Local News

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and National Security Agency (NSA) granted for a second time the National Center for Academic Excellence for Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE 4Y) designation to Purdue University Northwest (PNW) through its College of Technology.Purdue Northwest is one of only two Indiana institutions to receive the CAE-CDE 4Y designation, which runs through 2024, and the only one within the Purdue system.In a letter announcing the award, NSA National CAE Program Manager Karen Leuschner said Purdue Northwest’s ability to educate a highly skilled cybersecurity workforce is a strategic national security advantage. The designation was granted based

Governor Eric J. Holcomb, joined by Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, House Speaker Brian Bosma, Senate President Pro Tem Rod Bray and other lawmakers, today signed into law a balanced budget with historic education funding.The two-year state budget provides $763 million in new money for K-12 including paying down a $150 million schools pension liability that will free up funds that can go into teacher paychecks.The 2019 General Assembly helped advance Gov. Holcomb’s Next Level legislative agenda as outlined in December, including:Economy Approved 8th straight balanced budget and maintained at least 11 percent in reservesModernized economic development tools to increase competitiveness, economic

Secretary of State Connie Lawson is pleased to announced that Senate Enrolled Act 570, which contains important updates to election and cyber security, passed the General Assembly and was signed by Governor Holcomb on Wednesday, April 24th.SEA 570 addresses a number of critical cybersecurity safeguards for voters and voting systems, including the following:         Requires the Secretary of State to adopt standards for county election worker training        Increases security for delivery of voting systems and electronic poll books        Requires that voting equipment be stored in a secure facility        Prohibits non-election software from being installed on poll equipment        Authorizes counties to use voting systems with a

Spring Clean-Up is for City of La Porte residential customers only and will be May 13 through May 17, on your regularly scheduled trash pick-up day. Collection will not include commercial or apartment buildings.All residents must have their garbage out for collection no later than 6:00 a.m. on their regular garbage collection day.Items Not Accepted: auto parts, engines, tires, batteries, lumber, chemicals, paint, flammables, siding, plaster, drywall, fencing, concrete, building materials, appliances, electronics

State Rep. Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie) recently met with local students who served as pages at the Statehouse.As House pages, students toured the Statehouse, helped staff with daily tasks and met with Pressel to learn more about the legislative process:The students were from Marquette High School, South Central High School, LaCrosse High School, Boston Middle School, New Prairie Middle School, and a homeschooled student.Students between the ages of 13 to 18 who are interested in paging next legislative session can learn more at www.indianahouserepublicans.com/pageprogram. Participants receive an excused absence from school and groups can request to page together.

Every day is a great day to go to Indiana state park properties, but there will be a special incentive to travel to them during Visit Indiana week, which is May 5-11. The event is put on by the Indiana Office of Tourism Development and encourages people to get out to see what the Hoosier state has to offer. State parks will participate in Visit Indiana week by offering promotions and posting stories about different properties on social media. From tasty treats to reminders of Indiana’s past to beautiful scenery, there will be a reason to take part in this

The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office is now accepting applications for the position of Merit Deputy.  Applicants who successfully complete and pass the various stages of the hiring process will be ranked on a list for any future vacancies that may arise within the Merit Division of the Sheriff’s Office.  The hiring process will include the following stages: application phase, physical agility testing, written examination, computerized voice stress analysis examination, background investigation, Merit Division interview panel and a Merit Commission interview.     Applications can be found online by accessing the Sheriff’s Office website: www.laportecountysheriff.com or by picking them up at the front desk

There’s no way to predict when or where an accident will happen. That’s why the American Red Cross needs donors to give blood during Trauma Awareness Month this May and throughout the year to help ensure that trauma centers are prepared the moment an injured patient arrives. Donors of all blood types are urged to give now to help meet the needs of trauma patients and others with serious medical conditions. Make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). In thanks, all those who come to

Currently, more than 113,000 people nationwide and 1,300 people in Indiana are awaiting life-changing organ and tissue transplants. April’s Donate Life Month is a special time to honor those donors and their families that said yes to donation.Franciscan Health, VisionFirst and Indiana Donor Network are working together to honor donors and recipients during this month-long celebration. Organ, eye, tissue and cord blood donors and recipients will be recognized in a National Donate Life Month Flag Raising Ceremony at Franciscan Health Michigan City at 8:30 AM, Tuesday, April 30.  This celebration will provide opportunity for members of the media to hear

This past Thursday, investigators assigned to the Porter County Multi-Enforcement Group (PCMEG), assisted by the DEA and Portage SWAT, executed a search warrant at a residence located at the 5600 block of Carnation Ave. in Portage. Located inside the residence were 64lbs of synthetic drugs, 940 grams of synthetic chemical compound used to manufacture the substance commonly referred to as ‘spice,’ evidence of several gallons of acetone which is also used to manufacture the substance, $2,955 dollars in USC from the illicit sales of narcotics, a stolen Ruger mini 14 rifle, and a Glock 37 semi-automatic pistol. Both suspects, 31

