Local News

On March 26th, Mr. Randy Hurt was convicted by a jury for 3 Crimes Against Children. After a 3 day trial in Superior Court 1, the jury took 2 hours to convict Mr. Hurt of a Level 3 Felony, Level 5 Felony, and Level 6 Felony. Mr. Hurt will be sentenced at a later date by Judge Jamie Oss.   Mr. Hurt was originally charged in October 2024 after an investigation by the Michigan City Police Department. MCPD Detectives were informed after a report was made by relevant authorities. The scope of the investigation was facilitated by a forensic interview,

La PORTE COUNTY, IN – Registration is now open for The Salvation Army’s annual free summer camp opportunities. Children ages 6 to 17 who reside in La Porte County are eligible to attend camp through The Salvation Army, including six different camps that will take place at Hidden Falls Camp in Bedford, IN. The experience will be a three- to six-day overnight visit, depending on the camp. Kids Camp will be held June 8 to June 10 for children ages 6-8 (registration deadline is May 25); Discovery North Camp for children ages 8-14 will take place June 15 to June

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – Lubeznik Center for the Arts (LCA) and the Lindsey O’Brien Kesling (LOK) Wishing Tree Foundation are looking for artists ages 7 through 18 to exhibit in the annual LOK Young Artists Expo (YAE).   All artists must schedule a portfolio review before submitting artwork with LCA's Education Director, Nelsy Marcano. This is an informal review that may take place in person or online. All art reviews must be scheduled by Friday, May 8, 2026. To schedule your art review, contact Nelsy Marcano at nmarcano@lubeznikcenter.org or call 219.874.4900.   Quality artwork of any style and media is

Today Partly sunny, with a high near 56.   Tonight Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.   Monday Partly sunny, with a high near 64.   Monday Night A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Chance of precipitation is 60%.   Tuesday Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

In Lake County, an Indiana Department of Transportation contractor will close the intersection of U.S. 231 and Cline Avenue on or after Monday, March 30. U.S. 231 will be closed at the intersection for approximately two days while a new drainage structure is installed. U.S. 231 will then reopen for through traffic. During the first phase of roundabout construction, Cline Avenue will be closed north and south of the intersection of U.S. 231. Motorists should seek alternate routes. The posted detour will follow 101st Ave, Parrish Avenue and 117th Avenue. Roundabout construction will be ongoing through late September, with the

The South Shore has shared information on the Munster / Dyer Station, as service on the Monon Corridor begins Tuesday, March 31. “The station address is on Allison Road, but parking access is off Main Street,” the SSL stated on their Facebook page. “Please note that there is no access to the station via the neighborhood on Allison Road. ADA parking and kiss-and-ride are located south of the station, while the main parking lot is west of the station.” The South Shore has shared a map for clarification on exactly where to go before your trip.

The Indiana State Police Lowell Post is sharing the results of a targeted traffic enforcement blitz conducted this past weekend by troopers assigned to the Lowell Post. Police say the initiative took place along the I‑80/94 corridor in Lake County and I-65 in Lake and Jasper Counties and focused on reducing impaired and dangerous driving behaviors during peak overnight hours. During the enforcement period, officers recorded the following outcomes: • 20 arrests • 7 Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) arrests • 10 reckless driving violations • 58 warnings issued • 85 Uniform Traffic Tickets (UTTs) • 17 police service calls handled • 4 crash reports

The City of Valparaiso's Yard Waste collection begins March 30 and Leaf Collection begins April 6. The city says crews will work through the four zones multiple times to allow residents the opportunity to get loose leaves out to the parkways. Contact the Valparaiso City Services Customer Service Center at 219-462-6174 for any further questions or details. To learn your zone, visit the interactive map at https://gisvalpo.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/lookup/index.html?appid=1247845632fe40db83b0623369eb77d6

Passengers are advised that the western parking lot at Hammond Gateway will be closed for a special event Sunday, March 29, through Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Between March 29-31, passengers should utilize the Hammond Gateway eastern parking lot or additional overflow lots. All other parking in the Hammond Gateway western lot will be prohibited during this time, and vehicles remaining in the lot will be towed to the former Hammond Station parking lot if necessary (4531 Hohman Ave, Hammond, IN 46320). The Hammond Gateway Station building and adjacent ADA Accessible parking will remain open. We thank passengers for their cooperation.

