Local News

Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) called for a vote in Congress to approve the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) without delay. Walorski’s comments came during a Ways and Means Committee hearing at which U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer testified about the modernized trade agreement and other trade-related matters.Walorski stated, “This agreement will go a long way to drive exports for farmers and manufacturers in Indiana’s 2nd District,” Congresswoman Walorski also said. “It sets a strong standard for the great innovators that call the Hoosier state home. And it levels the playing field for workers to ensure that we don’t lose jobs

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) are inviting comments from the public on the proposed renewal and modification for Safety-Kleen Systems Inc.’s permit to treat and store used oil containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at its facility in East Chicago.Safety-Kleen collects used oil from oil change facilities, automotive shops, car dealerships, industry, and do-it-yourself oil pickup centers. Safety-Kleen does not pick up oil that is known to contain PCBs. However, PCBs are sometimes found in oil the company collects. The proposed renewal of Safety-Kleen’s PCB approval would allow the company to continue to treat

The Franciscan Health St. Clare Health Clinic’s food pantry will be able to increase its assistance to those in need for the next year, thanks to a $25,000 donation by Certified Electrician, a partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 697 and the National Electrical Contractors Association.The donation was presented to the Franciscan Health Foundation on Monday, June 17 at St. Clare Health Clinic at 1121 Indiana Ave. in Crown Point, which provides affordable healthcare services to the community, including the uninsured and underinsured. The clinic stocks a pantry with food and hygiene products for anyone in need.

Senator Mike Braun and Senator Rick Scott’s plan to prevent Congress from being paid without passing a budget was successfully added to the Government Shutdown Accountability Act by Senator Rick Scott today, clearing committee in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs meeting. Senator Braun and Senator Scott originally introduced the No Budget, No Pay Act in January: Senator Braun's first piece of legislation.

The Hebron Town Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a lease for 1.47 acres of land to the Friends of the Veterans Memorial Parkway, Inc. (FVMP) for the construction of a memorial to Northwest Indiana military veterans who served and those who lost their lives in conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. The site is located on the old Pennsylvania Railroad right-of-way, on property owned by the town. The 1.47-acres linear parcel is bounded by U.S. 231 on the south and Wilson Street on the north. The FVMP has successfully developed a memorial site on U.S. 231 just

Porter County Sheriff’s Chaplain Jay Birky, was selected as the 2019 National Chaplain of the Year by the National Sheriffs' Association. This award recognizes a chaplain who has made outstanding contributions to law enforcement and his/her agency or who had demonstrated conspicuous excellence in the performance of his/her duties.

Ruiz Foods Products Inc., is recalling approximately 246,514 pounds of frozen, not ready-to-eat (NRTE) breakfast wrap products containing bacon that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically small rocks, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced yesterday.The frozen egg, potato, bacon and cheese wrap items were produced on Jan. 17, 2019 and Jan. 18, 2019. The following product is subject to recall: [View Labels (PDF only)]8-Pack family size film packages containing “EL MONTEREY EGG, POTATO, BACON & CHEESE SAUCE BREAKFAST WRAPS” with “Best if Used By” dates of 01/17/2020 and 01/18/2020 and lot codes 19017

The Valparaiso Police Department have added four new officers with the swearing-in of Jonathan Hand, Ryan Helmecy, Clayton Poore, and Logan Redmon.  City Administrator, Bill Oeding, performed the ceremony on Monday at the Valparaiso Police Department, with Chief Balon, numerous officers, family, and friends in attendance.Jonathan is a 2008 graduate of Kouts High School and has studied Criminal Justice at Vincennes University and Ivy Tech College .  Prior to his swearing-in, Jonathan had been working with the Porter County Sheriff’s Department as a Jailer since 2017.Ryan is a 2015 Portage High School graduate. Ryan has served with the Kodiak Area

Secretary of State Connie Lawson announced that 13 percent of eligible Hoosiers voted in the May 7th municipal primary election. Not all Hoosier voters were eligible to vote in the municipal elections. Only voters who live in a city or town with an election this year or in a school corporation conducting a construction or tax levy referendum were eligible to vote.The report was compiled by the Indiana Election Division from voter data gathered in 69 of Indiana’s 92 counties. There were 23 counties in Indiana this year that did not have a primary election.Voter registration is now open for

In Starke County, a resurfacing project began Tuesday on U.S. 35 in Starke County.The road will be resurfaced between U.S. 30 and the Knox city limits, with work wrapping up by mid-August. During construction, flaggers will direct one lane of traffic around where work is taking place.

A bridge deck overlay project has started on U.S. 41 (Indianapolis Boulevard) in Schererville, over the Wisconsin Central Railroad - about 1.2 miles north of U.S. 30. Traffic will flow one lane in each direction during the project, which should wrap up by mid-August.

