Local News

The Valparaiso Police Department, in conjunction with Valparaiso Community Schools, announced the addition of a fourth school resource officer (SRO) to its current team. Patrolwoman Michelle Kodicek has been selected and will begin her duties at Thomas Jefferson Middle School (TJMS) on July 1, 2023.  Current SRO, Patrolman Shannon Morris, will be taking the lead as the SRO for all VCS elementary schools, after having served TJMS since 2018. Kodicek is a 23-year veteran of law enforcement, spending her entire career with the Valparaiso Police Department.  During her tenure, Kodicek has served as a member of the VPD’s patrol division,

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has forecasted another statewide Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) for ozone for Friday, June 30. Note: IDEM forecasts are based, solely or in part, on data from air quality monitors located throughout the state. IDEM encourages residents to heed the forecast. Air quality information for all Indiana counties can be found at SmogWatch.IN.gov.  Some municipalities have additional open burning restrictions on AQADs. For more information, see idem.IN.gov/openburning/laws-and-rules. Hoosiers are encouraged to visit SmogWatch.IN.gov to view current and forecasted conditions and subscribe to email alerts. IDEM encourages everyone to help reduce PM2.5 by making changes to daily habits. You can:

Michigan City’s Fourth of July Fireworks will be held on Tuesday, July 4, in Washington Park. The fireworks will begin at dusk and can be viewed from any of the City’s 1.9 miles of beachfront, in Washington Park, or in the City’s Uptown Arts District. The celebration is free to the public. Parking is available in Washington Park (free with a park sticker) on a first come, first served basis.  Additional parking is available along downtown streets. In recognition of Independence Day, Tuesday July 4, City Hall, and all non-emergency services such as the Transit and Refuse Departments and City

Three people have been arrested and one person was injured after a shooting Wednesday at the Canterbury Apartment Complex in Michigan City. Just before 11 a.m.,two officers were dispatched to the Canterbury House Apartment Complex in reference to gunshots being fired. After their arrival, information was received by the dispatch center that a person had fled the apartment complex after being shot and was located at a business in Evergreen Plaza. EMS and other officers arrived at the business and located the victim, a 21-year-old Merrillville man. The victim was transported to Franciscan Hospital for treatment by EMS for a

The 2023 Michigan City Patriotic Parade is scheduled for Saturday, July 1, starting at 11:00 a.m. The parade will run south on Franklin Street, starting at 9th Street and running to Ames Field. The parade will run as scheduled, unless severe weather is present. Traffic Closures Pine Street (Parade Staging) Closed from Michigan Boulevard/Highway 12 to 10th Street 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 9th Street (Parade Staging) Closed from Pine Street to Washington Street 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Franklin Street (Parade Route) Closed from 9th Street to Harrison Street 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The line-up is in place, the weather forecast looks cooperative, and the 77th Annual La Porte 4th of July Parade is set to begin shortly after 10 a.m., Tuesday, July 4th. This will be the third year running in which the Kiwanis Club of La Porte serves as the parade organizer. Over 110 units are scheduled to travel the route along Lincolnway and J Street, starting at Tipton Street, on the east end, and heading west, around the J Street curve toward Andrew Avenue.  The parade will feature long standing traditions, such as the large American flag being walked down

HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Undergraduate and advanced degree programs in Purdue University Northwest’s (PNW) College of Business earned reaffirmation of academic quality and preparation through accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB). AACSB International is the world’s largest and longest-standing business education network and recognizable premier global accreditor. AACSB accreditation assures PNW’s select College of Business programs meet academic quality standards and graduate students who will become leading business professionals in their respective disciplines. “Reaffirming our AACSB accreditation is a testament to the quality of our programs,” said Rachel Clapp Smith, Teddy Jacobi Dean

On social media Wednesday, Michigan City Area Schools introduced Michelle Hornyak, new principal at Knapp Elementary School, and David Alvarado, new principal at Pine Elementary School. Mrs. Hornyak previously worked as assistant principal at Discovery Charter School in Chesterton. Before that, she worked in various roles for the Merrillville Community Schools for 19 years. Mr. Alvarado served in various roles in East Chicago. He then moved on to be assistant principal at Irvington Elementary School in Hammond and principal at Liberty Elementary School in Chesterton.

Valpo Parks has initiated bids for work on the city’s newest and largest park, the Valpo Sports & Recreation Campus. Bids for Phase I are due in July for work to begin later this summer on the park, located on the city’s east side, just east of 49, stretching from Vale Park Road on the south, all the way to 500 North. Phase I projects will include: 4 multipurpose fields on the north end of the park – all artificial turf with sports lighting and the configuration to play baseball, softball, soccer and a variety of sports for all ages.

