Local News

 The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) has confirmed the first death of an Indiana resident due to severe lung injury linked to a history of e-cigarette use or “vaping.” The death, which occurred in an individual older than age 18, was confirmed Sept. 5 as part of an investigation involving health officials at the local and federal levels and in surrounding states. No additional details about the patient will be provided due to privacy laws.Indiana is investigating 30 cases of severe lung injury linked to vaping. Eight of those have been confirmed. The majority of the Indiana cases have

The Social Security Administration announced last week that the first potential group of selected participants for its new electronic Consent Based Social Security Number (SSN) Verification (eCBSV) service.  The agency will roll out the service to these users in June 2020, and plans on expanding the number of users within approximately six months of the initial rollout.Social Security is creating eCBSV, a fee-based electronic SSN verification service, to allow select financial institutions and service providers, called “permitted entities” and including subsidiaries, affiliates, agents, subcontractors, or assignees of a financial institution, to verify if a person’s SSN, name, and date of

“As a precautionary measure, Indiana American Water shut down its Ogden Dunes treatment facility late Friday afternoon, September 6, 2019, after being notified by representatives of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) of a chemical spill into Burns Ditch at a U.S. Steel facility in Portage, Ind. Indiana American Water uses water from two Lake Michigan intakes as source water in northwest Indiana, including the facility at Ogden Dunes and the larger Borman Park water treatment plant located in Gary, Ind. Indiana American Water performs continuous real -time monitoring at our Ogden Dunes treatment facility, and although we have seen

The Porter County Animal Shelter is accepting applications for the position of Animal Control Officer.  This is a full-time non-exempt (subject to compensatory time) position. Visit porterco.org for more information. 

The Porter County Animal Shelter is accepting applications for the position of Animal Control Officer.  This is a full-time non-exempt (subject to compensatory time) position. Visit porterco.org for more information. 

Valparaiso Police have charged three subjects after they led police on a chase from Valparaiso toward Chesterton on August 4th, in a stolen vehicle. Valparaiso Police were first made aware of several suspicious incidents on the north end of the city involving these subjects.  They were observed stealing from multiple vehicles and involved in stealing a second vehicle from Appletree Ln. in Valparaiso. In all, approximately $45,000 in theft has been reported to police, as well as numerous reports of these subjects entering other vehicles prior to be located by police.  Once observed, the subjects attempted to elude police, even

Valparaiso Police have charged three subjects after they led police on a chase from Valparaiso toward Chesterton on August 4th, in a stolen vehicle. Valparaiso Police were first made aware of several suspicious incidents on the north end of the city involving these subjects.  They were observed stealing from multiple vehicles and involved in stealing a second vehicle from Appletree Ln. in Valparaiso. In all, approximately $45,000 in theft has been reported to police, as well as numerous reports of these subjects entering other vehicles prior to be located by police.  Once observed, the subjects attempted to elude police, even

Join hundreds of others for the Bolt for the Heart 5K Family Run/Walk this Sunday in Washington Park. The goal of the event is to raise heart health awareness and place an automated external defibrillator (AED) in every police patrol car throughout La Porte County.Online registration has ended. Race day registration and packet pickup begins Sunday morning at 7:30 AM and ends at 8:30 AM. The run/walk will begin at 9:00 AM sharp. Visit www.boltfortheheart.com for more information. 

Join hundreds of others for the Bolt for the Heart 5K Family Run/Walk this Sunday in Washington Park. The goal of the event is to raise heart health awareness and place an automated external defibrillator (AED) in every police patrol car throughout La Porte County.Online registration has ended. Race day registration and packet pickup begins Sunday morning at 7:30 AM and ends at 8:30 AM. The run/walk will begin at 9:00 AM sharp. Visit www.boltfortheheart.com for more information. 

