Local News

LAPORTE, IN – State Street Community Church is delighted to announce its 13th Annual Thanksgiving Eve Dinner, which will be held on Nov. 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. at 209 State Street, LaPorte, IN. This cherished yearly gathering welcomes the whole community for an evening rich with delicious food and the joy of friendship. Guests can anticipate a classic Thanksgiving dinner with turkey and ham, stuffing, creamy mashed potatoes topped with gravy, green bean casserole, corn, dinner rolls, cranberry sauce, and a tempting variety of pies, cakes, and cookies. Lead Pastor Nate Loucks shared, “The holidays can be a

The La Porte Police Department will have walk-in hours on Dec. 3 for anyone who has questions about protective orders or needs assistance filling them out. They will have printed applications available and Spanish translation on site. If you have any questions, contact their social worker, Caitlyn, by email at ckalisik@lpcitypd.com An event page can be found on the La Porte Police Facebook page.

CHICAGO, IL – Silver Birch Living is proud to announce its certification as a Great Place to Work for 2024, recognizing its dedication to fostering a positive and engaging workplace culture. The certification includes the Silver Birch Corporate Office, along with five of their assisted living communities across the state of Indiana: Evansville, Hammond, Kokomo, Michigan City, and Muncie. This achievement reflects Silver Birch’s commitment to its team members, whose passion and engagement directly contribute to the exceptional care provided to residents. The Great Place to Work® certification is based on employee feedback about workplace experiences, trust, and overall satisfaction,

The two-way conversion of Franklin Street is underway in Michigan City The City of Michigan City announced that as of Friday morning, striping has commenced along Franklin Street north of Ninth Street. The western lane of Franklin will remain closed through Sunday, Nov. 24. When it reopens on Monday, Nov. 25, it will do so as a southbound lane, effectively converting this segment of Franklin Street to a two-way throughfare for the first time in decades.

News Release, South Shore Line: Kick off the holiday season along the South Shore Line! Experience the magic of the season at some of the most anticipated events like the spectacular Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Parade (Nov. 23), the annual Chicago Tree Lighting Ceremony (Nov. 22) and the traditional German Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza (open Nov. 22-Dec. 24). Please see details below for information on November train schedules: Holiday Train Schedule Wednesday, Nov. 27: A weekday schedule will be in effect on the day before Thanksgiving. Thursday, Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving Day): A weekend/holiday schedule will be in effect in observance of Thanksgiving Day. Friday, Nov. 29

Press Release, Franciscan Health: MUNSTER, Indiana – Patients in the Region now have a new option for combating liver cancer, thanks to an innovative treatment available at Franciscan Health Munster. The hospital is proud to be the first in Northwest Indiana to offer Boston Scientific’s TheraSphere Yttrium-90 (Y-90) treatment. This cutting-edge technology targets tumors that are too large for surgical removal, providing hope for patients with primary liver cancer and those whose cancer has metastasized to the liver. “TheraSphere Y-90 can be a treatment that shrinks the tumor size such that the patient isn't cured by that, but they then

Chesterton, IN – Duneland’s Hometown Holiday Celebration will bring the joy of the season to Chesterton on November 30th, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The Duneland Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Town of Chesterton, the Chesterton Police and Fire Departments, Parks and Street Departments, and the Chamber organizations and volunteers, is excited to host this festive day filled with holiday spirit, local shopping, and community cheer. The celebration begins bright and early with the Hometown Holiday European Market from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, where guests can shop for unique gifts, crafts, and seasonal treats. At 5:00 pm, the

Local police officers graduated from the Northern Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, Class 24-52 on Friday. Among the group was Valparaiso Police Department Patrol Officer, Joshua Hart, who served as a squad leader and earned a second place honor in overall academic achievement. Portage Police Department Officers Logan Johnson, Andrew Atchison, Logan Rhodes, and Trevor Leonhardt also were among those who graduated. Officers from the Lake County Sheriff’s Department also graduated from the academy.  

A Portage resident has died after being struck by multiple vehicles at the intersection of US 20 and Samuelson Road, according to the Portage Police Department. On Wednesday Nov. 13, at around 5:37 p.m., officers of the Portage Police Department responded to the intersection of U.S. Highway 20 and Samuelson Road in reference to a report that a pedestrian was struck by a motor vehicle. The initial investigation shows that a pedestrian was walking northbound just west of the intersection when he was struck by a westbound sports utility vehicle. Police say the initial impact threw the victim into the

