Local News

Lakeshore PAWS is again teaming up with local business sponsors in order to offer free adoptions to our veterans to thank them and commemorate Veterans Day. The adoptions will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2018. The offer is available to the first 30 eligible veterans and is applicable to any of the available dogs. Please visit lakeshorepaws.org, see us on Facebook or stop by the adoption center (4611 Evans Ave. in Valparaiso) to begin picking out your new life companion. "We are proud to once again be offering free adoptions to our

As a child, Kelley Baker always saw herself as a police officer. And why not? That’s what her father was, and she wanted to follow in his footsteps. Later, she found out law enforcement wasn’t a career path most girls followed. Baker, who went on to become a correctional officer and a TSA screener, delivered the keynote address during the 2018 N.E.W. (Nontraditional Employment Opportunities for Women) conference on October 10 at the A. K. Smith Career Center in Michigan City. Eighth-grade girls from eight middle schools across LaPorte County attended the conference, which was sponsored by the LaPorte County

Marquette principal Allyson Headd and athletic director Katie Collignon spent time this past Wednesday serving as guest speakers at the LaPorte County Career and Technical Education Center's 5th Annual Nontraditional Employment for Women (N.E.W.) Opportunities Workshop. Two-hundred 8th-grade girls from LaPorte County spent the day at the AK Smith Career Center in Michigan City to learn about career options, listen to presenters, and be encouraged to work towards their goals. Following a brief guest speaker, the girls broke into small groups to attend roundtable discussions led by female professionals. What Headd and Collignon are hoping the 200 girls in attendance

U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.)  supported the confirmation of J.P. Hanlon from Indianapolis to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Indiana on Thursday. Mr. Hanlon was confirmed by the full Senate on a voice vote. Since Mr. Hanlon’s nomination was announced in April, both Senators Young and Donnelly have emphasized his qualifications and the need for a swift confirmation in order to reduce the caseload the Southern District of Indiana faces. In the 12-month period ending June 30, 2017, the Southern District of Indiana was the second most overworked court in the

On Thursday, investigators with the St. Joseph County Fatal Crash Team (FACT) have arrested two individuals in connection with yesterday’s fatal crash on Brick Rd. that resulted in the death of 61 year old Ishayaa Diya. Twenty-two year old Carlos Williams, was arrested and booked into the St. Joseph County Jail this afternoon on preliminary suspicion of Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Death. Nineteen year old Ashlee Nicely, was arrested and booked into the St. Joseph County Jail on preliminary suspicion of Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Death and Assisting a Criminal. The St.

The northwest Indiana region that is part of the Midwest Urban Strategies consortium has been awarded a $650,000 dislocated worker grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration awarded a total of $100 million in Trade and Economic Transition National Dislocated Worker Grants to provide training and career services to “mature dislocated workers” affected by major economic disruptions such as the Great Recession. In northwest Indiana, the Gary/Valparaiso WorkOne that received the grant is led by the Northwest Indiana Workforce Board. The northwest Indiana region, along with the Indianapolis area—led by EmployIndy—are two

To accommodate passengers attending the Notre Dame vs. Pittsburgh football game at 2:30p ET on Oct. 13, 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, the

The Indiana Department of Education announced today the 2018 Gold Star Schools. The Gold Star designation signifies the school counselor-led steering team has met specific criteria identified for the development of a comprehensive school counseling model. Created in 2004, the Gold Star designation has been awarded to over 300 Indiana elementary, middle, and high schools. To receive the award, schools undergo a rigorous process to raise student achievement and improve overall student success. This is accomplished by creating local school-community advisory groups tasked with reviewing student data, setting specific student goals, and committing to maximizing the time and skills of

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has awarded Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry a grant totaling $1,500 to fund processing fees on donated large game and livestock.  "We are very excited about our “Meat” the Need program, "said Debra Treesh, Executive Director of Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry, "and pleased that this Foundation is continually making an investment in our community." These funds will be used to assist Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry in paying processing fees for donations of large game and livestock within Indiana. Founded in 2011, Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry encourages the donation of large game and livestock to their “Meat”

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) receives wage reports and new hire data from Hoosier employers documenting who is employed and receiving compensation. The agency’s unemployment insurance fraud investigation taskforce examines claims of individuals who intentionally provide false, misreported or unreported information in order to fraudulently claim benefits. As a result of the taskforce’s investigations, local courts recently found these individuals guilty of unemployment insurance fraud: 54 year old Adam Hale Sr., of Gary was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to repay DWD $8,431.25 for the benefits he fraudulently collected. Click here to view Hale's booking