News release by Indiana Department of Environmental Management: INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has forecasted another statewide Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) for Thursday, June 29. Current air monitor readings across the state remain very high as the Canadian wildfire plume continues to move slowly through the state. Particulates are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range (Orange). Note: IDEM forecasts are based, solely or in part, on data from air quality monitors located throughout the state. IDEM encourages residents to heed the forecast. Air quality information for all Indiana counties can be found at SmogWatch.IN.gov.  Some

News release by Indiana Department of Natural Resources: In an effort to educate recreational boaters about the dangers of boating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Indiana Conservation Officers will participate in the annual Operation Dry Water national campaign, which is July 1-3 this year. Alcohol use continues to be the leading known contributing factor in recreational boater deaths and a leading contributor in boating accidents. The mission of Operation Dry Water is to decrease their occurrence through amplified recreational boater outreach, education, and coordinated enforcement. “Individuals and families from across the country head to our nation’s waterways

The Ogden Dunes Police Department announced that Town Hall will be closed on Monday July 3 and Tuesday July 4 in observance of the Independence Day holiday. Temporary Beach parking permits for the holiday are available. These parking permits will cover all days from now to the 4th. Stop into Town Hall between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday to Friday to get your permits. If you are unable to make it to their office during regular business hours, call the ODPD at 219-762-4125. Ogden Dunes Police Department says they are happy to help make arrangements to pick up your

Press release from La Porte County Sheriff’s Office: While Independence Day will be in the middle of the week this year, deputies will be on the lookout for impaired drivers throughout the weekend leading up to the holiday. The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is taking part in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement mobilization to educate motorists about the dangers and consequences of impaired driving. From June 30 until July 8, additional deputies will be on patrol with the primary goal of preventing tragedies previously seen around the July 4th holiday. The high-visibility enforcement effort is

In Portage on Tuesday the Central Avenue closure between Swanson Road and Willowdale Road was removed. The road remains open through the Independence Day Holiday. Notice will be provided prior to it being closed again.

Portage Police are seeking video surveillance to assist in identifying suspect(s) involved in a "a rash of vehicle vandalisms" around the city during the early morning hours of Saturday between midnight and 5:00 a.m. The department is asking residents in the area of Mulberry Avenue, Fallen Timbers Avenue, and Techumseh Street to check your video surveillance cameras to see if you captured any images of the suspect(s) involved. Those who do have video images, are asked to contact Detective Dandurand at 219-764-5705.  

An INDOT contractor will close ramps to and from I-80/94 for concrete restoration work on or after Wednesday, July 5. The following ramps will be closed on/after July 5 through late July: Westbound I-94 to Broadway/State Road 53 Broadway/State Road 53 to westbound I-94 Westbound I-94 to Grant Street Grant Street to westbound I-94 Burr Street to westbound I-94 Motorists should note that the schedule for the westbound ramps involves closing ramps at only two interchanges at a time. The ramps at Broadway/State Road 53 and Grant Street are currently scheduled to be closed first, and once one of those

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has issued an Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) in the Unhealthy Air Quality Index range and is forecasting high levels of fine particles (PM2.5) in the air for Wednesday, June 28, 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 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,

The Porter County Traffic Safety Partnership will be participating in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement mobilization to educate motorists about the dangers and consequences of impaired driving. From Friday, June 30, through Saturday, July 8, officers will be increasing patrols with the primary goal of preventing tragedies previously seen around the Fourth of July holiday. The extra high-visibility enforcement is being funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI). Impaired driving includes more than just alcohol. Drugs and even some over-the-counter medications can also cause impairment and affect

The Food Bank of Northern Indiana will have mobile food distributions at the following locations:   Friday, July 7, 2023 – St. Joseph County 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. ET *While supplies last. WHERE: Liberty School, 600 Pregel Dr., Mishawaka, IN 46545                                                                                                                    

Several beach hazards statements are in effect for the South Shore area including the counties of Lake, Porter, La Porte and Berrien.   For La Porte County: ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM CDT TUESDAY THROUGH LATE TUESDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...Life-threatening conditions are expected through late Tuesday night. Waves building to 5 to 7 feet Tuesday then subsiding late Tuesday night. Strong rip, structural, and longshore currents are expected. Piers will be heavily swamped by waves through late Tuesday night. * WHERE...Northern La Porte county. * WHEN...From 1 AM CDT Tuesday through late Tuesday night. * IMPACTS...Strong