On June 8th, the Criminal Investigations Division of the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office began conducting an investigation into the death of 15 year old Michael Kiger. The previous evening, Michael was involved in a disturbance with his biological brother, 21 Tyler M. Kiger, at a residence in the 2800 west block of CR 450 North. Michael was found unresponsive the morning of June 8th at a residence in La Porte.As a result of information learned during the investigation, Detective Sergeant Adam Hannon testified in La Porte County Circuit Court at a probable cause hearing. Probable Cause was found and

On Father's Day Sunday, just before midnight, Porter County Sheriff's Police, Lt. Edwards was on patrol in the area of US Highway 20 and Brummitt Road. He observed a van traveling eastbound on US Highway 20 traveling at a high rate of speed which was confirmed with his radar unit, 92 MPH in the 55 MPH marked speed zone.Edwards then turned around to catch up to the vehicle, at which point it briefly entered a parking lot, at 375 E US Highway 20. The vehicle then exited the lot and took off at a high rate of speed again. Edwards

The Michigan City Area Schools Board of Trustees held a special meeting on June 12 to approve several administrative appointments for the coming school year. Kevin Goralczyk will serve as the Principal of Michigan City High School. Since 2014, Goralczyk has served as the principal of Our Lady of Hungary School in South Bend. From 2011-2014, he served as Assistant Principal, Associate Principal, and Interim Principal of Michigan City High School. Julie Friegan is the new Associate Principal of Michigan City High School. Since 2015, Friegan has been the principal of Whiting High School. Prior to her time as Whiting

PNW’s Leadership Northwest Indiana (LNI), with a 30-year regional history and 1,200 successful program graduates across the Region, recently awarded leadership certificates to 20 graduating participants. Participants spent 12 months learning about leadership, enhancing their soft and hard skills, and learning more about our region, its history and challenges.Student Youth Leadership Community Engagement (SLYCE), with a 7-year regional history and over 500 successful graduates awarded leadership certificates to 30 high school students from more than 15 regional high schools.  The students were challenged with learning about leadership and then using project-based learning to further develop their leadership skills.The nomination process

Governor Eric Holcomb will chair a joint public meeting of the board of directors of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) and the Indiana Economic Development Foundation Inc. at 12:15 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, June 19, at Urschel Laboratories Inc. in Chesterton.The entrepreneurship, audit and finance, and business development committees of the board of directors of the IEDC will also hold public meetings on Wednesday at Urschel Laboratories.9:15 a.m. CDT – Business development committee meeting9:45 a.m. CDT – Entrepreneurship committee meeting10:15 a.m. CDT – Audit and finance committee meetingPrior, the entrepreneurship and business development committees will hold executive sessions at

The National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) and the Girl Scouts of America (GSUSA) will partner for the inaugural Girl Scouts Love State Parks weekend on July 13 and 14.The weekend is designed to help thousands of girls across the United States explore nature, find adventure and learn what Girl Scouts is all about. Indiana State Parks will offer many options across the state to participate.GSUSA is committed to developing a passion for outdoor adventure, healthy risk-taking, education and environmental conservation. During this weekend, they will host a variety of events at different state parks nationwide, where girls will

The Lake County Judicial Nominating Commission is beginning the process of selecting a new Superior Court judge. A vacancy on the Lake Superior Court will occur on July 1st. Judge John R. Pera will retire from Superior Court, Civil Division, Room Six.Indiana Supreme Court Justice Geoffrey Slaughter, who chairs the Commission, announced applications for the position are now available online at courts.in.gov/5521.htm and must be submitted through the Indiana Courts Portal by Monday, July 22 at noon CDT. The list of applicants will be made available after the deadline.The Commission was established by the Indiana General Assembly in 1973. According

Help promote the beauty of Indiana’s State Parks for a chance to win an RV rental as part of a national photo contest through America’s State Parks. The RV rental, is part of $2,500 package that is the overall grand prize. Winners in five categories will receive a $500 REI gift card as well as a camping pillow. The categories are: activities, friends and family, camping, wildlife, and scenic and seasons. Entries will be accepted through June 30 at americasstateparksphotocontest.reserveamerica.com. Winners will be announced in September. America’s State Parks is an advocacy group to promote and advance state parks systems in

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently announced a request for information from the public on blocked railroad crossings.  U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind) and Mike Braun (R-Ind) and Congressman Pete Visclosky (D-Ind-1) are urging Hoosiers to provide input to the FRA.On June 14th, the FRA issued a federal register notice in order to obtain information regarding the frequency, location, and impacts of highway-rail grade crossings blocked by slow-moving or idling trains.  The solicitation notes the potential safety concerns with crossings that are blocked by trains, including that emergency response vehicles may be significantly delayed from responding to an incident or