Local News

Indiana Dunes State Park says its labor staff has been busy cutting down dead trees that have been deemed hazardous by the state arborist. All these trees will be dropped before April 1 to prevent destruction to any animals that may begin nesting this spring. Indiana Dunes State Park says that due to this large amount of downed trees they’re offering firewood cutting permits. The general public is allowed to harvest firewood for personal use only with a permit. These permits can be obtained at the Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center between 9:30-3:30 p.m. CST. Only trees that are

The City of Valparaiso announced George Douglas has been named its Director of Development. The new position integrates the roles of Economic Development Director and Redevelopment Director, creating a unified office dedicated to attracting and supporting business and economic development to the City of Valparaiso.  Douglas will be stepping down from his role as City Councilman prior to assuming the new position. Douglas is a lifelong Valparaiso resident and longtime community leader. Early on in his career, he served in planning and economic development roles under Mayor David Butterfield. He has also served on the Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission and the

The Gary Police Department is seeking the community's assistance in locating 57-year-old Stanley Steele. Steele has been missing since March 4 and detectives have exhausted all leads in attempting to locate him. He is a black male, 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs approximately 155 pounds. He is bald, has brown eyes and wears glasses. Stanley Steele requires medication for medical conditions and is known to frequent 5th Avenue between Jackson Street and Garfield Street in Gary. Anyone with information on Stanley Steele's whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Salazar at 219-881-1209, call the Gary Police Crime Tip

Mattress manufacturer Corsicana Mattress celebrated the grand opening of its new 165,000-square-foot facility on Wednesday. Corsicana executives and their team were joined by local political, civic and business leaders. The renovated and redesigned facility will house the company’s domestic boxed bed manufacturing and employ 350 workers at full capacity. “Corsicana’s decision to select La Porte County, Indiana has been a genuine game changer for the central area of our county. We are appreciative for every partner stepping up to the plate to make this project a reality in Pinola,” stated commissioner Sheila Matias, president of the La Porte county board

A convicted felon was arrested Tuesday after police pursued a vehicle reported stolen on I-65, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office says. At around 11:15 a.m., the Lake County Sheriff’s Highway Interdiction Team attempted to make a traffic stop on I-65 near the Jasper County line. Police say a 2017 Porsche reported stolen out of Chicago had been following another vehicle too closely. As the officers attempted to make a traffic stop, the Porsche accelerated heading southbound on I-65. The driver of the vehicle attempted to evade officers, making an illegal U-turn at a high rate of speed near Fair Oaks

Ogden Dunes is informing the public that beginning May 1, you will be required to have your 2022 Parking Permits. Police say you can purchase them beginning Monday, March 21. Town Hall Window Hours are Monday through Friday 8:00am to 3:00pm.  Residents are eligible for one vehicle parking sticker at no cost when home association dues are paid. Additional vehicle stickers are available for purchase at $35 each, made payable to the Town of Ogden Dunes. Golf Cart permits are $35. A completed golf cart inspection form and Proof of insurance will be required. Watercraft permits are $20. Police say

Michigan City Police are investigating a shooting that occured Sunday night on Barker Avenue.  At around 10:30 p.m. dispatch received 9-1-1 calls for shots fired in the area of 204 W Barker Avenue and that someone had possibly been shot. Initial reports indicated that no one had been struck by gunfire, but officers later learned that the victim was transported to Franciscan Health Michigan City with non-life threatening injuries by an unknown third party.  Officers looked for evidence and witnesses. Witnesses were interviewed at the scene.  Detectives continue to work the investigation by interviewing witnesses, processing evidence, and gathering video

Yesterday afternoon (3/14) at approximately 4:17 PM, Deputy Ryan Elcock was traveling eastbound on US 20 east of Fail Road. An eastbound US 20 passenger vehicle, traveling in excess of the posted speed limit, proceeded to pass Deputy Elcock on the right. Deputy Elcock initiated a traffic stop near CR 250 East on US 20. The passenger was identified as Kameron R. MARTIN (29 YOA) of South Bend. It was determined MARTIN was a wanted person by authorities in Elkhart County and he was immediately taken into custody. Through further investigation, a Canik 9mm pistol was recovered from within the interior of the vehicle. MARTIN

