Local News

On Thursday September 6th Valparaiso High School Officials received information regarding a potential threat at the high school. School officials immediately notified Valparaiso Police of the potential threat. Valparaiso Police have opened an investigation regarding the threats and have since identified the individuals related to the investigation. Police continue to investigate. Police and school officials are releasing this information in attempt to dispel any misinformation (through social media and other media platforms) and to ease any public concerns regarding the safety at the Valparaiso High School. Police will be increasing patrols in and around the high school while they investigate

The Indiana Office of Energy Development (OED) announced that applications are being accepted from Indiana public school corporations for the Indiana Propane School Bus grant program. This marks the fourth round of grant funding made available by OED dedicated to propane school buses. Grant recipients will receive between 50 percent to 100 percent of the incremental cost difference between a new propane-powered school bus and a diesel or gasoline-powered school bus. To be eligible, Indiana public school corporations must own their own buses. Projects must involve the purchase of a minimum of two new propane school buses. Applicants must have

Following a years-long legal effort, Attorney General Curtis Hill prevailed in holding responsible for damages a public employee who bilked the City of Warsaw out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Former Street Superintendent Lacy Francis Jr. participated in a kickback scheme involving a private contractor, Pro Form Pipe Lining Co., and its owner, Marc Campbell. Francis helped the company win bids on 11 city projects involving installation of new lining for sewer pipes. The company deliberately overcharged for its work – sometimes by claiming to have done more work than what was actually performed – and shared the windfall

The Indiana Debate Commission announced the selection of Purdue University Northwest as the site of the first of two debates between U.S. Senate incumbent Democrat Joseph Donnelly and challengers, Republican Mike Braun and Libertarian Lucy Brenton. The debate will be held at 6 p.m. CDT on Monday, October 8 in the James B. Dworkin Student Services and Activities Complex on Purdue Northwest's Westville Campus located at 1401 S. U.S. Highway 421. Statement from Chancellor Thomas L. Keon: "It is an honor that the Indiana Debate Commission selected Purdue Northwest to host this most important debate for our state. Our interest

To accommodate passengers attending the Notre Dame vs. Ball State football game at 3:30p ET on Sept. 8, the South Shore Line and Transpo will offer FREE shuttle bus service between the South Bend International Airport and Notre Dame Stadium. Train #503 will carry eastbound passengers to the South Bend Airport prior to kick-off, arriving at 12:10p ET. Those South Shore Line passengers may then board a Transpo bus near the South Shore train platform at the Airport for the trip to the stadium. Passengers will be dropped off near the Eck Visitors Center/Bookstore on campus. For the return trip,

Mr. Barker was known for enjoying cigars, and the mansion will channel this piece of mansion history as they sample stogies in the mansion gardens during this casual evening event. Cost is $15 for this 18+ event which takes place on September 29th, 8-10 pm. Ticket price includes interpretation of Mansion smoking related artifacts, self- guided tour of the first floors, complimentary cigar, and an opportunity to relax at the Gold Leaf smoke lounge. Registration is required via Eventbrite. The Barker Mansion is located at 631 Washington Street in Michigan City. Visit www.barkermansion.com for details.

Thursday, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), and Congressman Pete Visclosky (IN-D-01) announced they wrote a letter to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in support of Northern Indiana Commuter Transit District’s (NICTD) South Shore West Lake expansion project. The letter was submitted along with the request from NICTD to the FTA to enter into the New Starts Engineering phase of the Capital Investment Grant program. The letter highlights their support for the project, which demonstrates how support from local communities and federal transportation infrastructure programs can maximize the return of private sector economic investments from taxpayer dollars.

The public is invited to attend an open house and guided hikes at Lydick Bog Nature Preserve near South Bend, on Friday, September 14th from 9:30am to noon EASTERN. A program will begin at 10am which will include an update on plans to improve public access amenities at the 176-acre preserve, which contains one of the last remaining bog habitats in Indiana. Lydick Bog Nature Preserve is not yet open to the public, so this event is an opportunity to see it on the guided hikes, which will follow the program. Light refreshments will be provided. The entrance to the

Attorney General Curtis Hill announced that he has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate the death sentence of Fredrick Baer, a man convicted of brutally slashing to death a 4-year-old girl and her young mother. After being convicted of murder, attempted rape and theft, Baer was sentenced to death. His convictions and sentence were twice affirmed by the Indiana Supreme Court, and a federal district court denied Baer’s request for habeas corpus. Now, several years later, a three-judge panel from the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Baer was entitled to habeas relief in the form of

The Valparaiso Police Department is issuing a traffic alert for Saturday due to the annual Popcorn Festival downtown Valparaiso. Many roadways throughout the city will have heavier than normal traffic and many roadways especially in the morning will be closed for the Popcorn Panic Run and Popcorn Parade. Downtown roadways will begin closing Friday evening. Starting at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, Lincolnway from downtown west to Campbell St. then north on Campbell to Glendale will be completely closed to traffic for the Popcorn Panic race/walk. Roadways will re-open shortly after the race/walk concludes and then re-close just prior to

