Local News

Governor Eric Holcomb and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE) Wednesday announced that over 40,000 students have been automatically enrolled in the 2027 cohort in the 21st Century Scholars program. Automatic enrollment in the 21st Century Scholars program was a key item on the Governor’s 2023 Next Level Agenda to help increase educational attainment. Created in 1990, the 21st Century Scholars program is nationally recognized and one of Indiana’s keys to narrowing gaps in educational attainment. The scholarship covers up to full tuition and fees at Indiana colleges and universities for students from low-income backgrounds. The Commission estimates over

LAPORTE COUNTY, Ind. - The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a road closure for U.S. 421 between County Road West 1350 South and County Road West 1500 South beginning on or after Wednesday, Sept. 6. U.S. 421 will be closed for approximately three days while Norfolk Southern Railway installs a second track. INDOT says Motorists should seek an alternate route. The official detour will follow U.S. 30, State Road 39 and State Road 8.

The City of Valparaiso is reminding residents that due to the Labor Day holiday observed on Monday, Sept. 4, trash pickup will be delayed by one day. Monday's trash pickup will be on Tuesday. Tuesday's pickup will be Wednesday, Wednesday's pickup will be Thursday, and Thursday's pickup will be Friday. You may call (219) 462-6174 x2 in the event of an emergency.

Michigan City, IN, August 30, 2023– The LaPorte County Drug Task Force, an Indiana HIDTA Initiative, the Fugitive Apprehension Street Team (FAST), and Michigan City Police SWAT team executed a residential search warrant at the 900 block of York Street in Michigan City, that resulted in the arrest of five subjects on drug related charges. In recent months, the LaPorte County Drug Task Force began receiving complaints of illegal activity happening at the 900 block of York Street. In response, LCDTF opened an investigation to address the community concerns. Over the course of the investigation, detectives identified numerous individuals that

Two people were arrested after a crash involving a semi on I-80/94 early Tuesday. At approximately 3:45 a.m., troopers were dispatched to I-80/94 eastbound lanes near the 7.7 mile-marker for a crash involving a semi and a car. Preliminary investigation shows that a 2015 Ford Taurus side-swiped a 2001 Freightliner, causing the semi to crash into the median wall. The semi continued to travel over the wall and overturned, coming to a rest on its driver’s side. The semi also struck some construction equipment that was being operated by two construction workers. The Taurus came to a rest in the

Press release by City of La Porte: Residents with RTS trash totes will finally be rid of them by the end of next month, according to Mayor Tom Dermody. On Saturday, Sept. 23, the City, along with third-party contractor LakeShore Recycling, will collect the totes from residents throughout the city. Dermody said this retrieval is long overdue. “Since the day our administration took office, RTS has been nothing short of impossible to do business with,” Dermody said. “We’ve tried for months to contact them and work out a plan to retrieve their totes without any success and are now taking

Multiple Beach Hazards Statements are in effect for Lake Michigan. For La Porte and Berrien counties: ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...High wave action, strong currents, and dangerous swimming conditions expected. Piers will be heavily swamped by waves. * WHERE...In Indiana, Northern La Porte county. In Michigan, Northern Berrien and Southern Berrien counties. * WHEN...Through Wednesday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Strong currents can pull swimmers into deeper water and high waves can sweep people off piers. * ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...Waves 4 to 7 feet. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions. Do not

BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. – A woman is dead and a man was hospitalized after a house fire Tuesday in Three Oaks, Mich. At around  4:36 a.m. the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office and the Chikaming Township Fire Department were dispatched to a structure fire inside Lakewood Estates Manufactured Homes. Upon arrival 59-year-old Mark Tuszynski who , was standing outside, suffering from smoke inhalation. Tuszynski stated that there was another person inside the residence who could not get out. Deputies from the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office attempted to enter the structure, but the smoke and heat was too much, the sheriff’s office

Two juveniles are facing a delinquency charge of felony intimidation in connection with a “vague threat” made against Chesterton High School Tuesday morning, according to the Chesterton Police Department Facebook page. The Chesterton Police Department’s Facebook page stated the following: That threat—the nature of which the CPD did not disclose—was made to the Duneland School Corporation’s new “Say Something Anonymous Reporting System,” prompting CHS staff and CPD school resource officers to begin an immediate investigation. “In a timely fashion, officers and staff learned that the tip was not credible and that there was no threat to school safety,” the CPD

Hesston crews are gearing up for our annual Labor Day Steam & Power Show this weekend! Each day this week, we’ll be posting feature exhibits you and your family won’t want to miss! Today we are featuring the Hesston & Galena Creek Narrow Gauge Railroad: Steam locomotives No. 2 and 7 (HK Porter #2 and Shay Logging Locomotive #7) will be operating on the following schedule: -Friday, September 1 (Homeschool Field Trip Day) No. 2 will be pulling trains from 10a-5p CT. No. 7 will be on display and firing up for the weekend. -Saturday, September 2 No. 2 and

