Local News

HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is excited to announce a new special group recognition license plate that will be available through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Beginning in 2026, PNW alumni, students, faculty, staff and supporters will have the opportunity to showcase their school spirit while directly contributing to scholarships for PNW students. Proceeds from each specialty license plate registered will help fund scholarships at PNW, making higher education more accessible and affordable for students. By purchasing a specialty plate, supporters are helping to foster innovative education, relieve financial burdens and enhance opportunities for PNW students

There will be a free Food and Essentials Distribution next weekend in La Porte, (while supplies last), according to the Indiana Toll Road, who is a sponsor of the event. The 13 Black National Dunes Girls Volleyball Team is hosting a drive-up event with canned food, fresh items, and personal hygiene supplies for any family in need—no questions asked. When: Sunday, Nov. 16th | 11 AM CT Where: Dunes Volleyball Club, La Porte, IN

Press Release, Indiana Department of Natural Resources: The Indiana Rare Earth Recovery Council will meet on Thursday, Nov. 13 at the Indiana Statehouse. The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. ET in the House Ways and Means Committee Room, 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, Room 404. The agenda is posted below. The council was created by Executive Order 25-62, issued by Governor Mike Braun in April. The council will work to spearhead efforts to reclaim rare earth elements and critical materials from legacy coal byproducts. Indiana is among the top coal producing states in the nation. Rare earth elements and critical

The following is a list of Food Bank of Northern Indiana Turkeys on the Table distributions for November: Tuesday, November 11, 2025 - Starke County 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. CT *While supplies last. Where: North Judson United Methodist Church, 210 Center Ave., North Judson, IN  46366 *This distribution will serve 125 households.   Tuesday, November 11, 2025 - Starke County 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. CT *While supplies last. Where: Knox United Methodist Church, 201 S. Shield St., Knox, IN  46534 *This distribution will serve 150 households.   Tuesday, November 11, 2025 – St. Joseph County 9 a.m. –

Franciscan Health CEO Dean Mazzoni joins Ric Federighi for "Well Beings" on Wednesday 11/12 at 9:10am. "Well Beings" brought to you by Captain Ed's Furniture & Mattress in Michigan City. You can listen on AM 1420, 95.1FM and 106.7FM out of Valparaiso or we stream at wmsradio.com. Check out the FACEBOOK LIVE feed at the same time on WIMS' FACEBOOK. #wims #nwi #localradio

For those who need a safe place to get in out of the cold, the City of La Porte has several options for warming centers. DAYTIME: La Porte City Hall (801 Michigan Ave): 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday La Porte Fire Station #3 (710 Daytona St): 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Please note: the station will be evacuated in the event of a fire fire call) LP County Public Library (904 Indiana Ave): 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays Center Township

Indiana Dept. of Health recommends pausing use of ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula as the FDA investigates a multistate outbreak of infant botulism with potential connection to their powdered infant formula product. Recalled lots: Lot 206VABP/251261P2 (“Use by 01 Dec 2026”) Lot 206VABP/251131P2 (“Use by 01 Dec 2026”) Parents and caregivers: - Do not use recalled lots of ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula and throw this product away immediately - If your child is experiencing signs and symptoms of botulism (Poor feeding, loss of head control, difficulty swallowing, decreased facial expression) seek immediate medical care Learn more: https://bit.ly/3LxrJbR

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – The Michigan City leadership team is seeking proposals to manage and implement a U.S. EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant over a four-year period.   The city was awarded a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to redevelop brownfields that have been impacted by petroleum and hazardous substances. The city is requesting assistance from qualified environmental engineering and consulting firms to fulfill grant requirements.   “The funds are vital to the city’s focus on next steps for brownfield sites, including plans for cleanup and reuse,” said Economic Development Corporation Michigan City Executive Director Clarence L. Hulse.

POLKA PARTY on Sunday November 16th with Eddie Korosa Jr. with the girl and boy from Illinois from 2p-6p. Family Friendly. For tickets and information Call 219-879-9827 or stop by The American Legion Skwiat Post 451 at 121 Skiwatt Legion Ave, in Michigan City. #wims #nwi #michigancity #localradio

WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST /MIDNIGHT CST/ TUESDAY... * WHAT...Heavy lake effect snow. Additional snow accumulations between 3 and 6 inches this afternoon and tonight. * WHERE...Portions of northern Indiana and southwest Michigan. * WHEN...Until 1 AM EST /midnight CST/ Tuesday. * IMPACTS...The strong winds and weight of snow on tree limbs may down power lines and could cause sporadic power outages. Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning and evening commutes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in