Several rabbits were saved from a fire Thursday afternoon thanks to the quick thinking of a La Porte County Sheriff's deputy. Sergeant Ryan Elcock responded to the fire located in the 3500 east block of CR 100 South. The sheriff’s office said that while a black cloud of smoke was billowing into the sky, Elcock discovered a building near the rear of the property in flames. Elcock spotted a hutch just feet away from the fire that contained a half dozen rabbits in various cages. He began moving the rabbits to safety and was soon assisted by a Good Samaritan.

Today Sunny, with a high near 46. North wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Tonight  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Sunday Partly sunny, with a high near 56. Sunday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Monday Partly sunny, with a high near 64. Monday Night A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

INDOT crews to close S.R. 49 on Monday, March 30 to clear storm debris JASPER COUNTY, Ind. - Indiana Department of Transportation maintenance crews will close State Road 49 between State Road 10 and State Road 14 on Monday, March 30 around 7 a.m. local time. The road is expected to be closed for approximately 12 hours while INDOT crews clear debris from the tornado earlier this month. The equipment needed to complete this work will require a full road closure for safety purposes. INDOT asks motorists to plan alternate routes. Through traffic should utilize other state routes such as

The City of Valparaiso announced the Flint Lake Culvert Replacement Project is scheduled to begin on March 30. The project will require closure of Calumet Avenue from Burlington Beach Road to E 600N for around eight weeks. This project will replace the failing culvert underneath Calumet Avenue with a new concrete box structure designed to provide many years of reliable use. The city is asking drivers to find alternate routes while this improvement moves forward.

After a successful military drill and marksmanship competition in Fort Wayne on Saturday, March 7, the cadets of Michigan City High School (MCHS) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) shifted gears and supported the community and MCHS on Saturday, March 14. They led the Michigan City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and then hustled back to MCHS to do parking control and provide the Color Guards for both Regional Basketball Championship games being held the same day. The cadets were also challenged academically as the third quarter of the school year ended on March 13. They concluded a unit

News Release, Indiana Department of Homeland Security: The Indiana Department of Homeland Security has opened applications to the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) for residents who incurred damage to their homes or property as a result of the March 10, 2026, severe storms and tornadoes in the following counties: Jasper Newton Starke The SDRF is intended to help with immediate needs. Funds are available for eligible applicants up to $25,000. "This disaster devastated these communities, any my priority is to help them rebuild their homes and properties that are the foundation of our great state," said Gov. Mike Braun. "Hoosiers

Today Partly sunny, with a high near 38. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 29. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 46. North wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Sunday Partly sunny, with a high near 56. Sunday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Monday Partly sunny, with a high near 64.

In Portage, Portage Avenue will be closed for railroad track repairs the week of March 30. No traffic will be able to cross the tracks. The Portage Police Department says to please seek alternate routes.

HERO FUND RECOGNIZES 18 PEOPLE WITH CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR HEROISM including a local hero from Ogden Dunes   At a marina dock in Portage, Indiana, on July 6, 2025, a 38-year-old man was in electrified water caused by a faulty connection between his boat and the marina’s power source in water about 6.5 feet deep and about 3 feet from the dock. The man had jumped in to help his dog that had slipped from his boat into the water and was in obvious distress. He felt a shock and alerted others, including Matthew Lubieniecki, 52, assistant manager, from Ogden

News Release by Indiana DNR: Governor Mike Braun and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced organizations in 17 Indiana counties will receive $1,484,960 in grants to fund 48 lake and stream projects through the Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) program. “Indiana’s lakes and streams are vital natural resources, supporting strong communities, wildlife habitat, and recreation,” said Governor Mike Braun. “Thanks to support from those getting out and enjoying Indiana’s scenic waterways, we’re proud to make sure that our Hoosier lakes and streams are well maintained for continued enjoyment now and for future generations.” Grants totaling $1,040,900 will support

The Starke County Sheiff's Office released the following information on two arrests that were made stemming from a burglary on a farm: On Friday, February 20, 2026, a Starke County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a report of theft at a farm located in the 3000 East block of 200 North in Knox. Upon investigation, it was determined that unknown suspect(s) entered a shop building on the property and removed several tools. Security footage was obtained, and a suspect vehicle was identified. The vehicle was traced to Tony Call, 37, of LaPorte. In coordination with detectives from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s