Local News

HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Purdue University Northwest (PNW) will host the “Roaring Back to School” school-supply giveaway events from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7, on both the Hammond and Westville campuses. The events offer area K-12 students an opportunity to gather the supplies they need for a successful academic year. The events are free and open to families with children in kindergarten through 12th grade who are from local school districts in the surrounding communities. Attendees will be able to visit various supply stations to pick up essential items, including notebooks, folders, pens, pencils, crayons, glue

LA PORTE COUNTY, Ind. - Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Dunnet Bay Construction Company will conduct overnight lane closures on I-94 between U.S. 421 and U.S. 20/35 beginning on or after Thursday, July 31. Lane closures will take place during the overnight hours of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. I-94 is currently reduced to two lanes through the work zone so this will further reduce traffic to one lane during these timeframes. Overnight lane closures are scheduled for eastbound I-94 Thursday, July 31 and Friday, August 1. Westbound I-94 is scheduled to have overnight lane closures Thursday, August 7 and

UNITED WE RISE is a celebration of our collective commitment to uplifting La Porte County and a concerted effort to raise the funds necessary to help everyone in our community thrive. United Way of La Porte County provides funding to several local partner agencies whose commitment to HEALTHY COMMUNITY, YOUTH OPPORTUNITY, FINANCIAL SECURITY, and COMMUNITY RESILIENCY is proven through dedicated work and impactful outcomes. Your support of UNITED WE RISE directly funds these organizations. You can choose to amplify a partner that is especially important to you by helping them complete exciting quests and challenges on social media that will

La Porte, July 29, 2025 - Link Up Program Participants will present a Live Concert, with teachers and students nationwide for the 2025–2026 season. In collaboration with Carnegie Hall the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra is participating in Link Up The Orchestra Swings, a music education program provided by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute (WMI), during the 2025–2026 season. The nearly 5,000 students participating in the Link Up curriculum will attend a culminating concert on October 8, 2025 at the La Porte Civic Auditorium where they sing and play the recorder or the violin with the orchestra from their seats. This

VALPARAISO, IND. — The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application is available in Porter County through the Porter County Community Foundation (PCCF). Three students will receive the scholarship beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (LECSP) awards may be used for otherwise unreimbursed full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and equipment for four years of undergraduate study on a full-time basis leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. The program, administered statewide by Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI)

In Newton County, there are lane closures on U.S. 24 between C.R. 150 W and C.R. 50 E. U.S. 24 is reduced to one lane with flaggers directing traffic during daytime work hours. Work is ongoing through approximately Aug.18 for small structure maintenance and repair. INDOT encourages drivers to allow extra time when traveling through this area and follow traffic directions carefully.

A Gary man died after being struck by a vehicle on I-65 according to the Indiana State Police. On Saturday, July 26, at approximately 11:57 p.m., Troopers responded to a multi-vehicle crash on I-65, southbound lanes at the 254 mile-marker. This location is approximately one mile north of U.S. 30 and was under a multi-lane shift for a construction zone. Preliminary investigation shows that the driver of a black 2005 Cadillac had attempted to pull over to the right and was partially stopped in the right lane due to there being a lack of an emergency shoulder. The driver of

Press Release, City of Valparaiso: To promote neighborhood engagement and foster stronger connections within the community, the City of Valparaiso is hosting a Neighborhood Workshop & Summer Social on Tuesday, August 19 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Forest Park Welter Room, 1155 Sheffield Dr. This engaging event is designed for both established neighborhood leaders and residents who want to get more involved in their neighborhoods. In addition to a welcome from Mayor Jon Costas, the workshop will be interactive, with small-group discussions on key topics such as neighborhood improvement grants and resources, partnership- building and leadership development. “We’re

Press Release, Indiana Department of Education:  INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) is pursuing a new opportunity to reduce federal red tape and increase state-level control over how federal education funds are used. Through a proposed waiver from the U.S. Department of Education (USED), Indiana is seeking flexibility from specific requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)—with a continued focus on student progress and achievement. Before the waiver is formally submitted, Hoosiers are invited to review the state’s proposed plan and provide feedback. “As a state, we are uniquely positioned to work closely with our local schools

Gunfire-The Michigan City Police Department is investigating a shooting in which two local 21-year-old men were targeted near a gas station The Michigan City Police Department is investigating a shooting in which two local 21-year-old men were targeted near the BP gas station at 1302 E. Michigan Blvd. at around 3:25 a.m. on Saturday. Neither of the men was injured by the gunfire. However, the police station was struck multiple times, damaging the exterior door of the main lobby and a second-floor office window. Investigating officers verified no other people were injured or properties damaged in the shooting, which is

Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) announced last week that Indiana food banks will receive a combined total of $2 million to support their efforts in feeding Hoosiers in need. “More people than we realize are suffering from food insecurity,” Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development said. “These donations support Hoosier families and individuals, and I’m grateful we are able to provide financial support to 11 local food banks.” According to Feeding Indiana’s Hungry (FIH), nearly 1,034,000 Hoosiers, including 1 in 5 children, experienced food insecurity in 2023, the

In La Porte County, there will be two consecutive road closures on State Road 4. State Road 4 will first be closed between C.R. 925 E and C.R. 1000 E beginning on or after Thursday, July 31 through mid-September for a bridge deck overlay preventative maintenance project over the Kankakee River.State Road 4 will then close between C.R. 500 E and Taylor Rd through mid-November for a bridge deck overlay preventative maintenance project over the Little Kankakee River. These projects were originally announced with lane closures and temporary signals directing traffic, but this traffic design was determined to not be

A Series of Resident Information Sessions Across La Porte County Provides Future Cooperative Rental Community Residents with Information MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA: Homeward Bound Villages, a cooperative rental and affordable housing organization, will hold information sessions to educate and inform future Karwick Village residents on cooperative-style housing at Karwick Village. Construction began on Karwick Village, La Porte County’s first cooperative rental community, in March of 2025. For those interested in becoming future residents, this is the first step in the application process. “This has been a long process of planning, fundraising, and building to be able to open the resident selection process

LAPORTE COUNTY, Ind. - The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a road closure for State Road 39 between C.R. 1750 S and C.R. 1800 S beginning on or after Tuesday, July 29. State Road 39 will be closed for approximately five days while the railroad crossing is worked on in this location. Motorists should seek alternate routes. The official detour will follow State Road 8, U.S. 35 and U.S. 30.

Press Release by Indiana Department of Education:  Indiana leaders continue to gather feedback from Hoosier stakeholders to refocus the future of K-12 accountability in Indiana. The first draft, presented in June, seeks to provide a transparent A-F accountability model focused on preparing students for the future. The draft rule will continue to be refined and updated over the next several months. “The first draft of the accountability rule reflects Indiana’s shared commitment to preparing students for lifelong success, regardless of their path ahead,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “As the accountability rulemaking process continues, we are committed

The Barker Mansion Presents-Mansion After Hours: From Parlor to Heirloom- Silver Traditions of a Gilded Age Family  Join us for an elegant evening at the Barker Mansion and introduction to the special exhibit, “From Parlor to Heirloom: Silver Traditions of a Gilded Age Family” on Thursday, July 31st at 6pm. The evening program will feature an in-depth discussion and tour of the Barker family silver exhibit led by Greg Kuharic, a Private Art Dealer, Appraiser and Consultant. Highlighting pieces from the exhibit, Greg will explore the significance of silver in both domestic and social life during the Gilded Age. The discussion will

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind.  — The Michigan City Parks and Recreation Department has launched a new mobile tool trailer to support neighborhood groups and local organizations in hosting community cleanup events. The trailer is available by reservation with at least two weeks’ notice and comes fully stocked with shovels, rakes, gloves, litter pickers, safety vests, cones and other essential cleanup supplies. Interested groups must submit a reservation agreement through the Parks Department outlining the event details and their commitment to tool safety and accountability. Parks Department staff hope this new resource will energize residents who are eager to improve the appearance

Michigan City Parks & Recreation announced that starting Monday, July 28, there will be limited parking due to Lot 1 (main lot) being closed/blocked off for the boats participating in the 2025 Great Lakes Grand Prix. The lot will be closed/blocked off until the following Monday, August 4. The Great Lakes Grand Prix is taking place July 28 – Aug. 3. See the events tab on wimsradio.com for more information.

The South Shore Line released the following statement on Friday: Press Statement: Today marks one year since the tragic accident at Hegewisch Station, where Grace Bentkowski lost her life. Our hearts remain with her family, friends, and loved ones as they continue to navigate this difficult time. Since the accident, the South Shore Line engaged a nationally recognized engineering firm that specializes in grade-crossing diagnostics to conduct a thorough evaluation of our pedestrian at-grade crossings to determine if any additional safety enhancements should be considered beyond those required by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). This assessment examines key safety considerations, including

The completion of the Babcock road repaving is being delayed, according to the Town of Chesterton, who stated the following on social media: "What contractor Rieth-Riley Construction Company is calling an 'industry-wide shortage of slag'—an essential material in the manufacture of asphalt—is expected to delay completion of the repave of Babcock Road north of C.R. 1050N. "Rieth-Riley has put down an intermediate surface coat, so Babcock Road between C.R. 1050N and Fairway Drive is navigable, but it may be as long as two weeks before the contractor can apply the final surface coat, Chesterton Street Commissioner John Schnadenberg said. "The