Local News

Four Barker Middle School students took part in the 66th Annual Northwestern Indiana Science and Engineering Fair presented by Valparaiso University and ArcelorMittal USA. The competition was held at Valparaiso Univeristy on Saturday, February 23. Seventh-grader Madison Gresham won several awards in the Junior Physical Science Division for her project, "Making Music with Bottles." They included: 1st Place, Junior Physical Science Division ($250 and a gold medal)Broadcom Masters Award, Outstanding Project ($50 and an invitation to Broadcom's National Science Competition)Ford STEM Award Outstanding STEM Project, ($100)Gresham will advance to the Hoosier State Science & Engineering Fair in Indianapolis on March 30. Eighth-grader Kayla

The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) announced that four students from Barker Middle School in Michigan City and five students from Area Career Center University in Hammond are among the finalists of the National History Day in Indiana (NHDI) northwest region contest held Saturday at Saint Mary’s College. Approximately 130 students took part in the contest, with all finalists advancing to the NHDI state contest, Saturday, April 13, at the University of Indianapolis. NHDI is a yearlong program dedicated to enhancing history education in Indiana's schools. Students in grades four through 12 explore a historical subject and then use their research

On Sunday at around 10:00 p.m., Valparaiso Police responded to a physical disturbance in-progress in the 1100 block of Park Ave. A male subject, who was bleeding from his face, was located in the common hallway of the apartment. It was soon learned that the male had been involved in a physical altercation with 49 year old Lawrence Zitt Jr., of Valparaiso. The male and a witness indicated Zitt Jr. attacked the subject, during which time the male’s face was cut with a small knife. Zitt Jr. exhibited various signs of intoxication, admitting he had consumed multiple alcoholic beverages when

A Franciscan Physician Network doctor’s success in using ultrasound from inside the vein to help remedy slow-healing leg wounds drew attention at an international conference last month.Dr. Michael Flisak made the presentation on Jan. 29 at the International Symposium of Endovascular Therapy in Hollywood, Fla. Dr. Flisak shared his original data on the process of wound closure or lower extremity venous ulcer therapy. A venous skin ulcer is a sore on the leg that is very slow to heal, often due to poor circulation.Dr. Flisak said recent studies have shown that all patients with venous ulcers in their legs should

The next PFLAG (Parents, Family, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) Michigan City and LaPorte County Chapter meeting is Thursday, February 28th, at 6:30 pm at the Artspace Uptown Artist Lofts in the Uptown Arts District in Michigan City. According to PFLAG, anything and everything talked about at the meetings remains in the meetings. Meetings are for those 18 years of age and over—are usually held the fourth Thursday of the month except for November (due to Thanksgiving) and December (due to Christmas) from 6:30 to 8 pm and will always include advocacy, education, and support. PFLAG meets at the

A driver of a church bus drove up and onto an earth embankment on the Indiana Toll Road causing passengers on the bus to be injured when tossed/thrown from their seats. Preliminary investigation by Trooper Kenneth Payonk revealed at approximately 10:37 P.M., Monday, February 25th, a 1998 Motor Coach Industries bus, owned by Jesus Saves Missionary Baptist Church in Gary, and driven by Wilton B. Carr, 82 of Gary, was east bound in the right lane on I-80/90 (Indiana Toll Road) at the 9.6 mile marker (this is just before the Cline Avenue exit) when he drove straight off the

U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) on Friday announced that the President has signed the National FFA Organization's Federal Charter Amendments Act into law. This bill will update and modernize the charter for the Future Farmers of America (FFA) to better reflect agriculture education in the 21st Century.The National FFA Organization's Federal Charter Amendments Act updates the FFA’s charter to allow for regional diversity among student officer vice presidents. Additionally, the legislation provides governing flexibility for national officers in order to reduce operational delays caused by vacant seats.The amendments to the charter will better align FFA's purpose with the innovative and

A roll over semi, early Monday morning, on I-65 had the left lane closed for almost three hours.Preliminary investigation by Trooper John Landowski revealed, at about 5:00 a.m.,a Kenworth, was going south bound on I-65 about 2 1/2 miles south of the Lowell exit, in the right lane, when the driver, 37 Victor Salazar, of Lincoln Park, Michigan, lost control of the semi for unknown reasons. The semi pulling a box trailer, loaded with aluminum bars, traveled southeast and rolled over into the grassy area on the left side of the interstate facing southwest on its left side. Damage was to

The Senate Judiciary Committee heard Sen. Bohacek’s SB 422 on habitability standards. The bill allows a tenant to terminate a rental agreement if the landlord fails to deliver the rental premises under certain conditions and requires the landlord to return to the tenant any amounts previously paid to the landlord; requires notice to a tenant regarding lease termination to include a statement about failure to pay fees; and provides that notice is not required to terminate a formal or informal lease in certain situations. At the hearing on February 20, the committee amended the bill to change “or fees” to

A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 29. 