Todd Leininger from Bloomington had been imprisoned in Venezuela since April 2014 when he was convicted by a Venezuelan court in the midst of anti-government protests. Many questions remain over the due process afforded to Leininger during that trial. Consistent with law, a Venezuelan court issued an order for his conditional release on May 23, 2018. In November 2018, that same court again ordered his release, but until now the Venezuelan authorities refused to comply with the order. Mr. Leininger was released on Thursday, April 25, and arrived in Miami, Florida, this morning.Senator Young worked with the White House and

On April 8th, the Valparaiso Police were advised of a suspicious vehicle in the 2500 block of Tea Rose Dr. that had passed students waiting for their bus with a sliding side door open.  The mini-van in question was located on April 25, and reported to police. Officers responded and located the van, identified the occupants, and determined that no malicious act was intended by the vehicle occupants on April 8th.  The Valparaiso Police are thankful for the report of the vehicle by our citizens on the original reported date, as well as the second report on the 25th which

The Michigan City Police Department along with Chief Mark Swistek, have partnered with the Michiana Crime Stoppers to assist in obtaining witness information on a recent homicide that occurred in Michigan City. On March 30, 2019, Darrell Edwards was shot and killed during a gathering at 1013 Holliday St. in Michigan City, Indiana. The Michigan City Police Department have spoken to numerous witnesses who were present during this gathering but believe that there are additional individuals who were present that have not been interviewed. The investigators are seeking to speak with these individuals about this incident and have teamed up

22 year old James J. Ariel of Chicago, Illinois died Saturday morning as a result of a single vehicle crash, west bound on the Indiana Toll Road (I-80/90). Preliminary investigation by Trooper Chris Eagles revealed that Regional Dispatch for the Indiana Toll Road received 911 call advising of a single vehicle on fire in the area of where the entrance ramp from I-65 north bound to the Toll Road merges to I-80/90 west bound. First responders arrived minutes later but were unable to gain entry into the car due to the intense fire. Fire department arrived shortly thereafter and were

Sheriff John T. Boyd announces the graduation of five (5) deputies from the Northwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (NILEA). On January 14, 2019, Deputies Tyler Oberholtzer, Alex Clemons, Jet Balenia, Evan Doperalski and Derrick Deck began 15 weeks of intense paramilitary based law enforcement training at NILEA, located in Hobart, Indiana. The 15-week long academy consisted of training that included blocks of instruction in emergency vehicle operations, defensive tactics, firearms, criminal and traffic law and many other areas of law enforcement. On April 26, 2019, Deputies Oberholtzer, Clemons, Balenia, Doperalski and Deck took the Law Enforcement Oath of Honor, received

Governor Eric J. Holcomb is directing flags across the state to be flown at half-staff to honor former U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, who passed away early Sunday. Flags should be flown at half-staff from now until sunset on the day of his funeral, which has not yet been announced. Gov. Holcomb also asks businesses and residents to lower their flags to half-staff as well to honor former U.S. Sen. Lugar.

The Indiana War Memorial Commission and the State of Indiana has approved the building site and design to erect a tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and those they left behind. It has been almost 25 years since a memorial has been built on the American Legion mall in downtown Indianapolis. The process for approval has taken years, but the Indiana Gold Star Committee is excited to kick off their fundraising efforts. They are asking for monetary contributions from the community so that those dollars will help build a memorial to honor those who fought

There’s no way to predict when or where an accident will happen. That’s why the American Red Cross needs donors to give blood during Trauma Awareness Month this May and throughout the year to help ensure that trauma centers are prepared the moment an injured patient arrives. Donors of all blood types are urged to give now to help meet the needs of trauma patients and others with serious medical conditions. Make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). In thanks, all those who come to

South Shore Line (SSL) recognizes the continued loyalty of monthly ticket holders and wants to express their gratitude by offering a promotion for monthly ticket holders in early May. Saturday, May 4 through Sunday, May 5, the SSL is offering a “friends ride free” weekend to monthly commuters, inviting one friend to ride free with a commuter who holds a monthly pass. No ticket is required for the friend. The SSL offers other commuter perks, including transit benefit programs, discounts for monthly passes, quiet cars on every rush hour train and onboard Wi-Fi. For more information on train schedules, discounts

On Wednesday, May 1, Lubeznik Center for the Arts (LCA) will kick off a one-month membership drive. During this time, LCA invites individuals and families from around the region to become part of its efforts to provide everyone in the community with equal access to high quality cultural experiences. LCA is a non-profit art center located at 101 W. 2nd St. on the lakefront in Michigan City, Indiana. It presents several art exhibitions each year, all of which are made available to the public completely free of charge. Last summer’s popular Warhol: Icon & Influence drew record crowds, while the