Local News

The Valparaiso Police Department has named a new assistant chief. Detective Sergeant Mark LaMotte was named as the next Assistant Chief of Police for the Valparaiso Police Department. LaMotte will officially assume his new responsibilities on October 2, when current Assistant Chief Michael DeHaven retires. “We’re grateful to have someone with Mark LaMotte’s qualifications and commitment to serve our community. We are confident that he is an excellent choice for our next assistant chief,” said Mayor Matt Murphy. LaMotte's law enforcement career began as a certified police officer after having graduated from the Indiana University Police Academy while enrolled as

News release by Franciscan Health: MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – Franciscan Health Michigan City’s free FIT-Together program, a family-centered approach to health and wellness, is back and open for registration. The unique, 10-week fitness program is intended for households with children between the ages of 8 and 14. FIT-Together addresses the well-being of every participating family member, including children, siblings, parents and parental figures. Session topics focus on the importance of making healthy choices in activities, relationships and emotional health as well as with nutrition and exercise. Individual and family-centered physical activities to improve stress management, effective communication, problem solving and

On Wednesday July 26, 2023, at approximately 2200 Hours, the LaPorte County Regional Dispatch Center dispatched Michigan City Police Department units along with Michigan City Fire Department and LaPorte County EMS, to the area of Woodlawn Avenue and Hitchcock Street regarding a male subject that crashed his motorcycle and was unresponsive. Upon arrival of emergency services, a male subject was found deceased next to his motorcycle that was crashed. A preliminary investigation revealed that the operator of the motorcycle was traveling westbound on Woodlawn Avenue at a high rate of speed approaching the curve to the west of Hitchcock Street.

CROWN POINT, Ind. — A crash that pushed concrete barriers into traffic caused major delays for drivers on I-65 Wednesday afternoon. At around 12:20 p.m., troopers responded to a multi-vehicle crash on I-65 at the 248 mile-marker, which is one mile north of the Crown Point exit. A preliminary investigation shows that a tractor trailer was northbound when for unknown reasons the truck veered into the center divider wall. The impact pushed the concrete barriers into the southbound lanes of travel. A tanker semi traveling southbound then struck the concrete that was now in its lane. The impact resulted in

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has forecast an Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) for Thursday, July 27, for all of Indiana. Air quality is expected to reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (Orange) level. IDEM is forecasting high ozone levels due to a significant increase in temperatures across the state and a continued air mass from Canadian wildfires 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

The National Weather Service of Northern Indiana has issued a heat advisory along with a dense fog advisory for portions of northern Indiana, southwest Michigan and northwest Ohio. Additionally, the National Weather Service of Chicago has issued a heat advisory for parts of the Chicago area along with Lake and Porter counties in Indiana.   Heat Advisory URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Northern Indiana 326 AM EDT Thu Jul 27 2023 Elkhart-Lagrange-Steuben-Noble-De Kalb-Northern La Porte- Eastern St. Joseph IN-Southern La Porte-Western St. Joseph IN- Cass MI-St. Joseph MI-Branch-Hillsdale-Northern Berrien- Southern Berrien-Williams-Fulton OH- Including the cities of Elkhart, Goshen,

News release by Indiana Department of Natural Resources: According to a recent conservation survey, Indiana farmers have set a conservation record this year by planting an estimated 1.6 million acres of overwinter living covers. “Protecting our most vital natural resources is top of mind for our Indiana farmers and this year’s record breaking cover crop acreage is a testament to that,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana's Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “Through the implementation of cover crops and other conservation efforts, farmers are ensuring our land and water resources remain healthy and productive.” Overwintering living covers (i.e. - cover

In Porter, 23rd Street between West Porter Avenue and Union Avenue will be closed all day Thursday, July 27—beginning at 7 a.m.—for the removal of a hazard tree damaged in a recent storm, according to the Town of Chesterton Facebook page. The tree is located on the west side of 23rd Street, just south of the Prairie Duneland Trail, in the Town of Porter’s jurisdiction, according to the Town of Chesterton. The Town of Chesterton stated, “Motorists should be able to avoid the area easily enough, by shooting south on 20th, 21st, or 22nd streets to Union Ave.”

