Local News

Radon, a radioactive gas that occurs naturally in most soil, is the second-leading cause of lung cancer among smokers and the number-one cause among non-smokers. It is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths in the U.S. each year, according to EPA estimates. January is National Radon Action Month, and the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) is urging homeowners to test their homes for radon because this tasteless, colorless and odorless gas can build up in homes without residents’ knowledge. Indiana residents can purchase a short-term test kit for as little as $15 from the American Lung Association

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) announced additional recipients of K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Acceleration Grants. Due to the availability of additional funding, IDOE opened a second round of awards for the 2019-2020 school year. For the second round, a total of 24 school districts received Indiana’s STEM Acceleration Grant. Locally LaPorte Community School Corporation is receiving $52,745. South Central Community School Corporation is receiving $40,000 and School City of Hammond is receiving $70,000. To view of list of additional 2019 STEM Acceleration Grant Recipients, please visit: www.doe.in.gov/sites/default/files/news/2019-stem-acceleration-grant-recipients-second-round.pdf.

Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson, ahead of the 2020 primaries and general election, is joining fellow members of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) in the #TrustedInfo2020 education effort to encourage citizens to look to their state and local election officials as the trusted sources of election information. The nation's Secretaries of State, 40 of whom serve as their state’s chief election official, along with other state and local election officials are continuously working to inform Americans about the elections process, including voter registration, state election laws, polling place locations, voting and much more. Secretary Lawson’s office

More details have been provided on the crash that occurred on State Road 2 in eastern LaPorte County on Tuesday. Deputies Corey Chavez and Josh Smith were providing traffic control on State Road 2 at CR 600 East. Deputy Smith was blocking the eastbound lanes and Deputy Chavez was blocking the westbound lanes. The deputies had traffic stopped in both directions on SR 2 while a tower of an irrigation system was being moved from one location to another. A semi-tractor trailer traveling eastbound on SR 2 drove around the stopped traffic and into a turn lane. The semi-tractor narrowly

SNOW REMOVAL CONDITIONS Without jinxing anything, we have been very fortunate with the snow conditions this winter. However, Mayor Parry would like to remind the citizens of Michigan City about our city ordinances regarding snow removal and parking restrictions.  When winter weather arrives, it is important to understand and follow snow removal guidelines for everyone’s safety.  Below are explanations of terms you may hear this winter season.  A “snow removal condition” is a formal declaration made by Mayor Parry, department head for the street department, or the Mayor’s designee.  A snow removal condition is made when actual or expected precipitation

The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office reported that yesterday both westbound lanes of SR 2 at CR 600 East closed for for over an hour due to  a property damage crash investigation. There were no injuries. 

Recently Attorney General Curtis Hill said in an advisory opinion that The Indiana State Egg Board has no authority to regulate as retailers third-party websites that facilitate transactions between buyers and sellers of eggs. Attorney General Hill issued the opinion following an inquiry from the Indiana State Egg Board regarding an online business called Market Wagon that enables customers to connect with local agricultural producers.Although Market Wagon maintains physical warehouses, all transactions for eggs between vendors and customers occur online, and Market Wagon itself never assumes ownership of the eggs. After a vendor fulfills the customer’s order, the vendor brings

Candidates seeking public office this year may begin filing their declarations of candidacy for the 2020 Primary Election today. Candidates for federal or state office will file with the Secretary of State or Indiana Election Division. Local candidates will file with the county election board. Filing will remain open until 12:00pm local time on Friday, February 7th.A candidate seeking nomination by a major political party may file, as well as independent or minor party candidates and state convention delegates. Candidates for President or Governor may begin filing petitions of nomination with county voter registration offices for verification of petition signatures.(More

On Monday January 6th, 2020; MCPD sworn in eight (8) Probationary Officers at a ceremony at the City Hall Council Chambers.  These Probationary Officers had undergone an extensive hiring process which began with over 30 potential candidates who completed applications and began the hiring process.  These 8 Probationary Officers will endure 6 weeks of in-house training with the Division of Professional Standards.  Upon completion of this training, they will begin the Field Training Officer Program where they will be working within the community with their respective training officers until spaces are available for them to attend the Indiana Law Enforcement

U-Haul says Indiana is a growth state for the third consecutive year, climbing to the #9 spot in the U.S. U-Haul bases its conclusion on one-way rentals leaving the state, compared to those entering the state, by analyzing 2 million one-way U-Haul truck transactions. The company says Indiana climbed 17 spots from its 2018 ranking. It says there was a larger portion of arrivals in Indiana than departures. Neighboring Illinois leads the nation in out-migration with the largest net losses of moving trucks crossing state borders. It’s followed by California and Michigan. To view the complete list, visit: https://myuhaulstory.com/2020/01/06/uhaul-names-top-growth-states-2019-florida-new-1/

