Local News

Representative  Frank Mrvan on Wednesday announced $47,852,000 in Fiscal Year 2022 federal funding investments in Northwest Indiana, including to the Michigan City area. The announcement includes $7,000,000 through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to support improvements at the Michigan City Harbor.  Mrvan’s office says the funding will be used for the dredging and maintenance in federal harbors to stabilize supply chains across the region, the construction of water-related infrastructure, and the restoration of critical natural areas along the lakeshore. The announcement includes $2.7 million toward sand nourishment activities at Mount Baldy, in the Indiana Dunes National Park.  Funding announcement

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources will target boating while under the influence on Independence Day weekend. Indiana Conservation Officers, in partnership with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and the U.S. Coast Guard will participate in the national Operation Dry Water heightened awareness and enforcement weekend from July 2-4. During those days, law enforcement agencies from across the country will be focused on educating boaters about safe boating practices, including sober boating. Because alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in recreational boater deaths, Indiana Conservation Officers will be working to increase public awareness of

Forbes has recognized Centier Bank as a top-rated bank in the state of Indiana for the fourth consecutive year. Forbes conducts its annual Best-In-State-Banks survey through market research firm Statista. Over 26,000 customers are independently surveyed nationwide to rate their banking relationships for overall satisfaction, but also considering trust, terms & conditions, branch services, digital services, and financial advice. According to Forbes, scores are based on a 1-100 scale, ranging from 74.2 to 93.6, and out of more than 5,000 banks in the country, just 2.7% of all banks nationwide made the cut. Excluded from the survey were institutions that

An Air Quality Action Day has been declared by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for La Porte, St. Joseph, Elkhart, Allen, Wabash and Huntington counties in Indiana. It is in effect for Thursday and Thursday evening. Ozone levels are expected to be in the Orange or unhealthy for sensitive groups range. People and businesses are urged to avoid activities which lead to ozone and fine particulate formation. These activities include refueling vehicles or topping off when refueling, using gasoline powered lawn equipment and using charcoal lighter fluid. Positive activities include car pooling, biking to work, delaying or combining errands

U.S. 6 will close between Walkerton and La Paz in both directions for 3 days, on or after July 5, INDOT announced. The seal coating operation will close U.S. 6 between State Road 931 and State Road 23. INDOT says this work should take approximately three days, but the schedule is weather dependent and subject to change. INDOT says “When seal coating, work is most often completed under road closures to prevent damage to both vehicles and the roadway. If driving through a seal coating work zone, drivers should take extra caution, drive slowly and allow additional space between vehicles

The South Shore Line will operate a weekend/holiday train schedule on Independence Day, Monday, July 4. South Shore ticket offices will observe holiday hours on July 4, with the Millennium Station ticket office open from 9:35 a.m. to 5 p.m. All other ticket offices will be closed. NICTD administrative offices in Chesterton and Michigan City will be closed.

The Town of Chesterton is reporting that INDOT lowered the speed limit for trucks from 50 miles per hour to 40 mph along Indiana 49 in the Town of Chesterton. For the benefit of the Chesterton Police Department, INDOT will also construct three turnaround cross-over culverts in the median between East Porter Avenue and the Indiana Toll Road. Much more information can be found on the Town of Chesterton Facebook page.

The City of Portage announced that the closure of the southbound lane of Willowcreek Road between Portage Avenue and Houston Avenue has been extended through Friday. The city says this is due to unforeseen issues at the asphalt plant. A detour route will be marked.  

Michigan City Athletics has welcomed two new head coaches Tuesday evening. The MCAS Board of Trustees approved the appointment of Jocelyn Garner as the new head coach for MCHS volleyball. Ethan Warne was announced as the new head coach for boys soccer at MCHS.

LAKE COUNTY– A Milwaukee man is in custody after police say he shot at a state trooper during a pursuit Monday afternoon. On Monday at around 3:20 p.m., a trooper working on the Indiana Toll Road stopped to check on what he believed to be a disabled vehicle at the 3.8 mile-marker, which is near the Calumet Avenue exit ramp. As the trooper approached the vehicle, a teal Ford Escort, he observed that the vehicle did not have a license plate attached to the rear of the car. The driver saw the trooper and sped away. The trooper returned to

Michigan City transit has released the schedule for then Patriotic Parade taking place on July 2 from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. The schedule is as follows: Route 1 – Franklin St and Lakeland Area – Out of Service Route 2 – Coolspring and high school area – Will travel uptown to Pine Street and Detroit Street and dwell at Elston Auditorium. Route 3 – Michigan Boulevard and Franklin Street – Will travel South - Wabash Street to Coolspring Street to Franklin Street. Reverse traveling North. Route 4 – Westside and hospital area – Will travel Wabash Street to 8th

