct 9. Ramps from EB I-94 to Grant St and from NB & SB Grant St to EB I-94 will then close through late Oct. - Ramps from NB & SB Burr St to EB I-94 expected to reopen on/around Thurs, Oct 12. Ramps from EB I-94 to S.R. 53/Broadway and from NB & SB S.R. 53 to eastbound I-94 will

The Duneland Education Foundation recently awarded Acorn grants to Bailly, Brummitt, and Liberty elementary schools, the Town of Chesterton said on their Facebook page Friday. Bailly was awarded a $938 Acorn grant for the 1st Grade Friends and the 2nd Grade Sidekicks programs. In each program, every student will receive a stuffed animal friend to read to and with, with the idea of improving their reading fluency and fostering their love of reading. Brummitt was awarded a $4,069.35 Acorn grant to purchase PLAY kitchens, for use by all kindergarten students at Brummitt. PLAY—Playful Learning for All Years—is a highly successful

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Superior Construction Co Inc will change ramp closures on I-94 eastbound between State Road 912/Cline Avenue and I-65 next week. This is part of phase 5 of the concrete restoration work occurring along this stretch of interstate. The ramps from northbound and southbound State Road 912/Cline Avenue to eastbound I-94 are expected to reopen on or around Monday, Oct. 9. Once the ramps at the State Road 912 interchange open, the ramps from eastbound I-94 to Grant Street and from northbound and southbound Grant Street to eastbound I-94 will close. The

The Porter County Community Foundation awarded Liberty Township Volunteer Fire Department funding for the purchase of a new thermal imaging camera to support its operations. The Thermal Imaging Camera or TIC is a camera used by firefighters to allow them to see areas through smoke, darkness, or heat-permeable barriers. The Thermal Imaging Camera allows firefighters to be able to pick up heat signatures in areas they cannot see for instances of people who may be trapped inside a home. Porter County Community Foundation President Bill Higbie and Vice President Jeri Gabbert presented Fire Chief Brian Duncan and Assistant Chief Michael

The following is a message from the City of Michigan City: Mayor Duane Parry and Chief Steve Forker have announced that trick or treat in Michigan City will be Tuesday October 31st from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The city is asking homeowners who would like to participate to please turn on your outside porchlight. The city also gave the following trick-or-treating tips:   Plan your route ahead of time. Trick or treat in familiar neighborhoods. Carry a flashlight with fresh batteries after dark. Always trick or treat in groups, accompanied by an adult. Follow the correct hours of treating.