The Duneland Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Duneland Economic Development Company (DEDC), has released applications for the Exterior Improvement Grant Program, formerly known as the Façade Grant Program. President of DEDC, Maura Durham said, “We wish for all the owners to know that the grants may be used for expenses associated with not only the façade of their buildings, but also the exterior rehabilitation of their property.” Funded through the DEDC, the Exterior Improvement Grant Program fosters and funds projects that will improve the appearance of commercial buildings in the main corridors of Duneland communities. It is the

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to use a fire hose, sit in the driver’s seat of a fire truck or tour the firehouse?  Now is your chance, so bring your family and friends for the Annual Fire Department open house at Station # 4 located at 5000 Cleveland Ave this Saturday, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The Michigan City Fire Department invites members of the community for the Fire Department open house.  This is a great opportunity to meet your local firefighters and learn valuable fire safety tips. There will be representatives from the LOK Wishing Tree

Yesterday, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.), led a bipartisan group of senators in calling for an increased focus on reducing maternal mortality in the United States and improving health outcomes for all mothers and children. Indiana has the nation’s third highest maternal mortality rate. In a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma, 14 Democratic and Republican senators requested that the Department and Agency prioritize developing strategies to reduce maternal mortality rates, including

Tiesha Monique Moore is in custody following a 5-month manhunt that spanned throughout three states. Moore was located, and taken into custody by TCAT (Twin Cities Apprehension Team) on Monday afternoon, in Michigan City in the Walmart parking lot. TCAT was assisted by the Michigan City Police Department K9 Unit, Officer Mike Oberle and second shift Officers Brinkman and Charo. Moore had a total of 16 outstanding warrants at the time of her apprehension from both Stearns and Benton Counties. She was wanted for Felony 1st degree criminal damage to property, felony domestic assault, felony theft, felony aiding and abetting

Phil Mason of Michigan City High School in Michigan City, Ind. has been named the Colts/NFL Coach of the Week. Mason was nominated and selected for the award after leading the Class 5A No. 4 Wolves to a 52-8 victory over LaPorte. Michigan City has won four straight games and has outscored opponents 192-49 over that span. Mason will be recognized at an upcoming Colts game (12/16 vs Cowboys).

UPDATE: Due to improvements to the Gary Metro Center west end platform continues to be closed. During this time, passengers may access the SSL platform through the Broadway St. entrance. Due to the elevator closure, the recommended alternative ADA-accessible station location is East Chicago. The closure is expected to last until Friday, October 12th.

Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame has announced President Janice Cervelli has resigned after nearly two-and-a-half years on the job. In a letter to faculty and staff, Board Chair Mary Burke says Provost Nancy Nekvasil will serve as interim president "for as long as needed." The school did not give a reason for the resignation, but in her letter Burke thanked Cervelli for her contributions during her tenure. Cervelli began as president in June 2016. The South Bend native had previously served as dean of the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture and the University of Arizona. She was

On Saturday, September 29, the Michigan City High School Wolfpack Marching Band competed in the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) Festival Class Championship at Crown Point High School. The Wolfpack Band received an overall Rating of Gold while also picking up a special Distinction Caption in the area of Visual Performance. This year's show is titled, "A Dream Within a Dream." The Wolfpack Marching Band performs with 58 members and is under the direction of Frank Gast and Katie Safa, with assistance from Trisha Foltz, Color Guard; Andrew Altherr, Percussion; and Jacob Tillman, Front Ensemble. The Band is led

La Porte Community School Corporation will celebrate the completion of its new Performing Arts Center with a Ribbon Cutting & Open House event on Oct. 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at La Porte High School, 602 F. Street in La Porte. The ribbon cutting will take place at 6 p.m. and will be administered by the Greater La Porte Chamber of Commerce. “The new Performing Arts Center is a magnificent space that helps expand educational learning areas and allows for a dynamic new space for students to create, express and perform,” said Dr. Jane Larson, Assistant Superintendent of Secondary

In honor of National Manufacturing Day this past Friday, 22 companies announced plans to locate in or expand in Indiana, together committing to invest more than $154 million in their Hoosier operations and create up to 1,090 new jobs over the next several years. VANAIR, a provider of mobile power solutions, has invested more than $1.5 million to expand its state-of-the-art technology and innovation center, growing its campus to two buildings in Michigan City to accommodate the operations of Minnesota-based Goodall Mfg., which the company purchased in January 2017. Goodall Mfg., which is a leader in jump-starting equipment, officially moved