Yesterday afternoon (3/14) at approximately 3:29 PM, deputies responded to a hit and run crash involving a Michigan City Area Schools school bus and a motor vehicle at the intersection of Orchard Drive and Wozniak Road. Deputy Evan Doperalski arrived at the scene and met with the bus driver. He learned a white sport utility vehicle (SUV) being driven by a male driver had crashed into the rear of the bus. The driver pulled alongside the bus and briefly made contact with the bus driver. After learning the LCSO had been contacted, the SUV left the scene traveling northbound on

The Family and Social Services Administration of Indiana has provided an update about pandemic-related emergency SNAP benefits.  In March 2020, the U.S. government allowed the state of Indiana to issue “emergency allotments” to help Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program households during the COVID-19 pandemic. This allowed SNAP families to receive the maximum benefit allowed based on the number of people in the household. For many Hoosiers, this meant they received more SNAP benefits than they would have under non-emergency conditions, according to the FSSA. Due to the end of the state public health emergency on March 3, 2022, and a recent

The U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards recruited to an environmental partnership Monday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard Ninth District.  Rear Adm. Michael Johnston, Commander of the United States Coast Guard Ninth District joined Canadian Coast Guard Central Region Assistant Commissioner Marc-André Meunier for an updated signing of the Great Lakes Geographic Annex (CANUSLAK) agreement between the two coast guards in Montreal, Quebec on Monday.  The Coast Guard says that keeping these waters clean and safe from threats of pollution is a top priority for both coast guards. The agreement is an operational annex plan to the bilateral Joint Marine

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) and the Society of Innovators at PNW will host the Innovate WithIN Region 6 Finals during a live event in Alumni Hall at the PNW Hammond campus on Monday, April 18 from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Innovate WithIN is the most elite pitch competition in the country for aspiring high school innovators and entrepreneurs. Student contestants have an opportunity to win $25,000 in funding, tuition and other prizes. Eleven teams were selected from over 400 regional applicants to compete live in the Northwest Indiana Region 6 competition for a chance to win $1,000 and participation

Michigan City Area Schools, the Michigan City Police Department, and the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office are jointly informing motorists that “if you disregard an extended school bus stop arm, you will be held accountable.” Beginning March 14, MCAS school bus drivers will note the date, time, and location each time a motorist passes a school bus that has its flashing lights on and stop arm extended. The violations will be reported to law enforcement, which will then issue citations or warnings, based on video evidence provided by cameras installed on the side of the buses. “According to La Porte County

The Washington Park Zoo announced they have welcomed twin Common Marmoset babies. The babies weigh around 30 grams. The zoo says they don't yet know the genders, but the twins are “growing strong under the care of their parents and two older siblings who all share in their care.” The Washington Park Zoo will open for the spring on April 1.

The City of Valparaiso has announced 20 Neighborhood Improvement Grants for 2022. The City of Valparaiso says that since the grant program was introduced in 2018, it has resulted in a positive impact of more than $1 million citywide. Neighborhoods are invited to submit projects that enhance their shared spaces and build community, such as tree plantings, gathering spaces like pavilions and shelters, enhancements to playgrounds and more. To learn who received grants this year and how to apply go to the City of Valparaiso’s website.

A Michigan City resident has been arrested for a robbery that occurred on March 3. Dispatch Center received a 911 call on March 3, at 9:54 a.m. of a robbery in progress at the Smoke and Vape Shop located at 3309 Franklin Street. Responding officers were informed by a Communication Specialist that an employee was struck on the head and possibly injured. Officers learned that an undetermined amount of money was taken by the suspect in the robbery. Officers and detectives from the Investigative Division collected numerous items of evidence during this investigation which aided with identifying the suspect as