Local News

The Michigan City Police Released the following information and statement on strategies towards reducing neighborhood gun violence:“The Michigan City Police Department announces our strategies towards reducing neighborhood gun violence. To accomplish this mission it is very important that we mobilize the community to accomplish this goal. We ask that city residents assist us by reporting suspicious behavior. Outlined below are strategies that we have implemented. Please share your thoughts, thank you.” 1. Citywide strategy involving Law Enforcement personnel, government officials, schools, minister / pastor alliances, and most importantly family engagement through responsible parenting. Family engagement is a very important component

South Shore Line will be offering 10% discounts on monthly passes during the month of March.During the polar vortex, South Shore Line services were suspended for several days due to the extreme temperatures. Crews ran tests throughout the day and night during this time to determine whether rail lines were safe. Unfortunately, the record-breaking temperatures caused problems ranging from downed electrical lines on South Shore Line’s tracks to damage on Metra Electric District tracks that the SSL runs on in Illinois, resulting in cancelled service on both train lines. Metra and South Shore Line crews worked around the clock to

Portage Police say they received a report of some form of a disturbance involving a gun at a residence on Airport Road, arriving police observed that Kyle Elementary had students at recess and instructed the school to bring the kids inside and initiate a lockdown. They also established a line of police officers across the edge of the school grounds. Chief Troy Williams stated, “ It’s my understanding PTS instructed their other schools to also go on lockout.”After speaking with a woman and her brother, another male subject who was initially reported to be present had left prior to officers'

The Porter County Sheriff's Office 14th Annual Foot Pursuit 5k is currently open for registration online at www.Thtiming.com until 7:00pm February 28th and the day of the race. The race is Saturday March 2, 2019 at 9:00am at Sunset Hill County Park. Proceeds from the race benefit the Timothy Hecht Scholarship, which is given every year to several students pursuing a degree in the field of Law Enforcement.

Michigan City Police made the following statement on Proper Gun Safety, “The Michigan City Police Department along with Chief Mark Swistek, in conjunction with our Violent Crime Reduction Initiative, would like to remind citizens of proper gun ownership guidelines. We have had numerous occurrences of guns being stolen from open areas to include homes and vehicles. Many times, we have discovered that the owners do not know their make, model or serial number of missing or stolen weapons. We also have found that improper, unsafe storage of weapons has been occurring based on the reports that have been filed. TOP

Yesterday Gov. Holcomb announced Aleksandra Dimitrijevic as his appointment to the Lake County Superior Court. She will succeed Judge Jesse Villalpando. Dimitrijevic has served in a variety of positions at the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office for more than 15 years, including currently as a violent crimes prosecuting attorney. She earned a Bachelor of Science from Boston University and her law degree from Indiana University McKinney School of Law. Dimitrijevic will be sworn in as Judge of the Lake County Superior Court on a date to be determined.

The Indiana State Board of Education (Board) met yesterday for its monthly business meeting.The Board considered intervention for Wendell Phillips Elementary School. The school, part of Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), is known as Matchbook Learning at Wendell Phillips 63 and has received six consecutive F ratings. The Board unanimously approved IPS’s proposed plan to improve the school through the creation of an innovation network school operated by Matchbook Learning.Members voted unanimously to approve Gov. Holcomb’s request to name Dr. Lee Ann Kwiatkowski as executive director of the Board. She will serve in a dual role, continuing her work as senior

Rain, mainly after 4pm. Patchy fog before 4pm. High near 49.  In the overnight hours, temperature will drop to single digits with wind chills of -10.

South Shore Line service updates will be in effect to accommodate passengers wishing to attend the Chicago Auto Show taking place Feb. 9-18, 2019, at McCormick Place. An eastbound passenger extra will run on Saturday, Feb. 9, and Saturday, Feb. 16. The train will depart McCormick Place at 4:52 p.m., run non-stop to Hegewisch and make all local stops terminating at Carroll Avenue, Michigan City. This train will not serve Hudson Lake or South Bend. For additional information on weekday trains for the Chicago Auto Show visit mysouthshoreline.com

For the safety of vehicles and pedestrians the Northbound lane at the Franklins Street Bridge will remain closed for an undetermined amount of time. This is due to unforeseen repairs that need to be completed. La Porte County Highway Department has installed the necessary barricades and signage.

