Local News

More than 250,000 Hoosiers ages 70 and older have scheduled appointments to receive their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine as of noon Thursday. The total includes more than 125,000 individuals ages 70 to 79 who scheduled their vaccines Wednesday, the first day of their eligibility. It does not include Hoosiers who are being vaccinated in their long-term care facilities. Individuals age 70 and older account for about 11 percent of the state’s population but represent 42 percent of COVID-19 hospitalizations and 78 percent of deaths in the state, according to the Indiana Department of Health. Eligible Hoosiers can register by

Lubeznik Center for the Arts (LCA) is thrilled to announce it has received a $12,000 grant through the Youth Program Resilience Fund of Lilly Endowment Inc. Lubeznik Center will use the grant to support after school arts education and outreach programs, including partnerships with the Boys and Girls Club and Safe Harbor in Michigan City, and our Teen Arts Council, which provide safe and enriching environments for our community's youth. Hannah Hammond-Hagman, Education Director, said, "This grant support will help assure that our virtual programming continues to be of the highest quality to support youth's creative expression and social and emotional

The Chesterton Fire Department (CFD) has been given the go-ahead to seek a 90/10 match grant for the purchase and installation of a digital station-alerting system at the CFD station.The Assistance to Firefighters Grant is being made available by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Portage Assistant Fire Chief Kevin DeYoung is coordinating the grant application on behalf of the Portage and South Haven FDs, Porter County EMS, the Porter County 911 Dispatch Center, and now the CFD.At its meeting Jan. 11, the Chesterton Town Council voted unanimously to commit funding for the grant match. The estimated cost of purchasing and

With blood donations urgently needed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Franciscan Health Michigan City invites the public to give at one of two blood drives scheduled later this month. The blood drives held by Versiti Blood Center will be 7AM to 1PM on Wednesday, Jan. 27, and 2-6PM on Thursday, Jan. 28, at Franciscan Health Michigan City. Donations will be taken in the Versiti Blood Drive Bus, which will be located outside Entrance A at the hospital at 3500 Franciscan Way. The COVID-19 antibody test is performed on every blood donation. Appointments are encouraged and can be scheduled by going online

INDIANAPOLIS — Hoosiers age 70 and older can now begin scheduling appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.Appointments can be scheduled by visiting https://ourshot.in.gov. Those needing assistance with registration can call 211 or one of Indiana’s Area Agencies on Aging. A caregiver or loved one also may make an appointment on behalf of an eligible senior.More information will be provided during Governor Holcomb’s weekly press conference at 2:30 p.m. today. The press conference will be live-streamed at https://vimeo.com/event/356296

It is the public policy of the City of Michigan City to provide all of our citizens equal opportunity in the areas of employment, housing, education of public accommodation on the basis of:Familial status (housing complaints only)RaceColorReligionNational OriginDisabilityAgeSexual OrientationSex (including sexual harassment & pregnancy)AncestryDiscrimination based on age is covered by federal law and will be forwarded to EEOC. Charges of discrimination based on disability that does not meet the definition in MCHRC Ordinance #3283 will be forwarded to EEOC also.It is also the public policy of the City of Michigan City to protect its citizens from unfounded charges of discrimination.Our

The Michigan City Sustainability Commission and Michigan City Parks & Recreation Department have partnered to roll out a neighborhood park recycling program.Located at Charles R. Westcott, Gardena, Hansen, Pullman, Winding Creek Cove, Water Tower, Canada, and Tall Timbers Parks.To reduce landfill waste, we encourage the public to use these recycling containers when using our neighborhood parks as well as recycling at home and at work.ACCEPTED ITEMS: GLASS BOTTLES AND JARS MILK, JUICE, AND SOUP CARTONS FLATTENED CARDBOARD BOXES NEWSPAPERS AND CATALOGS PLASTIC BOTTLES AND CONTAINERS JUNK MAIL AND MAGAZINES ALUMINUM, TIN AND OTHER METAL CANS THESE ITEMS ARE NOT ACCEPTED:PLASTIC

Since 1949, Purdue University agriculture alumni have gathered for an annual meeting and fish fry. The fish fry has become a major event held the first weekend in February at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, attracting major speakers, Purdue leadership, Indiana federal, state and local government representatives, and a crowd of more than 1,500 alumni and friends. This year, as the nation continues to address challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual fish fry has Gone Fishin’ with a series of virtual events. Beginning the evening of Feb. 1, alumni and friends will be able to join mini virtual reunions

The Indiana State Police is proud to partner again in 2021 with the U.S. Department of Justice in promoting the National Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest.  In 1983, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25th as National Missing Children’s Day.  This day is dedicated to encouraging parents, guardians, caregivers and all concerned individuals with the well-being of children to make child safety a priority.  It serves as a reminder to continue our efforts to reunite missing children with their families and loved ones.  It also serves as an occasion to honor those who are dedicated to this very noble cause.  The National

he Indiana Department of Transportation is hosting a virtual career fair on Wednesday, January 20 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. eastern time. Anyone interested in learning more about employment at INDOT is invited to attend, and registration is not required.The career fair will feature an overview of the agency, benefits of working for INDOT, and positions currently available. Featured jobs will include highway maintenance technicians, equipment mechanics, construction engineers and project inspectors, and seasonal positions.The event will be held via Microsoft Teams, an online video conferencing application for both desktop and mobile devices.Learn more about employment opportunities and see

