Local News

Yesterday, Gov. Eric J. Holcomb announced the State of Indiana will award $750,000 in grants to support local coalitions across the state in their efforts to combat the drug crisis.Substance use coalitions in the following 10 counties will each receive a $75,000 grant to develop, improve and enhance their collaborative, evidence-based treatment and recovery initiatives:· Bartholomew County: Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress in Bartholomew County;· Cass County: Four County Counseling Center;· Clark County: Clark County Cares· Dearborn County: One Community One Family, and Dearborn County Recovery Oriented System of Care;· Hancock County: Hancock Health;· Howard County: Turning Point;· Knox County:

Yesterday, Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced the 2019 Girls Go CyberStart challenge, a skills-based competition designed to encourage girls to pursue cyber-based learning and career opportunities. Registration is now open.Indiana was one of 16 states to participate in the inaugural event hosted in 2018 by the SANS Institute. More than 6,500 girls participated, including more than 400 Hoosier high school students. This year, the program has expanded to 26 states, including a collegiate competition, and the organization provides free cybersecurity resources to interested schools.“Indiana is a proven cybersecurity leader and continues to grow its reputation as a national leader in

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security encourages Hoosiers to take the time to learn more about the effects of radiation and its safety implications as part of Radiation Awareness Week. “Most people are unaware of the fact that there is radiation all around us,” said Kaci Studer, radiation programs director for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security’s Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) program. “It occurs naturally in our environment, industries, hospitals and even our own homes.” According to the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), people receive most of their average annual radiation from natural sources in the environment, while approximately

Partly sunny, with a high near 30 degrees. Snow is expected to start in the overnight hours.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announces that guardrail and fiber optic repairs will take place Monday, Feb. 18, through Friday, Feb. 22, on I-65 in Lake County.Work will take place between mile markers 239 and 247, or between U.S. 231 and State Road 2. As a result of this work, some shoulder and lane closures will be in place.During the day, approximately 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.:Both the southbound and northbound inside shoulders will be closed while crews repair guardrail between SR 2 and U.S. 231.The southbound right shoulder will be closed for a two-mile stretch in that corridor

U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and 28 colleagues introduced bipartisan legislation to improve Medicare coverage for lymphedema patients. The Lymphedema Treatment Act would increase and improve care for Medicare beneficiaries with lymphedema by requiring Medicare Part B to cover physician-prescribed compression therapy garments, which are essential in the effective treatment of lymphedema.The Lymphedema Treatment Act would close an existing coverage gap and improve care for Medicare beneficiaries with lymphedema by ensuring that Medicare covers physician-prescribed compression therapy items under a new Durable Medical Equipment category. These items include multi-layer compression bandaging systems, custom or standard fit compression

The La Porte County Drug Task Force announces the arrest of 29 year old Scott A. Clemons Jr. of Michigan City following a lengthy investigation of a fatal heroin overdose. On the evening of November 21st , the Michigan City Police Department was dispatched to the 100 Block of N. Porter Street for an unconscious 31-year-old female. La Porte County  EMS, Michigan City Fire Department and personnel from uniform patrol shift II recognized that the female was suffering from a suspected heroin overdose.  The victim was transported to St. On February 12th, probable cause was found to charge Clemons with Dealing

People suffering from heartburn and acid reflux, especially after eating, can learn about new treatments and procedures in a free presentation on Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease, also known as GERD.Physicians David Fumo, MD, Thomas W. Shin, MD, and Sandra Wischmeyer, DO, will present the seminar and discuss the latest technology to diagnose and treat GERD at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 7, 2019, at Franciscan Health Michigan City, 3500 Franciscan Way.More than 60 million Americans have occasional heartburn and more than 15 million suffer from daily heartburn. GERD is caused by stomach acid refluxing into the esophagus, causing burning and

Cordaroll (a.k.a. Corey) D. Hicks is non-compliant on the Sheriff’s Office Sex & Violent Offender Registry. Hicks, classified as a “Sex Offender”, is wanted for Failure to Register as a Sex or Violent Offender with a prior conviction. Hicks is also a wanted person by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Attempts to locate Hicks have been unsuccessful. If anyone is familiar with Hicks, where he can be located, or if you think you have spotted him, please contact Sergeant Brett Swanson (Fugitive Apprehension Street Team) directly at 219-363-9623.

