Local News

Franciscan Health and BroadStreet recently launched a new collaboration with the hope of leveraging data into action using nationally available dashboards for promoting violence prevention across communities. The dashboards present evidence-based interventions specific to a community's demographics and socioeconomic factors. To create the dashboards, Stacey Quick, Franciscan Health community health improvement coordinator, worked alongside BroadStreet CEO and Cofounder Tracy Flood and her team. Together, they envisioned a data-driven, solution-focused framework for preventing violence at both the individual and community levels. The dashboard is designed to showcase what prevention-based interventions are available along with resources for different populations.  The Violence Prevention

The City of Portage is reminding drivers that Mulberry Avenue between Eleanor and Vivian streets is closed to all traffic during construction hours, through Friday, Sept. 9 for a water main replacement project. The road will be open to all traffic when the contractor is not working on-site during nights, weekends, and “foul weather days”. Dates are weather dependent and detour routes will be marked.

Eight Probationary Officers were sworn in Monday at the Michigan City Police Department. The officers have undergone an extensive hiring process which began with over 20 potential candidates, MCPD said. These Probationary Officers will endure 6 weeks of in-house training with the Division of Professional Standards. Upon completion of the training, they will begin the Field Training Officer Program where they will be working within the community with their respective training officers until spaces are available for them to attend the 16-week Indiana Law Enforcement Academy Basic Course. Sworn-In during the service at City Hall were: -Officer Katherine Doperalski -Officer

There will be lane restrictions on State Road 51 starting next week in Hobart. The northbound right turn lane from S.R. 51 to U.S. 6 will be closed for crews to install a water main. Work is scheduled to start on or after August 29, with construction expected to wrap up in early September. During construction, traffic will still be able to turn right but will need to utilize the center through lane to do so. The Indiana Department of Transportation urges drivers to consider worker safety by slowing down, using extra caution and driving distraction-free when traveling in and

Captain Derek Allen, a La Porte County Bolt for the Heart committee member, presented the South Central High School-Union Mills Cross Country program with an AED Friday afternoon. South Central team members registered and participated as a group at last year’s La Porte County Bolt for the Heart event. In recognition of their participation and the need for an AED, the device was donated to the school corporation on behalf of Bolt and the county’s committee. The mobile AED will accompany the South Central cross country team to their meets and be a resource in the event of an emergency

One person suffered life-threatening injuries after a shooting in Michigan City Thursday night, police said. Officers were called at around 9:10 p.m. to the area of Michigan Boulevard and Grace Street. Officers responded to the area and had learned that one subject had been shot. Officers secured the scene and immediately began life-saving measures on the individual. EMS and Michigan City Fire Department arrived on scene and continued medical care. The person was transported to Franciscan Health Michigan City Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Prior to this incident, at around 7:45 p.m., officers were dispatched to the area of 11th Street

The La Porte County Drive is gearing up for the ‘Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over’ impaired driving enforcement campaign. Now through Labor Day, deputies are increasing patrols designed to target those driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The extra high-visibility enforcement is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI). “We’re asking everyone to have a plan in place if they know they’ll be drinking,” said Captain Derek J. Allen. “Our goal isn’t to take people to jail. It’s to make people think about the choices

Children served by Sandcastle Shelter and Stepping Stones Shelter received backpacks last week full of school supplies donated by Franciscan Health Michigan City staff members. Each gender-neutral backpack was filled with pencils, filler paper, pens, crayons, markers, a ruler, glue sticks, erasers, scissors, a pencil case and folders. “Today we delivered more than 50 backpacks filled with school supplies to Sandcastle Shelter and Stepping Stones Shelter,” Franciscan Health Michigan City Vice President of Mission Integration Sister Petra Nielsen said on Monday. “These were made possible through the generosity of our staff, who collected backpacks and supplies.” Twenty five of the

Erin Parker, La Porte High School Teacher, has been selected as a Top 25 Finalist in the 2023 Indiana Teacher of the Year (INTOY) Program. This Spring, Erin was peer-nominated and then selected as the 2022 La Porte Community School Corporation Secondary Teacher of the Year. Kicking off her thirteenth year as an educator at La Porte High School, Erin has spent the last eight years as the Yearbook, Journalism, Public Relations, and Newspaper teacher. La Porte Community Schools stated the following: “Establishing the Public Relations course has allowed Erin to work with her students on being heralds of the

One person is dead after a shooting that occurred in La Porte on Thursday evening.  Officers with the La Porte Police were dispatched to the 900 block of Ridge St. in reference to a shooting.  Upon arrival at the residence, officers found a single female victim that had suffered a gunshot wound.  The victim was transported to Northwest Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. A few hours later, a male suspect was located and taken into custody.  Police said after further investigation, the incident appears to be isolated and there is no threat to the general public.  

