Local News

The 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that 14.5 million people ages 12 and older have alcohol use disorder, or AUD. This represents 5.3% of that population, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Researchers in Purdue University’s College of Pharmacy, the Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery and Washington University in St. Louis are synthesizing compounds to treat people affected by AUD. The research was published in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Pharmacology. Richard Van Rijn leads the research program with Susruta Majumdar. Van Rijn said the compounds are based on alkaloids found in

The Indiana State Department of Health updated its weekly COVID advisory levels on Wednesday. All area counties are now in the yellow level under the “Advisory Level” map filter.  For “weekly 2-metric score” which is a separate map, LaPorte, Porter, Jasper and Newton counties are at a score of 1 (yellow). Lake, Starke, and St. Joseph counties for this category are at a score of 0.5 (blue). The “7 day all tests positivity rate” has decreased in all of the counties mentioned.  Additional information with can be found at www.coronavirus.in.gov/indiana-covid-19-dashboard-and-map. 

At the Portage City Council meeting Tuesday night, Police Chief Candiano presented Officers Seth Bollinger and Brain Graves with the department's Life Saving Award. On Jan. 24, 2022, Officers Bollinger and Graves responded to a report of an unconscious 68 year old male outside of his residence. Upon arrival Officer Graves began CPR. Officer Bollinger then utilized one of several AED's issued to the patrol division to apply a shock to the patient. Police say that thanks to the officers' actions, training and available equipment, they were able to save a life that night.

The Ogden Dunes Police Department has given an update regarding the recent bridge outage.   The inspection has revealed issues that require immediate repair. Chief of Police Jeremy Ogden says that he has spoken with the Chiefs of NICTD, Portage and National Park Service Rangers and they are all working together to get through this inconvenience. Ogden says that NICTD is aware of the situation and will minimize trains blocking the entrance. Officers will move the barricades in the event of an emergency. For safety, the council has authorized extra patrols that will be stationed at the entrance to the community

Today, NIPSCO released a 2021 report detailing a successful year of corporate giving, with more than $2.3 million donated in 2021. The report, available at NIPSCO.com/giving back, provides at-a-glance information on NIPSCO’s community contributions, including donations and support given in partnership with the NiSource Charitable Foundation. NIPSCO’s parent company, NiSource, established the NiSource Charitable Foundation with a mission to help create strong and sustainable communities where employees and customers live and work. The foundation provides funding and encourages volunteer support for non-profit organizations throughout the country. Along with funds from the NiSource Charitable Foundation, employee donations and corporate funds from NIPSCO provided focused grants and targeted donations to local charitable organizations. NIPSCO’s 2021 donations were centered on

A long-awaited community celebration is about to be unveiled in Michigan City. After two steadfast years, the official public celebration of the legacy of Michigan City born-and- raised Naomi Bowman Talbert Anderson, our “hometown suffragist,” will be held. A stunning eight-piece sculpture created by celebrated sculptor Bernard Williams, will be unveiled on Saturday, March 19th, 2 p.m. CT. A reception will follow at the Lubeznik Center for the Arts. Naomi Anderson’s great- and great-great granddaughters from Sacramento, California will attend the celebration. The steel work, covering an expanse of 50 feet by 30 feet, has been installed in Michigan City’s

The Indiana Department of Transportation and Troyer Group are hosting a public hearing in St. John, Wednesday March 9, regarding a proposed roundabout at U.S. 231 and Cline Ave in Lake County. The presentation begins at 6 p.m. central time at Suncrest Christian Church, 10009 Parrish Avenue. The purpose of the public hearing is to offer all interested persons an opportunity to comment on current preliminary design plans to modify this intersection. As currently proposed, the project involves converting the signalized intersection into a roundabout. Construction is currently slated for 2024, which is subject to change. The project would cost

The City of Portage has given an update on the U.S. Steel bridge as of Tuesday. U.S. Steel officials informed the city Tuesday that they are continuing to survey the infrastructure of the bridge, which crosses the Burns Waterway. Pending a complete investigation of the bridge's condition, the steelmaker decided to close the bridge to all traffic. Those wanting to visit Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk can take an alternate route into the park. Visitors may enter the park by turning north off of U.S. 12 onto Hillcrest Road at the entrance of Ogden Dunes. Follow the roadway just north of

Porter County Triad had their monthly meeting Tuesday morning at the Porter County Sheriff's Office. Porter County Triad is a partnership of law enforcement, area seniors, senior health care providers, clergy, social service organizations and state and local agencies “dedicated to creating a sense of belonging among the experienced and valued segment of our society, our seniors.” Members of Triad felt it was time to update Porter County on what Triad has been doing. They wanted to address the critical issues facing Porter County, which include the work being done in educating the public on Project Lifesaver, and several other

