Local News

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – The 44th annual Lubeznik Arts Festival in Michigan City, Ind. will showcase over 80 artists who work in a variety of media on Saturday and Sunday, August 15 and 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Central).   The festival draws all ages from the Northwest Indiana region, Southwest Michigan and beyond to Lubeznik Center for the Arts' (LCA) grounds and galleries at 101 W. 2nd Street.   Festival-goers can enjoy fine arts and crafts from artists from across the U.S., indoor exhibits by contemporary artists, family activities, live demos, beer and wine, local food vendors

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) has launched a new public facing 988 Indiana crisis dashboard that provides greater visibility into the state’s crisis system performance and service delivery. The dashboard features key metrics including call volume, response times and other indicators used to monitor the effectiveness of Indiana’s crisis response system while supporting data driven decision making and accountability. Since the transition to the three-digit 988 number in July 2022, Indiana has continued building a comprehensive behavioral health crisis response system focused on ensuring Hoosiers can quickly access support, resources and treatment when they need it most. Dr.

STARKE AND MARSHALL COUNTIES, Ind. - Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Rieth-Riley Construction Co Inc will change the traffic configuration on U.S. 30 between U.S. 35 and Union Rd as early as the evening of Wednesday, July 22. Construction operations are wrapping up on the eastbound lanes, which are currently closed for paving. Crews are working on guardrails, shoulder corrugations, and temporary striping. Once complete, changes will be made to facilitate traffic switching to one lane in each direction on the eastbound side of U.S. 30. Due to the setup of two-way traffic on the same side of the roadway, motorists

STATEHOUSE – Today the State Board of Finance voted unanimously to approve reimbursement for the April and May collections to Indiana’s counties, cities and towns related to Governor Mike Braun’s temporary Gas Tax Holiday and the goal to make local units whole. The Indiana State Comptroller’s Office will begin issuing payments to local government partners today so that the full roadway‑funding revenue they would have otherwise collected during those months is restored. Distributions for the remaining months affected will occur pending future State Board of Finance approval. All reimbursements are expected to be completed by Nov. 1. A total of

Michigan City Area Schools said Monday that their annual PowerSchool system rollover has been completed, and the PowerSchool system, including the Parent Portal, is now available. MCAS says Families can now log in to complete updates and enroll their students for the upcoming school year. “Our staff is here to help ensure every family is ready for the new school year,” MCAS said on their Facebook page.

On July 18th at approximately 5:44 P.M., the LaPorte County E-911 Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call regarding a person that was stabbed inside a residence in the 900 block of Ohio Street. Officers from Uniform Patrol Shift 2 and the Evidence Response Unit responded to the scene where they located a 19-year-old male suffering from a puncture wound to the back. LaPorte County EMS transported the victim to Franciscan Health Hospital in Michigan City with a life-threatening injury. A 13-year-old juvenile male was located inside the residence and detained by officers. Detectives from the Investigative Division responded to

BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... * WHAT...High wave action, strong currents, and life-threatening swimming conditions expected. Piers will be heavily swamped by waves. * WHERE...Northern La Porte county. * WHEN...From this evening through Thursday morning. * IMPACTS...Strong currents can pull swimmers into deeper water and high waves can sweep people off piers. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions. Do not venture out on piers. ****************************************************************************************** Today A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.   Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a

There will be overnight lane closures on I-94 between State Road 49 (exit/mile marker 26) and U.S. 20/35 (exit/mile marker 40) over the next two weeks, and a new traffic configuration between mile marker 29-34 put in place this week. Alternating lane closures will occur on I-94 between State Road 49 and U.S. 421 during the overnight hours of 9pm-5am starting on or after Tuesday, July 21 to set up a new traffic configuration. In the new traffic configuration, eastbound traffic will return to the eastbound side of I-94, with two lanes shifted to the right starting on or after

Goshen Man Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison For Unlawful Possession of a Firearm SOUTH BEND – On July 15, 2026, Luis Garcia, 25 years old, of Goshen, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to possession of a machinegun and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Garcia was sentenced to 63 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. “The Defendant will serve over five years in prison after he flashed a machine gun at another person inside a bar.

Stuart C. Pawloski March 9, 1966 - July 18, 2026 Stuart C. Pawloski, 60, of Michigan City, Indiana, passed away on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 11:25 a.m. at Northwest Health-La Porte in La Porte, Indiana. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel, 418 Washington Street, Michigan City, Indiana, is assisting the family with arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Joseph Young Men's Society, 2001 Franklin Street, Michigan City, IN 46360. To sign the guest book or leave online condolences, please visit www.otthaverstock.com.

