Local News

Air Quality Action Days are common in Indiana this time of year, and new research suggests they should not be disregarded. According to the largest-ever global study of its kind, air pollution can increase the risk of early death from cardiovascular and respiratory disease even at low levels of exposure. Jesse Kharbanda with the Hoosier Environmental Council says the findings confirm the need to continue to pursue policies that will improve air quality. The study published in the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that levels of particulate matter below the current air-quality guidelines and standards are still hazardous to

Portage Police Department’s K9 Nakir will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Nakir’s vest is sponsored by Officer Collin Rose Memorial Foundation and will be embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of Officer Collin Rose EOW 11/23/2016”. Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks.The donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $950.00. Each vest has a value between $1,744 – $2,283 and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There is an estimated 30,000 law enforcement

The regular monthly meeting of the Michigan City Human Rights Commission will be held on Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at 4:30p.m. In the West Conference Room, City Hall, 100 E. Michigan Boulevard. This meeting is open to the public.

Last week the LaPorte County Sheriff's Office K-9 Division participated in the 20th Annual Seminar & Certification Trials (“K9 Olympics”) in Denver, Indiana.Deputy Jon Samuelson and his K-9 partner Bosco placed 3rd in the control competition.Deputy Bobby Greer and his K-9 partner Argo placed 1st in the explosive vehicle interior competition. The pair also placed in the top 5 for the “hard dog – fast dog” competition.All four LCSO K-9’s successfully passed their recertifications during the event.

On Saturday, at around 8:40 AM, deputies were providing traffic control at various locations throughout rural Center Township for the Tour de La Porte running events.  At the intersection of Small Road and CR 500 West, Sergeants Jon Burger and L. Scott Boswell were present. As a van traveling northbound on CR 500 West passed them, they each detected an odor commonly associated with that of illegal drug use emitting from the interior of the vehicle.  Detective Jim Fish, who was positioned at the intersection of CR 150 North and CR 500 West, was alerted about the approaching vehicle. Detective

Join Purdue University Northwest faculty members for an evening of stargazing and planet-viewing. Gabis Arboretum Stargazing will have stargazing on the following Wednesdays:September 4, October 2 & November 20 from 7 – 8 p.m. Registration is encouraged and these events are free. Visit pnw.edu/gabisarboretum for a list of all fall programs and events. 

On Monday, Attorney General Curtis Hill urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to encourage telecom companies to implement call blocking and call authentication solutions that would protect consumers from illegal robocalls and spoofing. Yesterday’s comment letter to the FCC comes after Attorney General Hill last week led a coalition of 51 attorneys general and 12 phone companies in unveiling the Anti-Robocall Principles to fight illegal robocalls.In comments to the FCC, the coalition of attorneys general states that telecom providers should:Offer free, automatic call-blocking services to all customers. The call-block services should be based on reasonable analytics and should not block

Blood and platelet transfusions can enable patients to receive critical treatments needed to fight and survive cancer.Platelet donors and blood donors of all blood types are urgently needed to replenish the blood supply following a summer blood shortage. As a thank-you, those who come to give Aug. 30-Sept. 3 will receive a unique Red Cross canvas tote bag, while supplies last. Make an appointment to donate by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Blood drives are also essential in helping ensure blood

The DNR Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology invites you to celebrate Indiana’s past while looking to the future during Indiana Archaeology Month, which begins Sept. 1.This year is the 24th anniversary of a statewide celebration of archaeology in Indiana. The event started as Indiana Archaeology Week in 1996 and was expanded to a month in 2002.During archaeology month, people can meet archaeologists and learn about Indiana’s fascinating past. A variety of events for all ages will be held by universities, museums, organizations, and individuals throughout Indiana. A schedule and additional information can be found at dnr.IN.gov/historic/3674.htm.September is Childhood Cancer

On Saturday, at around 8:40 AM, deputies were providing traffic control at various locations throughout rural Center Township for the Tour de La Porte running events. At the intersection of Small Road and CR 500 West, Sergeants Jon Burger and L. Scott Boswell were present. As a van traveling northbound on CR 500 West passed them, they each detected an odor commonly associated with that of illegal drug use emitting from the interior of the vehicle. Detective Jim Fish, who was positioned at the intersection of CR 150 North and CR 500 West, was alerted about the approaching vehicle. Detective

To accommodate passengers attending the Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans preseason home game at 7p Thursday, Aug. 29, the South Shore Line will be stopping at Metra’s 18th Street Station, which connects passengers directly to the Soldier Field entrance via a pedestrian walkway. 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 Ave., Michigan City.

