Local News

The percentage of students graduating from Indiana public colleges is increasing, and more students are graduating on time.This is according to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s latest College Completion Report.More than 40 percent of all Indiana public college students graduate on-time, or within four years for a bachelor’s degree and two years for an associate degree, according to the report.On-time graduation increased by almost 13 percentage points between 2013 and 2018 and by more than two percentage points in a one-year period (2017 to 2018).Extended-time graduation – within six years for any degree type – also is rising. Nearly

The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor will host Indiana’s first Navy vessel commissioning ceremony for the new littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis on Oct. 26. Anyone interested in attending the USS Indianapolis’ commissioning can find more information online at https://ussindianapolislcs17.org .

Due to the extreme heat for the next several days, the trains in the Railway Garden may not be running during normal hours of operation (10am-5pm). Please call 219-462-0025 prior to your visit to find out the status of the train operation for the day. Please be cautious if participating in any outdoor activities this weekend.

In a story line that has become familiar over recent months, Attorney General Curtis Hill recently resolved two additional cases in which promotional firms sent allegedly deceptive mailings to Hoosiers indicating recipients were winners of significant prizes. Xcel Media Group Inc. contracted with several Indiana motor vehicle dealers to conduct direct mail advertising for sales events. The company allegedly sent mailings to 254,640 Indiana residents indicating that recipients were winners of significant prizes. Dealer Direct Service LLC and its owner, David Billman, also contracted with Indiana motor vehicle dealers to conduct direct mail advertising for sales events.The company allegedly sent

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) State Director for Indiana Michael Dora Thursday encouraged farmers, rural small businesses and agricultural producers to apply for financing in a key USDA program that provides loan guarantees to help rural small businesses lower their energy costs. USDA accepts applications for REAP funding year-round. Potential applicants can contact Robert Hill, Business Programs Director at r.hill@usda.gov or (317) 295-5780 for additional information. REAP funding can be used for renewable energy systems such as anaerobic digesters, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, wind and solar. It also can be used to make energy efficiency improvements to heating, ventilation and

The Kankakee River Basin and Yellow River Basin Development Commission, the panel newly tasked with coordinating river stewardship for eight Northwest Indiana counties, convened for the first time yesterday.  The Indiana General Assembly created the Commission earlier this year to succeed the Kankakee River Basin Commission (KRBC), which served the region for over four decades. Following record flooding in 2018, the Indiana legislature responded by empowering a streamlined commission with long-term funding for flood control, erosion mitigation, and economic and natural resource development.  The Kankakee and Yellow River Basins are home to some of the world’s most productive farmland, historic

Robert Milos has a mission to ensure great minds in Purdue University Northwest’s (PNW) esteemed College of Nursing can fulfill the dream of earning a college degree despite a temporary financial setback.The newly established Robert Winston Milos Endowment supports nursing students who are in good academic standing and exhibit sudden emergency financial uncertainty that may delay or interrupt their academic pursuits. Milos made an initial $50,000 gift, and hopes others will be inspired to contribute and grow the fund. For students facing hardships the difficulty can be catching up, which is why the endowment will provide emergency resources discreetly and

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announces that State Road 331 (Capital Avenue) will close Monday at the bridge over the St. Joseph River while crews pour concrete as part of a bridge reconstruction project.The closure will begin at approximately midnight EST, with the road anticipated to reopen by late afternoon the same day. The road will be closed between State Road 933 (Lincolnway E.) and Jefferson Street.This is the final planned closure for this two-year project, with the bridge anticipated to fully reopen by late August. 

The percentage of students graduating from Indiana public colleges is increasing, and more students are graduating on time.This is according to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s latest College Completion Report.More than 40 percent of all Indiana public college students graduate on-time, or within four years for a bachelor’s degree and two years for an associate degree, according to the report.On-time graduation increased by almost 13 percentage points between 2013 and 2018 and by more than two percentage points in a one-year period (2017 to 2018).Extended-time graduation – within six years for any degree type – also is rising. Nearly

The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor will host Indiana’s first Navy vessel commissioning ceremony for the new littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis on Oct. 26. Anyone interested in attending the USS Indianapolis’ commissioning can find more information online at https://ussindianapolislcs17.org .