La PORTE, IN High school hoops fans can delight in the return of a slam-dunk event, according to La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody. The La Porte Invitational returns for its fifth year Friday, Jan. 9, through Sunday, Jan. 11, at the historic La Porte Civic Auditorium. This three-day, nationally recognized basketball showcase will feature 12 of the best high school programs in the nation, with dozens of ESPN’s top-ranked players. With several college recruits on the court, well-known VIPs in the stands and an atmosphere that’s electric, Dermody said this is one of the most highly anticipated events of the

The City of Valparaiso hosted a well-attended Open House on November 5 to share conceptual options for the Eastside Master Plan. The event invited residents to learn more about the evolving vision for the city’s eastside and to provide feedback to help guide future development. The initial master plan, created by Browning Day, was placed on hold following the 2023 cancellation of the proposed sports park. The City of Valparaiso and the Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission have since re-engaged Browning Day to develop new conceptual plans for the area in conjunction with the extension of Memorial Parkway. Browning Day, an Indianapolis-based

Town of Long Beach Participates in Hoosier Equipment Lease Purchase (HELP) Program   INDIANAPOLIS – Treasurer Daniel Elliott announced that the Indiana Bond Bank assisted the Town of Long Beach with financing a fire pumper truck through its Hoosier Equipment Lease Purchase (HELP) Program. The $820,257 purchase of essential equipment was made possible through this program.   “The HELP Program is super simple with just a one-page form, helping cities and towns score great rates with flexible terms. Without it, many places might not afford the gear they need to keep things running smoothly,” said Treasurer Elliott. The HELP program

Press Release, Indiana Department of Education: INDIANAPOLIS — As communities across the state prepare to honor Veterans Day, Indiana schools are once again being recognized for their significant display of commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military. In 2025, nearly 100 schools were newly-designated or renewed their designation as an Indiana Purple Star School. “As Veterans Day approaches, our communities will join together to honor the brave men and women who have and continue to serve our great nation,” said Governor Mike Braun. “Indiana’s Purple Star Schools honor this sacrifice and show their appreciation throughout the year—both

WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM EST /10 AM CST/ THIS MORNING TO 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ MONDAY... * WHAT...Heavy lake effect snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 5 and 11 inches. Winds gusting as high as 30 mph. * WHERE...Portions of northern Indiana and southwest Michigan. * WHEN...From 11 AM EST /10 AM CST/ this morning to 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ Monday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning and evening commutes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in

Press Release, City of Valparaiso: In response to the ongoing federal government shutdown, the City of Valparaiso is taking steps to ease the impact on local residents. The City has announced that bus fares on the V-Line intracity service will be suspended for passengers showing proof of SNAP benefits, and utility late fees/shut-offs for delinquent payments will be temporarily halted for all Valparaiso City Utilities customers until the government shutdown has been resolved. “We recognize that this shutdown is creating financial hardship for many families across the nation, including here in Valparaiso,” said Mayor Jon Costas. “While everyone is feeling

The Indiana Department of Transportation will host a public hearing on Monday, November 17 regarding a proposed intersection improvement project at State Road 2 and C.R. 500 W near La Porte. The hearing will provide an opportunity for the public to interact with the project team, review the unique features of the proposed intersection improvement project, and provide official public comment on the preferred alternative. Project documents are available for review at bit.ly/SR2CR500W. The need for this project is the high frequency of crashes at the intersection of S.R. 2 and C.R. 500 W. A total of 22 crashes occurred during

Franciscan Physician Network adds infectious disease physician in Crown Point   CROWN POINT, Ind. – Infectious disease physician Marrium Siddiqui, DO, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting new patients in Crown Point.   Dr. Siddiqui earned her medical degree from Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harrogate, Tenn. She completed her residency in internal medicine at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis and her fellowship in infectious diseases at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.   Her clinical interests include antimicrobial stewardship, bone and joint infections, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, and methicillin-susceptible

Phil Potempa is back at Theatre at the Center in Munster with THANKSGIVING from the Farm on Sunday November 16th at 3pm. For more information call 219-836-3255 or visit www.theatreatthecenter.com. #wims #nwi #localradio

WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY EVENING... * WHAT...Heavy lake effect snow possible. Total snow accumulations between 6 and 12 inches likely with locally higher amounts possible. * WHERE...Portions of northern Indiana and southwest Michigan. * WHEN...From Sunday afternoon through Monday evening. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions will likely impact the Monday morning and evening commutes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation. During lake effect snow, the weather can vary from bands of locally heavy snow to dry weather just a few miles away. Visibilities can also