The Michigan City Parks and Recreation Department is personally responding to Santa Mail this year. If you drop them in Santa's Mailbox, located at the entrance to Washington Park, between now and midnight on Saturday, Dec. 7, you’ll receive a personal response from one of Santa's Helpers before Christmas. No postage necessary. Just be sure to include a return address if you'd like a response. Contact the Michigan City Parks & Recreation Department for more information at 219-873-1506 or parkandrec@emichigancity.com.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness announced results of the 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, which show a record low in Veteran homelessness since measurement began in 2009 and a 13% decrease in Indiana since 2023. Nationwide, the data shows a 11.7% reduction in Veterans experiencing homelessness since 2020 and a 55.6% reduction since 2010. The PIT Count is an annual count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January. In Indiana, the data show were 422 Veterans experiencing homelessness in January

Michigan City police are investigating a shooting that left one person injured on Thursday. At around 9:30 p.m. Thursday officers responded to the 700 block of East 10th Street for shots that were fired in the area. Officers arrived and learned multiple people fled the area on foot and in vehicles. No victim was found at the scene. Shortly after the call, a victim drove their vehicle to Michigan City Police Department and met with officers. Officers discovered that the vehicle was shot numerous times, and the victim had a gunshot wound to the leg. The victim was transported to

News Release, City of Valparaiso: The City of Valparaiso is encouraging citizens to participate in local government by applying to serve on the newly established Environmental Advisory Board, which is seeking four new members; and the Ethics Commission, which is seeking one new member. Environmental Advisory Board The Environmental Advisory Board was established by Ordinance 26, 2024 in October 2024 to provide guidance and recommendations to the City, staff, boards, commissions and community members on environmental sustainability policies and practices. The Board will promote sustainability, enhance environmental quality and ensure the responsible stewardship of natural resources for the benefit of current and

Press Release, City of Michigan City: With an eye on the future, Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch has invested significant time during her first year in office connecting with community and economic development experts from around the country. With the knowledge, tools and other resources she has gathered, Michigan City continues to grow and succeed, attracting attention on a national scale. As a result, Mayor Angie was one of seven U.S. mayors invited to attend the Mayors’ Institute on City Design, hosted at the University of Florida School of Architecture in October. Joining the mayors were seven design leaders

As people begin to plan for Thanksgiving holiday travel, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) is preparing to increase patrol visibility as part of the annual Safe Family Travel campaign. The campaign, which starts November 16, focuses on impaired driving, aggressive driving, and proper use of seat belts.  During the campaign, deputies will conduct saturation patrols designed to discourage impaired driving and promote seat belt usage.  The high-visibility enforcement campaign is funded with grants provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and administered through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI). “We’re anticipating another busy travel season this

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. -- An Indianapolis man who was wanted in an armed robbery that occurred in 2023 was arrested after a traffic stop on I-80. On Monday, an Indiana State Police Trooper out of the Lowell District made a traffic stop on I-80 in Lake County.  During the stop, it was determined that the driver, identified as 28-year-old David Kenneth Lee of Indianapolis, had an outstanding level (3) felony warrant for armed robbery in Spencer County, Indiana.  Lee was arrested and lodged in the Lake County Jail before being extradited to the Spencer County Security Center where he is

The Michigan City Street Department will lay asphalt at the intersection of Tilden Avenue and Gardena Street today, Nov. 15. The city is asking the public to please be cautious of the workers and adjust your travel plans accordingly.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred in Gary on Wednesday, Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr reported. According to Martinez, Gary police officers were conducting an ongoing undercover investigation in the 3400 block of Maryland Street. Sometime around noon, they encountered a suspect who attacked an officer. A press release from the Gary Police Department stated the suspect had a machete. The suspect was shot and was transported to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The Lake County Sheriff’s Department Detective Bureau is investigating the officer-involved shooting. A press release from the Gary

Several members of the Porter County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday graduated from the National Command and Staff College - West Point Leadership Program. The ceremony was hosted by Indiana Sheriffs' Association in Plainfield, IN. The most recent graduates are: Jail Commander Steve Lawrence Jail Assistant Commander Ryan Taylor Jail Captain Ryan Williams Major Gary Gear Investigations Commander Eric Jones PCMEG Captain Matt Edwards Patrol Corporal Nick Brown PIO Sergeant Ben McFalls In total, the Porter County Sheriff’s Office now has 11 officers that have graduated from this Leadership program across the agency.

(Porter County, IN) – In celebration of the American Cancer Society’s 48th Great American Smokeout on Nov. 21st, Hoosiers across Indiana are encouraged to “make the commitment and quit smoking today”. “With the holidays just around the corner, it’s a great time for people to give the ‘gift’ of a better life to themselves and to their family and friends by quitting. With fewer places to smoke in Indiana, now is the perfect time to quit,” said Carrie Higgins, Program Director of The Tobacco Education and Prevention Coalition for Porter County. Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of