Local News

MERRILLVILLE – Generating cleaner electricity from renewable energy projects and upgrading its electric grid to support the transmission and monitoring of that electricity are some of the key factors leading to NIPSCO’s request with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) to adjust its base electric rates next year. NIPSCO is a subsidiary of NiSource Inc. (NYSE:NI). “The investments we’re making provide direct benefits to all our customers, the communities we serve and the local economy,” said Mike Hooper, NIPSCO president. “Beyond the necessary upgrades, grid modernization and customer-centric enhancements that are critical to ensure the level of service our customers

The Town of LaCrosse will get a water infrastructure upgrade after it received a $3.27 million grant. The Indiana State Revolving Fund (SRF), announced the Town of LaCrosse as the recipient of the grant to complete phase 2 of its Water Infrastructure Improvement Project. The project, when completed, will result in another 51% of the town’s water mains being replaced. New hydrants will accompany the improved mains, which will be upsized, providing greater fire protection benefits as well. The grant will fund about 92% of the project. The remaining 8% will be funded out of surplus funds that were the

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) has given a summary of a U.S. 20 traffic enforcement project which occurred last Wednesday. The LCSO partnered with agencies from six states – Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio to address speeding along U.S. 20. The one-day project completed by participating agencies from six states spanned more than 1,300 miles. The LCSO was included in the project due to major concerns with speeding motorists along US 20 coupled with the high volume of daily traffic. Deputies worked the project throughout the day with a primary focus occurring during the mid-morning and

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) on Friday congratulated 10 Indiana schools, including three Region schools for being honored as 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. Region schools honored were James B. Eads Elementary School in Munster, Central Elementary School of Valparaiso Community Schools and Saint Paul Catholic School, which is part of the Diocese of Gary. IDOE and the Council for American Private Education nominated each awarded public and non-public school, respectively, for consideration in the U.S. Department of Education’s “Exemplary High Performing Schools” category. The IDOE says this category honors the state’s schools

An Arkansas man who was wanted on nationwide warrants was arrested Friday morning in Lake County while troopers were conducting a crash investigation in Lake County. Troopers were investigating the crash on I-80/94 near Indianapolis Boulevard. During the investigation, a routine license check was done and it was discovered a nationwide extradition warrant was active on 26-year-old Myron L. Jones of Moro, Arkansas. Jones was wanted on a full extradition warrant from Memphis, TN. The warrant included aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, reckless endangerment, theft of property, vandalism and domestic assault. It was later determined that Jones was in possession of

The Indiana Department of Labor has given analysis of employers’ COVID response. The department says that employers made diligent efforts to protect employees during the pandemic. The following is the press release about the analysis from the Indiana Department of Labor: As the federal government currently considers proposing new infectious-disease workplace health and safety standards, the Indiana Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has completed its own analysis of how Hoosier employers fared in protecting employees during the pandemic. “Given there were no federal OSHA standards that existed for a pandemic or COVID-19 specifically, save for one temporary

The City of La Porte is asking for residents’ input on ways to improve our local trails and waterways, according to Assistant City Planner David Heinold. Heinold said the city will use collected feedback to create the Trails, Greenways, & Blueways Master Plan, which will work to identify challenges and opportunities related to walking, bicycling, and paddling. This plan will serve as an update to the existing Trails and Greenways Master Plan, which was created in 2014. “The City of La Porte has made significant progress in developing the paved multi-use trail network with the assistance of local, state, and

The Michigan City Chamber of Commerce will host its annual “Inspiring Women” luncheon on Oct. 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Blue Chip Casino, Hotel, and Spa. Presented by PNC Bank, the annual event is an opportunity to recognize accomplished and successful women for their contributions to their community, the economy, and their selected career field. Speakers and panelists from a variety of backgrounds have participated in this well attended event in the Michigan City area since 2011.    Every year, an industry leader is invited to share their career journey and words of encouragement with attendees. This year’s

General Motors has announced plans to invest $491 million to expand and upgrade its operations in Marion, Indiana supporting GM’s electric vehicle (EV) production. Governor Eric Holcomb joined local officials and executives of G.M. Thursday in Grant County as the company made the announcement. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation says GM’s investment in its Marion Metal Center plant will be used to renovate and expand its 2.7 million-square-foot campus, adding an additional 6,000 square feet to accommodate increased operations and support GM’s plan to build one million EVs by 2025. The plant provides blanks, stampings and sheet metal assembly to

The Portage Police Department officially announced the addition of a third full-time School Resource Officer to Portage Township Schools. Sergeant Matt Johnson was assigned to Fegely Middle School at the beginning of the school year. The department says he has quickly begun developing positive relationships with the students and staff. Johnson has been with the Portage Police Department for 8 years and previously served as a Patrol Supervisor and a Field Training Officer. In addition to his recent appointment as SRO,  Johnson is a member of the Crisis Negotiating Team.  

