Local News

The Indiana Department of Health Wednesday updated its weekly COVID county metric scores.  LaPorte, Porter, St. Joseph and Starke counties have moved down from a score of 2.5 to a score of 1. Porter and Newton counties have moved down from a score of 2.5, to a score of 1.5. Lake County has moved from a score of 1.5 to a score of 1. Jasper County has remains at a score of 1.5 yellow level.  Seven-day all tests positivity rates are down in all of the local counties mentioned. The Indiana State Department of Health states on the COVID dashboard,

The FDA, along with CDC and state and local partners are investigating four consumer complaints of infant illness related to products from Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis, MI facility received from 9/20/2021 to 1/11/2022. All of the cases are reported to have consumed powdered infant formula (IF) produced from Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis, MI facility. These complaints include three reports of Cronobacter sakazakii infections and one report of Salmonella Newport infection in infants. All four cases related to these complaints were hospitalized and Cronobacter may have contributed to a death in one case. FDA has initiated an onsite inspection at the facility. Findings to date include several positive Cronobacter results from environmental samples taken by FDA, and

Michigan City, Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD), and Flaherty & Collins Properties are pleased to announce an $80 million mixed-use development as part of a three-way development partnership. Flaherty & Collins Properties will develop the entire City block bounded by 10th and 11th Streets on the north and south sides, and Franklin and Pine Streets on the west and east. With a placeholder name of “11th Street Central,” the 12-story high-rise mixed-use development will feature a new train station for the South Shore Line stop at 11th Street, 208 luxury residential apartment homes, over 10,000 square feet of commercial

Cancer patients now have access to the newest, most cutting-edge technology for radiation therapy at Franciscan Health Woodland Cancer Care Center Michigan City, Franciscan Health announced. A blessing and dedication for the Varian TrueBeam™ linear accelerator took place on Feb. 18 at the cancer center. TrueBeam is a targeted radiotherapy system that provides faster, non-invasive and precise treatment of tumors. Radiation oncologist Luke Miller, MD, says the technology used to deliver radiation has undergone radical improvement over the decades it’s been in use. “With the TrueBeam linear accelerator, we can treat our patients with a greater level of precision and

Indiana DNR Law Enforcement said on Tuesday morning they were still searching for the person who went missing at Indiana Dunes National Park West Beach Monday. Conservation Officers searched on foot and by boat. Indiana DNR Law Enforcement posted a video of the search to their Facebook page on Tuesday. WIMS will continue to follow this story.

NICTD released a new construction update for NICTD’s Double Track Northwest Indiana project: Gary- Miller Station Area   For the Double Track project’s new Miller parking lot, demolition of structures began the week of 12/6/2021. NICTD’s Double Track Contract 3 received a Notice to Proceed 9/9/2021 and construction is expected to begin at the east parking lot Spring of 2022.    Sewer work will begin in the south portion of the existing parking lot (west of Lake St) in March 2022. Parking will be available but restricted in this lot.  The access from Melton Road (US 20) may be impeded, but the driveway from

The South Shore Line announced that in order to accommodate construction for the Double Track NWI project, it is implementing a long-term busing schedule for passengers between Dune Park and Carroll Avenue stations. Beginning Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, and lasting through fall 2022, busing between the stations will be ongoing for all weekday and weekend trains. Dune Park to Carroll Avenue bus service will operate on the regular SSL train time schedule. Loop bus service will be provided provided to Michigan City 11th St. (bus stop located at 920 Franklin St.) and Beverly Shores Station. Loop buses will not operate

The Indiana State Police Criminal Investigation Division Lowell Post was requested to investigate missing funds from the Northlake Pop Warner Little Scholars program in Hammond, as well as the Griffith Pop Warner Little Scholars program.  During the course of each of these investigations, it was determined that funds were missing from the accounts of each of these programs.   As a result, felony charges have been filed in each case for 31-year-old Raymond Balderrama, from Whiting (Nothlake Pop Warner) and 45-year-old Robert L. Jones, from Gary, (Griffith Pop Warner) have each been charged with Theft- Level 6 Felony.  Balderrama is accused