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announces that a bridge deck replacement project is set to begin March 4 on U.S. 35 in the City of LaPorte. The bridge, which is adjacent to the courthouse in downtown LaPorte and just north of State Road 2 (Lincoln Way), will maintain one lane of traffic in each direction for the duration of the project. During the first phase, traffic will use the southbound side of the bridge while crews work on the northbound side. The eight-span bridge is approximately 1,100 feet long. The $9.3 million project is set to finish by the

The Greater La Porte Chamber of Commerce will host the State of the City at the La Porte Civic Auditorium, located at 1001 Ridge Street in La Porte, on March 8th. The Premier sponsor of this event is La Porte Hospital.The event will feature the State of the City Address by Mayor Mark Krentz. When asked what to expect from the Address, Mayor Krentz said, “celebrating the community, recognizing areas of progress and accomplishments while highlighting continued focus on safety, infrastructure improvements, growth and prosperity.” Registration will begin at 11:00 a.m. with lunch starting at 11:30 a.m. This year's event

As temperatures rise, and winter ice and snow recede from the roads, Hoosier drivers are tempted to increase their speeds and take more risks behind the wheel. The La Porte Police Department and about 230 law-enforcement agencies across Indiana are warning drivers of increased patrols this March for aggressive driving violations. Overtime traffic enforcement is funded through National Highway Traffic Safety Administration grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI). Failing to yield the right of way is one of the top causes of crashes that lead to injuries and deaths. Following too closely and unsafe lane movement violations

The Valparaiso Police responded to the report of a Burglary in the 400 block of Center St. at approximately 3:30 a.m. Sunday. Information provided to officers indicated that when the caller arrived at the residence, it was believed a subject was still inside of the home. It was soon learned the house had been checked; however, multiple locations of the home were found forced open or unsecured. Upon officers arriving to obtain further information, an unknown loose canine aggressively approached the first responding officer. The officer began to back away and the canine continued to charge toward him. For his

On Friday, Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced the launch of the Next Level Broadband program, which will dedicate $100 million to bridge the digital divide in rural areas of the state.Gov. Holcomb has asked Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, along with the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, to oversee the application program. The Indiana Department of Transportation will administer grant funding and provide technical support.For the initial round of funding, broadband providers can apply for up to $5 million to expand service to unserved areas if they provide at least a 20 percent match. Unserved areas are without at

The Valparaiso Police are investigating a Saturday night traffic crash in the area of Franklin St. and Harrison Blvd. where a female in a wheelchair was struck by a vehicle. The wheelchair was reported to be traveling north in the southbound lane of Franklin St., between Harrison Blvd. and McKinley St., when the crash occurred. The vehicle was traveling south in the dimly lit area and reported to not have seen the wheelchair. There is no indication that alcohol or drugs was a contributing factor to the crash. The patient was transported to Methodist Hospital—Northlake Campus in Gary for treatment.

The Senate Public Policy Committee heard Sen. Bohacek’s SB 12 on bias motivated crimes.  The bill makes it an aggravating circumstance (for purposes of imposing a criminal sentence) that a crime was committed with the intent to harm or intimidate an individual or a group of individuals because of certain perceived or actual characteristics of the individual or group of individuals. The bill also requires law enforcement agencies to report bias motivated crimes to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.The committee amended the bill to remove the following categories: political affiliation, status as a public safety official, status as a relative

The Greater La Porte Chamber of Commerce will host the State of the City at the La Porte Civic Auditorium, located at 1001 Ridge Street in La Porte, on March 8th. The Premier sponsor of this event is La Porte Hospital.The event will feature the State of the City Address by Mayor Mark Krentz. When asked what to expect from the Address, Mayor Krentz said, “celebrating the community, recognizing areas of progress and accomplishments while highlighting continued focus on safety, infrastructure improvements, growth and prosperity.” Registration will begin at 11:00 a.m. with lunch starting at 11:30 a.m. This year's event

U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) on Friday announced that the President has signed the National FFA Organization's Federal Charter Amendments Act into law. This bill will update and modernize the charter for the Future Farmers of America (FFA) to better reflect agriculture education in the 21st Century. The National FFA Organization's Federal Charter Amendments Act updates the FFA’s charter to allow for regional diversity among student officer vice presidents. Additionally, the legislation provides governing flexibility for national officers in order to reduce operational delays caused by vacant seats. The amendments to the charter will better align FFA's purpose with the

As temperatures rise, and winter ice and snow recede from the roads, Hoosier drivers are tempted to increase their speeds and take more risks behind the wheel. The La Porte Police Department and about 230 law-enforcement agencies across Indiana are warning drivers of increased patrols this March for aggressive driving violations. Overtime traffic enforcement is funded through National Highway Traffic Safety Administration grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI). Failing to yield the right of way is one of the top causes of crashes that lead to injuries and deaths. Following too closely and unsafe lane movement violations