Rittenhouse Village at Michigan City celebrated another big success with team WIMS Radio on Wednesday! Their 7th Annual Classic Car Show had an epic turnout with great weather! Rittenhouse hosted a complimentary cookout by Executive Chef Andersen and in the first 40 minutes Chef Andersen handed out 200 hamburgers! The event started at 11 with a live broadcast from WIMS and ended at 1pm. This year Rittenhouse hosted 36 stunning Classic Rides, 3 Antique Tractors and one Grain Truck. The crowd of over 300 reminisced and admired the event car by car. Thanks to Rittenhouse for making the event come

Yesterday, Attorney General Curtis Hill announced Indiana has joined a coalition of 15 states and the District of Columbia in a friend-of-the-court brief in a U.S. Supreme Court case that could make it more difficult for police to do their jobs. The brief urges the Court to overrule a lower court and hold that a police officer is not subject to a retaliatory-arrest suit when the officer had probable cause to make an arrest. The brief explains that a contrary ruling would constrain officers’ ability to protect the public, including through community policing. “The safety of families and neighborhoods across

Mayor Ron Meer along with Chief Mark Swistek are pleased to announce the support of the “THIN BLUE LINE” – National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum in Washington D.C. In support of fallen Police Officers and their families across the nation, Mayor Meer and Chief Swistek authorized funds through the Drug Forfeiture Seizure program to help fund this symbolic Museum designed to feel what it is like in the shoes of law enforcement. This Museum shares the vibrant story of American Law Enforcement and honors all who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the protection of our country. This new

Forty-eight appellate and trial court judges will visit with nearly 3,000 students across the state in celebration of Constitution Day. Indiana courts are recognizing the anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution (September 17, 1787) with a program that brings judges into schools. In LaPorte County, Judge Thomas Alevizos was at LaPorte High School. Magistrate W. Jonathan Forker will be at Kesling Middle School. Magistrate Pamela Munsey will be at Kesling Middle School. In Porter County, Magistrate Mary DeBoer will be at Immanuel Lutheran School. Some schools in Lake and St. Joseph Counties will also be taking part.

Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson is reminding eligible voters that September 2018 is National Voter Registration Month. Hoosiers who need to register should do so at www.Indianavoters.com or on a smartphone using the Indiana Voters app. The nation’s Secretaries of State established September as National Voter Registration Month in 2002 to encourage voter participation and increase awareness of state requirements and deadlines for voting. Eligible citizens who are 18 years of age or older may sign up at their county voter registration office, online at www.IndianaVoters.com, or through the Indiana Voters app (available for Android and Apple users). The deadline to register

The Big Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Great Lakes Grand Prix powerboat race celebrated its milestone 10th anniversary last month with yet another milestone – visitors to the event pumped more than $12.4 million into LaPorte County’s economy, the highest amount ever and $2 million more than last year’s event. In addition, a report summarizing the figures, released by the Visit Michigan City LaPorte, shows an all-time high attendance of more than 190,000 people for the three-day event, held Aug. 2-5.  “We couldn’t be happier with the outcome,” said Jack Arnett, executive director of Visit Michigan City/LaPorte. “This event has become our

At its Annual Update Luncheon on September 12, 2018, Unity Foundation of La Porte County will support more than 80 local nonprofit projects by awarding over $138,000 in grant funding. Doors will open at 11:00 am for lunch and registration & the program will begin at 11:30 am. Unity board members will share a year in review and highlight milestone events that occurred with Unity’s help in 2017-2018. Guest speakers, Peggy Thomas, Principal at Edgewood Elementary, and Fonda Owens, Director at La Porte County Library, will share how Unity has impacted them and those they serve. Community “Power for Good”

Four people including a child were killed early Saturday morning in a wrong-way crash that also seriously injured three children. Emergency crews responded to the crash about 1:40 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of the Indiana Toll Road near the Grant Street exit in Gary, according to Indiana state police. A Toyota SUV was being driven west in the eastbound lanes without its headlines on, police said. It collided head-on with a Jeep SUV that had been traveling in the left lane. The driver of the Toyota, identified by a family member as 25 year old Tiara Davis of Calumet

On Sunday morning, The Michigan City Fire Department was dispatched to the 400 Block of Pleasant Avenue for a residence on fire from a possible explosion. Engine 2 located along Hwy 12 was first on scene and confirmed that the residence at 436 was on fire along with the home next door at 426 Pleasant. Engine 1 located at 10th & Ohio arrived soon after along with Engine 4 and Tower 1(Cleveland Ave). Engine 2 confirmed during their size up of the incident upon arrival that the residence at 436 was collapsed and the roof of the house was laying

The Federal Communications Commission has awarded Indiana more than $29 million to "close the digital divide" in rural areas. The office of Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch says the funding, which will be distributed over 10 years, will boost broadband speeds in more than 24,500 locations. Crouch adds "unserved and underserved rural areas in our state need high-speed, reliable Internet in order to keep Indiana’s economy thriving. Collaboration between federal, state and local entities will bring Indiana communities to the Next Level and I anticipate we will be working on building upon this progress." A total of 45 states received support