The Michigan City Community Enrichment Corporation (MCCEC) has announced that Michigan City Community Enrichment Grant applications will be available next week. The MCCEC stated the following: “Grant Applications for the Michigan City Community Enrichment Corporation’s 2023-2024 grant cycle will be available Monday, September 19th at 9:00 am. The deadline for submitting the grants is Wednesday, November 30th at 11:59 pm CST. Paper applications are no longer accepted. Online Grant Applications are available at www.mccec.com. “In March of this year, the Michigan City Community Enrichment Corporation awarded 43 grants totaling $633,526.00 to Michigan City Area charitable organizations. Of those 43 grants,

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) has announced it is among the colleges and universities statewide awarded funding through Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Indiana Youth Programs on Campus. The initiative is designed to support higher education institutions in providing high-quality programming for K-12 students. PNW was awarded $583,000 to expand its existing summer camp offerings for youths and create new academic year programs with optional college credits to create an on-ramp to college. Kenneth C. Holford, PNW provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs says the grant will support several of their academic programs in expanding opportunities for Northwest Indiana students to explore

A motorcyclist died after a crash involving a semi on U.S. 20 Wednesday afternoon, according to the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies were called to the 4000 west block of U.S. 20 at around 4:00 p.m., for a crash involving a motorcycle and a commercial motor vehicle. The initial crash investigation showed that a 2006 Kawasaki motorcycle, being driven by 29 year-old Timothy R. Hefner of Michigan City, had been traveling eastbound on U.S. 20 in the driving lane. A 2004 Peterbilt tractor, pulling a flatbed trailer, had been traveling eastbound on U.S. 20 in the driving lane. The

The Porter County Search and Rescue Team (PCSRT) successfully completed another mission, thanks to K-9 Jakob, Porter Fire Chief Jay Craig’s partner, according to the Town of Chesterton. The search took place in Wheatfield, after a 10-year-old girl whom Craig characterized as “despondent” went missing Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 13, the Town of Chesterton reported. Craig got the call at 6:22 p.m., some two hours after the girl was last seen running into a cornfield. Craig and PCSRT responded, with Jakob, and arrived at the scene at 7:10 p.m. to join other agencies already searching. His first stop was the girl’s

The Chesterton Town Council has entered into a contract with American StructurePoint of Merrillville to design a new police station, according to the Town of Chesterton. At the Town Council’s meeting Monday night, Associate Town Attorney Connor Nolan reported that, over the past several months, staff and legal have been in discussions with American StructurePoint “on selecting the most ideal location” for a new police station and “developing a schedule and a proposed design fee,” the Town of Chesterton is reporting. According to Nolan the fee, “appears to be reasonable and in line with the market for similar proposed projects”:

The La Porte Park and Recreation Department has started the process of preparing a La Porte Park and Recreation Department seeking public input on five-year master plan to improve parks and recreation opportunities to improve parks and recreation opportunities throughout the city. Public input is being sought to provide the framework and set the priorities for those proposed improvements. All residents are encouraged to take an online survey available at www.surveymonkey.com/r/LRPCY22 through October 7. The La Porte Park and Recreation Department stated, “We want the master plan to reflect the desires and needs of the community. Therefore, the citizens’ responses

Lane restrictions will occur on State Road 51 for a bridge deck overlay starting next week. Crews will be working between I-80/94 and Old Hobart Road starting on or after Sept. 19 with work expected to wrap up by mid-October. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change. During construction traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction on the northbound side of the bridge while work on the southbound side takes place. The Indiana Department of Transportation encourages drivers to consider worker safety by slowing down, using extra caution and driving distraction free when traveling

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) will host its annual celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month with a variety of cultural and academic events starting Sept. 13 and continuing through October. PNW’s Hispanic Heritage Month activities engage the campus community and the public with events highlighting the Latinx communities’ history, culture, cuisine, and contributions to the world. Information about event times and locations can be found at pnw.edu/hispanic-heritage-month. The celebration kicks off on Sept. 13 with a Mexican Independence Day celebration, hosted by PNW’s Spanish Club student organization, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Founders Plaza on the Hammond campus, 2200 169th

The La Porte County Health Department is sharing information on the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, called Bivalent. The health department says the vaccine is a new — authorized for use as a single booster dose — booster to individuals 18 years of age and older. Appointments available on Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the La Porte county health department La Porte office 809 State Street, Ste 401 A, La Porte, IN 46350, 219-326-6808 ext. 2200. Appointments must be scheduled online at www.coronavirus.in.gov .