Local News

 A retired Purdue University Northwest (PNW) professor who passed away earlier this year has left more than $700,000 to the university. The generous estate gift left by Maria O. Longas, PNW professor emerita of Chemistry, will go towards student scholarships. In 2017, while still a full-time professor at PNW, Longas committed to supporting the university through her estate plans. At the time, she requested that her planned gift remain anonymous until after her death. “Dr. Longas wanted to leave a legacy for Purdue Northwest students,” said Jamie Manahan, executive director for development and major gifts officer for PNW. “She cared

Dunes Arts Foundation has named Steve Scott as Artistic Director. Scott has directed four Dunes Summer Theatre productions, including this season’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Cabaret at the Gardens.”   Scott is an artistic associate at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, where he was an award-winning producer for 30 years before retiring in 2017. He takes over the Artistic Director position left by Tito Sanchez-Williams, who is pursuing a full-time teaching career. Scott is a member of the DAF Board of Directors and chairs the Theatre Management, Programming and Technology committee. He has begun programming discussions for the 2022 season, with plans

The Michigan City Parks & Recreation Department has received a donation from the Michigan City Historical Society that will go towards the restoration of the Historic Washington Park Bandstand. The department hopes this will spark an interest by other community minded organizations to join this project to raise the funds needed to preserve this icon of Michigan City history. The original Bandstand, donated by John H. Barker in the 1890’s was destroyed by fire in 1911. The current structure was designed by City Engineer H. M. Miles and dedicated on July 6, 1911. This Bandstand was the home of the

La Porte Police Department is ramping up enforcement this fall to protect students going to and from school. The month of September, officers with the La Porte Police Department will be conducting extra patrols looking for Aggressive Driving behaviors and School Bus Stop Arm Violations. In Indiana, it’s against the law for motorists to pass a bus that’s stopped and has its red lights flashing and stop-arm extended. This applies to all roads, with one exception. Motorists who are on a highway that is divided by a barrier, such as a cable barrier, concrete wall or grassy median, are required

A local 9-year-old is using her entrepreneurial skills to help bring comfort to other children coping with anxiety disorders. When Dahlia Garza developed anxiety issues and panic attacks last year, she began seeing Franciscan Health therapist Cathy Cinko, who gave her coping skills to help her through difficult times. Dahlia researched childhood anxiety and discovered that more than 4 million children suffer with anxiety disorders. “Ms. Cathy really helped me, so I want to help her help other kids,” Dahlia said. To provide that help, she decided to do what she does best. Dahlia operates a small crafting business, DK

The Excel Center, a free public high school for adults, is currently accepting Enrollment Applications for Term 2 of the 2021-2022 School Year.  Classes begin September 28th at Excel’s Elkhart, Gary, Hammond and South Bend locations.  Applications are accepted at any time throughout each term and new students are integrated into the schedule. Those interested can apply online at: www.ExcelCenterHS.org.  The application is free and takes less than 10 minutes to complete.  New students are encouraged to contact The Excel Center for more information and assistance completing their application.  Visitors are welcome at the South Bend, Hammond and Gary locations from 8:30

La Porte Police Department is ramping up enforcement this fall to protect students going to and from school. The month of September, officers with the La Porte Police Department will be conducting extra patrols looking for Aggressive Driving behaviors and School Bus Stop Arm Violations.   In Indiana, it’s against the law for motorists to pass a bus that’s stopped and has its red lights flashing and stop-arm extended. This applies to all roads, with one exception. Motorists who are on a highway that is divided by a barrier, such as a cable barrier, concrete wall or grassy median, are required

The City of Michigan City has announced the opening of the Singing Sands Trail. The official ribbon cutting Oct. 2, at 11 a.m. at City Hall. The trail is Michigan City’s segment of the regional Marquette Greenway Trail that connects Chicago area trails to trails in southwest Michigan. The non-motorized trail is open to the public year-round and follows ADA and Recreational Trails guidelines. The west end of the trail connects to the Calumet Trail at the Porter/LaPorte County line on Highway 12. Heading east you will encounter views overlooking an Indiana Dunes National Park wetland where you can observe