Did you know you may be able to file both your state and federal taxes electronically for free? The Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) offers Indiana free file (INfreefile) that allows taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $66,000 or less in 2018 to use question-and-answer style software from trusted vendors to file their taxes online. If you have any questions about your return, you may contact DOR at 317-232-2240, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., EST or via email at individualassistance@dor.in.gov For more information visit: https://www.in.gov/dor/4578.htm

One year ago this month, Purdue University Northwest (PNW) acquired the 300-acre Taltree Arboretum & Gardens in Valparaiso, Indiana through a donation of the $12 million preserve by founders Damien and Rita Gabis and the Taltree board of directors. The arboretum was soon renamed Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest in tribute to the Gabis family's generosity, and plans to build on the Gabis' founding vision for the arboretum quickly started. "Since accepting the generous gift of Gabis Arboretum, we've realized that the opportunities for expanding Purdue Northwest's vision and impact in Northwest Indiana through this magnificent resource are limitless," said

Mayor Ron Meer is proud to announce the City of Michigan City’s recent inclusion in the State of Indiana’s Lead-based paint remediation program which is sponsored by Medicaid and administered through the Indiana State Department of Health. Home owners, Landlords, and Renters who live in a home, or own a home, built before 1978 can receive a free home inspection to determine if the residents are being exposed to lead-based paint hazards. Homes providing child care are also eligible for this service. If lead-based paint exists, this program will also pay for removal of the lead hazard. To be eligible

Financial aid professionals will be volunteering at 39 sites in Indiana to help college-bound students and their families open the door to financial aid during College Goal Sunday. The event is set for 2 p.m. (local time), February 24, 2019. The free program assists Indiana students in filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA form is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, scholarships and student loans at most colleges, universities and vocational/technical schools nationwide. The FAFSA MUST be filed by April 15 to be eligible for Indiana financial aid. College Goal

Join Barker Mansion in Michigan City Thursday, February 7, 2019 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, from their monthly lecture series on the social history of the Gilded Age, with craft beer served. The lecturer this month is Dr. Kevin Ostoyich, the chair of the history department at Valparaiso University. Dr. Ostoyich will be speaking on the history of the Shanghai Jews; Jewish refugees who escaped Nazi Germany to Shanghai in the late 1930s. The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information please call the Barker Mansion at 219-873-1520 or visit www.barkermansion.com.

A Chesterton woman suffered head trauma when her car was involved in a hit and run causing her vehicle to roll over four times Tuesday morning. Preliminary investigation by Master Trooper Dwayne Halliburton revealed at approximately 6:22 a.m., on I-80/94 west bound at Ripley Street, a Ford Explorer, driven by 39 year old Melissa Long, of Chesterton was in the left lane when a white Kia who was in the middle lane attempted to change lanes to the left. The Kia sideswiped the Ford causing the Explorer to lose control. The Ford went off the roadway into the concrete median

South Shore Line will be offering 10% discounts on monthly passes during the month of March.During the polar vortex, South Shore Line services were suspended for several days due to the extreme temperatures. Crews ran tests throughout the day and night during this time to determine whether rail lines were safe. Unfortunately, the record-breaking temperatures caused problems ranging from downed electrical lines on South Shore Line’s tracks to damage on Metra Electric District tracks that the SSL runs on in Illinois, resulting in cancelled service on both train lines. Metra and South Shore Line crews worked around the clock to

Rain is expected all day throughout the day with temperatures reaching 39 degrees. Watch for ice in the overnight hours.

Mayor Ron Meer is proud to announce the City of Michigan City’s recent inclusion in the State of Indiana’s Lead-based paint remediation program which is sponsored by Medicaid and administered through the Indiana State Department of Health. Home owners, Landlords, and Renters who live in a home, or own a home, built before 1978 can receive a free home inspection to determine if the residents are being exposed to lead-based paint hazards. Homes providing child care are also eligible for this service. If lead-based paint exists, this program will also pay for removal of the lead hazard. To be eligible

It is often said that the best things in life are free, so why should tax season be an exception? Customers with an adjusted gross income of $66,000 or less in 2018 may be eligible to file both state and federal taxes at no cost with the Indiana Department of Revenue’s (DOR) free-file program (INfreefile). INfreefile is in its 16th year of offering free online tax filing services to Hoosiers, using the same electronic question-and-answer style vendor software most customers pay to use. Filing electronically results in faster refunds with customers typically getting their refunds in about two to three