The City of Valparaiso’s original water tower – located at Tower Park on Franklin Street – is getting a fresh new finish, inside and out this summer, preserving its surfaces into the future. Built in 1936, the tower’s interior and exterior will be sandblasted and resurfaced, with the exterior featuring a fresh new brand for the City of Valparaiso. The project kicked off at the end of June and contractors will work seven days a week to complete by the end of August. The tower is out of service during the project, including time for the surfaces to cure, followed

The Michigan City Police Department said Thursday it had arrested  four juveniles in connection to the investigations of multiple vehicle thefts and thefts from vehicles that may have been influenced by recent social media posts. According to police, since the beginning of August, Michigan City along with several other surrounding agencies have recently seen an increase in the number of vehicle thefts, thefts from vehicles, and criminal mischief complaints. The investigations include but are not limited to damaged steering columns, broken windows, items taken from vehicles, and stolen vehicles. The Michigan City Police Department says detectives have been actively working

Governor Eric Holcomb and Indiana Secretary of Education Dr. Katie Jenner Thursday joined Lilly Endowment Inc. to announce the state’s largest-ever financial investment in literacy, expanding Indiana’s commitment to support literacy development for Hoosier students. This combined investment from the state and Lilly Endowment of up to $111 million will support early literacy development using proven teaching strategies aligned with the Science of Reading. The state will:  -Support the deployment of instructional coaches to schools throughout Indiana;  -Offer stipends to teachers who participate in professional development focused on the Science of Reading;  -Provide targeted support for students who need the

As part of the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra ’s (LCSO) 50th Anniversary celebration, banners featuring 50 LCSO musicians have been created that are being posted both in La Porte and Michigan City. Banners in La Porte will be posted along Lincolnway through Sept. 30. Banners in Michigan City will be posted along Franklin and Washington Streets from Sept. 1 to Oct. 30. “We have so many wonderful and talented musicians,” said Tim King , the executive director of the LCSO. “The LCSO board wants to recognize them for their efforts and talents. This is a wonderful way for all

A Franciscan Health infectious disease physician is urging patients who test positive for COVID-19 to ask their healthcare providers if antiviral medications are right for them immediately upon diagnosis. “What we’re seeing is a lot of patients who test positive, then a week later are calling their physicians saying they still don’t feel well, and by then, it’s too late to start taking the antivirals,” said Erica Kaufman West, MD. “We need to educate patients to understand that they have to start taking the antivirals within five days of symptom onset. If we can get patients informed so they can

Indiana Dunes National Park gave notice Wednesday that the new crosswalk and warning signs for the Paul H Douglas Center have not been completed due to supply chain issues. The Douglas Center will not reopen this weekend. The following programs scheduled for the weekend are canceled: The Wonders of Wildlife, Biking and Birding, and the Miller Woods Hike.

Conservation officers are investigating after a body was recovered near Whiting Lakefront Park. Tuesday at about 2 p.m., a park visitor located what was believed to be a body in Lake Michigan approximately 200 yards from shore. First responders located and recovered the body floating northeast of the park near the BP Water Purification Plant. Police said Wednesday that the identity of the male victim is being withheld pending family notification.

Portage Police Chief Mike Candiano released a statement Wednesday about an incident that occurred on Aug. 13. The following is the statement from Candianio:  “Yesterday, some of our local news outlets reported on an incident, which occurred in the City of Portage during the evening of August 13, 2022.  Unfortunately, this has created a lot of misinformation on social media.  Often this occurs from people not reading further than the headline and / or creating their own narrative based on assumptions.  Thus, I would like to provide a bit of additional information, based on reports and witness statements obtained from

Indianan State Auditor Tera Klutz, CPA confirmed the 1.7 million automatic taxpayer refund (ATR) checks are printing and the first group of checks should reach mailboxes later this week. On June 30, 2021, when state reserves exceeded 12.5% of state budget general fund appropriations for the following year, an $1.1 billion excess reserve transfer was automatically generated. The transfer was divided equally amongst Indiana taxpayers ($125 each) and teacher pensions. To qualify for the $125 (or $250 if filed jointly), taxpayers would have had to file an Indiana individual income tax return for 2020 with a postmark date of Jan.

Unity Foundation of La Porte County recently received accreditation with the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence. National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations establish legal, ethical, effective practices for community foundations. “Meeting the National Standards benchmarks is a rigorous, comprehensive process,” said Randy Royster, board member of the Council on Foundations. “This accreditation is a significant accomplishment that indicates Unity Foundation of La Porte County demonstrates a commitment to transparency, quality, integrity and accountability as it carries out its mission.” The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations program requires community foundations to document their policies for donor services, investments, grantmaking