The Valparaiso Police Department, in conjunction with the Valparaiso Community Schools and the Valparaiso Fire Department, are informing the public of training that will be taking place at Flint Lake Elementary School (4106 Calumet Avenue) on July 26, 27, and 28. The safety drills will be conducted on each of these days from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  There will be an abundance of police vehicles and fire apparatus in the area throughout the day, with police and fire training activities occurring within the school. “Please do not be alarmed, as emergency services are aware of the drills taking place,”

A Michigan City woman has been sentenced for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Carissa McCoy, 42, was sentenced to 63 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, according to the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Indiana. According to documents in the case, from June through mid-August 2021, McCoy conspired with others to distribute fentanyl in the Michigan City area. Her home, which she shared with one of her co-defendants, housed currency, firearms and ammunition related to the conspiracy. In August 2021, McCoy and one of her

Law enforcement warns drivers to slow down and be aware of surroundings. It’s almost that time of year when kids will be heading back to school, and Prosecutor Sean Fagan is urging drivers to take precautions as school buses return to the roads. In Indiana, it’s against the law for motorists to pass a bus that’s stopped and has its red lights flashing and stop-arm extended. This applies to all roads with one exception: motorists who are on a highway that is divided by a barrier – such as a cable barrier, concrete wall or grassy median. Motorists are then

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - The Indiana Department of Transportation announces upcoming changes to the concrete restoration work on I-65 between U.S. 231 and the I-80/94 interchange resulting in new lane and ramp closures. Section 1: Between 61st Ave and the I-80/94 interchange (mile marker 256 to 260) The ramp from northbound I-65 to westbound I-80/94 will temporarily close from approximately 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the evenings of Tuesday, July 25 and Wednesday, July 26 to shift a barrier wall and place pavement markings. Concrete restoration work will begin on the ramp from eastbound I-80/94 to southbound I-65 on or

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has forecasted an Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) for Tuesday, July 25 in parts of northern Indiana. Air quality is expected to reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (Orange) level as indicated below. IDEM is forecasting high levels of fine particles (PM2.5) due to smoke from Canadian wildfires in the following regions: 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, Portland, Wabash and all other

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - The Indiana Department of Transportation has announced short-term road closures on U.S. 41 and State Road 152/Indianapolis Blvd. for next week while Norfolk Southern rebuilds two at-grade crossings. U.S. 41 will close first, with Indianapolis Boulevard closing when U.S. 41 reopens. U.S. 41 will be closed on or after Monday, July 31 for approximately three days between Fayette Street and Kane Street. The official detour for this closure will follow I-94, U.S. 20/Indianapolis Boulevard, and State Road 312. Indianapolis Boulevard will be closed on or after Wednesday, August 2 for approximately two days between 165th Street

The Salvation Army will continue to “light the path” for local families with an annual dinner and auction to support its case management program. The Light the Path Dinner & Auction, which supports The Salvation Army’s Pathway of Hope program, will take place on Thursday, August 10 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Uptown Social, 907 Franklin Street. This event benefits an intense case management program that helps break the cycle of generational poverty. “We work closely, one-on-one with families who are ready to make a change within the family unit, and are ready to become more self-sufficient,” said

The City of La Porte announced today the next rock show coming to The Civic, according to Civic Auditorium & Events Director Brett Binversie. Scheduled to play the historic venue on Friday, Sept. 22, is popular Canadian rock band Loverboy. With their trademark red leather pants, bandannas, big rock sound and high-energy live shows, Loverboy has sold more than 10 million albums and released the classic ‘80s anthems, “Turn Me Loose” and “Working for the Weekend.” Having delighted audiences around the world for the last 40 years, Binversie said it is quite a feat to have La Porte be one

An inmate at the La Porte County Jail died on Saturday night, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) announced. According to the LCSO, at approximately 11:59 p.m. EMS was requested at the  jail to aid an inmate having an unknown medical episode. The inmate, who was conscious at the time, was transported to Northwest Health La Porte Hospital where they subsequently died. Autopsy and toxicology test results are pending. The investigation is ongoing.

Walsh Construction has provided the following update on road closure information related to NICTD’s Double Track Northwest Indiana Project:   Sheridan/10th – TBD – will be a 5-day closure   10th and Huron at Amtrak crossing – 8/14/23 open 8/28/23   Ohio/11th – close 8/14/23 open 8/18/23   Wabash/11th – close 7/12/23 open 8/11/23   Washington/11th open 7/12/23   Chicago/11th open   Franklin/11th – Open   Michigan Blvd/11th – Mid August   Michigan Blvd/Vail St – Mid August   Michigan Blvd/School St – Mid September   Michigan Blvd/Carroll Ave – Mid September   10th Street Huron to Sheridan – –

Several local organizations have announced a community-wide school supply drive, which runs through July 26. Supplies collected during the drive will be distributed to area students who are in need of materials to start the school year. Many area businesses have set up collection bins to accept donations from their employees and the general public. Collection sites are located at Al’s Supermarket (Franklin Street and Karwick locations), Captain Ed’s Candy Island & Furniture Showroom, First Trust Credit Union, the Michigan City Area Schools’ Administration Building, Michigan City’s City Hall, Meridian Title Company, First United Methodist Church, and Restore Dental Arts.