Local News

News Release by Indiana Family and Social Services Administration: INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) Thursday announced findings from comprehensive audits of five Home- and Community-Based Services Attendant Care (ATTC) providers. The audits identified $198,031,230.18 in extrapolated improper payments (including interest) and systemic compliance failures across the review period of January 1, 2022 through March 31, 2025.  The audits were initiated after ATTC program expenditures increased by more than $150 million between 2021 and 2022 — a spike not supported by changes in member need or program structure. Using Statistically Valid Random Sampling (SVRS) aligned with

On Thursday, April 23rd, Natalee Stewart pled Guilty for stealing over 90,000 dollars from American Legion Post #451 in Michigan City. Ms. Stewart pled Guilty as part of a plea agreement, in which she agreed to immediately pay over 30,000 dollars to the Post, and will make monthly payments on the remaining over 60,000 dollars. If Ms. Stewart does not pay the remaining funds, she will serve the suspended portion of her sentence. Prosecuting Attorney Sean Fagan said: “Stealing money from the Post, veterans, and its Membership is a horrible crime. My Office worked with Post Leadership to arrive at

Today Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Chance of precipitation is 70%.   Tonight A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.   Saturday A chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.

Officers from the Michigan City Police Department saved a juvenile from jumping off a bridge, according to a press release from MCPD. On April 4 at just after 6:20 a.m., the LaPorte County Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call regarding an unknown problem on the East U.S. Highway 12 bridge that crosses Trail Creek. Numerous officers arrived and located a juvenile standing alone along the edge of the bridge while experiencing a mental health crisis. Officers spoke to the juvenile and offered assistance for several minutes. Acting with urgency, care, and professionalism, officers were able to safely secure the

Press Release, Indiana Department of Environmental Management: INDIANAPOLIS –  The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is encouraging eligible Hoosiers to apply for free well water testing through the 2026 Groundwater Monitoring Network (GWMN). Although private well water is unregulated by both the IDEM and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,  IDEM's Office of Water Quality Drinking Water Branch periodically collects water samples from qualified private residential drinking water wells to characterize groundwater conditions, track environmental changes, and identify areas that may be influenced by natural geology or human activity. "By taking part in this program, homeowners gain valuable insight into

News Release, Purdue University Northwest: HAMMOND, Ind. – The Leadership Institute at Purdue Northwest proudly announces the graduates of the 2025-26 Leadership Northwest Indiana (LNI) program. This premium leadership program, facilitated by a team that includes professors from the PNW College of Business and leadership practitioners, met once a month for eight months. A 360 leadership assessment and custom coaching are program highlights. The facilitation team provides research-based leadership content and skill-building for effective leadership in the workplace and in life. The LNI 50th cohort constituted the largest program cohort to date with 41 graduating participants. On April 10, the

Press Release by Indiana Department of Environmental Management: INDIANAPOLIS –  For the first time in over a decade, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management is publishing a public facing annual report, highlighting environmental progress made throughout the state. Coinciding with Earth Day, the 2025 Annual Report outlines achievements in air, land, water and key performance indicators that reflect the agency’s commitment to safeguarding Indiana’s environment. “Often, we lose sight of the tangible environmental gains Indiana achieves every day,” said Gov. Mike Braun. “This report provides a clear, accessible look at where we’ve made progress and how far we’ve come. Indiana

Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.   Tonight A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Chance of precipitation is 40%.   Friday Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Chance of precipitation is 70%.   Friday Night A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.   Saturday A chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. — Community leaders, residents, nonprofit organizations, and elected officials gathered on Friday, April 17, at the Stardust Event Center at Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa for Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch’s Third Annual Charitable Gala. Centered on this year’s theme, “Empowering Communities,” the evening highlighted the power of partnership and reinforced a shared commitment to meeting the evolving needs of Michigan City. The gala continues to serve as a cornerstone initiative supporting programs that strengthen neighborhoods, expand opportunities for youth, and respond to critical community needs as they arise. “Tonight is more than a celebration – it

The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce the 2026-2027 concert season, which will mark the ensemble's 54th season and the sixth season under the direction of Dr. Carolyn Watson. Highlights of the season include Rimsky-Korsakov’s dazzling symphonic suite Scheherazade, a Family Concert in collaboration with Classical Kids Music Education, a program commemorating the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death, and special guests for the Spring Pops concert: world-renowned ARRIVAL FROM SWEDEN: The Music of ABBA. The season begins on September 12, 2026, with the Grand Finale Hoosier Star vocal competition and fundraiser, sponsored by Horizon Bank and Northwest

News Release, Liberty Township Volunteer Fire Department: Liberty Township – The Liberty Township Volunteer Fire Department is proud to support the “A Hustle Worth Having” campaign launched by the International Association of Fire Chief’s (IAFC), a national effort to recruit the next generation of volunteer firefighters. Volunteer firefighters are essential to communities across the country, including Liberty Township, where dedicated members of the department serve their neighbors in times of emergency. As call volumes continue to rise nationwide, the need for committed volunteers has never been greater. The IAFC’s campaign highlights the meaningful impact of volunteer service, emphasizing that becoming

HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Purdue University Northwest (PNW) has announced the finalists for the 2026 PNW Big Sell pitch competition, an annual event that brings together student and community entrepreneurs to present innovative ideas addressing real-world challenges. The event will begin at 1 p.m. on May 2 at PNW’s Commercialization and Manufacturing Excellence Center, 7150 Indianapolis Blvd., Hammond, Ind. Finalists will compete for first through third place seed funding prizes of $10,000, $3,000 and $1,000, respectively. Following a review of video submissions, organizers selected 10 finalists representing a range of industries and backgrounds, including health technology, sustainability, consumer products

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) plans to stock nearly 52,000 trout this spring in anticipation of this year’s trout fishing season. Trout will be stocked in 37 bodies of water across 22 Indiana counties. Indiana DNR will stock streams with 20,850 rainbow trout in the weeks leading up to April 25, which is opening day of trout season for inland streams. In addition to the rainbow trout stockings, several bodies of water in the north and one southern stream are getting additional brown trout stockings. More than 11,000 brown trout should be stocked in early May. The stocked

Sad News in the Music World-Dave Mason has passed-News From the Dave Mason FACEBOOK page An awesome Career which spanned Traffic and Solo music as well as work with Derek and the Dominos, Fleetwood Mac and others. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and fans. Thank you for the awesome music. It is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Dave Mason. On Sunday, April 19, after cooking an amazing dinner with his beloved wife Winifred, he sat down to take a nap with sweet Star (the maltese) at

Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.   Toight Mostly clear, with a low around 53.   Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.   Thursday Night A chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.   Friday Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72.

The Indiana State Police held their annual awards and recognition ceremony in Indianapolis Tuesday. The ceremony publicly recognized the achievements and accomplishments that too often go unrecognized. Troopers were honored for their dedication, service, bravery, and devotion to the department and the citizens of Indiana. Indiana State Police Trooper Dawson Patrick, who is assigned to the Lowell Post, has been awarded the Bronze Star for his courageous actions during a serious crash on September 18, 2025, in Starke County. While off duty, Trooper Patrick responded to the scene of a vehicle crash and found a woman trapped inside a Volkswagen

Last Thursday, Pine Elementary completed their final drill to become the first Project ADAM-certified elementary school in the district. “Thank you to all who helped Pine Elementary achieve our Project ADAM certification, a national certification awarded to schools that demonstrate comprehensive preparedness for cardiac emergencies,” Pine said on Facebook. “This work has a direct impact on both staff and students, creating a safer environment and reinforcing confidence in our ability to respond effectively in an emergency. We appreciate the dedication and attention to detail that went into meeting these requirements and supporting this important effort.”  

Chesterton, IN — The Duneland Exchange Club is proud to share the results of its 34th Annual Youth Talent Show, held last weekend. The event brought together talented students from across the Duneland community for an evening of entertainment, creativity, and celebration. All contestants who participated in this year’s show are recognized below: Primary Division: Gabriella Vales, Levi Holmes, Leah Craycraft, Maylee Harris, Ian Acevedo, and Andrei Nikokiris Junior Division: James Lynch, Maddie Dietrich, Zachery Alvarez, Becca Coberg, Isabelle Fields, Autumn Wall, Lacey Colella, Arya Ford, Taylor Blon, Nory Prow, and Lexi Colella Senior Division: Bella Purser, Sophia Sylvester, Te’Ari

News Release, Purdue University Northwest: HAMMOND, Ind. — The Steel Manufacturing Simulation and Visualization Consortium (SMSVC), an initiative spearheaded by Purdue University Northwest’s (PNW) Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation (CIVS), is celebrating a decade of transformational innovation that advances efficiencies for partnering steel manufacturing and energy production companies. This industrial application-driven consortium’s mission centers on using state-of-the-art simulation, visualization, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to address challenges and growth for advanced manufacturing and ensure competitive advantages for the steel industry. The consortium currently includes 16 member companies from across the nation representing steel producers and suppliers. “Over the

Indianapolis - The Indiana State Police held their annual awards and recognition ceremony in Indianapolis this morning. The ceremony publicly recognized the achievements and accomplishments that too often go unrecognized. Troopers were honored for their dedication, service, bravery, and devotion to the department and the citizens of Indiana. Trooper Spencer Hathaway of the Lowell Post, was awarded a Lifesaving Award for his actions in LaPorte County last year. His quick actions helped save the life of a suicidal subject during a seven‑and‑a‑half‑hour standoff at the Michigan City Meijer on April 12, 2025. Indiana State Police troopers assisted Michigan City officers after