Local News

U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and Doug Jones (D-Ala.) yesterday introduced bipartisan legislation to make sure that more students have access to higher education. Under current law, students only find out how much financial aid they will receive right before attending college. The Early Pell Promise Act provides more financial certainty for families by pre-qualifying certain students for full Pell Grant support starting as early as the eighth grade. It also ensures that families and students who pre-qualify for aid receive additional information about the cost of college attendance and student financial aid. Modeled after successful Promise Programs

The natural childbirth class is for expectant parents who are interested in a non-medicated birth plan. This class will provide physical and emotional coping techniques how to practice hands-on comfort measures.  The class is the third Tuesday of every other month, in the Birthing & Family Care Center on the second floor of La Porte Hospital. Next class is May 21. Class sizes are limited and advanced registration is required at laportehealth.com/childbirth.

Camp leaders are announcing, the application process for the 2019 Northwest Regional Sheriff's Camp is now closed. They are however still allowing applicants to send in applications without a check to be 'wait-listed,' in the even that there are openings. Any applications received or postmarked will be wait-listed and will be notified by July 19th if there is an opening for them. Porter County Sheriff’s Office stated that those that have applied and sent in checks will be hearing from assigned camp counselors in the next month.

Yesterday, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) announced that Evansville Regional Airport and Fort Wayne International Airport will each receive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) supplemental grants totaling $18.1 million. Senator Young urged Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao to support funding for these important Hoosier airports.

This month the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office will join law enforcement agencies across the nation to increase enforcement of seat belt laws for Click It or Ticket. Multiple weeks of highly visible patrols will be watching for unrestrained passengers in cars and trucks, both children and adults, the front seat and back, both day and night.Click It or Ticket continues through the Memorial Day holiday and the start of the summer travel season. Overtime police patrols are paid with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration funds administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).Indiana law requires the driver and all

The Porter County Government Prosecutor's Valparaiso Office is hiring a full time Assistant Court Manager with accounting experience. Interested parties may complete an application found on this site and submit to:Porter County Prosecutor 16 Lincolnway Suite 546 Valparaiso, IN 46383or via email to sheila.matney@porterco.org Applications will be accepted until Friday May 10th at 4:30 PM.

The South Shore Line plans to periodically bus passengers between Carroll Ave. and the South Bend Airport while they upgrade track and segments of overhead wire between Michigan City and South Bend. The temporary busing periods will occur at various times throughout the spring/summer, with the first of these periods being scheduled through Friday, May 17, (this includes the weekend of May 11-12). Busing availability at the South Bend Airport will be limited, therefore westbound passengers are encouraged to board at Carroll Ave. Station or other western stations. Bus service to and from Hudson Lake will not be available during

Regarding HEA 1015 Gov. Holcomb made the following statement:“Gaming is a highly regulated industry that once had little competition, but now does from surrounding states and new technology. By modernizing our laws, this legislation will spur positive economic growth for our state and for an industry that employs over 11,000 Hoosiers. Additionally, it will bring in new revenue and create hundreds of new jobs – both permanent and in construction. I will direct the Indiana Gaming Commission to monitor for potential effects of this bill so that we can make necessary changes in future legislative sessions.” Details on the bill

The State of Indiana has received a $159,349 payment from Sephora USA Inc. to settle a fraud lawsuit against the international retail chain, Attorney General Curtis Hill announced today.The lawsuit alleged that Sephora, which specializes in cosmetics and other beauty products, violated the Indiana False Claims Act by making false statements in connection with its failure to collect gross retail taxes on shipping and handling charges for its internet sales to Indiana consumers. This investigation and settlement resulted from the coordinated efforts of the Litigation Division of the Office of the Attorney General. This case is captioned State of Indiana

The La Porte County Treasurer would like to remind home owners that property taxes are due Friday May 10. If you did not receive a bill, the county may not have your proper mailing address and your bill was returned by the USPS as undeliverable. Call the Treasurer office for the amount owed at 219-325-5575 or view the Beacon website on the La Porte County Government website. The treasurer office will be taking payments from 8 am to 4 pm at both the 555 Michigan Ave in La Porte and the 302 W 8th St office in Michigan City. A

This month the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office will join law enforcement agencies across the nation to increase enforcement of seat belt laws for Click It or Ticket. Multiple weeks of highly visible patrols will be watching for unrestrained passengers in cars and trucks, both children and adults, the front seat and back, both day and night. Click It or Ticket continues through the Memorial Day holiday and the start of the summer travel season. Overtime police patrols are paid with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration funds administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI). Indiana law requires the driver

This month’s Elston Grove Walking tour explores the architecture and history of the Elston Grove historic district. See the homes of Michigan City's Gilded Age elites, learn the history of Michigan City's first public library, and dive into the vivid history of Zorn Brew Works. The tour leaves the Barker Mansion at 10:30 am and covers approximately one mile. In the event of rain, a special mansion tour will be offered in place of the walking tour. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased online on Eventbrite or by calling the Barker Mansion at 219-873-1520.

