Local News

News release by Indiana DNR: Educators interested in taking K-12 students on field trips to an Indiana state park or state-managed lake in the 2023-2024 school year can receive financial help through the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation (INRF). Grants from the Discover the Outdoors fund are available for all school types, according to INRF executive director Jody Kress. “The Foundation’s mission is to celebrate and preserve Indiana’s natural legacy,” Kress said. “This grant gives children an adventure that showcases some of Indiana’s natural and cultural treasures and teaches the importance of protecting and preserving them for everyone to enjoy.” Since

Traffic will be flagged through the roundabout at U.S. 6 and State Road 2 May 23-25 during the hours of approximately 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Crews will be installing permanent light poles. Expect delays during peak times. Schedule is weather dependent and subject to change.  

Press release by Purdue University Northwest: HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. – The Leadership Institute at Purdue Northwest proudly announces the graduates of the Leadership Northwest Indiana (LNI) program. This premium leadership program, facilitated by a team that includes professors from the Purdue Northwest College of Business, as well as leadership practitioners, meets once a month for eight months. A 360 assessment and custom coaching are program highlights. The facilitation team provides research-based leadership content and skill-building for effective leadership in the workplace and in life. “We are simply delighted at the level of progress and growth exhibited by this year’s

The City of La Porte is asking for residents’ input. The city said on its Facebook page, “Help our Community Development & Planning team make paddling, biking and walking safer and more convenient in the City of La Porte!” The Trails, Greenways and Blueways Master Plan Public Open House is this Thursday, May 18 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the La Porte Civic Auditorium. The City of La Porte also said, “If you want see improved connections between our neighborhoods, businesses parks and lakes, this opportunity is for you!” No registration is required.

The Duneland Chamber of Commerce is currently seeking community nominations for the following awards to be presented during the Duneland Chamber Community Awards luncheon on July 19: -Duneland Distinguished Woman Award -Putting Duneland on the Map Award -Business Renovation Award -New Construction Award -Humanitarian of the Year Award -Volunteer of the Year Award -Golden Achievement Award -Serviceman of the Year Award Follow this link to nominate an individual or organization: https://form.jotform.com/231065020435139  

Press release by Office of Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales: INDIANAPOLIS – Hoosier voters will be receiving postcards in the mail from the Secretary of State’s Election Division.  The mailings are part of a statewide voter list maintenance. The goal is to identify outdated, duplicate, and inaccurate voter registrations to improve the accuracy and integrity of Indiana’s voter registration list. You don’t have to do anything in response to receiving a postcard.  If a postcard is returned by the Post Office as undeliverable, a second postcard will be sent to the forwardable address on file with the US Postal

The Salvation Army is getting ready to celebrate National Donut Day with a tradition that has become highly anticipated every year in Michigan City – the 8th annual Donut Eating Contest. In this event, 17 contenders will compete to see who can eat the most donuts in 10 minutes. It will take place on Friday, June 2 at Blue Chip Casino. Doors open at 9 am and the contest begins sharply at 10 am. This event is free and open to the public. Competing this year will be: Lee Ann Killingbeck, The Boys & Girls Club of La Porte County;

MICHIGAN CITY, Indiana -- Franciscan Health and Geminus Regional Health Systems are partnering to host a free car seat safety clinic from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 30. The event will take place at the Franciscan Health Michigan City legacy campus at 301 W. Homer St. Car seats will be available free of charge to qualifying Indiana residents thanks to a generous grant from Geminus Regional Health Systems. The seats will be installed by a certified technician while supplies last. Caregivers must bring children to the event to allow the technicians to create a safe, proper fit. The

An adult and two children were hurt after a crash on I-80/94 early Monday in Lake County. At around 4:00 a.m., a trooper was dispatched to a single vehicle crash on I-80/94 at the 3.8 mile-marker.  Preliminary investigation shows that a 2005 Chrysler van was eastbound when for unknown reasons, the vehicle struck the right barrier wall, then crossed the lanes and struck the center median wall head-on.  Emergency personnel located the 36-year-old male driver from Chicago, with serious injuries.  Also, inside the rear of the vehicle were two juveniles, a female and male both less than 10 years of

News release by Healthcare Foundation of La Porte: LA PORTE -- The HFL City of La Porte Housing Initiative, which began in 2022 with a six-month in-depth housing study of the City of La Porte, continues its work with a partnership with the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture’s Housing and Community Regeneration Initiative for a downtown housing and regeneration charrette. A charrette is an intensive planning session where architects, citizens, and others collaborate to develop a design or vision for a project. HFL and the City of La Porte are welcoming a professional team from the University of