The Michigan City Police Department would like to recognize Lt. Tim Richardson, Cpl. Michael Oberle, Ofc. Brian Wright, Ofc. DeShone Harris and Ofc. Jacob Schleyer with an Exceptional Service Award for their actions during a recent call they responded to. The LaPorte County Sheriff's Department received a report of gunshots being fired in the 7000 block of County Road North 500 West at approximately 5:15 PM on November 26th, 2020. The suspect who was later identified as 42-year-old Knox, Indiana resident Said Berry II, immediately began discharging a firearm at the responding officers when they arrived. A patrol vehicle belonging

This morning at 11:00 a.m., troopers responded to a single vehicle crash on I-94 westbound at the 37.3 mile-marker.  Preliminary investigation by M/Trp. Brandon Lankford revealed that a black 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup was in the right lane when the driver suffered a medical event.  The driver lost control of the vehicle resulting in it changing lanes.  The passenger in the vehicle attempted to gain control of the truck, however it struck the outer guardrail and rolled over onto its driver’s side.  The passenger was transported to Franciscan Health Hospital in Michigan City with non-life-threatening injuries.  The driver was

City of La Porte Police officers responded over the weekend to a shooting at a local bar, according to Chief of Detectives Sgt. Jim Ferguson.  In the early morning hours of Saturday, January 9, officers were dispatched to Lucky Bar, located at 1004 Lincolnway in La Porte, regarding a disturbance. Upon arrival, officers found a male victim who had sustained a gunshot wound. The victim was then transported to IU Method Hospital in Indianapolis where he is currently in stable condition. Multiple witnesses identified the suspect, who had fled before officers arrived. Arrest warrants are currently being sought for the

The Indiana Department of Health today announced that a new strain of the virus that causes COVID-19 has been identified in Indiana. The strain, which was identified through testing at the Department of Health laboratory and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is the same one identified in the United Kingdom last fall. It does not cause more severe infections, but it is much more easily spread. “It’s common for viruses to mutate, and we are seeing that occur with COVID-19,” said State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG. “Because this strain of the virus can be transmitted more easily,

The Legacy Center Gallery is proud to host the artwork of Dale Cooper in their next installation. Located on the campus of Queen of All Saints Catholic Church in Michigan City, the Legacy Center serves as a multi-use gathering space for community and parish functions. The Gallery seeks to incorporate the parish with the greater arts community. Dale has worked at the Laporte County Convention & Visitors Bureau for 19 years. As Curator, she has been able to create a beautiful space which not only serves visitors but serves local artists. She believes there is nothing better than being able

On January 7, 2021, at approximately 11:30 AM, a LCSO highway interdiction deputy was monitoring traffic along the Indiana Toll Road (I-80/90) in the area of the 45-mile marker.  He observed an eastbound sport utility vehicle quickly change lanes and while doing so commit a traffic infraction.  The deputy began to travel eastbound to catch up to the vehicle.  In the area of the 46-mile marker, the vehicle changed lanes again and while doing so committed another traffic infraction.  The deputy paced the vehicle and noted that it was also exceeding the posted speed limit.   In the area of the 47-mile marker, the deputy

The 36-year-old goalie, who won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013 and 2015, had taken an indefinite leave of absence from the New Jersey Devils for personal reasons on Friday after missing five consecutive practices during training camp. Corey Crawford is a former Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. Nicknamed "Crow" by teammates and fans, he played his entire professional career with the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League, who selected him in the second round, 52nd overall, of the 2003 NHL Draft. Crawford agreed to a two-year, $7.8 million contract with the Devils on Oct. 11

As the State of Indiana moves to Phase 1-B of its vaccine rollout, senior citizens age 80 and over can now make appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Appointments can be scheduled through the state’s website at www.ourshot.in.gov or by calling 2-1-1. Franciscan Health hospitals in Crown Point, Hammond and Michigan City are among the sites in Northwest Indiana that people can choose from to receive the vaccine. Franciscan Health Crown Point has added Saturday hours from 8 a.m. to noon at its vaccine clinic to focus exclusively on those in the 80-plus age group currently eligible for the vaccine. A scheduled

Nearly $173 million in federal funding provided for commuter rail expansion Gov. Eric J. Holcomb today announced nearly $173 million in federal funding that will allow construction to begin on the expansion of the South Shore rail line to a double track, a decades-long priority for the region.  The $491 million project, which is a key piece of Gov. Holcomb’s Next Level Agenda, will speed passenger rail service between Gary and Michigan City as well as make critical safety improvements at grade crossings and platform improvements at five stations. “By improving commuter rail through the region, the project is a

Porter County, Indiana – Porter County has been awarded $81,326 by the Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program to support local food pantries and homeless shelter services. The selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, The Salvation Army, United Jewish Communities and United Way of America. A Local County Board will determine how the awarded funds will be distributed. The Local Board is encouraging all nonprofits that serve