Local News

News release by Indiana Department of Education: INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) is now accepting nominations for the 2023 Educational Excellence Awards. Up to $5 million in awards will be granted to schools to celebrate their progress and achievement in supporting student excellence and growth. Award winners will be honored at the second annual Indiana Educational Excellence Awards Gala in Indianapolis on Friday, September 8. Additionally, the event will spotlight the 2023 Indiana Teacher of the Year, Indiana’s 2022 Milken Educator Award recipients, and other dedicated educators from across the state. “We are excited to continue celebrating

The Ogden Dunes Police Department reminded the public on its Facebook page that if you purchased your parking permits, golf cart permits, watercraft permits or dog tags online, to remember to stop at Town Hall to pick them up. The department says permits will not be automatically sent to you. "This includes the permit that comes with your ODHA Dues," the department stated. The window hours at Town Hall are currently Monday – Friday 8:00am – 3:00pm Saturday and Sunday CLOSED If you are unable to stop at Town Hall between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday to Friday, the

News release by Franciscan Health: CROWN POINT, Indiana – Franciscan Health Crown Point has been awarded the inaugural Peregrine Award for Trauma Innovation by Peregrine Health Services, LLC for its efforts to improve the treatment of patients with substance use disorders. A panel of independent judges selected Franciscan Health Crown Point’s innovative project from a group of 10 finalists, with the application receiving the highest total score in its category. Franciscan Health Crown Point sought to improve its screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) process, an approach to identifying and assisting patients with substance use disorders. The hospital

The Chesterton Police Department worked three different grant-funded overtime patrols in April, with a “particular—but not sole—focus” on Indiana 49, according to the Chesterton Police Department Facebook page. The patrols, all funded through National Highway Transportation Administration grants: CITLI (Click It To Live It); DUITF (Driving Under the Influence Task Force), and Blitz 117, targeting school-zone and bus stop-arm violations. Officers worked a total of 82 overtime hours, most of them saturating the Indiana 49 corridor between I-94 and the Indiana Toll Road, according to the Chesterton Police Department Facebook page. The following statistics were given: *Traffic stops: 178 or

The following are the final unofficial results of the primary election in Porter County. The results will be official when they are certified by the Board of Elections & Registration. This information is from a link provided on the Porter County Government Facebook page: SUMMARY REPORT PORTER COUNTY, INDIANA **FINAL** UNOFFICIAL RESU RUN DATE:05/02/23 PRIMARY ELECTION RUN TIME:07:49 PM MAY 2, 2023 STATISTICS VOTES PERCENT PRECINCTS COUNTED (OF 74) . . . . . 74 100.00 REGISTERED VOTERS - TOTAL . . . . . 70,195 BALLOTS CAST - TOTAL. . . . . . . 7,458 BALLOTS CAST -

The Valparaiso Police Department has added two additional officers with the swearing-in of Brody Daughrity and Grant Arnold on Monday.  Mayor Matt Murphy performed the ceremony within the council chambers of City Hall.  Chief Andrew McIntyre, with numerous officers and civilian staff in attendance, joined the families of the new officers for the event.  During the ceremony, Chief McIntyre welcomed Brody and Grant to the department family, while congratulating each on their efforts in the hiring process. Brody is a 2015 graduate of Minarets High School in O’Neals, California and earned his Associate of Arts degree from Sierra College in

The Indiana General Assembly last week approved 1,650 additional seats for The Excel Center, Goodwill’s high school for adults. The additional seats will help Goodwill’s Excel Center serve 6,550 adult students in 23 Excel Centers across Indiana. Michiana was granted 300 additional seats to service 1,035 students in Northern Indiana. The Excel Center offers adults the opportunity to earn a Core 40 diploma, allowing students to pick up right where they left off in school, providing support and resources for students to meet their goals. "With rigorous curriculum and flexible scheduling, students can graduate quickly and prepare for postsecondary pathways,"

The following are the unofficial final results of LaPorte County Primary Election:

Press Release by Office of Governor Eric J. Holcomb: Governor Eric J. Holcomb and the Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers will participate in the 2023 SelectUSA Investment Summit in National Harbor, Maryland, May 1-4. Led by the U.S. Department of Commerce, SelectUSA Investment Summit will convene government leaders, global executives and business leaders to discuss opportunities in innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as key topics including research and development, startups, global market dynamics, supply chain, infrastructure and renewable energy. “SelectUSA is a premier event that can help propel Indiana toward the business of tomorrow by connecting the state with

Celebrate spring and the start of recreation season during Welcome Back Weekend, May 5-7. Admission to all state parks will be free on Sunday, May 7. In addition, that day is a Free Fishing Day, during which Hoosiers can fish Indiana waters without a fishing license or trout/salmon stamp, with all size and bag limits in effect. For public places to fish near you, see on.IN.gov/where2fish. Check out fishing tips and videos at on.IN.gov/learn2fish to help maximize your experience. Welcome Back Weekend programs include: Spring Mill State Park’s Welcome Back Weekend programs at its Pioneer Village, Lakeview Activity Center, and

The South Shore Line plans to temporarily bus passengers between the South Bend International Airport and Gary Metro Center Station May 8 - 19 while they upgrade track between Michigan City and South Bend. This segment is in addition to ongoing long-term busing to stations between Carroll Avenue and Gary Metro. For more South Shore Line information visit their Facebook page or MySouthShoreLine.com.  