The City of Portage’s Redevelopment Commission has approved moving forward with the purchase of the former Portage Little League fields. The 7.84-acre complex is located in the city's downtown, north of Central Avenue and just west of Founders Square. The city says the property became available after the Portage Little League disbanded earlier this year and the property reverted to the ownership of Indiana Little League District 1. The city also says the commission will move forward with the due diligence phase of the purchase. The cost of the property is $750,000 and is being funded through the Redevelopment Commission's

Valparaiso Mayor Matt Murphy and Police Chief Jeff Balon recently shared details about a new Golf Cart Ordinance. To see the map of streets for golf carts, visit tinyurl.com/ValpoCartMap and the full ordinance is available at tinyurl.com/ValpoCarts. A video about the ordinance with Murphy and Balon has been posted to the Valpo Now Facebook page. To register a golf cart, call the Valparaiso Police Department from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Concrete restoration work on State Road 55 north of State Road 2 will be switching to the southbound side on or around Tuesday, September 7. Currently, northbound State Road 55 is closed to all traffic between 141st Avenue and 169th Avenue through Friday. Motorists wishing to go north from State Road 2 should continue to seek an alternate route. Local traffic seeking to access businesses or homes on State Road 55 in the closed section will need to come from the north and utilize southbound State Road 55 to get to their destination. Under no circumstances should motorists drive north

The Washington Park Zoo in Michigan City has announced that some attractions are temporarily closed due to LaPorte County being designated orange by the Indiana Department of Health The following attractions are temporarily closed to promote social distancing and community safety: -Observation Tower -Safari Train -Wings of Wonder Aviary The Peacock Café is also closed, but the Coop Snack Shack is open near the Red Barn from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm daily for grab-and-go snacks. The Health Department is also recommending wearing a mask in all public indoor settings if you are in an area of substantial or high

More than 70 rural and volunteer fire departments from 46 counties have been awarded more than $319,000 in Volunteer Fire Assistance grants, DNR Director Dan Bortner announced Thursday. The awards will be used for training, installation of dry hydrants, or to purchase necessary firefighting equipment and gear to combat wildland fires. The grants are administered by the DNR Division of Forestry and made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. Recipients were selected based on population density, acres of public wildlands protected, and wildland fire reporting to DNR Fire Control Headquarters. As in past years, emphasis was given

Humane Society of the United States honors Indiana state trooper who rescued abandoned dog   The Humane Society of the United States honored Indiana state police trooper Allison Marlowe with a 2021 Humane Law Enforcement Award for her rescue of an abandoned dog from a dangerous situation on I-65. The Humane Society says that on Aug. 1, witnesses reported to police that a dog had been dumped out of a van on the side of of a busy road and was seen running in and out of traffic. Indiana State Police say that the busy road was I-65. Working with

When Visit Indiana launched its summer road trips website, VisitIndiana.com visitors had a chance to decide on their favorite summer spot. The Indiana Destination Development Corporation compiled 50 of the top summer activities across the state for voters to consider, and The Fort Wayne Children's Zoo earned the top spot. The Indianapolis Zoo came in second, followed by Washington Park in Michigan City, which is home to Washington Park Zoo and the East Lighthouse. "There are so many beautiful places to explore in the Hoosier State, including our wonderful zoos," said Lt Gov. Suzanne Crouch. "This is the perfect time of year to get out and explore

The Indiana State Department of Health updated their weekly COVID-19 advisory map Wednesday. In our area, LaPorte, Lake, Starke and St. Joseph counties are in the orange level. Porter County is at the yellow level. The positivity change is up in all of these local counties other than Lake County. Additional information, can be found online at the ISDH COVID-19 dashboard.