Local News

Thursday, Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch along with the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announced that 19 rural communities received more than $10.8 million in federal grant funding. The state of Indiana distributes Community Development Block Grant funds to rural communities to assist units of local government with various community projects like: improving infrastructure, downtown revitalization, public facilities improvements and economic development. The goals of the Wastewater Drinking Water Program are to protect the health and environment, reduce utility rates for low-to-moderate income communities and improve rural infrastructure to enable long-term economic growth. Eligible Wastewater Drinking Water Program projects

State Rep. Jim Pressel’s (R-Rolling Prairie) legislation that would provide offenders the option of performing community service in lieu of paying court fees advanced to the Senate on Thursday.Currently, a convicted person who does not pay their court fees by a specified date defaults on the money owed and can be sent to jail. Pressel’s legislation would enable a court to reduce some or all of the costs owed by a person convicted of a felony or misdemeanor through community service.Pressel said courts could determine the number of hours volunteered, multiply the hours by the state minimum wage, and subtract

The Indiana State Police in Lowell will begin clearing abandoned vehicles from Interstate 65 and 80/94 in advance of the approaching weather system forecast for this weekend. Troopers will begin removing vehicles left along the roadside Friday, January 18th. Contrary to the usual practice of tagging abandoned vehicles for two hours within I-80/94 and I-65 or 24 or 72 hours for abandoned vehicles in other areas, all abandoned vehicles, regardless of allotted time, will be towed. These vehicles will be towed to reduce the risk to other drivers and to allow snow removal equipment to safely clear the roadways. All

On January 16th, 2019, at approximately 7:59pm the Michigan City Police Department was dispatched to the 200 Block of Elston St. for a complaint of Shots Fired and someone in a vehicle possibly injured. Upon arrival, Officer Cody Washluske located a vehicle parked in front of 214 Jackson St. and discovered the victim, Justin Ameer Garner age 18 in the driver’s seat wounded from what appeared to be a single gunshot to the head. Officer Washluske summoned for EMS to expedite their response, but the victim was deceased. The LaPorte County Coroner’s Office was summoned to the scene. Additional members

A new partnership between the world’s leading marine motorsport brand, Powerboat P1 and OPA Racing has created the American Power Boat Association (APBA) Offshore Championship with Michigan City set to host the penultimate round. The two promoters have released details of the race sites in the six-venue series that will see the Great Lakes Grand Prix staged over the weekend of 3/4 August as it celebrates its 11th anniversary. Michigan City joins high-profile race events in Florida, Missouri and Michigan between May and the end of September. The aim is to strengthen the future of racing in the country by

If you would like to comment on Northern Indiana Public Service Company’s (NIPSCO’s) request for an electric rate increase, you have the opportunity to do so.Consumers may:· Send written comments to the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) by Thursday, Jan. 31, and/or· Speak at either of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission’s (IURC’s) public field hearings in this case.The IURC public hearings are scheduled for:· Monday, Jan. 28, in Hammond (Hammond High School Auditorium, 5926 Calumet Ave.) and· Wednesday, Jan. 30, in Goshen (Goshen College Newcomer Center, 1900 S. Main St.).Each hearing starts at 6:00 p.m. local time. Consumers

In partnership with both the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District and Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, the APRHF Rail Rangers provide onboard educational programs on the South Shore Line through Illinois and Indiana. Rail Rangers Interpretive Guides narrate the passing scenery to the public -- just buy a ticket at a station or ticket kiosk, grab a seat in the designated car (program takes place in one designated car on the train), and participate at no extra cost! No reservations are ever needed for South Shore Line programs, plus you can hop-on and off at any stop. These programs are presented

Cloudy, with a high near 31.  Snow is expected to start around 9pm and continue through the overnight hours. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Gov. Holcomb joins more than a dozen governors and hundreds of city and county leaders nationwide in officially recognizing School Choice Week in their area of governance. Gov. Holcomb has issued a proclamation declaring Jan. 20-26 as Indiana School Choice Week. Parents, schools, and other planners have organized 981 events and activities across the state of Indiana for School Choice Week. These events, which include rallies, cocktail receptions, roundtable discussions, festivals, and school fairs, aim to spark conversations about the educational opportunities parents have, or want to have, for their children. More than 40,000 events have been independently planned for the week

