Local News

Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced that he will extend the state’s face covering mandate and continue Stage 4.5 of the Back On Track Indiana plan until Sept. 25. Local governments may impose more restrictive guidelines. Gov. Holcomb has used data to drive decisions since the state’s first case of the novel coronavirus in early March and he continues to do so. The state continues to monitor and respond to these four guiding principles: The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients statewide has decreased for 14 daysThe state retains its surge capacity for critical care beds and ventilatorsThe state retains its ability to

Young Calls Double Track Funding a “Major Step Forward” U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) applauded the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) announcement that it will allocate $50.6 million to the South Shore Line Double Track Project. The allocated funding comes in the form of a Capital Investment Grant for Fiscal Year 2020. “This is a major step forward for a project that has been at the top of Northwest Indiana Hoosiers’ wish list for years and years, and a top Indiana infrastructure priority of mine” Senator Young said. “This down payment complements the tireless work local and state leaders have already done to

INDIANAPOLIS (August 26, 2020) – Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, who serves as chair of the Indiana Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission and the Indiana Main Street Council, today announced three Main Street communities are awarded Preserving Women’s Legacy Grants. This funding will aid in their efforts to highlight and preserve women’s history. “The awarded projects capture how influential these strong Indiana women were to the suffrage movement,” Lt. Gov. Crouch said. “I’m excited to visit each of the cities to walk the new trails, appreciate the public art and see Hoosiers of all ages learn more about these extraordinary women.” Preserving Women’s

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK:  Beach nourishment is scheduled to begin on August 27th at Indiana Dunes National Park’s Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk area. This work, sometimes called sand nourishment, involves placing dredged sand, obtained from other locations, onto beaches to repair damage caused by erosion.    While the public is invited to watch the work from the safety of the pavilion, the beach will be temporarily closed so heavy equipment can safely move the sand into place. The rest of Portage Lakefront, including the pavilion, the Dig the Dunes Trail Stop food operation, breakwater, riverwalk and hiking trail will remain open. Work

Franciscan Health will provide sports medicine services to Lake Central High School athletes after reaching a partnership agreement with the Lake Central School Board. Two athletic trainers will be stationed at the school full time, treating injuries, guiding preventative measures and implementing safe sport techniques such as heat acclimation, concussion awareness and balance stability, according to Frank Eksten, director, Sports Medicine and Sports Performance at Franciscan Health Crown Point. Eksten said when the opportunity to partner with Lake Central arose, Franciscan Health jumped at the chance to bring its sports medicine expertise to St. John and the surrounding communities. “Lake

(Lake County)Watch for lane and ramp closures for I-80/94 this week. The ramp from I-80/94 eastbound to Calumet Ave (Exit 1) southbound will be closed from approximately 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.today. This closure is for a guardrail repair. The ramp from I-80/94 westbound to southbound and northbound Indianapolis Blvd (Exit 2) will be closed from approximately 10 p.m. today to 5 a.m. on Thursday. This closure is for guardrail installation at new overhead sign structure. There will be overnight lane closures on eastbound I-80/94 between mile marker 3 (Kennedy Ave) and mile marker 5 (SR 912/Cline Ave) beginning at

In Porter County, watch for lane closures on State Road 49 between I-94 and Indian Boundary Rd beginning Monday, August 31. The road will be reduced to one lane each direction to perform work on the bridge over CSX Railroad and the Little Calumet river. Lane closures will alternate so drivers should be prepared for changing traffic patterns in this area. The project is expected to be completed in early November.

The Michigan City Police Department would like to announce the arrest of Kejuan Jerome HARRISON, 21, of 1900 E. Barker Avenue in Michigan City. Between July 20th and August 21st, the Michigan City Police Department took 16 case reports as it relates to a suspect that was peeping into windows during the evening hours in the center of Michigan City. A majority of these reports and calls for service took place in an area between Woodland Avenue, Barker Avenue, Carroll Avenue and Greenwood Avenue.During the time of the reports, Officers and Detectives had been in constant communication with the residents

La Porte Hospital has announced its September childbirth and family care classes.   Class sizes are limited to ensure proper social distancing and masks are required. Pre-registration is required. Newborn & Infant Care Class Join our interactive class where expecting moms, dads, and their supporting friends or family can practice caring for their bundles of joy. Clinical nurse educators with La Porte Hospital’s Birthing & Family Care Center will have mannequins on hand to help review best practices for caring for babies. Topics include transition of care (skin to skin); newborn tests and procedures; newborn appearance; skin, cord, and diaper

On Saturday morning at 4:50 a.m., Trooper Beers was patrolling at the 1.3 mile-marker westbound on the Indiana Toll Road. Trooper Beers initiated a traffic stop on a silver Mistusbishi at the 1.2 mile-marker for an equipment violation. The driver of the vehicle initially refused to identify himself to Trooper Beers. He became combative when the trooper attempted to place him in custody. While attempting to subdue the suspect, Trooper Beers was bitten on his arm. Trooper Beers then discharged his taser, striking the man with no effect. A small child that had been riding in the vehicle got out