An Indianapolis man landed in jail after leading police on a pursuit Monday night on I-65. Just after 11:20 p.m., an Indiana State Police-Lowell Post Trooper observed a Toyota Camry traveling southbound on I-65 near the 243 mile-marker. After observing several different traffic violations, the trooper initiated a traffic stop near the 241 mile-marker. The driver refused to pull over and continued to travel at highway speeds of 70 mph. A vehicle pursuit was initiated as the vehicle continued southbound on I-65 where the vehicle’s speed ranged from approximately 60 mph to 80 mph for approximately 10 miles. Another trooper

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an armed robbery that occurred at Family Express located at 7687 West U.S. 20 in Michigan City.  On Saturday, Feb. 26 at around 11:47 p.m., deputies were dispatched to the Family Express, to an armed robbery.  Two subjects entered the business armed with pistols and ordered the employee to the ground at gunpoint. After the employee complied, the subjects escorted him to the register.  One of the subjects proceeded to remove cash from the register and then personal property belonging to the employee that was nearby.  Both subjects left the business, entered

INDOT Northwest announced that lane and ramp closures will impact the I-94 and U.S. 20 interchange in LaPorte County on Wednesday, March 2. These restrictions will be in place from approximately 6 a.m.-3 p.m. to place a barrier wall on the right shoulder of eastbound I-94.

The DNR announced that Mixsawbah State Fish Hatchery stocked 22,429 coho salmon averaging 8.02 inches into Trail Creek on Feb. 16. The DNR says Coho salmon stocked this month will stay in the streams until this coming spring, when they will migrate to Lake Michigan. They will spend one to two years there feeding and maturing until they return to the streams where they were stocked for spawning. This stocking is in addition to the 54,139 coho that were stocked this past October into the Little Calumet River and the 29,457 coho that were stocked into Trail Creek. The DNR

Governor Eric Holcomb Monday announced Monday that he signed an Executive Order as a response to Russia’s unjust invasion of Ukraine. Holcomb has issued an executive order taking specific actions to show a commitment for the citizens of Ukraine and condemnation of the Russian government. -The Indiana Department of Administration will review all state contracts that involve Russian-owned or Russian-affiliated companies. -The Indiana Public Retirement System will evaluate investments into the state retirement accounts that may involve the Russian ruble, Russian-owned and Russian-affiliated companies and immediately report its findings to the governor’s office. -The Indiana Office of Technology will continue

Monday it was announced that 40 lifesaving AEDs (automatic external defibrillators) were distributed to the Michigan City Police Department through funds raised for the 3rd annual Bot for the Heart Family Run/Walk event. The AEDs will be placed in patrol vehicles and be available for Officers responding to incidents of cardiac arrest. The number of AEDs to be distributed is higher than total number given out over the previous two years’ events. A total of $106,000 in sponsorships and runner fees was raised from the race, which was Oct. 30 in Washington Park in Michigan City with more than 500

Despite having the smallest team at the Portage High School Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) military drill competition on February 26, 2022, the Michigan City High School (MCHS) cadets earned first, second and third place trophies. The Wolves Color Guard A finished first, Color Guard B finished second, and the Armed Exhibition platoon earned a third place finish. Color Guard A and the Armed Exhibition platoon was commanded by senior Cadet Major Declan Rice, and Color Guard B was commanded by freshman Cadet Lance Corporal Marcus Mantel. Rice, who also commanded the Unarmed and Armed platoons, was

Michigan City Area Schools has announced that Kindergarten enrollment is now open online for the 2022-23 school year. Kindergarten students must be 5 years old by October 1, 2022. Parents and guardians can visit www.EducateMC.net/kindergarten to begin the enrollment process. Once basic information about the student is received by MCAS, parents will receive instructions on setting up a PowerSchool account to finalize enrollment. To complete the online enrollment process in PowerSchool, parents/guardians will need their child’s official birth certificate, parent/guardian’s driver’s license or state photo ID, proof of residency, their child’s immunization records, and proof of lead testing. Michigan City

The first major phase of construction has begun in Michigan City for one of the state’s largest public transit investments in Indiana history – expanding, adding a second track and station improvements along a 26.6-mile corridor of the South Shore Line Railroad from Gary to Michigan City.  NICTD says The Double Track Northwest Indiana project will improve operating flexibility and reliability, reduce delay and travel time, improve safety, and promote economic development opportunities in the region.  Major construction work will begin in Michigan City on the eastern end at 11th Street and  Michigan Blvd., and move westward, according to Walsh/Herzog