Local News

On Friday, at about 1:00 PM, an employee of a recycling and disposal company was working in the 2900 north block of County Road 950 West (Patriot Park Area), in rural Coolspring Township. The employee was outside of the company truck and had just completed a service for a residence After placing a recycling container in the lawn, the employee turned back to the west and was suddenly struck by a northbound pickup truck. The pickup truck failed to stop and left the scene. Deputy Alex Clemons responded to the area but was not able to locate the pickup truck.

United Way Regional Volunteer Center is seeking volunteers to help local nonprofits during its annual Day of Caring event on Friday, August 9. As the largest single-day volunteer event across Northwest Indiana, Day of Caring brings together nonprofits, families, local businesses, municipalities, churches, civic groups and individuals to change lives one project at a time by helping local nonprofits with facility improvements and client-support projects. United Way is looking for more than 600 volunteers to help with 30 service projects. Volunteers can choose from activities such as painting, landscaping, building, cleaning, hosting picnics and taking kids fishing. Volunteers who are

In accordance with HEA 1001, marketplace facilitators must register and collect Indiana sales, county innkeeper's and food and beverage taxes (if applicable) effective July 1, 2019. For more information you may visit DOR's Marketplace Facilitator web page.

The South Shore Line will operate a weekend/holiday train schedule on Thursday, July 4th, in observance of Independence Day.On Wednesday, July 3th, an eastbound extra train to accommodate early departures will leave Millennium Station at 2 p.m. (Van Buren St. at 2:03 p.m.), run non-stop to Hegewisch and make all local stops terminating at Carroll Ave., Michigan City. The extra will not serve Hudson Lake or South Bend. South Shore ticket offices will also observe holiday hours on July 4, with the Millennium Station ticket office open from 9:35 a.m. to 5 p.m. All other ticket offices will be closed.

The Indiana State Department of Health’s Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity (DNPA) has released its Active Living Guidebook. Created in collaboration with Health by Design, the guidebook will help community leaders and advocates create more active communities throughout the state.From 2014 to 2018, DNPA worked with Purdue Extension and Health by Design to conduct 46 active living workshops in communities across Indiana. More than 1,800 participants, including city planners and engineers, public health professionals, school administrators and community leaders, attended the workshops and learned how to improve their communities’ infrastructure so residents have more opportunity to be active.According to

Indiana American Water announced late last week that the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has approved a stipulation and settlement agreement with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor and several other interested parties regarding the company’s rate request filed in September 2018. Details of the agreement are contained in an order issued on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 by the IURC. During the period covered by the rate request, Indiana American Water invested more than $542 million in its water systems across the state to ensure reliable service to customers. The order includes a 7.9 percent overall increase in operating water

The online method is the only way to apply. Applicants must possess a hunting license valid for the hunt for which they are applying. Applications must be completed by the application deadline.Hunters will be selected through a random computerized drawing. A link to view drawing results will be posted at on.IN.gov/reservedhunt within two weeks after application deadlines. An email will be sent to applicants when results are posted. Only one application per hunt is allowed. No changes can be made once the application is submitted. More information is available at on.IN.gov/reservedhunt.

The Indiana Department of Insurance provides the following information for Hoosiers who are currently enrolled in, or are considering, a short-term health insurance plan. Under current Indiana law, a short-term plan can be no longer than six months. It also may not be renewed. However, this law will change on July 1, 2019.During the 2019 Legislative Session, the Indiana General Assembly passed HEA 1631, which makes several changes to the current law. Starting July 1, 2019, a short-term plan may be renewed for up to 36 months, may be issued for a term of 364 days or less and has

The Valparaiso Police Department is again participating in National Night Out, being held August 6, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  National Night out is a national event, bringing communities and police together under positive conditions, creating an exchange of ideas, and developing a partnership with citizens. The Valparaiso Police is inviting community members and neighborhood groups to organize events and activities as part of the national celebration.  Valparaiso Police Officers and civilian staff will be visiting the planned activities in a variety neighborhoods throughout the city, to show their support of the citizens.  Members of the department will include K9,