CHESTERTON, Ind. (July 20, 2026) – The Duneland Chamber of Commerce honored the businesses, organizations, and individuals making a lasting impact across the Duneland community during its Annual Community Awards Luncheon on July 16 at the Spa Special Events Center in Porter. Each year, the Community Awards recognize those whose work has strengthened the community through business investment, volunteerism, public service, and leadership. During this year's luncheon, Linnea Forchetti was named the 2026 Duneland Distinguished Woman, an honor recognizing a woman whose dedication, leadership, and service have made a meaningful impact on the Duneland community. 2026 Community Award Honorees New Construction

AIR QUALITY ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT MONDAY NIGHT The officials at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management have declared an Air Quality Action Day, in effect until midnight CDT Monday night. An Air Quality Action Day for ozone and PM 2.5 has been issued. A combination of fine particulate and ozone levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range. Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma should limit prolonged outdoor exposure. Due to observed and forecasted high concentrations of PM2.5 readings in the area, recommendations are for the

July 27th-August 2nd, 2026 in Washington Park, Michigan City. Each August, the award-winning XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix roars into action, showcasing the world’s fastest and most powerful offshore boats. Watch these high-speed vessels race along the southern shores of Lake Michigan, with stunning views from Washington Park Beach and shoreline. Get up close with boat owners, racers, and teams stationed throughout Washington Park. This free, adrenaline-filled week offers more than just racing—kick off the excitement with community celebrations, enjoy exclusive meet-and-greet and VIP events, and take in breathtaking flyovers. Festivities include a boat parade, a lively block party, a

In Portage there will be a road closure at Swanson Road and Kingman Avenue for NIPSCO pole installation. The closure will be on July 23, 24, and 25 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily.

HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — The Sinai Forum at Purdue University Northwest (PNW) announced the lineup of five notable speakers who will join its 2026 season. “As Purdue University Northwest joins the nation in commemorating America's 250th anniversary, the Sinai Forum invites our community to be part of conversations that offer perspective, inspire thoughtful reflection and help us better understand both the challenges of our time and the values that continue to bring us together,” said Leslie Plesac, executive director of the Sinai Forum at Purdue Northwest. Audiences can expect engaging programs with five knowledgeable, nationally recognized voices exploring American

The Indiana State Police last week released its Enforcement Bureau Statistics from June 2026 and stated the following: The Enforcement Bureau of the Indiana State Police oversees the traffic enforcement efforts of the Troopers assigned to the 14 State Police Districts throughout Indiana. Among their primary missions is helping to provide safe environments on our roadways for everyone. As a result of strategic enforcement efforts, Troopers throughout Indiana documented the following statistics for June 2026. Traffic Stops – 31,456 • 14,206 traffic citations • 24,911 traffic warnings • 292 drunk driving arrests • 1,279 criminal arrests (traffic related) • 880

Sunday Patchy smoke before 8am. Sunny, with a high near 81. East wind around 5 mph becoming north in the afternoon.   Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 65. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.   Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind 5 to 10 mph.   Monday Night Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.   Tuesday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.  

In Porter and La Porte counties, there will be lane closures on State Road 2 between C.R. 1100 W and C.R. 600 E starting on or after Monday, July 20. State Road 2 will be reduced to one lane through mid-August for a bridge deck overlay preventive maintenance project at Forbes Ditch. Temporary traffic signals will be installed to direct traffic. INDOT urges drivers to stay alert near crews and be prepared to wait for the temporary traffic signal. Motorists are encouraged to allow extra time when driving through this area and should slow down and drive distraction-free through all work

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – Franciscan Health is presenting the latest installment in its free, faith-based diabetes initiative in partnership with local churches and community organizations. Fan Out Diabetes is a faith-based diabetes initiative that pairs minority LaPorte County congregations with Franciscan’s Community Health Improvement program and community organizations. The partnership brings two-day diabetes education, prevention and detection mini workshops – free of charge – to the church after Sunday services. The events feature education, screenings, insurance enrollment assistance and more. The next sessions will take place at 12 p.m. Central on Sunday, Aug. 16 and Sunday, Sept. 13 at River

Story by Chief Warrant Officer Corinne Zilnicki , U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes: The Coast Guard is raising awareness of the dangers and penalties associated with hoax distress calls, including those transmitted via radio, phone, and on social media. Since January 2026, Coast Guard command center watchstanders in the Great Lakes District have received 187 false distress calls, including three confirmed hoaxes. A hoax may include knowingly and willfully communicating a false distress message to the Coast Guard, while a false distress alert can result from misunderstanding, accidental transmissions or outdated information. Initiating a hoax or causing the Coast Guard