The gunman at the Illinois manufacturing business where five employees were killed and five police officers were wounded was being let go by the company, Aurora Chief of Police Kristen Ziman told reporters Friday night. The shooter, 45 year old Gary Martin, used a Smith & Wesson handgun, the chief said. He was killed after police found him attempting to hide and he fired on officers. The chaos at the workplace lasted 90 minutes, Ziman said. Five Aurora police officers and one employee suffered non-life-threatening injuries, Ziman said. In response to the devastating shooting in Aurora, Illinois a GoFundMe has

DOR Open for Business on Presidents’ Day Indiana state offices open on February 18, 2019INDIANAPOLIS – Despite federal offices being closed in observance of Presidents’ Day, the Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) will be open for business on Monday, February 18, 2019.“It is often a public misconception that state offices are closed on Presidents’ Day,” explained DOR Commissioner Adam Krupp. “We want our customers we know we are open for business and ready to serve.”All district offices and DOR phone lines will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. DOR Customer Service can be reached at 317-232-2240.DOR is also

Congressman Pete Visclosky (D-IN-1), Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (R-IN-2), and U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-IN) are pleased to announce that the 61st National Park in the United States and the first National Park for the state of Indiana is the Indiana Dunes National Park.Included in the signed law for the Fiscal Year 2019 Omnibus Appropriations legislation is a provision that retitles the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore as the Indiana Dunes National Park. Visclosky said, “This action provides our shoreline with the recognition it deserves, and I hope further builds momentum to improve open and public access to all of our region’s

A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly before 9am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 27. 

People suffering from heartburn and acid reflux, especially after eating, can learn about new treatments and procedures in a free presentation on Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease, also known as GERD.Physicians David Fumo, MD, Thomas W. Shin, MD, and Sandra Wischmeyer, DO, will present the seminar and discuss the latest technology to diagnose and treat GERD at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 7, 2019, at Franciscan Health Michigan City, 3500 Franciscan Way.More than 60 million Americans have occasional heartburn and more than 15 million suffer from daily heartburn. GERD is caused by stomach acid refluxing into the esophagus, causing burning and

Congressman Pete Visclosky (D-IN-1), Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (R-IN-2), and U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-IN) are pleased to announce that the 61st National Park in the United States and the first National Park for the state of Indiana is the Indiana Dunes National Park.

Cordaroll (a.k.a. Corey) D. Hicks is non-compliant on the Sheriff’s Office Sex & Violent Offender Registry. Hicks, classified as a “Sex Offender”, is wanted for Failure to Register as a Sex or Violent Offender with a prior conviction. Hicks is also a wanted person by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Attempts to locate Hicks have been unsuccessful. If anyone is familiar with Hicks, where he can be located, or if you think you have spotted him, please contact Sergeant Brett Swanson (Fugitive Apprehension Street Team) directly at 219-363-9623.

Members Advantage Credit Union (MACU) donated $500 to the Steady Stitchers in an effort to aid people in need in the local community. The Steady Stitchers, a local non-profit organization, has been operating for over nine years. Through generous donations of fabric and finances, volunteers are able to use their sewing skills to create various items for fellow residents who need help or are going through a difficult time. The Steady Stitchers holds four community “Lend A Hand” events per year at the LaPorte County Fairgrounds. During Lend A Hand, they are at the fairgrounds from 9am - 9pm, and community

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

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson awarded $74 million to hundreds of public housing authorities across the country to continue helping public housing residents participating in the Housing Choice Voucher Program and/or reside in public housing to increase their earned income and reduce their dependency on public assistance and rental subsidies. Over $1.2 million was awarded to public housing authorities across the State of Indiana. Read more about the local impact of the grants announced yesterday .These grants renew HUD’s support of 689 public housing authorities through the Department’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program. HUD’s FSS

DOR offers free tax filing for both state and federal taxesPaying to file taxes is the last expense college students plan for, and why should they when thousands of students qualify to file their taxes for free with Indiana’s free filing program for qualified taxpayers? Indiana free file (INfreefile) allows anyone with an adjusted gross income of $66,000 or less in 2018 to file federal and state tax returns online at no cost, using the same question-and-answer style software many others pay to use.“Filing taxes can be a challenge to college students,” commented DOR Commissioner Adam Krupp. “Some students may