Local News

The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) announced yesterday that several of its creative placemaking initiatives are highlighted in a report from the National Governor’s Association (NGA). Rural Prosperity through the Arts & Creative Sector: a Rural Action Guide for Governor’s and States, describes in detail the principles of arts-based rural development. The publication highlights successful, high-profile examples of rural communities and regions that have become more economically resilient through creative sector initiatives. Specifically, the report features examples of creative sector initiatives attuned to the assets and needs of rural communities; initiatives that work best as part of rural area economic development

Yesterday, Indiana American Water announced an all -party settlement agreement regarding its rate request with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) . The agreement is subject to approval by the IURC. Indiana American Water has invested more than $542 million in its water systems across the state to ensure reliable service to its customers. The agreement includes a 7.9 percent overall increase in operating revenues, primarily based on that investment. If approved by the IURC, the increases to water rates will be implemented in steps, with the first increase this summer of 1.73 percent and a second increase in mid-2020

Troopers from the Indiana State Police Lowell Post will be conducting a sobriety check point at an undisclosed location in Lake County on Thursday, March 21st, 2019. Drivers passing through the checkpoint area should have their license and registration available and will only wait briefly while troopers determine whether further investigation is necessary. Hoosiers are asked to help do their part in making Indiana roadways safer by observing the following tips: Plan ahead and always use a designated driver. Don’t get behind the wheel of a vehicle if you’ve been consuming alcoholic beverages. Instead, call a taxi, a family member

South Shore Line service updates will be in effect to accommodate passengers attending the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo March 22-24, 2019, at McCormick Place. The SSL will be offering select weekday train stops at McCormick Place Station on Friday, March 22, in addition to regular service to McCormick Place during the weekend. Following is the list of weekday flag stop arrivals/departures scheduled for Friday. * For other specific station stop times,visit mysouthshoreline.com to view the full schedule of March 22 McCormick Place weekday stops.

In their second year as program sponsor to the local Girls on the Run council, NIPSCO also brings girl power.   A recent independent study led by Dr. Maureen Weiss, an expert in Positive Youth Development, found that Girls on the Run’s intentional life skills curriculum and highly trained coaches positively impact girls’ lives by helping them increase their self-confidence, develop healthy relationships and feel good about themselves.     Sixty percent of Girls on the Run participants rely on financial assistance in order to participate. NIPSCO’s financial support helps cover program-related costs such as: curriculum, healthy snacks, running shoes as

Yesterday, The Indiana Department of Education’s (IDOE) Office of eLearning announced the recipients of the 2019 Digital Learning Grants. This year’s grants offer up to $50,000 to support districts in building digital initiatives like Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) instruction, project-based learning, and computer science curricula. The 2019 Digital Learning Grants focused on proposals that included vetted STEM curriculum, devices for coding, robotics equipment, and professional development for teachers. Forty-eight districts were awarded Digital Learning Grants, totaling just over $2.2 million in funding. Awarded grants ranged from $20,000 to $50,000. For a complete list of 2019 Digital Learning Grant

Eagala (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) program, Anam Cara Stables, has been providing life-changing services and improving the mental health of individuals, families, and groups through equine-assisted psychotherapy since May 2016. The Eagala Model is a team approach that includes a licensed Mental Health Professional, a qualified Equine Specialist, and horses working together with the client in an arena at all times. When inside the arena, all the work is done on the ground with the horses front and center, deliberately unhindered and never ridden, and allowed to interact with the client as they wish. “This creates the space

In celebration of DisAbility Awareness month, the Michigan City Human Rights Commission (MCHRC) is proud to present the Special Education 101 Forum on Wednesday, March 27 at 5:30 p.m. at the Michigan City Area Schools (MCAS) Administration Building located at 408 South Carroll Avenue.  Laura Swanson of IN*SOURCE, an advocacy group that educates families about special education and student rights, will kick off the evening by providing a Special Education overview. Swanson will talk about special education modifications and accommodations available to students with disabilities and Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and she will provide parents with helpful tips on how

Michigan City Moves, a new performance collective dedicated to promoting and sharing experimental music, dance and film in the NW Indiana region, is presenting a series of performances, highlighting nature and architecture from the Indiana Dunes, to the Lubeznik Center for the Arts and a historic barn at Tryon Farm. The performances will feature the work of choreographers Kristina Isabelle and Melli Hoppe, sound media artist Elise Kermani, and costumes by Pilgrim Heidi Kambitsch. The series is inspired by the play Sacred Sands: A Play for Voices, written by David Hoppe, and the book Sacred Sands: The Struggle for Community

South Shore Line service updates will be in effect to accommodate passengers attending the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo March 22-24, 2019, at McCormick Place. The SSL will be offering select weekday train stops at McCormick Place Station on Friday, March 22, in addition to regular service to McCormick Place during the weekend. Following is the list of weekday flag stop arrivals/departures scheduled for Friday. * For other specific station stop times,visit mysouthshoreline.com to view the full schedule of March 22 McCormick Place weekday stops.