This past Thursday, LaPorte County Deputies were summoned to the intersection of CR 400 South and CR 150 West, in rural Scipio Township, for a personal injury crash. Sergeant Anthony Wallace arrived at the scene and located a semi-tractor-trailer combination and a sport utility vehicle resting off the south side of CR 400 South, just east of the aforementioned intersection. The crash investigation by deputies determined that a Freightliner semi-tractor, driven by 62 year old Lance R. Hindsley of La Porte, had been traveling east on CR 400 South.  A Chevrolet Blazer, driven by 58 year old David A. Voltz

The La Porte City Police Department will be conducting School Bus Safety patrols from August 24th through September 11th.  Officers will be working about 80 hours of extra patrols under the Stop Arm Violation Enforcement (SAVE) grant from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.  Patrols will target those drivers who pass School Buses while the Stop Arm is activated.   La Porte Police is reminding the public that school begins on August 24th and paying attention to buses and the young children riding them should be in the forefront of everyone’s mind.  For more information on Operation Pull Over, SAVE and the

A 2 year old child died Thursday afternoon and a woman was seriously injured when a fire erupted at a residence at a Northwest Indiana mobile home park, according to fire officials. Firefighters were called to the Ravinia Pines Mobile Home Community in New Chicago where "intense flames" engulfed a mobile home, according to New Chicago Fire Chief Evin Eakins. The mother was found inside a back bedroom and airlifted to the University of Chicago Medical Center.

 Garwood Orchards and MPS Egg Farms have been awarded the AgriVision Award, the highest agricultural honor from the State of Indiana. This award was presented at the Indiana Statehouse by Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Bruce Kettler. Now in it’s 14th year, the AgriVision Award is presented to businesses or organizations within the Hoosier agricultural community that are advancing the industry, whether that is by developing a new technology, working to address a worldwide issue or creating a better community. Garwood Orchards is an agritourism destination in LaPorte, Indiana where there is fun to be

The Salvation Army represented by Major Simmons, and Jessica O’Brien, awarded Janet Beutner one of their distinguished “Volunteer of the Year” awards. Promise Scholarship Program Director, Janet Beutner accepted this award for the program and all of the student volunteers who worked hard all this year supporting this amazing worthwhile organization!

Purdue University reported yesterday that 99.26 percent of students who have received results of their COVID-19 tests are virus-free. Of the 30,117 results received as of Tuesday, 223 tested positive for COVID-19, for a 0.74 percent positive rate. As part of the Protect Purdue Plan, all Purdue students are required to have a negative COVID-19 test before arrival on campus for the fall semester, or if recently tested positive, have documentation from the Protect Purdue Health Center that they have completed a 10-day isolation after the test (asymptomatic) or 10 days after symptom onset before arriving on campus.

The La Porte Police Department  announced its participation in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement mobilization. Now through Labor Day, officers will be conducting overtime patrols, seeking out drunk drivers and showing zero tolerance for anyone driving impaired. For information about the campaign and additional safety tips, please visit: www.nhtsa.gov/drivesober or to learn more about La Porte Police Department, please visit: cityoflaporte.com/137/Police

The La Porte Hospital offers a 4-Hour Childbirth Preparation Class. It should be taken at approximately 28 weeks of pregnancy.  Topics covered are: prelude to labor, labor, support techniques to assist the laboring mother, vaginal birth, medical procedures, cesarean sections, postpartum care, pain management options, newborn baby care, preparations for going home, and tour of the Birthing and Family Care Center at La Porte Hospital. Those attending are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing.  A drink and light snack is provided. You are welcome to bring a second support person. Classes are offered two Wednesdays and one Saturday per month. The

South Shore Line passengers utilizing Millennium Station in the evenings will temporarily board/detrain at the Metra Depot (Tracks 5 and 6), located northwest of the SSL platform through Thursday. During this time, work will be ongoing in the SSL depot overnight beginning at 7pm. The depot switch will not impact daytime trains, and those passengers should continue to use the SSL platform. For more information check out mysouthshoreline.com.

State Rep. Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie) encourages Hoosier small-business owners and entrepreneurs to apply for a free program that provides direct technical support to help build their online presence. The Indiana Small Business Development Center launched Project HOPE and recently partnered with the Indiana University Kelley School of Business to support long-term economic recovery of Hoosier small businesses and entrepreneurs. Pressel said through the program, eligible companies may apply for no-cost assistance to help establish or increase their online presence through website development, e-commerce support, and other digital tools and services. To be eligible, Indiana small businesses must meet the