The recent opening of the new Franciscan Health Michigan City hospital also meant the transition from a location where mothers had given birth for more than a century. For many of these years, Brahms Lullaby would play hospital-wide to signal that a new life had entered the world. Three days before the hospital move, the song played for the last time as the staff celebrated the final infant born at the historic location. That baby girl, Mila Jonny, was born at 4:16 p.m., Jan. 9 to parents Melissa Anderson and Kyle Richardson of LaPorte. Four days later, Brahms Lullaby played

If you would like to comment on Northern Indiana Public Service Company’s (NIPSCO’s) request for an electric rate increase, you have the opportunity to do so.Consumers may:· Send written comments to the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) by Thursday, Jan. 31, and/or· Speak at either of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission’s (IURC’s) public field hearings in this case.The IURC public hearings are scheduled for:· Monday, Jan. 28, in Hammond (Hammond High School Auditorium, 5926 Calumet Ave.) and· Wednesday, Jan. 30, in Goshen (Goshen College Newcomer Center, 1900 S. Main St.).Each hearing starts at 6:00 p.m. local time. Consumers

Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) was named the top Republican, or ranking member, of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Worker & Family Support, which has jurisdiction over programs aimed at helping workers, children, and families thrive. The panel, previously called the Subcommittee on Human Resources, authorizes and oversees a wide range of programs and services, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Social Services Block Grant, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, the Maternal, Infant, and early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program, child and family services, and foster care and adoption. Walorski will also serve as a

On January 16, 2019, at approximately 7:59pm, the Michigan City Police received a call of a deceased subject inside a vehicle in the 200 block of Jackson Street. Upon arrival an adult male was located in a parked vehicle with a single gunshot wound to his head. Members of the Michigan City Police Department Patrol Division, Investigative Division, and the LaPorte County HIDTA Drug Task Force, are investigating this unfortunate shooting/ homicide. No information on the deceased is being released at this point pending notification of family. As this is an ongoing investigation, more information will be released as the

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces the kick off of its 2019 Paint the Plow campaign, a community outreach program designed to promote safety and awareness of INDOT’s Winter Operations all year long.Each INDOT District invites art classes/programs from middle and high schools to paint an INDOT snow plow blade with original artwork to represent their school. Applications and additional program details can be found here: painttheplow.indot.in.govIn addition to being seen in full service during the winter weather months, the blades may be used at events within the school’s community to enhance public awareness, promote safety and foster greater appreciation

Indiana Conservation Officers are advising citizens across the state of the potential hazards of being on frozen lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams this winter. Recent temperature drops across the state have brought about sheets of ice across some bodies of water. Indiana Conservation Officers say the best rule of thumb is, when walking on ice, to believe you are “walking on thin ice.” Wearing a life jacket is especially important when on the ice. If you fall through, a life jacket will keep your head above the water until help arrives. Some bodies of water will appear to be frozen

In Northwest Indiana today, expect a 50% chance of snow showers throughout the day. Temperatures will reach 34 degrees.

On Tuesday, Gov. Eric J. Holcomb said he has appointed Dr. Lee Ann Kwiatkowski as interim executive director of the Indiana State Board of Education to replace Matt Voors, who has accepted a position outside of state government. Dr. Kwiatkowski will continue to be the governor’s senior education adviser. The board will review the governor’s appointment during its February 6 business meeting.

Yesterday, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Chris Coons (D-Del.) announced they have reintroduced legislation in the 116th Congress to update and modernize the charter for the Future Farmers of America (FFA), which will 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 student officer vice presidents to reflect the regional diversity of the United States. Additionally, it provides governing flexibility for national officers in order to reduce operational delays caused by vacant seats. The amendments to the charter will also

On Monday the LaPorte Police responded to a residence in the 1100 blk. of Clay St. in reference to a shooting. The female victim that was shot was flown to a hospital in Indianapolis. The current condition of the victim is that she is stable and appears that she will recover. The suspect, 37 year old Ronald Means was located in Griffith Indiana in Lake County around 3:30 PM on Tuesday and was taken into custody without incident. Mr. Means was booked into the LaPorte County Jail on the charges of Attempted Murder, Felon in Possession of Firearm, and an

Two LaPorte County professionals, Brandi Lewis and Brenda Stellema, have been selected to join 28 others from youth-serving organizations across Indiana to The 2019 Executive Journey Fellowship. In response to a growing need for ongoing professional and personal renewal in the field of youth work, the Journey Fellowship was created in 2002 and funded by the Lilly Endowment Inc. The Executive Journey Fellowship provides Indiana’s youth workers greater opportunities to bring more meaning to their lives and make stronger commitments to the field of youth work.Each of the thirty participants in the Journey Fellowship will attend a series of residential