It was announced Monday by City of La Porte officials that Truesdell Avenue’s final stage of construction is happening now through the end of year. The road will be closed from Pine Lake Avenue to Hoelocker, but Hoelocker Drive will reopen temporarily to provide a detour for thru-traffic. Additionally, the Chessie Trail will be closed on each side of Truesdell. Dermody says to please use an alternative route. The La Porte Park and Recreation Department says to please use caution and watch out for park users when driving on Hoelocker.

Multiple Beach Hazards Statements are in effect for Lake Michigan Wednesday. For La Porte and Berrien Counties: ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING... * WHAT...High wave action, strong currents, and dangerous swimming conditions expected. Piers will be heavily swamped by waves. * WHERE...In Indiana, Northern La Porte county. In Michigan, Northern Berrien and Southern Berrien counties. * WHEN...From this evening through Wednesday morning. * IMPACTS...Strong currents can pull swimmers into deeper water and high waves can sweep people off piers. * ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...Waves 1 to 3 feet Tuesday morning increase quickly in the evening

PORTER COUNTY, Ind. - An Indiana Department of Transportation contractor will close Indian Boundary Road just west of State Road 49 for approximately four days beginning on or after Tuesday, September 5. The road will be closed to replace a pipe structure between State Road 49 and Plaza Drive. This work is occurring in conjunction with intersection improvements at State Road 49 and Indian Boundary Road. INDOT says motorists should seek alternate routes during the closure.

The Michigan City Police Department welcomed back Officer Zachery Wells. Monday Officer Wells was sworn in as a member of the Michigan City Police Department. Wells completed all mandatory training and was presented with his badge. Wells is a lateral transfer with years of experience and will immediately transfer to the Uniform Patrol Division.

LAPORTE AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTIES, Ind. - An Indiana Department of Transportation contractor will have lane closures on State Road 2 between County Road North 600 East and Snowberry Road on or after Tuesday, September 5. The right lane and shoulder will be closed in each direction through late October for two small structure maintenance and repair projects. INDOT encourages drivers to allow extra time when driving through this area and follow traffic directions carefully. INDOT says motorists should slow down, exercise caution and drive distraction-free through all work zones.

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) is sharing federal eligibility guidelines for free or reduced-price meals or free milk served under the federally-funded National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Programs, and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Household size and income criteria, which are used to determine eligibility, are available here. Each local school corporation office and organization participating in a School Nutrition Program or CACFP has a copy of the guidelines that may be reviewed by any interested party.

PLYMOUTH, Ind. Governor Eric J. Holcomb was joined by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) and firefighting leaders from across Indiana on Friday to announce the first phase of a large-scale plan to expand physical firefighting training for Hoosiers. Gov. Holcomb prioritized more training site funding as part of his 2023 Next Level Agenda. “Indiana will always support its public safety personnel, who selflessly risk their lives to protect the communities in which they live,” Gov. Holcomb said. “This plan will ensure that Hoosier firefighters have the skills and the equipment necessary to do their job safely and effectively.”

The Porter County Coroner’s Office has identified the person found dead at the scene of a house fire in Union Township late Thursday morning, Aug. 24, according to the Town of Chesterton. Jeannette Knowlton, 76, was discovered by first-responders inside the residence in the 500 block of Sandalwood Court, the Coroner’s Office said. “This incident is still under investigation,” Coroner Cynthia Dykes said. “Autopsy and toxicology are pending.” The Union Township Fire Department and Porter County Sheriff’s Police responded to the fire at 11 a.m. Thursday.

ITR Concession Company LLC (ITRCC) — operator of the Indiana Toll Road — is announcing several updates for the Northwest Indiana Bridge Rehabilitation Project. Work has been completed on the 108th Street entrance ramp to I-90 east. It is reopening to traffic on Saturday and Sunday (Aug. 26-27). Construction has also been completed on the exit 10 westbound exit ramp. It is scheduled to reopen on Monday, Aug. 28. Heading into Labor Day on Sept. 4, all work on the project will be halted during the busy weekend of travel. The next phase of construction will begin with single lane

The Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is awarding $247,200 to the Liberty Township Volunteer Fire Department to make critical improvements to operations and safety, equip and train emergency personnel, and enhance operational deficiencies. The award funding comes from federal tax dollars through a program called Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), which is administered and managed by FEMA. AFG aims to help obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards. The project replaces and funds the purchase of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) or