Local News

President and CEO of Paladin, Bill Trowbridge, announced recently that after seven years he will be stepping down from the  charitable non-profit dedicated to serving children, seniors, and persons with developmental disabilities. He is slated to become CEO of Regional Health Systems based in Merrillville, Indiana, comprised of affiliated organizations including Regional Mental Health Center, Geminus Corporation, and Lake Park Residential Care.  Trowbridge is credited with Paladin’s growth from a small struggling developmental disability center in Michigan City to a comprehensive human services organization that serves thousands of clients and families throughout Northwest Indiana.  A tireless proponent of partnerships and collaborations,

The Purdue University Northwest (PNW) School of Engineering has started a collaborative program with Argentina’s Universidad Tecnológica Nacional (UTN), a technical university with approximately 70,000 engineering students across the country, and its two main campuses in Buenos Aires. As part of this program, Federico Gallo has been working and teaching classes in the department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering at PNW. His tenure as a visiting professor is an element of a broader initiative that resulted from interactions between Dietmar Rempfer, director of PNW’s School of Engineering, and Uriel Cukierman, director of the Center for Educational Research and Innovation at

Indiana’s unemployment rate stands at 3.2 percent for October and remains lower than the national rate of 3.6 percent. The monthly unemployment rate is a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicator that reflects the number of unemployed people seeking employment within the prior four weeks as a percentage of the labor force.Indiana’s labor force had a net increase of 567 over the previous month. This was a result of a decrease of 1,397 unemployed residents and an increase of 1,964 employed residents. Indiana's total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stands at 3.38 million,

November holiday train service updates This weekend kicks off the holiday season along the South Shore Line! Experience the magic of the season at some of the most anticipated events like the spectacular Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Parade (Nov. 23), the annual Chicago Tree Lighting Ceremony in Millennium Park (Nov. 22) and the traditional German Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza (open as of Nov. 15). To ensure we provide the best experience possible to our riders this holiday season, we have made our November train and ticket office schedules available in advance, and will be offering additional eastbound trains. Please see

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) launched a public awareness campaign yesterday to educate youths about the dangers of e-cigarettes, or “vaping.” The “Behind the Haze” campaign is part of a $2 million effort announced by Governor Eric J. Holcomb and State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG, to reduce vaping among Indiana youth.Dr. Box said the Indiana Youth Tobacco Survey found the use of e-cigarettes has increased more than 350 percent among Indiana middle and high school students since 2012, which makes public awareness a critical part of protecting young Hoosiers’ health.Indiana is licensing “Behind the Haze” as

Come support the La Porte Pop Warner Jr. Pee Wee division 2 regional champs from 4-9 pm at La Porte Buffalo Wild Wings this Thursday Nov. 21st for a give back night. The team is going to Disney to represent and they need our help. Dine in or carry out. The team has made history. In the 40 years that Pop Warner has been around , they are the first La Porte team ever to win a regional and make it to nationals.  Please come to Buffalo Wild Wings in La Porte this Thursday from 4-9pm and help our team

Horizon Bank is pleased to announce its recent donation to the Legacy Foundation of Lake County, Indiana, to benefit local Boys and Girls Clubs. The donation, in the amount of $10,000, was given in the name of Rob Gardiner, former Advisor and Lake County Market President at Horizon, who passed away in February 2019. “Horizon Bank is honored to be able to make this ten thousand dollar contribution in Rob’s name,” said Craig Dwight, Horizon Bank CEO. “This donation is to the Legacy Foundation for the benefit of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana, to provide ‘Rob Gardiner

Parkinson’s Support Group Supporting those with Parkinson’s disease, their families, and caregivers in adapting more positively to the physical, emotional, and social changes associated with the disease. The group meets at 2:00 p.m. every third Tuesday (Dec. 17) at Brentwood Assisted Living, 2002 Andrew Ave., La Porte (park in back and use back door).  Call Sherri Moorehouse at 219-362-5749. Cancer Support Group Have you been affected by a cancer diagnosis? The Cancer Support Group provides patients, families, and caregivers a chance to share experiences and learn new ways of coping with the disease process.  The group meets 4-5 p.m. every

The Hesston Steam Museum and Toys for Tots are celebrating with Santa for two weekends. November 30th and December 1st along with December 7th and 8th Santa's Candy cane Express will be in full swing. Great family memories to be had by all. Bring an unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots and receive a free train ride. For more information check our hesston.org.

AK Smith Career Center Receives Significant Amount Of Equipment For Fire Science Program from local area fire departments-Thank you to all of the Fire Departments listed below The AK Smith Career Center, celebrated the donation of a significant amount of equipment to the Fire Science Program.The Michigan City Fire Department donated an old fire engine no longer able to be used by the department. Other items donated include equipment for the engine, such as hose, nozzles, hand tools, axes, turnout gear, SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus), helmets, gloves, thermal imaging camera, Ventilation Fans and a multitude of small firefighting tools.