A public innovation educational seminar from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, at its headquarters located at 6100 Southport Road, Portage, Ind. The goal of the event is to introduce innovation concepts to organizations looking to improve. It will focus on how to get initiatives started and how to avoid common pitfalls and mistakes that impede project success. Area manufacturers, process improvement and quality leaders, and entrepreneurs are encouraged to attend. The content is suitable for those starting out, but provides advanced content as well for seasoned innovation professionals. The event is limited to 25 participants and

A public innovation educational seminar from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, at its headquarters located at 6100 Southport Road, Portage, Ind. The goal of the event is to introduce innovation concepts to organizations looking to improve. It will focus on how to get initiatives started and how to avoid common pitfalls and mistakes that impede project success. Area manufacturers, process improvement and quality leaders, and entrepreneurs are encouraged to attend. The content is suitable for those starting out, but provides advanced content as well for seasoned innovation professionals. The event is limited to 25 participants and

County Road 150 North closed between CR 250 East and CR 350 East for culvert replacement. The road will be closed to all through traffic until approximately September 24th at 5:00 pm.

County Road 150 North closed between CR 250 East and CR 350 East for culvert replacement. The road will be closed to all through traffic until approximately September 24th at 5:00 pm.

Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson is reminding eligible voters that September is National Voter Registration Month. Hoosiers who need to register should do so at www.IndianaVoters.com or on a smart phone using the Indiana Voters app.The National Association of Secretaries of State established September as National Voter Registration Month in 2002 to encourage voter participation and increase awareness of state requirements and deadlines for voting.Eligible citizens who are 18 years of age or older may sign up at their county voter registration office, online at www.IndianaVoters.com, or through the Indiana Voters app (available for Android and Apple users).The deadline to register or

Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson is reminding eligible voters that September is National Voter Registration Month. Hoosiers who need to register should do so at www.IndianaVoters.com or on a smart phone using the Indiana Voters app.The National Association of Secretaries of State established September as National Voter Registration Month in 2002 to encourage voter participation and increase awareness of state requirements and deadlines for voting.Eligible citizens who are 18 years of age or older may sign up at their county voter registration office, online at www.IndianaVoters.com, or through the Indiana Voters app (available for Android and Apple users).The deadline to register or

To accommodate passengers attending Chicago Bears regular season home football games, the South Shore plans to stop select trains at Metra’s 18th St. Station, which connects passengers directly to the Soldier Field entrance via a pedestrian walkway.In addition to regular service to nearby Museum Campus/11th St., the following trains will also serve 18th St. Station for the Bears vs. Packers game on Thursday, Sept. 5, at 7:20pm:Train #220 arrives at 18th St. at 5:27p, and Train #20 at 6:06p.Following the game, Train #123 will depart 18th St. at 11:06p, and Train #101 will depart at 12:51a. Both terminate at Carroll

To accommodate passengers attending Chicago Bears regular season home football games, the South Shore plans to stop select trains at Metra’s 18th St. Station, which connects passengers directly to the Soldier Field entrance via a pedestrian walkway.In addition to regular service to nearby Museum Campus/11th St., the following trains will also serve 18th St. Station for the Bears vs. Packers game on Thursday, Sept. 5, at 7:20pm:Train #220 arrives at 18th St. at 5:27p, and Train #20 at 6:06p.Following the game, Train #123 will depart 18th St. at 11:06p, and Train #101 will depart at 12:51a. Both terminate at Carroll

The Barker Mansion In Michigan City will be open for the First Fridays Art Walk on September 6 from 5-8 pm. Guests will be able to explore the first floor and gardens of the mansion for free. Refreshments will be served, and a short film on the history of the Barker Family will be available. Works by local artist Ron Fraser will be on display in the mansion drawing-room. Ron Fraser is a former architectural draftsman and storyboard illustrator who enjoys painting Lake Michigan and local scenes in acrylic or watercolor. Fraser will be bringing several pieces which depict Michigan

The Barker Mansion In Michigan City will be open for the First Fridays Art Walk on September 6 from 5-8 pm. Guests will be able to explore the first floor and gardens of the mansion for free. Refreshments will be served, and a short film on the history of the Barker Family will be available. Works by local artist Ron Fraser will be on display in the mansion drawing-room. Ron Fraser is a former architectural draftsman and storyboard illustrator who enjoys painting Lake Michigan and local scenes in acrylic or watercolor. Fraser will be bringing several pieces which depict Michigan

The Michigan City Department of Water will begin the semi-annual fire hydrant flushing to insure that the hydrants are in proper working order for the fall and winter months. According to the department, this should take about 8 weeks. The Department has stated that if anyone experiences any discoloration in their water, they should let the water run for a short time and the water will clear.