Join Purdue University Northwest faculty members for an evening of stargazing and planet-viewing. Gabis Arboretum Stargazing will have stargazing on the following Wednesdays: September 4, October 2 & November 20 from 7 – 8 p.m. Registration is encouraged and these events are free. Visit pnw.edu/gabisarboretum for a list of all fall programs and events.

Super Siblings Class:This class, for children ages 3 to 7 and their parents, helps brothers and sisters adjust to a new baby in the house. The Super Siblings class is a one-session class that helps prepare children for the new baby and teaches positive sibling skills. The class is one Saturday every other month from 2 – 4 p.m., in the La Porte Hospital Childbirth Education and Prenatal Classroom, 1007 Lincolnway, La Porte. The Next class is Oct. 5. The class is free, but pre-registration is required. Register by visiting laportehealth.com/childbirth.Newborn & Infant Care Class:In this class where expecting moms,

To accommodate passengers attending Chicago Bears preseason home football games, the South Shore Line is planning select train stops at Metra’s 18th Street 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 preseason games: For the home game at 7pm Thursday, Aug. 29: Train #220 arrives at 18th St. at 5:27p, and Train #20 at 6:06p. Following the game, Train #123 will depart 18th Street at 11:06p, and Train #101 will depart at 12:51a. Both

The YMCA of La Porte’s Adult Coed Volleyball League is held at the La Porte branch and begins Sept. 4. For questions contact Cole Nowicki at cnowicki@lpymca.org or call 219.325.9622.Valpo Traffic Pattern Update at Silhavy/Laporte IntersectionThe City of Valparaiso has announced the intersection of Silhavy and LaPorte will be closed through 11:00 p.m. on the 28th. The updated traffic patterns will include the altered timing of traffic lights in the area to minimize delay, and area businesses will remain open. Detour signage will be posted.

Asphalt crews will be working on State Road 2 and U.S. 41 in Lake and Newton counties starting today. SR 2 work will go from U.S. 41 to the Illinois state line, with flaggers directing one lane of traffic around where work is taking place. U.S. 41 work will go from SR 2 to SR 10 with one lane of traffic flowing in each direction. All work will be during daylight hours only with lane closures lifted when crews are done for the day. The project is anticipated to wrap up by the end of the week.

Governor Eric J. Holcomb will lead economic development trips to Asia in the coming months to support the state of Indiana’s increasingly global economy, strengthening partnerships and creating connections across business, culture, education, government and even sports. Gov. Holcomb and Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger will lead business delegations to Japan, the Republic of Korea, China and India. Highlights include meeting with representatives of Indiana’s largest foreign direct investor in Japan, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Indiana-Tochigi Prefecture sister state, traveling to Indiana’s sister state in Zhejiang Province, and joining the Indiana Pacers in Mumbai for the National

The “dogbone” interchange project at State Road 2 and U.S. 20 in LaPorte County will have a series of 20-minute road closures Tuesday, Aug. 27, as crews set beams on the newly-constructed bridge. Closures will begin around 7 a.m., with four closures each in the westbound and eastbound lanes. Crews will begin in the eastbound lane before switching over to the westbound lane. Work is expected to be completed sometime Tuesday afternoon. Traffic queues will be allowed to clear the construction zone in between closures, but the best way to avoid delays is to avoid the area.

Friday morning Indiana American Water placed its Ogden Dunes treatment facility back in service after water sample results confirmed no impacts to its Lake Michigan source water from recent chemical releases from two area steel mills. The company shut down the facility last Tuesday as a precautionary measure after officials from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management alerted them of a chemical release at the U.S. Steel facility in Portage, Ind. The company used water from the Borman Park water treatment facility in Gary, Ind. to serve its Lake and Porter county customers during the Ogden Dunes shutdown.

Super Siblings Class: This class, for children ages 3 to 7 and their parents, helps brothers and sisters adjust to a new baby in the house. The Super Siblings class is a one-session class that helps prepare children for the new baby and teaches positive sibling skills. The class is one Saturday every other month from 2 – 4 p.m., in the La Porte Hospital Childbirth Education and Prenatal Classroom, 1007 Lincolnway, La Porte. The Next class is Oct. 5. The class is free, but pre-registration is required. Register by visiting laportehealth.com/childbirth. Newborn & Infant Care Class: In this class