.LAKESHORE FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON CST WEDNESDAY... The National Weather Service in Northern Indiana has issued a Lakeshore Flood Advisory, which is in effect from 6 PM this evening to noon CST Wednesday. * LAKE SHORE FLOODING...West to northwest winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 35 mph tonight will diminish to 15 to 25 mph by Wednesday morning. Waves of 6 to 12 feet, occasionally to 15 feet, are expected tonight into Wednesday. Waves subside to 3 to 6 feet by midday Wednesday. TuesdayA chance of sprinkles and flurries before

To help keep passengers as safe as possible, the South Shore Line encourages and depends on riders to send reports any time you see a potential issue with service, maintenance or safety. The new South Shore See Say App will make this easier than ever.Using the app:-Select a report type and the location and then give a brief description – you can even include an image.-Once you submit your report, your information will be passed on to the appropriate party immediately.-In case of emergency, a “Call 911” feature is included. In addition, the new app features include service alert notifications,

La Porte County Sheriff John T. Boyd announced that the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association will again be awarding college scholarships to qualified high school seniors or college students who are pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies.  There will be approximately 40 - $750 scholarships awarded to qualifying students throughout the state.The Indiana Sheriffs’ Association Scholarship Fund was established for the purpose of receiving, investing and dispensing of funds to provide college scholarships to qualified students who are committed to pursuing an education and career in the law enforcement field.To qualify for one of these scholarships, the applicant must be an

The Valparaiso Police are currently investigating an armed robbery at 7-Eleven, located at 708 Lincolnway.  The incident occurred at about 9:30 pm Sunday. It has been reported that a white male with a beard, wearing a tan Texas Longhorns hat, a dark colored long sleeve shirt, and jeans, entered the store, approached the clerk while brandishing a black semi-automatic pistol and requested money.  The male soon exited the store and fled east toward Garfield Ave. Images of the suspect are on the Valparaiso Police Facebook page. If you have any information regarding this incident or the suspect, please contact the

The Michigan City Chamber of Commerce is happy to announce newly elected directors and officers to the board for 2020.  During the December Board of Directors meeting, the following directors and officers were unanimously approved.  Approved for her first three-year term is Julie Krause with Patrick’s Grille and appointed to fill a vacant term through 2021 is Scott Newcomb with Sullivan-Palatek.  Elected officers for 2020 are John Wall with Walsh & Kelly as Chair, Bill Gertner with Horizon Bank as Vice-Chair, Brenda Temple with Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa as Treasurer, and Jill Nygren with Franciscan Health Michigan City

The Healthcare Foundation of La Porte (HFL) recently presented Ed Merrion of the Public Action Delivering Shelter (PADS) with a $100,000 check for meeting their fundraising goal and meeting the eligibility requirements of the brand new HFL Challenge Grant. PADS has been raising the $300,000 needed to renovate the former Sacred Heart Church into a facility to serve the homeless by providing shelter, food and a network to help people get back on their feet. Without the Sacred Heart renovation, PADS would have had to continue offering overnight services through churches in the area, which means moving church to church

La Porte and Starke Hospitals have announced their 2019 selections for Colleagues of the Year, honoring individuals who were nominated both by patients and their peers for providing excellent, compassionate care and service to the community. CHECK OUT WIMS FACEBOOM page for the full release and picture. The winners are as follows: Lisa Sites, Financial Counselor – Colleague of the Year, Starke Hospital. Sites has worked in a variety of positions during her 25 years with the hospital and has excelled at all of them. Described as being a wealth of knowledge and a valuable source of help to her

On Friday, January 3rd, 2020, at approximately 10:00 AM, Deputies from the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the 4300 south block of CR 800 East in rural Lincoln Township, reference to a possible body in the water.Upon Deputies arrival, they were able to confirm that an unknown black male was deceased and contacted the Detective Bureau.An autopsy is scheduled for Monday, January 6th at Franciscan Hospital Michigan City.The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the La Porte County Coroner’s Office.Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Gabe

Franciscan Health hosts blood drives in January, February Franciscan Health will host Versiti Blood Center of Illinois blood drives at its Hammond, Dyer, Munster and Crown Point hospitals during the months of January and February. ·        Noon to 4 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 7 at Franciscan Health Hammond, 5454 Hohman Ave., in the outpatient surgery conference room on the fourth floor ·        Noon to 4 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 9 at Franciscan Health Dyer, 24 Joliet St., in the Medical Pavilion North, fourth floor classroom ·        Noon to 4 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 6 at Franciscan Health Munster, 701 Superior Ave., in the St. Claire Conference

The Kankakee River Basin and Yellow River Basin Development Commission will host a public information meeting in LaCrosse after its regularly scheduled meeting on January 16th from 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. CST at The Center of LaCrosse, 100 South Washington Street. Executive Director Scott Pelath will make a presentation regarding the current condition of the Kankakee and Yellow Rivers and the Commission’s forty-year work plan to address mounting water resource challenges in Northwest Indiana. Following the presentation, members of the public will be encouraged to ask questions and make suggestions regarding the future of both Indiana rivers. Any questions