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) State Director for Indiana Michael Dora Thursday encouraged farmers, rural small businesses and agricultural producers to apply for financing in a key USDA program that provides loan guarantees to help rural small businesses lower their energy costs. USDA accepts applications for REAP funding year-round. Potential applicants can contact Robert Hill, Business Programs Director at r.hill@usda.gov or (317) 295-5780 for additional information.REAP funding can be used for renewable energy systems such as anaerobic digesters, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, wind and solar. It also can be used to make energy efficiency improvements to heating, ventilation and cooling systems; insulation;

Due to the extreme heat for the next several days, the trains in the Railway Garden may not be running during normal hours of operation (10am-5pm). Please call 219-462-0025 prior to your visit to find out the status of the train operation for the day. Please be cautious if participating in any outdoor activities this weekend.

In a story line that has become familiar over recent months, Attorney General Curtis Hill recently resolved two additional cases in which promotional firms sent allegedly deceptive mailings to Hoosiers indicating recipients were winners of significant prizes. Xcel Media Group Inc. contracted with several Indiana motor vehicle dealers to conduct direct mail advertising for sales events. The company allegedly sent mailings to 254,640 Indiana residents indicating that recipients were winners of significant prizes. Dealer Direct Service LLC and its owner, David Billman, also contracted with Indiana motor vehicle dealers to conduct direct mail advertising for sales events.The company allegedly sent

The Kankakee River Basin and Yellow River Basin Development Commission, the panel newly tasked with coordinating river stewardship for eight Northwest Indiana counties, convened for the first time yesterday. The Indiana General Assembly created the Commission earlier this year to succeed the Kankakee River Basin Commission (KRBC), which served the region for over four decades. Following record flooding in 2018, the Indiana legislature responded by empowering a streamlined commission with long-term funding for flood control, erosion mitigation, and economic and natural resource development. The Kankakee and Yellow River Basins are home to some of the world’s most productive farmland, historic

With extreme heat and humidity expected over the next few days, Mayor Meer would like to remind the citizens of cooling centers located within the City of Michigan City.Cooling centers will be available at the following locations:Michigan City Police Station (24 hours) 1201 E. Michigan Blvd.Michigan City Fire Administration Building (8am-4pm, Monday-Friday) 2510 E. Michigan Blvd.Michigan City Senior Center (8:00am-4:00pm, Monday-Friday)2 on the LakeMichigan City City Hall (8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday)100 E. Michigan Blvd.Michigan City Public Library (during regular business hours) 100 E. 4th StreetKeys to Hope Community Resource Center (8:00am-5:00pm, Monday-Friday, 8:00am-12pm, Saturday-Sunday) 1802 Franklin StreetPublic health officials recommend that people spend at least part of

Earlier this week, the U.S. Senate passed the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019, a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Senators Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), and Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The legislation aims to cut down on government waste and improper payments made by the federal government – including overpayments, underpayments, payments made to ineligible recipients or payments that were not properly documented.

All are invited to attend a free concert in the La Porte Hospital Chapel at noon on Friday August 2. William "Bill" Burger, a local organist, will perform a wide variety of organ music from such well known composers as J. S. Bach, G. F. Handel, Leon Boellmann, Wolfgang Mozart and Paul Manz. It is his desire to demonstrate the multitude of tonal qualities of the chapel’s wonderful organ. First Friday in the Chapel is made possible by the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte (HFL), a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to empowering residents to live healthy and well in and around

The South Shore Line will be busing two separate routes for weekday (Monday-Friday) passengers while upgrades of track and segments of overhead wire take place between Dune Park and South Bend. This temporary busing is scheduled for Monday, July 22, through Friday, July 26. On Wednesday, July 24, through Friday, July 26, additional busing of mid-day trains from Dune Park to Carroll Ave. will take place. Bus service to and from Hudson Lake will not be available during this time. Hudson Lake passengers are encouraged to board at the Carroll Ave. station. Westbound Trains 422 & 424 and Eastbound Train

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. There will be free hot dogs and free popcorn. Police cars & SUV's, SWAT vehicles, and fire vehicles on display There will also be a K9 demonstration and T-shirts for sale. If you would like to donate to this event or become a participant please contact Debbie Miller at 219-764-5713 .

Sgt. Jamie Erow along with South Haven Fire Department’s Asst. Chief Tina Nabhan and Captain Eric Wood presented items from their respective departments to a local South Haven toddler for her bravery during a medical call for her mother. In February of this year, 2 year old Teegan, was home with her mom and 2 week old infant sister when her mother began having a medical issue. The mother, Loren, had called her husband Nathan, to tell him she was having some complications and felt she needed to go to the hospital. Before Nathan was able to leave work, 21