The Town of Ogden Dunes is reminding the public that seasonal parking restrictions are now in effect. Parking restrictions are currently in effect through Sept. 30. Permits are required in order to park within the restricted area. The town is asking the public to remember to stop at town hall to pick up your permits. They will not be automatically sent to you. Residents are eligible for one vehicle parking sticker at no cost when home association dues are paid. ODHA Dues are now $125. Additional vehicle stickers are available for purchase at $50 each (made payable to Town of

LA PORTE COUNTY, Ind. -- One person died after a crash occurred early Sunday on U.S. 35, according to the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office. Shortly before 1:30 a.m., deputies were dispatched to the area of U.S. 35 and County Road 400 North, in rural Center Township, regarding a two-vehicle crash. The initial on-scene investigation determined a 2006 Chevrolet had been traveling northbound on U.S. 35. A 2005 Chrysler, being driven by a 37-year-old La Porte man, had been traveling southbound on U.S. 35. According to police, in an area south of County Road 400 North, one of the vehicles

LA PORTE COUNTY, Ind. -- A Plymouth man died in a crash Friday afternoon, according to the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office. Just before 3:30 p.m., deputies were dispatched to the intersection of U.S. 30 and State Road 39, in rural Hanna Township, regarding a two-vehicle crash. The initial on-scene investigation determined that a 2008 Honda, driven by 39-year-old Brent L. Freyenberger of Plymouth, Indiana, was traveling westbound on U.S. 30. Police say Freyenberger disregarded a red light at the intersection and was struck by a commercial motor vehicle which was a 2021 Kenworth semi-tractor traveling southbound on State Road

News release by Indiana Department of Transportation: The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has submitted U.S. Bike Route 37 to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to be designated as part of the U.S. Bike Route System (USBRS). The proposed route connects the Erie Lackawanna Trail (USBR 36) in northwest Indiana to the Monon Trail (USBR 35) in central Indiana. The comment period for USBR 37 will remain open through Monday, May 10. Additional information and instructions on how to submit a comment are available on the INDOT website. Indiana currently has four designated USBRs --

The new traffic configuration for I-65 between U.S. 30 and U.S. 231 is expected to be put in place on or after the evening of Monday, May 1. Northbound I-65 traffic will be crossed over into the southbound lanes, with two lanes in each direction. Two ramps will be closed: Northbound I-65 to 109th Avenue and U.S. 231 to NB I-65. Traffic will be in this configuration through late August.

The Michigan City Police Department announced Friday that the LaPorte County Drug Task Force and the Fugitive Apprehension Street Team (FAST) recovered firearms, illegal drugs, money and effected an arrest as a result of a residential search warrant that was executed in Michigan City. Taken into custody in conjunction with the investigation was 40-year-old Bobby Franklin of Michigan City. Police said in recent weeks, the LaPorte County Drug Task Force began receiving complaints of illegal activity happening at the 3000 block of Cleveland Avenue. In response, LCDTF opened an investigation. The result of the investigation was the arrest of Franklin

Press release by Healthcare Foundation of La Porte: On Tuesday, April 25, 4,500 pounds of donated ground beef were delivered to 16 La Porte County food pantries and soup kitchens. The meat comes from a $10,000 grant, “Meat” the Need, that Healthcare Foundation of La Porte (HFL) awarded to Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry. Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry encourages hunters and farmers to donate large game and livestock to one of 85 participating meat processors. Donations are processed, packaged and provided to area hunger relief agencies for distribution in the community. The $10,000 HFL grant covers the meat processing fees and

Streetlights that were emitting a purple hue in Michigan City were found to be defective and replaced, according to a press release from the Office Of Mayor Duane Parry. “For quite some time we were aware that our new LED streetlights in numerous locations in Michigan City were emitting a purple hue rather than the standard white light, the City of Michigan City said in a press release on Friday. “There was speculation over the color having to do with saving energy, which was not true. We discovered that these streetlights were safe and did not impact visibility, however caused

Portage Police notified the public on their Facebook page that Thursday afternoon their officers were made aware of a group of individuals soliciting donations along the Highway 6 corridor near POW/MIA Way. Officers contacted the subjects and determined they were professional solicitors who travel the country making false claims that they are fundraising for various causes relating to children. The Portage Police Department said their investigation shows this group has been “plying their trade” in Louisville, Indianapolis, and the south Chicago suburbs over the past thirty days. Police said the subjects were warned they were “in violation of city ordinance