A search is underway in Porter County after a man went missing Monday afternoon in Lake Michigan, Indiana DNR Law Enforcement says.  At approximately 5:30 p.m. CST, responders were dispatched to West Beach at Indiana Dunes National Park in reference to a person in the water.  Once on the scene, responders learned that five people had entered onto shelf ice along the shoreline when it began to crack. The group began to retreat to shore when one person fell into the water. Members of the party attempted to reach their friend, but the large waves and unstable ice hindered their

The Multi Agency Academic Cooperative (MAAC) Foundation first responder training campus has received a $1 million gift from the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation in matching funds for the construction of a Residential Tactical Training Village. The training village will consist of a single-story house, a two-story house, a mobile home, and multiple garage, deck, and patio configurations to mirror a neighborhood setting. The features will provide a real-life training environment for fire/EMS scenario-based situations and street approaches by law enforcement personnel in a walkable community. “We are pleased to partner with the MAAC and the McMillan Family on

The Indiana Department of Health is sharing the information that the FDA is investigating consumer complaints of Cronobacter and Salmonella infections. All of the cases are reported to have consumed powdered infant formula produced from Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis, MI facility. Products made here can be found across the U.S. A link with more information can be found on the FDA’s website. 

The La Porte County Family YMCA has announced that through a donation, their Michigan City Elston branch now has three new row machines. The Y says the new machines will help to take your cardiovascular endurance to a new level. See their wellness staff for a tutorial of how they work. Two of the machines are located in the cardio room and one is in the upstairs workout room.

The Michigan City Police Department released its year-end totals for Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR). The UCR is a nationwide, cooperative statistical effort of more than 18,000 city, university and college, county, state, tribal and federal law enforcement agencies voluntarily reporting data on crimes brought to their attention.  Michigan City Police announces that Overall Crime Rate is up 0.10%.  Overall Calls for Service is down from 41,522 in 2020 to 37,355 in 2021, however MCPD has seen an increase in Reports Completed from 5,088 in to 5,767 in 2021.  Total Arrest made in 2021 also saw an increase to 1,963 (2021)

Michigan City Mayor Duane Parry recently issued an Executive Order for Michigan City government buildings to re-open to the public and allow boards and commissions to resume in-person meetings.  Effective Tuesday, Feb. 22, Michigan City government buildings, including City Hall, will re-open to the general public without the necessity of advanced appointments.   Also, effective Monday, Feb. 28, all Michigan City Boards/Commissions may resume in-person meetings. 

A conservation officer Thursday evening helped out an elderly couple who was lost and looking for Indiana Dunes State Park campground, according to Indiana DNR Law Enforcement. A District 10 Conservation Officer found an elderly couple in a camper van. They had decided the road conditions were too poor to continue their cross country trip to Georgia and left the interstate looking for the campground. Due to the weather conditions, the couple became lost until approached by the officer who led them to their campsite. 

Franciscan Health announced that board-certified family medicine physician Michael (Miguel) Pena, MD, is now welcoming new patients as he joins the team at Franciscan Physician Network Chesterton Health and Emergency Center. Dr. Pena received his training at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago and had his residency at West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, Ill. His clinical interests include Diabetes mellitus type 2, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, preventive care and weight management. Franciscan Health Physician Network Chesterton Health and Emergency Center is located at 770 Indian Boundary Road, Suite 200. Virtual visits are available. To make an in-person

Mayor Tom Dermody of LaPorte has issued a snow emergency for the City of La Porte. The City of La Porte snow emergency is in effect through February 19, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. Parking is permitted on the odd side of the street from through 6 p.m. Friday. Parking is permitted on the even side of the street from 6 p.m. Friday-6 p.m. Saturday. Dermody also says do not park on snow routes. The ordinance specifically states: “1. The City of La Porte snow emergency shall take effect on February 17, 2022, at 6:00 a.m. through February 19, 2022, at