The South Shore Line has given an update on parking at the new Miller Station Building and East Parking Lot. “Right now, important preparatory work is underway in the Miller Station area in Gary. NICTD is completing a large 54" sewer installation west of Lake Street. Next begins construction of the future Miller Station building. The new Miller Station building will abut the two platforms/tracks. The building, tracks and platform will move to the south of the existing single track and station in the final configuration,” the SSL stated. Just east of Lake Street, a 36" sewer relocation was recently

Town of Porter Police Chief Todd Allen wants to remind residents that the Town of Porter has ordinances that regulate when fireworks can be used and that they are used in a safe manner. Town Ordinance 26-121 states that fireworks can be discharged only during the following dates and times: ???? June 29th-July 3rd between 5:00 PM and 2 hours after sunset ???? July 4th between 10:00 AM and Midnight ???? July 5th-July 9th between 5:00 PM and 2 hours after sunset ???? December 31st 10:00 AM to 1:00 AM on January 1st Town ordinances 26-122, 26-123, and 26-124 regulate

Additional road closures will be implemented in Lake County along the I-65 corridor between I-80/94 and U.S. 30 the week of July 5. 53rd Ave will be closed under I-65 on or after Tuesday, July 5. The official detour will follow Liverpool Rd, 61st Ave and Broadway/State Road 53. This road will be closed through mid-November. The ramp from southbound I-65 to 61st Ave will be closed for approximately four days beginning on or after Friday, July 8. As a reminder, the ramp from southbound I-65 to Ridge Rd and ramp from Ridge Rd to I-65 northbound will be closed

The following is a construction update from NICTD on the South Shore Line (NICTD) Double Track NWI Project construction that is ongoing: GARY- MILLER STATION AREA All buildings have been demolished for the construction of the station and parking lots in Miller. New sewer work is underway in both the west and east parking lots. Parking is available but temporarily restricted while work near Miller Station progresses. Vehicular and pedestrian access from Melton Road (US 20) will be closed, the driveway from Old US 12/Dunes Hwy will remain open with some lane restrictions. Construction activities may occur on the shoulder of

With the holiday weekend approaching, City of La Porte Fire Chief Andy Snyder is reminding residents to keep the city's fireworks ordinance in mind. "The Fourth of July is a big deal in our community, and everyone is eager to celebrate," Snyder said. "However, we still must be respectful of our neighbors. The fire department will be working closely with the police department as well as code enforcement to ensure the rules are being followed." The City of La Porte's municipal code states that consumer fireworks may be discharged within the city limits on the following dates and times: June

There was an electricity in the air Saturday night at Notre Dame’s legendary football stadium, and it wasn’t the weather. It was the piano man Billy Joel and his prolific band that played dozens of hits and numerous crowd pleasers for nearly three hours in front of a sold-out crowd. Billy apologized for taking so long to get to Indiana as the original tour date was slated for June 26, 2020. Singer-songwriter and piano aficionado Joel came out with a bang with “My Life” and even incorporated the ND fight song into the intro. One highlight of the evening was

The Indiana State Police held an awards and recognition ceremony in Indianapolis Friday, where two Lowell troopers received lifesaving awards. From the Lowell Post, Trooper Jordin Bilthuis and Trooper Israel Rosillo were recognized for life-saving action they took in Lake County this past year. On September 11, 2021, just before midnight, Troopers Bilthuis and Rosillo responded to a dispatch of gunshot victims located in a vehicle, on I-80 westbound in Gary. Trooper Rosillo was the first to arrive on the eastbound side of the interstate looking at the vehicle which was westbound. Rosillo exited his commission, retrieved his first aid

Kayaks are now available to rent at Stone Lake Beach in La Porte. The rental station is located across from the accessible kayak launch. Download the self-service mobile app, Rent.Fun, to unlock and rent kayaks by the hour. The rental, which is $20 per hour, includes the paddle and required U.S. Coast Guard-approved life vest (person between 90-300 lbs.) The La Porte Park and Recreation Department says that the goal of the program is to increase awareness and access to kayaking. The department says those looking for full-day rentals, group outings or guided excursions are better suited to more traditional

Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas G. Carter announced on Friday that the recipient of the 2021 Indiana State Police Trooper of the Year is Trooper Andrew D. Rasala Jr.  Rasala is the first trooper assigned to the Lowell Post to receive this accolade. He is also the 2021 Trooper of the District for the Lowell Post. During 2021, Rasala was assigned to the day shift at the Lowell Post, specializing as a member of the All Crimes Policing (ACP) Team. Rasala is a Field Training Officer (FTO), a member of the Mobile Field Force (MFF), and background investigator. In 2021,