The South Shore Line announced that construction is set to begin that will add a second entrance/exit to the East Chicago Station platform. The project is expected to continue through December 2019, and will help accommodate the large influx of passengers at East Chicago Station. The improvements include converting the low-level platform to the east of the station into a covered walkway to access a new head house, stairwell and tunnel leading to the eastern parking lot. Additionally, other East Chicago Station projects include improvements to the existing head house, and the installation in 2020 of higher speed track switches

With a growing number of Americans aging into Medicare, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) introduced a bipartisan bill to simplify complex Medicare enrollment rules. The Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Act would eliminate needless gaps in health care coverage and help prevent lifetime, late-enrollment penalties. Today, almost 760,000 Americans are paying these penalties, increasing their Medicare Part B premiums by an average of almost 30 percent. U.S. Representatives Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.-36) and Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.-02) have introduced a bipartisan companion bill in the House. The BENES Act would direct the federal government to provide

U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) along with Representatives Dan Kildee (Mich.-05), Bill Huizenga (Mich.-02), Debbie Dingell (MI-12) and David Joyce (Ohio-14) reintroduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation yesterday to update the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps in the Great Lakes. The legislation would direct the Great Lakes Region ESI maps to be updated for the first time in over twenty years, joining maps for the East coast, West coast, and Gulf coast that have been updated more recently. These new maps will provide accurate assessments of coastal resources that are at risk of severe damage or a natural disaster,

Michigan City Area Schools will induct four former educators to its 2019 Wall of Fame: former elementary school teacher Kathy Brill; former high school teacher, coach, and athletic director Robert “Bear” Falls; former teacher and coach Chuck White; and former teacher and principal Walt Zmuda. They will be honored at the annual MCAS/MCEA Retirement and Wall of Fame Dinner on Monday, June 3, along with 17 retiring MCAS staff members. This annual award, first presented in 1976, honors former school employees who have made outstanding contributions to the children of the Michigan City Area Schools. Employees from every area are

Here are your 2019 Primary Election results: For Mayor of Laporte on the Republican side - Tom Dermody 80% to 20% for Tim Stabosz; For Clerk-Treasurer Laporte: Courtney Parthun beat Geoff Sellers 79% to 21%. For Mayor of Michigan City Democrat side, Ron Meer defeated Virginia Martin 52% to 47% while on the Republican side, Duane Parry beat Robert Lonie 75% to 25%. For Republican Council At Large Laporte: Tim Franke and Paul Vincent advance. For Republican Council Ward 1 Laporte: Julie West Schroeder narrowly beat two other candidates with just over 35% of the vote. Suzanne Miller 61% to

Attorney General Curtis Hill has joined a coalition of 42 attorneys general calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take further action to stop the growing proliferation of illegal robocalls and caller ID spoofing. In formal legal comments delivered to the FCC, the attorneys general urged the FCC to adopt its proposed rules on enforcement against caller ID spoofing of calls to the United States originating from overseas, while also addressing spoofing in text messaging and alternative voice services. These provisions are included in the FCC appropriations authorization bill also known as the RAY BAUM’S Act of 2018. The

On Sunday, just before 5 am Trooper Alaa Hamed stopped an Oldsmobile traveling west on I-80/94 near Indianapolis Boulevard.  The vehicle was traveling in the center lane at a speed well below the posted speed limit of 55 m.p.h. The vehicle was also weaving and making unsafe lane movements as it traveled.  Trooper Hamed made a traffic stop on the vehicle and subsequent investigation lead to a nervous acting driver. The driver, 23 year old Marcus R. Jester, from Missouri, gave varying statements as to where he was coming from, why he was nervous and how much alcoholic beverages he

The Franciscan Health EMS Academy will give students the opportunity to earn their emergency medical technician (EMT) certification at two locations this year, in Crown Point and Valparaiso.In Crown Point, classes will be from 6 to 10PM Monday and Thursday, July 8 through Dec. 12. The classes will be at Franciscan Health Crown Point, 1201 S. Main St. Application deadline is June 28.In Valparaiso, classes will be from 6 to 10PM Monday and Thursday, Sept. 9 through Jan. 16, 2020. Those classes will take place at the MAAC Foundation, 4203 Montdale Park Drive. Application deadline is Aug. 23.The Franciscan Health