The Indiana State Police is accepting applications for two Regional Dispatcher’s position at the Lowell Regional Dispatch Center which is located at 1550 East 181st Avenue, Lowell. The deadline for applications is Friday, July 12th, 2019. Specific job information can be found online by clicking: https://www.in.gov/isp/3627.htm

The Chesterton Park Board will be holding its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 2nd, at 6:00 pm in the Town Hall meeting room located at 726 Broadway. Ongoing bond projects will be discussed. The meeting is open to the public.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

The Indiana State Department of Health’s Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity (DNPA) has released its Active Living Guidebook. Created in collaboration with Health by Design, the guidebook will help community leaders and advocates create more active communities throughout the state.From 2014 to 2018, DNPA worked with Purdue Extension and Health by Design to conduct 46 active living workshops in communities across Indiana. More than 1,800 participants, including city planners and engineers, public health professionals, school administrators and community leaders, attended the workshops and learned how to improve their communities’ infrastructure so residents have more opportunity to be active.According to

Indiana American Water announced late last week that the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has approved a stipulation and settlement agreement with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor and several other interested parties regarding the company’s rate request filed in September 2018. Details of the agreement are contained in an order issued on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 by the IURC. During the period covered by the rate request, Indiana American Water invested more than $542 million in its water systems across the state to ensure reliable service to customers. The order includes a 7.9 percent overall increase in operating water

The online method is the only way to apply. Applicants must possess a hunting license valid for the hunt for which they are applying. Applications must be completed by the application deadline.Hunters will be selected through a random computerized drawing. A link to view drawing results will be posted at on.IN.gov/reservedhunt within two weeks after application deadlines. An email will be sent to applicants when results are posted. Only one application per hunt is allowed. No changes can be made once the application is submitted. More information is available at on.IN.gov/reservedhunt.

The Indiana Department of Insurance provides the following information for Hoosiers who are currently enrolled in, or are considering, a short-term health insurance plan. Under current Indiana law, a short-term plan can be no longer than six months. It also may not be renewed. However, this law will change on July 1, 2019.During the 2019 Legislative Session, the Indiana General Assembly passed HEA 1631, which makes several changes to the current law. Starting July 1, 2019, a short-term plan may be renewed for up to 36 months, may be issued for a term of 364 days or less and has

The Valparaiso Police Department is again participating in National Night Out, being held August 6, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. National Night out is a national event, bringing communities and police together under positive conditions, creating an exchange of ideas, and developing a partnership with citizens. The Valparaiso Police is inviting community members and neighborhood groups to organize events and activities as part of the national celebration. Valparaiso Police Officers and civilian staff will be visiting the planned activities in a variety neighborhoods throughout the city, to show their support of the citizens. Members of the department will include

The Valparaiso Police Department is again participating in National Night Out, being held August 6, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  National Night out is a national event, bringing communities and police together under positive conditions, creating an exchange of ideas, and developing a partnership with citizens. The Valparaiso Police is inviting community members and neighborhood groups to organize events and activities as part of the national celebration.  Valparaiso Police Officers and civilian staff will be visiting the planned activities in a variety neighborhoods throughout the city, to show their support of the citizens.  Members of the department will include K9,

The Indiana State Police is accepting applications for two Regional Dispatcher’s position at the Lowell Regional Dispatch Center which is located at 1550 East 181st Avenue, Lowell. The deadline for applications is Friday, July 12th, 2019. Specific job information can be found online by clicking here: https://www.in.gov/isp/3627.htm

The Indiana State Police is accepting applications for two Regional Dispatcher’s position at the Lowell Regional Dispatch Center which is located at 1550 East 181st Avenue, Lowell. The deadline for applications is Friday, July 12th, 2019. Specific job information can be found online by clicking here: https://www.in.gov/isp/3627.htm

The Office of the Attorney General successfully defended the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) this month against accusations brought by an inmate.In a federal jury trial in Indianapolis, an inmate accused the IDOC and private medical defendants of denying him adequate medical care for his acid reflux and other diagnosed conditions. The inmate claimed an IDOC official caused him harm by demonstrating deliberate indifference to his constitutional rights.After hearing testimony from the plaintiff, each defendant and two additional witnesses — and reviewing hundreds of exhibits entered at trial — the jury returned a verdict in favor of the state.