The AK Smith Career Center, celebrated the donation of a significant amount of equipment to the Fire Science Program.The Michigan City Fire Department donated an old fire engine no longer able to be used by the dept.Other items donated include equipment for the engine, such as hose, nozzles, hand tools, axes, turnout gear, SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus), helmets, gloves, thermal imaging camera, Ventilation Fans and a multitude of small firefighting tools.Departments that have donated to the program :Michigan City FireLaPorte FireKankakee Twp. FireCoolspring Twp. FireLong Beach FireKingsbury Fire Dept.Springfield Twp FireLincoln Twp. FirePleasant Twp. FireCenter Twp. FireNew Carlisle Fire

Lubeznik Center for the Arts (LCA) and the Discussion Over Dinner community conversation series are partnering to present an evening of art and discussion about immigration. This event, entitled Discussion Over Dessert, will take place on Thursday, November 21 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at LCA. Discussion Over Dessert participants will enjoy a tour of exhibition highlights by LCA’s Exhibition Director Lora Fosberg, followed by a panel discussion about the immigration experience led by moderator Nate Loucks. Panelists include area attorney Nelson Pichardo, artist Kioto Aoki and community engagement consultant Hubert Morgan. Complimentary desserts, soda and water will be

Fourteen Purdue University Northwest (PNW) Honors College students participated as presenters at the 54th National Collegiate Honors Council Annual Conference (NCHC) held Nov. 6-10 in New Orleans. The conference highlighted student and faculty research presentations from across the nation, and provided training and development for honors program administrators. The conference theme, “Disrupting Education,” allowed honors faculty and students the opportunity to learn techniques to reconsider current practices and re-imagine them in new ways. The national submission process for the NCHC annual conference is highly selective, with hundreds of students and faculty members nationwide submitting proposals each year. The conference hosted 2,000

Officers from Uniform Patrol Shift 1 were dispatched to Lighthouse Liquors (501 Washington Street) on November 10th, 2019 at 12:57 PM for a robbery in progress.  Officers searched the area and were unable to locate the suspect.  Detective Sergeant Kevin Urbanczyk from the Investigative Division was assigned this investigation and worked closely in conjunction with detectives from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department after 44-year-old Michigan City resident Terry Allen West Jr. was arrested and charged with Robbery (Level 5 Felony) for his involvement with a robbery at Horizon Bank in Wanatah, Indiana on November 12th, 2019.  Detective Sergeant Urbanczyk presented

Fugitive Listed On LaPorte County Sheriff’s “Felon Friday” CapturedLast week, Cody J. Davis was the featured fugitive on the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. Thursday afternoon while acting on an anonymous tip, the Fugitive Apprehension Street Team, the United States Marshals Service and members of the Michigan City Police Department located and arrested Davis in the 1100 block of Buffalo Street. If you know the whereabouts of any wanted fugitives, you are encouraged to provide your anonymous tip (s) to #FAST Sergeant Brett Swanson. He can be reached by calling or texting (219) 363-9623.

Winter weather is already here and Hoosiers who struggle to pay their heating bills need to take action now to ensure they aren't left in the cold this winter. The state's disconnect moratorium for electric and natural gas utilities starts starts December 1st. However, it is only applicable for those who are already enrolled in the Energy Assistance Program, or if an E-A-P intake office has confirmed their eligibility and notified the utility in writing. Anthony Swinger with the Indiana Office of the Utility Consumer Counselor encourages low-income households to contact a local intake office to apply for the program

Number of homeless vets in Indiana increases 6.1% since last year but declines by 25.4% since 2010 Veteran homelessness in the U.S. continues to decline according to a new national estimate announced by U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson.  HUD’s Annual Homeless Assessment Report finds the total number of reported veterans experiencing homelessness in 2019 decreased 2.1 percent since last year. View local estimates of veteran homelessness. “Our nation’s veterans have sacrificed so much for our country and now it’s our duty to make certain they have a home to call their own,” said Secretary Carson. “We’ve made

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting overtime patrols during the holidays, thanks to a $49,250 traffic safety improvement grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The funds, distributed by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, are part of the state’s “Click It to Live It” program, which works to promote seat belt usage and reduce impaired driving – in an effort to prevent traffic injuries and fatal crashes in Indiana. “The simple fact is, no matter who you are or what you drive, wearing your seat belt is one of the best ways to keep you and

Gov. Eric J. Holcomb announced Mary DeBoer as his appointment to the Porter County Circuit Court. DeBoer will succeed Judge Mary Harper, who will retire on Dec. 31. Judge Harper holds the distinction of being the longest serving woman in the Indiana judiciary. Following her graduation from law school, DeBoer served as a deputy prosecutor in Starke and Porter counties. DeBoer has also been in private practice. Since 2011, she has served as a magistrate for the Porter County Superior Courts in Valparaiso.  DeBoer earned her undergraduate degree from Western Michigan University and her law degree from Valparaiso University School

The press and public are invited to join Paladin at the dedication of Imagination Station Child Development Center on November 21, 2019. The ceremony is in honor of Wendy Rae Englander whose life inspired the mission to fulfill the developmental potential of all children and families. The ribbon cutting will take place at the center (1200 E. Coolspring Ave., Michigan City) and begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. Tours will be offered and light refreshments will be available directly after and continue until 6:30 p.m. RSVP’s are encouraged to ensure that there are enough refreshments to accommodate all attendees. Imagination Station,