In their second year as program sponsor to the local Girls on the Run council, NIPSCO also brings girl power. A recent independent study led by Dr. Maureen Weiss, an expert in Positive Youth Development, found that Girls on the Run’s intentional life skills curriculum and highly trained coaches positively impact girls’ lives by helping them increase their self-confidence, develop healthy relationships and feel good about themselves. Sixty percent of Girls on the Run participants rely on financial assistance in order to participate. NIPSCO’s financial support helps cover program-related costs such as: curriculum, healthy snacks, running shoes as well as

The Michigan City, Refuse Department will conduct its Annual Spring Clean-Up beginning on March 26, 2018. The Refuse Department requests that all residents separate the debris that is to be discarded into the following three (3) categories: Brush, limbs, shrubs, yard waste, and unpainted concrete (no black-top rubble); Rugs, lumber, furniture, mattress, and box-springs; and Appliances and tires. Tires can be rimmed or un-rimmed, and appliances include items such as stoves, refrigerators, air conditions, water tanks, etc. Please keep the above items separated as described above. Residents may place items on curbside or in the alleys, whichever is most convenient.

The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee voted in support of legislation co-sponsored by State Rep. Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie) that would strengthen the penalties for individuals who fail to stop when a school bus stop arm is extended. When school buses stop to pick up or drop off children, their stop arms extend and lights flash to signal other drivers to stop as students get on or off the bus. Pressel said most drivers follow traffic laws regarding school bus stop arms, but some are either unaware of current law or disregard it. Currently, the penalty for an individual

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) is encouraging Hoosiers to plan ahead for extreme weather as part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week, March 17-23. IDHS encourages Hoosiers to build a disaster preparedness kit, identify shelter and practice emergency plans during this year’s preparedness week. As part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week, a statewide tornado drill is planned for 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, March 19. This drill provides a valuable opportunity for families, schools and businesses to practice severe weather emergency plans. To learn more about preparing for severe weather, visit GetPrepared.in.gov

Job seekers looking for employment in education are invited to a career fair Tuesday, March 19 at Purdue University Northwest (PNW) in The James B. Dworkin Student Services and Activities Complex on the Westville Campus at 1401 S. U.S. 421, Westville, IN 46391. Sponsored by PNW’s Career Center, the fair is from 10 a.m. to noon with opportunities for follow-up interviews with employers between 1-6 p.m. Community members may register at the door and professional business attire is encouraged. More than 30 organizations will be represented, ranging from public school corporations to charter schools. Many are from northwest Indiana, while

Troopers and motor carrier inspectors (MCI) conducted a two day blitz stopping semis on the Indiana Toll Road rest area east and west bound at the 37 mile marker and at the east and west bound weigh scales on I-94 at the 28 mile marker. On Wednesday, March 13, 2019, a three hour blitz at both east and west bound weigh scales was conducted targeting semis that bypassed the weigh scales (going by the scales without being weighed) when the signal relayed that all trucks were required to enter.  During this period they inspected twenty-seven (27) trucks, resulting in fifty

Get ready for the 21st Annual Michiana Humane Society Spring Fling. This year the theme is "Spring Time in Paris", and it will be held at Traditions Event Center at 2107 Welnetz Road, in Michigan City on Saturday, April 13. There will be cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and live music beginning at 5pm central, dinner by Froehlich's beginning at 6:30pm, and a live auction conducted by Scheerer McCulloch Auctioneers at 8pm. You can now buy tickets online atwww.michianahumanesociety.org, mail your RSVP to the shelter, or call the shelter with your information. All proceeds benefit the homeless animals at Michiana Humane Society

Michigan City Mayor Ron Meer will be delivering his 2019 “State of the City” Address at the Michigan City Senior Center, located in Washington Park at, Two on the Lake, in Michigan City, on Thursday, April 11, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. The public is invited to attend.

Work is set to begin tomorrow on an intersection improvement project at U.S. 20 and SR 2 in Rolling Prairie. This project will see a “dogbone” interchange built at this location, eliminating the traffic signal and creating a bridge carrying motorists north-south with east-west traffic passing underneath. Roundabouts will be placed at the north and south ends of the bridge, creating the so-called “dogbone”. During the project, the corridor will be closed to north-south (LaPorte to New Carlisle) traffic between CR N 500 E and Oak Knoll Road, while east-west traffic (Michigan City to South Bend) will be one lane

With the heavy construction season around the corner, NIPSCO will be continuing its work to upgrade the electric and gas infrastructure across northern Indiana with nearly $660 million in planned investments this year. This reinvestment is part of NIPSCO’s overall ongoing modernization plan to ensure long-term safety and reliability for customers. Vast portions of the nation’s infrastructure system – including NIPSCO’s – were built in the post-World War II era. After more than 60 years, those systems are nearing the limits of their original design, and NIPSCO’s plan proactively addresses these critical areas before they become problematic. Among the types