Michigan State Police are seeking help identifying a body that washed ashore in 1988. The Michigan State Police (MSP) Niles Post, in coordination with New Buffalo Police Department, are again reaching out to their southern Lake Michigan coastal partners and residents requesting assistance to help with the identification of a recovered body. Thirty-five years ago, an unidentified body washed ashore on the New Buffalo breakwater of Lake Michigan on April 8, 1988. The unidentified body was exhumed November 9, 2021, to collect a DNA sample for CODIS entry and forensic genetic genealogy. Dental records are on file for comparison to

News release by Michigan City Area Schools: The Michigan City High School (MCHS) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) recognized cadets for high achievement in a variety of categories at their Awards Night held at the school cafeteria on May 11th.  Numerous civic organizations attended to present their awards.  These included the local chapters of the Marine Corps League, Veterans of Foreign  Wars, the American Legion, Sons of the American Revolution, and Daughters of the American Revolution. Awards were presented for academic, extracurricular, community service, public affairs, and athletic achievement. One of the notable recipients was senior Tristan

Two Michigan City High School seniors with healthcare career goals recently received Franciscan Health Michigan City Medical Staff Memorial Scholarships to assist with their post-secondary educations. Adrian Huizar and Kourtney Pratt, both 18, were selected by the Franciscan Health Michigan City Medical Staff Scholarship Committee as the 2023 scholarship recipients. Huizar is enrolled in an emergency medical technician program and plans to further his education with a physician’s assistant degree at Valparaiso University. His goal is to work in a hospital emergency department. Huizar’s interest in a healthcare career was sparked by his parents’ difficulties in receiving Spanish translation services

Press release by Salvation Army of Michigan City: May 15-21 has been set aside for The Salvation Army of Michigan City as it calls Americans to “Love Beyond” MICHIGAN CITY, May 15, 2023 – In an effort to bring citizens of Michigan City together to address issues affecting their most vulnerable neighbors year-round, Mayor Duane Parry has issued a proclamation declaring May 15-21, 2023, as “Salvation Army Week.” The proclamation recognizes the ongoing efforts of the staff and volunteers of the social services organization to help those in the community who are struggling as well as the generosity of those

Volunteer while paddling for the DNR’s Paddlecraft Wildlife Index. The Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife needs volunteer paddlers to document wildlife on paddling trips from June 1 to July 31. By helping document the number of wildlife seen while floating, paddlers will help biologists estimate wildlife population changes around Indiana’s waterways. The DNR says this is a great opportunity for paddlers who enjoy watching wildlife while paddling. Sign up to volunteer at on.IN.gov/paddlecraftindex

INDIANAPOLIS- Dr. Kristina Box has notified Governor Eric J. Holcomb that she will retire as state health commissioner of the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) effective May 31. Gov. Holcomb has appointed IDOH’s chief medical officer, Dr. Lindsay Weaver, as the state health commissioner. “Dr. Box and I began discussing this inevitability nearly a year ago, and I’m so grateful she agreed to stay on to shepherd the state Department of Health’s most ambitious legislative agenda yet. I respect no one more and am so pleased she’ll get to enjoy her next chapter, which is focusing on her family.  I

School Board President for the La Porte Community School Corporation (LPCSC), Jim Arnold, has received the Distinguished governance award from the Indiana School Boards Association (ISBA), LPCSC announced in a news release. "The Exemplary Governance Awards (EGA) program celebrates school board members who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to learning and excellence in public service through their active participation in ISBA-sponsored or ISBA-recognized trainings, seminars, and conferences," LPCSC said. This year’s EGA honorees include 197 school board members across four levels of distinction-82 Commendable (Level 1) board members, 60 Advanced (Level 2) board members, 32 Distinguished (Level 3) board members,

Commissioner Haney Statement on Connie Gramarossa's Chicago Crash As I have been fielding numerous questions regarding the car crash in Chicago involving a County-owned Vehicle that was driven by Commissioner Gramarossa, I am issuing this statement to ensure the public has a better understanding of what has transpired. In the early morning hours of March 17, 2023, Commissioner Gramarossa was involved in a motor vehicle collision on the north side of Chicago. Gramarossa rear-ended a vehicle stopped at a red light causing $6,500 in damages to the victim's car and at least $18,000 in damages to a County-owned 2021 Ford

The Indiana Toll road announced the truck parking area (make-up/ break-up lot) east of the Valparaiso Toll Plaza Exit 31 will be closed on May 15 at 6:00 a.m. CT until approximately May 25. Alternative truck parking for both eastbound and westbound traffic will be at mile marker 37. Dates are subject to change.